Bend Toward the Sun - by Jen Devon (Paperback)
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3.9 out of 5 stars with 28 ratings
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4.8 out of 5 stars with 21 ratings
5.0 out of 5 stars with 3 reviews
100% would recommend
2 recommendations
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
12 August, 2022
Razed my heart and nourished it back to life!
Jen Devon’s debut Bend Toward the Sun razed my heart and nourished it back to life. Devastating in the best way, this romance set on a neglected and newly acquired vineyard in Pennsylvania had me longing for walks in wildflower-filled meadows, swims in mist-covered ponds, and games of hide-and-go-seek in old greenhouses. If you’re a follower, you’ve seen me mention—on several occasions—how much I love books set on vineyards. I often fantasize I have a long lost relative who leaves me their countryside vineyard in their will. So, this novel about a family who has recently purchased an old vineyard with plans to restore it was right up my day-dreaming alley. The Brady’s, the vineyard-buying family, is one of those families. Large, well-established, comfortable with one another—but also with past hurts and maybe some grudges. But their love for each other comes first. Bend Toward the Sun is Harrison Brady’s story, the middle son among five other siblings. And, please Jen Devon, please be writing more of their stories. I can only imagine that’s the plan, because the vineyard is just in the early stages of development and there are so many hints about Harry’s sibling’s stories within the novel. Harry, a doctor, has had a hard year, and he’s joining his parents and some of those siblings at the vineyard to work while he attempts to heal. The book opens on a housewarming party at the vineyard, in the middle of the family’s traditional game of hide and seek currently happening throughout the vineyard. It’s one of the best openings I’ve read lately. But the reader sees it from a guest’s perspective, Rowan, who has been dragged to the party by a friend of the family. Rowan is hiding in an old greenhouse when she encounters Harry. Sparks fly! Rowan, a botanist, has her own past issues. Raised by a neglectful mother, basically alone since the death of her beloved grandmother when Rowan was twelve, the closeness of the Brady family is foreign to her. She hasn’t allowed anyone in except her two closest college friends since a bad relationship in college convinced her “love” is just another name for lust. But she can’t deny her attraction to Harry or his family’s vineyard. She’s hired to work on the vineyard, helping to restore the vines while she works on her dissertation. As time passes, Rowan and Harry find themselves drawn together, but their pasts, and Rowan’s vow to keep it casual, complicate their growing feelings. Harry’s a cinnamon roll who wears his heart on his sleeve, and I just wanted someone to give him a hug. Suffering from panic attacks after losing a patient, reading through his struggles was gut-wrenching. The chemistry was off the charts for these two, as well. Plenty of tension built while waiting for them to finally crash together. And when they finally do crash, wow! Bend Toward the Sun has earned a permanent place on my shelf, and it’s a love story I can’t wait to reread. It delivered exceptionally in the romance department, even providing a few surprises. And while there may have been a few tears along the way, it’s my perfect kind of romance. The best reward for enduring all that heartache!
5 out of 5 stars
Thumbs up graphic, would recommend
9 August, 2022
Favorite romance ever
Bend Toward the Sun is a wonderful, realistic romance that you won’t want to put down. I listened to this on audio and it has two narrators, one for Rowan and one for Harry. They both do a phenomenal job bringing this book to life. Rowan is a botanist who has just found out that the data from her thesis has problems, and Harry is a obstetrician who has recently decided to take a leave of absence from medical practice. When they meet, there is an instant attraction but what I loved about this book was the very realistic timeframe for their relationship. This is not instalove. As the relationship grows, Rowan is clear that she is looking for no strings attached and not an emotional connection. Harry feels the complete opposite, he only wants to be all in. It takes time and a lot of steamy scenes for these two to figure it out but when they do it is just beautiful. This is absolutely by far my favorite romance book. I don’t read a lot in this genre and when I do I am quite selective. I am so glad that I read this book and I will be recommending it to everyone I know. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.