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.
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.
This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading