Hello Reader,

Some weeks I seem to fly through books, and other weeks life has different plans. This was one of those weeks when I spent a little less time in my reading chair, but the books I did get to share couldn't have been more different—and I think that makes this week's Friday Finds especially fun.

We're starting with a trip to Colorado and a very suspicious jar of carrot marmalade in The Carrot Marmalade Murder by Meg Benjamin. Then we're changing gears completely with My Grandma and Grandpa Rock! by Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, a colorful picture book celebrating all the wonderful ways grandparents can rock. I had a particularly good time sharing that one with the littles.

This week's Featured Author is Seth W. James, author of Ethos of Cain and The Cain Series. Seth writes near-future cyberpunk science fiction, which may sound like quite a leap after cozy mysteries and picture books—and it is! That's one of the things I love about reading. There's always another world waiting.

Apparently, my first visit to Seth's cyberpunk world wasn't enough, either. I just downloaded Book 2 of The Cain Series through Kindle Unlimited, so you'll probably be hearing more about Cain around here eventually.

Audiobook listeners should also take a peek at Community Corner this week. Chirp is having a huge End-of-Summer Blowout Sale, with hundreds of audiobooks under $6. I'm still waiting (not very patiently!) for Chirp to approve my affiliate application, so there's no affiliate angle here—I just thought it was a good sale worth passing along.

And somewhere along the way, this issue of Friday Finds developed a decidedly peachy personality. 🍑

We're pouring a cold glass of Sparkling Peach Iced Tea for Sip & Savor, and then I found a set of handmade beaded peach coasters that were simply too perfect not to make this week's Featured Find. Add in the peach gladiolus decorating Friday Finds this week, and apparently August wasn't quite ready to give up summer yet.

There is plenty more waiting for you in the full post, including this week's Reader Question. I'd love to know whether you're the kind of reader who dives straight into Book 2 after loving the first book in a series—or whether you need a little breathing room between installments.

​Read Friday Finds | August 28, 2026 →​

Thank you, as always, for spending a little part of your week with me. Whether your weekend includes a stack of books, time with family, something delicious to sip, or simply a quiet hour to yourself, I hope it's a good one.

Happy reading!

Gina