Wedding Night by Sophie Kinsella

Lottie just knows that her boyfriend is going to propose during lunch at one of London’s fanciest restaurants. But when his big question involves a trip abroad, not a trip down the aisle, she’s completely crushed. So when Ben, an old flame, calls her out of the blue and reminds Lottie of their pact to get married if they were both still single at thirty, she jumps at the chance. No formal dates—just a quick march to the altar and a honeymoon on Ikonos, the sun-drenched Greek island where they first met years ago.

Their family and friends are horrified. Fliss, Lottie’s older sister, knows that Lottie can be impulsive—but surely this is her worst decision yet. And Ben’s colleague Lorcan fears that this hasty marriage will ruin his friend’s career. To keep Lottie and Ben from making a terrible mistake, Fliss concocts an elaborate scheme to sabotage their wedding night. As she and Lorcan jet off to Ikonos in pursuit, Lottie and Ben are in for a honeymoon to remember, for better . . . or worse.

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Since February is all about Valentine's Day, my book club decided to throw our favorite love stories in a hat instead of choosing just one to read for the month. This was my pick, and I was initially excited. I have read one other book by Sophie Kinsella and I enjoyed it quite a bit. I am also familiar with her Confessions of a Shopaholic series from seeing the movie. I remembered her stories to be light romances with a splash of humor, but this one fell short for me. I didn't find the main characters all that endearing, but rather shallow and idiotic. I felt no connection to Lottie, and thought that Ben was a douche from the beginning. I actually preferred Lottie's sister's secondary story line more than hers. The humor in the book often fell flat, and it was way too long. It was a chore at times to keep going. This one was just okay for me.

2015 Reading Challenge: A book set in a different country

Mud Vein by Tarryn Fisher

When reclusive novelist Senna Richards wakes up on her thirty-third birthday, everything has changed. Caged behind an electrical fence, locked in a house in the middle of the snow, Senna is left to decode the clues to find out why she was taken. If she wants her freedom, she has to take a close look at her past.

But, her past has a heartbeat... and her kidnapper is nowhere to be found. With her survival hanging by a thread, Senna soon realizes this is a game. A dangerous one. Only the truth can set her free.

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"Voices have been, and always will be, too afraid to speak with as much volume as a book. That's why writers write-to say things loudly with ink. To give feet to thoughts; to make quiet, still feelings loudly heard."

This book! I don't even know where to start explain this book. It is one of the most well written books I think I have ever read. I literally had no idea what was going on the entire time. Usually when you read a mystery/thriller, you can begin to piece things together and guess what's going to happen next. Not the case with Mud Vein. You don't know anything until you are told. You can guess, but I guarantee that you will be wrong. This story has so many twists and turns that it is impossible to figure out. It's like being trapped in a whirlwind that keeps you constantly spinning, off balance, and unable to find your barrings.  

At the same time, the story is compelling, gripping, and poignant. Senna is an incredibly complex character, whose difficult life has left her damaged. The key to her freedom rests in her past, and a beautifully tragic love story.

"Love doesn't leave. It bears all things"

The ending of this book left me with a book hangover that lasted for days. I kept reliving the story in my mind over and over again trying to find the clues that I had missed. I cannot recommend this book enough. It really is amazing. 

2015 Reading Challenge: A mystery or thriller

Better When He's Bold (Welcome to the Point #2) by Jay Crownover

Some men are just better when they're bold.

Welcome to the Point...

In a dark and broken kingdom, a ruler has to be fearless to control the streets and the ruthless people who run them.

Race Hartman is just bold enough, just smart enough, and just lost enough to wear the crown. Places like the Point will always have bad things and bad people, but the man in control of all that badness can minimize the devastation. Race has a plan, but can he prevent total annihilation without destroying himself?

Brysen Carter has always seen her best friend's brother for what he is--too pretty, too smooth, and way too dangerous to touch. Basking in Race's golden glow is very tempting, but Brysen knows she'd eventually get burned.

When she starts receiving threatening texts and someone tries to take her out in parking lot, the only person interested in keeping her safe is the one man she can't allow herself to have.

Sometimes being bold is the only way to stay alive. But can she let Race save her life . . . if it means losing herself to him?

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Jay Crownover is one of my favorite authors. The quality of her stories and characters is unparalleled, and this book is no exception. Race is an very intriguing character. He comes from money and until he meets Bax, lives a life of privilege, yet he chooses to turn his back on that life after discovering his half sister. At his heart, Race is a good man, but he chooses to do bad things, not because he's bad, but because he hopes to minimize the collateral damage. It's so contradictory and it's fascinating to watch him walk this line, knowing that at any moment he could fall off the edge. Race's story is slightly less dramatic than Bax's, but it's still a page turner and proves that you have to be a special breed to make it in The Point. Definitely worth the read. 

