Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur and the author for the gifted e-copy!

This is a fun and action packed short story that will answer all your questions about Vero!

We learn how she became Finlay’s nanny, accountant, housekeeper and all around partner in shenanigans! Plus we get the scoop on Javi & Vero’s relationship and learn more about their history together!

Even tho it’s a quick read … there’s still a little mystery and sleuthing as Vero sets out to uncover who is stealing from the bank where she works.

It was fun having Vero as the main character and I’m glad that Elle gave us this little peek into Finlay's beloved sidekick character!

I recently had the pleasure of reading this, and I have to say, it exceeded my expectations in so many ways. From the very first page, I was hooked by the engaging style and the intriguing characters. The author does an excellent job of building a world that feels both immersive and believable, making it easy to get lost in the story. The plot was full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story would surprise me with something unexpected. I highly recommend this and all their work.

The backstory of the best nanny sidekick ever! In this short story we get valuable info on Vero's sorority-theft past, her relationship with the delicious Javi, family drama and her first mystery at her bank job. This is a great side quest before starting the fourth book in which Vero and Finlay are off to rescue Javi! Now I feel as invested in Vero's HEA as I am in Finlay's.

I loved that Vero got her very own story! She is one of the best characters in the series, so I was excited to see she got some attention as the star of the show.

Always like reading books that are short and to the point they can be refreshing. This book gives you the background of the characters.

Who doesn't love Veronica Ruiz? Vero is whole heartedly a co-star in the Finlay Donovan series and provides the comic relief in every story.
I loved having the back story as a companion to the main series and it gave so much context to why she behaves the way she does. I love Vero-she can never do anything wrong in my book and having this sassy character's novella only makes me want to read more of her and Finlay's adventures.

Such a great short story providing the missing background to Vero's character in the Finlay Donovan series. Definitely worth picking this quick read up.

Hilarious and typical Viro. We learn about her rushed escape from college, get a peak into her relationship with her cousin, Ramone, and high school boyfriend/childhood friend, Javier.
Less entertaining than typical Finlay Donovan novels, which is why Vero is the sidekick. But funny, nonetheless.

This fun addition to the Finlay Donovan series, helps to better flesh out the story of her nanny/co-investigator. It's a quick read, but no less amusing than the other books in the series.

Vero is on the run, accused of a crime she did not commit. No one would believe her. So off to her cousin's place she goes to lay low and come up with a plan. To make ends me, she heads to the local bank hoping for a teller post and ends up as their cleaning staff. She overhears her boss and a guard talking about tills coming up short. Vero thinks that if she can solve that problem, she'd be in a good position to get that better job. If only Javi wasn't back in the picture, perhaps she could focus. All of the ensuing shenanigans leads up to that first meet with Finlay.

Author Elle Cosimano is brilliant in her writing of this series. The characters are hilarious in their dialogue and cutting remarks. The women are strong and clever while many of the men are rather morally challenged. Finlay Donavan and her nanny, Vero, make for a dubious duo in this series and their antics keep the reader chuckling. It's a wild ride for sure and nowhere near believable, yet oh so fun!

I am grateful to Minotaur Books for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

Publisher: Minotaur Books
Publication Date: November 7, 2023
Number of Pages: 119
ISBN: 978-1250343314

I finally get Veronica's side of the story! This is the short background of Veronica and how she ends up with Finlay. Of course, leave it to Veronica to be caught by her cousin, Ramon, breaking into his garage in the middle of the night. Not a dull moment ever!

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This quick novella gives us a bit more background on Veronica pre-Finlay. It was an ok read. It didn't have the fun and shenanigans of the main series, but it fits in well enough.

This novella gives background into Vero's life before meeting Finaly Donovan.

Someone is skimming money at the bank, and in order for Vero to start her new life, she needs to solve the mystery in hopes of getting a better job at the bank.

In true Elle Cosimano fashion, this book will have you wondering until the end, who did the crime with multiple possible suspects?

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank is a novella in the Finlay Donovan series. If you've read the previous books in this series, then you already know who Vero is. If not, it's okay because this book is about Vero before she met Finlay.

Now I don't have any problems with the characters or the actual story, but I do have a problem with the book. I'm not sure if it's because of the eARC I got or not... but the spacing throughout this book had me fuming. There were times when we had glorious spacing in between words... andthenallofasuddentherewerenospacesatall. It drove me bonkers and happened consistently throughout the book. For this reason alone, I'm docking stars.

I still kept reading though, because why not? I liked Vero and was very intrigued to see what her book would be about. She leaves college and is on the run. Running from Maryland to Virginia doesn't seem like a huge change of scenery to me, but at least she is with family. She ends up getting a job as a janitor at a bank and along the way solves a crime.

It was a fun and quick book to read. I also really liked how in the end we see her finally meeting Finlay. I'm glad that I was able to find time to read this today and can't wait for my next book in the series.

This is a short story of the origin story of Vero working for Finlay. Vero is accused of stealing money from her sorority and flees the state to crash with her cousin while she gets her life figured out. She ends up getting a job at a bank as a janitor with the intention of figuring out who the person is that's been stealing from the bank and then taking over their job.

It was nice to get the POV from Vero for this and to get a little background of of what all happened. I read a few of the other comments and people mentioned that some of the magic was missing from not having Finlay and Vero together for the story. But I still enjoyed it.

I was definitely missing the banter between Vero and Finlay in this one. While it provides an interesting backstory for Vero- though still missing some huge pieces- it wasn't nearly as fun as the others in the series. I did enjoy seeing a bit more about her relationship with Javi and how she met Finlay. I think the length was good for what this was.

I was interested in Vero's backstory before she became Finlay's right-hand woman. This did just that and even provided a mystery for her to solve at the bank she had started working in.

It was interesting to see how each person was ruled out as she got nearer to the truth. I also loved her chemistry with Javi. So good! I can't wait to see how she solves her current dilemma.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4⭐
Steam level: 1.5🌶️ Closed door

Veronica Ruiz Breaks the Bank gives fans of the Finlay Donovan series a deeper look into Vero’s past, showing the scrappy, quick-thinking woman we’ve come to love before she became Finlay’s partner-in-crime. The story follows Vero as she navigates false accusations, a fresh start, and a potential bank heist mystery, all while dealing with the unexpected presence of Javi, her old flame. The humor and fast-paced action keep the novel engaging, and Vero’s sharp wit makes her an easy character to root for.

However, the story doesn’t quite have the same charm or tension as the main series, and the plot, while entertaining, feels a bit predictable at times. The connection to the Finlay Donovan books is fun but doesn’t add much new depth to the overarching series. While longtime fans will enjoy learning more about Vero, this prequel doesn’t quite reach the same heights as the original books. A solid, fun read, but not a standout—three stars.

While I did enjoy getting to read about her back story, I do think that I love her as a side character to Finlay more than just reading about her alone! But still a fun short read!

Solid novella that gives some nice insight! Vero is one of my favorite characters and reading her back story has been so fun. I cannot wait to keep reading these stories with this added knowledge in place!

This little novella gives us an inside look into Finlay’s literal partner in crime and nanny, Veronica Ruiz. It’s interesting to learn why Vero ran away from college, and to have some backstory of what makes her tick.

It was a fun little installment in the Finlay Donovan series and I’m really enjoying the dynamic between the two female main characters.

Their friendship is a wonderful embodiment of girlhood, and it’s refreshing to read!