Right Where We Left Us was a quick and enjoyable second chance romance. I did think it started out a little slow, but I was able to read it in one sitting and absolutely loved the dual perspectives. It had a good blend of humor, romance, and also some steamy moments. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for an enjoyable contemporary romance!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Jen Devon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Right Where We Left Us is a heartwarming romance novel focusing on the Duncan and Temperance. The writing is gorgeous and the plot relatively well-paced, but unfortunately, this book falls flat. Duncan, part of the larger Brady family, and Temperance fell in love as teens but have broke up after Duncan made a choice that meant he had to leave her. This plot point, which could be resolved with one single conversation, is supposed to provide all of the tension for the book. It does not work at all. There is so much plot (meddling parents! siblings with their own issues! blood disorders!) that does not actually serve the conflict. It just muddles the story and meant there were many points in the book that I had to remind myself what the overall issue was. Seeing more of Duncan and Temperance when they first fell in love as teens would have helped, instead we just are supposed to feel their undying love and connection. I think if this had been streamlined (less plot/side characters/issues) and more of the relationship itself developed the book would be a lot stronger. I had not read the first book in this series so all of the characters were new. If I were to do it over I'd make sure to read that first to get the background.
Overall a nice idea for a story, but not well executed.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Heartfelt, sensational, and so very many more adjectives! I loved Temperance and Duncan and eagerly awaited their story from book one, Bend Toward the Sun. Devon is back with rich settings, a lovable and realistic cast of characters, and a horniness that will make you blush with this one. 100 gold stars!!

I selected this book from Read Now because I love a second chance romance. I couldn't get into it. But I do think this writer has some serious chops. There are great zingers throughout.

I received this as an ARC, and I do wish I’d read the first book of the author’s, because I found all the side characters to be very confusing and hard to keep track of. While I do think some might really enjoy this (especially if you liked the first one and all the characters), I found the plot to be a bit underdeveloped for why the two main characters couldn’t be together. It felt like a really long way to get to an end result with no clear understanding of why. I almost think since this was based so much on the characters’ past relationship, it would’ve been easier to jump back and forth in time to tell the story. I found myself confused for a lot of this book.

DNF @ 10%. I'm trying really hard to get into this book, but just can't. Temperance is a really hard name to constantly be reading and I keep thinking its definition as a word is also connected with the character, but either way I'm not into it. I find the descriptions and setting over formulaic. It simply makes it so hard for a ready to engage in the setting. Sadly, going to pass on this one.

3 stars out of 5.

This book was just Ok. The plot of really unbelievable and everything could have been fixed with a simple conversation. It was a bit repetitive and I'm not sure why Temperance kept rejecting Duncan. I also thought there were way too many background characters to keep up with and hardly any of the characters were really developed. I did like the writers style and the premise of the book. It just could have been executed better IMO.

Temperance and Duncan were once lovers when they were younger. Things got messy and they have been on and off since then. Both of them are at the families vineyard/house for a wedding between Temperance's friend and Duncans brother. This throws them back into close contact. Will this reignite their old flame? Read on to find out.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded down bc it got repetitive.

As teenagers, Temperance (TJ) and Duncan fell in love, but as adults they can't stop hurting each other.

This book was an angsty second chance with both characters nursing long time hurts pushing and pulling each other (well mostly TJ). While Duncan’s family (including TJ's older sister who married Duncan’s brother, and best friend Rowan who is marrying another brother) do a bit of meddling, these two just can’t seem to get it together.

And therein lies my issue with this book. I'm all for a slow-burn second chance, I don't even mind angst and mutual pining, but it just got repetitive with TJ constantly rejecting Duncan for no real reason. Worst still up until the near end she was still refusing to communicate.

This really caused the pace to languish. At no time I felt there was any real character growth for their happy ending, except for Duncan. Both of them desperately needed therapy, especially Temperance with her wealthy parents interference. I would've loved to have seen Temperance confront what her obstacles to being with Duncan in a far more constructive manner, so that this second chance felt like they had a solid footing.

Structurally, I’m glad we weren’t subjected to dual timelines with flashbacks. It was much better woven in the way it was which made it more seamless to the pace. However, I think cutting out a few chapters would’ve tightened it up more.

Despite my misgivings about the plot and character development, this was still an enjoyable read. Unfortunately I just think this didn't quite live up to its promise.

Thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

I’m not a huge fan of second chance romance or friends to lovers. That being said, this book sucked me in immediately and I read it in one sitting, then immediately went to download the first book in the series. This is one of my new fave authors, hands down. My only complaint is that I need the entire series ASAP. If I don’t get Mal’s story ASAP, I will riot…

Right Where We Left Us by Jen Devon is a masterful tribute to the trope of forced proximity and second chances. Devon’s story centres around Temperance Madigan and Duncan Brady who several years before the novel’s main timeline thought they had it all figured out. That their big, young, optimistic love was enough to get them by. Little did they know fate had other plans for them. Many years later they orbit around each other in their small community with several connections in common using sarcasm and dark humour to keep distance between themselves when they are forced to be in close contact. A Brady family event will push and pull the boundaries of their unspoken arrangement more than either is aware. They’ll have to agree to disagree or make a pact if they want to get through this in one piece. The themes of different families and their values, striving to be the best, most authentic version of yourself despite outside influences are intricately woven throughout this work. This novel is equal parts deep and thoughtful and steamy and romantic. The range of the characters and what it means to be both traditional and found family are expertly navigated and flawlessly executed. Temperance is equal parts resilient, adventurous and optimistic. She does everything with kindness and a genuine heart. The authors ability to make her both relatable and inspiring was a delight to witness. Duncan’s often hidden selflessness, sense of mischief and fierce determination are like a force of nature and provide a layer of complexity to his character and added readability that make this work simply amazing. Jen Devon is a delight to the genre and her story was one that I’ll be reaching for again. Thank you to NetGallery and St. Martin’s Press for the pre release copy.

I rather liked this book. Duncan Brady, for me, was SWOONWORTHY! Okay, he had his "issues"...don't we all? However, he was definitely a "giver" before he was a "taker"...I can deal with that! His character captured my attention from the get-go which is probably why I stuck to this story like glue. I live for the angst, and there was no shortage of it here.

Poor Duncan was tormented by his love for and regrets about his teenage love, Temperance. He was also regretting not doing what he truly wanted to do in life, become an Architect. Of course, now 14 years has come and gone, they are adults, and they are still not together. He still loves her. She loves him. They just can't seem to get beyond their past history, get out of their own heads, and get it together. His family and her friends know they belong together and do what they can to help them along, but it's not quite working.

I love all the angst, so Duncan, his emotions and his point of view had me near tears more than once during this read. I just wanted to hug him! Temperance, not so much. To be honest, I didn't really like her at all. She annoyed me. I kept trying to see her point of view so I could conjure some sympathy for her, and quite frankly, I just couldn't. Considering all she'd accomplished in her young life, I expected her to be a bit more secure in herself and capable of speaking her mind rather than letting her insecurities rule her head and her heart and running from all confrontation.

The side characters, of which there are many, are interesting, sometimes more so than the main characters. There are definitely a few of them I'd like to read more about. That being said, there was always lots happening with everyone and at times I found it hard to keep track. This author is very descriptive and there were plenty of pictures painted in my mind so I felt like I was there in the story watching and waiting. I'm not sure all the "activities" happening around the main couple were absolutely necessary for the story to work, but that's not my call. That's why I'm just a reader. For me, it was a bit overdone, but not bad. I will say, I thought the ending came on fast and wrapped up neatly even faster. This love story was a true slow burn and I would have liked more time devoted to that happily ever after that I patiently waited for all story long. That being said, I will still give this book 4 stars and recommend it because there's much more here that I liked than disliked. This author has quite a way with words and I do enjoy that!

Right Where We Left Us by Jen Devon is a second chance romance, with miscommunication being another heavily featured trope. This book included a whole host of secondary characters, who admittedly were a little hard to keep track of at first, overall they did add positively to the reading experience and to the character development of Temperance and Duncan. The dual point of view was very well done and helpful in understanding who both Temperance and Duncan are, as well as why it took them so long to get it right.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin’s Griffin, NetGalley and the author for an eARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this second chance romance book by Jen Devon. I found myself invested with the two main characters journeys and loved how life/family intertwined both Duncan and Temperance towards an inevitable collision where they were both faced with a fork in the road. The chemistry between the two is undeniable! I feel like I would have appreciated more details about the characters previous relationship/history for more context on how they ended up where they were in the beginning of this book.

Temperance & Duncan fell deeply in love when they were 18. They spent one secret, inseparable summer together and then a plethora of insanely crappy things happened that inevitably led to their breakup. In the 14ish years since, whenever they entered each other’s orbit, they were drawn together like magnets. But years of miscommunication, misunderstanding, and guilt meant they never could get it right. Now, Duncan is helping build his family’s winery, and Temperance is a pediatrician at a local clinic. When Duncan’s brother proposes to Temperance’s best friend, the couple who has tried to deny their feelings for so many years is now being forced to spend the summer together.

