Guns Books

bang BANG is a really hot little story about how women might use sex
to change the world. As the victim of a street crime, Paula Sherman
organizes a bunch of women to fight against the guns on the streets
of Philadelphia. You'll have to read the book to get her tactics, but
the whole thing is hilarious while it asks a very serious question.
The other thing that I liked about this story was the dead-pan spoof
of the media. In the beginning, Paula is worked over by the local
media. Later on, she works over the national media (Oprah. Clint.) big
time.
bang BANG is action-packed and funny and the writing's great---
entertaining, intelligent, and definitely worth a read.

I mostly read modern novels. I like writers who really care about the language and write beautiful stuff without getting so in love with their words that you can't understand them.
I like guys like Chuck Palahniuk, Peter Clenott Hunting the King, and Martin Amis and Richard Price, George Martin A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, Book 3), Milan Kundera and Derek Armstrong, especially for The Last Troubadour: Song of Montsegur and MADicine. Now I have a new favorite writer to love. Lynn Hoffman weaves a magic spell. You start this book and you're completely lost in from the beginning to the end. During the action scenes I didn't take a breath until they were over.
She is a very special writer and I look forward to her next book.

One of the most briliant novels in the last few years. A tragic story interspersed with lots of humor, frizzy copy and nimble dialogs. A must-read.

Edgy, sparse, witty, this novel grabbed me from the very first page. I read it overnight. Thoroughly recommend it if you're after something out of the ordinary. Five stars.

Everybody talks about guns, the right and the wrong about having them, but nobody does anything about it. (So to speak.) Nobody except this author. His ingenious novel tells how one woman deals with guns. And the way she deals with it carries you through the pages with the greatest of ease. I can imagine novelists saying, "Why didn't I think of that?" Five shots. I mean 5 stars.

Chances are if you're reading the reviews for this book then you've read at least one Capone biography and walked away, like me, thinking, "Great story, wish I knew more about the Northsiders." Well Rose Keefe has heard our collective wail and has provided us with one of the best books on both Chicago gangland and one of its most interesting characters. There is much more to the O'Banion/Northside story than just being fodder for Capone's gunmen. If you're into Chicago's gangland past then this volume is a must.

A great bio on the Chicago gangster gunned down in his flower shop during the "Roaring Twenties". The book focuses on the rivalry between the Northside Chicago mob and the Southside Torrio-Capone mob.Obanion and his cohorts are literally devoured by the inter-city "big time" mobs with connections to New York city.From reading this book I don't believe Obanion knew what he was up against,he was a small town boy who moved to the city of Chicago, yet he tried to run his crime empire like a small business. Cavorting around a flower shop by day,shaking hands,(without an enemy in the world?),with little to no protection,meanwhile engaging in criminal activity that would include murder.That's just asking for it,and Torrio's mob,later inherited by Capone,was only too happy to oblige. It seems Torrio's mob when they arrived in Chicago was already an experienced hard core criminal transplant from NYC and cites thereof.How could Obanion honestly think that when the control of rackets,gambling,bottlegging,and the millions of dollars at stake, there was a "moral" line that shouldn't be crossed?Especially when dealing with the mob and seeing as the mob eliminated its own so what could a rival gang expect.Capone listed his profession as furniture dealer but I doubt you would see him lifting furniture into trucks.His furniture business was a fort.The short baby faced Obanion never had a chance in dealing with the NYC mob. this book really brought this out as I read it.An excellent work on crime history but it sort of makes Obanion look like a "farmer".

This is a must have book for anyone interested in Chicago's beer wars. Mrs. Keefe has written a brilliantly told acurate story that helps us understand how Capone became the legend that he is, for without Dean O'Banion on the north Capone may not have been as big on the south.

This is about the people who nearly beat the Capone Mob for control of the Chicago boot-legging business. They were led by a florist and included a war hero, a cowboy, a bigamist and a practical joker who starred in an early stag film in the middle of a gang war. The wild Northside Gang is today best remembered for being the victims in the St Valentine's Massacre but in the twenties they were household names. This and Rose Keefe's book about Bugs Moran are both fascinating. A must read!

This is the most comprehensive and thoroughly researched biography of Dean O'Banion and it has been justly recognized as definitive. Rose Keefe's greatest accomplishment is that her meticulous research has refuted dozens of journalistic half truths, embellishments and canards that have become commonly accepted as the truth simply because of constant repetition over eight decades. The actual Dean O'Banion is a far more complex and interesting character than his newspaper stereotype.

