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Life on the Edge (Edge #1)

by Jennifer Comeaux (Goodreads Author)

3.9 of 5 stars 3.90 · rating details · 248 ratings · 77 reviews

Nineteen-year-old Emily is new to pairs skating, but she and her partner Chris have a big dream–to be the first American team to win Olympic gold. Their young coach Sergei, who left Russia after a mysterious end to his skating career, believes they can break through and make history.

Emily and Chris are on track to be top contenders at the 2002 Winter Games. But when forbid...more

Kindle Edition, 314 pages

Published January 3rd 2012 by Astraea Press

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2012 Debut Authors (Young Adult & Middle Grade)

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Jan 30, 2012 Jen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Life On The Edge is an intense, dramatic, passionate novel about a young, talented figure skater with a dream to participate in the Olympics. Through hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance Emily and her partner are well on their way to achieving that goal. However, there is one thing that is standing in their way - Emily's heart. Jennifer Comeaux has done a fantastically beautiful job constructing a story I shall never forget. I'm truly impressed this is Comeaux's first novel. Remember her name...more

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Nov 13, 2012 Aa'Ishah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary-fiction, reviewed, blog-tour

Skating is Emily's life. Unless she can be on the ice every day, she isn't happy. Pairs skating is just a new way of skating and achieving her dream of being in the Olympics. More than that, both she and her partner Chris want to get gold while they're there. Their coach is Sergei, much younger than average and with a past he's not inclined to share. With his help Emily and Chris have the gold medal in sight, but then a problem starts to develop: the feelings between Sergei and Emily. Somehow th...more Skating is Emily's life. Unless she can be on the ice every day, she isn't happy. Pairs skating is just a new way of skating and achieving her dream of being in the Olympics. More than that, both she and her partner Chris want to get gold while they're there. Their coach is Sergei, much younger than average and with a past he's not inclined to share. With his help Emily and Chris have the gold medal in sight, but then a problem starts to develop: the feelings between Sergei and Emily. Somehow the two must keep it a secret and work past the obstacles if either have any hope of achieving that goal or keeping their careers.

This was a really engrossing, entertaining read. I've only watched a couple of skating films; to be honest I'm really not a sports person in any shape or form, yet I enjoyed reading about the competitions, the rehearsals, this constant journey the characters are on to stay on top and live their dream. I wanted them to get high scores; I wanted them to get that gold medal. It also gave me a whole new appreciation for how difficult it is to be part of a sport as a career, and just how much it takes. I'm very admiring of people who can do something like skating, because it takes a lot of skill and practice. I know as I sat there the whole time reading it I was thinking that I could never do something like that; my awful hand-eye co-ordination wouldn't allow for it and I'd probably be too afraid of all the falls, both physical and metaphorical, I'd have to take.

Emily fights past that fear. Every time a competition comes up she becomes incredibly nervous and anxious, yet she does her best to get past that and let herself be the best that she can be when she's on the ice. Her passion and determination really comes through and that made her an admirable character; it made it easy to want good things for her. Even when she'd committed herself to a relationship with Sergei, she was still fiercely determined to get the medal - this girl always had her eye on the prize.

I really enjoyed the relationship between the two. I admit I did have a bit of a problem at the beginning. It wasn't insta-love - I just want to make that clear. It's more that Comeaux just relates it more generally rather than going into detail for a couple of scenes. Through Emily she stated that they met several times, had lengthier conversations, and then they came to realise they were growing to have feelings for each other. This wasn't exactly a major problem, though, and I was soon engrossed reading about the ups and downs in their relationship, scared on Emily's behalf about the trouble they might get into. Sergei is sweet and respects Emily's morals; at the same time he pushes her to do better when she's skating, knowing exactly what she's capable of. His past is a sad one, though perhaps not as different or shocking as you might hope.

Comeaux has created a wonderful set of characters here. Yes, Emily and Sergei are the main ones, but from Chris, who's funny and supportive and generally just really likeable, to Courtney, one of Em's students, who's like your adorable little sister, to Em's roommate, to her parents...all of the characters had their own personalities and voices. This is also not one of those stories where the author clearly has no idea what they're talking about. It's extremely obvious Comeaux has done her research, and it creates a very strong, believable story. Life on the Edge is a brilliant balance between skating and romance, between plot and characters, and I can definitely recommend it to anyone, regardless of whether or not you're a sports fan.

This review is also posted on my blog.(less)

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Apr 20, 2012 Ashley - Book Labyrinth rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, from-author, ebook, new-adult, dac-2012

This book is absolutely perfect for fans of contemporary romance. It’s also a sports romance and new adult (it features characters that are 19 or older), so it really fits into a lot of great subgenres.

