Right Where We Left Us
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Jen Devon

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Temperance Jean Madigan and Duncan Brady have never gotten it right. After one radiant, secret summer together when they were eighteen, they’ve been on-again off-again ever since. Now, despite red-hot chemistry and TJ’s closeness with Duncan’s family, they’re virtually strangers, only capable of adversarial banter, awkward small talk―and the occasional messy hookup.

When a wedding at the Brady’s vineyard lands TJ there for the summer, their mutual avoidance strategies prove impossible. The last thing TJ wants is to be under those angsty, heated glances Duncan thinks he hides. And for Duncan, having fiery TJ constantly close is the ultimate distraction that he absolutely can’t afford. When forced proximity begins to chip away at their armor, buried tensions resurface, old wounds urge confrontation, and once-in-a-lifetime love demands one last chance to finally get it right.

My Thoughts: This was a sweet, fun read. Temperance Jean “TJ” and Duncan had a passion filled summer together at 18 years old, in secret. They have been in an on and off relationship since then. Even with that, they are strangers, only able to have adversarial banter, small talk that is stiff and awkward, and still having the occasional hook up. TJ is visiting her hometown for the summer. A wedding (the characters from first book) brings them back together, even as much as they try to avoid each other. Duncan cannot afford having a TJ distraction and TJ can feel Duncan staring a mile away. Old wounds inch to the surface, deep tensions submerge to a boiling point, and two soulmates have only one opportunity to strike gold. This follows the tropes of forced proximity and second chance romance.

This story is a follow up book to Bend Towards the Sun. The Brady family owns the vineyard and TJ is Rowan’s best friend. There are a lot of characters with backstories, and with so much time since the prior novel, it was hard to keep up. The current novel is not advertised as a follow up novel, which could impact readers, thinking this is a standalone. Our two MCs in this story, TJ and Duncan, are both tortured characters. TJ is really misunderstood by her family and hides secrets that she believes she has too. Duncan is also misunderstood by his family and often is unappreciated, and his character soaks in this aspect. Their relationship has too many years of miscommunication, maybe too many to even fully recover. The characters were created with depth, well fleshed out, witty banter, chemistry, and were creatively executed. The author’s writing style was complex, thought-provoking, engaging, and steamy. The family dynamics that was created, especially for the Brady family were well executed and makes you want to be part of that family.

This was a balanced read with some really tender moments with hard topics balanced with some funny movements. It was beautifully written. I would recommend picking up.

Rating - 4.5 Stars

Temperance and Duncan's lives have been intertwined for more than half their existence. Though their love had never waned, they continued to dance around each other following their breakup over a decade ago. Could the timing be right to resuscitate their big love and pick up right where they left off?

Bend Towards the Sun was such a phenomenal experience for me that I did not hesitate to add this book to the TBR. In fact, I pretty much just looked at the cover, saw Jen Devon wrote it, and called the book one of my most anticipated reads for 2024. Little did I know that this was actually a companion to Bend Towards the Sun. I mean, I was so excited I did a happy dance.

It was such a thrill to be back at the vineyard with the Brady family and their adjacent people. I got to see the progress they made, spend quality time with the family, and most importantly, attend a wedding. I always cry at weddings, so needless to say, there were tears, but there was also a beautiful second chance romance contained within these pages.

Duncan and Temperance had fallen hard for each other in their teens. Devon took us back to those pivotal summers where we got to see them meet, fall in love, and break each others hearts. They may not have been a couple, but due to their siblings being married, they were still in each others orbits. It made me so happy that they were able to rekindle their love. Both had grown so much, and now, I just wanted them to grow together.

The one thing I adore about Devon's books is the family focus. The Bradys were a very special bunch and the love flows freely between them. They were also a bunch of meddlers in this book who were doing everything they could to get Temperance and Duncan together, and I was one hundred percent in support of their meddling.

It was exciting to catch up with old friends while getting to know some of them on a deeper level. I suspect there will be a return to the vineyard given the way Mal and Frankie were incorporated into the story. Obviously, I am excited at the prospect and cannot wait to spend more time with the Bradys.

