Tuesday, February 28, 2012

A Ghost From the Shadows by Elizabeth Egan-Cox

Shanon Delaney comes to McArdle Bungalow to do publicity for a dinner theater but finds so much more! Her former flame Alex Blackthorne and a ghost! If that isn't enough, the ghost is a pirate! Set in Catalina, this engrossing tale involves solving a mystery of a pirate's treasure, a little romance, and some interesting interior design fun. This is the second book in the Shannon Delaney series (there are 4).  I enjoyed the first as well (A Ghost of A Chance). I just downloaded the 4th for my Kindle and will review it when I have read it.  I enjoy the author's style of writing and her sense of humor, while not going too far off track when involving a little supernatural element. A great clean read.
< Rating: G

Sex-kissing
Violence-mild
Profanity-zero

Breach of Trust by DiAnn Mills

In this thriller/suspence novel, Paige Rogers lost everything when her entire CIA team was betrayed by their leader.  They were all killed in their last mission, but she escaped and started a new life in hiding.  Now a librarian in a small town, she finds out the man who betrayed her team is running for Governor of her state.  He comes to find her and silence her. I found this a really compelling page turner! It is a Christian based novel but it doesn't cram it down your throat. It is a fascinating clean read.

Rating: PG
Sex-kissing
Violence-mild, mostly tense situations
Profanity-zero

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Behind the Smile; My Journey Out of Postpartum Depression by Marie Osmond

This very touching and very candid look at a very personal experience was an incredible read for me.  I felt like I was going on this journey with her, as Marie Osmond chronicled her walk through the depths of Postpartum depression.  Like many women out there, she didn't even realize what was happening to her.  This is a subject that just wasn't talked about much.  It was interesting to find that her mother had gone through it as well, but had never told her about it until she was going through it herself.  I highly recommend this book to any young mother, whether suffering with postpartum or not. It was insightful to learn how she climbed out of the darkness. There are great gifts given to any women about self esteem and the value of being a mother from reading this book!

Rating: PG
Sex-zero
Violence-zero
Profanity-zero
I rated it PG because the subject matter is somewhat dark but it is completely clean

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster

Guest Review by Dani Potter

This book was originally published in 1912 which is why I love it so dearly. The book is a series of letters from a 17 year old orphan named Jerusha Abbott to Daddy Long-Legs, a mysterious trustee of the orphanage who is paying for her college education to become a writer.  She has never met the man, but got a glimpse of him leaving the orphanage one day.  She only saw his shadow which looked like a huge daddy long-leg spider so she named him Daddy Long-Legs.  Every month he pays her tuition to school & she in turn is required to write him a letter updating him on her life & progress in her education.  Her letters become more frequent as her life new adult life begins to unfold.  I love how involved you start to feel in this young girls life as the letters progress.  It's a WONDERFUL story of overcoming obstacles, growing up , & falling in love.  And, it's CLEAN.

Rating: PG
Sex-zero
Violence-zero
 Profanity-G-d 2, Good L--d 5 (thank the L--d) as well

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

In this sequel to the Twilight Series, Stephenie Meyer takes a look from the viewpoint of one of the young "newborn" vampires from the book Eclipse, Bree Tanner. Being a die hard Twilight fan I just had to get this on my Kindle and give it a go.  It was an intriguing story, looking at the world through the eyes of the newborn without the morals of the Cullen family, but that also made the story extremely violent and pretty gory.  A bit much for my taste.  Ms. Meyer has an amazing way to keep you interested in the story and I couldn't put the book down, but knowing the ending before you begin reading was a bit of a downside. I'm on the fence with recommending this one as a "clean read"--no sex or profanity really, but the violence was pretty strong!

Rating: PG-13
Sex-none
Violence-Extreme
Profanity: D-mn 2, H-ll 2

Mud to Ashes by Gayle Wigglesworth

In a departure from her travel mystery series, Gayle Wigglesworth has created a new character in Karo Meisner, a new divorcee who has moved to California to create a new and different setting for the second half of her life.  She enjoys pottery and joins in the local potters' "scene". She buys 2 dogs to keep her company and while walking them on the beach, stumbles onto a dead body.  The police seem way too interested in her private life and she becomes involved in solving the mystery. Once again Gayle creates a very interesting character and a story that keeps you wanting to read on.  I hope this might be the beginning of another series from Gayle Wigglesworth!
Rating: PG
Sex-zero
Violence-Mild
Profanity-H-ll 6, G-d 4 exclamations, other Thanks to.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Haunts Haven; an LDS Ghost Story by Joan Sowards

