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!