The Substitute by Denise Grover Swank

     "Megan Vandemeer meant to tell her parents about her broken engagement, but a month and a half later she finds herself boarding a plane home to her wedding. Having stretched avoidance to its limits, it's time to come clean - a terrifying prospect since her mother is sure to blame her rather than her cheating, emotionally frigid ex. A couple of drinks and two Dramamine later, Megan finds herself spilling her sob story to the tall, dark, and handsome stranger in the seat next to her. 
      With only one week left to save his business, Josh McMillan boards a plane to Kansas City in a last-ditch effort, leaving the details to chance. An unexpected answer is delivered in the form of the beautiful brunnette beside him. Though she's completely loopy, her honesty, openness, and humor charm him. So when she passes out before landing, he helps her off the plane - a good deed that leads to a colossal misunderstanding. Her parents assume he's her fiance. In a twist of fate, the mix-up might help Josh save his business, so he plays along, figuring he can help Megan too. All he has to do is stage a public break up convincing enough to appease her mother.
      Josh is only supposed to be a substitute groom, but the more time he and Megan spend together, the more their pretend engagement start to feel real... and the less they want to break it off. Can a relationship that began as a farce turn into happily ever after?"


      This novel with two fun, charismatic characters definitely keeps you on your toes. However, there is some language that is inappropriate, as well as there is quite a lot of sexual references and descriptive scenes that would also be inappropriate for a younger audience. I would not suggest this as a clean read.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

The Little Wedding Shop by the Sea by Jane Linfoot

      "Brides by the Sea, the cutest little wedding shop in all of Cornwall, has it all, including cake baker Poppy who lives upstairs. But wedding planning is not the piece of cake Poppy thought it would be, and when her best friend Cate's wedding planner walks out, Poppy has to tie up the loose ends so her bestie can tie the knot. 
       Double-booked venues, 'rustic' locations and gorgeous but grumpy farmer Rafe have this wedding pro feeling like she could be Cate's 'something blue'.
       Will the wedding, the shop and the cake all come crashing down on her? Or will Poppy pull it off to give Cate - and herself - the happy ever afters they deserve?"






       While a cute wedding romance, this novel has a little too much for younger audiences. There are multiple uses of crude language, but also a few descriptive sexual references. Though the main sexual scene is cut out, there are still sparks that reference an adult relationship. This ultimately causes me to not want to suggest this book for those wanting a clean read.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

Bon Bons to Yoga Pants by Katie Cross

      "Lexie Greene has always had such a pretty face.
       Unfortunately, that's where it seemed to stop. She's grown up hearing her Mother constantly remind her that she needs to lose weight. And twenty-two-year-old Lexie knows she's overweight. 
       With her younger sister's wedding on the horizon and a crush to stalk on Facebook, Lexie's had enough. She gives up her constant daydreams about food and joins a dieting group. As the pounds melt away at the gym, she finds that life on the other side of junk food isn't what she thought.
      Bon Bons to Yoga Pants is an inspirational hit about a girl coming to terms with herself, and her past, all while navigating a world of food and fitness."







This book was a very good read. The language was kept clean, as well as the romance. It also inspired girls to stand up for who they are and to take care of their bodies, while dealing with emotional stress head-on. I found this a very fun, enjoyable read and perfect for an inspirational, clean read!

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

Dare to Love by Carly Phillips

      "She arouses his dominant and protective instincts
       And he will do anything to possess her...
       And does.
      When billionaire Ian Dare gets one glimpse of the sensual and irresistible Riley Taylor, he knows that he must have her. But any future he might have with Riley means he'll have to confront his past - a past he'd rather forget. And that's something this NFL team owner won't dare to do - not even for love."




This romance novel was very sexually graphic and contained many sexual scenes from start to finish. It would definitely not be good for those wanting a clean read.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

Love Handles (A Romantic Comedy) by Gretchen Galway

      "The world of fitness apparel isn't ready for Beverly Lewis. She hates the gym, is nice to everybody, and shops at Ross Dress for Less. When she's not teaching preschool, she's wearing yoga pants... to nap in. So when she inherits her estranged grandfather's fitnesswear company in San Francisco, nobody expects her to keep it. Fite Fitness needs a heartless suit to save if from bankruptcy, not a thirty-year-old woman who cries when her students leave for kindergarten.
      Someone like Liam Johnson. A former Olympic swimmer, Liam is Fite's executive vice president. Unlike Bev, he's devoted his life to Fite's success. Managing one little preschool teacher - and his attraction to her - shouldn't be an issue. Right?
      But Bev's tired of being underpaid and underrated, and refuses to step aside as an obedient figurehead. To everyone's shock and horror, she moves up to San Francisco, sets up an office, and dives into the business. Nothing - not mockery, not exercise, not sabotage, not a disastrously hot night with her aggravating VP - is going to scare her away. As Liam realizes she's tougher than she looks, he discovers that losing Fite might not be nearly as bad as losing her...
      A story about the pursuit of love, happiness, and the perfect yoga pants, Love Handles will speak to anyone who's ever had to face what scares her most.
      Warning: contains at least two love scenes and a happy ending."


