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The Vow
Finals are over, and twenty-year-old Claire Matthews can hardly wait to begin summer break until...she arrives home to an army of police swarming her parents' front lawn. Detective Reynolds delivers the dreadful news that the man and woman inside the home are dead, and Claire is forced to identify their mummified bloodless bodies. Her world comes to a grinding halt when she learns that it is her mother and father who are the deceased, and her younger brother, JJ, is nowhere to be found. The predator accused...a vampire.
Claire is no stranger to vampires; in fact, these days' vamps are a dime a dozen. One-hundred-thirty years ago a vow was made, combining the two worlds. A vampire's survival no longer required a human sacrifice. Vampire Centers were created, offering human blood through transfusion; yet, why were her parents bled dry? Why now? What changed? Could a rogue vampire be responsible? Was it possible vampires, Nate and Parker, JJ's best friends, suddenly hungered for human blood?
Claire is no stranger to vampires; in fact, these days' vamps are a dime a dozen. One-hundred-thirty years ago a vow was made, combining the two worlds. A vampire's survival no longer required a human sacrifice. Vampire Centers were created, offering human blood through transfusion; yet, why were her parents bled dry? Why now? What changed? Could a rogue vampire be responsible? Was it possible vampires, Nate and Parker, JJ's best friends, suddenly hungered for human blood?
238 pages, ebook
First published August 27, 2016
431 people want to read
About the author
Laura Daleo
10 books535 followersI was born and raised in Sunny San Diego, California. A creative writing class in junior high sparked my desire to tell stores. I’ve been a hostess, bookkeeper, accountant, manager, and animal advocate, but writing anything paranormal has always been my passion. Throughout my professional career, I squeezed in writing whenever I could. I camped out late at night in front of my computer, with my four basset hounds, Stuart, Morgan, Rose, and Cooper, my toughest critics asleep at my feet. Now I’m living out my dream as an author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
April 8, 2017
Claire Matthews has just arrived in her hometown for her break from college when she finds that none of her family has come to pick her up at the airport. Trying to call again and again and not getting an answer from her parents or brother Claire decides to take a cab home. When arriving at her house she finds the place surrounded by police and crime tape.
When finally getting a detective to tell her what is going on Claire learns that her parents were murdered and her bother missing. Claire's parents are covered in bite marks looking like the attack was done by a vampire however there has been peace between vampires and humans for over a hundred years after a treaty between the two had been signed. Claire wants to know who has broken the vow of peace and just where her brother is so she's determined to do whatever she can to find who is responsible.
The Vow by Laura Daleo is one of those books that I picked up being curious as to what would happen in the story and was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did. The only thing really when done reading I would complain about with this one was I guessed the "who" rather early on in the story.
While I did guess who had been responsible this book certainly took the reader on quite a ride with the how. Claire gets herself into some tricky situations looking for the killer and hoping to find her brother but I found them rather fast paced, which I enjoy, and entertaining all the way through. There were vampire interactions, police investigating and overall an engaging story.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
When finally getting a detective to tell her what is going on Claire learns that her parents were murdered and her bother missing. Claire's parents are covered in bite marks looking like the attack was done by a vampire however there has been peace between vampires and humans for over a hundred years after a treaty between the two had been signed. Claire wants to know who has broken the vow of peace and just where her brother is so she's determined to do whatever she can to find who is responsible.
The Vow by Laura Daleo is one of those books that I picked up being curious as to what would happen in the story and was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it as much as I did. The only thing really when done reading I would complain about with this one was I guessed the "who" rather early on in the story.
While I did guess who had been responsible this book certainly took the reader on quite a ride with the how. Claire gets herself into some tricky situations looking for the killer and hoping to find her brother but I found them rather fast paced, which I enjoy, and entertaining all the way through. There were vampire interactions, police investigating and overall an engaging story.
I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
September 15, 2016
A world where the vampires are out of the coffin and part of life? A truce was made long ago between humans and the vampires, no more sucking the blood of the living and no staking of the undead, sounds fair, right? Thank you Laura Daleo for a fabulous and fresh twist on our favorite creatures that go bump in the night! Too bad someone decided to break the rules. Settle in and prepare for The Vow and all of its twists, turns, and suspense as one human vows to find the vampire that drained her parents.
When the world’s most punctual parents failed to pick her up from the airport, Claire taxied her way home to discover her world turned inside out when she learns her parents have been murdered. The cause? Exsanguination, their blood was drained by someone with fangs and her brother, JJ was missing.
Alone, with no idea what to do or where to go, Claire takes to doing her own detective work when the police procedures seem too slow, with too many rules to follow. From volunteering in a Vampire Center where vamps line up to get blood by the bag, to naively accepting meetings with vampires, Claire puts her life on the line in her quest and desperation to find her brother.
What she didn’t expect to find was a vampire she could trust, one that would look out for her and even help her in her quest. Breaking laws was not an obstacle for either of them. But feeling more than camaraderie can be pretty scary.
Let go of reality, forget the rules, ignore that detective show you love, Laura Daleo is in charge and from start to finish, what Claire will do to find her brother and justice for her parents will resonate perfectly. Claire is headstrong, a little out of her league, but determined and wants justice served, but are the parents she knew and loved more than who they seemed to be?
Ms. Daleo has some major talent going on here and it shines through like the North Star. Shocking revelations, heartbreaking moments and characters that make you either love them or hate them, this tapestry of words from Laura Daleo is a fabulous read from start to finish!
I received this copy from Laura Daleo in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Story Bound Publishing, LLC; 1 edition (August 27, 2016)
Publication Date: August 27, 2016
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Print Length: 238 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
When the world’s most punctual parents failed to pick her up from the airport, Claire taxied her way home to discover her world turned inside out when she learns her parents have been murdered. The cause? Exsanguination, their blood was drained by someone with fangs and her brother, JJ was missing.
Alone, with no idea what to do or where to go, Claire takes to doing her own detective work when the police procedures seem too slow, with too many rules to follow. From volunteering in a Vampire Center where vamps line up to get blood by the bag, to naively accepting meetings with vampires, Claire puts her life on the line in her quest and desperation to find her brother.
What she didn’t expect to find was a vampire she could trust, one that would look out for her and even help her in her quest. Breaking laws was not an obstacle for either of them. But feeling more than camaraderie can be pretty scary.
Let go of reality, forget the rules, ignore that detective show you love, Laura Daleo is in charge and from start to finish, what Claire will do to find her brother and justice for her parents will resonate perfectly. Claire is headstrong, a little out of her league, but determined and wants justice served, but are the parents she knew and loved more than who they seemed to be?
Ms. Daleo has some major talent going on here and it shines through like the North Star. Shocking revelations, heartbreaking moments and characters that make you either love them or hate them, this tapestry of words from Laura Daleo is a fabulous read from start to finish!
I received this copy from Laura Daleo in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Story Bound Publishing, LLC; 1 edition (August 27, 2016)
Publication Date: August 27, 2016
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Print Length: 238 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com
October 20, 2016
I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I started this book but it turned out to be a perfect read for the Halloween season. Claire has just finished finals and is coming home for summer break. She immediately thinks something is wrong because her always reliable parents do not show up at airport to pick her up. Claire catches a taxi home to find police and emergency cars and personnel everywhere and soon learns her parents have been brutality murdered and her teenage brother J.J. is missing. Since the Vow, basically a peace agreement and legal pact, was made between vampires and humans over 130 years ago allowing vampires to live among humans, there is reason for concern when her parents suffer from numerous bites and have been completely drained of all their blood. Although Detective Reynolds has promised Claire he will get to the bottom of the crime and locate her brother, Claire cannot wait and starts an investigation of her own.
