This one is a very hard one for me to rate and review. I think a lot of you will like this book. Since it kept my attention and had several things I really liked I say 3.75 ⭐️ rounded up.
👍🏻 I loved the Brady family dynamic. Will and Gia were my favorite. And Duncan.
👍🏻Rowan being a botanist and working to restore a vineyard was unique and fun.
👍🏻The little details-OJ, wild flowers, cloud tide, cheesesteaks, grape jelly, etc
👍🏻Their banter was fun
👎🏻Word-heavy, very descriptive made the beginning hard to follow. But as the story went on this got better
👎🏻Rowan-so annoying, Harry-seemed like he had split personalities. At times I’d love him and others times he would be awful
👎🏻Huge time lapses-one event would last a multiple chapters then you’d turned the page and it would be months later. This was a consistent thing.
👍🏻/👎🏻 At the beginning Rowan’s career and Harry’s career seemed liked huge plot points but they really just faded in and out. Felt like they should have centered the story more.

So I DID like this story. I would read more by this author (she definitely could write a few additional books about the Brady family to make this a series). I just hope if that’s happens the flow and the plot become more cohesive. And more lovable characters from beginning to end.

This was a solid debut. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Both Rowan and Harry are great main characters and interesting to read about but I think what made the book was the whole Brady family and the setting. I think I’m a little but attached to them so I hope the author turns this into some sort of series. Despite my enjoyment I did find something a little annoying and that was the pacing. It went fast which I dont mind but at times it skipped over good times the characters had together and only showed the readers when they were having a tough time. I dont know if I explained that right but overall this was a fun (painful at times) but fun read!


** This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange of an honest review**

"Bend Toward the Sun" is Jen Devon's debut novel, and I can't wait to read other books from her! This book centers around Rowan McKinnon, a woman with a difficult past who finds it hard to believe that true love is real. Upon taking a job as a horticulturist at a local winery, she meets Harrison Brady, the son of the winery's owners. Harry has his own issues with love and trust after losing a patient in childbirth. While Rowan and Harry are drawn to each other, they both have to learn how to believe in themselves and their worthiness to give and accept love. The sparks start flying upon their adorable meeting, and they don't stop!

Devon did a fantastic job of making both characters deeply lovable even while deeply flawed. Also, the Brady family was one that the reader will wish to be a part of themselves. I hope to read more books about members of the Brady family. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

ARC BOOK REVIEW
Bend Toward the Sun
By: Jen Devon

Publishing Date: 8/9/2022

Rating: ⭐️⭐️

Rowan is someone who doesn't believe in love. She has never been loved properly by anyone, other than who grandmother, who died when she was a child.  She has a phD in botany, and has been given the chance to restore a vineyard that was recently been acquired by the Brady Family. 

One of the family members, Harry Brady, has recently returned to Pennyslvania after some set backs while living in LA. He lost a patient, lost his wife, and is mentally not in the best headspace. Time with his family may be what he needs...

When Rowan and Harry meet, there is an instant spark, however Rowan,
is extremely resistant, and Harry cant stop himself despite Rowans efforts to keep things casual. But will he force her to see that she can be loved? And is Harry capable of being what Rowan needs, despite his own personal struggles?

Ok- so I thought I was going to adore this. The reviews are awesome, and I LOVE romance. However, I was very bored, majority of the time. The book is told in 3rd person, so I felt there was a lot of unneccessary dialogue and I was never pulled into the story. There were a LOT of side characters and I can see additional books being released about the other Brady family members, and Rowans friends.

If you enjoy slow burns, and 3rd person point of view, you very well may love this! But unfortunatley it wasn't for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bend Toward the Sun is the perfect summer read! What could be better than a sweet romance on a vineyard? 🍷

I really enjoyed the characters in this book including all of the family members who also worked on the vineyard. It was neat seeing their vision come to life! If you enjoy entertaining and steamy 🔥🔥🔥🔥romances then you will enjoy this book.

