I’m torn on this. The story was kind of cute, the characters were likable, but there were a lot of plot holes. When did Duncan ask Temperance to marry him the first time? He had the ring, he made comments about it, but we never got the story. What actually happened when Duncan broke up with her the first time? We find out why he did, but not how. If he was so obsessed with her, why’d he go start having sex with other women and then go back a year later? Why did she reject him then? Was it just that he’d moved on? I thought I didn’t enjoy second chance when the flashbacks are interspersed until the very end, but it seems I enjoy second chance without explanations even more.

Ultimately, I feel like I read the book for no reason. There were just vignettes of them being tense, flirty, crossing a thousand lines while she thought he was dating Millie, and avoiding having any sort of real conversations about the past or what the hell they’re doing in the present. They almost get there about 70% in, but she walks away and he drops it. It’s just pages and pages two idiots in love with each other standing across from each other glaring or staring longingly.

The writing was descriptive, some of the side characters were fun and had different enough personalities that they stood out, but the pacing felt off and like it was missing a lot. It’d easily have been a four or five star book if it were mapped out a bit better.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this early ARC.
I did not realize this was a secondary story from a previously published book by this author. That being said, it was just as enjoyable as a standalone.
The author is very poignant in her descriptions. Her writing felt almost ethereal when describing the vineyards where the story takes place. At times, I felt the story fell into too much description and not enough character development.
There was so much pulling away in this story and a lack of communication between our two main characters.
This story was full of tension, angst, and residual anger.
Temperance and Duncan have the intensity of a strong magnet, constantly being pulled together. They fell in love when they were 18 and thought that time would be on their side. 14 years later and they are both haunted by their memories and the feelings of what could have been.
Temperance's parents played a big role in their separation causing a Romeo and Juliet scenario. Doomed with no other choice but to separate. Life was too big and the pressure was mounting to the point where they couldn't have survived.
Duncan is the only one fighting for his future, while Temperance seems stuck in the shadow of who her parents want her to be. I felt so much sadness and angst for Duncan, while I found Temperance to be a bit undeserving of his unwavering love.
Overall, I would recommend this book for those who love second chance romance. The ending alone was worth it.

Great book! I really love how Jen Devon tells a story. So if you are a fan of how Jen Devon paints such vivid pictures of characters, their surroundings, histories, and feelings then you will love this book. This is a story of second chances for main characters Temperance and Duncan. Great book!! I would definitely recommend it.

Look at that cover! I liked Jen's writing style and how she developed her characters and the situations she placed them in. The story kept me entertained with its well-paced narrative. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

‘Right Where we Left Us’ by Jen Devon made me want to forget all my responsibilities and do nothing but read. I was drawn in from the very start with the promise of a delicious second-chance romance - and I was not left disappointed. The chemistry between Temperance and Duncan, both as teenagers and now, was captivating, undeniable, and so well written. Devon created a love full of sexy angst and tenderness, pining and passion. I couldn’t help but root from them each step of the way. A beautiful love story set in a whimsical winery run by a loving family and incredible group of friends, ‘Right Where We Left Us’ has it all. I would recommend this book, and the series, over and over again.

gained an advanced reading through NetGalley. While a little predictable (in a good way), this book solidifies my romance fandom. I was rooting for Temperance and Duncan. The scenery is lovely and the way the author describes it all allows me to picture it like a movie in my mind. Knowing the author from way back when, I happened to notice little things that made me wonder if some things were added because of her hometown (County Road 25, and drive in marker 492).

This is the second book in Jen Devon’s (hopefully) series about the dynamic Brady family building a vineyard from scratch. This book picked up right where the first one left off with the boisterous Duncan and his long ago love, Temperance. Together as teens, they break up because of family pressures. The catch is that they still orbit around each other for years because his brother is married to her sister. After years of pining looks and storming off during forced proximity family events, is it finally their time when they are once again forced to be together for the wedding of Temperance’s best friend, who —you guessed it— is marrying Duncan’s other brother (Rowan and Harry from the first book Bend Towards the Sun).

