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The Edens #5

Crimson River

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Lyla Eden has spent the last few years watching her siblings fall in love. Meanwhile, she’s married to her job. It’s on her hundredth consecutive workday that her sister stages an intervention, kicking Lyla out of her own coffee shop. With nothing else to do, Lyla sets out on her favorite hiking trail.

It’s there that she spots a man washing blood from his hands in a stream. One moment she’s staring at the jagged scar on his face. The next, his hand is around her throat. But by some miracle, he lets her go.

Shaken to her core, Lyla reports the incident to the local police. Two days later, Vance Sutter arrives in town, armed with endless questions and a tarnished badge.

Vance may be ruggedly handsome but he’s as mysterious as the man he’s hunting. And he’ll be gone from Quincy in a blink. Yet Lyla’s crush is impossible to stop.

No matter how hard Vance tries to ignore it, there’s no denying the chemistry between them. And avoiding Lyla is not an option. After years of chasing dead ends, she’s his only lead to closing the case that haunts his career. So together, they’ll retrace her steps.

To find the scarred man she met beside a crimson river.

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2023

About the author

Devney Perry

71 books17.7k followers
Devney is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Washington with her husband and two sons. Born and raised in Montana, she loves writing books set in her treasured home state. After working in the technology industry for nearly a decade, she abandoned conference calls and project schedules to enjoy a slower pace at home with her family. Writing one book, let alone many, was not something she ever expected to do. But now that she’s discovered her true passion for writing romance, she has no plans to ever stop.

Visit Devney's website to sign up for her newsletters and learn more about upcoming books.

www.devneyperry.com

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5 stars
15,541 (39%)
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171 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,018 reviews
Profile Image for SK.
486 reviews7,815 followers
June 28, 2023
DNF @32%

Devney Perry really said, "I want to make money but I don't want to work. So there you go, Indigo Ridge 2.0"

It's so extremely insta lovey, it was gag worthy.
Profile Image for Maditales.
611 reviews32.5k followers
December 8, 2023
Sometimes I think Devney should just right a pure mystery instead of having so many smut scenes in between.

This was a book very similar to indigo ride as in, police, mystery, murder, and of course another Eden.

Yet I still think this story lacked some things. For one being that the twist was pretty obvious with the hints we got. I feel like there was one too many hints or one too many times where Vance said something where I was like “well now I know what will happen”.
Also: stop mentioning your high school ex and why did Vance have to have so much trauma PLEASE CUT OUT ONE THING.
Profile Image for logan .
380 reviews3,358 followers
March 17, 2023
literal perfection. the best Edens book, i said it!!!! truly one of the best romantic suspense plot lines i’ve read. and VANCE!?!? no he’s so perfect
Profile Image for glavreads.
420 reviews6,768 followers
June 28, 2023
AN ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE!!

devney is really back in her SUSPENSE era and i am here for it. absolutely could not put this down. just go into this blind, it will be so so worth it.

this was really back to the indigo ridge/juniper hill suspense but even more and let’s add in her 2023 spice/dirty talk levels. amazing.

lyla was amazing. vance was so effing hot, i could not stand it. hot, protective, caring. i can’t!!!!

i will be a mess when this series is over but GOD I CAN’T WAIT FOR MATEO AND [REDACTED]’S BOOK.
Profile Image for Hickory.
107 reviews13 followers
June 17, 2023
Ngl the cover makes my eye twitch…every book in this series has the significant other who is the looove interest to an Eden sibling on the cover, not the actual Eden.

lol just thought that was a dope cover trend, but I’m still hella excited for miss ✨works herself to the bone✨ Lyla’s book🫶

OG post 3/14/23

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Update post-reading the book 6/16/23:

Hmmm, this book was a little too insta love and lust for my taste. Overall, this book is pretty meh, not too good not too bad. SIDE NOTE- the Sable Peak cover is also not on trend either😔


Ignore my mini-rant I just gotta get it out…

The one plot point that I didn’t care too much for was Vance’s ex (Tiff), like why was that even in the storyline, what purpose does it serve? Really random if you ask me, and totally could’ve done without. And I stg if I have to read about her blue gaze and the terrible nickname “blue” one more time, I want someone to hit me over the head with a frying pan.