Rowan is a botanist who has been hired to help restore the vineyard. Harrison has returned to his parent’s vineyard to seek refuge from a traumatic experience. The vineyard is in some serious need of tender loving care. The same can be said for Rowan and Harrison’s love lives. Will this massive project prove to be a success? Will Rowan and Harrison finally be able to find happiness?

This book hits the shelves on August 9th, 2022! Thank you to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

#bendtowardthesun #jendevon #smpinfluencers #bookadoration #bookstagram #canadianbookstagram

THIS ROMANCE BOOK THOUGH!! I have been craving a classic romance and this one hit all the spots. I am absolutely obsessed with Jen Devon and cannot wait to read more of her books. I loved that the woman in the relationship was more standoff-ish than the guy.... its something we don't see often and a great little twist to a classic romance!

Overall, adored this story. Swoony, sexy... puts you in your feels... all the best things!

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Rowan is thinking about a change. She decides to travel to visit her sister. While their she meets a doctor named Harry who is questioning his job. They both meet at a turning point in their lives. I liked the different characters in this book.

4.5 stars

There were so many things I really enjoyed about Bend Toward the Sun. First of all the story was unique and easy to read. The characters were enjoyable and I really liked the chemistry between them. I also loved how the setting was on a winery that was being rehabbed. Honestly this book had everything I love in a romance book, a little angst, likable characters and an interesting storyline!

This is a gorgeous, thoughtful book full of character depth and sheer beauty. I would re-read Bend Toward the Sun again and again just for Devon's artful descriptions of soil, plants, and the natural world of the vineyard where the book takes place. Rowan and Harry are so real that I felt like new people had truly entered my life, and Devon shows great caring for her characters and readers throughout. And the sexual tension and sex scenes are AMAZING!

3.5 stars

Bend Toward the Sun was not quite what I was expecting. I thought it was going to be a sweet romance (it is), but it’s also really emotional and angsty. It straddled the line between romance and womens fiction and I felt a bit blindsided by the level of grief and pain in the main characters lives. I definitely recommend checking the CW’s below.

Overall I enjoyed Bend Toward the sun, but the pacing was on the slower side and sometimes the level of plant/scenery detail felt overwhelming. I was often confused by the actions of Rowan and Harry and would go from loving how tender they were together to being annoyed. I may not have agreed with their choices, but the book captured these imperfect people navigating love and life in an honest and real way. We all have tempers, baggage, and are not always our best selves. This is a messy and complicated love story between two messy and complicated people. The sweet moments had me swooning though and I was pleasantly surprised by how spicy the book was. I loved the overall message of forgiving and loving yourself and the secondary characters were fantastic - especially the Brady family. A few hints were dropped about possible future books featuring the other Brady siblings and I’m definitely intrigued by Duncan and Temperance.

CW: Death of patient (emergency delivery resulting in maternal death (not a main character) - past but is a significant part of the story), grief, arachnophobia, anxiety, panic attacks (on page), parental neglect and abandonment (past), death of loved one (past), cheating ex (past), gaslighting

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

Wow this book is what romance needs!! I was swooning at this botany romance from page on. Will now be following Jen Devon anywhere!

𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘯 follows Rowan, an emotionlly gaurded botanist tasked with re-establishing an old vinyard owned by the
Brady's - a boisterous, loving bunch basically the exact of her childhood growing up. And she doesn't her growing attraction to one of the sons: Harry to be a complication for her job or her heart.

- ~ -

This book was so emotional and for what!?
The writing was a whirlwind; perfectly poetic for the romance half but absolutely, heart breakingly antagonizing for the emotional bits.

There's something so enthralling and refreshing about men being romantics (future husband better take notes).
Harry is one such archetype.
He is a smitten, soft, cinnamon roll of a man and it was pretty clear from their first interaction that he's halfway head over heels for Rowan. Also his little gestures of showing his love? Swoon.

Rowan also proves to be a fierce protagonist. She's as determined as she's afraid to be vulnerable but as they say love overcomes all and Harry along with his family help her open up to taking chances with her heart. Also all the love to Grandma Edie.