      This was a cute chick-lit. However, there were some instances of language, as well as the romance was not kept clean. There were several scenes with not only sexual references, but very plain sexual language as well. I would not recommend this book for anyone wanting a clean read.


Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

Letters in the Jade Dragon Box by Gale Sears

      Truth. In mainland China from 1949 to 1976, truth is all but eradicated, suppressed and supplanted by the iron will of Mao Tes-tung. Millions of people suffer untold anguish as their history, their culture, and their lives are brought under communist rule. Many flee to Taiwan and Hong Kong.
      As a child, Chen Wen-shan was taken from her family home in mainland China and sent to live with her great-uncle - a former general in the Nationalist Chinese army who had become one of the first converts to the LDS Church in Hong Kong. For ten years, Wen-shan has carried the sorrow of abandonment in her heart, with few memories of her life before. But at the death of Chairman Mao, fifteen-year-old Wen-shan receives a mysterious wooden box that holds a series of beautiful paintings and secret letters that reveal the fate of the family she has not heard from in more than a decade. 
      As Wen-shan and her great-uncle read the letters in the jade dragon box, they discover an unbreakable bond between each other, their family - both past and present - and the gospel of Jesus Christ. 
   

      This novel was beautifully written. It is an LDS christian novel and tells a lot about the faith and miracles that were happening at that time. It was very enlightening as to the condition of the Chinese people under the rule of Mao Tse-tung, and it was a very enjoyable, clean read.

Read More

The Leavers by Lisa Ko

      One morning, Deming Guo's mother, Polly, an undocumented Chinese immigrant, goes to her job at a nail salon - and never comes home. No one can find any trace of her. With his mother gone, eleven-year-old Deming is left mystified and bereft. Eventually adopted by a pair of well-meaning white professors, Deming is moved from the Bronx to a small town upstate and renamed Daniel Wilkinson. But far from all he's ever known, Daniel struggles to reconcile his adoptive parents' desire that he assimilate with his memories of his mother and the community he left behind. 
      Told from the perspective of both Daniel - as he grows into a directionless young man - and Polly, Ko's novel gives us one of fiction's most singular mothers. Loving and selfish, determined and frightened, Polly is forced to make one heartwrenching choice after another. 
      Set in New York and China, The Leavers is a vivid examination of borders and belonging. It's a moving story of how a boy comes into his own when everything he loves is taken away, and how a mother learns to live with the mistakes of the past. 

This is a very eye-opening novel of many different aspects. From cultural acceptance, to finding acceptance, to learning of one's own path, there were many different things to learn. However, this novel did have a large amount of swearing and some sexual references. The sexual references were kept very discreet and non-descriptive. But the high amounts of language alone would make me not recommend this book to anyone wanting a clean read.

Read More

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

      "Born a generation apart and with very different ideas about love and family, Mariam and Laila are two women brought jarringly together by war, by loss and by fate. As they endure the ever escalating dangers around them - in their home as well as in the streets of Kabul - they come to form a bond that makes them both sisters and mother-daughter to each other, and that will ultimately alter the course not just of their own lives but of the next generation. With heart-wrenching power and suspense, Hosseini shows how a woman's love for her family can move her to shocking and heroic acts of self-sacrifice, and that in the end it is love, or even the memory of love, that is often the key to survival."







         Khaled Hosseini brings a new understanding of the people in Afghanistan during the troubling times of the last century. There are definitely adult themes of marital relations, abuse, relations outside of marriage, and parental sacrifice, as well as violence of the time, including talk of beatings, killings, torture, rape, and death. Hosseini keeps the descriptions as clean as possible, while still describing the horrors of the time. This made for a very good read, not shying away from difficult topics and the realities of life for these people. I would suggest this book to all to help further understand people of this culture and background, yet I would not suggest it to those wanting a light-hearted, comical novel.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn

      "Talia fell under a spell... Jack broke the curse.
      I was told to beware the accursed spindle, but it was so enchanting, so hypnotic...
      I was looking for a little adventure that day I ditched my tour group. But finding a comatose town, with a hot-looking chick asleep in it, was so not what I had in mind.
      I awakened in the same place but in another time - to a stranger's soft kiss.
      I couldn't help kissing her. Sometimes you just have to kiss someone. I didn't know this owuld happen. 
      Now I am in dire trouble because my father, the king, says I have brought ruin upon our country. I have no choice but to run away with this commoner!
      Now I'm stuck with a bratty princess and a trunk full of her jewels... The good news: my parents will freak!
      Think you have dating issues? Try locking lips with a snoozing stunner who turns out to be 316 years old. Can a kiss transcend all - even time?"

      A classic fairy tale with a twist! This novel was very clever, with an overall theme of creating strong family ties and supporting, though imperfect, parents. There were a couple crude words, girls flaunting their bodies to get a boy's attention, and a party scene with some drinking, poorly dressed girls, and a boy feeling up a girl. This all comes across as being unacceptable and the ensuing romance is perfectly clean. The main male character also undergoes a change and sets goals to become better. Overall great morals and mostly clean, but not for someone looking to read to a younger crowd.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling

      "When Barry Fairweather dies unexpectedly in his early forties, the little town of Pagford is left in shock.
      Pagford is, seemingly, and English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty facade is a town at war. 
      Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils... Pagford is not what it first seems. 
      And the empty seat left by Barry on the town's council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?"




