This was everything I hoped for and more! The ending to this amazing series a has the couple I have been waiting for. Jack is now determined to get April with nothing getting in his way, after having almost lost her in an accident. April has lost her memory and is now stuck in limbo until she gets it back. You can’t have this story without someone coming after April and the other women. This will keep you reading until the very end! I was given a copy for an honest review.

First I want to thank the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the story of JJ and April, co-workers, who have been working together for years and both have feelings for each other but haven't spoken or acted on them until April is in a car wreck and forgets the last 5 years of her life. As she is in the hospital recovering, JJ refuses to leave her side and even though April cannot remember him she feels safe in his presence and knows he is important to her. April works on recovering and remembering, JJ moves her into his house to keep her close and vows to never let harm come to her again and to not waste time being without her. Unbeknownst to JJ and his team, there is someone hellbent on making them suffer for what happened when the men were POWs including taking their women and doing them harm.

What I Loved:
- Team, all of Susan Stoker's books have great teams based on their time in the military and the guys in this series is no exception
- Backstory, since April lost her memory I really love how JJ gets to tell her about the history with the guys and how she came to join them (helping if you haven't read the others in the series)
- Women, all of the women in this story/series are strong and can always rely on each other to help them through the worst
- April/JJ, I am so happy they FINALLY get together reading the other books in the series this was the slowest burn romance I've read in a while and it was such a satisfying read when they finally came together
- Big Finale, as this is the end of the series I really enjoyed how the ending came together and the epilogue is just *chefs kiss*

If you are a fan of romantic suspense with a continuously growing found family set in a small town with strong men and the even stronger women they choose as their partners then I would absolutely recommend this book to you. If you haven't read any of the others in the series you can read this as a standalone but if you do have time I would also recommend reading the others if you want an even more robust understanding of the group.

The Lumberjack was a fantastic conclusion to this series. I always love Susan Stoker’s ending epilogues that explain the future of the characters. These two characters had a major show burn romance. Their story was satisfying and exciting. I couldn’t put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed reading and listening to it.

The Lumberjack by Susan Stoker
Game of Chance #4

Seamless transition between this and the previous book ~ Great conclusion to this series!

What I liked:
* April: divorced, short-term amnesia post head trauma, loved by her friends, knows she and Jack have chemistry, mature, intelligent, in charge, admired, good friend, capable, leader, liked her a lot
* JJ/Jack: ex-military Delta Force leader of captured and tortured team, good friend, bright, protective, lethal, caring, bright, attracted to April for years, finally realizes it’s time to make a move
* That April and Jack finally see the light and make a move toward what they both want
* Catching up with the four men and their wives and finding out all three women are pregnant (remembering each of their stories as I read this one was a special treat)
* The plot, pacing, setting, and writing
* The strength of the women and their ability to work together in a dire situation
* The four military men turned lumberjacks who will do anything to keep their women safe
* The network available to JJ and his friends when they needed a bit of help
* The way the story came together, the conclusion that wrapped up the series perfectly, and the epilogue that allowed me to see how all four couples were doing ten years after the book ends
* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* The bad seed hyper-focused on revenge and the evil he committed
* That I have to say goodbye to the characters in this series

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

This was the last in this series, and it really wrapped up well. I enjoyed the story and loved the relationships between these two and their friends.

This was a great book. From the very first page it drew me in and had me wanting to keep reading to know what happens next. The love and care Jack showed to April was so endearing.

Finally April and JJ's story. Seeing the hints of what could be between them over the series and this was all the better. I especially liked how things were tied up at the end for all the characters.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance

This was a story that I was looking forward to. The Lumberjack is actually JJ, a former military POW turned businessman with a couple of his friends. When April is in an accident, JJ stops at nothing to get to her and when he realizes that he’s been biding his time for nothing, JJ will pull out all of the stops to show April that he not only needs her, but wants her and loves her too.

April loves her job. After leaving a less than stellar marriage, she’s trying to start over. She finds herself at JJ’s business and now she’s indispensable. When she drives off the road, she loses her memory. Her friends all band together to help her through this trial, but when her husband comes back and states that they made a mistake, will April feel the same way?

JJ and April have a family surrounding them and cheering them on. Both will need to take a leap of faith to figure out what’s going on around them or who is trying to harm their friends.

This is a sweet love story about friends who must face their attraction or risk losing everything dear to them. I really enjoyed this story.

Triggers: POW and Stalking.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the fourth book in the series, and I would highly recommend that you read them in order, because the overall story is definitely growing through the books. We get to spend time with all the previous couples, and their support for April is down to the care that she has shown them through their own nightmares.

April would not admit, or act on it, but she has been in love with JJ, one of her bosses, for many years. All her friends, including his colleagues, know this, and know he loves her... but they respect their need to work it out themselves (most of the time!). When April loses her memory in a serious car accident, she remembers nothing of the last few years, but she does know in her heart that she can trust JJ with everything.

As they play it safe due to JJ's concerns about her not wanting him when her memory returns, we also learn that the dangers from their pasts are not over yet. It is typically tense, but with some clever twists – and a lot of drama that these couples really do not need to suffer. We even get to catch up with a lot of our other favourites from other series from this very talented author. I love how April has a chance to feel she is worthy, and that she should not waste another minute without JJ.

It is great to see how the group of men get to fulfil their dreams and get their well-deserved happily ever afters. Whether prince or pauper, their backgrounds have not affected their friendship or their happiness. Thank you, Susan Stoker, for another great story.

Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

This is book 4 in the Game of Chance series and it features Jackson “JJ” Justice, and April Hoffman. She runs the office at Jack’s Lumber, which is owned by JJ, Chappy, Cal and Bob. Later in the story, all the guys and their wives play a bigger role in the storyline. An accident and a case of amnesia makes JJ regret loving April from afar for way too many years. Now he needs to help her get her memory back and tell her how he really feels.
This book was almost like reading two books in one. The first part of this story was about JJ and April. Everyone else had already gotten their HEA’s and this is the last book of the series. The second part of this book was a smooth transition into the guy’s past coming back to haunt them in a BIG way! This book is full of friendship, family, love, anger, revenge, and ultimately brotherhood.
BRAVO! Excellent way to end a fantastic series!

This was a good conclusion to the series. It was nice to see JJ and April finally get to be together. They were just too stubborn in admitting their feelings. The suspense plot was fun and I loved the epilogue of everyone.

I received an arc through netgalley.

THE LUMBERJACK by Susan Stoker. This is the fourth and final book of this series and I feel Ms. Stoker did a great job. JJ and April are really perfect for each other. But their road has not been an easy one. Being a Stoker tale, we have danger, mystery, love and some action too. Having read the previous books, it was fun to see earlier characters and “catch upl. Overall another enjoyable read from Susan Stoker. (Received NetGalley ARC for honest review)

April has worked for the lumberjack company that Jack is a partner in with his three friends for years. She may have feelings for Jack, but she has not acted on them until she is injured in a car accident and is left with temporary amnesia. This is the catalyst that will bring them together, but the return of her memory also escalates the danger surrounding them.

Jack did not want to destroy the friendship that he shared with April but seeing her injured changes everything. Knowing what could have happened forces him to acknowledge how he really feels about her, but their newfound happiness is about to be interrupted as the past returns with a vengeance.

The intrigue part of the story will leave no one untouched and it allows us to catch up with other characters we have come to know but it also allows us to experience the depth of the love these couples share. Through the narration you could feel everything from despair to elation and it only enhanced the dangerous situation that they found themselves in.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and lovable. The pacing was perfect and left you wanting to read more. I can't wait to read more by this author!

A great conclusion to the Game of Chance series.

POW Jackson “JJ” Justice and April Hoffman have been dancing around each other for several years. But when Alice is involved in a car accident that leads to amnesia they both come to a realization of all the time they wasted.

An enemy from JJ's past may end what they both finally realize.

