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Edge #1
Living on the Edge
With her thrilling Sentinel Wars series, Shannon K. Butcher pushed readers to the very edge of their imaginations. Now, with the first in her new action romance series she takes them to the very edge of their seats, following the loves and lethal lives of a group of hardened mercenaries who live on the edge-and beyond...
359 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2011
31 people are currently reading
920 people want to read
About the author
Shannon K. Butcher
36 books1,214 followersBestselling author Shannon K. Butcher, who now writes as Anna Argent, has written more than thirty titles since launching her career in 2007. She has three award-winning series, including the paranormal romance series The Sentinel Wars, the action-romance series The Edge, and the romantic suspense Delta Force Trilogy. Her alter ego Anna Argent also writes several series with a fresh and interesting spin on paranormal romance (The Lost Shards, The Taken and The Stone Men series) as well as a contemporary romance series set in a small town in the Ozarks. As a former engineer and current nerd, she frequently uses charts, graphs and tables to aid her in the mechanics of story design, world building and to keep track of all those colorful characters, magical powers and alternate worlds. An avid bead and glass artist, she spends her free time turning small sparkly bits into larger sparkly bits. She’s rarely on social media, so the best place to find out news about upcoming releases under either name is via her newsletter. You can sign up at AnnaArgent.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
March 17, 2011
3 ½ stars – Romantic Suspense
I’m a romantic suspense fan and I enjoyed this author’s Delta Force trilogy and Love You to Death, so I was really excited about her new Edge series. Unfortunately, the first book, Living on the Edge, didn’t fully meet my expectations.
It’s an intense military romantic suspense read, but it seemed a bit chaotic and disjointed with too many characters and multiple, unresolved plots that resulted in confusion, frustration, and worst of all...boredom. There’s a heavy dose of action sequences, gunfights, and explosions as the H/H and their mercenary friends take on the bad guys in the jungles of Columbia, but for some reason instead of being thrilling, the scenes dragged a bit for me. I actually found myself skimming a little to move things along.
I really liked sweet, protective ex-Army Ranger hero Lucas, but heroine Sloane’s “I’m a tough, kick-ass mercenary chick who can take care of herself and doesn’t need any help from anyone” routine got annoying and old really quick. And she has some serious “my father is a big, bad, controlling, and uncaring general” daddy issues. I kept expecting her to bust out with the “Daddy Wasn’t There” song from Austin Powers in Goldmember. There were moments that I wished Lucas would just say to hell with it and leave her spoiled, selfish, ungrateful ass in the jungle! Things get hot and heavy between Lucas and Sloane, but there are too many distractions that impede the romance.
Overall it’s a decent, but not great military romantic suspense read. There was a lot left unanswered for several characters, so I’m curious to see what’s in store next for the series and how things will come together. But the snippet from the second book, Razor's Edge: An Edge Novel, introduced two new Edge team members who appear to be the main H/H rather than expand on secondary characters and storylines from this like I’d assumed, so I’m not sure if that bodes well or not. Still, I’m giving it a bit of a break and granting an extra half star since some of the disorganized elements could be attributed to the first book in a series syndrome and because the Edge does have potential. 3 ½ stars.
I’m a romantic suspense fan and I enjoyed this author’s Delta Force trilogy and Love You to Death, so I was really excited about her new Edge series. Unfortunately, the first book, Living on the Edge, didn’t fully meet my expectations.
It’s an intense military romantic suspense read, but it seemed a bit chaotic and disjointed with too many characters and multiple, unresolved plots that resulted in confusion, frustration, and worst of all...boredom. There’s a heavy dose of action sequences, gunfights, and explosions as the H/H and their mercenary friends take on the bad guys in the jungles of Columbia, but for some reason instead of being thrilling, the scenes dragged a bit for me. I actually found myself skimming a little to move things along.
I really liked sweet, protective ex-Army Ranger hero Lucas, but heroine Sloane’s “I’m a tough, kick-ass mercenary chick who can take care of herself and doesn’t need any help from anyone” routine got annoying and old really quick. And she has some serious “my father is a big, bad, controlling, and uncaring general” daddy issues. I kept expecting her to bust out with the “Daddy Wasn’t There” song from Austin Powers in Goldmember. There were moments that I wished Lucas would just say to hell with it and leave her spoiled, selfish, ungrateful ass in the jungle! Things get hot and heavy between Lucas and Sloane, but there are too many distractions that impede the romance.
Overall it’s a decent, but not great military romantic suspense read. There was a lot left unanswered for several characters, so I’m curious to see what’s in store next for the series and how things will come together. But the snippet from the second book, Razor's Edge: An Edge Novel, introduced two new Edge team members who appear to be the main H/H rather than expand on secondary characters and storylines from this like I’d assumed, so I’m not sure if that bodes well or not. Still, I’m giving it a bit of a break and granting an extra half star since some of the disorganized elements could be attributed to the first book in a series syndrome and because the Edge does have potential. 3 ½ stars.
March 31, 2011
I believe it’s safe to say Ms. Butcher is an expert in creating bitchy heroines that can overshadow a plot in the blink of an eye. Not that there was a very interesting plot in this one. Coupled with a bitchy heroine (headstrong and proud is good until that fine line toward annoying bitch-land is crossed), a hero that had tall, dark and brooding in the jungle down to a T (despite some pretty deep insight he didn’t have much going on, if you ask me), jumping from place to place and POV to POV, a convoluted “mystery”, and some daddy issues that could’ve been resolved years ago if the heroine wasn’t such a bitch.
This first in the series will also be the last one for me.
This first in the series will also be the last one for me.
March 20, 2011
Kind of disappointed. Having enjoyed all her RS books, I just couldn't get into it. First of there were way too many characters and their back info and honestly I couldn't connect or care about any of the characters. We never really get to know the hero much. I guess she wanted to build the "Edge world" as it is the first book but it was fundamentally lacking. I felt I just continued with the book because I started it. I like strong heroines but I don't like stubbornness being shoved down my throat.
I couldn't like Sloan, I found her too abrasive and not at all like a woman if that makes sense. The whole premise of the book is Sloan, a bodyguard rescuing her ditsy friend Gina(who always gets into some stupid crap)from some Colombian drug-lord that she hooked up with. If I were her I would get fed up with such a friend and in the end Gina was like I can't leave because of "blah, blah". Okay, where was I? So her father who is a General and supposedly has some shady past, they is some "list" with some voodo medical experiments being conducted on people when there were kids, sends one of his ex-soldiers to make sure she doesn't get herself into trouble as everything leads back to that "list". Then, we met a Bella who runs Edge and loads of Edge operatives most of them have old childhood friends working there and again connect to that list.
So, I guess we will be hearing all about in the next books. I will give the next book a shot because I enjoy this author but as much as I enjoy secondary story-lines I don't like them to be way to much.
I couldn't like Sloan, I found her too abrasive and not at all like a woman if that makes sense. The whole premise of the book is Sloan, a bodyguard rescuing her ditsy friend Gina(who always gets into some stupid crap)from some Colombian drug-lord that she hooked up with. If I were her I would get fed up with such a friend and in the end Gina was like I can't leave because of "blah, blah". Okay, where was I? So her father who is a General and supposedly has some shady past, they is some "list" with some voodo medical experiments being conducted on people when there were kids, sends one of his ex-soldiers to make sure she doesn't get herself into trouble as everything leads back to that "list". Then, we met a Bella who runs Edge and loads of Edge operatives most of them have old childhood friends working there and again connect to that list.
