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Gun Shy
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS GIRL?
In the middle of a fierce snowstorm in Gun Creek, Nevada, a teenage girl disappears without a trace.
The second girl in nine years.
Identical cases. Identical conditions. Only last time, the girl was found. Dead, stuffed in a well beside the creek that feeds the town's water supply.
The killer was never found.
As the small town mobilizes and searches for newly vanished Jennifer Thomas, one suspect comes to the fore. But did he do it? Or is there something else at play? Something nobody could have anticipated?
For Jennifer's friend Cassie Carlino, the worst is yet to come. As she pins MISSING posters to store windows and joins the search, she begins to suspect that Jennifer's disappearance might be much closer to her than she could have ever imagined.
In the middle of a fierce snowstorm in Gun Creek, Nevada, a teenage girl disappears without a trace.
The second girl in nine years.
Identical cases. Identical conditions. Only last time, the girl was found. Dead, stuffed in a well beside the creek that feeds the town's water supply.
The killer was never found.
As the small town mobilizes and searches for newly vanished Jennifer Thomas, one suspect comes to the fore. But did he do it? Or is there something else at play? Something nobody could have anticipated?
For Jennifer's friend Cassie Carlino, the worst is yet to come. As she pins MISSING posters to store windows and joins the search, she begins to suspect that Jennifer's disappearance might be much closer to her than she could have ever imagined.
369 pages, ebook
First published October 6, 2017
336 people are currently reading
4488 people want to read
About the author
Lili St. Germain
44 books4,338 followersLili is a USA Today bestselling hybrid author who has sold over a million books since January 2014. She writes stories about vengeful girls and villainous men, with readers crowning her "The Queen of Darkness" and "The best when it comes to dark, brooding and bloody romance."
Lili quit corporate life to focus on writing and so far is loving every minute of it. Her other loves in life include her gorgeous husband and beautiful daughter, good coffee, Tarantino movies and spending hours on Pinterest.
She loves to read almost as much as she loves to write.
Lili quit corporate life to focus on writing and so far is loving every minute of it. Her other loves in life include her gorgeous husband and beautiful daughter, good coffee, Tarantino movies and spending hours on Pinterest.
She loves to read almost as much as she loves to write.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 388 reviews
October 2, 2017
GUNSHY: Is a full length standalone novel by Lili St Germain. Spoken in 'Dual Perspectives' Leo Bentley & Cassandra Carlino aka Cassie
This kicks starts us off in a dark gritty place, seventeen year old Karen a troubled teenage girl who had gone missing in Gun Creek a week prior, her severed body is discovered in a well on a local property by Leo nine years ago, It’s not every morning you drink dead girl juice after taking a long gulp of water out of a glass he knew straight away something wasn’t right, the taste alone made him gag, the colour of the water didn’t seem right either with it being a dirty rusty red colour climbing down the well that’s when all was revealed.
Something forever changed in Leo that day, gone was his easy go lucky happy nature and in it’s place was a different boy entirely.
One year later a car careens down an embankment during a snowstorm, nineteen year old Leo at the wheel, sent to prison for nineteen years for driving under the influence, one female forever locked in a coma, this event forever changes the people in this small town, secrets, lies and deceit become an act of survival. Leo's and Cassie's lives will never be the same.
Released from Lovelock penitentiary for good behaviour nothing is the same, the town has changed, the people have changed.
I left behind a girl, and now that I'm back, that girl is gone. She's a woman now, with pain in her eyes that I put here.
Another girl goes missing nine years after Karen Brainard which could send him back to prison again facing the death penalty if he reveals what he knows about her disappearance.
At this point in the story this is where the author opens up a can of worms, because boom boom boom events from this stage onwards because from this point onwards the events that unfold will definitely give you whiplash keeping up.
MY THOUGHTS: What a crazy assed dark psychological thriller this one was, I feel like I’ve been pulled through a hedge backwards, the twists and turns, the dark and grit just kept coming and coming and along the way you feel and connect with these characters.
In typical lili fashion as per usual I'm left reeling, gobsmacked, stunned, sitting down and writing up this review and wondering what the fuck did I just read, this was one fucked up crazy assed ride, this book threw many twists, many curve balls that had me reeling in their aftermath, like a tornado that has ripped through a town left floundering in its wake, this book exceeded all my expectations, ticked all my boxes and left me wanting more, I can not wait to see what Lili brings us next. I highly recommend this, it's dark, twisted, raw, disturbing, gritty and highly addictive.
October 7, 2017
5 Onetwothreefourfive Stars
Leo has a meth addict mum who lives in a double wide on state land, to say he had a troubled upbringing would be an understatement. Leo has built himself his own 'place' so his girlfriend Cass can stay with him anytime, he built it out of scrap materials. When his makeshift sink spits out some gross looking water he goes to investigate thinking his younger brothers had killed an animal and chucked it in the well...............it wasn't an animal.
One year after the well 'incident' Cassie/Cass watched as those aspirations and her future with Leo crumpled in front of her eyes. That day would change everyone's lives and not for the better.
I can't go into the plot any more as it would be giving away too much and this book is full of twists and surprises that you just have to read to believe. What I can say is I was captivated from the first page. This author has a way of dragging me into her books with her writing, the descriptive and emotional way she writes is fantastic.
So this was an intense read that follows the journey of two people that seem destined to live out their lives hiding gut wrenching secrets and another person who was the cause of those secrets. I thought it was refreshing to read a story that had no 'Hero' and that the main character was not portrayed as the 'victim' all the time, it also didn't have what I'd call a HEA. This is not for 'safe' readers it has no romance in it at all. This book is for the lovers of dark, gritty and twisted reads. Some of those twists................
➰ Reviewed on behalf of the 1-Click Addict Support Group ➰
Leo has a meth addict mum who lives in a double wide on state land, to say he had a troubled upbringing would be an understatement. Leo has built himself his own 'place' so his girlfriend Cass can stay with him anytime, he built it out of scrap materials. When his makeshift sink spits out some gross looking water he goes to investigate thinking his younger brothers had killed an animal and chucked it in the well...............it wasn't an animal.
The darkness wasn't always there. I was bright and shiny once. There was no tarnish at my edges, no very bad thing that existed in me. I had a mother, and a boyfriend, and a life. I was loved. I had plans and goals and aspirations.
One year after the well 'incident' Cassie/Cass watched as those aspirations and her future with Leo crumpled in front of her eyes. That day would change everyone's lives and not for the better.
In my rage, I find my solace. In my rage, I vanquish my despair.
I can't go into the plot any more as it would be giving away too much and this book is full of twists and surprises that you just have to read to believe. What I can say is I was captivated from the first page. This author has a way of dragging me into her books with her writing, the descriptive and emotional way she writes is fantastic.
So this was an intense read that follows the journey of two people that seem destined to live out their lives hiding gut wrenching secrets and another person who was the cause of those secrets. I thought it was refreshing to read a story that had no 'Hero' and that the main character was not portrayed as the 'victim' all the time, it also didn't have what I'd call a HEA. This is not for 'safe' readers it has no romance in it at all. This book is for the lovers of dark, gritty and twisted reads. Some of those twists................
➰ Reviewed on behalf of the 1-Click Addict Support Group ➰
September 21, 2017
5++++++++stars
I was lucky enough to be given a hard copy ARC of Gun Shy ( I've also pre-ordered one) from a book signing and trust me when I say it was certainly worth the wait.
Love and Cassie's story is a lot of thing, beautiful, dark, depressing, brutal, violent and revengeful.
So many things happen in Gun Creek you will not be wanting or able to put this book down.
A few times I thought I had it all worked out but the twists thrown in made me second guess myself.
It is definitely one of my top reads for 2017.
So Lili, 'YOU NAILED IT'. Thanks for an amazing story.
#plop#splash#gunshy
I was lucky enough to be given a hard copy ARC of Gun Shy ( I've also pre-ordered one) from a book signing and trust me when I say it was certainly worth the wait.
Love and Cassie's story is a lot of thing, beautiful, dark, depressing, brutal, violent and revengeful.
So many things happen in Gun Creek you will not be wanting or able to put this book down.
