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Some decisions are deadly.

Kate’s husband Erik left her a year ago, ending their marriage without warning for a trust-fund twenty-something and her luxurious global-hopping lifestyle. Now Kate is spending one last Christmas at her family’s Smoky Mountains cabin before selling it to raise cash. But when nostalgia moves her to keep the place, things quickly turn sinister, suggesting all is not what it seems. Someone is watching her...stalking her...leaving disturbing messages, convincing Kate that something truly dark is going on. As the frightening episodes ramp up, and Kate realizes something truly dark is happening, will she be able to uncover what’s really going on before it’s too late?

If you love twisty endings you can't predict, The Vow and The Deadly Decisions Collection is for you.

NOTE: The Vow is a novella—slightly shorter in length, but definitely not short on suspense. Previously a part of the Winter Deceptions box set.

168 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 11, 2022

32 people are currently reading
127 people want to read

About the author

D.L. Wood

17 books320 followers
D.L. Wood is a USA TODAY bestselling author of thrilling suspense laced with romance and faith. Her books have won multiple awards (2016 Illumination Book Awards Gold Medal for best Christian Fiction Ebook; 2019 Illumination Book Awards Gold Medal for best General Christian Fiction) and her novel Unintended Target was selected as the May 2019 American Christian Fiction Writers Book Club book. She is an Amazon bestselling author of Christian Mystery & Suspense and millions of pages of her books have been read through Kindle Unlimited.
D.L. writes CleanCaptivatingFiction™- fiction that entertains and uplifts. In her novels she tries to give readers the same thing that she wants: a "can't-put-it-down-stay-up-till-3am" character-driven story, full of heart, believability and adrenaline.
D.L. lives in North Alabama, where, if she's not writing, you'll probably catch her curled up with a cup of Earl Grey (light milk, one sugar) and her Westies - Frodo and Dobby - bingeing on the latest BBC mystery series. You can stay apprised of D.L.'s releases and promotions (including free and discounted books) by subscribing to her newsletter on her website at dlwoodonline.com.

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5 stars
165 (65%)
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59 (23%)
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26 (10%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
Profile Image for Ashley Johnson.
579 reviews42 followers
July 22, 2023
This book sucked me in from the first chapter! D.L. Wood has become one of my must read suspense authors because she always delivers an intriguing plot with a twist I never see coming! Almost every chapter of The Vow will leave the reader wanting to read just one more chapter! So many little cliffhanger moments at the end of the chapter to make you keep turning the pages. There was just enough suspense to keep me guessing and the conclusion was shocking and intense! I never can guess all of the elements of this authors plot, so there is always some kind of twist I wasn’t expecting and this book was no exception!! I’m pretty sure while reading I was suspicious of everyone and everything! In the end I thought that things tied together nicely and the book was a great read that kept me invested until the end! This author just keeps me coming back for more time and again!
Profile Image for Wade.
753 reviews26 followers
June 23, 2023
*My review from Winter Deceptions collection but wanted to make sure I had here as well!!*

“You don’t want to spend Christmas alone.”

“I can’t live like this anymore…”

“God was not one to ever break his vows.”

Well it is Christmas in July for me with this advanced copy of a wonderfully written novella! DL Wood has once again written a story that has suspense, mystery, action, faith, and emotion. This was a book that was hard to put down. So many chapters ended with a mini-cliffhanger that I didn’t want to stop.

So first, the characters. Even though this is a novella, the characters are all fleshed out nicely. What I love about DL Wood’s characters is that they are always realistic. Not perfect and with a genuine brokenness that we can all relate to. Even though I am a happily married man, I felt a nice connection to Kate and her struggle of being left by her husband. That is high praise to an author to make you feel something by a character of something you yourself have not experienced. The dialogue was also realistic and the pace of the story was perfect.

Second, the setting. This is a Christmas novella and she gets all of the seasonal elements just right; however, this is certainly a book that can enjoyed any time of year. I loved the cabin element of the story in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. It made me want to take a trip to a cabin in the Fall or Winter!

