A very good romance! I would give this a 3.5. First, I listened to the audio version of the book. Sometimes a narrator can rub me the wrong way, and unfortunately, the female narrator did. I found her to be too rhythmic (sing-songy) and breathy, at times. I believe if I read this in text, I would have enjoyed it more.

That being said, the plot was a little bit unbelievable but the author made it work. I loved Harry and Rowan, two imperfect people with painful pasts who saw in each other a kindred spirit. Harry’s giant family was wonderful, especially his parents, and the 40 year marriage they used as a model for their lucky brood.

I’d love to give this book another read via paper or kindle.

Thank you to Net Galley for an advance audio version in exchange for my honest review.

Reading this book felt like receiving a warm hug. I enjoyed the characters and the development of their relationship.

I found at parts my focus drifted and I didn’t feel the urge like I had to know what’s next but was perfectly content listening throughout.

Overall, very enjoyable!

BEND TOWARD THE SUN is an emotional, angsty romance between two people with a lot to work through.

Botanist Rowan McKinnon is finishing up her PhD when her career progress is suddenly stalled by data issues; obstetrician Harrison Brady is dealing with anxiety & panic attacks after having lost a patient. Both also have experienced pain in their romantic lives.

This book started off so strong for me. Their meet-cute is fun and I was fully drawn in. But I've got to be honest: I'm just not the biggest fan of angst, especially when inner conflict leads to communication issues. Of course, I don't hold that against the book -- it's just a mismatch between the book and me. I liked so much else here; I'm really looking forward to whatever Jen Devon writes next (and hoping it features these same characters; what a great cast she introduced).

The audiobook narration by Erin Mallon and Chris Brinkley was fantastic. Casting Brinkley felt particularly apt given that this book reminded me of the Winston Brothers series, which he also narrated! This was an instance in which I meant to switch between the text and the audio, and wound up mostly listening to the book, because the audio production was that good.

Audiobook: Bend Toward the Sun
Author: Jen Devon
Audiobook Narrators: Chris Brinkley and Erin Mellon
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Chick Lit
Pub Date: August 9, 2022
Rating: 2.5 Stars

Rowan McKinnon and Harrison Brady are both a bit broken ~ their story is one of second chances.
Rowan McKinnon is a Botany PHD student at Cornell. She had submitted her Dissertation; only was asked to defend some of the data. Yikes after all that work this was a major setback.

Harrison Brady is an obstetrician and is struggling after losing a patient. He decides perhaps some time away from LA and a stay at his parent’s newly refurbished vineyard in Pennsylvania might be helpful.

Rowan just happens to be in the same vineyard doing some restoration on the grapes ~ her thoughts are perhaps in bring back the grapes she may also restores something in herself.

These two find themselves face to face, in an adult game of hide and seek which is a party tradition at any Brady family event.

As you knew already these two are definitely drawn together.

I am not a romance fan but sometimes a nice sweet Hallmark type story is a fun easy read.
However, since I have a low tolerance for nasty language ~ I thought ~ “Oops ~ this isn’t working for me.
II haven’t watched a Hallmark special in some time I am hoping they haven’t changed to this ‘new’ romance!

I know some authors are targeting a young audience who will just love this!

Although this wasn’t an enjoyable read for me, I did like the audiobook narrators. I liked that they carried on conversations with each other.

Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this Audio eGalley.
Publishing Date scheduled for August 9, 2022

Rowan meets Harrison Brady when she is playing hide and seek. She gets to know him when she takes a job helping his family restore an old orchard. Harrison is escaping his past and Rowan is so damaged by her past that she just doesn’t believe in love.

It starts with him wanting her but she doesn’t want him. Then she does want him but he wants more and, for reasons she’d rather not explain, she can’t give it to him. He leaves and she realizes what she lost, but he’s already gone. To get him back she’s willing to dig up the old memories and explain to Harry just what happened so they can find a way to work it out. If only he would answer her calls!

This book reminds me of a saying I’ve heard before- “They fell in love slowly and then all at once.” Once she explained what happened to her and he explained what happened to him their relationship could move forward. I also really liked that Harry’s family just accepted her as one of their own, it was so sweet!

Bend Toward the Sun
Jen Devon
4⭐️

Rowan McKinnon doesn’t believe in love. With a botany PhD, two best friends who embrace her social quirkiness she has everything she needs. She does not expect to meet a man like Harrison Brady.

