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Sasha Berlin, an aspiring actress waiting on table, lives with her lover, Tomasno accent, a Mexican cafe owner who is ""looking for something more.'' Although seduced by his ``dangerous'' ways, Sasha fears his involvement with shady characters and, indeed, ends up in the middle of a scam. At the center of the trouble is Tomas' widowed grandmother, Concepcion, nostalgic for the days when she fought with and protected her husband, the General. The novel's weakness lies in the changing narrationSmoodin is at her best when writing through the eyes of Sasha, the most fleshed-out character. She flounders, however, when stretching the perspective to Concepcion, who states, ``To be able to make art of your lifethis is something men can do, and women can watch.'' Underdeveloped characters mar occasionally inspired writing. (March)