The Cutting Edge

by Ace Collins

Leslie Rhoads may have grown up in a small town, but is on the verge of becoming a supermodel in the Big Apple, when the 24-year-old is chosen to grace the cover of Style magazine and star in the controversial Passion Nights’ perfume ads. But before she can step into the spotlight, Leslie is assaulted by a drug gang and disfigured with a broken scotch bottle. Without her perfect face, she is lost and no amount of surgery can ever make her what she once was.

Now trying to hide her face from the world, Leslie encounters more trouble as she seeks to rebuild her unrequited love, thoughts of suicide, and her assailant out to finish the job. Little does she know that a young girl named Angel will turn it all around, showing Leslie the joy and potential in life and the fact that love truly is blind.

Genres: Suspense, Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Christian Fiction, Mystery, Ebooks

336 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2013

About the author

Citing his Arkansas heritage, Christy Award winner Ace Collins defines himself as a storyteller. In that capacity, Collins has authored more than eighty books for 25 different publishers that have sold more than 2.5 million copies. His catalog includes novels, biographies, children’s works as well as books on history, culture and faith. He has also been the featured speaker at the National Archives Distinguished Lecture Series, hosted a television special, been featured on every network morning TV show and does college basketball play-by-play. He is married to Kathy Collins, Chair of the Education Department at Ouachita Baptist University, and the couple has two grown sons. Collins lives in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

Reviews

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The Cutting Edge is a book I've had on my TBR for years and was eager to read, but kept putting off for some reason. I recently checked out the audio version which pushed me to read it and I'm so glad I did.

It was an intriguing read and one that had a powerful message about beauty. I loved seeing the MC learn to not put her worth in outward beauty.

All in all, The Cutting Edge was a good read. Some of the content was a bit edgy, but nothing too much for me.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

[Paige · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was right to be suspicious about this book.

When I discovered it somewhere on the Internet, I was excited. The plot looked good, really good.
The first thing I did was look up the author. I wanted to find out if he had any other books that looked as good as this one.
I had soon discovered my two reasons for suspicion:
Ace Collins has written over fifty books.
Quite a few of his fiction works have been published by Abington Press.

Bad assumption or not, I get a little skeptical about a book's quality when its author has written that many books.
I had also never heard of Abington, although that wasn't much of a surprise. However, something about them struck me as independent/low-quality publishing.

And I was right.
The only thing that kept me from throwing this book in the trash and walking away from it without a regret was the story. I absolutely despised extremely disliked this until the very end. The only reason I suffered through this was so I could find out what happened.

So no, it wasn't the plot that totally sucked needed improvement, it was the formatting. I would provide examples but you only need to read the first two pages to recognize the glaring mistakes.
Blatant typos.
Misuse of commas. This was the one that probably bothered me the most.
Awkward and unnecessary dialogue tags.
There's even some insta-love. I mean the book (except for the last chapter) takes place within the space of a month, and in that time Leslie and Hunter rediscover each other, fall in love, and become engaged. Leslie pegged herself as 'in love' within a week or so. C'mon.

The story really was good, but it was hard to tell with the crappy lack of formatting.

It's a high two stars, and I wish it was better.

[Bookdragon94 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Won as an ARC. What a truly phenomenal book. The book begins with the naturally beautiful model Leslie just getting her first big break. She travels home to see her parents and to think about the biggest contract of her career that goes against her morals. On her way to her parents house, she is brutally attacked. Her attackers brutalized her face and the book is about Leslie learning who she is apart from the beautiful face that was her identity for 24 years. Her mother lived through her modeling career so she is no help whatsoever, but with the help of Meg, her cousin/best friend; Angel, a scarred little girl; Hunter, an old high school friend; and a new relationship with God, Leslie heals. Don't forget that Leslie has to deal with thoughts of suicide, and her assailant out to finish the job. I literally inhaled this book because Ace draws his readers in so well.

