A last book in this series which can be read as a stand-alone. JJ and Aprils story has it all, and it’s great to finally see them get together. April and three pregnant women held captive by a terrorist surrounded by explosives and the four men determined to rescue their women makes for a great read.

This story starts abruptly so those who have not read the previous book may feel a little lost. I find this author is a hit or miss for me. And this was a miss. I didn’t feel the connection between JJ and April maybe because they have been dancing around each other for years. And they continue to dance for the first half of the book. When things start to heat up, it is not the impassioned, uncontrolled emotion. I understand getting consent, but JJ’s continued checking in pulled me out of the story. Quite honestly, I ended up skimming their relationship progression. Things got exciting when Amanda and her friends get kidnapped. There is a cute epilogue where the reader sees the future of JJ’s team members and their families.

I’ve loved each and every book in this series, but JJ and April’s story is probably my favorite. If you’ve read the other books, then you’ve seen the push and pull between these two the whole time. Both had healing work to do, but when their eyes are opened, they both go full steam ahead even amidst danger. Such an amazing ending to this series!

Susan Stoker concludes the romantic suspense series of a group of ex-service members who co-own a lumber business with The Lumberjack. This final story features team leader JJ and office assistant April, both of whom have been circling each other throughout the series. They are finally pushed together when April is injured in a car accident.

I really enjoyed the previous entries in this series, but was a little disappointed with this book. The two main plots (the romance and the suspense) seemed disconnected and as a reader I felt like I was reading two different storylines. If those elements were more closely entwines (as they were in the previous books) it would have made for a more engaging read; and what I have come to expect from Stoker book.

While I was a little let down with book’s plot, I did really enjoy the reunion of previous series’ characters at the end of the book. This was treat for the followers of the author’s many series!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I read the previous book in this series, which was why I was so excited to read April and JJ's story. This was just not for me. I struggled to complete the story, and felt like I was forcing myself to finish the book. I didn't like the writing style, plot elements, character development or execution. I'm sure this book will find a better suited audience, but it wasn't me.

4.5
The Lumberjack is the fourth and final book in Susan Stoker's Game of Chance series. The Lumberjack focuses on Jackson Justice (JJ), the Jack's Lumber business leader, and the longtime office manager, April. We finished book 3 (The Hero), on a car crash involving April and a moose and maybe someone else? We kick this story off with April having some memory issues and not remembering the past 5 years but Jackson has been shaken by the events and has decided to stop hiding his feelings from April.

This book was spectacular! It was such a good conclusion to the series and brought in a number of side characters from Stoker's other series (specifically mentioning other characters published by Montlake and therefore also on KU)!

Because the plot to this book's suspense was a little more complex, it has to have more page time and doesn't exactly match up with a lot of Stoker's other series conclusions but I really enjoyed it. There's a lot more action here and a bit more of a casual day-to-day view of April and JJ's relationship growth. We've seen a lot of the pining in the previous books so we don't need a ton of lead-up compared to the other books which definitely felt a bit more insta-love.

In the series finale, JJ and April finally act on their feelings for each other, much to the delight of everyone around them. The twist in this story is the reveal of the bad guy, adding more excitement to the plot. The fast-paced narrative keeps readers hooked, eager to uncover all the important details. Old friends and Tex make appearances, and the epilogue shows happy endings for the couples. A touching moment in the epilogue brings the story full circle, emphasizing the theme of family and love. It's a heartfelt scene that beautifully shows how far the characters have come and the simple joy they've found in life.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

I have been waiting for Jack and April's story and the teaser chapter at the end of The Hero was so intriguing! They have been fighting their attraction for years and not willing to mess with the way things are and of course scared that their attraction is only one-sided so when April has her accident which leads to temporary amnesia, things change big time!

I really don't want to give away any spoilers as this book was so much fun to read - and I did not skip to the end like I usually do! I let the events play out and could not put the book down until I got to the end and they of course all got their HEA.

Those poor women just seemed to attract trouble and had to be very strong to get through all the terrible things that happened to them. I loved that in April and Jack's story that it really included all the couples and their lives because they were so close and cared for each other.

The best part was when we got to see members from the other book series come along side these four men to assist them and it kind of wrapped up all the series and couples. So I am waiting for the next series to start - and sad to see this one end.

A good final book to end a series. I read all of Susan Stoker's books and will be continuing to do so.

In overall enjoyed this book. I feel like it was a bit long, I found myself skipping sections. I enjoyed the overall suspense story line however I would have liked a bit more of a build up between the main characters.

finally got April/JJ’s story and I ate it up in a matter of hours. not only was I on the edge of my seat the whole time, but after such a cute epilogue that wrapped every couple up nicely, I love them all even more!

a perfect end to the series 🥰

The Lumberjack - Game of Chance Book 4

It’s always tough when a loved series comes to an end but Susan Stoker crafts an excellent story to a satisfying conclusion.
This is Jack and April’s story and it’s about time that Jack (JJ) finally decides to take his long over due shot with April. April has been with the guys at Jack’s Lumber and now with their respective wives since the beginning and successfully wormed her way into everybody’s life, including Jack’s.
Of course, an evil from the past has been lurking and biding his time to take action, and his time has come, so as the danger ramps up, the guys call in all the markers. We get a glimpse of many of Susan’s former heroes and old friends who don’t hesitate to get back into the game.
For Jack and April their push and pull and oh so slow burn romance finally ignites and there is no holding these two back no matter the hand they’ve been dealt.
The epilogue wraps it all up full circle as we see how the futures unfold for all the couples.
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for a chance to read and review this ARC.

