Oh wow, I want me a Kendric! I’ve loved every one of Susan’s heroes however, there is just something about “Bob” that resonates with me, and I call dibs.
From the very start he’s supportive, and invested in Marlowe, and willing to do anything to keep her safe. I loved their simple ceremony, and when Marlowe stepped up to get them to safety. A bit of a different formula to this book makes for an intense and a times edge of your seat read.
The story has shades of the film “Bangkok Hilton”, and having seen that it helped with visualising Marlowe’s situation.

This is the fourth book in this wonderful series about four delta brothers captured and tortured while in the military They were rescued and decided by a game of chance to settle in Newton Maine where they work felling trees and maintaining and guiding on a strip of the Appalachian Trail. This is the third book in the series and is Kendric “Bob” Evans unlike his brothers he hasn't settled so well in Maine he misses the adrenaline rush of service and hasn't slept a full night since their rescue due to nightmares. To give him the rush he needs he has been doing covert rescue ops for the FBI of Americans who have got themselves into trouble all while keeping it a secret. His latest mission is to rescue archeologist Marlowe Kennedy from a Thai Jail where she is been held for drug possession and sales but it doesn't add up. Soon they are running for their lives but even when they make it back to Maine the danger doesn't let up but now Kendric has realised just how important she is to him and he will do whatever he needs to keep her safe with the help of his team. This is a fast paced read that keeps you enthralled until the last page.

As a former POW, Kendric “Bob” Evans (like the restaurant) and his team retired from military life and moved to Maine to find some peace, but life in the quiet lane is “too quiet” for Bob. Unbeknownst to his friends Bob occasionally does some side work to stay active. When he hears about Marlowe being falsely imprisoned overseas Bob knows he can help her like no one else can. Unfortunately this rescue is not easy for Bob or Marlowe. This is an action packed, insta romance, marriage of convenience with a strong male and female lead. To tell the truth (even though I’m probably dating myself) throughout the book I kept humming Bonnie Tyler’s song “Holding out for a Hero” playing in the background. Bob is the “white knight” that we all need, strong but gentle. But Marlowe is no waifish miss. She’s smart, resourceful and dedicated. This is book three in the series with many overlapping characters for those familiar with the author. You do not need to read the previous books in the series to enjoy this one, although I highly recommend that you do. It’s a quick, suspenseful romance with great characters. My only complaint is the ending seems a bit rushed but still a great read. 4.5 stars. Thank you to Montlake publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. Al thoughts are my own.

4 rescuing stars ★

Being thrown in a Thailand jail for something she didn't do, wasn't in Marlowe Kennedy's plans when she started working in the archeological dig. Her goal was to discover and safeguard the patrimony of the country. However, someone framed her as a drug dealer and she was sent to prison without a chance to defend herself, being made an example for all foreigners traveling in the country. With no one to turn to, Marlowe is just passing the days as she suffers the brutality of her imprisonment.

Kendrick “Bob” Evans has been missing the adrenaline rush his spec ops missions gave him, that's why he started doing solo missions rescuing American citizens overseas when they find themselves in trouble. Working alongside the FBI, Bob travels to other countries without his friends' knowledge. He’s not ready to settle down like them, not ready to be content with the work they do back in Maine. Little does he know how this mission is going to change everything for him.

Thrown in close proximity, fighting for their lives and freedom, forges a bond between Kendrick and Marlowe that turns into something more than just partnership. After escaping barely with their lives, Bob and Marlowe have to readjust to their new life in Maine: Bob has to face the music for lying to his friends since their return to the States after their last mission and Marlowe has to come to terms with everything that happened to her. Furthermore, after an impromptu marriage, Bob and Marlowe have to figure how to turn a fake marriage into something real, relying on their feelings for eachother and, simply, how to make it work getting to know each other.

However, in order to heal and come to terms with everything that has happened to her, Marlowe wants the person responsible for her being wrongfully incarcerated pay for what happened to her. For this to happen she has to put herself in the crosshairs of an unscrupulous man, someone who was friendly at first and then stab her in the back (figuratebly). She’ll need the help of not only Bob but also his friends to get the culprit to admit once and for all what he did.