      J.K. Rowling's first adult novel certainly has a lot of adult content within. I found the many sexual references and sexual actions to be a bit alarming. There was also a very high level of crude language, as well as drug abuse (mainly teenage drug abuse). There was also a theme of unfaithfulness between husbands and wives. All of these things combined made it for a very troubling novel. I believe this was Rowling's purpose, however, as at the end we are left contemplating on human nature's selfish ways and the injustices happening all around us. This novel made me want to stand up and do more to help those around me. Unfortunately, with the mature themes, sexual references, and crude language,  this would not be appropriate for those wanting a clean read.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

Beastly by Alex Flinn

      "I am a beast.
      A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright - a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.
      You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll stay this way forever - ruined - unless I can break the spell. 
      Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beat who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly... beastly."




      While mostly clean, there are a few sexual references at the beginning of this novel. References to prostitution, sex, and drinking are made in a joking matter. There are also a very few crude words. However, as the main character changes, the references stop occurring and the ensuing romance is perfectly clean. I liked the themes of kindness and of being good, even if from a not-so-perfect family situation. I would suggest this as a clean read if not for the few references at the beginning of the novel.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden

      "Speaking to us with the wisdom of age and in a voice at once haunting and startlingly immediate, Nitta Sayuri tells the story of her life as a geisha. It begins in a poor fishing village in 1929, when, as a nine-year-old girl with unusual blue-gray eyes, she is taken from her home and sold into slavery to a renowned geisha house. We witness her transformation as she learns the rigorous arts of the geisha: dance and music; wearing kimono, elaborate makeup, and hair; pouring sake to reveal just a touch of inner wrist; competing with a jealous rival for men's solicitude and the money that goes with it. 
      In Memoirs of a Geisha, we enter a world where appearances are paramount; where a girl's virginity is auctioned to the highest bidder; where women are trained to beguile the most powerful men; and where love is scorned as an illusion. It is a unique and triumphant work of fiction - at once romantic, erotic, suspenseful - and completely unforgettable."

      While a startling reality of a geisha's life, this novel tells of some unfortunate truths of the trade. Containing a large amount of sexual content, many of these scenes would not be appropriate for a younger audience, or for anyone wanting to avoid such topics. There are also many accounts of drinking and smoking (as was acceptable at the time). However, the constant sexual content alone, while historically accurate, would make it very uncomfortable for those looking for a clean read.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments, Book 1) by Cassandra Clare

      "When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?
      This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know..."

      This action-packed novel definitely keeps the reader entertained. There are a few instances of crude language, but these are very few and far between. There are also a couple of comments referring to sex, but these are mainly commented in sarcasm, with no further details. The romance was also kept clean, with nothing other than a few passionate kisses. Overall, I found this to be a pretty clean novel and would suggest it for those looking for an adventurous story line. 

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

      "I wonder how the book got to Guernsey? Perhaps there is some sort of secret homing instinct in books that bring them to their perfect readers. January 1946: London is emerging from the shadow of the Second World War and writer Juliet Ashton is looking for her next book subject. Who could imagine that she would find it in a letter from a man she's never met, a native of the island of Guernsey, who has come across her name written inside a book by Charles Lamb...
      As Juliet and her new correspondent exchange letters, Juliet is drawn into the world of this man and his friends - and what a wonderfully eccentric world it is. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society - born as a spur-of-the-moment alibi when its members were discovered breaking curfew by the Germans occupying their island - boasts a charming, funny, deeply human cast of characters, from pig farmers to phrenologists, literature lovers all.
      Juliet begins a remarkable correspondence with the society's members, learning about their island, their taste in books, and the impact the recent German occupation has had on their lives. Captivated by their stories, she sets sail for Guernsey, and what she finds will change her forever.
      Written with warmth and humor as a series of letters, this novel is a celebration of the written word in all its guises, and of finding connection in the most surprising ways."

      This was a very good novel, bouncing around from many different characters' views, while keeping the overall mood light and humorous. The action was kept clean, though there are some harsh realities of the horrors of World War II, but they are also kept light. The descriptions of the prisoner camps focus not on the cruelties, but rather on the personal strength of those within. There are a few crude words, but not so many that it becomes a theme of the book. I would suggest this as a fun, inspiring clean read.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

Poison Study (Soulfinders Book 1) by Maria V. Snyder

      "Murder, mayhem, and magic...
      Locked in a coffin-like darkness, there is nothing to distract me from my memories of killing Reyad. He deserved to die - but according to the law, so do I. Here in Ixia, the punishment for murder is death. And now I wait for the hangman's noose. 
      But the same law that condemns me may also save me. Ixia's food taster - chosen to ensure that the Commander's food is not poisoned - has died. And by law, the next prisoner who is scheduled to be executed - me - must be offered the position."