Jen is one of the most underrated romance writers out there. Her writing is so gorgeous it hits you right in the heart. I mean, there is extreme sexual tension between our main characters in the first chapter. This book is one of the best second chance romances I have ever read.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's press as well as Jen Devon for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I fell in love with the Brady clan in Jen's debut novel and couldn't wait to read Duncan's story (please read Bend Towards the Sun first so you can meet the amazing cast of characters)! Her writing is so heartfelt and brilliant and I absolutely love how there is STEM representation.

This is actually one of the first second chance stories that I have enjoyed as it's not a trope I typically gravitate towards. The story is the perfect mix of both romantic shenanigans as well as plot. The banter is top notch and the heat between Duncan and TJ could be felt searing off the pages. Overall this was a beautiful contemporary romance and I cannot wait to see what the Brady family and friends get up to next!

Tropes:
*Forced Proximity
*Second Chance
*Slow Burn
*Romangst

Fave quote:
"I will never be over you. You are not optional. You are necessary."

Temperance Madigan has never been able to fully close off her heart to Duncan Brady ever since their summer fling when they were eighteen. But now that her best friend Rowan is getting married to Duncan’s brother Harry, Temperance and Duncan can’t escape each other no matter how hard they try. As they prepare Cloud Nine vineyard for the wedding and start spending time together Temperance and Duncan try to keep their feelings from running away with them once again. But past memories and undeniable chemistry can’t keep Duncan and Temperance apart. When the choice between careers and happiness converge Temperance and Duncan must decide if everything they have is worth a second chance.

Jen Devon once again writes a stellar, beautifully raw romance in the most transportive and picturesque rural Pennsylvania setting. The characters are fighting for their own self worth and discovery which is a journey we all take as adults and can connect with. And I think we would all like a support system like the Brady family and friends like Rowan and Frankie. Their love and community is enviable. What an all around fantastic read!

TJ Madigan and Duncan Brady have been into each other for years but the timing has never been quite right. The more they try to stay away from one another, the closer they find themselves.

Right Where We Left Us is the follow-up to Jenn Devon’s first contemporary romance, Bend Toward the Sun. They can both be read as stand-alones. This book has just the right amount of steamy moments along with plenty of sweet and swoony scenes.

The rollercoaster of emotion I felt while reading this book is going to be hard to match. Jen Devon’s prose reads like a love song. The romance she has crafted between the two MCs is better than any romance movie. TJ and Duncan have such a glorious chemistry between them in spite of their angst and initial denials. The longing is palpable.

Bend Toward the Sun is one of my favorite 2022 releases and I couldn’t be more pleased with how perfect Right Where We Left Us turned out to be. I hope we will be getting to see more of the Bradys in future books and I look forward to seeing what the author has next for her readers.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is something you can just sink right into and have a good time. There were smiles, there were giggles and there were some wholesome moments that I enjoyed. I am so happy that I was able to receive an ARC from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this second chance romance, my favorite trope. Bend Toward the Sun, book one of the series, is a must-read that checked all the boxes. This book, book two, stands alone and was written well with a hot chemistry and romance. The author did an excellent job. I was hooked from the first page and read it in a day.
Thanks St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press Griffin for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by Jen Devon. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Temperance and Duncan fell in love when they were 18, but they've been on and off since then. Their chemistry is all too clear to everyone around them, but they can't seem to get past themselves to make it work. When Temperance is back at the Brady vineyard for the summer for her best friend's wedding, things become really difficult between the two of them. Can they finally get it right?

I loved meeting the Brady family in Devon's previous book, Bend Toward the Sun. Now they're back, this time focusing on Temperance and Duncan. You can certainly read this as a stand alone, but the Brady's a definitely worth starting at the beginning! This book focuses on second chances, family obligations, communication, and of course, love. It's the perfect mix of serious subject matters and steamy romance - you'll love these characters and be rooting for them. Dare we hope for book number three featuring this family? Fingers crossed!

