I have not read the Finley Donavan series so I can’t speak about Vero’s relationship to those books, but I did really enjoy this short read. It had a lot of humor. Some of Vero’s attempts to figure out who the thief was had me laughing. This short story has me intrigued enough to read the entire series.

This is not my typical go-to content but it was a "Read Now" on NetGalley and I'm kinda a sucker for free shit, so I grabbed it. Honestly gotta say this took me by surprise and I really enjoyed it! I can't say too much without giving things away, but I will say that it was unexpected in a great way, and I LOVE that Vero is finally the hero.

This a 3.5 in the series, which gives us much more insight to Vero. I didn’t love it, because it was not the Vero/Finlay team (since it is about Vero’s past). I can’t wait to get back to laughing with the main series, which I adore!!

A fun look into Vero's backstory and how she ended up meeting Finlay. It's a super quick read since it's a short story that can be finished in one sitting. I enjoyed it!

Unlike the main series, which is told from the perspective of Finlay Donovan, this short story was told from the perspective of her nanny-turned-best friend and sidekick, Veronica (Vero). Because it’s a short story, it was a quick listen (under three hours), and the audiobook was narrated by Stacy Gonzalez instead of the usual narrator, Angela Dawe (because of the switch in main character perspectives). It wasn’t a particularly memorable short story, but it does give you a more detailed account of how Vero and Finlay met.

Thank you so much to Minotaur Books for the free copies of the Finlay Donovan series!

This was a fun chance to see what got Vero to what we see in the Finlay Donovan series. I enjoyed the read and seeing the chemistry between and Ramon. But I missed the banter and chemistry between Finlay and Vero. That is one of the best parts of the series.

There were a few suspects in the missing money case Vero works on and I wasn't sure who was the culprit.

It is definitely a quick, fun read.

This was a super cute short story! I loved seeing a little bit of Vero’s back story. I love her dynamic with Javi! I hope they’re able to figure things out by the end of this series. I can’t wait to start Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice!

I've been a little worried that this series was fading in quality, but this throwback short story was great fun.



Review copy provided by publisher.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the complimentary e-ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This short story gives us a glimpse into Vero’s life before she met Finlay. Readers get to know more details why Veronica is on the run as well as solve a small mystery on a new workplace.
I love most characters from Finlay’s universe and I would read any book about them no matter how short or long they are.

I love Vero and I think she should get whatever she wants in life or in love. She does make a series of confusing decisions in this book and the mystery was kind of hard to follow. But I do like her more than Finlay.

Vero is one of my favorite characters in the Finlay Donovan universe and this was a fun little novella that offers a glimpse into Vero's life before she starts nannying for the Donovans. Vero really shined in this story, but I wish we could have seen Vero's life at school and the events that lead up to her life on the run. That's the origin story I was hoping for. I do hope the author publishes more of these short standalones in the future!

This short story gives a more complete back story of Vero and explains how Vero and Finlay met.

A quick read that’s entertaining.

I have mixed feelings on this book. It was a quick easy short read, but I was expecting a little more of Veronica‘s backstory regarding college and her relationship prior to that time.. not a bad addition to the series just not exactly what I was expecting

I liked that we did get a Vero story, but it felt like just a blip and could have been more. Seemed like a small detour instead of giving her her own book.

A quick, fun read and I enjoyed getting the backstory on Vero. However, I really wanted to know more about what had happened at school and less about the time between school and her connection to Finlay

This was a fun short story, but nothing profound. I loved the context for Vero, but it lacks some of the sparkle that the Finlay Donovan series is known for. I think the relationship between Finlay and Vero is what makes these books special, and not having Finlay throughout the book definitely felt like a missing link.

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is a delightful novela from Elle Cosimano, giving the back story of Finlay Donovan's babysitter/partner in crime. Vero has left university under a cloud of suspicion and is staying with her cousin Ramon. She decides to get a job at a bank (hoping to use her almost-accounting degree). But the only job open is the one as the janitor, but she takes that after overhearing that someone at the bank has been skimming money. If she can solve the mystery, then there will be a teller position open for her.

This is a quick read for those who love the Finlay Donovan series. If you haven't read any of the other books in the series, this book might seem a little too surface-level, so I would recommend reading this after book 3 (Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun).

Thanks to Netgalley for the copy of this great book!

It was really nice to get a closer look at Vero's story before everything that happens in the series. She's a great character and she definitely needed her own story. It's a very short story that leaves you wanting more. But for what it is, it's very entertaining. Of course Vero's life was chaotic before she ever met Finlay! I recommend this for the biggest fans of the Finlay Donovan series. And obviously for those who love Vero most.

I truly enjoy these fun, quick and laughable mysteries. I love the characters and the voice they have in each of these books. Love the fun reads by Elle Cosimano! Always worth picking up and good for a few laughs as you solve the mystery along with the narrators.

Title: Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank
By: Elle Cosimano
Pub. Day: Nov. 7, 2023

Genre:
Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Short Stories

Trigger Warnings:
Murder, Gun Violence, Toxic Relationships

Review:
Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank didn’t quite land for me the way I’d hoped. I found myself wanting a stronger storyline between the initial connection of the Vero and Finlay I’ve come to know and love from the series. The plot felt a bit underwhelming and didn’t carry the same spark as the other books. I also missed hearing the familiar voice on the audiobook—it wasn’t the same narrator as all the other books, which made it harder to feel fully immersed. That said, I’m still a fan of the series and love all the other installments of Finlay and Vero.

Thank you to Elle Cosimano, St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity of an Advanced Readers Copy. I am voluntarily leaving my personal review.

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