Vowed

by Sara Celi

I had the perfect wedding. I had the perfect husband. And I had the perfect life.

But a few months ago, it all shattered.

Mark and I went through an unimaginable loss. I’ve been sinking ever since and falling into an abyss of grief. I don’t know who I am anymore. I don’t know who he is, either. It’s all a mess, and things are only getting worse.

Maybe I need to start over. Maybe I need a new life. And maybe he does too.

But what about our marriage?

Unknown Binding

Published January 1, 2021

About the author

New Orleans born Sara Celi has lived all over the United States. She calls the Greater Cincinnati area and the Queen City home.

She has spent more than a decade working in journalism and broadcasting, with jobs both on-air and off-air at TV stations in Louisiana, Ohio, and Oklahoma. Her work has appeared in numerous online publications, magazines and newspapers, and she is a contributing author to Chicken Soup For The Soul: The Power of Positive.

Sara graduated cum laude from Western Kentucky University in 2004.

In her spare time, she likes to read, shop, write, travel, run long distances, volunteer with the Junior League, and fund raise for Cooperative for Education, a non-profit providing educational opportunities for Guatemalan kids.

Reviews

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vowed is a tragic story of a couple dealing with the death of a child. At 30 weeks a c-section is required and shortly after the baby dies. Elizabeth is struggling from pain and guilt believing she is at fault. Mark is also grieving but Elizabeth doesn't see it. So, she starts to withdraw and pushes Mark away until she finally wants a divorce. It will take a life threatening accident before she can see there is life ahead for her and Mark. But will they be able to get past the loss of a child.

People deal with grief in their own way. With Elizabeth you could see she was struggling, but so consumed by her own grief she couldn't see that Mark also was suffering. It is a wonderfully told story, I highly recommend it.

I received an ARC from NetGalley for an unbiased review.

[Brenda Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author does a beautiful job bringing this story , dealing with a sensitive subject. It's both heartbreaking and heartfelt as the story comes about. Her characters are strong and she moves it fluidly with her detailed and descriptive scenes and delivers an emotional story.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Reading to Escape · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vowed is an emotional story about loss, grief and love. Mark and Elizabeth had a wonderful relationship until their whole world changed unexpectedly. While both are struggling to cope, Elizabeth is struggling so much more (at least outwardly) and pushing Mark away in the process, leaving him even more devastated.

This was my first book by this author. I think it was really well written and tackled a very heavy topic and she did it well. I probably wouldn't consider this a romance book though in the typical sense. I did adore how devoted Mark was to Elizabeth throughout the story. The book alternates back and forth from the past to the present and from person to person each chapter which I was not the biggest fan of because I don't think it flowed as well as it could have, but the story in and of itself was meaningful.

[Michelle Blake · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

I feel it is inappropriate to say I enjoyed this read given the topics it covered. However, it gave me a different perspective dealing with the trauma of loss and for that, I am appreciative.

Mark and Elizabeth are a golden couple in Cincinnati - living their best lives and have successful careers. After trying to become pregnant, they find out that they are!! Everything seems to be moving along well until Elizabeth is 30 weeks pregnant and cannot stop getting sick. They rush her to the hospital and shortly their after, their daughter Frances is born. Frances only lives two weeks and then their world is shattered by her passing.

The story is a back and forth between then and now from both of their perspectives. This was my first book by this author, it will not be my last.

[Paula Elsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Wow! Wow!

Talk about an emotional book! This book had my emotions all over the place. Mark and Elizabeth had a great marriage. They fiercely loved each other and were waiting for the birth of their first child. But tragedy strikes and they lose their child. Each grieves in their own way, but not with each other. People often don’t know how to react when someone suffers a lost. Elizabeth tries to shut herself away from people. Mark, unable, to get through to Elizabeth, begins to work long hours. Elizabeth decides she wants a divorce even though Mark doesn’t. One of my pet peeves is when a book jumps from the past to the present. It didn’t bother me in this book because it was vital to the story. This is a wonderful book about love, lost, anguish, and redemption. I read this through Kindle Unlimited but will be buying my own copy.