And lastly, the mystery. This one is super solid. Who is stalking Kate? Who is ransacking cabins? Who was staying in her attic? Will Kate be able to move on with her life? There were some great red herrings and I had no clue for the longest time. I had an inkling of what might have happened and the big reveal showed that a small percentage of me was correct but it was executed much better than what I thought! So if you are a mystery fan, this is a good one!

Whether it is a full length standalone novel or a book in one of her series or a novella like this one, DL Wood always knocks it out of the park and it’s why she is one of my favorite authors. Seriously, if you love Christian Suspense and have not read any of her books, do so immediately. One warning, though: you will be on the edge of your seat for every one!

I received this book courtesy of the author in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Ashley.
1,180 reviews45 followers
February 9, 2023
This was a fast-paced and suspenseful read that immediately pulled me in and kept me glued to the pages. There was this ominous sense of dread, of anticipation, throughout the entire story that kept me on the edge of my seat. And, I've gotta say, I was left completely stunned by the twists this story took. I LOVE when I can be surprised like that!

I really enjoyed the wintery Christmastime setting. It was especially nice considering the temperature was over a hundred degrees while I was reading it. It was almost like I could feel the chill in the air.

This was an absolutely stellar story that I highly recommend. It's a definite must read for anyone who enjoys suspense.

I received an advanced copy of this book and voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and comments are my honest opinion.
Profile Image for Karen.
514 reviews42 followers
December 27, 2024
What an awesome twisty turny suspense. This was my first book by this author and I can't wait to read more.
When we first meet Kate she discovers through a note that her husband has left her. A year later she heads to her family's cabin in the woods to get it ready to be sold so she can afford to get things settled with the divorce. However, circumstances keep occuring that make her feel like she's being stalked. Is it the person who had stalked her in the past? Is it her ex? Is it someone completely different? Why do strange, threatening things keep happening.
I have to say, this was an awesome suspense filled story, though not too intense. The twist? I definitely did NOT see that coming. When things started clicking for Kate, I was still in the dark, but zinging through my reading trying to figure out what was going on.
The author did a wonderful job keeping me gripped to the story and keeping me wondering. A great suspense and mystery with a great ending that wrapped everything up.
Profile Image for Erin.
1,036 reviews33 followers
May 18, 2023
This is a Christmas suspense story told in novella form. I thought it had a strong middle, but the beginning and ending were weak. The setting did not ring true to me as someone familiar with east Tennessee, and the author could improve by learning Deep Point of View and not relying on telling to wrap up the novel's questions.

The plot twists in the middle are really great and kept me guessing about the bad guy until about 80% through the story.
Profile Image for Carol Bisig.
585 reviews18 followers
November 3, 2024
Worth the read!

This is a good mystery, suspense story. It actually lived up to the blurbs! I highly recommend it.
Thank you.
carolintallahassee
3,962 reviews1,764 followers
July 23, 2023
This was a nano-second mood-read decision. I saw a brief review on instagram that intrigued me enough to check it out, discovered the book on audible for a decent price and bought it, downloaded it and started listening all in under five minutes! My intention was to schedule this review for sometime in late Fall, since it has a Christmas theme too, except I’m beside myself with excited enthusiasm and I can’t bear to wait months to share this awesome biblio-find! So, ta-da, here we are with Christmas in July.

Only…this is a novella. A stunning, cleverly crafted, edge-of-your-seat, what-is-happening kind of suspense but, because of the shorter word count, I can’t really say anything without giving stuff away. I am so tempted to tease you with hints, but I’m worried even that would ruin the reading experience for you. But I sooooo want to talk to somebody about that….and the scene where…and…and….and…but I’ll restrain myself and say only this:

Listened to it in one go — excellent narration by Lisa Bozek — finished it gobsmacked. Now I’m on the hunt for more books by D L Wood. (Hooray for new-to-me author finds, especially when they come from reader recommends.)