Harrison is obstetrician profoundly struggling after losing a patient and no longer believes he’s capable of keeping people safe. He does not expect to meet a woman like Rowan McKinnon.

Bend Toward the sun was a beautifully written, well paced, messy & emotional love story. I enjoyed the gorgeous lush setting, the steamy romance and the many LOL moments. I enjoyed Rowan and Harrison. Two broken but realistic characters that meet in the most unexpected way. The side characters added so much to the story. I adored Temperance and Frankie. Everyone needs supportive besties like them. And that Fam! 😍 I always fall in love with the big, loud families. Devan definitely wowed me with this debut and I look forward to reading more of her work.

Read if you enjoy;
🍷 Angsty second chance romance
🍷 Big lovable families
🍷 Vineyards
🍷 Stem rep/Botany

I was lucky enough to receive both a digital and audio ARC. I alternated between the two as I read and would happily recommend either/both formats!

Bend Toward the Sun comes out 8/9/22. Pre-order a copy, pour a glass 🍷 and enjoy this lovable debut.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this story. It was so real and raw and really addressed the emotions two people would go through with each of the characters backgrounds.

As he pines, she pushes back and fights her own feelings. As she expresses love in her own way. The only way she knows, he gets frustrated with feeling that he is alone in the relationship. I don't normally enjoy the "miscommunication" trope, but I think this puts a more realistic and less frustrating spin to the plot. There was a grumpy/sunshine feelbto this, though I feel like at different points they were both grumpy and sunshine. If you are looking for more STEM rep, this book has you covered as well. Jen Devon does such a wonderful job with the imagery for the setting!
I adored the ending and found myself really tearing up as truths are told and feelings are felt.
I NEED MORE BOOKS FOLLOWING THE OTHER BRADY MEN

This is honestly one of the very best books I have EVER read, or listened to! It’s going to be very difficult to compare anything else to this experience, or recover from the beauty, the heartbreak and recovery, and everything else experienced throughout this enchanting debut novel from Jen Devon!

Rowan and Harry are imperfect people, but perfect for each other. She is having some school issues (working on her PhD, trying to publish and get into post-doc programs), and he is an obstetrician finishing residency, just lost a patient and his confidence is gone. She’s gone to visit with friends, and he’s gone to his family’s new vineyard to recover… which is the same place. They don’t hit it off well, and are warned off each other - but we all know where that sort of thing leads!

I first saw this book about five months ago scrolling through Audible’s upcoming releases, and even with no cover, the two simple things catching my attention were the beautiful blurb, and the two narrators listed - Erin Mallon and Chris Brinkley. These two are my absolute top two favorites, and they have never done a project together. I was sold right then and there! This sounded perfect, so to finally get it in my ears (and I had the ebook to read along too), this was just the best day ever!

Even being a 10+ hour listen, I took my time and spent a full day together with these characters and my favourite voices and got completely lost in the story. Erin told Rowan’s story as if it were her own words (and I frequently forgot that she wasn’t narrating her own book), and Chris, talking frequently (as Harry/Harrison) about being in The Valley, I forgot it wasn’t a different Valley that he usually narrates and he wasn’t currently a member of that family. Perfect performances by both of my favourite narrators, as you can always count on. I cannot wait to return and listen again. I also can’t wait for her next book - and hope she gets these two again!

I absolutely, 1000% recommend this book, especially the audio, to absolutely everybody! It’s a beautiful, heartbreaking but inspiring, love story for the ages! The characters have flaws and suffered traumas but together, they are able to heal and find themselves, and love again. Completely beautiful and perfect. Jen Devon’s writing is brilliant and you would never believe this is her debut with how it flows and the character development throughout. Complete perfection. If I could rate higher than 5-stars, I totally would!

I received an advance review and advance listen copy from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin and Macmillan Audio, and this is my honest feedback.

Bend Toward the Sun by Jen Devon was a very enjoyable read. I was deeply intrigued by Rowan's backstory and could relate to it quite well, which allowed me to believe her experiences throughout the book. There was so much detail that went into the botany parts that, while adding to her credibility, I was sometimes bored with because I'm not that into plants. Overall, I rooted for Rowan and loved seeing her growth.

