Baz is a vampire that drives a cab and stays out of vampire politics. He runs into human traffickers when he saves Nika, a waitress at the diner. Nika is an undercover police detective investigating the trafficking going on in the area. A bit of mixture of crime, paranormal and mystery all in one story.

Julie Rowe's "Sinner's Secret" takes readers on a thrilling ride through the gritty streets of NYC, where the centuries-old vampire, Bazyli Breznik, grapples with his haunted past and a newfound desire for redemption.

The narrative unfolds with a brilliant mix of mystery, romance, and paranormal elements, making it a genre-blending masterpiece. Baz, a once-powerful vampire reduced to driving a yellow cab and sleeping in the trunk, is a complex and compelling protagonist. His journey from self-loathing murderer to an unlikely hero adds layers of depth to the story.

The action sequences are heart-pounding and expertly crafted. Rowe's vivid descriptions bring the gritty underworld to life, creating an immersive experience for the reader. As Baz becomes entangled in a sting operation to save an undercover cop, Nika, the stakes skyrocket, and the chemistry between the two characters adds a sizzling layer of romance to the plot.

The mystery at the heart of the story is intricately woven, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with every twist and turn. Rowe skillfully reveals the dark underbelly of human trafficking, blending real-world issues with the supernatural in a way that is both thought-provoking and gripping.

While the novel excels in many aspects, it's not without its minor flaws. The pacing, at times, may feel a tad uneven, with moments of intense action interspersed with more reflective scenes. However, these pauses serve to deepen the emotional connection to the characters, providing a necessary balance to the adrenaline-fueled moments.

One of the book's strengths lies in its portrayal of vampires as real people, afflicted by a centuries-old virus. This unique twist on vampire lore adds a refreshing layer of complexity to the narrative. The exploration of Baz's internal struggle with his past sins and his attempt at redemption is both poignant and relatable.

In conclusion, "Sinner's Secret" is a five-star read that seamlessly blends mystery, romance, and the supernatural. Julie Rowe has crafted a tale that is as emotionally resonant as it is thrilling. The flawed yet endearing characters, intense action, and thought-provoking themes make this a must-read for fans of mystery, romance, and paranormal fiction. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to those seeking a captivating and immersive experience that transcends traditional genre boundaries.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book. I was fascinated by this take on the origins of vampires. The Sweating Sickness is basically a virus that caused many people to die, but those with certain genes predisposing them to a kind of autoimmune disease, reacted to the virus by healing and fixing everything wrong with the body, and because the virus activated this disease, vampires no longer age and when they are injured they heal very quickly. The only problem, of course, is that they need to drink blood instead of food and water. As someone with RA, I wish this weren’t a fantasy because it’s way better than knowing your immune system is working against your body, essentially causing you to age MORE quickly.

Baz is a vampire, unbeknownst to most people, and Nika is a cop, working undercover to reveal a human trafficking ring while also being targeted for reasons that will be revealed later. They meet when Baz “rescues” her from an abduction. Although she’s not happy about it, she respects him for it. There are some wonderful visuals, like when Nika asks Baz for suggestions and he replies, “‘I don’t know.’ The words came out through his teeth, tearing the edges of each letter.” And when Baz grew angry about something, “Baz threw a mental saddle on his rage and settled in for a long, bumpy ride.”

I have two fairly insignificant complaints. For one, all of the cop's names sounded awfully homogenous and White: Davis, Williams, Smith, Lewis, and Thomas. Since this takes place in NYC, I think there should be more cultural variety than that. The other thing is that I ran into the word “epidemy.” I know. Cringe, right? It should have been “epitome,” and though I don’t expect every author to know that, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect an editor or proofreader to catch it. That’s disappointing.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. It’s exciting and has likable characters who are relatable and fun to be around (despite the dangers). I would love to read more in this series. Baz’s cousin, Yvgeny is a hoot, and I’m sure his story will be worth reading.

I don't know if I'm in a reading slump but I didn't enjoy this. Definitely me rather than the author. I did find it clever and I know other readers will get a lot of enjoyment from Baz.

I really enjoyed this story. I especially liked that it wasn't your typically Vampire love story. Totally routing for Nika & Baz. Loved their dynamic.

Thanks for the opportunity to read this! It was an enjoyable read, though it did start slow and require a bit more effort in the beginning. I enjoyed the conversations between the main characters, I found them humorous and entertaining. I did feel the book fell a little short, it didn’t leave any questions unanswered that I can think of, but it didn’t feel like it addressed everything enough. For each plot point it felt a bit like a checklist, it got there but not in a satisfactory sense.

Very funny, sexy and exciting. I had to laugh a lot. Vampires with a different twist. I thought the theory was very interesting. But I think there was maybe one two many kidnappings. The last one was a lot.
I did read it rather quickly because i wanted to know how it ended. Baz might think he is an asshole but he found a fan in me.

Well-written main characters make a book good but side characters can make books that much more enjoyable. I'm rooting for Nika and Baz

I thought this was a pretty good vampire story, I actually was more interested in the conspiracy behind why they wanted to take Nika more than the relationship between Baz and her. Not that I didn’t like their chemistry, but the story itself was a bit more compelling than them getting together. I was kind of disappointed that Baz didn’t consider trying to turn her into a vampire (I understand the logic, but I’m all for turning someone LOL).

I liked the story and want to read the second book to find out more about Yvegny and his paramedic lady.

An undercover cop gets caught up in vampire war. I thought this was a great book! The dialogue was good. I liked the characters. It was fast read. I definitely recommend it!

This book was super fun to read. I really enjoyed the dynamics between the characters. This book really drew me in.

