Two friends. Two dreams. One night that changes everything…
Ice dancer Aubrey London scoffs at romance. She’s focused on winning a medal at the upcoming Olympics and uses that as her excuse to avoid serious relationships. But when she and longtime friend Chris Grayden are thrown together by unforeseen circumstances, Aubrey finds herself questioning everything she's ever known about love, complicating her life both on and off the ice.
Pairs skater Emily Petrov embraces romance. She and her husband Sergei still act like honeymooners two years after their wedding. As Emily’s coach, Sergei provides constant support while she prepares to challenge for gold at the Olympics. But Sergei’s support might not be enough to help Emily overcome the one challenge she never saw coming.
With the Games only weeks away, Emily and Aubrey are on the verge of realizing their dreams. But one snowy, stormy night sets in motion a series of events that will test them in ways they never imagined, giving them more to fight for than Olympic medals.
Jennifer Comeaux is a tax accountant by day, writer by night. There aren’t any ice rinks near her home in south Louisiana, but she’s a diehard figure skating fan and loves to write stories of romance set in the world of competitive skating. One of her favorite pastimes is traveling to competitions, where she can experience all the glitz and drama that inspire her writing. When she's not writing, traveling, or calculating taxes, you can find her feeding her television addiction.
Since I've read the first two book in this series I was really looking forward to reading and reviewing this last book in the "Edge" series. I love watching competitive figure skating. It's one of my favorite sports to watch. The Olympics is a magical time to watch figure skating and this book is set around making it to the Olympics.
It was nice to have Emily and Sergei married in this book. I liked it. Adding in Aubrey's story was awesome. I have always liked Chris so it was good to see him so upfront and interacting with Aubrey. Chris shoulders a lot of responsibility in this book and I just love his sense of loyalty and strength.
The story is engaging and it always felt forward moving. I was interested and wanted to keep reading. These are the kind of books that make reviewing easy. The characters are real and I can see them and by this, the last book, I really feel like I know them. I'm sad to see this series end but I'll be looking forward to reading whatever Jennifer Comeaux comes up with next!
There are some sexual references, steamy kissing and make out scenes, and sex behind closed doors between a married couple (although nothing descriptive).
I realize that this is book 3 in the series and I know that I haven't read the other books. I had planned to, but ran out of time. That said, I had no trouble at all following along with the story. My only confusion was when the story jumped from Em's point of view (first person) to a third person point of view quite regularly and it took me a little bit to figure out who was speaking when it was in first person. Once I had that down, I really got into the story. I really want to go back and read the others now to get more of that back story.
As a child (and even now), I loved to watch the figure skating part of the Olympics more than any other event. I have no idea if this story is really accurate or not, but it sure felt like it. I loved seeing behind the scenes and I could picture the routines in my head. I felt the drive and passion that these athletes had for their sport and really wanted them to do well. I got very caught up in the story and really felt like I was there, watching this story unfold.
I loved the relationship that Em and Sergei had with one another and with the other members of the skating team. Em seemed to be the big sister and good friend to all of them. She had such wisdom and good advice for the others, yet she wasn't perfect. She struggled with anxiety and worries just like the rest of them. Chris (Em's partner) was really great. He had such a way with humor and knew just what to say to lighten the mood. I really enjoyed getting to know Aubrey. I could really feel her hopes and fears vividly. I loved watching her mature and grow.
Content: kissing--some making out; drinking to the point of being drunk; talk of one night stands and hookups; intimacy that fades to black between a married couple; technically clean, since none of this is overly descriptive.
This book was just like catching up with old friends. It is the third in a series and while it can be read as a stand alone it is better enjoyed as part of the whole. I was very happy with where the series concludes. This series is for those that like their heros without a lot of edges. Jennifer Comeaux's heros tend to lean more towards being beta heros versus alpha males which I really appreciate. Her heros are truly good guys who value women and see them in respectful ways not how they can use them and what they can get from them.
This book expands the narrative by incorporating Aubrey's point of view. I really enjoyed this for multiple reasons. For one thing it kept Emily and Sergei from having to generate all the tension in the story. Since the last two stories have been just that it was nice that they weren't thrown completely through the wringer. It also gives us a second story that is a relationship at the budding stage instead of on down the road. There is always something special about love just as it begins. The third reason I enjoyed the expanded view point is that we get to see Emily's skating partner Chris even more up close and personal. I adored him. He is a truly lovable hero.
What we get with Emily and Segei's story is a look into their relationship now that it is a few years into marriage. Most of the issues they have to address tend towards those that are natural to where they are in their marriage and at this point in their lives (such as making decisions about what direction they want to take now that Emily's career as a professional skater is almost to its conclusion.) No spoilers here but I will say that the direction Jennifer Comeaux takes their story was enjoyable. One plot line might have been a bit implausible but I enjoyed the destination none the less.
