Rowan and Harrison...two people with a lot of heartbreak and baggage. They meet in an unexpected paradise where they both found themselves for healing. They can't fight the undeniable connection as much as they try. A soul satisfying romance you don't want to miss! Thank you netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.

This was a cute book overall! It was perfect to read it when I needed something other than a thriller. It took me through multiple emotional rides but overall I really enjoyed it in the end! Thanks for the opportunity to read and review!

☀Bend Towards the Sun by Jen Devon may be mine. I've been pondering my thoughts for SO LONG because I have all of them and cannot put into words how lush and captivating this angst fest was. SO romantic, yet also tore my heart up a bit; stay tuned for more I need a re-read.

if you've read this already, how would you sell it to a friend? I'm telling them it is Nora Roberts found family and just good, decent men meets Kate Clayborn's lush writing and emotions.

Thank you to @macmillanusa for the early copy, and cannot wait for @kisscrafter's next!

This book is about two people who have their own personal struggles and meet each other only to find out there is a connection between them. This was such an adorable book and I enjoyed Devon’s writing style. Their writing style was amazing as it just hits you in the right places. I really enjoyed the setting, pacing, plot structure in this book. Everything was well done with the writing and the vibe of the book totally matches the cover.

The main characters in this book are Rowan and Harry. Rowan was in a toxic relationship which is why she keeps people far away and Harry is grieving, wanting a permanent relationship. Both are amazing characters and develop a lot throughout the book. I enjoy their bantering between each other and the connection they form throughout the book. There were also amazing side characters in this book like Rowan’s besties who were supporting and loving. The trope was a bit of opposite attracts and had some steamy scenes that will live rent free in my head.

The ending was well done with a happily every after. After first I was a little but nervous to pick this book up but I’m glad that I did. The only reason it didn’t get full stars was because I have to say that the story isn’t original. I have read many books like this. Yes the writing was amazing and all but not as original and special. This book is perfect for fans of Virgin River and It Ends With Us.

All my friends were talking about this one, but it just didn't work for me. I wanted to like it, but I just wasn't in the right mindset for this book. It was too sad, and I needed something with a little more humor. This doesn't mean that down the road I won't try to read this again and like it, I just couldn't get into it at this time.

This was a beautiful book about love and healing and finding a family, and so much more. I really enjoyed Jen Devon's writing style. I'm assuming from the large cast of characters that was introduced, that this will be a series, and if so, I look forward to future books by this author!

Great romance set in the ultimate of romantic settings with two great main characters, what is not to love?! This had a very realistic feel and I felt fully invested in the outcome of this romance.

What a great debut novel! This is a romance story set in a beautiful scenic vineyard. I really enjoyed this book. There are a lot of gorgeous descriptions about gardens and vineyards as Rowan is a botanist. Rowan and Harry are both wonderful strong characters. Harry comes from a big boisterous and fun family and it was fun to see all their interactions. The love story was very well written. Overall this was a great book and there are so many supporting character’s backstories that I hope the author will write about in a sequel.

Bend Toward the Sun is a charming slow-build of a debut that captures your heart in the first few pages. The novel follows botanist Rowan and handsome doctor Harrison as they navigate the hurts of past relationships and career hiccups, finding solace amongst the withering grape vineyards and Harrison’s large family. Their relationship is angsty and steamy, and Devon does a great job of expressing the complex emotional baggage that abounds when there are past hurts. I enjoyed this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Jen Devon for an advance copy.

I thought this one would earn three, or maybe even two, stars from me. It started off a little slow and just kind of meandered along for a while, but by the end I really enjoyed it. I think it could have gone a little deeper into both pasts and why they had the issues they did, but I really loved the ending. I'm bumping it up to four because I love, love, love stories with big families (i.e. Chloe Liese's Bergman Brothers) and this one definitely fit that bill. If Devon writes more about the other brothers I'll definitely pick them up.

I loved this debut! Lushly written with extremely well-developed characters who you can root for. Jen Devon has created an evocative setting that I was sad to leave. A truly moving romance between real characters with real problems. I truly enjoyed watching Harry and Rowan slowly learn to trust each other and themselves. Just beautiful. I eagerly await Devon's next book!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for my advanced ebook copy of Bend Towards the Sun by Jen Devon.

I really enjoyed this book. I'm not seeing it around as much as I feel like I should. This had real characters in Rowan and Harry. I loved their relationship growth (and such a fun meet cute) and seeing all of the angst/tension between them.

