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Unchained Vow
A serial killer in Anchorage is bleeding clergy dry. It's Maggie's job to stop him and Father Anatoly's duty to keep her from harm.
Emotionally guarded police detective, Maggie Boone, has given up on the concept of love. She lives for the job, barricading her heart behind a fortress of her own making. Until Father Anatoly is assigned as a consultant to help her catch a serial killer.
Maggie doesn't want a tagalong getting in the way. She doesn't know that the supernatural exists or that she's pursuing a real-life vampire. All she sees is Anatoly's gentle nature and handsome features and she dismisses him as a liability; to the case and her heart.
Through Anatoly's tender counsel and quiet strength, Maggie's walls begin to crumble. Until she comes face-to-face with the priest's true nature as a vampire and the horrible realization that monsters truly exist.
Can Father Anatoly convince Maggie he isn't the killer or will he lose her forever in the aftermath of her discovery?
Unchained Vow is a contemporary paranormal vampire romance set in modern day Anchorage, Alaska. For fans of Lucifer except make him a hot vampire priest with a gentle nature instead of a playboy angel. Expect a romantically suspenseful, character driven novel featuring darker setting elements, a guaranteed happily ever after, and open door spice. Can be read as a standalone.
This book is not dark romance, but the setting and some themes are darker in nature. Please check the content warnings.
Emotionally guarded police detective, Maggie Boone, has given up on the concept of love. She lives for the job, barricading her heart behind a fortress of her own making. Until Father Anatoly is assigned as a consultant to help her catch a serial killer.
Maggie doesn't want a tagalong getting in the way. She doesn't know that the supernatural exists or that she's pursuing a real-life vampire. All she sees is Anatoly's gentle nature and handsome features and she dismisses him as a liability; to the case and her heart.
Through Anatoly's tender counsel and quiet strength, Maggie's walls begin to crumble. Until she comes face-to-face with the priest's true nature as a vampire and the horrible realization that monsters truly exist.
Can Father Anatoly convince Maggie he isn't the killer or will he lose her forever in the aftermath of her discovery?
Unchained Vow is a contemporary paranormal vampire romance set in modern day Anchorage, Alaska. For fans of Lucifer except make him a hot vampire priest with a gentle nature instead of a playboy angel. Expect a romantically suspenseful, character driven novel featuring darker setting elements, a guaranteed happily ever after, and open door spice. Can be read as a standalone.
This book is not dark romance, but the setting and some themes are darker in nature. Please check the content warnings.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 30, 2026
5 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Lucille J. Knight
6 books37 followersRaised in a small town in South Central Alaska, Lucille discovered her passion for writing at a young age. She finished her first book, a very awful Star Wars fan novel, by the time she finished middle school. As an adult, she began her career as a freelance ghostwriter before launching into indie publishing for herself with her first novel Hexen Blood. Lucille presently writes and publishes from Missouri.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
2.5 ⭐️
A cute vampire romance. Father Anatoly is a very kind MMC who ends up falling for Detective Maggie. The chapters are short and the POV switches between characters, which keeps the story moving at a nice pace. It’s written in third person. Although I usually enjoy darker stories with morally gray characters, this book had a lighter vibe. It actually reminded me a bit of Lucifer on Netflix, where he helps the detective solve cases. If you enjoy a light paranormal romance with a mystery element and a softer vampire hero, this would be a fun read.
~pre-read~ Received this ARC today.. immediately downloaded it and guess why? VAMPIRES excuse me?? I love vampires, and may I add forbidden vampire romance! this is my cup of tea!!!!! omg I hope it wont disappoint and stay tuned for my thoughts, feelings, and opinions! ;)
A cute vampire romance. Father Anatoly is a very kind MMC who ends up falling for Detective Maggie. The chapters are short and the POV switches between characters, which keeps the story moving at a nice pace. It’s written in third person. Although I usually enjoy darker stories with morally gray characters, this book had a lighter vibe. It actually reminded me a bit of Lucifer on Netflix, where he helps the detective solve cases. If you enjoy a light paranormal romance with a mystery element and a softer vampire hero, this would be a fun read.
~pre-read~ Received this ARC today.. immediately downloaded it and guess why? VAMPIRES excuse me?? I love vampires, and may I add forbidden vampire romance! this is my cup of tea!!!!! omg I hope it wont disappoint and stay tuned for my thoughts, feelings, and opinions! ;)
March 18, 2026
This light paranormal romance carries subtle touches of darkness. I couldn’t shake the moody atmosphere that was set from the very beginning, in the best way possible.
I was surprised by how soft and gentle the MMC was, especially considering his vampiric nature. It created an interesting contrast that made his character stand out. The FMC was equally good: a strong, capable detective who’s clearly been through her share of misfortune, which added depth to her character.
