Review: Jasper Vale by Devney Perry (The Edens #4)

January 30, 2023

Note: An advance reader copy (ARC) was provided by the author.

We're back in Quincy, Montana with the fourth novel--but fifth book overall--in Devney Perry's small-town romance series, The Edens, and it's the first book that has the name of a person rather than a place for the title. Jasper Vale, the eponymous male main character of this novel, is Foster Madden's trainer, Foster being the hero in book three, Garnet Flats. Jasper is paired with Eloise Eden, who may not be the owner of The Eloise (yet!), but manages the everyday running of their town's generations-old hotel. With Jasper living in Quincy for the time being because of Foster, aka Eloise's brother-in-law, the two pretty much know one another, but getting hitched while in Vegas for Foster's final fight was unexpected. The last thing Eloise needs is for her parents to see her as irresponsible--and marrying someone you barely know while inebriated in a place known for impromptu weddings could definitely be considered just that--especially when they're contemplating officially handing over the reins of The Eloise. Securing an annulment isn't a question, but when Jasper asks her to stay married for a little while longer and she agrees, Eloise questions their sanity. It's only three months, so it shouldn't be that hard. But resisting falling for each other is the hardest thing ever...

Being back in Quincy is always a fun time, and Eloise and Jasper are certainly an interesting pair. I know that quite a few readers of the series were wondering about Jasper because it was another Eden who had a crush on him, and there were some who were worried that an unnecessary love triangle would be in play. But this is Devney Perry at the helm of his romance, and she isn't the type of author to go down the road people always expect her to. I liked seeing Eloise come into her own, respecting her parents and honoring the legacy of their family and the hotel that shared her name, but also becoming a more independent woman who stood her ground. To be honest, I didn't quite see her clicking with Jasper, and it truly did take a while for me to warm up to the guy, but by the time these two reached their happily-ever-after, I couldn't imagine Eloise with anyone other than him. Having those layers peeled back, and getting to know Jasper better allowed readers to see the heart and soul of this seemingly stoic but passionate man. Of course, having the rest of the Edens around was a bonus, and I'm looking forward to Lyla finding love in the next book. 4.5 stars go to Jasper Vale.

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Read my reviews for the Edens series: