Gunz and Roses

by Keisha Ervin

Urban fiction diva Keisha Ervin is back with Gunz and Roses, her latest story of street love.
Time stands still as up and coming fashion editor Gray Rose watches the man of her dreams walk into the club.
The last thing St. Louis kingpin Gunz Marciano wants is to become attached to one woman until he spots Gray.

After one night of erotic passion, Gunz and Gray embark on a tumultuous journey. When their obsessive love becomes too much and Gunz wants out, Gray is ready to let him go. Then she learns the identity of his new woman, and things get complicated.
Gunz and Roses is a sensational, passionate drama filled with an intense mix of suspense, lies, and murder.

Genres: Urban, African American, Audiobook

305 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2009

About the author

Hailing from St. Louis, Missouri, Keisha Ervin is a prolific writer and devoted mother. Her success has drawn much deserved attention to herself and her hometown.
She is the author of the National Best-Sellers Chyna Black, Me & My Boyfriend, Mina's Joint and Hold U Down, as well as the novel Torn and the short story After the Storm, featured in the Street Love anthology.

Reviews

[K2 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This read was ok.....I was really finding myself liking the story, however it just ended up being too much back and forth and plus I do not find it entertaining for a woman to continuously compromise herself for a man that will not have not done the same. And did I really read an entire scene from SugarHill😳🤣🤣🤣

[Brittney G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. I swear these two had me going through the motions, I believed I even shed a few tears!!

[OOSA · Rating 3 out of 5]

What's Love Got to Do With It?

Let me start by saying, my expectations for this book were high. It's no secret I am totally, unequivocally, absolutely, and positively anti-TCP. As such, I haven't had a chance to sample the talent of one Keisha Ervin, with the exception of her novella FINDING FOREVER published by Priority Books. But that's a novella; I need a full length story to see what an author is working with. I had heard here and there, over and over again readers raving about Keisha's novels. So, again, my expectations were high.

Ervin's new novel, "Gunz and Roses" chronicles the `relationship' of Gray Rose, a bi-racial beauty and fashion editor, and Gavin "Gunz" Marciano, a sinfully handsome drug kingpin. Gray is looking for love and her happily ever after while Gunz is living in the moment. For him, it is what it is. And what it isn't is a committed relationship. So here we have it. Boy meets girl. Girl likes boy. Boy likes girl. Boy and girl have sex. Boy and girl argue. Boy and girl have sex. Boy and girl argue. Boy and girl have sex. Boy and girl argue...It's a vicious cycle of dysfunction and foolishness.

"Gunz and Roses" is a "story of street love," according to the synopsis. However, if that is the case, this novel failed at its very premise. Gray and Gunz were not believable as a couple. The sense of a bond or chemistry that is imperative to make the plot convincing is never established. They had sex. They argued. That a relationship does not make, much less love. Instead, it leaves readers disconnected, removed from the feelings the novel hopes to evoke.

Also, sadly, Gunz and Gray fall into the pattern of stereotypical characters. I won't even get started on their designer clothes, Gray's looks (black and Korean with BLUE eyes and bootylicious) or Gunz's swagger (10-inch thang thang with a net worth of over 50 million). "Gunz and Roses" asks readers to believe the unbelievable, but then fails to provide any accompanying support.

In addition to being an avid reader, I'm a huge movie buff. So I was very disappointed to see the scene from one of my favorite movies literally play out on the pages of this novel. Are you serious? That wasn't cool at all. Be creative. Be original.

I wanted to like this novel. I really did. There were too many shortcomings. It's unfortunate that they mired the novel to a level of superficiality and predictability. In the end, "Gunz and Roses" was flat and unconvincing.


Reviewed by: Toni
2.5

[BetweentheCoversLiterary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the book had so much potential to be great but the storyline never evolved for me it pretty much stayed the same... Gunz do something stupid Gray leaves and then they somehow make their way back to each other to continue the same cycle... There was plenty of growth throughout the story for Gray but Gunz pretty much stayed the same. Overall it was an ok read

[Yvette · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED IT! I've read all of her books and I judge each book individually!!!! It is what it is! I love her style of writing & all of the characters in this book (even Gunz)! Real talk, the situations in this book is most of our reality...past or present! Worth the money.

[Tamika L]

I love this book, this book gives you a exciting story ! I LOVE IT !! And I will read it again.

[Yan cao · Rating 5 out of 5]

December 20,2010
This book has a really sexual beginning. I was surprised and a little disgusted. I was disgusted we probably because the sexual things were out of my knowledge. Other than that, the book begins off with Gray meeting Gunz at a club at night.The moment Gunz walked in, Gray had her eyes on him. He was the only one that Gray wanted to go home with that night. Turns out she did leave with him to his rich condo. They had sex but the next morning Gunz just gave Gray money and told her to go home; he thought she was those one night girls. But really Gray was hurt. After that fight, Gunz held her back and told her, she was his home girl. Unfortunately, he hasn't called Gray after months and she is hurt by that.
December 22, 2010
Gray couldn't get Gunz out of her mind; when she wants him out of her life, he would come back. When he holds her near him she will fall for him again.
Gunz was a guy that deals with a gang. He had killed a guy named Rich because Rich snitched on the gang. Turns out Rich was Trust's younger brother and Trust was Gray's friend. Gray wanted to know what Gunz did. But Gunz lied to her that he didn't have anything to do with Rich's death because he didn't want to lose her.
December 28,2010
Gunz is really learning to love the way Gray is; she cares about him a lot and he can feel it. Gray knew about his business but they don't talk about it so no one will feel weird. Gunz is finally opening a little to Gray.
December 29 - 30,2010
The relationship between Gunz and Gray is really deep inside but Gunz is afraid to show it. Most of all he has lots of business to deal with; deals and killing. The two breaks,come back,breaks, and come back.
January 1 - 2 ,2010
Gray rejected her and going to Paris for Gunz but he turned out cheating on her. Gray decided to leave him for real but months later, Gunz came to her; she fell back to him because he told her the truth.This time was different because Gunz told Gray everything about him and that he was afraid to love her and lose him. After getting back, Gunz took Gray to his place that he never took anyone to. Gunz is planning to give more and show more love to Gray from now on.
January 2,2010
Problems keeps getting in the way of Gunz and Gray. They broken up again because Devin's text message. Gunz dumped Gray for looking over his text. They lived plainly for weeks without each other. Trust, Gray's friend, raped her but he told her that she was enjoying it. Trust and her had a baby but Gray only loved Gunz.
At the end, Trust amount killed Gray because she was with Gunz. But turns out Gray killed him but she also forgive him for leaving her a back scar. Gray learn that if she love someone or something, she should hold on until the end.
Review:
I didn't like the story at first because it was perverted but the story turned out to be very emotional. I have to admit that reading the book at night and alone, simply made me cried.

[Diana Townsend · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, which surprised me. It's a hood love story with a size fourteen main character which shocked me and I give the author props for that one. I can't tell you how lame it is that every hood book features a main female with a 25 inch waist... get for real. Anyway, I really like Gray and Gunz, even though they were both with the B.S. during the story. It gets kind of old after awhile but I stuck it out so I could read the end. The ending was just a little too dramatic and fairy tale for me but I still enjoyed the book.

[Ciattle Washington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probally my favorite book. It was so real, and makes you never want to put the book the down. The book is kind of hard to explain, so you'll just have to read it and see for yourself but I promise you wont be dissapointed. Its really for adult literature but i understand well. those are the only books i really read.

[Lena♥(Nothing Like Your Last,Im Your Present) Lakeisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so good, first book I read by this author and won't be the last:)

[Ezraela-Baht · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always Keisha Delivered a splendid read, I loved it from beginning to end.

[Hadiathompson]

this is one of the best books i have ever read in my life.this book is about love friendship like it is extremely good i highly recommend this book

[Ney Ney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful!!!!! Im a hopeless Romantic!

[Shawntay Rodgers]

oh god what can i say...... but just to read it for yourself it fill with lots of drama!!!!

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gunz had it going on in this here. Didn't really like Rose though, she was way over the top with all the material stuff but in all the story was good.

[Tanesha Walker]

Loved this book!!!

[cypher · Rating 2 out of 5]

fast literature…and usually i try to avoid these, but i picked this because of the title…no, it’s not about that famous band, click-bait title. something i don’t particularly like, baiting people into getting something they would not get otherwise.
the content: a him and a her, he’s a classic cliché thug into the drug business (nickname “Gunz”), she’s a modern femme fatale (“Gray”, maybe from Fifty Shades, after the band name-drop, i can reasonably assume, nickname “G”, maybe from G-spot), he wants her a lot (not sure why she is with him though) but his illegal activities stand between the (modern) classic star-crossed couple.

something like “(man) i wanna see inside the two piece - (woman) you don’t have enough money for that”…ok, i guess that’s why she wants to be with Gunz the drug dealer…

…also, not very realistic, barely a few pages into the book, and “(i don’t want to break up with the drug dealer) i know he cares for me”…they had just met…

overall, this does not represent my values, in literature too (not very deep), i am not the target audience for this (don’t click-bait an audience, “haters” can also show up)…but it was interesting to see what’s in this genre a bit these days (published 2009, but i don’t think that much changed).

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Torn by Keisha Ervin is one of my favorite books in this genre, so I THOUGHT I would like this book as well. I didn’t. First of all I felt like I was TOLD how much Gunz supposedly loved her and not SHOWN through the story. I didn’t like that all he did was bark orders at her and I guess that was supposed to be sexy. Even when HE brought up love, he told her that she loved him and demanded she say it. Like a fool she did, and then he didn’t even say it back. I was honestly disgusted with this relationship. I know the whole hood dude narrative is supposed to come off as a bad boy sexy type, but Gunz did not pull that off imo. I also didn’t like that Gunz was allowed to be a killer because that came with the territory of being a kingpin I guess, but Truth was made to be crazy, and called crazy by Gray because he killed to get revenge for his brothers murder. I did like TT. He was hilarious, but I found myself wishing this book would hurry up and be over.

