Fresh Fridays: On Friday, I review a brand new series (ie. only has one book released so far) to see if the series is worth keeping up with. Here is this week’s offering:
Case by Kiss Series
Other books planned to be in the series:
Synopsis for Catch Me if You Kiss Me (from Goodreads):
She’s got moxie. He’s got a badge. Neither one stands a chance.
When a scheme goes off the rails, a troublemaking socialite and a hard-nosed detective are thrown together on a cat-and-mouse caper—with bullets, banter, and one hell of a bad idea: falling for each other.
Toledo, Ohio, 1930: Belva Jean Rodger, twenty-year-old darling of Toledo high society, has gone bust in the crash of ’29. Desperate to salvage some dough, she hatches a scam with a two-bit crook to stage a burglary and cash in on the insurance. But Detective Frank Woodmere, the police department’s most no-nonsense gumshoe, isn’t buying her baloney. Right away, he pegs her as a scheming little swindler.
Then Belva gets kidnapped for ransom. Or so she claims.
Frank’s convinced it’s another hoax—until he and Belva are staring down the wrong end of a pistol. Thrust together on a mad run from Toledo to Detroit, the reluctant duo faces down train chases, gangster shootouts, abductions and alibis. But the real trouble begins when the heat rises between the hard-nosed detective and the mischievous socialite. Belva’s life is at risk, Frank’s badge is on the line—and falling for each other might just be their biggest crime yet.
Author: Caity Schneider (aka C. K. Brooke)
Series: Case by Kiss
# of Books: 9 (Full Reading Order Here)
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: No
Genre: Adult, Romantic Suspense, Historical
Heat Rating: warm
Point of View: Third Person, Multiple
Publication Date: April 8, 2026 – ongoing
Source & Format: Book Sirens–eARC
Why I Picked it Up / My Expectations:
When Caity reached out and asked if I wanted to give her brand new adult series a try, I was more than happy to do so! I really enjoyed a lot of her past YA books in the past for their great characters and fast-paced adventures. So I was really intrigued by the premise of this new series and was eager to dive in, even if it isn’t my usual genre.
What I Liked:
–Transported Back to the 1930s–
This read like a fast-talk’n 1930s movie with its use of slang and lingo dialogue that is prevalent in the 1930s. You can tell Caity Schneider has done her research to create an authentic world in all aspects.
I read the classic Maltese Falcon for a Detective Fiction course in university and this brought me right back to that world. A stoic, hard-boiled detective; an independent dame and shifting motives -this book has all that too but with a lighter, more fun touch.
–Drama Kept Me On My Toes–
I really enjoyed the fact that this wasn’t a totally linear story. There are lots of bumps, twists and shifts throughout that kept me interested in seeing how things would be resolved. I liked that I couldn’t easily figure out the solution myself.
What I Didn’t Like:
–Quick Romance–
The romance felt quick in some ways. I feel like I should clarify that I originally expected this relationship to build out over the course of the series a bit more. I always enjoy a good cat-and-mouse romance. But these two find themselves in some tense, high octane situations so I get why things escalate quickly and I can’t wait to see how that will grow as the series continues.
My Expectations for the Rest of the Series:
I can’t wait to see what this duo will get up to next!
My Rating: 4/5
Catch Me if You Kiss Me 4/5 | Kiss, Caper, Repeat TBP | Kiss or Be Killed TBP
If you love an old fashioned mystery caper with a dash of romance and suspense in an immersive, authentic world, this is a great series for you to grab.
Read if You Like: romantic suspense, 1930s setting, hard-boiled detectives
Avoid if You: dislike slow stories, want more romance
- Full Speed to a Crash Landing by Beth Revis (Chaotic Orbits Series #1)
