My Rating: 
Author: Denise Grover Swank
Narrator: Frances Fuller
Length: 8 hrs., 37 mins.
Publisher: Bramagioia Enterprises
Publisher’s Summary: For Rose Gardner, working at the DMV on a Friday afternoon is bad even before she sees a vision of herself dead. She’s had plenty of visions, usually boring ones like someone’s toilet’s overflowed, but she’s never seen one of herself before. When her overbearing momma winds up murdered on her sofa instead, two things are certain: There isn’t enough hydrogen peroxide in the state of Arkansas to get that stain out, and Rose is the prime suspect.
Rose realizes she’s wasted 24 years of living and makes a list on the back of a Wal-Mart receipt: 28 things she wants to accomplish before her vision comes true. She’s well on her way with the help of her next door neighbor Joe, who has no trouble teaching Rose the rules of drinking, but won’t help with number 15 – do more with a man. Joe’s new to town, but it doesn’t take a vision for Rose to realize he’s got plenty secrets of his own.
Somebody thinks Rose has something they want and they’ll do anything to get it. Her house is broken into, someone else she knows is murdered, and suddenly, dying a virgin in the Fenton County jail isn’t her biggest worry after all.
Winner of The Beacon – 2010 Unpublished Division, Mainstream Category
©2012 Denise Swank (P)2012 Denise Swank DBA Bramagioia Enterprises
My Review: Rose Gardner is not your average southern belle. The 24-year-old has barely entered life in the real world and is constantly controlled by her mother. She works at the local DMV, comes home to prepare dinner and then wait on her mother hand and foot. Rose has had a hard life and it isn’t getting easier any time soon.
After a spat with her mother, Rose returns home to find a dead body in her house. While she’s convinced it should have been her, she’s thankful to be alive. Oh… I almost forgot! Rose has “visions” of the future. Her mother claims she’s demon possessed and Rose has almost convinced herself she is.
Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes was a great listen! I was hooked from the first chapter and enjoyed every minute. I was never bored, I was always asking for more. I finished this audiobook at 2am because I had to know what happened and I couldn’t stop! I knew if I tried to go to sleep, I’d just lay there thinking about what Rose and Joe were plotting. I’m so glad I finished though! Superb ending and I can’t wait for more Rose!
This plot is so thick and lovely. It’s easy to follow and easy to love. The dynamics between Rose and Joe keep you on your toes until the end. I’m pretty sure this brand new series was dropped from heaven!
Although this audiobook was just released through in audiobook format, it was actually published in print back in March. The second book, Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons was released in print on June 25, 2012 so I’m hoping the audiobook version comes along really soon! I can’t wait to hear more about Rose!
Check out the trailer for Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes below!
Narrator Review: I’m a sucker for a southern accent and Frances Fuller couldn’t be more perfect for this narration. Her sweet and smooth southern voice was perfect and I relished her work. Fuller may use a thick southern accent but every word is annunciated perfectly and is easily understood. In a way, I was hoping she’d bust out in song and sing me Amazing Grace or something at the end. Beautiful work by Fuller.
Download Twenty-Eight and a Half Wishes now!
Disclosure: I downloaded this audiobook from Audible.com.
Really enjoyed this book. I hope she goes farther with this character.