I bought this book because the title really intrigued me.  I love a good ghost story and I knew if it was written by an LDS author it would be clean.  From the first paragraph I was engrossed in this charming tale.  Callie inherits her family's century-old inn in southern Arizona (another plus because I am from Arizona!). She didn't believe in ghosts even though every person she meets has a story about the ghost that guards the inn.  Seems everyone has had an encounter with the ghost on her property. She soon begins renovations, gains a new best friend, meets a charming, frustrating, handsome cowboy, and a really great young LDS single rancher. Which one will she choose?  I thought it would be an easy, mystery/romance read, but it really was a deep, twisting story of love, friendship, ghosts, mystery and believing in yourself.  Just when I thought I had everything figured out, I didn't! I loved that. I have found a new author and plan to read more of her books! A great clean read!

Rating: G Squeaky Clean
Sex-kissing
Violence-none
 Profanity-H-ll 1

Monday, February 20, 2012

Hide in Plain Sight by Marta Perry

This is the first the "Three Sisters Inn" mystery/romance series.  When Andrea Hampton's younger sister Rachel is involved in a horrific accident, she leaves her safe, big city job and runs home to help.  But she finds that Rachel and her grandmother are in the process of opening a Bed and Breakfast in the old family home.  It seems ridiculous but with Rachel unable to help get the Inn ready in time for opening, Andrea must help.  However a rash of accidents preventing this from happening, handsome carpenter Cal, and the beautiful Amish Country setting make this an intriguing clean read! For kindle owners, this book is free, give it a try!
Rating: G Squeaky Clean
Sex-kissing
Violence-Mild
Profanity-None

A Christmas to Die For by Marta Perry

The second in the "Three Sisters Inn" series has the story revolving around sister Rachel who finds herself attracted to the grandson of the landowner adjourning the Inn property.  John Hostetler died of a heart attack during a robbery and now his grandson has returned to the family homestead and wants justice. This book covers three enjoyable subjects, mystery, romance, and Christmas.  What more could you ask?  The author is really great at weaving an intricate tale and deeply and carefully constructed characters that are very easy to care about.  I really enjoy her writing.  This is a fun, enjoyable clean read!

Rating: G Squeaky Clean
Sex-kissing
Violence-Mild
Profanity-Zero

Blind Malice by Annis Ward Jackson

This is the first book in a series of mysteries set in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina.  The amateur detective is Rachel Myers who runs a nursing home but finds more than enough time to stick her nose into situations the police would rather she would not.  Rachel travels home to her father's funeral where she feels something was not quite right about his death.  It leads her on a path to finding things she did not know about her father's past.  This is a great read for mystery buffs!  The author is really good at weaving the story and setting up the characters so you care deeply about each one of them.  I love this series!  Just so you know, if you are an Amazon Prime customer and a kindle owner, you can borrow this book for free!
Rating: PG
Sex-none
Violence-mild
Profanity-D-mn 2, H-ll 7, G-d 4 exclamations, some other thanks be to, B-std 2

Buried Sins by Marta Perry

Every month Amazon offers free books on the Kindle.  Once in awhile I will take a chance on one and this one was pretty good.  It was a Christian mystery/romance novel.  I enjoyed it because it was not too "churchy" and not too "gooy" romantic. It was an engaging story right from the beginning and I enjoyed the family ties and emotional bonds that draw you into the story.
   Caroline Hampton's new husband is killed in a car accident and she soon learns he was not who she thought he was.  Apparently she has something someone wants and they are seriously looking for.  Her life is in danger and she flees the city to the only real "home" she has ever known, her family's country inn run by her Grandmother and her sisters.  The Three Sisters Inn is in the heart of Amish country, in Churchville Pennsylvania.  The Police chief immediately takes notice of Caroline and her suspicious behavior.  This was the 3rd in the "three sisters" series is a great Clean Read. Enjoy!
Rating: G  Squeaky Clean
Sex-a kiss
Violence-mild
Profanity-zero  References to God as in Thanking only

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Key Lime Pie by Josi Kilpack

When Sadie Hoffmiller's new friend Eric Burton's missing daughter's body might have been found in Florida, Eric immediately flies down there to investigate.  Sadie is determined to stay out of it but of course that proves impossible.  She is soon involved in trying to find answers for Eric, many interesting southern characters and some incredible southern recipes! A fun clean reads experience!

