I liked this one better than the second in the series, but overall the first book is my favorite so far.
Findlay and Vero find themselves in even more dangerous situations in this book. She is being blackmailed by a mob boss and he gave her a short deadline to get rid of a person that goes by “Easy Clean” who is blackmailing the mob boss. The big problem is that it appears that Easy Clean is most likely a dirty cop taking on side jobs as a hit man. Finlay and Vero also are pushed into taking the citizens police academy by Finlay’s cop sister. This is where Finlay is hoping to figure out who Easy Clean is.

Over the top dramatics, fast paced, and some humor will keep you binging the series.

Thanks to NetGalley for a promotional copy of this ebook.

I'm not going to lie: there were multiple times where I contemplated not finishing this book. Aside from some of the comedic moments featuring Vero and maybe a couple of instances between Nick and Finlay, this was not really an enjoyable read. I almost feel guilty saying that knowing this series has accumulated a large following.

In all honesty, I just feel like this series has been done before. Maybe not in this exact way but I can't help but think of the OG Stephanie Plum or the Calamity Jayne series. I'm not surprised that this series has popularity though because I can see how it could be read fast and would be addicting to read.

I probably will continue to read this series out of stubbornness but I don't have the highest of hopes or expectations (aside from high hopes that Vero's comedic relief continues). Even the romance. I like Nick's character but I still feel the relationship is mediocre at best.

As a total side note, even though I haven't loved this series, I think it could be adapted well into a series. In fact, I think it would be MORE enjoyable on screen.

This is my favorite Finlay Donovan so far! I love this series! Can’t wait to see what Finlay and Vero get into next!

Title: Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: January 31, 2023
📖 301 pages

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Finlay and Vero are in debt to the Russian mob after accidentally destroying their car. To repay them, Finlay must identify a contract killer within the police academy she's attending.

This one was probably my favorite because I adore Finlay and Nick! The academy was fun, and I liked learning more about Vero's past I'm so excited to read the next book!

Thank you so much St. Martin's Press, NetGalley and author for the digital review copy.

Loved this book and love the series. Such a refreshing and fast paced read, especially for a busy mom. That is probably also why I find them humorous and relatable.

This might have been my favorite Finlay Donovan book yet! It felt easier to follow the characters and the action was very entertaining. I will definitely keep reading this series! I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This whole series was a dnf for me. The first book I liked the premise and it intrigued me enough to move on to the next story. Unfortunately after that it seemed that there was a lot more language and innuendos than the first book. And I wasn't enjoying the story enough to move on and continue.

These books are just pure, fast-paced fun. Definitely will continue to follow the misadventures of Finlay and crew.

Thanks to the publisher for the free copy!

Didn’t love this one as much as book # 2 but still a fun extension of this crazy saga of Finlay Donavan. The storyline of her son running into the bathroom stalls of strangers cracked me up!!

I am STILL loving this series! The mystery keeps you guessing, we have a bit of forbidden romance and yearning, and honestly this book was just FUN!

This was another fun read in the Finlay Donovan series that was a perfect beach read.

So far this series has proven to have longevity and I wouldn't be surprised to see a network like Hallmark pick up the TV option for the series.

I would recommend this.

Title: Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun
By: Elle Cosimano
Pub. Day: Jan 31 2023

Genre:
Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, Humor, Book Club, Audiobook

Red Flags:
Murder, Violence, Accidental Homicide, Racism, Sexism, Drugs, Car Accident, Catfishing,
(**a little more graphic than preferred, hence the knock in stars**)

Summary/Review:
Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun brings back the beautiful mess of chaos and charm that is Finlay Donovan. She’s a recently divorced mom of two, a struggling writer and a woman who spins the chaos of the ordinary into a hilariously exaggerated trainwreck. In Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun the narrative involves the continuation of the Russian Mob, an expensive car, an attractive cop, and research with the firearm training and forensic classes. Finlay bounces from one disaster to the next, only to somehow land on a perfectly purposeful ending.

Finlay Donovan Knocks ‘Em Dead is truly unforgettable! The theme of this series balances the heaviness of heartbreak with hilarious disasters that revolve around the distinctive Finlay. The character depth is masterfully written and includes wild and unpredictable memorable moments of relationships built on trust and forgiveness.

For anyone who’s ever faced setbacks, family drama, or creative writer's block, The Finlay Donovan Series offers a realistically bittersweet exploration of motherhood’s emotional depths where humor softens heartbreak, and healing quietly takes root. Highly Recommended!!! I can’t wait to continue reading this series!

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.

