Big, sappy, heart-warming conclusion to the series. This is Jack’s story and tells how he and April finally get together. The excitement is definitely loaded at the end. The last third is when the action really hits and the intensity deepens. Characters from other series make tiny appearances to help with April’s rescue. Satisfying conclusion.

A game of chance brings Jack and April together.

When Jack “JJ” and his teammates played a game of rock, paper, scissors to decide where they would live and what business they would get into after their time in captivity, he never realized how it would bring each of them their happily ever afters. I waited for Jack’s story and I was so happy it was last, I absolutely love Jack! He’s protective of his and possessive of those he considers his friends and family. April is every bit the perfect partner for Jack. She isn’t afraid to stand up for herself and those she loves and gives as good as she gets. They have a connection that goes far beyond boss and employee. They both have reasons not to get involved, but in one near-tragic moment, Jack sees clearly how ridiculous it was trying to stay away. I enjoyed the anticipation of their story over the first three books.

The Lumberjack is quintessential Susan Stoker. She has kicka$$ characters who are easy to relate to, and a thrilling storyline that hooks you in right at the beginning and doesn’t let go until after the epilogue. The twists and turns were mesmerizing and I loved so much the crossover cameos that showed up to help out our men! She gave us a fantastic wrap-up to this series. I love the peek into the future of all the characters. It was heartwarming and enjoyable as all her finale epilogues are. I loved this series and am sorry to see it end. However, there are so many more great stories ahead and I’m grateful for that.

3.5/5

I really liked this book! I’ve been waiting for JJ and April’s story since the first book. It was fitting that their story was the final one, and I liked the glimpses of their pining throughout the prior books making the set up even better.

The MMC JJ was great. We’ve seen him as gruff and take charge in previous books. I loved seeing another side to him. It was so sweet to see how patient, loving, and respectful he was with April during her recovery. He was also so protective and intense which is true to his character.

I also loved seeing how both JJ and April are the leaders of the men and women in their friend group. The others all look to them for comfort and guidance when they don’t know what to do. Also, April really took charge during that crazy situation. She kept her calm and kept the others calm as well and was super smart in how she handled everything.

It was awesome to see the military side of the guys in action and JJ leading his team. I also really liked the team up with the characters from other series. I’m now super interested to read the ones I haven’t read after seeing them all work together.

Finally, I loved we got a final epilogue of all the couples. It was great to see how they were all doing in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

JJ was the perfect story to end this series. There was always something brewing between JJ and April and I’m glad that we finally got to see the story unfold. While I usually don’t really like amnesiac stories, I did enjoy this one. With no memories or recollection of what has happened to her during the accident, April has to rebuild the friendship she had with everyone as if they are meeting for the first time. This prompts JJ to finally admit what he feels for April and takes matters into his own hands. Even though he may have been a fierce Navy Seal, with April, you never would have thought so. His gentleness with her is adorable and no one can turn this soldier into a giant teddy bear but April. But while they try to figure out this thing between them, danger is always lurking on the side. In this last installment for this series, we get to see all four seals, JJ, Chappy, Cal, and Bob in action and it is wild. We also get to see the unbreakable bond that the four leadings ladies have with each other and it is honestly just a really great found family. They all have their different strengths and are always quick to help one another without question. It was nice to finally see April be a part of that group and seeing her allow herself that happiness. This novel was packed with so many things – found family, brotherhood, overprotective alphas, and overall, just a great bunch of people that take care of their own. If you have read her previous novels, you’ll see that there are often cameos of characters from her other series and that is one thing that I loved seeing here in this novel. If you love military romance, Susan Stoker is it for you. Her backlist goes on and on and is filled with the wonders that is military romance.

Susan Stoker is a master at creating swoon worthy men and lovable and relatable women. This book was no exception. I enjoyed the relationship growth of the two characters as they acknowledge their love for one another. A must read for romance readers!

The Lumberjack Written By Susan Stoker.