So, I guess we will be hearing all about in the next books. I will give the next book a shot because I enjoy this author but as much as I enjoy secondary story-lines I don't like them to be way to much.
April 20, 2017
I really liked this book even though it involved drug lords in South America. Sloan was really stubborn and had to do things for herself though I understand why and Lucas was just as stubborn but able to yield when necessary. These two really were "made" for each other. I look forward to continuing the series and seeing where / when and how the secondary characters find the HEA.
March 7, 2020
This is the first book I've read by this author but it was a good book. The action and suspense kept me flipping pages and seeing the relationship develop between Sloane and Lucas was sweet. I'm now on to next book in this series.
March 1, 2011
Sloane Gideon is a mercenary who works for a company that handles everything from private guards to government work. After a message from her old high school friend Gina, says she is in trouble, Sloane heads to Colombia to rescue her friend. She is helped by Lucas Ramsay, ex-army, who is doing one last favor for Sloane’s father, General Norwood. The General has charged Lucas with finding Sloane and bringing her home, even if that means knocking her out and dragging her back.
The book starts off at a party. Sloane is protecting a rich client, and Lucas is determined to stop her from getting on a plane. The problem is that Sloane believes he is out to kill the client, but he is only protecting her from the real shooter. Our heroes are at once attracted to one another, yet Sloane wants to hate Lucas, who she sees as just like her father. There is a great deal of banter between the two that off set me. The romance between the two characters is not what kept me reading, but the shoot outs and explosions set in the jungle. The story shifts from Lucas and Sloane, to Sloane’s co-workers and boss, until the co-workers come to Colombia. During the shifts between Colombia and the side characters there are hints of a dark past that connects them altogether. It also ties into the real reason a drug lord kidnapped Gina. Not all of the dark secrets of the past are revealed, leading to set up more stories in the series.
Sloane is an easy to like character. She is kick ass with some serious daddy issues. Lucas on the other hand I found too likeable. He is hot with a moral code that drives him to help Sloane, or anyone in trouble. The only thing wrong with him is an old knee injury that hurts on occasion. He was too much of a ‘good’ guy for me, but did seem to be the perfect man.
Though a little predictable at times the story was engrossing. Butcher did a nice job of writing exciting gun fights, and close calls that had me flipping a page back. There was a lot of information that came too easy to the characters. The romance was not all that impressive, and the moments between Sloane and Lucas have been done before. The action was well paced throughout the story. When a bad guy is shot, I felt satisfied that justice was done. Living on the Edge was a quick paced action-romance that was enjoyable, but a little light, with a story that held together well.
The book starts off at a party. Sloane is protecting a rich client, and Lucas is determined to stop her from getting on a plane. The problem is that Sloane believes he is out to kill the client, but he is only protecting her from the real shooter. Our heroes are at once attracted to one another, yet Sloane wants to hate Lucas, who she sees as just like her father. There is a great deal of banter between the two that off set me. The romance between the two characters is not what kept me reading, but the shoot outs and explosions set in the jungle. The story shifts from Lucas and Sloane, to Sloane’s co-workers and boss, until the co-workers come to Colombia. During the shifts between Colombia and the side characters there are hints of a dark past that connects them altogether. It also ties into the real reason a drug lord kidnapped Gina. Not all of the dark secrets of the past are revealed, leading to set up more stories in the series.
Sloane is an easy to like character. She is kick ass with some serious daddy issues. Lucas on the other hand I found too likeable. He is hot with a moral code that drives him to help Sloane, or anyone in trouble. The only thing wrong with him is an old knee injury that hurts on occasion. He was too much of a ‘good’ guy for me, but did seem to be the perfect man.
Though a little predictable at times the story was engrossing. Butcher did a nice job of writing exciting gun fights, and close calls that had me flipping a page back. There was a lot of information that came too easy to the characters. The romance was not all that impressive, and the moments between Sloane and Lucas have been done before. The action was well paced throughout the story. When a bad guy is shot, I felt satisfied that justice was done. Living on the Edge was a quick paced action-romance that was enjoyable, but a little light, with a story that held together well.
March 28, 2012
Story was okay, and it moved fairly well, although I did find myself skimming several times. Our hero was a smidgen short of heroic, a little too much self pity to off set the nobility the author tried to infuse him with. Our heroine starts out strong and all kick-ass but she only demonstrated her advertised amazing ability once in the beginning and then she can't stand the heat in the kitchen. Characters too inconsistent for my liking but the author shows potential. The whole thing while not a terrible read was just superficial and my mental view was choppy and limited. All and all just average at best. My search to find an author who can really write a sexy and compelling special ops novel with actual depth continues.
March 6, 2011
Good start to her new series. The book went to fast. There is that much action through out the whole book before I knew it I was at the end.. Now one thing with Shannon's books are she likes to have
overarching stories that span several books in addition to the single story that is wrapped up at the end of that novel. She also has alot of characters that you get their POV from in the book (these are all characters you will see again in future books). For some that may be hard to keep up with the constant changing of POV but that has never bothered me as a reader and the way Shannon writes it easy to keep up.
Looking forward to the next book in this series..
overarching stories that span several books in addition to the single story that is wrapped up at the end of that novel. She also has alot of characters that you get their POV from in the book (these are all characters you will see again in future books). For some that may be hard to keep up with the constant changing of POV but that has never bothered me as a reader and the way Shannon writes it easy to keep up.
Looking forward to the next book in this series..
January 19, 2016
This was a really great read. Had some unique twist and turns and some reversal in roles. Not that I mind that, it was refreshing and different. In the past I felt that SKB's comtemporaries weren't as good as they could have been. But with this book, she has stepped up her game and ready to go head to head with Cindy Gerard and others.
September 6, 2016
The first book in Shannon K. Butcher's Edge series. Not as good as her previous books I've read of hers but I'll keep reading the series anyway. Sloane Gideon is a mercenary working for Edge. Her friend is in trouble in Columbia and needs her and she is determined to help. Lucas Ramsay is doing a favor for Sloane's father and doing everything he can to keep her from going to Columbia.
December 28, 2015
Love this series. First I liked Sloane. Didn't get other comments about her being bitchy, I thought she was driven. Liked this book kicking off the series. Very fast paced and loved the secondary characters. A good, strong debut with an interesting setting/ plot.
September 2, 2025
"Living on the Edge" by Shannon K. Butcher is the first book in her "Edge" series. It is action-driven, very fast-paced, and offers a suspenseful romantic story set against a backdrop of danger. The plot follows Sloane Gideon and Lucas Ramsey, two highly skilled individuals who are thrust into a perilous situation that forces them to work together.
It’s incredible to witness a strong, driven female character who doesn't rely on men, and it’s refreshing to meet a male character who can genuinely accept a strong woman. You watch these two compelling characters navigate their intense passion while also fighting for their lives in this chaotic narrative.
The story explores the complicated dynamics between good and evil, as well as the dedication to protect friendships at any cost.
