Bend Toward the Sun Paperback – August 9, 2022

This book is so beautiful and I love it so much!! Jen Devon's writing is phenomenal and I am truly obsessed. I reread this one recently and it was just as good a second time. I cried like three times at the end because seeing these two work towards their HEA was so lovely. They deserved it so much.

“That ache you feel, still wanting more? I feel it too, but for me it’s about more than physiological release. We could do every sex act known to humankind, but if that is all I ever have of you, I will spend the rest of my life wanting more.” He dragged a hand over his mouth. “Christ, I think I already will.”There's a large part of me that wants to rate this as 5 stars because both the story and the writing are beautiful, but the wordiness of the text holds me back from doing so. Still - this is a phenomenal debut, and I'm excited to read more from Devon in the future. It's a love story that centers around two people who need to love themselves again before they have any chance of a future together. I swooned over the determination of this hero, a man who is all in and unabashedly a relationship type of guy. He is book boyfriend-worthy for sure. I loved his persistence and unrelenting desire for the commitment-phobic heroine. While obvious desire sparks between them, they have very different opinions on what they should do about their attraction. Watching them slowly - agonizingly slowly - come together over the course of nearly a year was a fulfilling journey... if not a frustrating one.The story follows Rowan, a botanist who has found herself temporarily staying at a vineyard. She's never experienced real love - romantic or familial - so spending time with a close-knit family has her vastly out of her element. At least it's only temporary. But the attraction that sparks between Rowan and Harrison feels familiar - she knows what to do with lust. Except Harrison refuses to give in to the physical side of their relationship. While they trade glances and tiny moments together on the vineyard, Harrison has his own healing to do. And he's never been a casual sort of guy, while permanence terrifies Rowan. As the two dance around their feelings, it's a battle to see who will surrender first.Straddling the line between women's fiction and romance, this is a love story first and foremost, featuring two people who have some work to do on themselves. The tone is serious and somber for the most part, with a few lighthearted (and a few steamy) moments sprinkled in. Devon's writing really is gorgeous - there's a reason why so many readers are complimenting it - though I did find it to be a little dense and wordy sometimes. There are many descriptions of mundane tasks and situations around the vineyard that had me skimming on occasion. But every time Rowan and Harrison's chemistry sparked, my eyes were glued to the pages. I loved the bond between them, and the story itself is refreshingly different from the norm. Kinda frustrating, but I liked it. I sometimes struggle with third person perspective, so readers who prefer that might have an easier time staying engaged. It's not an easy or quick story, but it feels rich and full, making an impact by the end. It should also be noted that there are several potentially triggering elements slowly revealed throughout the story, so keep that in mind as you're reading. There's a whole lot to love about this, and the quiet, tender love story is truly a unique one. I received an early copy, and am voluntarily leaving a review of this emotional romance.

Bend Towards the Sun is one of those books that confuses me as to why more people aren't talking about it. This book was so dang good; from the first page to the end I loved everything about it. About halfway through this book I honestly felt like I would love to watch this story play out on TV due to the family dynamics with Harrison's big meddling family, the found family with Rowen and her friends, the will they/won't they relationship between Harrison and Rowen. All of the characters (including side characters) felt very flushed out and real. Both MC's had such interesting and complicated back stories and I really feel like we got to know them separately and loved the chemistry between them. I wasn't sure what to expect as this is the authors debut, but this book checked off all of the things I love about the genre. We got such a interesting story set on a vineyard, with complicated people who weren't looking for love but found it, and the journey was such a delight! I love the world Jen Devon created, and can not wait for whatever is next!

A girl with commitment issues and a guy dealing with a big loss find themselves enamored with one another. Its a good story of will they won’t they and felt realistic.

Oh Jen Devon. Where have you been my whole life?This story you created from two people that had been broken by their pasts, was truly a work of art. Beautifully written with an amazing setting and banter with tension that you could chew on. This definitely did not read like the debut it was.Harry and Rowan were 2 characters brought together by Harry's family and Rowan's friends. These two had pasts that they were still dealing with in the present and that affected their choices they were making in life now. Broken and flawed characters that came together and had instant chemistry they couldn't deny. But Rowan could only give so much of herself and Harry wanted it all. How could these two work if they couldn't get on the same page?Bend Toward the Sun was set on an old, work-in-progress vineyard that the Brady family (Harry's parents) had recently bought, but were in over their heads. When they hire Rowan to be in charge of all things having to do with the life of the grapes/vines/vineyard, she feels more at home on this piece of land than she has her whole life. But Rowan hasn't known love like what she gets from the Bradys and she keeps them at an arm's length so she can't get hurt again.Harry, meanwhile is an OB that recently lost a patient and takes the blame for that life he lost. He ran away from his job to be near the people that he cares and loves the most because they almost support one another. When he meets Rowan, neither one of them is ready for what they ignite in one another and they try to fight it.I absolutely loved the push and pull and major tension between Harry and Rowan. It was always there and at times even got a bit frustrating because we could see what they had, but they wouldn't give in to. And the setting? WOW! what can I say about the setting but it was lush and beautiful and became a character in itself in the story. Along with the secondary characters, this story was balanced well all throughout. I got frustrated a little bit with some actions of characters, but it was Harry's parents that really brought it all together in the end. I'm a big fan of the sage older characters that give the best advice.Overall, this was an excellent debut that was filled with angst, sexual tension and fabulously developed characters. I can only hope that some of them get their own stories because this story allowed for it to be set up in such a way. Cross your fingers for more from Ms Devon. This is a perfect summer read!

This book kept me engaged from start to finish. An excellent balance of emotions had me laughing, gasping, and crying. Jen did a terrific job of bringing the characters to life with depth and meaning. The sprinkle of steamy parts were tasteful, with purpose, and added to the relationship in exactly the way they should. This is a book I can recommend without hesitation!