A Visitor’s Guide to Guarded Vampires

Ravenslight Creek #1

by Rebecca Arden

The first decision Ellery Ashford ever made for herself: a one-way ticket to Alaska. The second: a job with a boss who’s grumpy, gorgeous, and technically dead.

Twenty-four years of being the perfect daughter ends with one explosive fight and a taxi driver named Gary who drops her in the entirely wrong town. Stranded with seven dollars and a coffee card, she can’t exactly be picky.

Nick would like it noted, for the record, that he did not sign up for any of this. Not the fangs. Not his late father’s tour company. Not the interspecies pact that chains him to Ravenslight Creek for the rest of his long life. And definitely not the city girl in the impractical coat his meddling mother hired.

She’ll last a week. He’ll make sure of it.

But Ellery hasn’t come this far to be run off by one surly tour guide.

Stuck together, night after night under the northern lights, she notices things. He never eats. Never feels the cold. Always waits until her door is locked before driving away.

Now the vampire who gave up everything he ever wanted wants her. Badly.

When something with teeth comes hunting too close to Ellery, Nick has to show her exactly what he is. Instead of running back to New York, she starts asking questions. Which is a problem, because Ravenslight Creek has a way of dealing with outsiders who learn too much.

He can’t leave.
She was never supposed to stay.
He won’t be the reason she does.

A slow burn, cozy paranormal romance with a found family worth staying for.

----------
It’s Stars Hollow in Alaska, if a third of the town had fangs. Perfect for fans of The Ex Hex, My Roommate Is a Vampire, and Payback’s a Witch, with a dash of Bride’s paranormal politics.
You'll love this if you're here for:
• Cozy vibes, real stakes: more bite than your average cozy
• Grumpy x sunshine
• Small town Alaska under the northern lights
• Slow burn
• Forced proximity (one van, long cold nights)
• He falls first, and he falls hard
• Found family
• Door open, consent-forward, a little spicy
• A complete romance with an HEA and a series storyline that continues in book two.

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Romance, Vampires, Slow Burn, Paranormal, Small Town Romance, Forced Proximity

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 15, 2026

About the author

Rebecca Arden writes cozy paranormal romance with a little bite. Small towns, stubborn women, and men who have made things much harder for themselves than strictly necessary. Give her warmth and laughs, drama and spice, and she’s right at home. She collects streaming services like Girl Scout badges and longs for another timeline where all her favorite TV shows were never canceled. She lives in Australia with her husband and a collection of poorly kept houseplants.

Reviews

[Taylor Jefferson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.25

This is billed as a small town, cozy, paranormal romance with stakes (10/10 use of a vampire pun) and a “he falls first” tag. It took me a while to get into this because I think that description does it a disservice.

First off, I would not classify this as cozy. Just because you set a story in a small town and there is snow does not make it cozy. The relationship between Nick and Ellery was borderline toxic for the first 60%.

Ellery had come to Alaska to find out who she is without her overbearing parents telling her what to do. A storyline I genuinely enjoy and Ellery is easy to root for. My biggest issue was everyone was fairly nice and supportive besides Nick. He liked her but didn’t like that he liked her so he treated her poorly. Emotionally unregulated men are annoying. I didn’t find their push and pull charming, Nick’s treatment of Ellery bordered on cruel. Trying to break her down and make her quit so she would leave and he wouldn’t have to feel things. He punctuated it with moments of kindness, just enough to give Ellery hope he liked her only for him to pull back and make her feel toyed with.

After Nick pulls his head out of the sand it does get better. Their romance becomes sweet and they communicate. I couldn’t really see them as a couple before but was begrudgingly won over. I still think Nick should thank his lucky stars because Ellery is way too good for his moody ass.

The paranormal elements in the back half of the book are where this really shines. I was genuinely interested in the storyline of a rogue vampire wreaking havoc on the town. There are some questions about Ellery’s family that I wished would have been wrapped up in this book but will probably bring me back for book two. There is a lot to like here but don’t go in expecting a small town, cozy romance. It’s angsty and messy but I think with the right expectations the pay off is mostly worth it.

I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley

[Kelsey Sherwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first time reading an ARC and I was so happy to receive this book and get an early read before it is published! Ever since I saw the promotions on instagram, I knew this book was right up my alley! I love me a vampire romance book, a young woman finding herself, a grump, and Alaska.