It’s incredible to witness a strong, driven female character who doesn't rely on men, and it’s refreshing to meet a male character who can genuinely accept a strong woman. You watch these two compelling characters navigate their intense passion while also fighting for their lives in this chaotic narrative.
The story explores the complicated dynamics between good and evil, as well as the dedication to protect friendships at any cost.
July 29, 2024
I didn’t like it as much as the Sentinel War series, but it was good.
Things I liked:
1. FMC with abandonment issues
2. FMC is a badass
3. MMC is willing to let her take the lead
Things I didn’t like:
1. Insta-love
2. Jungle spice - really? There are people with machine guns and rocket launchers close by.
3. Gina is the perfect restaurant manager because of course she is. Just too convenient for me.
Things I liked:
1. FMC with abandonment issues
2. FMC is a badass
3. MMC is willing to let her take the lead
Things I didn’t like:
1. Insta-love
2. Jungle spice - really? There are people with machine guns and rocket launchers close by.
3. Gina is the perfect restaurant manager because of course she is. Just too convenient for me.
May 23, 2017
This initial adventure had a lot of action, a familiar take on the main H/h's romance that has been used many times but still works and just enough of a lead in for generating interest in continuing the series.
March 2, 2011
Originally posted at http://www.smexybooks.com/2011/03/rev...
Favorite Quote: “I have you on speed dial but I don’t want you butting in. Go have your wild monkey sex...and leave me in peace.”
When Lucas Ramsey’s former commanding officer asks for a personal favor, Lucas cannot say no. His mission? Make sure Sloan Gideon never makes it to Columbia, South America.
Sloan Gideon is a personal bodyguard who’s best friend has been kidnapped and is being held in Columbia. When Lucas tries to stop Sloan he receives a rude awakening. Sloan isn’t your average female and either he’s with her or against her.
I am a huge fan of Ms. Butcher’s urban fantasy series-The Sentinel Wars- so when I saw she was writing a new series I jumped at the chance to read this one. Living On The Edge is the first in her Edge novels centering around a team of hardened mercenaries who all have one thing in common. They were part of an experimental program referred to as The List. An edgy romantic suspense; we are drawn into a dangerous and intriguing world of alpha males and females who all excel in the art of deception and combat. Realistic dialogue and scenes keeps this military based storyline interesting and fresh.
Lucas Ramsey is a Ranger who sustained a career ending injury. His former commanding officer (referred to as the Old Man) asks him to preform one last mission for him. Use any means necessary to keep Sloan Gideon from boarding a plan to Columbia. Lucas is an full blown alpha male who thinks this will be a piece of cake. One lone female stands no chance against him. But when Lucas tracks her down at a fundraiser and sees how she handles being shot at-he realizes that the the old man neglected to tell him a few things.
Sloan Gideon is a personal bodyguard for The Edge. Trained in all aspects of combat; she is intelligent, courageous, self assured and takes no crap from anyone. She does not appreciate nor understand Luca’s plans to detain her. In the beginning her refuses to explain anything beyond telling her these are his orders. Her actions towards him are completely realistic. She maneuvers and outwits Luca all through out the beginning using his own fallacies against him. I found myself smiling like a loon each time she took him down.
Even though the beginning starts out slow, I enjoyed the meeting and the subsequent battle of the wills between Lucas and Sloan. Lucas’s attitude was annoying in the beginning because he never questions why he is ordered to do this. He ruminates that he owns the old man and once he delivers he is and the old man are square. I found myself laughing as Sloan “spanks” him a few times and yet he still can’t understand why she doesn’t just do what he says.
Though Lucas and Sloan have some immediate chemistry, Sloan doesn’t give it a second thought. She doesn’t know him and jumping into the sack is out of the question. Nor does she begin to justify any romantic or physical feelings later on with the ever popular, “I like him so he must like me and now we will do it together.”
As we reach the middle, the story line introduces some sub plots and begins to pick up speed. There is quite a bit of mystery in here as we find out why the old man wants Sloan taken out of the equation and more information on Sloan’s kidnapped friend. Three separate storylines run parallel until towards the middle when they merge and a new storyline is the result. Plenty of action and suspense leads us on a merry chase as we follow Sloan and Lucas through the jungles of Columbia and into the heart of danger. At times I did get a little overwhelmed by the information given for the additional storylines; as we are flipped between them and it all stays in the present.
The secondary characters are all bold and stand in sharp outline to the story. Ms. Butcher reveals enough about each one to have me very interested in seeing future story lines concerning each of them. I did have a problem with the old man. Some things he did out of love were really wrong and frankly, I couldn’t understand why he would feel they were right.
I especially enjoyed the appearance of two villains in here. One revealed right away and one hidden in the shadows. Each villain is defiantly bad but there is a feeling that some of the overlaying “badness” is a direct result of things done by our good guys. Rather a case of things coming back to bite some folks in the arse.
The ending is a predictable but is written is an engaging and exciting manner. It wraps up the main conflict nicely but leaves some open ended questions to help us transition gracefully into the next installment of this series; to be announced.
Rating: C+
Favorite Quote: “I have you on speed dial but I don’t want you butting in. Go have your wild monkey sex...and leave me in peace.”
When Lucas Ramsey’s former commanding officer asks for a personal favor, Lucas cannot say no. His mission? Make sure Sloan Gideon never makes it to Columbia, South America.
Sloan Gideon is a personal bodyguard who’s best friend has been kidnapped and is being held in Columbia. When Lucas tries to stop Sloan he receives a rude awakening. Sloan isn’t your average female and either he’s with her or against her.
I am a huge fan of Ms. Butcher’s urban fantasy series-The Sentinel Wars- so when I saw she was writing a new series I jumped at the chance to read this one. Living On The Edge is the first in her Edge novels centering around a team of hardened mercenaries who all have one thing in common. They were part of an experimental program referred to as The List. An edgy romantic suspense; we are drawn into a dangerous and intriguing world of alpha males and females who all excel in the art of deception and combat. Realistic dialogue and scenes keeps this military based storyline interesting and fresh.
Lucas Ramsey is a Ranger who sustained a career ending injury. His former commanding officer (referred to as the Old Man) asks him to preform one last mission for him. Use any means necessary to keep Sloan Gideon from boarding a plan to Columbia. Lucas is an full blown alpha male who thinks this will be a piece of cake. One lone female stands no chance against him. But when Lucas tracks her down at a fundraiser and sees how she handles being shot at-he realizes that the the old man neglected to tell him a few things.
Sloan Gideon is a personal bodyguard for The Edge. Trained in all aspects of combat; she is intelligent, courageous, self assured and takes no crap from anyone. She does not appreciate nor understand Luca’s plans to detain her. In the beginning her refuses to explain anything beyond telling her these are his orders. Her actions towards him are completely realistic. She maneuvers and outwits Luca all through out the beginning using his own fallacies against him. I found myself smiling like a loon each time she took him down.
Even though the beginning starts out slow, I enjoyed the meeting and the subsequent battle of the wills between Lucas and Sloan. Lucas’s attitude was annoying in the beginning because he never questions why he is ordered to do this. He ruminates that he owns the old man and once he delivers he is and the old man are square. I found myself laughing as Sloan “spanks” him a few times and yet he still can’t understand why she doesn’t just do what he says.