Many sources have characterized the Prohibition battles between the Northside Gang and the Capone/Torrio mob as simply a territorial battle between the Irish and those damned Dagoes. Keefe correctly points out that the Northsiders were, in fact, an exceedingly diverse group comprised of Irish, Italian, German, Jewish and Polish hoodlums. The reality was more complicated than the widely accepted conventional wisdom.

Although O'Banion could act in an utterly ruthless manner if circumstances warranted, more often than not he relied upon his quick wits. He possessed superior intelligence and had an engaging personality that inspired great loyalty from his comrades even long after his death.

Despite his humble origins, O'Banion had the ability to put people from various walks of life at perfect ease and to form lasting friendships that allowed him to move easily in political and social circles despite his criminal background. O'Banion was a contradiction: he was a devoted son and husband. One could envision the industrious O'Banion succeeding in almost any field of endeavor that he tried. The loss of his beloved mother to tuberculosis and a childhood accident that left O'Banion partially crippled with a permanent limp were traumatic episodes, but rather than contenting himself to be sidelined by his handicap or to endure a life of economic hardship and privation, O'Banion chose not to be pushed around as he hit back hard with both fists in order to survive in the rough and tumble, dog eat dog environment that was Chicago in the early years of the past century.

If you are living from hand to mouth, it always pays to be ambidextrous and O'Banion was, figuratively and literally: his custom tailored suits contained multiple pistol pockets which allowed O'Banion to draw concealed revolvers using either his right or left hand or both hands simultaneously. The same hands that O'Banion could and did use to fire pistols, crack safes, stuff ballot boxes or slug out rival newspaper hawkers would also cut flowers into lovely arrangements for weddings and funerals. As a bootlegger, O'Banion prided himself on selling quality products as opposed to the rot gut handled by his rivals.

Keefe relates the many occasions on which O'Banion performed acts of charity. Some of these kindly acts were calculated, however, since O'Banion was also interested in reaping votes come election time. By performing good deeds, he could call in favors when ballots were being cast by his neighbors. Unlike Al Capone who coupled brutality and with openly lewd and lecherous behavior (Scarface allegedly gained his trademark after making crude remarks about a woman's shapely posterior in the presence of her protective and knife wielding older brother), O'Banion was noted for behaving in a courteous and oftentimes chivalrous manner.

Keefe's writing is factual and entertaining. The O'Banion who she describes in such great depth proves to be such a charming and larger than life personality that it is entirely possible to imagine his immortal soul awaiting forgiveness and redemption in Purgatory. I was reminded of the Warner Brothers crime melodrama "Angels with Dirty Faces" in which a priest played by Pat O'Brien called upon a group of juvenile delinquents to "pray for a boy that who couldn't run as fast as I could" after his childhood friend who failed to escape the corrupting influence of the mean streets died at an early age as a result of embarking upon a criminal career. If this sounds like a mere Hollywood screenwriting cliche, consider the fact that a Roman Catholic priest was disciplined and transferred for leading graveside prayers for Dean O'Banion despite orders from the Cardinal to deny Christian burial rites to known gangsters.

The only serious fault that I found with "Guns and Roses" is that the book lacks proper footnotes. There is a bibliography, but Keefe ought to have provided footnote attributions to the excerpted materials that were previously published elsewhere. There are also some minor geographical, historical and typographical errors that Chicagoans may catch in the text, usually on minor details, but the book is otherwise solid. Despite these shortcomings, this book is nevertheless a significant addition to the true crime history of Chicago during the Prohibition Era.

This is the third Lori L Lake book I've read and it didn't grab me like it grabbed the other reviewers. But I mostly read romances, so I might not be the best judge since this new book is more of an adventure. Dez and Jay are supposed to be getting away from it all on a camping trip with their friends, but nothing turns out the way they were expecting after Jay gets kidnapped by an unlikely pair of escaped convicts. The book then becomes the story of Dez trying to find Jay in the wilderness and imagining the worst. This becomes a bit of a fiasco and I was found it hard to stay interested, but that could be a matter of personal taste because I always want romance and sex in the books that I read and this one offered neither. Even though the writing quality in Have Gun We'll Travel is the best I've seen from this author, I thought Gun Shy was a better story. Next time, I'm ready for a new plot and new characters from Ms. Lake. I've had my last date with Dez and Jay.