I really loved the romance in this book because the characters had a connection, but a real growing relationship as well. They fell in love gradually, over a longer period of time, and that made it seem all the more real. The forbidden aspect of Emily and Sergei’s relationship also made it a littl...more

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Sep 26, 2012 Mari rated it 4 of 5 stars

ive always liked watching figuring skating and same goes for movies with the same theme. but books about ice skating is a rare treat. seeing into that world is not one often talked about esp the forbidden feelings between coach and skater. granted the coach is younger than most and handsome with a mysterious past. and the balance of romance to sport was pretty good id say.

although i didnt really feel the connection at first between sergei and emily, i mean there there were moments but it wasnt...more

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Jun 09, 2013 Kristin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Originally posted on These Pretty Words.

Kristin approached me awhile back about reading and reviewing Life on the Edge, the recent debut novel by Jennifer Comeaux. K is well aware that love stories about figure skating are very near and dear to my heart and let me tell you, this one has earned its place on my podium. I’ll admit that it took me a little time to catch the hook. The early chapters of the story set a good stage for the later plot to play out but while there’s good character developm...more Originally posted on These Pretty Words.

Kristin approached me awhile back about reading and reviewing Life on the Edge, the recent debut novel by Jennifer Comeaux. K is well aware that love stories about figure skating are very near and dear to my heart and let me tell you, this one has earned its place on my podium. I’ll admit that it took me a little time to catch the hook. The early chapters of the story set a good stage for the later plot to play out but while there’s good character development, there isn’t a lot of action until chapter four. All I can say is that I’m so glad I kept reading.

Life on the Edge follows 19-year-old competitive skater Emily Butler. While she’s not new to the sport, she is new to skating pairs. Despite that fact, she and partner Chris have a big dream: to compete at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City. With their young Russian coach and retired skater, Sergei, assisting them, they appear to have a fighting chance at turning that dream into reality.

Sergei. Sigh. The man will swoon you. Yes, that’s right, Emily’s love interest is none other than her very handsome coach. Sound weird? That’s the point. Sergei is young, only six years older than Emily, having retired at 18 for mysterious reasons. Yet while not a hard and fast rule of the skating federation, coaches and skaters are highly discouraged from dating (for obvious reasons). We see their struggle right from the start when their growing friendship starts blooming into something more. They both know it’s wrong, they both know they shouldn’t, but how long can they fight their feelings?

The story opens in the summer of 2000, leading into the competitive season a year prior to the Olympics. Though the novel takes us through two full seasons and two years, the plot never drags or feels choppy. The author does a great job with pacing and flow, touching on what’s important and always moving the characters forward. I found myself always excited about the next competition just as much as I was aching for the next step in Emily and Sergei’s relationship.

And their love story? Total slow burn, just the way I like it. There are so many great facets to their relationship-their interactions as coach and skater, the sweetness of their friendship, the kindling attraction, the romance…the UST. Oh yeah, the UST is off the charts. For those unfamiliar with the acronym UST=unresolved sexual tension aka the period of time where you know it’s gonna happen but don’t know how or where or when. I was dying for these two to get together.

A great thing about this story is that it’s not just the protagonist or even her love interest that hold your attention; Comeaux builds a vast cast who only bring you further into Emily and Sergei’s world; from the adorable Courtney, a young pairs skater Emily and Sergei coach together, to slimy Viktor, one of the clubs other coaches, to Chris and Marley, Emily’s very swoony partner and the ice dancer he has a massive crush on, you’ll find yourself wanting more. I know I did. Seriously, Chris? I loved reading about his relationship and interactions with Emily almost as much as Sergei. Almost.

In the early stages of Emily’s attraction to Sergei and the beginnings of their relationship we see a variety of viewpoints and reactions from Emily’s family and friends ranging from accepting to downright hostile. It only goes to show that their choice to be together isn’t an easy one. There were a few times I wanted to reach through my screen and shake Emily’s mother or roommate Aubrey and say “Why can’t you just let them be all happy and adorable together?” But of course, their hesitations are valid. One of the great things about how Comeaux weaves the plot is that the conflicts are valid and realistic, not simply drama for drama’s sake. We get to see this couple through fighting their feelings to finally giving in, from the struggle of learning to separate their work from their relationship to learning to trust and love and support each other.

And let’s not forget, this is all happening with the constant pressure of competition in the background and a little event called the Olympics on the horizon. You don’t have to follow figure skating to love this book; Comeaux does a great job laying out the details and behind the scenes aspects of the world of competitive figure skating without bogging down the reader in technicalities. The way she writes about Emily and Chris out on the ice has you feeling everything they feel: nerves, excitement, disappointment, elation, and triumph. You’ll want to find the nearest sheet of ice and strap on some figure skates.

In a romance, my bottom line is always the couple. Do I want them to be together? Do I connect with them in a way that has me cheering for them, fighting for them, crying for them, swooning for them, on the edge of my seat waiting for them to kiss and skate off into the sunset? Emily and Sergei definitely did that for me in a way no other fictional couple has in quite some time. Give them a chance and I promise you’ll be cheering them on to their happily ever after, too.(less)

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Feb 06, 2013 Jane rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4, romance, to-review

While training for the Olympics with her skating partner Chris, Emily finds herself being easily distracted by her changing feelings towards their coach Sergei. When she discovers he feels the same way it doesn’t take long for them to move on to the next level even though the pair know a relationship between them would be very wrong.

