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lovelymisanthrope's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
"Finlay Donovan Rolls the Dice" is the next installment in the Finlay Donovan series. Finlay and her best friend/nanny, Vero, find themselves on a road trip to Atlantic City to hopefully rescue Javi, Vero's childhood crush. To their dismay, they also have Finlay's two children, ex-husband, and mother along for the ride. Can Finlay continue to keep her second life a secret and rescue Javi?
This series is just a really fun mystery read. Finlay is a comical main character who brings so much life to the page. For being a struggling single mom, she has really grown into her own badass detective who is equal parts cunning and strong. Finlay does not need anyone, and I love seeing her character grow to realize that her ex-husband has been holding her back all these years.
As this series progresses, I do think it pushes the reality of whether this could really be happening. The situations Finlay and Vero keep finding themselves in are outlandish, but entertaining. I think to really enjoy these books, you have to suspend reality and just enjoy what is happening. Could a single mom feasibly find her way into a situation in which she continually has to murder bad guys AND make it home in time to feed her kids dinner? Maybe.
I did enjoy getting more of Vero's backstory in this installment and I LOVED seeing Finlay put her cheating ex-husband in his place time and time again. He is not even a good father, and I really want him to get written out of the series somehow.
I will definitely be continuing with this series if Finlay decides to go on more adventures.
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Stalking, Torture, Gun violence, Kidnapping, and Toxic relationship
lindsayerin's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Gun violence, and Death
Moderate: Medical content
avidreaderandgeekgirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The book was fun as usual, but it took a bit longer to get going and get me engaged than the other books.
Overall, I didn't enjoy it as much as the other books. Because the side characters weren't as involved, and it wasn't as funny as the previous book. I did enjoy the ending though!
Narrator Rating: 5.0 stars
The narrator did a fantastic job as usual!
Elemental Levels: Fluff-2.5/5 Heartfelt-1.5/5 Love aka Romance-2/5 Mystery-1.5/5
Predictability-3/5 Spice-1/5 Humor-3/5/5
Graphic: Alcohol and Murder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Body horror, Gun violence, Violence, and Death
Minor: Kidnapping, Infidelity, Excrement, Sexual content, and Cursing
booklvrkat's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Finlay & Vero are back at it, and they decide a girls’ weekend in Atlantic City is just what they need. Finlay’s mom, both kids, and Finlay’s ex end up coming with them and odds are not in their favor when arrive. Understandably the women are upset because this trip was all a ruse to find and negotiate with the local loan shark, find Javi (Vero’s childhood friend), and maybe possibly get out of a whole lot of trouble with the mob wife that originally hired them back in a previous book.
Minor: Kidnapping
vj_thompson's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Murder, Death, and Gun violence
Moderate: Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Kidnapping
purplepenning's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Murder and Gun violence
Moderate: Gaslighting, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Excrement, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Alcohol, Blood, Police brutality, and Violence
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
ktdakotareads's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Death, Murder, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Violence