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The Edge of You
He left home to escape. She made a new life out of guilt. Neither one expected to find love—but not even the Arctic can cool this steamy romance.
Maya knows she’s doing the right thing by moving to Alaska with her parents, but that doesn’t mean she has to be happy about it. Forced to give up a scholarship to a prestigious art school, she relocates to a Podunk town with one college the size of her high school cafeteria, all to help hold her family together after the death of her little sister. But a fresh start can only do so much.
Jake doesn’t like handouts and he certainly doesn’t need any distractions. Working on a salmon boat in Kodiak, Alaska is the only way to pay for his mother’s surgery back in the lower forty-eight. Juggling college courses and constant worry about his mother’s health, Jake couldn’t imagine anything else fitting into his life. That is, until he meets Maya, the sexy Californian artist who tints his world in technicolor.
But when Maya’s family starts to crumble and Jake’s mom takes a turn for the worse, will they drag each other down, or can they find what they were missing all along?
In this new adult romance, Theresa DaLayne paints a swoon-worthy story about life under the midnight sun, following your heart, and learning to live on the edge.
Maya knows she’s doing the right thing by moving to Alaska with her parents, but that doesn’t mean she has to be happy about it. Forced to give up a scholarship to a prestigious art school, she relocates to a Podunk town with one college the size of her high school cafeteria, all to help hold her family together after the death of her little sister. But a fresh start can only do so much.
Jake doesn’t like handouts and he certainly doesn’t need any distractions. Working on a salmon boat in Kodiak, Alaska is the only way to pay for his mother’s surgery back in the lower forty-eight. Juggling college courses and constant worry about his mother’s health, Jake couldn’t imagine anything else fitting into his life. That is, until he meets Maya, the sexy Californian artist who tints his world in technicolor.
But when Maya’s family starts to crumble and Jake’s mom takes a turn for the worse, will they drag each other down, or can they find what they were missing all along?
In this new adult romance, Theresa DaLayne paints a swoon-worthy story about life under the midnight sun, following your heart, and learning to live on the edge.
ebook
First published September 25, 2014
About the author
Theresa DaLayne
9 books145 followershttp://instagram.com/authortheresadal...
Theresa DaLayne is a north-south-east-western kind of girl with a quirky personality to match her nomad life. Born in California, she migrated to three different cities in Washington State, a tiny island in Alaska, North Carolina, and finally to the suburbs of Ohio where she currently lives with her husband, three kids, vegetarian cat, and her ungrateful fish.
Always on the lookout for a new story, Theresa is a shameless eavesdropper and will take anyone who provides inspiration and mold them into a character without a second thought. She enjoys writing both paranormal and contemporary stories, considering her mind wanders between worlds of fantasy while she’s forced to live in the real world, very much against her will.
Theresa DaLayne is a north-south-east-western kind of girl with a quirky personality to match her nomad life. Born in California, she migrated to three different cities in Washington State, a tiny island in Alaska, North Carolina, and finally to the suburbs of Ohio where she currently lives with her husband, three kids, vegetarian cat, and her ungrateful fish.
Always on the lookout for a new story, Theresa is a shameless eavesdropper and will take anyone who provides inspiration and mold them into a character without a second thought. She enjoys writing both paranormal and contemporary stories, considering her mind wanders between worlds of fantasy while she’s forced to live in the real world, very much against her will.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
August 14, 2014
I loved this book so damned much, I loved Jake he was goofy, caring and sweet, "the edges of his mouth curved into a full smile. "You snort when you laugh." Maya, I noticed right off has some troubles fear of being left alone being one of them, "she pulled away from him. "And now you're leaving, which is just great. Why even bother having this dinner tonight if you're just going to take off in a couple of weeks?" Jake I loved his sensitivity when it came to Maya, "um..." what the eff was he supposed to tell her? The truth would crush her. He struggled and sat beside her. "I'm just tired." Eff. He was such an a**hole." I enjoyed this book so much.
August 16, 2014
I wanted to read The Edge of You because the male main character seems like such a caretaker and loves his mom. She is sick, which is something that I am also drawn to in books, usually it really catches my eye if it is the main character or their girl/boyfriend, but seeing it from a different angle, where the child is becoming the caretaker is def a part of being in college or working professional because the parents who started late are coming to an age of vulnerability.
I was also attracted to this one because of Maya and her family's grief. I know that Maya's younger sister passed away, but wanted to know why Maya felt so guilty and hopefully see her learn to forgive herself and that grieving is okay, but so is letting change happen, and making good decisions for yourself and still considering your future.
The Alaskan setting is something that I haven't seen very much and it was refreshing to see the small town taken in a whole new way.
They had some great chemistry and I enjoyed getting to know Jake and Maya both individually and as a couple. They have their own share of hardships that they're already dealing with as well as some that take them by surprise during the book. It was such hard choices that they had to make and on top of that dealing with Maya's absent dad and drinking mom as well as her feelings of guilt over what happened to her little sister. Jake has the weight of his own job and finances on top of those of his mom who needs surgery.
I liked how things turned around for them and I thought that it was a good fix and I had been hoping that something similar would happen to wrap things up. I did think that a few things were a little too easily tied up and then a couple of others that didn't get quite the amount of closure I would have liked, but I enjoyed it and would read more about them if another story was written.
Bottom Line: Good NA read.
I was also attracted to this one because of Maya and her family's grief. I know that Maya's younger sister passed away, but wanted to know why Maya felt so guilty and hopefully see her learn to forgive herself and that grieving is okay, but so is letting change happen, and making good decisions for yourself and still considering your future.
The Alaskan setting is something that I haven't seen very much and it was refreshing to see the small town taken in a whole new way.
They had some great chemistry and I enjoyed getting to know Jake and Maya both individually and as a couple. They have their own share of hardships that they're already dealing with as well as some that take them by surprise during the book. It was such hard choices that they had to make and on top of that dealing with Maya's absent dad and drinking mom as well as her feelings of guilt over what happened to her little sister. Jake has the weight of his own job and finances on top of those of his mom who needs surgery.
I liked how things turned around for them and I thought that it was a good fix and I had been hoping that something similar would happen to wrap things up. I did think that a few things were a little too easily tied up and then a couple of others that didn't get quite the amount of closure I would have liked, but I enjoyed it and would read more about them if another story was written.
Bottom Line: Good NA read.
February 15, 2015
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Cute story that was a little forgettable but had fun characters and a sweet romance. I wanted to love this story but ultimately I didn’t connect with it.
Opening Sentence: Jake threw his duffle bag in the back of his uncle’s truck, parked in the driveway.
The Review:
Maya has decided to give up her dreams of attending a prestigious Art School to move with her parents to Alaska. With a recent family tragedy having taken place her parents need a fresh start and Maya knows that they need her for emotional support as well. There is a small university that she can attend and try to start over from her pain filled past. Maya didn’t realize she was going to be so bored, and things don’t seem to be going so well until she meets Jake. He is sexy and a great distraction, but is it just a fling or something more?
Jake has spent most of his life taking care of his sick mother. She has never had the best health and has always dated losers, so he has taken it upon himself to take care of her. He currently has a great job in Alaska where he can finally make enough money to pay for himself and his mother. But his mother’s health takes a turn for the worst and he needs to earn a large amount of money fast. That means pulling long hours on the fishing boat and trying to juggle college on top of that. He obviously doesn’t have time to date, but when Maya walks into his life he just can’t seem to resist her.
Maya is a spontaneous girl that has been put in a very difficult situation. There was a recent family tragedy that has really taken a toll on her parents. Instead of living her dreams and pursing an art career she decides to move with her parents to the middle of nowhere in Alaska. The fact that she was willing to give up so much for her family made me have a lot of admiration for her. For the most part she has a pretty positive outlook on life and I really liked that about her. She is someone that was easy to connect with and I ended up really enjoying her character as a whole.
Jake is a really sweet guy that I instantly liked. He is extremely attractive and works really hard which I loved. He had a rough childhood and he could easily use that as an excuse to be a jerk and a leach, but instead he doesn’t want handouts from anyone. He wants to be able to stand on his own two feet and earn his own way in life which made me have huge respect for him. The fact that he wants to take care of his mother is so endearing and made me love him. There were a few times that he was too much of a Debbie Downer, but for the most part I really loved his character. His relationship with Maya is sexy and developed perfectly. Just like everything else in his life he treats her with respect and is always very honest with her. I loved their romance and was glad I got to read their story.
The Edge of You was a cute romance, but I never felt much of an emotional connection to the story like I wanted to. I liked the characters just fine and romance developed really well, but I felt like there was just something missing in the story. There were some tough issues covered, but personally I just didn’t feel any connection to them. It’s not that they were handled badly or anything like that; they just didn’t bring out any emotion from me, so I felt a pretty big disconnect with the story because of it. While this was a pleasurable read for a few hours, it’s not something I would probably ever read again. The other problem I have with this is that I read this a few days ago and I am struggling trying to remember what happened in the story so it is obviously pretty forgettable as well. This makes me sad because I really wanted to love this book and in the end it was just an okay read for me. That’s not to say that others won’t love this book because I think if you can connect with the story better than I did, you will probably really like it because for the most part it was really well written, with great romance, and likeable characters. If you are in the mood for a light contemporary read I would say give this one a try.
Notable Scene:
Maya crinkled her nose and took the bottle from his hand. “Not that one. It’s muddled.”She picked a few bottles of primary colors and handed them to him. “Start with the basics. If you need help, there’s any empty seat next to me.” Maya tried not to smile when he took her up on her offer and followed close behind her.
“You’re new here.”
