discover yourself
Learning to Bend
Jenna Moore's flawlessly orchestrated life and engagement to the "perfect man," Ben Kelly, vanish when she discovers a controlling side to her fiancé. Confused and unsure as to who she is without Ben, Jenna decides to uproot from her safe and predictable life in Boston and move to Bend, Oregon, hoping to find her answers there. It's when she meets Jackson, a former Navy SEAL who battles demons of his own, that Jenna acquires the courage to let go of being perfect and embrace uncomfortable risks, transforming her life through forgiveness, surrender, compassion, and acceptance. Yet the rewards for discovering her true self exceed her expectations - not only does she find the greatest love of her life, but she also also understands what's kept her from learning to bend.
To see the book trailer and download the first chapter, visit
Listen to my interview with Maggie Smith through the Women Fiction Writers Association's Debut Author Podcast:
https://wfwa.memberclicks.net/debut-author-podcast--michelle-davis
Amazon Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars A great read!
Just finished this impressive debut novel by Michelle Davis. Starting with the quote "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom." We all face crossroads in our lives... will we continue straight ahead or take the road less travelled and learn to grow? Will we allow ourselves to be paralyzed by feelings of guilt, or will be able to forgive ourselves and move on?
Davis' characters are real and relatable, and her descriptions of Boston and Bend are so vivid (and a great promotional piece for Bend!). Loved the big reveal at the end. I look forward to Davis' next novel!
5.0 out of 5 stars A beautiful debut! AI
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2020
A deeply layered love story with the best kind of characters - complicated and real. When Jenna’s fiancé, Ben, makes some startling decisions (and statements) just before their wedding, Jenna finds herself re-evaluating all she thought she knew. And wanted. In a journey of self-exploration, Jenna finds herself in a new place, Bend, Oregon, re-connecting with an old friend, and making new friends. And maybe more. To find what she is looking for, Jenna will have to confront long buried secrets from her past, and help those she loves do the same. A beautiful debut!
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a must read. LI
This book is a must read. The story is wonderful and so well-written that I couldn’t put it down. Jenna’s journey trying to find happiness and peace as she makes life-altering decisions is so relatable. She learns to face her fears as she takes many risks throughout the book. You will enjoy being part of Jenna’s journey as she decides her future with all the twists and turns. Enjoy!
4.0 out of 5 stars The ups and downs of finding yourself - Christine Woinich as Iron Canuck Reviews & More
This was an interesting journey. Jenna was made to look at her life and found that it was not to her liking. She struggled to find out who she really was and what she truly wanted in life. I loved her strength to move on with her life, to learn about herself, even when she was afraid of what might be. To top it off with finding the true "love of her life" in Jackson, the journey was a worthwhile one to take as these two worked through their problems and accepted life for what it was. I recommend this story.
I received a copy of this story through Goddess Fish Promotions, and this is my unsolicited review.