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Book Review with Quotes and Images can be found here: https://readingbeyondthebookcover.com/empty-vows-by-mary-monroe/

Empty Vows is a continuation of the Lexington, Alabama series by Mary Monroe and immediately picks up after the events from the ending of Mrs. Wiggins. I will not go into much detail because this is the second book in a series, and I don’t want to spoil anything. I will, however, tell you how I felt about the characters, writing style, and pacing because the setting was the same.

A fast-paced story isn’t what I expected from Empty Vows, but I also didn’t expect it to lag as much as it did. The pacing and overall storyline suffered because of the character development. It was very much, ‘I’m just here for the ride’.

There was no character growth and that was the most challenging part of my reading experience. I’m sure that’s why some members of my buddy reading group were left with a sour taste and a severe reading slump after powering through.

The thorny issue of my reading experience is the cyclic back and forth between characters. This constant motion is tiring and meandering. It felt as if we started each chapter just to be disappointed that nothing had progressed or changed.

When it comes to the author’s writing style, I’ve covertly mentioned it in my social posts before, but I’m making it plain now that I have difficulty deciphering whether the author is inserting herself when it comes to character dialogue. I believe I wouldn’t feel this way if I weren’t familiar with her biography or books on her backlist. Some of the comments regarding the body images of characters grinded my gears. Specifically speaking, characters larger in size or characters that have gained weight and those that aren’t easy on the eyes are foul-mouthed at each opportunity that presents itself. Move or look the ‘wrong way’ and someone has something to say.

Again, I’m not sure if the dialogue is based on the author’s perception or the characters’ feelings towards people who are large or ‘homely’ looking, but it reads that way when just about all the characters have something to say about someone’s appearance. I’m perceptive to dialogue that errs on fat-shaming because I am large. I can read between the lines and anytime I read that someone “needed to walk,” “put on some noticeable weight,” or wouldn’t be able to keep a partner because of their size, I grimaced. It’s cringey. If there was ONE character to speak like that, it wouldn’t have bothered me because I would have set it aside as part of their characterization. It was nearly ALL major characters and it wasn’t in a comical tone. Hence, it seems that the characters are all one-note, like-minded, and closed-minded. There’s little to no differentiation.

It’s not lost on me that people think this way. Hell, I’ve had my share of people automatically throwing around fat jokes or jabs when they aren’t creative enough to say anything else worth listening to. Fat people are lazy, have poor hygiene, are gluttonous, etc. People with ‘homely’ appearances are going to be alone. Sadly, these misconceptions are embedded. Passed down from generation to generation. It’s whack (lol).

Unfortunately, this was an issue in the last book, but even more of an issue in this one and it left a poor taste in my mouth.
Empty Vows is my least favorite book in the Lexington, Alabama series so far. I say ‘so far’ because as of the date this book review is published, there’s a 4th book set to release on March 26, 2024.

Empty Vows lacked the pacing and character development that was present in Mrs. Wiggins. If I am to recommend this book, I recommend it mostly to readers who are curious to know what happened after Mrs. Wiggins AND do not mind a meandering storyline without a plot. If you want to ‘just be there for the ride’, then give it a try. You may enjoy it more than I did. ( )

Good book with complicated issues set in the South in the late 1939. Liked the language. Don’t like to read book 2 rather than the first book. ( )

I did not enjoy this book. I thought it was silly and far fetched. Mildly entertaining. ( )

Empty Vows picks right up where Mrs. Wiggins, the first book in the series, left off. And, like its predecessor, Empty Vows is full of Deep South Depression-Era drama, with multi-layered characters who have big secrets and hidden agendas, and a plot that is not nearly as straightforward as it first seems. It’s a real, eye-opening look at how life was in those times, in that place, for those that were not part of privileged white society. Life in this time and place was harsh. There were rules to abide by and it was dangerous to break them. But life went on. This book portrays all that, and it is an intense read. But unfortunately the intensity was just a little too relentless and jarring for me to ever really enjoy the story, to feel I could relax into it, to find a character that I could truly like. There is a lot going on, a lot you see coming and wish you could stop, a lot you suspect but don’t know. Despair, sadness, and mistrust seem to hang over everything and everyone.

Thanks to Kensington Publishing, Between the Chapters, for proving an advance copy of Empty Vows for my honest review. It is well written, fast paced, and moving. I have no doubt fans of author Mary Monroe’s other work will love this series. All opinions are my own. ( )

This book just didn't have the same impact as the first book did. Mrs. Wiggins by Mary Monroe (If you have Amazon KU, then this book is free to borrow.) The first book had an interesting plot, proved how lies and deceit can lead down the wrong path, it explained how and why Maggie and Hubert got together. It had some historical inaccuracies, but that was not a big issue for me. I felt I had to read that book because I knew that THIS book was second in this series, and I received it as an ARC.

This book was just plain dull. It was filled with chapters of Hubert trying to find a new lover while Jessie was trying to snag Hubert. However, the best part of the book comes in the last two chapters when Blondeen shows her true colors.

ARC supplied by the publisher Kensington Books, Dafina, the author, and NetGalley books. ( )