Also don’t know how I feel about Vera being the next love interest. Guess I’ll find out in December!
Profile Image for Arini.
857 reviews2,061 followers
July 11, 2023
im oddly disappointed the h isnt paired with the river dude who chokes her almost to death (not a spoiler). 👀 for some reason, i thought this would be a Tarzan & Jane type romance. alas, this is another rendition of Indigo Ridge and The Bribe. if this book had come before any of these, i would probably give it a three star rating like i did them. unfortunately, this time i couldnt bring myself to be complacent with the author (and her formulaic romance) and say i enjoyed this new release because i did not. 🤧 theres repetitive comfort reads/authors you dont get tired of, but you will reach your limit at one point. i guess this one is mine. this story simply felt generally bleh (at least for me). also, the only Vance i love & adore is a Native American bounty hunter (Vance Crowe) written by Kristen Ashley...not this cardboard H.

actually, i take that back. i would never give this a three star no matter the circumstances because this IS in fact worse than those two books i mentioned. the h has no common sense. case in point: she goes hiking in the woods ALONE, is strangled by a madman and only manages to escape by the skin of her teeth. the next day/week (i forget), someone who claims to be a cop (H) approaches her. because hes sOoOo good looking she doesnt ask for his credential/batch and willingly accompanies him by herself to the location where shes attacked. she doesnt even tell on him to her sister in law whos a certified chief of police. 🙃🔫 she eventualy does realise her error and confesses to said sister in law but only AFTER she kisses & sleeps with the H.

meanwhile, the H is a jerk who strings along his ex-girlfriend for years despite not loving her and only breaks up with her because she doesnt “understand” him and his ambition to chase a certain unsolved case/fugitive. its a relieve theres no ex/OW drama cause shes better off without him anyway. merely days/weeks after the break up, he meets the h and is immediately all googly eyes & twitching cock. 🙄 normally, i wouldnt be this vexed over a Hs past if the romance was any good, but its very surface level insta lust/love. they develop a relationship solely from a fling/friends with benefits attachment. the “stakes” is typical. theres no chemistry, no tension. im kinda excited for the next book though...cause i think its gonna have surprise baby/single dad. 🤩

(read as an audiobook)
October 5, 2023
I love this series, but this one just felt so cold to me for some reason? I think it was super well written and I loved that our young runaway gets to have healthy people looking out for her - but I just wanted more for Lyla!!

Since we’re dealing with mature women’s romance in this storyline - I’m pretty much guaranteed to love these stories. More than just the cold snowy setting, the storyline, the way the main relationship developed - It was just not what I wanted or needed for Lyla Eden's character!!

NOTES:
- Drug abuse
- Parental negligence / child death
- forced proximity
- grumpy (cold and detached) /; sunshine
- Mature women's romance
- available on kindle unlimited
Profile Image for marwah.
494 reviews1,129 followers
June 17, 2023
Don’t let the two stars fool you I “enjoyed” this (??)

-was this indigo ridge 2.0 as expected ? yes
- was it better? yes

would have been 3 stars if it wasn’t for the nickname “blue” I take bluelance copyright very seriously 🥰
Profile Image for Adriana.
122 reviews13 followers
June 30, 2023
Not all of us expecting Lyla would end up with the man she found at the river 🤡

Indigo Ridge and Juniper Hill, the only ones worth it in this series 😔
Profile Image for Maddi Hewitt.
29 reviews5 followers
February 10, 2024
How many times can someone use ‘Fuck, but…’ in one book? Girl, buy a thesaurus
Profile Image for Christy.
4,233 reviews35.1k followers
July 18, 2023
4 stars

Crimson River is another great addition to Devney Perry’s ‘The Eden’s’ series. I loved Vance and Lyla together and I especially loved the suspense plot and how it all turned out. I wish we would have gotten a little more of some of the other Eden’s and some more time with the couple as a couple, but overall I enjoyed this one so much!
Audio book source: Audible
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Lucy Rivers & Connor Crais
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 8h 28m




Profile Image for Natalie Randall.
132 reviews62 followers
June 24, 2023
4⭐️ Crimson River was really interesting and I loved Vance and Lyla’s relationship. And I feel like this was the first Eden book where those Eden parents didn’t completely disrespect or cross major lines with their children and meddle in their lives and just generally ruin the book.

I kept seeing everyone talk about this absolutely shocking plot twist towards the end, but I actually wasn’t that shocked to be honest?? I kept waiting for ANOTHER twist because I thought surely that wasn’t it 😅 and I felt like there were too many loose ends at the end of the story… with Cormac, Vance, Vance’s family.