Life on the edge is a contemporary romance, but the detail given to the skating side of the story is very in depth and takes up a large portion of the storyline. Cle...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Tammy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Life On The Edge is a wonderful story about Emily. She loves to skate and along with her partner Chris and new coach Sergei, they dream of Olympic gold. Emily and Chris have not been skating together that long. Their coach Sergei is young, having left Russia to coach in America. They have many obstacles in their path including Emily's stage fright. She can't seem to calm her nerves when she is on the ice. Emily has always thought that Sergei is too young to coach but he never talks about why he...more

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Jan 15, 2013 Ruth Hill rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-reads, romance

It seems that lately I have struggled with rating books, and this is another one. This book has a lot going for it. A nice older young adult romance, ice skating, and it's completely clean! This is the most exciting part of the book for me. No profanity, and no sex scenes! Your teenager can read this, and your mother-in-law can, too. I have to say that Sergei and Emily are great together, and you can sense the chemistry from the start. Not only that, Sergei is a fine coach, and he is a real man....more

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Nov 25, 2012 Rachael Woohoo rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, blog-tour, book, ebooks-i-own, review-copy, reviewed, romance

This review first appeared @ Moosubi Reviews!

LIFE ON THE EDGE is the type of book that I classify as a “feel-good” book – it just leaves a happy sort of feeling inside of me after I finish reading – the romance was cute, that the characters were likable, and the ending left me satisfied (:

This book follows the journey of Emily, Chris, and Sergei, a pair of ice skaters and a retired skater turned coach, whose goal is to win gold in the Olympics. The characters were likable when they were supposed...more This review first appeared @ Moosubi Reviews!

LIFE ON THE EDGE is the type of book that I classify as a “feel-good” book – it just leaves a happy sort of feeling inside of me after I finish reading – the romance was cute, that the characters were likable, and the ending left me satisfied (:

This book follows the journey of Emily, Chris, and Sergei, a pair of ice skaters and a retired skater turned coach, whose goal is to win gold in the Olympics. The characters were likable when they were supposed to be, and I admired each of their strong suits and personalities. Emily is your “typical” heroine – brave, determined, talented. She had her flaws, but that’s what made her relatable to me. I especially liked her relationship with Chris – not quite “dating”, but more of a brother/sister relationship, but maybe even closer – they never fought, and were always there for each other (:

I also, almost surprisingly, was a fan of Sergei and Emily’s relationships. It definitely had its ups and downs, but their raw emotion and devotion towards each other is clear. I also liked that it wasn’t insta-love, or the typical high-school-drama type of romance – I feel like throughout the book, you can really see their relationship develop.

My only complaint is that some parts of the book seemed a bit rushed. There’s some important scenes, in my opinion, in the ending that could have had a bit more depth, but seemed too easy to go through and gain success. I also wished that I could have seen a bit more emphasis on ice skating rather than Emily’s life outside of it – it’s not that I didn’t enjoy reading about it, but I barely got to see her trainings with Sergei and Chris, so some of their shows and programs seemed too easy to come by. Still, overall I did enjoy the plot ^__^

Overall, LIFE ON THE EDGE was a short but enjoyable read, perfect for fans of YA or New Adult contemporary romances looking for a short weekend read! I highly recommend this to fans of authors like Sarah Dessen or Susane Colosanti – in my opinion, this book’s type of romance or plot is similar to those of those two authors, and I believe you would enjoy a book like this as well (:(less)

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Jun 09, 2012 Majibookshelf Juhina & Farah rated it 4 of 5 stars

When the author contacted me to review Life On The Edge I immediately jumped at the chance to read it! I am a huge fan of ice figure skating, whether in movies, books, or real live competitions. This book definitely kept true to its theme, and I was rooting for two things during my read, the romance and winning the 2002 Olympics. Emily, the protagonist has recently moved to pair skating and Sergei, their young russian coach has big dreams for them. The story begins in the year 2000, where Emily...more When the author contacted me to review Life On The Edge I immediately jumped at the chance to read it! I am a huge fan of ice figure skating, whether in movies, books, or real live competitions. This book definitely kept true to its theme, and I was rooting for two things during my read, the romance and winning the 2002 Olympics. Emily, the protagonist has recently moved to pair skating and Sergei, their young russian coach has big dreams for them. The story begins in the year 2000, where Emily and Chris her partner, are practicing for preliminary competitions in the hopes to move up to the olympics. This is when the problems start.
The student-coach relationship Emily and Surgei has starts to blur when Emily takes up a job to co-coach a younger pair skating couple with Surgei and they start spending coffee breaks chatting with each other at Starbucks. Emily starts developing feelings for Surgei, and so does he, this is when they're really in trouble. I loved how the relationship started slowly, with them being friends and so forth; it just gives the book the realistic feeling so many contemporary novels seem to be missing.
The other theme in the book, the figure skating career of Emily. I am happy that the author didn't neglect it but actually gave it importance. I mean we're talking about players who have been on the ice rink since they were able to walk and practice at least 6 hours a day, of course this is something that would overtake their life! I was cheering for her, during her programs, I would hold my breath and pray that she skates a clean program, and wait in the kiss & cry to find out her scores then rejoice with her or feel disappointed. It was one emotional roller coaster!
The protagonist is 18 years old and that might seem a bit older from the usual YA novels, same as Surgei, who is six years older than her. Now I found this a bit odd for a YA novel, but the older age gives them more maturity and logical thinking than the usual 14 year olds!
Life On The Edge is a contemporary novel about achieving your dreams, finding your love, and being able to juggle all of this without going out of your mind!
(less)