#FinlayDonovanJumpstheGun
#St.MartinsPress
#MinotaurBooks
#ElleCosimano
#advancedreadercopies
#NetGalley

This is the third book in the Finlay Donovan series. I found this book to have the weakest plot of the three, and it felt the most…unbelievable, if you can believe me (ha). It just felt like the most unrealistic, which is funny considering the series as a whole isn’t really realistic. It just went a little TOO far for me, I guess! It’s still a fun book, and I’m still looking forward to the rest!

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

I never know what Finlay is going to get herself into and then out of. I was NOT expecting a police training camp and how that would all work out for her and Veronica. It was very entertaining with lots of twists, as expected.

*Provided a DRC (digital review copy) from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.

4 Stars - Thank you to NetGalley & the publishers for an ARC of 'Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun', the third book in Elle Cosimano's Finlay Donovan Series. I believe NetGalley re-released the earlier books to build anticipation for the upcoming final installments (#5 and #6), which worked out perfectly for me! haha

I found this book far more enjoyable than the second. While the plot is still delightfully over-the-top, it had me laughing out loud, smiling, and gasping throughout. Finlay and Vero are truly the dynamic BFF duo you didn’t know you needed. The romantic aspect had a noticeably spicier edge this time around, and the story delivered a wonderfully entertaining mix of humor, mystery, and suspense.

A fun and cozy mystery with just the right blend of charm and chaos—I loved it!

Finlay and Vero are up to their necks in trouble. They have Zhirov demanding that they help him get out of prison. Vero has some bad guys from New Jersey after her. Finlay is struggling to write a book, take care of her kids, and juggle the men who are interested in her. Her solution? Go to the safest place on earth, the Citizen’s Police Academy! It’s Finlay so highjinx will ensue but will she ever finish writing her next book? Or figure out which man she wants to be with?

I’m going to get this out of the way here. The Citizens Police Academy is so silly that I rolled my eyes every time it was mentioned. However, it gave Finlay a place to go for this story and it was necessary to make the story work. What did I like? The story is lightweight and fun. Finlay is still a hot mess. Vero is still a hot mess. The bad guys are also kind of a hot mess. The men that are clamoring for Finlay’s attention suffer from blindness where Finlay is concerned. Also, this book spends a lot of time creating more of the world around Finlay. What didn’t I like? I thought the silliness got to be a bit much. There were times that I couldn’t suspend disbelief because it was impossible. There are a lot of side characters that are all necessary to make the story work.

If you haven’t read the stories leading up to this, go back and read them because this story is a continuation of all the stuff from the first books. This is absolutely NOT a stand alone story. I am invested in this series at this point so I will read the next book but I don’t know how much farther I’ll go in the series if it continues like this.

Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝕚𝕤𝕥:
Finlay Donovan is no stranger to chaos, but when she and her nanny-turned-partner Vero accidentally destroy a luxury car while saving her ex-husband—and the Russian mob kindly covers the cost—she finds herself in their debt. Mob boss Feliks, even from prison, gives her a new assignment: track down a contract killer who might be hiding in the police force. With a book deadline looming and pressure mounting, Finlay joins a citizen’s police academy (conveniently led by the handsome Detective Nick) to do some undercover sleuthing. Between firearm training, forensic classes, mob entanglements, and parenting duties, Finlay and Vero race to crack the case before the killer—and the mob—catch up to them.

𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕋𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕤:
🧍🏻‍♀️Single mom
😂 Laugh out loud humor
🫆 Amateur sleuths
💼 Mob bosses

𝕄𝕪 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
I absolutely love all of the Finlay Donovan books. I think they are the perfect mix of mystery, suspense, and humor. It’s so entertaining to see what insane situation Finlay will find herself in next. That being said, this was probably my least favorite book in the series so far. Mostly because I feel like the story is getting very drawn out and repetitive at times. I still enjoyed it, though!

My favorite part is Finlay and Vero’s relationship and all of the disastrous scenarios they find themselves in. I also love all the scenes related to motherhood and the realities of raising toddlers. Those opening scenes always make me laugh out loud! If you haven’t given this series a try yet, you absolutely should!

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗡𝗲𝘁 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘁. 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄.

𝕄𝕪 ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/

Finlay Donovan does it again - finds herself in the wrong place at the right time. Over and over and over again. This poor mama! I loved the introduction of new characters, some with twists I totally didn’t see coming. Loved the escaping and the hijinks and the silly lines by Vero. Soooo glad for Nick and his heroic deeds and how swoony their love story really is. Love Javi as a character and how that man would jump through FIRE for some attention… overall, loved loved loved the story, par norm. Cannot wait for the next one!

Yard work and these books on audio are going to be my summer favorite. Finlay sure gets herself in a lot of trouble, and her nanny/accountant cracks me up throughout the book. I love these stories!!

This book was such a fun read!!! Truly every book in the series is a joy and makes me laugh out loud! If you grew up loving Nancy Drew and Babysitter’s Club, these books are for you!