Rowan McKinnon is a botanist who prefers plants to people. Keeping flowers alive is something she understands. Keeping love alive is another matter entirely.

But Rowan’s jaded take on love is more a matter of nurture vs. nature. Not having the best upbringing and being scorned by a former love has understandably left Rowan a skeptic. Until she meets Harrison “Harry” Brady, that is.

Harry has had his own share of life’s setbacks. A doctor who has lost his confidence after the loss of a patient, Harry returns home, unsure of his future. And then he runs into Rowan.

While sparks instantly fly, at first the two try to fight their growing attraction. Both believe giving into their feelings is imminent, but what this means is up for debate. For Harry, Rowan signifies something serious worth exploring. But for Rowan, serious isn’t on her agenda. Can love bloom between two people who’ve been in the dark for so long?

Rowan and Harry’s connection works because their chemistry is palpable. Author Jen Devon crafts a love story heavy in angst, but well balanced with humor. The supporting characters help breathe life into this story as well. In fact, it would be great if there were future installments that zoned in on these characters as they too seem to have stories worth telling.

A debut novel that reads like anything but, Bend Toward the Sun plants the seeds for a talented writer, and gives romance fans something to root for, too.

I thought this would be a cute and sweet rom-com and nice mental break after a string of heavy reads but this book had more emotional meat than I was expecting. I think Bend Toward the Sun had just the right amount of drama, angst, steam, and humor. I also really enjoyed the way Devon wrapped up the story of Harry and Rowan. Both characters had major likeability issues, especially Rowan and the story was a little long in my opinion. Overall, a nice debut.

Brief Thoughts: I absolutely loved this book that I hope will be the start of a potential series of wonderful female characters and a delightful large family with lots of love and laughter

Bend Toward the Sun surprised me in all the best ways - this debut novel by Jen Devon has incredible banter, remarkable depth of character, and a fun setting and family in its pages. I *love* a good STEM-career-driven female main character, and there was a lot to love about Rowan and her tender fear of letting people in. Harry and his past brought a completely different element to this story and their meet-cute during a rowdy family time-honoured traditional game of hide and seek was hilarious and a great way to kick the book off. Some of my favourite heartwarming moments came near the end though, including the bit about the grape jelly (marriage is so complex and also simple that way!) and the elements of found family had me tearing up.

I can't recommend this one enough - it was lovely, and I look forward to many more books from this author in the future (fingers crossed!!!)

I also really loved the dual narration audiobook told from both main characters' perspectives - so well done.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy. I really wanted to like this one. Unfortunately, I didn't make it to the end without skimming. Other reviewers have given very positive reviews, so maybe I'm the outcast here. I couldn't connect with the characters. I loved the main character's interest in botany- I loved the descriptions, but apart from that I couldn't connect with her or Harry, the male MC. I really wanted to like this one, but it wasn't for me.

Bend Towards the Sun is like a cool breeze on a summer day or a warm hug on a winter day. It's so comforting and refreshing. That's not to say this book doesn't deal with some real issues because it does; grief and childhood trauma are all addressed. However; love, forgiveness, loyalty, and found family are also central to this story.
Rowan has a Ph.D in botany, is socially awkward, and has been knocked down by love and her academic career. Harrison is a doctor who came home to his family after a tragedy in Los Angeles. Rowan and Harry meet on the vineyard his family has decided to buy and there starts the story.
The characters are well developed, the setting is beautiful, and Harry and Rowan's family and friends round out this beautiful, hopeful romance. I hope Jen Devon writes more books that take place within this world.


Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for a free copy of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

A wonderfully written story of two people who are struggling. In some ways, they’ve both given up on life, love and their futures. In a twist neither was anticipating they meet and slowly their icy exteriors begin to melt and then start to connect and realize that there is more life to live for each of them. A truly wonderful compelling love story!

Holy angsty romance, Batman! I very much enjoyed this debut from Jen Devon. It was heavy but super tender with excellent chemistry between the two main characters.

Harrison Brady comes from a big loving family. The kind of family with a “family game” of tag they play every time they’re together. So when Rowan McKinnon is
dragged along to a Brady cookout, she finds herself in a dark greenhouse with Harrison where they have a pretty adorable meet cute. Over the course of the following year, Rowan and Harrison both experience some pretty intense ups and downs as each of them navigating their reality looking a little different than they imagined.