While I understand Harry's backstory, I just didn't find that it added all that much to his development. I found his reactions to his past over the top and thought "Really?? You're a doctor!" more than once. I also didn't see the point of the storyline about Cora's sister; it was never resolved. However, I did appreciate how things were tied together in the end for him.

I loved that consent was discussed and normalized! I really enjoyed the romance between Harry and Rowan and how descriptive it was. Jen Devon mastered it beautifully.

Erin Mallon spoke much too fast in a very dramatic and unnatural way. There were times when I was missing dialogue and scene changes because I couldn't follow what she was saying well enough to be able to stay in the scene. It was also difficult to tell the difference between the characters. At one point, three women were having a conversation and, until I stopped the book to process, I swore it was two characters. Jen Devon did make a point to put everyone's names in quite frequently, but because of Erin's speed, I just couldn't keep up.

Chris Brinkley was more soothing to listen to as he spoke more deliberately with an easier cadence. I was more engrossed with the story when he was narrating, which was a surprise because I not only liked Rowan so much, but I also prefer women narrators.

I give Bend Toward the Sun 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. If someone else narrated Rowan, it would have likely been a solid 5.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ARC.

Included as a top pick in bimonthly August New Releases post, which highlights and promotes upcoming releases of the month (link attached)

***

Content Note: [neglectful parent, grief, toxic ex-relationship, loss of patient during childbirth (hide spoiler)]

I generally have restrained/low expectations for debut romance novels, but BEND TOWARD THE SUN blew me away. Honestly, there isn't much of a plot besides what's mentioned in the blurb (I say this as a compliment), so I'm not going to bother summarizing the premise. You don't need me to regurgitate or spoil plot points.

All you need to know: there is yearning of two people unable to resist each other's magnetic field. It's a deliciously angsty book featuring messy, grieving characters. I loved it, flaws and all. One of the more romantic books I've read in recent memory.

I realize BEND TOWARD THE SUN doesn't come out for another eight months (sorry!), but definitely add to your TBR if the premise sounds appealing. Recommended for fans of Cara Bastone and Kate Clayborn.

A few disorganized comments:

1) I am amused by the (not one, not two) THREE obvious setups for sequel bait. Love it. Never change, romance authors.

2) I am the Queen of Bitching About Bad Pacing, so I'll give this book its flowers. Yes, there is an (understandable and well-deserved, imo) third-act breakup, but the reconciliation isn't abrupt and the story doesn't end straight away. Hallelujah! Overall, I was really impressed by the pacing — the book spans an entire year, and the gradual friendship-to-benefits-to-lovers made me believe that the MCs would last as a couple. The end scene was a perfect full-circle moment to the meet-cute.

3) As someone who attended the same college as Rowan and also lived in Philadelphia, this book hit way too close to home, lol. I do appreciate the Pennsylvania rep, 'cause we rock! Even though I had no idea we had vineyards so close to the city. 😅

4) I simply will never get tired of "orphaned/lonely heroine is welcomed into the arms of hero's boisterous and adoring family." Bonus points for heroine trying to avoid that love for as long as she can, because she doesn't think that she's deserving of it (or because it'll hurt too much when the relationship ends). As I said: the angst is exquisite.

5) I didn't know a thing about botany before reading and now I am obsessed with grape caretaking and reviving damaged vineyards. No idea how accurate the science rep is, but it was very accessible and interesting to readers unfamiliar to the topic. Also: that greenhouse ("too nice?") sex scene was very hot and I need more botany books now, please.

This is a stunning debut novel. It is beautifully written, with dreamy prose that evokes a reverence to nature. Objectively, there is so much to love - a big and loving family, growth, botany, a vineyard setting - but subjectively, this just wasn't my favorite, mainly because there was too much angst for my preference.

The story follows Rowan and Harry as they work through the struggles of their pasts and attempt to sow a future together. I enjoyed how the dual narration on the audiobook really enhanced the story.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an advance reader copy!

Such an amazing debut novel from Jen Devon! This book had me hooked from the first page until the last. Packed with love, loss, growth, amazing family dynamics and a bit of 🌶! I loved every bit of this book and hope we see more books in this world!

I adored the audio narration! I felt immersed in the story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I love Erin Mallon. She is a great narrator! I’ve listened to tons of her audiobooks.

