Customer Reviews

Gunz and Roses

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(29)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Keisha Ervin's new novel, Gunz and Roses records the liaison and wobbly link of Gray Rose and Gavin "Gunz" Marciano. By all accounts both Rose and Gunz are attracted to each other, but after that the connection seems to be reminiscence of a see saw....one minute up ....the next minute down. Throughout the entire book, this is the connection between the two. It does become annoying and the name dropping of apparel is completely exaggerated! So much so that it became a nuisance! Rose had a group of friends who were definitely friends with good solid advice, always ready to step in and give advice, even if it wasn't wanted. But isn't that what real friends do, know our faults but love us anyway! I really enjoyed their bond of friendship, the attempt at the humor could have been omitted for it seemed as though there was no natural flow to it.

The last 100 pages of the book were indeed the best part to me, it showed excitement, growth between a maturing Rose and Gunz and then it ended. Because of the ending I thought this book was deserving of a four. However, that was before I discovered through reading the reviews that one of the scenes wasn't quite as authentic as I originally believed. Upon viewing this scene I realized that I couldn't possibly and honestly reward it with the rating of a 4.


I was excited about the book Gunz and Roses. Read it, thought it was a good read and complimented her new editor, for I noticed a new repertoire of intriguing vocabulary, verbiage, and well crafted phrases. So to say the very least, I thought I saw growth, for I recognized the escalation of her honing her craft. To say the very least I was particularly proud of Keisha, a new beginning, a new book, a new editor, a new publishing company, nothing but growth, so if would seem.
So I preface my review with the above and to say I have read Ms. Ervin's books since her first novel, Me and My Boyfriend. I was quickly taken in by her appeal to young readers, especially. So for the last five years I have followed her career and read her books. Through the good and not so good times, I have been there reading both books and reviews.

Because of my history with this author, and wanting nothing but the best, I feel that I must offer some strong constructive criticism. When we as the reader read an author over and over again, it is because we have come to trust and respect their work, hoping that they respect us enough to be real with us, giving us their very best and most of all, original work. This originality must be throughout the book.

While realizing there is nothing new under the sun, but it is all in the packaging. And this package wasn't packaged as an original. So to be honest to the art of literature, I simply can't reward the author with anything above the lowest rating. It is the desire of this reader that the author will hone her craft with dignity and honestly in the future.

Everyone's work is important and precious to them and should be given that respect of recognition, when "borrowing" scenes or passages from one another.

So Ms. Ervin, if given the opportunity please give us honest and original work, as we have been nothing but loyal to you for many years.

So, until the time comes when I realize that you are authentic, and it saddens me to say...but I must, I will not support you or your endeavors until you have rectified this travesty of literature.

I too am a big fan of Keisha Ervin, but I got to say that this book was a huge letdown. The breaking up and getting back together between Gunz & Gray was getting on my last nerve. It seems like every time I turned a page they were screwing or fighting. After a while a just started flipping the pages of the book to get past all the screwing just to see if they actually have any kind of meaningful conversations. How in the hell was a relationship established. Then when the author stole the scene from the movie Sugar Hill, I was outdone. I am not going to give up on Ms. Ervin just yet, but if she don't come up with some better storylines besides drug dealers and weak a$$ whiny girlfriends, I am going to stop spending money on her books.

Ok, so I, like many others who posted, am a fan of Keisha's. I mean I have been there through copying Wahida Clark, Baby Boy, Mya etc. But this one was ridiculous. I mean come on girl im still waiting on you to give it to us. The sex scenes seem to be the only original elements in the book and it may be sad to say but those were probably found somewhere else too. it's not like copyright infringement is beneath her. I hate to go hard on the sista but when I spend my money, especially on novels, I expect to go through a range of emotions and this one could have been returned to the store. I may have to start actually start sitting in the bookstores and deeply previewing her titles. It is my greatest joy to support Black urban fiction because there is some real talent out there i.e. Tu-shonda Whitaker, Niobia Bryant Wahida Clark, etc, and placing Keisha in their category right now isn't possible. Keish, if writing is going to be your thing, if it is going to be your passion and make you money you have to get dedicated. How long do you think we as consumers and readers of your work will support and patronize you when you cannot stand and deliver? It's a recession too, girl please...get yourself together. Obviously we can tell passion from tired and busted. That's what it seems like you got tired of writing and used space fillers. You better hope these people ( artist and writers you "borrow" from) don't try to stick you for your paper. Still waiting on a good one.

Okay lets be honest, if an author bites from other authors or steals whole scenes from movies then they're not original. This is Keisha's seventh book so I expect a lot more from her. There is a difference between coincidences, similarities, and being blatant. And Ms. Ervin is the latter.