I loved all the characters, especially our leading characters! It was easy to connect with the characters in a level in where in one point of our lives we feel stuck and we need to carve our own way to be happy and enjoy life. I also love the setting in Alaska, which I feel gets an underrated setting, especially in our fictional little town of Ravenslight Creek. The author tells a unique perspective of the culture and community in this town. I enjoyed the banter of our main leading characters, the growth our leads shown throughout the book, and the tension and love they have for each other.

The mystery surrounding their town makes you want to keep on reading to see what happens next. It is already wanting me to read the next book in this series when I read the epilogue.

[Steamy Chapters · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Ashgardia Press for the ARC 🥹🎀🫶🏻

A slow burn paranormal romance in small town Alaska with a grumpy vampire boss!! 🤭
This was sooo cute, I ate it up in one day!

Ellery comes to Alaska because she’s tired of her controlling parents. I loooved her, she’s so likable and relatable.

Nick tries to push Ellery away because he’s scared of his feelings, and uhhhh, I was so mad at him 😭 Luckily, he comes to his senses because they’re so cute together!! 🤭

Nick isn’t that likable at first, but he grows on you, and suddenly you like him and don’t even know how it happened 🤭

I really loved Rebecca’s writing style. It pulled me into the story so fast, and I just didn’t want to stop reading.

If you like vampires, paranormal romance, or a small town slow burn, I really recommend this one 🫶🏻

Rating: 4 stars ⭐️

[Faye Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Visitor's Guide to Guarded Vampires is the first book in a new paranormal romance series. This first book does a great job of introducing the paranormal set up in this rural Alaskan town. After reading Heather Guerre's Tooth & Claw series and now A Visitor's Guide to Guarded Vampires, Alaska is now firmly up there as one of my favourite settings for a paranormal romance! There's something about the extreme environment that just works so well with these isolated paranormal communities, like vampires and shifters. There's a great atmosphere to the setting, and it really brings out that outsider vs insider conflict which naturally crops up during a paranormal romance.

This is Ellery and Nick's story, and although their romance is concluded here, there is an underlying story that will continue on with a new couple in the next book. Some of that plotline is related to Ellery specifically, so I would have expected that to be explored in her own book, rather than within someone else's. I did enjoy the story and I'm interested to see where it goes.

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley, but this is my voluntary and honest review.

[GwenReadsAlot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received my copy via NetGalley! All opinions are my own!

Vampires in Alaska- what more could you want?

I enjoyed this so much! Vampires are a new obsession for me... and now I'm not ever going to stop reading vampire books.

This book was cozy with moments that got your heart racing! (In all ways ;) ) This little town in Alaska has secrets, and they were so fun to discover along with Ellery! I also LOVE a story about a person leaving their shell and gaining the confidence to do it; in that regard, Ellery was absolutely amazing!

Nick is a character that has to grow on you; for a while there, I wasn't so sure... but I think that's just how he is. He doesn't really let people in... readers included. I think with the context of... well, the last 30% his behavior makes a lot more sense.

I would go on one of their tours anytime!

My Advice: If you're a fan of vampires (or paranormal) romances and are looking for something fun and a little wintery, pick this up! (And give Nick a chance! He grows on you!)

[Marcelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got the ARC from NetGalley, and what a pleasant surprise! I think some may say it takes too much time for Ellery and Nick to be together, but all the scenes were necessary to establish a friendship (mostly from Ellery's part because Nick was down bad since he smelled her) between them. The ending about was smart, and for a moment, I thought a certain character was involved, but I was so relieved when I was wrong.

Regarding the setting, I liked how the cold was like another character, and the description of food and ambiences like Nick's place, the café, added to the atmosphere and feelings of the story. The secondary characters were interesting, I really want to know more about Sebastian and Anna, and Willow and Desmond (or Luca? or why choose? I'm open to whatever the author decide), and the townspeople, too. like Roslyn, Marthe, for example. They had personal traits and motivation without taking too much space from the main story. I can see some people saying the book is too long, but I'd rather read a book well structured than fast paced because it doesn't take time to establish things.

Ellery's journey was my favorite part. The way she fought for herself, and didn't let anyone take charge of her life was well developed. I was a bit mad at Nick because he was taking away her choice, and I've seen this before, but the author made it fresh by adding his personal background. He had to take care of others, too. I'm curious about Ellery's mother, though, this loose end is killing me. I'm wondering how the author will connect that in a book where Ellery isn't the main character. I really want a reaction from her POV when she finds out whatever it's going on with her mother.

Most of all, I want to congratulate the author for writing a solid book, hiring people to edit, artists for the cover, a book needs a village, and I'm happy to add as a reader. Next book can't come too soon.