A few times I thought I had it all worked out but the twists thrown in made me second guess myself.
It is definitely one of my top reads for 2017.
So Lili, 'YOU NAILED IT'. Thanks for an amazing story.
#plop#splash#gunshy
November 1, 2017
You would think that when you bury someone deep enough in the ground, you’d be able to keep them hidden.
Oh god what have I just read???!!!
This is NOT a dark romance.
This is a mystery- psychological thriller story and it is packed with secrets and twists.
This is a story about lost dreams and hopes.
A story about 8 stolen years full of despair and sadness.
This is a story about a simple boy who simply loves a girl, Leo:
But I know Cassie. I love Cassie. And I’d drive her to the gates of hell and bust on through if that was where she wanted to go.
This is a story about a broken girl, Cassie:
I cry and cry, cracked open, falling apart, or just plain falling.
This is not a fairytale and there is no happy ending, no prince to ride in on his horse and save me.
It’s just me and my monster, just us in our house built out of bones and lies.
Two teenagers that grow up surrounded by a toxic environment dream of a bright future far far away. They almost touch it, they almost taste it. Until two major events turn their life upside down. One day they discover a body and one other day they get separated because of a tragic accident.
They have to live in guilt for 8 years and obey people they don’t want to obey because they are accused for things they did not really had the power to change and to avoid. Their internal guilt is the worst, undeserving punishment and it will eat their soul and change them forever.
Although the whole book shocked me, I have to say that the subplot of the disappearance of little Daniel Collins freaked me out the most.
The 'stolen, missing children' theme is usually a trigger for me, but I couldn't give less than 5 stars to this book.
Finish your milk, Cassandra.
I stayed up all night to finish the book and I really need to read something tender and fluffy after this.
Oh god what have I just read???!!!
This is NOT a dark romance.
This is a mystery- psychological thriller story and it is packed with secrets and twists.
This is a story about lost dreams and hopes.
A story about 8 stolen years full of despair and sadness.
This is a story about a simple boy who simply loves a girl, Leo:
But I know Cassie. I love Cassie. And I’d drive her to the gates of hell and bust on through if that was where she wanted to go.
This is a story about a broken girl, Cassie:
I cry and cry, cracked open, falling apart, or just plain falling.
This is not a fairytale and there is no happy ending, no prince to ride in on his horse and save me.
It’s just me and my monster, just us in our house built out of bones and lies.
Two teenagers that grow up surrounded by a toxic environment dream of a bright future far far away. They almost touch it, they almost taste it. Until two major events turn their life upside down. One day they discover a body and one other day they get separated because of a tragic accident.
They have to live in guilt for 8 years and obey people they don’t want to obey because they are accused for things they did not really had the power to change and to avoid. Their internal guilt is the worst, undeserving punishment and it will eat their soul and change them forever.
Although the whole book shocked me, I have to say that the subplot of the disappearance of little Daniel Collins freaked me out the most.
The 'stolen, missing children' theme is usually a trigger for me, but I couldn't give less than 5 stars to this book.
Finish your milk, Cassandra.
I stayed up all night to finish the book and I really need to read something tender and fluffy after this.
September 30, 2017
Great cover on this one. Good representation of the female lead. Good compoition and title work as well.
So this book was amazeballs. I kind of want to just leave it at that since I am not sure anything I write will do this one justice. I LOVED it. Every page. Every chapter. Every sentence. Every word from beginning to end was pure twisted magic. Phenomenally well written. The pace was perfect. The plot was engaging and kept me turning the pages. So much so I skipped lunch so I could read this one straight through. And lord knows I love food. The small town setting was delightfully bleak. The characters were captivating and well developed. This had darkness. This had mystery. This had twists and turns. This had love. I think I'll just leave it at that and say if you love a good physiological thriller then you should be adding this one to your "to read" list ASAP. Two HUGE thumbs up from yours truly.
October 11, 2017
"I should forget the boy I loved ever existed."
Gun Shy is a stand-alone psychological thriller full of action, dark romance, passion, and terror. Each character is driven to kill, steal, and destroy in order to hold on tight to what they crave.
"Please let me breathe."Cassie Carlino and Leo Bentley live in the small town of Gun Creek, Nevada. They are high school sweethearts who love each other madly and deeply. In a town full of poverty and drug addiction, Leo and Cassie long to escape the bitter cold world of Gun Creek together. When terror strikes the town, Leo and Cassie's world is thrown into a tailspin. Leo and Cassie are torn apart and great pain and destruction threaten to destroy their lives.
"Be careful what you say.Told in multiple POV, Gun Shy is like a thrilling ride that will steal your breath and stop your heart. With complex characters and an intricately constructed plot, every moment is weaved together with suspense and action. Set in a dysfunctional world, the characters are put in extreme situations and as the lines between right and wrong begin to blur, the stakes are high for Cassie and Leo to find their way together again. I highly recommend entering this read blindly and just remember to hang on tight because it is going to be a bumpy ride full of twists and turns that you will never see coming.
Be careful who you talk to."
Overall, Gun Shy is an absolute must-read for dark romance fans. With murder, mystery, and broken romance, Lili St. Germain offers an impeccable story of broken people living in a broken world who are just trying to put the pieces of their lives back together again the only way they know how. I felt drawn to these characters and could not help but be rooting for them the entire read. Please be forewarned, Gun Shy is not for the faint of heart. However, if you are looking for an unforgettable thriller that will linger in your mind for days and days after you turn the last page, then this is the book for you!
*ARC graciously provided via author in exchange for an honest review!
*This is a BR with my girls CC and Loyda!
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
October 8, 2017
4.5 Stars!
Cassie Carlino and Leo Bentley are high school sweethearts looking to escape their bleak hometown of Gun Creek. All seems to be on track for the aspiring football player and smart cheerleader until the consequences of a missing girl begins to seep into their lives causing a chain of horrific events.
“He looks at me with eyes that have seen violence since I last gazed into them. I know because I recognize the hardness inside his soul; it matches mine.”
Eight years later and on parole, Leo returns home to find his family even more of a mess and Cassie is a shell of woman. With guilt and sorrow for the pain Leo caused Cassie’s family, he tries to maintain a distance but his love for her hasn’t waned. Watching her from afar, he slowly begins to realize his worst fears.
“She will not be my vice. She will not be my forgiver. She will not be my redemption.”
While Leo was away, Cassie learned to cope with her family’s predicament. Knowing what her life has become, Cassie wants to protect Leo from the town’s Sheriff, who also happens to be her ever protective step-father. But when another teen goes missing and other clues begin to mount, further complications arise.
“You can never run away from your past. It will chase you through the night, and all into the next morning.”
As Leo and Cassie slowly find their way back to each other it isn’t for long as secrets and lies begin to unravel causing swift action to protect what is known to be true. What ensues is a disturbed descent into the long-term effects of manipulation, abuse and obsession.
From the beginning, this story is addictive with an adrenaline induced pace and a multi-layered plot that pivots into many twists until it all unravels into a methodical chaos. Adding to the calculative plot points, is the heavy sense of desolation and desperation these characters endure creating a grim landscape. Told in multiple POVs, it is easy to empathize with Cassie and Leo, while the unique use of a third perspective answers many questions.
Within this storyline, it becomes clear that the characters are evolving and no matter how much you want them to sway one way, the author is prepared to convincingly take her characters to the end. Leo is such a nurturing character and doesn’t shine his responsibility in any way despite being wronged. Cassie proved to be strong in a unique way that allowed her to persevere. And the ending? Loved it!
Gun Shy is a deviously twisted and suspenseful read that enters the psyche of its characters without any apology. I highly recommend!
*An ARC was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.*
*This was a (F)BR with Liz and Loyda!
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
December 25, 2018
Do you love a great mystery? A story full of suspense? A book that will take you on the thrill ride of the year? Then you
NEED
to read this book!!
I went into this thinking I had an idea what it would be like. I'm at the end of this book realizing I knew NOTHING!! Because this author set me up. In the best way. I thought I had it all figured out. How it would be in the beginning, middle and end. Nope, I was so freaking wrong.
