Weekly Mews: My Bookish Mewsings on Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun & February's TBR Poll Winner

I am linking up to the Sunday Post hosted by Kim of Caffeinated Book Reviewer and The Sunday Salon (TSS) hosted by Deb Nance of Readerbuzz  where participants recap our week, talk about what we are reading, share any new books that have come our way, and whatever else we want to talk about. I am also linking It's Monday! What Are you Reading? hosted by Kathryn of Book Date where readers talk about what they have been, are and will be reading.

  

I had good intentions and hoped to catch up on visiting your blogs and responding to comments this past week, but personal computer time has been scarce. With my in-laws visit last weekend, an overwhelming amount of work during the week, Girl Scout cookies season, dental appointments, and a general sense of exhaustion, I was only able to get so much done. Which is also why this post is on the shorter side this week.

I had to capture the above photo of my two cats sleeping on the bed because this is the closest I have ever seen them sleeping together. They aren't the cuddle buddies that our past cats were. 

Our Nina

I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning to finish Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun (#3) by Elle Cosimano  (Minotaur Books, 2023; 304 pages). Thank goodness I did not have to get up extra early this morning to go to work. 

Elle Cosimano's Finlay Donovan series has become one of my favorites. It is funny and entertaining. Yes, it's a bit over the top--but in a good way. That's part of the fun of the series! The third book in the series, Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun, is no different. 

Finlay is an author and a divorced mother who, along with her nanny/accountant, trouble seems to find all too often. It is not Finlay and Vero's fault that people seem to die around them.  Finlay is on a deadline to finish her latest novel, her ex-husband wants to reconcile, the sexy cop she has likes but is avoiding keeps calling, and she is trying to help Vero get out from under a debt she owes a not so nice person from her past. All the while parenting her two children.  Oh, and Mob boss Feliks expects Finlay and Vero to figure out the identity of the contract killer that is out to undermine him. Finlay strongly suspects the killer is a cop, and she has two weeks to find out who he is. When the opportunity to attend a citizen's police academy comes, Vero and Finlay decide this may be their best chance--not only to find the killer, but also hide from the people after Vero. 

Finlay and Vero find themselves in several tight situations as expected, and seeing how they will get out of those situations is half the fun. I loved that the author found a way to include Finlay's nosy neighbor, Mrs. Haggerty. She's quite the character. Then there is Finlay's ex, Steven. By the end of the last book, Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead, I had begun to think that Finlay's ex might have some redeeming qualities, but I am back to disliking him completely. I enjoyed seeing detective Nick and Finlay's relationship go to the next level. The parallels between Finlay's struggle to finish her novel and her relationship with Nick were a nice touch. 

Finding out the identity of the contract killer does not prove to be easy, although Vero and Finlay have a few ideas. Their efforts to find the killer are hampered by other crises that arise. My suspicions may have proved correct, but I enjoyed seeing how everything played out. 

While this book can be read as a stand alone, I do not recommend reading the books out of order. Each book builds on the other and, while the author does a good job of catching the reader up in a natural way, having the full backstory is part of fun of this series. 

There was plenty of action, humor, and a few moments of "what are you thinking?!" All the while I had a good time reading this book. I cannot get enough of this series. I enjoy spending time with the characters, and stepping into Finlay's world for a little while is a great escape. 

My TBR List is hosted by the awesome Michelle  at Because Reading. It’s a fun way to choose a book from your TBR pile to read. The 1st Saturday of every month, I will list 3 books I am considering reading and let you vote for my next read during that month. My review will follow (unfortunately, not likely in the same month, but eventually--that's all I can promise). 

Thank you to everyone who voted in my TBR List Poll this month! I am excited about reading all three of these and cannot wait to start reading the winner. 

Five of you voted for Jennifer Ashley's The Secret of Bow Lane and seven people voted for A Perilous Undertaking by Deanna Raybourn. The Deep End by Julie Mulhern came out on top with eight votes! 

Thank you for voting!

This Past Week In Reading Mews

• Can't Wait to Read Wednesday: The Shadow of Perseus / Ana Takes Manhattan / The Radium Girls
• Where Is Your Bookmark: A Peek Into Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun, Romance Reading & Other Bookish Thoughts

I hope you have a great week! 

Let me know what you  are up to and have been reading!

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