Monthly Wrap-Up: February 2017

February 2017I feel like I always start these posts with some surprised exclamation like, OMG, how is it MARCH ALREADY?!

But we’ll move past that and get to the good stuff! First… book mail. I got so many books this month from participation in Irish Banana Blog Tours, a Disney blog tour, Children’s Literature, and directly from Bloomsbury. It was like Christmas all over again! (And if you know my family, you know we just finished celebrating Christmas like four weeks ago, so it’s like the magic continues…)

So here’s my book stash for February 2017:

Have you entered the giveaway for a chance to win TWENTY books?

Also– here’s something you do NOT want to miss. To celebrate the release of Beauty & the Beast: Lost in a Book, I’m hosting a giveaway for an incredible prize pack. One winner will receive TWENTY books, y’all. Here’s the prize pack.

Click the image to visit my blog post and scroll down to find the entry form. So far, there aren’t a lot of entries, so your chances of winning are pretty good.

February 2017 Reviews Revisited

In terms of reviews, here’s what you may have missed…

Wanted by Betsy Schow

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

I’m a huge fan of fairytale characters re-imagined, so this story about Robin Hood’s daughter was a pretty sure bet for me. I loved the way the tales got a bit twisted as the story went on. Fun! Great pick for Ever After High or School of Good and Evil fans.

Above: Broken Sky Chronicles 2 by Jason Chabot

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Really fascinating fantasy tale. This is book two in the series, so I’d recommend starting with book one. I had a hard time following some of the events and wonder how much of that was because I was missing the backstory from the earlier book.

The Blue Moon Narthex by N J Donner

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

Looking for an action-packed story featuring a male protagonist for readers 8-12? You want this one. Trust me.

Nowhere Near You by Leah Thomas

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

I almost fell out of my chair when I learned there was going to be more to Ollie and Moritz’s story which began with Because You’ll Never Meet Me. SO. GOOD. I forgot how much I love those boys.

Piecing Me Together by Renee Watson

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

This is one of my recent favorites. I LOVED Jade and the window into her art, her family, and her struggles in her community. Well done. Check out the post where Renee Watson shared her list of favorite poems about loving life, too.

Denton Little’s Still Not Dead by Lance Rubin

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

I snagged a review copy of this book after hearing Lance Rubin speak on a panel at YALLFest in Charleston last November. He’s hilarious, but also shared a lot about what it’s like to write about best friends. The book is also super funny, and definitely a great testament to friendship.

Dreamland Burning by Jennifer Latham

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

This one pretty much had me at its description of an often overlooked moment in US history. I wasn’t crazy about the POV chosen for the historical parts of the story, but overall– it’s powerfully told. A great read if you’re looking for something that explores history and race relations or if you’re looking for an unusual mystery tale.

When You Never Said Goodbye by Meg Kearney

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

This is the story of an adopted girl now in college who decides to find her birth mother. It’s inspired by the author’s own journey. I loved the poetry and the relationships between Liz and her siblings.

The Fearless Traveler’s Guide to Wicked Places by Peter Begler

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

If you like wacky, otherworldly adventures, this is a must-read. I loved the main character, Nell, and the commentary from her little brother made me laugh out loud.

Book Burners by Max Gladstone, Margaret Dunlap, Mur Lafferty, and Brian Francis Slattery

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

So I got mixed up– this isn’t YA, it’s adult fiction, which I didn’t realize when I agreed to review it. Nonetheless, I found the story really kept me turning pages. It’s told in short episodes (each one is like 50 pages) which can be purchased individually or as a whopping nearly 800 page paperback. You can read the first episode free here.

Liked by Kari Kampakis

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

I picked up this non-fiction title because my daughter is nearing the age where she’ll leap into the social media frenzy. I wanted some guidelines and wisdom as a parent and also a resource for her on how to behave in a godly, responsible way in the wilds of cyberspace. This book is exactly what I needed.

Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly

Review | Amazon | Goodreads

This one had me at Jennifer Donnelly, one of my favorite authors. It reads like a deleted scene from the movie (okay, more than a scene, because obviously there’s a whole book plot that happens) which begins after the Beast gives Belle the library and ends in the library again, ready to resume the familiar story. Great stuff. Also– you can win a copy of this plus NINETEEN other books if you enter the giveaway on my post before 3/10/17.

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About Kasey

Reads things. Writes things. Fluent in sarcasm. Willful optimist. Cat companion, chocolate connoisseur, coffee drinker. There are some who call me Mom.