Oh Finlay. I will never get tired of your shenanigans. The fun part of series like these is when you get to see character growth across multiple books. Already hungry for book 5

What a phenomenal series installment! Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice picks up immediately after the last book in the series with Finlay and her nanny/partner in accidental crime, Vero, heading to Atlantic City for a girls weekend. Of course, the “girls weekend” is just a cover story for why they need to be in Atlantic City, which is really to meet with a dangerous mob boss, locate a stolen car from the Russian mob, and find Vero’s friend. All the while, Finlay’s mother, children, ex-husband, and new cop boyfriend, cop sister, and more cop friends tag along. Finlay and Vero stumble upon dead bodies, a strip club, Kevin Bacon, explosives, and more in their quest to save Javi and extricate themselves from their entanglement with the mob and loan sharks once and for all. The book has fun twists and turns along with touching moments of family and friendship. I loved that part of the focus of this book was the heightened danger that if Finlay is caught she can lose her new relationship in addition to everything else already on the line. Loved this book and highly recommend!

3.75/5 rounded up to 4

Elle Cosimano’s characters are so fun. She creates this universe where you feel like you know each and every character, like they are close friends or acquaintances. Usually after I read a book it’s like an eraser hits my brain and clears everything out to prepare for the next read but with Cosimano’s writing it only takes a second to jog my memory about who is who (even if I haven’t read the other books in a year). I love that.

This book was fun, there’s always trouble aplenty when Finlay and Vero are involved. I love the conversations they have and the antics of Vero which are so random and off the wall…as usual. That scene at Chubbies not Chubby’s was hilarious.

Finlay’s ex husband is a whole disaster as usual. He’s such a goof. Sure you’re a serial cheater but let’s give you another chance. How about no!!?!!! Nick had a smaller role in this book but you’ll still be rooting for Finlay and Nick.

This one had a Weekend At Bernie’s vibe which was a nice touch. This one had less to do with Finlay’s career and more to do with the trouble she’s gotten herself in. I don’t recommend reading this if you haven’t read the earlier books in the series 1st.

Angela Dawe is a brilliant audio narrator and a perfect selection for this series. I was psyched when I saw she was staying on for this book too. She nails it every time. For me the wrong narrator can really ruin an audiobook. Angela effortlessly and seamlessly switches up her voice throughout which I can’t image is an easy thing to do.

I wanted a little bit more out of this book but I still had a great time reading it. The 1st and 2nd books are my favs in the series. I’d love if they made this a Netflix series or something like that because Elle Cosimano writes such fun characters.

Finlay Donovan and Vero are always a great read! This was a fun read and I couldn't put it down. They are up to their usual mischief, only this time in Atlantic City, with Finlay's kids, mom, sister, boyfriend and ex-husband. They are running from the Russian mob and loan sharks. It's hilarious and I found myself laughing out loud several times. I can't wait for the next one!

The newest addition to the Finlay Donovan saga did not disappoint. How fun would it be to be friends with Finn and Vero?! Seriously though, what a journey. Finlay is such a bad ass lady and mom, I've thoroughly enjoyed this series. Can't wait to see what she does next!

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins press for the ARC.

Finlay and Vero are back again, this time in Atlantic City on a girls weekend gone awry.

These books are just so silly but they make for a great time. I always feel anxious while reading them which makes me laugh because the storylines are always more outlandish than the book before, but I can’t help screaming in my head at Finlay and Vero to “get outta there!” If you are looking for a fun series, without a blip of reality, these are it! But make sure to read them in order, or else nothing with make sense, even though it rarely makes sense at all any way (in the best way)!

I love Finlay and Vero and have totally gobbled up all their antics in books 1-3. This entry is the weakest in my personal opinion. Where I could suspend my disbelief in prior books, this one was just so fast paced with so many crazy antics, I had a hard time.

Also, Finlay is suspicious AF lol and Nick not picking up on that just really grinds my gears. I want to be rooting for them but I cant see past this aspect.

I like that this book effectively ended one of the plot lines that have been running on for a while, and I’m hoping that the next book feels fresh again!

This book is just as wild as the previous ones. Completely absurd but addicting. Finlay, accidental assassin/thriller romance author/mom of 2 & Vero, sidekick/fugitive/nanny head to Atlantic City to find & rescue Javi, Vero’s ex. He’s been taken as an incentive for Vero to pay back her gambling related debts. Shenanigans abound. Especially with Finn’s mom, ex-husband & children in tow. Throw in her cop boyfriend & entourage to spice it up even more. All of the characters we’ve come to love & loathe in the series make appearances. This book is like a telenovela- you can’t stop watching the many train wrecks. This book has the best pay off at the end compared to the previous books. It was very satisfying. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next.