[Suzanne Marble · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this free through goodreads. Toying with your emotions, and capturing your heart wasn't the only thing this book did to you. It kept you engaged, inspired and thinking the whole way through. It made you analyze how you think, what you would do and soo much more. I applaud Ace in making a female based novel, into such a show-stopper. There was great imagery, on your seat suspense, and such emotion wrapped all together in this one little book. I felt that the plot went smooth, and there was no redundancy. He used varying words, and sentence structures to help captivate the sorrowing story of rebuilding a life, when beauty was all you had.

[Andi Tubbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the themes of this book.

First off Leslie is a beautiful young woman who refuses to model for the ads that would put her in a compromising light. For me that is just huge in today's society where girls really don't care about laying it all out there.
Second, after she is assaulted she is brought to the point of learning that beauty is not just the outside. Our young girls need to learn that.
Ace balances the plot and the characters wonderfully. You are on the edge of your seat as well as caring for the characters.

I would highly recommend this, for women from teen up!

[#artdamnit Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

Free Friday book from BN. It was actually a pretty good concept, but then it got religious, the characters got flat and boring and the "twist" was just of thrown in for fun it seems like.

[Lorraine Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.

[Carolyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young super model has her face severely cut in an attack. Her face was badly cut and her career is gone. She returns to her home town and finds life goes on

[Kathleen (Kat) Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

They say beauty is only skin deep, but is it really? Does anyone ever really bother to get beneath the skin and find the real person inside? Perfection was a look and that was it. So many "beautiful" girls look in the mirror and suddenly become dissatisfied with the way they looked. Many begin to dwell on one feature or another as the reason they hadn't become the latest cover girl. The end result is usually an appointment with a cosmetic surgeon and an attempt to improve on what most people would have thought of was perfection. Of course, rather did these fixes lead to bigger jobs, only bigger disappointments and lower self esteem. The fact was, a "look" couldn't be manufactured; it had to be a gift of birth.

That is just what Leslie Rhoads had, the looks that most would die to have. No cosmetic surgery was necessary and a true moment of opportunity sat literally right in front of her. The opportunity most models wait a lifetime to get and only rarely do few ever find. Now on the cusp of making a decision that might change her career, Leslie begins to count just what the cost is for great beauty and looks. Passion Nights, a perfume company wants her to be their spokesmodel but the photographs and ads leave very little left to the imagination. Raised as the proverbial girl next door, she wonders just what kind of message would she be sending taking on this project and signing a multi-million dollar contract. Her agent Carlee Middleton, reminds her that this doesn't come around too often and it is a guarantee to launch her career as a model to heights she had never dreamed before. No more struggling to make rent or live in less than desirable areas, this would literally be a life changing. But she can't accept without talking to her parents, the voice of reason in her life. What would God tell her to do?

When she arrives home from a late night flight from New York into Springfield, Illinois, the airport is mostly closed. Without wanting to wake her parents, she opts to call for a cab but since it's so late the cab will take awhile to get there since the driver is out on another call. When twenty minutes pass, Leslie sees an approaching unmarked car and believes that such a small town company has opted to send whatever they have left. Without thinking she opens the car door, only to be abducted from the airport by men she can't see. The only people who even know she is arriving home is her agent and it seems like that might be the last person who will ever know just where she went.

The men who have abducted Leslie have no idea who she is, and had hoped merely to gain whatever money and items of worth from her before abandoning her at the side of a dark road. But when a search of her baggage reveals her face on the cover of a magazine, the men realize Leslie might be worth a whole lot more. When she fails to give them what they want, they decide to take it out on her in a dark alley, cutting her beautiful face with a broken bottle and leaving her for dead. What will her beauty be worth now?

In the latest novel by best selling author Ace Collins, The Cutting Edge is one of those novels that once you pick up will embed its way into your soul. I literally inhaled this one and didn't realize that this novel is the sequel from Darkness Before Dawn. I remember reading a similar story that happened many years ago about a model who had her face viciously damaged and she was left for dead as well. I can't imagine the horrors she had to deal with much like Leslie's character whose whole life has been defined by her looks. Now she is left with nothing more but scars but it's the ones inside that may never heal. Can she find the beauty that lies within all of us before it's too late?