However, the male narrator was so bad. He kept using a really strange southern accent for each of the different characters and none of these characters are Southern so it really pulled me out of the story and made it hard to listen to.

I did however really enjoyed the book over all besides the male narrator.

Thank you @netgalley @macmillan.audio @kisscrafter for the ALC in exchange for honest review..

🤔 Have you ever read a book loved it and wanted more?

Rating 5/5☆
Audiobook
384 pages
Pub day August 9th, 2022 - preorder it
St Martin's Griffin
Gr avg. 4.44/5⭐

⚠️ WARNING (spoilerish?!?)

I am now obsessed with the trope where the guy falls hard and first! This is a tender steamy story and really hope it turns into a duet or series I want more from both of them. I loved their growth separately and how they found their way back to eachother. What a beautiful story it had me crying laughing out loud and swooning HARD. Will absolutely need a copy for my forever shelf.

Suggest picking it up

I'm so in love with this debut! I generally don't always love angst for angst sake but this book has such a wonderful amount of it and it all comes internally and no external wild plot points. I really appreciated that and it's something I don't even notice until I'm actually reading it.

Rowan has to revise and resubmit her thesis for her botany PhD and Harry is home for a while because he's trying to figure out his life and on break from his Medical residency. The two and a meet-disaster where there are major sparks between the two of them. Rowan is heavily resistant to having any type of relationship and doesn't get why they can't just have an emotionless fling of sorts. However, Harry can't fathom having that sort of fling and his emotions are already involved by the time they even discuss this. They keep circling around this issue even as they are getting to know each other and work together on Harry's parents vineyard. And I loved this because every time they got closer and closer to having what they both needed and wanted. Although of course it's not that easy.

I also loved all of the secondary characters. Harry's family was so great because they felt like a real family - complicated because each of the relationships were different but they obviously were all close. His parents were my favorite for sure. Rowan's friends were also pretty excellent as support too. I want so many sequels for different people!

The romance was just...so romantic. And angsty because of just emotions the two MCs bring with them from their own baggage. And this was sexy AF.

Bend Toward The Sun is an emotional, angsty story about Rowan McKinnon, a botanist, who believes in science over love and emotions. Her past has shown her that the one thing she can rely on is science, so she sticks to no-stings attached hook ups instead of relationships. Then she (literally) runs into Harrison Brady during a game of flashlight tag and her world seems to shift. Harrison is an OB who is struggling to find his way after the loss of a patient. He returns to the family farm to help get control of his crushing anxiety and figure out what he wants. When Rowan ends up working at the family farm, Rowan and Harrison see a lot more of each other than expected. Their sizzling connection will challenge everything they both know and test Rowan's resolve not to get attached.

So, let me start by saying that I have read so many great reviews of this book that I went in with high expectations. An in many ways this book met those. But I also felt like it was missing something for me. The story spent a lot of time with Rowan and Harrison arguing but not a lot of time doing anything to move the story forward, I felt. I had wished there had been something more in the middle section of the book that was propelling the story more than just their angst and past (which we don't really learn the full extend of until much later).

I love damaged characters, that have histories and back story that make them, whole, layered people and this book really brought that out. Rowan and Harrison's stories were interesting and complex and their banter was fun and definitely kept me listening.

But at times I found Rowan's stubbornness off putting and while I generally loved Harrison throughout the book, the way he handles things at the end had me eye rolling him. So while I know this book will resonate strongly with others, it just wasn't for me. I do hope that Jen Devon continues with this world and writes stories for Harrison's siblings because I was dying to know all about them.

I listened to the audio book and the narration was amazing. I LOVE Erin Mallon and was so excited when I saw she was reading this one. I am not sure I have listened to anything with Chris Brinkley before but he also did a great job voicing the chapters by Harrison. This is read in dual narration and both narrators bring so much emotion and life to the story that it was a great listening experience.

I would give the overall story 3.5 stars but the narration and listening experience are outstanding.

Thank you to MacMillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for the advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.

