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Corporate Bloodsuckers #1
Swipe Bite
Not yet published
Expected 10 Nov 26Win a free print copy of this book!
4 days and 11:40:10
25 copies available
U.S. only
An icy vampire corporate heiress and a human software engineer must team up to thwart the saboteur who’s turned their sexy human-vampire dating app into a bloodbath, in this mystery romance romp by USA Today bestselling author Alexandra Vasti.
As heir to HemoCorp Industries, vampire Sophronia Vega has devoted herself to the company her family founded. Most recently, she’s led the creation of Stokr: the wildly successful dating app that pairs lusty vampires with humans they can’t accidentally, er, eat. But when Stokr’s matching technology goes haywire—and vampires start draining their dates—Sophronia’s disciplined life goes up in flames.
Enter Casey Amato, the human software engineer whose team programmed Stokr. Casey knows the Stokr failure wasn’t a glitch—the app’s been sabotaged. To fix it, he’ll have to convince the gorgeous, guarded vampire exec that someone in her inner circle has betrayed her.
Sophronia has never met a human who makes her feel quite so . . . thirsty. But to fix her app and save its users, she must team up with the brilliant programmer. As they hunt the traitor, their attraction burns hotter, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Because without Stokr, giving in to temptation could be deadly.
As heir to HemoCorp Industries, vampire Sophronia Vega has devoted herself to the company her family founded. Most recently, she’s led the creation of Stokr: the wildly successful dating app that pairs lusty vampires with humans they can’t accidentally, er, eat. But when Stokr’s matching technology goes haywire—and vampires start draining their dates—Sophronia’s disciplined life goes up in flames.
Enter Casey Amato, the human software engineer whose team programmed Stokr. Casey knows the Stokr failure wasn’t a glitch—the app’s been sabotaged. To fix it, he’ll have to convince the gorgeous, guarded vampire exec that someone in her inner circle has betrayed her.
Sophronia has never met a human who makes her feel quite so . . . thirsty. But to fix her app and save its users, she must team up with the brilliant programmer. As they hunt the traitor, their attraction burns hotter, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. Because without Stokr, giving in to temptation could be deadly.
384 pages, Paperback
Expected publication November 10, 2026
About the author
Alexandra Vasti
13 books1,761 followersAlexandra Vasti is a British literature professor by day and USA Today bestselling romance writer by night. After finishing her PhD at Columbia University, she moved to New Orleans with her family. Her books have received starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, Library Journal, BookPage, and Kirkus, and have been featured in The New York Times, NPR, Entertainment Weekly, People, and elsewhere.
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Vampire and human dating app? I couldn't be more intrigued. But I also couldn't be more disappointed in the execution.
Whenever I write a review, I try to start with the positives. But the more I ruminated on this book, the more my list of criticisms grew and my list of praises shrank. What I can say, is that this book was moderately entertaining. At least entertaining enough to keep me from DNF'ing.
First off, the romance was definitely lacking. Their bond didn't rely on emotional connection, but rather excess horniness and Soph wanting to have a taste of Casey's "bittersweet caramel and black pepper" scented blood. What emphasized this more was that every time Soph drank from Casey, both their reactions were described as "pure animal pleasure." Their emotional bond was almost nonexistent, and relied on this "animal pleasure" and their biology just begging them to sleep together.
Next, the pacing was very slow. Despite all the places they visited and the people they met throughout their investigation, it felt like the story was going nowhere. I felt like there were to many random clues and dead-ends. Thriller is usually not my genre, but when I occasionally read it, I expect plenty of action. But this book seemed to lack that momentum that makes thrillers so addictive.
I also wish this book was written in firsr person instead of third person. I couldn't help but feel so detached from the characters and the story. Which was actually such a shame because Soph and Casey were pretty interesting, but I think I could have enjoyed them more if I had been inside their head's in first person POV.
Overall, this book was mildly entertaining. With such a strong hook and premise I expected much more. I think if you don't mind mediocre romance, and really value the nitty gritty details of corporate investigation, you'll enjoy Swipe Bite.
2 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own
📆 Publication Date: November 10, 2026
Whenever I write a review, I try to start with the positives. But the more I ruminated on this book, the more my list of criticisms grew and my list of praises shrank. What I can say, is that this book was moderately entertaining. At least entertaining enough to keep me from DNF'ing.
First off, the romance was definitely lacking. Their bond didn't rely on emotional connection, but rather excess horniness and Soph wanting to have a taste of Casey's "bittersweet caramel and black pepper" scented blood. What emphasized this more was that every time Soph drank from Casey, both their reactions were described as "pure animal pleasure." Their emotional bond was almost nonexistent, and relied on this "animal pleasure" and their biology just begging them to sleep together.
Next, the pacing was very slow. Despite all the places they visited and the people they met throughout their investigation, it felt like the story was going nowhere. I felt like there were to many random clues and dead-ends. Thriller is usually not my genre, but when I occasionally read it, I expect plenty of action. But this book seemed to lack that momentum that makes thrillers so addictive.
I also wish this book was written in firsr person instead of third person. I couldn't help but feel so detached from the characters and the story. Which was actually such a shame because Soph and Casey were pretty interesting, but I think I could have enjoyed them more if I had been inside their head's in first person POV.
Overall, this book was mildly entertaining. With such a strong hook and premise I expected much more. I think if you don't mind mediocre romance, and really value the nitty gritty details of corporate investigation, you'll enjoy Swipe Bite.
2 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own
📆 Publication Date: November 10, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was so fun! I already knew I liked this author’s writing style from the previous book I read, so I had high hopes. But mixing that with a vampire book? Even better.
I didn’t realize it was going to focus so much on the mystery, but I didn't mind it at all. The corporate espionage and all the action kept me hooked. That being said, sometimes it felt like too many random clues were being thrown around which felt a bit unnecessary.
The highlight for me was obvs how Soph and Casey were so sweet together. The yearning between them was one of my favorite parts.