Though Lucas and Sloan have some immediate chemistry, Sloan doesn’t give it a second thought. She doesn’t know him and jumping into the sack is out of the question. Nor does she begin to justify any romantic or physical feelings later on with the ever popular, “I like him so he must like me and now we will do it together.”
As we reach the middle, the story line introduces some sub plots and begins to pick up speed. There is quite a bit of mystery in here as we find out why the old man wants Sloan taken out of the equation and more information on Sloan’s kidnapped friend. Three separate storylines run parallel until towards the middle when they merge and a new storyline is the result. Plenty of action and suspense leads us on a merry chase as we follow Sloan and Lucas through the jungles of Columbia and into the heart of danger. At times I did get a little overwhelmed by the information given for the additional storylines; as we are flipped between them and it all stays in the present.
The secondary characters are all bold and stand in sharp outline to the story. Ms. Butcher reveals enough about each one to have me very interested in seeing future story lines concerning each of them. I did have a problem with the old man. Some things he did out of love were really wrong and frankly, I couldn’t understand why he would feel they were right.
I especially enjoyed the appearance of two villains in here. One revealed right away and one hidden in the shadows. Each villain is defiantly bad but there is a feeling that some of the overlaying “badness” is a direct result of things done by our good guys. Rather a case of things coming back to bite some folks in the arse.
The ending is a predictable but is written is an engaging and exciting manner. It wraps up the main conflict nicely but leaves some open ended questions to help us transition gracefully into the next installment of this series; to be announced.
Rating: C+
January 6, 2022
In series, mad scientist experimented on kids 40 years ago, wants them, The List, back for tests and vanish.
Thrills bolster obvious love. The General sends lame Lucas to rescue daughter Sloane, who denies love, in Colombia for pal Gina, kidnapped by vicious Lorenzo for buyer using List to find brother Eli.
Thrills bolster obvious love. The General sends lame Lucas to rescue daughter Sloane, who denies love, in Colombia for pal Gina, kidnapped by vicious Lorenzo for buyer using List to find brother Eli.
November 24, 2015
First in the Edge romantic suspense series based on the employees working at The Edge, a mercenary group. The couple focus here is on Sloane Gideon and Lucas Ramsey.
My Take
A simple but compelling tale of a young woman driven to prove herself to her father, the General, and a military man of honor and compassion who fall in love. Just why they fall in love, I'm not really sure except that that's how Butcher writes it. I'm not really sure why Sloane accepts Lucas' rebukes about her dad unless the heat of battle and Lucas' skills have opened her up to the possibilities.
Butcher does provide a very real feel to her action sequences and certainly creates some compelling characters you can't help but love or hate. In addition, Butcher has set up a number of teases to compel our return to find out just what this "List" is all about, why Brink is hunting for his brother, who is Dr. Stynger, and what is the hold she has over Mr. Brink.
If you enjoy action and conspiracies, you'll like the action in Butcher's Edge.
The Story
Lucas has but one goal: prevent Sloane Gideon from getting on that private charter to Colombia. Unfortunately for Lucas, he doesn't know Sloane very well. Yet.
It's a case of find and elude until Lucas helps Sloane out in that first firefight in Colombia and they begin to yield to their desire for each other just as they appreciate the skills and courage each brings to the table.
As the story unfolds, we slowly learn that there was something really nasty, the Threshold Project, in which the General, Payton, and Senator Gregory Kerrington III were involved. A project that resulted in the List and that twisted Soma badly. Now Soma is determined to live up to his father's legacy to be the meanest badass in Colombia kidnapping and selling women and babies, trafficking with Mr. Brink. A legacy that requires a small army that Sloane and her Edge team and Lucas and the general's men must shoot through to rescue Gina.
The Characters
Sloane Gideon is the unacknowledged daughter of General Robert Norwood, a man who has ignored her existence her whole life. Gina Delaney has been Sloane's best friend since school with a history of always choosing the wrong man; her name is on the List. Sophie Devane is a prisoner just as Gina is except that she's pregnant; once the baby arrives, Sophie is history.
Lucas Ramsey is washed-up. His knee injury prevents his ability to function as a soldier so he's retiring to take over his parents' restaurant in Arkansas. Right after he does this little job for the Old Man. Justin and Lucas are the men the general has lent to Sloane's Colombian operation.
Bella Bayne started The Edge with the help of Payton Bainbridge; she's also on the List. She also has a hard time paying attention to the bottom line due to too much heart and a need to avenge the weak. Employees include Riley Conlan; Lila, Bella's secretary; Tanner O'Connell; Mira Sage is the computer guru (and on the List); Clayton Marshall; and, Gage.
Lorenzo Soma is a drug lord and had been on the List. It seems that drugs are not his only income when we learn of his connection to Adam Brink and the people he supplies to him. Jeremy Block is Soma's right hand man, a man with no scruples, no heart, and totally clueless when it comes to women.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a metallic green background with a black-haired couple dressed for action: Sloan Gideon in a black tank top holding a vest-clad Lucas Ramsey back as he points his gun to the sky.
The title is oh so true as Sloan and Lucas both crave that adrenaline rush from Living on the Edge.
My Take
A simple but compelling tale of a young woman driven to prove herself to her father, the General, and a military man of honor and compassion who fall in love. Just why they fall in love, I'm not really sure except that that's how Butcher writes it. I'm not really sure why Sloane accepts Lucas' rebukes about her dad unless the heat of battle and Lucas' skills have opened her up to the possibilities.
Butcher does provide a very real feel to her action sequences and certainly creates some compelling characters you can't help but love or hate. In addition, Butcher has set up a number of teases to compel our return to find out just what this "List" is all about, why Brink is hunting for his brother, who is Dr. Stynger, and what is the hold she has over Mr. Brink.
If you enjoy action and conspiracies, you'll like the action in Butcher's Edge.
The Story
Lucas has but one goal: prevent Sloane Gideon from getting on that private charter to Colombia. Unfortunately for Lucas, he doesn't know Sloane very well. Yet.
It's a case of find and elude until Lucas helps Sloane out in that first firefight in Colombia and they begin to yield to their desire for each other just as they appreciate the skills and courage each brings to the table.
As the story unfolds, we slowly learn that there was something really nasty, the Threshold Project, in which the General, Payton, and Senator Gregory Kerrington III were involved. A project that resulted in the List and that twisted Soma badly. Now Soma is determined to live up to his father's legacy to be the meanest badass in Colombia kidnapping and selling women and babies, trafficking with Mr. Brink. A legacy that requires a small army that Sloane and her Edge team and Lucas and the general's men must shoot through to rescue Gina.
The Characters
Sloane Gideon is the unacknowledged daughter of General Robert Norwood, a man who has ignored her existence her whole life. Gina Delaney has been Sloane's best friend since school with a history of always choosing the wrong man; her name is on the List. Sophie Devane is a prisoner just as Gina is except that she's pregnant; once the baby arrives, Sophie is history.
Lucas Ramsey is washed-up. His knee injury prevents his ability to function as a soldier so he's retiring to take over his parents' restaurant in Arkansas. Right after he does this little job for the Old Man. Justin and Lucas are the men the general has lent to Sloane's Colombian operation.