      This is a very well-written adult novel. The action is continuous throughout, while flashing back to the main character's haunting past. While there are some serious events, the language is kept clean enough to understand the severity and cruelty of the actions, but are at the same time kept discreet. This includes several murders, a rape, and a near sexual assault (in which the main character, through her past struggles has gotten stronger and ends up thwarting her attacker). There is also an extremely clean romance. All in all, I found this novel to not shy away from the harsh realities of an unfortunate life, while keeping the descriptions to a minimum. This isn't a feel-good novel, but rather one about fighting one's demons in life and conquering them.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

The Forgotten Room by Karen White, Beatriz Williams, and Lauren Willig

      "1945: When critically wounded Captain Cooper Ravenel is brought to a private hospital on Manhattan's Upper East Side, young Dr. Kate Schuyler is drawn into a complex mystery that connects three generations of women in her family to a single extraordinary room in a Gilded Age mansion.
      Who is the woman in Captain Ravenel's miniature portrait who looks so much like Kate? And why is she wearing the ruby pendant handed down to Kate by her mother? In their pursuit of answers, they find themselves drawn into the turbulent stories of Olive Van Alan, driven in the Gilded Age from riches to rags, who hired out as a servant in the very house her father designed, and Lucy Young, who in the Jazz Age came from Brooklyn to Manhattan seeking the father she had never known. But are Kate and Cooper ready for the secrets that will be revealed in the Forgotten Room?"


      This novel has a very intriguing story line as it follows three different females living in three very different lifestyles, yet all somehow connected. The language was kept very clean, but there were multiple sexual scenes. While not describing too many details, sexual relations are implied and there are also several references to bare breasts and nudity. Some of these are in relation to posing for art, but these instances generally lead to more serious actions. A very good romance, this novel leaves you at the end satisfied, yet lingering on how things could have gone differently. However, there are the sexual scenes that would make it a bit uncomfortable for those looking for a clean read. 

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella

      "Workaholic attorney Samantha Sweeting has just done the unthinkable. She's made a mistake so huge, it'll wreck any chance of a partnership. 
      Going into utter meltdown, she walks out of her London office, gets on a train, and ends up in the middle of nowhere. Asking for directions at a big, beautiful house, she's mistaken for an interviewee and finds herself being offered a job as housekeeper. Her employers have no idea they've hired a lawyer - and Samantha has no idea how to work the oven. She can't sew on a button, bake a potato, or get the #@%# ironing board to open. How she takes a deep breath and beings to cope - and finds love - is a story as delicious as the bread she learns to bake. 
      But will her old life ever catch up with her? And if it does... will she want it back?"





      Though a clever story, this novel has quite a high level of coarse language. There are also several sexual scenes that go into a bit of details that make it uncomfortable for those looking for a clean read. While a cute book about someone who is absolutely clueless in the home, while brilliant in the office, the sexual scenes and the moderately high levels of bad language would have me discourage anyone looking to read this novel.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

The Pelican Bride (Gulf Coast Chronicles, Book 1) by Beth White

      "It is 1704 when Genevieve Gaillain and her sister board a French ship headed for the Louisiana colony as mail-order brides. Both have promised to marry one of the rough-and-tumble Canadian men in this New World in order to escape religious persecution in the Old World. Genevieve knows life won't be easy, but at least here she can establish a home and family without fear of beheading. But when she falls in love with Tristan Laneir, an expatriate cartographer whose courageous stand for fair treatment of native peoples has made him decidedly unpopular in the young colony, Genevieve realizes that even in this land of liberty, one is not guaranteed peace. And a secret she harbors could mean the undoing of the colony itself."





      This was a very well done Christian novel. The characters and the action stayed captivating throughout. There were some adult themes of some of the harsh realities of the time (such as beheading, rape, and adulterous behavior), but the language is kept clean and while making it clear that these are very serious issues, there is no inappropriate language describing such scenes. The main character's wedding is also consummated, but once again, the knowledge is there, but the language does not go into any descriptions besides the joy of the newly married couple. The references to God are also very universal and kept respectful and uplifting. I found this novel extremely well-written and an enjoyable clean read.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

Talon (The Talon Saga, Book 1) by Julie Kagawa

      "Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have become strong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser. 
      Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon. But destiny is a matter of perspective, and a rogue dragon will soon challenge everything Ember has been taught. As Ember struggles to accept her future, she and her brother are hunted by the Order of St. George. 
      Soldier Garret Xavier Sebastian has a mission to seek and destroy all dragons, and Talon's newest recruits in particular. But he cannot kill unless he is certain he has found his prey - and nothing is certain about Ember Hill. Faced with Ember's bravery, confidence, and all-too-human desires, Garret begins to question everything that the Order has ingrained in him - and what he might be willing to give up to find the truth about dragons."

      This novel was very captivating as the author follows the interactions between a soldier and a dragon, both pretending to be someone they're not. However, I was disappointed in the use of crude language throughout the book, as well as the very obvious sexual references. The romance is kept clean, but there is the social expectation of sex, up to the point of the main male character being handed a condom (much to the embarrassment of the female character). This created the expectation, but I was pleased that the actions did not come to that level. Though a very well-written novel, due to the moderate amounts of language, combined with the sexual comments, I would not suggest this book as a clean read.

Clean Rating: 3/5 stars

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

Splintered (Splintered, Book 1) by A.G. Howard

      "Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers - precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.
      When her mother's mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice's tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice's mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own."