[Ashley Hedden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vowed was an amazing book by Sara Celi. This book was a heartbreakingly beautiful tale of what can happen through a marriage, after experiencing an unimaginable loss. Mark and Elizabeth seemed to have the perfect life. But a few months ago, everything shattered and their world was turned upside down. Elizabeth has been sinking ever since their unimaginable loss and is succumbing to grief. Everything is a mess and seems to get worse each day. The only conclusion she can come to is that she needs to start over with a new life. She believes that Mark can find better than her and will do what she can to make sure he gets what he deserves. I absolutely loved this book, even when it tore my heart out and put it back together. I can’t wait to read more by the author.

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark and Elizabeth have the perfect life together until a tragic loss tears them apart. Elizabeth’s life is spiralling out of control as she is so consumed by her own grief over an unimaginable loss, that she does not take note that Mark is suffering just as much. Will these two be able to move past their loss and heal each other, or is it too late? This is a well written story which is an emotional roller coaster, which has tragedy, loss, grief, heartbreak, love, and is a heartfelt and all-consuming page turner. I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I recommend. This author has done an outstanding job with writing this storyline with such compassion and sensitivity.

[Danee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful but raw and emotional story of Elizabeth and Mark going through a tragedy together with the loss of a child. We are taken into processing their loss and also how they deal with it, you noticed that Elizabeth pulled back and completely disappeared in her grief and actually forgot that Mark was also grieving and mourning the loss of their daughter. Will they overcome this loss and can they heal together and find the support they actually seek in each other?
This story may be a trigger for some readers. The author has done this story justice and beautifully described and worded it.

I received an Advance Reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story focuses on a couple working through the loss of their baby and what that means for their relationship. It’s emotional, but not overdone. The writing is steady, and the characters feel real—especially in how they face the hard parts in ways that feel believable.

I appreciated how the couple’s connection was handled—it felt gradual and believable. Their grief shaped how they interacted, and the story gave space for that to shift over time, without pushing for resolution or relying on dramatic moments. If you’re looking for something that deals with grief and healing in a thoughtful way, this is worth picking up.

[Melissa Orton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a heartbreakingly beautiful tale of a couple who had the fairytale story and then real life happens. You follow as they navigate the very real life experience many couples go through and how they handle that grief. This was very realistic take on an unimaginable loss and how that loss in handled. I felt every emotion while reading this and was touched with how well Sara handled the topic. This is a new to me author and I'm already searching for my next read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a highly emotional read, so make sure you are prepared. Elizabeth and Mark go through the loss of their child and they cope (or not) in different ways. Elizabeth spirals, pushes Mark away and it takes something massive to bring them back from the brink of divorce…

While technically a romance, I wouldn’t quite class it that in the traditional sense. And, I did struggle with the flow a little… the transitions between past and present could have been a little better managed.
Otherwise, a heartfelt, and heartwrenching story of love and forgiveness.. Worth a read.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a touching emotional story. Mark and Elizabeth are trying to navigate through life after going through something tragic. I loved the love that Mark had for Elizabeth, and the fight he put up when she decided that their marriage wasn’t working anymore. This is a sensitive subject. But I felt the author told it so well that a lot of aspects were relatable and could be anyones story. I definitely recommend this book.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I made a vow to you on the night I married you. I made a promise. I told the world I wouldn’t leave you behind, and I would never walk away from you. I want to honor that commitment. I want us to start again. I want to keep trying.” 
It was a wonderful story about love, grief and promise. Maybe if you going true some hardship , it’s definitely good book to indulge


I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had this book on my tbr list for almost 2 years. I regret I waited so long. It was beautifully written and so hard to put down I finished it in 2 days which is very fast for me. I loved how she told the story from 2 perspectives and over different time periods. I’m looking forward to reading more of her works.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a good, and enjoyable inspirational romance read. The story has a good story line. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Rebecca Eastland · Rating 5 out of 5]

In sickness and in health

The characters in this book drew me into their world, and it shows how tragic moments can pull us apart or pull us together!

[sunny · Rating 2 out of 5]

alright, ending felt rushed

[Carole Copeland · Rating 1 out of 5]

No review

I saw the index and saw that this book keeps jumping from past to present. Not a fan. So skipping.

[Lynn Sell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of love, loss, and forgiveness. With this story, you see a young couple suffering with the loss of their baby. It focuses on the dual point of view where they are dealing with their grief in different ways which is truly separating them in their marriage. When an accident occurs, can they find their way back to each other and reclaim their marriage or is forgiveness not enough.