I received The Cutting Edge by Ace Collins compliments of Abingdon Press for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed in this review are mine. I easily rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars because I believe it delivers more than just a great suspense filled story. There is a great message behind this story that is revealed by the time you get to the end, the one of what the true definition of beauty really is. Once again I feel that Ace Collins is definitely a "one to watch" author because everything he seems to do, turns to gold. He is utilizing his true God given gift of writing to transport us inside the story. It's compelling, believable and one that will stay with you long after you turn the final page. I simply can't wait to see what masterpiece he will create next.

[Chrissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

*** 3.5 STARS ***

I can't deny it -- I had a case of cover lust when it came to THE CUTTING EDGE by Ace Collins. I had NO clue whatsoever what the book was even about -- but I knew I absolutely loved the sophisticated, stylish cover, and that was enough for me!

Once I read the description of the story? Well, that wasn't too bad either! Basically, from the very start, we meet Leslie Rhode, a drop-dead gorgeous young supermodel who is just on the cusp of superstar-dom. Revered for her perfectly shaped face that can sell endless magazines, Leslie has never had to rely on anything but her stunning good looks, which have always gotten her everything she ever wanted in life.

Seeking her family's approval on a tough ethical decision that could easily make her break her blooming career, Leslie makes a surprise trip back to her quaint little home town. But, things definitely don't go as planned. Leslie is assaulted by a group of men who assume that she must be carrying great riches in her suitcases, and her face is brutally and intentionally ripped to shreds by an angry man who wishes to destroy Leslie's career by destroying her greatest pride -- her beautiful face.

After learning that she will never again be able to return to her life as a supermodel, Leslie's entire identity crashes at her feet, leaving her lost, hopeless, and alone. Who is Leslie without her perfect face? What can she do if she can't model?

Can Leslie find the light at the end of the tunnel and create an identity that relies more on shallow physical beauty? Or, will an impulse move on Leslie's part confirm her worst fears that she is really nothing but a pretty face?

I really loved the basic concept of The Cutting Edge, which put an interesting twist on the typical coming of age story by forcing a young woman to really consider her worth and her purpose beyond what she had expected for the majority of her young life. Leslie's views and exceptions are firmly grounded in her mother's treatment of her as a delicate porcelain doll in her youth, always being forced to forgo fun activities with other young children for fear that she could damage her perfect face in a rowdy play session. As a young adult, Leslie has learned to view herself only as beautiful, which left her less focused on developing a strong adult personality and self-awareness that might have seemed more necessary had she not been expecting to rely on her physical appearance for her entire future. So, what happens when all of this is lost in mere moments? It was definitely nice to watch Leslie progress throughout the story, even though she seemed very hesitant and resistant to change for a good portion of the novel.

My biggest problem with THE CUTTING EDGE, I think, was just the way that the writing was so heavy handed, overtly proclaiming the message so loudly that it seemed to give little credit to the reader, which took away a bit of the intrigue (in my opinion, at least). For example, the villain continuously mentioned that he intentionally scarred Leslie's face in order to deliberately destroy her future because she seemed to be a young woman who tended to get by on nothing but the grace of her good looks. Did this need to be so expressly statement so often in the story, or couldn't we, as the reader, come to this conclusion without having it force-fed to us at different points? Likewise, most of the supporting characters are written to such an extreme that they almost became caricatures rather than well-developed characters on their own right. One example would be Leslie's agent, who was almost overwritten in the way that her selfishness and greed was portrayed so boldly. In the same way, Hunter was almost TOO perfect and TOO doting in the way he not-so-secretly adored everything about Leslie and constantly advised her that he could see beyond her scars. Symbolism? Not here -- everything is too blatantly spelled out to be subtle at all!

Even so, I did enjoy the underlying idea of the book and I can't deny that I was entertained right up until the last page. I always love a happy ending that makes sense in light of the rest of the book, and I think THE CUTTING EDGE definitely delivered in this aspect! I appreciated having the chance to read an e-version of this story for the purposes of providing an honest review, and I thank the publisher for making this novel available to me!

