Managing the To-Be-Read Pile

The irony of this post is not lost on me. I feel I must first clarify that when I drafted this post, I was on a roll. I had my ARCs listed neatly in my notebook, I had a schedule almost a month out of posts, and I only ever had about five books on my physical/Kindle TBR list (YES! FIVE). All it took was a wee bit of a reading slump, it lasted about two weeks or so, and things were out of control. 

But still, these are the thoughts I had before the reading slump when I had my A game. Hopefully we can all glean something from this....

Pinterest 

1. Prioritize 

First off all, I like to sit down and list out all the books that I have committed to read from Netgalley, BookLook, or publishers. These are the books that I will read first. That lovely pile of books I just picked up from the library ('Fangirl'!!) or the books I won from giveaways, those books get pushed to the very bottom of the list.

When I am super organized, which is hopefully often, I list the review books by date as well. Books that are 'past due', coming up, and then a month or two out. I can then easily see what books I need to read straight away and which ones I can put off for another week or two. In the past, I have managed this with pen and paper but it is time for me to move on to an Excel spreadsheet methinks.

2. Purge

Yes, I said PURGE. When I am falling behind, I first purge all the library books I have checked out. It hurts, but I can always check them out again. It is a major plus side to libraries :) If I have books that I have borrowed from others (which is rare) and I have had them too long, I just immediately return them to their rightful owner. Again, if I really want to read the book I can check it out.

3. Stop the insanity!

Now this is going to be the hardest part, so bear with me: Quit adding books to your reading lists!! No more Netgalley, Edelweiss, or library. I literally block myself from Netgalley during 'busy periods' because I know that as soon as I log on, I request tons of books! Personally, I haven't even tried Edelweiss 1)because it looks so horribly designed and hard to use but mostly 2)because I know it will cause me to request ALL THE BOOKS.

4. Read, Read, Read! 

 I could write a separate post about this alone. Most importantly: pick books you are most likely to read. Seems obvious doesn't it? But how many times have we gotten sucked in by a pretty cover or a well-written synopsis? Know what you like and stick with it!

Secondly, make time to read. Read during baby nap times, read on the bus or listen to audiobooks while driving everywhere, or read on lunch breaks. Always keeps a book on you whether physical in your purse or ebook on your phone. Or both!

Schedule reading in if you have too! Negotiate time away from the family to read at the local coffeeshop. Block off an hour or two every weekend. Get up early, stay up late :)


I need to start myself over at step one and more strictly adhere to step three. And because I am in a crazy place myself, please share with me your tips for managing that *giant* TBR pile!

A Lady at Willowgrove Hall Review

A Lady at Willowgove Hall by Sarah E. Ladd
Visit the Author's website HERE
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publishing Date: October 7, 2014
Goodreads Summary:

Willowgrove Hall is full of secrets, but soon everything hidden is brought to light.

Cecily Faire has a secret—and she intends to keep it. But when she arrives at Willowgrove Hall to serve as a lady’s companion, she comes face-to-face with the only person who knows the truth about her past.

As the steward of Willowgrove Hall, Nathaniel Stanton is dedicated to serving those around him. Nothing escapes his notice—including the beautiful new lady’s companion. He is certain the lovely Miss Faire is hiding something, and he determines to uncover it. But Nathaniel has a secret of his own: he is the illegitimate son of Willowgrove’s former master. Falling in love was not part of his plans . . . until he meets Cecily Faire.

When Willowgrove’s mistress dies, everything changes. Fear of exposure forces Cecily to leave under the cover of darkness, embarking on a journey to finally find her long-lost sister. When the will is read, Nathaniel’s inheritance makes him question his future plans. Cecily and Nathaniel are forced to make decisions that will change the course of their lives. Is their love strong enough to survive?

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Buy the book from Book Depository today!

My Thoughts:
I can confidently say that 'Willowgrove' is very much so in the vein of the great Austen and even the more recent Alexander. I am so glad I picked this title out from amidst Anne's Twitterature because it was a incredibly well written book.

Unfortunately for you I don't have much to say about this book! Which seems to happen to me when I really like a book. 'Willowgrove' is a great story. There was just the right amount of tension between our main characters, Cecily and Nathaniel. And when I say 'right amount', I truly mean it. There were some heavy pasts for both characters, but the book wasn't about secrets and non-conversations. They both found each other attractive, but not overly so. It wasn't instalove!

And the length! The paperback sits at 343 pages which may sound too long, but was really the perfect length. Ladd had time and space to fully develop the characters and the story into something believable and real. I found the pace to be just right, rather comfortable. I wrote in my notes 'comfortable like cuddling in front of the fire drinking wine'. And this is still the impression I remember after reading this book over a month ago!

With Ladd's attention to detail and in depth regency research, 'Willowgrove Hall' is a beautiful story. Easy to read, easy to love 'Willowgrove' is a must read for those in love with Christian Regency novels. I can also recommend it to those who are looking for a well written, well paced, and well developed novel. I rate this one with 5 stars.

