Crimson River, the latest installment in Devney Perry’s The Edens, returns readers to the town of Quincy. It came with steamy scenes, potent chemistry, a passionate romance and a dash of suspense. It delivered a story intended to keep readers glued to the pages from beginning to end.
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. I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.
Title: Crimson River
Author(s): Devney Perry
Series: The Edens #5
Also in this series: Indigo Ridge , Juniper Hill , Garnet Flats, Jasper Vale, Sable Peak
Published by Devney Perry LLC on June 15, 2023
Pages: 305
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
Source: Publicist
Format: eArc 
Purchase: Amazon|Audible
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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.
The Edens follows six siblings who have forged their own path and have earned success. Crimson River gives us Lyla Eden’s story. Lyla is an entrepreneur who operates a successful coffee shop. The operation of the shop consumed her whole life, leaving her no time for social activities and, most of all, a relationship. At the behest of her sister, she took a day for herself. A day which turns into a nightmare when a stranger whom she encountered while hiking attempted to kill her. Suffering from both the physical and emotional scars of her ordeal, she retreated to the one place which brings her comfort, her coffee shop. It is said that sometimes good can come from an unpleasant experience. Well, for Lyla, the good came when Vance Sutter walked through the doors of her coffee shop.
Vance, a police officer, is hunting the man he believed murdered his family. This search, which spanned a four-year period, consumed him to the detriment of his job and relationship with his family. When news regarding the spotting of the suspect in Quincy reached him, he saw this as his opportunity to get the answers he has been searching for her…. and so he temporarily relocated to Quincy. There he met Lyla, an encounter which will definitely change his life.
It was a treat meeting Vance and learning of his history. Also, the details provided regarding Lyla aided in getting to know what drove her. The chemistry between was electric and one could see the sparks flying from the pages. What started out as a fling (or so they thought) slowly became a meaningful relationship. One could see that genuinely cared for each other. However, Vance’s past and the fact his stay in Quincy was temporary made giving themselves completely to each other a challenge.
Perry created the perfect balance between the romance and the story arc relating to Vance’s search for Lyla’s attacker. This part of the story came with its share of twists and set the reader on an unexpected path …. and what a lovely surprise near to the end. It brought the closure Vance craved, providing the opportunity for a life with Lyla.
It was fun reconnecting with the characters from the previous books. The Edens acceptance of Vance into their fold warmed my heart. Especially given his estrangement from his family. Like the previous books, Crimson River gave a glimpse of what readers can expect for the next Eden sibling. I am looking forward to that one.
I enjoyed this installment. However, the story ended, leaving the situation regarding Lyla’s attacker unresolved. I understood the reason for that aspect of the story unfolding the way it did, but in doing so, justice lost this round. I hope to see the matter resolved in the next book.
Overall, Crimson River didn’t disappoint. I would definitely recommend it to readers of small town contemporary romance.
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About Devney Perry
Devney is a USA Today bestselling author. 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 husband and two sons. 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. Devney loves hearing from readers! Connect with her on social media.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
Oh this series looks good Nadene I may look into starting it.
Sounds like this series might be best read in order?
Each does works as a standalone, but most readers may prefer to read them in order.
Ugh. I have book one and REALLY need to start/try this author. Your reviews always remind me to do so!
Yes! You need to seeing that you enjoy small town romance. 😊
I’ve read Coach by Devney Perry and really liked it. I’m definitely going to look into starting this series. Sounds like my cup of tea.