I couldn't wait to read April and JJ's story. There had been a build up to their romance in the previous books and the cliff hanger at the end of the last book made this a must read. I like workplace romance and amnesia tropes so this appealed to me. There was some telling rather than showing but I enjoyed the journey with JJ and April. I wasn't completely sold on the young villain. The number of people involved in the rescue at the end and to take down one person was really over the top. It was exciting nonetheless. A good end to a fab series..

No matter how many times I plan to "never read Susan Stoker again," I just get sucked back in. I think the trick is making your peace with the fact that the romance part is going to be uber treacly and then hope for decent suspense. Something else that drew me to this book was that I read the first two (missed the third) and found them mostly charming, and I wanted to see how the series would end.

So the series follows four former Deltas who survived being POWs and moved together to Maine to start a lumberjack business. Each meets his match. The heroine of this novel, April, has been around since book 1, and she and JJ/Jack have thrown sparks all that time. But "he's my boss and I'm older" on her part and "what if she doesn't feel the same" on his kept them apart.

I'm not a fan of age gap regardless of who is May and who is December, and I almost passed as a result. In the end, it was rather a nonissue in this novel. It did bug me that I didn't know (or at least remember) how old Jack was until the last chapter, so I'll freely pass that info on. He's 39 to her 46, so not so incredibly gappy after all. Anyway, Jack wises up after nearly losing April to an accident, and they quickly move into "you are perfect, even your flaws are adorable, I will battle a million velociraptors for you" (okay, so I made that last part up, but you know what I mean) mode.

Fortunately the suspense finally kicked in. The bad guy is appropriate for the series finale even if I didn't find him to be too believable, and unlike with a lot of treacly romantic suspense, the drama isn't over too quickly. The women get to be as strong as the men, and fans of other Stoker series will be thrilled to see a bunch of familiar faces pitching in. And a novella-length epilogue wraps things up for all four couples. I was a little annoyed when I saw how long it was, but in the end found it satisfying.

As fourth and last in a series, it's not precisely a standalone, though you can probably do okay even without the other books. But the four couples are really best buddies, and reading the series in its entirety is probably a good idea.

I received an ARC of this book for free from the publisher and Netgalley. I'm writing this review voluntarily, and it reflects my honest opinion. Thanks!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

A nice end and round up to the series. The story followed the basic formula, problems arise, feelings are discovered and resolved, all happy joy joy and then POW, new problem. Heroes to the rescue. It was terrific to see the Mountain Mercenaries, Silverstone Towing and Ace Security join the fray. And we can't forget Tex! I enjoyed the reference to the Refuge and Eagle Point Search & Rescue, though fleeting. I love that Ms. Stoker, at the end of each series (and I like that the series all have a beginning, a middle and an end), gives the reader a roundup of the couples. Sometimes at a point in time and sometimes over a range of time periods.

As always, I'd recommend this (and all) of the series and look forward to the next one(s).

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC “The Lumberjack” by Susan Stoker in exchange for my honest review.

The Lumberjack is the fourth book in the Game of Chance series. I originally came across this series from a book recommendation. I’ve read the other 3 books and was so excited to get a chance to read this one early! The series follows 4 friends who were POWs and played rock paper scissors to pick a place to settle and job for after they’re rescued. The Lumberjack is the slow burn love story of Jackson Justice “JJ” and April Hoffman.

I’ve found the series to entertaining, captivating, and full of suspense. I highly recommend you read the Game of Chance series…you won’t be disappointed!!!

Thank you to net galley for an ARC of The Lumberjack by Susan Stoker. I have been looking forward about April and JJ! April was in a car accident that caused her temporary amnesia. JJ was so distraught that April could've died, he decides that its time they acknowledge their feelings. Without giving too much away, I loved the closure of this story and how Susan tied all of the guys and their women, together. The Lumberjack was a captivating read with suspense, mystery, a touch of thriller, romance, adventure, and comedy.

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.!