“And you’re not the first person who’s noticed.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Is it that obvious?” Maya found her seat and spilled the pile of paints onto the table.
“It’s a small town.” He pulled the seat out beside her and sat, leaning back in his chair while staring up at her.
Those blue eyes again.
She sat and organized the paints in a row, dark to light. “So does the whole town know
I’m here?”
“Probably.” He chuckled and extended his hand.
She wrapped her hand in his. His hands were callused, but he had a strong grip. “I’m Maya, by the way.”
“Jake.” He pulled his hand back and leaned forward, propping his forearms on the table.
“So what are we painting?”
“We?” She picked up a slanted brush, loading it with dark brown. “I’m painting a mountainside.”
Jake grabbed an abandoned piece of paper from beside him and a straight edge paintbrush.
“I’m thinking, a snake. Or a worm.”
Maya smiled. “You mean a squiggly line?”
“Exactly.”
FTC Advisory: Bloomsbury Spark provided me with a copy of The Edge of You. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
Quick & Dirty: Cute story that was a little forgettable but had fun characters and a sweet romance. I wanted to love this story but ultimately I didn’t connect with it.
Opening Sentence: Jake threw his duffle bag in the back of his uncle’s truck, parked in the driveway.
The Review:
Maya has decided to give up her dreams of attending a prestigious Art School to move with her parents to Alaska. With a recent family tragedy having taken place her parents need a fresh start and Maya knows that they need her for emotional support as well. There is a small university that she can attend and try to start over from her pain filled past. Maya didn’t realize she was going to be so bored, and things don’t seem to be going so well until she meets Jake. He is sexy and a great distraction, but is it just a fling or something more?
Jake has spent most of his life taking care of his sick mother. She has never had the best health and has always dated losers, so he has taken it upon himself to take care of her. He currently has a great job in Alaska where he can finally make enough money to pay for himself and his mother. But his mother’s health takes a turn for the worst and he needs to earn a large amount of money fast. That means pulling long hours on the fishing boat and trying to juggle college on top of that. He obviously doesn’t have time to date, but when Maya walks into his life he just can’t seem to resist her.
Maya is a spontaneous girl that has been put in a very difficult situation. There was a recent family tragedy that has really taken a toll on her parents. Instead of living her dreams and pursing an art career she decides to move with her parents to the middle of nowhere in Alaska. The fact that she was willing to give up so much for her family made me have a lot of admiration for her. For the most part she has a pretty positive outlook on life and I really liked that about her. She is someone that was easy to connect with and I ended up really enjoying her character as a whole.
Jake is a really sweet guy that I instantly liked. He is extremely attractive and works really hard which I loved. He had a rough childhood and he could easily use that as an excuse to be a jerk and a leach, but instead he doesn’t want handouts from anyone. He wants to be able to stand on his own two feet and earn his own way in life which made me have huge respect for him. The fact that he wants to take care of his mother is so endearing and made me love him. There were a few times that he was too much of a Debbie Downer, but for the most part I really loved his character. His relationship with Maya is sexy and developed perfectly. Just like everything else in his life he treats her with respect and is always very honest with her. I loved their romance and was glad I got to read their story.
The Edge of You was a cute romance, but I never felt much of an emotional connection to the story like I wanted to. I liked the characters just fine and romance developed really well, but I felt like there was just something missing in the story. There were some tough issues covered, but personally I just didn’t feel any connection to them. It’s not that they were handled badly or anything like that; they just didn’t bring out any emotion from me, so I felt a pretty big disconnect with the story because of it. While this was a pleasurable read for a few hours, it’s not something I would probably ever read again. The other problem I have with this is that I read this a few days ago and I am struggling trying to remember what happened in the story so it is obviously pretty forgettable as well. This makes me sad because I really wanted to love this book and in the end it was just an okay read for me. That’s not to say that others won’t love this book because I think if you can connect with the story better than I did, you will probably really like it because for the most part it was really well written, with great romance, and likeable characters. If you are in the mood for a light contemporary read I would say give this one a try.
Notable Scene:
Maya crinkled her nose and took the bottle from his hand. “Not that one. It’s muddled.”She picked a few bottles of primary colors and handed them to him. “Start with the basics. If you need help, there’s any empty seat next to me.” Maya tried not to smile when he took her up on her offer and followed close behind her.
“You’re new here.”
“And you’re not the first person who’s noticed.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Is it that obvious?” Maya found her seat and spilled the pile of paints onto the table.
“It’s a small town.” He pulled the seat out beside her and sat, leaning back in his chair while staring up at her.
Those blue eyes again.
She sat and organized the paints in a row, dark to light. “So does the whole town know
I’m here?”
“Probably.” He chuckled and extended his hand.
She wrapped her hand in his. His hands were callused, but he had a strong grip. “I’m Maya, by the way.”
“Jake.” He pulled his hand back and leaned forward, propping his forearms on the table.
“So what are we painting?”
“We?” She picked up a slanted brush, loading it with dark brown. “I’m painting a mountainside.”
Jake grabbed an abandoned piece of paper from beside him and a straight edge paintbrush.
“I’m thinking, a snake. Or a worm.”
Maya smiled. “You mean a squiggly line?”
“Exactly.”
FTC Advisory: Bloomsbury Spark provided me with a copy of The Edge of You. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
December 20, 2015
OY. This book fell to the tragic trend like so many of its New Adult counterparts-- exactly how much unnecessary drama can I stuff into this one book? The couple would have been cute when they were actually allowed to be together, but often times, they were to be stressing about outside factors and it eventually led to me rolling my eyes every single time a new angst-filled addition was added to the story.
Also, I know that this is an "advanced, unedited copy" but this edition seemed like it was plagued with so many grammatical errors that it was almost too hard to ignore.
Full review soon.
*Edited for full review on 12/20/2015.
My original review of this title can be found here on The Book Hookup.
**SPECIAL NOTE:** An eARC of this title was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. However, that did not influence this review in any way. All thoughts, quotes, and opinions will be of this version and not of the published edition.
♥ Quick Thoughts and Rating: 2 stars! I would have loved for this author to step away from the trend of overly angsty romances in the New Adult genre, but sadly that wasn't the case. I was promised swoon-worthy romance, but the only thing that really had me swooning was the Alaskan setting. I had higher hopes from this title--it's probably the cover's fault--unfortunately they were never met.
♥ The Lowdown: It's all nicely listed above for you in the Goodreads summary if you want to go into it knowing the whole book.
♥ Review: I don't want to bash this book just for the sake of it, so I won't go overkill here. Perhaps this is a case of "It's not you, it's me" and that could very well be the case since it gets decent reviews, but it absolutely wasn't my cup of tea. I hate unnecessary drama and that's why I eventually stepped away from the New Adult genre. It seemed like every NA author was trying to see how much angst they could throw at their characters, and this book was no different. In Maya's case, it was tragic death of a younger sibling, lost scholarship and giving up her life to move to a faraway place, alcoholic mother, absentee, workaholic father, and relationship issues. For Jake, it was a dying mom, mom had an abusive, drunken boyfriend, his only means of income, a fishing boat, burned down when he had just found a way to pay for his mom's life-saving surgery, and relationship issues. Le sigh. Any single one of this issues for each party would have been enough to build a story on, but having all of them tossed into the sack and launched at our barely adult characters trying to learn how to grow up just seemed like too much. When I wasn't rolling my eyes, I was thinking, "Damn, can they not catch a break?" So many tropes, so little story and substance outside of them. I don't think these characters really had an identity outside of all their problems that weighed them down.
Admittedly, these two were pretty cute when they were allowed to just be together, but it wasn't enough to carry the book when they were constantly battling so many outside forces. On the plus side, it was a quick read, I just wish it had been a little sweeter of a ride. However, the best part of this book was the setting and the kissing. The author really woke the page up when she brought Kodiak Island so vividly to life, and I quite enjoyed those tender, intimate moments between our two MC's. Also, Beth, Maya's best friend, was spectacular! She was a shining star that brought a lot of comedic levity and made me laugh out loud quite a few times. I wish we had more of her to counterbalance all the doom and gloom.
♥ Rec it? Sigh, I don't even know. No? Maybe? If you like your romance angst-heavy and drama-infused, this one will probably be right up your alley. However, if you're over all the tropes used in NA, you'll probably be over this book before you even start it.
♥ A very special thanks to Bloomsbury Spark and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
Also, I know that this is an "advanced, unedited copy" but this edition seemed like it was plagued with so many grammatical errors that it was almost too hard to ignore.
Full review soon.
*Edited for full review on 12/20/2015.
My original review of this title can be found here on The Book Hookup.
**SPECIAL NOTE:** An eARC of this title was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. However, that did not influence this review in any way. All thoughts, quotes, and opinions will be of this version and not of the published edition.
♥ Quick Thoughts and Rating: 2 stars! I would have loved for this author to step away from the trend of overly angsty romances in the New Adult genre, but sadly that wasn't the case. I was promised swoon-worthy romance, but the only thing that really had me swooning was the Alaskan setting. I had higher hopes from this title--it's probably the cover's fault--unfortunately they were never met.
♥ The Lowdown: It's all nicely listed above for you in the Goodreads summary if you want to go into it knowing the whole book.
