Customer Reviews

Gun Shy

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
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This is the best book about police officers I've ever read. What I like the most about the book are the characters. Jaylynn Savage and Dez Reilly are such clearly defined, likable, and multi-leveled personalities. The plot seems to revolve around the changes each of them goes through as their friendship deepens and matures. Initially, the changes are most evident in Jaylynn, as she leaves the somewhat passive, structured regimen of a college student and embarks upon an effort to become a police officer. Midway through the book, however, it becomes apparent that Dez is undergoing an even greater change. Daily exposure to Jay's warm, lively humanity begins to erode the self-protective wall of isolation Dez has spent years erecting around herself.

And then, of course, it's a book about police work. While the sad and complicated interactions with dysfunctional families and petty crooks are accurately caught, and the mind-numbing, plodding daily grind of what the police really do day in and day is represented, there are also some brilliant action scenes. For example, I have imprinted in my mind the scene in Chapter 18, when Dez leads the way into the 7-11 because Jay wants an ice cream snack. The clarity and grit Lake captured on those pages are worth the price of the book.

I also liked the scene by Gooseberry Falls in the early autumn, when Dez and Jay hike up to an outcropping of cliffs there. When they sit down, they end up snuggling together in a little pocket in the rocks, trying to avoid the cold bite of the wind. Dez produces a package of cupcakes from her pocket, surprising Jay (who is perpetually hungry) and demonstrating her transition from the gruff, no-nonsense woman she had once been. Now, Dez is secretly buying junk food treats from the gas station food mart, obviously thinking about Jay's needs before Jay does. It was a deft use of storytelling to illustrate to the reader how Dez had changed, and I loved it.

There are many such skillful, well-plotted uses of "show-don't-tell" laced throughout this book. This is a writer who is learning her craft from the old school. By that I mean, literary-politics aside, I believe the mark of a good writer is found in smooth exposition and character evocative dialogue. Lori Lake has accomplished both with "Gun Shy." The story advances easily and logically, drawing the reader into the plot. You know who is speaking by the way the character is phrasing their line -- Jay, Dez, Luella, the various supporting cast members -- they all have different voices. It is a pleasure to read this kind of writing.

And it is early, yet, in Lake's career. Just think what she'll be capable of if she keeps producing stories. Frankly, I can't wait for "Under the Gun." How will Jay and Dez manage a relationship while they are working together? Will Dez be able to get beyond her fear of personal relationships and be as brave in facing love as she is in facing everything else? Will Jay ever get enough to eat? I'm hooked!! More please!!

Lake's Gun Shy is the story of two somewhat reluctant women who finally learn to believe in themselves and each other enough to commit to love. Covering just over a year in the lives of these women, the novel reads like a season's worth of episodes from a television show that you wish was on TV.

The story opens with Desiree Reilly, a formidable cop over six feet tall with raven dark hair and startling blue eyes, capturing a pair of serial rapists and in the process saving two young women, Sara and JayLynn. It is a meeting that electrifies both JayLynn and Desiree. JayLynn Savage, a lesbian in her mid-20s, decides to become a police officer in order to get to know Desiree, the hero of her dreams, literally. We follow Savage through the academy and most of her rookie year on the St. Paul Police Department.

Gun Shy is also the story of Desiree who is struggling with the death of her partner and good friend, Ryan. Early in her career Dez was a conquest for a rather superficial older female cop who apparently made a hobby of bedding young dyke officers. Hurt and embarrassed, Dez has made a rule not to date cops. Presumed by many of the other cops to be lesbian, Dez has rarely dated at all, let alone been seriously involved with a woman for almost eight years. Already known as the "Ice Queen" the tall and intimidating Dez has withdrawn even more since Ryan's death.

Reilly becomes Field Training Officer for Savage and the two women begin a long complicated dance toward friendship and love. Along the way, the bright and innovative, if diminutive Jay becomes a good police officer. She learns to develop her own attributes in her work, deals with the trauma of her first shooting and pries the elusive Dez out of her shell. Meanwhile Dez comes to grips with Ryan's death. Over the course of the year the partners learn a great deal about each other and themselves. And the reader learns about life as a patrol officer in St. Paul as well as being treated to an inside view of the world of amateur bodybuilding.

Gun Shy originated as an "Uber Xena" fanfiction story. [Certainly a number of entertaining and talented writers have found their voice writing fanfiction or stories set in another writer's universe.] There are a number of "dream" scenes in Gun Shy that refer to the show. However, presented here as a stand alone novel, these scenes are distracting and may even become more distracting now that the show has ended. Furthermore it does a disservice to the characters that Lake has created to bind them to the "uber Xena genre." Dez and Jay are new characters and while one might wish to imagine them as being portrayed by Lawless and O'Connor, they are not Xena and Gab. Lake might have done better to remove these elements of the dreams. Such editing need not remove the concept of Dez and Jay as soulmates or Dez as Jay's dream hero.