The romance develops quite quickly and at times the MMC leans heavily into his “holy” mindset. However, given that he’s a vampire priest, it felt fitting to his character even if it occasionally slowed the connection for me.
Overall, this is a short, well-balanced read that works perfectly when you want to relax or escape the reality.
“Bishop Peter was harsh, but he spoke true; I have nothing to offer you except my dead heart, Maggie.”
Thank you to Lucille and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC 🖤
All opinions are my own.
I was surprised by how soft and gentle the MMC was, especially considering his vampiric nature. It created an interesting contrast that made his character stand out. The FMC was equally good: a strong, capable detective who’s clearly been through her share of misfortune, which added depth to her character.
The romance develops quite quickly and at times the MMC leans heavily into his “holy” mindset. However, given that he’s a vampire priest, it felt fitting to his character even if it occasionally slowed the connection for me.
Overall, this is a short, well-balanced read that works perfectly when you want to relax or escape the reality.
“Bishop Peter was harsh, but he spoke true; I have nothing to offer you except my dead heart, Maggie.”
Thank you to Lucille and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC 🖤
All opinions are my own.
March 20, 2026
First, I want to thank netgalley and Lucille J. Knight for providing an ARC copy of this book! I had a fun time as the plot intrigued me quite a bit. Overall, I am rating it a 3/5 stars! I think it was a little instalovey and their relationship was a little fast but I did love the characters and am happy they are happy. That being said, I also feel as if the mystery subplot was slightly neglected instead of being part of their story which was a little disappointing. I think the conclusion of it felt a bit rushed but also had it been too drawn out I would have been disappointed. I think the writing itself was SO WELL DONE. I really liked this style which is shocking because im not a big third person fan but it was done so well in this books I might be converted. I cannot wait to see how their story continues I think this is the beginning of a great series that everyone should give a shot if they love a paranormal romance!
March 28, 2026
It was a good plot and beginning to a series. I wish there was more explaining into how the MMC came to be a vampire. I think I personally don’t favor books in the third person but not a bad story, I’m curious to see how the next book will unfold,
March 30, 2026
This had a lot of tropes I love:
💖 Emotionally walled off fmc x cinnamon roll mmc
💖 He's a virgin, she's not
💖 She's a gritty, get-things-done detective
💖 He cooks for her
I really liked the characters, and the touches of humour were nice. Unfortunately, there were few things that made me lose interest.
First of all, Anatoly's broken English. At start, it was endearing. Then it was revealed he escaped Eastern Europe quite some time ago, and knows the local Bishop for over 60 years. C'mon, all this time he still didn't learn proper English? Or does he refuse to? It just felt weird and fetishistic. English isn't my first language, and I'm tired of foreigners being always portrayed as unable to speak the language well. Doesn't matter are they Russian, Italian, Latino, etc. they're always somehow exoticized in a very insulting manner (broken English, throwing native language words into the speech, always looking tanned, always cooking "ethnic" food, etc.). Seriously, the first words you learn in a second language are basic words like Good Morning, Sorry, Thank You, etc. Why are always THOSE words added as an "ethnic flavour" for foreign characters?
Secondly, Anatoly folded for Maggie way too fast and too easily. He never loved anyone, he's a virgin, but he just "knows" Maggie is the one and is immediately eager to choose her over his priestly responsibilities. She also got super easily over the fact he's a vampire. I expected more forbidden romance tone, where they struggle with acceptance and choices, instead it looked like that meme: "Oh no! Anyway..." It lacked angst and tension.
And while for Maggie I understand she was starved for anybody to show her kindness, because everyone treated her like trash (even though it's a fairly overdone and blatant trope where everyone is an a-hole so the love interest looks better against that background), with Anatoly I wasn't sure what swayed him towards Maggie so quickly. That she was brave, kind and self-sufficient? He walked this Earth for ages, he's never met another person who was courageous and nice?
It makes me think either the reveals came too early and the characters should have simmered longer with the secrets and uncertainty, or there should be more shock and being torn after the reveals. To me, the book just emotionally deflated after that point.
The murder mystery part also seemed to be more a background to the romance, than an equally strong plot, so when tension evaporated from the romance, the mystery couldn't keep it up.
The spice was okay, even though unsure why do we have explicit language for male anatomy, but euphemistic terms for female anatomy. Make it consistent...
There were also minor typos (like "it's" instead of "its" or dialogue starting after a tag not being capitalized), but since it's an early review copy, this could be fixed in the final version.
Overall, this started well, but sadly I expected more. I was promised "Forbidden Romance" and "He Falls First" based on the Netgalley listing, and it felt like they've fallen for one another very fast and she was into him equally early, after just a few interactions across a few days. So that was a bit misleading.
I would recommend this to readers who enjoy insta-love, cinnamon roll mmc, good communication and consent, and medium spice (3-3.5 🌶) in their paranormal romances.