Star ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ / ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice 🌶️ 🌶️/🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This was my first Susan Stoker read, the story is based on April and Jack. I am all for amnesia tropes and I fell in love with April. April is a strong minded woman, along with Jack who is very head strong. The beginning of the story it was grabbing my attention, it was a great storyline, however, I felt the book lacked in the romance department, therefore, I rate this book 3/5 stars

The attraction between JJ and April had simmered throughout the other books in this series. When April is hurt in a car crash JJ finally gets up the courage to tell her how he feels, unfortunately she has amnesia from the accident. Even although she can’t remember him or their friends, she knows that she trusts him.

It was nice to see how he showed her how special she was and for her to rediscover what an amazing man he was. She was loving, headstrong and efficient. He was loyal, caring and protective.

I definitely felt that their love story was more of a backdrop to the story that brought the series to a close. The mens past comes back to haunt them and puts all of their lives at stake when a man hell bent on revenge comes after them all. I loved how strong the women were and how the men and their friends would do anything to save them.

This was a really nice conclusion to the series and I really liked the epilogues.

The perfect ending to this series! I like that it could be read as a standalone, if need be. There was enough information on the previous stories, but not so much that it was repetitive.
I was so ready for this couple to get their happy ever after. It came about in a dramatic way! Having all the couples be part of the story is refreshing. In so many series, not Susan’s, once their story is done you never hear from them again.
Susan is alway one of my very favorite authors and I buy her books the day they are released. After this one, I certainly will again!

The series finale, and it ends in style with the rollercoaster of April and JJ, finally! A lot of emotions and stress, and some very tense moments - a great multi-epilog ties everything up. A solid series with action and romance!

Loved this series! If you haven’t read it you need to. When April is in a car wreck and has memory loss, JJ is afraid his chance of love is lost! But was the car wreck really an accident? Love this author when reading her books, they are hard to put down before finishing.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley.The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you for allowing me to review

Must be read as part of a series, but that's no hardship as the series is going from strength to strength.

Stoker is such a reliable author, you know her books will hit and hit well. A wonderful romantic suspense with pining, Amnesia and a marriage in trouble.

Lumberjack wrapped up the Game of Chance series and put a bow on it for all 4 couples. This is Jack and Aprils story and we really get to know them. I enjoyed watching this relationship unfold, it felt real. The suspense came later in the book and though it raised questions, it brought to light once again the sad reality of indoctrination of the young all over the world being taught hate. April and Jack were strong for their friends but we see their self doubts, their questions and they felt like people I knew. Bringing in numerous teams was a nice wrap up also, and yes I think if my loved one and friends loved ones were in this position, I too would call in every favor known to man. Game A Chance Series was a winner from Book 1 to Book 4. Thank you for the opportunity to read #TheLumberjack #GameofChance #SusanStoker #Montlake #NetGalley I freely share my own thoughts and opinions.

The final book most definitely wrapped up things in a big way. Jack's alpha & OTT tendency suits his personality. You have to admire his honesty when he finally admits his feeling with the sizzling chemistry. I found myself smiling as I read the growing attraction between April & Jack as they faced the truth. April is as independent & take charge as they come with a touch of venerability. The bond these men & women have is admirable & enjoyable. When danger comes, the big guns drop in to make a splash. You will enjoy these Apha men & their strong women. Honest review.

thank you net galley for the arc. this is my first susan stoker book ever and i really enjoyed it. JJ and April relationship.havent read to many amnesia tropes but i like how it was done. i would recommend if you like small town, possesive mmc.

I really enjoyed reading this romance arc. It was packed full of romance and action and definitely kept me interested.
This was an interesting read for me because I am so used to romance books being a slow burn but I got the romance pretty quickly in this one.
I LOVED the relationship between all of the characters in this book, one big happy friendship group. I also really enjoyed the fact that the FMC was in her 40's, I had never read a romance that had mature aged MCs.
In summary, this was a great book that had plenty of romance but also another suspenseful storyline. The ending was a nice way to wrap it up by letting me see where all of the couples ended up after 10 years. Definitely recommend for romance readers.

