Friday Finds July 17, 2026
Welcome!
Some weeks call for adventure. Others call for slowing down. With temperatures soaring in many parts of the world, this feels like the perfect time to pour something cold, turn on the fan, and disappear into a good book for a little while. That's exactly the spirit behind this week's Friday Finds.
Let's see what delights we discover this week!
"I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library."
― Jorge Luis Borges
🪑 From My Reading Chair
Take a break from the heat with two wonderful stories, something refreshing to sip, and a few quiet minutes just for yourself.
🌿 On the Blog This Week
Letters From Lucca by Kim Baccellia
History judges people by rumors. This novel asks us to judge them by their choices.
A mysterious box of letters sends Sammi to Italy in search of answers about her grandmother's wartime past. Read my reflections on Letters From Lucca by Kim Baccellia, and see why this emotional dual-timeline novel of courage, sacrifice, and family secrets earned one of my highest ratings.
Also This Week
Sabbatical, Part One by LS Delorme
The best fantasy doesn't just transport us to another world-it gives us something meaningful to bring back with us.
LS Delorme returns to the Limerent universe with a thoughtful companion collection of supernatural short stories exploring redemption, hope, and the choices that shape us. This collection of imaginative tales linger long after the final page.
🌿 Community Corner
To show just how connected the book community is, this week I received an author recommendation from a reader. I thought, wait I know that name. Yep, they were a 2021 BBNYA finalist. And that, my friend, is how TBR lists grow so monumentous. Keep sharing your favorite books, authors, community news. 💗
If you're looking for your next great summer read, you're sure to find several to add to your TBR on Carol's annual Summer Blogger Extravaganza.
🌟 Author Spotlight
M.K. Scott is the husband and wife writing team behind the cozy mystery books. Morgan K Wyatt is the general wordsmith, while her husband, Scott, is the grammar hammer and physics specialist. He uses his engineering skills to explain how fast a body falls when pushed over a cliff and various other felonious activities.
The Internet and experts in the field provide forensic information, while the recipes and B & B details require a more hands on approach. Morgan's daughter, who manages a hotel, provides guest horror stories to fuel the plot lines. The couple's dog, Janeway, is the inspiration behind Jasper, a pug that can be found in The Painted Lady Inn Mysteries.
I've enjoyed every M.K. Scott mystery I've read so far, and I'm looking forward to sharing more with you soon.
📚 Featured on GinaRaeMitchell.com
See all my M.K. Scott features →
✨ Author Spotlight highlights authors whose work has been featured on the blog and whose stories have resonated with me and my readers.
📚 Gina's Bookish Find
Book Lover Glass Tumbler Gift Set
This week's bookish find is a charming glass tumbler gift set that's perfect for iced tea, lemonade, or coffee during your next reading session.
A refreshing drink and a good book are one of my favorite ways to unwind, so this charming gift set immediately caught my eye. It includes two glass tumblers with bamboo lids, reusable glass straws, insulated carriers, and a gift-ready box-all for under $20.
Why I Like It
✔ Great value
✔ Perfect for iced tea, lemonade, or coffee
✔ Makes a thoughtful gift for book lovers
✔ Beautiful enough to leave sitting on your desk
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🍋 Sip & Savor
Cucumber Mint Lemonade
When the summer heat refuses to let up, sometimes the best remedy is simple: a cool drink, a comfortable chair, and a good book. This refreshing cucumber mint lemonade is crisp, lightly sweet, and just the thing to enjoy while escaping into this week's featured reads.
Ingredients
- 1 large cucumber, peeled and sliced
- 1 cup fresh lemon juice (about 4-6 lemons
- ½ cup honey or simple syrup (adjust to taste)
- 4 cups cold water
- A handful of fresh mint leaves
- Ice
- Thin cucumber slices and lemon wheels for garnish
Directions
Blend the cucumber with 1 cup of the water until smooth, then strain if you prefer a clearer drink. Stir in the lemon juice, honey or simple syrup, and the remaining water. Add the mint leaves and let the lemonade chill for at least 30 minutes before serving over plenty of ice. Garnish with fresh cucumber slices and lemon wheels.
Reader Tip: For an extra-refreshing treat, freeze a few cucumber slices into your ice cubes ahead of time.
Perfect with a good book and a shady spot.
💬 Reader Question
What's your favorite summer relax and read drink?
Last week, we shared our favorite summer reading spots. Let's continue this week with our go thirst-quenchers.
I'd love to hear about your favorite summer drink. Share your favorite in the comments or simply reply to this newsletter. Feel free to share your recipes too!
📜 More Friday Finds
Missed a week? Browse previous editions of Friday Finds for more book reviews, author spotlights, reader favorites, and bookish discoveries.
Browse the Friday Finds Archive →
Thank you for spending part of your week with me. I hope you have a peaceful, joy-filled weekend filled with good books and little moments to savor.
Until next week's Friday Finds,
Gina
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Great Summer refreshing post
Answer to Reader Question: My Summer relax place is anywhere inside that is air conditioned and my read drink varies but in very hot weather it is usually Sweet Iced Tea with no Lemon or ice in it but cold and wet.