The Looooong and the Short of It with a Giveaway: February 2022 Wrap-Up Post and What to Expect in March

Posted March 1, 2022 by Lisa Mandina in End of the month post / 26 Comments

February sure went by fast! But it was still busy and packed full of things. Like a couple of big snow events! The first one took place the first week of February, and it actually ended up making me have to have a telehealth visit because my doctor’s office closed because of the snow too. That kind of sucked because I had paperwork I needed filled out by the end of February for my work to make sure I can save $35 a month on insurance. And of course I had to make that appointment about a month in advance, so the next time I could get an appointment was in March. Ugh, fortunately the HR department promised to go ahead and give me a little extra time.

Once again at work I spent almost every day alone in my library without my assistant due to other people being out sick, then she was, and then her son was sick and so she was with him while he was in the hospital. I had a day the second week I was in tears at school, so I took the next day as a mental health day, fortunately she was there that day. Things are not getting much better there. While by the end of the month her son was out of the hospital, she still was staying home with him, so I continue to be on my own in the library. They don’t do subs for her job, so I’m just stuck.

I did get several estimates for the renovations I want to do to my house, mostly the bathroom and one for the back deck. Still more expensive than I would have hoped, so I ended up for now just getting a new mattress with the base so that I can raise or lower if I need to. And also a new stove. And an exercise bike so I can finally start exercising like I need to.

With the month being shorter, it’s no big surprise my number of books read was lower than last month, although I still feel it wasn’t bad. I also had one DNF that I read almost half of before I gave up. I did decide to drop my Goodreads goal to just an even 200. I don’t want to concentrate on that as much as getting books read from my TBR. Not that I’m doing great with that either though! So, 15 books finished this month compared to 18 for last month. But three less days, three less books? lol Sounds about right.

February Reviews

I’m all caught up on reviews for the most part other than ones that might not be due till March, and an audiobook or two maybe.

Challenge Wrap-Ups

Once again not quite sure how well I’m doing. Although I saw another blogger mention that they are counting DNFs as part of their TBR challenges and that sounds fair, since it does get them off the list and I’ve at least tried reading them.

My goal was 12 for the year and I ended up getting one done that hadn’t been on my original plan. I did end up DNFing A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow. I had been sent a finished paperback copy from the publisher. I tried to pick it up and read it, but just had trouble getting into it. So instead I put it up for a giveaway and it was chosen by last month’s winner. The book I did finish was The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood. I had a book that once again the author/PA decided not to send me the ARC, so I’m pretty much done with that author, and so I had extra time in my schedule and I just decided to pick this one up instead. You guys, if you haven’t read it yet, I can definitely agree with all the hype about The Love Hypothesis. I loved it so much! The link to my review if you want to read it is up above.

Nothing done for this one once again.

This is the one that I for sure want to count a DNF book for. I decided to try a freebie by Emma Scott since I can meet her at Book Bonanza in July (knock on wood it doesn’t get canceled). Now I couldn’t continue because I just can’t find the attraction in someone who smokes, it’s a personal issue from having family members die from lung cancer because they smoked. So I had to quit that one. But I will for sure pick another of her books to give a try. I am going to count this one In Harmony as my first book towards this challenge.

  • Blogging – Still at 78% on Netgalley, but still working on it as well! For my challenges a little bit of work.
  • Reading – According to my Goodreads challenge I was a book behind at my 210 setting. But I decided to reset my goal for 200 and just see where it ends up, if it goes higher, which it probably will as usual. As for my second goal about sequels, nothing done for that yet.
  • Writing – well the weather has canceled a couple of my writing dates. But I did go one Sunday this month to the library to do some editing because now I’ve decided I want to edit up my finished YA novel and get it ready to self publish. I had a writing date with my friend, but didn’t get a lot done as we sat there. I keep not using my writing time wisely. And now I’ve decided to do the editing and polishing. Ugh. I’m so indecisive with my writing. I did have a wonderful hour Zoom call with author Patty Blount on the last Saturday of the month where I got some great tips for not only planning out my stories, but also how I can use those ideas for where I’ve gotten stuck and can’t seem to figure out what comes next.

Bookstagram

Four this month.

Oh yeah, see on the last picture how there is a comment about “promote it on”? I keep getting those and I’ve blocked them, but they keep showing up. It’s so annoying! Does anyone else get that on Instagram?

What To Expect in March 2022

Still hoping for something to slow down a bit at work. At the end of March I’ve got spring break, a week or two later than the other districts I was in before. But in a way I’m happy about that as it means only two months left when we get back. I’ve got a writing vacation planned for spring break. Just going to Branson, but no dogs and no other things to bug me. One of my friends might be going with me. A fellow writer, so that will be good as well. So I’m hoping March is a good month for writing!