Jennifer Thomas has gone missing. She's the second girl to be missing in the last nine years. The first girl's body was found in the most disgusting and unfortunate of ways. The authorities are at a loss as to where this girl could be. While the first disappearance was blamed on a pass-thru, who is responsible now?
Cassie and Leo are in love. So in love that despite their dismal existence in their small town of Gun Creek, Nevada, they've got big plans. Plans to escape the only lives they've ever known and pursue their happily ever after. But sometimes the best laid plans are derailed by outside forces beyond your control. Some people will do anything to destroy another's happiness. And sometimes time doesn't heal all wounds.
This story is about missing girls. It's about murder. It's about lust, love, pain and heartache. It is NOT a romanticized tale of some of the worst atrocities that a human can face. It is dark, depraved and scary. It is bloody fantastic!!
Gun Shy has most definitely made the list as one of my top reads for 2017. The author blew my mind with her tale of insanity, murder and mayhem. This story is not for the faint of heart. However, it IS for anyone who likes a book that challenges the mind, makes you cringe, and keeps you at the edge of your seat right until the end.
Release Date: October 6, 2017
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
POV: Multiple - 1st person
Type: Standalone
✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯
October 6th!! I can't freaking wait!!
I went into this thinking I had an idea what it would be like. I'm at the end of this book realizing I knew NOTHING!! Because this author set me up. In the best way. I thought I had it all figured out. How it would be in the beginning, middle and end. Nope, I was so freaking wrong.
Jennifer Thomas has gone missing. She's the second girl to be missing in the last nine years. The first girl's body was found in the most disgusting and unfortunate of ways. The authorities are at a loss as to where this girl could be. While the first disappearance was blamed on a pass-thru, who is responsible now?
Cassie and Leo are in love. So in love that despite their dismal existence in their small town of Gun Creek, Nevada, they've got big plans. Plans to escape the only lives they've ever known and pursue their happily ever after. But sometimes the best laid plans are derailed by outside forces beyond your control. Some people will do anything to destroy another's happiness. And sometimes time doesn't heal all wounds.
This story is about missing girls. It's about murder. It's about lust, love, pain and heartache. It is NOT a romanticized tale of some of the worst atrocities that a human can face. It is dark, depraved and scary. It is bloody fantastic!!
Gun Shy has most definitely made the list as one of my top reads for 2017. The author blew my mind with her tale of insanity, murder and mayhem. This story is not for the faint of heart. However, it IS for anyone who likes a book that challenges the mind, makes you cringe, and keeps you at the edge of your seat right until the end.
Release Date: October 6, 2017
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
POV: Multiple - 1st person
Type: Standalone
✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯
October 6th!! I can't freaking wait!!
Want to read
June 2, 2016I can't wait to read this!!!!!!! EEEEEPPPPPP!
October 1, 2017
3 Very Dark Stars
It’s been awhile since I’ve read a Lili St. Germain book and from what I remember is that the books are very dramatic, dark and somewhat twisted. I’m into these books, I crave these books, but I think Lili St. Germain may have taken me out of my comfort zone a little too much.
I see the raving reviews on this book and I get it. I understand the overall idea and persona of the book, but it’s just not my cuppa.
That’s right, it’s me not you kind of book and that’s okay.
I’m giving it 3 stars because it wasn’t bad, it just didn’t jive with what I like to read.
I feel like there should be a HUGE disclaimer in the book and that this book is NOT ROMANCE. I went into this book thinking I would get a dark romance book and it’s not that at all. It’s a mystery physiological thriller. I think if I had known that, I would have a better mind set. There is a relationship between Leo and Cassie, but to me, this book isn’t romance.
There are a lot events in this book and each event is connected. A girl shows up dead. Cassie is in with Leo. Leo does something devastating and ends up in prison.
Cassie isn’t the same after that.
Cassie is not an easy Heroine to like. I wouldn’t even call her a Heroine, she’s more like an anti-Heroine. She has so many issues, it’s no wonder why this book is as long as it was. It should be noted that I’m not fond of damaged Heroines. I struggle with these kind of girls. The ones that use sex, drugs and self harm to make themselves feel. It was very difficult for me to like Cassie, but I was intrigued enough with her story to continue.
I wouldn’t consider Leo the Hero of the book either. He’s also very damaged the other POV of the book is from him. I’m not sure how I feel about him. I felt like he was dealt with a bad deck of cards, he’s the care taker of the family, his mom is a whore and he’s an ex-con. He has everything against his shoulders and at times it felt like this book was like a down-on-me book.
Cassie and Leo’s storyline are told at the same time. You will get to see the story unfold from two POV’s. The book is VERY descriptive so you get a lot of inner monologues and character buildup. It should also be noted that I’m not fond of descriptive writing. I prefer a more dialogue based book. There was plenty of action to keep me moving forward though.
I liked the second half of the book more because I felt like I was leaving all the buildup and I was getting somewhere. I was glued to the book and was wondering how everything would unfold. I’m actually fond of mystery books and this book was a complete mystery thriller.
Since I received an ARC copy I understand there would be some issues. I’m not talking grammatical because I don’t care about that, but towards the end it felt choppy and repetitive. I’m sure the final copy will be fixed and I understand I signed an agreement that editing errors would not affect my review, but to me, this was more than editing errors. I would be reading a paragraph and I would reread the same paragraph but written a little differently (as if the author was deciding which paragraph to use). It became a little distracting because it occurred to me more than once.
Overall, the issues I had with this book was more of a personal thing. The romance aspect of the book was a huge let down. I have liked dark books with zero romance, but I think because I was craving it so badly I had certain expectations when I shouldn’t (and also when I read a dark book that isn’t romance based, I’m warned prior).
Like I said, I can see how many people would love this book, the storyline was very unique, the characters are completely damaged and I liked how each event was somehow linked. So … yeah.. it’s me not you!
An ARC was provided
AMAZON - http://amzn.to/2yOQ430
It’s been awhile since I’ve read a Lili St. Germain book and from what I remember is that the books are very dramatic, dark and somewhat twisted. I’m into these books, I crave these books, but I think Lili St. Germain may have taken me out of my comfort zone a little too much.
I see the raving reviews on this book and I get it. I understand the overall idea and persona of the book, but it’s just not my cuppa.
That’s right, it’s me not you kind of book and that’s okay.
I’m giving it 3 stars because it wasn’t bad, it just didn’t jive with what I like to read.
I feel like there should be a HUGE disclaimer in the book and that this book is NOT ROMANCE. I went into this book thinking I would get a dark romance book and it’s not that at all. It’s a mystery physiological thriller. I think if I had known that, I would have a better mind set. There is a relationship between Leo and Cassie, but to me, this book isn’t romance.
There are a lot events in this book and each event is connected. A girl shows up dead. Cassie is in with Leo. Leo does something devastating and ends up in prison.
Cassie isn’t the same after that.
Cassie is not an easy Heroine to like. I wouldn’t even call her a Heroine, she’s more like an anti-Heroine. She has so many issues, it’s no wonder why this book is as long as it was. It should be noted that I’m not fond of damaged Heroines. I struggle with these kind of girls. The ones that use sex, drugs and self harm to make themselves feel. It was very difficult for me to like Cassie, but I was intrigued enough with her story to continue.
I wouldn’t consider Leo the Hero of the book either. He’s also very damaged the other POV of the book is from him. I’m not sure how I feel about him. I felt like he was dealt with a bad deck of cards, he’s the care taker of the family, his mom is a whore and he’s an ex-con. He has everything against his shoulders and at times it felt like this book was like a down-on-me book.
Cassie and Leo’s storyline are told at the same time. You will get to see the story unfold from two POV’s. The book is VERY descriptive so you get a lot of inner monologues and character buildup. It should also be noted that I’m not fond of descriptive writing. I prefer a more dialogue based book. There was plenty of action to keep me moving forward though.
I liked the second half of the book more because I felt like I was leaving all the buildup and I was getting somewhere. I was glued to the book and was wondering how everything would unfold. I’m actually fond of mystery books and this book was a complete mystery thriller.