[booktrovert · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am relatively new to this author. I have enjoyed most of her books but am starting to notice her writing style is all over the place. I started out enjoying the book and while the plot is typical to a lot or Urban fiction novels, I thought her characters added flare to a tried and true plot line. By chapter 10, I was over it and just wanted it to be over. The back and forth between the two main characters was exhausting. There was also time jumps that didn’t make a lot of sense. Often the scenes didn’t flow because we had jumped ahead, but that was hard to tell as there was no explanation. I will still be reading her work because overall her collection of books have been enough to keep me intrigued.

[Keisha‼️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book!!! Good from the beginning to the end. So happy they ending up together at the end. I feel in love with Gunz. He knew he wasn't ready for Grey and couldn't be the man she needed but couldn't let her go. Once she was fed up he figured it out real quick and u could tell he truly loved her. Thought there would be a little more drama with the whole Gunz and Truth thing but guess not. Also one thing that bothered me is the baby, she has to be Gunz child cuz Truth told Grey they didn't use s condom but he lied they did he said he wouldn't tell her the truth that they did use one ?!?!? Was waiting for that to come up but ever happen. Great read

[Jessica French · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like that this book has a main character that isn’t a size 4 and thick and beautiful. Grey had insecurities that ruin women, I see it all the time. Either be with the dude or leave him alone. All that worrying, blaming, and accusing isn’t good for your sole or sanity. I also like the fact that Grey had her stuff together, she didn’t need a man and was doing well in her career. However, she wasn’t smart enough to figure out that she had been raped or to take a plan B pill after having unprotected sex with a dude you don’t love or remember having sex with. Over all it was a pretty good book and I loved the ending.

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The struggle. The story was ok because unfortunately it’s kind of relatable, but there was really no plot. It was just Gunz and Gray going back and forth. There relationship never really grew. At the tale end it was 3 years later, they were raising her daughter with Truth and they were finally engaged. But reading the synopsis for the follow up, it looks like he was still doing the same shit after 10 years and she marries someone else. There was nothing redeemable about him. The fact that he was a fuckboy because he was afraid to love her didn’t make me like him more. There really was no character development for me with this one.

[Monique · Rating 1 out of 5]

I used to love Keisha Ervin's books but this book was amateur hour at best. I listened to the audio version and listening to this foolishness almost made me give up but I am one of those people who has to finish a book once I have started.

Gray Rose meets Gunz a dope boy and they start on their love story. I was too through when Gray turned down a trip to Paris because it was Gunz birthday. Who does some silly shyt like that! You pass up a once and a lifetime opportunity for a dope boy!

This was a waste of time.

[Page Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just did not like this book as much as I thought I would. This long loyalty Rose had for Gunz, despite his continual disrespect, really got under my skin. It fell in line with so many other street lit reads where the men can do whatever shenanigans they want to, and the women eventually just forgive it all because she's "different" than the others. I didn't find myself particularly liking either one of them. It was a decent read, but not my favorite.

[Shequana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gunz grew on me a little in this one

So I didn't read this until after First Wives Club (not sure which was written first), and I didn't h**e Gunz as much after reading this.

He was open and honest with Gray from jump, like a lot of women she was determined to make him something he wasn't. He was an asshole but that's who he had always been.

As always, Keisha Ervin did her thing. If you're use to her work, it's another banger.

[Jasmine Tuttle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off slow to me but as the book headed towards the end That's when things started to get good. Gray got on my nerves at time because she was being to insecure about Gunz but it did kind of work out in her favor! Gunz really struck a nerve with me at times he was doing a little too much unnecessary BSwhich made me want to keep flipping pages . The ending was cool .

[Jacola · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, wanted more details felt like some chunks of details were missing but all and all the story flowed. I do night like how Gray torchered herself with the relationship especially after Guns told her over and over that he wasn't the man for her! I loved the other characters in the book, especially TeeTee! My first read from this author and it will not be my last!

[Pucca · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was hard to finish. The characters could have been likable but Gunz was just toxic from start to finish. He apparently changed, but we’re only told this through the epilogue. Gray is supposedly smart but she keeps taking crap from a man that treats her like garbage. I don’t know how the author expected us to root for their relationship.

[Chelley Rene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve never seen a more pathetic woman in a book. She compromised herself at every turn. The lack of self respect was a lot to handle. I as entertained in the book but my disgust with gray was high af. Also TiTi didn’t need to be that over the top, you can have a queer character that’s not just a stereotype.

[S. Reid]

I just stumbled upon GNR-& no, I ain't talking about one of my favorite rock bands of all time either!- while unpacking my books at my new crib a few weeks ago, & was amazed that it survived my donation piles before I relocated from my old spot!
I had this book for more than a decade & found it intriguing enough to purchase & find a place on my crowded bookshelves in what seems like forever ago.