Category: Chapters & Lattes

Chapters & Lattes, Fiction, Monthly Reading, Mystery

Monthly Reads July 2026

Chapters & lattes

Okay, real talk—July was a lot. Between everything going on, my reading time got squeezed down to almost nothing, and I only finished two books this month. If you follow me during the winter, you know that’s basically a slow month for me. But here’s the thing: quality over quantity, right? Because both of these books were easy five-star reads, and I’m still thinking about them.

Both books came from a series that has genuinely become one of my all-time favorites—Rose Gardner Investigations by Denise Grover Swank. Let’s get into it.

It All Falls Down (Rose Gardner Investigations #7) — ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Trouble Comes in 3s (Rose Gardner Investigations #8) — ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Why I Can’t Quit This Series

Here’s what consistently draws me to Rose: her growth feels genuinely earned. She didn’t begin as a confident, capable woman effortlessly solving mysteries. Instead, she started timid, sheltered, and with almost no real-world experience. This was a direct result of growing up with an overprotective and abusive mother who — as the series masterfully reveals — never truly loved her. The books gradually uncover the complex reasons behind this lack of love, and it’s far from a simple explanation. Rose spends the series slowly understanding her mother more with each installment, but understanding doesn’t equate to forgiveness. She’s still processing that trauma, still struggling with it, and I appreciate that Swank doesn’t rush her through it for a tidy resolution. It feels incredibly real.

However, what truly won me over was watching Rose actively pursue the life she desires. She created a wish list of experiences she craved but never had, and with significant help from the man next door (yes, that man next door, if you know, you know 👀), she’s been checking them off one by one. This specific, hard-won growth is incredibly satisfying to witness. It’s not just about her becoming “braver”; it’s about her reclaiming her life, authentically and specifically.

What You’re Getting Into

If you’re a reader who loves:

  • A protagonist you can’t help but fall in love with
  • A mystery that grips you from start to finish
  • A truly slow-burn romance that actually takes it’s time
  • A love triangle that adds genuine tension, not just drama
  • Forbidden love
  • Deep, loyal friendships
  • A heroine who learns to trust herself and others after a lifetime of reasons not to
  • A character who can’t resist getting involved in a mystery, even when it puts herself and people she loves in danger

…then Rose Gardner is about to become your next obsession.

Books 7 and 8 elevate the stakes in both the mystery and Rose’s personal life. I was completely hooked from beginning to end by both. Five stars!

Where to Start

If this is your first time hearing about Rose, don’t start with book seven. Instead, go back to the very beginning with the Rose Gardner Mystery series. That’s where you’ll meet Rose at her most vulnerable, which makes everything that happens later hit so much harder. Once you finish that series, follow Rose and her best friend right into Rose Gardner Investigations, where these two books live.

Trust me—you’ll want the full journey.

Final Thoughts

A two-book month isn’t my usual pace, but when both books are this good, I really can’t complain. Rose Gardner continues to be one of my favorite characters in cozy mysteries, and this series proves that a slow-burn romance and a genuinely compelling mystery can absolutely coexist without either one getting shortchanged.

Have you read the Rose Gardner series? Where are you in Rose’s story? Let me know in the comments—I love talking about this series with fellow readers. 💛

Catch the quick version of this review on my YouTube Shorts and follow along on Instagram and TikTok @chaptersandlattes for more!

Click here for my LINK IN BIO

Click the book covers below to buy these books on Amazon

Chapters & Lattes, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

Trouble Comes in Threes by Denise Grover Swank Book Review

Chapters & lattes

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ooh, if you love a mystery that keeps sneaking up on you, “Trouble Comes in Threes” is going to hit the spot! Denise Grover Swank has such a knack for pulling you into Rose’s world. By book eight, it feels like catching up with old friends, yet she still manages to throw in twists that had me gasping out loud. The mystery itself was layered in a way that kept me guessing right up until the reveal, and I love when an author can do that this deep into a series without it feeling stale.