Since I received an ARC copy I understand there would be some issues. I’m not talking grammatical because I don’t care about that, but towards the end it felt choppy and repetitive. I’m sure the final copy will be fixed and I understand I signed an agreement that editing errors would not affect my review, but to me, this was more than editing errors. I would be reading a paragraph and I would reread the same paragraph but written a little differently (as if the author was deciding which paragraph to use). It became a little distracting because it occurred to me more than once.
Overall, the issues I had with this book was more of a personal thing. The romance aspect of the book was a huge let down. I have liked dark books with zero romance, but I think because I was craving it so badly I had certain expectations when I shouldn’t (and also when I read a dark book that isn’t romance based, I’m warned prior).
Like I said, I can see how many people would love this book, the storyline was very unique, the characters are completely damaged and I liked how each event was somehow linked. So … yeah.. it’s me not you!
An ARC was provided
AMAZON - http://amzn.to/2yOQ430
October 2, 2017
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
"You begin to realize that the darkness you've been given is not a burden, but a gift. "
First of all, I want to point out that even though this book has some romantic elements, it's NOT a romance novel. I love Lili's books so I was really excited to read Gun Shy. I went in blind and without any expectations, because I didn't really know what to expect. I enjoy when books are unpredictable and has me guessing throughout the book. Gun Shy definitely was a mysterious and suspenseful book. I didn't know which character was good or bad, and who was behind the crimes. The author did a great job in confusing me, having me doubt certain characters and creating mixed feelings in me.
"I can see myself in his eyes. My soul. He's taken it from me. "
The main character Cassie was intriguing and I didn't really know what was going on inside her head. She had reactions to certain situations that shocked me. I loved how bit by bit the story unfolded and the author revealed what was going on. It definitely had me on my edge of my seat during a couple of scenes, because I didn't know what would happen next. The only reason why I didn't rate this book higher was because it was somewhat difficult to fully connect with them as I didn't know what was going on with certain main characters. Also I wish some loose ends were tied up better, because I have some questions about a couple of characters and it was like they vanished and that was it. I especially wanted to know what happened to Leo's sister Hannah after she came home. Overall a solid book I enjoyed, and I really hope that Lili St. Germain will write more books in this genre.
"You begin to realize that the darkness you've been given is not a burden, but a gift. "
First of all, I want to point out that even though this book has some romantic elements, it's NOT a romance novel. I love Lili's books so I was really excited to read Gun Shy. I went in blind and without any expectations, because I didn't really know what to expect. I enjoy when books are unpredictable and has me guessing throughout the book. Gun Shy definitely was a mysterious and suspenseful book. I didn't know which character was good or bad, and who was behind the crimes. The author did a great job in confusing me, having me doubt certain characters and creating mixed feelings in me.
"I can see myself in his eyes. My soul. He's taken it from me. "
The main character Cassie was intriguing and I didn't really know what was going on inside her head. She had reactions to certain situations that shocked me. I loved how bit by bit the story unfolded and the author revealed what was going on. It definitely had me on my edge of my seat during a couple of scenes, because I didn't know what would happen next. The only reason why I didn't rate this book higher was because it was somewhat difficult to fully connect with them as I didn't know what was going on with certain main characters. Also I wish some loose ends were tied up better, because I have some questions about a couple of characters and it was like they vanished and that was it. I especially wanted to know what happened to Leo's sister Hannah after she came home. Overall a solid book I enjoyed, and I really hope that Lili St. Germain will write more books in this genre.
October 12, 2017
Spine tingling, chilling, hair raising and Ooooo so good! Loved the twisted mind of Lili St. Germain. She has the uncanny ability to take you places you'd never think to go. One hell of a read and damn sure recommended!
February 25, 2019
***5 "Onetwothreefourfive !!!" stars***
"Pray you do not wrong me. Pray you do not stick in my carefully threaded web.
I am a girl with a darkness inside me..."
Well.... What the fuck i just read??? Holy Shiiiiiiit!!!!
That story blew my mind!!!! Literally!!! Phew!!! Honestly, i don't know from where to start.... And i really don't know if i want to tell you a single thing about it!!!
This story made me wild and bothered, but at the same time, it excited me!!!! I just could not stop reading!!!
And now, I'm in a rollercoaster of emotions.... Good emotions and bad emotions!!!! But mostly i'm swimming in anger.... So much anger!!!!
"It's this town. There's something in the water, even after the dead girl blood's been washed away. It's some poison, some toxin that leeches into everyone.
This town will suck the life out of you."
Imagine that it's 2:30 in the morning and i just finished the book... And my mind is like mushed potatoes and i couldn't not sit down and start writing my review, because i was afraid that i will lose all the feelings!!!
Imagine that before this book, i was in some short of reading black out and i picked up this one because i thought it was different and it was different in many ways and i stucked and i devoured it!!!
Lily St. Germain knows how to write dark, twisted, fucked up stories which can engross you...
Imagine that I'm still reeling from the adrenaline and i can't stop huffing and puffing....OMG!!!! It might take some time to get over this story!!!!
"There are things you think you know about a person, about a place, about life.
And some of those things will remain true. But others are lies we tell ourselves, constructs designed to keep us safe.
But I'm not safe anymore.
I never really was."
Phew!!!! Well... From where do i have to start???
Nine years before, a girl was missing and it was found dead in Leo's well...
Eight years ago, something bad and tragic happened and Leo landed on prison and the love of his life, Cassie, stayed far away from him, unreachable from his touch...
Present day. Leo gets out of prison and he is returning back home... He never stopped loving Cassie, but he knows that she doesn't want anything to do with him anymore...
Cassie is not in a good place for several reasons... She never stopped loving Leo, but the things are rough and complicated...
A week after Leo is returning home, a girl is missing.... Is he the one to be blamed or something else, much bigger, is happening in the background???
"The darkness wasn't always there. I was bright and shiny once. There was no tarnish at my edges, no very bad thing that existed in me. I had a mother, and a boyfriend, and a life. I was loved. I had plans and goals and aspirations."
"I left behind a girl, and now that I'm back, that girl is gone. She's a woman now, with pain in her eyes that I put here. "
Well, that's all that you will take from me about the plot...
I'm feeling very proud with myself, because from the first moment i connected the dots and i found out who was the "bad" in here and his crimes were too many...
As in "Gypsy brothers" series, i had conflicted feelings for the one to be blamed... Sometimes, i was liking him, scratch that, maybe it was just sorry what i was feeling and sadness of what he had become, but i despised him and his actions....
But i have to admit, that the last part of the book, i didn't see it coming and i think it hurt me in a way... It was sick and it made me unease and mad and angry and so fucking sad!!!
Am i confusing you???
"I wish it could be different. This is my greatest unanswered wish, the thing that burned in some tiny part of my soul all these years. That someday, things might be different. But as I look at Leo, the boy I used to know, the man is still love, I search for that flame that burned quietly.
It's not there anymore. It's gone. Just like Jennifer, it has disappeared. The love is there, but the hope - the hope has been smothered."
"Grief makes you weak.
But rage... rage is useful....
In my rage, I find my solace. In my rage, I vanquish my despair."
Well, the people that are worth to be mentioned in here are three...
Leo, Cassie and Damon....
Cassie was a lovely and happy girl, until she wasn't and she had her reasons... I totally understood her in the beginning, but at some point she didn't make sense...
I was liking her, until i wasn't... Yep, she forcely became like that, but deep down she was enjoying the darkness and near to the end, when i realized some things, i didn't like her actions and i'm still fuming inside... I just can not accept it!!!!
"I should forget the boy I loved ever existed."
"You begin to realize that the darkness you've been given is not burden, but a gift."
Phew!!! Damon has darkness inside of him, but he was an intriguing character... His mind wasn't working very well...
In a fucked up way, he had love inside of him, but his ways of showing them were so damn wrong!!! I felt some glimpses of pity for him, but nope, i won't waste more feelings to him! He doesn't deserve it!!!
"I can see myself in his eyes. My soul. He's taken it from me."
"I cry and cry, cracked open, falling apart, or just plain falling.
This is not a fairytale and there is no happy ending, no prince to ride in on his horse and save me.
It’s just me and my monster, just us in our house built out of bones and lies."
