Title:	Thus with a Kiss I Die
	Author:	Christina Dodd
	Published:	June 24, 2025, John Scognamiglio Books
	No. of Pages:	350
	Cover Price:	$23.07 Hardcover, $9.52 Kindle, $18.80 Audio Book

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Imagine what would have happened if Romeo and Juliet didn’t actually die as in Shakespeare’s classic play. Imagine that they lived and went on with their regular lives. Christina Dodd’s series, Daughters of Montague, is written with that premise, and Thus with a Kiss I Die , is the second book in the series. Romeo & Juliet’s daughter Rosie, is 20 years old and is in love with Lysander, of the House of Beautiful. However, Escalus, the Prince of Verona tricks her and she ends up betrothed to him. She makes a deal with Escalus’ father’s ghost, who appears to her and asks her to solve his murder; the deal is that she won’t have to marry his son if she exposes the murderer. Rosie works hard to find the murderer, and also to change things in the castle of Escalus just in case she ends up being the mistress of the house.

The story takes place in Verona, and during the time of Romeo & Juliet. It is essentially a farcical tale and is supposed to be humorous. While the story is light, the author tries too hard to make readers laugh, and for some, it falls flat. She does, however, do a good job of developing the characters. They are not as romantic and believable as those in the original Shakespeare play, but they are sufficient to move the story along.

For those who choose to listen to an audio Book rather than read, the narrator does an okay job, but mispronounces several words wrong – it’s unknown if that is by design because of the time period, or because she doesn’t really know how the words are supposed to be pronounced.

All told, this is a light cozy, a bit humorous, and fast moving. It is suitable for all ages and will make readers look at the classic play differently.

Special thanks to NetGalley for supplying a review copy of this book.