Friday Finds | September 18, 2026

"I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house."
- Nathaniel Hawthorne

Welcome to Friday Finds | September 18, 2026

There is something about the first hint of fall that makes even an ordinary reading afternoon feel a little more special. This week's Friday Finds brings together a standout suspense read, a thoughtful literary novel, Irish fairy-tale retellings, apple cider donut holes, and one charming kettle for keeping your favorite reading drink close at hand.

Let's see what we discover this week.

---

🪑 From My Reading Chair

Every book has a unique story. These are the ones that stayed with me this week.

🌿 On the Blog This Week

Altered by Rob Kaufman

Altered by Rob Kaufman is an emotionally intense psychological thriller and one of my best reads of the year. Explore my 5-star review, an author guest post, and a spoiler-free spotlight on the complete Justin Wright Suspense Series.

Read the Review →

---

Also This Week

The Antique Picker's Daughter by Melanie Dugan

The Antique Picker's Daughter by Melanie Dugan is a thought-provoking literary novel about youth homelessness, survival, trust, and the uncertain line between protection and exploitation. This four-star review also features a guest post from the author about her flexible approach to outlining.

Read the Review →

---

🌿 Community Corner

Jessica D. Adams shared this upcoming Countdown to Cozy event with us. Join the waitlist for 24 free digital gifts, including her Annual Toy Drive activity story. An optional Holly Jolly VIP Pass is $5 through September 20 and includes additional gifts, including The Plain Little Unicorn ebook and self-esteem activities. Jessica's registration link is an affiliate link, which means she may earn a commission or referral credit if you purchase the optional VIP pass. The free gifts remain available without a VIP purchase.

Have Bookish News to Share?

Have a new release, cover reveal, reading event, or other bookish news coming up? I'd love to consider it for a future Community Corner. Send the details through my contact page.

---

🌟 Featured Author Spotlight

Featured Author of the Week: Christy Matheson

Christy Matheson writes award-winning fiction about friends, family, and finding one's place in an ever-changing world.

Her Castle in Kilkenny: Fairy Tales novella series brings traditional Irish fairy tales into a modern blended family, creating cozy adventures with plenty of heart. Christy also writes historical fiction, including Regency novels and stories for the award-winning Feisty Deeds: Historical Fictions of Daring Women collection, which she also edits.

When she is not writing, Christy is an embroidery artist, classically trained pianist, and sewist who makes all of her own clothes. She lives in Oregon with her husband, five children, three Shelties, one bunny, and what she calls an improbable quantity of art supplies.

Explore Christy's Books

• The Horned Women
• The White Deer of Kildare
• The Boat on the Lake of Regret

Her Irish fairy-tale retellings are a lovely choice for readers who enjoy folklore, family-centered stories, and a little touch of magic.

✨ Featured Author Spotlight introduces readers to authors whose work has been featured on the blog, along with my personal reflections and a few recommended places to begin.

---

🍩 Sip & Savor

Baked Apple Cider Donut Holes

These little bites bring all the cozy flavor of an apple-cider donut-without needing a trip to the orchard. They are tender, warmly spiced, and finished with that irresistible cinnamon-sugar coating. Perfect with coffee, tea, or a mug of warm cider and a good book.

Makes: About 18 donut holes
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 10-12 minutes

Ingredients

For the donut holes:

• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg
• ½ cup apple cider
• ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the cinnamon-sugar coating:

• 3 tablespoons melted butter
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a mini muffin pan well.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, apple cider, applesauce, melted butter, and vanilla. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir just until combined.
4. Spoon the batter into the prepared mini muffin cups, filling each about three-quarters full.
5. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let the donut holes cool in the pan for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack.
6. While still slightly warm, brush each donut hole with melted butter. Mix the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl, then roll the donut holes in the mixture until coated.

Serve warm with coffee, tea, or a mug of apple cider-and a good book, of course.

---

☕ Featured Find

This section may contain affiliate links, which help support the blog at no extra cost to you.

---

💬 Reader Question

Are you a coffee reader or a tea reader-and do you take it plain or fancy?

Tell me your go-to reading drink in the comments. Mine depends entirely on the book and the weather!

One of my favorite parts of Friday Finds has been watching the conversations grow in the comments. Let's share.

---

📜 More Friday Finds

Missed a week? Browse previous editions of Friday Finds for more book reviews, author spotlights, reader favorites, recipes, and 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