Bazyli Breznik is a taxi cab driver and a vampire. He is resigned to a life where he drives his cab by day and sleeps in it by night. The fact that he is a vampire with a dark past weighs heavily on Baz and he has been punishing himself daily, for centuries.

This book was on point with the gritty urban atmosphere. I found the setting to be very fun and add to the action-packed paranormal aspect of this story. The vampire history was intriguing and unique. And I really enjoyed Baz and his cousin, Yvgeny's, highly entertaining interactions. Baz's stoic and self-flagellating personality juxtaposed nicely with Yvgeny's care free and indulgent personality. I also liked how their conversations helped us dive more into Baz's past and put a spin on his history from a different perspective. Baz's history was integral to his motives and having more insight made all the difference in bringing his character to life.

In regards to the romance, it felt underdeveloped and advanced way too quickly. Nika is an undercover cop that crosses Baz's path, and he can't help but come to her rescue. I really liked the setup here and the potential for that push and pull vibe with two strong and independent people trying to take charge. There was some of that tension to begin with, but Nika felt less substantial as a character as the story progressed. I don't know much about her motivations or who she really is beyond a cop who thinks that Baz is a pretty swell guy.

If you are a reader who is in the mood for an entertaining contemporary paranormal vampire story with some light romance and lots of action and some fun humor, then this may be a book you would enjoy.

3.5✨'s

I read and reviewed a copy of this book thanks to the author via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Ok im not quite sure what i was expecting when going into this book but it was what i read.

I know most of the time movies and tv shows are made and done due to being inspired by books, but there was something about this book that made me think of a tv show.

It felt like watching a weird oppisode of CSI meets buffy or the vampire diaries.

Julie Rowe has only a few vampires in our world. They are the result of a virus that only a few survived. Yes they’re immortal and need to drink blood, but sunlight is only an allergy, Alcohol is worse. Bazyli Breznik is punishing himself because of his Sinner's Secret ( paper from Independent Book Publishers Association) by living in his cab and taking drunks home, taking a pint of painful blood for his trouble. Then one day he stops a kidnapping of a waitress, only to find she is an undercover cop trying to stop a human trafficking ring. Then the gang comes after him and his mob boss friend. What follows is a romp and lots of fun.

Dundududundududun. Spice spice baby. Dundududundududun. This has spice spice baby. “Alright stop, pickup this book and read it.

This was a great book with lots of detail. This was one of the books that I couldn't put down and had to keep reading to know what happened next. I wish the author would have included Baz getting cleaned up and looking less like a homeless guy for Nika because throughout the book, I couldn't quite picture him. Baz's attitude was hilarious at times and I loved his personality of being a good guy while consistently calling himself the bad guy. It wasn't what I normally read but it is something that I will recommend to my friends!

I’ve been wanting to read vampire fantasy for a long time, and I'm so glad I reached for this book because it gave me exactly what I needed.
The writing style is descriptive and thorough, exploring the inner anguish, thoughts and feelings of the protagonist, as well as the setting in a very detailed way, which really surprised me, but in a good way. I liked that I started the book with the thought of something very light and casual to read, but in the end, no matter how fast it is to read, the book is heavier than the insipid love vampire novel I thought it was.
"Sinner's Secret" grabbed my attention from the very beginning, and the action through the first few pages helped for that, which managed to interest me. Through the first half of the book, I couldn’t stop feeling like I was still in the beginning (no matter how interesting it was), and I had actually passed it a long time ago. I guess that happened on one hand, because of the smooth dynamics that I felt from time to time and on the other hand, because of my fragmented reading. Due to the difficulty of finding time to read for the first 100 pages, I was unable to connect with the characters and they were a little indifferent to me. However, once my schedule was a bit more free, I read the book almost in one breath and was able to see how well the male protagonist (Baz) is built - how deep and complete character he has.
The main female character (Nika) I couldn't get to know as much as I would have liked, but it also seems from a far that she is, by no means, superficially written. I hope to find out more about her in the next book in the series.
I love Baz and Nika as a couple! They are almost complete opposites, but they complete each other perfectly. And the chemistry between them can be seen from miles away. Their relationship is hot, passionate and at the same time calm, caring - I followed how their relationship develops with great interest.
The action scenes were a pleasure to read! They gathered tension, they were written great and they managed to make me feel the vampire spirit that emanated from them. In general, all the dynamics in the book were at a high level - something is constantly happening and the book does not keep you bored even for a second. That is why I could not distinguish the climax, and I realized that it had already appeared long after it was over, but that does not mean that it was not good.
What made a huge impression on me and I really liked, was the way the vampires appeared in the world here. It's interesting and it's different from any other way I've ever read about, which makes it more special.
A very good book, I'd love to read the next one when it comes out.
~~~
Rating: 4.5/5⭐

NetGalley ARC Educator 550974


This is similar to Castle except Baz is an alcoholic vampire. This book will keep you engaged while giving you insight into the world of human trafficking and police department politics. The romance is slow building with steamy intimacy scenes.

There are elements of fantasy, suspense, and even romance woven throughout the story. Julie Rowe has a fresh take on vampirism and vampire politics, and the story delves into some of Baz's backstory and his relationships with family. It reads like a crime drama with hints of the paranormal-I would definitely recommend to fans of crime or fantasy novels.

I really really enjoyed this book! I was sucked in to the story right from the beginning. It was such a fun new take on vampires that I hadn’t read before. I loved Baz and Nika and how their relationship evolved over the course of the story. Baz has “who did this to you” energy which is always a favorite of mine even though I do love a woman who can take care of herself like Nika. The side characters,Yvgeny and Smith, were also very lovable and I would do unspeakable things to keep them safe. The banter between everyone was top notch and made me be laugh often. The story kept me guessing the entire time and I can’t wait to see what happens next! I need book two immediately.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All views are my own.