At the Island's Edge

A Novel

De: C. I. Jerez

Narrado por: Kyla Garcia

In this powerful story of second chances, healing, and the enduring bonds of family, a combat medic seeking a better life for her son discovers the quiet magic of finding your way home.

When Sergeant Lina LaSalle returns to her parents’ home in Puerto Rico, she faces a different kind of mission: creating a brighter future for her young son, Teó, while making peace with her past.

Teó thrives in his new life on the island, and Lina finds kinship, too—with a cousin whose dreams were also shattered by the war, and with a handsome veteran who runs the neighborhood bar and offers understanding without judgment.

But even in paradise, old wounds linger. As Lina wrestles with her guilt over the harrowing choices she made in Iraq—and the temptation to numb her pain—long-buried secrets threaten to 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)

“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

Waves of memory and deep nostalgia

At the Island’s Edge is more than just a story—it’s an experience. The book’s perspective brought me waves of memory and deep nostalgia. With each page, I felt like I was being gently carried back to places, people, and emotions that have lived quietly in the corners of my heart.

The way the author weaves nature, culture, and human connection into the narrative made me pause and reflect often. There’s a quiet strength in the writing—a softness that carries wisdom, healing, and history.

Reading this felt like sitting at the edge of something sacred, where land meets sea, and the past touches the present. It’s a reminder of where we come from and how deeply rooted we are in stories—both our own and those passed down.

Highly recommended for anyone who cherishes reflective, heart-centered storytelling.

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

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!

help me to visualize what my daughter went through being a Iraq veteran

it also brought a lot of light into how people can get caught up in their lives and end up in an addiction and how the strength and health of AA can help