I really loved the chemistry between Rowan and Harrison, as well as the supporting cast of characters in Rowan’s friends and Harrison’s family. The story kept me interested and engaged, but at times I felt like the pacing was off. The third act conflict felt dragged out but the resolution and grand gesture was wonderful. The setting of the book on a farm/vineyard was so beautifully described that I felt like I was there.

Content warnings: The themes in this book are heavy. Harrison is an OBGYN who lost a patient in childbirth. Recollections of that event are woven throughout the story, so take care if that content is difficult for you. Rowan also grew up with a gaslighting mother and was in an emotionally abusive relationship.

Thanks to SMP Romance and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

I'm honestly so stunned this book is a debut because Jen Devon really grasps how to connect you to the emotions of her characters in a way that was so skillful. I am just a little in awe of the writing in this book. It's full of messy characters doing the best they can to put the pieces together/back together of their lives and everything about that spoke to me in an intense way.

I'm not sure how to sell this book better than Aarya and Nick who are the ones that sold me on it so effectively. But if you love characters who really do not have it all figured out and don't mind a really slow, aching build up, this book could very well be for you. I think the most difficult thing for some people will be how Devon uses time in this book. There are lots of months that elapse without much being said about it. But that really worked for me because I felt like it made the romance more believable. And even the rough moment in this book made sense with the characters even if I wanted to shake them both and be like FIX IT, FOR HEAVENS SAKE.

I don't want to say much about the plot of this book, because this book isn't really about the plot. It's about the characters. And honestly, even beyond Rowan and Harry, the entire cast of characters in this book is truly, genuinely so delightful and engaging. I cannot wait to read the future books in this series. I need them. Also, I've already decided for St. Martin's and Jen Devon, whether they intended this book to be a series or not, that it has to be. So... don't let me down, y'all?

Anyway, probably this was the least helpful review, so a quick tl;dr, this was great. You should probably try it.

A vineyard needing restoration is the perfect backdrop to this lovely story. Rowan has finished her PhD in botany, but her doesn’t exactly have direction for her future. She has been burned in the past by her family, fiancé and coworker. She needs to let go of the baggage to focus on the future, but that is a lot easier said than done.
.
Harrison is an obstetrician hiding out after a tragic loss. He escapes to his family vineyard and doesn’t expect to find his life changed by Rowan but those two are drawn together. Is it enough to heal their pained hearts? I can assure you it is! I would love more books about this family!

I enjoyed Bend Toward the Sun, especially the setting and the meet cute. The story was a bit more cliché than I was expecting, but it was a good read. I believe this was a debut novel so I'm very interested to see where this author goes next as she grows and develops as a writer.

If you like fun, tropey reads with likable characters and a wonderful setting, give this book a try. I think you'll be glad you did.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for an ARC at my request.

BOOK REVIEW // BEND TOWARDS THE SUN

🌟4/5
🌶2/5

Rowan McKinnon doesn’t believe in love - the occasional no strings attached hookup suits her just fine. Rowan’s wounds run deep - her mother was negligent and her fiancé treated her like a pawn in his chess game - and the rules changed everyday. (WHO CAUGHT ON TO MY T SWIIFT REFERENCE??) Roman has a PhD in botany, and when an academic setback leads her to a abandoned vineyard she relishes in the opportunity to restore the grapes to their former glory.

Rowan never expected to meet a man like Harrison Brady. Harrison is doctor (A DOCTOR, YALL!) who is also fighting some internal demons, that is affecting his work and personal life. Harry leaves LA in order to emotionally recover in the comfort of his family’s new vineyard. Harry never in his wildest dreams thought a woman like Rowan would turn his world upside down.

As sparks fly & tension is through the roof - Harry is compelled to explore this undeniable connection between them. After a lifetime of keeping things “casual” Rowan also cannot deny the pull she feels towards sweet Harry.

_____

This book gave me alllll the warm & fuzzies!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This book was a like a warm blanket hug on a cold winter day!

I loved Harry and Rowan - I adore when two flawed people end up together. Harry is seriously the sweetest, most kind hearted man and my heart BROKE for the reasons why he acted the way he did throughout this book. Rowan is also broken in her own ways, and her childhood wasn’t all rainbows and butterflies. I do wish we could have learned WHY Rowan was beyond against relationships sooner.

This story was told over the span of one year, and I LOVED how the sexual tension build up was VERY apparent. The connection between the two was very organic and so beautifully written.