♥ Review: I don't want to bash this book just for the sake of it, so I won't go overkill here. Perhaps this is a case of "It's not you, it's me" and that could very well be the case since it gets decent reviews, but it absolutely wasn't my cup of tea. I hate unnecessary drama and that's why I eventually stepped away from the New Adult genre. It seemed like every NA author was trying to see how much angst they could throw at their characters, and this book was no different. In Maya's case, it was tragic death of a younger sibling, lost scholarship and giving up her life to move to a faraway place, alcoholic mother, absentee, workaholic father, and relationship issues. For Jake, it was a dying mom, mom had an abusive, drunken boyfriend, his only means of income, a fishing boat, burned down when he had just found a way to pay for his mom's life-saving surgery, and relationship issues. Le sigh. Any single one of this issues for each party would have been enough to build a story on, but having all of them tossed into the sack and launched at our barely adult characters trying to learn how to grow up just seemed like too much. When I wasn't rolling my eyes, I was thinking, "Damn, can they not catch a break?" So many tropes, so little story and substance outside of them. I don't think these characters really had an identity outside of all their problems that weighed them down.
Admittedly, these two were pretty cute when they were allowed to just be together, but it wasn't enough to carry the book when they were constantly battling so many outside forces. On the plus side, it was a quick read, I just wish it had been a little sweeter of a ride. However, the best part of this book was the setting and the kissing. The author really woke the page up when she brought Kodiak Island so vividly to life, and I quite enjoyed those tender, intimate moments between our two MC's. Also, Beth, Maya's best friend, was spectacular! She was a shining star that brought a lot of comedic levity and made me laugh out loud quite a few times. I wish we had more of her to counterbalance all the doom and gloom.
♥ Rec it? Sigh, I don't even know. No? Maybe? If you like your romance angst-heavy and drama-infused, this one will probably be right up your alley. However, if you're over all the tropes used in NA, you'll probably be over this book before you even start it.
♥ A very special thanks to Bloomsbury Spark and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.
May 24, 2015
3.5 - 4 stars
I have just decided that I will read all the ARC books that netgalley rejected me from reading and this book was the very first. I do think it was a good read and it entertained me however the first part of the book was really dragging. Also, I was waiting for that spark that I feel between me and the characters and luckily there was but it was just not enough to explode. I did not stop reading the book though because I was hoping that something amazing will happen on my journey to the end and I am glad I carried on.
I thought the characters were pretty strong. With Maya facing family problems and Jake getting by everyday in hopes to get his mom the surgery she needed they both leaned on each other. I loved how driven Jake was and how hard he works, he doesn't give up easily which is a true inspiration.
I have just decided that I will read all the ARC books that netgalley rejected me from reading and this book was the very first. I do think it was a good read and it entertained me however the first part of the book was really dragging. Also, I was waiting for that spark that I feel between me and the characters and luckily there was but it was just not enough to explode. I did not stop reading the book though because I was hoping that something amazing will happen on my journey to the end and I am glad I carried on.
I thought the characters were pretty strong. With Maya facing family problems and Jake getting by everyday in hopes to get his mom the surgery she needed they both leaned on each other. I loved how driven Jake was and how hard he works, he doesn't give up easily which is a true inspiration.
August 6, 2015
This is an awesome NA book with a different storyline from any I've read. At a time in their lives when they should be discovering who they are and what they want out of life, Maya and Jake are both dealing with family issues that are out of their control. When these two find comfort and understanding in each other all seems right in the world. When things take a turn for the worse in both their families will they be able to hold on to what they have?
This is a very emotional read and one I would highly recommend.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a very emotional read and one I would highly recommend.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 21, 2021
All in all, The Edge of You had a romance that felt real to me as a reader and the struggles that Maya and Jake were experiencing did feel relatable. I just wish that there had been more parental support. Yet, the way that Theresa DaLayne writes these difficult relationships does bring you deeper into the story and has you hoping for better for Maya and Jake. If that is something that you look for in New Adult books, I would say this one has that in spades.
Read Full Review Here
Read Full Review Here
May 2, 2016
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick
The Edge of You by Theresa DaLayne first grabbed my attention because it sounded so different from all of the NA books I have read. I loved the idea of this story being set in Alaska and the hero working on a fishing boat. As much as the blurb first attracted me to this book, the story itself I had some problems with. I ended up having mixed feelings about this one, and it wasn't what I was expecting or hoping for.
Struggling to keep her once happy family together after a painful loss, Maya moves to Alaska with her parents after her dad gets a job there. Maya had plans to attend a prestigious art school with a full scholarship, but was forced to walk away when she left California. Now she must resign herself to attending the tiny college in Kodiak that is smaller than her high school. In her art class there she meets Jake, and the attraction and chemistry is instant. Maya finds a connection with Jake that is undeniable. But Jake is also struggling with a lot. Jake must balance work, school and providing for his sick mother. Jake is not looking for a relationship, but something about Maya makes him want to get to know her and spend time with her. But as Maya's family continues to get worse, and Jake's mom's condition deteriorates, will they find a way to get through it together?
I liked Jake and Maya, however I felt like I was never really able to connect with them. They were both really good people and they put others first. Maya gave up so much to move with her family and she really tried to help her mother with her drinking. She was a good friend and I liked her with Jake. I thought that they were both able to relate to each other because of everything that they had been through. Jake was such a hard worker. He not only went to school and did what he could to make money, but he sent money to his mom and did everything that he could to help support her. He would have given up everything to help her, and I really admired that. While I did feel the attraction between Jake and Maya, I just never was able to really feel their connection. I thought that they had a lot in common, but it just never really came together for me.
I thought that this story was sweet. It had a lot of great moments and I liked the two main characters. But I did struggle a lot with the parents of these characters. I know that Jake's mom was going through a lot, but I did not understand the reason for her to have not kicked Wayne out. It was ridiculous that she would allow him to treat herself and Jake the way that he did, and I saw no reason for her not to have taken action. I flat out didn't like Maya's mom, and didn't understand her dad at all. While I thought that this story had a lot of potential, I felt like it just didn't deliver. It was hard for me to get into and felt really slow most of the way through. I found my attention wandering and it just didn't really hold my interest. I kept putting it down and there wasn't a lot that made me want to pick it back up. I was hoping for something new and original, but besides the location I felt like this was similar to a lot of other NA books already out there. If you are looking for a sweet NA read you might give this one a chance. But if you are looking for something exciting or new, this might not be the story for you.
**ARC Provided by Bloomsbury**
The Edge of You by Theresa DaLayne first grabbed my attention because it sounded so different from all of the NA books I have read. I loved the idea of this story being set in Alaska and the hero working on a fishing boat. As much as the blurb first attracted me to this book, the story itself I had some problems with. I ended up having mixed feelings about this one, and it wasn't what I was expecting or hoping for.
Struggling to keep her once happy family together after a painful loss, Maya moves to Alaska with her parents after her dad gets a job there. Maya had plans to attend a prestigious art school with a full scholarship, but was forced to walk away when she left California. Now she must resign herself to attending the tiny college in Kodiak that is smaller than her high school. In her art class there she meets Jake, and the attraction and chemistry is instant. Maya finds a connection with Jake that is undeniable. But Jake is also struggling with a lot. Jake must balance work, school and providing for his sick mother. Jake is not looking for a relationship, but something about Maya makes him want to get to know her and spend time with her. But as Maya's family continues to get worse, and Jake's mom's condition deteriorates, will they find a way to get through it together?
I liked Jake and Maya, however I felt like I was never really able to connect with them. They were both really good people and they put others first. Maya gave up so much to move with her family and she really tried to help her mother with her drinking. She was a good friend and I liked her with Jake. I thought that they were both able to relate to each other because of everything that they had been through. Jake was such a hard worker. He not only went to school and did what he could to make money, but he sent money to his mom and did everything that he could to help support her. He would have given up everything to help her, and I really admired that. While I did feel the attraction between Jake and Maya, I just never was able to really feel their connection. I thought that they had a lot in common, but it just never really came together for me.
I thought that this story was sweet. It had a lot of great moments and I liked the two main characters. But I did struggle a lot with the parents of these characters. I know that Jake's mom was going through a lot, but I did not understand the reason for her to have not kicked Wayne out. It was ridiculous that she would allow him to treat herself and Jake the way that he did, and I saw no reason for her not to have taken action. I flat out didn't like Maya's mom, and didn't understand her dad at all. While I thought that this story had a lot of potential, I felt like it just didn't deliver. It was hard for me to get into and felt really slow most of the way through. I found my attention wandering and it just didn't really hold my interest. I kept putting it down and there wasn't a lot that made me want to pick it back up. I was hoping for something new and original, but besides the location I felt like this was similar to a lot of other NA books already out there. If you are looking for a sweet NA read you might give this one a chance. But if you are looking for something exciting or new, this might not be the story for you.
**ARC Provided by Bloomsbury**
November 12, 2014
Maya chooses to give up her scholarship at a prestigious art school to move with her parents to Alaska because of guilt. Her baby sister drowned on Maya’s watch and her parents are crumbling around her. Jake comes from a very broken home, where his only concern is to take care of his incredibly sick mother. Jake lives in Alaska to make fast money on a fishing boat, which he then sends it all to his mother. These two broken people meet and are drawn to each other despite knowing it may not last.
This was a very quick read for me, probably took a few hours to read through when I finally sat down to read uninterrupted. There were parts I really liked about the story and other parts that I felt were a little unclear to me. This is most certainly a contemporary romance, but it had a slow build to the passion, no instant sexual relationship between the characters. There definitely was a build to their overall bond as well, more like friends who became more. I appreciated the way the characters got to know each other before they decided that they wanted more.
The book alternated point of view between chapters for Maya and Jake, so both are the main characters. Jake for most of the book seemed like the perfect son as well as a caring friend. He put everyone’s well being before his own and would go without food if it meant his mom would be helped in some way. He let Maya move in with him no questions asked and had her friend stay there as well. He was such a gentleman and so incredibly sweet. But then he had a total freak-out moment where he yelled at Maya and told her what he really thought of her, which really seemed to come out of nowhere and then left her with no ride. I understand he was stressed, but really it just did not seem to fit with his personality from the rest of the story.