Although many would classify this as a paranormal romance, I think it's strength lies in the mystery waiting to be solved. Claire takes many steps to locate J.J. and her parents killer and there were a few twists and turns along the way which I didn't see coming. The book is extremely fast paced and there are quite a few interesting characters for the reader to meet along the way. I want to commend Daleo for not creating a dreaded "love triangle" which sometimes rears its ugly head in paranormal romance books. Also, the relationship that forms isn't really of the "insta-love" nature although I think most readers can see it coming almost right from the beginning. My only real issue with "The Vow" is Claire. I realize she is young and she wants to discover what happened to her family, but the girl made stupid move after stupid move and I'm surprised she made it out of the book alive! I kept waiting for Claire to get a clue but she must suffer from some undiagnosed impulsivity disorder.
I have to admit that while it's probably not a popular opinion, I am in love with Gabriel. He is mean, crude and has no need for humans in his life but I just KNOW there is a heart in there somewhere. I only hope Daleo considers exploring Gabriel in a future book - a girl can hope. Overall, if you enjoy vampire books and don't mind a little romance (minus triangles and insta-love) then you should probably snag a copy of "The Vow." I've said it before regarding Daleo's books and I'll say it again - I respect vampires that don't sparkle!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review and this has not influenced my thoughts and opinions in any manner.
Although many would classify this as a paranormal romance, I think it's strength lies in the mystery waiting to be solved. Claire takes many steps to locate J.J. and her parents killer and there were a few twists and turns along the way which I didn't see coming. The book is extremely fast paced and there are quite a few interesting characters for the reader to meet along the way. I want to commend Daleo for not creating a dreaded "love triangle" which sometimes rears its ugly head in paranormal romance books. Also, the relationship that forms isn't really of the "insta-love" nature although I think most readers can see it coming almost right from the beginning. My only real issue with "The Vow" is Claire. I realize she is young and she wants to discover what happened to her family, but the girl made stupid move after stupid move and I'm surprised she made it out of the book alive! I kept waiting for Claire to get a clue but she must suffer from some undiagnosed impulsivity disorder.
I have to admit that while it's probably not a popular opinion, I am in love with Gabriel. He is mean, crude and has no need for humans in his life but I just KNOW there is a heart in there somewhere. I only hope Daleo considers exploring Gabriel in a future book - a girl can hope. Overall, if you enjoy vampire books and don't mind a little romance (minus triangles and insta-love) then you should probably snag a copy of "The Vow." I've said it before regarding Daleo's books and I'll say it again - I respect vampires that don't sparkle!
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review and this has not influenced my thoughts and opinions in any manner.
September 2, 2021
Claire Matthews returns home from college to discover her parents murdered and her brother missing, With the police investigation seemingly going nowhere, she begins to look into their deaths herself in the hope she will find the killer and find out what happened to her younger brother.
This sounds like the beginning of a straightforward whodunnit but it is so much more than that. Because Claire lives in a world where vampires not only exist, but they co-exist with humans.
Claire is determined to get to the bottom of who/what killed her parents and, more importantly, find her missing brother – the only family she has left.
But it is her very dogged determination that could lead to her downfall. She is more naive than stupid and crashes headlong into a world that is full of danger. She blindly allows herself to be led by the hand into contact with various vampires who promise a lot but deliver very little. She puts her life at risk and it is only when it is almost too late that she realises she cannot do this alone.
The Vow, in some ways, is a cross between True Blood and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Claire even discovers she has an ancestor who was a vampire hunter.
But my comparison isn’t a criticism. There are many takes on the vampire/slayer story all the way from the original Dracula to the present-day TV shows and movies. The author has taken this old story of good and evil and the many grey areas in between and she has woven her own version of the age-old story. And she has done it exceptionally well.
The twist in this story (around the halfway mark in the novel) is a real gem. There are a few subtle clues along the way so you do realise where this comes from but it is amazing, brilliant and very well delivered.
The author’s style is perfect. She mixes description with dialogue and action in the right measures and there were no instances where I became bored or found my interest lagging. This is a novel that will keep you engrossed and entertained. There is little or no horror or gore in it which makes it suitable for the young adult readers it is geared towards.
This sounds like the beginning of a straightforward whodunnit but it is so much more than that. Because Claire lives in a world where vampires not only exist, but they co-exist with humans.
Claire is determined to get to the bottom of who/what killed her parents and, more importantly, find her missing brother – the only family she has left.
But it is her very dogged determination that could lead to her downfall. She is more naive than stupid and crashes headlong into a world that is full of danger. She blindly allows herself to be led by the hand into contact with various vampires who promise a lot but deliver very little. She puts her life at risk and it is only when it is almost too late that she realises she cannot do this alone.
The Vow, in some ways, is a cross between True Blood and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Claire even discovers she has an ancestor who was a vampire hunter.
But my comparison isn’t a criticism. There are many takes on the vampire/slayer story all the way from the original Dracula to the present-day TV shows and movies. The author has taken this old story of good and evil and the many grey areas in between and she has woven her own version of the age-old story. And she has done it exceptionally well.
The twist in this story (around the halfway mark in the novel) is a real gem. There are a few subtle clues along the way so you do realise where this comes from but it is amazing, brilliant and very well delivered.
The author’s style is perfect. She mixes description with dialogue and action in the right measures and there were no instances where I became bored or found my interest lagging. This is a novel that will keep you engrossed and entertained. There is little or no horror or gore in it which makes it suitable for the young adult readers it is geared towards.
October 24, 2016
Claire Matthews has returned home from college to spend the summer with her family. It's supposed to be a great time in her life but when she lands at the airport, her usually punctual parents aren't there. Claire takes a cab to her childhood home only to find police swarming all over the place. Though Claire prays desperately that her parents and her little brother are fine, it doesn't look good. When Claire learns that her brother is missing and that her parents are indeed dead from an apparent vampire attack, despite the vow which hundreds of years ago ended vampires hunting humans, Claire is determined to find her parents killer and her missing brother. The investigation will see her team up with a vampire as she negotiates the vampire world for the first time.
I had my doubts about The Vow from the first page. To be clear, dead parents are absolutely a trope in this genre and in this case, both of Claire's parents are found murdered at the beginning of the book, making it far from an auspicious start. It also didn't help that Claire was absolutely alone in the world. How is it that she grew up in that home and didn't have a single friend to turn to? Did they all just disappear when she left for college? I understand that the purpose is to further isolate Claire but it really doesn't feel believable to me. However, Daleo did a good job portraying Claire's pain viewing her parents bodies and her fear that her brother might also be dead.
Where Daleo loses me is Claire's hunt for her parents killers. Claire actually accuses the first vampire she sees with nothing to base her accusation on. She casually decides that said vampire is shifty because he won't submit to interrogation by her and leaves at the first opportunity. Daleo then doubles down by having Claire volunteer at a vampire center (read: feeding area) and then interrogate random vampires coming in for nourishment. She ends up agreeing to meet with not one but two vampires and of course it ends badly. If that is not enough, a vampire priest sends her on a wild goose chase which turns out to be a trap and then Claire follows up on this faulty lead by disturbing a vampire in its lair during day sleep. I quickly found myself wondering how it is that Claire is still alive. Sure, her vampire boyfriend and the police are there to pull her ass out of the fire but at some point she should have learned that simply walking off to meet vampires in isolated locations is not a good idea. Daleo attempts to explain Claire's repeated stupidity by employing Claire's grief over her parents death and fear for her missing brother as justification. In the end, Claire simply comes across as a bimbo, making me wonder how she got into college in the first place?
