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

Posted October 1, 2022 by Lisa Mandina in End of the month post, giveaway / 45 Comments

New month, new blog banner! Of course the awesome banner was not done by me, it was done by Michelle at Lima Bean Designs and I am in LOVE with it! I could not wait to put it up!

September dragged on for me. I think it was because I was so ready for fall weather but it seemed until almost the very last week we kept getting hot summer weather. Once again my reading was down, but that was due to just not having as much reading time, as well as some nights I was so exhausted I didn’t feel like reading before bed for an hour like I usually do. I go to bed an hour before I want to sleep just so I can read. But I went to bed that early and just went to sleep I was so tired on a couple nights. There were also a few days at work I didn’t get to have a lunch break where I could sit and read, so that hurt reading time as well.

I did have a DNF too that might have taken away some reading time for finished books too. I actually read one more than number of books I read last month, 15. Of the 18 books I listed as possible reads for this month, I only read 10. A few actually didn’t come out this month yet, one I didn’t get till late from Netgalley, and another was an ARC I had a little trouble getting into right away.

  • # of pages read: 3,380
  • Amount of time spent listening to audiobooks (This could include some time spent last month listening as well since I only count the books when I finish them): 28 hours

September Reviews

Challenge Wrap-Ups

I don’t know why I keep doing this since I’m not getting anymore completed, lol.

Still working on the one I started last month, so still only 4 out of 12 for the year.

  • Blogging: Still at 79% on Netgalley.
  • Reading: As I mentioned last month, I bumped my goal up to 210. I’m currently on track, not ahead anymore.
  • Writing: I might be planning to do NaNoWriMo? Also I won/purchased a cover design during another charity auction, so I now have a cover for the YA novel I’ve finished and am working on polishing up to self publish.

What to Expect in October

Well, my 50th birthday is on the 22nd, so that’s kinda big. Maybe I’ll do a giveaway for that.
Here is my proposed TBR for September: (The first 3 are carryovers from last month)
  1. The Sacrifice by Rin Chupeco – The publisher sent me an ARC and I’m going to give this author one more try, and post a review beginning of October.
  2. The Second Death of Edie and Violet Bond by Amanda Glaze – another ARC from the publisher, hope to read and review at the beginning of October
  3. Big Bad by Lily Anderson – I got the ARC through a trade I think? Started last month, maybe a review the beginning of the month if I get it done?
  4. The Secret Roommate by Sara Ney – I’m on the author’s review team and should be reading and posting a review on the pub date of October 4th
  5. Love & Agita by Grayson Avery – a blog tour review on October 6th
  6. The Witch Hunt by Sasha Peyton Smith – the publisher sent me the ARC of this sequel to a book from last year. I hope to read and post a review by the 8th
  7. When Life Gives You Vampires by Gloria Duke – an ARC I got at Book Bonanza that I hope to read and post a review by the 10th
  8. The Runaway Groomsman by Meghan Quinn – reading for the author’s review team and blog tour review on the 11th
  9. Princess of Souls by Alexandra Christo – I think I won this from Bookish First, it’s a finished copy I hope to read and post the review on the 14th
  10. How to Succeed in Witchcraft – another finished copy I think I got from Bookish First. Hope to read to post a review on the 15h or 16th.
  11. Drizzle, Dreams, and Lovestruck Things by Maya Prasad – I got 3 ARCs of this, two from the publisher and one from a trade on Twitter. Hoping to read and review by the 17th
  12. A Cosmic Kind of Love by Samantha Young – I’m on this author’s review team and should be posting a review on the 18th
  13. Lost Track by Heidi Hutchinson – SPR blog tour review on the 19th
  14. Scoring Chance by Teagan Hunter – should hopefully be reading for a blog tour review on the 20th
  15. Not Since Ewe by Susanna Nix – SPR blog tour review on the 21st
  16. Folk Around and Find Out by Penny Reid – maybe for a blog tour review on the 22nd, my birthday?
  17. Play Smart by Aly Stiles – SPR blog tour review on the 26th
  18. Wait for Me by Sara Shepard – ARC from publisher for review on the 29th I hope!
  19. Ex Appeal by Cathy Yardley – should be reading for a blog tour review on November 1st
  20. Also any audiobooks I listen to and any books I can get through for my library committee.

Final Thoughts

So, how was your September? Did you get all the reading you wanted done? What are you looking forward to in October? Are you getting fall weather yet?

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. 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. I might even do a second winner if we can get over 100 entries into the rafflecopter by the end of the month, we had over 100 in June, August, and September, so I did pick two winners from those Wrap-Up giveaways.

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

  1. wow, your introduction didn’t sound too happy, but then I realized you did devour a lot of books! I hope October is more cheerful for you, and that you have a terrific big birthday. I’m just a few years ahead of you, lol.
    Oh and your new banner is too cute!

    • Lisa Mandina

      Lol, I started out thinking I wasn’t even going to reach the same amount and so had typed it up that way. Had to change it when I got a bit more read! October and fall weather should be better! Thanks for visiting!

    • Lisa Mandina

      Thanks! I love it so much! I’m enjoying pulling my blog page up just to look at it. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!

  2. That looks like a good swag of books read this month. It is annoying being so tired at the end of the day and busy at work so that reading slips off. Yes autumn can be warm for sure.

  3. Your banner is so fun! We have had a real mix of weather in September. It went from being really hot one day to really cold the next and then stayed cold for about a week. We literally went from having the AC on to turning the heat on. Now we are back to normal. I am always more tired in the fall and I always forget that and wonder what is wrong with me. You still had a great reading month even though you didn’t get everything read you wanted to. Have a great October!

    • Lisa Mandina

      Same here! September is so busy at school, but I love October since there’s Halloween and my birthday!

  4. Omg I’m doing horrible at reading books off my tbr too 😂 But, I mean, it looks like you had a pretty good reading month regardless! Happy Spooky Season!

    Liliana recently posted: Spooky TBR
    • Lisa Mandina

      I’m trying harder to not sign up for tons of review tours for authors I haven’t already read. Which I know means I might miss out on some new authors I’d love. But I have so many books I’ve bought that I need to read! lol Thanks for stopping by!

  5. Hi Lisa, Nice roundup! I had a good reading month too—not nearly as many books, but I discovered some good ones, particularly Burntcoat by Sarah Hall, which I’m now recommending to everyone! Hope you have a wonderful celebration for your 50th this month 🙂

    • Lisa Mandina

      I don’t think I’ve heard of that one before, I’ll have to check it out! Thanks for stopping by and sharing!

    • Lisa Mandina

      It’s about the only time I have to read some days if I don’t get a real lunch break at work. And then my dogs don’t let me read much while I’m eating either, lol.

    • Lisa Mandina

      I get what I have scheduled for reviews done, but don’t really get to anything outside of that other than audiobooks. It’s why I’ve had to stop taking on reviews for books unless it is an author I always read. Although the library committee is probably something I should not have taken on now that I think about it.

  6. Danielle Hammelef

    I just finished reading your Sunday weekly wrap up post and love the birthday party theme you had–Tacosaurus–and the cake looked so good. I’m glad you had a great birthday weekend, Lisa! My September was good–the highlight was visiting my parents. October has been good to me too as I got to go on vacation and tour a lighthouse and eat delicious fresh foods. Happy Halloween!

    • Lisa Mandina

      Touring a lighthouse sounds so neat! I have never been to one, but would love to do that some day. Glad you had a nice September with visiting parents too! Happy Halloween to you as well!

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