On the Edge [Play On 1]

by Gracie C. McKeever

[Siren Sensations: Contemporary Consensual BDSM Interracial Romantic Suspense Romance, MF, with FF elements, bondage, spanking, sex toys, HEA] Aspiring fashion designer Melania Noble has her sights set on an exclusive contract with budding, chic retailer, Ramara's Rags. With tragic experiences of domestic violence in her past, Mel doesn't want to waste a second not pursuing her dream and has no time for distractions, especially those of the all-consuming, arrogant male variety. Haunted and determined to avoid the same mistakes of his dysfunctional parents, well-heeled architect Edge Ryan sublimates his thirst for kink with work. A chance encounter with rough-and-ready "Mel the car mechanic," reveals what a poor substitute work has been. He'll have his job cut out for him, however, convincing Mel to break her own dry spell and explore her inner submissive. The deeper she lets Edge take her down the BDSM rabbit hole, however, the more Mel realizes she's enjoying the trip and the more Edge realizes he may have finally found not just a playmate but a soul mate.

Genres: Contemporary

167 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 7, 2019

About the author

My name is Gracie C. McKeever and I'm a multi-published, cross-genre romance author from the Bronx. I've been writing since the ripe old age of seven when two younger brothers were among my earliest, captive audience for various short story readings and performances.

In 2001 I caught the erotic romance bug, sinking my teeth into my first erotic romance e-book for a review, and haven't looked back since. An instant affinity for the genre spawned my own first erotic romance title, BENEATH THE SURFACE, published in 2006 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

Other places on the web where you can find me and my books:
Gracie C. McKeever
Gracie at Siren
Siren Publishing
Gracie on Amazon

Reviews

[Kay Hertz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has so much promise!

Plot: 3
Spice: 3.5
Overall: 3.5

Edge, our MMC, is exactly what you would want in a strong alpha, Dom type man. He's He's both truly a dominant but he genuinely cares for, anticipates the beds of, and appreciates his sub. From the get-go he is drawn to Mel, our FMC.

Melania on the other hand, while a sub, is no pushover. She's clearly been through the ringer and come out the other side stronger, although perhaps hesitant.

The dynamic between Edge and Melania is well developed and a joy to watch grow.

However, there were a few points that's so short for me. I did enjoy the third point of view of our villain, but they seemed to come out of nowhere. It would have made more sense to introduce that additional point of view either earlier or not at all.

Also, and this is entirely personal, I prefer when no specific politics or political reference is brought into a story, regardless of how off-handed a remark can be. It really dates the book, and therefore will age the story prematurely.

Lastly, I thought the "emotional breakthrough" of our MMC felt rushed and done a little as an after thought. I'd have preferred that it has developed a little more clearly. In retrospect, the hints were there, but it didn't fully tie together after reading the book and thinking about it.

Overall, I still enjoyed this story. I just wanted a tiny bit more; more from Edge, more about Melania's career development, more of the challenges an interracial relationship can face, perhaps just a bit more fleshed out in the second half of the story with stronger ties to the first half.

I'd recommend it for someone looking for a light entry into BDSM lifestyle romances.

[Mari Rent · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the Edge really does that! It keeps you on the edge! The meeting between Edge and Melania is truly a meet cute! That involves a taxi and switching of bags. But after that man the chemistry between Edge and Melania are off the charts. This is a BDSM story that intrigued me from the beginning and it did not disappoint. Edge really knows how to keep a woman on the edge and is a Dom. While, Melania is a sassy Sub. Their Dom/ Sb relationship is based on trust and that trust gets tested. But y’all this one is spicy for sure!! I was clutching my pearls but! I did have one issue which was at one point you get a different perspective a couple of times and it threw me off but I understood why! Nevertheless I really liked it! It’s a 4/5.

[Tabatha Slagle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edge and Mel had a great meet cute beginning. They both had their own trauma that prevented them from developing a healthy lasting relationship. When Edge gets into the same cab as Melania there's an instant connection between them.

There was definitely miscommunication between them at several points in the story, the worst of which happened with Chelsea. Although Mel is the sub in the D/S relationship she definitely still radiates strength.

Overall a good story with room for more to come.

[Marie-Claude Carrière · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued from the beginning I loved the rollercoaster this story brought me on. It was a nice and interesting intro to Melania experience in the BDSM world while falling in love with her Dom.