From the beginning of the story, the reader is thrown into a rollercoaster of adrenaline (during their odyssey in escaping Thailand), romance and stormy feelings for the characters but, no matter what, you’ll be rooting for them to figure things out and for the culprit to be caught. This is what I personally love about Mrs. Stoker’s books: you have a well written story that keeps you on the edge of your seat and, furthermore, the characters stop being just words on a page: you’ll root for them to get everything sorted out and for good to overcome evil.. Can’t wait for JJ and April’s story and to see more of the other characters as we reach the end of the series.

***Disclaimer: I’ve applied and received this book as an ARC via NetGalley and this is my honest review***

4.25⭐

The Hero brings Kendrick 'Bob' Evans and Marlowe Kennedy together for a wild ride of a story.

That sees Marlowe wrongly imprisoned on drug trafficking charges in Thailand, and after a month of hell. She's given up all hope of ever seeing her brother Tony and the United States again.

But that all changes when she receives a visit from 'Bob' who claims to be her lawyer and tries desperately to impart some information to her.

Yet, all he manages to get her to understand is to be like Forest Gump and run.

Which later becomes obvious. When a truck is run into the prison allowing Marlowe and hundreds of others to escape.
And Bob soon catches up with her and explains his plan to get her back home.

But the journey is a perilous one and the Thai authorities are always close behind.

So the pair end up marrying in order to hide in plain sight and make their way to a safer country.

But is there really such a thing?

And can they trust the people they need to rely on in order to get them to the airport and safely on a plane?

And with twists, danger and an insta-love romance. The Hero was a really enjoyable read. That I would happily recommend to others.

My thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of The Hero. 😊

There was no shortage of action in this book! Fast-paced and compelling, The Hero is perfect for fans of military romances, and Extraction type romances.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for allowing me an Advanced Reading Copy in exchange for my honest review. This book is to be published tomorrow (3/5/2024)!

Make sure to pick this up if you love: insta-love trope, forced proximity, marriage of convenience, alpha male vibes - balanced with total simp vibes, and books with plenty of action alongside romance.

I rated this three stars only because I don't truly enjoy insta-love tropes when it comes to marriage of convenience. Also, I didn't love the usage of Bob as the name of the male lead, but that's just personal preference. This book is impeccably written and I'm sure if the tropes mentioned fit your tastes, you will love this book :)

This is book three in The Game of Chance series and it is Kendrick ( Bob ) and Marlowe’s story and omg it is definitely a must read. Marlowe was on a archaeological dig in Thailand when she was accused trafficking drugs and even though she knew who set her up no body listened to her and she was thrown in a Thai jail which was not only awful but overwhelming and then her brother sent someone to help her and even though she didn’t think that she would ever get out something happened that gave her at least a little bit of hope. Kendrick lives in Maine but as a ex delta force operative for the US Army he now helps rescue people from overseas and brings them home but he knows that getting Marlowe out of jail and Thailand will not be easy but after seeing her he was concerned about how frail and thin she was especially because her brother had done everything possible to get her out but couldn’t so now it was down to Kendrick to not only get her out but also make sure that she was safe even though he knew it would be the biggest challenge of his life. When Marlowe eventually managed to get out Kendrick was there to help her but there escape had so many challenges and danger and also Marlowe will eventually have to find a way to clear her name so that she wasn’t constantly looking over her shoulder and take the person down who stole from the digs and framed her before she will be able too move forward and live her life and be safe and happy. Wow I absolutely loved this action packed book and I couldn’t put it down because I wanted to see what would happen next and what the outcome would be in the end and it was so addictive. This group of friends are really special and they have all gone through so much but they always have each others backs regardless of what happens or the situation that they find themselves in they will do everything necessary to protect each other. I definitely recommend you read this book and others by Susan Stoker who is a amazing author and writer and her books are definitely worth reading and I can’t wait to read the next book in this amazing series.

The Hero from the Game of Chance series by Susan Stoker is an exciting marriage of convenience, close proximity, insta-love vibes romance book.

