I really enjoyed In High Cotton. Book two in the Neely Kate Mystery Series by Denise Grover Swank consistently draws me back into Neely Kate’s world, and this book was no exception. It offers that perfect blend of mystery, heart, and character moments that always make me want to stay up way too late reading.
A dead body in the basement, another in the trunk of a car—is Neely Kate’s past catching up with her? Joe and Jed will stop at nothing to protect Neely Kate!
What really made this book shine for me were the relationships. I absolutely loved Jed and Neely Kate together; their dynamic is steady, supportive, and brimming with a quiet emotional pull that makes you root for them. I also love Neely Kate’s growing bond with her newly discovered half-brother, Joe. Their connection felt genuine and hopeful, as if she was finally finding pieces of family she didn’t know she needed.
Now, I do have one tiny pet peeve—something I’ve noticed in a few of this authors books. She refers to a gun’s magazine as a clip. It’s a magazine, not a clip. It’s a small detail, but once you notice it, you can’t unnotice it. Still, it didn’t detract from how much I liked the story.
Overall, In High Cotton is a heartfelt, engaging mystery with characters I care about more and more with each book. Even with my minor terminology gripe, it easily earns five stars from me.
While I’m not a fan of cliffhangers, at least I can dive right into book three.
Have you read this book? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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 myYouTube Shortsand follow along onInstagram andTikTok @chaptersandlattes for more!
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?
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 GardnerInvestigations” 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.
Title: What She Saw Author: Mary Burton Main Character: Sloan, CJ Taggert Other Characters: Grant, Rafe Colton, Patty, Laurie, Debra, Tristan, Baily, Paxton, Mayor Briggs, Baily, Kevin, Cassie, Amy Pets: A golden Retriever named Cody Rating: 5+
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Mary Burton is a ‘new to me’ author, but this won’t be the last book I read by her. I was engrossed from the very first page and found it hard to put down at night.
Four young girls went missing from a music festival and are presumed dead. A man is serving a life sentence for the crime, even though their bodies were never found. He still claims his innocence. Thirty-one years later, a daughter who was a baby at the time is determined to uncover what happened to her mother and the three other girls.
Sloane lost her mother, who was believed to have been murdered, and her father, whom she never knew, was in prison. Raised by a grandmother who was not particularly nurturing, Sloane grew up to be a writer who struggles to express her emotions and is rarely frightened. Driven by a need to uncover the truth behind her mother’s disappearance and the fate of three other missing girls, she seeks closure for herself and their families. This quest requires her to return to the town where the crime occurred-a case that most have forgotten, but one Sloane has never been able to move past. With many of those involved now dead, she must track down families and witnesses from three decades ago who might still remember details that could help bring closure to the case.
This book was an edge-of-your-seat roller coaster ride to uncover the truth. Sloan is a compelling protagonist, and you can’t help but root for her. This book combines suspense, emotion, and just the right amount of romance, all without overshadowing the mystery. I thought I had solved the case, only to be hit with another unexpected twist.
If you love a protagonist with heart and determination, along with a great mystery featuring unexpected twists and a touch of romance, you need to read this book. It definitely checks all the boxes. This may have been the first book I have read by this author, but it definitely won’t be the last.
If you have read this book, please share your thoughts in the comments!
Author: Denise Grover Swanks Title: Echoes of Her Series: Maddie Baker Mystery #3 Location: Cockamamie, TN Main Character: Maddie Baker Other Characters: Noah, Aunt Diedra, Mallory, Joe, Neil, George, Dawn, Rebecca, Annamarie, Gina Rating: 5
Hello, Book Lovers, and Happy New Year! I had a wonderful New Year’s Eve, and I hope you did too. This is my first review of the year, and I couldn’t wait to share it. I finished this book recently, and it truly kept me engaged—it was definitely a “hard to put down” read!
I really had a hard time putting this book down, often reading late into the night when I should have been sleeping. From the moment I stepped into Maddie’s world, I was hooked. The author has a way of pulling the reader with emotion, suspense, and just a touch of romance, creating a story that will keep you reading till way past bedtime.
If you’ve read the first two books, you’re aware that Maddie’s mother was murdered when she was a child, and the case was never solved. Maddie is determined to uncover the truth about her mother’s death—a cold case that feels both impossibly tangled and personal. What captivated me most was Maddie’s relentless pursuit of justice. She just keeps pushing as she untangles secrets, which gets her closer to the truth. Could getting closer to the truth put Maddie in jeopardy, or is it best that it all stays buried? This is the type of mystery that stays with you long after the final reveal.
This book is captivating, emotional, and very hard to put down. If you enjoy mysteries with a lot of heart, strong characters, and a hint of romance, this series is for you. I recommend starting with the first book to fully appreciate Maddie and Noah’s journey and watch their relationship develop. Although this is the final installment of this series, which makes me sad, I am still holding out hope for the chance to revisit Maddie, Noah, and the other beloved characters in the future.
If you have read this series, please share your opinions in the comments.
Title: Gone Without a Trace Author: Denise Grover Swank Title: Gone Without a Trace Series: Maddie Baker Mystery #2 Location: Cockamamie, TN Main Character: Maddie Baker Other Characters: Noah, Neil, Bert, Mallory, Aunt Diedra, Amy, Jake, Barbara, Steve, Gil, Boomer Rating: 5+
I literally could not put this book down. Gone Without a Trace by Denise Grover Swank had me thinking, “Okay, just one more chapter…” before I realized it was well past my bedtime.
This is a suspenseful mystery that centers around a sudden disappearance that leaves more questions than answers. As the story unfolds, secrets begin to surface and relationships are tested, revealing that not everything—and not everyone—is as it seems. As tension rises and emotions escalate, the quest for the truth draws readers deeper into a web of mystery, danger, and unexpected revelations. This fast-paced, character-driven story keeps you guessing until the very end.
This story captivated me from the very beginning. The mystery unfolds at an ideal pace, creating just the right amount of tension to keep you turning the pages, while also providing enough emotional depth to make you genuinely care about the characters. I loved how the author expertly balances suspense with heartfelt moments. It’s not just about what happened, but how it affects everyone involved, which makes the story feel authentic and personal. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, the story took another unexpected turn.
This was a such a cozy yet suspenseful read, perfect for enjoying with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine later in the evening. If you appreciate emotional mysteries filled with twists and turns that keep you guessing, featuring strong characters and a protagonist you can’t help but love, along with a captivating storyline and a touch of romance, Gone Without a Trace definitely deserves a spot on your TBR list.
I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys a compelling mystery with emotional depth.
Title: Shadows of the Past Author: Tammy L Grace Series: Quinn Stone #1 Main Character: Quinn Stone Other Characters: Daniel Stone, Ethan, Jane, Dominic, Victor, Walter, Tanner Chase, Eleanor, Ryan, Colton, Selene Genre: Political thriller & Women’s fiction (because Quinn’s emotional journey, relationships, and personal struggles give it more depth than a typical political/action thriller) Pets: Zephyr, Quinn’s Golden Retriever and best friend Rating: 4
“Evil wins is when good men do nothing”
Having read and enjoyed several of Tammy L. Grace’s books, I decided to give Shadows of the Past a try, despite political thrillers and spy stories not being my usual genre. Honestly, I’m glad I did!
The story follows ex-CIA operative Quinn Stone as she is pulled back into a complex web of espionage, political danger, and long-buried secrets. Grace expertly balances action with emotional depth; Quinn’s inner struggles and the suspense surrounding the presidential candidate she is tasked with protecting kept me turning the pages. That being said, I occasionally found the large cast of characters overwhelming. There were moments when the themes of secrecy, covert operations, and political maneuvering felt repetitive, particularly in the “protecting Chase” storyline. Nonetheless, the overall tension, atmosphere, and strong female lead made for a solid and engaging read. I especially loved Quinn’s relationship with her dog, Zephyr.
Although this genre isn’t typically my preference, I found myself enjoying the journey, thanks to Tammy L. Grace’s engaging writing. It’s a gripping story that fans of political thrillers will undoubtedly enjoy!
Other Characters: Grover, Lauren, Teddy, Amy, Claire, Rocket, Ozzie, Alberto,
Stars: 5
I have been watching Jon Lindstrum on my favorite TV show for over 30 years. Not only is he an amazing actor but now, he is also a wonderful author. Hollywood Hustle is his first novel but I am confident it won’t be his last.
Winston Green is an aging movie star. One morning he awakens to see his six-year-old granddaughter, Amy, standing over him holding a flash drive. The flash drive is proof that his daughter, Amy’s mother, has been abducted. For her return, the kidnappers want all of his money. What the kidnappers don’t know is all of his money is gone. Now what is he going to do! He can’t go to the police for fear they will kill his daughter, Claire, so he gets help from his two closest friends, a Hollywood stunt man and a former LAPD detective turned private investigator. They put their heads together to find a way to meet the kidnappers demands. Will he come up with the money in time to save his daughter?
It’s a suspenseful ride that takes you to the wild side of LA. Be prepared to lose sleep because it’s one of those books you can’t get enough of. It’s suspenseful, and it’s full of surprises as to how far these abductors will go for money and how far Winston will go for his daughter’s safe return.
Other Characters: Stuart, Denzel, Lieutenant Talbot, Keith Hatchet, The Captain, Shane
Stars: 5
This book grabbed me from the very beginning. I couldn’t put it down.
A woman sees a picture of of a man on the news and is convinced it is her son who was kidnapped decades ago when he was 12 years old. The authorities don’t believe her but a special Private Investigator does and decides to take her case to prove it. A current kidnapping has the same MO so he thinks the two may be connected in some way. As he researches these cases, he uncovers much more than he ever expected.
This book had great character development and the plot was great. It was fairly fast moving with a lot of detail. There were a lot twist and turns while the plot unravels as to what is happening and who is behind this. I had never read anything by this author before but I know I will read more. If you love a great suspense thrill and you don’t mind a little bit of bad language (the bad language isn’t a lot but there is some) you will love this book.
Chapters & Lattes 