Despite all of the focus on Claire's vampire hunt and her family legacy of vampire hunting, I don't feel like I really know who she is. It doesn't help that we are continually reminded just how beautiful Claire is and that her blonde hair and blue eyes practically make her vampire catnip. It makes me wonder if this is intentional, so that the reader can place themselves in Claire's position? The problem however is then magnified because Daleo employs this tactic with all of the other characters in the book. Neither Daniels (the investigating cop) or Conner (the vampire boyfriend) feel at all real to me either. I'm going to chalk this up to the very limited character development in this story.
The Vow does not add anything new to the vampire mythology. Vampires have the ability to glamour, fly, and must stay out of the sun and can be hurt and or killed by holy water, crucifixes, and stakes. Having run of the mill vampires in my opinion is not necessarily a bad thing. It's certainly better than having vampires who glitter in the sunlight. The problem is that there isn't anything original about The Vow. Even vampires forswearing consuming human blood isn't new, though the manner in which they feed is.
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I had my doubts about The Vow from the first page. To be clear, dead parents are absolutely a trope in this genre and in this case, both of Claire's parents are found murdered at the beginning of the book, making it far from an auspicious start. It also didn't help that Claire was absolutely alone in the world. How is it that she grew up in that home and didn't have a single friend to turn to? Did they all just disappear when she left for college? I understand that the purpose is to further isolate Claire but it really doesn't feel believable to me. However, Daleo did a good job portraying Claire's pain viewing her parents bodies and her fear that her brother might also be dead.
Where Daleo loses me is Claire's hunt for her parents killers. Claire actually accuses the first vampire she sees with nothing to base her accusation on. She casually decides that said vampire is shifty because he won't submit to interrogation by her and leaves at the first opportunity. Daleo then doubles down by having Claire volunteer at a vampire center (read: feeding area) and then interrogate random vampires coming in for nourishment. She ends up agreeing to meet with not one but two vampires and of course it ends badly. If that is not enough, a vampire priest sends her on a wild goose chase which turns out to be a trap and then Claire follows up on this faulty lead by disturbing a vampire in its lair during day sleep. I quickly found myself wondering how it is that Claire is still alive. Sure, her vampire boyfriend and the police are there to pull her ass out of the fire but at some point she should have learned that simply walking off to meet vampires in isolated locations is not a good idea. Daleo attempts to explain Claire's repeated stupidity by employing Claire's grief over her parents death and fear for her missing brother as justification. In the end, Claire simply comes across as a bimbo, making me wonder how she got into college in the first place?
Despite all of the focus on Claire's vampire hunt and her family legacy of vampire hunting, I don't feel like I really know who she is. It doesn't help that we are continually reminded just how beautiful Claire is and that her blonde hair and blue eyes practically make her vampire catnip. It makes me wonder if this is intentional, so that the reader can place themselves in Claire's position? The problem however is then magnified because Daleo employs this tactic with all of the other characters in the book. Neither Daniels (the investigating cop) or Conner (the vampire boyfriend) feel at all real to me either. I'm going to chalk this up to the very limited character development in this story.
The Vow does not add anything new to the vampire mythology. Vampires have the ability to glamour, fly, and must stay out of the sun and can be hurt and or killed by holy water, crucifixes, and stakes. Having run of the mill vampires in my opinion is not necessarily a bad thing. It's certainly better than having vampires who glitter in the sunlight. The problem is that there isn't anything original about The Vow. Even vampires forswearing consuming human blood isn't new, though the manner in which they feed is.
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September 25, 2016
*Provided by NetGalley for an honest review*
The vampire vow is being broken by none other than a human! Claire is home for vacation from college and comes to find cops at family home. Welcome home, please identify your dead parents…. Her suspenseful quest to find her parents murderer and locate her missing brother kept me guessing all the way to the end. I was sucked in from the very first page. I loved the new take on the vampire culture and the vow, leading to vampire centers where they get their blood through transfusion was a new one for me. Even though there’s a top of the line detective on the case, Claire will do whatever it takes to solve the mystery.
I felt a bit cut off at the end of the book, not enough to say a cliff hanger was there, but enough to have questions lingering. I just want to know what happens to them all in the next year …
For a more in depth review visit my blog: Kank's Book Life Review: The Vow
The vampire vow is being broken by none other than a human! Claire is home for vacation from college and comes to find cops at family home. Welcome home, please identify your dead parents…. Her suspenseful quest to find her parents murderer and locate her missing brother kept me guessing all the way to the end. I was sucked in from the very first page. I loved the new take on the vampire culture and the vow, leading to vampire centers where they get their blood through transfusion was a new one for me. Even though there’s a top of the line detective on the case, Claire will do whatever it takes to solve the mystery.
I felt a bit cut off at the end of the book, not enough to say a cliff hanger was there, but enough to have questions lingering. I just want to know what happens to them all in the next year …
For a more in depth review visit my blog: Kank's Book Life Review: The Vow
August 6, 2023
https://readersfavorite.com/book-revi...
BOOK REVIEW - 5 Stars
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
The Vow is a dark paranormal fantasy novel written by Laura Daleo. Claire Mathews was puzzled at not seeing her dad waiting for her at the airport. He was always very careful to be on time for any family activity. She grew even more confused and a bit alarmed when her attempts to call her parents or her brother, JJ, met with no success. Finally, she loaded her bags into a waiting taxi and made her own way home. Her driver took a second look at her when he arrived at her destination, as if to make sure she had it right. Claire was stunned to see the police tape festooning the front of her parents’ home. The police cars and the Medical Examiner’s van she saw turned her surprise into dread. Detective Reynolds was sent over to see her, and she met his questions with barely disguised impatience. Yes, she was a student, and home for the summer holidays -- but where were her parents and brother?
Laura Daleo’s dark paranormal fantasy novel, The Vow, is set in a world where vampires and humans live peacefully under the conditions set forth by The Vow. I’ll confess to being a bit jaded by urban fantasies featuring vampires, but found Daleo’s offering to be a most agreeable change from the standard fare. Her plot is precisely drawn and apt to please anyone who enjoys not only fantasy, but also well-written police procedural mysteries, and her characters are engaging and credible. Who killed Claire’s parents and what happened to JJ? Claire’s reactions to her sudden loss are the stuff that makes psychological thrillers tick, and her quest for answers and justice kept me hooked into this decidedly different vampire fantasy. Daleo’s insights into the vampire psyche are profound, and those characters in her book of the vampiric persuasion are especially worth spending some time with. The Vow is most highly recommended.
BOOK REVIEW - 5 Stars
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
The Vow is a dark paranormal fantasy novel written by Laura Daleo. Claire Mathews was puzzled at not seeing her dad waiting for her at the airport. He was always very careful to be on time for any family activity. She grew even more confused and a bit alarmed when her attempts to call her parents or her brother, JJ, met with no success. Finally, she loaded her bags into a waiting taxi and made her own way home. Her driver took a second look at her when he arrived at her destination, as if to make sure she had it right. Claire was stunned to see the police tape festooning the front of her parents’ home. The police cars and the Medical Examiner’s van she saw turned her surprise into dread. Detective Reynolds was sent over to see her, and she met his questions with barely disguised impatience. Yes, she was a student, and home for the summer holidays -- but where were her parents and brother?
Laura Daleo’s dark paranormal fantasy novel, The Vow, is set in a world where vampires and humans live peacefully under the conditions set forth by The Vow. I’ll confess to being a bit jaded by urban fantasies featuring vampires, but found Daleo’s offering to be a most agreeable change from the standard fare. Her plot is precisely drawn and apt to please anyone who enjoys not only fantasy, but also well-written police procedural mysteries, and her characters are engaging and credible. Who killed Claire’s parents and what happened to JJ? Claire’s reactions to her sudden loss are the stuff that makes psychological thrillers tick, and her quest for answers and justice kept me hooked into this decidedly different vampire fantasy. Daleo’s insights into the vampire psyche are profound, and those characters in her book of the vampiric persuasion are especially worth spending some time with. The Vow is most highly recommended.
