It's Not a Game

by Carol Kinnee

Love doesn’t always play by the rules!Homicide cop Ang Mason likes games. With games, you can bend the rules and float between the lines. Life is different. If you step outside the lines, there are consequences. If you make the wrong move, you don’t get to start again.When her nephew starts hanging out with a group of drug-dealing rich kids, Ang’s investigation leads to a ruthless crime syndicate selling illegal arms and drugs. Warned to back off, she keeps digging, and earns a suspension that puts her in the syndicate’s cross hairs.Now on the run, Ang heads for Vancouver Island. There’s no room in her life for romance, but sexy police detective Dan Ryerson makes taking a time out too enticing to resist. He knows what the crime boss Krenar is capable of and teams with Ang to defeat their deadly foe.Games don’t have fatal consequences, but in the real world, if you don’t follow the rules, you can lose your heart or life.Targeted by Krenar, Ang and Dan find themselves in a high stakes game of risk where every move counts. They’re playing with fire and chances are they will get burned.

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 30, 2023

About the author

Carol Kinnee is an avid reader, a want to be baker, and a lover of travel. Her books, like her, take place on the west coast, amidst the lush background of deep green forest and rocky coastal shorelines.

When she's not tied to her keyboard, she's exploring her world, hanging out with her husband, or dealing with her quirky, lovable cats.

Reviews

[Tyler Smith]

I devoured this synopsis in one sitting! The blend of action, suspense, and romance is perfectly balanced. Ang's character is strong and relatable, and Dan Ryerson's presence adds a welcome layer of complexity. The writing style is engaging, and the plot twists are expertly woven. Can't wait to read the full book!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every page had me hooked. The blend of crime, emotion, and romance was spot on. I loved the way the author let the tension simmer between Ang and Dan while never losing sight of the high-stakes danger. The pacing was perfect, and the ending had just enough hope to make my heart swell. I felt everything, and I loved every minute of it.

[Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t prepared for how deeply this book would affect me. It’s not just a story of crime and romance-it’s about what we’re willing to risk for the people we love. Ang’s fearless devotion to her nephew reminded me of the kind of love that never backs down. And Dan? He brought peace into the chaos, showing that love doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful. Beautifully written.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I closed this book with a full heart. The danger was gripping, yes, but what made it unforgettable was how human it all felt. Ang trying to protect her nephew, Dan trying to protect her-it all came together in a story that felt raw, honest, and full of heart. A beautifully crafted ride from start to finish.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book did something rare-it made me care deeply, quickly. Ang wasn’t just a cop or a heroine; she was a woman doing her best in a world that gave her every reason to give up. Her emotional journey was gripping. Dan brought light and steadiness into her storm. I loved every vulnerable, gritty, human moment.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes a story grabs you from the inside out-and this one did. The crime plot was smart and urgent, but it was Ang’s inner life that made the book unforgettable. She wasn’t perfect, and that’s exactly why I rooted for her. Dan’s quiet, patient strength made him the perfect match. They didn’t just survive-they healed.

[Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many thrillers focus on external danger, but this book understood that emotional danger is just as real. Ang’s fears, her need for control, her pain-they all rang true. Watching her open up, inch by inch, while the world around her burned was beautiful. Dan didn’t fix her-he stayed. That mattered.

[Lailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn’t just a story about danger. It’s about trust, regret, resilience-and love that grows in the ashes of everything that went wrong. Ang’s toughness wasn’t a shield-it was a wound. And Dan? He never asked her to be someone else. He just saw her. And honestly, that’s the kind of love story I want more of.

[Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t expect this book to reach into my chest and squeeze my heart, but it did. Ang’s pain was palpable-her fierce love for her nephew, her guilt, her drive to set things right. She wasn’t just a cop-she was someone clawing her way toward healing. Dan was a soft place to land, but never overbearing. This book respected its characters, and I respect the author for that.

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was so much truth buried in these pages. Not just about crime or danger-but about love, timing, and the way past wounds can make us push away what we need most. Ang was flawed in the most relatable way, and Dan never made her feel less than for it. Their love wasn’t perfect-it was earned, and I loved watching it unfold.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved how grounded this story felt. Even in the chaos of crime and violence, the characters never lost their humanity. Ang’s protectiveness, her exhaustion, her longing for something steady-it all felt so raw. And Dan brought that steadiness in such a quiet, powerful way. A beautifully constructed emotional journey.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about so much more than a cop on the run-it’s about what happens when you finally stop running emotionally. Ang’s journey broke me in all the best ways. I saw myself in her: tough on the outside, carrying more than she admits. Dan was the kind of love that’s patient, not loud. Their story reminded me that trust is a choice-and a risk worth taking.