      This dark fantasy rendition of Alice in Wonderland will definitely keep the reader on their toes throughout the novel. There is constant action throughout the storyline. However, there were a few instances of coarse language, as well as several sexual references. While the actions of the characters were innocent, the accusations of people sleeping around kept this topic in the foreground. I would say that this novel was a little too on the edge to be a clean read.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

Passion (Fallen, Book 3) by Lauren Kate

      "Luce would die for Daniel.
      And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn't need to be that way...
      Luce is certain that something - or someone - in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime... going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel... and finally unlock the key to making their love last. 
      Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history. 
      Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames... forever."




      Despite the title, the romance in this novel was still kept extremely clean. There was also only one crude word (spoken by the devil). I also felt like any violent scenes were written very discreetly, with only enough details to understand the action and emotion. There is a section dealing with human sacrifices of an ancient civilization, but I also felt that while it was one of the more dramatic parts of the novel, it was well-written to avoid unnecessary gory details. This was a very good book and I would suggest it, along with the first two in the series, for any looking for a good, clean romance.

Buy it on Amazon

Read More

Torment (Fallen, Book 2) by Lauren Kate

      "Hell on earth.
      That's what it's like for Luce to be apart from her fallen angel boyfriend, Daniel. It took them an eternity to find one another, but now he has told her he must go away. Just long enough to hunt down the Outcasts - immortals who want to kill Luce. Daniel hides Luce at Shoreline, a school on the rocky California coast with unusually gifted students: Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans. 
      At Shoreline, Luce learns what the Shadows are, and how she can use them as windows to her previous lives. Yet the more Luce learns, the more she suspects that Daniel hasn't told her everything. He's hiding something - something dangerous. What if Daniel's version of the past isn't actually true? What if Luce is really meant to be with someone else?"



      This novel, like the first, has very few crude words. There is a small amount of violence, though it doesn't go into too many gory details. The hot romance is also kept very clean, just as in the first book of this series. I would suggest this book as a great, clean read for anyone.

Buy it on Amazon

Read More

Rogue, Prisoner, Princess (Of Crowns and Glory - Book 2) by Morgan Rice

   "17 year old Ceres, a beautiful, poor girl from the Empire city of Delos, finds herself forced, by royal decree, to fight in the Stade, the brutal arena where warriors from all corners of the world come to kill each other. Pitted against ferocious opponents, her chances of survival are slim. Her only chance lies in drawing on her innermost powers, and making the transition, once and for ll, from slave to warrior.
      18 year old Prince Thanos wakes on the isle of Haylon to discover he has been stabbed in the back by his own people, left for dead on the blood-soaked beach. Captured by the rebels, he must crawl his way back to life, find who tried to assassinate him, and seek his revenge. 
      Ceres and Thanos, a world apart, have not lost their love for each other yet the Empire court teems with lies, betrayal and duplicity, and as jealous royals weave intricate lies, they each, in a tragic misunderstanding, are led to believe the other is dead. The choices they make will determine each other's fate.
      Will Ceres survive the Stade and become the warrior she was meant to be? Will Thanos heal and discover the secret being withheld from him? Will the two of them, forced apart, find each other again?"



      Rogue, Prisoner, Princess began with the same level of violence that is found in the first book of the series. With The Killings, battles with the Rebellion, and even a sea monster attack, there are a great number of fight scenes. However, I felt that later on in the book, the amount of violence drastically lowered as each of the main characters embarked on a quest of finding themselves and of uncovering long-lost truths. Once again, the romance and language was kept very clean, making it an enjoyable read, despite the terrible things that were being forced upon those of the lower class.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

The Bridesmaid by Hailey Abbott

      "After years of watching couples come to blows over ice sculptures, Abby wants no part of the family wedding planning business. She'd rather spend weekends kicking a soccer ball or antagonizing Noah, the cute son of a famous pastry chef - not doing the Electric Slide.

      Then Abby's barely legal sister, Carol, does the unthinkable - she announces she's getting married and wants Abby to be her maid of Honor. Clearly, Carol has lost her mind. Will Abby soon lose hers?

      So what if Carol turns into Bridezilla?

      So what if the dresses are hideous?

      So what if the invitations get messed up? 

      So what if Noah looks extra hot with frosting in his hair?

      Abby can handle it. After all, it's just one day. Right?"

      I found this book very well written and true to the feelings of a typical high school aged young woman. Along with the adoration between two sisters and the struggles of parents who only want what's best, I loved the strong family theme. With only a few quick sexual references (mainly out of humor) and a bout of passionate kissing between the engaged couple (which made Abby feel sick), The Bridesmaid kept the romance very clean. This made for a very enjoyable book where readers can focus on all the ups and downs and in-betweens of planning a large, family wedding!


Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

Eve (The Eve Trilogy - Book 1) by Anna Carey

      "After a deadly virus wiped out most of Earth's population, the world is a terrifying place. Eighteen-year-old Eve has never been beyond the heavily guarded perimeter of her school, where she and two hundred other orphaned girls have been promised a bright future in The New America. But the night before graduation, Eve learns the shocking truth about her school's real purpose - and the horrifying fate that awaits her.
      Fleeing the only home she's ever known, Eve sets off on a long, treacherous journey, searching for a place she can survive. Along the way she encounters Caleb, a rough, rebellious boy living in the wild. Caleb slowly wins her trust... and her heart. But when soldiers begin hunting them, Eve must choose between true love and her life."