Thank you Netgalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, Lucille J. Knight and Naughty Nook PR for granting me this ARC. I am voluntarily providing my honest opinion.
💖 Emotionally walled off fmc x cinnamon roll mmc
💖 He's a virgin, she's not
💖 She's a gritty, get-things-done detective
💖 He cooks for her
I really liked the characters, and the touches of humour were nice. Unfortunately, there were few things that made me lose interest.
First of all, Anatoly's broken English. At start, it was endearing. Then it was revealed he escaped Eastern Europe quite some time ago, and knows the local Bishop for over 60 years. C'mon, all this time he still didn't learn proper English? Or does he refuse to? It just felt weird and fetishistic. English isn't my first language, and I'm tired of foreigners being always portrayed as unable to speak the language well. Doesn't matter are they Russian, Italian, Latino, etc. they're always somehow exoticized in a very insulting manner (broken English, throwing native language words into the speech, always looking tanned, always cooking "ethnic" food, etc.). Seriously, the first words you learn in a second language are basic words like Good Morning, Sorry, Thank You, etc. Why are always THOSE words added as an "ethnic flavour" for foreign characters?
Secondly, Anatoly folded for Maggie way too fast and too easily. He never loved anyone, he's a virgin, but he just "knows" Maggie is the one and is immediately eager to choose her over his priestly responsibilities. She also got super easily over the fact he's a vampire. I expected more forbidden romance tone, where they struggle with acceptance and choices, instead it looked like that meme: "Oh no! Anyway..." It lacked angst and tension.
And while for Maggie I understand she was starved for anybody to show her kindness, because everyone treated her like trash (even though it's a fairly overdone and blatant trope where everyone is an a-hole so the love interest looks better against that background), with Anatoly I wasn't sure what swayed him towards Maggie so quickly. That she was brave, kind and self-sufficient? He walked this Earth for ages, he's never met another person who was courageous and nice?
It makes me think either the reveals came too early and the characters should have simmered longer with the secrets and uncertainty, or there should be more shock and being torn after the reveals. To me, the book just emotionally deflated after that point.
The murder mystery part also seemed to be more a background to the romance, than an equally strong plot, so when tension evaporated from the romance, the mystery couldn't keep it up.
The spice was okay, even though unsure why do we have explicit language for male anatomy, but euphemistic terms for female anatomy. Make it consistent...
There were also minor typos (like "it's" instead of "its" or dialogue starting after a tag not being capitalized), but since it's an early review copy, this could be fixed in the final version.
Overall, this started well, but sadly I expected more. I was promised "Forbidden Romance" and "He Falls First" based on the Netgalley listing, and it felt like they've fallen for one another very fast and she was into him equally early, after just a few interactions across a few days. So that was a bit misleading.
I would recommend this to readers who enjoy insta-love, cinnamon roll mmc, good communication and consent, and medium spice (3-3.5 🌶) in their paranormal romances.
Thank you Netgalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, Lucille J. Knight and Naughty Nook PR for granting me this ARC. I am voluntarily providing my honest opinion.
March 22, 2026
ARC provided by NetGalley. All thoughts are my own 💕
________________________
✨ Rating Scales ✨
⭐ Overall — how much I loved the book as a whole: story, writing style, character development, pacing, spice, and emotional damage
🌶️ Spice — how the spice scenes hit… and how often
💦Panty Meter — the tension and buildup level. I want to be squirming in my seat
_________________________
I requested this ARC from NetGalley because the listed tropes made it seem like it would be right up my alley. Unfortunately, after finishing it, I think I may not have been the target audience.
At its core, this is a solid romantic story with an intriguing premise: a disgraced detective FMC investigating a series of murders targeting clergymen crosses paths with a vampire priest MMC at a crime scene. The two team up to track down the killer, and along the way, their partnership evolves into something more as they face both external threats and their growing feelings for each other.
I think this book would be a great entry point for readers who typically prefer fade-to-black romance but are curious about exploring slightly more open-door spice.
That said, a few personal preferences pulled me out of the story. The book is written in third person with dual POVs, but I found that this style created a bit of distance from the characters. I struggled to fully connect with their inner thoughts and emotions, which made it harder to feel deeply invested in their relationship.
The pacing also felt uneven, particularly in the first half. I was hoping for more clues and detail surrounding the investigation to allow the reader to piece things together, but instead, the resolution felt abrupt. Maggie arrives at the conclusion with minimal buildup, identifying a culprit we hadn’t really been introduced to. Additionally, another antagonist appears quite late in the story and is only present briefly, which lessened the overall impact.
Interestingly, the subplot that caught my attention the most was Roxanne and the werewolf—I found myself far more intrigued by their story and wishing we had more of it.
