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.”

3 stars

This seemed like the perfect book for me. It had an old rickety vineyard in a small town with two characters brought together with very different tragic backstories and was filled to the brim with overwrought descriptions of the farm and plants and even the dang fog. Total catnip to my purple prose Hallmark movie season of life.

Unfortunately, this book was not perfect for me. The first star I deducted is because Rowan (the female main character) was too much of a moldy cactus type where she had boundaries and million foot tall walls around her heart or some shit but never clearly expressed any of these to Harry (the male main character) and she instead came across as closed off and mean and disrespectful. I simply did not believe she had enough positive characteristics or was hot enough for Harry to try so hard and fall in love with her immediately because besides the being really into plants thing she basically had zero? A lot of the prickly pushiness Rowan had was romanticized towards the end and all she needed was to see Real Romantic Love to heal her! Girl, please.

One of the worst things Rowan did was never call Harry by his preferred name and instead she called him Harrison until about 60% of the book wherein she switched back and forth between Harry and Harrison depending on how she felt towards him. This is not cute and it is not romantic even if the author tried to explain it away at the end as Rowan's grandma saying nicknames are for people you love. Tell that to anyone who has ever played a sport ever. And a preferred name is not the same as a nickname! Respect the names people ask you to use for them as much as you'd respect the pronouns they ask you to use. Simple as that.

The other star was deducted because half the book is overly horny nonsense. Harry was popping boners everywhere and at one point Rowan felt up Harry's crotch while they were in a s'mores line at a family dinner where children were present. Why couldn't one of Rowan's thousand mysterious boundaries been about appropriate sexual behavior? Now s'mores are ruined forever.

This was a delightful debut! I'm really hoping for more of the Brady family. I can't wait for more books by Jen Devon.

Format - EARC and paperback

Rating- ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Spice- 🌶 🌶 🌶

Series- N/A

Troupes- insta attraction, he falls first, damaged humans, small town, Women in STEAM, slow burn only one bed

CW-verbal abusive ex, mental health struggles

It’s really hard to believe that this is Devon’s debut novel. It’s so eloquently written and cinematic. Her story telling is like stepping into the pages, you can feel the sun, hear the reeds rustle, and taste the wine. It was such a pleasure of the imaginary to the senses to read. I hope and audiobook is forth coming and that it can do this book justice!

This Story itself is a simple one, take two emotionally damaged people and make them fall in love over a year. And yet the characters are so 3 dimensional and dynamic they could walk off the page and be people in your life. The emotions are so real and raw that your heart squeezes and your throat closes up. I shed several tears while embarking on this journey with these dummies.

I’m not going to summarize the synopsis, it tells you everything you need to know to decide whether you read this or not, but I will tell you this. This book is not like the others you have read. Jen word smithing and descriptive imagery, her story telling is cognizant, it’s a living breathing thing that grips you and pulls you into her world, and it fucking glorious.

It’s been several day and a few other book since a finished Bend toward the sun and I’m still thinking about it.

The 3 🌶 up there tell you what you need to know there is Spicy and it is good.

I can not wait for Devon’s next book. I don’t even care what its about or what the troupes are, its could have a surprise baby init for all I care and I would happily devour it. It’s safe to say I am not a Fan of jan Devon.

📚 Book Review 📚

Another book I had aimed to have read by Pub Day and just couldn’t do it. I had high expectations for this book, and while it was a perfectly fine romance, it wasn’t my cup of tea.

I was able to dive right in and was easily drawn into the story which is always a strong sign I’m going to love a book. I devoured the first 15-20% in one sitting. I loved the premise, setting, and the Brady family dynamic. I just didn’t really like the main characters. There was too much push and pull between them. It was angsty and steamy, but they spent so much time fighting I questioned whether the two of them being together would have been good for either of them. The biggest strike was the conflict revolved around a MISCOMMUNICATION.

Rowan McKinnon doesn't believe in love. As a scientists, she needs the proof, the data - without that the idea of love is laughable to her. Rowan has had a setback in her personal life & academia career and is taking some time to figure things out. When an opportunity to help restore a beautiful abandoned vineyard lands in her lap, she can't seem to say no.

Doctor Harrison Brady has come to his family's vineyard in Pennsylvania to find some peace from the demons chasing him from California. After losing a patient, Harry's not quite sure what to do with his profession or really his life. It isn't until he meets Rowan, that Harry starts to find some semblance of who he was prior to the event that changed his life.

Bend Toward the Sun was quite simply, a beautiful read. The descriptions in the book alone made me feel like I was right there with these characters. I loved the banter and chemistry between Rowan and Harry. They were so patient and kind with one another and yet challenged each other when they needed it.

While there isn't much that happens with the plot, I still enjoyed this romance! I loved the Brady family as well as the dynamics between Rowan and her best friends. I hope we get more stories featuring these characters!