[Kaiti Laughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

mixing mystery and existential crisis is always fun

[Alexandra Cathrine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Who edited this? A blind person? I saw so many mistakes and name mix ups. Not to mention not knowing how to use the term 'literally'. That aside, this book was ok, I didn't hate it but I don't know if it was worth having late fees. It was predictable and of course had a feel good ending. Would I read it again? No. Would I recommend it? Probably. That adds up to three stars from me.

[Calen · Rating 1 out of 5]

**I won a free copy of this book through GoodReads First Reads**

I... What?

Did I even read the same book as the rest of these people?

Because I honestly have not one good thing to say about this book. I got absolutely nothing out of it. The characters were all horribly shallow and 2-dimensional. The plot was messy and not well thought out at all. The writing style was just plain annoying. And I'm not even talking about the typos and plot inconsistencies, which I can honestly just chalk up to the fact that I read an unedited version. I'm talking about the actual story line--the stuff that can't be fixed even with the best editor in the country.

First of all, the message of this book was supposed to be something along the lines of beauty comes from within, or beauty is in the eye of the beholder, which is a beautiful message, don't get me wrong, but the way the author came about it was absolutely ridiculous.

Let me put it to you this way: People don't just fucking change in an instant. Ever.

Which is exactly what Leslie did in this book. One moment she was whining about her face being torn to shreds and making stupid decisions over it, and the next she's totally embracing the fact that what happened to her did.

...What??

I am truly baffled.

Leslie Analysis

Meet Leslie Rhoads:

"There is no soul. Not Anymore. It died with my face."

Oh, and my personal favorite...

"I didn't do this," Leslie snarled, pointing to her face and suddenly remembering something else from the night of the attack. "Some monster did this and he wouldn't have if I had let him rape me. It would have been a whole lot easier to have lived with that, don't you think?"

Oh yes, I would much rather deal with rape, than lose my good looks... said no one ever.

And this is our main character. She is self-absorbed, melodramatic, narcissistic, whiny and just an all around bitch. She's rude to those who obviously care about her in favor of wallowing in self pity. And wallow she does. Until the last 60 pages this girl wallows in her own misery. I seriously can't believe some of the shit that comes out of her mouth, and I can tell you right now that there is not a model out there who doesn't know who she is beyond her looks. This girl is just fucking sad. She doesn't even deserve the title of model, because she makes the models look bad.

I honestly wanted to put this book down and never look at it again, but the promise of a girl named Angel who would help turn things around kept me going.

And God it wasn't even worth it.

Angel Analysis

For a saving grace, you were painfully not present through the entirety of the book. So way to go Angel, way to give showing up in the nick of time a brand new meaning.

If she had been this amazing character who blew me away, I would have been totally okay with this. But she pretty much just fucking stared, and said some cutesy little girl things. I mean, come on make me feel something! I didn't even feel sorry for her back story, because it seemed fake. Her whole character seemed fake.

I just can't handle this.

I honestly, seriously feel cheated. This was probably the worst three hours of my life spent in a long time.

Long story short, if you're thinking of picking up this book... Don't.

There are way better books to immerse yourself in than this.

[Victor Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ace Collins in his new book, “The Cutting Edge” published by Abingdon Press takes us into the life of Leslie Rhoads.

From the back cover: When your entire future is destroyed, why would you bother to rebuild?

Leslie Rhoads may have grown up in a small town, but is on the verge of becoming a supermodel in the Big Apple, when the 24-year-old is chosen to grace the cover of Style magazine and star in the controversial Passion Nights perfume ads. But before she can step into the spotlight, Leslie is assaulted by a drug gang and disfigured with a broken scotch bottle. Without her perfect face, she is lost and no amount of surgery can ever make her what she once was.