      The first book in the Eve trilogy, I felt that this novel kept all of the dystopian elements true to real life in a dictator-led, post-apocolyptic world. That being the setting, however, this book contains some mature themes. While writing about them with decency and keeping the scenes subjectively clean, it still contains the topics of females used for breeding, sex trafficking, and varying degrees of violence. While there are a few instances of coarse language from the antagonists, the overall language and descriptions are kept very clean for these topics. The romance is also kept clean. There are some very mature issues discussed, however, that I would not suggest for some of the younger readers out there. But for those older readers, it is very thought-provoking and makes one consider the evils that people can be forced upon in a fallen world.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

Slave, Warrior, Queen (Of Crowns and Glory - Book 1) by Morgan Rice

      "17 year old Ceres, a beautiful, poor girl in the Empire city of Delos, lives the harsh and unforgiving life of a commoner. By day she delivers her father's forged weapons to the palace training grounds, and by night she secretly trains with them, yearning to be a warrior in a land where girls are forbidden to fight. With her pending sale to slavehood, she is desperate.
      18 year old Prince Thanos despises everything his royal family stands for. He abhors their harsh treatment of the masses, especially the brutal competition - The Killings - that lies at the hear of the city. He yearns to break free from the restrains of his upbringing, yet he, a fine warrior, sees no way out.
      When Ceres stuns the court with her hidden powers, she finds herself wrongfully imprisoned, doomed to an even worse life than she could imagine. Thanos, smitten, must choose if he will risk it all for her. Yet, thrust into a world of duplicity and deadly secrets, Ceres quickly learns there are those who rule, and those who are their pawns. And that sometimes, being chosen is the worst that can happen."




      Ceres is a very strong young woman amidst a very violent world. The Killings, being reminiscent of the Roman Gladiator Games, contain battles to the death (hence the name, the Killings). The author pulls the reader in to the struggle between loving these competitions, and hating them for the unnecessary violence that they are. It is only mirrored by the violence that the higher class imposes on those of the lower class. I would offer a caution to those sensitive to violence and death. Morgan Rice draws out the harsh realities of life under a fierce ruling class. The language and romance are both kept clean, but the violence and morbidity is realistic in a way for readers to understand the justified contempt rising within the lower class - spurring on the rising Rebellion. 

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

Totlandia: Book 1, The Onesies: Fall by Josie Brown

   "The Pacific Heights Moms and Tots Club is the most exclusive children's playgroup in all of San Francisco. For the city's ultra-competitive elite, the club's ten annual spots are the ultimate parenting prize. 
      But not everyone is PHM&TC material. The club's founder, Bettina Connaught Cross, adheres to strict membership rules: Moms only. No single parents or working mothers allowed. Membership is an arduous commitment. And there's no room in the club for scandal, bad behavior, or imperfection... from tots or their moms. 
      In a world of power and prestige, no one has more than Bettina. And as every mom in Pacific Heights knows, you simply cannot cross her. But this year's admissions process is more rigorous than ever, pitting prospective members against each other to prove their mettle. 
      But four of the six candidates vying for the remaining four slots have a secret that would knock them out of the running. Jade is a former stripper and porn actress, who has been absent for most of her son's life. Jillian's husband cleaned out their joint accounts and left her for his pregnant assistant. Ally never even had a husband - just a sperm donor - and she's hiding a high-ranking corporate job. And Lorna fears that her son has special needs... just the excuse her sister-in-law, Bettina, needs to deny her entry into the club. 

      Can these hopeful moms keep up appearances long enough to outlast the competition? Or will their chances - and their private lives - go up in flames?

      Friendship. Lies. Seduction. Betrayal. Welcome to Totlandia."

      This book is definitely not a clean read. While the overall story of the competing moms is cute and dramatic in a fun way, the story is outdone by the scandalous behavior among the parents. Very descriptive sexual scenes are included throughout this novel. None of these sex scenes are among married couples, but are either among the unmarried characters, or with characters who are being unfaithful to their spouses. There are also many instances of crude language. I would suggest this is not a book for those interested in a clean read.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

Blissed (Misfit Brides Book 1) by Jamie Farrell

      "Natalie Castellano didn't have the wedded bliss experience typical of her hometown, but that won't stop her from ensuring this year's bridal festival goes off without a hitch. Even if it means she has to play nice with the man who broke her fairy tale. 
      World adventurer and reluctant local hero CJ Blue doesn't want to be in Bliss any more than Natalie wants him here. But family obligations have brought him back, and now, Natalie is using every trick she has to rope him into helping save a tradition he'd rather forget.
      Despite their rocky past, these two wounded souls have more in common than they expect. They've both loved and lost, they've both tried to move on, and now they've both locked up their hearts. But by joining forces for the sake of Bliss, they might find the courage to risk love one more time."




      This novel definitely has that cute, fairy tale appeal. However, it is not the cleanest romance. There are several sexual scenes that I would consider inappropriate for a younger audience and for those not wanting to read such descriptions. It is not one of the worst, as it does not describe every detail, but should still be cautioned for those wanting a clean read.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

Fallen (Fallen, Book 1) by Lauren Kate

      "There's something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.
      Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price's attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah, Georgia. He's the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move. 
      Even though Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce - and goes out of his way to make that very clear - she can't let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, she has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret... even if it kills her."