I enjoyed the third installment of the Gun series. I look forward to more in the life of Dez and Jay. This book shows throughout the devotion that each one has for the other and the fact that they both keep going and never give up hope! This book focus is more on the adventure than on the romantic side of the coin. It is a little change from the other in the series. All the same, it was a good book and one that I will keep in my collection. If you are looking for a good adventure, you have found one. If you are looking for lust and sex, this book is not really for you! You will still enjoy the humor and the love that these characters show for one another(for their partners and their best friends).

I didn't read the 2nd one yet, but the first and third novels in this series are awesome.

Dez, Jay, Crys, and Shayna take time out to go camping in Northern Minnesota. It's just a weekend trip, but they plan on camping and hiking quite a bit.

The first morning after breakfast two prisoners from the local correctional facility barged into their camp holding Jay hostage. They ransack the campsite looking for stuff they can use. After tying up the other three, the prisoners (Bostwick and Randall) take Jay off into the woods looking for a Jay's car in one of the parking lots.

Once Dez, Crys, and Shayna are loose and hobbling thru the woods, hoping Jay has dropped their boots along the path. Boots on, Shayna and Crys head back for help as Dez tracks the prisoners down in hopes of getting Jay back unhurt.

Enter the Russian mafia. Bostwick kills one of them and takes the money. Now the mafia (Vanya) is hunting the prisoners down too.

Shayna and Crys finally catch up with Dez, but they send her back to safety with the vehicle. On foot they track down the prisoners having some altercations along the way. Lo and behold two of the prison guards are the first to come to Dez, Jay, Randall, and Crys' rescue.

The best action begins and with the help of Sal Cabot, Forestry Ranger and the National Guard, the St. Paul PD helps to clean up the forests of northern Minnesota.

Fantastic story line and continued great characterization. Couldn't put this one down either.

Great book to just enjoy and take your mind off the day to day workload. I really enjoyed it.

A graduate of Lewis & Clark College, Lori L Lake grew up in Portland, Oregon and moved to Minnesota with her partner after graduation. She worked in government for twenty years and retired to spend more time writing. She is active in teaching Queer Fiction writing courses for The Loft Literary Center. She has published five novels since 2001, a book of short stories, and has edited an anthology of stories. Her novels have won several Stonewall Awards. She was chosen the Twin Cities favorite GLBT author in 2002 and 2003. She is also a fellow reviewer for the Midwest Book Review and several other writing services.

Dez Reilly and Jaylynn Savage are opposites who are a couple, as well as both being members of the St. Paul police force. Together with their dear friends, Crystal and Shayna, they embark on a canoe and camping trip to the famous Boundary Waters of Minnesota. Unfortunately, the Kendall Correctional Facility outside Buyck, Minnesota suffers a prison riot and jailbreak relating to mob activity in Chicago, Illinois. A psychopathic monster who has kidnaped a hapless fellow "gentleman" prisoner to use as leverage attacks the women at their campsite and kidnaps Jaylynn. What follows is a chase and manhunt led by Dez to get the love of her life back. Eventually Dez is joined by every law enforcement body in the State of Minnesota, but it is the four women who eventually triumph against all odds:

"In the rapidly advancing gloom, Dez jogged along the dirt road. Her thirst was unbearable, but she'd dropped her canteen when she'd heard the gunshot earlier. She considered filling Jaylynn's empty water bottle from a brook or pond and adding the purification tablets, but didn't want to spare the time. Besides, if she stopped moving, she was afraid she wouldn't be able to go on. She was long past tired, but it was mind over matter now. Every so often she stopped jogging and walked for a couple hundred yards, but mostly she kept up the pace."

Lori L. Lake continues her perfect track record as a premier writer of Lesbian novels. This thriller has all the hallmarks of a best seller: a great plot, character development that pulls at the heartstrings, and a thoroughly spooky backdrop of the Boundary Waters. Lake's writing style is crisp and clear, and she leads the enthusiastic reader around in circles until the grand finale.

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer

The book was just what I had hoped it would be. Now I can make gun belts and holsters like they would have been made in the time of the old west for my cowboy events.

I saw this book several years ago in a book catalogue, I put off buying it because there really didn't seem to be enough subject matter to justify such a book. I could not have been more wrong. When I finally had one in hand I realized there really was a rich wealth of interesting material especially historically. This book shows the colorful evolution of holsters in the American West tradition. This is a fascinating collection of color and detail that leaves the reader in awe concerning this little known facet of traditional Western Americana. Well worth the price. Hours will be spent studing the beautiful illustrations and carefully researched text. You don't have to own a Colt sixshooter to apprecicate this beautiful book that faithfully follows and matches the tradition of the R.L. Wilson publications on the art of firearms.