September 25, 2016
Kindly provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Originally posted @ Miranda's Book Blog
It's been awhile since I've read a murder mystery. From the very start Claire is thrown into a world of tragedy and turmoil. Finding her parents brutally murdered then to top it off her brother is missing. I ended up reading this one in pretty much one sitting. This story pulled me in from start to finish!
The beginning was a tad bit slow but the pace of both the plot and the character development progressed very nicely. I would say once the story was set, after the first chapter the pace was perfect!
There is a bit of romance in this one and I loved the realistic way in which their relationship grew. Claire meets Connor whom I adored from the first time we get to meet him! Now I would say that the romance is definitely more in the background in this one, but it was perfect for the story.
The ending has mewanting needing more! I'm not sure if this one will be a standalone or a series, but it'd make a perfect series, especially since there are a few things left unanswered.
I'd recommend this to anyone who loves murder mystery, vampires, romance or all of the above!
Originally posted @ Miranda's Book Blog
It's been awhile since I've read a murder mystery. From the very start Claire is thrown into a world of tragedy and turmoil. Finding her parents brutally murdered then to top it off her brother is missing. I ended up reading this one in pretty much one sitting. This story pulled me in from start to finish!
The beginning was a tad bit slow but the pace of both the plot and the character development progressed very nicely. I would say once the story was set, after the first chapter the pace was perfect!
There is a bit of romance in this one and I loved the realistic way in which their relationship grew. Claire meets Connor whom I adored from the first time we get to meet him! Now I would say that the romance is definitely more in the background in this one, but it was perfect for the story.
The ending has me
I'd recommend this to anyone who loves murder mystery, vampires, romance or all of the above!
May 5, 2023
**WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD**
DISCLAIMER: I received a free copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
I picked this book up for review since it's been a while since I read about vampires and I can still remember my fondness (and shame to admit it at that time, ahem) for the Morganville Vampire series when I read them back in high school. I barely remember the plot of the books now but reading the description for this book triggered those emotions and I thought I'd love to jump back into the vampire-human world again and see what's up.
Description
In this book, we follow 20-year-old Claire Matthews as she returns home to find her parents murdered in their beds drained of blood. With her initial conversation with Detective Reynolds, they surmise that it must've been a vampire; meaning, a vampire broke The Vow between vampires and humans to stop the bloodbath between the two species. Her younger brother nowhere to be found, she embarks on a quest to infiltrate the vampires by volunteering in the Vampire Centers that supply the vampires blood to sniff for clues. There she meets another vampire, Connor, who seems determined to help her see her mission through.
A series of questionable vampire characters would lead her through clues and adventure from there.
Review
The book started out with the inscription of The Vow - the agreement that allowed humans and vampires to peacefully coexist. When it ended with "Defiance of the vow by either race will render such truce null and void. If such a time should ever come, God help us all," I felt tiny goosebumps as I was excited to see how the characters' lives or their world will ripple with that warning in mind. Unfortunately, I found the material lacking in substance.
First off, the characters had no development or dimensions. The protagonist, Claire, had no defining character aside from being impulsive and childish. She immediately suspects the first shady vampire she interacts with. For some reason, every vampire finds her alluring because she's beautiful. I waited for a reasonable explanation why vampires had such weakness with blondes with blue eyes to justify their magnetism to her... but nope, apparently she was just special and THAT beautiful without a deeper explanation why. I guess that moved the plot along so she can get any information and help she wants without question? I don't know.
All of the other characters fell flat too. Connor was so taken with her the first time they laid eyes on each other that he sang... he sang in the waiting room in front of other vampires acting like a teenager despite being hundreds of years old. Of course, the other vampires cheered and whistled. He literally said "I-I can't explain it. I feel linked to you, like our souls are connected somehow" and that doesn't have any deeper lore at all in the book; it's just an instant romance.
The rest of the side characters were just succumbing to her whims so there weren't even side characters I can gush about. Detective Reynolds felt the need to be responsible for her and let her off the hook for law violations for some unknown reason. God knows it wasn't because Claire was kind to him because she was anything but that to him in their limited interactions. Gabriel, the ancient vampire who owns the club was supposed to be this scary, selfish vampire, surprisingly offered to stay behind in a cabin just to wait for Claire's brother even though he doesn't care and lets Claire continue to have the upper hand in their exchanges despite being powerful and claims has no respect for The Vow. The girls in the Vampire Centers were straight-up catty for no reason and one girl threatened her right away to stay away from Connor because "he's mine" and literally serves no other purpose than to let the reader know how desirable Connor was. I just found myself asking "why?" every time a character does something out of the ordinary, especially when they declare support to Claire. Their motivation to help her wasn't really established that deep and she didn't really earn them either. Even the revelation of the The Priest's reason on why he gave her the map fell so flat. Why was the map even considered the Priest's most prized possession? If it was because of Victoria's location, it was pointless because she left right after her interaction with Claire. Why was her location important to the Priest and why a map if Victoria can just relocate at any time?
Second, the flow of the plot just felt off. The things I thought were going to be significant - volunteering in the vampire center, and the Vow itself - didn't pan out to be as important as they could've been. I would've liked it better if Claire also befriends the girls in the vampire centers so she had both humans and vampires working together. It would've felt more symbolic even if the human friends had tiny parts in the schemes. The plot twist regarding Claire's family could've also been relished more. It could've been this big revelation that affected the Vow itself; like an underground society of vampire hunters and vampire hunters waging this civil war against each other. But no, it was just some valid reason to deliver the biggest plot twist of the book - who killed them.
Third, the romance itself was a little bizarre. All of a sudden Connor's in love with Claire. There were attempts to build deeper connections in some of their conversations about their past but the tension just wasn't there. There were also attempts to banter to establish a playful relationship but it was just... off. They had this whole fight that served no other purpose than to let Claire jump into danger without him and get hospitalized so they can ... have that conversation about how important they are to each other??? I'm not sure.
Conclusion
There were some elements of this I really like, the story just didn't go as deep as I expected it to be. The plot twists were actually really clever, they could've just been executed better to create a lasting imprint. Perhaps if I read this when I was younger I would've liked it. With the right age group, this can be an entertaining read.
DISCLAIMER: I received a free copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
I picked this book up for review since it's been a while since I read about vampires and I can still remember my fondness (and shame to admit it at that time, ahem) for the Morganville Vampire series when I read them back in high school. I barely remember the plot of the books now but reading the description for this book triggered those emotions and I thought I'd love to jump back into the vampire-human world again and see what's up.
Description
In this book, we follow 20-year-old Claire Matthews as she returns home to find her parents murdered in their beds drained of blood. With her initial conversation with Detective Reynolds, they surmise that it must've been a vampire; meaning, a vampire broke The Vow between vampires and humans to stop the bloodbath between the two species. Her younger brother nowhere to be found, she embarks on a quest to infiltrate the vampires by volunteering in the Vampire Centers that supply the vampires blood to sniff for clues. There she meets another vampire, Connor, who seems determined to help her see her mission through.
A series of questionable vampire characters would lead her through clues and adventure from there.
Review
The book started out with the inscription of The Vow - the agreement that allowed humans and vampires to peacefully coexist. When it ended with "Defiance of the vow by either race will render such truce null and void. If such a time should ever come, God help us all," I felt tiny goosebumps as I was excited to see how the characters' lives or their world will ripple with that warning in mind. Unfortunately, I found the material lacking in substance.
