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

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"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

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"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

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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.

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Winner of The Beacon - 2010 Unpublished Division, Mainstream Category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: #43,020 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.

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]