At the Island's Edge (Paperback or Softback)

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

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

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

But even in paradise, old wounds linger. As Lina wrestles with her guilt over the harrowing choices she made in Iraq―and the temptation to numb her pain―long-buried secrets threaten to erode the very stability she’s fighting for. Hope lies on the horizon, but can she keep her gaze steady?

C. I. Jerez, who has a blend of Irish, Puerto Rican, and Cuban parentage, grew up near El Paso’s Mexican border experiencing a true cultural amalgamation. After graduating from the University of Texas at El Paso, she commissioned as a signal officer in the US Army and rose to the rank of major before transitioning out of the military. She holds an MBA from Webster University and a doctorate in international business from Liberty University. When not writing, she serves as cofounder and vice president for Ashire Technologies & Services Inc., a cybersecurity firm specializing in securing federal information systems. She lives in central Florida. For more information, visit www.cijerezbooks.com.