The chemistry between Temperance & Duncan was delectable, and the setting and side characters were positively delightful. Jen Devon’s writing is wonderfully descriptive and easy to read. I will say that the miscommunication trope usually infuriates me, and this book was no different. The mutual pining and lack of talking was difficult to take at times, but the banter, tension & sexual innuendos more than made up for it. I will also say that there are several parts of Temperance & Duncan’s backstory that I feel like I missed. I wish we had gotten a more in-depth flashback to their summer of love. I have so many questions about what happened back then. Especially surrounding the engagement ring Duncan bought for Temperance and what I assume was his first proposal. There are several hints that he proposed once before, but it was never talked about in depth. I’m not sure if it was left out intentionally, or if it was mentioned in the previous book. But I have a mighty need to know how that proposal went down.

All in all, this was a beautifully written second-chance romance. Were there moments where I wanted to grab the characters by the shoulders and shake some sense into them? Absolutely. Was I also simultaneously rooting for Temperance & Duncan’s HEA? Of course. Was the ending exactly what my soul wanted and needed? One hundred percent.

Having not read Jen Devon's first novel, Bend Toward the Sun, I had no idea what I was getting into when I started Right Where We Left Us. Minus a few burning questions, I was pleasantly surprised at how well this book worked as a standalone novel. I will definitely be picking up Bend Towards the Sun so I can spend more time at the Brady family winery.

** I received this book for free from St. Martin's Griffin, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. **

DNF @ 30% I know this isn't insta love because the characters have history, but it definitely felt that way. It was like we were just thrown into the middle of a story and for me, that made the romance feel unrealistic or almost forced. I felt like I was playing catch-up in order to become invested in their relationship. And then the family dynamic was so over-the-top cheesy. I wanted to love this one, but it just wasn't for me.

I had to sit with this one for a few days before I could determine exactly how I felt about this story. Let me begin by saying that I did enjoy this book. It started out slowly for me. The prose was beautiful, but I wanted to be pulled more into the characters' relationship, rather than into their surroundings. Although the chemistry between the two MCs was portrayed as combustible, I didn’t feel it. I normally like books with flashback chapters, but this one felt frustratingly drawn out. It was beautifully written, just a little disappointing in the romance/relationship area. 3.5⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, St. Martin's Griffin for this complimentary ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Right Where We Left Us by Jen Devon
3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this arc!
Okay, so this was my first time reading from this author and all I can say is UNBELIEVABLE😩! I’m not a fan of third person POVs but this is an exception because the way how Jen Devon uses words is out of this world honestly. I loved seeing snippets from each member of the Brady family (patiently waiting for Malcolm and Frankie’s book😉). Our story starts with Temperance Jean Madigan (T.J.) and Duncan Brady where they’ve known each other since they were teenagers and now as adults they’re still battling their feelings for each and it’s just back and forth between them in the best way possible. Second chance romances can be predictable of course but with these two, I was on my seat waiting for them to just get together and the ending did not disappoint! Right Where We Left Us will be released on June 18,2024!

Tropes:
Second chance romance 💕
Friends to lovers
Forced proximity

This was a very beautiful book! The romance was so good and the characters were very love able. I absolutely loved the setting!

Right Where We Left Us by Jen Devon is a book that made me want to smack both main characters (in a loving way, of course) because they obviously had feelings for each other and refused to do anything tangible with them.

Temperance is a doctor and Duncan a project manager/man of all trades for the family business who have known each other most of their lives and loved each other for most of their lives. Duncan did something (no spoilers) when they were still teenagers that he can't forgive himself for or tell Temperance about, and it drove them apart.

Her sister and bff are married to/marrying his brothers, so they are around each other a lot. The story tells how everyone in the family tries to get them together, even when they are denying their feelings for each other.

I enjoyed the book, but would have like it more if they'd not been so hard headed. Reading this was an enjoyable way to spend a cold winter's day.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

At eighteen, Temperance and Duncan had a summer together full of love. Temperance came from a rich family of doctors and her parents expected her to become a doctor. Duncan was a handyman with his sights on architecture but when Temperance got sick, their dreams of being together ended. They reunited on occasion but could never see each other as a couple. This book is wonderful. Full of love, community, family, persistence and patience. I loved how Duncan could do for others but never felt he was worthy of Temperance. His love for her and the time they had together off and on was all he thought he could have. The strength of family was an important part of this book as the brothers and their wives supported each other and were close. The setting of the small community and the vineyard with its lake, fields, barn, and greenhouse was done so well I could imagine being right there with them. Great love story and wonderful characters.