Broken Vows

The Daddy Secret #1

by Amy Rose

Alexis had her life all planned out, marriage to her high school sweetheart, a home filled with love, and a future she could trust.

But after five years, the distance between her and Jeremy became impossible to ignore. The arguments, the loneliness, the quiet unraveling of everything they’d built together. When their marriage ends, she thinks the hardest part is behind her.

Then, just weeks after signing the divorce papers, she finds out she’s pregnant.
Jeremy wants to make things right. And slowly they begin reconnecting.

But when she uncovers the truth he’s been hiding, the foundation of her world shatters all over again.

Now, she’s left to navigate motherhood on her own, rebuilding from the pieces of a life she never expected.

Genres: Novella, Contemporary, Divorce

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 30, 2025

Reviews

[Danny Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not for the safety gang. Cheating with all the gut punches. A friend who is more like an enemy, and a husband who is weak. I wish I hadn't of read it because it ends on a cliffhanger with the POV of the h's daughter who is now 18. Not sure when the next book will be released.

[Anslyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Story started strong, but I had to do a two for the abrupt ending, misleading description, and character depth. FMC is struggling with her divorce from her high school sweetheart and reflecting on her past. Best friend is a total gaslighter and honestly makes you wonder if the FMC strongest characteristic is loyalty to people who don’t deserve it. The FMC seems to almost always give the other characters the benefit of the doubt in the second half. We never dive deep enough into the MMC to determine what kind of person he truly is or where his love lies. We don’t know what is motivating his behavior to be there and provide for the FMC in the second half. You will definitely see what motivated him in the beginning. Based on the storytelling we don’t know if he really wants to make things right or reconcile or is just there out of his misplaced obligations. His final line in the book is that he loves her and he does cross the line past friend one once, but based on the big reveal was he truly wanting to come back??? Not sure. We do not get his PoV so I couldn’t tell if he was upset that she was done or upset he got caught. The story is intended to be continued with an 18 yr time jump. I just hope the FMC found some happiness and the other characters got some karma. I can’t stand when writers try the whole 18 years later we can see everyone’s perspective and be cool. What was done to the FMC was devastating and I wish she didn’t make it so easy for the MMC and OW.

[Ani · Rating 4 out of 5]

English isn't my first language, so I apologize for the grammatical errors in the review below.

Synopsis (HUGE SPOILER ALERT)

FMC and her husband were high-school sweethearts and married for 5 years. The husband became distant over the course of a year and FMC does everything to repair the relationship. The husband wants a separation, moved out, and then served divorce papers to FMC. While FMC life is unraveling, her best friend "helps" her navigate. FMC finds out she is pregnant, which prompts her now ex husband to hint some form of reconciliation. Around this time, her best friend went ghost on FMC after learning about the pregnancy. The ex husband temporarily moves in the house, and there is a kissing scene between FMC and the ex husband.

The best friend reconnects with FMC and reveals that she is pregnant too and she broke up with her bf of 8 years. The cliffhanger ends with FMC overhearing ex husband whispering "I want to touch you, I will tell her I am going on a fishing trip" to another woman on the phone and who is the another woman you might ask? Her best friend. FMC checks the ex husband phone and finds nudes and "I love you texts, we will tell her about us later" between him and the best friend/OW. They have been having an affair for a year. FMC also finds out that the baby her backstabbing best friend/OW is carrying is the ex husband's.

The affair between the husband and best friend/OW started after FMC lost the child and the typical husband needed someone to cry on and the best friend/OW was there. The FMC packs up and tells the ex husband she is moving away. The second book is 18 year time jump and about their daughter.

REVIEW:

The book was well written, but I hated how the FMC let her ex husband temporarily move in and initiated a kissing scene with him after everything he put her through. The man literally neglected you for a year, stopped planning dates, was extremely distant, left you, and happily signed the divorce papers. I just wish FMC had a backbone and didn't spend the entire book moping after a man like that. And while I don't mind a second book, I wished it continued FMC's story. I don't like the huge time skip and jumping straight to the daughter's story. That is the only reason why I gave this book 3 stars.

I am HOPING that the second book shows a badass FMC who moved on with her life, and found love with a new man. She better not have stayed single for 18 years while her ex husband played happy family with the best friend/OW.

[Michellelovesreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much. It was a quick short read. I’m excited for the next one.