Bella Bayne started The Edge with the help of Payton Bainbridge; she's also on the List. She also has a hard time paying attention to the bottom line due to too much heart and a need to avenge the weak. Employees include Riley Conlan; Lila, Bella's secretary; Tanner O'Connell; Mira Sage is the computer guru (and on the List); Clayton Marshall; and, Gage.
Lorenzo Soma is a drug lord and had been on the List. It seems that drugs are not his only income when we learn of his connection to Adam Brink and the people he supplies to him. Jeremy Block is Soma's right hand man, a man with no scruples, no heart, and totally clueless when it comes to women.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a metallic green background with a black-haired couple dressed for action: Sloan Gideon in a black tank top holding a vest-clad Lucas Ramsey back as he points his gun to the sky.
The title is oh so true as Sloan and Lucas both crave that adrenaline rush from Living on the Edge.
April 9, 2013
Not a bad start to a new series. Pretty entertaining, though there were times where I had to suspend my disbelief and go with it, because the scenes were a little over the top.
Also, and this is just a personal thing, but intimate acts without some kind of hygiene or cleaning up just grosses me out, so I didn't enjoy some scenes as much as I could have. Granted, the main characters are running around in a jungle, but they're running around in a jungle. After a couple days of not showering, they're sweaty and yucky and just gross. Please don't expect me to like imagining them having sex when they're like that. That's not fun for me.
The romance was okay; a bit too insta-love for my liking, but what can you do when the entire book takes place in about a week? And like other reviewers said, Sloane the heroine was a little hard to take with her "I can do anything a guy can do, and I'm going to do everything myself because I don't need anyone" attitude. The attitude was more than enough to irritate, but I also wasn't buying how badass Sloane was supposed to be, either. Bitchy, yes, badass, no. There were a couple times when her decisions didn't quite match someone who's supposed to be familiar with high pressure, tricky situations. I frankly didn't believe she was a security specialist, because she was kind of an arrogant idiot about some things. I wanted to like her, but she is so prickly that by the end, the best thing I could say was that I could tolerate her.
For his part, Lucas was a nice enough hero, though I kept wondering what he saw in someone like Sloane. Where was the attraction coming from?? I guess some people are just willing to put up with anything. I also wish a little more of his past was given to help round him out. We hear about Sloane's background, but not really his, and I think that was a missed opportunity.
Having read this author before (her Sentinel series), I knew to expect multiple plot lines and POVs. Ordinarily, that many side plots would have annoyed me straight out, and has in her other books, because I feel like Butcher has a bad habit of not answering questions in a larger story arc (or it takes her forever and a day to do it, at which point I've lost patience and stopped caring). As I just finished her latest Sentinel book and had to deal with that exact thing there, I wasn't too keen to start another series only to be subjected to more questions than answers. But I welcomed all of the plots for two reasons: 1) Sloane's a little much, so any break was lovely, especially at the beginning, and 2) I know she's building up the world, so I'm willing to be a little patient.
Overall, I enjoyed Living on the Edge, though there isn't a whole lot that struck me as remarkable or memorable to help distinguish it from other series. Other than the fact that the Edge security firm sounds interesting, and the secondary characters seem fun, that is. Good for a rainy day, I think, but not something I'd lose sleep over to finish reading. Enjoyable, but not necessarily gripping. 3 stars.
Also, and this is just a personal thing, but intimate acts without some kind of hygiene or cleaning up just grosses me out, so I didn't enjoy some scenes as much as I could have. Granted, the main characters are running around in a jungle, but they're running around in a jungle. After a couple days of not showering, they're sweaty and yucky and just gross. Please don't expect me to like imagining them having sex when they're like that. That's not fun for me.
The romance was okay; a bit too insta-love for my liking, but what can you do when the entire book takes place in about a week? And like other reviewers said, Sloane the heroine was a little hard to take with her "I can do anything a guy can do, and I'm going to do everything myself because I don't need anyone" attitude. The attitude was more than enough to irritate, but I also wasn't buying how badass Sloane was supposed to be, either. Bitchy, yes, badass, no. There were a couple times when her decisions didn't quite match someone who's supposed to be familiar with high pressure, tricky situations. I frankly didn't believe she was a security specialist, because she was kind of an arrogant idiot about some things. I wanted to like her, but she is so prickly that by the end, the best thing I could say was that I could tolerate her.
For his part, Lucas was a nice enough hero, though I kept wondering what he saw in someone like Sloane. Where was the attraction coming from?? I guess some people are just willing to put up with anything. I also wish a little more of his past was given to help round him out. We hear about Sloane's background, but not really his, and I think that was a missed opportunity.
Having read this author before (her Sentinel series), I knew to expect multiple plot lines and POVs. Ordinarily, that many side plots would have annoyed me straight out, and has in her other books, because I feel like Butcher has a bad habit of not answering questions in a larger story arc (or it takes her forever and a day to do it, at which point I've lost patience and stopped caring). As I just finished her latest Sentinel book and had to deal with that exact thing there, I wasn't too keen to start another series only to be subjected to more questions than answers. But I welcomed all of the plots for two reasons: 1) Sloane's a little much, so any break was lovely, especially at the beginning, and 2) I know she's building up the world, so I'm willing to be a little patient.
Overall, I enjoyed Living on the Edge, though there isn't a whole lot that struck me as remarkable or memorable to help distinguish it from other series. Other than the fact that the Edge security firm sounds interesting, and the secondary characters seem fun, that is. Good for a rainy day, I think, but not something I'd lose sleep over to finish reading. Enjoyable, but not necessarily gripping. 3 stars.
May 29, 2012
I’d compare this to a Suzanne Brockmann. It is intensely character driven.
The story is an action packed backdrop to the main story. The real story is what is going on in the lives of the hero and heroine. I loved it.
It had everything I want in a romantic suspense book. Bullets, villains, a gutsy heroine, a hunky hottie hero, friends that have subplots that you can tell are leading to their own stories being explored in another novel, and that indefinable element of pure entertainment that makes us enjoy these books.
SYNOPSIS:
General’s daughter, a security/mercenary type finds out her best friend is being held against her will by a rich guy in a South American jungle. As she prepares to board a flight to go to the rescue, her father, the General sends a recently wounded, discharged hero to stop her from leaving the country. The heroine boards her plane, (nice scene where she sucker punches the big bad military baby-sitter), and when the hero regains consciousness, he has no choice but to follow her to the jungle and help her save the friend.
There are a lot of sub-plots where the main characters are dealing with their own personal crises. The heroine has abandonment issues with her father and is always trying to prove herself to someone who apparently doesn’t care or intend to show pride in her work. The hero has lost his career in the military due to an injury, and now feels pressured to take over his family business.
NEGATIVES:
I didn’t know the back story of Bella, and found her character confusing, but that’s just because I haven’t read the other books in the series. Yet. It felt like the reader was supposed to know facts about Bella and her organization, but it felt like a few pieces of the puzzle were missing.
The General could have found a way to be nicer and closer to his own kid. I just didn’t like him or his attitude, and I didn’t find his reasons compelling enough to put that much space between him and his child.
There seems to be some long running conspiracy that wasn’t wrapped up. I didn’t expect it to be, but ever since “The Lost” bleeped us over with that lame ‘we’re all dead’ ending, (INFURIATING their audience!), I’ve been suspicious of.... threads of conspiracy stories, that go unresolved. This is just my quirk.