Now trying to hide her face from the world, Leslie encounters more trouble as she seeks to rebuild her life: unrequited love, thoughts of suicide, and her assailant out to finish the job. Little does she know that a young girl named Angel will turn it all around, showing Leslie the joy and potential in life and the fact that love truly is blind.

Ace Collins understands that what we judge others by is the face. If the face looks good then we say the person is good, whether that is the case or not. Leslie is about to take over a prime perfume account and become what she always dreamed about: a supermodel. That dream is shattered by a gang attack and a beer bottle. Her face is badly scarred and irreparable. Now what does she do? And on top of everything her attacker wants to finish the job he started. I think this is a brilliant character study with the focus on beauty. Mr. Collins throws in all kinds of sub-plots that keep the story moving briskly As Leslie begins to move on with her life. Through Mr. Collins’ excellent writing skills we come to understand Leslie and want her to be healed from her almost crushing pain. Mr. Collins has given us themes of devastating loss, and forgiveness and how we can deal with them. This is a fun read that gives us a lot to think about.

You can find “The Cutting Edge” at a discount at http://www.deepershopping.com/item/co...

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Abingdon Press. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the only other Ace Collins book I’ve read, The Christmas Star, but I’ve found that Christmas novels can often be different from an author’s regular style of work. Having now read the most recent release by Ace Collins, I can say that’s definitely the case here. The Christmas Star and The Cutting Edge have little in common besides the author. The former is a nostalgic look at the Christmas season, while this book’s narrative is stark and often violent. The pages describing Leslie’s assault are particularly harrowing. I wanted to skip over them, but forced myself to at least get the gist of what happened.

Leslie has everything going for her, but has never had much control over her life. Her mother and her agent have determined its course, and now an unidentified gang of men have turned it upside down. Even as she recovers, Leslie’s agent seeks to keep her hold on the young woman’s image and profit from her misfortune. Her mother sees Leslie only in terms of her looks, thus undermining any hope for psychological recovery. Leslie can either listen to her mother or an encouraging friend. One will lead to despondency, the other to a new life. In the meantime, is Leslie’s attacker still stalking her?

The Cutting Edge is a contemporary thriller about a battle between good and evil, and morality versus power. While the timeline seems somewhat unrealistic, there are twists and turns that give a new perspective to what’s come before. There was one twist I certainly didn’t expect. The characters vary in their relationships both before and after the attack. The agent’s true regard for Leslie is soon revealed, but Leslie’s cousin, Meg, is a major factor in her recovery. Meg is the encouraging Christian at Leslie’s side, but she isn’t a one-dimensional, always patient, always smiling caricature. Naturally, there’s the expected positive ending, but it’s a book I nevertheless enjoyed.

Thank you to Abingdon for my free Advance Reader Copy of The Cutting Edge, which I received in exchange for an honest review to be written and posted by me within a certain timeframe.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leslie Rhoads has just been named the Number #1 hottest model around as her face is the epitome of true beauty - she has never needed make-up or had to have her face digitally altered or surgery and so she is rising the ranks fast , but in order to survive the modelling world - Leslie has to make a decision which will have her nude and scantily clad all across America. Morals hold her back and only one person can set her free and help her make the decision - her father Johnathon. So Leslie , hops the next plane home and arrives at the airport late. Then tragedy occurs and the next thing Leslie knows is that she is waking up in a hospital bed and unrecognisable - her whole face has been cut up with a broken bottle and she is scarred for life. The only thing Leslie had going for her was her beauty - so what is she now if she no longer has that ? Read as the story goes off into three different plot lines all interweaving - the first is the police trying to find out with what little information they have on who attacked Leslie , the second is the perspective of Carlee - Leslie's agent who is trying to milk the accident and tragic event for what it's worth and Leslie - read as she tries to discover what life means and that no matter what happens God has a plan and loves you. In places this book was a tad slow, but it is defintiely worth reading especially the last couple of chapters will make you tear up and your heart leap for joy in a way despite the OMG intense moment near the end of the novel.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ace Collins has created a compelling read with his latest novel. The Cutting Edge cuts deep indeed as it rips away the layers and portrays what can happen when beauty is only skin deep. Collins weaves a suspenseful plot into this issue-driven and character-focused tale. In spite of her lack of inner strength, Leslie Rhoads is a likeable character, and the horrific attack she experiences makes it easy to sympathize with her as she must confront the physical and emotional challenges that result from her attack. This is not a simplistic novel. Leslie grapples with difficult issues such as suicide, the purpose of life, betrayal and the foundations of attraction and love. Collins expertly weaves threads of faith, hope, and love among the suspense and despair in this story that is alternately chilling, poignant, and heartwarming. While this is a standalone, readers of Darkness Before Dawn will enjoy appearances of that novel's main character, Meg Richards. Don't miss this important book.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from Ace Collins and Abingdon Press. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