This book was incredibly romantic and the character development and conflict was wonderful. Not only do you fall in love with Duncan and Temperance, you fall in love with the entire Brady bunch and Cloud Tide Vineyard.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for a Netgalley ARC in an exchange for an independent and honest review.

To begin with, upon reading this, I had no idea that Right Where We Left Us was actually a story arc off of Jen Devon's first novel, Bend Toward the Sun. Having said that, without even reading the first book, I can already confidently say "I want MORE!" and I will be most certainly circling back to her first novel to get more of the Brady family antics :)

That being said, having not read the first installment, I can attest that this wonderful follow up is a perfect stand alone, independent of Bend Toward the Sun. I cannot adequately say how much more clarity knowing some of the characters from the first installment would have brought, but I certainly think this novel has enough framework to stand all on its own.

Right Where We Left Us is an adorable retelling of the classic "second chance romance" trope. Aside from a secretive passion filled summer back when they were 18, Temperance Jean Madigan and Duncan Brady have spent the better part of the next 14 years actively trying to deny their cosmic pull towards each other (with the exception of a few lust filled run-ins here and there).

A family wedding has thrust TJ and Duncan back into the same atmosphere for one summer while TJ's best friend, Rowan, prepares to marry Duncan's brother, Harry (our two main characters from Bend Toward the Sun). As the summer unfolds on the Brady family vineyard, TJ and Duncan attempt to push away any feelings of the past and avoid any tension filled run ins with each other, and attempt to focus on being "friends" out of respect to their family members. Meanwhile, their highly intertwined family and friends (who are absolutely adorable-may I add) have other plans up their sleeves for this couple that will make being in the friend zone exceptionally difficult.

While the story arc can be a bit predictable here, it's also one of the reasons I love this book, because you just can't help but root for our two main characters. At the end of it all, I think it holds true that in order to fully give and accept the love you want to receive, you need to fully understand what it is you want your life to look like and who can't you live without. Wonderful read all around, and I cannot wait to dive into her first novel!

A swoony and steamy second instalment in Devon's 3-part series about the hunky Brady brothers and the trio of best friends they fall madly, passionately in love with. As with Bend Toward the Sun, Devon beautifully builds the atmosphere of her vineyard setting and the nearby locations in which the story unfolds, populating her world with well-rounded characters who feel like far more than props for the central plot-line. Here, the story focuses on the brother who's been underestimated his whole life--the "blue collar" worker among high-achieving siblings--and the pediatrician he's been utterly gone for since the two were teenagers and each other's first love. Now, the pair circles one another as adults with an impossible-to-deny attraction and intense longing over the course of one summer while the leads from book 1 plan their wedding and the leads from book 3 cement their mutual attraction, building reader anticipation for the story to come. Every glance is heated. Every brush of skin leaves the two a second from combustion. The emotions run high and the mutual draw is palpable, despite a complicated history that leaves both characters wary to try again, and readers will be madly flipping pages, waiting for all of that glorious sexual tension to burst. Balancing the incendiary romance, Devon deftly weaves plenty of humour into the family banter, as well as moments of profound tenderness as two people who've never felt "good enough" shed the worst of those messages and learn to reach for what they truly want. Sensual and cinematic, with a big, loving family at its center and two easy-to-root-for leads whose love story will leave readers cheering, and clamouring for book 3.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

I picked up Jen Devon's previous Book "Bend Towards the Sun" and loved it. So when I found out that her second book (this one) follows two characters from her first book (Temperance and Duncan), I was super excited to read it.

Temperance and Duncan were sweethearts for many years until they grew up and separated ways. This is their second chance story. Due to family and life issues, they always seemed to orbit in each other's circles, but never close enough to really do anything about their chemistry. Until one day, Duncan says "enough is enough" and they begin their messy love story once again.

If you love a novel with a great romance story and family complexity and self-love/growth, this one is for you. It is a little long, but I think it's worth it.

I was thrilled to read Right Where We Left Us, as Jen Devon’s book Bend Toward the Sun is one of my favorite books ever!

I enjoyed this swoon worthy book immensely, it had me hooked immediately and I was ready to dive back into the Brady family dynamics. What sets Jen apart from other authors is her thoughtful way of the reader connecting with each character, her depth in developing the storyline and her details of surroundings are unmatched.

