Summer's Unfinished Symphony

Dr. Temperance Madigan returns to the lush, chaotic world of the Brady family's Cloud Tide vineyard, ostensibly to help with a wedding proposal but truly to escape her own life's mounting pressures. The land is alive with memories, and so is her heart—especially when she's forced into close proximity with Duncan Brady, the man who has been both her greatest love and deepest heartbreak. Their chemistry is immediate, electric, and fraught with the weight of years apart. As they work together in the greenhouse, the air thick with heat and nostalgia, it's clear that time has not dulled the ache between them. The summer stretches before them, promising both the possibility of healing and the risk of reopening old wounds.

Fireflies and Family Ties

The Brady family gathers for a bonfire to celebrate a new engagement, their laughter and teasing masking deeper undercurrents. Temperance is both an insider and outsider—woven into the family through her sister's marriage, yet always slightly apart. Duncan, meanwhile, is the backbone of the family business, carrying burdens he can't share. As the night deepens, stories and toasts flow, but so do reminders of what's been lost and what might still be possible. The fireflies' dance becomes a metaphor for the fleeting, hopeful connections between people, and for the ways love can illuminate even the darkest corners of the past.

Ghosts in the Greenhouse

Alone together in the greenhouse, Temperance and Duncan fall into their old rhythm—banter, bickering, and the magnetic pull of bodies that remember each other too well. Their attempts at polite conversation quickly devolve into flirtation and longing, each touch and glance a reminder of what they once had. Yet, beneath the surface, both are haunted by the choices that drove them apart: family expectations, personal ambition, and the fear of repeating old mistakes. The greenhouse, with its tangled vines and chaotic beauty, becomes a symbol of their relationship—overgrown, wild, and still very much alive.

The Gravity of Old Wounds

As the days pass, Duncan and Temperance are repeatedly thrown together by family and circumstance. Each encounter is charged with unresolved tension, their shared history a constant presence. Both are successful in their own right—Temperance as a doctor, Duncan as the family's fixer—but neither feels truly seen or understood. Their conversations circle around what's unsaid: the heartbreak of their breakup, the years spent apart, and the possibility of a future together. The wounds between them are deep, but so is the pull to try again, even as fear and pride threaten to keep them apart.

Water Balloons and White Flags

A lakeside afternoon devolves into a water balloon fight, laughter and competition providing a temporary escape from the heaviness between them. In the chaos, old patterns reemerge—Duncan's protectiveness, Temperance's stubborn independence, and the way they challenge and comfort each other. The game becomes a metaphor for their relationship: messy, unpredictable, and full of moments where surrender might be the only way forward. As they catch their breath, soaked and breathless, the possibility of truce—and something more—lingers in the humid air.

The Art of Avoidance

Pressured by family to "just be friends," Duncan and Temperance attempt to navigate a platonic relationship. But their efforts are doomed from the start; every interaction is charged with longing and regret. They are surrounded by people who love them, yet both feel isolated by the secrets they keep and the pain they carry. Attempts at normalcy—shared meals, family games, even helping with wedding preparations—only highlight how much they still want each other. The harder they try to avoid the truth, the more it asserts itself, demanding to be faced.

Storms, Secrets, and Second Chances

A violent summer storm traps Duncan and Temperance together, the physical danger mirroring the emotional turbulence between them. In the darkness and rain, their defenses crumble, and they give in to the passion that's been simmering for years. The encounter is both cathartic and terrifying, forcing them to confront the reality that their connection is as strong—and as complicated—as ever. But the morning after brings no easy answers, only more questions about what they want and what they're willing to risk for love.

The Weight of Legacy

Both Duncan and Temperance are shaped by the legacies of their families—her parents' philanthropic empire, his family's vineyard and construction business. Each feels the pressure to live up to expectations, to be the person others need them to be. For Temperance, this means considering a prestigious but soul-crushing role in her family's foundation; for Duncan, it means sacrificing his own dreams for the sake of the family business. Their struggle is not just with each other, but with the ghosts of the past and the weight of what they owe to those who raised them.

The Cost of Belonging

The truth about Duncan's past—accepting money from Temperance's parents to stay away from her—comes to light, shattering the fragile trust between them. Both must reckon with the ways they've allowed others to dictate their choices, and with the cost of trying to belong to families that don't always have their best interests at heart. The revelation is painful, but it also opens the door to honesty and, perhaps, forgiveness. They begin to see that true belonging can't be bought or bargained for; it must be chosen, again and again.

The Wedding and the Weather

Rowan and Harry's wedding is both a joyful celebration and a crucible for Duncan and Temperance. As storms rage outside, old wounds and new hopes collide inside. The wedding forces everyone to confront what they want from love, from family, and from themselves. For Duncan and Temperance, it's a turning point—a moment to decide whether they will keep running from each other or finally stand still and face the future together. The rain becomes a blessing, washing away the past and making room for something new to grow.