And then, there was Leo... Leo was a victim of life, i think!!!! He was the only bright spot in this shady story... He was trying to be good for everyone and everyone was so unfair to him...
Eight and more years of his life was wasted with no good reason and i'm so angry for his behalf... And when i finally saw some ray of hope, it shattered once and for all....
I can't understand him... Why??? Why??? Why, Leo??? Why you have to waste your life like that??? Damn freakin' love!!! You are making the hearts slaves and your loved one can rule your life, no matter what happened, no matter the consequences!!!!
Arrrr, I'm so mad at Leo!!!! But I'm so pissed off with Cassie!!! I didn't like her actions in the end!!!
Honestly, it was the first time that i would preffered to not exist a happy ending on a story!!!
,i>“She will not be my vice. She will not be my forgiver. She will not be my redemption.”
"But I know Cassie. I love Cassie. And I’d drive her to the gates of hell and bust on through if that was where she wanted to go."
I say no more. End of story.
If you're enjoying dark and twisted stories, enter at your own risk...
This isn't a fairytale, more like a nightmare i would describe it!!!
It was a suspenseful, phychological thriller... A dark and fucked up story with so many twists inside... Enjoyable in a twisted sense... so, be my guest!!!
“You can never run away from your past. It will chase you through the night, and all into the next morning.”
"Pray you do not wrong me. Pray you do not stick in my carefully threaded web.
I am a girl with a darkness inside me..."
Well.... What the fuck i just read??? Holy Shiiiiiiit!!!!
That story blew my mind!!!! Literally!!! Phew!!! Honestly, i don't know from where to start.... And i really don't know if i want to tell you a single thing about it!!!
This story made me wild and bothered, but at the same time, it excited me!!!! I just could not stop reading!!!
And now, I'm in a rollercoaster of emotions.... Good emotions and bad emotions!!!! But mostly i'm swimming in anger.... So much anger!!!!
"It's this town. There's something in the water, even after the dead girl blood's been washed away. It's some poison, some toxin that leeches into everyone.
This town will suck the life out of you."
Imagine that it's 2:30 in the morning and i just finished the book... And my mind is like mushed potatoes and i couldn't not sit down and start writing my review, because i was afraid that i will lose all the feelings!!!
Imagine that before this book, i was in some short of reading black out and i picked up this one because i thought it was different and it was different in many ways and i stucked and i devoured it!!!
Lily St. Germain knows how to write dark, twisted, fucked up stories which can engross you...
Imagine that I'm still reeling from the adrenaline and i can't stop huffing and puffing....OMG!!!! It might take some time to get over this story!!!!
"There are things you think you know about a person, about a place, about life.
And some of those things will remain true. But others are lies we tell ourselves, constructs designed to keep us safe.
But I'm not safe anymore.
I never really was."
Phew!!!! Well... From where do i have to start???
Nine years before, a girl was missing and it was found dead in Leo's well...
Eight years ago, something bad and tragic happened and Leo landed on prison and the love of his life, Cassie, stayed far away from him, unreachable from his touch...
Present day. Leo gets out of prison and he is returning back home... He never stopped loving Cassie, but he knows that she doesn't want anything to do with him anymore...
Cassie is not in a good place for several reasons... She never stopped loving Leo, but the things are rough and complicated...
A week after Leo is returning home, a girl is missing.... Is he the one to be blamed or something else, much bigger, is happening in the background???
"The darkness wasn't always there. I was bright and shiny once. There was no tarnish at my edges, no very bad thing that existed in me. I had a mother, and a boyfriend, and a life. I was loved. I had plans and goals and aspirations."
"I left behind a girl, and now that I'm back, that girl is gone. She's a woman now, with pain in her eyes that I put here. "
Well, that's all that you will take from me about the plot...
I'm feeling very proud with myself, because from the first moment i connected the dots and i found out who was the "bad" in here and his crimes were too many...
As in "Gypsy brothers" series, i had conflicted feelings for the one to be blamed... Sometimes, i was liking him, scratch that, maybe it was just sorry what i was feeling and sadness of what he had become, but i despised him and his actions....
But i have to admit, that the last part of the book, i didn't see it coming and i think it hurt me in a way... It was sick and it made me unease and mad and angry and so fucking sad!!!
Am i confusing you???
"I wish it could be different. This is my greatest unanswered wish, the thing that burned in some tiny part of my soul all these years. That someday, things might be different. But as I look at Leo, the boy I used to know, the man is still love, I search for that flame that burned quietly.
It's not there anymore. It's gone. Just like Jennifer, it has disappeared. The love is there, but the hope - the hope has been smothered."
"Grief makes you weak.
But rage... rage is useful....
In my rage, I find my solace. In my rage, I vanquish my despair."
Well, the people that are worth to be mentioned in here are three...
Leo, Cassie and Damon....
Cassie was a lovely and happy girl, until she wasn't and she had her reasons... I totally understood her in the beginning, but at some point she didn't make sense...
I was liking her, until i wasn't... Yep, she forcely became like that, but deep down she was enjoying the darkness and near to the end, when i realized some things, i didn't like her actions and i'm still fuming inside... I just can not accept it!!!!
"I should forget the boy I loved ever existed."
"You begin to realize that the darkness you've been given is not burden, but a gift."
Phew!!! Damon has darkness inside of him, but he was an intriguing character... His mind wasn't working very well...
In a fucked up way, he had love inside of him, but his ways of showing them were so damn wrong!!! I felt some glimpses of pity for him, but nope, i won't waste more feelings to him! He doesn't deserve it!!!
"I can see myself in his eyes. My soul. He's taken it from me."
"I cry and cry, cracked open, falling apart, or just plain falling.
This is not a fairytale and there is no happy ending, no prince to ride in on his horse and save me.
It’s just me and my monster, just us in our house built out of bones and lies."
And then, there was Leo... Leo was a victim of life, i think!!!! He was the only bright spot in this shady story... He was trying to be good for everyone and everyone was so unfair to him...
Eight and more years of his life was wasted with no good reason and i'm so angry for his behalf... And when i finally saw some ray of hope, it shattered once and for all....
I can't understand him... Why??? Why??? Why, Leo??? Why you have to waste your life like that??? Damn freakin' love!!! You are making the hearts slaves and your loved one can rule your life, no matter what happened, no matter the consequences!!!!
Arrrr, I'm so mad at Leo!!!! But I'm so pissed off with Cassie!!! I didn't like her actions in the end!!!
Honestly, it was the first time that i would preffered to not exist a happy ending on a story!!!
,i>“She will not be my vice. She will not be my forgiver. She will not be my redemption.”
"But I know Cassie. I love Cassie. And I’d drive her to the gates of hell and bust on through if that was where she wanted to go."
I say no more. End of story.
If you're enjoying dark and twisted stories, enter at your own risk...
This isn't a fairytale, more like a nightmare i would describe it!!!
It was a suspenseful, phychological thriller... A dark and fucked up story with so many twists inside... Enjoyable in a twisted sense... so, be my guest!!!
“You can never run away from your past. It will chase you through the night, and all into the next morning.”
October 17, 2017
4.5★★★★Stars
Genre: Dark Suspense
Type: Standalone
POV: First Person - Multiple
Cassandra Carlino aka Cassie was a happy girl; she had a high school boyfriend who she saw her future with. One terrible accident seemed to point all evidence towards her sweet lovely boyfriend. Her entire life was changed ever since. Now she lives a life of numbness; her mother in comma and her life a chaos disaster.
"You begin to realize that the darkness you've been given is not burden, but a gift."
Leo Bentley; never truly had everything he wanted. He grew up protecting his sisters and brothers making sure they were feed because he had a horrible selfish mother. Leo fell madly in love with Cassie until the day he lost control and nothing could have saved him from the events of that awful night.
“She will not be my vice. She will not be my forgiver. She will not be my redemption.”
