Edge of Light [Kindle Edition]

Cynthia Justlin (Author)

Book Description

Taken prisoner by a ruthless group of anarchists deep in the Cambodian jungle, anthropologist Jocelyn Hewitt is isolated in a dark prison cell. Without chance of rescue. Or hope. Until the man in the next cell reaches out to let her know she's not as alone as she thinks.

CIA agent Oliver Shaw has been held prisoner for over two years. Forced to witness the brutal torture and slow murder of his entire team, his spirit is not just broken, it's crushed. He no longer believes in hope. Until he hears Jocelyn through the wall, and suddenly feels like a glimpse of light is trying to reach in...

Jocelyn's heart aches for the tortured man whose presence and voice give her the courage to risk their escape. But first she'll have to remind Oliver who he once was, what he once loved, and bring him back to life. Only then will they have a chance for freedom—and the kind of love neither ever thought possible.

89,000 words

Product Details

• File Size: 495 KB
• Print Length: 238 pages
• Publisher: Carina Press (May 14, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007BBV6I6
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #386,427 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A- rating.... May 14, 2012

By Christina Snow TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Kindle Edition

My Review:
Look at that cover up there. This is NOT a light-hearted, floofy romance. This book is gritty and it's harsh, but I thought it was so incredibly good. Half this book is spent with the Hero and heroine in captivity. They never even see each other face to face until right before their escape, so this is not a book about romance and flowers. Their surroundings are minimal. The beatings are harsh. The torture is truly inhumane. This book doesn't spare anything, so be prepared.

Oliver is a CIA agent who has been a captive for two years. Not only has he been tortured and beaten, but he's had to watch all of his teammates slowly die. The only reason he's been kept alive is that he's also an artist. One of the Trinity (the lead baddie in this group of three baddies) uses his paintings as his catharsis. That doesn't mean that Oliver is spared anything besides the very basis of his life. Right now, he's doing nothing but surviving. This is a broken man with no hope left...until Jocelyn arrives.

Jocelyn is part of a government team who comes in and excavates human remains so that they can be returned to their loved ones. This trip to Cambodia is especially important (to the point where she lied her way onto the team) because they are there to excavate her father's remains. This quickly goes astray and we learn the team was brought there on false pretenses so that the Trinity could get hold of Jocelyn. She's the key to translating her father's treasure maps even though she was 8 yo when he disappeared/died.

Like I said this book is really pretty harsh, but it was an interesting read about the human spirit. Jocelyn is a strong, positive person and she refuses to let Oliver give up, although he is already way past that point. In his eyes, every person during his captivity has died because he wasn't strong enough to save them. He's terrified of getting attached to Josie because he knows that will seal her death penalty. It's heartbreaking to see how torn down he truly is, but I loved Jocelyn's spirit and belief in him. She knows he's a good person and refuses to allow him to blame himself for all those deaths. Through her, he starts to find redemption and the man he used to be. It was a slow transformation and almost painful to read, but it was so worth it in the end. This is just really a good book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "ROMANTIC SUSPENSE AT ITS BEST!" July 8, 2012

By Geraldine Ahearn TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition

Jocelyn Hewitt, an anthropologist, is a prisoner in a dark prison in the jungle of Cambodia. CIA Agent Oliver Shaw, a witness to torture and brutal murder is also a prisoner behind the same dark walls that Joselyn is in. Oliver had given up on hope until he hears Jocelyn's voice through the dark walls. They plan to escape, but first Joselyn and Oliver must help each other emotionally in order to build up the courage to escape in a battle of survival. Action-packed, intense suspense and compelling with chills and thrills. Highly Recommended!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A romantic suspense that leaves you on the edge of your seat! May 27, 2012

By Deserie Comfort

Format:Kindle Edition

ABOUT THE BOOK: Taken prisoner by a ruthless group of anarchists deep in the Cambodian jungle, anthropologist Jocelyn Hewitt is isolated in a dark prison cell. Without chance of rescue. Or hope. Until the man in the next cell reaches out to let her know she's not as alone as she thinks.

CIA agent Oliver Shaw has been held prisoner for over two years. Forced to witness the brutal torture and slow murder of his entire team, his spirit is not just broken, it's crushed. He no longer believes in hope. Until he hears Jocelyn through the wall, and suddenly feels like a glimpse of light is trying to reach in...

Jocelyn's heart aches for the tortured man whose presence and voice give her the courage to risk their escape. But first she'll have to remind Oliver who he once was, what he once loved, and bring him back to life. Only then will they have a chance for freedom--and the kind of love neither ever thought possible.

REVIEW: One word. WOW. That one piece sums up this book in its entirety. I really don't think I have adequate words to even begin to explain just how awesome this book is. Ms. Justlin has a way about her writing that paints a vivid picture in your head, draws you into her gripping story, and enthralls you to never put the book down. Her words flow with accuracy and as smooth as churned butter. She doesn't go overboard in the explanation of scenes or the feelings in her character's heads and leaves you with JUST the right amount of insight, enough for the reader to be able to picture it, feel it, and use their own creative minds to finish the picture.

The suspense she drew up not only in the plot of the story but also in the chemistry between the characters was simply divine. Oliver breaks your heart with his self-loathing ways but still manages to work his way deep inside the same organ to hold tight. Josie is the extreme picture of a strong woman, one who has just the right amount of strength and gusto to save our dear hero from losing himself and letting go. I thoroughly enjoyed the spark between these two and the way they both saved each other from themselves, each in their own different, yet unique, ways.

The plot itself is one that is extreme yet a real part of today's world. It's also one that leaves you on the edge of your seat until the very end. I couldn't put the book down with the combination of the chemistry, along with the plot unfolding.

If you're looking for a very sweet romance, then this isn't the book for you. While it holds a romance element, this isn't a book for the weak of heart. It is one though, that will leave you gripping at the seams to continue, one that will have you staying up till 3am - just because you can't let go, and one that will leave a smile on your face on down to the last word.

There is no doubt about it, five out of five stars for Ms. Justlin's wonderful romantic suspense.

More About the Author

Cynthia's love of the written word began at a very young age, when a trip to the library meant packing a lunch and heading out on her bicycle for a day of fictional adventures, but it wasn't until Junior High that she discovered her own talent for storytelling and vowed to write a book someday. Cynthia went on to earn a Bachelor's degree in the chemical sciences, working at an engineering firm and as a lab manager for a high school science department, before turning back to her writing.

In 2009, Cynthia's second book, INTRUSION, was nominated as a Romance Writers of America Golden Heart® finalist. Now, Cynthia writes gritty, action packed romantic suspense and thrillers for Carina Press.

Cynthia lives in Arizona with her husband and two sons. She is also a Stage IV cancer survivor, and living proof that hope and faith can work miracles.

For more information about Cynthia and her books visit CynthiaJustlin.com or connect with her via Twitter and Facebook.