Coming up next in the series if Better When He's Brave, Titus' story, due out in August. I'm super excited for this one!    

2015 Reading Challenge: A book by a female author

Beautiful Redemption (The Maddox Brothers #2) by Jamie McGuire

If A Maddox boy falls in love, he loves forever. But what if he didn't love you, first?

No-nonsense Liis Lindy is an agent of the FBI. Deciding she is married only to her job, she breaks off her engagement and transfers from Chicago to the field office in San Diego. She loves her desk. She is committed to her laptop. She dreams of promotions and shaking hands with the director after cracking an impossible case.

Special Agent in Charge Thomas Maddox is arrogant, unforgiving, and ruthless. He is tasked with putting away some of the world’s toughest criminals, and he is one of the best the Bureau has to offer. Though, as many lives as he’s saved, there is one that is beyond his reach. Younger brother Travis is faced with prison time for his involvement in a basement fire that killed dozens of college students, and the media want a conviction. Travis’s only savior is his unusual tie to the mob. In a deal that will spare his brother, Thomas has agreed to recruit Travis into the FBI.

Liis is stubborn, defiant, and yet somehow softens Thomas’s rough edges, making her the perfect agent to accompany him to the ceremony. Posing as a couple, they must travel to Travis & Abby’s beach vow renewal and give him the news, but when the pretending ends, she finds herself wondering if they were pretending at all.

In the second installment of the Maddox Brothers books, experience firsthand the mysterious world of the elusive Thomas Maddox, and how good love can be when you’re not the first, but the last.

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Jamie left us with quite a bombshell at the end of Beautiful Oblivion, and my heart squeezed for the oldest Maddox brother. In this new installment, we experience the fallout of the previous book, and the result is a fantastic read. I loved Liis. She is a strong, no nonsense character, with just enough spitfire to be able to stand up to a man like Thomas Maddox. Thomas turned out to be a much more dynamic character than I was expecting, projecting one image, while secretly carrying a softer side. There is plenty of family drama in this one, and the only criticism I have is that the whole "getting over the ex" was a little too drawn out. I would recommend reading the whole series in order. While this book probably could be read as a standalone, it contains too much crossover between books that would result in major spoilers. No worries, though. The whole Maddox clan is worth getting to know ;)

2015 Reading Challenge: A book published this year

Ruin Me (Nova #5) by Jessica Sorensen

A part time student, CNA, and caretaker for her slightly deranged mother, Clara McKiney doesn’t have time for a relationship. That’s why her friends with benefits arrangement with sexy and ridiculously charming Jax Hensley works perfectly.

But Jax has other ideas.

The moment Jax met Clara he was instantly drawn to her wittiness, confidence, and gorgeous smile. Even though he agreed to the friends with benefits arrangement, he secretly hopes for more than their weekend hook ups.

When Jax's estranged mother mysteriously disappears, he sees an opportunity to spend more time with Clara. After convincing her to return home with him, a new agreement is made. One road trip and week together to find out why his mom vanished into thin air.

Things are about to get complicated.

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Jax's story is not quite as angsty or dramatic as some of her other novels, but Jax and Clara still have their fair share of obstacles to overcome. It was clear that these two were on a crash course for each other from page one and I loved watching Clara try to resist the charm that is Jax. This was a refreshing change from Jessica's usual emotionally charged stories that leave you emotionally drained after reading them (in the best way possible!). While dealing with some heavy issues, Jax's propensity for inappropriate humor add a slightly lighter feel, which I appreciated. This book can be read as a stand alone, but I would recommend at least reading Wreck Me (although all the Nova books are fantastic, and starting at the beginning is always best!) before picking this one up, as there is some crossover with characters and story lines. Overall, another fine read by Jessica!

Raveling You (Unraveling You #2) by Jessica Sorensen

Ayden Gregory may want to keep running from his nightmares, but he no longer has a choice. His past is catching up with him. And fast. He relies on one person to keep him from crumbling. His best friend Lyric Scott.

Lyric feels helpless watching her best friend’s world turn upside down. But she does her best to remain positive and upbeat. She gets their band their first gig and even with everything going on, her relationship with Ayden starts to heat up.

But when danger enters Ayden’s life again, even Lyric might not be able to help him.

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I am truly envious of Jessica Sorensen's talent. I have no idea how she is able to continually turn out these amazing stories. This one keeps getting better and better. Raveling You is very much a middle book. Jessica does a good job of moving the story along, but the story ends before anything really significant happens. It is all set up very nicely for book three, which I am dying for! It promises to be epic and I think Ayden and Lyric are in for a emotional journey. I am sensing a book hangover in the making, and I can't wait! Thankfully it looks like book three, Awakening You is scheduled to be released in March, followed by a spin-off book, Entangling Us (Sage and Saddie's story). This is a well worth it series.

2015 Reading Challenge: A book you can finish in a day