Maggie is a likable FMC—strong, capable, and learning to stand up for herself. Anatoly is a fine MMC for this type of romance, but as someone who prefers morally gray (or even morally black) love interests, he didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I’ll admit, I was more intrigued when Reed was introduced—which probably says more about my taste than anything else.
Overall, I would recommend this to readers who enjoy a milder romance with light, open-door spice and a paranormal twist.
Overall: ⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Panty: 💦
________________________
✨ Rating Scales ✨
⭐ Overall — how much I loved the book as a whole: story, writing style, character development, pacing, spice, and emotional damage
🌶️ Spice — how the spice scenes hit… and how often
💦Panty Meter — the tension and buildup level. I want to be squirming in my seat
_________________________
I requested this ARC from NetGalley because the listed tropes made it seem like it would be right up my alley. Unfortunately, after finishing it, I think I may not have been the target audience.
At its core, this is a solid romantic story with an intriguing premise: a disgraced detective FMC investigating a series of murders targeting clergymen crosses paths with a vampire priest MMC at a crime scene. The two team up to track down the killer, and along the way, their partnership evolves into something more as they face both external threats and their growing feelings for each other.
I think this book would be a great entry point for readers who typically prefer fade-to-black romance but are curious about exploring slightly more open-door spice.
That said, a few personal preferences pulled me out of the story. The book is written in third person with dual POVs, but I found that this style created a bit of distance from the characters. I struggled to fully connect with their inner thoughts and emotions, which made it harder to feel deeply invested in their relationship.
The pacing also felt uneven, particularly in the first half. I was hoping for more clues and detail surrounding the investigation to allow the reader to piece things together, but instead, the resolution felt abrupt. Maggie arrives at the conclusion with minimal buildup, identifying a culprit we hadn’t really been introduced to. Additionally, another antagonist appears quite late in the story and is only present briefly, which lessened the overall impact.
Interestingly, the subplot that caught my attention the most was Roxanne and the werewolf—I found myself far more intrigued by their story and wishing we had more of it.
Maggie is a likable FMC—strong, capable, and learning to stand up for herself. Anatoly is a fine MMC for this type of romance, but as someone who prefers morally gray (or even morally black) love interests, he didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I’ll admit, I was more intrigued when Reed was introduced—which probably says more about my taste than anything else.
Overall, I would recommend this to readers who enjoy a milder romance with light, open-door spice and a paranormal twist.
Overall: ⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Panty: 💦
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thankful to NetGalley and @ljknight.author for giving me an ARC for this book.
Unchained Vow takes place in Alaska and follows Maggie and Anatoly both. Starting with Maggie, she is a police detective working to solve a murder spree occurring where she lives. She is very hard, career driven, and independent. She is also a disgraced police officer (I won't spoil why; read the book!). She meets Anatoly at a crime scene, where from the start they both notice a connection brewing between the two of them. Anatoly; however, is the first to notice what exactly he wants from the connection that forms. Anatoly is gentle, sweet, and extremely caring. He is a vampire who works as a priest.
Now that the character descriptions are out of the way, what do I think of this book? I'm going to be honest, this book has a slow start. I am used to more fast paced books that constantly have some kind of action or war going on. That is not the case with this book. There is a huge focus on the romance aspect of the story, and the murder mystery definitely comes second.
It gives me the same feelings as watching a show like Lucifer or Castle. I absolutely loved it! Do not discount the book because of the slower pace. It is written extremely well and has wonderful characters. If I had any criticism at all, it might be that the characters fell in love pretty fast and there wasn't too much build up. I do know; however, sometimes that just happens. Heck, I fell in love with my current husband the first time we met!
Overall, this book was a very cozy read and I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would. It has definitely opened my mind to more slower paced books. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend and want to for sure purchase a copy of the book when it releases 😊❤️.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Unchained Vow takes place in Alaska and follows Maggie and Anatoly both. Starting with Maggie, she is a police detective working to solve a murder spree occurring where she lives. She is very hard, career driven, and independent. She is also a disgraced police officer (I won't spoil why; read the book!). She meets Anatoly at a crime scene, where from the start they both notice a connection brewing between the two of them. Anatoly; however, is the first to notice what exactly he wants from the connection that forms. Anatoly is gentle, sweet, and extremely caring. He is a vampire who works as a priest.
Now that the character descriptions are out of the way, what do I think of this book? I'm going to be honest, this book has a slow start. I am used to more fast paced books that constantly have some kind of action or war going on. That is not the case with this book. There is a huge focus on the romance aspect of the story, and the murder mystery definitely comes second.
It gives me the same feelings as watching a show like Lucifer or Castle. I absolutely loved it! Do not discount the book because of the slower pace. It is written extremely well and has wonderful characters. If I had any criticism at all, it might be that the characters fell in love pretty fast and there wasn't too much build up. I do know; however, sometimes that just happens. Heck, I fell in love with my current husband the first time we met!