Kendric "Bob" Evans, a former military special ops agent, and Marlowe Kennedy meet when he is sent to extract her from a Thai prison for being wrongly accused of planting drugs. When Bob successfully breaks into the prison and directs Marlowe into fleeing the country, they evade police officers and even get married.

Bob's strength and vulnerability, paired with Marlowe's independence and resilience, create a dynamic and compelling duo. The chemistry between them is undeniable, adding an extra layer of excitement to the story. I loved the deep trust they had for each other, even at such an early part of the book just due to the nature of their circumstances.

I rated this a 3-star.mainly because of the first half of the book. Thailand is one of my favorite countries and I had a really hard time imagining the horrors that Marlowe went through at the hands of her prison guards. I absolutely loved books 1 and 2 (5-star reads for me) and this doesn't deter me from jumping on book 4 at all.

While the book had its ups and downs, the overall experience was engaging and satisfying. If you enjoy military romance with a mix of action and emotion, The Hero is a must-read. Dive into Bob and Marlowe's world today!

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for an ARC copy of this book for my honest opinion.

What a page turner! I really didn't want to put this one down. The author paints such vivid pictures that I felt like I was on the same journey as Marlowe and Kendric. I felt so invested in their escape. They were thrown into an extremely stressful escape and their connection was built quickly. I love the bonds between this group of friends and how much they are an integral part of the story. You can read the story on it's own, but I think you'll want to read the others too. I'm already ready for the last book in the series, I can hardly wait. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

The “Game of Chance” warriors, survivors of enemy captivity, are slowly finding their normal in the civilian life, vanquishing one demon at a time, building relationships and finding love along the way.

Kendrick Evans, aka Bob to his mates, still strives to face danger, gets his adrenaline rush by going on rescue missions without his team watching his six. One such mission is to rescue archeologist, Marlowe Kennedy imprisoned in Thailand on false charges of drug trafficking.

A simple archeological dig turns into a nightmare for Marlow Kennedy, when she’s betrayed by an associate and imprisoned in the walls of Thailand. With her brother pulling strings, her only hope now is “The Hero”, aka Bob, who is tasked with rescuing her.

The rescue mission to break Marlowe out of prison may be a success, but the road home is filled with frightening bumps and painful suffering. Hoping to make the escape easy, Marlowe and Kendric end up as husband and wife and as things come to a head, his teammates come through with a royal intervention, making their entry into homeland less of an ordeal.

Two courageous souls, bound by circumstances, and fated to be together, have one final demon to vanquish to cement their future.
Susan Stoker brings another heartwarming and courageous story of two wonderful people meant to be together.

Thank you NetGalley, Susan Stoker, and Montlake Publishing for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I LOVED this book. I am a huge sucker for romance books and series. As I was reading this book, I realized I need to go back and read book 1 and 2! If you enjoy romance series, you will like this book! Lots of action but still filled with lots of love. Excited to read the rest of the Game of Chance books and others by Susan Stoker

This might sound a bit sappy, but I cried so much during this book. I thought I was cried out after the last book in this series. The injustice, the escape, the injuries and the story itself just got to me. I have no doubt what happens in this story is typical and that we never see the end game. Susan knows how to pull out all of the stops with non-stop action and witty banter. I love these guys and girls. Amazing.

JJ and April’s book is next and with the little preview, whew!!! I don’t know if there is a book with Tex as the main character, but I think he needs one if not.

(4.5)Game of Chance series is my favorite! I recommend reading in order. This is book 3. Kendric (Bob) (ex military)and Marlowe (anthropologist). We are captured (no pun intended) from the beginning. Fast paced, action, hold your breath moments. Action continues, we get a little steam, some heart warming as well as heart wrenching moments and we make it back to the states. I get the self doubt, and I appreciate that it is not carried on through out. Each time they wonder they speak up. WIN! Just like adults do or should do in the real world. I loved seeing the gang together and I really like the tenacity and strength of Marlowe. Kendric pushed all the right buttons for me. Thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you for the arc! I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions. #TheHero #GameofChance #SusanStoker #Montlake #NetGalley

Bob is t ready to give up the adventures, but this might just be his last one, Marlow is in so far over her head she doesn’t know how to get out, but here brother sends Bob to help. While the risks are great if they work together they just might get home again.