I read some reviews saying the book is not cozy, but I would say is cozy adjacent. There's some stakes, but they're not too high, and there's the found family aspect, the paranormal background maybe steals the scene from the cozy vibes, but, to me, it was cozy enough.

[CosyRaven · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I signed up for an ARC of this book because hello? Vampires? Alaska? Grumpy x sunshine?
And it did not disappoint me at all. I really loved this story. It ticked so many boxes for me. The main characters Nick And Ellery had my heart from the start. They felt so perfect for each other. I loved the mysterious and supernatural elements to the town, and the way the more sinister elements gave the element of tension and foreboding to the romantic side of things. This book also had the perfect amount of spice for me, it did not take away from the story and felt like a natural build in the narrative to get to that point.
So many parts had me kicking my feet and I could not put it down. Over all a gorgeous swoony romance with a sprinkling of spice and ALL the cosy vibes. A cup of spiced cocoa in a book! 🥰

[Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely small town cosy fantasy with slightly higher stakes for a CF, but still really enjoyable. There were a lot of differences to usual vampire lore that I absolutely loved, and the found family of the community was great!! The book is part of a series and so there were some threads left unsolved which makes me excited for future books, but as some of them relate to Ellery specifically, I’m curious how that will work in someone else’s story. Still really liked it tho!

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the concept, this was a fun one. The premise was great: take a New Yorker and plop her in Alaska Amon’s some unexpected inhabitants. Alley has a lot of charm and hooked me from the beginning.

I felt like the pacing dragged a bit toward the middle, but overall, I think this will be a fun time for anyone looking for a cozy paranormal romance.

Thank you so much to the author for the opportunity to read this book prior to publication.

[Christina M 23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The hardest part about reading an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) is falling completely in love with the characters and storyline, only to realize you have to wait even longer for the sequel. I started this book at the beginning of an eight-hour overnight flight and simply couldn't put it down—even earning a few sideways glances from fellow passengers when it literally had me laughing out loud in a quiet cabin. Wholehearted recommendation! It is an incredible debut, and I’ll be first in line to buy a finished copy and snap up whatever this author writes next.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!

What a great start to a series!

Ellery, leaves everything behind -especially her controlling parents- and travels to Alaska. Tiny town of Ravenslight Creek is new home. Nick feels drawn to her but has to stay away from her as he has his own burden: he is a vampire and can never leave Ravenslight.

I loved Ellery. She was fun, sweet and so much stronger than she believed. I also liked how Nick was trying to do the right thing, he was such a good guy!

I loved the descriptions of places and people! This was a perfect mixture of small town romance and paranormal romance.

I want to know what's going to happen next, so I'll be waiting for the next part of the series!

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Pov: dual, 1st person
Heat: open doors
Pacing: slowburn
Communication: mostly healthy communication
Third act: mild external crisis, otherwise smooth sailing
Ending: HEA

Main characters:
* Cinnamon roll hero
* City girl - small town boy
* Enemies to lovers
* Grumpy - sunshine
* Opposites attract
* Vampires

What?
* Forbidden love
* Forced proximity
* Found family
* One bed

Where?
* Small town
* Workplace romance

Drama?
* Dark secret
* Difficult past
* Family drama
* Impossible love

Other vibes:
* Mystery
* ”Touch her and die”
* ”We’re just friends”

[Aly · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book I was fortunate to get as an ARC. I instantly fell in love with Rebecca's writing. My first highlight in the book was in the content warning note. I hadn't even made it to the first chapter! (Although that got a highlight too).

I found the FMC, Ellery, immediately likeable and relatable as we get drawn into her trying to abide by all these micro-rules and habits to appease her family. Cannot say the same for the MMC, Nick, but that's kinda the point haha. I did get turned around a lot quicker than I thought I would though!

There's no third act break-up but is a period of time where Nick does try to push Ellery away. Ultimately though, it is a happily ever after with both points of view that still allows question and speculation from the reader as to what's happening in the town and why Nick is the way he is. Not spoiler alert, Nick is a Vampire (it's in the title!) But there's a lot more sitting beneath that.

Definitely a book I suggest you go pick up if you want a cozy fantasy book to step away with on a cold night. Enjoy Ravenslight Creek 💙

[Kelsey · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Thank you to Victory Publishing for giving me a copy of this book!

I love vampire books so I was so excited to dive into this book! I really enjoyed the slow burn pacing this book had, it felt like Ellery and Nick formed a bond before it got romantic. And I think the journey that Ellery went on breaking away from her parents and creating a life for herself and not someone else was fantastically written.