Rose Gardner is back, pulled into a new case that hits close to home and stirs up serious personal drama. A mysterious box, three dead bodies & a Mysterious vision—what is Rose getting mixed up in this time? This installment perfectly balances mystery and small-town charm, weaving together an investigation with the ongoing relationship threads fans have come to love. Expect new trouble, familiar faces, and Rose once again proving she can’t help but get tangled up in it all.

If you have been following Rose and her antics, you will love this installment, even though it left some ends hanging, which only leaves me hopeful for another installment. If you have been reading other series by Denise Grover Swank, you may recognize someone in this book.

Honestly, if you’re already following the Rose Gardner Investigations series, this one is an easy 5 stars. And if you haven’t started it yet — what are you waiting for?

Chapters & Lattes, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Mystery, Thriller

It All Falls Down by Denise Grover Swank Book Review

Chapters & lattes

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Whew! Talk about a roller coaster ride. Just when I thought the tension and emotion couldn’t escalate further, It Falls Down cranks it up another notch. I was on the edge of my seat, screaming at Rose to remember she has a baby and to stop putting herself in dangerous situations. But Rose never listens; she’ll fight for the ones she loves, no matter what.

If you’ve been following Rose Gardner’s journey from the very beginning, as I have, then “It All Falls Down” is an absolute must-read. Denise Grover Swank totally knocked it out of the park with this seventh installment of the Rose Gardner Investigations series.

Things kick off with a bang when a body turns up south of Henryetta. Before she knows it, Rose is tangled up with safe-crackers, dangerous syndicates, and Denny Carmichael, who calls in a terrifying favor. With her six-week-old baby and everyone she loves on the line, the stakes have never been higher.

Rose has grown so much throughout this series, and I love that she’s still relatable even with everything she’s been through. The mix of mystery, suspense, humor, and heart is what keeps me coming back. I found myself saying, “Just one more chapter,” way more times than I’d like to admit—and before I knew it, I’d finished the whole book.

This installment raises the stakes in a big way. There were moments that had me holding my breath, and a few that honestly left me shocked. Denise Grover Swank has a way of making you care so much about these characters that every decision and every revelation hits hard.

Grab your coffee (or wine!) and curl up with Rose Gardner. I actually recommend starting with the “Rose Gardner Mystery” series so you can meet Rose at the beginning of her journey and see how much she has grown through this series and into the “Rose Gardner Investigations” series.

“It All Falls Down” is peak storytelling from start to finish. Thank goodness this wasn’t the end of the road for Rose; I am ready to dive into Book Eight.

If you have read this book or any of the Rose Gardner books, please share your thoughts in the comments.

Click below to buy this book on Amazon.

Chapters & Lattes, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Mystery

When The Bough Breaks by Denise Grover Swank Book Review

Chapters & lattes

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Another great read by Denise Grover Swank! I have been hooked on this series ever since the first book, and I have loved Rose since she was first introduced in the Rose Gardner Mysteries. She has come a long way from that timid girl with no life experience. She may have a bit too much life experience now, and she has a way of getting herself into predicaments, but you can’t help but love her.

In this sixth installment of the Rose Gardner Investigations, the stakes are higher when Rose’s niece and nephew go missing. For months, Rose has been convinced that her late sister’s ex-husband has been involved in criminal activity, but she hasn’t been able to prove it. Now, with her niece and nephew missing and her conviction that they have been kidnapped, she becomes desperate to find them. Being nine months pregnant isn’t going to stop her from saving Ashley & Mikey.

This is the type of mystery that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. I found myself wanting to yell at Rose, to tell her she was putting her own unborn baby at risk. But Rose was resilient, and she kept pushing to save little Ashley and Mikey.

I absolutely loved this book! It had me on the edge of my seat at times, and I couldn’t wait to see how Rose would get out of this predicament. I still do not like James “Skeeter” Malcolm; I’m not sure if anything can redeem him at this point. I love that Rose is back with Joe, and I hope they will be together until the end. I am pulling for them! I still have one pet peeve, though: when Rose calls a magazine in a gun a “clip.” It is not a clip; it is a magazine. I still love the book, but I do cringe when I hear “clip.”

Now I can’t wait to dive into the next installment.