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May 19, 2012 I Love YA Fiction rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. From iloveyafiction.com/life-on-the-edge-b...:

Let me preface this review with a hearty “I liked this book”. I did, I really did but Mysterious Woman from Her Alibi said it best: It was not pro it was pre…dictable! And also a little too straight laced for my tastes. Emily is one of those characters that is kind of ho-hum. She doesn’t really have much of a personality beyond seeming like she knows what she wants and even though she goes for it time and again, she really doesn’t know what she wants...more From iloveyafiction.com/life-on-the-edge-b...:

Let me preface this review with a hearty “I liked this book”. I did, I really did but Mysterious Woman from Her Alibi said it best: It was not pro it was pre…dictable! And also a little too straight laced for my tastes. Emily is one of those characters that is kind of ho-hum. She doesn’t really have much of a personality beyond seeming like she knows what she wants and even though she goes for it time and again, she really doesn’t know what she wants and the fact that she gets everything she sets her mind to so easily is a bore! You know the type, right? She’s the straight laced character that is normally relegated to the “friend” position in most books but here she is front and center and the action lacks a bit from the fact that she’s so…blah. And then there’s Sergei, the hot, young coach who fights his feelings for her but finally can’t stay away but totally accepts the fact that she’s saving herself for marriage. Now I applaud this in theory, but I read books to escape, people! Not to have good morals thrust into my face! So it’s no surprise based on what I wrote above that Emily wants to wait to do the deed that Sergei doesn’t like it but resigns himself to waiting and never pushes her again. Gah! That so would never happen. Annoying character traits aside, the description of the skating competitions is extremely fascinating for a layman and the fact that there’s isn’t an unstoppable, meteoric rise to fame gives the book a bit of plausibility it otherwise would lack. The ending is so cookie cutter that I found myself rolling my eyes and while I’m happy for all the people involved, I wish something bad would have happened to make me feel more for the characters. As it stands, the whole plot is just really, really easy to guess. That’s not to say the writing is bad because frankly, Jennifer Comeaux writes a good story here. Her dialogue is awesome; the tension between Sergei and Emily starts off so promisingly; and there’s a lot of exciting competition speak that made me nervous while uplifting me. It’s just that her subject matter needed more heartache and heartbreak to make it believable.(less)

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Mar 31, 2012 DelSheree rated it 4 of 5 stars

Skating is everything to Emily. Her career as a pairs skater is blossoming, and a chance at the Olympics seems closer every day. Everything she has dreamed of is so close to being hers, but an unexpected complication threatens everything.

Why would Emily risk her Olympic dream?

Falling in love with her coach wasn’t something she planned, in fact she tried very hard to avoid it, but once caught up in her love for Sergei, she knows there is no going back. But that doesn’t mean their relationship is...more Skating is everything to Emily. Her career as a pairs skater is blossoming, and a chance at the Olympics seems closer every day. Everything she has dreamed of is so close to being hers, but an unexpected complication threatens everything.

Why would Emily risk her Olympic dream?

Falling in love with her coach wasn’t something she planned, in fact she tried very hard to avoid it, but once caught up in her love for Sergei, she knows there is no going back. But that doesn’t mean their relationship is going to be easy.

A pet peeve of mine (something even big time writers have been guilty of) is reading a book and it being perfectly clear that the writer has no clue about their topic aside from maybe a quick Wiki search. Trust me, nobody drives down a windy mountain road in Colorado during a blizzard at any speed over about ten miles per hour, even in an emergency.

I bring this up just so readers know that Jennifer Comeaux’s Life on the Edge does not have this problem. I honestly would have thought Jennifer was a competitive skater at some point in her life if I didn’t know better. Her familiarity with the ins and outs of skating shows her passion for the sport and her research ability. Every aspect of the skating side of her book felt very realistic, right down to the terminology and politics. You won’t be distracted by obvious gaps in skating knowledge.

