Look, I don’t know if I was just in dire need of an angsty romance or what, but this book played my feels like a fiddle. A dry eye? I don’t know her.

While this is a romance between two people who show up to a literal party with all of their baggage in tow, it is also a story about family, healing, acceptance and love. Lately, I’ve been shying away from angsty romances because they can be a lot, but this one hit the sweet spot by having the angst feel warranted and true to the characters. Also, the book is set in a run-down vineyard and one of the main characters is a botanist, so my “I wish I had a green thumb” self was living for all of the plant talk.

Pick up if you’re looking for:
-open door romance
-angst
-our baggage doesn’t match
-TENSION
-big loving family vibes
-multiple mentions of cheesesteaks
-light farm animal drama

CW: anxiety attacks, PTSD, childhood neglect, cheating (not the main couple), loss of a patient

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Well, this was just fantastic! This story follows two characters, Rowan and Harry, who fall in love and have to overcome the struggles from their pasts. It is extremely well-written, and all of the characters are dynamic and engaging. I enjoyed reading both points of view, and it was incredibly satisfying to see Rowan and Harry's relationship progress. This book takes place over a long span of time, and the author conveys that passage of time very well. It also makes the relationship between Rowan and Harry feel even more realistic, because love can take time, and many other aspects of life can get in the way. I absolutely adored Harry's large family, and even though there are many characters to remember, most of them are unique enough to stand out on their own. (I hope the author decides to write future novels about two other pairings that were hinted at in this book.) All in all, this was a very impressive debut and might just be the best adult romance novel I have read thus far!

“That ache you feel, still wanting more? I feel it too, but for me it’s about more than physiological release. We could do every sex act known to humankind, but if that is all I ever have of you, I will spend the rest of my life wanting more.” He dragged a hand over his mouth. “Christ, I think I already will.”

There's a large part of me that wants to rate this as 5 stars because both the story and the writing are beautiful, but the wordiness of the text holds me back from doing so. Still - this is a phenomenal debut, and I'm excited to read more from Devon in the future. It's a love story that centers around two people who need to love themselves again before they have any chance of a future together. I swooned over the determination of this hero, a man who is all in and unabashedly a relationship type of guy. He is book boyfriend-worthy for sure. I loved his persistence and unrelenting desire for the commitment-phobic heroine. While obvious desire sparks between them, they have very different opinions on what they should do about their attraction. Watching them slowly - agonizingly slowly - come together over the course of nearly a year was a fulfilling journey... if not a frustrating one.

The story follows Rowan, a botanist who has found herself temporarily staying at a vineyard. She's never experienced real love - romantic or familial - so spending time with a close-knit family has her vastly out of her element. At least it's only temporary. But the attraction that sparks between Rowan and Harrison feels familiar - she knows what to do with lust. Except Harrison refuses to give in to the physical side of their relationship. While they trade glances and tiny moments together on the vineyard, Harrison has his own healing to do. And he's never been a casual sort of guy, while permanence terrifies Rowan. As the two dance around their feelings, it's a battle to see who will surrender first.

Straddling the line between women's fiction and romance, this is a love story first and foremost, featuring two people who have some work to do on themselves. The tone is serious and somber for the most part, with a few lighthearted (and a few steamy) moments sprinkled in. Devon's writing really is gorgeous - there's a reason why so many readers are complimenting it - though I did find it to be a little dense and wordy sometimes. There are many descriptions of mundane tasks and situations around the vineyard that had me skimming on occasion. But every time Rowan and Harrison's chemistry sparked, my eyes were glued to the pages. I loved the bond between them, and the story itself is refreshingly different from the norm. Kinda frustrating, but I liked it. I sometimes struggle with third person perspective, so readers who prefer that might have an easier time staying engaged. It's not an easy or quick story, but it feels rich and full, making an impact by the end. It should also be noted that there are several potentially triggering elements slowly revealed throughout the story, so keep that in mind as you're reading. There's a whole lot to love about this, and the quiet, tender love story is truly a unique one. I received an early copy, and am voluntarily leaving a review of this emotional romance.