Stars:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Maria Moody · Rating 3 out of 5]

This just made me angry

This was too short ,too rash and if course the obvious but even the, way the ex wife who had been cheated on was happy to play happy families too fast ,your man cheats make him suffer and make him pay .I hated the other woman more ,what sort of person cheats with a married man ,just hope the second book proves she was right to kick her ex husband to the curve

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's start with WOW! I felt all the feels with this one. Alexis (Lex) and Jeremy were high school sweethearts that have fallen apart. The ultimate betrayal and the truth Lex uncovers had me in a chokehold. This was a quick and easy read that sucked me in from the first page. I cannot wait to see what comes next!

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the kind of angsty betrayal cheating read that I have needed in my life. I felt the pain. I felt it all.
But bewareeeee this ends on a cliff hanger and it seems like book two is 18 years later. So yeah.

[Addicted 2 📖 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Debated, it was between a four and three star read for me. There is a pretty big and pertinent piece of information that was never even revealed until the end.
Now, reading a teaser for the second book I will say this… if this author does us women wrong and make the FMC from this book, your typical beautiful woman with no man in her life for 18 years or a real man to take care of her the way she deserves to be taken care of - this is going to be a one and done for me. I am so sick and tired of authors doing this. Can we raise our women up a little bit more rather than making them sad lonely beings? I’m speculating. I don’t know if that’s happening but if it does, I’m gonna be out.

[maria ⋆. 𐙚 ̊ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't like that he couldn't even make his wife happy and she had doubts about herself. I suspected he was cheating with her best friend, even though it was predictable, but I'm happy with the book and I'm happy with her choice that she chose herself and the baby and didn't give him a second chance

[K. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a good cheating story with lots of angst. I don’t know how to describe this one though. I felt like we were told that they used to be in love but we weren’t really shown. Maybe towards the end? But that was a few sentences where they reminisced about high school. That was it.

I had a lot of questions that weren’t answered. In the beginning, she talks about money being tight but she doesn’t work. She doesn’t do much of anything besides take care of her husband. Then, when they split he leaves and she still doesn’t work. When the divorce is final, there is no mention of anything except signing papers. She still doesn’t work. See, most of these stories have a real vibe of the woman finding her calling or going back to a career. She paints sometimes. And, very inconsistently. So, not for money.

I knew the friend was the OW when she interrogates the H when they run into each other at dinner. Also, that is the only mention of the OWs boyfriend until the end when she says they breakup. My question about him is where was he when the affair was going on? Her friend (OW) supposedly works at a boutique but is able to just willy nilly drop everything to be there for our h. Literally, any time of day or night. And, where did the husband stay when he left? I must have skimmed because it didn’t stick out. If he stayed with his family, wouldn’t they check on her?

So, the H and the OW had an affair for a year and our dear h never follows him. Never checks his phone. Never suspected anything because he told her over and over that he was tired from work.

I liked the book but it felt incomplete. A little repetitive and I was skimming through those parts. I did like that the H was excited about the pregnancy but I also saw the writing on the wall.

I truly wished the h would have trusted her gut. She didn’t grow any backbone till the very end.

I saw that the next book is 18 years into the future. That seems a little long in this day and age of technology. If he wanted to find his kid, he only needs to hire a PI or check social media. Maybe both.

For such a short book, November seems like a long way off for part two.

[Weasley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Broken Vows was a short read as lex goes through the motions of dealing with betrayal, heartache and shock.

It was a refreshing read from all of the happy ever after romances. Broken vows contains third act betrayal, surprise pregnancy, and a whole lot of emotions.

I think this is the first novel I’ve read that doesn’t have a happy ever after and I think I love them now.

I’m looking forward to diving into book 2 to continue to story!

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betrayal, flawed characters yippee! Good story, would have loved some bitch smack down, wanted anger and passion, looking forward to book two, I take it, it’s the daughter! Bring it on!

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Alexis and Jeremy’s marriage is now two strangers living together with Alexis trying her best to reconnect them. Although I knew what was going to happen, it still didn’t lessen the angst or gut punch when the betrayal did occur. While this is not a long story but still a page turner, there was definitely room to fill in a bit more details to round out the characters more. Perhaps the author omitted those important pieces of information to keep the reader and Alexis guessing. I think Alexis is either too forgiving or just so low on confidence that she’ll accept any form of human friendship because Jeremy coming around more after a certain event and especially in light of new circumstances was a big HECK NO to me given how he blindsided her and never even explained anything. I definitely need to find out what happens next in the sequel, although it could be a doozy, but waiting anxiously anyway.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, I gave it a 3 because of the unexpected cliff hanger ending...not cool. Up until then, weak husband has an affair with a viper h's best frriend and divorces wife who is not pregnant...and so is viper. The FMC was attempting for most of the book trying to salvage a dying marriage while the MMC cared less and less.