I absolutely adored Chris as a hero. I need to admit up from that Aubrey got on my nerves at times. She is one of those heroines with a tendency to be a runner/avoider when problems come her way. Case in point, she runs from love because of watching the problems in her parent's marriage. That particular characteristic is one that always gets on my nerves so it isn't a fault in the story, just a personal issue. Aubrey does come across as realistic but she reminds me of those friends you have growing up that could be self defeating. You want them to get it together but they frustrate you immensely in the process. She is never unlikable, though, no matter how many mistake she makes, which is key. Also, since her story is not the only source of angst/tension in the book it keeps her self defeating ways from getting over bearing the way they would if the book had been solely focused on her.
Chris is awesome. I love adorkable guys and Chris is one. He has a fun, silly sense of humor. He doesn't take himself too seriously which I love in a real life guy, much less a book hero. He is steady and a rock for everyone around him and always considers the feelings and what is best for everyone before himself. Seriously, the guy is great. He will definitely go down as one of my favorite book heros. You can't help but cheer for Aubrey to get it together so this guy can get his HEA.
Great conclusion to the series. I can only hope that Jennifer decides to continue this world with some companion books that give us glimpses on all these old characters we love while bringing us the stories of some of the side characters I am curious about.
I have been reading a few New Adult and Adult books in the past few months and when I saw that there was going to be a blog tour for Fighting for the Edge, I jumped right into it. I have wanted to read this book for a while now, so I could not say no, and I was not disappointed all.
Fighting for the Edge is the 3rd book in The Edge Series. But you don't have to read the two books before Fighting for the Edge, you will have a better understanding of some of the other characters. I didn't read the first two books, though I plan to really soon.
Fighting for the Edge was a charming, surprising read. I really liked the setting of the novel. How it was based on Ice Skating. It's one of my favourite winter sports. I just love it. The costumes, the jumps, they way that they dance. just everything - well expect falling. So I really liked that I got to learn more about the sport.
I really liked Aubrey, the main character of the novel. She is really likable and somehow which I don't know, relatable. I think that is why I felt for her so much. I wanted to hug her and tell her everything is going to be alright. Aubrey characterisation built up as the story went on. We see her grow as the novel goes on. I really enjoy this experience. Yes, I wanted to yell at her a couple of times but hey, people make mistakes too and this is which is the reason why I wanted to hit Marley in the head. Yes I understand why she is upset but come on. What she said and did was just so frustrating.
This book is told in two POV's ,one is Aubrey and the other is Emily, a married skater. Hmm, I have mixed feelings about Emily. She is nice and I liked her but sometimes she annoyed the hell out of me. I liked the 2 POV's. It really added the the novel and the whole dynamic of it. But as said before, Emily did get on my nerves. I also felt just so sorry for Emily. I wanted to hug her and hold her tight. I kind of guess what was going to happen, I guess you can kind of call it cliche. I also really disliked her parents, they just hit those spots of things I dislike about parents. Like I said with Aubrey we also see Emily grow through Fighting for the Edge.
Sergei is Emily's husband and again another character that I have mixed feelings about. I liked him for the most part. But the little things that he did here and there, just made me twinge. Especially the way he treated Aubrey after she did something not that smart, I understand why but it got me so angry.
Chris, Chris, Chris, man I love Chris. Just from the start, he is just amazing okay? He is sweet and caring and he has feelings. I like that he doesn't try and hide those feelings. He has his heart on his sleeve. I had so many different feelings throughout the novel and I blame Chris for most of them. Chris and Aubrey are just the cutest things on the planet.
I like the writing style of Jennifer Comeaux, the way she writes, pulls you in. The characterisation of the characters, was well done and I enjoy seeing them, if not all the characters grow through the novel. I was taken on a ride of emotions, good and bad. I was transported into the world of Figure Skating. Fighting for the Edge was an enjoyable read that I would recommend to someone looking for something new.
I Give Fighting for the Edge by Jennifer Comeaux 4 Stars out of 5
I got absorbed in this entire series, from the journey of Emily and Sergei’s relationship in the first book, and the countless dramas the characters have experienced in the second book. But, this third book is sort of different because dual POVs were provided (Emily and Aubrey’s.) At first, it was kind of confusing when the first POV (Emily) will switch to third POV (Aubrey.) But after I got that nailed down, this story is beautiful, and the series of problems and drama really got me hooked up.
Emily and Sergei once again encounters an unexpected challenge of their own. I love how Sergei is always supportive of whatever Emily decides, as long as it is for the good. He just knows the right things to say to boost Emily’s confidence up, and I really admired him for that. His unrelenting devotion to Emily is truly stunning.
