Title: The Edge of Us
Author: Jamie McGuire
First published June 11, 2019
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Rating: 4.1
Overview
The Edge of Us by Jamie McGuire is a captivating contemporary romance novel that will leave you breathless. Naomi Abrams is a widow, having lost her husband at a young age.
She is fiercely independent and has enlisted to help protect her late husband’s Marine brothers. Now, in the small town of Colorado Springs, they are all working together on a new job, facing new dangers.
Enter Zeke Lund, a firefighter who has been alone since being bumped out of the foster system at age eighteen. His only family now consists of his firefighter brothers and sisters.
He never thought he would fall for someone in this remote little town, but Naomi is like no one he’s ever met. She’s strong, independent, and takes exactly zero crap from anyone.
As they work together, Zeke realizes that he may have feelings for the widow with the potty mouth and broken soul. Will their hearts be able to heal enough to allow them to have a real relationship, or will their fractured pasts keep them apart?
Find out in this gripping and heart-warming romance novel.
About the Author
Jamie McGuire hails from Tulsa, Oklahoma and holds a degree in Radiography from Autry Technology Center, having previously attended Northern Oklahoma College and the University of Central Oklahoma.
Jamie is a trailblazer of the New Adult genre, having authored the international bestseller Beautiful Disaster, which was followed by Walking Disaster, a novel that debuted at #1 on the New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists in all four categories. The Maddox Brothers series, of which Beautiful Oblivion is the first book, also topped the New York Times bestseller list, debuting at #1.
Beautiful Redemption and Beautiful Sacrifice, which are books two and three of the Maddox Brothers series, respectively, also topped the New York Times bestseller list, along with a novella from the Beautiful series, Something Beautiful. Beautiful Burn, released in 2016, made the New York Times and USA Today lists and was also named iBooks’ Romance Book of the Year.
A Beautiful Funeral also topped the New York Times bestseller list in the same year.
Jamie has also authored Red Hill, an apocalyptic thriller and the 2014 UtopYA Best Dystopian Book of the Year, the Providence series, a young adult paranormal romance trilogy, Apolonia, a dark sci-fi romance, and several novellas including A Beautiful Wedding, Among Monsters, Happenstance: A Novella Series, and Sins of the Innocent.
Jamie made history as the first indie author to secure a print deal with Wal-Mart, with her self-published novel Beautiful Redemption hitting Wal-Mart stores in September 2015.
Jamie currently resides in Steamboat Springs, Colorado with her husband, Jeff, and their three children. You can find Jamie on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Instagram.
Editoral Review
The Edge of Us by Jamie McGuire is a gripping and emotional contemporary romance novel that was first published on June 11, 2019. In this book, McGuire explores the complex themes of love, loss, commitment, and family, in a story that is both heart-wrenching and uplifting.
Known for her best-selling romance novels, including Beautiful Disaster and A Beautiful Funeral, McGuire has once again crafted a story that will captivate readers from start to finish. Set against the backdrop of a small town in Texas, The Edge of Us tells the story of two broken souls – Maggie and Cain – who are struggling to rebuild their lives after experiencing devastating losses.
Maggie, a single mother of two young boys, is trying to create a stable home for her family, while Cain, a successful business owner, is haunted by his tragic past. When these two unlikely individuals cross paths, sparks fly, and they are both forced to confront their emotional scars and navigate the challenges of a blossoming romance.
McGuire’s writing style is fluid, engaging, and evocative. Through her vivid descriptions, readers can immerse themselves in the small-town setting, and feel the emotions and turmoil of the characters.
McGuire’s characters are well-developed, and each has their unique personality, strengths, and flaws. The chemistry between Maggie and Cain is electric, and readers will find themselves rooting for their love story.
One of the most significant strengths of The Edge of Us is McGuire’s ability to create authentic and relatable characters. The story deals with real-life issues such as grief, addiction, poverty, and mental health, which will resonate with readers of all ages.
Maggie’s struggles as a single mother trying to make ends meet and Cain’s inner demons, stemming from the loss of his family, add layers of complexity to the plot and make the characters feel like real people. While The Edge of Us is a touching and well-crafted novel, it does have a few limitations.
The plot is somewhat predictable, and readers may find themselves guessing the outcome early on in the story. Additionally, some of the subplots are underdeveloped, and certain character arcs could have been explored in greater depth.
Finally, some readers may find the themes and issues explored in the novel to be too heavy or triggering. Despite these minor flaws, I highly recommend The Edge of Us to fans of contemporary romance and readers looking for a heartfelt love story.
The novel is a beautiful exploration of the power of love and the resiliency of the human spirit. McGuire’s writing is engaging and thought-provoking, and her characters are endearing and relatable.
Overall, I give The Edge of Us a rating of 4 out of 5, based on its excellent writing, compelling characters, and relatable themes.