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!
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