This was the cutest debut novel that definitely deserves to be read! OH! AND THE LAST CHAPTER WAS 🥹


Simone Says Read This if you enjoy:

☀️lotsssss of sexual tension
☀️found families
☀️plants
☀️wineries
☀️warm and fuzzy love stories

Bend Toward the Sun by Jen Devon is one of the most beautiful love stories I’ve read in a long time. It’s a moving story about two people, both of whom have been broken by events from their pasts, who unexpectedly connect with one another.

Rowan McKinnon is a botanist who doesn’t believe in love. Rowan finds solace in plants and in academia, and has no interest in emotional entanglements of any kind. She’s a one-night stand girl all the way. Little does she know, but Harry Brady is about to try to change that. Harry is a doctor who has taken a leave of absence from his job. His self-confidence is shattered after losing a patient, and he has come home to work on his family’s new vineyard and to hopefully heal and recover his self-confidence. A surprisingly intense encounter with Rowan at a family game of hide and seek turns Harry’s world upside down.

I was fully invested in Rowan and Harry from that intense first encounter. The sparks between them were insane and it was clear they were attracted to one another in spite of themselves. The sexual tension between them only continues to grow when Rowan accepts a job at the vineyard and spends months there getting the grounds into shape. I’m a sucker for watching two people grow closer after they’ve gotten off to an initial rocky start, so I just soaked up every scene that brought Rowan and Harry together since it was so obvious that they really needed each other. Rowan, in particular, has built walls around herself, and I loved watching Harry try to break them down. It was truly an emotional tug of war between them at times.

Watching to see what would happen between Rowan and Harry was captivating on its own, but I also just absolutely loved the author’s writing style. Every sentence is lush and beautiful without feeling overdone, and I loved how vividly she brings the setting to life. I could practically smell the grapes and reach out and touch the vines, and that sensation just immersed me in the story all the more.

Equal parts heart-wrenching and heartwarming, Bend Toward the Sun is an intensely emotional story about love, family, grief, and healing that will ultimately leave you with a smile on your face. This one’s a gem that romance fans won’t want to miss!

Bend Toward the Sun is one of the most lusciously written romance debuts I’ve had the pleasure of reading. When I think of authors with lush prose whose words have had an impact on me I think of Talia Hibbert, Kennedy Ryan, Lucy Parker, Therese Beharrie, Kate Clayborn, Cara Bastone, and Lisa Kleypas. I’m thrilled to add Jen Devon to this list of authors. She takes you on an emotional whirlwind with Rowan & Harrison’s sweeping love story and it’s worth every single moment.

Bend Toward the Sun is for all the angsty romance readers out there. Rowan and Harrison come with heavy baggage, which makes their relationship intense, but also healing in the best possible way. They are both reserved with their feelings and could be quite guarded with their hearts. They’ve been burned by past relationships and are carrying their respective grief. Reading stories about morose characters who learn to be vulnerable and give love a second chance never ceases to make my heart soar. So, I was giddy for every crumb of Rowan and Harry’s relationship.

Readers will love Rowan and Harry and sympathize with them. Rowan was mostly raised by her loving grandmother who passed away when was still young. Then she entered a relationship with a toxic man who took advantage of her. As a result, she keeps people other than her close friends at an arm’s length and doesn’t think she’s deserving of love. In a sense, she’s led a lonely life, so when she’s wholeheartedly embraced and smothered with love by Harry’s family, I was here silently hurrahing. She deserved to find a family who saw and valued her, flaws and all.

Harrison is an equally compelling character who you really just want to give a hug to. At the start of Bend Toward the Sun, he has retired to his family’s new vineyard, leaving behind his job as a doctor in LA following the loss of a patient. He is grieving, dealing with insurmountable guilt, and second-guessing his abilities. Harry’s grief could be overwhelming and you will cheer on him to find the kind of undying love his parents had for each other.

The sparks between Rowan and Harry are immediate. The chemistry and the energy they have around each other is evident. But they both want very different things out of a relationship: Rowan wants something temporary while Harry is looking for forever. This causes clashes but the intensity of their feelings are too magnetic. Soon enough, these two can’t stay away from each other. And wow! I shipped them so hard despite foreseeing some of the angsty moments in their relationship. We all know I love tormented characters in tumultuous relationships, so I devoured the book. I love the way Jen Devon writes romance. Her strength lies in writing the little moments that make a romance special: the shared glances, touches, and romantic gestures. The physically intimate scenes are also heavenly. They are steamy and passionate.

