Bend Toward the Sun
Grade : B+

Bend Toward the Sun is Jen Devon's debut work, but it has the feel of an experienced author writing an ongoing series. While focused on one central couple, the network of relationships and other couples is well developed and seems ripe for more books to come. Which would definitely be a good thing!

Harrison Brady and Rowan McKinnon meet at the Brady family vineyard as two wounded souls just looking for a place to recover. Harrison, better known as Harry, has been summoned out to the winery by his family because he hasn't been coping well with his depression in the wake of losing a patient in his OB-GYN practice. He's rueful but accepting as they all play the ‘babysit Harry’ game and try to find things for him to do around the vineyard, which his parents just bought in a burst of spontaneity and agricultural optimism. All the Bradys are gathering to help William and Gianna in their venture, and even through the cloud of depression, Harry knows time at the vineyard among family is the best way for him to recover his spirit.

Unlike Harry, Rowan was not born into a bustling family where love and support were plentiful. Technically, she was raised by her mother and grandmother. However, in practice her mother was neglectful and her grandmother died when she was twelve, leaving Rowan to raise herself for the most part. While she was able to find a couple of good friends in college, Temperance (TJ) and Frankie, she also stumbled into a relationship with a serial philanderer at one point and then later had a research assistant who falsified important data for her Ph.D thesis. All of which is to say - Rowan knows good people are out there, but her trust in others and belief in love are almost non-existent when she finds herself invited to a Brady family gathering via TJ.

Sadly, Rowan doesn't see the need to come out of her shell or change her negative outlook on life. So when the Bradys want to employ her as a botanist for the vineyard, she initially resists the offer. And even when she does hire on, she holds herself back from the warm family dinners and games despite frequent offers to join them. But almost against her will, the days in the fields and time spent pruning vines and working with the vineyard sheep are healing to Rowan. She starts to relax and enjoy her life more, all of which translates into building a relationship with Harry.

While there is a spark between Rowan and Harry in the beginning, it takes quite a while before either of them is willing to do anything about it. Casual conversations in the vineyard slowly turn into meaningful looks across the fireplace, and are eventually replaced by overnight stays and late-night conversations. It's a charming romance, and the heart of the story - but I will admit to some conflicted feelings about it, all of which center around Harry.

Harry is a generally sweet-natured and thoughtful guy, but sadly, is unintentionally selfish at times in his behavior with Rowan as he flip-flops in his expectations of her and their relationship. At first, Harry says very clearly to Rowan that there is something strong between them, and he only wants to start a relationship with her if she's as serious about it as he is. When Rowan says she wants to keep things physical and superficial, Harry declines and suggests they simply remain friends. I really liked him and respected him for that move, laying his heart on the line and then backing off when Rowan wasn't emotionally ready. Watching their bond grow after that, I felt sure that Rowan would slowly open up to Harry and agree to a full relationship in time.

But then one of Harry's brothers gets it into his head that he's being selfish by doing this (I wholeheartedly disagree) and so Harry decides to just agree to Rowan's terms and jumps into bed with her, claiming he can keep emotion out of it like she's asked. This quickly comes back to bite him, because of course, simply saying he accepts a relationship with no emotional involvement doesn't mean that's what Harry actually wants. Things spiral until, in a final display of utter, childishness, Harry leaves without telling Rowan, doesn't take her calls for two months, and then has the nerve to act like she wronged him when she finally corners him in person.

It's outrageous behavior - yet I think some characters are meant to annoy you by being imperfect but real, and I suspect that is the case with Harry. Rowan certainly calls him out on his behavior, and I think the ability to yell at someone she loves is actually a big piece of growth for her. And strangely enough Harry's mistakes didn't make me hate him as a character overall, just mad at him for some real bonehead moves. After all, he is a genuinely thoughtful and sweet hero to offset the things he gets wrong.

While I'm bothered enough by Harry to keep this off my DIK shelf, I'll still give Bend Toward the Sun high marks for creating complex characters who made me think quite a lot about why I did and did not like them. It's a very strong offering as a début work, and I look forward to seeing what Jen Devon can do in the future.

Buy it at: Amazon, Audible or your local independent retailer

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Reviewed by Alexandra Anderson
Grade : B+

Sensuality: Warm

Review Date : August 26, 2022

Publication Date: 08/2022

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Alexandra Anderson

College student by day. Book enthusiast around the clock. With any luck I'll eventually be able to afford food AND books. But I've got my priorities straight.
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