This was a really quick read for me because the book was pretty faced paced and captivating

Several scenes made me swoon for Bob, he felt like the perfect balance of alpha male and a total simp

Tropes: one bed, forced proximity, marriage of convenience, insta love, hurt and you’ll die 💕


Thank you to Netgalley and Susan Stoker for the eARC!

Book 3 of the "Game of Chance" series follows Kendrick "Bob" Evans as he goes to do a prison break in Thailand. He's not in the military anymore, but hasn't settled down to civilian life the same way his friends have. So he does side jobs rescuing people. This time it's Marlowe, who was set up with drugs in Thailand and thrown in jail for life. She's been there for a month and pretty much figures she's going to die there when suddenly everything changes.

The book starts strong and fast with a prison break and escape across Thailand, so things are intense and Marlowe and Kendrick bond pretty fast. They're good together, Kendrick is impressed at how well Marlowe accepts whatever gets thrown at her and doesn't freak out. When he gets hurt, she steps up and saves them both. Things slowed down a lot once they got back to the States, and I wish there had been a way to keep the higher level intensity the book started with. Although considering it started pretty high, I'm not sure that was possible. The downside to an instalove book gets highlighted here, which is that once things slow down you get a lot of "does he/she really want me?" variations. The second-guessing of how well things were going between them got a bit old for me. The plot did pick up at the end when we got Marlowe in a jam again.

Overall this wasn't my favorite of the series, but still worth reading. The pacing was a bit off and while I quite enjoyed the characters, I still didn't connect with them as much as I wanted to. You don't need to have read the other books in the series to read this one, although I do recommend them.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Suspenseful with a globetrotting hero named Bob...

Bob is out of the military but can't quit it. He still is freelancing.
Marlowe is accused of a serious crime and she and Bob need to fake it as a married couple to suss out the culprit.
Action packed with plenty of drama.
Recommend.

The Hero is the third book in Susan Stoker’s amazing romantic suspense series called Game of Chance. The story has amazing, well developed characters, intense chemistry and a fantastic storyline that is written from the third person point of view of the hero and heroine.

Former Marine Kendric “Bob” Evans has been sent to Thailand to rescue archaeologist Marlowe Kennedy, after she was framed and arrested for drug trafficking. Her escape and their journey out of the country is filled with peril and only the fact that they travel as husband and wife are they able to evade capture. Despite safely arriving in Maine, Marlowe can’t start over without clearing her name and finding out who frame. Together with Kendric and her new found friends, they work together to catch the culprit. But will they be able to save Marlowe when she’s taken? Read it and find out.

Stoker did a phenomenal job of combining the elements of suspense, drama and romance in order to keep the reader hanging on and on the edge of their seats of this beautiful story of trust, love and perseverance. The chemistry between Kendric and Marlow was evident from the start, but it was the trust and deeply emotional bond between them that made them my favourite couple in the series so far. I love the men of Jack’s Lumber and I can’t wait to read JJ and April’s story.

This arc was kindly provided by Montlake, through Netgalley. Everything said in this review is my honest opinion.

3⭐️ Marlow is wrongfully imprisoned in Thailand and Kendric saves her out of a prison, and takes her on this journey to the border and back to America. On this journey they get ✨married✨ and fall in love with each other.

I found that there was lots of insta-love in this book, and didn’t think it was very realistic. When they got back to America, they moved rather fast and I didn’t feel any real connection between them. Honestly they should have gotten to know each other better.
The friends were really great! Loved the sort of found family aspect of this.

Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend to someone who wants a short-ish romance with a rescue mission and protective mmc!

This is a series that keeps getting better with each book. I have been wanting to know “Bob’s” story since he was first introduced, and this was great. I loved the connection between him and Marlowe. Thus had action, romance, heat, and heart. The perfect afternoon read!