
At the Island's Edge
A Novel
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Narrated by:
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Kyla Garcia
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By:
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C. I. Jerez
About this listen
An Iraq War veteran returns to Puerto Rico to reconnect with—and confront—the past in a heart-wrenching novel about duty, motherhood, and the healing power of home.
As a combat medic, Lina LaSalle went to Iraq to save the lives of fellow soldiers. But when her convoy is attacked, she must set aside her identity as a healer and take a life herself.
Although she is honored as a hero when she returns to the US, Lina cannot find her footing. She is stricken with PTSD and unsure of how to support her young son, Teó, a little boy with Tourette’s. As her attempts to self-medicate become harder to hide, Lina realizes she must do the toughest thing yet: ask for help.
She retreats to her parents’ house in Puerto Rico, where Teó thrives under her family’s care. Lina finds kinship, too—with a cousin whose dreams were also shattered by the war and with a handsome and caring veteran who sought refuge on the island and runs a neighborhood bar.
But amid the magic of the island are secrets and years of misunderstandings that could erode the very stability she’s fighting for. Hope lies on the horizon, but can she keep her gaze steady?
©2024 Cherisa Jerez. (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.Critic reviews
“At the Island’s Edge is an unflinching look at the choices made during war, PTSD, alcoholism, and the pure power of a support system…This book is not just about the very realistic pains of army life but also about healing and incredible empathy in the face of unfathomable suffering.”—Booklist (starred review)
“An emotionally compelling, inherently engaging, and memorably entertaining read from start to finish. Author C. I. Jerez’s distinctive and narrative driven storytelling skills raise this novel of personal and family relationships to an impressive level of literary excellence—making it especially and unreservedly recommended…”—Midwest Book Review
“C. I. Jerez’s enchanting novel At the Island’s Edge is a captivating and poignant debut about a young mother’s struggle to heal from the scars of war following her deployment to Iraq as a US Army medic. Jerez’s deeply moving prose dives into the realities of war for women in combat, the complexities of serving while balancing motherhood, and the sacrifices made. This heartwarming novel captures the beauty of Puerto Rico’s culture and leaves us wanting more!”—Robert Dugoni, author of Suspense Magazine’s 2018 Book of the Year, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell
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What listeners say about At the Island's Edge
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- Frappy1924
- 03-29-25
Her power to overcome her past
this book was written perfectly I never stopped listening I love the part that there are so many people that go through exactly what she did loved this book
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- Jeanne Pernia
- 04-07-25
Enjoyed Audible version!
Listening to the audiobook really brought this story to life and its characters! I could imagine seeing them on the Big screen someday!
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- Amazon Customer
- 04-21-25
help me to visualize what my daughter went through being a Iraq veteran
I highly recommend this to any veteran women or any mothers or family members that have daughters or sons that have in the military. It will help you to relate to what they went through
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