This has rapidly become a favorite book of mine and, judging from the constant references to it from holster makers, has become a widely-used reference source. The quality of the book itself is excellent, with lots of crisp, large pictures and good accompanying text. The "frontier" period covered is pretty wide, really the colonial period into the pre-WW2 era. The emphasis, however, is on the 1800s. The first section of the book mostly covers military gunleather and its transition into civilian forms and usage. The bulk of part two is on California and Mexican Loop pattern holsters of the 1800's and early 20th century, although there is good material on a number of other subjects (all gun-related). The holster photo captions in part two tend to be very repetitious as there are numerous style variations presented, but ultimately don't detract from the pictures themselves or the text. This is not a book to buy if you are interested in costume or accoutrements other than gunleather, and you should pass it by if your primary interest is Western film and TV versions of gunleather - the buscadero, or drop-loop style is barely mentioned.

If you're into Cowboy Action Shooting or even history of the Old West, this is a must have book. The pictures are fantastic and the way the book was put together gives the reader an extremely great view of what they wore in the old days. Plus, there are some great pictures from the cowboy movie and television era. Great Book!

I received the book quickly, in great condition. I would definitely use this vendor again.

If your looking for answers to sporting clays and shotgun sports questions, this book is an excellent choice. It touches on specifics you may not have thought of or could not find anywhere else. It will tighten up your game (specifics for consistency)as well as help you improve, giving good instruction in all areas-it will help your tournament shooting as well!... A great addition to the OSP books or any shooting collection.

You will not be sorry you bought this book and will find yourself reading it over as well as a source of reference!

I bought this book for my nephew who shoots clay's and he said he loved the book and it was very informative.

The book explains in easy to understand detail what I need to do and what I need to avoid. the rest is up to me.

Frank
Bronx

I've been shooting for 4 years now after taking 15 years off. This book has a seemingly endless amount of great, technical advice and tips. Diagrams especially helpful. I will re-read it over and over again as I try to become a better shot. Great buy, great book. Curt L.

Lots of good tips, but especially for anyone who wanted to learn about all the shotgun sports. Another recommended learning source is Leon Measures - "Shoot where you Look" in DVD and Bill McGuire's - "Focus and Fire" DVD.

I absolutely love "The James Bond Lifestyle Seminar," but this audiobook fell short. The plot was decent, but nothing better than you'd expect based on the synopsis. The main character is supposed to be 33 years old, yet his voice sounds like an old man. He sounds very unsure of himself. Also, a lot more could have been done with the sound effects. They did not immerse me in the scenes, as another reviewer claimed.

Wow! My sister pointed me to this audio book and I couldn't believe my ears. I just relaxed on my bed to listen and was absolutely delighted with the movie-quality of the sound effects. Not only is this a masterful, well-written plot, it's also a quality production. The best I've heard.

And those stars that the magnificent author/director Paul Kyriazi lined up for this special version of his book!!! Well, all I can say is that I remember swooning each time I saw any of them on the big screen. (I hope my hubby doesn't read this.) But when I saw Rod Taylor--who narrates this story, with such a come-hither voice--starring in The Birds with that gorgeous Tippi Hedren, I almost fainted. Yes, he was that much of a hunk ... and still is, according to my sister!

Incidentally, people used to say I looked like Tippi. Ah-hhh, memories ... But getting back to this audio book, I loved it to pieces.

Keep up the excellent work, Mr. K. You're terrific, and almost as handsome as the great Rod! Ciao, baby ...

Mr Kyriazi's production of Hard Rock Lovers was just fantastic! I was on the edge of my seat on a daily basis! I put the audio book on my iPod and listened while I jogged. I gotta say it motivated me to get out there and I am so sad it is over! I cannot wait for his next Audio production!

The story is fantastic, gripping and sexy. I absolutely loved it!

Bravo!!!!

The "Hard Rock Lovers" audio book was not at all what I expected, but what a wonderful surprise! It's a twisted, tangled web of events played out by a handful of multi-leveled, intertwined characters. The story is well written, beautifully told and convincingly enacted centering on the heights of a successful rock star and the terrible costs that are paid when that success is abused. People and events are manipulated by all the characters to satisfy their own needs and agenda.