Bend Toward the Sun is a wonderful romantic story. Rowan and Harry both have issues, including one of them being afraid of spiders, and somehow they know how to help each other get thru the roadblocks. I loved the whole idea of a family starting the adventure of building a winery and bed and breakfast. Definitely pulls all the right strings.

Oh Jen Devon. Where have you been my whole life?
This story you created from two people that had been broken by their pasts, was truly a work of art. Beautifully written with an amazing setting and banter with tension that you could chew on. This definitely did not read like the debut it was.

Harry and Rowan were 2 characters brought together by Harry's family and Rowan's friends. These two had pasts that they were still dealing with in the present and that affected their choices they were making in life now. Broken and flawed characters that came together and had instant chemistry they couldn't deny. But Rowan could only give so much of herself and Harry wanted it all. How could these two work if they couldn't get on the same page?

Bend Toward the Sun was set on an old, work-in-progress vineyard that the Brady family (Harry's parents) had recently bought, but were in over their heads. When they hire Rowan to be in charge of all things having to do with the life of the grapes/vines/vineyard, she feels more at home on this piece of land than she has her whole life. But Rowan hasn't known love like what she gets from the Bradys and she keeps them at an arm's length so she can't get hurt again.

Harry, meanwhile is an OB that recently lost a patient and takes the blame for that life he lost. He ran away from his job to be near the people that he cares and loves the most because they almost support one another. When he meets Rowan, neither one of them is ready for what they ignite in one another and they try to fight it.

I absolutely loved the push and pull and major tension between Harry and Rowan. It was always there and at times even got a bit frustrating because we could see what they had, but they wouldn't give in to. And the setting? WOW! what can I say about the setting but it was lush and beautiful and became a character in itself in the story. Along with the secondary characters, this story was balanced well all throughout. I got frustrated a little bit with some actions of characters, but it was Harry's parents that really brought it all together in the end. I'm a big fan of the sage older characters that give the best advice.

Overall, this was an excellent debut that was filled with angst, sexual tension and fabulously developed characters. I can only hope that some of them get their own stories because this story allowed for it to be set up in such a way. Cross your fingers for more from Ms Devon. This is a perfect summer read!

I enjoyed the sheer romance of this novel. You had Rowan, who had been burned by her mom & a past lover & didn't really understand what love could be. Then there was Harry, a man that was from a loving family but had also been burned by a former lover & lost a patient early in his medical career. When they get together, sparks fly but Rowan is in complete denial. Harry's family also has beautiful romances in it & some potential for future books with Rowan's friends & a couple of Harry's brothers. Highly recommend reading this book for the setting as much as the love story.

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

Title: Bend Toward the Sun
Author: Jen Devon
Publisher: St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Four
Review:
"Bend Toward the Sun" by Jen Devon

My Assessment:

'Bend Toward the Sun' was quite an emotional, unique, and enjoyable storyline that featured Rowan McKinnon and Harrison Brady, who both had real-life issues. Rowan was a botanist hired to help restore a vineyard that needed much care, and Harrison, a doctor back home seeking refuge from a traumatic experience that had happened to him while living in LA. What will happen when these two meet at a turning point in their lives with all the baggage they carry? The characters, especially the Brady family and Rowan's two best friends, were enjoyable with all the bantering in the story. Indeed this was a story of 'how love can hurt us and also how it can heal us.'

Be ready for a beautiful love story that was 'romantic, satisfying, sensual and unforgettable' that would be recommended to read.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced e-book in exchange for my honest review.