Truths at the Gala

At a glittering gala, the secrets and lies that have shaped Duncan and Temperance's lives are laid bare. Family, ambition, and the price of forgiveness all come to a head as they confront not only each other but also the people who have tried to control their destinies. The confrontation is raw and painful, but it also clears the air, making space for honesty and vulnerability. In the aftermath, they must decide whether love is enough to overcome the damage that's been done.

The Reckoning and the Ring

In the quiet aftermath of the gala, Duncan and Temperance finally have the conversation they've been avoiding for years. They lay bare their fears, regrets, and hopes, choosing to forgive each other—and themselves—for the mistakes of the past. Duncan's long-held engagement ring becomes a symbol of both what they've lost and what they still have the chance to build. Their decision to commit to each other is not a fairy-tale ending, but a hard-won beginning, rooted in honesty, vulnerability, and the willingness to try again.

The Architecture of Forgiveness

With the past finally behind them, Duncan and Temperance turn their attention to the future. They make plans—not just for themselves, but for the families and communities they love. Duncan pursues his dream of becoming an architect, while Temperance finds a way to serve her patients on her own terms. Their relationship becomes a partnership in the truest sense, each supporting the other's growth and healing. The work is ongoing, but so is the joy of building something lasting together.

Homecoming at Cloud Tide

At the grand opening of the Cloud Tide winery, Duncan and Temperance step into the light, no longer hiding their love or their dreams. Surrounded by family and friends, they claim their place in the world and in each other's lives. The vineyard, once a symbol of old wounds and unfinished business, becomes a place of celebration and renewal. Their love, hard-won and imperfect, is finally visible to all—a testament to the power of second chances and the courage to begin again.

The Drive-In and the Dream

Duncan recreates their old drive-in haunt, transforming it into a private sanctuary where they can finally be together without fear or regret. The gesture is both romantic and redemptive, a way of reclaiming the time and love they lost. In the glow of the projector and the warmth of each other's arms, they make new promises—not just to love, but to choose each other, every day. The past is honored, but it no longer holds them captive.

The Bee and the Blossom

The bee, a recurring symbol throughout their story, comes to represent the resilience and sweetness of their love. Both Duncan and Temperance bear its mark—he in his tattoos, she in her ring. Their journey has been one of survival, adaptation, and the willingness to start over. As they build a life together, they draw strength from the knowledge that even the most fragile things can endure, and that hope, once kindled, is hard to extinguish.

The Queimada and the Question

In a firelit ceremony surrounded by family, Duncan and Temperance announce their engagement—and, in a twist, their immediate marriage. The ritual of the Queimada, with its themes of banishing bitterness and embracing passion, becomes the perfect backdrop for their union. Their loved ones bear witness not just to a wedding, but to the culmination of a long, hard journey toward forgiveness, belonging, and joy. The past is finally put to rest, and the future beckons, bright and uncertain and full of promise.

Right Where We Left Us

In the quiet after the celebration, Duncan and Temperance reflect on all they've endured and all they've built. Their love is not perfect, but it is real—rooted in shared history, hard-won trust, and the daily choice to stay. They are, at last, right where they left each other: together, at home, and ready for whatever comes next.

Characters

Temperance Madigan

Temperance is a brilliant, fiercely independent doctor whose life has been shaped by the weight of her family's expectations and her own relentless ambition. She is both tough and tender, capable of great compassion but also deeply guarded. Her relationship with Duncan is the axis around which much of her emotional life turns—he is both her greatest vulnerability and her truest home. Over the course of the story, Temperance must learn to forgive herself for past mistakes, accept love without conditions, and choose her own path, even when it means disappointing those she loves. Her journey is one of reclaiming agency, embracing imperfection, and daring to hope for happiness.

Duncan Brady

Duncan is the heart and hands of the Brady family, a man whose strength and humor mask deep insecurities about his worth. He is a fixer by nature, always putting others' needs before his own, and his love for Temperance is both his greatest joy and his deepest ache. Haunted by the choices that drove them apart, Duncan struggles with feelings of inadequacy and the fear that he will never be enough. His arc is one of self-acceptance, learning to pursue his own dreams, and finding the courage to ask for what he wants. With Temperance, he discovers that true partnership means being seen, chosen, and loved for exactly who he is.

The Brady Family

The Bradys are a sprawling, boisterous clan whose warmth and messiness stand in stark contrast to the Madigans' cool perfection. Each member—parents Will and Gia, siblings Nate, Patrick, Harry, Malcolm, Arden, and their partners—brings their own quirks and complications, but together they form a safety net of unconditional love. For Temperance, they represent the family she always longed for; for Duncan, they are both a source of pride and a burden of responsibility. The family's collective journey is one of learning to let go, support each other's dreams, and welcome new members with open arms.

Maren Madigan Brady

Maren is Temperance's older sister and Nate Brady's wife, making her the link between the two families. She is nurturing, wise, and fiercely loyal, often serving as a surrogate parent to Temperance. Maren's own struggles with the Madigan legacy inform her empathy and her ability to offer tough love when needed. She encourages Temperance to fight for her own happiness, even when it means breaking with family tradition.

