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.

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