      This was a relatively clean novel. Aside from a few crude words, the language is kept moderately clean. Besides these few curse words, the main character does get flipped off and one of the male characters is described as being a "player". The romance is very strong, but kept extremely clean. I would suggest this novel as a good read if you aren't put off by the very few curse words spoken by high-school age characters. 

Buy it on Amazon

Read More

Halo (Halo Trilogy, Book 1) by Alexandra Adornetto

      "Three angels are sent down to bring good to the world: Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, a teenage girl who is the least experienced of the trio. But she is the most human, and when she is romantically drawn to a mortal boy, the angels fear she will not be strong enough to save anyone - especially herself - from the Dark Forces. Is love a great enough power against evil?"







      While an interesting read featuring an angel as its main character, I felt like there was still quite a few sexual references. This included some crude material coming out of a typical high school, but also some very blunt talks about sex and relationships. Some of this talk was good, while some of the suggestions could be inappropriate and misleading for a younger audience. There is also a brief nude scene. I would not suggest this book for those wanting a clean read.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

Marie Antionette, Serial Killer by Katie Alender

      "Heads will roll!
      Paris, France, a city of fashion, chocolate croissants, and cute boys. Colette Iselin is thrilled to be there for the first time, on her spring break class trip.
      But a series of gruesome murders are taking place around the city, putting everyone on edge. And as she tours the sights, Colette keeps seeing a strange vision: a pale woman in a ballgown and powdered wig, who looks like Marie Antoinette.
      Colette knows her status-obsessed friends won't believe her, so she seeks out the help of a charming French boy. Together, they discover that the murder victims are all descendants of people who ultimately brought about Marie Antoinette's beheading. The queen's ghost has been awakened, and now she's wreaking her bloodthirsty revenge. 
      And Colette may just be one of those descendants... which means she might not make it out of this trip alive."




      I thoroughly enjoyed this novel as it keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. I was grateful for the lack of gore and although there are multiple murders (through beheading), the language does not go into any gruesome details. The french romance is also kept very clean. I also enjoyed the themes of true friendship and kindness to others, "just to be nice". I would suggest this as a clean read for any looking to be caught up in a thrilling murder-mystery.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

Immortals (Runes Series Book 2) by Ednah Walters

      "Nothing can stop Raine Cooper when she wants something...
      Raine finally knows that her gorgeous neighbor, Torin St. James, is a legend straight out of Norse mythology, and that her feelings for him are strong. Torin is crazy about Raine too, breaking the one rule he lives by: Never fall for a mortal. The problem is he no longer remembers her, his memories erased by Norns - Norse destiny deities - to punish her for defying them. 
      So Raine comes up with a plan...
      She will make Torin forget his one rule a second time and fall in love with her all over again. But she quickly learns that well-laid plans do not work when dealing with deities and supernatural beings. Desperate, Raine makes choices that could not only tear her and Torin further apart, but lead to the destruction of everything and everyone she loves."


      Just as in Book 1 of the series, Immortals follows in its clean language and clean romance. Once again, there are times when boys fall asleep in her bedroom, but there is no sexual relationship and none is inferred (other than her mother's spoken disapproval of any sexual relations). This novel has a very engaging romance, while keeping up the story line at the same time. I would suggest this as fun, clean read.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

Runes (Runes Series Book 1) by Ednah Walters

      "Seventeen-year-old Raine Cooper has enough on her plate dealing with her father's disappearance, her mother's erratic behavior, and the possibility of her boyfriend relocating. The last thing she needs is Torin St. James - a mysterious new neighbor with a wicked smile and uncanny way of reading her.
      Raine is drawn to Torin's dark sexiness against her better judgement, until he saves her life with weird marks and she realizes he is different. But by healing her, Torin changes something inside Raine. Now she can't stop thinking about him. Half the time, she's not sure whether to fall into his arms or run. 
      Scared, she sets off to find out what Torin is. But the closer she gets to the truth, the more she uncovers something sinister about him. What Torin is goes back to an ancient mythology and Raine is somehow part of it. Not only is she and her friends in danger, she must choose a side, but the wrong choice will cost Raine her life."


      Runes was a very enjoyable read. The romance was sexy, but kept very clean. The action was also kept clean and though there is the subject of death throughout the book, the characters learn how to deal with it and move on. The mythological beings were also both interesting and intriguing. There are some scenes where boys sleep in Raine's bedroom, but there is no relationship with one, and everything is kept completely honorable with the other. I would suggest this novel for anyone looking for a clean romance novel.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

Watersmeet (Watersmeet Series Book 1) by Ellen Jensen Abbott

      "From her birth, Abisina has been an outcast - for the color of her hair and skin, and for her lack of a father. Only her mother's status as the village healer has kept her safe. But when a powerful, mythic leader arrives in Vranille, Abisina's life is ripped apart. The outcasts are hunted down, and she escapes alone to try to find the father and the home she has never known. In a world of extremes, from the deepest prejudice to the greatest bonds of duty and loyalty, Abisina must find her own way and decide where her true hope lies."