[L.R Bakker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read a lot of romantic suspense, but few have struck the balance quite like this one. The danger was real, but it never overshadowed the emotional stakes. Ang’s fight wasn’t just against the syndicate-it was against her fear of letting anyone in. And Dan didn’t demand her trust-he earned it. Loved every minute.

[Talia Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the gritty realism. Ang’s struggle to stay within the law while protecting her family felt raw and authentic. Some scenes with Dan were a bit too romantic for my taste in a thriller, but their chemistry was undeniable. Overall, it was a thrilling ride with depth.

[Camila Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ang isn’t some polished action hero. She’s raw, reactive, human. She messes up. She bleeds, she breaks, and she keeps going. That made this story feel so much more than a crime thriller, it became a journey of survival and self-redemption.

[Elizabeth Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s something heartbreaking about watching Ang try to hold everything together while everything falls apart. Her chemistry with Dan gave the story balance. I felt the tension in my chest, like I was watching a friend unravel and rebuild herself.

[Ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fear, the guilt, the quiet desperation, it’s all here. Ang’s world is brutal, and the writing never lets you forget what she’s up against. But what kept me hooked was the hope. The way Dan brings that sliver of light into her chaos? Beautiful.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book doesn’t hold back. There were moments I had to put it down and breathe. Not because it was bad-but because it felt real. The corruption, the fear, the emotional fallout-it’s all so tangible. Loved it from start to finish.

[Luna Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The plot’s fast-moving and packed with suspense. Ang’s character feels authentic, especially in how she struggles with consequences that aren’t reversible. The romance is a nice touch but doesn’t overshadow the danger.

[McFadden Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ang Mason is a fascinating lead-tough enough to go toe-to-toe with killers, but still haunted by her choices. The writing had a gritty realism that made the danger feel immediate, and the emotional undercurrents kept me fully invested.

[Royalty Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even with the high-stakes action, what stayed with me was Ang’s fierce devotion to her nephew and her refusal to back down, even when everything is on the line. It’s more than a crime story-it’s a story about fighting for what you love, no matter the cost.

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every chapter had me tense, but it wasn’t just because of the danger. It was the emotional weight behind every decision Ang made-how much she stood to lose, how scared she was to lose it. That vulnerability made the suspense hit even harder.

[John Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not put this book down! Every chapter upped the stakes. I was right there with Ang, dodging danger, falling for Dan, and hoping for a way out. This is one of those rare thrillers that hooks you emotionally and keeps your heart racing. Don’t miss it!

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came for the plot twists and stayed for the tenderness. The emotional arc between Ang and Dan added so much depth to the intense storyline. It’s rare to find a thriller that lets its characters be both tough and tender. Loved it from start to finish.

[Ava Bradford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is pure adrenaline. From the very first page, you’re pulled into Ang’s world-dangerous, unpredictable, and heartbreakingly real. The action never stops, and neither does the emotional impact. I found myself holding my breath more than once. A top-tier thriller with soul.

[Sabine Traeder · Rating 5 out of 5]

What hit me most was how real everything felt. The dialogue, the danger, the decisions. No plot armor here-every choice has consequences, and no one is safe. It made the tension feel razor-sharp. Loved the authenticity, the stakes, and the smoldering relationship at its center.

[Sandra Sampson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did I expect beauty in a crime thriller? Not really. But this book surprised me. The moments of vulnerability, the subtle emotional beats, and the trust blooming between Ang and Dan-it was all beautifully done. It added so much depth to an already high-octane plot. Powerful stuff.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book left me emotionally raw-in the best way. It’s rare to find a story that delivers both adrenaline and intimacy. Ang’s choices felt like they mattered. Dan’s loyalty felt earned. And their love? It bloomed under pressure, like something rare and beautiful. I’d read it again in a heartbeat.

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

The emotional weight of this story caught me by surprise. It’s not just crime and romance-it’s about redemption, about fighting for something good even when the world pushes back. Ang’s courage was raw and relentless, and her bond with Dan was like oxygen in the firestorm. A truly powerful read.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book with a full heart and damp eyes. Ang and Dan felt earned, not forced. Every ounce of tension between them came from fear, history, and truth-and that made the romance powerful. There was a quiet kind of bravery in their connection that really touched me.