Still loved reading this! ❤️
Profile Image for brenna ౨ৎ.
433 reviews181 followers
June 4, 2023
This was SO good. There were so many twists and turns that had me constantly saying “wtf.” I didn’t know how this story would play out, and I think that’s the best part of a romantic suspense story.

Vance was nothing like I anticipated. I figured he would be more of an alpha-hole MMC (kinda like Jess from the Coppersmith Farmhouse), but I didn’t find him to be that way at all. He was loyal, dedicated, and wholly concerned for Lyla. Their genuine connection brought her into his small circle of people he cared for and wished he could always protect.

Lyla and Vance’s chemistry was so good! This was much spicier than I anticipated, especially since it was a full romantic suspense plot line like Indigo Ridge (which had a lot of fade to black). The need that Lyla and Vance had for one another had me panting!!!! Obsessed.

I think the narrators did a great job, but I’m still excited to reread via the ebook!
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I don’t think I’m going to be able to patiently wait for Mateo’s book after that epilogue! It will be so good, especially because the FMC will be a tortured heroine! The unrequited love will also make it super angsty.
Profile Image for Millie Rae.
156 reviews30 followers
June 27, 2023
When I tell you I was weeping at the end. I was WEEPING.

I loved this. I loved that Lyla and Vance’s just had so much intimacy. Just all these little intimate moments woven throughout the whole book. It was beautiful. Then you add the mystery in and I was hooked.

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It’s Lyla rising up on her toes and tugging on Vance’s clothes to get him to bend and kiss her for me…

- “I closed the distance between us, rising up on my toes, but I couldn't quite reach his lips, so I tugged on his collar, pulling him closer to kiss the corner of his mouth.”

- “She came over and tugged on my coat, my sign to bend so she could have her kiss.”

- “She smiled up at me, rising to her toes, searching for a kiss.”❤️❤️

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“Some dads didn't change diapers, but I suspected that none of the men here shied away from a loaded Pampers.”

Damn straight. My baby Edens and Edens-In-Law are MEN of the highest order.🤤

—————————————————————————————

I need the Edens like I need air to breathe. Give me Mateo’s book immediately (although who knows what I’m going to do when this series is over. Probably curl into the foetal position and cry forever).
Profile Image for Jamie.
645 reviews107 followers
June 30, 2023
Five stars for the mystery/suspense.
Three stars for the romance.
Profile Image for Ashley.
448 reviews1,928 followers
June 18, 2023
I DID NOT see that ending coming 🫣🫣

I really enjoyed this. The ending definitely made me emotional but it was a great book and very well written. The plot twist was SO GOOD.

I gave four starts because the brothers (Knox & Griffin) have always been my favorites and nothing comes close to Indigo Ridge and Juniper Hill.

Also, I CANNOT WAIT for Mateo’s book omg
Profile Image for AJ.
3,093 reviews1,035 followers
June 9, 2023
5 stars!

The latest book in The Edens series, this is a beautifully written, emotional story with a chemistry-filled, passionate and heartfelt romance. I fell in mad love with these characters, and I love this book so much!

Lyla Eden runs the coffee shop in the small town of Quincy, and it’s her whole life. She loves it, she’s proud of it, and it’s where she spends all of her time, at the expense of any kind of social life outside of her family. But Lyla’s centralised little world is shaken when she encounters a stranger while hiking in the woods, and he tries to kill her, only to let her go at the last moment. Left bruised, and emotionally scarred, she retreats to her café for comfort, and then Vance Sutter walks through her door.

Vance is a Police Officer from out of state, and he’s hunting for a killer. For personal and professional reasons, he’s spent four years trying to find this man, who matches the description of Lyla’s attacker. So he’s temporarily relocated to Quincy, and immediately teams up with Lyla for information while he goes on the hunt.

The spark between Lyla and Vance is there from the very first moment. It’s strong and intense, and they throw themselves into a passionate affair that rocks both of their worlds. It’s super sexy, and all kinds of hot, but it’s undefined, and Vance is carrying a whole lot of secrets. Vance is only in town while he’s searching for the mystery man in the woods, and they both know they shouldn’t get attached, but the longer they’re together, the harder it is for him to even think about walking away.

What was it about this woman? What was it about those eyes I found so entirely tempting? My heart pounded, skipping every other beat.
I couldn’t seem to take my hand away from her face. My God, she was beautiful.