This book starts incredibly good, exactly how I like a book to be with a suspenseful plot that I was not able to stop myself from reading till the very last page in one setting. A seventeen year old Karen had gone missing; only to have been found in the property of Leo Bentley. Immediately I started questioning everything and everyone; I had to know who the killer was and what was going to happen to all the characters. I really loved Leo so much; I felt deeply sad for everything that happened to him. Cassie was also someone I really felt for. I felt the author did an amazing job letting us; the readers connect in such a deep level with all these characters and that's why the twist at the end was so flipping crazy insane that left me speechless.
"I can see myself in his eyes. My soul. He's taken it from me. "
Gun Shy was a crazy, dark, psychological thriller, and a total page turner; one that had me glued to each page until the very end. Readers who enjoy suspense thrillers will find this book appealing.
★This was a F(BR) with CC & Liz★
Book Order:
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
October 2, 2017
“Beware the dark pool at the bottom of our hearts. In its icy, black depths dwell strange and twisted creatures it is best not to disturb.”
I think that wraps up everything into a nice package but alas not possible so how do you write a review for a book that leaves you in a position not able to find the words, not yesterday when I finished it, not now while I’m writing my review and neither tomorrow or next week if I had to put down how this book made me feel? Near impossible but I will try.
I feel like I have waited an eternity for this book. Yeah mildly exaggerated but I wanted to read this book that bad. It wasn’t what I expected but when I pick up a Lili St. Germain book it usually isn’t. The writing was impeccable, the characters flawed, gritty and full of emotion. If I could pick her brain apart I would for sure. She can put a psychological spin on anything.
It is cruel and savage this is what real life can about. Small town living truly ain’t that grand after all. The town is toxic, poison and only a few manage to escape. Read about lust, about greed, wrath, envy and pride and how it can break all of us. How minds splinter and how being deranged makes sense.
I hang my head and say that I can’t give it the whole five stars as it was clear who was involved and to what extent that they went to. It is sick, it is depraved and yet it is a beauty to read. Yeah throw stones at me cause I love the book. It is always an experience for me to venture into unknown territory but when I do. I’m blown away. It had me on the edge of my seat. I felt with the characters. The book is crazy, amazing, violent and not for the faint of heart.
Before I sign off my last words are
This is not a fairytale and there is no happy ending, no prince to ride in on his horse to save her.
Sometimes a gal needs to save herself.
Read the book. It is worth it. See spoiler for triggers.
Songs listened to while writing my review.
Marilyn Manson - Killing Strangers
Curtis Stigers & The Forest Rangers – John the Revelator
Rage against the Machine – Killing in the Name of
Lukas Graham – Better Than Yourself
Aerosmith – Livin’ on the Edge
Three Doors Down – Kryptonite
Imagine Dragons – Believer
Matchbox Twenty - Unwell
The ARC has landed. I repeat the ARC has landed. Finally!
October 12, 2017
4,5 stars!!!
Wow! What a book!
Ainda processando tudo!
Mas gostei bastante da escrita da autora e do enredo!
Achei os útimos 20% surpreendentes!
Não esperava por tudo aquilo não...
Wow! What a book!
Ainda processando tudo!
Mas gostei bastante da escrita da autora e do enredo!
Achei os útimos 20% surpreendentes!
Não esperava por tudo aquilo não...
October 6, 2017
5 Onetwothreefourfive Stars
Leo has a meth addict mum who lives in a double wide on state land, to say he had a troubled upbringing would be an understatement. Leo has built himself his own 'place' so his girlfriend Cass can stay with him anytime, he built it out of scrap materials. When his makeshift sink spits out some gross looking water he goes to investigate thinking his younger brothers had killed an animal and chucked it in the well...............it wasn't an animal.
One year after the well 'incident' Cassie/Cass watched as those aspirations and her future with Leo crumpled in front of her eyes. That day would change everyone's lives and not for the better.
I can't go into the plot any more as it would be giving away too much and this book is full of twists and surprises that you just have to read to believe. What I can say is I was captivated from the first page. This author has a way of dragging me into her books with her writing, the descriptive and emotional way she writes is fantastic.
So this was an intense read that follows the journey of two people that seem destined to live out their lives hiding gut wrenching secrets and another person who was the cause of those secrets. I thought it was refreshing to read a story that had no 'Hero' and that the main character was not portrayed as the 'victim' all the time, it also didn't have what I'd call a HEA. This is not for 'safe' readers it has no romance in it at all. This book is for the lovers of dark, gritty and twisted reads. Some of those twists................
Leo has a meth addict mum who lives in a double wide on state land, to say he had a troubled upbringing would be an understatement. Leo has built himself his own 'place' so his girlfriend Cass can stay with him anytime, he built it out of scrap materials. When his makeshift sink spits out some gross looking water he goes to investigate thinking his younger brothers had killed an animal and chucked it in the well...............it wasn't an animal.
The darkness wasn't always there. I was bright and shiny once. There was no tarnish at my edges, no very bad thing that existed in me. I had a mother, and a boyfriend, and a life. I was loved. I had plans and goals and aspirations.
One year after the well 'incident' Cassie/Cass watched as those aspirations and her future with Leo crumpled in front of her eyes. That day would change everyone's lives and not for the better.
In my rage, I find my solace. In my rage, I vanquish my despair.
I can't go into the plot any more as it would be giving away too much and this book is full of twists and surprises that you just have to read to believe. What I can say is I was captivated from the first page. This author has a way of dragging me into her books with her writing, the descriptive and emotional way she writes is fantastic.
So this was an intense read that follows the journey of two people that seem destined to live out their lives hiding gut wrenching secrets and another person who was the cause of those secrets. I thought it was refreshing to read a story that had no 'Hero' and that the main character was not portrayed as the 'victim' all the time, it also didn't have what I'd call a HEA. This is not for 'safe' readers it has no romance in it at all. This book is for the lovers of dark, gritty and twisted reads. Some of those twists................
October 13, 2017
Where do I start? Can I just say 1-click and devour? I need a few more words. Ok let me try...
I’ve read previous books by this author and loved them. However this has become my new favourite of hers. Lily knows how to get under her readers skin. I devoured this book in a day. I couldn’t get enough of it.
If your looking for a brilliantly written dark psychological thriller then I highly recommend this book. I rarely do re-reads but this is one I’ll certainly be re reading. Looking forward to reading more awesomeness from this author.
I’ve read previous books by this author and loved them. However this has become my new favourite of hers. Lily knows how to get under her readers skin. I devoured this book in a day. I couldn’t get enough of it.
If your looking for a brilliantly written dark psychological thriller then I highly recommend this book. I rarely do re-reads but this is one I’ll certainly be re reading. Looking forward to reading more awesomeness from this author.
October 10, 2017
PQP! No meio do livro, confirmei minha suposição dark ao extremo, mas até 80% da leitura me senti angustiada, sem brincadeira.
Estou sinceramente de boca aberta com esse livro. A autora foi magnífica!
Uma história não convencional, dark demais.
Mas valeu cada palavra!
ADOREI!
Estou sinceramente de boca aberta com esse livro. A autora foi magnífica!
Uma história não convencional, dark demais.
Mas valeu cada palavra!
ADOREI!
October 10, 2017
Wow. I went into this thinking it was going to be a dark romance set against the backdrop of a mystery and that is not what I got at all. What I found was a dark and winding thriller filled with lies, betrayal and twisted desires. This book snatched my attention from the very first sentence and I was unable to put it down. It’s one of those stories that leaves you thinking long after it’s done, and questioning your own morals when you alternately feel sympathy for the devil and disgust for people you like but who have done horrible things. You don’t know who is the good guy, who is the bad, and if you are expecting the author to guide you in this process, you’d be mistaken.
The book description tells of two different girls that go missing nine years apart, but Gun Shy is not so much the story of these girls who are gone, but the tale of those left behind. Leo, the boy who never really had a chance to get out of the small town because of the actions of others. Cassie, the girl Leo loves and the one he unintentionally destroyed. Damon, the sheriff and only family that Cassie has. These are just three of the people in a larger cast of characters that make up the town of Gun Creek. Everyone has secrets, and no one is entirely innocent. And saying any more will give away a story that needs to be read.
From the first page until I was done, this book immersed me in the cold and desolate town of Gun Creek. I had to look around at times to realize where I actually was, and then would get sucked back into the minds of these people. I couldn’t put down this unexpected mind game of a book.
