The 17 February 2023 Friday Finds are here with a new Author & Blogger of the Week, Chart-topper books, St. Patrick’s Day Recipes & Crafts, and a Blog Roundup.
Hello, my friends & welcome to the 17 February 2023 Friday Finds!
We’ve had a blast of spring-like weather, which was greatly appreciated. Winter weather is returning, but it never lasts too long this time of year. Can you believe how fast the month is going? Me neither!
The seed catalogs arrive daily, making the gardener long for planting time. This is the time of year when we miss our fresh salad and veggies. We’ve still got produce in the freezer from last year’s harvest. As good as that is, there is nothing like fresh from the garden to plate in minutes.
I found several items of interest for you this week. I hope you enjoy them. Be sure you let me know your favorite finds.
Peace & Love
I include purchase links with every book/item I recommend. Every purchase made through my links helps to support this blog.
Friday Finds | 17 February 2023 | Author News
Do you have a new book releasing soon, a special promotion coming up, or any other news I can share with my readers?
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Lisa Konkol is my newest featured author. I recently reviewed her delightful children’s book, Mrs. Wiggles and the Numbers.
Lisa is a writer and illustrator. She loves to create books that make children laugh and encourages them to develop a love of reading. Lisa was designated a Master Artist by the American Juried Art Salon. You will always find her with a pencil in her hand, either drawing or writing.
Lisa has a business degree from the University of Wisconsin and was a technical writer in STEM fields for over thirty years. She wrote the book, “Who’s Behind the Mask?” in 2020 during the pandemic to help little ones overcome their fear of facial coverings.
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Friday Finds | 17 February 2023 | Books
This week I’m featuring some classics that are currently climbing up the charts again!
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
From Shel Silverstein, New York Times bestselling author of Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic, comes a poignant picture book about love and acceptance, cherished for over fifty years. This classic is perfect for both young readers and lifelong fans.
“Once there was a tree…and she loved a little boy.”
So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein. This moving parable for all ages offers a touching interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another’s capacity to love in return.
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Stone Maidens by Lloyd Devereux Richards
As the chief forensic anthropologist for the FBI’s Chicago field office, Christine Prusik has worked her fair share of bizarre cases. Yet this one trumps them all: a serial killer is strangling young women and dumping their bodies in the steep, forested ravines of southern Indiana.
The killer leaves a calling card with each victim: a stone figurine carved like the spirit stones found among the primitive tribes of Papua New Guinea—the same tribes from whom Prusik narrowly escaped a decade earlier while doing field research. The similarity is eerie and, frankly, terrifying; Prusik still carries the scars from the tribesmen’s attack. But is the connection real? Or have the dark details of Prusik’s nightmares finally wormed their way into her waking life?
Displaying the expertise of a veteran writer, debut novelist Lloyd Devereux Richards skillfully builds layers of psychological suspense and terror into a compulsively readable whodunit.
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Someone Else’s Shoes by Jojo Moyes
A story of mix-ups, mess-ups, and making the most of second chances, this is the new novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jojo Moyes, author of Me Before You and The Giver of Stars
Who are you when you are forced to walk in someone else’s shoes?
Nisha Cantor lives the globetrotting life of the seriously wealthy until her husband announces a divorce and cuts her off. Nisha is determined to hang onto her glamorous life. But in the meantime, she must scramble to cope–she doesn’t even have the shoes she was, until a moment ago, standing in.
That’s because Sam Kemp – in the bleakest point of her life – has accidentally taken Nisha’s gym bag. But Sam hardly has time to worry about a lost gym bag–she’s struggling to keep herself and her family afloat. When she tries on Nisha’s six-inch high Christian Louboutin red crocodile shoes, the resulting jolt of confidence makes her realize something must change—and that thing is herself.
Full of Jojo Moyes’ signature humor, brilliant storytelling, and warmth, Someone Else’s Shoes is a story about how just one little thing can suddenly change everything.