Jen Devon makes her debut with Bend Toward the Sun, a sweepingly emotional romance with gorgeous prose that transports readers to a lush vineyard in rural Pennsylvania. Reeling from the traumatic death of a just-delivered woman, [note to editor, she is not a patient of his, they're stuck in a traffic jam and after he helps her deliver, she hemorrhages on the way to the hospital] OB/GYN Harrison Brady has just arrived at his family's new vineyard home when a game of tag leads him to botanist Rowan McKinnon hiding in a greenhouse. Though their attraction is immediate, Rowan is avoiding emotional entanglement as determinedly as Harry is soon pursuing her affection.
After her research assistant is exposed as a fraud, Rowan must salvage the most important academic and professional achievement of her career, but when her best friend sends the Brady family her resume, Rowan agrees to bring their struggling vineyard back to life. As months pass, Devon subtly draws parallels between Rowan and Harry's individual journeys back to health and the gradual, beautiful rebirth of the land under their dedicated stewardship.
Devon's prose is as lush as the plant life she lovingly describes and the way the Brady family enfolds Rowan and Harry into their embrace will comfort even the most jaded romance reader. These two characters have a lot of work to do and their wounds lead to a love story defined by a desperate yearning as undeniable as the seasons. Readers looking for a dramatic contemporary romance with deep character work, a verdant setting and the kind of love that makes hearts ache will adore Bend Toward the Sun.

Audio Notes - Erin Mallon was not the best narrator choice for this book. Maybe I've read too many romantic comedies she's narrated, but her voice and tone didn't work for the angsty, dramatic story here. Every time I entered Rowan's POV, I wanted to press pause.

Five for the book, three for the narration. (Sorry!)

I received a copy of this audiobook from the publisher via NetGalley for review.

I am so in love with the setting of this story and the characters that it is about that I want to go to Pennsylvania in search of the vineyard and meet them even though I know they are completely fictional. The characters are extremely realistic in that their baggage has baggage and that has shaped their outlook on life and love leaving them raw and open to misunderstanding. The beauty of this story is that it leaves the door open for the author to craft this into the beginning of a series and I certainly hope she does as I want more of these characters! There are so many opportunities with each of the supporting cast members barely touched background stories that it is like the author has let us glimpse a tidbit of the entertainment feast we could have and I really hope she keeps feeding us more stories from this valley! The narrators did an outstanding job of bringing the characters to life and conveying the emotions that they felt so that you felt them as well. Laughter, tears, anger and frustration all lead you to a sweet happily ever after!

Do you ever have books you love and want to binge but also don’t want them to end? That’s how I felt about Bend Toward the Sun. I was immediately drawn into Rowan and Harry’s story as they met through a family friend during a game of tag. Though they both have baggage from previous relationships and other parts of their lives, they’re quickly drawn together.

I loved the winery setting and seeing how Rowan used her vast knowledge of botany to being it back to life. I loved the banter and chemistry between Harry and Rowan! I loved Harry’s family and how all of the Bradys welcomed her in.

Their breakup left me anguished for both of them, but I enjoyed how they resolved it. I’m hoping based on some of the subplots that this will be a series or at least have a sequel!

I alternated between the audiobook and the ebook. I loved the narration!

Everyone in Rowan's life has hurt her. She doesn't really have family- her grandmother died when she was 12 and her mother isn't in her life. Her grandmother raised her because her mother was indifferent towards her. Her former fiancé manipulated her. So she doesn't let anyone in. She finds herself in the middle of the Brady clan- they are the complete opposite of her family. Big, loud, and loving.
Harry Brady is a doctor, home to heal. He lost a patient and took it very hard. His family basically forced him to come home for a while.
Harry and Rowan are both damaged in their own way, but there is something between them.

A great read by a debut author! I was immediately hooked and could not put this down! The characters are real and I want to be part of the Brady family. This book literally has everything- funny, angsty, steamy. I love that Harry is not the super-alpha hero you get in many books. He is vulnerable, sensitive, and sweet but also imperfect. As I said before, real.

Reading ARCs can be hit or miss. Books like this remind me of why I enjoy it- I have to deal with some mediocre, and sometimes even bad, books. But once in a while, you find something great.

I look forward to more books by this author!

I listened to the audiobook. It has dual narration. Erin Mallon voices Rowan's chapters. I have listened to many books narrated by her and always enjoy her narrations. Chris Brinkley voices Harry's chapters. I have listened to a few books that he narrated and have enjoyed them as well. My only complaint- there was a large difference in the speed. Erin read much faster than Chris. I actually changed the speed when the POV switched. 1.5 was too fast for Erin (in my opinion) but 1.25 was way too slow for Chris.

I received an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.