The chemistry between Lyla and Vance is fantastic, I could feel their attraction, and I could feel it as things between them start to change, and they effortlessly and organically fall for each other. It’s beautifully emotional and romantic (and oh, so hot), they open up to each other and they care for and support each other, and they are absolutely beautiful together! But it’s also bittersweet, knowing that Vance is only in town for a little while before he has to return to his real life.

The relationship development dovetails beautifully with the mystery/suspense storyline, and as Vance’s history is revealed and his search closes in on its target, the story twists and turns in directions I was not expecting, and OMG, what a ride! I love when a book manages to shock me, and this one bought some fantastic surprises. I loved the storyline, I loved how it all unfolded, and I loved how much it made me feel! I had tears streaming down my face, and my heart was pounding through those final chapters. I was absolutely captivated.

We get to see characters from the previous books, and I loved seeing how they were all there for Lyla. They’re such a great bunch, and the scenes with the family together are so much fun. The events of this book also provide a wonderful introduction for Mateo’s book up next, and I am beyond excited to get my hands on that one!

This is such a fantastic read! A beautiful story of friendship and family, with a gorgeous romance that had me swooning madly, and I loved every single moment of it.

Absolutely beautiful - 5 stars!

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.


Profile Image for Christy Hall.
354 reviews83 followers
September 24, 2023
I was looking for a mystery/romance. Crimson River was pretty entertaining and a quick read. Lyla belongs to a large family but she’s still a bit lonely. She works constantly at her coffee house/cafe and doesn’t really take time for herself. After her sister challenges her to take a day, Lyla goes for a fun little hike that turns into an escape from a murderer. A man attacks her for no reason, but she is able to escape and make a report. Her report is noticed by an officer who is tracking an escaped murderer. Vance believes this is the lead he’s been waiting for. He and Lyla team up to investigate and track down the attacker and bring him to justice for his crimes.

There is a deeper history and background to perpetrator and it is slowly revealed, which was a good element of the mystery. I was able to guess it because the foreshadowing was a bit much but that’s ok. The connection between Vance and Lyla is too much insta-love and her family is a bit too perfect to be real. It’s fine but not realistic but I wasn’t expecting anything else.
Profile Image for monica ✨ romantasyreader.
534 reviews875 followers
June 16, 2023
This felt more tame to me than I expected??? I thought there was gonna be way more suspense.

But it was literally only sex and hiking which isn’t bad, it’s just not what I was anticipating going into this one.

Anyway, read if you like
✨ small town romance
✨ big family saga vibes
✨ insta lust
✨ suspense-ish
Profile Image for ritika.
472 reviews287 followers
June 16, 2023
2,5 stars

love how this is a copy-paste of indigo ridge except i actually liked indigo ridge🥰😍
Profile Image for Paloma FC (in my reading era).
155 reviews14 followers
August 27, 2024
4,5 / 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐️💫
3,5 / 5 🌶️
Spicy chapters: 7, 8, 14, 15, 17, 26

Vance (MMC) and Lyla (FMC)

This is, imo, the best DP book I've read and the best in The Edens series! I'm sooo happy, excited, and relieved to have continued it, as I was about to give up after the disappointment of the previous 2 books. Alleluia 👏 👏 👏

So Vance goes to Quincy to meet Lyla, the victim of an almost fatal strangulation by Cormac, whom he's been chasing after for 4 years. Form here, they develop a relationship , which is meant to be temporary, as Vance's days are numbered in Lyla's town. However, they can't help falling for each other... There was SO much angst. This book was beautifully written, and the plot was chef's kiss! 👨‍🍳 💋 The murder mystery was perfection👌.


Things I didn't love:

- When the two MC's meet at her coffee shop, Lyla doesn't even ask for Vance's cop credentials. Then, she trusts that Vance is actually trying to uncover the criminal's hiding spot so that he'll be able to catch him, but for all she knows, he could also be a criminal. You'd think that after being attacked, Lyla would be more cautious and less trustworthy, don't you think? And it's not until the 1/3 mark that Lyla confesses to Winslow that she was hanging out with Vance, confirming that he was, in fact, a real cop.
Later, until past the 50% mark, we don't find out about Vance's past, his relationship with Cormac, his family, etc.