[LAWonder10 · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Cutting Edge' is a great story of a model who finally "hit the Big Time", but at what cost? Was it really worth the sacrifices she would be making? She decided to go back home where she would discuss it with her father, realizing it was not only her life this decision would be affecting.

She arrived late at night, deciding to spend the night in a motel rather than awaken her parents...a hotel she never made it to. The ensuing events changed her life forever!

This is a dynamic story concerning vanity, self worth, unconditional love, cruelty, violence, spiritual healing, dysfunctional families,

The cover is very profound and reflects much of the story. It succeeds in getting one's attention.

The characters were very defined and the reader easily connected to them. However, the scene's surrounding events could have been better described. There were a few grammatical errors, as well.

There were times when the "flow" of the story didn't go well and there was some repetition. The story, itself, was good and "clean" enough for YA audiences. There were also many good points made...ideal for Book Club discussions.

I fluctuated between giving a three or four stars book review rating and decided on a weak Four Stars rating.

I was sent this book by a publisher to read and give an honest review, of which I have given.

[Amanda H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leslie Rhoads is on top of the world. After landing her photo on the cover of a popular magazine, she seems to be on the brink of breaking into the forefront of modeling.
When she is given the opportunity to be the face of a controversial perfume campaign, Leslie heads home to think over the pros and cons. Before she can make her choice though, she is the victim of a terrible attack that leaves her with a horribly scarred face, taking away everything she ever knew. After a lifetime of letting her looks define who she is and how she makes her livelihood, Leslie must decide what she is made of and if there is more to her than just her once pretty face. Can God work such a horrible tragedy into a thing of beauty?
Part mystery, part suspense with, this story appeals in so many different ways. I like that there is a depth to Leslie's journey to finding out who she really is. I also like that the hero of the story is actually a hero, one who has morals and shows his love through actions.
(for the rest of my thoughts, visit: http://amandanicolle.blogspot.com/201...)

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting story that really makes you think about the importance put on appearances rather than on character. Leslie was used to depending on her looks, so when she lost them, she felt like she lost her worth. It's a good reminder that it's more important that we're beautiful inside than out. I like who Leslie became by the end of the book and the supportive people in her life who showed her unconditional love. It's amazing what people can survive with a support system, especially when they turn to God. It seemed Leslie grew up going to church, but had shed her faith as she pursued her career. There's talk of faith throughout the book, but there's not really a defining moment where she turns back to God, which I would have liked to see. This is a sequel to Darkness Before Dawn, which I didn't realize until after I'd read the book, but I don't think it had much impact on this story as it was about her cousin. There's some romance and suspense, which I enjoyed. I really liked the unique plot, too. Check out this unique story!

I received a free ARC of this book from Abingdon Press in exchange for an honest review.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a world that is obsessed with beauty I found this to be a refreshing read. Leslie Rhoads is a small town girl who is on the verge of making it big in the modeling world with her flawless beauty.When she is approached with a make or break opportunity she takes decided to go home,not knowing that decision will change her life forever. When Leslie is brutally attacked and left without her beauty she quickly learns that beauty truly is only skin deep. When Leslie befriends a young girl who has similar scars will she be able to help young Angel heal and in the process find healing for herself? Will they find who disfigured Leslie before he strikes again?