Second chance stories are hit or miss for me. Right Where We Left Us is the second chance story of Temperance and Duncan in a small town which lots of family. This was a slow burn with a lot of back and forth wavering with both of them. This was a second book to this and wished I read the first one to know the characters better. There is a lot going on with both characters and both needing to grow up before falling in love. Duncan's family was a lot of fun and added depth to the story. This was a cute albeit a little slow story.

Thank you @smpromance for a copy of this.

For a sophomore debut, Jen Devon took me right back to the Pennsylvania winery and the big bunch of Brady’s that fight like the devil for those they love. This is Duncan and Temperance’s story and believe me when I say that you absolutely MUST read Bend Towards the Sun first. First of all, it is one of my favorite books that I always recommend for an angsty read, and secondly because you may be lost trying to follow all of the family members of the extensive Brady clan. From Bend Toward the Sun you know that Duncan and Temperance have a past (I was gunning for their book!) and Right Where We Left Us forces them to engage with one another because of their overlapping circles of friends and family, specifically at Harry and Rowan’s wedding.

Immediately I got the sense that these characters were not over each other even if their words or actions may have said otherwise. Devon is great at writing tension and filling it with a poetic language that makes you feel it in your bones. In this way, this story felt like a saga where I was desperate by the time they finally climbed each other like a tree (and climb they did!) and simultaneously nervous for them, because what happens next? Temperance and Duncan have had a pattern of coming to each other for the physical bond, even if they couldn’t give emotionally and I worried that this would be a repeat. To be fair, there are a lot of “romance reasons” why these two haven’t worked out so far, and some readers may find fault with these. I don’t think the reasons overshadowed the fact that timing truly IS everything, especially with maturity and no longer being eighteen years old.

This book gave me big time vibes of the infamous movie kiss scene from The Notebook. It’s equal parts passionate you’ve-always-been-the-one-for-me, and angsty I-love-you-so-much-I-can’t-stand-what-it-does-to-me. Temperance and Duncan are two planets circling each other, but when they combust it’s an explosion brighter than the sun. The scene in Duncan’s truck will live rent free in my head. There are also so many beautiful tender moments that are sometimes orchestrated by the family, from a sick bed caretaking scene, to finding ways for Duncan and Temperance to just be around each other. I know these are characters I’m going to be thinking about for a long time, even if they did get in the way of their own love story for years. Most likely Frankie and Mal’s story will evolve next and I know that Jen Devon will continue to write complicated characters than feel big and love hard. I’m glad I’m here for the ride. Thank you to St. Martin’s press for my early copy all opinions are my own.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (BTTS is still my fave!)
Steam: 🚿🚿🚿

I gave Bend Towards the Sun a 5⭐️ review. So disappointed to say this was not my favorite. I had a hard time keeping up with everyone’s back stories and I did not feel the connection between the main characters.

This book is a VERY slow burn, second-chance romance. You don’t have to read the previous book about the Brady family to understand this one, but it might help because there is A LOT of backstory, The author just presents so so so many reasons why this couple has taken forever to get together, They fell in love as teenagers, and have been pining for each other ever since. Temperance Madigan is now a grown, capable doctor now, but she’s still head over heels for Duncan Brady, who is a hot dude, and clearly infatuated with her, but has some major self-esteem problems. I have a hard time with men who are so unwilling to get help for their insecurities. He desperately needs therapy. If he really believes himself so unworthy of Temperance, it’s very hard for the reader to feel like he’s worthy. Lots of twists and turns for this couple, and many many side stories, If you have tons of patience, and like stories about families and small towns, this book might pay off for you.

Thank you NetGalley for the free digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Right Where We Left Us by Jen Devon

I was obsessed with the Brady family after reading "Bend with the Sun" last year, so I couldn't wait for Duncan and Temperance's second chance love story. This romance, told from both their perspectives, was full of angst, pining, and miscommunication, which I loved!