If you have enjoyed the other Rose Gardner mystery books, you will love this one. Things get interesting and come full circle for Rose and Joe.

If you have read this series, share your thoughts in the comments

Chapters & Lattes, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Mystery

For the Birds by Denise Grover Swank Book Review

Chapters & lattes

This is the second book in the Rose Gardner Investigations series.

I am completely addicted to this series and everything related to Rose Gardner. This book is pure fun—fast, quirky, heartfelt, and precisely the kind of small-town chaos that makes the Rose Gardner world so irresistible.

If you enjoyed the first book in the Investigations series, you’ll find that Denise Grover Swank has increased the stakes in this installment: there’s more mystery, more humor, and more delightful character moments that make you smile. Of course, Rose has once again found herself caught up in something she never intended to be a part of.

Spoiler‑Free Thoughts

This installment features a mystery that is tight, clever, and packed with surprising “wait… what?!” moments that will keep you turning the pages. Rose is adapting to her new life and role, yet she remains the same lovable blend of stubbornness, sweetness, and unintentional humor. The interactions between her and those around her—particularly those who attempt (and often fail) to keep her out of trouble—are among the highlights of the series.

The pacing is just right: fast enough to read in a day, yet layered enough to immerse you in the investigation. As always, Swank expertly balances tension with warmth, making the story feel comforting even as the stakes rise.

My Take

I adored this one. It’s witty, twisty, and full of heart — the perfect blend of mystery and character-driven storytelling. Rose continues to shine as a heroine you can’t help but root for, and the world around her just gets richer with every book. It’s the kind of read that leaves you smiling when you close the last page and already reaching for the next in the next installment

A solid, joyful, easy five stars.

Announcement, announcemet, Chapters & Lattes, Rebranding

Announcement – “CozyRomm Books & Coffee” is now “Chapters & Lattes”

Chapters & lattes

Hello Bookish friends,

Today, I’m excited to share something that’s been brewing behind the scenes for a while.
CozyRom Books & Coffee has officially rebranded to Chapters & Lattes.

If you’ve been with me for a while, you know this space has always focused on book reviews to help you select your next book to curl up with.

This isn’t just a name change; it’s a step toward a brand that reflects who I am, what I create, and the direction this little corner of the internet is heading. My favorite genres remain clean, small-town romance, cozy mysteries, and occasionally thrillers—provided they aren’t graphic, I will continue to focus on this.

☕ Why the Change?

When I first started CozyRom Books & Coffee, it was a fun, simple way to share my love of reading and caffeine. But as my creative world grew — especially with the launch of my Etsy shop — I realized I wanted everything to feel connected.

I wanted a name that felt warm, bookish, and timeless.
A name that could grow with me.
A name that felt like a cozy nook you’d want to return to again and again.

Chapters & Lattes captured all of that instantly.

It blends stories and comfort, creativity and calm — and it matches my Etsy shop, which means everything I make and share now lives under one cohesive, cozy brand.

📚 What’s Staying the Same

Pretty much everything you have come to expect.

  • My voice
  • My bookish content
  • My cozy aesthetic
  • My love for coffee, reading, and creative projects
  • My commitment to sharing things that make life feel softer and more intentional

This space will still feel like a warm blanket and a good story — just with a name that fits a little better.

✨ What’s New

With the rebrand comes a few exciting updates:

  • A fresh new logo
  • A new website banner
  • A more polished, cohesive look across the blog and Etsy shop
  • Hopefully, behind‑the‑scenes posts about my creative process
  • New product launches that match the Chapters & Lattes vibe

Think cozy, bookish, creative, and a little bit whimsical.

💛 Thank You for Being Here

Whether you’ve been here since the CozyRom days or you’re just joining me now, thank you. Truly.


Your support, your comments, your messages — they’ve made this space feel like a community, not just a blog.

I can’t wait to share this next chapter with you.
Fresh stories, new creations, and plenty of lattes are on the way.

Here’s to Chapters & Lattes — a place for readers, dreamers, creators, and anyone who loves a cozy moment.

The new website is http://www.chapersandlattes.com, but if you have bookmarked the old web address, it sill still points to this one, so you are good to go.