I didn't make a list of resolutions this year, however I did decide that something had to change. Too many projects were being overlooked; too many articles were being turned in late. I had emails that had been sitting in my inbox, unanswered for over a month. So I decided a change in schedule was needed.

So, I sat down with a list of things that I needed to do on a daily and weekly basis in order of priority. Then, I set out and made a schedule for myself I am happy to report I have been working within my new schedule for a month, and it has been working wonderfully.

Every morning I wake up at 7:00AM. For me, making sure that I get up at the same time really helps get things started. After having some time with God, I open up my computer and start work for the day.

For the first half hour I am on, I only open up my email. No Facebook, Goodreads. I sometimes open up blogger if I have an interview in my inbox that I need to post, but other than that, I remain only in my email.

Most of the rest of the morning I am working on guest posts, blogging, and I check my social media sites. If I have a book review to write, this is when I do it.

After taking a break for lunch, I spend the afternoon and early evening writing and/or editing. This takes up most of my day. I may be interrupted a few times, but I get right back to work. This has been the most important time for me as a writer. I see how quickly my stories can develop when I am spending time on them everyday.

At about 6 or 7:00PM, I am ready to relax. However, I don’t want to waste a lot of time before bed either. I have been pulling out sewing or other projects and working on them while I watch movies. In fact, I just finished a quilt for my bed while doing this.

Often, at around nine or ten, I will get ready for bed and curl up with a good book until I am ready to go to sleep.

How is your schedule working for you? Do you have any tips for getting things done?

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Age Appropriate For: Ages 15 and up for romance

Best for Ages: Ages 18 and up

Description: What started as a whim turned into an accidental - and very public - engagement. Can Layla and Seth keep up the facade in Chapel Springs this holiday season - for the sake of her career . . . and his heart?

Under normal circumstances, Seth Murphy, the best friend of Layla O'Reilly's ex-fiancé would be the last person she'd marry. But the news of their upcoming (and phony) nuptials convinces a big client that Layla may be high-society enough to work for his agency, a coup that would put her fledgling home-staging business on the map. Seth has secretly loved Layla for years, even when she was dating his best friend. Maybe she'll never forgive him for the way he hurt her back then, but he has to try. And Layla is willing to keep up their engagement farce until she's landed her client. For Layla, it's the chance to save her career. But for Seth, it's his last chance to win her heart.

Sometimes, I get tired of reading heavy books: good books that are full of intricate plots, deep characters, and challenging messages. Sometimes, I just want to read a syrupy sweet romance that is almost pure fluff. One evening, that is what I was in the mood for, and this book qualified.

This book was not only a light read, it was very funny. I laughed a lot as the story unfolded. Who can help but laugh when a guy tries to come to the defense of a girl and ends up making the entire room believe that they are engaged to be married in two weeks?

Layla has had a rough time of it, as her cousin stole her fiancé, and she has to attend the wedding. She used to be friends with Seth but she feels he helped get her cousin and fiancé together. I thought the author did a great job developing Layla’s problems and solving them in the short pages of the novella without making it feel rushed.

The only scene I didn’t like in the book was when Layla walked in and Seth has his shirt off. That might have been okay if he had rushed to put one on, but he remains shirtless giving Layla plenty of time to admire him. It wasn’t awful; it just felt uncomfortable to me. However, it did not ruin the story.

The ending was sweet, albeit predictable. I really enjoyed this book and hope to read more by this author and in this series.

I recommend this book as a light, fluffy read.

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I received this book from Zondervan through BookSneeze in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

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Age Appropriate For: 15 and up for scary scenes, mild romance, and violence

Best for Ages: 15 and up

Description: Rose has been appointed as a healer's apprentice at Hagenheim Castle, a rare opportunity for a woodcutter's daughter like her. While she often feels uneasy at the sight of blood, Rose is determined to prove herself capable. Failure will mean returning home to marry the aging bachelor her mother has chosen for her—a bloated, disgusting merchant who makes Rose feel ill. When Lord Hamlin, the future duke, is injured, it is Rose who must tend to him. As she works to heal his wound, she begins to understand emotions she's never felt before and wonders if he feels the same. But falling in love is forbidden, as Lord Hamlin is betrothed to a mysterious young woman in hiding. As Rose's life spins toward confusion, she must take the first steps on a journey to discover her own destiny.

Yet another brilliant tale from Melanie Dickerson! I have yet to be disappointed by her books. I only have one book of hers that I haven’t read and I look forward to it.

I was very curious as to how Melanie was going to pull off a retelling of Sleeping Beauty. I was very impressed with the creativity of this tale. Although there are many things that are not a surprise (after all, this is a well-known fairy tale), there were many points in the story where I was on the edge of my seat.