Emily is also a character that I adored. She has strong spirit and determination to get the things she want done. She continues to grow as a person throughout the series, but I think this is the point wherein she grew the most. I like the way she doesn’t drill people to tell her how they feel towards a situation, and she just gives an ear when they’re prepared.
I enjoyed reading Aubrey’s side as well. I’ve always seen her as the bubbly person she always is, but reading this book has made me realize that she also has her own sad, depressing moments. It was great to see that she was able to change, and learn how to believe in things. She may have experienced a lot of troubles and drama, but she got past through it all. She was strong, in the way that she put herself out there.
Above all else, I loved Chris the most. He stayed regardless of whatever problems Emily and Aubrey had to face, and he continued to support them. He became their bedrock, and really, it’s nice to have a person like that. He was protective of his friends, but he also knows how to give space. I really admired him for the way he wholeheartedly accepted Aubrey even after knowing her past. Not many people can do this, and I really loved him for it.
I really felt like I was in the book, together with the characters, and it made me feel what it’s like to be in the skating competition. I wasn’t into the book right away in the first half, so I wasn’t really reading it continuously. I had countless breaks in reading this, but when I reached the latter half, I got really absorbed, and it had almost made me pull up an all-nighter.
Comeaux’ Fighting for the Edge is a beautiful story of love, family and friendship, along with a feel of the world of figure skating. This last instalment to the series can be read as a standalone, but I would definitely recommend reading the first two books first.
This one was fuck-tapcular. Once again, the best part was the figure skating. However, unlike the rest of the books where the figure skating seemed fairly realistic there was a plot point that just had me shaking my head.
Like the rest of the book.
First, let’s talk about the structure of this one. The first two were purely first person. Throwing a third person POV in addition to the first at this point of the series seems a little odd and made the story feel disjointed.
I honestly wanted to connect to Aubrey, but I really couldn’t. Her dark past, well, I get how it could affect her, but it’s none of her damn business. To hate your mother for the choices she made in her own marriage.
Ugh.
So judgmental these characters, I swear.
Oh, and let’s not forget the queen of judgmental herself…Em’s fucking bitch of a mother. Yeah, I’m cursing when it comes to this character now.
Seriously, you don’t lecture your twenty-four year old married daughter about the appropriate use of birth control and go through her stuff. This character needs boundaries and fast.
She’s not merely a helicopter mom, she goes way beyond that.
Then there’s the whole plot. Comeaux just had to go with the whole baby plot.
No, I can’t believe that a women rapidly approaching her second trimester would be able to skate in the Olympics with twins. If you Google pregnancy you’ll find that the symptoms are double with twins. So, the mere fact she’s not throwing up on the ice is rather amazing.
I also have to say I just love how its automatic that they’re keeping the babies. The babies were conceived at a bad time. At least there could be some talk about termination, and yes I know they’re married but let’s get real here there are terminations in marriages. It just seemed realistic that this should’ve been discussed.
But of course we’re not even going to go there and we’re just going to skate in the Olympics while three months pregnant with twins.
For reals.
I couldn’t even enjoy the gold medal scene because I just kept thinking how stupid this is. And to be honest, Em never talked about having kids and is totally okay with the idea.
Why is it so hard to believe a woman might not want babies? Why do babies automatically equal happy endings?
Sigh…
And I didn’t even enjoy the third person romance like I was hoping.
So yeah, compared to the others this one fail on its face.
While the series technically ends there, Comeaux started a spinoff series which I’m going to review in this binge review as well (because I was ill advised to hit the buy button on my Kindle)
At First Sight: Emily is living her dream, she's one half of one of the top rated pairs skating teams and has a great partner in Chris (who keeps her calm during the competitions, something she never managed to do before pairing with him), and is married to her handsome coach Sergei and has a real shot at winning in the Torino Olympics.
Aubrey is also living the dream, she has a great partner in Nick, and great coaches and she's one half of the top rated US ice dance team. If it weren't for an ill advised one-night stand with a Canadian skater - who now won't leave her alone - her life would be awesome.
Until their skating ring is destroyed during a freak snow storm, and both Audrey and Emily (and their respective teams) are forced to decamp to Boston as they get ready for nationals and the Olympics.
But with their last chance at Olympic Glory in sight, life is not done sending them curve balls.
Second Glance: Fighting for the Edge is the last book in the Edge trilogy, which up to now has following Emily as she fell in love with Sergei; but this time around we also get to see Aubrey's perspective.
I have to say that I liked this change, and the fact that it was very easy to identify who was talking - because Emily's POV is in first person and Aubrey's in third - and this made the pace of the book a little more brisk, which I really liked, plus I liked seeing these two girls with similar dreams but who are at very different stages in their lives, even though they are the same age. It was a nice contrast.
And, for the most part, I really liked the book. I love the world of figure skating, and I loved being inside it from two skater's perspective - though it was a bit eery since I remember both Torino and Salt Lake with perfect clarity, so I was, like, Whoa! sometimes when they talked about the games.