I did love the endless supply of side characters who just made this story and the town so well rounded. I loved the bond Ellery and Marthe developed especially considering the strife she has with her own mom it was nice to see.

I am a sucker for a man who yearns and you can so tell the more Nick pushes Ellery away the closer it brings them, and when we finally get to the spice moment it felt deserved.

All in all I loved this book!

[Elinor Harker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved all of the characters and the small town setting. I admire Ellery for just up-and-leaving when her parents refused to listen to her. The storyline was a little too back-and-forth sometimes (how many times can they have the same argument?), and yet, I couldn’t put it down. I can’t say I was surprised by the climax, but I am glad it turned out the way it did with slightly less conspiracy/betrayal than was expected. There were some major questions hinted at that were not addressed, though. I know there is another book expected, focusing on other characters, but the question that plagues me the most, I would have expected to be a major plot point in this book, and I don’t want it to be relegated to a footnote in someone else’s storyline. But I would read the next book regardless. An excellent series starter.

Advance reader copy review.

[Dawn · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

ARC from NetGalley
Gosh, I really liked this book. I had such a hard time putting it down each night. The characters are all so lovable or hatable- well developed and well written.
The premise is also so good- Ellery is running from controlling and demanding parents, trying to find herself. Nick is tied to the town he grew up in.

Auroras, breakdowns, grumpy/sunshine, vampires, coffee and croissants, mystery, scheming, breaking the rules, longing and love.

The author left us some breadcrumbs of what we can expect with the next book. I am anxious to find out more about Ellery’s family. Consider me hooked.

🌆✈️🥐🚌🔥☕️🌌🧛‍♂️🧙🏻‍♀️📰🩶🩸
📱eBook- ARC from NetGalley

[Sarah Page · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun read. I wish I could do partial stars because really this sits higher than 3 but just shy of 4. I liked the characters and setting, the story is fun, I think I might just be itching for something more.
Edited to add since Goodreads is being difficult:
It's an enjoyable read: the characters are cool, I like the setting, I have no real complaints. I think the pacing may have lost me a little (possibly a me problem). Things I appreciate:
The descriptions are gorgeous
Alaska is a cool setting for vampires
The background lore is cool
The background characters feel really cool and like they also exist properly in the author's head

I think there are some questions I want answered but hopefully there will be a sequel if you all go read it too!

[Erin Masura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a little jealous of Ellery. Vampire crush, a small mysterious town in Alaska, and northern lights? Yes, please, sign me up.

Ellery is a fun FMC to follow. She's reached her "if it makes me happy, I'm down, otherwise not worth it" era, and I loved every minute of it. Nick is a phenomenal MMC who will have you swooning, and Luca's one-liners had me laughing so loud my husband asked what was so funny.

No spoilers, but Nick and Ellery's relationship is beautifully written. They truly are each other's "home." The author's vivid descriptions paint such a clear picture that I felt like I was standing in that snowy town right alongside them.

[Kira · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Arc Review*

Rebecca Arden has created a readers supernatural haven in the form of Ravenslight Creek.
With detailed world building and well layered characters, it’s easy to fall into the first in the Ravenslight Creek series - Most likely why I devoured it just a few hours.

A Visitors Guide to Guarded Vampires is fast paced and action packed. Definitely worth a read and will be putting in my pre-order right away!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

My kind of romance. Ellery is smart but entrapped by familial expectations. She runs to Alaska to escape. Nick too is entrapped but he can’t leave and he is resigned to that fact but it doesn’t make him the happiest of tour guides. With a little matchmaking on his mother’s part these two eventually figure it out. This is a slow burn, entertaining vampire romance that will leave you smiling and with a couple of questions I need answered. Maybe in the next book.

[Sierra | FictionalWanderluster · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute, cozy yet a little spicy, paranormal romance that features vampires in a small Alaskan town! If you love a workplace romance between a grumpy mmc and sunshiney fmc, you'll love this one, especially with the northern lights as a backdrop! There's also a fun suspense subplot, which was wrapped up nicely in the end! I enjoyed reading about the small town of Ravenslight Creek and all of it's inhabitants and looking forward to what's to come in this series. I absolutely loved that it took place in Alaska since I lived there for a few years. The little nods to Alaskan life made me feel so nostalgic for my time there!

💜 Paranormal Romance (Vampires)
💙 Small town in Alaska
💜 Grumpy x Sunshine
💙 Workplace Romance

Thank you to Rebecca Arden for the advanced copy!