As for the story, Gunz & Roses, it was predictable. We've all read this type of story from Ms. Ervin, ie; Torn. Basically good girl meets gangster. They have nothing in common but great sex. They fight, break up, make up sex, fight, break up, and more make up sex follows. Throw in some designer clothing no regular person can afford, a crazy stalker, and a gay girl/boyfriend and you have this book in a nutshell. To Keisha's credit she does have good writing skills but the usage of movie scenes from Sugar Hill, Baby Boy, and The Devil Wears Prada detracts from her skills. These are all poplar movies most people have seen so when you take scenes from them people will notice. We as readers want originality. We know the months and time you put into creating a novel. It's not easy work. But never the less, you cannot steal scenes and call it yours and expect to get credit for it. We expect better. So I can't give you credit for this work. And to all the other reviewers giving this book five stars knowing that she's lifted whole scenes from movies "word for word" it's very misleading to a buyer. I wish her the best in her future work but please give us original work.

Keisha first of all Iam a huge fan of yours and I pray that an Editor screwed this book up and not you. This was by far the worst book you have ever written. While reading the story and finding it somewhat familar I later find out that this book has stolen a scene from Sugar Hill the movie(Youtube Sugar Hill Part 5). Not a little of the scene the entire scene! Iam so mad at you for this horrible book. It was all over the place rushed and I know if you re-read this yourself you will be embarrassed as the author. Please Keisha listen to your fans and give us what we pay for a good book! You have lost the midas touch honey, but I will give you another chance to redeem yourself and if it's the same type of work It's a wrap for our reading relationship.

In the words of T'wan and Blaine from Living Color "Hated it!"

Keisha's storyline's are begining to get repetitive and Gunz & Roses is no different. Girl meets drug dealing boyfriend, gets tired of his crap, breaks up with boyfriend, then gets back together with boyfriend. The last straw for me is when Keisha literally wrote a scene straight out of the movie Sugar Hill. Did she think readers wouldn't pick that up? Maybe it's time for Keisha to start thinking outside of the box and start from scratch. I was expecting more from an author who's released as many books as she has and has such a wide fan base. Step ya game up!

I started reading Keisha Ervin based on a claim of plagiarism by another female African-American artist. Gunz and Roses is better written than I expected based on what I've previously read by Ms. Ervin. However, her characters don't resonate with me. I feel like I'm reading a work of fiction written according to stereotypical ghetto rules. A thug ghetto harlequin romance novel. Some authors make you really identify with their characters. You love them, you hate them, you root for their success, you hope they mature and change, etc. Gunz and Roses characters, while entertaining, don't seem real. That's why I rate the book an overall OK. I believe Ms. Ervin will develop into a genuine artist when she writes from her own personal passion and not just what she thinks will sell.

Ok so omg is it me or is Keisha losing it? Um I rated this book a three star. It was ok, that's it that's all something like her other books. I think she is a good author her book Torn was really good and Me & My Boyfriend was alright too. I really do and she has alot of potiental and never would I knock her but.. COME ON LETS GET ORIGINAL.. its bad enough she was stealing Wahida Clark Every Thug Needs a Lady scenarios and characters in her book Hold U Down, but now movie scenes (Youtube Sugar Hill Part 5) and I mean verbatum lol she didn't switch it up or nothing. At least in her Me & My Boyfriend and Torn novels she was stealing alot of parts from Baby Boy, but she changed up the scene a little bit, but not this time. Keisha I love you girl but as a reader and an inspiring author you need to get it together. Foreal and not forplay its gettin ridiculous! (Be on tha lookout for ya' girl. Essence Bestseller in the making)

I was really pissed after reading this book.It felt like I was reading Torn all over again.I still have no idea what the plot was and the constant back and forth between Gunz and Gray worked my last nerve.They both was dumb if you ask me.Nothing in this book was established,not even the relationship between Gunz and Roses..This was not a romance but a hit it and quit it type relationship.No substance,plot,or drama whatsoever! Hated It!!Not only that, she jacked an entire scene out of the movie Sugar Hill and wrote it in this book.Come on Keisha...stop insulting our intelligence!

I love and respect Keisha Ervin as an author and I've LOVED ALL her books until now.....Don't get me wrong, Gunz and Roses was a page turner until I got to the scene I could recite by memory (pissed) and that would be the scene she copied from the movie "Sugarhill". EVERYONE knows that scene where, his best friend is hung up after being murdered and the girl comes around the corner and he states....I thought I told u to go home....and she yells at the top of her lungs....I CAN'T DRIVE....throws his keys at him and runs away....."Sugarhill...1997". I really took away some cool points for copying someone else' work....How could u play us like that?????

Not happy at all!!!!!!!