Thank you Minotaur Books, #partner, for the advanced e-copy of Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Published: November 7, 2023
Summary:
From New York Times bestselling author Elle Cosimano, comes Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank—a hilarious short story diving into Finlay Donovan’s partner-in-crime Vero’s past.
Anyone can spot a window of opportunity, but not everyone can manage to fall straight through one.
Veronica Ruiz is on the run for the first time in her life—though certainly not the last. After being falsely accused of stealing money from her college sorority, she packs up and heads to her cousin Ramón’s apartment, planning to change her name and rebuild start over away from backstabbing girls and university drama (and far, far away from her arrest warrant in Maryland).
At the local bank on the first morning of her new life, it occurs to Vero that she’d be a better bank teller than most of the current employees: she may not have much money, but what little she does have, she knows how to manage. Unfortunately, the only available position is a cleaning job and so, desperate for a fresh start, she takes the bank manager’s offer.
But nothing in Vero’s world has ever been simple, so of course shortly after she begins work, she overhears a conversation between her new boss and a security guard: someone who works there has been stealing. Seeing a window of opportunity, Vero sets out to find the identity of the thief, present the evidence, and then push for the perfect job. All of which would be easier if her irresistibly infuriating childhood crush Javi wasn’t living in the same damn town.
Offering the insight that listeners have been craving into fan-favorite Vero’s past and a closer look at the moment Finlay and Vero first meet, Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is a can’t-miss addition to the Finlay Donovan series.
My thoughts:
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Elle Cosimano’s Finlay Donovan series so when I heard that she was writing a short story about Vero, Finlay’s partner-in-crime, I couldn’t wait to read it! And even though this is just a short story, it is full of Cosimano’s signature wit, humor and fast-paced story-telling.
This was everything I hoped it would be and more! I loved getting Vero’s backstory. We learn why she left college, what she did for a short time and how she ended up coming to work for Finlay. And of course, my favorite part is the sizzling romance between her and Javi. There are the usual hijinks that we have come to love in these books, even without Finlay involved, Vero finds herself in some pretty crazy situations and I laughed out loud many times in this short story. I loved the interactions between Vero and her cousin – boy do they go at each other like siblings!
I could have read an entire book about Vero but this was the perfect solution and has me so excited for the next Finlay adventure, which comes out in March! If you haven’t read this series yet, what are you waiting for? They are such fun, enjoyable reads that are pure escapism and I cannot recommend them enough!
Books in this series:
3.5 Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank
4. Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice – due out March 5, 2024
