Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano

 

Hello everyone.  I hope you are having a great day.

I always say something about hope you're having a nice day or week because I mean it.  Watching the news can make you sick these days, so much hate.  No matter what religion you do or do not believe in, we can all agree that humans have been on this planet for thousands of years.  It amazes me that in all those years we haven't learned one simple thing, mean is bad, and kind is good.  How can all this time have passed and we still think hurting each other is a good idea?  No matter where you are from, the United States, France, Iran, Russia, or Singapore, I guarantee you we are ALL the same.  We want nothing more than to have a nice life.  We want to learn, maybe fall in love, have shelter and food, raise our children in a safe pleasant environment.  No matter what our governments or countries are doing, we all, at the core, are the same.  It drives me crazy that we still fight and physically hurt each other.  Wouldn't we be so much better if we treated each other with respect and kindness.  I mean, call me silly, but I'd rather laugh than be blown up.  How wonderful would it be if we could embrace each other's differences and want nothing more than kindness.  Oh, you need oil, no problem...you can't grow grain, we've got you covered.  If we could only drop jokes, smiles and love instead of bombs.  I know I'm getting sappy but bad happenings get annoying quickly.  So, for today, instead of hate let's try love, instead of punishing each other, let's make each other laugh.  Let's try being the humans we should have been a long time ago.  To put that smile on your face, maybe you want to start with a book.

I recently read Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun by Elle Cosimano.  This author has written two other books following the same set of characters, Finlay Donovan is Killing It and Finlay Donovan Knocks 'Em Dead.  I have reviewed and loved both previous books.  The series begins when you meet Finlay Donovan, a mother and author, trying to do it all.  Her husband has left her and fired their nanny.  Finlay is late for a lunch meeting with her agent.  While eating and discussing Finlay's new novel, the lady at the next table overhears the plot.  She believes Finlay is a contract killer, a real one.  This woman offers the cash strapped author a bundle to "dispose" of her husband.  The story is off and running.  Finlay and her sidekick nanny, Vero, get pulled into adventure after adventure in the unsavory world of killing people for cash.  The only thing is they don't know what they are doing.  The improvising author and mom along with the super sarcastic nanny, get themselves into all kinds of hilarious situations.  In the latest, Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun, Finlay and Vero get stuck going to a mock police academy, living in a dorm and taking classes in police procedure, all while trying to track down a villain.  As with all the books, you will find yourself laughing out loud and smiling through the whole read.  What else could you ever want?  One more book in the series yet to come, I will be terribly sad when it's over as the world could use more Finlay Donovan and Vero comedy.

By the way, when I think of kindness my mind always goes to Canada on September 11th.  When the US was being attacked and all flights were stopped, Canada let planes land and people took Americans into their homes.  It was so beautiful during something so horrible.  I'll never forget it. The people of Canada set a wonderful example of how we should all be every day.