POSITIVES:
The whole book. I enjoyed it.
I think I like the other Butcher series better - the one with the secret ops guys becoming bodyguards to women target by crazies. But this one was fun. And isn’t that why we buy these books to begin with?
The story is an action packed backdrop to the main story. The real story is what is going on in the lives of the hero and heroine. I loved it.
It had everything I want in a romantic suspense book. Bullets, villains, a gutsy heroine, a hunky hottie hero, friends that have subplots that you can tell are leading to their own stories being explored in another novel, and that indefinable element of pure entertainment that makes us enjoy these books.
SYNOPSIS:
General’s daughter, a security/mercenary type finds out her best friend is being held against her will by a rich guy in a South American jungle. As she prepares to board a flight to go to the rescue, her father, the General sends a recently wounded, discharged hero to stop her from leaving the country. The heroine boards her plane, (nice scene where she sucker punches the big bad military baby-sitter), and when the hero regains consciousness, he has no choice but to follow her to the jungle and help her save the friend.
There are a lot of sub-plots where the main characters are dealing with their own personal crises. The heroine has abandonment issues with her father and is always trying to prove herself to someone who apparently doesn’t care or intend to show pride in her work. The hero has lost his career in the military due to an injury, and now feels pressured to take over his family business.
NEGATIVES:
I didn’t know the back story of Bella, and found her character confusing, but that’s just because I haven’t read the other books in the series. Yet. It felt like the reader was supposed to know facts about Bella and her organization, but it felt like a few pieces of the puzzle were missing.
The General could have found a way to be nicer and closer to his own kid. I just didn’t like him or his attitude, and I didn’t find his reasons compelling enough to put that much space between him and his child.
There seems to be some long running conspiracy that wasn’t wrapped up. I didn’t expect it to be, but ever since “The Lost” bleeped us over with that lame ‘we’re all dead’ ending, (INFURIATING their audience!), I’ve been suspicious of.... threads of conspiracy stories, that go unresolved. This is just my quirk.
POSITIVES:
The whole book. I enjoyed it.
I think I like the other Butcher series better - the one with the secret ops guys becoming bodyguards to women target by crazies. But this one was fun. And isn’t that why we buy these books to begin with?
March 3, 2011
Sloane Gideon is a mercenary who works for a company that handles everything from private guards to government work. After a message from her old high school friend Gina, says she is in trouble, Sloane heads to Colombia to rescue her friend. She is helped by Lucas Ramsay, ex-army, who is doing one last favor for Sloane’s father, General Norwood. The General has charged Lucas with finding Sloane and bringing her home, even if that means knocking her out and dragging her back.
The book starts off at a party. Sloane is protecting a rich client, and Lucas is determined to stop her from getting on a plane. The problem is that Sloane believes he is out to kill the client, but he is only protecting her from the real shooter. Our heroes are at once attracted to one another, yet Sloane wants to hate Lucas, who she sees as just like her father. There is a great deal of banter between the two that off set me. The romance between the two characters is not what kept me reading, but the shoot outs and explosions set in the jungle. The story shifts from Lucas and Sloane, to Sloane’s co-workers and boss, until the co-workers come to Colombia. During the shifts between Colombia and the side characters there are hints of a dark past that connects them altogether. It also ties into the real reason a drug lord kidnapped Gina. Not all of the dark secrets of the past are revealed, leading to set up more stories in the series.
Sloane is an easy to like character. She is kick ass with some serious daddy issues. Lucas on the other hand I found too likable. He is hot with a moral code that drives him to help Sloane, or anyone in trouble. The only thing wrong with him is an old knee injury that hurts on occasion. He was too much of a ‘good’ guy for me, but did seem to be the perfect man.
Though a little predictable at times the story was engrossing. Butcher did a nice job of writing exciting gun fights, and close calls that had me flipping a page back. There was a lot of information that came too easy to the characters. The romance was not all that impressive, and the moments between Sloane and Lucas have been done before. The action was well paced throughout the story. When a bad guy is shot, I felt satisfied that justice was done. Living on the Edge was a quick paced action-romance that was enjoyable, but a little light, with a story that held together well.
-Beth (Guest Reviewer)
The book starts off at a party. Sloane is protecting a rich client, and Lucas is determined to stop her from getting on a plane. The problem is that Sloane believes he is out to kill the client, but he is only protecting her from the real shooter. Our heroes are at once attracted to one another, yet Sloane wants to hate Lucas, who she sees as just like her father. There is a great deal of banter between the two that off set me. The romance between the two characters is not what kept me reading, but the shoot outs and explosions set in the jungle. The story shifts from Lucas and Sloane, to Sloane’s co-workers and boss, until the co-workers come to Colombia. During the shifts between Colombia and the side characters there are hints of a dark past that connects them altogether. It also ties into the real reason a drug lord kidnapped Gina. Not all of the dark secrets of the past are revealed, leading to set up more stories in the series.
Sloane is an easy to like character. She is kick ass with some serious daddy issues. Lucas on the other hand I found too likable. He is hot with a moral code that drives him to help Sloane, or anyone in trouble. The only thing wrong with him is an old knee injury that hurts on occasion. He was too much of a ‘good’ guy for me, but did seem to be the perfect man.
Though a little predictable at times the story was engrossing. Butcher did a nice job of writing exciting gun fights, and close calls that had me flipping a page back. There was a lot of information that came too easy to the characters. The romance was not all that impressive, and the moments between Sloane and Lucas have been done before. The action was well paced throughout the story. When a bad guy is shot, I felt satisfied that justice was done. Living on the Edge was a quick paced action-romance that was enjoyable, but a little light, with a story that held together well.
-Beth (Guest Reviewer)
February 23, 2011
Living on the Edgy by Shannon K. Butcher
Romantic Suspense -March 1st, 2011
4 ½ stars
This fast paced thriller starts out explosively, as sexy body guard and Edge mercenary, Sloane Gideon finds herself in trouble!!
Sloane Gideon is on the job, protecting her client when the sexiest man in a tux purposely strides toward them with a gun. She is able to protect her client and disappear but is soon surprised to find the same man stalking her at the airport. And while Sloane finds this stalker undeniable sexy, she is on a dangerous mission to rescue her former school mate in Columbia. But what she doesn’t know is that this mysterious man is a ‘friend’ of her father. His name is Lucas. He has been asked by her father to stop her from flying to Columbia. However, Sloan keeps surprising him by escaping. And Lucas finds himself admiring her even as she knocks him down!
I loved Sloane’s and Lucas’s first meeting. The attraction between them sizzles from the first page and both are at the top of their game. As a result, they are well matched pair and make a deadly duo. However, Lucas is reluctant to hurt Sloane. As a result, she uses this to her advantage when evading him. The interplay between them is thrilling and lively to read. I really liked them both. It was fun to read Sloane keeping Lucas on his toes. I also enjoyed this book because Sloane is a strong confident woman. And while Lucas is a cool, alpha male, he does not totally try to dominate her like many military romance heroes do. The best part about Lucas besides his sexiness is that he seemed more realistic and genuine than most heroes, too. I really felt he respected Sloane. I also enjoyed the quiet moments when the two of them were together which really made me feel like they were a caring couple.
