3.5 to 4 stars--well done for this line (Love Inspired Suspense).

A friend sent me this book in a box of books, but she doesn't seem to have rated it here. I know she's been busy with family concerns lately and not had as much time to read as usual--perhaps she also hasn't had as much time to put what she's read on her reading list here.

The characters in this book drew me in. From the research I've seen on ex-cons, there's a high rate of recidivism--if all ex-cons were like Grey, that rate would be much lower in real life.

I think I guessed one of the "game of chicken" perpetrators before the author revealed it. I didn't guess the other one though or the reason behind it. It was an interesting twist--one I see some reader's objected to. I can kind of understand that since it did seem to come from left field plot-wise, but I could envision someone feeling that way and acting that way out of that feeling.

What I liked:
Grey's returning to a place he really doesn't want to be because he needs/wants to help his aunt.

The pastor's welcome of Grey and acceptance of him coming to church.

The pastor and other congregants standing up to an elder who tries to order Grey out of the church.

The residents who truly accepted Grey back into the town and tried to help him

Trish not being afraid to love Grey, despite the position it put her in with some of her family

What I didn't like:

Christians who held grudges and blamed Grey for things that happened 7 years before, especially when done in ways that shamed both him and his aunt in public. (Things like ordering Grey to leave a church service, attacking him in parking lots, etc.). I realize this was done for the plot, and much as I didn't like their actions, at least they were more honest than the person who acted one way to Grey's face while acting another way when Grey wasn't around.

The epilogue, which really only seemed to be there to set up what will probably be the next book in the series. One of the characters mentioned in it played a very minor role in this book and the other wasn't mentioned at all until this very last short chapter. I've seen much better set ups for the next book in the series in other plots and feel that should have been done earlier in this book rather than just tacking it on for no real reason right at the end--could have been a publisher's decision/demand or could be the author's issue within her own story.

I'm torn between Trish not honoring her father's wishes and choosing Grey over him vs. Trish leaving her father to cleave to Grey, the man she loves. Both aspects have supporting Biblical verses. I feel a little better about it because I do feel that Noah was treating Grey unfairly and not even giving him a chance but either holding a grudge or just taking out his overall misery on Grey. Trish's brothers seem to accept Grey, so it's not like Trish is choosing a bad boy over the wishes/objections of all the rest of her family (or friends, or others who care about her). I do also feel like Trish gave her father chances to change his mind/behavior as evidence came out--and instead of letting his hatred and misery rule her, chose to take the path of forgiveness. She didn't let her father manipulate her into doing what he preferred she do. Did she feel God wanted her to be with Grey? I don't know.

Yet, at the same time, even though I feel Noah's reactions to Grey are unfair, I have a hard time with Trish telling her father that she didn't care what he thought, she was going to marry Grey anyway. (As I said, this is tempered somewhat because she has a number of brothers and all of them seem okay with her marrying Grey. I'd have been more worried if she was going against her entire family.) ( )

Lyn Cote wrote Dangerous Game with a brilliant hand. She had me from the first page. I devoured this book and was rewarded by suspense, surprises, and romance. Her characters stay true to form throughout and they pull you into their world. Grey returns home from prison back to his hometown where his crime was committed. Forgiving and forgetting come hard for this small village and he faces tough challenges. You will want to read this book to discover the mysteries within. I highly recommend Dangerous Game and this series! ( )