And Maya was a pretty cool cucumber, never letting herself be dragged down by her home life and lack of direction. She really was very positive. I liked that things worked out for her in the long run with the art show, but I would have liked to know what happened with her education. I was a little miffed that she was not even the slightest bit upset with Jake for leaving her at the show, yet was incredibly understanding towards him about everything. I personally was pissed at him for not telling her and ditching her. But then at the airport, she refuses to say goodbye to him or answer his calls, yet continues to have a relationship with his aunt and uncle. She was a little mixed on her emotions at times as well.
The side characters helped to make the book for me. I enjoyed Jake’s aunt and uncle and the fact they were willing to help both characters regardless of their relationship status. I also really loved Maya’s best friend Beth and the support she gave unconditionally. I absolutely hated both of Maya’s parents, I don’t care of the reasons behind the actions, they both wronged Maya in different ways.
This may contain a spoiler, so read at your own risk, but the ending made me a little mad. There was so much build up on Jake’s part in the last chapter, I was expecting a HEA, but that was not quite what I got. I guess the ending was more realistic and fit the story which was about hardships better, but I wanted a little more than what I got.
That being said, I did enjoy the book and will read more from this author, be it this same world or something entirely different.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
This was a very quick read for me, probably took a few hours to read through when I finally sat down to read uninterrupted. There were parts I really liked about the story and other parts that I felt were a little unclear to me. This is most certainly a contemporary romance, but it had a slow build to the passion, no instant sexual relationship between the characters. There definitely was a build to their overall bond as well, more like friends who became more. I appreciated the way the characters got to know each other before they decided that they wanted more.
The book alternated point of view between chapters for Maya and Jake, so both are the main characters. Jake for most of the book seemed like the perfect son as well as a caring friend. He put everyone’s well being before his own and would go without food if it meant his mom would be helped in some way. He let Maya move in with him no questions asked and had her friend stay there as well. He was such a gentleman and so incredibly sweet. But then he had a total freak-out moment where he yelled at Maya and told her what he really thought of her, which really seemed to come out of nowhere and then left her with no ride. I understand he was stressed, but really it just did not seem to fit with his personality from the rest of the story.
And Maya was a pretty cool cucumber, never letting herself be dragged down by her home life and lack of direction. She really was very positive. I liked that things worked out for her in the long run with the art show, but I would have liked to know what happened with her education. I was a little miffed that she was not even the slightest bit upset with Jake for leaving her at the show, yet was incredibly understanding towards him about everything. I personally was pissed at him for not telling her and ditching her. But then at the airport, she refuses to say goodbye to him or answer his calls, yet continues to have a relationship with his aunt and uncle. She was a little mixed on her emotions at times as well.
The side characters helped to make the book for me. I enjoyed Jake’s aunt and uncle and the fact they were willing to help both characters regardless of their relationship status. I also really loved Maya’s best friend Beth and the support she gave unconditionally. I absolutely hated both of Maya’s parents, I don’t care of the reasons behind the actions, they both wronged Maya in different ways.
This may contain a spoiler, so read at your own risk, but the ending made me a little mad. There was so much build up on Jake’s part in the last chapter, I was expecting a HEA, but that was not quite what I got. I guess the ending was more realistic and fit the story which was about hardships better, but I wanted a little more than what I got.
That being said, I did enjoy the book and will read more from this author, be it this same world or something entirely different.
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
September 30, 2014
"What happened affected us all Maya. It ruined all of our lives. Not just yours."
The Edge of You by Theresa DaLayne is a story about finding your niche in life after tragedy. The story of Maya and Jake will warm your heart and have you hoping that they will both have the happily ever after that they both desperately wish for. I rate this book 3.5 stars and recommend that other read this amazing story!
The story opens with Maya leaving the only home that she has ever known in California, her art scholarship at a prestigious institute and moving to Kodiak, Alaska with her parents in the hope of starting over after the death of her little sister Grace. Although Maya is old enough to be on her own, she is worried that her sister's death will continue to break her family apart and she carries the weight of keeping everyone together on her shoulders. Moving to the incredibly small town of Kodiak is the last thing that she wants to do, but the guilt she has over Grace's drowning has her packing her bags along with her parents for what they hope is a fresh start.
Jake has struggled his entire life to pick himself up and be better than the trailer park that he was raised in by his single mother. Staying in Kodiak to work on a fishing boat while attending classes online and at the small University on the island, he has no time for a life, no time for a relationship beyond family ties. His yearning for something more for his life has him worrying and working non-stop to achieve what he believes is the unattainable. Along with all of these stresses that he places on himself, he worries for his mother who lives in Washington State, who is sick and lives with her deadbeat boyfriend.
Jake and Maya meet in an art class, one Maya was looking forward to as an escape from the distress she is feeling at home with her father working non-stop at the Coast Guard base and her mother secretly drinking again behind the closed doors of her room. Maya being a forward California girl at heart, befriends Jake as she knows no one on the island and is extremely lonely and homesick. The friendship begins to blossom into something so much more, something Maya seems to embrace but Jake questions at every turn.
It is only when Jake struggles to find another job after the fishing boat he worked on burns to the ground and his mother is fighting for her life, needing a surgery that they cannot afford that everything seems to take a turn for the worse. He doesn't know how he will leave Maya to return to Washington, to the loser he believes he is, in order to care for his mother without breaking both of their hearts in the process.
All of the struggles that Maya and Jake face are completely relatable to the reader, and it is the way that the author writes them that sucks you into this story, yearning for more, hoping for more for both of them.
"Maybe he had already found what made him feel alive. Maybe he didn't need to keep looking because maybe, just maybe, she was already in his arms."
The Edge of You by Theresa DaLayne is a story about finding your niche in life after tragedy. The story of Maya and Jake will warm your heart and have you hoping that they will both have the happily ever after that they both desperately wish for. I rate this book 3.5 stars and recommend that other read this amazing story!
The story opens with Maya leaving the only home that she has ever known in California, her art scholarship at a prestigious institute and moving to Kodiak, Alaska with her parents in the hope of starting over after the death of her little sister Grace. Although Maya is old enough to be on her own, she is worried that her sister's death will continue to break her family apart and she carries the weight of keeping everyone together on her shoulders. Moving to the incredibly small town of Kodiak is the last thing that she wants to do, but the guilt she has over Grace's drowning has her packing her bags along with her parents for what they hope is a fresh start.
Jake has struggled his entire life to pick himself up and be better than the trailer park that he was raised in by his single mother. Staying in Kodiak to work on a fishing boat while attending classes online and at the small University on the island, he has no time for a life, no time for a relationship beyond family ties. His yearning for something more for his life has him worrying and working non-stop to achieve what he believes is the unattainable. Along with all of these stresses that he places on himself, he worries for his mother who lives in Washington State, who is sick and lives with her deadbeat boyfriend.
Jake and Maya meet in an art class, one Maya was looking forward to as an escape from the distress she is feeling at home with her father working non-stop at the Coast Guard base and her mother secretly drinking again behind the closed doors of her room. Maya being a forward California girl at heart, befriends Jake as she knows no one on the island and is extremely lonely and homesick. The friendship begins to blossom into something so much more, something Maya seems to embrace but Jake questions at every turn.
It is only when Jake struggles to find another job after the fishing boat he worked on burns to the ground and his mother is fighting for her life, needing a surgery that they cannot afford that everything seems to take a turn for the worse. He doesn't know how he will leave Maya to return to Washington, to the loser he believes he is, in order to care for his mother without breaking both of their hearts in the process.
All of the struggles that Maya and Jake face are completely relatable to the reader, and it is the way that the author writes them that sucks you into this story, yearning for more, hoping for more for both of them.
"Maybe he had already found what made him feel alive. Maybe he didn't need to keep looking because maybe, just maybe, she was already in his arms."
September 27, 2014
A sweet New Adult read that had lovely romance and deep emotions, The Edge of You was a wonderful read. I really liked this book and I definitely enjoyed reading it.
I really liked the setting. It was well described and had enough detail that I really felt immersed in the setting, without being overloaded with details. I've only read one other book where the characters lived in Alaska (Winter Longing, which is really good if you want to check it our) so it was nice to see this one.
Maya was a good heroine. Stifled with guilt over the death of her sister, she moved to Alaska with her parents to help support them, even as she struggled with her own grief. At first, she had a habit of being a bit passive but, as the book went on, she became determined to change things for herself and her family. My one issue with her was that, at one point, Jake had to leave Kodiak to take care of his sick mother during her surgery and it made their relationship uncertain. Rather than be understanding of Jake's need to care for his mother, she almost seemed to blame him for leaving. She made him feel guilty as if he was leaving on a whim and not for something very important to him. He had to justify himself several times and I didn't think he needed to and I didn't like that he felt that he had to. It wasn't a single instance either. Another time, it was possible that he would have to leave if he didn't find a job and she seemed resentful of him about it, like it was within his control. It just made me annoyed with her. Not enough to dislike her but enough that I wanted give her a lecture on not being selfish. Overall, though, she was a mostly likable character.
Jake was simply wonderful, though. He was caring and very loyal to his loved ones. I really liked how protective he was of his mother. Even when he was struggling to support himself, he was preoccupied with his mother's well-being, especially because she was in ill health, and would have dropped everything to care for her if it was necessary. He was very sweet and I really liked him.
The romance was nice. I liked how Maya and Jake helped each other become stronger people. The heat level in this book was fairly low, with it being a fairly clean romance. But, the attraction between them was still obvious. I thought they were a lovely couple.
