Where Is Your Bookmark: A Peek Into Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun, Romance Reading & Other Bookish Thoughts

A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the amazing Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader.

The man's voice cracked on the other side of the partition. "I'm going to prison for this, aren't I?" [opening of Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun]

A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Hosted by the wonderful Freda of Freda's Voice.

"This is the last time I let you pick our stolen car. This thing is a junker. I'll be shocked if it starts."

"At least if we wreck this one, we won't have to kill anyone to pay it off."

"Again . . . not our fault." [excerpt from 56% of Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun]

Author and single mom Finlay Donovan has been in messes before―after all, she's a pro at removing bloodstains for various unexpected reasons―but none quite like this. When Finlay and her nanny/partner-in-crime Vero accidentally destroyed a luxury car that they had "borrowed" in the process of saving the life of Finlay's ex-husband, the Russian mob did her a favor and bought the car for her. And now Finlay owes them.

Mob boss Feliks is still running the show from behind bars, and he has a task for Finlay: find and identify a contract killer before the cops do. The problem is, the killer might be an officer themself.

Luckily, hot cop Nick has just been tasked with starting up a citizen's police academy, and combined pressure from Finlay's looming book deadline and Feliks is enough to convince Finlay and Vero to get involved. Through firearm training and forensic classes (and some hands-on research with a tempting detective), Finlay and Vero use their time in police academy to sleuth out the real contract killer to free themselves from the mob's clutches―all the while dodging spies, confronting Vero's past, and juggling the daily trials of parenthood. [from the author's website]

Have you read Finlay Donovan Jumps the Gun? Does it sound like something you would enjoy? 

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. It is co-hosted by Linda Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell, Roberta from Offbeat YA, Jen from That’s What I’m Talking About, Berl's from Because  Because Reading is Better than Real Life, and Karen from For What It’s Worth. Join in by answering this week's question in the comments or on your own blog.

Would you read a book by your favorite author if it isn't in a genre you normally enjoy?

I like variety in my reading, and so it is not a stretch for me to be open to trying something different by a favorite author I may not normally gravitate to. Generally, I find that the genres or book types my favorite (or well-liked) authors write, other than the genre that got me hooked on them, are genres I already enjoy reading. Some examples include Seanan Mcguire/Mira Grant, Erin Sterling/Rachel Hawkins, Amanda Quick/Jayne Ann Krentz, Kelley Armstrong, and Neil Gaiman--and that's just for starters. 

When trying to think of an instance where I did step outside my comfort zone  and read a genre I do not normally gravitate toward because I love the author's other work, Charlaine Harris came to mind. Westerns and alternative history may not be my go to genres, but I love Charlaine Harris's Gunnie Rose series, which I, in part, read because I enjoyed the author's Sookie Stackhouse series. Okay, so there's still magic and that fantasy element I cannot resist. So maybe that doesn't count . . .

But then there is Anne Rice, who is not necessarily a favorite author, but one whose work I used to really like--her Vampire Chronicles and Mayfair Witches series--who is on the other side of the spectrum. I have no interest in reading her erotic or Christian fiction. So, I guess there's that. Although, that isn't to say I wouldn't or haven't read (and enjoyed) other books by different authors in those two genres; just that I do not normally read them. 

What it really comes down to for me though is: if something is going to turn me off of reading a book, it likely will be a theme or subject matter I am not interested in reading rather than the genre itself. However, if it's by a favorite author, I might consider it. 

What about you? 

I hope you will join in next week  to answer next week's Tell Me Something Tuesday question: Share some books covers you love!

Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

Do you enjoy reading romance novels? If so, which romance trope is your favorite? (submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer)

When I was growing up, during one of my family's many library trips, I discovered those ol' Harlequin and Silhouette bodice ripper romances. Since they were mass market paperbacks, I could check out as many as I wanted at one time, and I took full advantage. Then somewhere in my early adult years, I stopped reading romance novels almost completely. I say almost because sometimes the mysteries or fantasy novels I read had a romance thread running through them. Whether it was burnout or loss of interest, I don't know.  (If you ever go back and read some of my earlier blog posts, you will find that I often talked about how I only enjoyed romance as a side dish, not as the main course.}

Within the last ten years, I have found myself reading romance novels again.  Romance makes up only a small percentage of my overall reading, but I do enjoy it occasionally. Sometimes I crave that happily ever after. The romance I read today is not the old school Harlequin or Silhouette romance I read many years ago. The stories are more complex, the characters more fleshed out, and there is definitely more diversity.  Romance novels can be light-hearted or deep; they can be sweet or spicy; funny or emotional. They can be everything in between.  

I am partial to slow burn romances, although I won't say no to one that burns fast. I love a good fake relationship trope but also really enjoy second chance and friends to lovers tropes too. I have a soft spot for holiday romances. The enemies to lovers trope is a fun one too. Add in a bookish theme and I will be even happier. 

I like to turn to romance in between my more serious reads or when I am especially in need of a pick me up. Sometimes I am just in the mood for one for no particular reason at all. 

What about you? Do you read romance? If so, what is your favorite trope? 

I hope you will join in next week  to answer next week's Book Blogger Hop question: Do you use other sources for ARCs besides NetGalley?

 I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!

---

© 2023 Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.