Oh my goodness there are no words adequate for how Ms S has wrapped up this most amazing series.

I thought I was going to love how April and Jacks hea finally came about but I didn’t expect all that is this book….it just keeps giving and giving.

The romance unfolds first and in the best of ways, then just when that settles, the action kicks off (early, this book is the definition of action packed!!!) then, well the author gives us ardent SS readers something we had literally BEGGED for (which because I am nice and don’t want to spoil anything for hardcore SS readers I am not going to mention….but make sure you are up to date with all her series!)

The epilogue is full, wholesome and satisfying and the whole thing is a brilliant roundup to a great series

We are back in Maine where a group of former POW who joined forces to start their lumberjack business.
This time the story belongs to Jackson Justice/JJ .
JJ’s experience as a POW has made him the man he is today.
April Hoffman is a key member of the business. She loves her job, and secretly, has feelings for JJ. Not realizing he feels the same.
But April’s past also has made her the woman she is today. She’ been burned in love and let’s not forget, she’s older than JJ , a no-no in her book.
But things change when a car accident that nearly cost April her life, has also made both her and JJ realize that life is too short.
Things seem to be moving along until an enemy of JJ’s past comes knocking at his door.
Will he be able to keep JJ safe? Will this latest incident finish them, their future, and their lives?
This was another engaging story in the series. Enjoyed “visiting” with characters of previous stories as this series comes to an end.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

Fantastic book! This novel is a phenomenal end to the series. A man linked to the men's past lashes out in a twisted form of payback for their military days. What follows is a tightly woven story that kept me turning pages just as quickly as possible....I couldn't wait to read what would happen next.

The author is a master of her craft and has created a novel that I couldn't put down. The characters felt real as they came to life on the page and made me feel invested in their story. I especially loved the epilogue - it was charming and full of heart.

While this is a stand alone novel, the series is so good that you really owe it to yourself to read them all. Actually, I've read all of her books and have loved each and every one of them. She is at the top of my must read authors' list. If I could give this book more than 5 stars, i would. It's that good.!

If Susan Stoker writes it, I will read it. No questions asked, no need to know the plot.. just hand it over!

I can’t believe this series is over 🥺 I’m so happy we finally got JJ and April’s story though. 😍 I’ve been dying since the first book. And seeing all the other men with their women and where they are now in life. 🥹🥹 Everything was perfection!

Read if you like: Ex soldier MMC, amnesia, romantic suspense, small town romance, workplace romance, boss x employee, stalking, villain pov

I wish we got to see more of their friendship before the accident. I wanted to see their connection and chemistry as friends and the push/pull game they played. I felt like it was harder to connect to the MCs and I wasn’t convinced on their romance.

I liked that the MCs were an older couple, but I didn’t love them - I felt they were both quite boring. Jackson kept saying he was bossy and demanding but I didn’t see it tbh. He kept trying to hold himself back from her so I didn’t really see the “real” him. He wasn’t giving the alpha vibe I needed as an ex soldier. April at least had a bit of personality to her and I liked that she held her ground.

The suspense had me feeling creeped out (which is exactly what you want). The stalking, plotting, revenge, and being able to read the villains pov to know what he was thinking had me going “this dude is crazy”

The book picked up at the halfway point and got good. When the *big event* happened and all the guys all went “hunting” I was like YESSS this is the alpha energy I was wanting to see. I was on the edge of my seat and hooked from there. I loved seeing old friends like Tex, and the epilogue brought everything together seeing a glimpse into each couple and their lives

I usually love Susan Stoker books but this one disappointed me. I just didn’t feel a connection to the characters.

Jack/JJ was a soldier and he and his teammates were held hostage and tortured. They played a game of rock, paper, and scissors and it was decided they would move to Maine and open lumberjack business. April is divorced and is hired as the office manager. She has feelings for Jack but he’s her boss and she’s older than him. Jack has feelings too but is scared to tell her.
April is trying to avoid Jack because it’s getting to hard to be around him. She goes to check out a job and wrecks. She wakes up in the hospital but has no memories of the last five years. Jack is shaken to his core and decides that when she regains her memories he plans to tell her how he feels. April feels safe with him and wants him too but he won’t until she remembers him.
Once her memories return, they tell each other their feelings because they realize life is too short. But someone from Jack’s past is lurking in the background. When the women are kidnapped, Jack and the guys will do anything, call in whoever can help, to get their women back.

I do believe this was my favorite. Plenty of edge of your seat suspense. Sex. And I about cried at the end. Tough ex soldiers. Smart and strong women.

** Voluntarily read and reviewed and received a copy from Netgalley **

Series enders always give that emotional kick, and this was no exception! JJ and April finally act upon their attraction, much to the delight of their friends. The kicker in this one, once we get our couple together, is that the bad guy is, well, I won’t give it away, but there is lot of story with our characters and the bad guy. My heart was racing and I couldn’t read the story fast enough while making sure I wasn’t missing anything important. We get to see old friends, and of course Tex, and an epilogue taking us into the future with our happy couples. One of the moments in that epilogue brings us full circle in the series, with how they started, with the children. It is a soft, simple, moment, but so powerful in its’ meaning with how it brought these men to be living the life they now are, and the love and simplicity they have found <3

This is the final book of 4 in this series. It can be totally read as a stand alone and whilst there are small references to the couples getting together before this book starts, the book holds together without any other info needed. The book is action packed and almost split into two halves. The first is a bit more tender and gentle and then the second half is more brutal and brutish. A great fast paced read with a strong alpha male lead who will go the extra mile to protect the one he loves. This isn’t overshadowed with a weak female and both give as good as they get.