Rating: G  Squeaky Clean

Sex-zero
Violence-mild
Profanity-zero

English Trifle by Josi Kilpack

This is one of my favorite Josi Kilpack, Sadie Hoffmiller mysteries!  Sadie and her daughter Breanna travel to Great Britain where Breanna's boyfriend Liam is heir to the family title and the estate.  When Breanna and Sadie stumble across a dead body in the sitting room, and then the body disappears, it is of course up to Sadie to figure out just what is happening!  The famous landmarks, Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, etc., are fun to read about, plus Sadie's try at authentic English recipes are a fun mix of a clean read winner!

Rating: G squeaky Clean
Sex-zero
Violence-mild
Profanity-zero

Devil's Food Cake by Josi Kilpack

As part of the committee who has invited a respected author to come speak at a library fundraising event, Sadie Hoffmiller wants everything to be perfect.  She bakes her perfect Devil's Food Cake for the event, but of course, someone dies and she wants to help the police solve the crime.  But they don't want her help.  She can't help but investigate and she seems to keep stumbling across clues and people seem to confide in her along the way.  As usual there are some great recipes included! This is a really fun, clean read.

Rating: G  Squeaky Clean!
Sex-0
Violence-mild
Profanity-H-ll once

Blackberry Crumble by Josie Kilpack

Sadie Hoffmiller becomes an official investigator for hire. She travels to Portland Oregon to take the case of a woman who has suspicions about her father's untimely death. She uncovers business scandles and family skelectons. This is a great read for mystery buffs. Something extra included in these Sadie Hoffmiller mysteries are wonderful recipes. Sadie is a culinary wizard and there are recipes scattered throughout the books. I've tried a few and they are wonderful!

Rating: G Squeaky Clean
Sex-0
Violence-mild
Profanity-G-d faith in loving...

Lemon Tart by Josi Kilpack

In the first of the Sadie Hoffmiller mystery series, Josie Kilpack creates an amazing character who is strong in her beliefs, smart and aggressive, headstrong, yet so loveable you want her to succeed. I am especially drawn to this charcter because she is older, her children are grown and gone from the nest. Her husband has passed and she is finding herself involved in solving the murder of a body found in the back field of her neighborhood. In comes a very handsome police detective. You can guess what happens... I read this book about a year ago so I can't give you the exact number of profanity (if any) in it. I only know that this author rarely uses any. The only word I have ever found is h-ll in any of her books. Usually there is zero. The attraction of the sleuth and the police detective is strong but no funny business! She does not believe in sex before marriage so you will not find any graphic sex scenes in any of Josi Kilpack's Sadie Hoffmiller series.
Rating: G Squeaky Clean
Sex-zero
Violence-zero
Profanity-? not sure but absolutely sure you won't be offended!

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Dead Pan by Gayle Trent

Gayle Trent's 2nd Book in the Daphne Martin mystery series finds Daphne's cake business in peril after half the town gets sick following a cake event. Fred Duncan unfortunately dies and it is up to Daphne to figure out what really happened so her cake/catering business does not suffer the same demise. I really enjoyed this book.
Rating: G Squeaky Clean
Violence-Mild
Sex-0
Profanity-G-d various Praise and Thanks None in vain H-ll zero, D-mn zero

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Murder Takes The Cake By Gayle Trent

Daphne Martin moves back home to start her own cake decorating business, Daphne's Delectable Cakes. When she delivers her first cake to her first customer she finds him dead. Everyone in town believe's it was Daphne's cake that killed the town gossip, Yodel Watson. Daphne recruits her old flame Ben Jacobs to help her prove her innocence. This is the first in a new Squeaky Clean Reads mystery series.
 
Rating: G
Sex-none
Violence-just the murder but no graphic descriptions
Profanity-Lots of Thanking God but no profanity.

Hungar Games by Suzanne Collins

Although there is almost no profanity in this book, this is going to be the harshest book on my website. Suzanne Collins is such a great writer, she draws you into the story from the first paragraph. The landscape she creates for the ruins of "North America" is bleak and the cruel games that are played in which children are pitted against one another to fight to the death were just a bit too violent for me. I was compelled to read to the end to find out what happened to Katniss, but the violent nature of the subject matter was just too much for me. I chose not to read the other 2 books in the series.

