Bend Toward the Sun tells the story of two perfectly imperfect person and their journeys of healing, self discovery, and a lifetime of love in ways neither could anticipate.

Rowan is closed off and guarded hiding behind plants and academia but when she takes a temporary job at the Brady family winery she learns so much more than she ever could from books about life, love and herself. She finds herself overwhelmed with the love of the Brady family and their interactions with each other and the walls she’s erected around herself start to weaken calling into question everything she’s set forth and known. Harry is struggling and returning to help his family was supposed to be a soft landing place for him to heal and recuperate. Eventually, Harry begins to feel like his old self again and it wasn’t just through physical labor and being around his family, a large part of his recovery can be attributed to Rowan and her essence.

The magnetic pull between Rowan and Harry was something neither of them ever anticipated and it hurt. They had to truly heal individually and together before they could truly be together in a way that they be together harmoniously. This story is so emotional written that you as the reader feel all the emotions coursing through Rowan and Harry. You understand their hurt, their struggles, their actions through the love they have but can’t put into words. If you love an emotional love story add this to your tbr.


Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for my gifted copies.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well written, and the plot was engrossing. I would recommend this to any romance readers.

Really enjoyed the scenery and getting to know the characters and their journey together. I would read another book by this author.

Thank you to the author and St. Martin’s Press for the gifted book ❤️ #gifted

Read this book if you like: Dual POV, banter, friends to lovers, friends with benefits, opposites attract, steamy 🔥

This is one of those that is so much more than a romance. It's heartfelt, deep, and so beautiful. I have been kicking myself for putting this book off for so long. It's sweet, funny, and perfectly steamy. I love the pace of the story. The romance is built so naturally. The people are so realistic and well-written. I love the atmosphere of the wine vineyard. I highly recommend this!

This is such a lovely romance! The relationship between Rowan and Harrison was so natural, it felt like watching 2 friends fall in love. The small town vineyard setting was perfect for the story and for their romance. I really loved this book! 5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

Bend Toward the Sun by Jen Devon is a novel about two people who find love and healing in the wake of loss. Rowan McKinnon is a botany PhD who has retreated from the world after the death of her fiancé. Harry Harrison is a former Navy SEAL who is struggling to cope with the loss of his leg. When they meet, they are both drawn to each other, but they are also afraid to let anyone in. However, as they spend more time together, they begin to heal from their past hurts and find strength in each other.
Devon does an excellent job of creating complex and believable characters. Rowan and Harry are both flawed, but they are also kind and compassionate. The reader can't help but root for them as they navigate the ups and downs of their relationship. The setting of the novel, a vineyard in Pennsylvania, is also beautifully described. Devon evokes the feeling of summer with lush descriptions of the vineyards and the surrounding countryside.
The ending is a bit abrupt and there were a lot of ups and downs that just seemed to make the story feel ridiculous.

I wasn't quite connecting with this one and I had to DNF with the possibility of picking up in the future. Thank you for the opportunity to read the book and I apologize for the inconvenience.

This story was absolutely lovely and lush. I got swept away in the descriptions, the wonderful cast of characters, the tender aching hearts of the two main leads. The romance was…just swoon. I can’t wait to read the sequels, which there better be at least two of given the seeds planted!

RATING: 3/5

This book had the perfect setup for a romance novel I thought I'd love, but it was lacking spark for me. The writing style was nice, though!

This book wasn’t for me. The writing was really good and the characters were well developed but it just wasn’t for me. I did not finish it.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved Jen's writing style and how she just brought you into the story with her descriptions. I'm looking forward to reading more books by this author!

Let me first start by saying… The chemistry and connection between the love interests. OMG the spice they snuck in too.

This felt like a hallmark movie to me! I wouldn’t be surprised if it got picked up to be on screen. It gives you all the happy feels.

It starts with 2 main characters who are broken and together they grow and heal. Getting through their tragedies. They’re good together, really good.

And the moment it happened I just ugh 🥰 I had high expectations for this book and it did not let me down

DNF at 32%. I’m blaming this one entirely on my reading slump and not the book - I’ve seen lots of great reviews from friends with similar reading taste. But I am just finding myself bored. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advance reading copy.

DNF @ 38%

This one mostly fell victim to my epic book slum of 2022. I have seen a lot of positive reviews for this one, but I just could not get into the story. The FMC honestly annoyed me and after putting it down I just could not pick it back up. I kept waiting to try and start this one up again but I think for now I am just leaving it as a DNF

When I tell you I was not prepared for this book....

Beautifully written and with a powerful pull. The characters were so complex, well developed and just likeable as all get out. The slow burn isn't something I tend to like but this one was like an eager anticipation.

I loved this book! I finished it awhile ago and forgot to review but it was amazing and I will be reading anything else I can find by this author!

This took me a while to get onto because right post the bat there were so many characters, it felt like I was starting in the middle of a book or series. This was an emotional book and heavier on the women’s fiction side of things. I liked it but I was hoping for a stronger romance than it was.

This is easily one of the most stunning, heartbreakingly beautiful, poetic books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I'm not even sure how to put into words how brilliant this book is. Rowan and Harry will have you crying, laughing and loving throughout their journey. Even the sadder pieces of this story are written so exquisitely you will be hooked to the page. I highly recommend this book to everyone who will listen and I am eager to read everything else Jen Devon writes. Thank you Griffin Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

Harry and Rowan's story was lovely and I'm so glad I had the opportunity to read this book. Harry's pain at his loss felt real, and Rowan's push to overcome her past and find herself worthy of love was so visceral.

Devon's prose is gorgeous, and she does such a great job with developing characters that you want to know more about, and describing a setting so real it's like you've been there. I can't wait to read more of her work.

This book is wonderful in so many ways! When botanist Rowan ends up working to revive the grounds and vineyards of a Philadelphia estate she ends up with more than she bargained for. Obstetrician Harry is returns to the east coast to help get over the loss of a patient. The two try and avoid the spark between them but time together leads them to fall for each other. Can Rowan learn to trust Harry and can Harry leave his guilt behind? Not only does the reader learn a lot of interesting horticultural facts but the story also shines a light on emotional abuse and mental health. I really hope there is second book coming because I want more!