First off, the characters had no development or dimensions. The protagonist, Claire, had no defining character aside from being impulsive and childish. She immediately suspects the first shady vampire she interacts with. For some reason, every vampire finds her alluring because she's beautiful. I waited for a reasonable explanation why vampires had such weakness with blondes with blue eyes to justify their magnetism to her... but nope, apparently she was just special and THAT beautiful without a deeper explanation why. I guess that moved the plot along so she can get any information and help she wants without question? I don't know.
All of the other characters fell flat too. Connor was so taken with her the first time they laid eyes on each other that he sang... he sang in the waiting room in front of other vampires acting like a teenager despite being hundreds of years old. Of course, the other vampires cheered and whistled. He literally said "I-I can't explain it. I feel linked to you, like our souls are connected somehow" and that doesn't have any deeper lore at all in the book; it's just an instant romance.
The rest of the side characters were just succumbing to her whims so there weren't even side characters I can gush about. Detective Reynolds felt the need to be responsible for her and let her off the hook for law violations for some unknown reason. God knows it wasn't because Claire was kind to him because she was anything but that to him in their limited interactions. Gabriel, the ancient vampire who owns the club was supposed to be this scary, selfish vampire, surprisingly offered to stay behind in a cabin just to wait for Claire's brother even though he doesn't care and lets Claire continue to have the upper hand in their exchanges despite being powerful and claims has no respect for The Vow. The girls in the Vampire Centers were straight-up catty for no reason and one girl threatened her right away to stay away from Connor because "he's mine" and literally serves no other purpose than to let the reader know how desirable Connor was. I just found myself asking "why?" every time a character does something out of the ordinary, especially when they declare support to Claire. Their motivation to help her wasn't really established that deep and she didn't really earn them either. Even the revelation of the The Priest's reason on why he gave her the map fell so flat. Why was the map even considered the Priest's most prized possession? If it was because of Victoria's location, it was pointless because she left right after her interaction with Claire. Why was her location important to the Priest and why a map if Victoria can just relocate at any time?
Second, the flow of the plot just felt off. The things I thought were going to be significant - volunteering in the vampire center, and the Vow itself - didn't pan out to be as important as they could've been. I would've liked it better if Claire also befriends the girls in the vampire centers so she had both humans and vampires working together. It would've felt more symbolic even if the human friends had tiny parts in the schemes. The plot twist regarding Claire's family could've also been relished more. It could've been this big revelation that affected the Vow itself; like an underground society of vampire hunters and vampire hunters waging this civil war against each other. But no, it was just some valid reason to deliver the biggest plot twist of the book - who killed them.
Third, the romance itself was a little bizarre. All of a sudden Connor's in love with Claire. There were attempts to build deeper connections in some of their conversations about their past but the tension just wasn't there. There were also attempts to banter to establish a playful relationship but it was just... off. They had this whole fight that served no other purpose than to let Claire jump into danger without him and get hospitalized so they can ... have that conversation about how important they are to each other??? I'm not sure.
Conclusion
There were some elements of this I really like, the story just didn't go as deep as I expected it to be. The plot twists were actually really clever, they could've just been executed better to create a lasting imprint. Perhaps if I read this when I was younger I would've liked it. With the right age group, this can be an entertaining read.
September 29, 2023
This was SUCH a fun read! And I love the feeling of caring enough about the characters to wonder what will happen next for them in their story. I'd love to see their world turned into a TV series.
September 12, 2025
I've heard a lot about this author and I finally got round to reading one of her books. And whoa! Like really whoa! Amazing came to mind right from the onset. The blast of adrenaline didn't leave my veins until I had finished the book. With sooooo much drama, tension and the unknown, I gorged on and devoured this book.
Arriving at the airport for her summer break, expecting her parents or brother to greet her, Claire, had no idea this was a portent of what was to come, and just like that, her world shatters. Her parents exsanguinated, her brother missing, her life in tatters. The reason why her parents came to such a horrific end eludes her, but everything points to a vamp being the culprit. Except...Vampires live by a strict code, the Vow. Enforced to keep both humans and vampires safe, there is a blood bank and that's where Claire heads, she can't help herself, she needs to understand why and find the whodunnit, so straight into the jaws of danger she goes. Where , at the Vampire Centre, she's in direct contact with Connor, a rather devilishly handsome vamp, who just happened to know her great great great grandfather, who just so happened to have left a journal, which prompted Claire to retrace his footsteps and what she learns, stuns her. But the stun grenade has just begun, as she delves deeper, it seems the grenade has no "off" button, it keeps pounding at her, each time with more force, until I swear I could see her raw bones from the onslaught! THIS is what impressed me most with this author's storytelling, her ease at throwing bombshells, hidden slyly so neither I nor Claire saw them coming. We just felt the burn, the wounds these inflicted. Claire's responses were so credible, her emotions so real, her determination so stark.
I love me a vampire read, what I love even more is if the read is unlike "the norm" which it is, I love it even more if I can't see what's coming next; which it does superbly, and, most of all, I absolutely love I book I can't bear to put down until I've read the last word; again, that's precisely what happened. A wonderfully fast paced read, very much a character focused read, the author, skilfully revealed the characters, one step at a time. I "knew" who Claire was from the very first chapter, distraught, heartbroken at the loss of her parents and brother and equally determined to get answers and bring the perp or perps to Justice. But... seeing as Claire is stubborn, more than a little impetuous, she lands herself in hot water time and again, much to distress of Detective Reynolds, a tough cop with a centre as soft as a marshmallow. He's so cool. Claire, being Claire, bites off more than she can chew, and Connor, bless him, displayed the most gorgeous protectiveness, without any possessiveness over her will. He, unconditionally, came to her aid, surprisingly himself as well as Claire and very quickly, both are smitten. Loved the respectful stance of Connor, never pushing, always there. Kind of an ideal guy, even if he is a vampire. Although Connor is a super dooper character, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, but the author held on tightly, THAT shoe remained firmly in place.
In a plot that really had me questioning motives, who to trust and who not to, Ms Daleo expertly steered me all over the place, I pretty much felt as though I was in a go-cart with the steering refusing to obey my command, it was Ms Daleo who was in full command of the narrative. A "simple" murder turns into a heck of a lot more, secrets well concealed are exposed, with devastating consequences, all culminating in Claire's brain ready to explode and good golly was I as shocked as she was! I can only applaud the author in a story well written, in a plot well convoluted, in a read, as I mentioned at the beginning, I just couldn't put down!
Arriving at the airport for her summer break, expecting her parents or brother to greet her, Claire, had no idea this was a portent of what was to come, and just like that, her world shatters. Her parents exsanguinated, her brother missing, her life in tatters. The reason why her parents came to such a horrific end eludes her, but everything points to a vamp being the culprit. Except...Vampires live by a strict code, the Vow. Enforced to keep both humans and vampires safe, there is a blood bank and that's where Claire heads, she can't help herself, she needs to understand why and find the whodunnit, so straight into the jaws of danger she goes. Where , at the Vampire Centre, she's in direct contact with Connor, a rather devilishly handsome vamp, who just happened to know her great great great grandfather, who just so happened to have left a journal, which prompted Claire to retrace his footsteps and what she learns, stuns her. But the stun grenade has just begun, as she delves deeper, it seems the grenade has no "off" button, it keeps pounding at her, each time with more force, until I swear I could see her raw bones from the onslaught! THIS is what impressed me most with this author's storytelling, her ease at throwing bombshells, hidden slyly so neither I nor Claire saw them coming. We just felt the burn, the wounds these inflicted. Claire's responses were so credible, her emotions so real, her determination so stark.
