Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank by Elle Cosimano
Novela
Writing: B
Formatting: F
Story: C maybe
Characters: B
Setting: B-
Best Aspect: It was free.
Worst Aspect: Formatting. And how Netgalley and the publisher handled the problem.
Recommend: No.

Fun little short story- loved hearing the story of how Vero met Finlay! Poor Vero having to quit school because of the Sorority drama. I’m very curious to see if we ever get closure on where the money went.

This is a cute novella that goes into Veronica's backstory. It was interesting, however I wish it went into more depth from things hinted at in the main series. Certain parts felt a little rushed in the telling.

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

In A MOMENT’S SHADOW, written by Anna Lee Huber, Verity and her husband, Sidney, are in Post World War I Dublin. They are trying to find phosgene that had been stolen during the war and to expose Lord Ardmore as a traitor. Verity and Sidney are sent to Dublin to locate C, the chief of SIS (Secret Intelligence Service and Verity’s former superior who has been reported missing by his handler).

I have to admit that getting to know characters introduced in the early chapters is a difficult enterprise at times. I find the effort is worth it as I read on. Once the story involves a jewel theft, I am more engaged in reading the book. There are times I want more of the Verity and Sidney story, but the conclusion is most satisfying. Thank you, Kensington Publishing and NetGalley, for the chance to read and review an advance reader copy of A MOMENT’S SHADOW.

I don't think this short story really added anything to the series! I read it on my way to book 4 but it was wholly unnecessary.

3/5 Stars - Thank you to NetGalley & the publishers for an ALC of ‘Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank‘, a short story (#3.5) in Elle Cosimano's Finlay Donovan Series. I think NetGalley re-released the earlier books to build anticipation for the upcoming final installments (#5 and #6, which was just announced)!

This story centers on the backstory of Veronica (Vero), Finlay’s best friend and partner in crime. According to the intro, it was written in response to fan demand—something I appreciate. However, for me, it didn’t feel essential. As a prequel, it was very short and didn’t offer much new insight into Vero’s character. It avoided exploring the more “shady” aspects of her past and instead repeated details we already knew from the main books.

That said, I did enjoy how the ending cleverly connected to Vero’s first meeting with Finlay—it was a nice touch. While not a standout in the series for me, I understand why Elle Cosimano chose to write it. Now, I’m ready to dive into #4 and pick up where ‘Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun’ left off!

I love the Finlay Donovan series as do my coworkers. I was excited to jump on a short backstory for Vero! It’s a cute story obviously written for fans. It can easily be skipped when reading the series but a treat for those of us who love Vero! I enjoyed the mystery and seeing more of Javi and Ramon.

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is a fast-paced, witty, and satisfying mystery with a heart. When struggling single mom Veronica Ruiz takes a job at a failing bank, she quickly stumbles into a criminal conspiracy and realizes her knack for numbers might make her the perfect amateur sleuth... As the stakes rise, so do the laughs, with a cast of quirky characters and a heroine I couldn't help but root for.

Elle Cosimano totally delivered a clever, feel-good mystery that blends humor, suspense, and a touch of romance. Fans of Finlay Donovan will love this sharp and spirited series.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A short story in the Finlay Donovan series!

As a fan of Finlay and Vero, I couldn’t pass up Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank.

Vero is Finlay’s sidekick in every sense—a true friend and a supporter of their wild schemes, if not the instigator.

In this short story, we meet Veronica after she drops out of college but before she meets Finlay.

Veronica stays with her cousin and aims to get a job as a bank teller, but instead lands a janitor position. That’s fine, though—she knows someone is stealing from the bank, and if she can uncover the thief, she might take their place.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Stacy Gonzalez. As always, Vero is scheming, with some crazy ideas. We also get some interactions with Javi and her first meeting with Finlay.

What’s not to enjoy?

I can’t wait for Finlay’s next book.

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Minotaur Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

𝕋𝕙𝕖 𝔾𝕚𝕤𝕥:
Veronica Ruiz is on the run after being wrongly accused of stealing from her college sorority, and she’s determined to start fresh in a new town under the radar. Crashing with her cousin and low on options, she takes a cleaning job at a local bank—far from her dream, but a necessary first step. When she overhears talk of an internal theft, Vero sees a chance to clear her name and climb the ladder by catching the real culprit. But things get complicated fast, especially with her annoying (and annoyingly attractive) childhood crush Javi suddenly back in the picture. Nothing’s ever simple for Vero—but maybe a fresh start isn’t as impossible as it seems.

𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕞𝕖𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕋𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕤:
📝 Short story - prequel
🫆 Amateur sleuth
🤍 Romance subplot

𝕄𝕪 𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤:
I have been a huge fan of the Finlay Donovan books and I was so excited to get more insight into Vero’s past and backstory with this short prequel. That being said, this fell a little flat for me.

It still had the wit and charm I have come to know and love with the other books in the series, but it was the mystery and suspense itself that came up a bit lacking for me. I did really enjoy seeing how Vero and Finlay met, though, so I am glad I read it!

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗮𝘂𝗿 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄.

𝕄𝕪 ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘:
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (𝟹/𝟻)

somehow, I missed reading this one while I had it. I'll try to find it in Libby because I'd like to know more about Vero.

Thanks for the advance copy. This was a solid read overall. The story flowed well, and the characters were developed enough to stay interesting. While it didn’t blow me away, it held my attention and had some memorable moments. A good pick for readers looking for something light and quick.

I really liked this short story! Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is a fun, fast-paced glimpse into Vero’s past that adds so much depth to her character. It was great to see her quick thinking, charm, and sass in action before she teamed up with Finlay. The story had the perfect mix of humor, heart, and intrigue, and I loved getting a peek at how it all started. A must-read for any fan of the Finlay Donovan series!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. A quick side story that is all about Veronica. Love her back story and how she and Finlay met! A must read if you love the Finlay Donovan books!

Elle Cosimano is a comedic genius and Veronica is my favorite character in the series bar none. Any chance that we get to see more of her I’m always done to take it!

This book was a GREAT read, I loved the characters and how she kinda saved the day. It was a great quick paced read that didn’t leave anything behind.

Loved reading about Vero, and her dynamic with Ramon and Javi and her mom! And her first meeting with Finlay!!!

I knew I shouldn't have ended with this book. Unfortunately, it was very Meh didn't add anything to the series, but I felt obligated to be all caught up. This Novella is 100% Skippable, even the narrator isn't the same...

This hilarious and fast-paced short story is a delightful peek into fan-favorite Vero’s backstory from the Finlay Donovan series. Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank follows a younger Vero as she escapes a wrongful accusation, starts over in a new town, and finds herself entangled in a workplace mystery that only she could stumble into—and maybe solve.

With Vero’s signature sass and street smarts, the story blends humor, heart, and a touch of chaos as she navigates shady bosses, an old crush, and her dream of a fresh start. The writing is sharp, witty, and full of the charm readers have come to love from the series.

Whether you're a long-time fan or just discovering the Finlay Donovan universe, this short book delivers a fun and satisfying ride with just enough backstory and character development to make it a standout. Plus, the story teases the origins of Vero and Finlay's iconic partnership, making it a must-read for series fans.

If you wondered how it all started this is the short version! Cute read into Vero's start and introduction to Finlay.