My one concern for the book came later on, and I can't really discuss because it goes deep into spoiler territory, but yeah, it made me question how realistic some of the things were.
But, on the other hand, I totally loved Chris and Sergei.
Bottom Line: Save for that thing, I really enjoyed and loved the book, it was easy to slide into the world and easy to read (I mean this in a good way) and it was a lovely visit with friends I hadn't seen in a while. I also liked that it wasn't as dramatic a story as the two previous ones, so it was just a lot of fun to read. In any case, I really recommend Fighting for the Edge for anyone who likes sports books, and skating books in particular.
Big thanks to Jennifer and Astraea Press for a copy for Review
I can't say enough how much I loved this final installment in the Edge Series. It has been such an incredible and emotional road for all these characters, and I am very sad to say goodbye. *tries not to get emotional*
It has been truly wonderful following Emily (Butler) Petrov, I just love her last name *winks* on her skating and Olympic journey. She is truly a character to admire for her strong spirit, determination, compassion, and faith. Through out the whole series I saw Emily grow as an individual, but in this installment I really got to see the wonderful woman she has become.
There are not enough words to describe how much I adore Sergei. Any woman would be lucky to have him, only if he were real *sighs*. His unwavering love, and devotion for Emily is beyond amazing, especially with the Emily's unexpected news. There were a couple of times during this reading I was tearing up seeing how much he treasures her.
"You have never looked more beautiful," he said with a soft glow in his eyes. "And you are just as strong as you are beautiful." ~ Sergei to Emily
I enjoyed getting Aubrey's story as well. She has this funny, and spunky personality that makes smile and is such a great friend to Emily. Even though we see this bright and bubbly girl most of the time, there is a hidden sadness that comes through when dealing with her broken family. I just wanted to give her a big hug, but luckily that is what Chris is there for. These two are absolutely great together, and the gradual development from friendship to romance was a perfect pace, a perfect match.
She reached up and have him a feathery kiss. "You've made me a believer." "In what?" She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him again. "Everything." ~ Aubrey and Chris
Jennifer has wrapped up this series beautifully and I could not have asked for a better ending.
Fighting for the Edge is the third, and final, book in the Edge series. It is amazing! Perfect way to end the series! Most of all, I love how the final book made Chris and Aubrey more of a focus. The alternating scenes between them and Emily are easy to follow. I love this series. Book 3 did not let me down in any way. Love it!!!!! :)
Highly recommended for everyone 12-up, especially all YA/NA readers!
I liked getting to see things from Emily & Aubrey's POV, it was a lot of fun. Definitely another cray book, oh Emily! Loved Aubrey & Chris. Both Sergei & Chris are too freaking adorable (I need one, lol)! This is definitely one of my favorite series, I can't help but love all the characters & get sucked into the story.
This review originally appeared on my blog, Leeanna.me.
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FIGHTING FOR THE EDGE is the third and last book in the Edge trilogy. However, it stands alone quite well, and you don’t have to have read the other two for this one to make sense. It follows figure skaters Emily and Aubrey on their journey to the Olympics. There’s plenty of skating and romance, and I’d say it’s the perfect book to read if you’re looking for more figure skating or Olympic action.
Emily plans to retire after the Olympics, and so this is her and her partner Chris’s last chance for a gold medal in pairs figure skating. Guided by her coach and husband, Sergei, they’re ready to conquer the world … until the unexpected happens. I’m not going to say what happens, but I liked how Emily handled the challenge, refusing to give up something she had worked most of her life for. Her relationship with Sergei was portrayed realistically; it was good to see a couple after marriage without them fighting or ready to break up.
Aubrey also plans to retire from ice dancing after the Olympics. For the majority of her career, she’s sworn off romance, not wanting it to get in the way of her dreams. But when she and Chris end up sharing an apartment, she starts to question herself. Chris is such a great guy: sweet, caring, nerdy, athletic… really, the list goes on and on. I laughed when he asked who would win in a showdown: Tweety Bird or Chewbacca. Aubrey’s dislike of romance and relationships is strongly influenced by her parents’ relationship, and I thought she worked through that realistically. Not always in the most logical way, but that’s real.
The book does switch between Emily’s first person perspective and Aubrey’s third person, which is a tad confusing at the start. I liked Aubrey’s voice, and so I would have also liked her sections to be told from her POV, which would have made the switch between the two girls less jarring. I also would have liked more of Aubrey and her partner’s routines described, so I could have gotten a better feel for ice dancing. But those are my only complaints.