Overall, this book was a very cozy read and I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would. It has definitely opened my mind to more slower paced books. I would definitely recommend this book to a friend and want to for sure purchase a copy of the book when it releases 😊❤️.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Unchained Vow is the first book in a new contemporary paranormal vampire romance series. I don't know what it says about me as a person that I found a book about a detective and a vampire priest investigating a serial killer heartwarming and sweet, but I totally did! The serial killer investigation was a great storyline, full of action and twists, and there was a beautiful and sweet romance here as well.
A huge part of what I loved here was that the main characters were such a refreshing change. I read a lot of paranormal romances and a lot of the time vampire MMCs are the 'Touch her and die', aggressively cocky type. In Unchained Vow, Anatoly is a sweet priest, who also happens to be a vampire. He's compassionate, understanding, and he really respects Maggie, which I just really loved reading. Maggie is a tough cookie who hasn't been treated anywhere near as well as she deserves, but she also doesn't keep her walls up and push Anatoly away like you might expect. I just really loved their relationship and how they treated and supported each other. They felt like real adults, and they communicated! No miscommunication trope or third act break up here!
I've never watched Lucifer (which is probably a travesty) so I can't speak to the comparison, but I loved this book and binged it in one go. The investigation was exciting and the romance was so heartwarming, and I can't wait to see where the series goes next as it ended on such a strong and intriguing note!
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.
A huge part of what I loved here was that the main characters were such a refreshing change. I read a lot of paranormal romances and a lot of the time vampire MMCs are the 'Touch her and die', aggressively cocky type. In Unchained Vow, Anatoly is a sweet priest, who also happens to be a vampire. He's compassionate, understanding, and he really respects Maggie, which I just really loved reading. Maggie is a tough cookie who hasn't been treated anywhere near as well as she deserves, but she also doesn't keep her walls up and push Anatoly away like you might expect. I just really loved their relationship and how they treated and supported each other. They felt like real adults, and they communicated! No miscommunication trope or third act break up here!
I've never watched Lucifer (which is probably a travesty) so I can't speak to the comparison, but I loved this book and binged it in one go. The investigation was exciting and the romance was so heartwarming, and I can't wait to see where the series goes next as it ended on such a strong and intriguing note!
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley but this is my voluntary and honest review.
March 24, 2026
I'd like to thank NetGalley, the writer, and the publisher for this eArc!
This book was a really fun and easy read! The chapters are short and the POV changes every chapter or so, which made it hard to put down. I kept finding myself saying "Alright, one more!".
I really liked the murder mystery aspect of it. I had no idea who the killer was going to be until it was revealed and it made for an interesting plot twist!
Although I generally don't mind stories written in 3rd person, I found it a bit hard to connect to the characters in this book because of it. It would've been nice to have a bit more intel on the characters' thoughts and feelings as they were going through the story. A lot happened, but the output felt very surface-level to me. Wish there was a little less fluff and a little more action!
I really enjoyed both main characters! The FMC is an absolute badass, I loved her bluntness and confidence, while the MMC on the other hand, was very tender and sweet. They balanced each other out so so so well, but the romance felt very insta-lovey and rushed. I didn't fully believe their love for each other, because timeline felt a bit blurry.
Overall, the story was missing some depth, but I did have a good time reading this! I'll probably read the next book in the series, because I'd love to know more about the side characters and how the story will proceed with the mysterious newcomer at the end. I recommend this book to anyone who's into murder mystery, vampires, and cute romances, or anyone who just wants a quick and easy read!
This book was a really fun and easy read! The chapters are short and the POV changes every chapter or so, which made it hard to put down. I kept finding myself saying "Alright, one more!".
I really liked the murder mystery aspect of it. I had no idea who the killer was going to be until it was revealed and it made for an interesting plot twist!
Although I generally don't mind stories written in 3rd person, I found it a bit hard to connect to the characters in this book because of it. It would've been nice to have a bit more intel on the characters' thoughts and feelings as they were going through the story. A lot happened, but the output felt very surface-level to me. Wish there was a little less fluff and a little more action!
I really enjoyed both main characters! The FMC is an absolute badass, I loved her bluntness and confidence, while the MMC on the other hand, was very tender and sweet. They balanced each other out so so so well, but the romance felt very insta-lovey and rushed. I didn't fully believe their love for each other, because timeline felt a bit blurry.
Overall, the story was missing some depth, but I did have a good time reading this! I'll probably read the next book in the series, because I'd love to know more about the side characters and how the story will proceed with the mysterious newcomer at the end. I recommend this book to anyone who's into murder mystery, vampires, and cute romances, or anyone who just wants a quick and easy read!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3⭐️ First off I would just like to say thank you for this early copy of this book. With that being said I think that this was a sweet story.
