Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes (Rose Gardner Mystery #1) [Kindle Edition]

Denise Grover Swank (Author)

Book Description

**A humorous southern mystery**

WINNER of the 2012 Write Touch Readers' Award for Mainstream with Romantic Elements

****

"Though much of the book is light-hearted and occasionally outright hilarious, the author sneaks in a few home truths along the way that will hit you where it counts, like how even someone's best intentions can box you in." --Everybody Needs a Little Romance

****

"This was one of those books that I kept telling myself one more page, then I need to put it down. Instead I found myself tearing through the book instead, needing to know the outcome." --Just Jump Book Reviews

****

For Rose Gardner, working at the DMV on a Friday afternoon is bad even before she sees a vision of herself dead. She's had plenty of visions, usually boring ones like someone's toilet's overflowed, but she's never seen one of herself before. When her overbearing momma winds up murdered on her sofa instead, two things are certain: There isn't enough hydrogen peroxide in the state of Arkansas to get that stain out, and Rose is the prime suspect.

Rose realizes she's wasted twenty-four years of living and makes a list on the back of a Wal-Mart receipt: twenty-eight things she wants to accomplish before her vision comes true. She's well on her way with the help of her next door neighbor Joe, who has no trouble teaching Rose the rules of drinking, but won't help with number fifteen-- do more with a man. Joe's new to town, but it doesn't take a vision for Rose to realize he's got plenty secrets of his own.

Somebody thinks Rose has something they want and they'll do anything to get it. Her house is broken into, someone else she knows is murdered, and suddenly, dying a virgin in the Fenton County jail isn't her biggest worry after all.

*****

Winner of The Beacon - 2010 Unpublished Division, Mainstream Category

Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons (June 29, 2012)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Denise lives in Lee's Summit, Missouri. She has six children, two dogs, and an overactive imagination. She can be found dancing in her kitchen with her children, reading or writing her next book. You will rarely find her cleaning.
She's a full time author. Two of her previous manuscripts won the Fantasy/Futuristic/Paranormal category and the Mainstream category in The Beacon 2010 Unpublished writing contest sponsored by First Coast Romance Writers.

Product Details

• File Size: 995 KB
• Print Length: 376 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1463514581
• Publisher: Bramagioia Enterprises (June 29, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0058UXHHK
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #49,715 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 53 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A great, entertaining, read! July 23, 2011

By J. A. Afzelius

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book was a great read and once you get started, it really is hard to put down. Even with a toddler in the house I somehow managed to read it in about two days.

I was attracted to the book by the blurb, it seemed quirky enough that I would like, and I saw there was an overbearing mother in the picture. Having one myself I was interested. I have to say that the character of 'Momma' and the affect she has on her children seems very authentic. I could understand why Rose, the daughter that stayed behind to care for the cruel mother, was the way she was, and why her sister 'the one who got away' was the way she was too. I liked how the dynamic plays out later in the book between the sisters and found them particularly engaging.

The characters are very real. None of them 100% perfect all of the time. Sometimes they infuriate you or make you slap her head, while in the next scene make you giddy, or a little teary.

The book is often witty and Rose's take on situations are sometimes laugh out loud funny. There are some twists and many secrets revealed throughout the book. Some more unexpected than others, but once revealed, you definitely feel an 'ah-ha' moment. The scenes are described beautifully, never with more description than needed, which is just what I like. I've been known to only glaze over overly descriptive passages in most of the books I read, so this was a definite plus for me.

I'd recommend the book to anyone who likes a coming of age story, murder mystery, or a romance. Rose a great heroine who is stronger than she thinks right from the beginning. It'll be interesting to see with her new found confidence where the next book in the series will take her.

37 of 38 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Surprisingly Addictive July 15, 2011

By Kay Bratt

Format:Paperback

I downloaded Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes and planned to save it for my upcoming beach trip. As I do all books I buy, I took a peek at the first few pages to get an idea of the style of writing. Just one day later I had finished it, unable to put it aside because Rose had my attention--I was rooting for her to transform herself from a victim to a heroine. At least, I hoped she would and I was determined to see it through. I won't be a spoiler, I'll just tell you that the story flows well and will not leave you bored. Buy it now! This debut author has a promising future ahead of her, and I hope she cranks out a few more books very soon!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars very enjoyable April 5, 2012

By FJ BANK

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The characters (especially the main) are will developed and I felt myself instantly rooting for and identifying with her (even though I'm a guy :-) I was somewhat disappointed by the mystery part, of which the built up to its conclusion suggested a much more interesting and reasonable solution. I don't want to give away anything, but one of my earlier guesses for a possible solution seemed more compelling and satisfying than what the actual solution ended up to be. Swank's psychological writing is more interesting and rewarding to me than her mystery writing, and that is why I enjoyed this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes December 4, 2011