Personal perk I loved that Melania was a fashion designer, I felt I could easily relate to her since I've also studied in fashion design and it was fun seeing her débute in the fashion world.

BDSM
Dom/Sub
Trauma bonding/scars/healing
Strong independent FMC
Protective MMC
Stalker
Multiple POVs
HEA

⭐4/5 🌶️3/5

The cover is my least favorite part of the book, it wasn't very appealing to me and I felt it didn't represent well the book but don't let that stop you because I loved this book, it's definitely worth the read!!!

[Bianca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice quick BDSM Romance read.

I really enjoyed the sass and independance of the FMC.

The MMC was a fun Dom.

I would recommend someone read the trigger warnings before reading as both mc are dealing with trauma.

I would have liked to see more of Keith and understand him more. As he just felt put in there to add some excitment.

In all, it was an easy read but felt rushed towards the end and was missing that gripping element. Would recommend to anyone who is into an easy read and love a hea.

[Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the build up and the banter between the MMC and FMC. The spice is great too. It captured and held my attention very quick from the beginning.

[Dea Farrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melina Noble works in her family's auto business but has her sites set on being a fashion designer. Her world is turned upside down when she shares a cab with an architect named Edge Ryan. Melina and Edge have instant chemistry, but Melina hasn't been with another man in a long time, and Edge keeps his inner kink hidden away by working long hours to stay away from women. Edge is ready to let his Dom back out with Melina if he can only get her to submit.

I'm really on the fence with this book. I feel like this one tried to pack too much punch into such short of a book. There's just so much going on that I feel it wasn't well enough developed in certain aspects. The chemistry between the characters was very lackluster. I really didn't feel much chemistry between them. At times, it felt like I was reading a BDSM manual with how much rote educational descriptions were going on. Then there was the whole mysterious stalker of Melania that was spordacially thrown in and really quickly solved in a couple of pages. Both Edge and Melania have past traumas, which are supposed to be affecting their current lifestyles, but those traumas are just briefly glossed over. I really wished the book was either longer or less covered, so these characters and their story arcs could've been better developed. This story was very interesting and had great potential, but as a reader, I wanted more depth and detail into these character's lives.

[Stephanie P · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love Dom/Sub storylines then On The Edge is for you! Edge and Melania relationship is anything but easy but thru the dynamics of learning about each other they really grow! There is a bit of drama that happens but it adds to the story!

[plantbookie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was alright. I thought their meet cute was cute and I liked Edge in the beginning. He was sweet, protective and attentive. I also liked his dirty talk.

However, he really messed up with the Chelsea thing. My jaw was on the floor reading that!! Mel forgave him pretty easily, but I’m still kinda bitter.

Mel was strong and independent but I think she kind of lost a bit of that towards the end. Her relationship with her niece was really sweet.

I really enjoyed her friendship she had with Iceland and I’m interested in what happened in Iceland’s’ past.

[LitPick Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melania Noble, an African American embryo fashion designer, is aiming for a deal with the retailer Ramaras Rags. Having faced violence in the past, Mel is focused on chasing her dream without any distractions from overbearing men. On the hand, Caucasian architect Edge Ryan, haunted by his parents’ mistakes, channels his desires into work to avoid pitfalls. A random meeting in a New York taxicab, ignites something between Mel and Edge which takes them beyond their ambitions and work. Passion leads to exploration, as they delve into BDSM together. Unexpectedly, their connection though grows deeper and more meaningful.

Admittedly, I read this book because I agreed to review it, although I am sure it is the last book like it that I will ever read. Romance and BDSM are not genres I spend my time on. But if they are something that you enjoy reading about or if the latter is an area you want to learn about, this book is for you. Ms. McKeever writes very well, and the story is engaging. The author doesn’t just tell a story but exposes the reader to a subculture of society concerning relationships based on power exchange and kink. Therefore, readers uneducated in BDSM will get a peek into this element. On the other hand, if you are just looking for a romance novel like a Hallmark movie, this book is not for you.

I found the characters nicely developed, although fairly stereotyped to the point of being cliched to fit in with today’s trendy emphasis on multi-culturalism and inter-racial relationships. The climatic ending of the story was interesting but the hero and heroine were predictable, again promoting the underlying theme of the budding inter-racial romance which will now go on happily-ever-after. The predictable ending will especially please fans of kinky romance books.
Although, the relationship of Mel and Edge is unusual from the beginning, built upon a foundation of dominance and submission, by the end of the book it evolved into a deeper and “real” love.