https://kavsbestreads.ca/2023/07/23/t...
23 reviews1 follower
February 9, 2023
The Vow is an interesting book by D.L. Wood. It begins with a broken vow, and a broken heart. As Kate tries to move on in life, she realizes that it's time to let go of something special, a family cabin, so that she can move on with her life without her husband. But once at the cabin, she begins to realize that sometimes memories and special places are more important, so she decides to keep the cabin...and that is when the strange things that had been happening start to become more intense. I have to say that while I was enjoying the pace of the story, the lessons being learned, I wasn't overly drawn in...until about the halfway point, when the intensity ramped up. And the strange and scary things started to happen to Kate. And kudos to D.L. Wood - I was totally surprised by the villian, the outcome, the way the story finished! I'm usually pretty good at figuring out 'whodunit', even when it isn't obvious, but not this time. The twists and turns and surprises are expertly woven into a tale of betrayal, heartbreak, and the revelation of truth. Read it. Be intrigued. Be surprised. Be faithful to your vows...
19 reviews
February 8, 2023
From the first paragraph, I felt the suspense! I felt like I was right there with Kate - sharing the feeling that someone was watching her, sharing the snowy December day, sharing her excitement about the Christmas gift she found for her husband…the scene was clearly set, and I could already tell that this well-written book was one I wouldn’t want to put down!

I could never have predicted the direction that the plot almost immediately took, however! As the story continued I wanted very much to solve the mystery myself; but I didn’t guess the incredible conclusion, so I had to read to the end of the book…which I totally enjoyed doing!

I received a copy of this book, and I feel fortunate to have been able to read it already - hard to not say more, but I definitely don't want to give anything away; I just want to confirm that “The Vow” is a great suspense story, guaranteed to hold your interest!
Profile Image for Patricia Bradley.
Author 29 books1,302 followers
March 3, 2023
I really enjoyed this novella. It grabbed me from the first few pages when Kate found the letter from her husband stating he was leaving her. The tension didn't let up when, a year later, she returned to the cabin they loved to get it ready for sale, and strange things began to happen. Like finding someone had been sleeping in the attic. And items had been rearranged in the cabin and some even stolen. And someone was watching her. She could feel it.

The heroine, Kate, pulled at my heartstrings as she tried to get over her husband, but it was hard with Facebook posts showing him happily married, flying all over the world with his new wife. At least Kate had her friend from childhood, Georgia and Rex, her brother.

This story was full of twists and turns I didn't expect. It was a great read, one I think readers of romantic suspense will love.
Profile Image for Ian.
Author 4 books51 followers
August 24, 2023
I've read a couple of Wood's stories before this one and another reader whose opinion I respect commented on how good this one is and so I grabbed a copy. And it is!

Kate Palmer's world has been turned upside down and with decisions to make she returns to her cabin in the woods which had been bequeathed to her by her late grandparents. Childhood memories together with old childhood friends who live next door help make this a better Christmas than Kate was anticipating. But there are some very strange things happening which for anyone would be quite terrifying.

The pages keep turning as Wood amps up the tension. Short chapters, some even a few paragraphs long and the action never stops. And the ending is very surprising. I hadn't thought of it as a possible scenario which makes it all the more satisfying.

Now to go off to find the second in the series.
496 reviews10 followers
February 8, 2023
Rating: 4.5 stars

This is a review of the story The Vow by D. L. Woods.

My thoughts about this book:

• The opening to this book was very suspenseful. It captured my interest and made me eager to find out what was happening with Kate's life. My interest was held all the way to the very end of the story.

• There were a lot of twists and turns to the plot that kept me guessing on who was the instigator of the break-ins. I was surprised by who it was and that rarely happens.

• I liked the descriptive quality of the author's writing style.

I was given an advance copy of this book. My review was voluntary and my opinions were my own. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy Christian suspense.
Profile Image for Sentinelle23.
2,032 reviews33 followers
March 3, 2023
♥️💙😲Amazing and captivating to read.

Under the December snow, Kate Palmer walked on the sidewalk with the curious impression that someone was watching her.

Arrived in front of her house, she was looking forward to the idea of ​​the gift she was going to give to her husband Erik.

Inside, no Erik...

-------------

The novel begins with a mystery to be solved...
Then faced with the truth, Kate makes a new wish.

- will she be able to hold it?
- who wants to harm her?