FIGHTING FOR THE EDGE was a feel good book for me. I had fun reading it, and was immersed in the characters and their quest for perfection on the ice. Although I haven’t read the rest of the series, I wasn’t lost at all, and now I want to go back and read Emily and Sergei’s story from the beginning. I felt like the author really knew what she was talking about with figure skating, and I really liked that there was so much of it in the book! Sometimes books that are about sports barely mention the sport, so I was happy to see skating actually have a lot of page time in the book.
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Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I also participated in the blog tour for this book.
In the final book of the Edge series, Fighting For The Edge, the reader catches up what has been going on with Emily, Sergei, Chris and Aubrey. Emily and Sergei have been married for over two years and still act like honeymooners, while Chris and Aubrey lament about their single / casual relationships statuses. All of them are practicing for the upcoming Grand Prix Final competition in Tokyo and the Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.
While the first two books in the series mainly featured the development of Emily and Sergei's relationship, in the third book the feature is extended to include Chris and Aubrey's story, which made me so excited to read. I think author Jennifer Comeaux brings the series full circle to close on a high note with Emily, Chris and Aubrey going for their dreams of Olympic gold while dealing with personal issues and balancing love relationships.
Author Jennifer Comeaux weaves an emotionally dramatic tale that focuses more on the off-ice life issues and relationship challenges coupled with the anticipation and anxiety of the upcoming Olympics for Emily, Sergei, Chris and Audrey, that captivates the reader and keeps them spellbound as they turn the pages. With an intriguing cast of recurring and new characters; engaging dialogue and interactions; a richly detailed description of the setting; and a riveting storyline full of drama, suspense and romance; Fighting For The Edge will leave you believing that the power of love can overcome any challenge!
I love, love, love the Edge series and the author did not leave me disappointed with a wonderfully dramatic and satisfying conclusion that made me sigh and smile from ear to ear. If you are a fan of ice skating and all the drama that goes on behind the scenes then this series is a must read. If you are a hopeless romantic who loves the dramatic challenges and trials and tribulations that come with life issues and love relationships, then you're in luck, because the author takes the reader on a final exhilarating and emotional roller coaster ride as they follow the unfolding of these lovable characters stories one last time. I hate that this series has to end, but it was an incredible ride, kudos to author Jennifer Comeaux!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by I Am A Reader.
FIGHTING FOR THE EDGE concludes the EDGE series with style and grace. I wouldn't expect anything less from Comeaux and her fabulous characters. When you dive into this series you are welcomed in with a storyline that is romantic, full of life, and absolutely perfect for any age reader. It is clean but the romance is brimming and absolutely overflowing from the story you find yourself lost in it. When I started the second and third book of the series I had to mental prepare myself for the puddle I knew I would find myself in. Comeaux knows what it takes to bring the readers to their weak knees. She definitely had me swooning on more than one occasion.
*** All the confusing emotions she'd been battling, the fears she'd been afraid to face...she finally understood exactly what she was feeling. She was in love. ***
Another thing Comeaux knows what to do is bring drama to the story. I think the drama in book two was so shocking high, I was scared for what this book would bring. Thankfully it was intense, but not crazily so. I still worried and fretted over what would happen with all the characters and the situations they found themselves in. With 2 different stories happening in the same book it was a chaotic read. A good chaotic. I loved the drama and the problems that went down. Now whether or not they all find their happy endings? Well, that is something you are just going to have to read to find out for yourself.
I am so utterly in love with this series. From the moment I first read about Emily and Sergei I knew my heart would forever be lost to them. They are simply amazing and some of the nicest characters you will ever read about. And thanks to this series, I have become a fan of ice skating. And I am getting rather excited about the Winter Olympics next year. This story will bring out the fan in you even if you were never before one. I know it did with me. I may not be a diehard fan like Comeaux, but I still like to see it every now and again.
Yes, this book (and series) is a must read. Yes, I recommend it. Yes, why are you still sitting around reading my review? Go!! Read!! Fall in love!!
**Review written for an originally posted on my blog, Book Bliss.I received a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased and honest review**
Review: 4 stars
General: Please note this is the third in a series, overall I think it was OK to read without the previous books but would definitely recommend waiting. Overall this novel was complex, filled with great tension and I really enjoyed it because of my love of ice skating. I was a bit shocked to find out the Olympics wasn’t the foreground story but the plot itself was well developed and felt so true to life I didn’t have any problems switching what I thought the book was to be about. The characters were entertaining and lifelike and though the beginning was touch slow the book moved with a great pace. The writing itself is strong and flawless and I loved that, the author has an extremely strong way with words and dramatic tension.
The book is told from both Aubrey and Emily’s point of view. I have to admit I personally found this to be a flaw. I loved Aubrey’s story and I quite honestly felt Emily’s paled in comparison. From the blurb I assumed they played equal roles in prior books but after reading I think the case was Emily was the star alone and Aubrey and Chris were back story at best. Emily was married and while there was a dramatic point that spelled disaster I would have rather read from Aubrey and Chris’s standpoint. I didn’t think all the back story was needed from Emily’s.