Things to expect from this book
Virgin MMC
Prickly FMC
Insta Love
Priest x Detective
3rd Person POV
This book follows Maggie and Anatoly. Maggie is a detective working on solving a murder of a clergy member. When visiting the crime scene she meets Anatoly. After meeting Anatoly it is decided that he will be helping solve the case of the clergy member. We discover that there is more going on in this town that has to do with paranormal species.
Thoughts
When going into this book I thought that it was going to be darker than it turned out to be. I feel like this read more of a paranormal/contemporary romance than a dark romance (but that could only be because I am a seasoned dark romance reader).I felt like the characters weren’t fully fleshed out and at points were lacking depth in my opinion. I also felt like the case took a major backseat in this book to the romance I wish there was more of an even split with the two. I also wish there was more angst between the two main characters with him being apart of the church I wish we had to wait a little longer for them to get together. I also thought that the plot was very predictable and the ending to be a bit rushed. I think that overall this was an average sweet paranormal romance.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Lucille J. Knight and NetGalley for a copy of this ARC.
This was (shockingly) my first vampire romance book and it didn’t disappoint!
Because the MMC’s a vampire I was expecting to be like the typical morally grey MMC’s I’m used to reading about, but this was refreshingly different. I really loved that despite the fact that he’s a vampire, Anatoly is probably one of the most sweetest, gentlest characters I’ve ever read. His internal battle between his relationship with God/religion and wanting to pursue Maggie was something different that I haven’t really come across. I really liked Maggie’s character too, it was nice to see that even though she wasn’t treated the best in the past, she didn’t let that sway her feelings towards Anatoly which was what I was expecting.
Saying all of this, I definitely think this book was more character driven than plot driven (which isn’t a bad thing). It just sometimes felt like the plot was taking a backseat sometimes and the murder mystery fell a tiny bit flat for me. I only wish it was fleshed out a little bit more.
I’d give this a 3/5⭐️ because it was still an enjoyable read nonetheless
This was (shockingly) my first vampire romance book and it didn’t disappoint!
Because the MMC’s a vampire I was expecting to be like the typical morally grey MMC’s I’m used to reading about, but this was refreshingly different. I really loved that despite the fact that he’s a vampire, Anatoly is probably one of the most sweetest, gentlest characters I’ve ever read. His internal battle between his relationship with God/religion and wanting to pursue Maggie was something different that I haven’t really come across. I really liked Maggie’s character too, it was nice to see that even though she wasn’t treated the best in the past, she didn’t let that sway her feelings towards Anatoly which was what I was expecting.
Saying all of this, I definitely think this book was more character driven than plot driven (which isn’t a bad thing). It just sometimes felt like the plot was taking a backseat sometimes and the murder mystery fell a tiny bit flat for me. I only wish it was fleshed out a little bit more.
I’d give this a 3/5⭐️ because it was still an enjoyable read nonetheless
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First I would like to thank Lucille and NetGalley for this ARC.
Unchained Vows was an enjoyable read that reminded me a bit of Lucifer — but with a vampire twist.
I really liked that the male lead was the main focus and that he developed quickly as a character. He needed time to grow, but seeing that transformation was rewarding. Also, he cooks — and honestly, he cooks so well! That was a cute and unexpected trait.
Maggie she is free and loving and I liked her like that. Sometimes very unpredictable, crazy and doesn't care for anything.
She just follows her gut.
The ending, i thought it was somewhat predictable, but was surprised. I only wish there had been more about the pasts of both main characters — that extra depth could have made their connection even stronger.
The villain caught me a bit off guard. I’d actually suspected someone else, which kept things interesting. Even so, I would’ve liked to see more direct interaction with the antagonist.
Overall, the short chapters made this an easy and pleasant read — a nice mix of supernatural and romance that fans of paranormal love stories will likely enjoy.
Unchained Vows was an enjoyable read that reminded me a bit of Lucifer — but with a vampire twist.
I really liked that the male lead was the main focus and that he developed quickly as a character. He needed time to grow, but seeing that transformation was rewarding. Also, he cooks — and honestly, he cooks so well! That was a cute and unexpected trait.
Maggie she is free and loving and I liked her like that. Sometimes very unpredictable, crazy and doesn't care for anything.
She just follows her gut.
The ending, i thought it was somewhat predictable, but was surprised. I only wish there had been more about the pasts of both main characters — that extra depth could have made their connection even stronger.
The villain caught me a bit off guard. I’d actually suspected someone else, which kept things interesting. Even so, I would’ve liked to see more direct interaction with the antagonist.