"Good" and "evil" are blurred. "Life" and "death" are blurred. Relationships are blurred, but the irony of fate is boldly presented and it's made abundantly clear that our "next" existence offers another chance to hopefully do better. The inevitability of change, the subtle and sometimes dramatic interrelationships between cause and effect as well as the ever-present, ever-looming scales of divine and poetic justice are persistent threads. A beautiful blending of drama and melodrama are used to develop both the story and the characters. The audio presentation is top-notch entertainment, particularly when you consider that all acting is accomplished solely through vocal artistry. The actors do a fantastic job of inviting the listener into their world and moving you effortlessly through the story.


I really enjoyed listening to this audio book. It is wonderful from start to finish and my congratulations go out to all involved. It's a winner on all levels.

From the moment Hard Rock Lovers comes on ... it takes you by the hand and mind, and immediately draws you into this intriquing story, narrated by the imcomparable Rod Taylor, of revenge, love, lust, cold reality and spiritual enlightenment.

Robert Culp kept me laughing with his perfect low-life agent performance, always the best! James Darren was the perfect rock star, mean, talented but sad, his performance was # 1. Ishtar Uhvana was great as Medusa, she added the sweetness to keep some reality in the rock world and her ending dialoque brought tears to my eyes. Loved Russ Tamblyn, George Chakiris was brilliant as the evil Reynaldo, and Nefta Perry as Connie played the perfect Rosie Perez.

The ending gives you hope and leaves you with happy feelings. You will want to play it again and again; it only gets better each time you listen.

Paul Kyriazi is my hero. I am his BIGGEST fan.

Thank you Paul for the fun and exciting adventure!

I flew through this book because I could not stop reading it. The details of life growing up in the Bronx were truly mind blowing, especially for someone who grew up in a super sheltered environment.

However, the best part of this book is how Canada relates how the gun culture has doomed inner city children to an adolescence of violence and how something must be done to change this.

This is the most powerful anti-gun books I have ever read, and the message isn't shoved down your throat, it's told through the author's own life experience which makes it that more powerful.

A must read.

This is hands down one of the best books I have read. Not only does Geoffrey Canada explain in gritty detail the inner workings of ghetto society, he also lists solid well-thought solutions, which would enable inner city youth and residents to rise above poverty and despair. We, the people, have turned a cheek for much too long. Something really can be done. This book should be required reading for high school and college-level coursework.

Dr. Canada presents an emotive argument for gun control through story and eclecticism. He makes an interesting case for the slide from Fist to Gun without ever dealing with the reason for the violence of fist and/or gun. One might argue with his conclusions though one cannot argue with his heart's concern as to the results caused by the increased violence. Overall, a good read for thought and/or argument.

I personally have had the opportunity to hear Geoffrey Canada speak at my college twice, he an alumni of Bowdoin College. Not only is his book inspiring, he spoke to my class about joining the "losing team", and making a difference in the lives of others, like those of the South Bronx and Harlem, NY. Not only has he lived to tell, he has taken his experiences and turned them into something very positive, by developing and running the Harlem Children Zone, making a difference to those children there. The book is a great read for anybody who is an urban educator, or involved in social services.

Canada grew up poor in the South Bronx in the '50s. Violence, then, as now, was a way of life. All boys fought - life was worse for those who refused. Violence and the rituals surrounding it established the social pecking order. In the preface to his memoir Canada says, "The difference is that we never had so many guns in our inner cities."

Canada's first memory of street violence came at age 4, when his two older brothers had a jacket stolen at the playground. The boys' mother sent them right back to fetch it, promising them a beating "ten times as bad as what that little thief could do to you," if they failed.

They left the house in tears and returned triumphant, with the jacket. Their mother sat them down and told them it was a lesson in not becoming a victim. The author, her youngest, was unconvinced.

Then a neighborhood boy who habitually refused to fight was "stretched" over a car and savagely beaten by a group of boys. "The lesson was brutal and unmistakable. No matter who you fought, he could never beat you that bad."

Canada's memoir is a thoughtful, moving portrayal of social behavior in a culture of violence. A quick study, Canada learned to use posturing, attitude and negotiation as well as his fists to minimize the number and severity of violent encounters.

But he is absolutely convinced that violence is a learned response, not innate. He and the other small boys, says Canada, were aghast at the prospect of fighting. Only fear of worse violence and a life of cowering in corners spurred them to fight.

