Friday Finds - May 29, 2026 | Cozy Weekend Reads & Thoughtful Father's Day Finds
This week's Friday Finds leans into quiet weekends, thoughtful stories, and the small comforts that help us slow down a little before summer fully arrives.
Inside this edition you'll find atmospheric fiction, meaningful Father's Day gift ideas, an Indie Author of the Week spotlight featuring LS Delorme, and a savory recipe that feels perfect for porch evenings and relaxed gatherings.
🌿 Community Corner
This week's Community Corner features Jo from Blue Mood Cafe, whose thoughtful book reviews and reflections are always a pleasure to read. You'll also find Blue Mood Cafe featured in the sidebar over the next week or two, so be sure to stop by and explore.
And a quick congratulations to M. Laszlo on the release of Rübezahl! If the blend of folklore, history, and fantasy sounds intriguing, you can read my review now. I'll also be sharing a special Behind the Book feature on June 4, where he discusses some of the inspirations behind the novel.
✨ Weekend Finds for Readers, Makers & Wanderers
This week's featured finds lean into quiet weekends, thoughtful routines, and meaningful gifts for readers, dads, makers, and anyone who enjoys slowing down to savor the moment.
Whiskey Barrel Smoker Kit
This handcrafted whiskey smoker kit immediately caught my eye for its warm wood presentation and cozy speakeasy feel. It feels less like a gadget and more like an experience - perfect for slow evenings, Father's Day gifting, or anyone who enjoys creating a little atmosphere at home.
There are also more budget-friendly smoker kits available if you love the concept but prefer a smaller splurge.
|
Compact Travel Binoculars A thoughtful pick for hikers, travelers, birdwatchers, and curious explorers. Lightweight enough for road trips and weekend walks, but powerful enough to make outdoor adventures feel a little more immersive. |
Leather Valet Tray Simple, practical, and surprisingly elegant. This leather valet tray makes a great bedside or desk organizer for everyday essentials while adding a touch of warm, understated style. |
As an affiliate, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Worth Reading This Week
And while you're relaxing this weekend, here are a few stories that lingered with me long after the final page…
|
by Patricia Leavy A heartfelt contemporary romance about healing, trust, trauma, and finding light even in moments of doubt. Twinkle of Doubt by Patricia Leavy continues the Celestial Bodies Romance series with an emotional story about love tested by fear and uncertainty. |
by Lotte Bluejay A magical middle grade fantasy adventure filled with music, friendship, ancient prophecies, and K-pop inspired excitement. Discover K-Pop The Four Lights and The Sharded Lullaby by Lotte Bluejay in this featured spotlight from GinaRaeMitchell.com. |
|
by Seth Margolis In this review of For She Had Eyes by Seth Margolis, discover a psychological suspense novel filled with deception, ambition, unraveling trust, and Othello-inspired tension set against the backdrop of Manhattan's elite. |
by Merida Johns A heartfelt small-town novel about grief, friendship, memory, and the people who shape our lives. Discover A Proof of Love by Merida Johns, plus a guest post on the art of revision, an excerpt, and a giveaway. |
🌟 Indie Author of the Week - Friday Finds May 29, 2026
LS Delorme
Some authors stay comfortably within one genre. LS Delorme writes at the edges instead - blending supernatural mystery, psychological suspense, historical fiction, romance, and emotional introspection into stories that feel immersive, haunting, and deeply human.
Writing from Paris, Delorme draws on an unusually varied background that includes work as a lawyer, pop musician, and science writer. That combination gives her novels both emotional lyricism and intellectual depth, creating stories that often explore memory, identity, obsession, longing, and the lingering echoes of the past.
Her Limerent series has earned growing recognition within the indie book world for its genre-defying storytelling and richly atmospheric narratives. Caio was praised by Kirkus Reviews as
"an entertaining fantasy with a dash of macabre eroticism," while Bright Midnights received a BookLife Editor's Pick from Publishers Weekly. Fanning Fireflies was also named IndieReader Approved with near-perfect marks.
This week's featured selection is Limerence, a novel that perfectly showcases Delorme's ability to blur the boundaries between memory, longing, and the supernatural.
Featured this week: Limerence
Explore more from L.S. Delorme on GinaRaeMitchell.com:
Limerence • Caio • Fanning Fireflies • Bright Midnights • Ghosting Academy • Author Hub
More about the author:
Website | Amazon | Goodreads
✨ Indie 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
Rosemary Roasted Mixed Nuts
This week's cozy weekend inspiration comes from a beautiful recipe for rosemary roasted mixed nuts - the kind of savory snack that feels perfect for slow evenings, backyard conversations, summer reading sessions, or Father's Day gatherings.
What caught my attention about this recipe is how simple it feels while still being a little elevated. The rosemary, warm spices, and roasted flavor pair beautifully with cozy weekends and relaxed entertaining without requiring a complicated ingredient list.
I could easily picture these set out beside a charcuterie board, packed for a cabin weekend, or enjoyed alongside a good book and a quiet evening on the porch.
Full recipe and instructions available here:
Rosemary Roasted Mixed Nuts by The Joyful Table
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.
Follow along for post updates.
🌿 Reader Question of the Week
What's your favorite way to unwind after a long week?
🗓️ Contest closes May 31, 2026 at noon CST.
If your entry arrives after the deadline, it will be added into next month's drawing.
As always, thank you for spending part of your week here with me.
Until next Friday,
Gina
Get Friday Finds + Bookish Extras
Join me for Friday Finds, cozy reads, and bookish discoveries delivered straight to your inbox.
Thank you for the spotlight, Gina💜 I read everything except the one about me😏
I enjoyed your blog post today, Gina. I got to learn of a new author and how he chose his pen name, M Laszlo (a bame which I love for the same reason). And I think I'll enjoy his writing very much.
Many thanks for reminding us of the upcoming Father's Day. I always try to get all organised in advance, but somehow I still run around at the last minute.
Have a relaxing week 🙂
Thanks, Patricia. That means a lot.
Being in nature, Gina, taking in colors and bird noises is always relaxing for me.
For me, I find a nice long bike ride very refreshing.
My favorite way to unwind is watching TV.
reading a book is my favorite way to unwind
My favorite way to unwind is a hot bath.