A captivating read, with a main character that is sometimes difficult to understand.

We really want to know how everything will end. I would never have guessed the ending.

An absolutely captivating novel to read!
I recommend.
1,070 reviews23 followers
July 22, 2023
Wow! If you like suspense and unexpected plot twists, The Vow will be the perfect book for you. I found Kate to be a very likeable and believable character. I can only imagine how hard it would be not to check your ex-husband's social media accounts, even if it did gut you every time. Author D. L. Wood had a twist in the book that I did not even come close to solving. It's absolutely fantastic! I would love to read more in this series, The Deadly Decisions collection, and from this author. I highly recommend The Vow to readers of clean suspense and of Christian suspense.
I was given a complimentary copy as a gift, not for a review, and am sharing my opinion of this extremely well-written book.
Profile Image for Stephanie Cheek.
47 reviews2 followers
May 24, 2024
I just love this author. This is I think the fourth suspense novel of hers I’ve read. She really knows what she’s doing to give readers a page turner with a twist that you don’t see coming. I guessed multiple possible outcomes, but didn’t guess the ending she gave. She is great at leading you down one path then doing a hard left turn toward the end leaving you with your mouth open. I appreciate the infusion of faith her characters have too, giving her writing the unique genre “CleanCaptivatingFiction”. She has to be one of my favorite authors at this point. I love each book of hers I’ve read. Give this one a try if you don’t want to invest a lot of time trying something new. It was so short, but didn’t skimp on a good story!
517 reviews
July 22, 2023
Wow! After all my crazy guesses and suspicions, I didn’t see that one coming! This is exactly how I felt as I got to the end of The Vow by D. L. Wood!! I was hooked from the very first chapter and needed to know just who was stalking Kate and why! There are so many chapter cliffhangers in this story that you’ll be saying “one more chapter” all night long! This story was so suspenseful and kept me guessing until the very end. I was completely shocked when it all played out like it did!

D. L. Wood is a must read suspense author! Every story I’ve read of hers has been so good and so suspenseful and they always include a shocking twist or two! I’ll definitely be reading all of her backlist! Highly recommended! 4.5 stars!
Profile Image for Brianas_best_reads.
520 reviews27 followers
February 18, 2024
✨Review✨

Thank you so much @authordlwood for the gifted copy of THE VOW to review. Readers can grab their own copy now!

“Some decisions are deadly.”

I love a novella and this is a very solid and suspenseful one. I was hooked from the beginning and kept thinking I had everything figured out, but the ending certainly packs a surprising punch.

This is definitely a “read it in one sitting” kind of story and the tension only increases as Kate’s stalker grows closer and closer.

Perfect for fans of short stories, stalker suspense, and cabins out in the woods, THE VOW is not to be missed.

4/5 ⭐️
Profile Image for Kelli.
612 reviews
June 17, 2024
WOW! My first D.L. Wood book and I'm hooked! This fast-paced suspense novel had me on the edge of my seat right from the start. Shattered by the betrayal of her husband when he leaves a note on their Christmas tree leaving her for another woman, Kate tries to pick up the pieces of her life. Part of the divorce proceedings require her to sell the family cabin so she decides to head there for one last Christmas celebration. But suddenly things take a sinister turn and she is fighting to stay safe and figure out who is stalking her. Police are left shaking their heads and fear ramps up as the attacks do as well. This psychological thriller was amazing! I'm adding all her books to my TBR - NOW!
Profile Image for Kristen.
326 reviews1 follower
November 19, 2024
I attended an author talk for this book collection/series. Thoroughly enjoyed meeting DL Wood. She’s a lovely person.

The story starts with Kate learning her perfect life isn’t so perfect after all. She’s grieving and trying to figure out a new direction for her life which leads her to spending Christmas at her family cabin. Alone.