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Stone MaidensShop on Amazon 
The Giving TreeShop on Amazon 
Someone Else's Shoes: A Nov...Shop on Amazon 
Mrs. Wiggles and the Number...Shop on Amazon 
Who's Behind the Mask?: A p...Shop on Amazon
Friday Finds | 17 February 2023 | Recipes
This healthy keto smoothie bowl is a thick, creamy, low-carb breakfast you’ll love. A little matcha green tea to get you going, as well as healthy fats, protein, and fiber with only 3.6g net carbs per bowl. Like a shamrock shake in a bowl. (Courtesy of MyLifeCookbook.com)
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Festive Mediterranean Cauliflower Rice
This festive Mediterranean cauliflower rice recipe is a delicious low-carb side dish. Riced cauliflower with the Mediterranean flavors of sweet sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and spinach also makes a festive and healthy green and red side dish that would be great for the holidays—only 5.8g net carbs per serving and 15 minutes to make.
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St. Patrick’s Day Dessert Pizza
St. Patrick’s Day Dessert Pizza – a Chicago-inspired deep dish dessert pizza Irish desserts have never been better with the help of BAILEYS® Coffee Creamers, Original Irish Cream, and chocolate cream! (Courtesy of Grand BabyCakes.com)
Friday Finds | 17 February 2023 | Creative Projects
St. Patrick’s Day is approaching fast. Order any of these great DIY kits for loads of fun.
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St. Patrick’s Day Cookie Decorating Kit
Friday Finds | 17 February 2023 | Blog Roundup
What are some of your favorite blogs to visit each week? I love surfing through an eclectic mix of blogs. It’s a rabbit hole I fall into frequently! I try to feature at least one blog per week. If you have a fave, be sure to share it in the comments. I have difficulty choosing from the many deserving blogs I interact with each week. I made a list of my favorites, and I’m working my way through it.
The random number generator chose Becky of Becky’s Book Blog for the Blogger of the Week honor.
Becky’s About Me Statement:
Hi! I’m Becky, a 30-something book blogger based in the UK: a Hobbit, Daughter of Poseidon & Windwalker. I’m a lover of all things fantasy, sci-fi, musical, and spend my days reading or binging my new favourite TV show. I started my blog in 2018 to share my passion for all things nerdy with like-minded people, and love being able to shout about the things I love. When I’m not blogging, I can be found at work (a Uk based parcel company), volunteering for CWUHA, the charity I’m a trustee for, travelling, spending time with friends and loved ones, and being endlessly pestered by my cat Boo.
If you missed one of my reviews in the past week, here’s an easy link to find them all, or click on the image & links below. Be sure you check out the giveaways. There are some great prizes this week!
Cover Reveal: Fight For Freedom (The Mermaid Chronicles #3) by Marisa Noelle | #RomanticFantasy #TWR
My Best Friend Athena by Dana Hammer | Spotlight ~ Guest Post from the Author ~ $10 Gift Card
The Lost Journals of Bud Wiper S.M. Morgan | Spotlight ~ 3 Prize Giveaway ~ Excerpt
Children’s Book Review: My Magical Gnome Story Book by Monika Anna Blichar | Excerpt ~ $15 Gift Card
BBNYA Winner’s Tour: #14 ~ Mercury’s Shadow (The Kardashev Cycle #1) by PJ Garcin | Spotlight
What would you like to see in next week’s Friday Finds?
Thanks for reading this week. Peace & Love!
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I have to admit that when my girls were young and came home wanting to make a Leprechaun trap, I was a little confused and annoyed. Just another thing for parents to have to remember to do before going to bed if they want their kids to really believe a leprechaun visited during the night. The most annoying part was that the kids read the book in school and I had no clue that the book even existed and I still don’t know exactly what is in the book. I didn’t have time to go to the library to get the book and didn’t think of looking it up on YouTube. Maybe I’ll look it up one of these days. Maybe deep down I was just jealous of the book’s success.
I’m fortunate that all these things came along after my girls were grown!
Thank you Gina and hello Becky! This post reminded me that I haven’t attended to my blog for a month! Sheesh, how do you do it? I guess my life, and a broken waterpipe, got in the way, but I don’t like making excuses!! 😆
Good to see you today, Eve. The blog is definitely a labor of love. Lol