April and JJ have been avoiding their attraction to each other for years. After April has a car accident and loses her memories it gives JJ the motivation he needs to finally step up and claim April once and for all. JJ has some obstacles to climb, first April has no memories of the last 5 years of her life so she doesn’t remember JJ or anyone from Jack’s Lumber. He also has to deal with the sudden appearance of April’s ex husband who wants to misrepresent the current status of their relationship and is trying to get April back. Even though April doesn’t remember JJ, she does feel a connection to him. As they are trying to navigate her injury and memory loss they finally start being honest about their feelings for each other.

This is the final book in the Game of Chance Series and it did not disappoint. Not only do we finally get to see JJ and April get together, we get to see some of our favorite Susan stoker characters rally around a friend in need. There are some interesting twists and turns in this book that did not disappoint. This might be my favorite of the 4 books (yes I think I probably said that about each new book) but this one was a great ending to another great Susan stoker series. Check out all the books in the series.

Considering how prolific Susan Stoker is it seems a travesty that this is my first book by her. Romantic suspense used to be one of my main reading genres and it was good to back in that world. A protective hero will get me every time, and JJ is definitely that. He is so gone for his lady and I love it. The way he was able to provide safety for April in the beginning even though she didn’t remember him was testament to his character. April was also a little badass. Once she regained her memories she was tough as nails, and might I say I’d love to have an April in a crisis.
Romantic and sweet, whilst also being full of danger and revenge, this was an action packed read that I thoroughly enjoyed. I actually thought I’d gotten through unscathed but the epilogue brought tears to my eyes. Dogs, they do it every time. I also loved the story about the royal wedding. All in all a fantastic start to my Susan Stoker journey.

Susan Stoker's "The Lumberjack" marks a thrilling conclusion to a beloved series, and it's been an absolute joy to experience. The swift transition of the main characters into their relationship was a satisfying payoff, long-awaited by fans. This pacing allowed for a rich development of the suspenseful plot.

The narrative takes a dark turn as the team becomes the target of a mysterious adversary, with April's accident being the first of several ominous events. Without revealing too much, the climax is a rollercoaster of emotions, culminating in a dramatic and explosive finale. In a show of solidarity, JJ and his comrades rally their extensive network of allies. The numerous appearances by characters from Stoker's other series are delightful surprises that warm the heart.

The epilogue is a masterpiece in itself, showcasing Stoker's talent for providing a peek into her characters' futures, wrapping up the series with a satisfying glimpse of continued happiness for each couple. A particularly touching scene with Baxter ties the story back to its beginnings, evoking a poignant emotional response.

While it's bittersweet to bid farewell to this series, there's an eager anticipation for the future cameos of these cherished characters in upcoming works. The excitement for what Susan Stoker will create next is palpable.

I admit, The Lumberjack didn’t start out with as much excitement as the previous book, The Hero. Of course, we knew April had been in a car accident and that JJ would keep himself very close. So, that’s where we begin in this story.
The hope that April regains her memories gives us something to look forward to. But, until the exciting twist halfway through the book, I wasn’t sure if I could stick with it. I was glad I did, though. It was nail-biting until the end!
4 stars overall.

I went into this book blind, thanks to NetGalley, having not read the previous books. And though it probably would have made a better reading experience, I’m kind of glad about it.
It starts off with the FMC having short term memory loss of the last 5 years after a terrible car accident. 5 years which would have taken up the previous 3 books. Susan really fills in what happened in those books and it was like I was learning about these memories along with April.
This was a such a cute, romantic, slightly steamy, and nail biting story. And loved every second of it

JJ aka Jack, and April have been dancing around each other for years, him not wanting to mess up their friendship and ruin what they have and her, worried about being older and not what JJ would want.
Both were WRONG and finally JJ is done playing games. After almost losing her to an accident, he wakes up and will stop at nothing to make her his….except for her amnesia. JJ will not take advantage and April senses she has wanted Jack for a long time and until she is fully recovered, the two will take it slow…until the time is right for both of them. But the past catches up to JJ and just as they are beginning…the end may be here.
Loved these two and a bittersweet ending to this series that wraps up all their stories with a glimpse into each couples future. JJ and April, no more messing around…finally…the sparks and steam….finally. Suspense and a reunion of past characters….YES…..the story flowed beautifully that kept me flipping the pages…loved it!!