I wasn't sure how this would set up a second book, but that reveal at the end was such a fun twist. Definitely curious enough to see what she's cooking up for the sequel
─ ✦ ────
✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: i’m 20% in and absolutely loving it!!!
buddy read with angelinabvby ۶۟ৎ 🫶
⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the arc!
I didn’t realize it was going to focus so much on the mystery, but I didn't mind it at all. The corporate espionage and all the action kept me hooked. That being said, sometimes it felt like too many random clues were being thrown around which felt a bit unnecessary.
The highlight for me was obvs how Soph and Casey were so sweet together. The yearning between them was one of my favorite parts.
I wasn't sure how this would set up a second book, but that reveal at the end was such a fun twist. Definitely curious enough to see what she's cooking up for the sequel
─ ✦ ────
✎ᝰ.┊ pre-read: i’m 20% in and absolutely loving it!!!
buddy read with angelinabvby ۶۟ৎ 🫶
⬫ ⬪ ⬫
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the arc!
Did Not Finish
May 21, 2026ꫂ᭪݁ 𝓹𝓻𝓮𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭 🫦
buddy read with the lovely Sophie ❦
buddy read with the lovely Sophie ❦
Want to Read
May 14, 2026I SAW VAMPIRES AND I RAN.
thank u so much berkley for the e-ARC via netgalley
thank u so much berkley for the e-ARC via netgalley
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
**3.5-stars rounded up**
Swipe Bite follows badass corporate heiress, Sophronia Vega, who is also a vampire. As the heir to HemoCorp Industries, Sophronia takes her work responsibilites seriously and wants the business to continue to grow and be successful.
Most recently, she has led the charge on the creation of Stokr, a dating app that pairs vamps with the right humans that they won't accidentally eat. Thus far the launch of the app has been wildly successful, that is until the glitch occurs.
When Stokr's matching technology goes haywire, and vamps start literally draining the life out of their dates, Sophronia's well-honed career starts going up in flames.
In order to solve the problem, Sophronia calls on Casey Amato, the human software engineer who lead the team that programmed Stokr. Casey's confident the Stokr failure was no normal glitch. He's insistent that it's sabotague.
Further, Casey believes the sabotague has come from the inside, a fact Sophronia doesn't want to believe. Has someone in Sophronia's inner circle actually betrayed her?
In order to save the app, and its users, Sophronia and Casey must team up to fix Stokr and weed out the rat, but long hours working together leads to a burning attraction.
Can the two stay focused enough to succeed, or will they end up giving in to a temptation that could be deadly?
While this wasn't a perfect read for me, I did end up having fun with it. There were a few little quirks that drove me batty, such as nicknames, and the way they swapped Abraham for God a million times, but I think the story itself was fun and I liked getting to know the main characters.
You may be like, Abraham for God, what do you mean?? The vampire characters would say it, like instead of 'oh my god' or 'good god', they would say, 'oh my Abraham', or 'good Abraham'. It really got me in the sexy scenes though, her just shouting 'Abraham'. I'm like, who's Abraham? I thought his name was Casey.
I think it had something to do with Bram Stoker. There were definitely references to him, and in this world he was a vampire, so I don't know. I guess he was their version of God, but it just felt very forced and would take me out of the story every time it came up, which was a lot.
Besides that though, I thought the plot was fun and I did end up growing to love both Sophronia and Casey. I also liked how much the business and the behind-the-scenes on the app were incorporated into the story.
It looks like this is going to be a series, and the series title is Corporate Bloodsuckers, which is such a fun concept to me. As someone who is interested in business, I do tend to enjoy when an author includes those details.
This was definitely a case of the further I got into the story, the more I enjoyed it. As Sophronia and Casey start to develop their relationship, I found myself becoming quite invested. I also loved the mystery behind what actually happened to the Stokr app.
The ending was fun and left off in a great place for the continuation of the series. I'm looking forward to whatever comes next. It sounds like it's going to be intense.
Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I wasn't sure about this in the beginning, but I'm really glad I stuck with it.
A light and entertaining read, perfect for Fall Romance!
Swipe Bite follows badass corporate heiress, Sophronia Vega, who is also a vampire. As the heir to HemoCorp Industries, Sophronia takes her work responsibilites seriously and wants the business to continue to grow and be successful.
Most recently, she has led the charge on the creation of Stokr, a dating app that pairs vamps with the right humans that they won't accidentally eat. Thus far the launch of the app has been wildly successful, that is until the glitch occurs.
When Stokr's matching technology goes haywire, and vamps start literally draining the life out of their dates, Sophronia's well-honed career starts going up in flames.
In order to solve the problem, Sophronia calls on Casey Amato, the human software engineer who lead the team that programmed Stokr. Casey's confident the Stokr failure was no normal glitch. He's insistent that it's sabotague.
Further, Casey believes the sabotague has come from the inside, a fact Sophronia doesn't want to believe. Has someone in Sophronia's inner circle actually betrayed her?
In order to save the app, and its users, Sophronia and Casey must team up to fix Stokr and weed out the rat, but long hours working together leads to a burning attraction.
Can the two stay focused enough to succeed, or will they end up giving in to a temptation that could be deadly?
While this wasn't a perfect read for me, I did end up having fun with it. There were a few little quirks that drove me batty, such as nicknames, and the way they swapped Abraham for God a million times, but I think the story itself was fun and I liked getting to know the main characters.
You may be like, Abraham for God, what do you mean?? The vampire characters would say it, like instead of 'oh my god' or 'good god', they would say, 'oh my Abraham', or 'good Abraham'. It really got me in the sexy scenes though, her just shouting 'Abraham'. I'm like, who's Abraham? I thought his name was Casey.
I think it had something to do with Bram Stoker. There were definitely references to him, and in this world he was a vampire, so I don't know. I guess he was their version of God, but it just felt very forced and would take me out of the story every time it came up, which was a lot.