This book had a lot going for it and I really enjoyed it. The suspense was page turning and the characters growth and development was realistic and well plotted.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've known Ace Collins since college, when he and his wife and the fella and I were in the same Sunday school class. Then we lived in the same small town for a bunch of years-- our boys are close to the same ages.

I liked the story. It's an inspirational novel about a model whose beauty is destroyed in a brutal attack. There is a romance, but it's a fairly minor part of the story. There's not much conflict in the romance itself, it's just another aspect of the story conflict, which is "what does she have left if she's no longer beautiful?" There's a lot of suspense with villain POV. I did get a little tired of all the speeches and constant "lessons." The dialog seemed to be mostly preaching at each other, along with the occasional hysterical rant. I know dialog can't be perfectly "real" but too much of this felt like canned speechifying. I liked it, but it could have been better.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a character driven novel with a powerful message. What really makes a woman beautiful? What does a model, who is at the top of her career, do when her face is slashed with a broken bottle? How does she face the future when she had taken her self value from her perfect appearance? And this has lots for reading groups to discuss. What is beauty? Is it a good idea to place your self worth in one place, like your appearance, your job, your husband? What happens when that is taken away? The writing is not especially eloquent but the character development carries the story so well that you want to read to the end. And you are rewarded with hope for those deeply scarred, inside and out. See my full review at http://bit.ly/Hm5VK3.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Just... Just no. I don't even know what I was just reading. The plot sounded interesting but by page fifty I was still pretty bored. One of the chapters server l served literally no purpose. Even with all that I could've kept reading if it weren't for the god awful writing. I mean really bad. Half the time I had no clue who people were. And the author kept like switching the pov. It was all in third person but it seemed to switch between characters which could've been fine except. I HAD NO CLUE WHO ANYONE WAS! and when the Mc was the focus the author called her. "the model " at least once per paragraph. I'm sorry but I can't even... Dnf

[Kathy Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ace Collins has given the reader the opportunity to grow right along with Leslie and Angel--and the other characters who are learning that strength, just like beauty, starts on the inside of a person and works its way out. From there, it works magic on everyone who.Is touched by it.

Leslie found inner strength through the love and encouragement of Meg and Hunter, but she reconnected with beauty when she met Angel.

The Cutting Edge reminds us that we are often sharpened by the hard stuff: we are sometimes refined by fire.

[Connie Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gave a very realistic view into how people see themselves as far as physical beauty is concerned. We have to relearn how to see ourselves if something happens to us. These characters show just how to do that. Other people can help you through your tough ties and you can help others through theirs. Interesting book and the situations were great. Descriptions of sounds, smells and leaning to use your whole body of senses is explained. Doesn't sound like it here but it is a good book. It is a mystery/suspense and it holds you to the page.

[Faye Ridpath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free from Goodreads First Reads.

I loved this book!

Leslie Rhoads is set to be a famous model, but her career is cut short when she is cut up in an attack.

She goes on an epic journey of self-discovery and learns what really matters.

My only criticism is there are many typos, in one entire chapter, Lisa is referred to by her cousin Meg's name.

I hope such errors will be corrected before the final release.

[Angelica Dimeo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this in a ARC Giveaway on goodreads
Leslie had the world in her hands one contract
from Making millions with her modeling.
But a trip back home changes her the world she
has ever known since she was born. Leslie has
to gain faith that life will go on and that she is still beautiful.
This store was pretty good but towards the end the plot seemed all over the place
and a little sloppy. Thanks for the opportunity:)

[Sandra Benford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good. What do you value about yourself? Where do you find your identity? The main character can overcome all she has been raised to be and sink, or remember the One who made her and rise above her circumstances. The hospital scene was so well done, I felt like I was there...holding my breath.
This book has good characters and valuable lessons as it entertains and thrills. Looking for more from this author.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling novel by one of my favorite authors. His books do not disappoint. This is suspenseful, very well written, great plot, and a good main character, Lesle. He handles the issues resulting from her horrific attack very well. Loved this book!

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.