This is an extraordinarily exciting suspense with strong and easy to care for characters. The best romantic suspense I’ve read this year. I highly recommend it.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
Romantic Suspense -March 1st, 2011
4 ½ stars
This fast paced thriller starts out explosively, as sexy body guard and Edge mercenary, Sloane Gideon finds herself in trouble!!
Sloane Gideon is on the job, protecting her client when the sexiest man in a tux purposely strides toward them with a gun. She is able to protect her client and disappear but is soon surprised to find the same man stalking her at the airport. And while Sloane finds this stalker undeniable sexy, she is on a dangerous mission to rescue her former school mate in Columbia. But what she doesn’t know is that this mysterious man is a ‘friend’ of her father. His name is Lucas. He has been asked by her father to stop her from flying to Columbia. However, Sloan keeps surprising him by escaping. And Lucas finds himself admiring her even as she knocks him down!
I loved Sloane’s and Lucas’s first meeting. The attraction between them sizzles from the first page and both are at the top of their game. As a result, they are well matched pair and make a deadly duo. However, Lucas is reluctant to hurt Sloane. As a result, she uses this to her advantage when evading him. The interplay between them is thrilling and lively to read. I really liked them both. It was fun to read Sloane keeping Lucas on his toes. I also enjoyed this book because Sloane is a strong confident woman. And while Lucas is a cool, alpha male, he does not totally try to dominate her like many military romance heroes do. The best part about Lucas besides his sexiness is that he seemed more realistic and genuine than most heroes, too. I really felt he respected Sloane. I also enjoyed the quiet moments when the two of them were together which really made me feel like they were a caring couple.
This is an extraordinarily exciting suspense with strong and easy to care for characters. The best romantic suspense I’ve read this year. I highly recommend it.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
November 19, 2011
LIVING ON THE EDGE by Shannon K Butcher is 347 Pages in paperback form. It is #1 in the Edge Novels.
Brief Description:
With her thrilling Sentinel Wars series, Shannon K. Butcher pushed readers to the very edge of their imaginations. Now, with the first in her new action romance series she takes them to the very edge of their seats, following the loves and lethal lives of a group of hardened mercenaries who live on the edge-and beyond...
This book definitely has alpha males and females in it. If you like very strong women and want to experience some intense jungle fighting this would be the book to read. It reminded me a bit of the Suzanne Brockmann series about the Navy SEALs.
I found this to be a very entertaining book. It is very fast paced and once you get into the book it is very hard to put it down. Sloane went to Columbia to try and get her old school friend, Gina, back from a drug lord. Her father that is a retired General doesn't want her in Columbia and has sent one of his best men to return her to the United State unharmed. When Lucas finds Sloane he thinks this is going to be a piece of cake, but Sloane turns out to be quite good at her job and knows her way around weapons. Lucas realizes he isn't going to be able to bring her back unless he helps her get Gina out safely.
There are some steamy sex scenes in this book but it was in very good taste. There are some unexplained things in this book and I believe that is a tease for the rest of the series. I did find this a little disconcerting though as you don't really know anything about this secret program that is being conducted, only the fringe of it. I don't think knowing would have made the book less mysterious so I don't know why it was not explained better.
I am giving this 4 out of 5 stars and plan to read the next one in the series. I see another story in this one and want to see where that will lead. Maybe it will tell more about this secret program too.
BUY NOW: Conniesbookshelf.com $2.99
Brief Description:
With her thrilling Sentinel Wars series, Shannon K. Butcher pushed readers to the very edge of their imaginations. Now, with the first in her new action romance series she takes them to the very edge of their seats, following the loves and lethal lives of a group of hardened mercenaries who live on the edge-and beyond...
This book definitely has alpha males and females in it. If you like very strong women and want to experience some intense jungle fighting this would be the book to read. It reminded me a bit of the Suzanne Brockmann series about the Navy SEALs.
I found this to be a very entertaining book. It is very fast paced and once you get into the book it is very hard to put it down. Sloane went to Columbia to try and get her old school friend, Gina, back from a drug lord. Her father that is a retired General doesn't want her in Columbia and has sent one of his best men to return her to the United State unharmed. When Lucas finds Sloane he thinks this is going to be a piece of cake, but Sloane turns out to be quite good at her job and knows her way around weapons. Lucas realizes he isn't going to be able to bring her back unless he helps her get Gina out safely.
There are some steamy sex scenes in this book but it was in very good taste. There are some unexplained things in this book and I believe that is a tease for the rest of the series. I did find this a little disconcerting though as you don't really know anything about this secret program that is being conducted, only the fringe of it. I don't think knowing would have made the book less mysterious so I don't know why it was not explained better.
I am giving this 4 out of 5 stars and plan to read the next one in the series. I see another story in this one and want to see where that will lead. Maybe it will tell more about this secret program too.
BUY NOW: Conniesbookshelf.com $2.99
November 19, 2013
I wanted to love "Living On The Edge" by Shannon K. Butcher. I really did. But it just fell a little short for me. It felt...incomplete, I guess.
The story itself was good. Nothing new...but when you've read as many books like this as I have, it's hard to come up with something truly original. But that's OK. The characters were decent. I really liked hero Lucas Ramsay. Heroine Sloane Gideon was a little too prickly for my taste, but she was good enough. I also liked that they were going to go their separate ways at the end for a realistic reason...and was happy when they worked it out.
The problem I had was that it left me with too many unanswered questions and zipped through/glossed over too many situations. How was Lucas injured? Will he be limping and in pain forever or will it go away with therapy? And knowing the extent of Lucas's injury, why would Sloane's father send him to detain and protect her? Why didn't Sloane demand answers from her father about who his enemies were and why they'd possibly want to hurt her? (That gets my "WHAT THE WHAT?!" award. I mean, come on...REALLY?!) And another biggie...Why the sudden change of heart with Lucas's parents? (It made absolutely no sense whatsoever. Like we're supposed to believe that they'd release Lucas of his family obligations two minutes after meeting a woman who has a degree in hotel and restaurant management. Oy!)
I'll probably give the next book in the series a try...after I read a bunch of other books on my list.
The story itself was good. Nothing new...but when you've read as many books like this as I have, it's hard to come up with something truly original. But that's OK. The characters were decent. I really liked hero Lucas Ramsay. Heroine Sloane Gideon was a little too prickly for my taste, but she was good enough. I also liked that they were going to go their separate ways at the end for a realistic reason...and was happy when they worked it out.
The problem I had was that it left me with too many unanswered questions and zipped through/glossed over too many situations. How was Lucas injured? Will he be limping and in pain forever or will it go away with therapy? And knowing the extent of Lucas's injury, why would Sloane's father send him to detain and protect her? Why didn't Sloane demand answers from her father about who his enemies were and why they'd possibly want to hurt her? (That gets my "WHAT THE WHAT?!" award. I mean, come on...REALLY?!) And another biggie...Why the sudden change of heart with Lucas's parents? (It made absolutely no sense whatsoever. Like we're supposed to believe that they'd release Lucas of his family obligations two minutes after meeting a woman who has a degree in hotel and restaurant management. Oy!)
I'll probably give the next book in the series a try...after I read a bunch of other books on my list.