[Katherine A Moss · Rating 5 out of 5]

This ARC copy I just loved. I used to read only cozy paranormal romances but had gotten out of them some with Romantasy. I am so glad I applied for this one as I have missed this genre so much. I seriously love Alaska so with this set there I was hooked from the Authors description. FMC has done to herself and the way everything has evolved along the story line. This story went to much better along than any cozy paranormal romance that I have read in the past. This is because of the strong character development. An exceptionally fun read!!

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun read that I raced through! I loved the Alaska setting, how it worked so well for a vampire community & how much focus there was on the beauty of nature through the tours.
I adored Nick & Ellery together & how they had to work to get what they wanted, i.e. each other! I will definitely be waiting eagerly for the next book in this series. Hopefully, some of the questions we didn’t get answers to in this book will be found there because I need to know!
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read early!

[Jeff Nartic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a review of an ARC for this book.

Ellery takes a vacation to Alaska to get away from her controlling parents and and ends up in the wrong place, Ravenslight Creek.

Nick takes tourist out to see the Northern Lights and now his mother has hired him a new assistant. One he didn’t expect.

Together they must survive spending time with each other. Nick is grumpy and never seems to be cold. Ellery is not going to let Nick run her off from the first place she finally feels like she belongs.

What follows is a humors adventurer where Ellery starts to figure out that Ravenslight Creek has some secrets and Nick is definitely hiding something. Can Nick keep his sanity and his secret? Will he allow himself to fall for Ellery?

This book was such a joy to read. It’s got the perfect mix of fun romance and with a little mystery and Winter vibes with a hint of danger lurking. I can’t wait for the second book in this series,

[Tammy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this small town paranormal romcom, the FMC and MMC were so relatable with their family issues and adored their dynamic. It was evenly paced and the mystery keeps you hooked. Can't wait for book 2 in this series. Advance reader copy review.

[Rileyjade · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
A Visitor’s Guide to Guarded Vampires’ is a paranormal romance set in the picturesque and cosy landscape of Alaska. I can say that this one sucked (ehehe) me in right from the beginning! I finished it in one day, I couldn’t put it down!

I loved the paranormal side of this story, it’s fleshed out and it’s unique to anything I’ve read in the paranormal genre. You’ve got vampires, witches and shifters, the latter I think will be revealed in later books and I am here for it!

I really loved Ellery as the FMC, she had so much growth and really came into herself by the end and became so much more confident and assured about who she is and what she wants. I did like Nick as a MMC by the end, although his behaviour in the beginning did annoy me but he too does have his own transformation. Their tension, chemistry and the lead up to the will they, won’t they was great for me and I loved the payout of when they FINALLY get together.

Atmospheric Alaska is painted so beautifully and picturesque here that I could vividly picture the town and the Alaskan landscape, it was the perfect backdrop to this story. The cosy atmosphere was so perfect, it made me want to curl up by a fire with a hot chocolate!

I can’t wait for book 2, especially with that ending cliffhanger! Thank you so much to NetGalley, Ashgardia Press and Rebecca Arden for this eARC!

[Sherriden Sloan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was every single thing I want and adore in a cozy paranormal romance. Smart writing, fleshed-out and interesting characters, a fantastic storyline and .. spark! I didn't want it to end and I cannot wait for Book 2. LOVE LOVE LOVED it!!

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most perfect cozy small town vibes with a mystery that will make it hard to put down. And the romance? So good!!! Obsessed.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun read! I loved the setting and both main characters. I also love all the side characters, and I'll definitely be reading the next book in the interconnected series.

[Tamararosereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It was well written, with memorable characters, beautifully described locations and a plot that is always moving, never stagnant. I can't wait for book 2!

[Joey Krupocin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rebecca Arden is an indie author from Australia, and I had the pleasure of receiving and reading this ARC, and honestly, I loved this book! 💙❄️

I absolutely loved the storyline. It had just the right amount of vampire vibes without feeling cheesy, and the fact that it takes place in Alaska made me love it even more! 🧛🌌

The character development was SO good. I genuinely felt like I knew these characters personally, and I loved watching their relationships develop throughout the story. And you KNOW I’m always here for a good grumpy sunshine trope.

If you love Stars Hollow, if it were in Alaska and a third of the town had fangs, you are going to want to add this one to your TBR.

Cozy paranormal romance + grumpy sunshine + found family + slow burn + one long Alaskan winter = YES PLEASE. 🥰

📚 For readers who loved The Ex Hex, My Roommate Is a Vampire, and Bride.

Releases October 15th! ❄️🧛💙

This was such a fun read, and I’m so excited for more readers to discover it!