Noah's family steals this book and I loved some of the later scenes with Rowan and his mom! I thought I was going to be more emotional reading this based on the description, but I mostly held it together. There were a few great steamy scenes. This was a wonderful debut and if you're looking for a more in-depth romance that has complex characters I highly recommend Bend Towards the Sun.

I feel like this book can speak to many types of readers. Love plants and learning about Botany? Check Looking for a love at first sight story? Check. Are you a wine drinker who would love an excuse to pop the cork and sip a fine wine while reading about wine? Check I feel like author Jen Devon took all the things she enjoys in a book and made a story she’d want to read, and I’m all about it!
Rowen stumbles upon a new and possibly amazing job opportunity. The Brady family has bought a winery and would love her help getting it ready. Rowen has a P.H.D, in Botany and knows at first glance these vines need major help. Basically they need to plow everything and start from scratch. Rowens late grandmother Edie taught her everything she knows and everyday Rowen hopes her respect for plants makes Edie proud.
She doesn’t have time or space in her heart for a boyfriend so hookups and one night stands it is. But when she first steps on the property belonging to the Brady family and spots Harry, she knows trouble is coming. Harry Is a successful ObGYN and so incredibly handsome, and sexy, and single. Her idea is to accept the job and maybe have a little noncommittal fun, but the longer the project takes Rowen can’t deny her real feeling for Harry and his family. Rowen knows all to well how badly her heart can break, but with this job she gets the winery, a caring man, and his whole family. Is she willing to open up or possibly loose it all if she doesn’t?

This is such a good read, I found myself not wanting to put it down! It is a slow burn and angsty story about Rowan and Harrison as they try to deal with their past relationships and career burdens so they can move forward both personally and professionally. Between a life of being gaslit and trying to get her paper published (Rowan) and dealing with losing a patient and an absent partner (Harrison) they must work to communicate with each other and trust each other.

Thank you Net Galley for an advance copy of this book.

First and foremost, thank you for the review copy of this book. I enjoyed this book, I enjoyed the story - the 'found family', etc. But, it fell a little flat for me personally. I can't put my finger on it, but I feel like *something* was missing for me. Overall though, I did like it and would still recommend it.

Wow. WOW! Might be my favorite contemporary romance of the year. So visceral and vulnerable! Gorgeous details of the surroundings and nature, wonderfully imperfect characters. The steaminess, the strong woman in botany, the healing, and the heart are all done so fantastically. A must read for sure!

Thanks St Martin’s for the advanced read!

This book!!! Finally something to break me out of my reading slump. It shattered me a bit, but definitely put me back together by the end. I loved Rowan and her botany background and how that tied together with Harrison and his family's vineyard. I felt like I was living on the land with them and was so invested in all their stories and futures. This was truly such a beautiful, heart warming story. Though the communication issues between Rowan and Harry could feel a bit frustrating, their chemistry was just so intense and it was easy to forgive. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

Rowan McKinnon takes a job to help restore an abandoned vineyard after an academic setback. Harrison Brady, an obstetrician, comes to stay on his family’s new vineyard while he deals with the anxiety of having lost a patient. Rowan doesn’t believe in love, but she and Harrison have an immediate connection.

I wanted to like this book, but it was tough when I didn’t like either of the characters. They obviously had sexual chemistry, but I never felt it develop into actual love. I did love Harrison’s family, and I hope Jen Devon will write a sequel featuring Rowan’s friend Temperance! The vineyard setting sounded gorgeous.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book.

What I liked: The story takes place in Philly whoop whoop! The name of the family business is the Brady (their last name) Brunch. That's so cute. The mental health awareness talk was good. Also Rowan was very supportive of Harry's struggles. Also Rowans social awkwardness was cute. "I don't get out much. Talking is hard".

What was meh: At first I liked the back and forth of whether they wanted to be in a relationship or just hook up was good. It added some tension. But after a while it got very annoying. It completely stopped them from making any progression in their relationship. Harry's brothers advice about his mental health was to basically get over it...and for Harry the advice worked???? yikes.

This is a beautifully written debut filled with emotion and romance. Rowan and Harry are two very complexed characters and their wounds run deep. Their chemistry is undeniable and the banter is clever. The relationship is a slow build but we see the characters grow individually and then as a couple. I enjoyed the story overall, but my biggest complaint was I thought it was a little too long and a little too descriptive (so much so, I found myself skimming pages about the vineyard). Other than that it was a great love story filled with angst.

Thank you to the publsiher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in echange for my honest review.