After setting the backdrop of Life on the Edge so well, Jennifer created a cast of characters to match. Emily and Sergei are the main characters, the ones battling thru emotions, politics, and family animosity, but they aren’t alone. Emily’s partner, Chris, is not a main focus of the story, but his likeability and fun personality makes you worry about how Emily’s decisions will affect him. The other secondary characters were the same. From Emily’s roommate, to the junior skaters she helps coach, the rest of the cast filled in the story and made it complete.

The main attraction of Life on the Edge is the love story. Yes, the Olympics are huge, but after watching these two resist each other, then fall in love, then have everything put in jeopardy, I couldn’t imagine anything that wouldn’t be worth giving up for them to stay together. Jennifer does a great job of building their romance early on, then holding back. Even when they do give in, the problems are nowhere near over. Right up to the end, the relationship with its hope and uncertainty at times pulls you through the story.
As much as I loved the relationship, I did think there were potential areas to increase the drama a little more, especially when it came to another skater interested in Emily, but that’s just my preference. I enjoy a good love triangle, but not everyone does.

Life on the Edge is a heartwarming story of love and tribulation young adults and adults will enjoy.(less)

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Mar 04, 2012 Tough Critic Book Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars

Reviewed at http://toughcriticbookreviews.blogspo...

I can honestly say that I've never read a book like this before. When I read the synopsis, I was so excited. Ice skating? Cool (no pun intended), I use to love watching the winter olympics for that sole reason and the summary reminded me of one of my all time favorite movies The Cutting Edge. I knew if anything, this book would bring me something different and it completely did just that.

I found myself rooting for Em and Chris like th...more

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Jan 24, 2012 Inga rated it 5 of 5 stars

review:

WOW! I have always said that I am not into sports books and now I need to reconsider it seriously. At least when it comes to sports romance books I have changed my mind. Especially when it comes to ice skating romance books! Life On the Edge was an experience to me in so many different ways. Firstly, one of the few sports I am following and watching in TV is ice-skating. I grew up with it and I knew all the big names in ice skating, also the ones mentioned in Life On the Edge! Ice skating...more

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Jan 22, 2012 Cass rated it 5 of 5 stars

I. Could. NOT. Put. Life On the Edge down!!!

I shirked my Saturday duties yesterday afternoon because as soon as I picked up Life on the Edge I was hooked! Hardly braking to make lunch and dinner and take potty breaks! I had to know who won the competitions and did the romance work!?

Emily, Chris and Sergei's story is an intriguing novel that involves one of my favorite Olympic events. You really discover just how much heart, energy, muscle, emotion, and mental determination goes into this sport....more

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Jan 09, 2012 Tifferz rated it 5 of 5 stars

I enjoy watching ice skating movies and the Olympics. Life on the Edge is a compelling novel that takes you into the lives of a pairs figure skating and we get an insider knowledge of the highs and lows of the sport. Emily and Sergei have some choices to make on the relationship the have and where they want it to go. It was fun to see this unfold. Sergei has some secrets that come back to haunt him. Emily has a lot to take in and can she forgive Sergei? I like the close relationship Emily shares...more

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Dec 20, 2012 Zoe rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, major-skills, squeaky-clean

I tried desperately hard to like this book. Promise.

I love ice skating. It's such a beautiful and exciting sport and I felt that the author really captured that for me.
Emily's life revolves around ice skating. She has ice skating friends, an ice skating job, and obviously, ice skates herself. Emily has a real drive for success and I celebrated every victory with her as she masters the difficult moves on the ice. Interestingly enough, I was much more emotionally caught up in Emily's competitive...more

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Nov 14, 2012 Kathleen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Emily Butler is a nineteen year old figure skater with a dream to make it to the Olympics. Once a singles skater, she has made the transition into pairs skating. She and partner Chris Grayden dream of competing at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City and winning the Olympic gold medal. With their young Russian coach Sergei, a former junior world champion who left Russia after his career ended suddenly and mysteriously, they have a good chance of going all the way to achieving their dream.

The sto...more Emily Butler is a nineteen year old figure skater with a dream to make it to the Olympics. Once a singles skater, she has made the transition into pairs skating. She and partner Chris Grayden dream of competing at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City and winning the Olympic gold medal. With their young Russian coach Sergei, a former junior world champion who left Russia after his career ended suddenly and mysteriously, they have a good chance of going all the way to achieving their dream.

The story opens in the summer of 2000, leading into the competitive season a year prior to the Olympics. Emily and Chris are practicing for the preliminary competitions leading up to the Olympics. In order for them to attain their Olympic dreams, Emily must not only master technique but conquer her performance anxiety. With the encouragement and support of both Chris and Sergei, Emily is able to control her anxiety and they start to win medals. But along the way the skater-coach relationship between Emily and Sergei grows into a friendship when they co-coach a younger pairs skating couple, that soon blossoms into a forbidden relationship. As a matter of ethics, coaches and skaters are discouraged from dating each other, and Emily and Sergei struggle to find a balance between skating and love, while not losing out on their Olympic dreams. As their love story starts to unfold, new obstacles cross their path and others take notice of their relationship, which threatens to end it all for them.