The plot was well-paced and I was kept interested the entire way through. There were a few instances where there were plot holes (like how Maya's parents seemed remarkably uncaring that she left and didn't take to them for a few days), but they weren't enough to ruin the book. I still really enjoyed the story and I thought the ending was lovely.
The Edge of You was an enjoyable New Adult romance. It had a few faults, but it was still an overall lovely read that I did like. Romance lovers, you might want to check this book out.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
I really liked the setting. It was well described and had enough detail that I really felt immersed in the setting, without being overloaded with details. I've only read one other book where the characters lived in Alaska (Winter Longing, which is really good if you want to check it our) so it was nice to see this one.
Maya was a good heroine. Stifled with guilt over the death of her sister, she moved to Alaska with her parents to help support them, even as she struggled with her own grief. At first, she had a habit of being a bit passive but, as the book went on, she became determined to change things for herself and her family. My one issue with her was that, at one point, Jake had to leave Kodiak to take care of his sick mother during her surgery and it made their relationship uncertain. Rather than be understanding of Jake's need to care for his mother, she almost seemed to blame him for leaving. She made him feel guilty as if he was leaving on a whim and not for something very important to him. He had to justify himself several times and I didn't think he needed to and I didn't like that he felt that he had to. It wasn't a single instance either. Another time, it was possible that he would have to leave if he didn't find a job and she seemed resentful of him about it, like it was within his control. It just made me annoyed with her. Not enough to dislike her but enough that I wanted give her a lecture on not being selfish. Overall, though, she was a mostly likable character.
Jake was simply wonderful, though. He was caring and very loyal to his loved ones. I really liked how protective he was of his mother. Even when he was struggling to support himself, he was preoccupied with his mother's well-being, especially because she was in ill health, and would have dropped everything to care for her if it was necessary. He was very sweet and I really liked him.
The romance was nice. I liked how Maya and Jake helped each other become stronger people. The heat level in this book was fairly low, with it being a fairly clean romance. But, the attraction between them was still obvious. I thought they were a lovely couple.
The plot was well-paced and I was kept interested the entire way through. There were a few instances where there were plot holes (like how Maya's parents seemed remarkably uncaring that she left and didn't take to them for a few days), but they weren't enough to ruin the book. I still really enjoyed the story and I thought the ending was lovely.
The Edge of You was an enjoyable New Adult romance. It had a few faults, but it was still an overall lovely read that I did like. Romance lovers, you might want to check this book out.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
September 22, 2014
I received an ARC copy of The Edge of You written by Theresa DaLayne from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a young adult romance story with much more than mere romance. It tells the story of Maya and Jake and the difficult family issues which they both are facing. They must learn to follow their heart to overcome the doubts and guilt that they each have about their families.
Maya gives up everything to move to Alaska with her parents; she is not happy about doing it but knows it is the right thing to do. But in doing so she forfeits her scholarship to a prestigious art school and when she relocates to Kodiak a town with only one college the size of her former high school cafeteria, she can handle only so much. But she did this to help hold her family together after the tragic death of her little sister Gracie.
Jake doesn't take handouts and he certainly doesn't want any distractions. Working on a salmon boat in Kodiak, Alaska is the only way he can pay for his mother's surgery back home. He is trying to juggle college courses along with the constant worry about his mother's health; Jake can’t imagine anything else fitting into his life. That is, until he meets Maya, the sexy Californian girl who he is instantly attracted to.
Jake and Maya meet in art class and he agrees to show her around the small town. Both seem to find something in the other that not only attracts but reaches out to each of them. All through the story Jake struggles with finding the money to pay for an operation his mother must have or possibly die. Maya is worried with the issues at home of her mother drinking, her military father is never home and she doesn’t know how to help her.
The college art instructor is amazed by Maya’s talent so much so that he asks her to do a painting to enter into the competition that could bring a prize of $10,000. But things at home are so bad that she can’t concentrate on her painting and turns to Jake. But things are bad for Jake too, his livelihood, salmon fishing went up in smoke and then his mom takes a turn for the worse. Jake has no job and Kodiak has very few positions available to him.
Maya and Jake never expected to find love especially in Kodiak, Alaska much to their surprise. Their love is put to the test when he must leave to take care of his mom. Maya is devastated but she remains in Alaska; Jake is also upset. He can only think about her and what he left behind. You must read the book to find out more.
This story not only deals with first love but the issues that families face in their most vulnerable times and the choices we make to come to deal with them. I had never read this author before and was pleasantly surprised by the book and how the author showed sensitivity and understanding with the characters involvement. I gave this book a five star rating! Highly recommend it not only to young adults but everyone, it is a great story.
Maya gives up everything to move to Alaska with her parents; she is not happy about doing it but knows it is the right thing to do. But in doing so she forfeits her scholarship to a prestigious art school and when she relocates to Kodiak a town with only one college the size of her former high school cafeteria, she can handle only so much. But she did this to help hold her family together after the tragic death of her little sister Gracie.
Jake doesn't take handouts and he certainly doesn't want any distractions. Working on a salmon boat in Kodiak, Alaska is the only way he can pay for his mother's surgery back home. He is trying to juggle college courses along with the constant worry about his mother's health; Jake can’t imagine anything else fitting into his life. That is, until he meets Maya, the sexy Californian girl who he is instantly attracted to.
Jake and Maya meet in art class and he agrees to show her around the small town. Both seem to find something in the other that not only attracts but reaches out to each of them. All through the story Jake struggles with finding the money to pay for an operation his mother must have or possibly die. Maya is worried with the issues at home of her mother drinking, her military father is never home and she doesn’t know how to help her.
The college art instructor is amazed by Maya’s talent so much so that he asks her to do a painting to enter into the competition that could bring a prize of $10,000. But things at home are so bad that she can’t concentrate on her painting and turns to Jake. But things are bad for Jake too, his livelihood, salmon fishing went up in smoke and then his mom takes a turn for the worse. Jake has no job and Kodiak has very few positions available to him.
Maya and Jake never expected to find love especially in Kodiak, Alaska much to their surprise. Their love is put to the test when he must leave to take care of his mom. Maya is devastated but she remains in Alaska; Jake is also upset. He can only think about her and what he left behind. You must read the book to find out more.
This story not only deals with first love but the issues that families face in their most vulnerable times and the choices we make to come to deal with them. I had never read this author before and was pleasantly surprised by the book and how the author showed sensitivity and understanding with the characters involvement. I gave this book a five star rating! Highly recommend it not only to young adults but everyone, it is a great story.
October 2, 2014
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
3.5/5
The Edge of You is a clean new adult contemporary romance. There is some new adult content but it is mostly just alluded to, and I think would be appropriate for upper young adult readers. It is also a standalone book, which is refreshing. The Edge of You is a story that is equally about two people finding each other as it is a story about each of their journeys and dealing with loss/sickness. Maya and Jake are each dealing with a ton of stuff. Holy cow, you really feel for these two young adults. Their issues are at the same time very different, yet the same.
Jake is dealing with a sick mother and paying her hospital and medication bills, while trying to go to school. Maya is dealing with the death of her sister and her mother's alcoholism. They seem like very different situations on their face, right? But when you look a little closer at the two of them you see that they are both dealing with this pressure all alone. They each have the weight of their respective worlds on their shoulders and they both feel very lonely. The Edge of You had this undertone of despair throughout so much of it. It made the book feel dark, but the ray of light shining through was Jake and Maya relationship. You could so easily see them light up around each other. They were each others' hope. It was so beautiful to witness.
Maya was complicated for me. At times I thought she acted selfishly and a little immature when it came to Jake dealing with his mom, and then at other times she was so patient and understanding and very mature. It was like a struggle within herself. She knew the right thing to do, but she didn't always express it.
My favorite part of the book was Maya's paintings. I loved the descriptions of the light and her sister in her art. I thought it was really beautiful. I would love to see some inspiration pieces for her work. Theresa DaLayne did an excellent job with her description. Her writing was very emotional. The Edge of You is a story that will make you you feel both happiness and despair at the same time. It was an interesting combination for me. The Edge of You is a great read for people that like their romance realistic with a healthy dose of turmoil thrown in. At times, I simply did not know if this book was going to get a happily ever after for the characters. Life threw a lot at these two. And the journey this book took me on was worth it.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
3.5/5
The Edge of You is a clean new adult contemporary romance. There is some new adult content but it is mostly just alluded to, and I think would be appropriate for upper young adult readers. It is also a standalone book, which is refreshing. The Edge of You is a story that is equally about two people finding each other as it is a story about each of their journeys and dealing with loss/sickness. Maya and Jake are each dealing with a ton of stuff. Holy cow, you really feel for these two young adults. Their issues are at the same time very different, yet the same.
Jake is dealing with a sick mother and paying her hospital and medication bills, while trying to go to school. Maya is dealing with the death of her sister and her mother's alcoholism. They seem like very different situations on their face, right? But when you look a little closer at the two of them you see that they are both dealing with this pressure all alone. They each have the weight of their respective worlds on their shoulders and they both feel very lonely. The Edge of You had this undertone of despair throughout so much of it. It made the book feel dark, but the ray of light shining through was Jake and Maya relationship. You could so easily see them light up around each other. They were each others' hope. It was so beautiful to witness.
Maya was complicated for me. At times I thought she acted selfishly and a little immature when it came to Jake dealing with his mom, and then at other times she was so patient and understanding and very mature. It was like a struggle within herself. She knew the right thing to do, but she didn't always express it.