I love me a vampire read, what I love even more is if the read is unlike "the norm" which it is, I love it even more if I can't see what's coming next; which it does superbly, and, most of all, I absolutely love I book I can't bear to put down until I've read the last word; again, that's precisely what happened. A wonderfully fast paced read, very much a character focused read, the author, skilfully revealed the characters, one step at a time. I "knew" who Claire was from the very first chapter, distraught, heartbroken at the loss of her parents and brother and equally determined to get answers and bring the perp or perps to Justice. But... seeing as Claire is stubborn, more than a little impetuous, she lands herself in hot water time and again, much to distress of Detective Reynolds, a tough cop with a centre as soft as a marshmallow. He's so cool. Claire, being Claire, bites off more than she can chew, and Connor, bless him, displayed the most gorgeous protectiveness, without any possessiveness over her will. He, unconditionally, came to her aid, surprisingly himself as well as Claire and very quickly, both are smitten. Loved the respectful stance of Connor, never pushing, always there. Kind of an ideal guy, even if he is a vampire. Although Connor is a super dooper character, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, but the author held on tightly, THAT shoe remained firmly in place.
In a plot that really had me questioning motives, who to trust and who not to, Ms Daleo expertly steered me all over the place, I pretty much felt as though I was in a go-cart with the steering refusing to obey my command, it was Ms Daleo who was in full command of the narrative. A "simple" murder turns into a heck of a lot more, secrets well concealed are exposed, with devastating consequences, all culminating in Claire's brain ready to explode and good golly was I as shocked as she was! I can only applaud the author in a story well written, in a plot well convoluted, in a read, as I mentioned at the beginning, I just couldn't put down!
January 17, 2022
I have to confess I’ve had little experience of the vampire genre apart from What We Do In The Shadows and Christopher Lee’s Dracula films. I’ve never been interested in reading the Twilight novels, for instance, and since their publication I’ve often thought vampire stories had been kind of done to death, so when I came across The Vow I was sceptical, but kept an open mind. I was pleasantly surprised.
The story follows Claire, who comes home from college to find her parents horrifically murdered and her brother JJ missing. It appears her parents have been killed by vampires, a shocking revelation due to the fact that in this story vampires have been accepted into the wider population because of The Vow, an agreement between humans and vampires where they can live side by side in harmony. A vampire shall not kill a human and a human shall not kill a vampire. Each community has a centre where vampires can get blood transfusions donated by humans so they can survive and not feel the need to take blood from humans directly. Until the death of Claire’s parents, The Vow has been kept on both sides, but after the murder all that has changed and with the help of Detective Reynolds and her vampire friend Connor, Claire embarks on a mission to find the vampire who killed them, and also to find her brother. Her journey is one of horror, heartbreak and a truth full of pain, but also one of hope.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters are believable and well-drawn and I felt sympathy for Claire, her brother and the vampires, most of whom want to integrate into the human community; however, there is more than a hint of prejudice, a ‘them and us’, that the vampire community isn’t quite accepted overall, existing as a necessary evil if you like, and likewise the human world is distrusted by most of the vampire population, all adding to the tension and the tone of the story. That does not, however, detract from the strong, romantic bond developing between Claire and Connor.
I would highly recommend this book for teen and young adult/adult readers.
The story follows Claire, who comes home from college to find her parents horrifically murdered and her brother JJ missing. It appears her parents have been killed by vampires, a shocking revelation due to the fact that in this story vampires have been accepted into the wider population because of The Vow, an agreement between humans and vampires where they can live side by side in harmony. A vampire shall not kill a human and a human shall not kill a vampire. Each community has a centre where vampires can get blood transfusions donated by humans so they can survive and not feel the need to take blood from humans directly. Until the death of Claire’s parents, The Vow has been kept on both sides, but after the murder all that has changed and with the help of Detective Reynolds and her vampire friend Connor, Claire embarks on a mission to find the vampire who killed them, and also to find her brother. Her journey is one of horror, heartbreak and a truth full of pain, but also one of hope.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters are believable and well-drawn and I felt sympathy for Claire, her brother and the vampires, most of whom want to integrate into the human community; however, there is more than a hint of prejudice, a ‘them and us’, that the vampire community isn’t quite accepted overall, existing as a necessary evil if you like, and likewise the human world is distrusted by most of the vampire population, all adding to the tension and the tone of the story. That does not, however, detract from the strong, romantic bond developing between Claire and Connor.
I would highly recommend this book for teen and young adult/adult readers.
August 1, 2023
The Vow
By
Laura Daleo
5 ★★★★★
This is not your ordinary vampire paranormal story, it’s much more.
The story begins when college student, Claire Matthews, comes home from college for summer break. On her arrival, she finds her house flooded by police. Claire soon finds out that her mother and father have been killed, the blood drained from their bodies, and her younger brother is missing. All indications point to the murders being committed by a vampire(s), and her brother’s disappearance a mystery. Adding to the crime’s ambiguity is that humans and vampires have formed The Vow, a truce declaring a mutual truce in which neither would hunt or kill one another and the two species would live side by side in peace. If The Vow were ever broken, all bets were off. Claire, not satisfied with how the police are handling the case, decides to take matters into her own hands and find the killers. This decision leads her on a dangerous path, not knowing whom to trust or the scope of her investigation.
I found this story to be a refreshing adaptation of the vampire/human breed of books. The author did a marvelous job of world-building, configuring a delicate society where mortal enemies could live together in peace. The interactions between the characters were gripping and often not expected. The storyline was clever, original, and at times dark and full of horror. For me, this book was a page-turner, wanting to know what the characters' next move would be and often scratching my head wondering why the protagonist took the direction she did. Some unexpected surprises popped up, adding to the reading enjoyment.
I thought Laura Daleo did a masterful job of writing The Vow. It was well-written and an easy read. The characters were fabulous and intriguing, and I found myself rooting for the main character, Claire, to find some kind of settlement and an explanation of why such a horrendous crime occurred. I would definitely recommend The Vow as an exceptional read. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy.
By
Laura Daleo
5 ★★★★★
This is not your ordinary vampire paranormal story, it’s much more.
The story begins when college student, Claire Matthews, comes home from college for summer break. On her arrival, she finds her house flooded by police. Claire soon finds out that her mother and father have been killed, the blood drained from their bodies, and her younger brother is missing. All indications point to the murders being committed by a vampire(s), and her brother’s disappearance a mystery. Adding to the crime’s ambiguity is that humans and vampires have formed The Vow, a truce declaring a mutual truce in which neither would hunt or kill one another and the two species would live side by side in peace. If The Vow were ever broken, all bets were off. Claire, not satisfied with how the police are handling the case, decides to take matters into her own hands and find the killers. This decision leads her on a dangerous path, not knowing whom to trust or the scope of her investigation.
I found this story to be a refreshing adaptation of the vampire/human breed of books. The author did a marvelous job of world-building, configuring a delicate society where mortal enemies could live together in peace. The interactions between the characters were gripping and often not expected. The storyline was clever, original, and at times dark and full of horror. For me, this book was a page-turner, wanting to know what the characters' next move would be and often scratching my head wondering why the protagonist took the direction she did. Some unexpected surprises popped up, adding to the reading enjoyment.
I thought Laura Daleo did a masterful job of writing The Vow. It was well-written and an easy read. The characters were fabulous and intriguing, and I found myself rooting for the main character, Claire, to find some kind of settlement and an explanation of why such a horrendous crime occurred. I would definitely recommend The Vow as an exceptional read. I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy.
June 1, 2025
💔 What It’s Really About:
It’s about grief, betrayal, and unearthing dark truths in a world where humans and vampires exist under a fragile peace called The Vow. Claire comes home to tragedy parents murdered, brother missing and that’s just the start. What follows is a hunt for answers, a suspiciously intense vampire (Connor), and a descent into the underbelly of vampire society that may or may not be hiding some lethal secrets.