Duncan and Temperance are childhood loves, who now have a second chance at rekindling a new romance, but can they put their past to rest? I really like how the story unfolded in real time while also hearing what led them to their tensions. There is a bit of spice woven into their relationship amidst family drama. Overall a cute read to curl up with during a snow day!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Jen Devon, St. Martin’s Press - St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Not knowing this is the second book in this story’s universe, I didn’t know the Brady family beforehand, but I fell in love with them and am now looking forward to reading Devon’s first book, “Bend Toward the Sun” and its focus on some secondary characters in this latest offering.

Temperance (TJ) and Duncan Brady were teenage sweethearts with big feelings that didn’t go away after they parted and grew up. They are thrown together time and again due to friend and family events and while they do their best to ignore each other, they are drawn together like magnets to metal.

This is a second chance romance that hits all the right notes. The author draws even the secondary characters so well I want to see what happens to Malcolm, one of Duncan’s brothers. This was a very entertaining story and I definitely recommend it if you are looking for a quality weekend read.

This book was spectacular! If you read the previous book in the series you’ll know the author pays special attention to surroundings and creates secondary characters you care about and take interest in. This makes the reading experience even more enjoyable.
Temperance and Duncan have explosive chemistry but just can’t get their timing right. The build up of angst and a swoon-worthy love interest keep you hooked!
I wished at times that it was clearer why the characters weren’t together because Temperance could be a bit frustrating, but it all came together at the end. Highly recommend!

After reading BEND TOWARD THE SUN and falling in love with the world the author created, I was greatly looking forward to her next book. RIGHT WHERE WE LEFT US was everything I could hope for! The author does an impeccable job with tension, emotional depth, banter, believability, that it is so easy for me to fully immerse myself in the writing that when I finish a book, it feels like I just got off of a ride at an amusement park and takes a second to regroup yourself.

I love Temperance and Duncan, and I especially love them together. Their intensity!!! Everytime they are in the same room, I practically hold my breath, afraid to miss any moment between the two. After being their first young loves to each other, one of them makes a decision that changes their future. With both Temperance's sister and friend married in to Duncan Brady's family, Temperance can't escape Duncan even if she wanted to. Years go by, but how much longer can they continue acting like they aren't still holding a torch for each other?

I love the Brady family and all the characters' personalities and their humor. And thank god for Gia to always speak right to someone's heart. My favorite quote in the whole book might just be: "You can't stick a flower in an asshole and pretend it's a vase."

So happy to have witnessed Temperance and Duncan's love. Looking forward to reading what ever the author grants us with next. (Mal and Frankie's story by chance?!)

Much gratitude to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

Bend Toward the Sun was one of my favorite reads of 2022, so I was so excited to read Jen Devon's latest book, Right Where We Left Us.

If you're a fan of angst, pining and second-chance romance, this will be up your alley. Devon is a master at developing characters and building settings. Temperance and Duncan are complex characters and have their own set of challenges. What's apparent is their romantic chemistry and sexual tension.

Read this book for:
Childhood love
Second chance romance
Found family
Angst and pining
Forced proximity

I can't wait to read the next book in the series and, until then, I'll miss the Brady family! Thanks so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for an eARC of Right Where We Left Us. Be sure to read the book when it's released on 6/18/24!

Right We’re We Left Us is a richly woven love story that kept my attention throughout. The Brady’s are everyone’s dream home base and you can’t help but root for the main characters. Recommend!

Thank you for making this book available. Unfortunately I could not get into the story or connect with any of the (many) characters. Too much exposition.

This book had so much of what I love, found family, childhood loved, second chance romance… I really enjoyed it. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this.

Second chance love with all the feels, Spicy & all the feelings in one book!!!!
Hooked from the start with this book, I absolutely loved everything about this book starting off with that second chance instead of the usual romance book.

This is a second chance master piece! All emotions become unhinged and I was hooked from the beginning! Devon’s master of romance is definitely clear in this book! It delivers happiness, sadness, and also heat with the amount of spice the book offers! Definitely a swoon worthy summer read!