      While this book contains many deeper messages, the language is kept light and clean. With the theme of good triumphing over evil, even when it may take sacrifices, I found this book to teach very good morals. Even with there being many tragedies and even a large war, the language was such that the focus was on the action and not on any descriptive details. I would suggest this novel as great clean reading.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

Pure (The Pure Trilogy Book 1) by Julianna Baggott

      "We know you are here, our brothers and sisters...
      Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost - how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers... to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.
      Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash...
      There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss - maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her. 
      When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again."

      This dystopian novel has a very action-packed story line. There are a few coarse words said aloud by some of the characters, but very infrequently. The romance is also kept very clean. There is, however, a lot of violence, the story taking place in a very violent world with a survival-of-the-fittest mentality. The characters are constantly being chased and attacked. There is also a very melancholy mood to the entire book as most of the characters are mutated and deformed and suffer from huge loss. This winds a very thoughtful journey, but is not for a reader who is looking for a feel-good novel.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

The Deepest Night (The Sweetest Dark Series, Book 2) by Shana Abe

      "It's 1915, and sixteen-year-old Lora Jones is finishing up her first year as a charity student at Iverson, a prestigious, gothic boarding school on England's southern coast. While she's always felt different from everyone around her, now she finally knows why: She is a drakon, a rare, enchanted being with astonishing magical abilities.
      As war hits Britain's shores, and Lora reels from an unimaginable loss, she finds that her powers come with grave and dangerous responsibilities. At the request of Armand Louis, the darkly mysterious boy whose father owns Iverson, Lora will spend her summer at his lavish estate. To help the war effort - and to keep Lora near - Armand turns his home into a military hospital, where Lora will serve as a nurse. For Armand is inescapably drawn to her - bound to her by heart-deep secrets and a supernatural connection that runs thicker than blood.
      Yet while Lora tries to sort out her own feelings toward Armand, fate offers an unexpected surprise. Lora discovers there is another drakon, a prisoner of war being held in Germany. And that only she, with her newly honed Gifts, will be able to rescue him. 
      With Armand at her side, Lora will cross enemy lines on an incredible mission - one that could bond her to Armand forever, or irrevocably tear them apart."


      This was a very well-written novel. However, there is a lot of nudity throughout the book, as every time that Lora changes back from being a drakon, she is naked. The language doesn't go into too much detail, however there are some awkward scenes where she stays without clothing for quite some time. There are also a few crude words and a few graphic medical scenes. I would not suggest this book as a clean read.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

Sinful Cinderella (Dark Fairy Tale Queen Series, Book 1) by Anita Valle

      "I'm not who they think I am. A docile girl who meekly obeys her stepmother and stepsisters. Some kind of sick angel who cheerfully bears their mistreatment. That's what I WANT them to think. Because then they won't suspect what I'm really up to. 
      The ball, the prince - it's all part of my plan to come out on top. Stepmother and her demented daughters will pay for every floor I have scoured, every sneer I have borne. They don't know about the white magic, how I use it to enhance myself. They can't see that my heart is black as midnight, rotten as a poison apple. 
      They're about to find out."





      A twisted take on the classic fairy tale, this novel explores what it would have been like if Cinderella were actually on the bad side. That being said, there were a few sexual references (comments about staying out all night with men, referring to a sexual relationship, but never stating it). There was also a scene where Cinderella escapes from a potential rape. Other than that, this is the story where everyone gets what they deserve in the end, and evil always returns evil.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More

If the Shoe Fits (Once Upon a Romance Series, Book 1) by Laurie LeClair

      "What happens when a modern day Cinderella's dreams don't involve getting married?
      Romance? Love? In this Once Upon a Romance Series Book 1 romantic comedy, Charlotte (Charlie) King doesn't have time for either one. All she wants is her late father's dream to come true by making his beloved King's Department Store thrive again. However, her stepmother has other ideas. Charlie agrees to help her stepmother find grooms for her sheltered stepsisters. In exchange, the stepmother will release her stronghold on the store's budget. After all, one good deed deserves another, right? But, Charlie has no idea what her heart's in for when...
      Alexander (Alex) Royale, dubbed by society newspapers as Prince Charming, arrives for dinner to meet the all-female King family. His ailing grandparents yearn for his marriage and then the baby carriage. Well, that and running the family company. Having unsuccessfully searched for months, Alex doesn't hold out any hope in finding his future bride among the King sisters. However, all his expectations, including his idea of a business-like marriage of convenience, vanish the moment Charlie crashes into him.
      When Alex sets out to win over Charlie, he has no idea he has to bargain with the stepmother, secretly buy the store, court Charlotte after the wedding, and, oh yeah, be featured in Charlie's new fairy tale ad campaign, The Charmings, based on them. Can a guy ever get a break?
      The couple never factored in falling in love with each other. Now, faced with losing all their families ever wanted, Charlie and Alex must choose: Do they live their families' dreams or do they finally live their own?"


This novel is a hot romance with very steamy language. The sex scenes are cut out, but it is implied that after their marriage, they have an active sexual relationship. The language is kept clean, but denotes a very physically attracted couple. If you are looking for a clean, but edgy romance, this would definitely be the one.

Buy it on Amazon.

Read More