Today, says Canada, the same imperatives operate. But guns have shattered the rituaized formality of the pecking order. Toughness is no longer determined by fighting skills or "heart" but by willingness to pull the trigger.
This is the book's most chilling precept. The streets are now ruled by those whose most important attribute is a lack of compunction about killing.

Canada's own experience as a gun carrier is a perfect illustration. Home from college he found a nearby street ruled by a gang of toughs so intimidating he would take a circuitous route to avoid them. So he bought a gun. Carrying it, he found his whole personality changed.

Instead of avoiding the block or even crossing the street he would swagger through the gang, his whole attitude provoking a challenge. But back at school in bucolic Maine he saw his behavior in a different light. Appalled at how close he'd come to shooting someone, he threw away the gun.

Those who don't leave the ghetto don't have the luxury of contemplation.

Canada has devoted his life to helping poor children and reducing street violence. Today he runs a program which offers classes and recreational activities which involve the whole community. The Rheedlen Center uses public school buildings, open 17 hours a day, in an effort to provide children and families with safety.

At the end of the book, Canada offers a program for solving the problems of violence in the inner cities. Chief among them is getting handguns off the streets by using buyback programs, registration at the place of manufacture (so any gun can be traced) and registration of ammunition.

Whether the reader agrees with his solutions or not, Canada's memoir is powerful testimony of a future of little hope without major change. It is also a riveting and convincing personal history.

A continuation of her excellent first novel and just as good. Along with all of the romance and relationship angst and suspense and a well relayed tactile sense for her setting (I would actually get cold at times while reading from her description of the environment) the thing I liked most about this novel was the presentation of an empathetic, funny, real, genuinely helpful shrink, if only they could all be as intelligent and insightful.

Under the Gun is a great book! Gun Shy left us all wanting more of these great characters and this sequel delivers! The plot is good through out and this book is a true page turner.
The love, humor, devotion, sex, and who could forget the COLD weather are all here in this exciting book! I can't wait to read Have Gun Will Travel. I hope Lori Lake keeps the Gun series going...it is an enjoyable, easy read!

Back to tantalize readers, Dez and Jay come full force to deal with new relationship issues both at work and at home. Not only do they find themselves separated at work and mixed up in a murder investigation with a pair of questionable detectives, they also find themselves dealing with emotional issues associated with their new relationship.

Dez has problems dealing with concerns related to Jay and her late partner. As a result, she is temporarily suspended from the force and required to see a psychiatrist. She makes herself scarce and seemingly runs away from Jay as a result. Jay spends a lot of time doing grunt work in a murder investigation until she proves her worth to the two detectives leading the charge. She also spends a lot of time reaching out to her partner in hopes the older woman will finally acquiesce.

It's amazing the ways both protagonists mature emotionally and learn to be true partners as the story progresses. A must read for anyone who enjoyed `Gun Shy,' `Under the Gun' is the continuation of a truly satisfying love story between two women who defy the odds.

In the second gripping police drama in Lori L. Lake's Gun series, "Under the Gun" delightfully picks up where "Gun Shy" left off and sets the stage for the third novel, "Have Gun We'll Travel." Once you make the acquaintance of Officer Desiree (Dez) Reilly and her partner and lover Rookie Officer Jaylynn (Jay) Savage, you won't be able to get enough of this dynamic duo. The two cops are as different as night and day in appearance and personality. Always the macho cop, Dez, affectionately referred to as "tall, dark, and dangerous," maintains a tough impenetrable shell and demeanor to hide her fears. "[Jaylynn] liked the fact that there was a defensive fortress around her taciturn partner, but that the tall cop had let her find the few chinks in the armor so that she had free access to come and go as she pleased" (p. 378). Dez contains her emotions until the breaking point, while Jay is not embarrassed or afraid to show her feelings. "It occurred to [Dez] that one major thing she liked about Jaylynn was how alive she was. She took on life with zest, whether she was investigating a crime, talking on the phone, eating something tasty, making love, or crying at a sad movie" (p. 271).

"Under the Gun" begins with Dez seemingly happy and hopelessly in love with Jay, the vivacious, light-haired bundle of energy, but at the same time, she is petrified of losing her, which is making her miserable. Jay is proving to be an excellent officer, but her impulsive streak has Dez worried, since Jay repeatedly ends up in harm's way. It's understandable that the introspective Dez, who withdraws and equates letting her guard down with being weak, is afraid of losing the one person who understands her, tolerates her moodiness, and who adds meaning, love, and joy to her life. Lake explores their evolving relationship with rich detail while Dez goes through the biggest transformation of all.