🧠 My Thoughts (Spiraling with love + critique):
Listen. This book GRABS you by the collar in chapter one and just keeps pulling. I was IN IT. The world-building? Delicious. Dark and intriguing. I loved how the vampire centers were structured it felt fresh, not like another Twilight copy-paste. Each character brought something to the story, and I actually enjoyed meeting every single one of them. That’s rare.
But y’all… around the last quarter of the book? I figured it out. Like I knew who did it. And I wasn’t trying to solve it; it just came to me. So the mystery twist didn’t slap like I wanted it to. I wanted to be gasping, throwing my Kindle, texting my book besties like “WTF JUST HAPPENED.” But instead I was like, “Ah. Knew it.” With a lot of screaming and excited I might say.. Still, that didn’t ruin it. It didn’t take away from how compelling the story was or how much I enjoyed the characters and their dynamics.
🧛♀️ Final Bite-Sized Verdict:
The Vow is moody, suspenseful, and loaded with vampire drama. If you’re into morally gray vamps, mysterious disappearances, and unraveling the truth in a gritty urban setting, this one’s for you. Just don’t expect the twist to knock you off your feet—but the journey is still worth the read.
Did you see the ending coming? Were you rooting for Connor or side-eyeing him like I was? Just kidding i loved Connor❤️❤️ Drop your fangirl feelings below because I have THOUGHTS.
It’s about grief, betrayal, and unearthing dark truths in a world where humans and vampires exist under a fragile peace called The Vow. Claire comes home to tragedy parents murdered, brother missing and that’s just the start. What follows is a hunt for answers, a suspiciously intense vampire (Connor), and a descent into the underbelly of vampire society that may or may not be hiding some lethal secrets.
🧠 My Thoughts (Spiraling with love + critique):
Listen. This book GRABS you by the collar in chapter one and just keeps pulling. I was IN IT. The world-building? Delicious. Dark and intriguing. I loved how the vampire centers were structured it felt fresh, not like another Twilight copy-paste. Each character brought something to the story, and I actually enjoyed meeting every single one of them. That’s rare.
But y’all… around the last quarter of the book? I figured it out. Like I knew who did it. And I wasn’t trying to solve it; it just came to me. So the mystery twist didn’t slap like I wanted it to. I wanted to be gasping, throwing my Kindle, texting my book besties like “WTF JUST HAPPENED.” But instead I was like, “Ah. Knew it.” With a lot of screaming and excited I might say.. Still, that didn’t ruin it. It didn’t take away from how compelling the story was or how much I enjoyed the characters and their dynamics.
🧛♀️ Final Bite-Sized Verdict:
The Vow is moody, suspenseful, and loaded with vampire drama. If you’re into morally gray vamps, mysterious disappearances, and unraveling the truth in a gritty urban setting, this one’s for you. Just don’t expect the twist to knock you off your feet—but the journey is still worth the read.
Did you see the ending coming? Were you rooting for Connor or side-eyeing him like I was? Just kidding i loved Connor❤️❤️ Drop your fangirl feelings below because I have THOUGHTS.
February 15, 2023
Claire Matthews has finished her finals and is ready to see her parents and her younger brother during her summer break. But when they don’t pick her up from the airport, she knows something is up. After calling a taxi she arrives home to find her parents home surrounded by police. Finally she learns that her parents have been murdered, supposedly by a vampire, and her younger brother, JJ, is nowhere to be found.
Centuries before the murders, The Vow was created so that vampires and humans could co-exist, setting up Vampire Centers in every city so that there wasn’t such bloodshed. Now, Claire embarks on a quest to find out what rogue vampire murdered her parents, and why. Along her journey she learns a lot about her ancestors, her parents, her brother, vampires, and even herself. While volunteering at The Vampire Center in her town she meets Connor, a vampire who offers to help her on her search for justice.
Vampires are not my thing, they never have been. However, Laura Daleo does an excellent job of making the vampires of The Vow more “humanistic.” Some of them were humans before they turned vampires, which was a new thing to me and very interesting.
The writing of Daleo is so vivid and descriptive that the pages came alive as I read them. I could picture JJ’s curly blonde hair and bright blue eyes, and I could feel Claire’s emotions as she goes through this roller coaster life.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Vow. It was a quick read, but was packed with twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. Definitely recommend.
Centuries before the murders, The Vow was created so that vampires and humans could co-exist, setting up Vampire Centers in every city so that there wasn’t such bloodshed. Now, Claire embarks on a quest to find out what rogue vampire murdered her parents, and why. Along her journey she learns a lot about her ancestors, her parents, her brother, vampires, and even herself. While volunteering at The Vampire Center in her town she meets Connor, a vampire who offers to help her on her search for justice.
Vampires are not my thing, they never have been. However, Laura Daleo does an excellent job of making the vampires of The Vow more “humanistic.” Some of them were humans before they turned vampires, which was a new thing to me and very interesting.
The writing of Daleo is so vivid and descriptive that the pages came alive as I read them. I could picture JJ’s curly blonde hair and bright blue eyes, and I could feel Claire’s emotions as she goes through this roller coaster life.
Overall, I really enjoyed The Vow. It was a quick read, but was packed with twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. Definitely recommend.
July 29, 2023
Claire Matthews returns home from college to discover her parents murdered and her brother missing. Her parents have been drained of their blood pointing to a supernatural death. Claire lives in a world where vampires not only exist, but they co-exist with humans guided by “the vow.” Humans will not hunt vampires and vampires will not hunt humans, well it seems that someone has broken that vow. With the police investigation seemingly going nowhere, Claire begins to look for answers on her own. She wants justice for her parents but also to find her brother, the only loving relative she has left. As Claire navigates the vampire world, she is continually tested. Danger lurks around every corner. Will Claire find her brother? Is he still alive? Will she get justice for her parents?
The Vow was a quick and easy read, a true page turner! I love vampire novels and this book has an interesting spin on them. The world building and character development are spot on. Even those characters who make only brief appearances were so well written that you could form an opinion on them and gain a sense of their roles. There is little horror and gore and it occurs off screen, making it fine for readers of all ages. There is a perfect mix of dialogue, action and description that keeps the reader entertained and engrossed in the story. At no point did I feel a lull in this book. My only regret with this book is that I waited so long to read it!
The Vow was a quick and easy read, a true page turner! I love vampire novels and this book has an interesting spin on them. The world building and character development are spot on. Even those characters who make only brief appearances were so well written that you could form an opinion on them and gain a sense of their roles. There is little horror and gore and it occurs off screen, making it fine for readers of all ages. There is a perfect mix of dialogue, action and description that keeps the reader entertained and engrossed in the story. At no point did I feel a lull in this book. My only regret with this book is that I waited so long to read it!
June 29, 2025
Title: The Vow
Author: Laura Daleo
Genre: Vampire Mystery, Urban Fantasy
Triggers: Some violence and gore
The Vow is wonderfully written with a great story line that is intriguing and spell binding. It has mystery, suspense and just the right amount of romance (just enough to complicate things, as romance tends to do).
The story begins with the gruesome murder of the parents of the Claire Matthews and the disappearance of her younger brother, J.J. Matthews. The police are convinced that it was vampires that are guilty. But long ago, a cow was made between vampires and humans, that was designed to prevent this very thing. Claire is desperate to discover the truth behind her parent’s death and why something so horrific happened to them. She is also determined to find her brother.
She decides to take matters into her own hands. After several dangerous events seem to bring her closer to finding the truth, an unfortunate realization brings things to an unthinkable twist that Claire could have never imagined.
Will she find her missing brother? Can she trust the vampires who claim to be helping her discover the truth? Will she discover who is responsible for killing her parents and why they did it? Will she be able to handle the truths she uncovers? All these questions and more are answered and you will enjoy the ride.