Rose was a sweet character. I loved the struggle within her between becoming a healer and her revolution at the sight of blood. I also really loved that she makes some mistakes when it comes to love, without doing the wrong thing. I think that their needs to be more stories like this to encourage young girls that you can make mistakes, but you can always start to make the right ones.

Lord Hamlin was another honorable hero that I just loved. I really loved his tug between his feelings for Rose and his resolution to remain faithful to his betrothed that he has never met. The contrast between Lord Hamlin and his brother was wonderful.

I must admit, some of the scenes with Moncore and dealing with demons were a little creepy at times. However, I loved that God was stronger than anything that the villain can do. Parents of younger readers might want to read the book first and discuss these scenes with their children.

I highly recommend this book for those who love good morals, fairy tales, and characters you can really cheer for.

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Fly Away Home, 1952 New York City: Callie Harper is a woman set to make it big in the world of journalism. Liberated from all but her buried and troubled past, Callie craves glamour and the satisfaction she knows it will bring. When one of America's most celebrated journalists, Wade Barnett, calls on Callie to help him with a revolutionary project, Callie finds herself co-pilot to a Christian man whose life and ideas of true greatness run noisily counter to hers on every point. But when the secrets of Callie's past are hung over her head as a threat, there is space for only one love, one answer: betray Wade Barnett to save her reputation, or sacrifice everything for the sake of the man she loved and the God she fled. The consequences of either decision will define the rest of her life. Self-preservation has never looked more tempting.

Rachel Heffington is a Christian, a novelist, and a people-lover. Encouraged by her mother to treasure books, Rachel's favorite pastime was (and still is) reading. When her own library and her cousin's ran out of interesting novels, twelve-year old Rachel decided she would write her own; thus began a love-affair with word-crafting that has carried her past her teen years and into adulthood. Outside of the realm of words, Rachel enjoys the Arts, traveling, mucking about in the kitchen, listening for accents, and making people laugh. She dwells in rural Virginia with her boisterous family and her black cat, Cricket. Visit Rachel online at www.inkpenauthoress.blogspot.com

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Age Appropriate For: 15 and up for romance, mild violence, and some situations

Best for Ages: 15 and up

Description: Patience Creighton will finally find the peace she lost years ago--if she can open her heart and forgive the man who loves her. Bright, sensible Patience knows what is expected of her. At twenty-five, her opportunity for a family of her own has passed, so she finds contentment teaching at her father's school for girls. When her father dies suddenly and her brother moves away to London, she is determined to keep her father's dream alive. Confirmed bachelor William Sterling also knows what is expected of him, but mistake after mistake has left him teetering on ruin's edge. As master of Eastmore Hall he owns a great deal of land but possesses little money to manage the upkeep. He is desperate to find a new source of income, including the sacrifice of land connected to Rosemere. When her brother returns with a new wife to take over management of the school, Patience is heartbroken to no longer be responsible for her beloved school and is forced to reassess God's purpose for her life. After her sister-in-law's matchmaking brings Patience and William together, they both learn new truths about their character and find a common goal in restoring Eastmore's legacy.

After having had the privilege of Sarah Ladd’s début The Heiress of Winterwood: I was even more excited to see what the second book in the series would be about. I have to say that I thought The Headmistress of Rosemere was even better than Sarah Ladd’s first book.

This story was far deeper than I first thought it was going to be. I really thought I had it all figured out toward the beginning and even as I edged toward the middle. However, as soon as her brother returns the story began to take twists I never saw coming. It was a wonderful story that kept me turning pages.

My only complaint for the entire book was a revelation about William’s character. I don’t want to give away any part of the book. However, I felt like one huge revelation of William’s past was too late in the book. William had a troubled, even sinful past that he is working hard to get away from. You are starting to see the change in him when you find out another secret about him. This is my own and only complaint about the entire story.

Patience was amazing. I have read few books where I felt a character was so well developed. It reminded me very much of a Jane Austen book character. At the beginning I felt as if everyone was making her life hard, and then I began to understand that she didn’t see everything correctly. To me, that is something only a master character creator can do.

The setting like the last book was delightful. It was the feeling of your favorite Jane Austin. The dresses, the customs, and the houses are all so fun. The historical daily life details are woven into the story flawlessly.

The faith element in this book was so nice. It wasn’t overpowering, but it was strong. It was woven into the tale very well and didn’t seem forced at all. It was stronger and better than Ladd’s last book.

I highly recommend this book to those who like Jane Austen, well developed characters, and well told tales.

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I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.