My favorite part of the book was Maya's paintings. I loved the descriptions of the light and her sister in her art. I thought it was really beautiful. I would love to see some inspiration pieces for her work. Theresa DaLayne did an excellent job with her description. Her writing was very emotional. The Edge of You is a story that will make you you feel both happiness and despair at the same time. It was an interesting combination for me. The Edge of You is a great read for people that like their romance realistic with a healthy dose of turmoil thrown in. At times, I simply did not know if this book was going to get a happily ever after for the characters. Life threw a lot at these two. And the journey this book took me on was worth it.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
September 16, 2014
Read more reviews on my blog, Words and Tea Bottles.
A free ARC was provided to me through Netgalley.
The first thing most people really notice about The Edge of You is that it does have a really unique setting. Alaska is a far from common setting; this is probably the first book I’ve encountered that used it where it wasn’t some kind of wilderness survival plot. And the setting is used well, with details dropped about it without seeming overbearing or too casual. There are certain times when a special setting really does need more details than usual, and I’d say this is it. Kodiak is pretty unique, and the fact that Maya is an artist worked really well, I think, because she’s the type of person that would have an eye for the type of beauty the island exhibits.
Overall, though, I’d say that the book was average. The plot wasn’t anything special; a typical ‘broken people find love’ plot set against an interesting backdrop, and I found myself annoyed with the characters sometimes. Most often Jake’s mother in the beginning. I have a lot of sympathy for someone in positions similar to hers, but I just saw no reason at all why she’d stay with her boyfriend. If he had spent even a little time taking care of her or earning money so she felt like she was dependent on him maybe, but he sucked her dry and didn’t give a darn about her, so I honestly had no sympathy that she didn’t just kick him to the curb earlier than she did. Not to mention Maya’s mother was a pretty horrible person and her father handled things incredibly badly for… no apparent reason. It even says in text near the end when he doesn’t contact her after she starts staying with Jake that he had no reason to stay silent. He could’ve at least called and made sure she was okay. He didn’t have to let her in on the Big Reveal.
I also found that the writing got really simple near the end, like the author just wanted to get it over with or something, which made those last few chapters a bit of a slog for me.
So again, I’d say this book was average. I enjoyed it, but not nearly as much as I was hoping I would.
A free ARC was provided to me through Netgalley.
The first thing most people really notice about The Edge of You is that it does have a really unique setting. Alaska is a far from common setting; this is probably the first book I’ve encountered that used it where it wasn’t some kind of wilderness survival plot. And the setting is used well, with details dropped about it without seeming overbearing or too casual. There are certain times when a special setting really does need more details than usual, and I’d say this is it. Kodiak is pretty unique, and the fact that Maya is an artist worked really well, I think, because she’s the type of person that would have an eye for the type of beauty the island exhibits.
Overall, though, I’d say that the book was average. The plot wasn’t anything special; a typical ‘broken people find love’ plot set against an interesting backdrop, and I found myself annoyed with the characters sometimes. Most often Jake’s mother in the beginning. I have a lot of sympathy for someone in positions similar to hers, but I just saw no reason at all why she’d stay with her boyfriend. If he had spent even a little time taking care of her or earning money so she felt like she was dependent on him maybe, but he sucked her dry and didn’t give a darn about her, so I honestly had no sympathy that she didn’t just kick him to the curb earlier than she did. Not to mention Maya’s mother was a pretty horrible person and her father handled things incredibly badly for… no apparent reason. It even says in text near the end when he doesn’t contact her after she starts staying with Jake that he had no reason to stay silent. He could’ve at least called and made sure she was okay. He didn’t have to let her in on the Big Reveal.
I also found that the writing got really simple near the end, like the author just wanted to get it over with or something, which made those last few chapters a bit of a slog for me.
So again, I’d say this book was average. I enjoyed it, but not nearly as much as I was hoping I would.
September 6, 2014
Love can find each other in even the smallest of places and the coldest of climates and in the circumstances you could never imagine. In The Edge of You by Theresa DeLayne, we will meet two people whose lives just never seem to give them a break , but in all the downsides that occur , they will find comfort and love in one another - a happy place.
For Jake it has always been his mother and him, hoping to start and provide a better life for him mother Jake moves to Alaska and takes a job on a fishing boat , what will happen though when Jake returns home to find his mother is even sicker than he imagined ? Hoping to help her get better Jake moves her to the hospital where their insurance covers her , but when things get too bad and she needs an operation which Jake doesn't have the money for ? What will he do and even worse when his job goes up in flames "literally" ? Will Maya be the bright spark in his life that will help Jake to make the right decisions and will she be there when he needs her the most ?
For Maya , ever since her little sister Gracie died - her family that were once so close are falling apart and when her dad gets a job promotion it means that the whole family is moving away to Alaska. Is this the fresh start they need to get away from the memory of Gracie's death or will they discover that no matter how far they run, it will always be niggling in the back of their mind ? Maya's about to realise that her hopes are wishes and that even wishes that could possibly come true, don't as her mother turns further into her drinking for comfort and to forget and her father comes home smelling of perfume and staying late at his job. Maya had the chance to be an artist with a full ride , but when they moved she lost it. She has started taking Art Classes at the local College, where she meets Jake. Is Jake the something new and a clean slate that Maya has been looking for ? Can Jake help Maya make sense of her life and fill in the missing pieces ?
Find out in this touching and moving New Adult romance "The Edge of You" by Theresa DeLayne and if you have read Cassia Leo's "Black Box" , then you will enjoy this book as in a way I found them similar.
For Jake it has always been his mother and him, hoping to start and provide a better life for him mother Jake moves to Alaska and takes a job on a fishing boat , what will happen though when Jake returns home to find his mother is even sicker than he imagined ? Hoping to help her get better Jake moves her to the hospital where their insurance covers her , but when things get too bad and she needs an operation which Jake doesn't have the money for ? What will he do and even worse when his job goes up in flames "literally" ? Will Maya be the bright spark in his life that will help Jake to make the right decisions and will she be there when he needs her the most ?
For Maya , ever since her little sister Gracie died - her family that were once so close are falling apart and when her dad gets a job promotion it means that the whole family is moving away to Alaska. Is this the fresh start they need to get away from the memory of Gracie's death or will they discover that no matter how far they run, it will always be niggling in the back of their mind ? Maya's about to realise that her hopes are wishes and that even wishes that could possibly come true, don't as her mother turns further into her drinking for comfort and to forget and her father comes home smelling of perfume and staying late at his job. Maya had the chance to be an artist with a full ride , but when they moved she lost it. She has started taking Art Classes at the local College, where she meets Jake. Is Jake the something new and a clean slate that Maya has been looking for ? Can Jake help Maya make sense of her life and fill in the missing pieces ?
Find out in this touching and moving New Adult romance "The Edge of You" by Theresa DeLayne and if you have read Cassia Leo's "Black Box" , then you will enjoy this book as in a way I found them similar.
September 29, 2014
Reviewed on my blog, Becky on Books.
I loved the setting of The Edge of You--Kodiak Island, Alaska. (I'm not saying I'd love to relocate there permanently, mind you, but an extended visit wouldn't be out of the question.) Maya? Not so much. Still reeling from a family tragedy which she blames herself for, she's given up her art scholarship in the hopes that by relocating with her family she'll be able to keep them together. Her plan is off to a rocky start, though, and that's before she sees the tiny college that's her only choice for achieving a higher education...
Jake's in Alaska for one reason only--to earn enough money to help his mother out. He knows she'd love to have him back in Washington, but there's no way he could earn enough money there to help pay for her medical bills, so Alaska it is. He's barely got time for his university classes on top of work; a relationship is definitely a distraction he doesn't need.
But it's a New Adult romance, so you know that these two are destined to be in a relationship, regardless of what they think they want. ;)
Theresa DaLayne definitely got the what is the worst possible thing that could happen to your characters? Do it! memo. Things go from bad to worse for both Maya and Jake, giving these two even more to deal with than they already were. Toward the end I actually began to get genuinely concerned--maybe this was the first in a trilogy and I just hadn't realized it?--but (phew!) this was not the case. Things manage to come together nicely at the end, and an HEA is achieved.
The Edge of You was a sweet romance about two young people who are dealing with a lot more drama than they should have to at that age. An interesting setting and likable characters (loved Jake's aunt and uncle, as well as Maya's BFF Beth--though I could have cheerfully drop-kicked both of Maya's parents into next week for much of the book) made this book a pleasure to read.
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the setting of The Edge of You--Kodiak Island, Alaska. (I'm not saying I'd love to relocate there permanently, mind you, but an extended visit wouldn't be out of the question.) Maya? Not so much. Still reeling from a family tragedy which she blames herself for, she's given up her art scholarship in the hopes that by relocating with her family she'll be able to keep them together. Her plan is off to a rocky start, though, and that's before she sees the tiny college that's her only choice for achieving a higher education...
Jake's in Alaska for one reason only--to earn enough money to help his mother out. He knows she'd love to have him back in Washington, but there's no way he could earn enough money there to help pay for her medical bills, so Alaska it is. He's barely got time for his university classes on top of work; a relationship is definitely a distraction he doesn't need.
But it's a New Adult romance, so you know that these two are destined to be in a relationship, regardless of what they think they want. ;)
Theresa DaLayne definitely got the what is the worst possible thing that could happen to your characters? Do it! memo. Things go from bad to worse for both Maya and Jake, giving these two even more to deal with than they already were. Toward the end I actually began to get genuinely concerned--maybe this was the first in a trilogy and I just hadn't realized it?--but (phew!) this was not the case. Things manage to come together nicely at the end, and an HEA is achieved.
The Edge of You was a sweet romance about two young people who are dealing with a lot more drama than they should have to at that age. An interesting setting and likable characters (loved Jake's aunt and uncle, as well as Maya's BFF Beth--though I could have cheerfully drop-kicked both of Maya's parents into next week for much of the book) made this book a pleasure to read.