Rowan McKinnon

Rowan is Temperance's closest friend and, eventually, Harry Brady's wife. She is earthy, passionate, and a little wild, with a deep love for plants and the land. Rowan's journey from outsider to beloved family member mirrors Temperance's own, and her romance with Harry serves as both inspiration and challenge. Rowan's belief in second chances and her willingness to embrace messiness help Temperance see that love is worth the risk.

Harry Brady

Harry is Duncan's brother and Temperance's longtime confidant. As a doctor and a peacemaker, he often finds himself mediating between family members and encouraging others to pursue their happiness. His relationship with Rowan is a model of vulnerability and growth, and his support is instrumental in helping both Duncan and Temperance find their way back to each other.

The Madigan Parents (Laine and Corbin)

Laine and Corbin Madigan are pillars of the philanthropic and medical community, but their devotion to their work often comes at the expense of their daughters' emotional well-being. They are both admirable and infuriating—capable of great generosity but also manipulation. Their attempts to control Temperance's life, including paying Duncan to stay away, are rooted in fear and pride. Ultimately, their journey is one of learning to let go and accept their daughters as they are.

Frankie Moreau

Frankie is Temperance's college roommate and confidante, a photographer with a sharp wit and a big heart. She provides much-needed levity and perspective, often calling Temperance out on her avoidance and self-sabotage. Frankie's own romantic subplot with Malcolm Brady adds depth and humor, highlighting the ways love can surprise us when we least expect it.

Millie Bristow

Millie is Duncan's friend and, for a time, his "fake" girlfriend—a ruse to protect her from an ex and to give Duncan cover for his feelings about Temperance. Millie is bubbly, kind, and perceptive, ultimately playing a key role in helping Temperance see the truth about Duncan's heart. Her presence underscores the importance of honesty and the ways women can support each other, even in complicated circumstances.

Malcolm Brady

Malcolm is Duncan's older brother, a writer with a dark sense of humor and a guarded heart. He serves as both a sounding board and a mirror for Duncan, challenging him to confront his fears and insecurities. Malcolm's own journey toward love, particularly with Frankie, provides a counterpoint to the main romance, illustrating that healing and connection are possible even for the most wounded among us.

Plot Devices

Dual Narration and Time Shifts

The novel employs a dual narrative structure, alternating between Temperance and Duncan's points of view. This allows readers to experience the full depth of their longing, misunderstandings, and growth. Flashbacks to their teenage romance and the pivotal summer that changed everything are woven throughout, providing context and emotional weight to their present-day struggles. The shifting timelines mirror the characters' own journeys—constantly moving between past regrets and future hopes.

Symbolism: Fire, Bees, and Weather

Fire appears throughout the story as a symbol of both destruction and transformation—bonfires, lightning storms, and the ritual of the Queimada all mark turning points in the narrative. Bees, with their associations of sweetness, community, and survival, become a shared symbol for Duncan and Temperance, representing the possibility of building something lasting from fragile beginnings. Weather—especially storms—serves as both literal and metaphorical backdrop, mirroring the characters' emotional turbulence and the cleansing power of truth.

Forced Proximity and Family Entanglement

The plot repeatedly uses forced proximity—wedding preparations, family events, and literal storms—to bring Duncan and Temperance into each other's orbit. Their families, especially the Bradys, are both a source of support and complication, with well-meaning meddling pushing the couple toward reconciliation. The entanglement of their lives makes avoidance impossible, forcing them to confront what they truly want.

Secrets, Revelations, and the Power of Truth

Much of the novel's tension arises from secrets—Duncan's acceptance of money to stay away, Temperance's struggles with her family, and the unspoken pain of their breakup. The gradual revelation of these truths, often in public or high-stakes settings, serves as both obstacle and catalyst. The story suggests that only by bringing secrets into the light can healing and genuine connection occur.

Second Chances and the Architecture Metaphor

The motif of architecture—Duncan's dream, the restoration of Cloud Tide, the rebuilding of trust—runs throughout the novel. Love is depicted not as a fairy-tale inevitability, but as something that must be constructed, maintained, and sometimes rebuilt from the ground up. The idea of "second chances" is literalized in the characters' willingness to try again, to learn from the past, and to choose each other anew.

Analysis

Right Where We Left Us is more than a second-chance romance; it's a nuanced exploration of how the past shapes the present, and how true belonging requires both vulnerability and agency. Through the intertwined journeys of Temperance and Duncan, the novel interrogates the costs of ambition, the weight of family expectations, and the ways we sabotage our own happiness out of fear or pride. The story's emotional arc is one of gradual unmasking—of self, of each other, and of the truths that must be faced for healing to occur. By grounding the romance in the messy realities of adulthood—career setbacks, family drama, financial pressures—Jen Devon elevates the genre, offering readers not just escapism but insight. The novel's ultimate message is one of hope: that love, though imperfect and hard-won, is worth fighting for; that forgiveness is possible, even after years of pain; and that sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is to stay, to try again, and to build a life—right where we left it.

Last updated: December 6, 2025