Finlay and her trusted sidekick/nanny Vero are in need of a girls’ weekend away so they plan a trip to Atlantic City. Though they desperately need that weekend away, it's actually a cover story to negotiate a deal with a dangerous loan shark, save Vero’s crush Javi and locate a stolen car. It’s fine, everything is fine, except that Finlay’s mother and ex-husband Stephen (with their two children) decide to tag along. Add in Finlay’s love interest/cop/partner of Finlay’s sister Nick and as always, things get a lot more interesting.

This story picks up right where the previous one left off - literally, Finlay and Vero are fresh out of the academy and onto their next crazy adventure. As always, the witty banter between Finlay and Vero is top notch; they just crack me up. Some of the situations they find themselves in are so over-the-top you just can’t help but laugh. I just love this series - it’s amazing how well one book flows into the next, and for part of the story, I was expecting to see this installment wrap up the series but I think there may be more to come. Finlay, Vero and the kids have a place in my heart and I always enjoy being in their world.

Thank you to Netgalley, Minotaur Books and Elle Cosimano for the ARC! “Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice” releases March 5, 2024. This review will be shared to my instagram blog(@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

Finlay Donovan has done it again!! (Or should I say, Elle Cosimano?) I absolutely love this series and #4 did not disappoint! From the road trip, to the hotel hopping, the dead bodies and everything in between; this book had me laughing and guessing until the end. Finlay and Vero have gotten themselves into quite the dilemma this time and I had no clue how they were going to come out of it unscathed. In their typical crime solving style, they not only manage, but go above and beyond everyone’s expectations. I will definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys this series or anything by Evanovich. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

I started getting into the Finlay Donovan series when I wanted to dip my toes into a crime thriller/mystery, but knew I would need some comedy intertwined. I was hooked on Finlay instantly. I loved the fresh feeling of the Atlantic City background, it added a new element that felt very fun. The pacing was as perfect as it always is, I am constantly hanging on to every word until the thrilling end. This is the perfect series and I am absolutely thrilled that we were set up for another installment here. Finlay and Vero forever!

I love this series so much! Love all the hijinks Finlay and Vero get into, hilarious Vero’s treatment of Steven. So good!

Elle Cosimano does it again! The latest installment of Finlay Donovan is just as exhilarating and hysterical as the rest.

I found this one just a bit harder to follow, but it may be because I am not familiar with casinos and gambling. It seemed like there was a lot of detail regarding how casinos are laid out and my brain just couldn’t see it clearly, and I think it took away from the story a bit for me.

Overall, I still think this was a great book and I’m looking forward to the next one!

3.5 stars

Thank you to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for my ARC of this much anticipated release, which is out March 5, 2024.

What can i say? I absolutely love Finlay and Vero and the naughtiness they find themselves in. This one finds them off to Atlantic City for a girls' weekend away. But if you know these ladies, the odds are stacked against them actually having a relaxing time. With too many passengers in tow and many hands in the pot, all bets are off on this trip.

As always, we have some great banter between Vero and Steven. But Finlay's mom takes the cake in this one. I certainly found her humor to be a breath of fresh air in an otherwise redundant story line. I did enjoy it and I am not going to lie, i was kind of hoping to see the ending wrap up the series, but I'm not so sure. I guess I will wait and see if there is more to come!

Finlay and Vero are back at it again for the fourth installment of the Finlay Donovan series by @ellecosimano. In FINLAY DONOVAN ROLLS THE DICE, they’re hitting the road and heading to Atlantic City. This book starts right where book 3 left off so I don’t want to give anything away if you haven’t read the other books in the series.

Vero and Finlay are just as funny as ever and throwing Finlay’s mom into the mix proved to spice things up. I was laughing out loud at their trip to the “diner for a burger.” The Donovan series is similar to Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series as far as humor, dynamic duos, and a good cozy-ish mystery feel goes. And I am here for it! I’ll look forward to the next installment — good cliffhanger at the end of this one so I know the girls’ adventures are not done yet.

If you haven’t started this series yet, it is a must if you like quick, fun, mysteries that will have you laughing out loud. They’re perfect palette-cleansing books and must reads in my opinion. Read them in order for all the fun! I didn’t reread Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun before this one but Cosimano does a good job of reminding us of the important parts of previous books.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Many thanks to @minotaur_books for an early galley! Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice is set to release on 3.5.24!

I am so fortunate to have read every Finlay Donovan book as an ARC (and I’ve also bought every single physical copy to display on my bookshelves)! I thank my lucky stars every day that I get to read books and review them - especially ones I love and want to read, anyway!

If you haven’t read any of the other books in this series, do not fret, Cosimano does an excellent job of catching the reader up on all things Finlay as the story unfolds.