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2014
Maya leaves everything she knows behind in California to move with her parents to Kodiak, Alaska. Weighted down with guilt over the death of her sister, she wants to provide support to her mother and prevent her family from crumbling any further. But life is different in the quiet town of Kodiak and things are not looking as good as she had hoped, so she enrolls in the local community college in hopes of finding a purpose among the uncertainty of her family life.
Jake is a student at the community college who also works as crew on a fishing boat. His goal is to gather enough money to take care of his mother who is sick back in the mainland. He doesn't have time to pursue a relationship but there seems to be something about the new girl that draws him in and weakens his resolve.
This was a sweet story. I found the characters to be intriguing, especially Jake. He was a hard worker who felt deeply. His loyalty was a thing of beauty. He gave of himself without regards to his own needs and wants and I admired the hell out him for that.
Maya wasn't so bad herself. She did get on my nerves in the beginning because she kept complaining about the town and what she left behind without making attempts to change her situation. Thankfully, she took the reins of her life and decided to make do with what she had and where she was.
I admit that the story dragged in places, especially in the beginning with Maya's whining and Jake having to deal with her mother's problem. However, once they met the story moved along nicely. There were funny moments mixed with honest emotional ones. This was not an angsty read, but it did have plenty of emotions thrown into the mix.
I liked that the characters had an initial connection and that it was developed throughout the story. I do wish I had gotten to see it deepened a bit more before the end of the story, but as such it was okay. Since I had cheered these characters on from the very beginning, it was easy for me to accept their HEA, even if it was a bit too sudden and perfect.
All in all, a sweet story of new beginnings.
*I received a copy of this title in exchange of my honest opinion.
Jake is a student at the community college who also works as crew on a fishing boat. His goal is to gather enough money to take care of his mother who is sick back in the mainland. He doesn't have time to pursue a relationship but there seems to be something about the new girl that draws him in and weakens his resolve.
This was a sweet story. I found the characters to be intriguing, especially Jake. He was a hard worker who felt deeply. His loyalty was a thing of beauty. He gave of himself without regards to his own needs and wants and I admired the hell out him for that.
Maya wasn't so bad herself. She did get on my nerves in the beginning because she kept complaining about the town and what she left behind without making attempts to change her situation. Thankfully, she took the reins of her life and decided to make do with what she had and where she was.
I admit that the story dragged in places, especially in the beginning with Maya's whining and Jake having to deal with her mother's problem. However, once they met the story moved along nicely. There were funny moments mixed with honest emotional ones. This was not an angsty read, but it did have plenty of emotions thrown into the mix.
I liked that the characters had an initial connection and that it was developed throughout the story. I do wish I had gotten to see it deepened a bit more before the end of the story, but as such it was okay. Since I had cheered these characters on from the very beginning, it was easy for me to accept their HEA, even if it was a bit too sudden and perfect.
All in all, a sweet story of new beginnings.
*I received a copy of this title in exchange of my honest opinion.
November 4, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. The story development was really well done.
Jake is determined to go to school, work, and get money to take care of his mother. He’s sensitive, sweet and loyal, and I absolutely loved him.
Maya and her family are recovering from a family tragedy that she feels guilt over. It took me a little longer to take to her, as she just sounded like one of those spoiled kids, just thinking like, I’m missing out on all these parties and hanging out with my Cali friends, blah blah blah. But as the book went on, I started to like her character. She cared for her family and worried over them as they all tried to get over the past. Then again, she was also selfish at times, but overall, a good character.
Something that I really liked about this book was that there was a connection at the beginning between Jake and Maya, but then the author allowed them to go their separate ways for a while. We get to see what their every day lives are like for a while prior to being a couple. I really liked this, because there was no instant obsession or a quick hop into a steamy romance. It was sweet, it was gradual, and it was perfect.
This book was very satisfying and it’s great if you want to take a break from all the fast paced action, dystopian, or even steamier romance novels. Well written, and well executed, I really enjoyed this one.
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Overall: 4/5
GoodReads Rating: 3.61/5
-review by Between Printed Pages
Jake is determined to go to school, work, and get money to take care of his mother. He’s sensitive, sweet and loyal, and I absolutely loved him.
Maya and her family are recovering from a family tragedy that she feels guilt over. It took me a little longer to take to her, as she just sounded like one of those spoiled kids, just thinking like, I’m missing out on all these parties and hanging out with my Cali friends, blah blah blah. But as the book went on, I started to like her character. She cared for her family and worried over them as they all tried to get over the past. Then again, she was also selfish at times, but overall, a good character.
Something that I really liked about this book was that there was a connection at the beginning between Jake and Maya, but then the author allowed them to go their separate ways for a while. We get to see what their every day lives are like for a while prior to being a couple. I really liked this, because there was no instant obsession or a quick hop into a steamy romance. It was sweet, it was gradual, and it was perfect.
This book was very satisfying and it’s great if you want to take a break from all the fast paced action, dystopian, or even steamier romance novels. Well written, and well executed, I really enjoyed this one.
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Overall: 4/5
GoodReads Rating: 3.61/5
-review by Between Printed Pages
October 22, 2015
Review will be available at GenGen's Book Blog on October 3.
I love how this story played out. The blurb had already reeled me in and I couldn't wait to dive into this story. Theresa DaLayne delivered a very powerful and meaningful story, in a way that it deals with loss, alcoholism, guilt over a death, among other things, which is what makes this story so enjoyable and leaves the readers wanting more.
Jake is a loving and caring son. He's always looking out for his mom, even miles away. His mom has a seizure and he flies to Washington State to be with her and take care of her. Jake doesn't agree with his mom living with Wayne, a gold-digger, because he's taking all of the money from Jake's mom to buy drinks at a bar. One day, Wayne beat up Jake and Jake's mom and Wayne was sent to prison.
Maya doesn't want to move to Kodiak, Alaska but does so anyways so she can be with her family after a tragic event. Maya and Jake run into each other a few times before finally meeting face to face and the connection is right there for them.
Their story develops at a medium-slow pace but it is set perfectly. Everything matches, the characters are very lovable and each characters deals with their own life crisis that tears them apart inside, along with the reader. It is impossible not to feel anything while reading this story.
I will definitely be on the look out for this author because I want and I need more of her writing style.
I love how this story played out. The blurb had already reeled me in and I couldn't wait to dive into this story. Theresa DaLayne delivered a very powerful and meaningful story, in a way that it deals with loss, alcoholism, guilt over a death, among other things, which is what makes this story so enjoyable and leaves the readers wanting more.
Jake is a loving and caring son. He's always looking out for his mom, even miles away. His mom has a seizure and he flies to Washington State to be with her and take care of her. Jake doesn't agree with his mom living with Wayne, a gold-digger, because he's taking all of the money from Jake's mom to buy drinks at a bar. One day, Wayne beat up Jake and Jake's mom and Wayne was sent to prison.
Maya doesn't want to move to Kodiak, Alaska but does so anyways so she can be with her family after a tragic event. Maya and Jake run into each other a few times before finally meeting face to face and the connection is right there for them.
Their story develops at a medium-slow pace but it is set perfectly. Everything matches, the characters are very lovable and each characters deals with their own life crisis that tears them apart inside, along with the reader. It is impossible not to feel anything while reading this story.
I will definitely be on the look out for this author because I want and I need more of her writing style.
October 20, 2014
I was graciously given a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
What a fantastic read! This was an unexpected delight and I had a hard time putting this down! Definitely a read I wanted to sink into until I was done. I love when this occurs; books that yank me in, make work painful but reading so enjoyable!
Maya’s life quickly spiraled out of control and in order to keep her family together she makes sacrifices that cost her a dream scholarship. I personally love the selfless heroine that is willing to lay down in order for others. She ends up in a smaller than small town struggling to find how she fits in and how she can save a family that seems unwilling to put in the same effort.
Jake’s got the world on his shoulder and all the while he’s supporting his ailing mother. While he has not had an easy life I love that he is unwilling to give up. He’s a fighter without the aggressive screw you attitude. I could read about a lot more Jake-like characters. I love that he lacked that attitude and he came off much stronger, in my opinion, due to that.
Theresa DaLayne painted a beautiful picture when it came to these two and the scenery, I am putting Alaska on my list of places to go. I fell in love with these two and became invested in their journey, which made it stressful and heart lurching when one mucked it up. A beautiful story!
What a fantastic read! This was an unexpected delight and I had a hard time putting this down! Definitely a read I wanted to sink into until I was done. I love when this occurs; books that yank me in, make work painful but reading so enjoyable!
Maya’s life quickly spiraled out of control and in order to keep her family together she makes sacrifices that cost her a dream scholarship. I personally love the selfless heroine that is willing to lay down in order for others. She ends up in a smaller than small town struggling to find how she fits in and how she can save a family that seems unwilling to put in the same effort.
Jake’s got the world on his shoulder and all the while he’s supporting his ailing mother. While he has not had an easy life I love that he is unwilling to give up. He’s a fighter without the aggressive screw you attitude. I could read about a lot more Jake-like characters. I love that he lacked that attitude and he came off much stronger, in my opinion, due to that.
Theresa DaLayne painted a beautiful picture when it came to these two and the scenery, I am putting Alaska on my list of places to go. I fell in love with these two and became invested in their journey, which made it stressful and heart lurching when one mucked it up. A beautiful story!
October 8, 2014
3.9/5
Theresa DaLayne writes well and knows how to keep you wanting more.
