Review: A highly dramatic and stunning conclusion!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 6, 2013
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.Our favorite duo, pairs skater Emily and her coach Sergei, return to continue their story as Emily approaches her final opportunity to go for the gold in the Winter Olympics. But of course the path to success is never easy for these two. One more "hiccup" along the way will put Emily's dreams in limbo. I'm not sure what you're expecting to happen, but what does happen may catch many readers off gaurd, and others... well... just wait and see. I honestly did not know what Jennifer was going to write for these two in their continuing story. How she treated their "situation" was well thought out and highly realistic. I couldn't help find see it at the most natural course for their story to take - and the end result was beyond perfect!The question is: Will Emily finally reach her ultimate "happily ever after"? Will she still even want it when the moment arrives? How this is answered may surprise you! :)To add a bit more "oomph!" to the overall story - as well as some properly positioned drama - we are presented with a second character perspective in this installment. Up until this point, we've learned some details about Emily's pairs partner, Chris, as well as her best friend and former roommate, the ice dancer, Aubrey. Until now, they have only been secondary characters with whom Emily has interacted with under separate circumstances. This time, Aubrey takes center stage, and her story shares roughly half of the pages within FIGHTING FOR THE EDGE with Emily. Oh, I loved reading about the tough and difficult-to-crack character, Aubrey. Her POV gave us a different perspective on what it's like to live the life of a professional ice skater. We already know the trials that Emily has had to face, now Aubrey provides us with an entirely new onslaught of problems. I feel that her story did not distract from that of Emily and Sergei, rather it managed to expand upon it.As an added bonus: Chris is a character whose... er, skates... I've wanted to get into from book one - and now I finally have the chance! I like discovering where his future will take him, aside from the fact that he is retiring from skating along with Emily after the Olympics. He is one book boyfriend who many female readers will easily fall for. He is a bit dorky, gentle, highly romantic and just the well-mannered sort of person I would like my own daughter to find one day. (And now I don't know who I like more, Chris or Sergei... I hate feeling so torn!!)Oh my, the romance is HOT-HOT-HOT in this one, kiddies! Jennifer Comeaux manages to turn up the heat in FIGHTING FOR THE EDGE, while keeping her romance pleasantly clean. Through Aubrey, she showcases a romance that grows with a girl who is slightly less "pure" than Emily. Her background will pull at your heartstrings, and the choices she makes within this novel for the sake of her family and her friends will have you weeping in the corner before long. Although, I admit, there were a few times I just wanted to shake Aubrey and yell at her to start thinking about herself more often.While the ultimate goal has always been Olympic gold, you will find that these characters have so much more to fight for within this novel. You will also find yourself cheering them on until the very last page.A very satisfying conclusion to Jennifer Comeaux's Edge trilogy, I highly recommend these books to anyone who likes a good romance - as well as to those who feel that there just aren't enough good sports novels on the book shelves.You need these books on your shelf today.