April 27, 2021
5 bloody,dark and revolting stars
Tropes:second chance,forced proximity,revenge
Trigger warnings:mental and physical abuse,incest,non-con,murder
Wow this book is so different than anything I’ve ever read.so twisted.so raw.There were moments when I couldn’t believe what I was reading.Lili St. Germain sure knows how to deliver pearls-clutching,horrible yet so engaging stories.
This was my first time reading about an actual anti-heroine.Cassie is not a good person.She’s become a monster over the years and I don’t know how I feel about her but I was definitely intrigued by her character from the beginning till the end.
There were a lot of side characters and plot twists and they all made the book even harder to read.
Overall I definitely wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who hasn’t dived into the world of dark romance far enough that these trigger warnings don’t alarm them as much ad they would a normal reader.
Tropes:second chance,forced proximity,revenge
Trigger warnings:mental and physical abuse,incest,non-con,murder
Wow this book is so different than anything I’ve ever read.so twisted.so raw.There were moments when I couldn’t believe what I was reading.Lili St. Germain sure knows how to deliver pearls-clutching,horrible yet so engaging stories.
This was my first time reading about an actual anti-heroine.Cassie is not a good person.She’s become a monster over the years and I don’t know how I feel about her but I was definitely intrigued by her character from the beginning till the end.
There were a lot of side characters and plot twists and they all made the book even harder to read.
Overall I definitely wouldn’t recommend this to anyone who hasn’t dived into the world of dark romance far enough that these trigger warnings don’t alarm them as much ad they would a normal reader.
Want to read
June 21, 2016
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February 15, 2020The writing was amazing!!! But the storyline had such a slow pace and felt dispirited, I just couldn’t read any more... dnf @ 15%
October 6, 2017
"I'm a girl with a darkness inside me."
🎶Hello darkness my old friend
I've come to talk with you again...
And there it is... I lost my mind...
Gun Shy will consume you with it's darkness. It consumed me. It's going to take you down and drown you into this bottomless well of craziness.
I often wondered if the insane situations Cassie and Leo, the main characters, are subjected to, would eventually stop... I guess you're going to find out by yourself. Or better yet, my advice is to grab along your book buddy (and alcohol) and find out with them....
Expect...the unexpected. Seriously, I went into Gun Shy without even read g the blurb first (not sure it would have helped, though), because... Lili! If I had forgotten what a Lili St Germaine book feels lime, I've been reminded right away when I started reading.
Dark, violent, pervert, insidious, it completely derailed me.
The tone, the atmosphere are heavy, somber, cold, sometimes chilling, always gritty.
Don't think you'll find any romantism, that story is a thriller and a spectacular one. There is a love story but sweetness and gentleness don't have their place here.
The author worked her magic piercing, dissecting the psyche of her characters, it's truly fascinating. Told mainly from Cassie and Leo's point of views, the mystery made me experience the breaking and the fall of these two souls, spirits who had dreams and a promising future in spite of the weight of a hopeless town and horrendous families.
The suffocating secrets and circumstances were heart-breaking, gut-wrenching. Gun Shy is an experience I won't be forgetting anytime soon.
*ARC generously provided by the author in exchange of an honest review. Thank you!!!*
🎶Hello darkness my old friend
I've come to talk with you again...
And there it is... I lost my mind...
Gun Shy will consume you with it's darkness. It consumed me. It's going to take you down and drown you into this bottomless well of craziness.
I often wondered if the insane situations Cassie and Leo, the main characters, are subjected to, would eventually stop... I guess you're going to find out by yourself. Or better yet, my advice is to grab along your book buddy (and alcohol) and find out with them....
Expect...the unexpected. Seriously, I went into Gun Shy without even read g the blurb first (not sure it would have helped, though), because... Lili! If I had forgotten what a Lili St Germaine book feels lime, I've been reminded right away when I started reading.
Dark, violent, pervert, insidious, it completely derailed me.
The tone, the atmosphere are heavy, somber, cold, sometimes chilling, always gritty.
Don't think you'll find any romantism, that story is a thriller and a spectacular one. There is a love story but sweetness and gentleness don't have their place here.
The author worked her magic piercing, dissecting the psyche of her characters, it's truly fascinating. Told mainly from Cassie and Leo's point of views, the mystery made me experience the breaking and the fall of these two souls, spirits who had dreams and a promising future in spite of the weight of a hopeless town and horrendous families.
The suffocating secrets and circumstances were heart-breaking, gut-wrenching. Gun Shy is an experience I won't be forgetting anytime soon.
*ARC generously provided by the author in exchange of an honest review. Thank you!!!*
October 13, 2017
5 Stars!
Wow!! I loved this book!!
Me while devouring this story!
AND
AND I said this a whole lot
AND I wanted to jump in my kindle many times
Awesome job Lily!! Can't wait for more from you!!
I am a girl with a darkness inside me. Carefully placed. Cleverly concealed. A darkness that could devour you.
Wow!! I loved this book!!
Me while devouring this story!
AND
AND I said this a whole lot
AND I wanted to jump in my kindle many times
Awesome job Lily!! Can't wait for more from you!!
I am a girl with a darkness inside me. Carefully placed. Cleverly concealed. A darkness that could devour you.
October 4, 2017
A true roller coaster of emotion, this story kept me at the edge, breathless anticipating of what will happen till the final page.
The author did a remarkable job creating a very suspenseful plot, full of mystery and twists. Seriously I was focusing on one thing and then another one was happening the same time. It was very rich of emotions with a mysterious dark vibe all over the story, it was like seeing a movie which is a huge plus for me.
Now about our characters, Cassie and Leo... well at first you can say that they are an open book and you can read them easily but I was totally wrong they are layers upon layers who are unfolding little by little 'till the end where you are staying with an open mouth... saying where did that come from?
I can certainly say that this is one of the most difficult reviews I've ever written, my thoughts are all over the place, trying not to spoil anything cause believe me you want to go 'blindly' in this book, you want to try to solve this mystery by yourself without any clues.
To sum up, Gun Shy is one of the best romantic thrillers I've read this year with a steady pace, dimensional characters (I'm talking about all of them not just Leo and Cassie), lots of suspense and twists. Also when you reach the end you simply want more (that's what happened to me!). So if you are a fan of romantic thrillers then look no further this is definitely for you!
The author did a remarkable job creating a very suspenseful plot, full of mystery and twists. Seriously I was focusing on one thing and then another one was happening the same time. It was very rich of emotions with a mysterious dark vibe all over the story, it was like seeing a movie which is a huge plus for me.
Now about our characters, Cassie and Leo... well at first you can say that they are an open book and you can read them easily but I was totally wrong they are layers upon layers who are unfolding little by little 'till the end where you are staying with an open mouth... saying where did that come from?
I can certainly say that this is one of the most difficult reviews I've ever written, my thoughts are all over the place, trying not to spoil anything cause believe me you want to go 'blindly' in this book, you want to try to solve this mystery by yourself without any clues.
To sum up, Gun Shy is one of the best romantic thrillers I've read this year with a steady pace, dimensional characters (I'm talking about all of them not just Leo and Cassie), lots of suspense and twists. Also when you reach the end you simply want more (that's what happened to me!). So if you are a fan of romantic thrillers then look no further this is definitely for you!
October 31, 2017
What the f**k was that??? That you get, when you don't carefully read blurb or what the book is about :)
It's not dark, but it is psychological thriller. Not that I regret reading it. From the start I was spaced out from real world, pace was quick, so many stories were developing and several times it was over the top, which usually would cause to lose my interest in story, but this time this didn't happen.
It's not dark, but it is psychological thriller. Not that I regret reading it. From the start I was spaced out from real world, pace was quick, so many stories were developing and several times it was over the top, which usually would cause to lose my interest in story, but this time this didn't happen.
Want to read
September 29, 2017 ❤ Omg super excited ❤
September 12, 2021
I'm not a religious person. But I need to confess.
Forgive me reader, for I have sinned.
I listened to a book. It took from the light and it gave to the darkness. It spoke of terrible things that happened to good and bad people. And I couldn't stop listening until I had, had my fill of every single word spoken.
