Bent but Not Broken

by Mary Monroe

Overview

Brimming with unpredictable twists and scandals, the latest Depression-era Alabama novel from award-winning, New York Times bestselling author Mary Monroe tells of a mistreated wife who finally finds the love she's longed for—only to be plunged into deceit, betrayal, and murder . . .

As a young woman, Naomi Simmons grabbed her one chance to escape the overwhelming demands of her selfish family by marrying devout older man Jacob Purcell. But it only landed her with a controlling, unfaithful husband who delights in hurling insults at her and their troubled now-teenage daughter, Ethel Mae. So, Naomi is amazed and touched when Homer Clark sees her for the vibrant, intelligent woman she truly is. Believing the handsome, worldly widower is her love of a lifetime, Naomi plans to leave with Homer and start fresh in the big city . . .

Then Jacob suffers a debilitating stroke, and Naomi can't bring herself to abandon him. Unfortunately, Homer refuses to listen—or understand. Relieved when he leaves town and disappears, Naomi dedicates herself to the now-grateful Jacob’s care. And she feels truly delighted and blessed when Ethel Mae finally gets her life on track away from home—and comes back with good news . . .

But Ethel Mae’s surprise will shock Naomi to her core and threaten everything and everyone she holds most precious. With no one who can help her—or believe her—Naomi battles increasingly insidious mind games even as her world starts falling apart. Can she defeat what appears to be a twisted scheme against her? Or will she be forced into a devastating showdown that will leave no one undamaged—or standing?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781496743183
Publisher:	Kensington
Publication date:	03/25/2025
Series:	A Lexington, Alabama Novel , #5
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Mary Monroe is the award-winning and New York Times bestselling author of more than 20 novels, with over one million books in print. She is a three-time AALBC bestseller and winner of the AAMBC Maya Angelou Lifetime Achievement Award, the PEN/Oakland Josephine Miles Award, and the J. California Cooper Memorial Award. The daughter of Alabama sharecroppers, she taught herself how to write before going on to become the first and only member of her family to finish high school. She lives in Oakland, California and can be found online at MaryMonroe.org.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Mary Monroe
 
“Her willingness to do anything for her loved ones is relatable, and the emboldening influence of her desperation and the incremental gravity of her deceptiveness heighten the narrative’s mesmerizing effect. Although scenes of rape and sexual abuse shape Monroe's unflinching dramatization of difficult but important themes of sexuality, sexual trauma, and survival, they do not weigh down the story, but rather enrich its resonance.” —Booklist on Mrs. Wiggins
 
“Drama, suspense, small town charm…Mary Monroe packed it all into the finale of her beloved Neighbors series that transports readers back to 1930s Alabama.” —Woman’s World on Across the Way
 
“Monroe brings her exciting Neighbors trilogy to a dramatic and memorable conclusion, as she explores how social tension and conflict complicate jealousy and romance in an African American enclave in a small Alabama town during the Great Depression.” —Booklist on Across the Way
 
“In this first volume of her new series, New York Times bestselling author Monroe convincingly portrays a time and place where desperation is the norm.” —Library Journal on One House Over
 
“A very believable portrayal of the African American experience in a hard place at a hard time.” —Historical Novels Review on One House Over
 
“Mary Monroe is an exceptional writer and phenomenal storyteller!” —Kimberla Lawson Roby, New York Times bestselling author on One House Over
 
“Mary Monroe is a fantastic writer and has a real knack for creating characters with substance and dimension.” —This Black Girl Reads on Over the Fence
 
“Monroe brings the Deep South Prohibition-era world to life in a captivating tale of greed and consequences and primes readers to find out what happens among these complicated neighbors in the next book.” —Booklist on Over the Fence
 
“Monroe reveals sympathetic aspects and complex motivations for each character in this engrossing setting.” —Booklist on One House Over
 
“Mary Monroe deftly captures the steamy intrigues of her characters’ complicated lives in this Depression-era story that readers will find impossible to put down.” —Susan Holloway Scott, author of I, Eliza Hamilton, on One House Over

From the Publisher