This series drives me crazy in the worst way! The Shakespeare is a bit heavy handed and clunky, but the mysteries are good, and the romance drives me crazy! Somehow, I'm always rooting for Cal and Rosie, even when she clearly believes someone else is her One True Love. The writing is smart to keep such a slow burn on this romance. Cal even does things that are by all metrics unforgiveable, but his chemistry with Rosie shines through as their attraction builds, though she denies it. Eager for the next installment.

The delightful eldest daughter of Romeo and Juliet ( yes those two who survived, married and produced a raft of children) is back. She is trying to make the best of being trapped into an engagement with the prince of Verona. The ghost of the prince’s father appears and they strikes a deal. She will find his murderer and he will help her get out of the engagement. Will she succeed? Will the ghost provide a real escape clause?

Here we go. Again. Our interesting main character is betrothed and she feels tricked. What does she do but meet a ghost and promise to solve a mystery. Great story. With a cliff hanger ending

Much like the first installment, Thus With a Kiss I Die, is a hilarious and delightful continuation of Romeo and Juliet's world that focuses on their oldest daughter Rosaline. Book 2 sees Rosie engaged to Prince Escalus, much to her chagrin, and still longing for Lysander. This book added in a supernatural element by introducing Prince Escalus' fathers ghost who enlists Rosie to solve his murder. Throughout the book Rosie is just as witty and charming as she was in Book 1. Prince Escalus redeems his brooding nature and turns out to be quite the poetic romantic. Rosie is still deciding her own fate and where her love lies while trying to solve a murder and eventual attack on Prince Escalus' grandmother. In the process, she herself encounters an attack and is injured in the process. I love Rosie's witty banter and humor as she navigates her world and decides what she ultimately wants in life. This was a well done follow up and I am (not so) patiently waiting for Book 3!

So happy to go back to Verona to visit Rosie and see what she's gotten herself into this time! Rosie, daughter to Romeo and Juliet ( no they didn't die!) is tasked with discovering who killed her fiancé, Prince Escalus Jr, father. With the help of Prince Escalus Sr ghost and his, much alive mother, Rosie is hot on the trail of a muder
Thus With a Kiss I Die is another fun romp of a read from Christina Dodd. Full of humour, mystery and love I zipped through this novel leaving me wanting more from Rosie and the the gang by the end!

A great sequel! Although, I feel like the "romance" was a little stronger than the "mystery" in his one. Rosie is a fun and witty main character, and I'm still loving the mix of modern and Shakespearean dialogue!

I thoroughly enjoyed the second installment of the Daughter of Verona series. The tension between Rosie and the Prince continues to unfold in such a thrilling, Shakespearean fashion—full of passion, conflict, and unexpected twists. Christina Dodd has done an excellent job of keeping the momentum going, and I’m eagerly anticipating the next book in the series to see where these characters’ journeys will take them next.

While the mystery element continues to be the weakest component of this series I will happily stick around for the charming and hilarious Montague family hijinks and marvelous chemistry between firey Rosie and her Darcyesque suitor Cal. Dodd delights with a wonderful mix of Shakespearean level drama and modern wit and I'm an especial fan of Shakespeare in jokes (if you know you know). I was less a fan of the supernatural element this time around though I can appreciate Dodd's intent and tip of the hat to "Hamlet." This is a great deal of fun and I look forward to my next visit to Verona.

I was excited to see the second installment of the Daughter of Montague series from Christina Dodd. It was a delight! I enjoyed revisiting fair Verona with a lovely bunch of new characters, and a murder mystery with a dash of paranormal. I look forward to book three! #thuswithakiss #christinadodd #netgalley #goodreads

Such a witty, clever, rom-com / adventure story / alternative Shakespearean fan fiction … not sure what to call it but it is thoroughly enjoyable. This is the second book starring Rosaline, the eldest daughter of the very much alive (as explained in book one and reiterated here) Romeo and Juliet. She is a very strong female character — much aware of her expected place in society (the focus on her virtue aka virginity is endlessly irritating), but not terribly affected by it. The Montague home is full of love (and the offspring of love — plenty of children) while Romeo is still one of the best swordsmen in Verona. As the story opens, Rosaline has been tricked into a betrothal with a scarred Prince (don’t let the scarring worry you — he’s a good guy) and while at the castle visiting her betrothed with the whole passel of Montagues, she is treated to a visitation from the Ghost of the murdered King who needs to know the identity of his murderer.

Whip-smart dialog, appealing and saucy characters, a twisted plot, and a pretty decent interleaving of romance, whodunit, and thriller style adventure scenes (featuring parapets!). For those Shakespeare purists who wince at the idea of the mauling of the master, I’ll hasten to say that the Shakespearean characters ring true to their initial depiction, with the only shift being their trickery of death.

Well done and plenty of fun. I look forward to future episodes!

THUS WITH A KISS I DIE is the second book in the Daughter of Montague Mysteries by Christina Dodd. This is such a fun, humorous take on the eldest daughter of Romeo and Juliet, becoming embroiled in intrigue and murder. The author does an admirable job creating captivating characters, each with unique personalities, especially protagonist Rosie Montague. She is certainly a breath of fresh air in a time when girls were born to be wed and become mothers themselves. Rosie has a rich internal dialog, a sassy spirit, and confidence. With the ruling prince of the city determined to get his way, his ghostly father intent on finding out who murdered him, and murderous villains bent on putting her in her place, Rosie has her hands full. Despite all this, there is still humor galore while the mystery plot moves at a fast pace. This is one of those books I didn’t want to put down until I’d read the very last page!

3.5 stars. I really liked the first book in the series, but this one fell a little flat for me. At this point it is a little late, but I do think that I would have liked this as a romance series more than a mystery series.