The Apology Project (Jeanette Escudero)

Why I have this book: It was a freebie in the Amazon First Picks program. I read the few reviews (because First Picks come out before the books are actually released, so not many have read them yet), and one review made me think it was fairly clean.

I wouldn't classify it as clean. There was plenty of swearing (including F-bombs), and it starts out with what we assume is going to be a drunk one-night stand. (It's not descriptive, but it's still obvious.) I was ready to quit the book early on, but for some reason I kept reading. I think it was because the writing was super easy to get into.

In any case, I ended up enjoying the story quite a bit. Like I said, the writing made it easy to get swallowed up in the story, and I liked the experiences the protagonist had with her family, her (newly found) extended family, and the people she reached out to as part of her "apology project." 

I honestly would have given this four solid stars if there wasn't the casual sex (again, not described) and the swearing. The story itself was great. Because it wasn't clean (and because those things were definitely not needed to make the storyline work), I only gave it three stars on Goodreads.

Not really clean. Described above, and I'll add that there are a handful of instances of using the Lord's name as an expression of exclamation, and there's way too much drinking.

The Moses Lake Series (Lisa Wingate)

There are four books in the series:

Larkspur Cove

Blue Moon Bay

Firefly Island

Wildwood Creek

Why I have these books: I actually read the first book in the series a few years ago, but never moved on to the others. I ended up buying a four-books-in-one ebook last month when I was still in my "I need a light read" mode. (I might still be there, to be honest.)

On Goodreads, I gave all the books three stars except one. Blue Moon Bay only got two stars. I don't remember why... I think I felt like it was a little contrived by the end.

I also would like to reiterate that these authors need me to edit their books for them. Not as the main editor, maybe, but rather as a "final read" editor. I could catch things like the overuse of words such as "caliche" and "diaphanous." I mean, they are impressive words, but because they aren't commonly used words, they become a distraction when they are used over and over again in a book (or in a series of books). I also would catch things like when you put events out of order. This just causes confusion for the reader who then has to go back and forth to figure out what is happening.

Otherwise, I did enjoy the series. I think the first and last books were my favorites, even though they were very different from each other.

Clean.

The Amish Quiltmaker's Unexpected Baby (Jennifer Beckstrand)

Why I have this book: I needed another light read, and this one fit the bill. It was also only .99 on Kindle, so...

I enjoyed this book in spite of the title. Haha...

It was cute. Probably pretty unrealistic in the Amish community, although I realize that's just me stereotyping the Amish. The characters were humorous and cute and just "normal" in their personalities and how they interacted with people who weren't Amish. I feel like the story could have been set in a regular culture, and it would have made more sense.

It was fine, though. It was perfect for a day when I wanted an easy "escape" book. I gave it three stars on Goodreads.

Clean.

A Patchwork Past (Leslie Gould)

Why I have this book: I borrowed it after reading the first book in the series.

I gave it two stars on Goodreads. It kept my attention for the most part, but it felt like it had an agenda. While I don't disagree with the point the author was trying to make (about immigrants), I just don't like when a book seems to be pushing an agenda. Maybe I'm wrong and she was just telling a story about a subject that matters to her.

Clean.

The Promise Girls (Marie Bostwick)

Why I have this book: I bought the Kindle edition a while ago because I've liked other books by the author.

I really liked this book for the first 5/6 or so. Then it all wrapped up with these wonky revelations that everyone just accepted and moved on from like they were no big deal. All is forgiven, everyone is happy, no emotional turmoil, no scars.

So just because I was entertained, I gave it three stars on Goodreads. It would have been four stars if the ending would have been more plausible.

Mostly clean. I don't think there was any swearing (if I missed it, it was mild and infrequent), but there was premarital sex mentioned or implied. Nothing described.

Love's Unfading Light (Naomi Rawlings)

Why I have this book: I got it for free on Kindle about six year ago.

It was okay. I'll be giving it two stars on Goodreads. None of it had a ton of depth, but it was okay. I'd read the other books in the series if they were free.

Clean.

The Happy Camper (Melody Carlson)

Why I have this book: It popped up as an available "borrow" on the ebook library, and since I've enjoyed other books by the author, I borrowed both the audio and ebook versions so I could listen or read depending where I was/time of day.

I thought this was cute. It was a nice, easy read (or listen). There was a little bit of a religious undertone, but it wasn't throughout the story, and it wasn't overbearing. I gave it three stars on Goodreads.

Clean.