Life on the Edge is so much more than a romance story, it is an in depth look into the life of an Olympic contender: the dedication to practicing her craft; the unrelenting pressures and expectations from coaches, partners, family and friends; the loyalty of her fans; and ultimately the pursuit to follow her Olympic gold dream.

In her debut novel, author Jennifer Comeaux weaves a riveting tale told in the first person narrative through the eyes of Emily Butler. The story is full of drama, romance, and intense competition, that captivates the reader and transports them into the world of competitive figure skating. I have been a fan of figure skating since I was a child, and in Life on the Edge, the author does not disappoint me. Her research and intimate knowledge of figure skating is phenomenal, while her love for the sport is undeniable. She brings the world of figure skating alive for her readers, and makes it easy for them to follow along, and even feel like they are alongside Emily as she is living out her skating dreams.

I love a good love story, and a forbidden love story is even better! The character's are realistic and complex people who have flaws and strengths that balances them. Emily and Sergei's love story takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride, their chemistry is so palpable, it simply captivates your interest. You can't help but cheer for Emily as she fights her feelings while doubting Sergei's feelings for her, their struggles keep you turning the pages. Emily is a strong girl who struggles with her performance anxiety, while Chris is easy going, and his laid back nature helps to keep Emily calm and centered. The secondary cast of characters are realistic and engaging, they also play an integral part in the storyline.

Life on the Edge is an engaging story that has a mixture of romance, drama and intensity that easily draws the reader into the storyline. The author does a wonderful job of transporting the reader into the world of figure skating. You can feel the intensity every time Chris and Emily steps out onto the ice together for each performance. I was able to easily visualize their performance, feeling the pressure and cheers from the crowd as they performed their program. I literally found myself holding my breath as they completed each element. This reminded me of my favorite skating movie, The Cutting Edge, I could easily see this story becoming a made for TV movie on Lifetime.

Life on the Edge is a wonderful story of love and following one's dream. It is a story that will easily draw you into the daily lives of competitive skaters, while providing the added bonus of a palpable forbidden romance between a coach and skater.

Life on the Edge is the first book in a series. The sequel, Edge of the Past, will be released in late November. The sequel will continue Emily and Sergei's story, but this time the reader will discover Sergei's mysterious past!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the author / publisher in exchange for my honest review, and participation in a virtual book tour event hosted by Reading Addiction Blog Tours.

http://jerseygirlbookreviews.blogspot...(less)

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Nov 24, 2012 Cocktails and Books rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reading-challenges, blog-tour, contemporary-romance

his was one of those books that I managed to read in a couple of hours this week. It was a sweet storyline about love conquering all that was a perfect read for this holiday week.

Emily and her partner Chris have big dreams to win Olympic gold medals in pairs figure skating, unseating the Russians that seem to dominate the sport. Their dreams depend on their skills, drive and determination along with the help of their youngest Russian coach, Sergei. What Emily and Sergei didn't plan on was the at...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Chantel Rhondeau rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I have to admit, this book surprised me. It's the first contemporary romance I've ever read, and I was a bit worried about the MC only being nineteen and whether or not I'd be able to relate to her. However, the premise intrigued me, so I bought it.

I shouldn't have worried. I couldn't put this book down! I read it in two days and loved every minute of it.

While the main plot of the story is Emily and her pairs skating partner, Chris, trying to fight their way to the 2002 Olympics, the love story...more

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Nov 04, 2012 Marisa Adams rated it 5 of 5 stars

Life on the Edge was an excellent read in a variety of ways. I was immediately drawn into the story and completely caught up in Emily’s dream for Olympic gold. As someone who never really felt drawn to the athletic side of life, I was a little worried the skating and Olympic aspect would be too much for me. It wasn’t! Instead of being overwhelmed with technical jargon, I found myself celebrating each of Emily and Chris’ successes and grieving their losses.

I was also completely captivated with t...more

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Jul 03, 2012 January rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, best-sports-books

Emily Butler is a pairs figure skater with Olympic aspirations. It’s a life that revolves around the rink. Training all day every day to become the best of the best. With so little time to spend socially with anyone outside of the skating world, it is natural that her circle of friends consists of only other skaters. When Emily starts to spend time outside the rink with her coach, a young Russian man who used to be a champion pairs skater in his own right, she finds she has a lot more in common...more

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Mar 01, 2012 Reading, Eating & Dreaming rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 3-stars, 4-stars

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS AT READING, EATING AND DREAMING I WAS BLAIR WALDORF

Born and raised in South Louisiana, I’ve only been ice skating about 5 times in my entire life. If there is the smallest chance of snow, schools and businesses close down for the entire day, and I’m lucky if I see only few sprinkles of snow every few years. Needless to say, winter sports aren’t that big down here, but that doesn’t keep me from appreciating the various sports, particularly figure skating. Every fou...more CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS AT READING, EATING AND DREAMING I WAS BLAIR WALDORF

Born and raised in South Louisiana, I’ve only been ice skating about 5 times in my entire life. If there is the smallest chance of snow, schools and businesses close down for the entire day, and I’m lucky if I see only few sprinkles of snow every few years. Needless to say, winter sports aren’t that big down here, but that doesn’t keep me from appreciating the various sports, particularly figure skating. Every four years, I pop some popcorn, snuggle up on the couch, and root for Team USA’s figure skaters in the Winter Olympics. I am also a total sucker for figure skating movies. I can barely skate from one end of a rink to the other without busting my butt; therefore, I am completely mesmerized by skaters who can perform jumps, lifts, and spins.

