Rom-com plus mystery. Such a fun read. Could not put it down.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Strawbundle Publishing for the ARC. I am voluntarily reviewing this book. This is my first time reading this author. I will read her again. This is the 3rd in a series, but reads great as a stand alone. I had no idea it was a series. This is a fun romantic comedy/mystery. I thought I knew then I wasn't sure, then I thought I knew....etc. I enjoyed the painting as well. 4 stars. Would recommend to cozy mystery readers and romance readers.

I really enjoyed reading this book! It was a cute romcom and it was very easy and light to read! I recommend!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Caper Crush by Kathy Strobos is a delightful rom-com with a heavy dose of mystery. The story revolves around Miranda, whose piece has just been accepted into a major art show. But what will she do when her painting is stolen from the show, along with a painting that was worth a lot more? She'll have to team up with handsome Japanese-American William, the nephew of her uncle's partner. Can they figure out who stole the paintings?

Here is a hilarious excerpt from Chapter 1:

"Pushing up my fake glasses on my nose, I shuffle closer to the two other women to listen in on their conversation about the ultramarine abstract painting in front of them. I resist the urge to touch my straight, gray hair. I’ve learned that once I put on a wig, I shouldn’t touch it.
This art gallery is a square, white-walled room in Tribeca with paintings hung a foot apart, about twenty colorful pieces in total. Between the cold air-conditioning and the pops of color, I feel like I’ve stepped into the middle of a vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles. Next to the entrance, the gallery owner sits behind a shiny, white-laminate counter, typing on her laptop. Two large paintings are spotlighted in the storefront windows. My ultramarine painting, unfortunately, didn’t merit that prime real estate."

Overall, Caper Crush is a lovely blend of romance and mystery. One highlight of this book is how it features a Japanese-American male lead. I rarely see this in romance fiction, and as a reader of Asian descent, I am so happy to support this book. Another highlight of this book is the adorable opening. The main character dressed up as an old lady to get people to buy her art. I did take off 1 star because of the frequent tonal shifts. Some parts were action-packed, which were followed by slower parts. It was up and down. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of rom-coms in general, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in July!

This book surrounds the female main character and her chance to establish herself as an artisit at a prominent art show. When her best art piece is stolen along with the painting of family friends, she recruits help find the paintings. This was an amusing mix of romance and a whodunit. I did find the pace to be a little jumpy and wanted a little more detail in some areas, but overall enjoyed reading it and would recommend if you like your romance with a touch of suspense. I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book and all thoughts and opinions are my own. Pub date 7/15/2022.