By Rachel

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Based on previous reviews I decided to download this book and I'm delighted I did. One of the best books I have read this year. I was completely engrossed from the first chapter and it only got better. I hated for it to end. I can't wait to read more from Ms. Swank. She is definitely a gifted author. This book is a steal at .99 cents. Don't pass it up.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Denise Grover Swank looks much too young to write so well. March 31, 2012

By kacee

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I loved this mystery. Serious stuff happened in a light hearted way. Others told what this novel is about, so I won't repeat, but I'll try to convince you to buy this book. I know I am reading a good story when I can't wait to get back to it, over and over, reading much to long into the night.

For those of you who wonder, there are no sex scenes. There was a hint, but the reader is left outside the closed door, as we should be. There are plenty other books out there if that is your preference.

There are a couple of visions, but this isn't a "paranormal" story. The author writes in such a way that the whole story is very believable; so much so that I forgot there was an author. It seemed more like watching a movie.

I liked everything about this novel, and I give it my highest 5 star review.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun, exciting and all out wonderful February 8, 2012

By Clean Romance Reviews

Format:Paperback

This book was simply fantastic! The story drags you in from the first line and never lets you go. My adrenaline got going with this one and didn't stop until the very end. The excitement and plot twists are well made so that they are fun and exhilarating. Rose is a fabulous character - a mixture of the innocence of a young girl with the maturity of an adult. She is sweet, naive and determined to break free from her past. Joe is an enigma and you go back and forth with Rose and if you should trust him or not (though you want to). Their interaction, though a bit steamy at one point, is wonderful and sweet and curls your toes. there were so many great lines and expressions that I was laughing half the time at the quirkiness of the writing. A great mystery, romance and adventure all rolled into one. I highly recommend this one.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars More Curves and Twists Than a Backwoods Mountain Trail January 14, 2012

By LK Gardner-Griffie

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I think I've said this before, but I love mysteries. I cut my reading teeth on the cozies of Agatha Christie -- I have read every single one more times than I or anyone else can count -- and it didn't stop there. After mastering the entire Christie collection, I moved on to the works of P. D. James and her Adam Dalgliesh series, got hooked by Elizabeth Peters and the capers of Amelia Peabody, Vicky Bliss, and Jacqueline Kirby, love the animal antics of Rita Mae Brown's books written with Sneaky Pie Brown, and have shivered through many a Mary Higgins Clark, and in recent years have added Linda Welch's paranormal mysteries to my "must have" list.

While my list is a little less than comprehensive, you get the picture. And now, I must add another to the must have list, and that is the southern mystery of Denise Grover Swank's Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes and her main character, Rose Gardner. As you might be able to tell from my listed reading selections above, I enjoy the characters as much if not more than the mystery aspect. And I'll admit to loving the fluffy grandmotherly Miss Marple more than the efficient, symmetrically-driven Poirot -- although I enjoy both. And with Rose Gardner, Swank gives us a character to root for. Through the book, we get to watch Rose blossom into the woman she wants to become. After being kept firmly under her mother's thumb for twenty-four years, Rose has had enough. She's had enough of the small town of Henryetta pointing their fingers at her until she shrinks into the background, she's had enough of having to hide the person she is inside, and as with all "breaking out" situations, sometimes it takes a bit of forcefulness to make it happen. And with Rose there is no exception....

Only not everyone chooses to break out and start living their life on their own terms at the same time their mother is murdered. And then there's Joe, the cute next-door neighbor, who wants to help her through the situation of being accused of murdering her own mother, but can she trust him? And of course, there is the whole having-seen-your-own-death-in-a-vision thing -- and Rose is never wrong in what she sees. The list is delightful, and yet sometimes bittersweet, and provides the backbone to the story.

I don't want to give any spoilers, but will say that Swank gives us a character to identify with and takes us on a ride with more curves and twists than a backwoods mountain trail. I read this on Kindle and it is a rare occurrence, but I purchased it again in print so I can have the author sign it when I see her in person. Read more ›

More About the Author

Denise Grover Swank is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author. She writes urban fantasies without vampires and werewolves, romantic comedy mysteries set in the south, and sexy new adult contemporary romances. Denise has six children, three dogs, and an overactive imagination. She can be found dancing in her kitchen with her children, reading or writing her next book. You will rarely find her cleaning.

You can find out more about Denise at www.denisegroverswank.com or email her at [e-mail]