The story was filled with heart, humor, and heat. I loved the big, messy family dynamics, the cold, distant parents of Temperance and Maren, and the way the sisters took control of their lives. The friendships between the three main women were feel-good and relatable.

Duncan and Temperance have been circling each other for years, and their relationship is complicated by their past. Despite some confusing moments, their chemistry and the slow burn of their romance kept me hooked. Jen Devon's writing brings the characters to life, and I'm excited for the next book featuring another Brady brother. I highly recommend this book for fans of angsty, second-chance romances.

WORTH. THE. WAIT!!! I was obsessed with the Brady family after reading Bend with the sun last year and I couldn't wait for Duncan and Temperance's second chance love story. Told from a dual POV with some flashbacks, this beautiful star crossed lovers romance was full of angst, pining and miscommunication (which might not work for everyone but sure did for me)!

With a GORGEOUS purple cover, this story was full of heart, humor and heat and filled my cup up like no other. I loved the big messy family, the aloof, cold distant parents of Temperance and Maren and the way the sisters took control of their lives and the feel-good friendships between the three main women. I soo look forward to Frankie and Mal's story next and can't recommend this one enough!!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. This is perfect for fans of Emily Henry, Abby Jimenez or Christina Lauren!! Bring on book three! I will be waiting in eager anticipation!!!

3.5-4 stars. Temperance Madigan and Duncan Brady have been circling around each other for years. Unbeknownst to most, they had a big love affair years ago and now, they can’t stand to be around each other nor can they stand to be apart. It’s all kinds of messy and complicated because Duncan’s brother is marrying Temperance’s best friend (the main characters from Bend Toward the Sun). Therefore, these two’s lives will always be intertwined.

As much as I enjoyed the slow burn, angst and longing, it wasn’t always easy to follow the hot and cold between them or the timeline. These two ran contradictory to each other multiple times so it got to the point where I just needed them to get their act together and to simply spill their guts, secrets and all. While their families are nothing alike, they both have parental expectations weighing on them and the burden of disappointment. Underneath the outward antagonism was a lot of buried love and respect towards the one person who understood the other best. Because of the layered nuances in their history, it became be confusing at times but there was no doubt about the feelings. So while this story was more convoluted than the previous one, I still found the dynamics between all of the characters fascinating and was entertained by the dialogue. The author still has a way with words that brings the story to life in vivid colors so I am interested in the next book featuring a different broody Brady brother.

Jen Devon has done it again. I will read anything written by her. How does she make everyday life seem so magical? I just want to be a guest at the vineyard for a week to experience life with the Bradys. Devon’s characters live beyond the page. They are messy, imperfect, hilarious, and downright charming. But Temperance girl, I needed you to get it together. You were killing me here with your trepidation. Anyhooo, it was great to be back at Cloud Tide. Let’s see what Frankie and Mal get up to next ;)

DNF @ 7%. Couldn't get into this at all. I felt lost with the characters even though I read the first book and loved it. Something just wasn't working for me.

Thanks to NetGalley & St Martin's Press for an advance copy

Thank you to Jen Devon, St. Martin's Griffin, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

First, the cover is amazing, eye-catching, and I am obsessed with it!!

Second, this was good. I liked Temperance. I liked Duncan. But there were way too many characters for me to keep up with and I was confused at some points.

I loved the banter. The spice was spicing. Second-chance romances are quickly becoming a top favorite.

3.5 stars

This is a difficult book to rate for me. For the most part, I enjoyed it. Duncan Brady and Temperance Madigan have been on again/off again since they were eighteen years old.

For most of the book, I didn’t really understand WHY they couldn’t be together. They were both in their thirties…adults, so it has been a really long time to be fighting a relationship.

I really liked Duncan’s character, though. He was so much more than he knew and gave himself credit for.
I don’t know how Temperance stayed away from him!

It was nice to see Harry and Rowan from the author’s first book and the whole Brady family. But, woah, they were in a lot of the scenes. Maybe too much. Plus, if the next book had better be about Malcom Brady and Frankie, because I’m pretty much invested in that budding relationship.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.