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. 

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!


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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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