I'm a huge fan of the amnesia trope so when I saw it in the epilogue of the previous book, I had to get this one. There's just so much wrong with the book though the writing is brilliant and got me through the entire read.

The characters in the book constantly use "our men" and "our women" to address their partners and it got annoying pretty quick. I found it very patriarchal and the fact that it's just in my face made it worse. The adventure aspect was a constant from the previous book in the series, but this one felt too much of a far shot also lacking in romance.

Susan Stoker’s “The Lumberjack,” the concluding installment in her beloved series, delivers a satisfactory conclusion that longtime fans will appreciate. The relationship between Jack and April is a standout feature, providing a believable and heartfelt progression from their interactions in the previous books. Their chemistry and evolving bond are consistent with the foundation laid earlier, making their romance both compelling and genuine.

However, the book’s central conflict—threats to April and the other women—felt underwhelming. The danger presented by a single antagonist seemed insufficient, especially given the buildup throughout the series. This lack of a formidable threat diminished the tension and left the climax feeling flat.

The inclusion of the other teams, while a nod to the series’ expansive universe, came across as anticlimactic. The mobilization of twenty men to rescue the women from one individual felt like overkill. The overemphasis on their involvement diluted the story’s focus and left me questioning the necessity and purpose of such a large-scale response for a seemingly minor threat.

Despite these shortcomings, “The Lumberjack” provides a satisfactory conclusion to the series. The wrap-up of Jack and April’s storyline, along with the broader narrative arc, offers a sense of closure. However, the weak threat and its resolution left me wishing for a more robust and thrilling finale.

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

April and JJ are a perfect end to this series. The epilogue is a glance into everyone’s lives 10 years down the line and I couldn’t have asked for anything better. It can be a standalone but knowing the other couples adds so much to this story. After a bad car accident causes April to lose her memories of the last 5 years, JJ is certain that he won’t waste another moment with the woman he’s been pining over for years. JJ cares for her as she recovers and they begin dating along her road to a full recovery. But a threat from his past threatens the future for everyone.

Jackson/JJ and April

The couple we have been waiting for throughout the series. If you didn’t read the others, first, you should. The series is about 4 retired military friends, and their lives now that they live in Maine. They suffered great trauma, as POW’s, and each book is about one of the men. The leader of the group is JJ and this is his book. Warning- there may be spoilers if you haven’t read the series.

At the end of book 3 we learn that April has been in an accident, so this resumes with her right after that moment. April works with the guys, they own Jack’s Lumber, and she runs the office. They are all best of friends but one in particular, JJ, she has more than liked for years. They circle around each other day after day but have never crossed that line.

JJ has liked April for years but never thought he should act on it. He watches his 3 best friends, now all attached, and he is envious. He wants that life also but just don’t know how to go about being with April. He feels by working together and being such good friends that he will ruin something. That is until he is staring at her, in a hospital bed, and realization comes crashing down. No one is guaranteed tomorrow and as soon as she gets feeling better, he is determined to make her his.

As time passes, JJ and April feel like they are finally in a place where they can make a go at being in a relationship when old demons come back to haunt the men. A past threat is once again threatening them and this time their wives are included in that. They gather the troops and will stop at nothing to win this war.

Very entertaining! It is very difficult to put down once you start reading. I would read the whole series in order so you have better character development and story details. Loved the bond these 4 men have and hate to see it end. Loved the epilogue!

When The Lumberjack came up on Netgalley, I dropped all my other books and just dove in! I had to know what was happening between April and JJ.

And while this last part in the series starts of a little tame (in comparison to the other stories), Susan makes sure, you keep turning the pages. And of course, April and JJ can light up the room with all their sparks flying. And of course: all the other friends of JJ make an appearance as well. So all good and yummy!

Very sad to see the end of this series, but highly recommended. Especially when Susan made a crossover with the other series in the finale of the story.

Five out of five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.