Besides that though, I thought the plot was fun and I did end up growing to love both Sophronia and Casey. I also liked how much the business and the behind-the-scenes on the app were incorporated into the story.
It looks like this is going to be a series, and the series title is Corporate Bloodsuckers, which is such a fun concept to me. As someone who is interested in business, I do tend to enjoy when an author includes those details.
This was definitely a case of the further I got into the story, the more I enjoyed it. As Sophronia and Casey start to develop their relationship, I found myself becoming quite invested. I also loved the mystery behind what actually happened to the Stokr app.
The ending was fun and left off in a great place for the continuation of the series. I'm looking forward to whatever comes next. It sounds like it's going to be intense.
Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I wasn't sure about this in the beginning, but I'm really glad I stuck with it.
A light and entertaining read, perfect for Fall Romance!
May 10, 2026
UM HELLOOOO where did this book come from
I absolutely loved this. I’ve read and loved this authors regency romances so when her paranormal romance was announced - I requested it on NetGalley immediately. THIS WAS SO GOOD
The writing & male yearning gave me the Ali Hazelwood brand of warm and fuzzies. (The highest of compliments)
So unique & fresh & fun & cute & other adjectives that escape me
things to know:
- she’s a vampire heiress
- he’s a human software engineer on her team
- working on a human x vampire matchmaking app
- he’s down bad
- unprecedented amounts of male yearning
I read this in less than 24 hours
All the stars
I absolutely loved this. I’ve read and loved this authors regency romances so when her paranormal romance was announced - I requested it on NetGalley immediately. THIS WAS SO GOOD
The writing & male yearning gave me the Ali Hazelwood brand of warm and fuzzies. (The highest of compliments)
So unique & fresh & fun & cute & other adjectives that escape me
things to know:
- she’s a vampire heiress
- he’s a human software engineer on her team
- working on a human x vampire matchmaking app
- he’s down bad
- unprecedented amounts of male yearning
I read this in less than 24 hours
All the stars
September 19, 2026
If “Bite Me” were a romance, it would be Alexandra Vasti’s paranormal romance, Swipe Bite. A vampire heiress with something to prove (the success of her new dating app) and a software engineer whose career is on the line (because said dating app is glitching, causing repeated bloodshed) team up to uncover a conspiracy within their organization. Suspecting sabotage from within, the two work to unmask the culprit— a task that grows increasingly bloody the closer they get to the truth, and to each other. Swipe Bite is blood-sucking good fun, with a mystery afoot, a few murders, and plenty of yearning to sink your teeth into. This book is what happens when you combine vampiric corporate espionage with an excruciating slow-burn romance, where said romance builds between the stakeouts, break-ins, and car chases. In this, her first paranormal, Vasti builds a new stage for the vampire mythos. Here, vampires are born, not made, spend their days in the sun, and eschew the direct from the source blood drinking—it's far too taboo. The vampire-human dating app Stokr, named for the legendary writer, aims to change everything. Sophronia Vega, heiress to the legendary HemoCorp empire, is our wonderfully cutthroat heroine, holding it all up like some kind of perverse vampire Atlas. Sophronia is a black-cat heroine who just needs someone to stand by her side and support the weight. Casey Amato, the buttoned-up, bespectacled software engineer with a propensity to collect stray cats, is aptly suited to the task. When it comes to these two, the attraction is intense, exhibit A: Sophronia acting like a modern-day Anthony Bridgerton, by how keyed up she is by Casey’s scent all the time (lilies have nothing on wine-soaked plums and black pepper, guys). Scooby-doo-esque in plot, yearning in all the right ways, Swipe Bite is a bloody feast for romance lovers. Vasti crafts a modern vampire romance that contributes something new to the legends while still delivering her signature wit and exemplary tension. You’ll not just anticipate the bite with this one; you’ll crave it.
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing the advance copy!
Bookstagram | Blog
Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for providing the advance copy!
Bookstagram | Blog
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
DNF at 40%.
Alexandra Vasti usually writes historical romances, and this is her first paranormal mystery romance, so I was curious to explore her work. Since I don’t read historical romance, I chose Swipe Bite. Unfortunately, this will be my first and last book by the author.
I read 40% and didn’t feel any chemistry between the characters, no attachment to the heroes, and no interest in the story itself. The entire plot revolves around a sexy human–vampire dating app, and reading about a fictional app turned out to be boring and uninteresting for me.
The story is also told in third person, which didn’t help my emotional engagement. Also, the name of the app, Stokr, is mentioned very often.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group (Berkley) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Alexandra Vasti usually writes historical romances, and this is her first paranormal mystery romance, so I was curious to explore her work. Since I don’t read historical romance, I chose Swipe Bite. Unfortunately, this will be my first and last book by the author.
I read 40% and didn’t feel any chemistry between the characters, no attachment to the heroes, and no interest in the story itself. The entire plot revolves around a sexy human–vampire dating app, and reading about a fictional app turned out to be boring and uninteresting for me.
The story is also told in third person, which didn’t help my emotional engagement. Also, the name of the app, Stokr, is mentioned very often.
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group (Berkley) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Alexandra Vasti hits this contemporary PNR out of the park. It's got simple but effective vampire lore, an ice queen boss bitch FMC, and a nerdy MMC who really likes to meet other people's needs (especially hers). The two run a vampire/human dating app matching vamps whose saliva can cure wounds with humans who want to get (blood)sucked.
Look. Will I ever think sex scenes that include blood drinking are especially sexy? No, but I think I'm in the minority based on all the vampire romances out there. I do, however, love the forbidden romance aspect of human/vamp relationships. And I especially loved how Sophronia can't hide her relationship with Casey because all of a sudden his amazing blood MAKES HER BLUSH!!!
