At the Island's Edge

A Novel

De: C. I. Jerez

Narrado por: Kyla Garcia

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.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“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)

“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

“C. I. Jerez’s At the Island’s Edge is an astonishing debut—an eloquent, moving, and heartfelt story about a young mother’s efforts to claw herself back from the precipice for the sake of her young son, even as she is convinced that she is beyond redemption. Jerez’s compelling prose and deep insights into Puerto Rican culture elevate this thoughtful and thought-provoking novel. I loved this book!”—Karen Dionne, author of the #1 international bestseller The Marsh King’s Daughter and The Wicked Sister

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