Gun Shy

Gun #1

by Lori L. Lake

While on patrol, Minnesota police officer Dez Reilly saves two women from a brutal attack. One of them, Jaylynn Savage, is immediately attracted to the taciturn cop - so much so that she joins the St. Paul Police Academy. As fate would have it, Dez is eventually assigned as Jaylynn's Field Training Officer. Having been burned in the past by getting romantically involved with another cop, Dez has a steadfast rule she has abided by for nine Cops are off limits. But as Jaylynn and Dez get to know one another, a strong friendship forms. Will Dez break her cardinal rule and take a chance on love with Jaylynn, or will she remain forever gun shy?

Genres: Lesbian, Romance, LGBT, Lesbian Fiction, Mystery, Fiction, Crime

372 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Lori L. Lake is the author of ten novels, two books of short stories, and editor of two anthologies. She'll soon have four books available in The Gun Series as well as the next book in The Public Eye Mystery Series. Her crime fiction stories have been featured in "Silence of the Loons," "Once Upon a Crime," and "Women of the Mean Streets. She's had romance stories anthologized in "Best Lesbian Romance" and "Women in Uniform." Lori lived in Minnesota for 26 years, but re-located to Portland, Oregon, in 2009. She presents seminars and workshops on writing topics such as character building, plot, the writing process, the writing life, mystery structure, and form and structure in the modern novel. When she's not working at her computer, you can find her either at the local movie house or curled up in a chair reading. She is currently at work on her next novel. Lori very much likes to hear from her readers. (from the publisher's website)

Reviews

[Alealea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Huh, I don't feel really lucky, it's the second book I dnf today.
It starts sort of okay, with classic and easy description for a mystery book and then devolve into a scene of violence that left me more perplexed than engaged.
The way one of the victim starts to moon over the heroic cop put off very quickly and that's when I remembered I already tried this book last year and got the same epidermic reaction.

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It takes plenty of time to develop the relationship of two strong women and I'm always a sucker for these cop stories. It also has my most important requirement: a happy ending. The only reason I did not give this book 5 stars was because of the many, lengthy dream sequences. Just not my cup of tea and a touch hokey.

[Freyja Vanadis · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is absolutely the worst lesbian mystery I've ever read and that's saying a lot, because there are some real stinkers out there. I bought and read this book way back in 2002 so I can't remember much about it, just that I loathed it with a bloody passion. I sold it on Amazon a year or so later but I wasn't able to recoup my costs, unfortunately. Biggest waste of money ever. I wish I could score it less than one star, because I certainly would.

[Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable read with interesting characters. Desiree is intense and good at what she does. JayLynn is easy going and although her reason for joining the police force is a little bizarre, she has a way about her that counters/blends with Desiree very nicely. I really like that both women are strong and capable. What is not to like about the landlady Luella, she cooks, does laundry, gives advice and hugs.

[Wayne Spiceland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot: St.Paul lesbian police officer rescues two young women from rape, one of the women is immediately smitten with the officer, and decides, after the encounter, to enter the police academy. The women are attracted to each other, but don't verbalize their feelings for personal reasons: one having been seriously burned by a previous lover, the other out of fear of rejection. How they make their tortuous way to each other forms the gist of the novel.

My reaction to Gun Shy by Lori L Lake proves why they make chocolate and vanilla, or as I like to say, jamocha almond fudge and cherries jubilee: not all of us have the same tastes. While the overall reading experience was absolutely positive, I wasn't quite as blown away as all the other reviewers.

The good: The writing itself is very accomplished, especially for a first novel, making the book a real pleasure to read. The pacing is particularly impressive. Even early in her career, Lake is already adept at showing rather than telling. and there are none of the mechanical lapses that often typify a new writer's work. The opening scene is a real "grabber," and once hooked, I had no desire to stop reading.

Gun Shy gives us a fresh take on "crime" fiction, which almost always involves a detective unraveling a murder or some other crime; here. we get a look at the quotidian lives of two patrol officers, one the Field Training Officer of the other, and this unique view of police work serves the author well, avoiding the tropes of the standard mystery and allowing her to focus on the characters. The romance and the police scenes provide a nice counterpoint to each other, and although at times I felt like screaming at Dez and Jay "Just rip each other's clothes off, damnit," I have to admit that the slow pacing does add to the strength of the eventual (you should excuse the expression) climax.

Jay's a great character: warm, lovable, compassionate, determined; in the early going, though, Dez was more of a caricature to me, the Xena persona showing through, maybe, as the tale apparently originated as fanfic. As I warmed to her character, it was largely due to the changes brought about by her relationship with Jaylynn, Great supporting characters definitely add depth and complexity to Gun Shy, and while secondary, are nonetheless integral to the plot, and to the novel's ultimate success.

The narrative flows naturally and the action is depicted so clearly, you could be watching a film instead of reading a book. The believable dialogue adds to that feeling. Certain scenes scintillate with realism and genuineness, and are a delight to read. The developing romance is sweet without being cloying.

The not-as-good -- "bad" would be the wrong word here, since my objections are almost entirely subjective: at first, Jay's decision to become a cop just doesn't ring true for me; it feels a little like stalking. As I got further into the story, I understood the sincerity of her sudden vocational shift and saw that Dez was merely the catalyst. The body-building element left me cold. In general, I'm not a fan of dream sequences and, though their purpose as metaphor is clear, I found them superfluous. And, seriously, if I ever hear the words "the big cop" again, I think I'll scream.

To sum up, in absolutely no way is this a bad novel, or even merely a so-so one ; it's a very good one irrespective of the cavils cited above and I can well understand its appeal for so many readers. As I said, my objections are subjective, having more to do with me than with the author and are on no way an indictment of Gun Shy. That I had a personal issue or two with the book doesn't at all prevent me from strongly recommending it, though not quite with 5 stars.

[Laurel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Long a fan of Ellen Hart's Jane Lawless series, I thought I should try Lori L. Lake's book. Unfortunately, I didn't do my homework; Gun Shy turned out to be a romance novel, not a mystery or police procedural. I thought the book was painfully long for a novel that barely scratched the surface emotionally and I simply tired of all the burning looks and deep blushes.

[Simone · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to enjoy this book more. I didn't fall in love with the characters. I didn't feel the passion between them. There was nothing sweet about their relationship for me. But there was enough there that I am willing to read the sequel and give them another chance.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found it just a bit slow and too long. Just about read it to the end.

[Cloud · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is quintessential police procedural. Lots of every day stuff, multiple mini cases back to back, many side characters, interactions with the police officers' families, etc.
This novel desperately needs an over-arching case which connects all those names that flash by. My summary notes are a mess.
On top of this we find an element that was the focus also in V.I. Warshawski, the protagonist's diet. I get it that she participates in a bodybuilding competition at a certain point but the maniacal level of detail accorded to food is insane. The golden rule that only information that is relevant to the plot should stay in the final draft is completely ignored here. The whole series smells like fanfiction, un-beta-ed fanfiction actually. And like there is great, good, decent and bad fanfiction, this is decent. My advice is borrow the series from the library and spend your money on something else.

[Ameliah Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a the story of a Police Woman and her rookie trainee, their lives together and apart.
I really liked this book. It is always fun to have a great story set in your town and even better when you know the places the characters have been. However that is not the only reason I enjoyed this tale.

Poor Dez doesn't stand a chance against a little spitfire named Jaylynn. Having only just survived being attacked in her home, Jaylynn realizes that she wants to be a police officer. Guess who her Training Officer is....

This book was funny and light hearted but also has some tension filled scenes that made you think the worst was about to happen. I liked the pace of the book and the style of the writer. It was intriguing enjoyable and I look forward to the next in the series.

[Lee Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like police procedurals, if you like romances, and you appreciate well-crafted novels, you’ve found your book in Gun Shy. When an appealing rookie is paired with a seasoned training officer, shots are fired—to both hearts. Both women are finely developed, their personalities gradually revealed through a serious and informed exploration of their family relationships. Lake teases the reader with sensuous details of the characters’ stop-and-go, but ever deepening, connection. She entertains with a host of friends and the sometimes gritty setting of the Twin Cities, and with top-notch lines like this: “Give her a giant Uzi and dress her up in a spacesuit—I’m telling you, she could be My Hero.” But the best news? Gun Shy is only the first of a series.

[J]

Interesting read if only to see how much has improved in the last 20+ years.
Could tell it was originally fanfic by it being too long and not really having any overall story. Also the irritating use of the big one / tall one - yes she’s a warrior!! The dream / gods bit wasn’t really fleshed out and the ending was they finally managed to talk to each other.

[Dide · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining fanfic read but unecessarily long and annoyingly vague of the main characters intimate moment.... What the heck is "they made love"? For goodness sakes, readers waited this long shouldn't we also get to enjoy details of what that meant? Argg

[Shannon Luchies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusingly I must have a REALLY early edition, as it has a painted cover of Dez going up a stairway.

CLASSIC uber Xena, really good book. The romance between Dez Reilly and Jaylynn Savage really works...

[Clare Devereux · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the characters and the romance. This was an enjoyment.

[Michele Coffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fully enjoyed the story and the characters. Can't wait to read book two!

[Susan Honthumb · Rating 4 out of 5]

The beginning is a bit slow, but perseverance is worth it. After about a chapter and a half, the plot picks up the pace. Oh, there was a "come on, really? You are going to manipulate an accident to get these two women in bed for the sake of saving her life? But what I lived were all the details, whether it be the park lights or the description of the falls, I felt like I was in Minnesota with these two women. I loved the character development. Lake is a crafty writer, she'll weave little bits of the character here and there and isn't heavy handed about developing their flaws and foibles. Okay, I did get sick of the repetitive mention of eye color and the words partner and rookie, but I got so attached to the characters, there were times I cried. Yes, I know there's no crying in Reading, but I couldn't help myself. I am actually thinking that I learned a lot from Dez and Jay and loom forward to reading more about them. Good thing I own the first four books. All I can say Lori L. Lake, you better be writing the fifth cuz I ain't gonna want to wait for you to catch up to me.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'll be honest: I only picked this book up because it's a lesbian love story and it takes place in St. Paul, MN, where I went to college. The story was OK, but at times clumsily written and really loses steam past the second half of the book. The characters were well-developed, and the author's strength lies in getting inside the character's minds and exploring their conflicts and emotions. Unfortunately, the book has more weaknesses than strenghts: transitions between character perspectives were abrupt and awkward, the story moves slowly and seems at times to lose its focus, the non sequitur dream sequences fail to contribute anything to the story, and the characters' "cute" humor and wit is thrust upon us too often at sometimes inappropriate moments. I'm hoping that the sequel will be more polished; with these characters, there is definite potential.

[Pippa D · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good mix of crime and romance, with well written characters and enough plot to keep things ticking over. It is the start of a series, with four books to date.

The two main characters are well written. Dez Reilly is a uniformed policewoman with the Saint Paul Police, who stops two rapists in the midst of a crime spree. Jaylynn Savage is one of the women she saves in the incident, and Jaylynn is so inspired that she drops out of Law to join the police force.

The story of Jaylynn's training and probation is well told. There is enough detail to feel that we are travelling with the junior cop while she learns the ropes. One of her field training officers is Dez Reilly, so we also get a slow-burning romance.

Both genres within the book work well, and it is a captivating read.

[Blink51n · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't know this was an "uber" story going in - I have never enjoyed uber stories and this one was no different, unfortunately.
The main issues I have are the repeated descriptions of the characters "the big woman", "cold blue eyes" etc. as well as their perfected physicality. I get it already!
I think one of the main things I dislike about uber fiction in general is I find these descriptors pull me out of the story by reminding me that these characters already exist - it's harder than just letting my mind paint the picture for me.
Also, that remembered dream/fate stuff is just not for me.
I enjoyed the police work side of things and much of the early story. I don't mind a drawn out romance, but Gun Shy was a little long-winded for me.

[Deirdre S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this author's Snow Moon Rising, and this first-in-a-series novel has only deepened my admiration. A great look at the inner and outer lives of two female police officers, one a tense and guarded veteran too closely acquainted with loss, and the other an open-hearted rookie who may have more to teach the older officer about her own heart than her mentor has to teach about police work. Vivid and memorable characters whose fates and futures will matter to the reader, and whose eventual alliance will be deeply satisfying, not least because of how much there is for both of them to endure in order to get there.

A great book.

[carmus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not going to lie, I had heard good things about the book, but it was just so long for me. My biggest peeve was that Dez was continually referred to as 'the big woman' throughout the story - I get the point... I found the beginning really slow, and wanted to stop reading because Jaylynn seemed a bit too unrealistic and perky for my tastes. Overall, the book was ok, I wouldn't say it was great, but I'm probably not going to continue reading the rest of the series.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters in this book seem to have been really well thought out and it was interesting to read. The author had a way of building the sexual tension between the two throughout the story. I really ennjoyed this read.

The only downfall was that there weren't as many sex scenes as I'd like. But, to Ms. Lake's defense, I always want more sex scenes!

[Margaret L. Hedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book.

I loved this book. I loved the development of the relationship between Dez and Jaylynn. Enough action in their jobs to keep it interesting. I can't wait to read more.

[E.A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not the hot and heavy pace of your usual lesbian romance ... but interesting.

[Selina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall quite an easy, enjoyable read, but I found it cheesy in bits & the ending was predictable.

[Mary Vermillion · Rating 4 out of 5]

The chemistry between Lake's two main characters, Dez and Jaylynn, is a lot of fun, as are the bodybuilding and basketball scenes. I'm looking forward to Gun #2.

[Traci · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all 3 books in the Gun Series and I absolutely enjoyed all three. Well done Lori!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the cop story even if some of the realities seemed stretched. The characters are interesting and likable.

[Patrizia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written with the heart, just read it.