Characters: Aubrey- Aubrey struck me as a little immature. She didn’t face much head on and in fact ran away from pretty much everything for the majority of the novel. But I liked her as a narrator she had a comfortable personality that I enjoyed reading. The emotions between her and Chris were easy to feel and I loved the little we got from them on the naughtier side of things.
Chris- Chris was that good natured boy who can make anyone laugh and smile. He was laid back and humor filled but also intensely driven and loyal. I also felt he was well paired with Aubrey and happy to see it wasn’t the traditional route of partners paired together.
I really, truly adore these books. I loved delving back into the story of Emily and Sergei once again in this third volume of the Edge series. Since these two are solidly together we also get involved in the story of Aubrey and Chris. Jennifer Comeaux flawlessly weaves in Aubrey's perspective in the third person (Emily's POV is in first person), giving us the romantic drama that would otherwise be missing. I loved getting to know Chris even better, and seeing Aubrey stay true to herself while also growing in the romance department.
While Emily and Sergei’s relationship is solid we still get a bit of romance from them. It was nice to read about their life as a married couple. Not everything is completely perfect, though, as we see the pair dealing with the stresses of marriage, such as temporarily living with Emily’s over-involved mother or being at a turning point with Emily’s skating career close to the end.
A big part of Fighting for the Edge is the lead up to the Olympics and how the characters are preparing. I love how neither of the pairs (Emily & Chris, Aubrey & Nick) are perfect: they have fears and they make mistakes. Jennifer Comeaux doesn't make her characters perfect or guarantee that they’ll always win the top prize, and that makes things all the more realistic. It’s a rush every book figuring out how the characters will do at their big competitions.
Overall I thought this was such a fabulous conclusion to Emily and Sergei’s story as a couple, and to Emily and Chris’s story as skating partners. Jennifer’s writing always draws me in to the emotions of her characters. I finished this book with a giddy smile on my face, feeling so warm about the characters and where they ended up. I’m thrilled with the conclusion of this series, and even more excited that Jennifer’s next project is a spin-off with Courtney, a minor character in this series, as the protagonist.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a honest review. Thanks! Fighting For The Edge continues the story of Emily and Sergei after their perfect wedding. Emily and Chris are living their life as the Olympic medalist and continues to compete in several competition, hoping to achieve their dreams as gold Olympic medalist. As the story unfolds, we catch an unexpected love blossoming between Aubrey and Chris, and Emily together with Sergei also receives an unexpected surprise - a new addition to their family. Will Emily continue to skate during the Olympics? Or will she retreat from her dream in order to protect the child inside her? The third book of the Edge series is absolutely beautiful. I particularly enjoy the Emily's inner fight with herself, battling against whether she should compete or not. Aubrey's fight to give in to love was also very intense. Once again, I also love the characters Courtney and Mark, and I myself almost teared up when they didn't make the Olympics Team. I can't wait for the new book about Courtney! What a fantastic read during the Sochi Winter Olympic Season!
I hadn't read the previous books in Jennifer Comeaux’s Edge series before starting this one, but I had no problem keeping up with Fighting For the Edge. Yes, there is obviously a lot of back story but the main element is the ambition and dreams for Olympic glory.
The book is told from the POV of Emily and Aubrey who are both female female figure skaters hoping to win an Olympic medal. Emily is married to her coach Sergei and is partnered with Chris, whilst Aubrey skates with her friend Nick.
I have always enjoyed watching the ice skating/dancing but wasn't entirely sure whether I'd enjoy a book series based around it. I needn't have worried because it didn't take long for me to get sucked into the world of high drama and professional skating.
In my head Sergei is like Dimka from VA and not just because he's an older Russian but because he's both a caring instructor and immense supporter of Em and her skating. Chris was my favourite character and not because he's an old romantic at heart. He was a wonderful friend to both Em and Aubrey and when Em faces a potentially dangerous situation he instantly puts her above his own needs.
I had expected Em and Aubrey to be interchangeable but thankfully they were very different characters. I liked Em's drive and dedication and loved Aubrey's vulnerability and strength.
The ending was similar to my expectations but Fighting For the Edge is a sweet, fun contemporary romance with an 'edge' (sorry I couldn't help myself). I also now know what a kiss and cry or cry and kiss is!
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
This third book in "The Edge" series was my favorite, as the author let her fun side shine through in the dialog and situations. The point of view switches between Emily, our strong pair skating heroine of the first two books, and a third person account of Emily's dear friends, Aubrey and Chris, and their unexpected new attraction to each other.