The aesthetics of the plot were visceral. The somber setting combined with an equally innate attraction the characters portrayed created an intense atmosphere, one you immediately wish to be immersed in and never want to part with.

Side note: I just know Duncan's up next then probably Mal and I am inexplicably impatient. Their POVs are going to be the end of me!

- ~ - 

4.26 / 5✩

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘚𝘵. 𝘔𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯'𝘴 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 & 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘥. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

Rowan is a frustrated botanist. Her final findings in pursuit of her doctorate have been disallowed. On some of her research, she must start anew. She is tired however of the academia and unknowingly longs for real dirt on her hands and the sun in her eyes. On the other side of the country, Harrison is struggling with having lost a patient. He returns to his family and the simple life to heal. In the midst of a family game they meet. The chemistry is instant. So begins her journey toward a more beautiful side of botany and family and his toward healing his own healing hands and heart. They both have baggage in the relationship department and deep hurts to get over. Will the vines of a neglected orchard in Pennsylvania provide the grounds for the rebirth of the process needed to love again?
This book is a story of love, goodness, and what returning to hard work and the healing powers of earth can do for the soul. It is a story that reeks of smooth sensuality. It is a well-written journey of the inner core of two lovers striving toward each other but having to literally clear the remains of their earlier lives in order to reach their own destiny. I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of love and simplicity intertwined with complexity. Thanks to Jen Devon for such a beautifully written story. Also thanks to #NetGalley#BendTowardtheSun for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A redeeming read! Cover is a bit odd and doesn't do the story justice.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

2.5 stars. A nice first effort from this author. I liked the story enough to read it all the way to the end.

I liked that the story was told through the eyes of both main characters. I also enjoyed the family dynamics and Rowan's interactions with her two best friends.

I had to suspend belief regarding the family's startup of the vineyard as it didn't really make sense. There also were times when the actions of the characters didn't ring true or when the dialogue felt awkward. However, I will probably read Devon's next book as it her writing has a lot of potential as do the romances of several of the supporting characters hinted at in this story.

Profanity and graphic sex.

Bend Towards the Sun by Jen Devon a new to me author. Didn't know what to expect with this book. Seemed like a good storyline. Maybe it was my mood I just had a hard time with this book. Glad I gave it a try.

This book grabbed me from the first page. Very unique story about learning to love yourself and others. The setting at a winery in Pennsylvania also intrigued me. I was almost sad when it was over.

Oh my god, this book. BEND TOWARD THE SUN is maybe my favorite contemporary romance I've... ever read? It's beautiful and it made my heart ache but not in a way that triggered my anxiety (a major problem I have with contemporaries), and I felt all warm and fuzzy at the end. It made me feel like I was a bath towel that got washed on the heavy cycle and dried in high heat but then came out of the process fluffier than ever. The characters are so lovable and lived-in, you can totally imagine them having lives off the page, and I fully believed in their attraction and their connection every second of the way. But the shining star of this book may be the setting, which is so gorgeously described that I feel like I've been there. Jen Devon's writing reminds me of old Nora Roberts contemporary series, where there's always something being restored and a bunch of brothers giving each other a hard time (both NR and Jen Devon are fantastic at writing male characters who are complex and realistic). But while this book is a part of a planned series, it has Big Standalone Energy, with so much attention paid to the prose at the line level that it's just such a pleasure to read in every way. Thank you so much to SMP for the ARC, and to Jen Devon for letting me scream at her in her DMs about how much I love her writing.

OK the entire time I was reading this book I saw it being acted out. It felt like I was reading a movie. It felt real. Tangible. When I had to put the book away for you know, life, I was wondering what Harry and Rowan were going through. So many books have drama just to make a book; but here drama is real and right and moves the storyline along beautifully. I don’t have fancy things to add about character development and plot summary - this book is about love… how it hurts us and how it heals us. I loved this book and cannot wait to share it with friends.

Romantic and beautifully written, I loved the story of these two very different characters finding love. Science and medicine and romance works together just perfectly! Perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood, Colleen Hoover Christina Lauren or Emily Henry! Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.