It's funny, it's sexy, there's an actiony mystery that's really fun to try to solve, and there's even some corporate/family dynamics to get sorted out. It's not quite as bonkers as some of the classic vampire PNRs, but it's a great marriage of Vasti's historical style with contemporary.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
Look. Will I ever think sex scenes that include blood drinking are especially sexy? No, but I think I'm in the minority based on all the vampire romances out there. I do, however, love the forbidden romance aspect of human/vamp relationships. And I especially loved how Sophronia can't hide her relationship with Casey because all of a sudden his amazing blood MAKES HER BLUSH!!!
It's funny, it's sexy, there's an actiony mystery that's really fun to try to solve, and there's even some corporate/family dynamics to get sorted out. It's not quite as bonkers as some of the classic vampire PNRs, but it's a great marriage of Vasti's historical style with contemporary.
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
August 18, 2026
Review TK
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book is a pretty fun read with a unique concept. Stokr, a dating app for matching vampires with a humans they cannot eat alive sounds amazing until something goes haywire and people start dying. The FMC needs to fix this fast, all with the help of a sexy, human coworker. The plot for this story was great and I found it entertaining but I did have a couple of pet peeves throughout. The amount of times the author uses words repetitively (I'm looking at you, Stokr and HemoCorp) is maddening. The romance was just ok for me and I didn't feel like it went very deep. Yes, we get it, two hot people get together but where is the substance? On the whole, I think if you don't take this book too seriously, you will have fun but it's not a deep everlasting love story by any means. Still very entertaining so I would recommend.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Given my adoration of Alex Vasti’s previous books, I expected Swipe Bite to be a fantastic romance (which it was). What I did not expect, however, was that it would also be a gripping mystery. When some books try to be both a romance and have a very involved plot, I think one or the other often gets bogged down. This was not the case with Swipe Bite - the romance and the exciting plot swirled around each other perfectly and heightened the enjoyment of the whole book. Soph is our fiercely protective, guarded, shy vampire FMC and Casey is the perfect match as a loyal, dedicated, loving human MMC. Their romance feels realistic (or as realistic as a romance can feel when one is a vampire) and sweet, and they work together as a pair quite well. The mystery was full of red herrings and enough twists and turns that the reveals were always at least somewhat surprising, even when considering the hints throughout the book. It was well thought out and lends itself well to the promise of a sequel. This book was a delight and I’m excited to follow this story further.
October 5, 2026
Vampire romcoms are having a resurgence, and I am so here for it!!!
I love love LOVED the vampire lore in this world. Vasti made her vampires more human, but they still have the strength, endurance, and blood requirements like the vampires of old. I really liked the dynamic between the main characters. They form a deep attachment pretty quickly, and I thought how their past traumas affected the way they approach relationships was SUPER well done.
The mystery was the kind I like-enough clues that I could guess certain things, but twisty enough to throw a few surprises at me. I'm SO excited for Del's story in book 2 and I like how the main mystery was solved, but we're left with some intriguing puzzle pieces for the next book.
Swipe Bite is pure fun. Hot and suspenseful enough to keep your heart pumping.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc for review.
I love love LOVED the vampire lore in this world. Vasti made her vampires more human, but they still have the strength, endurance, and blood requirements like the vampires of old. I really liked the dynamic between the main characters. They form a deep attachment pretty quickly, and I thought how their past traumas affected the way they approach relationships was SUPER well done.
The mystery was the kind I like-enough clues that I could guess certain things, but twisty enough to throw a few surprises at me. I'm SO excited for Del's story in book 2 and I like how the main mystery was solved, but we're left with some intriguing puzzle pieces for the next book.
Swipe Bite is pure fun. Hot and suspenseful enough to keep your heart pumping.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-arc for review.
Want to Read
July 4, 2026🩸📱 Swipe Bite 📱🩸
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
❤️ What to Expect
• Paranormal Romance
• Vampire x Human
• Forced Proximity
• Workplace Romance
• Murder Mystery
• Opposites Attract
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: November 10, 2026
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
📖 Bookish Thoughts
My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.
❤️ What to Expect
• Paranormal Romance
• Vampire x Human
• Forced Proximity
• Workplace Romance
• Murder Mystery
• Opposites Attract
_ _ _ _
📅 Pub Date: November 10, 2026
Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley, and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
May 11, 2026
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC of Swipe Bite! If I could describe this in one word? HOT.
I opened this and intended to read maybe 20% before going to bed, however I ended up glued to the pages and read the whole thing in one sitting - and I won’t even have any regrets tomorrow, other than being sad this is over. I love Alexandra Vasti’s historical romances, and I love vampires, so a vampire romance by Alexandra Vasti was like an ultimate dream! Alexandra really ate with this one.
I LOVED Soph, she’s such an entertaining character because of how reserved and professional she tries to be. Seeing her open up and display more of her personality was lovely, and very much reminiscent of Casey taming his stray cats. She is fiercely protective of Del, Casey and all of the Pillbugs, extremely smart and committed. Casey was also a wonderful character, similarly committed to both his team and to Soph and he is definitely an acts of service guy. I loved how Del described them as balancing each other, it really was an accurate description of their relationship.
I loved the action in this! Car chases, spying, heists, and guns - so fun and really made the story even more exciting. Excellent pacing overall, I never felt bored.
Unfortunately I must now patiently wait for book 2… Alexandra, I know you’re cooking something real good up in that brain of yours!!
I opened this and intended to read maybe 20% before going to bed, however I ended up glued to the pages and read the whole thing in one sitting - and I won’t even have any regrets tomorrow, other than being sad this is over. I love Alexandra Vasti’s historical romances, and I love vampires, so a vampire romance by Alexandra Vasti was like an ultimate dream! Alexandra really ate with this one.
I LOVED Soph, she’s such an entertaining character because of how reserved and professional she tries to be. Seeing her open up and display more of her personality was lovely, and very much reminiscent of Casey taming his stray cats. She is fiercely protective of Del, Casey and all of the Pillbugs, extremely smart and committed. Casey was also a wonderful character, similarly committed to both his team and to Soph and he is definitely an acts of service guy. I loved how Del described them as balancing each other, it really was an accurate description of their relationship.