Life On the Edge was a young adult romance novel about forbidden love and following your dreams. Reading Life On the Edge was very similar to experiencing my favorite figure skating movie, The Cutting Edge, for the first time. This novel was packed with drama, romance, intense competition, and a lot of heart. I was anxious every time Chris and Emily stepped out on the ice together, and I was hopeful every time Sergei and Emily were in the same room together.

Life On the Edge was a well-written, entertaining story. Ms. Comeaux did a fabulous job building the intensity of each performance. I bit my nails and prayed through every performance. It was intense, in a good way. Ms. Comeaux also did a wonderful job walking readers through each performance. Like I said before, I am not an experienced skater by any means, but I didn’t have any trouble imagining Chris and Emily’s performances. I could easily hear the crowd, feel the pressure, and visualize each move.

My only complaint about this novel is that I didn’t connect with Sergei as much as I connected with Emily. In my opinion, I would have had a better connection with Sergei and a deeper connection with this story if Ms. Comeaux had written both Emily and Sergei’s perspectives. I still rooted for Emily and Sergei, but there were a couple times when I doubted Sergei’s true feelings. Having his prospective would have eliminated my doubt.

Emily was a remarkable heroine. She dreams big, works hard, and follows her dreams. Her commitment, competitiveness, dedication, maturity, and love for the sport were inspiring.

I gave Life On the Edge 4 STARS (3.5 STARS). I recommend this novel to young adults!

-XOXO

READING, EATING AND DREAMING (less)

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Jun 20, 2012 Lyra Gill rated it 5 of 5 stars

Read the complete review here.

I don't know about any of you guys, but YA books that spotlight the lives of female athletes have always piqued my interest (case and point - Catching Jordan, the Pretty Tough series, etc.). One day, I chanced upon a list on goodreads that listed these kinds of books, and this was how I came to find out about Life on the Edge. Upon reading the blurb, I was at once intrigued - I immediately wondered how Comeaux will go about the forbidden relationship, and whether sh...more

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Sep 21, 2012 Stefanie Pristavu rated it 5 of 5 stars

4.5 stars

This is a very sweet story. I haven't read sporting romances before, but I loved the movie genre. I was not disappointed. Life on the Edge was an entertaining, fast, gripping read.

Characters:
- Emily is likable and easy to root for. She's not perfect since she has competition anxiety, but she's working toward bettering herself.
- Sergei - I'm on the fence with him. I liked him overall as a character, and he did give off some hotness vibes, but I'd have liked it maybe if we could witness m...more

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May 18, 2012 Tabby - IMReviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

See Original Review @Tabby @Insightful Minds

I took several different things away from this book. The main one being a better understanding of a sport that I love to watch. :) I also took away a story that leaves you rooting for someone even when you don't realize that you are!

At just 18 years old, Emily is quickly becoming part of something huge. She is half of a world figure skating team, that if all goes right, is headed straight for the Olympics. Every girls dream right!?

Can we say perfectnes...more See Original Review @Tabby @Insightful Minds

I took several different things away from this book. The main one being a better understanding of a sport that I love to watch. :) I also took away a story that leaves you rooting for someone even when you don't realize that you are!

At just 18 years old, Emily is quickly becoming part of something huge. She is half of a world figure skating team, that if all goes right, is headed straight for the Olympics. Every girls dream right!?

Can we say perfectness?!

Insert the left field feelings that Emily suddenly finds herself feeling for her coach, Sergei. Her coach, of all people, and she is falling for him. One would think this is awesome because they get to spend all that time together. Tell that to the partner, Chris, who just happens to have his own feelings for Emily. Insert insane complications here.

As you turn the pages, you watch as Emily and Sergei battle through all the emotions that come with their situation. Do we hide the feelings. No, we act one them. No, we hide them. Is this right? Can we do this? Should we do this? Am I willing to give up my dream? Is this worth it? While working through all of these things, they suddenly find themselves at an impasse, and everything is suddenly on that line they were trying to hard to avoid. Can they save it?

One thing I would have liked to see more of in this book is the drama concerning Chris. I realize he is the partner and that would have been an "obvious" move, but I felt there could have been more conflict about this where he was concerned. Aside from this small thing, I freaking loved this book.