- Lyla is the one who chases the MMC at the beginning by visiting Vance at his hotel room. But their chemistry was off the charts, and the spicy 🌶 scenes were HOT! 🔥

- The nickname that Vance gives to Lyla is "blue" because of her blue eyes... wich is kind of unoriginal , but ok 😬


Things I loved:

- I enjoyed reading about the evolution of Vance and Lyla's relationship, how it starts as a casual fling, but it slowly evolves into more, without either of them really wanting to fall in love, as they live in different places.

- As I mentioned, the spicy scenes are HOT! 🔥 🥵

Lastly, I wanted to end this review by pointing out the following:
I understand that Lyla is a baker and that her food must be delicious, but how aren't these people obese? It seems like they eat yummy baked goods every day, all day: chocolate croissants, muffins, cinnamon rolls, etc. 😜😋😆 Ie: Lyla fixes herself lunch by preparing a peanut butter, banana, and honey sandwich... 🥪?? I never tried this combo in a sandwich, but it sounds delicious and mouthwatering 🤭

Anyhow, give this book a read. It's definitely worth it.

Happy reading! 📚
Profile Image for jada.
229 reviews62 followers
June 16, 2023
I don’t even know.. I’m disappointed. I was so excited for this one but it just fell flat.

Poor Lyla. Girl was jealous of her siblings for finding love and just wanted that. She was interested in her sister’s husband (before they were married) for christ sakes and the author couldn’t even give her a man that was all about HER.
Vance had just broken up with his girlfriend who he lived with!! The next day he’s in Quincy and already thinking about how beautiful Lyla is and wanting to kiss her?? He was with the ex for 3 years and a day later she’s all but forgotten??
By 28% they’re having sex and no use of condoms 🙄 of course it’s been a while for her meanwhile he JUST ended a 3 year relationship.

Their relationship was supposed to be casual while he was in Quincy but she just jumped in without even knowing this man. Like she knew him for ONE DAY before sleeping with him and just trusting everything that came out of his mouth because of a “feeling.” I was so glad when she finally went to Winnie but like come on that’s your family you didn’t think to go there first? Trust them over a stranger? He pretty much moved in with her after two weeks I think? He still wasn’t telling her everything and would change the subject if it was going in a direction he didn’t want.

There really wasn’t any justice for what happened to her. They found Cormac sure and got his side of events but he just got to go free??? I didn’t like it.

Mateo’s book being with Vera makes no sense. The end he’s going to Alaska for a baby he didn’t know about and you’re telling me Vera is the best match for him? No way. 21 and went through hell.. what’s she supposed to do play mommy? I’m not looking forward to that one
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Sarah Martin.
364 reviews98 followers
June 13, 2023
2.5 rounded up. Why is every other love interest a police officer? Big ick lol. Lyla is adorable though and I love this family.
Profile Image for Eva♡.
65 reviews33 followers
July 17, 2023
This series just keeps getting better and better, I'M OBSESSED 😍 I loved Lyla's story and Vance is such a cutie 💓

I can't wait for Mateo's book 😌
Profile Image for Syndi.
3,278 reviews956 followers
November 19, 2023
Crimson River is sweet. I love Vanve. He is a very broody hero. He is quite but wise. I wish Miss Perry reveals more attraction/ chemistry between Vance and Lyla. I do feel everything is rushed in this book.

The smutt is not too graphic but intense enough to describe the hot sizzling chemistry bwteeen the main characters. Also good to see previous characters go on with their HEA.

Good book.

4 stars
Profile Image for sky • thebookgreenery.
464 reviews218 followers
June 17, 2023
the edens were loud. not just in volume — though lyla’s family laughed like there was a decibel quota to meet over dinner. they were loud in other ways. their smiles. their hugs. their love.

devney, devney, devney *sighs*, maybe we should slow the pace at which you’ve been releasing books down? and I say this lovingly, as someone who has read practically everything this woman has published, but her last few titles have felt underwhelming and uninspired. it feels like she’s working with recycled ideas and churning out books to provide her audience content rather than prioritizing quality.

crimson river was totally and absolutely fine. it was 300 pages of just okay. vance was a bland love interest, his romance with lyla lacked chemistry, and the mystery plot didn’t offer much of the suspense that was promised. the cameos of the earlier couples and their kids have kept me coming back, but it’s no longer enough to save the cracks that’ve started to show.

the conclusion to this series, sable peak, mateo’s book, does seem to have potential however. we’ve got one more go around the carousel with the edens, fingers crossed it delivers.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,018 reviews

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