Ever Darkening Cover Reveal

Ever Darkening

by Janeal Falor 

Release Date: 01/28/15

Summary from Goodreads:

Perfection. Goodness. Elimination of evil. It's what seventeen-year-old Kaylyn has trained her entire life to achieve. But no one is prepared for the consequences of her actually defeating all evil people on the planet. Finally successful in her mission, Kaylyn faces an unfamiliar world, full of good people doing good things, in which she no longer has purpose.

When the skies grow dark, and a stranger from another village pleads for her help, her instincts roar to life. It turns out their perfect world isn't exactly what it seems. Kaylyn's new quest, harder than any she's been on before, will rip apart her friendships, her life, and her soul more than any evil man ever managed to.

About the Author

Janeal Falor lives in Utah where she’s finally managed to live in the same house for more than five years without moving. In her spare time she reads books like they are nuts covered in caramel and chocolate, cooks whatever strikes her fancy, and enjoys the outdoors. Her husband and three children try to keep up with her overactive imagination. Usually they settle for having dinner on the table, even if she’s still going on about the voices in her head.

Author Links:

   

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Paper or Plastic Cover Reveal

Paper or Plastic

by Vivi Barnes 

Release Date: 2015

Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

Welcome to SmartMart, where crime pays minimum wage...

Busted. Alexis Dubois just got caught shoplifting a cheap tube of lipstick at the local SmartMart. She doesn’t know what’s worse—disappointing her overbearing beauty-pageant-obsessed mother for the zillionth time…or her punishment. Because Lex is forced to spend her summer working at the store, where the only things stranger than the staff are the customers.

Now Lex is stuck in the bizarro world of big-box retail. Coupon cutters, jerk customers, and learning exactly what a “Code B” really is (ew). And for added awkwardness, her new supervisor is the totally cute—and adorably geeky—Noah Grayson. Trying to balance her out-of-control mother, her pitching position on the softball team, and her secret crush on the school geek makes for one crazy summer. But ultimately, could the worst job in the world be the best thing that ever happened to her?

Pre-Order Links:

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About the Author

Originally from East Texas (the accent comes out more often than not), I now live in the magic and sunshine of Orlando, FL with my very understanding husband and three kids. I’m an extrovert with awkward blogging tendencies. My debut novel, OLIVIA TWISTED, comes out November 5, 2013 from Entangled Teen!

You can connect with me on Facebook,Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest. Or visit the official Olivia Twisted site atwww.oliviatwisted.com.

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Obsidian Mirror Review

Obsidian Mirror by Catherine Fisher
Visit the Author's website HERE
Publisher: Dial
Publishing Date: October 4, 2012
Goodreads Summary: 

Jake's father disappears while working on mysterious experiments with the obsessive, reclusive Oberon Venn. Jake is convinced Venn has murdered him. But the truth he finds at the snow-bound Wintercombe Abbey is far stranger ... The experiments concerned a black mirror, which is a portal to both the past and the future. Venn is not alone in wanting to use its powers. Strangers begin gathering in and around Venn's estate: Sarah - a runaway, who appears out of nowhere and is clearly not what she says, Maskelyne - who claims the mirror was stolen from him in some past century. There are others, a product of the mirror's power to twist time. And a tribe of elemental beings surround this isolated estate, fey, cold, untrustworthy, and filled with hate for humans. But of them all, Jake is hell-bent on using the mirror to get to the truth. Whatever the cost, he must learn what really happened to his father.

I checked out a copy of this book from the library. All opinions are my own. Buy a copy from Barnes and Noble today. 

My Thoughts:
Let's just dive in: There was just too much going on. 'Obsidian' includes a bunch of characters, most of the them playing large parts. Each character had backstory or ulterior motives, 'Obsidian' just felt like an overwhelming tangle of mysteries and storylines trying to unwind. I could tell almost immediately that this novel was too short for what the author was trying to accomplish with all these characters. Telling the story from the different viewpoints of these many characters left me feeling disconnected and I found myself reading too quickly through the chapters.

Wharton and Summer are two characters I just didn't understand. We meet Wharton first as a professor at Jake's boarding school. He has hated Jake all year because of Jake's obvious disobedience and intent on getting expelled. Wharton was just an odd puzzle piece that didn't fit into the rest of the story. He is forced to accompany Jake 'home', ends up staying on a while and then suddenly becomes fiercely loyal and protective of Jake and all this 'friends'.

Summer was just a bummer. Haha I know I rhymed, but sorry it is true. Reading that this book was supposed to include a 'tribe of elemental beings' was one of the bigger draws to this novel, but they play such an inconsequential piece to the larger picture. Fisher could have omitted them completely and the story would have carried on just fine. Summer herself was confusing. The leader of these elemental beings, she appears ancient and powerful. But in the end? She has done squat. Perhaps she plays a larger role in book two?

So why did I keep reading through this giant mess of character and mystery? I wanted to enjoy more of the sci fi elements! Time travel? The overall mystery of the mirror? Umm..YES. This is what I wanted more of.

'Obsidian' is my first Fisher novel and while this particular novel has definitely turned me off of the rest of the series, I don't think it has turned me away from Fisher herself. I'm willing to still try 'Incarceron'. This piece, however, was like an overly long, confusing intro to something I just don't feel inclined to continue. I could only recommend this one to those who are fans of Fisher already. I give it 2 stars.