The book takes place as the figure skaters are training hard to make the US Olympic Team, which is exciting, and the backdrop is Boston at Christmastime. Readers of the first two books already love the characters of Chris, Emily's lighthearted, humorous male skating partner, and Aubrey, the glamorous ice dancer. When Chris and Aubrey begin spending time together as friends they find themselves attracted to each other in a believable, highly satisfying way. Meanwhile Emily's quest for Olympic gold is threatened in an unexpected, shocking way which had me on the edge of my seat.
The best thing about this book for me was how Comeaux lovingly describes her characters and realistically gives the reader a sense of how much determination, spirit and competitive fire the athletes must maintain to train for the Olympics while still having time for fun and romance, family and friends. This book will appeal to readers of all ages, and would be especially exciting for anyone who figure skates or is a fan of the sport. Comeaux's characters are good role models for young people with their strong sense of ethics, and they work through their mistakes in a realistic way.
In Jennifer Comeaux’s series about pairs skaters and their relationships with each other and their coaches, it all comes to a highly dramatic and stunning conclusion in FIGHTING FOR THE EDGE. Em and Aubrey’s final challenge is Jennifer Comeaux’s greatest victory. Both touching and suspenseful, Fighting for the Edge is a game changer that will have fans of the series giving both the characters and the author a standing ovation once they’ve turned the very last page. If I could pass out medals, Jennifer would earn gold for writing my favorite romance of all time.
If you’re already a fan of Jennifer Comeaux’s series, you will likely find FIGHTING FOR THE EDGE to be the most evolving with regard to the characters. This book is about more than just romance and going for the gold here, guys. The characters have some real personal issues to get past – some involving the repercussions of one’s upbringing and others involving personal goals and priorities in life. More than any other installment in the series, FIGHTING FOR THE EDGE had me thinking on a much more emotional level. I appreciated the depth that this book provided to the characters that I already know and love.
Did I enjoy this book: I did enjoy this book. I read every free chance I had and I couldn’t wait to see how this series ended.
This was a good conclusion to this series. I couldn’t believe what happened with Emily. But they handled it well and they went on to complete their goals. Was it a bit unbelievable? Yes, absolutely. Did it provide enough drama and suspense and worry? Yes, absolutely. (And, yes, I am being vague here because I do not want to spoil this book for anyone. So, you will just have to deal with the vagueness.)
Chris is a wonderful skating partner and a wonderful guy. I fell in love with him more in this book than in the previous two books. He is featured in Fighting for the Edge. And he deserves all of the attention he gets and then some. We also learn more about Aubrey. She is such a sweetheart. She is kind of lost when it comes to relationships and she has a reason.
I want to gush more about this book but I can’t without spoiling it. It was good. It kept me on the edge of my seat. It kept me reading until the very end. I want to know more about all of the characters. I hope there is a spin-off series. ;-)
Would I recommend it: I would recommend it, especially if you have read the Edge series.
Will I read it again: I may if I decide to read this series again.
(I received a copy of this book for review purposes.)
I know it's not a good habit starting a series at the last book, but I'm not sorry for the final book in Jennifer Comeaux's Edge series (which just makes me want to go back and read the other two books). It's not like I needed to read the previous two books to be caught up on everything that was happening with this story, which is probably why I loved it so much. In Fighting for the Edge, Emily Butler plans to retire after this Olympics, making this her and her partner, Chris's, last chance for a gold medal in pairs ice skating. Coached by her husband, she is ready to conquer the world of ice skating and land her that gold medal, until something happens which threatens to derail her plans. And no, I'm not going to give away all of the twists and turns that makes up this thrilling novel, but the action and drama that unfolded on each page is what made me want to turn the page to find out what happened next.
Comeaux has a way of getting into her character's head and creating the ideal chemistry and tension that makes the characters feel alive. The building romances, placed in with the thrilling competitive sport of ice skating and anyone should know that nothing can run smooth. Now I just have to go back to the previous two books as I'm curious to find out what happened in Emily Butler's story prior to Fighting for the Edge. I recommend this story to anyone who is looking for an older YA/NA romance.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The original review can be found at Genuine Jenn
I absolutely love this series! I grew up eating, drinking and sleeping figure skating. I also had a brother that did pairs and dance and went to nationals. I love reading a great figure skating series especially one that is meant for adults with a little romance and drama thrown in.
The characters in this series are very easy to love and I love that in this book we get to know Aubrey and Chris more and see their relationship develop. Chris is really such a caring, and gentle soul. Such a good guy. I love the relationship that has formed between Em, Sergei & his daughter and ex.
The author makes the book flow smoothly even between going back and forth from Em & Sergei to Chris and Aubrey. I was hooked and couldn't put this book down. I really feel that you get to know each character throughout the series. The become very realistic with real problems. Throw in some sweet romance and this is a great series for any figure skating fan.
I am really sad to see this series come to an end. I know I will read this one again and I look forward to reading more from Jennifer Comeaux.
