Book Review: Twenty Nine and a Half Reasons by Denise Grover Swank

My review for the first Rose Gardener Mystery, Twenty Eight and a Half Wishes.

• Review: Twenty Nine and a Half Reasons
• Series: A Rose Gardner Mystery #2
• Author: Denise Grover Swank
• No of Pages: Ebook
• Release Date: Published June 29th 2012

Synopsis:

When Rose reports for Fenton County jury duty she figures she’s lucky to get out of a morning working at the DMV. Instead, despite a disastrous encounter with the new assistant district attorney, Mason Deveraux, she’s picked as a juror on a murder case. As the trial progresses, she realizes an ominous vision she had in the men’s restroom proves the defendant is innocent. And there’s not a cotton picking thing she can do about it.

Or is there?

As if things weren’t bad enough, Rose’s older sister Violet is going through a mid-life crisis. Violet insists that Rose stop seeing her sexy new boyfriend, Arkansas state detective Joe Simmons and date other men. Rose is done letting people boss her around, but she can’t commit to Joe either. Still, Rose isn’t about to let the best thing in her life slip away.

What’s happening:

We find Rose still working at the DMV now with Suzanne as her boss. As if that’s not enough drama Rose gets a letter saying she’s on jury duty. Her first day at the court house goes horribly. Murphy’s

Law is definitely in effect and anything that could go wrong, did. She was late, got a parking ticket, broke the heel of her shoe, had to get searched by the same cop that wanted to put her in jail for her

mother’s death, and on top of that Mason Deveraux III was a complete jerk to her after she ran into him.

Once she realizes she’s picked for the jury things get worse. The case looks like it’s going to be an easy one but she knows the defendant is not guilty which makes this a whole different ball game. Sadly since she’s not supposed to talk about nor investigate the case Rose does what she always does, calls Joe.

But their conversation doesn’t go so well and now an innocent man’s life is on the line and only Rose can save him.

My thoughts:

As sequels goes this one is great. Actually Denise Grover Swank puts enough in the book that you could probably read this without even reading the first. It holds its own that well. Although there are some things, like Joe’s last name that you wouldn’t understand but the story itself does not seem like a sequel other than already being in love with the characters.

Downside to Twenty Nine and a Half Reasons? Only that Rose makes some seriously bad choices but I had to remember, Rose grew up very sheltered. She doesn’t know normal things that the outside world, ALL of the outside world, knows. And because of that her choices seem bizarre but are actually due to the way she was raised. Also, I’m on the fence about Joe. Do I like that guy? I’m not sure yet. He keeps hurting her (I won’t say too much) and wants to push her to do things she’s not ready for and I just want to punch him! I know he is probably just doing what he thinks is right but it’s driving me crazy! But that’s what a good story is supposed to do, so even though this is a negative for me for the book, it’s also a positive. What can I say? I love to hate that guy!

I think it’s a very easy, well put together story with great characters that have some serious issues! A fabulous read and even being mystery, once again I loved it! The plot was well played out and kept me guessing, which I love! I kept looking for clues to what had happened and just when I was about to give up Denise Grover Swank threw me a bone. There’s just enough intrigue to make you want to keep reading. I hated putting this book down when I had to, and I didn’t unless I absolutely HAD to, much like the first.

Fun, quirky, definitely not a serious read and I loved it!

Giveaway:

And to make things even more fun, the author, Denise Grover Swank is doing a giveaway! The giveaway is open Internationally and will end August 15th. AToMR will notify the winners and provide emails to the author.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the author through A Tale of Many Review Book Tours. I did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was I obligated to write a positive one.

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