May 4, 2011
I thought this book was a good start to a new series. It didn't have a lot of info dump, but it also didn't give me enough info on what looks like to be the main story of the larger story arc. I want to know more about the list and how the 2 older men are involved in it.
Sloane, slightly annoyed me. She was all poor me, my father didn't love or want me. Of course we know that wasn't the whole story, but it sure colored her life, to the point where it became a negative and she did the exact opposite of what she perceived her father would want her to do.
Lucas was more likable, early one he showed his moral code and he didn't waver from it. I do wish that we would have learned just what the General was holding over his head that forced him to go after Sloane.
The 2 of them together was good, right away they seemed to know the others weakness and worked to cover that. Their chemistry was great and made for some fun scenes.
The organization that Sloane worked for had some very interesting characters. The few that we did get to see made me want to know more about them. I am now hoping that they will keep showing up in future books!
Sloane, slightly annoyed me. She was all poor me, my father didn't love or want me. Of course we know that wasn't the whole story, but it sure colored her life, to the point where it became a negative and she did the exact opposite of what she perceived her father would want her to do.
Lucas was more likable, early one he showed his moral code and he didn't waver from it. I do wish that we would have learned just what the General was holding over his head that forced him to go after Sloane.
The 2 of them together was good, right away they seemed to know the others weakness and worked to cover that. Their chemistry was great and made for some fun scenes.
The organization that Sloane worked for had some very interesting characters. The few that we did get to see made me want to know more about them. I am now hoping that they will keep showing up in future books!
July 9, 2016
Really enjoyed this book and I'm really looking forward to the rest of the series! I enjoyed seeing Lucas and Sloane's relationship progress slowly. It was about her trusting him and ending up liking him despite him being sent by her father. Actually thought he might even get upset they were together.
I look forward to seeing Bella's role in the whole "list" situation. Part of my wants her to end up with Gage & I suppose I worry about Clay and that he may be the one "main character" that ends up getting killed. I truly hope not!
I'm also look forward to seeing and hearing about Riley & Sofie, despite what happened. While there is a lot left up in the air, it makes sense therefor the stories could be continued.
Truly, this was a story of - if you love something you must set it free. Sloane needed to speak with her father before her and Lucas would ever have a shot. One thing i wondered was Lucas going to now work st Edge?
Looking forward to reading the rest of the series!! in fact, I just started Razor's edge!
I look forward to seeing Bella's role in the whole "list" situation. Part of my wants her to end up with Gage & I suppose I worry about Clay and that he may be the one "main character" that ends up getting killed. I truly hope not!
I'm also look forward to seeing and hearing about Riley & Sofie, despite what happened. While there is a lot left up in the air, it makes sense therefor the stories could be continued.
Truly, this was a story of - if you love something you must set it free. Sloane needed to speak with her father before her and Lucas would ever have a shot. One thing i wondered was Lucas going to now work st Edge?
Looking forward to reading the rest of the series!! in fact, I just started Razor's edge!
December 17, 2011
This was only a 2 star for me as I didn't like the heroine. Although Sloane was supposed to be a strong independant woman I didn't get that from her as a really strong woman accepts help when she needs it and is not constantly trying to prove herself, she is secure in who she is which Sloane with her Daddy issues wasn't. Then even though she is supposedly this kick ass mecernary she has to rescued by the big strong hero. It was annoying. Also annoying were all the mysterious references to the Project and the List for which no real explanation was given along with too many characters being introduced but not actually having any real attention gven to them.(for what I assume will be more books in the series but still it wasn't necessary to try and intro them all in the first book, paricularly as they had no real role in the story). Best thing about the book -hands down - was Bella. Hopefully she wont be written as annoying and needy as Sloane when it is her story.
April 16, 2011
This is the second series I'm reading from Butcher and I'm not at all disappointed with it. This leaned away from the PNR genre and is more romantic suspense/military/mercenary genre.
I really liked Lucas, I enjoyed how he was very much an alpha male but still at times was vulnerable, especially considering his knee injury. Sloane was also great because she could take care of herself and when she first realizes that Lucas would be sticking around she thinks that she is going to have to take care of him and make sure he doesn't die. That's definitely not the typical heroine's response in most books. She was a force to be reckoned with. I like their chemistry although at times I thought they were being a bit stupid with one another. Sometimes I just wanted to reach in and clunk their heads together.
I look forward to the next book in the series!
I really liked Lucas, I enjoyed how he was very much an alpha male but still at times was vulnerable, especially considering his knee injury. Sloane was also great because she could take care of herself and when she first realizes that Lucas would be sticking around she thinks that she is going to have to take care of him and make sure he doesn't die. That's definitely not the typical heroine's response in most books. She was a force to be reckoned with. I like their chemistry although at times I thought they were being a bit stupid with one another. Sometimes I just wanted to reach in and clunk their heads together.
I look forward to the next book in the series!
July 8, 2011
Living on the Edge is a great action, adventure, romance that keeps you turning the pages to see what happens next. Butcher does a great job at setting up her new Edge series introducing an interesting group of secondary characters while she builds the two main characters' romance, sets up an intriguing mystery that begins in this book but is left open for following books, and sets up some potential new couples for upcoming books. Both Sloane and Lucas are well developed throughout the story, and Butcher takes the reader on quite an adventure with these two as they head to Columbia to save Sloane's missing friend. The book starts with action, and the action never lets up. Overall Living on the Edge is an exciting read that I would definitely recommend if you are looking for romance, action, adventure, and suspense. I look forward to the next installment in this series.
September 27, 2011
This was my first book from Butcher. I like her writing style..some great one-liners as well. It was a good book. Intriguing story line. Loved Lucas. Understand where Sloane is coming from/why she is the way she is but, she was starting to bug me! Just when I was about to push her aside, she 'opened up'.
It was a slow start. It really didn't 'grab me' until about 3/4 the way in. Loved the ending with them..was good. BUT, if this storyline/idea drops..if they don't pick up with Brink..then I'm really disappointed. She really needed more of a conclusion with that portion. The way it was worded, I feel like it'll be a continuing issue but if it isn't..that really needed a wrap-up.
Liked enough that I will buy the next in the series (which I believe comes out in October/November)???
It was a slow start. It really didn't 'grab me' until about 3/4 the way in. Loved the ending with them..was good. BUT, if this storyline/idea drops..if they don't pick up with Brink..then I'm really disappointed. She really needed more of a conclusion with that portion. The way it was worded, I feel like it'll be a continuing issue but if it isn't..that really needed a wrap-up.
Liked enough that I will buy the next in the series (which I believe comes out in October/November)???
January 29, 2015
Sloane is an independent woman who never wants to be seen as weak or helpless. She is a bodyguard but when her friend is kidnapped and taken to Columbia, she hops on the first plane and goes to rescue her. She didn't count on Lucas being there with her though. Lucas was sent by her father, the general, to bring her back by whatever means necessary. That makes Sloane hate Lucas but when Lucas decides to help her rescue her friend, they get closer and she falls for him. Lots of black ops and mystery about "the List" but no real clues other than hospitals and experiments. Lucas and Sloane save Gina and live happily ever after. Meanwhile, a man is still searching for his brother and capturing people on the List along the way. It was okay, quick and easy read. Not sure it totally grabbed me, but okay read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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