A Vow Made Twice

Emma Denny‘s Barden Series has been a delight from the beginning, and the trilogy now ends with A Vow Made Twice. The eldest Barden sibling, Ash, has spent years haunted by the death of the love of his life, Oliver. But now Ash’s father is gone, leaving him the earl and in need of a wife, heirs, and the continuation of the family name. Ash comes to an arrangement with Agnes, a young widow, and the two agree to wed. But then Olly comes back into Ash’s life, alive and mostly well. What will Ash choose to do now that there are two people in his life? And what if there’s a third option that all three can be happy with?

What I Liked:

• Examining PTSD and suicidal ideation. A Vow Made Twice doesn’t shy away from heavier themes, starting with Ash’s mental state following the battle in France. It left him physically scarred, yes, but the (apparent) death of Olly was the far deeper wound. It’s 1346, so the term PTSD didn’t exist, but Ash is certainly suffering the effects regardless. He’s also actively plotting his suicide, once an heir has been born, at least. It’s hard to read about, but with time, Ash does begin to heal and see a happy future for himself.
• Gender dysphoria and nonbinary gender expression. Another beautifully explored theme is Agnes’s experience with gender. Ever since she was young, being a “girl” or “woman” has never felt exactly right, and she secretly dresses in men’s clothing when she can. I enjoyed seeing her navigate gender identity, how Ash and Olly help out and support Agnes, and how another character who is trans (plus stories about transgender people in history) offer new ideas on authentic gender expression.
• Throuple! Ash and Agnes are getting married… but Ash’s lover, Olly, is back in his life. Agnes is okay with her husband having a lover, but how long until new romantic feelings begin to arise? I loved seeing how all three characters navigate their rapidly changing relationships. Bit by bit, Agnes feels less like a third wheel and more like a part of this partnership. I haven’t read many books with polyamory or specifically a throuple, but I loved seeing how the relationship unfolded here.

Final Thoughts

I’ve loved all three books, but A Vow Made Twice is my favorite of the Barden trilogy! This is a perfect blend of deeper emotions, evolving relationships, and a new concept of what love and family can look like, all within a medieval setting. I’m so excited to read whatever is next for Emma Denny.

Special thanks to Harper 360 and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

Get the Book

You can buy A Vow Made Twice here – it’s available as a paperback, ebook, and audiobook.

A Vow Made Twice by Emma Denny
Series	The Barden Series (#3)
Audience	Adult
Genre	Historical Romance
Setting	England
Number of Pages	432
Format I Read	Ebook (NetGalley ARC)
Original Publication Date	February 17, 2026
Publisher	HQ

Official Summary

The heart-stopping new love story from Emma Denny, following beloved characters from One Night in Hartswood and All the Painted Stars.

*****

‘Achingly thoughtful, wonderfully romantic, complex, and tender, Denny’s world and characters leap off the page and tug at your heart’ EMMA R. ALBAN

‘Sweet, steamy, and fantastically queer’ C.E. MCGILL

🏹🏹🏹

Haunted by love. Bound by duty.

After inheriting his father’s title, Earl Ash Barden has no choice but to find a wife to ensure the family line. But Ash has pledged himself to another, and making new vows – even with his lover long-since dead – feels like the ultimate betrayal to his memory.

Skilled bowman and unconventional widow Agnes Forrett wants two things: to be true to herself, and to avoid marrying the childhood friend her family is determined will take her hand. When Ash arrives in her keep, she realises he’s the perfect choice to grant her the freedom she needs to be the person she is – be that lady, lord, or something else entirely.

Agreeing to enter a marriage of convenience, their plan is set … until a roadside attack thrusts a familiar face back into Ash’s life, and with it a choice about his future. Whilst his feelings for the ghost from his past remain as strong as ever, he can’t deny his growing affection for Agnes too. Now Ash must ask himself: can one heart truly be pledged to two people?

🏹🏹🏹

Readers are falling hard for A Vow Made Twice:

‘A steamy, addictive read with compelling characters and delicious drama – Denny’s best yet’ Hari Conner

‘I feel like I’ve been waiting for this forEVER. I’m a little sad the series is now over…but this is such a good ending!’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A delightful finale to one of my favourite historical romance series of all time! Sweet, steamy, and fantastically queer, A Vow Made Twice is a beautifully romantic tale’ C. E. McGill

Filled with all your favourite tropes:

❤️‍🔥 Love triangle? Nope. This is ‘why choose?’
💍 Marriage of convenience where you both develop feelings for his ex …
💗 Second chance romance
👨🏻‍👩🏻‍👧🏻 Battling gender and constricting family expectations
🐕 Emotional support dogs
💌 A lord, a lady, and a thief. What could go wrong?