Maya moves to Kodiak, Alaska to support her family after something tragic happens to her sister. She leaves college where she was a thriving art student. All her friends and life are back in sunny California. Her mom is an alcoholic and her dad works too much, so that leaves Maya alone to fend for herself.
Jake is in Kodiak, Alaska because it's the only way he can possible afford his mother's medical care. He works on a fishing boat and doesn't really get himself entangled in relationships, until he meets Maya.
Their desperateness brings them together and they start to have a really good chemistry together, but will Jake be able to open his heart and let Maya in, or will obligations get in the way?
I think that Theresa DaLayne did a really great job of capturing the youthfulness of the characters. Both had to grow up early, but they still had an innocent quality to them. As readers, we were able to really feel the desperation of Jake and Maya's situation and really start to feel sorry for them.
Sometimes you don't really know what you are getting with these e-books, and I think this book is worth a try, especially if you like Alaska and a happy ending.
Theresa DaLayne writes well and knows how to keep you wanting more.
Maya moves to Kodiak, Alaska to support her family after something tragic happens to her sister. She leaves college where she was a thriving art student. All her friends and life are back in sunny California. Her mom is an alcoholic and her dad works too much, so that leaves Maya alone to fend for herself.
Jake is in Kodiak, Alaska because it's the only way he can possible afford his mother's medical care. He works on a fishing boat and doesn't really get himself entangled in relationships, until he meets Maya.
Their desperateness brings them together and they start to have a really good chemistry together, but will Jake be able to open his heart and let Maya in, or will obligations get in the way?
I think that Theresa DaLayne did a really great job of capturing the youthfulness of the characters. Both had to grow up early, but they still had an innocent quality to them. As readers, we were able to really feel the desperation of Jake and Maya's situation and really start to feel sorry for them.
Sometimes you don't really know what you are getting with these e-books, and I think this book is worth a try, especially if you like Alaska and a happy ending.
September 11, 2015
When I picked up The Edge of You, it was exactly what I needed: a quick romance that made me happy with its deeply likable characters and happy ending.
Quite honestly, I don't have too much to say about The Egde of You. Both of our main characters, Jake and Maya, are likable in that they're people willing to give up their own happiness for others--which always sells me quickly. While very different, they're alike in their dedication to their families but also in their desires to strike out their own paths. But Jake is torn between this dedication to his mother and the life he's made for himself--and his deepening relationship with Maya.
I liked the characters. I enjoyed reading the book. I was happy with how it ended. How much more do I need to say?
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
You can find this review and many more fun things on my blog: Paper Cuts.
Quite honestly, I don't have too much to say about The Egde of You. Both of our main characters, Jake and Maya, are likable in that they're people willing to give up their own happiness for others--which always sells me quickly. While very different, they're alike in their dedication to their families but also in their desires to strike out their own paths. But Jake is torn between this dedication to his mother and the life he's made for himself--and his deepening relationship with Maya.
I liked the characters. I enjoyed reading the book. I was happy with how it ended. How much more do I need to say?
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
You can find this review and many more fun things on my blog: Paper Cuts.
September 7, 2014
*I will try not to include spoilers.
The Edge Of You by Theresa DaLayne
No matter how hard you try to escape the past in someways it will always be a part of you. Somethings in life good and bad transform you whether you want it to or not.
Maya decides to give up everything she has worked so hard for to keep her family together. Six months ago a tragic loss leaves her once happy family shattered and looking for a fresh start in Kodiak, Alaska.
Jake is an extremely hard worker with a lot of responsibility riding on his shoulders, school, employment, and making sure his mother is cared for.
When Maya and Jake meet a strong connection is undeniable as they become each others anchor.
Huge discoveries can be made in small places and shine bright in the cloudiest of times.
I liked this book. The story was realistic and tugs at your heart.
*Checkout and follow my blog:
http://wicked-blogs.blogspot.com
The Edge Of You by Theresa DaLayne
No matter how hard you try to escape the past in someways it will always be a part of you. Somethings in life good and bad transform you whether you want it to or not.
Maya decides to give up everything she has worked so hard for to keep her family together. Six months ago a tragic loss leaves her once happy family shattered and looking for a fresh start in Kodiak, Alaska.
Jake is an extremely hard worker with a lot of responsibility riding on his shoulders, school, employment, and making sure his mother is cared for.
When Maya and Jake meet a strong connection is undeniable as they become each others anchor.
Huge discoveries can be made in small places and shine bright in the cloudiest of times.
I liked this book. The story was realistic and tugs at your heart.
*Checkout and follow my blog:
http://wicked-blogs.blogspot.com
September 30, 2014
I like Jake's character because he really love and take care of his mother. His mother is sick and he is willing to do anything for her.Even working on a Salmon Boat in Kodiak.
While Maya, at first she is so annoying because she blames herself for her sister's death and she is so guilty about it. She gave up everything to move to Alaska to be with her family to start all over again after her sister's death.
Both characters have their own trials and hardship in life but they deal with it perfectly. All through the story Jake struggles with finding money for his mom's surgery.
I love the story, it's all about love and responsibility for their family. They need to choose which is more important on their life. I'm so touch with the story and I can stop reading it. I even imagine every scene and I can easily relate to it.
I'm recommending this book and they will surely love it like I do.
While Maya, at first she is so annoying because she blames herself for her sister's death and she is so guilty about it. She gave up everything to move to Alaska to be with her family to start all over again after her sister's death.
Both characters have their own trials and hardship in life but they deal with it perfectly. All through the story Jake struggles with finding money for his mom's surgery.
I love the story, it's all about love and responsibility for their family. They need to choose which is more important on their life. I'm so touch with the story and I can stop reading it. I even imagine every scene and I can easily relate to it.
I'm recommending this book and they will surely love it like I do.
September 30, 2014
I absolutely fell in love with The Edge of You by Theresa DaLayne as it is a touching, wonderful story of love, grief, moving on and moving forward. DaLayne writes a very beautiful and poetic story about Maya and Jake that will capture both your heart and attention. Maya and Jake have this chemistry that is so well written that you can feel it consuming you and you are so captivated by it that you forget that you reading a story.
Both Maya and Jake deserve a break and life just doesn't seem to give it to them. The troubles that they seem to have to overcome and the triumphs that both characters oversee, will leave you smiling and feeling elated. I can't give enough praise on how well written The Edge of You was written, and is a definite must-read and addition to your To-Be-Read-Shelf.
Both Maya and Jake deserve a break and life just doesn't seem to give it to them. The troubles that they seem to have to overcome and the triumphs that both characters oversee, will leave you smiling and feeling elated. I can't give enough praise on how well written The Edge of You was written, and is a definite must-read and addition to your To-Be-Read-Shelf.
October 2, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. It's face paced with enough drama and romance to keep the readers wanting more. I really loved the characters. I loved how caring Jake was, didn't have to take care of his mother but there he is a loving son, working hard sending money his mothers way to take care of her. Then there Maya and her family dealing with the grief of the death of her little sister. So this is their life a watching her life trying to deal with everything. I loved watching the chemistry between Maya and Jake and loved that there was the dual POV between the two. Overall this was a really great book with an interesting character and a well written storyline. I recommend you lovely readers to check it out.
December 16, 2015
I kind of expected this book to have better reviews. I liked it a lot. It even left me re-living scenes after the fact. I wish she had given us a little more about Alaska since it is an uncommon place to set a book. The art side of the story was a cute added benefit and I really liked how each character had a whole side world that was their own separate from the romance part. It came together nicely at the end, although I expected a little bit more hurt feelings between the main two characters. I laughed out loud at the "tongue of the Gods" comment and it reminds me how much I love characters that have a special way of speaking, or specific phrases that are totally their own --reminds me a lot of Joss Whedon and all of his Buffy-isms.
September 29, 2014
We venture to Alaska with The Edge of You. Theresa DaLayne does a wonderful job with the setting and takes us on a memorable trip.
Maya is in Alaska trying to keep her family together after a devastating tragedy. Jake is in Alaska to earn money for his mother’s surgery. Neither is looking for a relationship. There’s no denying their attraction when they meet.
I loved how Maya and Jake become stronger as they are tested with what life deals them. Theresa DaLayne gives us relatable characters that we get to see develop and grow as they encounter real life issues. I’m looking forward to reading another Theresa DaLayne story.
Maya is in Alaska trying to keep her family together after a devastating tragedy. Jake is in Alaska to earn money for his mother’s surgery. Neither is looking for a relationship. There’s no denying their attraction when they meet.
I loved how Maya and Jake become stronger as they are tested with what life deals them. Theresa DaLayne gives us relatable characters that we get to see develop and grow as they encounter real life issues. I’m looking forward to reading another Theresa DaLayne story.
October 12, 2014
You know, sometimes, romance novels are not all fluffy kittens, rainbows and unicorns. OK, a bit over the top, but you know what I mean. Sometimes, a romance is about having to work for what you want. This is one of those books.
Maya and Jake’s relationship does not take the easy path. And in my view, the story is better for it. I could waffle on and on, but you know that I don’t tend to do that. So I will simply say that this book was a touching read, tinged with tragedy, hope and above all, love.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review
Maya and Jake’s relationship does not take the easy path. And in my view, the story is better for it. I could waffle on and on, but you know that I don’t tend to do that. So I will simply say that this book was a touching read, tinged with tragedy, hope and above all, love.
I received a copy in exchange for an honest review
September 14, 2014
Very cute and for N/A not as drama or people pushing each other away as much so I really liked that. It had drama because it was about two people falling in love in love and healing. None that knock down drag out screaming or going months with out talking because someone thought someone else cheating. This was just a nice story about two people in their early 20s who have had to grow up way too fast and finding love and solace in one another.
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