Jennifer brings you a truly heartfelt story that you cannot help but get into. You could tell from the first couple of chapters that this one was very researched book, which made everything more enjoyable for me as a reader. You get everything in this book. Struggle, emotions, heartbreak, romance, real life problems, and watching some achieve their goal come hell or high water. Not to mention that the characters internal monologues were amazing and gave me so much more insight to their character. I can't wait for the second book to read more about these two!(less)

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Jan 21, 2012 Holli rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-own, kindle-for-pc-books, favorites

Life On the Edge is an absolute joy to read from the first page to the final chapter. There are so many things about this book that are so admirable and I truly appreciate Jennifer Comeaux for! She has made my list of all time favorite authors with her very first Novel! That in itself should speak volumes!

Emily Butler is a twenty year old figure skater with a dream to make it to the Olympics. Once a single skater, ... she made a difficult transition into couples skating. Not only does she have...more

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Mar 02, 2013 Kassidy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-i-won, books-i-own

**3.5**

This was an entertaining light read that I did enjoy especially because I don't normally read books about sports and it was nice to try something new. I've always been interested in ice skating, so this gave me a look into what it is really like and I liked seeing it from the athletes point of view.

The romance: Okay, here lies some problems. The smooth talking love interest, Sergei, was very likable. I thought he was cute and I did want him and Emily to be together. The problem was the au...more **3.5**

This was an entertaining light read that I did enjoy especially because I don't normally read books about sports and it was nice to try something new. I've always been interested in ice skating, so this gave me a look into what it is really like and I liked seeing it from the athletes point of view.

The romance: Okay, here lies some problems. The smooth talking love interest, Sergei, was very likable. I thought he was cute and I did want him and Emily to be together. The problem was the author kept saying that they were in love and how much the love each other, but I didn't really feel it. Sergei and Emily definitely acted like they were in love, but for some reason I just didn't feel the desire that she kept talking about.

Pacing: The pacing also had some issues. I felt it was a little jumpy. At some points the story was very in the moment and sort of a day by day narrative, but then it would jump to a couple months later and it was a little confusing at times. It would be slow paced then all of a sudden fast. It didn't really feel like it flowed very well.

Characters: I thought Emily was a bit boring at first, but she became more developed throughout the story, so if you read it give her a chance. I just didn't really believe her feelings towards Sergei and her emotions in the relationship seemed somewhat forced. I liked Sergei a lot and I felt he was more believable of a character. I also loved Chris, Emily's skating partner, he was very cute!

This story really shined when it came to the ice skating aspects. I felt Emily's character became more real when she was ice skating. The main thing I worried about in the book was if Emily and Chris were going to make it to the Olympics or not, towards the middle and end I was not really focused on Sergei and Emily's relationship. I felt Emily had more desire towards skating than towards Sergei.

I think the biggest problem with the relationship aspect was that Sergei and Emily did not have enough quality time moments. Every time they were about to have a heart to heart conversation they got interrupted by a dramatic plot twist. There was only one time that I felt they really talked and communicated. I wish there were more scenes of them actually being able to enjoy each other's company and learn about each other.

Overall, I would recommend this to some one who is looking for a semi-dramatic contemporary. It will definitely make you want to keep reading to see what happens, but it is not exactly gripping. Also, if you are interested in ice skating definitely check this one out!

I know there are two more books in the series I believe, I will try to read the second one, but it's not going to be anytime soon.

THANK YOU THANK YOU to Jennifer Comeaux for the giveaway of the eBook copy of this, I really appreciate it. And also thank you to YA Novelties blog for hosting that giveaway!! (Go check them out!)
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Oct 15, 2012 Sabrina Devonshire rated it 5 of 5 stars

Once I got immersed in this book, I couldn't put it down. Even though I'm an athlete (swimmer), you don't have to be an athlete to enjoy this book. Young Emily is a skater training with her partner Chris for the Olympics and she falls in love with her coach Sergio.

Some of the initial dialogue between Em and Sergio didn't work so well for me because his words didn't sound like "guy talk," but beyond that, the skating scenes were fabulous, the secondary characters were all well developed and thei...more

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Sep 04, 2012 Kristi Davis rated it 5 of 5 stars

4.5 stars and I have to confess that Cutting Edge is my FAVORITE movie of all time. So.. This book is pretty much that, except the romance is with someone else but you get to see the whole follow-through of ice skating competitions. I looooved it. IT was long and involved and I thought it was great.

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About Jennifer Comeaux

Jennifer Comeaux earned a Master of Accounting from Tulane University and is a Certified Public Accountant in south Louisiana. While working in the corporate world, she sought a creative outlet and decided to put on paper a story that had played in her head for years. That story became Life on the Edge, her first published novel.

When not working or writing, she is an avid follower of the sport of...more

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“If two people like each other and nothing's stopping them from being together, then they should go for it.” — 8 people liked it

“Our evening-long tango of stares had my head spinning.” — 6 people liked it

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