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Eden's Children #1
The Innocent
In a place that had been named for paradise, evil had come to call...
A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WAS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN
But that didn't stop Sergeant Abby Cross from wanting Sam Burke. She'd thought the FBI profiler cold and arrogant--until she worked with him, side by side, late into the nights on her town's desperate search for two missing little girls. Sam hid his emotions well, but beneath the surface Abby sensed his fierce determination to bring the innocent children home.
Falling for Sam could cost her her reputation and career. She had to keep things cool between them. But emotional fires were blazing in Eden, Mississippi--and love was the ultimate temptation.
A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WAS STRICTLY FORBIDDEN
But that didn't stop Sergeant Abby Cross from wanting Sam Burke. She'd thought the FBI profiler cold and arrogant--until she worked with him, side by side, late into the nights on her town's desperate search for two missing little girls. Sam hid his emotions well, but beneath the surface Abby sensed his fierce determination to bring the innocent children home.
Falling for Sam could cost her her reputation and career. She had to keep things cool between them. But emotional fires were blazing in Eden, Mississippi--and love was the ultimate temptation.
256 pages, ebook
First published July 1, 2001
26 people are currently reading
173 people want to read
About the author
Amanda Stevens
270 books2,228 followersAmanda Stevens is the award-winning author of over fifty novels, including the modern gothic series, The Graveyard Queen. Her books have been described as eerie and atmospheric, “a new take on the classic ghost story.” Born and raised in the rural south, she now resides in Houston, Texas, where she enjoys binge-watching, bike riding and the occasional Horror Night with friends.
The Graveyard Queen trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrCf_e...
http://twitter.com/AmandaStevensTX
http://facebook.com/amandastevensbooks
amandastevensbooks@gmail.com
The Graveyard Queen trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrCf_e...
http://twitter.com/AmandaStevensTX
http://facebook.com/amandastevensbooks
amandastevensbooks@gmail.com
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 12, 2022
Vis vengiau imti šią knygą į rankas. Viskas, kas susiję su vaikais man dabar ypač jautru. O čia narpliojami mažų vaikų pagrobimai... Bet prisiruošiau ir kai traukė tai įtraukė.
Išties senokai beskaičiau detektyvinį romaną, buvau pamiršusi kaip tokius mėgstu. Negalėjau atsitraukti, kol nepaaiškėjo visos detalės. O istorija labai paini, įdomu stebėti kaip veikėjai pamato, koks mažas pasaulis ir kaip jie vieni su kitais susiję patys to nežinodami. Pabaiga netikėta ir gan maloni (nepaisant keletos faktų).
Viena žvaigždute mažiau, nes už akies kliuvo gramatinės ir vertimo klaidos.
Išties senokai beskaičiau detektyvinį romaną, buvau pamiršusi kaip tokius mėgstu. Negalėjau atsitraukti, kol nepaaiškėjo visos detalės. O istorija labai paini, įdomu stebėti kaip veikėjai pamato, koks mažas pasaulis ir kaip jie vieni su kitais susiję patys to nežinodami. Pabaiga netikėta ir gan maloni (nepaisant keletos faktų).
Viena žvaigždute mažiau, nes už akies kliuvo gramatinės ir vertimo klaidos.
June 13, 2023
I read this book #1 right after I finished book #2.
In spite of reading #2 &. #1 in that order it still okay definitely read the series, great characters that are well developed. The plot evolves nicely through both books. Can’t wait to get into the next one.
In spite of reading #2 &. #1 in that order it still okay definitely read the series, great characters that are well developed. The plot evolves nicely through both books. Can’t wait to get into the next one.
April 17, 2018
The Innocent
August 22, 2001
Amanda Stevens returns with a new kidnapping trilogy in Eden's Children, beginning with "The Innocent." Ten years ago, police sergeant Abby Cross's niece was kidnapped in Eden, Mississippi. Now two more children are missing. FBI profiler Sam Burke offers his help. But Sam has secrets of his own and hidden motives he can't tell Abby about. She could use his help. Is trusting him a mistake?
"The Innocent" gets this trilogy off to a solid, if unspectacular, start. Two thirds of the book, the parts containing the mystery, work well. The other third, the romance, does not. As with her last trilogy, Gallagher Justice, Eden's Children begins with a book that has a solid mystery and a romance that takes too long to build. (Actually, with all three of her Intrigue series, Stevens begins with a book where a cop falls for someone keeping secrets about their identity. And the second book in each is a reunion story. Hmmmm...) In that book, the romance was still believable. In "The Innocent," it's not.