Bend Toward the Sun is such a beautiful story of love and growth. I have absolutely fallen in love with Harry and his family and I cannot wait (and hope) for more from them! Rowan was such a unique heroine. She begins working at the vineyard that Harry's family newly owns- this is after an awkward and interesting meet cute between Rowan and Harry.
Rowan and Harry have so much pain and hurt in their past which gets in the way as they begin to fall for one another. Watching these two realize their feelings for one another was so beautiful, but also so painful since their pasts kept coming back to get in the way of their feelings. Both characters have such amazing growth by the end and I loved to see it! I highly recommend reading this one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

BEND TOWARD THE SUN by Jen Devon is an absolute stunner of a book. It is pure romance with a big lyrical, beautiful heart. Rowan and Harry are complex characters whose tension lit up the pages, all set against a backdrop of a complex setting in its own right (the vineyard). To put it simply: Rowan is a botanist who needs to be published in order to move her career forward, and Harry is a doctor who recently lost one of his patients. They’re brought together when Harry’s parents decide to use some of their retirement savings to open a bed and breakfast on a vineyard. Rowan ends up working for the Bradys (adore this family!), and Harry is there to emotionally recover after what he had just been through. There’s such heartbreaking pain from these characters’ pasts, but it was a pleasure watching them grow and find their way to each other. Gentle humor is infused throughout the deeply emotional instances, providing well-timed relief. I also thought the vineyard botany knowledge was very interesting! All around, a beautifully-written book that will warm your heart from the inside out.

I am excited for more by Jen Devon. It took me a bit to get into this one but once I was in.. I was in!

This book moves at a slower pace than I typically prefer, but I loved it. I’d describe it more as lush, rather than slow—one I didn’t mind taking my time with.

The writing here is so good!! I felt the emotion of the characters, and loved getting to know them. The romance, the family dynamics, the atmosphere … it was all so wonderful!

I always enjoy finding new-to-me authors who write the types of books that just seem to hit the mark for me. But wait, this is not just an author who is new to me, this is Jen Devon’s debut novel. Let me just say that if this is her debut novel, I cannot wait to see what her second, third, and fourth (et cetera) novels are like!

Bend Toward the Sun is beautifully written, intelligent, emotional, touching, romantic, and it made me want to go outside and play around in my flower beds. Through the author’s vivid descriptions, I was able to visualize every location, plant, and blossom.

A big factor in enjoying a novel is liking its characters. Rowan and Harry were intellectual, flawed, troubled, and very likeable. Do I want to read about perfect characters who are issue-free? Absolutely not. Give me characters who have hurdles to get over, realistic and normal feelings, and who I will root for from page one. Even the secondary cast of characters were well done and intriguing.

I loved the interactions, banter, and back and forth between Rowan and Harry. I appreciated that the author took her time in developing their relationship. It never felt rushed or forced. They were each dealing with their own issues, and she allowed the reader to get to know them, to feel their attraction, apprehension, and desire to heal.

I enjoyed Bend Toward the Sun from beginning to end. It had a wonderful story, a great cast of characters and, if I were a betting woman, I would be willing to bet that there could be more books about the other characters. The author had certainly piqued my interest in them, and I would definitely like to have a few more trips back to the Brady’s vineyard to discover more about them.

*4.5 Stars

I'm the outlier who feels like she read a different novel than everyone else. The beginning of this goes wham into a hide and seek game that turns into a sort of steamy fantasy for Rowan about the stranger in the greenhouse. Turns out he's Harry, one of the five Brady brothers (seriously) and he's come back to PA from California. Rowan and Harry are both hurting from professional and romantic setbacks but come together to work at the vineyard his parents bought. She's a botanist who just happens to specialize in issues for orchards and vineyards. He's an OB who lost a patient and his confidence- and walked away from his hospital (talk about tanking your career). She had a rotten assistant and a horrible ex fiance. Fans of the genre know they will heal each other with the help of their friends (on Rowan's side) and family (on Harry's). I appreciate the sensitivity with which Harry's anxiety is portrayed- that's a plus. I think I would have enjoyed this more had it started differently, less frantically but it is what it is. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I was wholly surprised by the emotions that this story evoked for me. To be honest, I read the synopsis a while ago but I never remember it when I sit down to read the actual book. So I go in cold, giving myself the opportunity to be immersed in the characters and the story. Rowan and Harrison were these two people carrying heavy loads, like the Louis Vuitton of baggage. Rowan didn't trust anyone except for her friends Frankie and Temperance because they were constants, each others' ride or die. She had no context for true romantic love so the feelings she had for Harrison were superficial. She didn't allow herself more. She was in a constant state of vulnerability.

"Her inner fortress was really just a Jenga tower made of cheap glass..."

Harrison was grieving his first real loss as an OB doc that left him questioning his future. The two spent a year sprucing up his family's new venture--a vineyard and bed & breakfast. Every day that they spent together brought Harrison clarity. She was the person he was meant to spend the rest of his life with.

They each tried to dictate the paths the other was traversing when really the only way to show love was to love each other without trying to change a thing. They both showed love in different ways. His was more outwardly vocalized, the "I love yous" spoken; hers was in the things she said and did.

I truly enjoyed the characters, and the tears and laughter that resulted in immersing myself in their story.

I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.

What an emotional story! I was completely absorbed into the story by the second chapter. Harrison and Rowan's relationship was beautifully written. The characters were relatable & felt very real. I loved the relationships between Harry's family & Rowan's friends. The book was both fun & emotional. I will definitely look for more books by this author. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Botanist Rowan McKinnon and obstetrician Harrison Brady meet during a family tradition at his parents new vineyard. Both have come to Pennsylvania carrying a lot of baggage and looking for a place to regroup.

This book is a combination of women's fiction and slow burn romance. It's told in dual point of view alternating chapters between Rowan and Harry. I enjoyed the scenes with Harry's large family.

The story has plenty of angst and emotion. It deals with some heavier topics such as grief and mental health. The story was also steamier than I expected. The first part of the book started off slow for me but the second half really picked up and I liked seeing Rowan and Harry work out their issues and find love. Thank you to the publisher for my e-copy of this book.

This book was just okay for me. I don't think this is the kind of romance I enjoy. The foul language was overly used. The characters seemed to either be talking about or thinking about sex. I wanted more well rounded characters with other things going on in their lives. I think I am in the minority with my review, so read others and see what you think.

The story was left for future Brady sibling books to come.

I'm torn between 3.5 and 4 stars for this one. This is the story of Rowan and Harry, who have the cutest meet-cute. I really enjoyed the beginning of this story and I loved the sort of insta-love. However, about halfway through the book, I was sort of annoyed at Rowan's constant I don't want love story line. But by the end, it redeemed itself. I enjoyed the sciencey parts of the book and the vineyard talk - I want a glass of Cab Sauv now! And I also enjoyed the games, banter, overall story line and the way more serious stuff was tackled but I was a bit annoyed by Rowan and found her a little hard to relate to. Still, this was a really nice romance and one of the best meet-cutes I've read recently. If I could have just read the first 30%, it would have been 5 stars for me!

“Bend Toward the Sun” by Jen Devon
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Release Date: 8/9
Genre: Contemporary Romance

I loved it! I had zero expectations as I haven’t heard a lot about this one. Started it Friday and finished Saturday night! It was filled with lots of emotions. Friendship, love, family, growth, and aspirations. I would definitely recommend.

Rowan has her PHD in Botany and has been living on her best friends couch for too long. She has a failing history around love and commitment. When her friend Temperance puts in her resume to her sisters family new Vineyard her life changes. At first she wants to decline the job. Her path was a life in academia. Then she meets the Brady’s and their passion for this new adventure. They know very little about having a successful vineyard, but they believe with Rowan’s help they can be successful.
Harry is home with his family after having a tragic patient lose and needed to reset. He feels likes some time away can give him the direction he needs in life. He isn’t expecting to meet Rowan. While Rowan is afraid of love Harry thrives knowing it’s possible. Can these that want very different things in life come together?

I couldn't put this book down even though I was overall unsatisfied with it. This sweeping story is high angst with complex, deeply flawed characters who make mistakes right up until the end.

I honestly wasn't even rooting for them by the end, even though I was invested in all the drama and self-destruction the characters were experiencing. And I definitely cried. The third act conflict was extremely long but I do need to give props for surprising me; it did not go the way I expected at all.

Harrison is an OBGYN and there were several comments/jokes about how that makes him uniquely qualified to be good at sex; and that was a hard NO for me!

CW: traumatic birth, death of a parent, sexual content, panic attacks