Rating PG-13
Sex-There is a bit of romantic stirrings in the young characters but no blatant sex
Violence-There is a lot of violence, killing and fighting
Profanity-H-ll 3, the word kill is used 73 times

Friday, February 3, 2012

You Might as Well Laugh About it Now by Marie Osmond

Marie Osmond recounts the highs and lows of her career and personal life in this touching and often funny memoir.  From the outside I think the world might think she has had the perfect life, but she is candid about the struggles she has had.  Her mother taught her to look at those tough times and step back and find the humor.  You know you are going to laugh about them later, so why not laugh about it now.  I have tried to live my own life that way so I loved her attitude as I read this book.  This is definitely a great read if you need a pick-me-up or you just enjoy biography-type reads.  Squeaky Clean Read!
Rating: G
Sex- zero
Violence- zero
Profanity- zero

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Malice in Mexico by Gayle Wigglesworth

In book 5 of the Claire Gulliver series, the CIA agent, Jack Rallins that Claire has worked with through the series and has been getting close to romantically (Very Mild) shows up at her bookstore looking very broken up and run down. The doctors prescribe some good rest and down time in a good climate so Claire suggests they go to Mexico for a vacation together (again no blatant hanky panky). Jack is extremely reluctant due to Claire's past vacation mishaps with murder and meyham, but relents and they find themselves in beautiful Juanajuato Mexico. However, trouble seems to follow Claire everywhere she goes. I really enjoyed the little bit of romance blended into this clean read! It didn't overshadow the mystery or action of the story.



Rating: PG
Sex - Mild, Claire and Jack finally reveal their feeling so some kissing and romance but very mild
Violence - Mild but a little bit of action, nothing graphic
Profanity - D-mn 5, H-ll 19, G-d 6 three of them are  Thank G-d, Sh-t 6

Cruisin' For a Bruisin' by Gayle Wigglesworth

Claire Gulliver has always dreamed of going on a cruise. Her dream comes true as she embarks on a cruise to Alaska with her mother and a few friends, all women.  They luckily get seated for dinner at a table with 6 interesting people, including 3 single men! Claire immediately starts plotting to find partners for dancing, but of course nothing ever works out the way it should. This is a great adventure with Claire and her mom, a character that is becoming one of my favorites in the mystery genre.  This is the 4th book in this clean reads series.
                                                            
Rating: PG
Sex-none
Violence-Mild
Profanity-G-d 17, but mostly Thanking Him and conversational "God forgave me", etc, H-ll 8, D-mn 1, sh-t 2

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Intrigue in Italics by Gayle Wigglesworth

In the 3rd Claire Gulliver Adventure by Gayle Wigglesworth, my favorite, we find Claire on vacation in Italy with her mom and her mom's friend, where they are attending a cooking school. One day she runs into an old friend... but the old friend won't even acknowledge her.  Then Claire realizes she attended the person's funeral about a year ago.  Of course she cannot let it go.  She has to track down the person and make sure it isn't her friend. Obviously Intrigue ensues! Meanwhile her mother gets mixed up in some Intrigue of her own at the cooking school. This was a really fun, clean read for me!


Rating: PG
Sex-none
Violence-mild
Profanity- D-mn 1, H-ll 6, G-d 15 most as Thank G-d, Sh-t 2.

Washington Weirdos by Gayle Wigglesworth

The 2nd in the Claire Gulliver mysteries by Gayle Wigglesworth finds Claire in Washington where the owner of Vantage Airlines has offered her a golden ticket to ride anywhere, anytime for the rest of her life on their airlines for helping solve the mystery in London in the last book.  While there, she is attacked and thus a new mystery unfolds. This book keeps you on the edge of your seat from the first chapter. These mysteries also have some humor added in, which I really enjoy.  Another fun adventure in clean reading!


Rating: PG
Sex - none
Violence- the attack on Claire but it is not graphic
Profanity - D-mn 2, G-d 14 but almost all are thanking G-d, H-ll 4, Sh-t 1

Pumpkin Roll by Josi Kilpack

If you want a book free of all foul language, sex and violence, this is the book for you.  Josi Kilpack's main character, Sadie Hoffmiller is a no-nonsense, single mom (empty nester) who has a nack for investigating murders.  She has Christian values without cramming them down your throat.  She and her boyfriend go no further than kissing, which is very refreshing in today's media.  Her strongest swear word is "biscuits."  She makes me laugh. On this adventure, she and her boyfriend Pete agree to babysit Pete's granchildren while his son and wife are away for a week.  The minute they arrive at the son's home strange things begin to happen. As the tail of the neighborhood "witch" come into play, Sadie cannot help but try to unravel the puzzle.  I LOVED this book!  It is the 6th book in the Sadie Hoffmiller series.  All of them are entertaining and very clean reads!

Rating: G
Sex - a couple of innocent kisses
Violence - a woman is stabbed, but it doesn't go into any gory detail at all
Profanity - None