It's always nice to read an Intrigue where the people actually investigate a case and isn't just 250 pages of running. Stevens does a good job showing Abby and Sam as professionals who are good at their jobs. Both are law officers who know what they're doing, and it's especially nice to see a smart, strong woman like Abby. Readers who enjoy following clues and trying to put the case together while the hero and heroine do will find Stevens in top form. It's too bad the sexual tension is so low. This is one of those books where you'd think the characters would have more important things to think about than falling in love, where the suspense doesn't enhance the romance, but detracts from it. Both Abby and Sam have personal stakes in the little girl's disappearance and most of their attention is rightly drawn to it. The love story is almost an afterthought, thoroughly unconvincing in every way. Every time the attention is drawn toward it and away from the mystery, it feels forced. Abby and Sam show little chemistry, fall in love far too quickly when they've spent most of the book thinking about the case, not each other.
As a police procedural with a good mystery and nice twists at the end, "The Innocent" works well. As a romance, I'm not convinced. Fortunately, the next book, "The Tempted," manages a happier medium.
August 22, 2001
Amanda Stevens returns with a new kidnapping trilogy in Eden's Children, beginning with "The Innocent." Ten years ago, police sergeant Abby Cross's niece was kidnapped in Eden, Mississippi. Now two more children are missing. FBI profiler Sam Burke offers his help. But Sam has secrets of his own and hidden motives he can't tell Abby about. She could use his help. Is trusting him a mistake?
"The Innocent" gets this trilogy off to a solid, if unspectacular, start. Two thirds of the book, the parts containing the mystery, work well. The other third, the romance, does not. As with her last trilogy, Gallagher Justice, Eden's Children begins with a book that has a solid mystery and a romance that takes too long to build. (Actually, with all three of her Intrigue series, Stevens begins with a book where a cop falls for someone keeping secrets about their identity. And the second book in each is a reunion story. Hmmmm...) In that book, the romance was still believable. In "The Innocent," it's not.
It's always nice to read an Intrigue where the people actually investigate a case and isn't just 250 pages of running. Stevens does a good job showing Abby and Sam as professionals who are good at their jobs. Both are law officers who know what they're doing, and it's especially nice to see a smart, strong woman like Abby. Readers who enjoy following clues and trying to put the case together while the hero and heroine do will find Stevens in top form. It's too bad the sexual tension is so low. This is one of those books where you'd think the characters would have more important things to think about than falling in love, where the suspense doesn't enhance the romance, but detracts from it. Both Abby and Sam have personal stakes in the little girl's disappearance and most of their attention is rightly drawn to it. The love story is almost an afterthought, thoroughly unconvincing in every way. Every time the attention is drawn toward it and away from the mystery, it feels forced. Abby and Sam show little chemistry, fall in love far too quickly when they've spent most of the book thinking about the case, not each other.
As a police procedural with a good mystery and nice twists at the end, "The Innocent" works well. As a romance, I'm not convinced. Fortunately, the next book, "The Tempted," manages a happier medium.
September 5, 2013
there really wasnt much romance but the suspense/intrigue was pretty good.
from a kidnapping ten years ago to a present kidnapping that appears similar to the first one 10 years ago to another kidnapping that seems different.
so we have abby(cop) and sam(fbi profiler)investigating and trying to unravel the mysteries
from a kidnapping ten years ago to a present kidnapping that appears similar to the first one 10 years ago to another kidnapping that seems different.
so we have abby(cop) and sam(fbi profiler)investigating and trying to unravel the mysteries
November 22, 2009
Found this in my mom's upstairs -- literally had to dust it off. After reading figured out it was part of a trilogy, so I'm waiting for my copies from Better World Books to come in. How pitiful, huh? But I need to see if they find the other 2 missing children!
August 4, 2020
Un comienzo interesante para la trilogía, con una autora que se mueve magistralmente en ese género y que, por su puesto, me fascina.
Entonces esta historia empieza con Abby Cross, una detective que está investigando la desaparición de una niña en el décimo aniversario de la desaparición de otra en el mismo pueblo, en las mismas condiciones y de características similares. Esto hace sospechar a las autoridades que quien fuera que se llevó a la primera niña diez años atrás, caso que nunca fue resulto y que causó el dolor de sus seres queridos, puede estar involucrado en este nuevo caso. Sin embargo, días después desaparece otra niña y las preguntas sobre si ambos casos están relacionados o no comienzan a surgir.
Y bueno, me gustó mucho, no tanto como hubiese esperado, pero sí disfruté el misterio alrededor de estas desapariciones y el suspenso. Por otra de sus sagas, me enamoré de cómo escribe la autora y cómo maneja sus historias, lo que se ve reflejado nuevamente en esta historia. La autora tiene una pluma en la que apenas se notan el paso de las páginas, sin hacer que se vuelta pesado o demasiado aburrido porque siempre está pasando algo, haciendo que la historia se mueva de forma fluida y con los acontecimientos ocurriendo lentamente, dándonos pequeñas pistas y caminos que tomar para entender lo que está pasando.