I loved the action in this! Car chases, spying, heists, and guns - so fun and really made the story even more exciting. Excellent pacing overall, I never felt bored.
Unfortunately I must now patiently wait for book 2… Alexandra, I know you’re cooking something real good up in that brain of yours!!
August 6, 2026
2.5 ⭐️
Unfortunately, this book was not for me. It took me forever to read and it genuinely was a struggle to finish.
I don’t think I really cared about any of the characters nor the romance that didn’t really feel like romance. It felt like lust. Especially since there was a distinct lack of connection between the characters.
Unfortunately, this book was not for me. It took me forever to read and it genuinely was a struggle to finish.
I don’t think I really cared about any of the characters nor the romance that didn’t really feel like romance. It felt like lust. Especially since there was a distinct lack of connection between the characters.
May 25, 2026
Is there anything more fun than sexy Vampire stories? When I heard that my favorite historical romance author was writing a contemporary human-vampire romance I RAN to NetGalley and was lucky to get the ARC. I absolutely loved it. It’s clever and poignant and funny and sexy and there’s a heist and a mystery and a friend group and a wise grandma and dual POV, and I couldn’t put it down.
Alex loves a pun and the premise is very clever. Sophronia Vega is the EVP and heir of HemoCorp, her father’s company, and the mastermind behind a dating app called Stokr – named after Abraham Stoker, the author of Dracula. Stokr analyzes and matches humans to vampires using their blood enzymes (a hemoenzymatic match) so Vamps can feed off humans and have sexy times without killing them. Clever! Someone sabotages the app which requires the tech engineers, led by the tall, handsome Casey, to team up with Sophronia, a beautiful and guarded vampire, to try and solve the case and bring Stokr back online. Casey and Soph make a great team and have great chemistry as they try to deal with childhood trauma that affects their adult lives and ability to love. I enjoyed how Alex handles their growth.
The world-building and naming conventions are super fun. In this world Vampires live as long as humans and can go out in the sun! Instead of cursing with “God” or “Jesus” it’s always “Abraham’s fangs” or “Oh, for Abraham’s sake”, which made me laugh. All of the corporate tech company and app engineer stuff feels really accurate and adds to the overall contemporary vibes.
I loved the ending, but found my smut-filled brain wanting ONE more spicey scene between Soph & Casey when they make up because they had such amazing chemistry together! The very very end is designed to be the set up for the next book, since this is going to be a duology called “Corporate Bloodsuckers” (funny!) I can’t wait!
🖤 Thank you to NetGalley & Berkley Publishing for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was so FUN!! I love when genre writers step outside their regular work- Alexandra Vasti is my historical romance QUEEN so I was so excited to see she was releasing a paranormal romance. It’s been a minute since I’ve read a book I felt like I couldn’t put down and Swipe Bite really was that girl. I loved the caper/sabotage aspect of it all and it lent something dynamic to the story that really worked for me. Highly recommend! Del’s book WHEN?!
Thank you Berkley for the advanced review copy!
May 30, 2026
Thank you Berkley for the free book.
4.5⭐
I'm so happy that this wasn't a straight romance book. I loved the mystery aspect of it. I loved the dynamics of the pillbugs.
I also can't wait for book 2. The way this one set up the next one!!
4.5⭐
I'm so happy that this wasn't a straight romance book. I loved the mystery aspect of it. I loved the dynamics of the pillbugs.
I also can't wait for book 2. The way this one set up the next one!!
August 31, 2026
I never want Alex to stop writing historicals, BUT oh. My. God. I need her to write AT LEAST a dozen more paranormals. This was BLOODY FANTASTIC!!
August 29, 2026
In Alexandra Vasti we trust! And when I heard she was delving into the contemporary paranormal space with a vampire spin, I knew she would bring the same amazing storytelling she does with her historicals. While not every author can have success jumping genres, I think Vasti’s already pretty modern voice works great for contemporary. But historical lovers will still see some of the winks we know and love: a silly cast of side characters, a man who Viscerally Yearns, an interesting mystery plot, and great growth for our heroine.
Sophronia is one of my favorite types of heroines: the misunderstood black cat who struggles to build interpersonal relationships and is committed to the corporate grind but fiercely protective of those few she does love. That kind of girl is my jam. Because it’s so satisfying watching her evolve over the course of the story while still maintaining true to her energy! And Soph’s arc is really great in terms of her complex relationship with her father, her commitment to living up to being the heir, and then these burgeoning feelings for Casey (a human- gasp!). I really hope we get a future story with Del as the protagonist! She was such an amazing support, and I honestly love a pair of opposite besties. Her obsession with covert ops was so funny, and I feel like I would love to get in her head. The best antics were fun in this, and I’d love to see it upped even more for the next one!
Overall, this one knocked it out of the park for me! I’m a sucker for a mystery through-line and a plot with tons of heist-style, action-packed moments, and this delivered. I was constantly guessing who the villain was, and the last half had me on the edge of my seat. While the plot was plotting, the romance was also still center-stage here, and the character work really delivered. Vasti knows how to give us complex leads who both have some internal work to do throughout the story. And this felt really believable and well done. I think fans of this author will love this jump into the paranormal romance space, and new readers loyal to the genre will be excited about her fresh voice. I absolutely need more of this world, and I’m hoping we see future stories with these characters. But based on that ending … I think we’re in for a fun future ahead!
5/5
Thank you to the publishers for the eARC!
His scent makes her feral, vampire dating app, investigating partners, IT nerds run the world, black cat vampire and golden retriever software engineer, heist vibes, meddling grandmother, he keeps holding her hand, fangs are sensitive, slutty lil glasses, cat dad
Sophronia is one of my favorite types of heroines: the misunderstood black cat who struggles to build interpersonal relationships and is committed to the corporate grind but fiercely protective of those few she does love. That kind of girl is my jam. Because it’s so satisfying watching her evolve over the course of the story while still maintaining true to her energy! And Soph’s arc is really great in terms of her complex relationship with her father, her commitment to living up to being the heir, and then these burgeoning feelings for Casey (a human- gasp!). I really hope we get a future story with Del as the protagonist! She was such an amazing support, and I honestly love a pair of opposite besties. Her obsession with covert ops was so funny, and I feel like I would love to get in her head. The best antics were fun in this, and I’d love to see it upped even more for the next one!
Overall, this one knocked it out of the park for me! I’m a sucker for a mystery through-line and a plot with tons of heist-style, action-packed moments, and this delivered. I was constantly guessing who the villain was, and the last half had me on the edge of my seat. While the plot was plotting, the romance was also still center-stage here, and the character work really delivered. Vasti knows how to give us complex leads who both have some internal work to do throughout the story. And this felt really believable and well done. I think fans of this author will love this jump into the paranormal romance space, and new readers loyal to the genre will be excited about her fresh voice. I absolutely need more of this world, and I’m hoping we see future stories with these characters. But based on that ending … I think we’re in for a fun future ahead!
5/5
Thank you to the publishers for the eARC!
His scent makes her feral, vampire dating app, investigating partners, IT nerds run the world, black cat vampire and golden retriever software engineer, heist vibes, meddling grandmother, he keeps holding her hand, fangs are sensitive, slutty lil glasses, cat dad
July 18, 2026
Shoutout to Berkley Publishing, Netgalley, and Alexandra Vasti for the eARC!
Five whole stars, 11/10 recommend!
This is a world I never knew that I needed to read about before but it’s forever changed my DNA. Vampires and humans coexisting and even able to be together because of an app? LOVED this concept. So creative and it pulled me in from the very first line!
We’ve got vampire Sophronia Vega, nicknamed Queen of the Damned by her colleagues at HemoCorp Industries because of her icy demeanor and no-nonsense work ethic. She’s the heir to the vampiric Vega family dynasty and, as such, carries massive responsibility on her shoulders. Soph is also the creator of Stokr, the first dating app of its kind for vampires and humans. But when someone on the inside tries to sabotage the app and humans start to die, Soph and her team led by (hunkaliscious and glasses-wearing human) Casey Amato try to figure out who is behind it all. Unfortunately Soph has another problem to deal with; the magnetic thirst and attraction she has for Casey.
Y’all, this has so much tension and yearning from both Soph and Casey, I couldn’t stop giggling. He’s down bad for her and she can’t get enough of how easily he gets past her walls. But I also appreciated how Vasti introduced both Soph and Casey’s past experiences and how they each grow from the trauma that influences all of their decisions.
This is a paranormal romance/murder mystery that checked all of the boxes for me! And the ending left me super excited for the next book!! Highly recommend!
Five whole stars, 11/10 recommend!
This is a world I never knew that I needed to read about before but it’s forever changed my DNA. Vampires and humans coexisting and even able to be together because of an app? LOVED this concept. So creative and it pulled me in from the very first line!
We’ve got vampire Sophronia Vega, nicknamed Queen of the Damned by her colleagues at HemoCorp Industries because of her icy demeanor and no-nonsense work ethic. She’s the heir to the vampiric Vega family dynasty and, as such, carries massive responsibility on her shoulders. Soph is also the creator of Stokr, the first dating app of its kind for vampires and humans. But when someone on the inside tries to sabotage the app and humans start to die, Soph and her team led by (hunkaliscious and glasses-wearing human) Casey Amato try to figure out who is behind it all. Unfortunately Soph has another problem to deal with; the magnetic thirst and attraction she has for Casey.
Y’all, this has so much tension and yearning from both Soph and Casey, I couldn’t stop giggling. He’s down bad for her and she can’t get enough of how easily he gets past her walls. But I also appreciated how Vasti introduced both Soph and Casey’s past experiences and how they each grow from the trauma that influences all of their decisions.
This is a paranormal romance/murder mystery that checked all of the boxes for me! And the ending left me super excited for the next book!! Highly recommend!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
*I received a copy via the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
*3.5
Sophronia Vega is heir to a vampire dynasty and has devoted years to her family's company, HemoCorp Industries. Her latest project, Stokr, is a dating app that pairs vampires with humans that they can bite without accidentally draining them of blood, and has gained widespread popularity. That is, until the app glitches and humans begin dying. Casey Amato is the human software engineer whose team programmed Stokr, and he's confident that the issue wasn't related to their development. When he suggests to Sophronia that someone is sabotaging her, the pair team up to investigate. As they do, it gets harder to ignore the growing attraction between them, putting not only their mission but themselves at risk.
I adore Vasti's historical romances, so I was excited to try something different from her. I liked how it blended paranormal, mystery, and romance, but it leaned more towards the mystery side than anything else. It was an interesting premise, and I liked following along as Sophronia and Casey tried to solve who was behind everything. However, there wasn't enough romance to balance it out for me, so I started getting a little bored. The relationship between them was full of tension and need, but lacked the emotional connection I was hoping for. The tech jargon also went over my head, and it made the writing feel almost clinical. It was a quick read, and I loved all the side characters, so I'm still interested enough to pick up the next book.
*3.5
Sophronia Vega is heir to a vampire dynasty and has devoted years to her family's company, HemoCorp Industries. Her latest project, Stokr, is a dating app that pairs vampires with humans that they can bite without accidentally draining them of blood, and has gained widespread popularity. That is, until the app glitches and humans begin dying. Casey Amato is the human software engineer whose team programmed Stokr, and he's confident that the issue wasn't related to their development. When he suggests to Sophronia that someone is sabotaging her, the pair team up to investigate. As they do, it gets harder to ignore the growing attraction between them, putting not only their mission but themselves at risk.
