The New York Times bestselling first book in the Rose Gardner Investigation series, a spinoff of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today best selling Rose Gardner Mystery series.Trouble always comes to those who court it. Rose Gardner’s ability to see glimpses of the future has gotten her into hot water time and again, but so have her curiosity and her sense of daring. Those very … daring. Those very qualities helped her defeat the most powerful man in Arkansas—a man so adept at hiding his crimes there was no way to defeat him inside of the law—but her success came at a steep personal price. Now she’s throwing herself into her landscaping business, trying to live a life that’s as orderly as one of her gardens.
Rose’s best friend, Neely Kate, is struggling with her own losses, so when she suggests they help a local man find a missing necklace, Rose agrees. It’ll give both of them a welcome distraction, and besides, it’s a simple investigation. What harm could befall them? But things that should be simple rarely are. In seeking out the necklace, Rose and Neely Kate find themselves in the thick of a power struggle in the Fenton County underworld, one that could dethrone Rose’s friend James Malcolm, the surprisingly moral king.
The last thing Rose should do is court more trouble, but she’s not the type to step away from a friend in need—and she’s also not so sure she wants an orderly life.
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Family Jewels is as good as any book in the earlier Rose Garnder books! Since I love every one of them, that is as high a praise as I can offer. While the main mystery is resolved within this novel there are overflow emotions from the earlier series and so many possibilities for the future. Neely Kate is still dealing with her pain and Rose is making an effort to move on. Against her better judgment, Rose surrenders to Neely Kate’s desire to investigate the disappearance of a necklace for a low life since the case seems pretty tame and she knows that NK needs something to focus on beside Ronnie and the babies. Face it, she just can’t say, “No!” to her best friend. As one would expect the case is much more complicated than it looks! Kate does not take an active role but we know that she is in the background still trying to manipulate everyone. Rose can’t stay out of the crime world when she discovers that there is danger for James Malcolm. That isn’t all she discovers about her favorite crime boss.
Spin off from the Rose Gardner Mysteries Series. Picks up with funny, entertaining, suspense and mystery.
I think this was the toughest investigation yet for Rose and NK with trying to find the necklace. Suspense builds and tension between Skeeter and Rose intensifies.
Rose and NK trying to get brought their past lives and looking into the dating scene again which seems rough for them both.
My favorite quote of the book “See? Wearing lipstick saved our lives…”
Love love love these books!
Like all of Rose gardeners it is great. Love these book
I absolutely loved this book. It kept me on the edge of my seat. I started at 9:00 am and finished at 3:30 am.
I am not in love with the Character of the vet. I do LOVE the chemistry between Rose and James. I HOPE that there will be more of them together in future books. I LOVE Lady!
This book made me a hair sad, very angry, giddy, scared, and felt the emotion LOVE! I am all in when a book can grab a hold of you and make you feel so much!
Once again I say thank you to the author for sharing these characters with us!
There were a lot of characters to keep track of which I normally don’t like. Premise was different from any other book that I have read for this type of mystery. I wouldn’t mind reading more of this series to see what happens with the main characters.
The entire Rose Gardner series is one of the best I’ve ever read. Character development, unusual and exciting mysteries, tears, and of course some of the best triangles and love scenes written. Kudos to DG Swank.
I was extremely happy to see Denise Grover Swank didn’t let Rose and friends die with J.R. Simmons. I absolutely loved this book. I love the way she is changing it up, but keeping the same characters that we love.
This is the 1st book in the new Rose Gardener series. I love it!! Rose life has calmed down from all the upheaval JR threw at her. Now its about to get more complicated. She realizes she has feelings for someone and things get a bit sticky. Neely Kate, her best friend, wants her to become a PI. SO they start investigating things. It is a great continuation of Rose and her world!!
The chemistry building between characters in this book makes me just SWOON! Neely Kate is kicking butt and taking names. I cannot wait to see what this next book from her point of view shows us. We got more of the underworld in this book and I don’t think it’s over yet. The shocker at the end, boy does Denise Grover Swank know how to deliver a punch! Now onto read all about Neely Kate and her backstory, in Trailer Trash!
love it
I’m beyond ecstatic to see the Rose Gardner mysteries continuing with this new investigation series that includes many of the same beloved characters I’ve come to know and love. After the Fenton County fall out and defeating JR Simmons, Rose is trying to focus on her own life and new business ventures. Neely Kate runs across a new potential investigation case for her and Rose to work on after a necklace goes missing. What appeared to be a simple, missing jewels case turns into something more sinister, and much more complicated than it originally looked! If you’re a new Rose Gardner reader. the author gives enough explanation for anyone who has not read the original books, but I would highly recommend starting with Twenty Eight and a Half Wishes to get the full impact! Family Jewels delivers a solid mystery, lots of suspense, and of course adventure. Definitely read this new series!