Overall, Ms. McKeever is a talented writer who has contributed a well-written, steamy romance novel to the BDSM genre. I hope that she uses her talent to write more mainstream fiction stories too so other readers can discover her writing and story-telling ability outside this genre.

[Mona williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a really great book! she had a bad dealing with abuse in her past . so when she meets him she is not sure how things will go. theres danger in this book. read to find out what happens.

[Polli.p · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here we have a book trying to hard to be many things. Mystery, romance, BDSM, Inter racial, suspense, trauma issues are all vying for a spot in the narrative, and in doing so lay waste to many opportunities where, with more research, this story could have been a five star special. As it is I am going with three stars because the backbone of the story is worth a read.

The story begins well enough with Edge Ryan and Melanie Noble's insta attraction and the sexual tension between them is well crafted. The problem I have is with him being a Dom. Not only is he not alpha enough, he shows extreme weakness when allowing Chelsea to take over a scene without the consent of his sub. Yes this is acknowledged in the book but in truth this flies in the face for both Dom and Domme in that scene and is against the SSC rules that are the basis of BDSM. Edge also reads as quite unsure of himself. Again not your average fictional Dom character.

As mentioned there's more to this story and the sub plots play out neatly. So my guess is this is a first attempt at writing a BDSM story and though it could have done with some tweaks it's still worth a read. I also get the sense that this was written a few years ago because if you're a lover of the genre then you will get the sense that this is quite dated. But if you've never read a BDSM novel before this might be a good place to start.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Danielle Graves · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm on the fence about this book, or should that be on the edge? While it's typically the type of tropes that I enjoy, I felt like the book tried to do too much and didn't put enough time or detail into different parts of the storyline.
 
Initially, Edge comes across as very arrogant, but that doesn't last; he starts to doubt himself, and that just doesn't fit in with the Dom persona he tried to portray himself as. Added to the fact that he was almost manipulative with the way he went about his relationship with Mel, picking and choosing to avoid her at times, what to communicate, what deserved a 'punishment' etc., and then there was a pretty big moment with a woman called Chelsea, who pushed both Edge and Mel's boundaries, and he just wasn't very likable to me.  This is a shame because this had the potential to be a great story, but Mel was labeled 'bratty' when her reactions were potentially because of past trauma.
 
There was some talk of Mel getting harassed and getting prank calls, and there was the POV from someone who had it out for her, which did add an element of tension and mystery, but then when the person was brought to light, it was dealt with super quickly, as were most issues in the book.

[Between The Covers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a pretty decent book. It's a bit of a slow burn at the beginning but it did pick up some. The chemistry between the two main characters is unmistakable. It's an instant attraction between the two. Although Mel has sworn off men for the time being due to an abusive ex and trying to focus on her dream career, it doesn't stop Edge, a hard working architect from working his way into her life nor her from allowing it. I loved Mel's relationship with her niece as well. It was sweet.

Read the book to see where the story of Melania and Edge leads to and all that they have to face.

[Nichole Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one started a bit slow for me and was what I consider a slow burn. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. Edge is absolutely book boyfriend material and Mel is a very sassy, independent FMC. Both characters have baggage and meet by chance. They both provide each other with things each of them didn't even no they needed. This book does have BDSM elements in it which are described very well. There are some triggers as well, just so you are aware. This book had a good plot, great characters, and some amazing spicy scenes. Very interested in reading more by this author!

[Katie Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I had started this book I had question if it was the book for me, but as I continued the store I grew to like it more and more. I loved the witty banter and the touch of suspense that went along with the story kept it fresh and exciting! Definitely a quick pallet cleansing book!

[Caylee T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Melania & Edge’s story was different but not in a bad way.

Melania is a fashion designer with big dreams of working with a huge retailer.

Edge is an incredibly hard working arch that is trying to outrun his parents mistakes.

A chance encounter has these two connecting seemingly instantly. And with their both strong personalities & big dreams the passion between them is strong. What starts out a little slow & rough, they eventually explore their connection.


These characters were well thought out showing a deep connection that grows and turns into something more, something like love.


This was very well written & I enjoyed it.

Great job!