Jasper Vale (The Edens, 4)

This book gives me happy tingles! I can’t get enough of Jasper and Eloise and all those “MY WIFE” moments. This book is PERFECTION.Devney did an amazing job portraying their journey from a drunken marriage in Vegas to literally taking a bullet for your loved one.There was something about Eloise that made me love her character since her first appearance in Indigo Ridge. And there was also something about Jasper that intrigued me every time he made an appearance in Garnet Flats.Eloise was the sweetest soul. I love how passionate she was about her job and how she didn’t hide her emotions. The fact that she admitted she was jealous when Jasper talked about his ex-wife showed how transparent and vulnerable she was, and it made me love her character even more.Jasper, this man! I know Griffin and Knox set the bar high, but Jasper Vale? That man exceeded all my expectations. His broodiness, his broken heart, his love for Eloise, everything about this man was perfection. He allowed himself to be loved, and Eloise helped him paint a beautiful present and future over that ugly past that included his bitchy and horrible ex and his awful parents.Seriously, these two are amazing together! The chemistry between them was electric.The spice was top tier! I think this is the spiciest book in the series, and every moment they shared was freaking delicious.I love the Edens, and in this book Devney showed us that all families have flaws, and that these should be faced up front.I adored this book and to me it deserves infinite stars!

For whatever reason I had not jumped into this book after reading book 3 but then decided it's time. I did a dual listen via Audible and read on my kindle and REALLY liked this one. I have to be honest in that I had a HARD time with Jasper at first. He wasn't necessarily grumpy per say, but he was just kind of rude and didn't talk a lot. He seemed to let Eloise down even knowing what they had was "fake." BUT when we learned more about his relationship with his ex and his fam, I understood it a little more. He wasn't used to the family vibes that the Edens give off. I couldn't get a read on him and Eloise other than they were attracted to each other but both had walls up on communication. I think my favorite part of that was being proven wrong about Jasper while also seeing both of their walls come down and them being honest with themselves and each other. I enjoy reading fake dating/fake marriages because it seems that at the core there is some attraction or feelings and now the characters get a chance to explore that. Eloise was such a breath of fresh air for Jasper. She played zero games. She wore her heart on her sleeve and was proud of it. She was a hard worker. Jasper had only ever known relationships that came with strings and obligations or games. I also didn't see the added suspense that came in at the end but enjoyed that little plot add.Eloise has been trying to prove to her parents that she is responsible enough to take over the hotel, and then she went to Vegas last weekend and got married to a basic stranger. Well not a stranger, stranger. He is her sister's trainer. But how does she spin this in a positive light? Especially when instead of talking when she is with Jasper they end up in bed. They decide on an annulment. Act like this never happened. But then Jasper asks for a favor. Three months of a fake marriage. They can make it look real to her family. And then they can go to his ex's wife's wedding and be done. The problem is that Eloise finds herself wanting to get to know Jasper. She wants her family to like him. She wants him to like her family. She wants to get underneath his layers and see him so she can show him how amazing he is. She senses his restraint. She senses there is more going on than she knows and when she finds out about his family life- she is blown away. How could anyone survive that? She makes it her mission to have the best time at this wedding and to prove to Jasper and his family that he is loveable. The problem is that they are on this time crunch and then they are done. She doesn't want this to end. She wants it all to be real. But does he?Jasper has made a lot of mistakes in his life, but this tops the list. He married his best friend's sister in Vegas. At the same chapel where he married his ex wife. They had an amazing night together but now are tied for forever. Or at least until they can get this thing annulled. Because that's what they have to do right? But Jasper finds himself liking calling Eloise his. And when he gets a wedding invite to his ex wife's wedding he finds himself asking the impossible- let's stay married for three months and then after the wedding we can get divorced. This will help him with the wedding and Eloise with the hotel. The challenge is that Eloise wants him to be involved with her family. But he doesn't understand family dynamics. He understands her and his dynamics. And that he is liking cooking for her and having her in his bed and waking up with her wrapped around him. He is liking this life that he is living even though it it temporary. But then the more time passes he finds himself wanting this. He doesn't think this is fake anymore. How to tell Eloise though? He will wait until after the wedding and lay it out. He will let her see where he came from. He feels like a weight has been lifted now that he has told her about his past. But he wants to show her how he feels. He wants a real forever with her. He just hopes she wants that too.This was a wonderful story about two people who ended up in a crazy situation with some real feelings simmering and developing. They supported each other. They pushed each other. They made each other better. I am really liking this series and am excited to read Lyla's! I have heard there is a bit more suspense in that one which I am here for! I definitely recommend this book and series if you haven't picked it up yet :)

4.5 stars rounded up"It had happened last night, when I'd stood on the porch of the A-frame, watching my wife stand beneath the trees wearing only a towel, letting the rain soak her face. Eloise was my wife. There wasn't a damn thing fake about this marriage. Not anymore."What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Unless you're Eloise Eden and Jasper Vale. Then, what happens in Vegas has legal implications and follows you all the way back to Quincy, Montana. Getting married on a whim seems like such a great idea until you sober up the next morning. And yet, this one little mistake may end up being beneficial to all parties involved.Watching Eloise and Jasper build their relationship was the highlight of this story. Sure they may have done things in society's definition of the "wrong order", but it arguably made it better to watch these two become friends before falling in love. Their nights spent at home getting to know each other and Jasper's random drop in's at the hotel were sweet. Their relationship felt organic despite the events that led up to this point.While Knox may be my favorite MMC of the series, Jasper is a very close second. He may be the grumpiest one yet, but boy does he know what he wants. And the way he stands up for Eloise at every turn? Sold. In fact, the only reason I didn't give this book 5 stars is that it upset me how much Eloise brushed off Jasper's concerns when it came to how she was treated by her parents. In fact, it bothered me too that she never took offense to the fact that people would speak to her parents about things with the hotel when it was made very clear that they were hands-off.One other detail that felt slightly off was Lyla being upset with Eloise and not speaking to her for a majority of the book. Crushes are natural, but there wasn't much of an indication that Lyla felt that deeply about Jasper. Maybe it piggy backed off of her feelings of being kept in the dark by Talia, but some more explanation on it, even if it happens in Crimson River, would definitely help. Additionally, in every instance except for this and with her parents, Eloise gives off the vibes that she wouldn't let problems simmer. She seems like the type of person who would approach the other party directly and force them to talk about it. Maybe this speaks to how she views herself within the Eden family dynamic, but I really hope that moving forward, she learns to stand up for herself more.In the grand scheme of the entire story, these details are minimal. Two tiny plot points within 339 pages is nothing. This book is as beautifully written as its predecessors. In fact, this book has put me into the biggest book hangover I have had in a long time. Despite eloping in Vegas, Eloise and Jasper have the kind of love that deserves to be idolized and is obtainable in real life. As long as you forget that he whisked her off to Paris with two hours notice that is. I'm very excited to see how their relationship continues to grow throughout the end of the series and hope there are plenty of chances to do so.