The conclusion to Emily and Sergei's story fully lived up to all of my expectations.
I confess that I was thrown at first by the sudden addition of Aubrey's POV in this instalment and the first few times it happened I felt I was pulled out of the immersiveness of the story a little bit, but it didn't take long for me to get just as wrapped up in Aubrey's journey as I was in Emily's and in the end I was extremely glad to have been able to see Aubrey and Chris's relationship up close as opposed to only second hand through Emily's POV as it would have been otherwise.
Once again the skating scenes were spectacular and vivid and I loved that I could really get a feel for what Emily (and Aubrey) felt throughout their practices and performances. Emily's Olympic journey is one that has made an impression on me and I feel almost as though I witnessed her performances in reality. Jennifer has a true gift for capturing the beauty, speed, difficulty and sheer magic of skating with her words and I sincerely hope there are more tales coming from her in future because I simply cannot get enough.
This series, along with the Ice series will definitely be ending up on my reread list sooner rather than later.
Fighting for the Edge captured my attention from the get go. We get to see how things are with Em and Sergei married. The balancing of Coach/ husband relationship. Ms. Comeaux sure does pack a punch with the unexpected, I never saw some of the curve balls coming. They were a fabulous surprise. I also like that we see Chris Em's partner and Aubrey friendship grow! We get double the romance! I loved the story and the character development. Em makes some difficult choices. Aubrey does as well. Both learn from them! A great story! I have to say my favorite part is when Em's mom goes through her nightstand draw. My goodness can we say awkward and brilliant. I was laughing so hard! I look forward to more from Jennifer Comeaux. I kind hope she writes a story of Aubrey and Chris. I want another HEA! Hint Hint Ms Comeaux if you read this :)
Just FYI~ This does not contain any swearing or sexual situations.
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
I didn’t read the first 2 books in this series but it wasn’t necessary. This is a good old fashioned love story set in the skating arena and with a few modern twists. It makes you believe in the best kind of falling in love: head over heels with a long-time friend.
This story was easy to read and flowed well. I like that it’s a contemporary romance but doesn’t have a lot of explicit sex. And I always like a book that gives me a “happy” cry.
The main characters are all strong people but they’d have to be to compete at the level of skating that they do. None of them are perfect which makes them more endearing for the most part. There were a couple times, though, that I wanted to knock some sense into Aubrey and Chris.
This is definitely a book for you if you enjoy romance and ice skating with a little bit of drama mixed in!
This entire series from start to finish is great, the characters are wonderfully developed and solid. In this 3rd book Sergie, and Emily are still going strong 2 yrs into their marriage. This couple is portrayed in such a great way, they still are in love & still have heat in their relationship. this was refreshing for me to read, since we get so much of the first's in relationships when we read. But if you are more inclined to that we get that in this book to with the introduction of developing feelings between Chris, Emily's partner. And Aubry Emily's best friend & fellow Olympic ice dancer. Chris and Aubry's part of the story was sweet and well done, not rushed. friends falling in love always makes for a great romance. Finishing a series is always fun to get to the end but sometimes you wish their was more. Jennifer is a fantastic writer & I'm eagerly waiting for more from her.
Who doesn't love happy endings? Well, Fighting for the Edge is the PERFECT ending to the Edge Series.
Emily and Sergi had to struggle being romantically involved as coach and skater in Life on the Edge, then had to deal with Sergi's past in Edge of the Past, now we finally get not just one but TWO Happily Ever Afters in Fighting for the Edge.
I loved learning more about Aubrey and especially Chris! I've had a book crush on Chris since Life on the Edge. Jennifer could write a whole book about him and I would enjoy every minute of it!
But I was worried how Emily's "situation" would affect her skating dreams. Would she just quit and lose her chance at gold?
Disclaimer: I received no compensation from the author or publisher for this honest review.
I was thrilled to find an author who wrote about one of my favorite sports: figure skating. I enjoyed this book a great deal. The handling of the characters, their various personalities, feelings and reactions combined with the very realistic portrayal of the figure skating world kept me firmly invested in the story and the characters.
I felt a little left out of the loop in some scenes when the married couple referenced events that I'm assuming happened in the earlier books in this series. That was not enough to turn me away from this nicely paced and well-written read.
I enjoyed this conclusion to the series, hardly putting it down during a four-hour flight. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about a Chris & Aubrey subplot, but I found myself rooting for them early on, and I appreciated the chance to get to know Chris' character. I guessed right away that Emily had gotten pregnant, and I was so nervous and uncomfortable as she continued to train and compete, but in the end I thought she observed a good balance between caution and trusting her abilities on the ice. Even though I'm not a mother, I also thought that her early struggle to feel a connection to her baby(ies) sounded pretty realistic.
I definitely teared up more than once during the last several chapters. I'm sorry to see the series end!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.