One interesting and unique element of Bend Toward the Sun is botany. I know what you must be thinking. How is botany in a romance not boring? Jen Devon writes Rowan’s passion for botany very intentionally. Obviously, it’s Rowan’s job and dissertation research, but I like to believe that it played an even more symbolic role in her life as it helps her find Harry (they meet in a greenhouse) and her found family (she accepts a job maintaining the family’s new vineyard). Be ready to leave this book feeling like a mini botany expert! 🙂

Bend Toward the Sun is easily one of my favorite reads of 2022. I can’t wait to see what Jen Devon has in store for us, especially with all the sequel-baiting of the future couples in this one!

I walked into this one expecting a sweet romance but it was SO much more than I was expecting! I fell head over heels for the characters and the setting. The vineyard/hobby farm setting was depicted in the most lovely way. I absolutely adored the characters- main and supporting. This had some “Parenthood” resemblances and I loved that, as it’s one of my favorite shows. I can only hope that we get more from this author, and this family, because there’s more I want to explore. A beautiful book with complex, interesting characters. Loved it!

(spoiler alert) Somewhat predictable romance novel...seriously, how many sex scenes can start in a muddy barn immediately after birthing a baby animal? Like...why is this a trope?! Anyway. I love the smart woman at the center of this novel (PhD what!?) but something about this book didn't fully click. It's a little too on the nose idyllic. On the surface it hits all the points (winery, hot guy in flannel, lifestyle goals...) but something just didn't sit right.

"Bend Toward the Sun" by Jen Devon is a Romance and Women's Fiction story!

Rowan McKinnon has a PhD in botany, two loyal besties, and prefers relationships with no strings attached. Too many lingering memories of a 'not-so-great' mother and a 'game-playing' fiancé have left her emotionally spent and distrustful of love. What Rowan doesn't expect is meeting someone like Harrison Brady!

Harrison is an obstetrician who is mentally and physically distraught over the loss of a patient. He doubts he's capable of being the doctor he always thought he could be. He leaves his work and his failing relationship in L.A. behind for his parent's new winery in Pennsylvania. The physical labor of rebuilding the winery for opening is sure to help clear his mind and heal his soul. What Harry doesn't expect is meeting someone like Rowan!

An undeniable connection happens between these two people but...

Rowan's counting on the challenge of restoring the grapevines of the abandoned winery to their original glory to keep her distracted from the pull she feels toward Harrison. She wants to keep things casual!

Harry soon discovers that it's not the physical efforts of rebuilding the winery that's having the biggest impact on his frame of mind and perspective; it's Rowan. He wants things to start getting serious!

Will Rowan be able to resist Harry's persistence? Will Harry be able to break-through Rowan's walls?

The writing of this novel is bright, descriptive, and emotional. I enjoy all the characters and feel they all contributed to the family dynamics of this story. However, I want to know more about both Rowan and Harry and I need more details about their families. It didn't feel like enough was offered for this family centric novel.

I read the digital copy and listened to the audiobook choosing to switch back and forth between the two formats. The audiobook has two narrators, Erin Mallon & Chris Brinkley, who give a unique voice to each of the main characters. Erin happens to be one of my favorite narrator's, so listening was a special treat for me! With the digital copy, the visual experience of reading the printed word will always be comforting to me!

Although it was a pleasant experience to both read and listen to this book, there wasn't anything unique to this story and, as a result, nothing new and different stood out to me. An enjoyable read but a little too reminiscent of the 'Hallmark Channel' to me. If that's your preference, I do recommend it as one for you.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Griffin (widget) for a free DRC, and McMillan Audio for a free ALC of this book, and Jen Devon. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.

Review ⭐⭐⭐💫 Bend Toward the Sun by Jen Devon

Rowan is a scientist, more specifically a botanist who does not believe in love. Her two best friend and a couple of no-string attached sexcapades it's all she truly needs, or so she thinks. When an academic step backs results in the possibility of a lifetime: the restoration of an abandoned vineyard, she beyond happy to be back in her true element, not papers and mathematics but the fresh dirt under-foot and the sun shining on her face. Most of all, she doesn't expect to meet another struggling soul amongst the vine.

CW: Death of a loved one and a patient (past, but with impact), gaslighting, cheating (past relationship), parental neglect (past).