La trama es interesante, la desaparición de dos niñas y una tercera años atrás, que podrían estar relacionados o no, y la incansable búsqueda de sus familiares y la policía, a la espera de poder encontrarlas y que sigan vivas. Pero ya al finalizar, cuando se supone se atan todos los cabos sueltos que vimos en el desarrollo de la historia... no me convenció demasiado. Aunque se habla de tres niñas a lo largo del libro, la historia solo se enfoca en una de ellas y al final solo se da una mínima pista de una segunda. Y sé que es para darle camino a las otras novelas, pero no sé. Esperaba otra cosa. Además, no pude conectar con los casos, en especial el principal, y descubrí que leer sobre casos de desaparición no es lo mío (ups). Soy muy impaciente para esperar que ocurra algo cuando en estos casos aquello tiene que ir lento y seguro. La parte del romance... se llegó muy rápido a la mutua atracción, a una necesidad de estar con el otro incluso sin conocerlo, pero sí me gustó ya para el final. Me gustó también esto de que se considerara los aspectos profesionales de ambos, que una relación entre ambos, y en especial en medio de una investigación, no era conveniente. Pero después Abby solo... no pude con ella. En el resto de la historia, una protagonista increíble, en el romance... otra cosa.
Y bueno, interesante, con una historia que te mantiene haciéndote preguntas por doquier y un romance que podía ser un sí y un no al mismo tiempo. Recomendado porque la autora y la historia principal lo valen.
Entonces esta historia empieza con Abby Cross, una detective que está investigando la desaparición de una niña en el décimo aniversario de la desaparición de otra en el mismo pueblo, en las mismas condiciones y de características similares. Esto hace sospechar a las autoridades que quien fuera que se llevó a la primera niña diez años atrás, caso que nunca fue resulto y que causó el dolor de sus seres queridos, puede estar involucrado en este nuevo caso. Sin embargo, días después desaparece otra niña y las preguntas sobre si ambos casos están relacionados o no comienzan a surgir.
Y bueno, me gustó mucho, no tanto como hubiese esperado, pero sí disfruté el misterio alrededor de estas desapariciones y el suspenso. Por otra de sus sagas, me enamoré de cómo escribe la autora y cómo maneja sus historias, lo que se ve reflejado nuevamente en esta historia. La autora tiene una pluma en la que apenas se notan el paso de las páginas, sin hacer que se vuelta pesado o demasiado aburrido porque siempre está pasando algo, haciendo que la historia se mueva de forma fluida y con los acontecimientos ocurriendo lentamente, dándonos pequeñas pistas y caminos que tomar para entender lo que está pasando.
La trama es interesante, la desaparición de dos niñas y una tercera años atrás, que podrían estar relacionados o no, y la incansable búsqueda de sus familiares y la policía, a la espera de poder encontrarlas y que sigan vivas. Pero ya al finalizar, cuando se supone se atan todos los cabos sueltos que vimos en el desarrollo de la historia... no me convenció demasiado. Aunque se habla de tres niñas a lo largo del libro, la historia solo se enfoca en una de ellas y al final solo se da una mínima pista de una segunda. Y sé que es para darle camino a las otras novelas, pero no sé. Esperaba otra cosa. Además, no pude conectar con los casos, en especial el principal, y descubrí que leer sobre casos de desaparición no es lo mío (ups). Soy muy impaciente para esperar que ocurra algo cuando en estos casos aquello tiene que ir lento y seguro. La parte del romance... se llegó muy rápido a la mutua atracción, a una necesidad de estar con el otro incluso sin conocerlo, pero sí me gustó ya para el final. Me gustó también esto de que se considerara los aspectos profesionales de ambos, que una relación entre ambos, y en especial en medio de una investigación, no era conveniente. Pero después Abby solo... no pude con ella. En el resto de la historia, una protagonista increíble, en el romance... otra cosa.
Y bueno, interesante, con una historia que te mantiene haciéndote preguntas por doquier y un romance que podía ser un sí y un no al mismo tiempo. Recomendado porque la autora y la historia principal lo valen.
October 30, 2017
Amanda Stevens writes a mean mystery thriller suspense.
January 1, 2018
Great read
I couldn’t put it down! Nothing supernatural but great suspense and romance and sigh. Loved this book. Amazing read! Going for #2 now!!
I couldn’t put it down! Nothing supernatural but great suspense and romance and sigh. Loved this book. Amazing read! Going for #2 now!!
September 3, 2025
2.5/5 STARS! Read 2 books in this trilogy & this is a good starter to the series. Good plot & interesting characters. Only wished we got a little more romance.
October 11, 2012
Super! Great start to the Eden's Children trilogy. Loved the various elements explored re; the three kidnappings. Nice, enjoyable mystery.
July 10, 2011
Surprisingly good. I always like to find a mystery that I can't figure out right away.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews