Thirty-Four and a Half Predicaments (Rose Gardner Mystery Book 7)

Honestly, I'm pretty torn about this book. I'm a huge fan of the series and DGS is a wonderful storyteller. That being said, I have some issues with the story itself in this installment as well as what felt like a cheap shot "non ending" at the close. I don't want to include too much information (spoilers) but I'll say this. I loved the Rose books because they were a fun and slightly edgy/quirky cozy mystery series. Then things got a bit dark, but I felt like they made sense in the world of Rose. THEN things got REALLY dark with some further revelations about J.R. Simmons that made my skin crawl and changed the whole tone of the world (the last novella). I was a little put off but I trusted DGS to have her reasons. With this latest book, though, I sort of feel like that trust is gone. BIG dark confusing things happen, there are useless story threads that go nowhere, and the non-ending made me viscerally angry. This was the first time I've ever read a DGS book and thought to myself "ugh, what a cheap shot to make me buy the next one." I have pre-ordered every Rose book since I've been reading the series but this blatant hostage-taking of me as a reader makes me not want to do that for the next one. You should treat your readers well and trust them to want the next book because of your great writing, not a cheap shot cliffhanger. I also have to be honest and say that the tone might be getting away from what makes Rose so endearing. There is a quirky charm that I associate with her--a sweetness that helps temper things when they get too heavy. I worry that DGS is losing that quality and I sincerely hope she regains it in her next book. THERE ARE OTHER AUTHORS THAT I READ FOR HEAVY SUSPENSE who frankly do it much better. Nobody, though, does a quirky and fun cozy mystery better than DGS. PLEASE go back to that.

This book ends on a major cliffhanger! The bonus scenes from others points of view are awesome to still understand what is going on and to dig a little deeper into Rose’s world. Something is sketchy and going on with Violet. She was very hush hush in this book. I’m loving how Maeve is becoming more and more prominent in Rose’s life. Along with her little secret that she told Rose. I feel like she’s just that lovable “mom” type. Mason is keeping too many secrets from Rose and I’m hoping we get some more answers in the next book. And Joe. My goodness. I’m still NOT on #TeamJoe. I’m still loving how Mason treats her. Rose never seems to fall into trouble no matter where she goes. Even when looking into a 25 year old case. These characters are in different parts of their lives and I love feeling and going through this stuff with them. Onto Thirty-Five and a Half Conspiracies!!

I loved this book. I am a huge fan of Denise's writing. I first began reading her Rose Gardner series. I fell in love. I am a Rose hog. I love everything about Rose. I finish the Rose books within two days. I love the series! There are so many surprises in this book! I laughed, I cried, I cheered Rose and NK on! Do not worry I will not spoil it for you because I want you to read this book. One of my favorite parts of Denises' writing is the depth that she brings to each character. None of the main or supporting characters are left unattended. Each has their own background and storyline. I love learning more about each of the characters and watching them grow. The depth and realness of the characters pulls at your heartstrings. Denise's writing is so relatable. It is like you are reading about your bestfriend! We should all have friends like Rose and NK!

I have never wanted to throw my kindle across the room so much as I did at the final chapter of this book. It was not an OMG moment - it was a WTF??? moment. This was beyond my ability to suspend disbelief - this felt like Swank wrote herself into a corner with this book, didn't want to go back and find where it went wrong so she could revise it. Instead she all but "fridged" Rose - "I don't know what to do here so I'm going to put Rose _____________ and leave her there, and hope I can figure out what to do with her before the next deadline." I want to be wrong, I really do. At this point though, I'm not sure I'm going to bother with the next book come November. Maybe it's better to leave poor Rose languishing ______________ waiting to be "rescued", because apparently that's what she's been reduced to.

Rose and Neely Kate start to investigate Rose’s birth mother’s death in not only an attempt to get Neely Kate out of her depression but to find answers for herself.Add Miss Mildred and it is something else! I was dying laughing over some of the conversations they had with her.A 25 year old investigation would be harmless right?? Wrong!Meanwhile Mason’s life is still in danger so the suspense on if something is going to happen is high. Constant end of my chair waiting to see what is gonna happen next. This book did bring out a couple shocks yet every moment is awesome.Don’t forget the bonus chapters at the end!!

While the writing is excellent and the story lines and characterizations, both main and secondary, are well-fleshed out, I will not give any work a rating greater than ONE STAR if the author ends the book with a major, catastrophic cliffhanger in the last pages of the main story line!This book was published in 2015, during the phase when so many writers used the cliffhanger ending, hoping to boost sales of the next book in the series. That tactic didn't work well then and now, nearly 2020, it still rankles.

Bit cross to start reading this, having pre-ordered it as the next in the series, and to find I'd missed a major plot event that I can only assume from other reviews was in an 'in between the numbers' novella.At the moment, this is ruining my enjoyment of it completely!I've finished it now, (after buying the novella), and I'm so annoyed at the ending that I'm not sure I'll read the next one. Or maybe it's a super clever ending and not just bad writing. Pah!

Although I bought the first book a while ago I only recently read it. I loved the book so much that I bought the other twelve books in the series and I have read them all within in 2 weeks, I couldn't wait to find out what happened next, the humour is brilliant, to the point you laugh out loud and everyone looks at you, but the heartache is just as emotional. Never mind the love stories, friendships and not forgetting the mysteries that get solved

I love this series and it is that rarity as it just keeps on getting better and better.Rose is as adorable as ever and attracting just as much trouble.She combines comforting Neely Kate after her miscarriage with a hunt for the secrets from her own past,including the mystery surrounding her parentage.The men in her life and her complex relationships with them are as usual a major factor.The writing is a joy as always , the AAplot fast paced and entertaining,the characters continue to evolve and develop and there is of course that unmistakable sense of fun.A great read and with that ending the next book can't come soon enough.

You really need to read the rest of the series before this one, I had given myself a bit of a break after reading them continuously but then decided to see what had happened to Rose & her complicated life. In this one she gets herself in deeper with the Skeeter, digs too deep into her real family tree & ends up in real trouble. I won't give the end away but let's just say I pre-ordered the next in the series the minute I'd finished reading this one as it's a real cliff hanger! Still find the phrase 'crappy doodles' really irritating.

Another chapter in the Rose Gardner series, very good read and enjoyed it thoroughly so much so I read it in about 4 hours, all at once.Similar to other reviews, I found the ending annoying, obviously it has been left open to another book, but I would have preferred to wait longer and properly get my teeth into a longer more complex book.I'm loving seeing the relationship between Rose and Mason bloom and seeing Roses character develop seeing as she has completely changed from the Rose Gardner we met at the beginning of the first book.