Someone, or maybe more, doesn’t want her to have a restful Christmas. Shadows in the night, knocks on the door and a thief… she suspects a previous stalker and questions everything about the last year of her life. Thank goodness for her childhood friends and neighbors to keep her sane…

I enjoyed every twist of this intriguing story.
525 reviews
June 8, 2025
Talk about a surprise twist of an ending! I never saw it coming.
Kate comes home after buying a surprise Christmas present for Erik, her husband, only to find a note in the Christmas tree from him saying he left her. Needless to say, she is devastated.
What follows in the next year continues its destructive wear on Kate. Finally, she decides to make one last visit to her cabin in the woods before selling it for Erik's divorce settlement.
What follows starts out as unsettling, but becomes downright terrorizing.
Profile Image for Carlien Peens.
214 reviews4 followers
February 8, 2023
What a riveting spellbinding story!! DL Wood will keep you and Kate guessing for nearly up untill the last page? Who did it? Or who is doing it? What on earth is going on?! The emotions portrayed is so real you also experience the loss and betrayal of Erik. I am not going to spoil it and tell you who did it or what is going on🤣. What I will tell you is this: you will never ever guess the conclusion of the story. Deffinitely worth reading and highly recommend!
Profile Image for Grace Ndoro.
4 reviews
February 8, 2023
Summary: Interesting Plot/Storyline.

Pros:
• I liked the twist as to who the culprit was, in addition to the overall turn of events.
• I also liked how the author described scenes because it helped me clearly visualize the scenarios.
• Most importantly, I appreciated the Christian message in this book.

Cons
• It came off as make-believe afew times.

Do I recommend The Vow? Absolutely 🙌🏾!
Profile Image for Sandra.
1,137 reviews45 followers
February 8, 2023
A great mystery which will keep you reading to the end.

I read the ARC 'The Vow' by D.L. Wood when it was part of a collection. I am now updating my review for it as a single story. This was a very intriguing story with some shocking surprises, and a mystery which many readers will not figure out. I really liked the plot, the writing was clean and you will definitely want to keep reading to the end to find out how this deception began and how it ended.
Profile Image for Diane Higgins.
654 reviews12 followers
February 12, 2023
"The Vow" by D.L. Woods was amazing! I devoured it in two days! This book was short and easy to read. It kept my attention the whole way through, and there was a twist that I didn't see coming. I was guessing the whole way through! I believe this is D.L. Woods' best book, so far. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy good, clean suspenseful novels!

I received an ARC copy of this book from the author and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.
Profile Image for Rosemary  Lee Crabtree.
26 reviews
September 10, 2023
Her best yet!

I started this book a bit before midnight and finished it about 3:00 a.m. As people say "I couldn't put it down." There is no stopping point! It is a novella, but lacks nothing in mystery, suspense, and has a flowing and realistic continuity all the way to the end. Clean. No bad language. No gore. Nonetheless, a gripping "who done it?" and "what is going on?" mystery style. D. L. Wood is a 5/5 on "The Vow."
Profile Image for Deena Thomas.
8 reviews
December 12, 2023
Amazing writer!

I love the twists and turns of this writer. I can never predict how the story will end. So refreshing to read such creative storytelling and gifted writing. Her characters are believable but also unique. I hope she keeps writing and giving us wonderful stories that keep us blessed and entertained. My praises and sincere gratitude for her gifted storytelling and for inserting God into each one. Thank you!
715 reviews
February 8, 2023
This review is for The Vow by D L Wood which I received inorder to give my honest opinion. This was a great whodunit novella! Set in the Nashville area, Kate an interior decorator is married to Erik, a psychiatrist. They have a great life, Kate believes, until Erik vanishes leaving only a note for explanation. I highly recommend this book.
1,829 reviews13 followers
February 8, 2023
The Vow: A Deadly Decision by D.L. Wood starts out as Kate Palmer comes home and finds a note from her husband Eric. It says he can't live like this. It appears he left for another woman. I read this in one sitting because I could not stop reading. Someone is stalking Kate. A thrilling novella that I highly recommend.
3 reviews1 follower
February 8, 2023
This review is for The Vow, which I received an advance copy of for an honest review. I could not wait to read another book by DL Wood, all her books are top notch and this one did not disappoint! From the first page to the last page it was hard to put down and the mystery had me guessing to the very end. Such a good book, you won't want to put it down!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews

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