Dez is so adept at concealing her inner turmoil that even she is not aware she's doing it. Having suffered serious traumatic events in her life including the loss of her beloved father, also a police officer, and her partner and close friend Officer Ryan Michaelson, Dez snaps and ends up suspended with her only alternatives being to see psychiatrist Marie Montague, or be kicked off the force. Reluctantly, the skeptical secretive Dez works with Marie. Can Marie save Dez from self-destructing, and going to a very lonely and isolated place where she denies her heart's desire for fear of loss and rejection? Will the astute psychiatrist help Dez learn to bridge the gap in all of her severed relationships, including the ones with her mother Collette and her brother Patrick?

Can Marie help Dez believe Luella, Dez's landlady and chief nurturer, who tells her, "You can't hold onto someone so tight that you choke the life out of them" [p. 280]. Luella tries to convince Dez that loving and losing someone is painful, but avoiding love to avoid pain is not the answer. She also tells her surrogate daughter, "You are a strong person, Desiree Reilly, and you deserve to love and be loved. But you have to make a choice to take the chance" [p. 280].

Lori L. Lake's completely satisfying action/romance novel will engage a full range of emotions that will leave the reader wanting more. No stone is left unturned as all the loose ends are tied up. The psychological journey of the characters' growth and development, particularly Dez's, is just as intriguing as the crime drama, murder investigation, and police work. Every character, no matter how small their role, has a place and reason for being in the story. Lake does not rush through her narrative, but with the perfect pace, 490 pages go by in a blink.

I recommend "Under the Gun" for the strong characterization, loveable characters, and absorbing plot. Anyone who enjoys a realistic look at police procedurals, romance, and psychological drama, will love following the story of Dez and Jay. Lake paints a vivid picture that allows the reader to jump into the story and become a part of Dez's world. It is not surprising that the sequel, "Have Gun We'll Travel," is a finalist for a Golden Crown Literary Society 2006 Goldie Award. "Under the Gun" is a page-turner; read it and you will see what I mean.

This novel picks up right where Gun Shy left strong veteran cop Dez and her rookie partner (both on and off the job) Jaylynn. Their happiness is clouded by events that force Dez to deal with pent-up stress, emotional baggage and the everlasting question of whether loving and losing is better than never having loved at all.

Since the two main characters are policewomen, there is certainly a fair amount of action and police procedure in this book, but foremost the book delves deeply into concepts of strength and weakness, physical as well as emotional.

I liked this book a lot. You really get to know and feel for the characters. Especially fascinating was Dez's struggle to handle her emotional problems, when so much of the character's self-image seems built on her being the strong, stoic hero coping alone with issues big and small. The way Jaylynn deals with her partner's inner turmoil is also nicely depicted, with a realistic portrayal of her sometimes understanding and at other times, like a lot of their surrounding characters, fooled by the strong self-sufficient appearance of her partner.

I strongly recommend this book. Read Gun Shy first though since it's just as good! Also, if you like this one, try some of Radclyffe's books which are similar, but different. Radclyffe's are often similar story-wise with a lot of focus on strong women, but less fleshy character depiction and more fleshy love scenes. Really good reads the lot of them.

The Ballad of Carl Drega is one of several important books which every library should have. Along with other eye opening titles such as Molon Labe! and Unintended Consequences, these are must reads for those who have an inkling something is rotten in the state of America. Despite it being a series of essays, it flows quite well and never lets up with telling the truth of the danger we find America in. It is worth every penny, though if you cannot afford check out your library.

It is a great eye opener to the tyranny around us all.

That could very well be a legitimate legal defense some day. Certainly this book goes a long way toward detailing the million and one ways that we suffer from a surfeit of government.
Mr Suprynowicz does an excellent job of pointing out that tyranny comes in many forms. That sometimes the most aggravating forms are those of the petty bureaucrats and local governments who refuse to use compassion or common sense in the course of their duties.

This book is an easier and more entertaining read than his previous "Send in the Waco Killers", which read like a collection of his columns. "Ballad" follows a logical progression towards the inescapable conclusion that freedom and regulation are at opposite ends of a scale.

Guaranteed to irritate Republicans and Democrats alike.

Do not let the fact that this text is a "collection of essays" disuade you. Neither should you be dissuaded about the month waiting period for a new copy to arrive. Order several copies and earn a profit by selling via Amazon's Marketplace!

This thoughtful book forced me to take a fresh look at the incredible power's that have been given the IRS, FBI, ATF (BATFE) - just to name a few. Upon opening the book, I was under the distinct impression that I was a "citizen" residing in a "representative democracy." It has become clear to me that the Bill of Rights (which unquestionably grants me the rights of a true citizen) has been usurped by a runaway police state - where I resemble a well-trained slave. Does that mean I hate police, FBI, IRS, ATF(BATFE)? No. Although, I feel strongly that law-abiding citizens must reclaim their citizenship birthrights from these (and other) superiorly armed and trained slave masters. Vin asks rhetorical questions throughout his essays. My favorite question is "how can the government prohibit law-abiding citizens from owning particular weapons?" You see, our government inherits powers from "we the people." Therefore, if one citizen cannot lawfully prohibit another citizen from owning an assault rifle - how can Uncle Sam? It matters not that a "duly elected government" passed this law, because the Bill of Rights are God given and cannot be usurped. These essays are more powerful than a linear text and have been the genesis of heartfelt powerful pro-liberty thoughts. Subsequently, it is impossible for me to look upon my government as benign. In fact, I feel much like Benjamin Franklin must have. Ben Franklin was enamored with England and was residing there during the "Colonial Stamp Tax Revolt." It pained Benjamin to hear of his Colonial brothers resisting the "just command of his Majesty." I was staunchly pro-FBI during Waco & Ruby Ridge, because I watched mainstream media. Now I'm disgusted with my weak thinking - I sincerely apologize to the victims and surviving family and friends. I have come to the conclusion that our government has purposely overstepped its boundaries and now violently snuffs-out those small groups that see the wolf for what it is. The police-state may already be invincible, having already achieved critical mass - but I find some solace in the fact that I am no longer acting like a deferential pawn. I will resist illegitimate authority from this day forward. Thank you Vin! Sorry it's taken me so long to wake up. In my defense, I was public schooled. Also, I recommend Boston's Gun Bible (revised edition).

An outstanding look at the unending chain of abuses that are heaped on us by our government and the obvious, but tragic results. The Ballad of Carl Drega is a collection of articles and notes from 1994 -2001 by the award-winning Libertarian columnist Vin Suprynowicz. Carl Drega, Gary Watson, Donald Scott, Peter Williams, and the victims of Ruby Ridge and Waco are the martyrs in the raging War Against Freedom. This expose goes where no others dare. Vin exposes the War that has been declared on our rights in his essays on Taxes, Western Land Grabs, Environmentalism, Gun Laws, Vaccinations, and the "Mandatory government youth propaganda camps, still known to most as the 'public schools'".

He challenges you to focus on the victims' plight and leaves you wondering how on earth there are not similar "last stands" on a regular basis. Unfortunately, I fear that there will be many more Carl Drega's before Vin's next book is released.

I have given this book my highest recommendation and consider it a must-read for freedom lovers, patriots, libertarians, journalists, and concerned parents. If you don't like to loan out your favorite books, you might be wise to order more than one copy.

As a machinist, and amature gunsmith, I'm fairly well versed on how to modify guns. However, there's no need to reinvent the wheel if it's already been done. Since this was my first 10/22 buildup, this book helped just by being able to see all the different possible combination of parts one could use for a modified 10/22. The accuracy tests with various ammo brands vs. different rifle mods give the new owner a great place to start. If you've been around modified 10/22's for a while, this info might not be too much of a surprise. But for the person getting into this type of gun for the first time, it is very informative, and time saving in the long run.

The first shipment was wrong, I returned it with a picture of the cover showing the thumb hole stock. Second book arrived, the same as the first.
Not the thumb hole stock, but the none thumb hole stock which I had. I want the edition with a thumb hole stock on it, even if it is just a new cover on the one I have.
Why is it people do not think, read and pay attention to what or why things are returned? I'll go to Barns and Noble at the mall and try there.
The first book is very, very good if you shoot and own a Ruger 10/22! It has more information, how to, where to find, about the 10/22 than any book I have found to date.

This book is a 'must have' if you own a Ruger 10/22 rifle. Very informative!

This book was well written and organized. I found it very helpful in answering some questions I had about my Ruger 10-22. It was a good value.

Excellent presentation of both text and illustrations. Material very helpful to both inexperienced shooters as well as old pros.