I just love that this ordinary woman who deals with balancing family, friends, work, and life like any normal person gets caught up in such insane and illegal activities, while also being so close to the law!

All the characters have something to add and really do come to life in these books. Even the ones I thought I’d dislike at the beginning have grown on me. Finlay and Vero are definitely a dynamic duo you don’t want to miss.

It’s so fun to read this series!

I was so close to thinking this might be the last book, but that final page made me think there are definitely more to come and I CAN’T WAIT!!

First, let me start by saying that I'm a big fan of this series. I love Finlay and Vero so much, and they are on of my favorite book friendships. That said, Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice missed the mark a bit for me.

While I've had to suspend my reality with the entire series, this one was so far over-the-top unbelievable to me that I struggled a little to get through the middle bit of the book. The plot in this series went from humorous and far-fetched in the first book to completely ridiculous and implausible in this one. I don't want to post spoilers, so I'll just leave it there.

I did still enjoy the overall book, and I liked how the main storyline wrapped up. The characters continued to draw me in, and they are the reason I will continue reading this series. I appreciated that we got to see more from some of the secondary characters in this book, like Georgia, Sam, and Finlay's mom. And Nick continues to be a great guy who I honestly feel a little sorry for with how much Finlay lies to him.

Overall, I'm thinking my rating falls somewhere around 3 stars.

Read if you enjoy:
✔️ Cozy mysteries
✔️ Far-fetched plots
✔️ Female friendships
✔️ Casinos
✔️ Funny moments

I did a happy dance when I was approved for an advanced read of this title - thank you @NetGalley and @ElleCosimano for this opportunity. I LOVE Finlay Donovan and have devoured every single book, hoping for more. If you haven't jumped into this series yet, you have time to get caught up before the release of this title on March 5th!!

In this 4th book, Finlay and Vero are right where we left them, accompanied by the quirky cast of characters I can't help but love. Finlay and Vero head to Atlantic City to save Javi from his kidnappers and attempt to clear Vero's debts in the process. What the ladies hope to be a quick trip, is of course complicated when Steven, the kids, and Finlay's mom insist on coming along. I loved all the banter and can't help but thank Elle Cosimano for including Steven and some extra laughs at his expense. 

Things become even more difficult to navigate for Finlay and Vero (but A LOT more fun for the reader) with the surprise arrivals of Nick, Charlie, Georgia, and Sam, who are there to track down some leads on the Felix case and to protect Finlay and her posse.  

I don't want to spoil any of the fun twists and turns we can expect from this series, but can say they are on par with books 1-3 and are so much fun. I couldn't put the book down and just love everything about the dynamics between these characters. I wish I could jump in and be part of the action.

I am already SOOO excited for book #5 after the ending of this one!

Elle Cosimano has a talent for making me laugh on each page while I fly through the chapters. It’s a simple task, but almost impossible to successfully achieve. Finlay Donovan’s escapades has been one of my favorite series in the past year, and the fourth installment was no different.
In this book, Finlay and Vero try to sneak off to Atlantic City, only to have Finlay’s ex-husband Steven, her mother, and her kids all join in on the fun. The two must work together to hide their real objective (saving Vero’s “friend” from a loan shark) and maintain the charade of a fun girls’ weekend while entertaining Steven and the kids. As the plot thickens, more of the series’s recurring characters pop up, keeping the pace break-neck fast and fun!
Finlay and Vero are incredibly well-developed characters, with full backgrounds that influence their decisions at every point. Learning about their backgrounds and connecting the dots makes each book feel like a layered mystery, keeping me fully entertained. But the real magic is in their friendship. I love that Cosimano focuses on their friendship over the romantic endeavors in their lives, and emphasizes the importance of a loving support system.
If you’d read the first three books in the series, it’s time to pick up #4! And it’s definitely not the last in the series, so buckle up for even more adventures with Finlay and Vero.
Thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book picks up right where the third in the series left off- Finlay and Vero are headed to Atlantic City to find Javi and put the whole mess they've gotten themselves into behind them. But suddenly Steven, the children and Finlay's mom are tagging along. Once they get to AC, Georgia, Sam, Charlie and Nick show up making this trip a bit too crowded for comfort. High jinks and craziness ensue with so many twists and turns you might get whiplash.

I really enjoyed this entry into the series. I found the third book lacking and way too confusing, but this one was so much better. More of the humor from the first book was present and while the plot was confusing and sometimes convoluted I was able to follow this one better. I loved that things were tied up at the end, but with a new cliffhanger indicating that the series will continue in a different direction.

You really can't read these books out of order. They won't make any sense at all. So although this is a great book, don't start here if you haven't read the others. Can't wait for the next entry in the series! Thanks @netgalley for the ARC!