Customer Reviews

Life's Little Edge

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Roselle Graskey's Life's Little Edge is a well written, gripping story with an unusual plot.

No one is who they seem to be in this story about former Army Sergeant Callan O'Malley turned biker and gunrunner. The story begins with flashes of the injured sergeant in an Army hospital during Desert Storm where she meets Lt. Ellen Rivers, a nurse who treats her wounds. After O'Malley gets home, she eventually hooks up with Rivers, and they fall in love. Three years later, Rivers dies in a tragic accident. Fast forward to O'Malley exiting a prison where she has served time, and we are brought to the present day with a heated poker game in the bikers' club. In this game, she wins a woman named Terri with an all or nothing bet by Terri's abusive boyfriend, Trey. As a biker, she must accept this bet and accept Terri as her woman when she wins, or O'Malley will put both of their lives in jeopardy. Terri's ex starts spreading rumors that Terri is a cop so Terri and O'Malley have to pretend they are lovers to protect themselves.

In Life's Little Edge, O'Malley is the heart and soul of the plot and Graskey illustrates all of her dimensions. She cultivates a complicated character that is flawed and honorable simultaneously, who has anger, regrets, strength and tenderness all at once. While O'Malley treats Terri well, she also carries a lot of rage and takes it out on her fellow bikers at times. O'Malley fights the demons of her past while participating in illegal activities in the present. O'Malley's and Terri's love scenes are scorching and add force to the story.

Life's Little Edge uses flashbacks and O'Malley's memories successfully to fill the reader in on the back-story, but Graskey does not give away anything too early as she leaves out critical plot points that prevent the reader from figuring out where this story is headed. We, as the reader, are left with anticipation as to how Terri and O'Malley get to where they are now. Their pasts don't add up, and we must keep the pages turning to find out. We are brought into the dangerous world of drug dealing, gunrunning, dirty cops and possible murder, but with a cast of characters who have CIA, Army and Air Force backgrounds, we do not know who the criminals are and who the good guys are. Even in the final pages, we are captivated by this riveting story and do not get closure until the last word is written.

If I start reading a good book, I usually crack off a little over 100 pages a night. When I find an unusually good book, I can't stop reading until I'm done. 'Life's Little Edge' fits into the latter category. A synopsis of the book is available elsewhere on this page, so I'll cut to the chase...

Graskey is a fantastic writer. The characters of Callan and Terri are very real and very likable. The supporting characters all have a legitimate role. The reader isn't sure until the very end who is really a good guy and who is really a bad guy. There are many facts and details related to the undercover work, but Graskey keeps them consistent and delivers them in such a way that the reader is not confused. To top it all off, this book is full of passion, suspense, honor, and commitment.

It's not a stretch to compare Graskey's talent with that of Radclyffe and Maas. I believe this is a true classic of the lesbian fiction genre -- heck, anyone who likes a suspenseful romance would love this book. Here's to a permanent addition to my bookshelf... Take the time to read it, you won't be disappointed.

Excellent book. All the things going on in the plot are realistic and keep you interested. There's not a lot of mushy, drivelly stuff either (hate that stuff), but yet the characters seem to develop anyway. I couldn't put it down.

It produces that same erotic, adventuresome, bad girl feeling I got the 1st time I read the stories of "Ice" and "Angel" ("Redemption" by Susanne Beck).

The end was a little predictable, and I personally would have preferred to see the tough girls remain that way and continue on to other tales. I also felt a tiny bit slighted (not a lot, just a little) in the revenge department...guess I wanted more "beatin & killin" of the bad guys. There are some definite surprises tho.

I don't understand why almost all the lesbian authors have to domesticate their tough girls in the end...why they all have to get married and live happily ever after with elderly people, close friends and babies.

So get this book if you're sick of the goody-goody girl meets girl on vacation and can't decide if they're in love or not books.

Heck, get this book even if you do like those other kinds! It's a keeper. You won't be sorry.

...you won't want to put it down till you've finished it!

LLE is a roller-coaster ride of mystery, romance, and heartbreak, all tied together with duty and honor....oh, and motorcycles! The characters are well developed, with some plot twists and turns that will certainly keep your attention. It's a great read from cover to cover!

Callan O'Malley is an ex Army Sergeant and is now a biker. Terri Barclay is a waitress hiding secrets that could get her killed and belongs to one of the bikers. Callan wins Terri in card game.
Their story is a rollercoaster ride of events, including drugs, gunrunning, murder and dirty cops. The ending will take you completely by surprise.
This is an absolutely fantastic read that I can't recommend highly enough. It is gripping from the very first page and you won't want to stop reading until the last page. So don't start it until you have plenty of time to finish it. I only hope we have another book from Roselle soon. This is one I will want to read time and again.

This book is truly terrific. I read a ton of lesbian fiction, and this author stands out. It's really too bad she only has two books currently available. I lend this out to any friend I know, and they always love it. It will surprise you with its depth and unique flavor. Roselle could easily write mainstream fiction and have a good following. Perhaps, under a different name, she already does? This book should be on any lesbian fiction lover's bookshelf.

I find the best books are the one which pull you in during the first chapter. Then you're a goner.

Graskey sucks you in and then you have to keep reading to get out.

The characters are well developed and believable.

Couldn't put it down...good reading on the treadmill.

Graskey pulls the reader quickly into the story. Although the main character is not your typical, likeable character, the reader is brought along for the intense ride. The story is well written, with engaging characters and great dialogue. This one is hard to put down, it leaves you breathless wanting to go night riding. Not your typical lesbian fiction/romance - it's a deliciously written study of honor and friendships.

Loved the book, one of the better lesbian novels available currently. well worth the money!!