This story was a beautiful concept. However, the execution had me a bit disappointed. The writing was a bit too flowery for my liking and the author used a lot of info-dumping, especially in the beginning. I really enjoyed the characters, their flaws and how they dealt with it. Their love felt gut-wrenching, and I loved how imperfect they were. I feel like the novel dragged a bit at times resulting in the pacing being a bit off. I thought the family aspect of the novel was it's strongest aspect and I wish the feeling we got when we were with them was more present instead throughtout the novel instead of the drama.

Bonus point: Their meet cute was epic and I loved it.

Thank you St-Martin's Griffin for gifting me a copy through Netgalley. As always, all thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

✨ PRINCEMAN REVIEW ✨

🍇 Have you ever visited a winery? 🍇

Bend Toward the Sun by Jen Devon reminded me why I love living near the vineyards in Oregon. (Even though this book takes place in Pennsylvania).

📝 Rowan has had enough challenges and trauma in her life. But, when her PhD Botany 🪴 research comes into question, she packs up her life and flees to the only safe place she knows: the arms of her two best friends.

Obstetrician Harry is struggling to overcome the death of his patient after an emergency delivery. He is withdrawn, and feels unable to take care of others. Taking a leave of absence, he heads to his family's new dilapidated vineyard. This place might be perfect for Rowan and Harry to heal. Sometimes, love comes when you least expect it.

What I 🤍:
❤️‍🩹 Trauma & Healing
🌀 Anxiety Representation
📏 Character Depth
🥞 Pancake Noises
🍇 Vineyard Setting

This book was so emotional and moving. At times, I caught a tickle in my throat from trying not to cry. I could really relate to the hard things in Rowan's childhood, because they also happened in my life. This was a very heavy read for me, and I really appreciated the cute and funny moments of pancakes, sheep🐑, spiders🕷, and a vocal donkey!

Prince's Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steaminess: 🔥🔥🔥
Read If ➡️: You love emotional romances.
Warning ⚠️: This book features childhood trauma and neglect.

I can't believe this was Jen's debut novel! I am excited to read the next one in the series! 🤞 Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for an ARC of this book. 🥰

🌟 #bendtowardthesun is available now. (FYI....it's probably shelved under fiction at your local bookstore even though it's romance!)

She walked slowly through the endless trails of vines, her hands reaching out and carefully fondling the leaves of the growing plants. Soon there would be a bounty of grapes and wine to be made, but for now it was just and endless ocean of green. The sun warmed her shoulders as she continued to stroll. Being amongst the living specimens sprouting from the earth invigorated the life within her, but someone was also trying to vie for space in her life and she wasn’t sure if she could allow the room.

Bend Toward the Sun is a dual POV romance following the characters of Rowan and Harrison. Rowan is a brilliant botanist and her love for plants is effervescent, while Harrison (Harry) is a OBGYN dealing with some raw emotions after losing a patient. He returns to his family’s vineyard and Rowan finds herself working there as she waits the result of a postdoctoral she’s submitted.

At first I wasn’t sure how I felt about these two characters falling in love. I liked them individually but together I was skeptical, but then somewhere around the halfway point their relationship started to click for me. I loved seeing two imperfect people struggling with past traumas coming together and not only learning about themselves but how to love another person. Also, it was nice to see the male being more vulnerable and pushing for a connection instead of the female being the “needy” one.

If you’re a dual POV romance fan, enjoy wine/wineries, love the found family trope, and want a sweet, vulnerable romance. I’d recommend this one.

I enjoyed this book so much, I'm a fan of the sarcastic, strong, professionally focused main character and the hot emotionally scarred man, that's not afraid of being vulnerable.

The girlfriend group is everything, very relatable, we all have those types of friends and their banter. I like that there is some depth and background with every character without overextending the scene and we get a sense of who each character is and what role they play and will play throughout the book. I also liked the Brady family dynamic; they were all warm and at the same time messy, contrasting with different personalities, and felt very real.

Rowan and Harrison's turmoil of relationship had it all, vulnerability, fun, and tender moments that had you rooting for them all throughout the book. They both carried baggage from their past that would not let them fully commit to what they knew deep inside would be a beautiful relationship. Although the story was predictable, I enjoyed the ride so much, I was excited and annoyed by their actions and that’s what a good book does. Overall, an amazing book with well-thought-out characters and beautiful writing.

“Rowan could be distant as the moon, depriving him of oxygen and untethering him from gravity. But she was also funny and earnest and brilliant –– and before shed put up her guard tonight, he’d heard the hungry catch in her voice when they talked about love. Something raw and dormant and aching to be explored.”