#bookloungereviewteam
Author: Laura Daleo
Genre: Vampire Mystery, Urban Fantasy
Triggers: Some violence and gore
The Vow is wonderfully written with a great story line that is intriguing and spell binding. It has mystery, suspense and just the right amount of romance (just enough to complicate things, as romance tends to do).
The story begins with the gruesome murder of the parents of the Claire Matthews and the disappearance of her younger brother, J.J. Matthews. The police are convinced that it was vampires that are guilty. But long ago, a cow was made between vampires and humans, that was designed to prevent this very thing. Claire is desperate to discover the truth behind her parent’s death and why something so horrific happened to them. She is also determined to find her brother.
She decides to take matters into her own hands. After several dangerous events seem to bring her closer to finding the truth, an unfortunate realization brings things to an unthinkable twist that Claire could have never imagined.
Will she find her missing brother? Can she trust the vampires who claim to be helping her discover the truth? Will she discover who is responsible for killing her parents and why they did it? Will she be able to handle the truths she uncovers? All these questions and more are answered and you will enjoy the ride.
#bookloungereviewteam
December 21, 2018
The Vow by Laura Daleo was extraordinary! I could not put this book down. In the 1800s, it was decided that instead of a war no one could win, there would be peace among the humans and vampires. Now, present day, Claire comes home from college and is not greeted by her parents and brother at the airport. She hails a cab and returns to her childhood home to find her parents dead and her brother missing. The lead detective on the scene seems to be doing everything he can to solve the crime but Claire can't just sit around doing nothing. She starts to investigate on her own but her days are filled with trouble while trying to find someone who will lead her to her parents killer. I enjoyed this book immensely. It is filled with mystery, intrigue and suspense. I was hooked from the very beginning and recommend this book to all lovers of the paranormal.
June 28, 2025
This book was fun! The author is also incredibly sweet and put a personalized page in it for me ❤️
I really enjoyed the murder/mystery aspect of this book. I wasn’t expecting the villain to be the villain and I really love when authors can surprise me.
The premise of the vow between vampires and humans was also really cool and unique. I enjoyed the vampire aspect being a bit now and different.
It was a bit fast paced for me. I do wish it had been a bit longer so that the romance part wasn’t as rushed…but hey college kids do move fast 🤣
Overall a good read and if you are looking for a fast-paced and interesting vampire novel that is unlike any you have ever read I recommend!
3.5 stars!
I really enjoyed the murder/mystery aspect of this book. I wasn’t expecting the villain to be the villain and I really love when authors can surprise me.
The premise of the vow between vampires and humans was also really cool and unique. I enjoyed the vampire aspect being a bit now and different.
It was a bit fast paced for me. I do wish it had been a bit longer so that the romance part wasn’t as rushed…but hey college kids do move fast 🤣
Overall a good read and if you are looking for a fast-paced and interesting vampire novel that is unlike any you have ever read I recommend!
3.5 stars!
June 24, 2023
I love a good paranormal vampire story. I read this book in just a few days, as I couldn’t put it down. Claire is a young woman who is willing to go through hell and back in order to discover who and why her parents were killed. Claire is a truly lovable character, who just wants to find out who killed her beloved parents.
What I loved really loved about The Vow is that it tells an amazing story about vampires and humans existing together. Laura Daleo likes to keep your mind guessing and just when you think you have figured out, there’s another twist!!
If you are a fan of vampire books then you must read this book!
What I loved really loved about The Vow is that it tells an amazing story about vampires and humans existing together. Laura Daleo likes to keep your mind guessing and just when you think you have figured out, there’s another twist!!
If you are a fan of vampire books then you must read this book!
March 5, 2023
Book Reviewer
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book: The vow
Author: Laura Daleo
What a amazing book about vampires and humans living beside each other. But something goes wrong. Claire comes home from collage and finds out here parents are both murdered in her family home. It looks like the work of vampires but did they do it? And where is her little brother? She goes on a wild adventure to figure out what has happened. But thing aren’t the way she thought they were. Her whole live has been flipped up side down that day and will never be the same again.
If you love a good story about vampires, action and an unexpected romance then this definitely is the book for you.
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book: The vow
Author: Laura Daleo
What a amazing book about vampires and humans living beside each other. But something goes wrong. Claire comes home from collage and finds out here parents are both murdered in her family home. It looks like the work of vampires but did they do it? And where is her little brother? She goes on a wild adventure to figure out what has happened. But thing aren’t the way she thought they were. Her whole live has been flipped up side down that day and will never be the same again.
If you love a good story about vampires, action and an unexpected romance then this definitely is the book for you.
February 2, 2019
The Vow was quite the enjoyable read as i'm not normally a YA reader, but once I started reading this book I was hooked. The story is very drama filled with Claire Matthews on a quest to find her missing brother JJ and the murderer of both of her parents. Claire is a strong headed girl that gets herself in to a lot trouble, having been warned by Detective Reynolds who is leading the case investigation to stop meddling. She comes close to loosing her own life a few times through not listening to others but she always seems to manage to keep on doing what she does best, and that is not let herself give up and fall apart. I really liked the fast pace of the story and even though it becomes clear, (well it did to me) what has happened and who is behind it all from about halfway into the story it was still a riveting read. A great adventure into a world of where humans and vampires co-exist.
January 4, 2023
Wow5☆
What a great Vampire story.
The humans and vampires have proposed a vow of peace, which will end the bloodshed and bring their worlds together, or will it?
Is the vow disintegrating? Is there a rogue vampire?
Will Claire find her parent's killer?
This wonderful story has amazing character build throughout the book.
On the edge of your seat thriller ... fast-paced.
I can definitely see this book turning into a TV series.
Loved it
What a great Vampire story.
The humans and vampires have proposed a vow of peace, which will end the bloodshed and bring their worlds together, or will it?
Is the vow disintegrating? Is there a rogue vampire?
Will Claire find her parent's killer?
This wonderful story has amazing character build throughout the book.
On the edge of your seat thriller ... fast-paced.
I can definitely see this book turning into a TV series.
Loved it
March 18, 2021
Very good story!
This was a fast paced book that takes off from the first page! It has a different twist on the vampire story that is refreshing and interesting!
It is very well written and edited and was a pleasure to read!
This is the first book I've read by Laura Daleo, but I look forward to reading more from her!
This was a fast paced book that takes off from the first page! It has a different twist on the vampire story that is refreshing and interesting!
It is very well written and edited and was a pleasure to read!
This is the first book I've read by Laura Daleo, but I look forward to reading more from her!
June 14, 2023
This book was amazing. It keeps you guessing right up to the end. How Claire navigates her feelings and the chances she takes to find the answers she needs makes me want to grab her and shake some sense into her. Lol. Laura Daleo is a great story teller and writer. Looking forward to reading more of her work.
January 2, 2019
this book was really strange! she is home to find out her parents are dead and her younger brother is missing. now she must use the help of vampires and humans to find her brother and parents killer. you wont believe what happens.
July 16, 2023
You can't go wrong with a good vampire story. Expectaly when vampires and humans coexist, until that one day they don't! I was hooked into the story from the very beginning. Very action-packed and kept me on the edge of my seat. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.
January 19, 2019
Wow what a read that takes you on a ride of vampires that have the human looking for the ones that took their parents. This is a amazing read that will take you on a amazing read.
July 12, 2021
Horror and exciting action at every turn!
This was a chilling tale of vampires and murder mystery. The action was non-stop from start to finish, and I loved the romantic elements.
This was a chilling tale of vampires and murder mystery. The action was non-stop from start to finish, and I loved the romantic elements.
May 27, 2024
4.5 Stars. I loved the Morganville Vampire series and was happy to find that this book gave me the same vibes. I will definitely be reading more books by Laura Daleo.
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