This is an enjoyable read with interesting characters. Rose has a :Lady in Black” avatar who is mysterious and wields much power when called upon. Neel Kate appears to be a loose canon though able to come through in the end. Crime lord, James “Skeeter” Malcom finds himself conflicted while harboring feelings for Rose.
I am so happy that Swank decided to continue writing stories for Rose. Rose is by far my favorite character. Her character has grown so much since Twenty Eight and A Half Wishes. She is now this strong woman who doesn’t let anyone, including a man, dictate her life. This new series for Rose is just as good as the original series, you will not be disappointed. Rose and Neely Kate have been solving little “mysteries” and have been called to find a very important piece of jewelry. I did feel like I was going in circles as they were investigating and questioning people, but it all made sense in the end when they figured out who had the item all along.
Now that Rose has shut the door on her troubles with JR, she thinks she can go about an ordinary life, but if you know anything about Rose that’s impossible. In this book she finds herself taking a case of missing jewelry- simple, right? Oh how wrong she was! This book is full of plot twists, intrigue, and new characters. She finds herself deep in Fenton County power struggles yet again. Family Jewels is a must read for all Rose fans!
I am so glad that this series continued as a spin off. Rose and Neely Kate are such an awesome duo. I love they are doing their own investigations. The 2 always seem to get themselves into trouble and it is exciting to read them get themselves out!
Family Jewels is the first book in the Rose Gardner Investigation series and it takes place a few months after the Rose Gardner Mystery series ended. This books provides a seamless transition from the Mystery series but I think it would also be good as a new stand alone book. I was looking forward to this book since the previous series ended and I was not disappointed. I loved seeing what Rose and Neely Kate were up to and catching up with the characters from the previous series as well as meeting new characters in this book.
Rose and Neely Kate decide to help Raddy Dyer get back his family jewels from his ex-wife. Of course, things are not so simple and they find themselves in a much more complicated situation. Rose is still trying to find out who she is and what she wants in life. Her love life is still somewhat complicated and this book shows more of her feelings for her ex boyfriends Joe and Mason. We also get more insight into Rose and Skeeter’s relationship and how it’s evolved over the last few months. There are several new characters in this book who could have a bigger impact later in the series. I’m excited to see how the new characters will be involved in the future.
Family Jewels was definitely a page turner and I read it within a day because I did not want to put it down. I definitely recommend this book for those familiar with Denise’s books and even those who have never read her books. She’s a great writer and does an excellent job at keeping the reader interested and excited about her characters and storylines. I cannot wait until book #2 comes out next year!
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review (and because I could not wait to read it lol)
Wow, this was awesome and intense. Loved it! Will be reading more of Denise Grover Swank’s books.
Good story line; kept me interested in the outcome. Too many male characters whose names began with “J” to keep them straight in the first several chapters. Female characters were memorable.
I was so mad at the author when Rose’s fiancé, Mason, left. SO mad. So it was with a great amount of hesitation that I opened this tome. I’m glad I did, and I have read 2 that follow, but I’m very hesitant to buy in. Something bad is going to happen I just know it. But the previous series was so well written, and the characters so well developed, and frankly, it’s hard to find those 2 elements in today’s novels. So while I’m not thrilled with where the series is going, I LOVE the characters and the suspense (SHE KNOWS HOW TI BUILD IT!!). There’s enough steam to intrigue but it doesn’t make you feel like you’re reading porn. The twists and turns are exciting. And like I said, you just fall in love with the broken characters. I’ve laughed out loud and cried my heart out in this and the following 2 entries. Oh, Mason!!
Denise has done it again! I love Rose Gardner, I loved her from the very beginning in the Rose Gardner Mysteries, and I love her in Family Jewels also.
Denise did a great job with starting the new series. It picks up right where the first series ended for all the Rose fans out there but it’s also a wonderful beginning for anyone just finding Rose for the first time.
Rose is trying to help Neely Kate get over her husband disappearing so she agrees to help find some missing jewelry. Rose believed it would be a simple project to keep herself and Neely Kate busy and occupied, but when they end up stumbling into something bigger.
This book has a little bit of everything, you won’t be disappointed. So what are you waiting for?