I did like the writing style but got tired of the h tolerating the behavior of the BF. That woman (BF) needs bleach to wash in daily.

[Jordan Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

devastating

Truly devastating. Such a sad, sad story. I get her leaving Michigan for California. I do wonder about the financials of this but she did say she would work with a lawyer. I knew there was something wrong with that Lily. I still don’t understand it and all I want to do is cry. Book 2 should be interesting. I hope Jeremy and Lily and the kid are all miserable.

[Aliama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alexis knew something was going on with her husband but never imagined the double life he was leading and the heartbreak she’d be left with. A quick read with lots of emotions. It leaves you on a cliffhanger and book two picks up eighteen years later. I hope for Lex’s sake she’s found true love and hasn’t been pining for her ex. Looking forward to book 2 and hopefully some questions will get answers.

[EARTH · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast read that kept me hooked. I defs called where this was going but regardless I loved that third act reveal and need book two.

BUT - I'm a little confused. the book two preview at the end had NOTHING to do with this book!? if thats the case I'm gonna be kind pissed lol

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ending!!

I loved this book but ended terrible for me. Would have been a 5 if it hadn’t ended the way it did. ☹️
I know another book is coming out later but this one should have had a better ending. That just my opinion though.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

predictable

It was a good story and there was a good plot to it, but it was definitely rushed. And I could tell from the first interaction with Lillian and Jeremy that they were sleeping together. The ending could’ve been better.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it

Can’t wait for second book! Heartbreaking but aoooooo addicting. Couldn’t put it down. Hope second book shows more of the other characters story. I hope they are absolutely miserable and everyone turns their back on them.

[Karen L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A unresolved ending

Feels like the author left the last chapter out. There could be so much more to this story. The writing and character development is good. His POV would have been interesting.

[dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

gut punch

This one will make you angry! but is a good read. Need book 2 to see if karma has been served

[rebecca kendall · Rating 2 out of 5]

there is no ending

The book has no ending. It drags on and on and then stops. Could have been really good but just wasn’t

[Paige Whitecotton · Rating 5 out of 5]

omg.

Spoiler alert.

What a horrible circumstance. Lily and Jeremy are the worst. How do people do these things to the people they love. Ugh.

[BAG of Books · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jeremy and Alexis were high school sweethearts. Now married for 5 years. no kids. She doesn't have family, Jeremy's parents have become like parents to her. She has a BFF named Lilly who has a long term boyfriend, Zeke. And that's her whole social circle. She doesn't have a job. She's good at art, but never pursued it as a career. Honestly, she needs to get a fucking job.

Jeremy is a lineman, or some other blue collar job. For the last year, he's been using work as an excuse for why he's barely home and barely sees his wife. He even avoids talking about the issue by saying he's too tired.

The beginning of the book was a litany of him coming home every night and saying he's tired and going to bed. Very repetitive.Too many pages. Lexi is a doormat who's just like "ok" every time he misses dinner or wants to go straight to bed.

So eventually Lexi gets him to talk, and he ends up admitting he's tired of "us." He swears there's no other woman. He thinks they should go on a break. After 2 weeks of the break, he serves her with divorce papers, with no warning. They divorce with no discussion.

A couple of weeks later, she discovers she's pregnant. She tells her BFF Lilly, and for some reason Jeremy picked that moment to break into her house (?) and he hears her tell Lilly she's pregnant. I think he was there to pick up the rest of his clothes? Anyway, he leaves for the moment, but comes back later asking to talk.

She agrees to talk and let him be involved in the pregnancy. We're told that after that, he just gradually moved back in. Not romantically, but just to help her with the pregnancy. Lilly's kind of MIA during this time.

Then Lilly shows up saying she broke up with Zeke and she's also pregnant.

So after that, Lilly and Jeremy each act weird when Lexi talks to each of them about the other one. It's very obvious they had an affair. But Lexi doesn't see it. But then she overhears him talking to someone all hush-hush. She later checks his phone and finds texts to Lilly, that they love each other and Lilly's baby is his.

So Lexi confronts him and he says he started an affair with Lilly a year ago, after Lexi had a miscarriage and Lilly "understood him." Lexi says she's going to move but they can do some kind of custody arrangement, but she and the baby aren't going to live nearby.

Then the book ends. I guess she moved because she ends up having a daughter who doesn't seem to know anything about her father. But that's in book 2. There's no epilogue to this book.