Gun Shy is devastatingly good. Unputdownable. Mind Blowing. It's so bad but so damn good. It's torturous to the mind and I feel like a terrible person for enjoying it so damn much.
From the first moment I read the blurb of Gun Shy I was intrigued by the premise of this suspenseful book. Every chapter takes a different turn and keeps you guessing.
Gun Shy begins in Leo’s POV where we learn about the town of Gun Shy and how the first missing girl is found. Within the time frame of a couple of chapters, Leo and Cassie’s lives are irrevocably changed by events completely out of there control.
Gun Shy was written in multiple POV’s and had some of the most twisted, dark and complex characters I’ve ever come across. I don’t like dark, I’ve tried a couple of dark books and I’m way too sensitive to deal with the terrible things that happen to people. I like to live in the book world where I neglect the bad and only read the good, the romantic, and the soft so Gun Shy was completely out of my comfort zone and I damn well loved it!
Some of the scenes could have been horrific if written by someone else by Lili wrote them in a way that you felt almost removed from the situation? It’s so hard to explain her intricate and talented writing style!
This review feels almost impossible to write because I want to tell you all the ways this book affected me and the emotions it evoked but it’s impossible without giving away the secrets enclosed within Gun Shy’s pages.
Cassie was one of the most heart breaking, frustrating and complex characters I’ve ever experienced. She experienced traumatising events and did not escape without a few internal scars.
“Complacency is the drug I swallowed. … Complacency is the price I have paid for the illusion of my own survival.”
Not only was she dealing with loss of life but loss of her future. Thrown away in one night during an act by a selfish and sadistic character. Until she tries to take her future into her own hands…
“In my rage, I find my solace. In my rage, I vanquish my despair.”
Leo was I think the only character I understood. I understood his actions, his reactions and his justification. I think in the whole town of Gun Shy he was probably one of the only genuine characters? I found him intriguing and uplifting. He saw the bad but he also saw the good.
There are no good people or bad people in the town of Gun Shy. There’s twisted people with agenda’s, secrets, desires and needs and they’re all kinds of flawed. So many scenes gave me the chills and I’m sure it was more intense listening to Gun Shy rather than reading it. Having the characters speaking to you and describing the actions of others was chilling.
The narrators of Gun Shy were Zachary Michael and Natalie Naudus and I was so thoroughly impressed with how they portrayed the characters. I was rewinding to re-listen to specific scenes over and over again. I swear I listened to the Epilogue about 3 times. That last part had me breaking out in goose bumps and looking over my shoulder in the middle of the night!
"This is not a fairy tale and there is no happy ending, no Prince to ride in on his horse and save me. It's just me and my monster, just us in our house built out of bones and lies."
**Some quotes have been shortened to hide spoilers
Ratings
Story ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Performance ��️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Forgive me reader, for I have sinned.
I listened to a book. It took from the light and it gave to the darkness. It spoke of terrible things that happened to good and bad people. And I couldn't stop listening until I had, had my fill of every single word spoken.
Gun Shy is devastatingly good. Unputdownable. Mind Blowing. It's so bad but so damn good. It's torturous to the mind and I feel like a terrible person for enjoying it so damn much.
From the first moment I read the blurb of Gun Shy I was intrigued by the premise of this suspenseful book. Every chapter takes a different turn and keeps you guessing.
Gun Shy begins in Leo’s POV where we learn about the town of Gun Shy and how the first missing girl is found. Within the time frame of a couple of chapters, Leo and Cassie’s lives are irrevocably changed by events completely out of there control.
Gun Shy was written in multiple POV’s and had some of the most twisted, dark and complex characters I’ve ever come across. I don’t like dark, I’ve tried a couple of dark books and I’m way too sensitive to deal with the terrible things that happen to people. I like to live in the book world where I neglect the bad and only read the good, the romantic, and the soft so Gun Shy was completely out of my comfort zone and I damn well loved it!
Some of the scenes could have been horrific if written by someone else by Lili wrote them in a way that you felt almost removed from the situation? It’s so hard to explain her intricate and talented writing style!
This review feels almost impossible to write because I want to tell you all the ways this book affected me and the emotions it evoked but it’s impossible without giving away the secrets enclosed within Gun Shy’s pages.
Cassie was one of the most heart breaking, frustrating and complex characters I’ve ever experienced. She experienced traumatising events and did not escape without a few internal scars.
“Complacency is the drug I swallowed. … Complacency is the price I have paid for the illusion of my own survival.”
Not only was she dealing with loss of life but loss of her future. Thrown away in one night during an act by a selfish and sadistic character. Until she tries to take her future into her own hands…
“In my rage, I find my solace. In my rage, I vanquish my despair.”
Leo was I think the only character I understood. I understood his actions, his reactions and his justification. I think in the whole town of Gun Shy he was probably one of the only genuine characters? I found him intriguing and uplifting. He saw the bad but he also saw the good.
There are no good people or bad people in the town of Gun Shy. There’s twisted people with agenda’s, secrets, desires and needs and they’re all kinds of flawed. So many scenes gave me the chills and I’m sure it was more intense listening to Gun Shy rather than reading it. Having the characters speaking to you and describing the actions of others was chilling.
The narrators of Gun Shy were Zachary Michael and Natalie Naudus and I was so thoroughly impressed with how they portrayed the characters. I was rewinding to re-listen to specific scenes over and over again. I swear I listened to the Epilogue about 3 times. That last part had me breaking out in goose bumps and looking over my shoulder in the middle of the night!
"This is not a fairy tale and there is no happy ending, no Prince to ride in on his horse and save me. It's just me and my monster, just us in our house built out of bones and lies."
**Some quotes have been shortened to hide spoilers
Ratings
Story ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Performance ��️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Overall ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 8, 2018
This is probably the most twisted book I’ve read this year. And one of my favorites.
I’d say the blurb is misleading, it portrays the book as a small-town mystery about a girl’s disappearance, but is so much more. At its core, this is a very bleak, gloomy story about people stuck in a little nowhere town and the fact that – if you’re fed evil, evil you’ll become.
Gun Creed, Nevada is the setting of the novel, it happens during winter, and those factors contribute to the overall depressing atmosphere. It’s almost as if the town itself is the character, slowly sucking life out of its inhabitants.
The story is messed up, the characters are not black or white, they’re all flawed, they’re human, that’s why you feel for them. But my favorite thing has to be the writing, it flows so nicely, author gradually reveals things to us and she masterfully establishes the mood.
Triggers:
And yes this may not make you want to pick up this book, but if you generally enjoy books that are a little on the dark side, challenge your views, show you the in-between gray areas and the fact that even monsters have a little light in them, and even angels may have darkness inside them. Then yes, read this.
My soundtrack: Dark Mind by Janine
I’d say the blurb is misleading, it portrays the book as a small-town mystery about a girl’s disappearance, but is so much more. At its core, this is a very bleak, gloomy story about people stuck in a little nowhere town and the fact that – if you’re fed evil, evil you’ll become.
Gun Creed, Nevada is the setting of the novel, it happens during winter, and those factors contribute to the overall depressing atmosphere. It’s almost as if the town itself is the character, slowly sucking life out of its inhabitants.
Grown where you’re planted, the saying goes, but everything withers and dies here in winter. Even in summer, it’s winter for me. It’s been winter for eight years. I have long since shed my petals and burrowed beneath the layer of snow that smothers this place.
The story is messed up, the characters are not black or white, they’re all flawed, they’re human, that’s why you feel for them. But my favorite thing has to be the writing, it flows so nicely, author gradually reveals things to us and she masterfully establishes the mood.
Triggers:
And yes this may not make you want to pick up this book, but if you generally enjoy books that are a little on the dark side, challenge your views, show you the in-between gray areas and the fact that even monsters have a little light in them, and even angels may have darkness inside them. Then yes, read this.
Some days I feel like I’m made of glass, my clothes and my hair and my downturned eyes the only things that stop the light from getting in, from showing the world what’s happening within me. Who’s touched me. Who’s been inside me.
Nobody can ever know the things I’ve done.
My soundtrack: Dark Mind by Janine
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