Oh, I was caught off guard by this beautiful love story and I loved it. Rowan, so broken, yet so strong, trying to forge a life for herself where she could heal from the pain of her lonely childhood, and Harry, so dedicated, sweet, and vulnerable, who felt things so deeply that he just couldn't move on after unexpectedly losing a patient. When these two come together, the passion and strong emotions are almost palpable and I felt for them both as Rowan tried to protect her bruised heart by maintaining a distance, while Harry knew right away that she was the one for him, and was determined to show her they could move forward together.

The writing and descriptions of the setting were lush and beautiful. I wanted so badly to visit the vineyard and plunge my hands into the earth, let it sooth, comfort, and heal me the way it did for Rowan. I loved how brilliant and effortlessly competent Rowan was in her chosen field of botany while at the same time she was somewhat awkward socially, but not afraid to walk away from situations that made her uncomfortable. Meanwhile, the entire Brady family swept her up in their lives with no hesitation and showed her what a true family is like, giving her the chance to finally bend toward the light and have the achieve the closeness she always longed for. I'm so hoping that the author continues this story with others in the family and that we get to revisit the vineyard and the family in a later book. My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

There was something incredibly soothing about Bend Toward the Sun. The title is appropriate because reading it felt like languidly stretching your limbs on a warm summer's day.

Jen Devon's writing has a definite old-school quality. This book has the timbre of an older historical romance (without some of the shall we say problematique elements) transported to a contemporary setting. In her author bio, Devon describes being nurtured on romance paperbacks in the 1990s so this makes total sense. In a sea of candy-coated romcoms, Bend Toward the Sun's understated maturity stands out as refreshing.

If I had to pick a current "for fans of" comp I would probably say Kate Clayborn—who is a gold-standard author for me. Their writing styles aren't exactly the same; Clayborn is definitely the more whimsical of the two. But both Clayborn and Devon have the gift of writing intimacy and characters who are sensitively attuned to each other. Spacial awareness! Characters who are written with precision! Organic conflict that is derived from the characters' personalities and backstories!

Clayborn and Devon also share the gift of elegant prose. I'm leery when a book's writing is described as "lush" and "vivid" in marketing copy as those descriptors are often a purple flag. Devon's writing is genuinely lovely, though, and creates a full sensory experience for the reader.

The reason this is marked as four rather than five stars is the drop in momentum in the final stretch of the novel. To be fair, my brain has been applesauce this year when it comes to reading so this could be an "it's not you, it's me" problem. I am not a big fan of emotional martyrdom, so that was probably the biggest source of drag for me. There was also some speed-run recapping near the end that felt out of place with the rest of the book's more thoughtful pacing.

I look forward to reading what Devon writes next. There was a lot of sequel bait in this (Frankie/Malcolm IN PARTICULAR went straight for my jugular).

Content notes for anxiety/panic attacks (experienced on-page), death in childbirth (minor character; backstory), parental neglect (backstory), and death of grandparent/parental figure (backstory).

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC. I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

It has been a while since I have fallen in love with a romance novel (pun-intended). Romance novels have become so commercialized, it's difficult to not just expect the same storylines, the same tropes, the same everything, when a new one falls into your lap. But this one, this one knocked it out of the park. This is a romance novel that I cannot recommend enough.
The story flows beautifully. Time does jump, but it is done in a way where you, as the reader, can decipher how it benefits the story. I really enjoyed all of the careful consideration taken when tackling the heavier topics of mental health, trauma, neglect, and even death. The author knows how to get the facts out there with sympathy and grace. And I also appreciate all of the new random botany facts I now harbor.
Rowan and Harry are two characters that are just so...human. Very descriptive, I know. But what I mean is, they are characters you can really connect and empathize with. Both of them have their insecurities and fears and have the trauma to back them up. But they are both also willing to move forward. It is a slow burn, for these lovers, but it never felt too delayed nor rushed. You are immediately taken by their love and get to experience them falling for each other.
The standout character (and what really sold this novel to me) was Rowan. She is talented, witty, smart, and genuinely cares for others. She is the type of character that, at least for me, I flipped between loving and hating her. I genuinely felt like I was her friend and found myself wishing I could shake some sense into her or just give her a massive hug (although she would probably not like it). Rowan is powerful - she is driven and stubborn, and when you begin to see the cracks in her armor, it actually adds to her power. Her past does not define her; she uses it to learn and grow.
There is much more I wish I could dive into. I cannot wait for this book to hit the market so I can fangirl with other readers.
Get this book. It's the romance of the summer.

I didn't expect to love this book as much as I did. I loved everything about this book, from the characters to the romance. The story was well developed and I couldn't put t down. I wanted to keep reading but also didn't want it to end. I loved it so much! Very well done!

Wow I cannot believe more people are not talking about this one!!! I absolutely loved it. Loved the setting of the vineyard, loved the Brady family, and loved Rowan and Harry. I hope this is a start to a series because I need all of their stories!

This book is as romantic as it can be. I love it from beginning to end. Enjoyed every single situation and character. Appreciate the approach the author gave to loss and the strength found in love.