Murder of a Wedding Belle by Denise Swanson

The Scumble River series by Denise Swanson is a great read.  I've been reading them for a long time.  Skye Denison is a school psychologist who returns home to Scumble River after being away for a long time.  She is the police department's psychological consultant on the side and gets mixed up in just about every murder that happens in the small town.  She is also being pursued by two men in town, Simon, the local Mortician and Wally the Police Chief.  In this outing Skye's cousin, who's been living in LA returns to Scumble River to be married in the most outlandish wedding of the century.  She asks Skye to be her maid of honor. When the wedding planner is murdered 2 weeks before the wedding, Skye steps in to both coordinate the wedding and question everyone involved. High society meets down home folks makes for a lot for humor.  I really enjoyed this book.
PG-13
Sex-mild Skye and Wally have romantic moments, the words smolder make me laugh, but they do sleep together
Violence-mild you don't see the murder, Skye just finds the body
Profanity-D-mn 12, H-ll 9, Ass 9, S-it 6, B-tch 2, G-d 1 they refer to God many times in a good way

Deader Homes and Gardens by Joan Hess

I've been reading Joan Hess books for years so I was excited to find her newest book had come out. She writes with a lot of humor but also with a serious hand on murder.  The cast of characters in this book is what amused me and kept me reading.  Claire owns the local bookstore, she is married to Peter who has secret ties to the FBI and a teenage daughter who is very dramatic and speaks in Capital Letters Mom! This cracks me up!  Her very recent marriage has made their living arrangements extremely close quarters so it is time to go house hunting.  She finds the perfect house, however buying it is complicated, the owners end up dead and the extended family (the strange, funny, wacko cast of characters) don't want outsiders buying any home in their commune. When the agent showing the house to Claire comes up missing, Claire believes it isn't a coincidence, and the deaths of the owners just might have been murder, and so the mystery begins.  I hadn't read a Claire Malloy mystery in quite awhile and I was a little surprised at how much profanity was in it.  It wasn't extreme, no words that made me uncomfortable, but enough to give it a PG-13. But I still really loved it.
PG-13
Sex-none
Violence-mild murder is discussed but nothing graphic
Profanity- D-mn 14, H-ll 6, S-it 3, Ass 3, G-d 2 other remarks referring to God, B-stard 2, B-tch 2

I Love a Parade by Gayle Wigglesworth

This short novella by our Author of the month was a fun, quick read. It finds our latest friend in her newest series from "Glenda at large" on her rambling, meandering way toward the rest of her life.  She has car trouble near a small town in Texas and has to stay a few days, so she finds a quaint little bed and breakfast and starts making temporary, but sweet and colorful friends.  It just so happens they are having their annual parade the next day and it sounds like a fun time with a local bar-b-que at the end.  Glenda makes plans to join in the fun.  She buddies up with a man who is auditing the local bank who loves a good bar-b-que and they make plans to meet up to watch the parade and enjoy a good meal but when he doesn't show, Glenda get that old feeling that something is amiss. I love this character and can't wait for the next Glenda at large mystery!

  Rating: PG
Sex-zero
Violence-mild
Profanity-H-ll 1, G-d exclamation 2, Sh-t 1

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.

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!

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

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.

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

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

Tea Is For Terror by Gayle Wigglesworth

Genre: Cozy Murder Mystery,  Some of her books are only available in Kindle Version
This is the first book in the Claire Gulliver series which finds bookstore owner Claire compelled to spearhead a tour group trip to London because the original leader has an "accident" and cannot go.  Soon other mysterious accidents begin to occur and Claire gets embroiled in a puzzling mystery that begins her fun adventures.  I loved this book from the first page.  I had just returned from a vacation to London when I read it and Ms. Wigglesworth was great with every detail of the geography and landmarks.  This is a great clean reads series.


Rating: PG
Sex - zero
Violence - moderate, it's a murder mystery so people are killed, but it is not explained in detail, it is not gruesome.
Profanity - G-d: 6 times, mostly used as "thank  God", D-mn 7 times, H-ll 7 times