I adore Vasti's historical romances, so I was excited to try something different from her. I liked how it blended paranormal, mystery, and romance, but it leaned more towards the mystery side than anything else. It was an interesting premise, and I liked following along as Sophronia and Casey tried to solve who was behind everything. However, there wasn't enough romance to balance it out for me, so I started getting a little bored. The relationship between them was full of tension and need, but lacked the emotional connection I was hoping for. The tech jargon also went over my head, and it made the writing feel almost clinical. It was a quick read, and I loved all the side characters, so I'm still interested enough to pick up the next book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC REVIEW - Thank you to Berkley for a gifted, advance copy of this book
Swipe Bite proves that Alexandra Vasti has a fundamental understanding of yearning, no matter the time period or setting.
I loved this! The high stakes action, the romance, the mystery, the compelling side characters, the twists on traditional vampire lore. All of it.
The pacing hooked me immediately. It set the world up in a way that felt natural but still gave you the necessary information. This particular take on vampires is one I haven’t come across before and I appreciated a more scientific lens on it. I’m dying to stick around this world and see more of it.
Despite her corporate, cold exterior (sometimes literally), there’s a consistent warmth to Sophronia’s character. Her romance with Casey is dynamic, tender, and full of yearning. Their personal histories and emotional soft spots combine beautifully for a complex, rewarding relationship. I especially loved Sophronia’s desire to protect Casey’s autonomy and well-being and Casey’s ability to give Sophronia space while still making sure she felt supported. They play off each other wonderfully.
Other things I loved:
-Nonna and her meddling
-ride-or-die best friends
-understandable tech jargon
-corporate espionage
-absurd meeting locations with silly names
I genuinely don’t have anything to complain about. I did guess the big reveal, but there were still surprises to be had. I would absolutely reread this in the future and I can’t wait for the next book!
Swipe Bite proves that Alexandra Vasti has a fundamental understanding of yearning, no matter the time period or setting.
I loved this! The high stakes action, the romance, the mystery, the compelling side characters, the twists on traditional vampire lore. All of it.
The pacing hooked me immediately. It set the world up in a way that felt natural but still gave you the necessary information. This particular take on vampires is one I haven’t come across before and I appreciated a more scientific lens on it. I’m dying to stick around this world and see more of it.
Despite her corporate, cold exterior (sometimes literally), there’s a consistent warmth to Sophronia’s character. Her romance with Casey is dynamic, tender, and full of yearning. Their personal histories and emotional soft spots combine beautifully for a complex, rewarding relationship. I especially loved Sophronia’s desire to protect Casey’s autonomy and well-being and Casey’s ability to give Sophronia space while still making sure she felt supported. They play off each other wonderfully.
Other things I loved:
-Nonna and her meddling
-ride-or-die best friends
-understandable tech jargon
-corporate espionage
-absurd meeting locations with silly names
I genuinely don’t have anything to complain about. I did guess the big reveal, but there were still surprises to be had. I would absolutely reread this in the future and I can’t wait for the next book!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love Alexandra Vasti's writing, and so it's no surprise to me that I loved this vampire/human murder mystery romance. It was actually almost more fun than her lovely historical romances!
Sophronia, nepo baby and "Queen of the Damned" vampire, is the head of a vampire/human dating app. Casey D'Amato is a brilliant human computer engineer working under Soph at her father's big fancy Corp. After finding that the app has been compromised from inside the Corp, Soph and Casey team up to uncover the truth, and restore the app.
The suspense and mystery was so well crafted. Every twist and turn was fun, and these two idiots were falling in love through it all . Though I loved both characters, I did find Soph to be a bit contracting at times. For someone so ruthless and calculating in business, she sure seemed to have a lot of self doubt and questioning thoughts in her internal monologues.
At times, I found the characters thought process consistently cut off, obviously as a writing style tactic but still consistent enough that it became a bit annoying.
All in all, however, this was a fun book. The romance was tender and full of yearning, and the suspense was enjoyable. Highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sophronia, nepo baby and "Queen of the Damned" vampire, is the head of a vampire/human dating app. Casey D'Amato is a brilliant human computer engineer working under Soph at her father's big fancy Corp. After finding that the app has been compromised from inside the Corp, Soph and Casey team up to uncover the truth, and restore the app.
The suspense and mystery was so well crafted. Every twist and turn was fun, and these two idiots were falling in love through it all . Though I loved both characters, I did find Soph to be a bit contracting at times. For someone so ruthless and calculating in business, she sure seemed to have a lot of self doubt and questioning thoughts in her internal monologues.
At times, I found the characters thought process consistently cut off, obviously as a writing style tactic but still consistent enough that it became a bit annoying.
All in all, however, this was a fun book. The romance was tender and full of yearning, and the suspense was enjoyable. Highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 25, 2026
This was such a fun and unique read! It’s absolutely perfect for spooky season. I’m glad that I added this to my October TBR!
A dating app pairing vampires and humans? Mystery combined with romance? Sabotage and betrayal? I honestly had no idea where this was going to go, but I was 100% here for it!
I was honestly more invested in the mystery than the romance with this one! I really enjoyed the plot. I spent so much of the book trying to figure out who the traitor was! I’m so proud of myself because I was *partially* right, though the last few chapters definitely threw me off!
I did enjoy the romance between our MCs! The vampire/human pairing worked really well inside of the mystery. Casey and Soph were the definition of opposites attract, but worked well to balance each other.
I also loved our supporting characters! I absolutely love when we get a strong cast of secondary characters and Swipe Bite delivered that! Del and Mercedes made this book even more fun!
That ending 👀 catch me waiting around to see when we’re getting another book with these characters! Overall, such a fun read that I definitely recommend!
A big thank you to Berkley, NetGalley, and Alexandra for an ARC copy of Swipe Bite!
A dating app pairing vampires and humans? Mystery combined with romance? Sabotage and betrayal? I honestly had no idea where this was going to go, but I was 100% here for it!
I was honestly more invested in the mystery than the romance with this one! I really enjoyed the plot. I spent so much of the book trying to figure out who the traitor was! I’m so proud of myself because I was *partially* right, though the last few chapters definitely threw me off!
I did enjoy the romance between our MCs! The vampire/human pairing worked really well inside of the mystery. Casey and Soph were the definition of opposites attract, but worked well to balance each other.
I also loved our supporting characters! I absolutely love when we get a strong cast of secondary characters and Swipe Bite delivered that! Del and Mercedes made this book even more fun!
That ending 👀 catch me waiting around to see when we’re getting another book with these characters! Overall, such a fun read that I definitely recommend!
A big thank you to Berkley, NetGalley, and Alexandra for an ARC copy of Swipe Bite!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'm really loving the romance/mystery mashups we're seeing these days! This one is unique in that it's a world where humans and vampires coexist.
Vampires like Sophronia are different from your traditional idea of vampires. Yes, they need blood to survive but they aren't immortal and they aren't created by a vampire biting and changing a human. They're born, just like humans are, and they experience all the same emotions and drama. In this world, vampiric family dynasties feel almost medieval but Vasti does a brilliant job of folding that vibe into their modern-day environment.
Most of the mystery felt predictable -- props for the one twist I didn't see! -- but it was still very enjoyable to experience the progression. Sophronia and Casey's romance balanced out the mystery/action elements perfectly. And in true Vasti fashion, the character arcs were deep and thoughtful and a little bit painful.
In all honesty, I can take or leave vampires. They're not my typical paranormal creatures but I enjoyed this a lot. I'd definitely recommend it!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Vampires like Sophronia are different from your traditional idea of vampires. Yes, they need blood to survive but they aren't immortal and they aren't created by a vampire biting and changing a human. They're born, just like humans are, and they experience all the same emotions and drama. In this world, vampiric family dynasties feel almost medieval but Vasti does a brilliant job of folding that vibe into their modern-day environment.
Most of the mystery felt predictable -- props for the one twist I didn't see! -- but it was still very enjoyable to experience the progression. Sophronia and Casey's romance balanced out the mystery/action elements perfectly. And in true Vasti fashion, the character arcs were deep and thoughtful and a little bit painful.
In all honesty, I can take or leave vampires. They're not my typical paranormal creatures but I enjoyed this a lot. I'd definitely recommend it!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley, and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’ll read anything Alexandra Vasti writes, and Swipe Bite was a fun change from the historical romances I usually associate with her. I really enjoyed her modern take on vampire lore and how the supernatural elements fit into the contemporary setting.
The mystery was well-written. The investigation gave the story a strong sense of momentum, and I liked the balance between romance, tension, and humour. Vasti's wit shines through as always and there were plenty of moments that made me smile.
My one hesitation was the FMC. I liked the idea of a character whose intimidating veneer masked insecurities, and there were moments where that vulnerability worked. However, for someone known in the office as the "Queen of the Damned," she often seemed surprisingly uncertain in high-stakes situations, to the point of becoming speechless or unable to advocate for herself. I could see what Vasti was aiming for, but I found myself frustrated in some sections.
Even so, this was an entertaining read from an author I'm always happy to follow. While it doesn't rank among my favourite Alexandra Vasti books, I appreciated seeing her try something different, and I'll happily pick up whatever she writes next.
This was a review for NetGalley.
The mystery was well-written. The investigation gave the story a strong sense of momentum, and I liked the balance between romance, tension, and humour. Vasti's wit shines through as always and there were plenty of moments that made me smile.
My one hesitation was the FMC. I liked the idea of a character whose intimidating veneer masked insecurities, and there were moments where that vulnerability worked. However, for someone known in the office as the "Queen of the Damned," she often seemed surprisingly uncertain in high-stakes situations, to the point of becoming speechless or unable to advocate for herself. I could see what Vasti was aiming for, but I found myself frustrated in some sections.
Even so, this was an entertaining read from an author I'm always happy to follow. While it doesn't rank among my favourite Alexandra Vasti books, I appreciated seeing her try something different, and I'll happily pick up whatever she writes next.
This was a review for NetGalley.
October 25, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions!
This is an extremely well thought out and immensely entertaining journey into paranormal romance from Alexandra Vasti! I’m a huge fan of her historical romances so I was very eager to read her take on a contemporary, vampire romance and I was so pleased!
As always, this book has been heavily researched, both from a paranormal aspect but also the technological parts too! This book also answered questions I had about the world building that I hadn’t even thought about asking yet they were definitely things i would be wondering about.
I felt both Soph and Casey were strong and capable characters on their own and I loved when they finally got together! They both had such compelling backgrounds and reasons for wanting the app to be a success. I was so invested not only in their love story but also the overall mystery of who was sabotaging their app! Nonna and the Pillbugs were so fun too!
This is an extremely well thought out and immensely entertaining journey into paranormal romance from Alexandra Vasti! I’m a huge fan of her historical romances so I was very eager to read her take on a contemporary, vampire romance and I was so pleased!
As always, this book has been heavily researched, both from a paranormal aspect but also the technological parts too! This book also answered questions I had about the world building that I hadn’t even thought about asking yet they were definitely things i would be wondering about.
I felt both Soph and Casey were strong and capable characters on their own and I loved when they finally got together! They both had such compelling backgrounds and reasons for wanting the app to be a success. I was so invested not only in their love story but also the overall mystery of who was sabotaging their app! Nonna and the Pillbugs were so fun too!
May 28, 2026
This was my first book by Alexandria Vasti, and I was honestly so surprised by how addicting the writing style was. From the very beginning, I kept finding myself saying “just one more chapter” until suddenly I was completely hooked. I really loved the slow burn romance and how naturally the relationship developed over time. The chemistry between the characters felt genuine, and the tension was done so well that every little moment felt rewarding. One of my favorite parts, though, was the whole family company whodunit aspect of the story. It gave the story a really entertaining mix of mystery, family drama, and romance that kept me invested the entire time!
Thank you for the advanced readers copy! #NetGalley #SwipeBite
Thank you for the advanced readers copy! #NetGalley #SwipeBite
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