Friday Finds - June 19, 2026 | Books, Family Time & Weekend Inspiration
Welcome to this week's Friday Finds!
As summer settles in and many families prepare to celebrate Father's Day weekend, I've gathered another collection of books, finds, and readerly discoveries to enjoy. Whether you're spending time with loved ones, firing up the grill, settling in for game night, or simply claiming a quiet corner with a good book, I hope you'll find something here to inspire your weekend.
🪑 From My Reading Chair
This week's reads took me from a lush fantasy world to visit the Delmar Divide in St. Louis circa 1976, with a couple of fun stops on the way.
Here are four books that made this week's journey especially memorable.
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by Clara Bennett A fast-paced cozy mystery filled with buried secrets, clever red herrings, and memorable characters. See why Murder at the Sunday Brunch by Clara Bennett earned 4.5 stars from me. |
by Lynn Crandall A former servant of darkness seeks a new beginning in Move Me by Lynn Crandall. This paranormal romance novella blends redemption, danger, and second chances as old loyalties resurface and the past refuses to stay buried. |
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by Dorothy Dreyer A Dagger in the Ivy by Dorothy Dreyer is an award-winning romantasy featuring fae politics, dangerous magic, enemies-to-lovers tension, and a jaw-dropping ending. Read my 5-star review of this immersive start to the Blade Bound Saga. |
by Ellen Barker Nothing North of Delmar by Ellen Barker is a thoughtful historical fiction novel set in 1970s St. Louis. Through the lens of the city's real-life Delmar Divide, Barker explores race, community, economics, and personal growth in a story that remains remarkably relevant today. |
🌿 Community Corner
One of my favorite developments lately has been seeing readers chatting not only with authors but with each other in the comment sections. Book recommendations, recipes, travel tips, and thoughtful conversations have been popping up all over the blog.
I also submitted my selection to The Reading Ladies summer blog collaboration. I'll let you know when the post is live. I can't wait to see what my fellow book bloggers are recommending for a summer read.
✨ Special Find of the Week
Personalized Family Heirloom Cutting Board
Some of my most treasured possessions aren't expensive-they're the handwritten recipes and notes passed down through family members. This personalized cutting board transforms a favorite recipe into a keepsake that can be displayed, used, and shared for years to come.
With Father's Day and summer family gatherings ahead, it struck me as a thoughtful way to preserve a little piece of family history.
Whether you're celebrating Father's Day, hosting family and friends for a cookout, or recharging yourself for the week ahead, these finds are sure to make the time a little more special.
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Luxurious Hooded Spa RobeThere is something special about wrapping up in a luxurious robe after your shower or a trip to the hot tub. I recently ordered two of these. You can even have them personalized with a name or monogram. |
Family Game Night ScorebookPreserve those epic family game night battles with a beautiful personalized game night scorebook. You think you'll never forget the first time you beat Dad, but don't take a chance. |
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Microwave Popcorn PopperI love this microwave popcorn popper. It has a 3-in-1 lid to measure the kernels and melt the butter. It comes in several bright colors, and it's dishwasher safe! |
Set of Two Grilling BasketsWho is the grill master in your family? Show them how much you appreciate them with this set of grilling baskets. It's a great way to turn and rotate everything from vegetables and seafood to burgers and steaks. And, the beech wood handles are removable for easy cleanup. Around our house, if you cook, you are excused from clean-up. |
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🌟 Featured Author of the Week - Friday Finds June 19, 2026 - M.L. Malcolm
M.L. Malcolm
This week's featured author is M.L. Malcolm, who recently visited the blog and shared a fascinating guest post about the Mad Women's Ball at the Salpêtrière in Paris.
Award-winning historical fiction author M.L. Malcolm brings overlooked moments of history vividly to life through richly researched fiction. A former attorney, entrepreneur, and journalist, she now writes full-time from Washington, DC. Her novel Jane Avril: The Muse of the Moulin Rouge recently earned a place among my favorite historical reads of the year.
M.L. loves connecting with readers and has visited with more than one hundred book clubs across the country, happily using Zoom and virtual events whenever in-person visits are not possible. She currently lives in Washington, DC with her family-and continues to add to her impressive hat collection.
This week's featured selection is set against the glittering backdrop of Belle Époque Paris, Jane Avril: The Muse of the Moulin Rouge, brings one of history's most fascinating performers vividly to life.
More about the author:
Amazon | Goodreads
✨ Featured Author of the Week highlights an author whose work has been featured on the blog and stood out to me or my readers.
Tip of the Week: Pebble-Weave Primer + Mandolin Strap
Easy Weaving with Little Looms offers projects for every skill level, from curious beginners to experienced weavers looking for a relaxing small project. If you would like to sample just this issue, here's a link to my friends at BlueBonnetCrafters who offer single editions. Or you can get a full subscription from Long Thread Media.
Pebble-Weave Primer + Mandolin Strap
This was my favorite project from the Fall issue and the one that immediately made me want to pull out my weaving supplies.
A Pebble-Weave Primer introduces crafters to the technique and some of the many different projects you can make. I find weaving of any type so relaxing, but I especially love small projects you can work on from your easy chair, riding in a car, or simply leave on the counter and pick up whenever you have a few spare moments. It's amazing how fast you can finish a project without feeling like you have to set aside dedicated time blocks.
Pebble Weaving is great for bracelets, straps, lanyards, and more. I love the Mandolin Strap in this issue. This entire issue is music & weaving related.
This section rotates between healthy tips, recipes, crafts/patterns, and reading life, so if this week's tip isn't quite for you, there is always something different coming up in a future Friday Finds.
Enjoying Friday Finds? You can follow along for new reviews, reader favorites, and future Friday Finds posts.
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🌿 Reader Question of the Week
Do you like to work with your hands? What hobbies do you find the most relaxing?
🗓️ Contest closes June 30, 2026 at noon CST.
If your entry arrives after the deadline, it will be added into next month's drawing.
Thank you for spending part of your week here with me. I hope you find a few quiet moments to enjoy a good book, a favorite hobby, or simply a chance to recharge.
Until next Friday,
Gina
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Reader Question: Hobbies I find relaxing is reader and writing for fun and shopping
I’m tempted by that microwave popcorn popper! Have you tried it? 🍿
Not yet, but it's on its way here. 😉
Let me know what you think!
Will do! Did you see the Blog Collaboration notice? I'm planning to push it out as much as possible!
Oh yes!I saw it but then I was distracted by the popcorn! 😂 thanks for the shoutout!
Popcorn will do that to you!