Gun Shy is an engaging, readable book. The characters are interesting and the action drew this reader into the story. Amusingly, Lake seems to have created two lesbians that are the antithesis of the standard "u-haul" joke. I confess by the end of the book, I was relieved when Jay and Dez finally got together! Overcoming the barriers to that consummation is the theme of Gun Shy. Apparently, Lake has plans for a sequel. It will be interesting to see how she depicts Jay and Dez as a couple. In the meanwhile, treat yourself to a copy of Gun Shy.

It is SO hard to find well written, solid lesbian fiction. I think I spent the first half of this book with a grin on my face just because I was so excited about how good it was! The characters are well developed, likable people and the story is well crafted and flows smoothly. There were times that I was shouting "Kiss her already!" or "Take her to bed!". Clearly I do not have the patience that Jay does. After waiting so long for them to get together I honestly wouldn't have minded a little more detail in that area, and Dez's truck changes color somewhere in the middle of the book; these are the only two, very minor criticisms that I have concerning this novel. I will definately be reading more from this author.

Police officer Dez Reilly responds to a call where she saves two women from violent burglars. One of the women, Jaylynn Savage, is so smitten with Dez that she herself begins training to become a police officer. Dez, still recovering from her police officer partner's death as well as a series of relationships that ended badly, is jarred by Jaylynn's infectious spirit and uninhibited emotions. Dez is equally drawn to and skittish around the younger woman. And as Dez helps train Jaylynn, the two become more and more entangled, but can Dez overcome her emotional hang-ups and learn to love again? This magnificently written novel draws the reader into the private lives of both the women as it explores their will-it-or-won't-it relationship. While on the surface it seems like just another lesbian romance novel, "Gun Shy" turns out to be much more. With adept grace, the story leads the reader through the grieving process of the taciturn Dez, who ultimately must face her own inner demons if she wants to fully embrace a relationship with Jay. Even the minor characters are fully realized, and the book as a whole is a colorful tapestry that will entrance readers and leave them begging for more.

I read Gun Shy and found it to be a very exciting book. Lori keeps you very interested not only in the story but you will love the characters. It will keep you wanting more after you finish it. Lori is an excellent author . I am sure that you will not be disappointed in this book.

My wife is a tough, tom-boy, city policewoman, and I REALLY enjoyed a romance I could relate to. Big thanks to Ms. Lake, we need more lesbian fiction writers like her.

Very dramatic, action filled! Pulls the reader right smack into the middle of the action! A seriously good read -- one you can't put down until you finish and makes you want more!

I recommend Lori L. Lake to anyone who appreciates a quality storyteller. Lori has the ability to draw a reader into her fictitious world, allowing the reader to feel what the characters are feeling - good or bad. That to me is the sign of a good writer, and I believe that Lori wears the title of writer very well, as is evident with Gun Shy.

What starts as a routine disturbance call, turns into a life-changing event for the veteran cop responding to the call and to one of the victims involved. So much so, that Jaylynn Savage wants to follow in the path to help others, as Officer Dez. Reilly did for her and her friend.

Fate has thrown these two women together, now can they overcome their own obstacles to go from partners to partners in the truest sense of the word? This is not just another romance novel, but a trip into the lives of two big-city police officers and the events, challenges and fears they are faced with on and off duty.

Gun Shy had me enthralled right from beginning to end, and when the end was reached, I felted I had had a glimpse into the lives of some very special people and a better understanding of what a police officer might encounter while putting their life on the line for us all.

I am definitely looking forward to buying the sequel once it is released.

Lori Lake's earned her place on my bookshelf with this wonderful book. After the first few pages I knew I was in for a thrilling ride, with a smart plot and even smarter-drawn characters. She knows how to craft a suspenseful novel. I look forward to reading her other work.

Gun Shy is an excellent book! I couldn't put it down... All the characters in this book are wonderfully writen! Jaylynn and Des are strong and amazing women. I fell in love with LouElla. She is the little sweet neighbor lady that everyone would love to have! This book was a roller coaster ride that I didn't want to end! Thanks goodness for sequels! This book offers a lot to a reader: Romance, thrill, humor and we can't forget the sex! It also show the power of friendship and taking a chance with your heart. Lori Lake is a very talented writer. I am glad I bought this book! This is a must read and one to keep in your collection. I know I will...