Overall, the short chapters made this an easy and pleasant read — a nice mix of supernatural and romance that fans of paranormal love stories will likely enjoy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, and I was immediately drawn in by the premise of a vampire priest and a detective teaming up to solve a mystery while a romance blooms between them. What a fun and intriguing concept!
The writing style, with its short chapters and shifting POVs, keeps the pacing quick and makes it easy to stay engaged.
Where it lost me a bit was in the romance itself. Father Anatoly is as a softer, more compassionate MMC, which gives the story a different feel from the darker vampire romances I usually gravitate toward. It also leans heavily into insta-love, and the overall tone felt much sweeter than I was expecting. I tend to prefer more tension and slow burn development, so the relationship didn’t feel as emotionally grounded as I would have liked.
That said, the blend of paranormal elements and mystery makes this an enjoyable read if you’re in the mood for something lighter. If you like your vampire romances on the softer, more wholesome side with a touch of crime solving, this is definitely worth checking out.
The writing style, with its short chapters and shifting POVs, keeps the pacing quick and makes it easy to stay engaged.
Where it lost me a bit was in the romance itself. Father Anatoly is as a softer, more compassionate MMC, which gives the story a different feel from the darker vampire romances I usually gravitate toward. It also leans heavily into insta-love, and the overall tone felt much sweeter than I was expecting. I tend to prefer more tension and slow burn development, so the relationship didn’t feel as emotionally grounded as I would have liked.
That said, the blend of paranormal elements and mystery makes this an enjoyable read if you’re in the mood for something lighter. If you like your vampire romances on the softer, more wholesome side with a touch of crime solving, this is definitely worth checking out.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you Netgalley and Lucille for the Advanced Reader Copy
The opening paragraph had me hooked, I was thinking we are in for a really good mystery of who dunnit as Detective Maggie is at a crime scene of a dead clergyman, but this storyline kind of takes a bit of a back seat.
It was a third person POV book from both the FMC and MMC, which I didn't mind at all. It was very easy to follow.
Anatoly is a very gentle, loving, compassionate priest who is also a vampire. Maggie is a bit thorny who has tough relationships including her mother making her into a strong person and highly capable Detective. These two fall in love very quick and passionate and support each other.
Overall, a well paced, light hearted paranormal romance book. Thank you for the ARC.
The opening paragraph had me hooked, I was thinking we are in for a really good mystery of who dunnit as Detective Maggie is at a crime scene of a dead clergyman, but this storyline kind of takes a bit of a back seat.
It was a third person POV book from both the FMC and MMC, which I didn't mind at all. It was very easy to follow.
Anatoly is a very gentle, loving, compassionate priest who is also a vampire. Maggie is a bit thorny who has tough relationships including her mother making her into a strong person and highly capable Detective. These two fall in love very quick and passionate and support each other.
Overall, a well paced, light hearted paranormal romance book. Thank you for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to netgalley and publisher for this arc!
✔️dual 3rd person pov
✔️Lucifer vibes but with an innocent super sweet vampire priest 🥹🥹🥹🥹
✔️spice
✔️instant connection
✔️priest x detective
✔️vmmc
✔️no 3rd act breakup
✔️no cliffhanger more hfn tbc
✔️instant connection
✔️she's soft just for him
Anatoly I was in love with right away!!! Like other reviewer mentioned it gives Lucifer the tv show vibes but also opposite since Anatoly is opposite of Luci lol. One of the most adorable mmc's ever and I can't wait for more adventures I hope with him and Maggie! It didn't end on cliffhanger more like happy for now with more coming?
✔️dual 3rd person pov
✔️Lucifer vibes but with an innocent super sweet vampire priest 🥹🥹🥹🥹
✔️spice
✔️instant connection
✔️priest x detective
✔️vmmc
✔️no 3rd act breakup
✔️no cliffhanger more hfn tbc
✔️instant connection
✔️she's soft just for him
Anatoly I was in love with right away!!! Like other reviewer mentioned it gives Lucifer the tv show vibes but also opposite since Anatoly is opposite of Luci lol. One of the most adorable mmc's ever and I can't wait for more adventures I hope with him and Maggie! It didn't end on cliffhanger more like happy for now with more coming?
Review of advance copy received from Author
I enjoyed this book, I'd give it 4.5⭐. I liked the characters, but felt that Anatoly was a little stereotypical. If he had been in Alaska for years at this point why was his English still so broken? I also felt that solving the crime came second to the relationship, which could just be me misunderstanding the blurb. Overall I enjoyed the story even if it wasn't what I was expecting to read Anatoly does a great job at working his way into Maggie's shields and her introduction to the paranormal world had a very realistic response. The writing was done well and easy to follow, nothing felt too rushed or just stretched out for page count.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Truly atmospheric and fun.
I quite enjoyed this. I kept predicting who was the serial killer and I kept being wrong.