Here is my proposed list of books to be read in March:
  1. The Accidental Countess by Emma Hart – for a review on the 4th
  2. Savvy Sheldon Feels Good as Hell by Taj McCoy – an ARC review for either the 5th or 6th
  3. Falling for the Competition by Jen Smith – for a blog tour on the 10th
  4. You Keep Breaking Us by Carrie Aarons – for a blog tour on the 11th
  5. Survive the Dome by Kosoko Jackson – an ARC review for the 12th or 13th
  6. Love on the Lake by Helena Hunting – for an author ARC team review on the 15th
  7. Our Best Shot by A.M. Williams – for a blog tour review on the 17th
  8. Dig Two Graves by Gretchen McNeil – an ARC review on the 19th or 20th
  9. Gouda Friends by Cathy Yardley – a blog tour review on the 22nd
  10. One-Timer by Teagain Hunter – for a blog tour review on the 24th
  11. So This is Ever After by F.T. Lukens – an ARC review on the 26th or 27th
  12. Very Bad People by Kit Frick – an ARC review on the 28th or 29th
  13. Mansplainer by Avery Flynn – hopefully a blog tour review on the 28th?
  14. The Beauty and the Baller by Ilsa Madden-Mills – for a blog tour review on the 31st
  15. Debating Darcy by Sayantani DasGupta – an ARC review on April 1st?
  16. The Date from Hell by Gwenda Bond – an e-galley review on April 2nd?
  17. Well Matched by Jen DeLuca – to try to finally get one done for my series ender challenge
  18. Flow by Kennedy Ryan – audiobook started at end of February, first book by author to meet her at Book Bonanza

Of course there will be audiobooks, and hopefully some reviews posted of the audiobooks I finished in February.

Final Thoughts

So, how was your February? Did you get all the reading you wanted done? Did you have any major winter weather? What are you looking forward to in March?

Giveaway

Below are ARCs I’ve finished and also a couple of finished copies, the winner will get to pick out 3 books from the list. I’ve added some books from an older ARC stack I had too, ones I just don’t know that I’m going to get to. There may even be a few more choices by the end of the month! I will make the giveaway international in that you can pick a book for under $10 if The Book Depository ships to you. Just fill out the Rafflecopter below the picture.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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26 responses to “The Looooong and the Short of It with a Giveaway: February 2022 Wrap-Up Post and What to Expect in March

    • Lisa Mandina

      Yeah, can’t wait for that one, I enjoyed the first one in the series. Thanks for stopping by!

  1. I had a pretty good reading month, but I do want to get more finished in March. I’m really hoping to focus on some Netgalley ARCs as I’m a bit behind. LOL

    We had a lot of snow in the beginning of February, so two snow days from work, which was nice!! It’s mostly been either rainy/cold or a bit warmer.

    -Lauren

    • Lisa Mandina

      I’m good these days with the Netgalley ARCs I get, but I’ve got so many from the past that I never got around to. Two snow days for us too! Now today it is going to be like 80 degrees! Hope you have a good March!

      • Seems like there is a revolving door of sickness these days no matter where you are. Looks like you picked up a lot of cute romances this month. I’ve had my eye on The Love Hypothesis and am just waiting for my library hold to come in. Glad to see you enjoyed it. Hope you have a wonderful March!

        • Lisa Mandina

          Yep, but that’s the way things are though I guess. The Love Hypothesis was a great read! Hope you enjoy it as much when you get your hands on it!

  2. John Smith

    I recently read “The Girl Who Drank the Moon.” It was a pretty good MG or YA fantasy novel!

  3. It stinks that they use your assistant as a sub for other positions. Hopefully things get more stable? I read less in February too. That short month bringing our counts down. Sad to hear Cuban Girl didn’t work for you. I loved that book.

    Sam@WLABB recently posted: Sloth Goes Places: Florida
    • Lisa Mandina

      I know, I was really looking forward to Cuban Girl. I think part of it was just being that it was sent to me after it was published, so I wasn’t as sure about fitting it in. But I have it in my library for my students. As for my assistant being used to sub, she is also now out because her son is sick, so who knows how long till I am not alone in the library anymore. Thanks for visiting!

  4. You Truly Assumed caught my eye in your wrap-up and I read your review. Sounds great! You might be interested in See No Stranger (nonfiction) by Valarie Kaur, a Sikh activist who writes about her life and work in the wake of 9/11. Her positivity and hope in the face of so much tragedy is inspiring.

    Hope things get better in your work situation. It must be stressful having no help.

  5. Danielle Hammelef

    Well, I’m really late to this party LOL but my March has been pretty good–I’ve chosen excellent books to read and review as well as entered a short story competition and received a critique on my picture book manuscript. I read and loved All My Rage recently as well as A Magic Steeped in Poison (need the sequel now!). My current read is In a New York Minute and half way through, I’m enjoying this rom com very much.

    • Lisa Mandina

      Wow! You have had a very busy March, but it sounds like a good busy! I think my March has had a lot of excellent books I’ve read as well. Thanks for stopping by!

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