Unfortunately, I found Jeremy to be a flat, one dimensional character. He avoids Lexi till he's telling her he wants a separation, and that's pretty much their entire interaction. Even after he's given a chance to possibly reconcile, and things are moving in the right direction, he's still seeing the OW. And then the book just ends.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could have been four stars but I gave three because I needed to know more!! I felt deprived not knowing what happened, but maybe the next book will explain??

Cheating = H?? (he's really not, so let's just stick with MMC) h has been trying for quite a while to reconnect with MMC, planning dinners, doing all she can to make the house a home, attempting to have conversations, being supportive of his job, etc. MMC can't be bothered to even engage with the h...come to find out in last part of the book that MMC and OW (h's supposed BFF) have been going at it for over a year. It started when MMC took comfort from OW after h's miscarriage (which was glossed over and not talked about other than briefly at the end). Yeah, get comfort from OW but h gets f*ck all support for her grief and pain??? Yeah, the MMC can go fall off a cliff, especially since he seems to have had this view that he could have his cake and eat it too with h and OW.

OW drama = it is subtle and vicious the way the OW insinuates herself into the MMC and h's marriage. The fake support while doing the most manipulation. OW was a double cheater as she herself was in a long term relationship all while hooking up with the MMC. She's just a real peach.

I have hopes that there will be some more drama and hopefully more of the story in the next book.

[Michele Delgado · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this story!

This was a great storyline. The only thing is I felt like chapters were missing. I think there could have easily been 5 more chapters to give us more info or interaction between the couple. Nothing that would have changed the end but just more insight. There were things brought up near and at the end that were never even hinted at anywhere in the story. Spoiler alert! His family was never interacting with her at all in the story but it's mentioned how close they were to her like parents. Also, the miscarriage was never mentioned until the end. Then the temporary separation went to divorce in two weeks, meanwhile he constantly maintained he loved her. Also, after the divorce why was he using his key to go in and out of her house? She also never questions anything at all even the divorce. The book itself was good but I did feel like things were skipped. I kept checking to make sure my pages weren't skipping as I was reading chapters. I am looking forward to the 2nd book hoping a lot of questions will be answered. I noticed the book skips 18 years so I hope it goes back into some of the past.

[Vintage · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was okay, but the bait and switch at the end was very, very frustrating as this is essentially half a book. When I first read it checked the blurb of the second book which seemed to have all new characters. The reason became clear at rhetorical end.

Passive doormat is flailing around in a sinking marriage. Handwriting is on the wall. She has nothing to do blah, blah. She can't do her art anymore, she can't make her husband happy, money seems to be an issue. I just wanted her to go get a job and quit whining. Her BF is there for her all the time.

It's obvious the husband is a cheater and moves out. Bottom line she gets pregnant and so does his sidepiece, her best friend dun dun DUN. There is no confrontation with the best friend, nothing. She tells off her husband, packs her bag and the book ends. That's it. There's a preview of the next book eighteen years later. Next book is $2.99. It's not much, but I feel like this is a bait and switch. Unless something epic happens in the next book there is no reason to split his story up.

[Margerm, Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

The summary that accompanies this book pretty well outlined this relatively short (about 130 pages) story. Five years into her marriage, the h feels disconnected not only from her husband but also from herself. She doesn't have a job and it's hard to determine what her goals and interests are when she describes her day to day life. Later on in the book we find out that she designed murals and logos and organized a fund raiser. She meets her best friend for coffee and seems to rely on her for emotional support.
Her husband suggests that they separate when she pushes for them to spend more time together. He moves out and she is served with divorce papers. Then she finds out that she's pregnant and he takes an interest in caring for her as she struggles with morning sickness.
We don't really know too much about the husband as the book is only her point of view.
The book ends with lies being revealed but there's enough forewarning that it's not really a surprise. It was hard for me to accept that the h so readily adapted to having her ex husband around so much during the pregnancy.

[Chronic Chihuahua · Rating 3 out of 5]

Open to seeing where this goes.

I notice in the next book Lilly and Jeremy didn't follow Alexis to Cali.

If they were genuine about maintaining a custody arrangement, they could have been.

But expecting an abused party, and she was abused, who knows what contaminants he was introducing to her body from Lilly and Zeke, and anyone Lilly and Zeke slept with in that time, to be stressed and traumatise a baby in a place she has no support network in, was abuse.

Honestly, I'd have heard the two of them out, and then ate an abortion pill immediately after, in front of them.

They left her to grieve her baby alone, the abusers.