The MMC was so kind , compassionate and sweet ,the exact virtues you'd expect a priest to have . The FMC was a traumatized by her disgusting former superior/ex and the hazing she received by her department. She was sweet yet a bit bull headed at times but the chemistry between the two main characters was SUPER sweet!
I also quite enjoyed the prose. It's just beautiful.
I'm looking forward to the next installment in this series .
Thank you !
I quite enjoyed this. I kept predicting who was the serial killer and I kept being wrong.
The MMC was so kind , compassionate and sweet ,the exact virtues you'd expect a priest to have . The FMC was a traumatized by her disgusting former superior/ex and the hazing she received by her department. She was sweet yet a bit bull headed at times but the chemistry between the two main characters was SUPER sweet!
I also quite enjoyed the prose. It's just beautiful.
I'm looking forward to the next installment in this series .
Thank you !
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to Lucille J.Knight for a copy of this book!
Firstly loved Maggie. A strong leading detective that won't back down and will stop at nothing for answers.
Anatoly was very respectful and calm which was refreshing to see in a Vampire book.
The plot of the book was really interesting and new for me. I enjoyed having a detective that had no knowledge of who was riding with her in the car.
It was good to see Anatoly find another purpose in life outside the church.
It had good suspense and mystery! The romance side was sweet and refreshing!
Thank you again for the ARC!
Firstly loved Maggie. A strong leading detective that won't back down and will stop at nothing for answers.
Anatoly was very respectful and calm which was refreshing to see in a Vampire book.
The plot of the book was really interesting and new for me. I enjoyed having a detective that had no knowledge of who was riding with her in the car.
It was good to see Anatoly find another purpose in life outside the church.
It had good suspense and mystery! The romance side was sweet and refreshing!
Thank you again for the ARC!
March 30, 2026
Review of advanced copy received from Netgalley. I would like to thank Netgalley and Lucille J Knight for this advanced copy.
And into the review. I was intrigued with the premise of this story, female detective and male vampire priest teaming up to hunt down a serial killer...I mean say less right?
I liked this one, it was nice and easy short chapters which to alternate POV between Maggie and Anatoly which I enjoyed. It was a nice sweet paranormal romance with a bit of a crime mystery thrown in too.
And into the review. I was intrigued with the premise of this story, female detective and male vampire priest teaming up to hunt down a serial killer...I mean say less right?
I liked this one, it was nice and easy short chapters which to alternate POV between Maggie and Anatoly which I enjoyed. It was a nice sweet paranormal romance with a bit of a crime mystery thrown in too.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I actually really enjoyed this book! it pulled me in right away i definitely gave me that “just one more chapter” feeling. the romance was obviously my favourite part since their was soo much tension and parts that had me kicking my feet. there definitely were some slower parts for me but honestly i was still really invested the whole time. i had such a fun time reading this and will be recommending!
thanks again net galley, and thank you to Lucille J. for letting me read this ARC!
thanks again net galley, and thank you to Lucille J. for letting me read this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Anatoly and Maggie working a case together didn’t feel very believable, and their dynamic moved way too fast. The story leaned more into romance than mystery, which wasn’t what I was expecting.
He’s sweet and their connection has some nice moments, but the pacing felt uneven overall. It just wasn’t for me, though readers who enjoy vampires mixed with a bit of detective work might like it more.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
He’s sweet and their connection has some nice moments, but the pacing felt uneven overall. It just wasn’t for me, though readers who enjoy vampires mixed with a bit of detective work might like it more.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
First of all I received an arc copy of this book from Netgalley and very thankful.
This book was a very pleasant surprise. I devoured it. I know they were saying it had "Lucifer" vibes and I definitely agree and I loved that show! You have two characters who are leading very different lives and don't even realize what they are missing. Maggie is a detective working a case involving a serial killer when she meets a Russian priest named Anatoly. He might just be the key to unlocking this case. I don't want to ruin the story for anyone who hasn't read it but I highly recommend it.
This book was a very pleasant surprise. I devoured it. I know they were saying it had "Lucifer" vibes and I definitely agree and I loved that show! You have two characters who are leading very different lives and don't even realize what they are missing. Maggie is a detective working a case involving a serial killer when she meets a Russian priest named Anatoly. He might just be the key to unlocking this case. I don't want to ruin the story for anyone who hasn't read it but I highly recommend it.
March 14, 2026
3 stars-sweet paranormal romance. MMC is a kind vampire priest that falls in love with FMC human detective while she is trying to solve murders to clergy. Romance is nice but the backstory of solving the crimes is less fleshed out and resolves a little too simply. Overall fun read.
Review of advance copy
The overall story line was really good! The way she didn’t back down and he stood by her side the whole time. This is in third person POV which isn’t my favorite (personal preference and has nothing to do with how the story was actually written), it was overall a good story and character dynamic.
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