What a great novel that captures you from the beginning, full of non stop drama, action, suspense and romance it makes you laugh and cry. The Hero is the third instalment of the Game of Chance series. I enjoy reading how Susan’s series connects the books with history and friendships/brotherhood. The women are independent and strong and the men are protectors but with a soft side. Kendrick and Marlowe connection and insta love was well written they are great easy to love characters, which made such a great story. I can’t wait for the final book of the series, we have waited for this love story for a while.

I would like to thank Montlake, NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this complimentary copy for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#TheHero #NetGalley

High stakes, touch her and find out, with a side of insta-love AND the cutest pet names ever? How could you go wrong.

When Kendric is off on a rescue mission, his connection to Marlowe is instant as he does practically everything he can to get her out of prison after being framed and back on American soil. Y’all — when they inevitably arrive back home his friends came through in such a huge way and had me deep in my feelings.

This book was non-stop action from the beginning up until the very end, after all, the action didn’t stop when he rescued her. It continued onward as Kendric continued to assist her in the fallout; her name and reputation still needed cleared and the people to blame brought to justice.

This book had me on the edge of my seat and their chemistry was wonderful and palpable.


Thank you to Netgalley and Susan Stoker for the eARC!

Outstanding action-adventure romance!

All my favorite things in one book! Insta-love, high stakes, road trip, touch-her-and-die, adorable nicknames, I absolutely adored this amazing book!

Kendric - Bob to his friends - is on another rescue mission, but this one is far from the usual. His connection with Marlowe was instant and palpable, and completely necessary to the success of the barely-planned rescue. Marlowe had no idea what to expect, but she was smart enough to be ready for anything, and that's just what Bob brought - anything and everything to get her out of that foreign prison and safely back on US soil. This was such a joy to read - everything about their long journey home just cemented their connection and showed how deep a love connection can be right from the start.

Only to get back to the States, Bob needs a little help from his friends, who come through for him and Marlowe in a huge way. Then there's still the matter of clearing her name and bringing justice to the one who set her up in the first place. All of this plays out in an intense, can't-put-the-book-down non-stop action sequence that kept me up all night until I was finally rewarded with their sweet, sweet HEA.

I absolutely raved about the earlier two books in this series, and they really are fantastic, but this one is my favorite of them all. There's just one more to go, and this book ends with an introduction to how JJ and April's story is going to start. I can't wait to read more about this fabulous set of friends! I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

This author can keep you on the edge of you seat no matter what she writes. This book was no exception! Marlowe is an archeologist, on a dig in Thailand. When she’s framed for selling drugs she’s tossed into prison. Kendrick aka Bob is the man sent to rescue her! The adventure begins!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

Kendric "Bob" Evans has been restless every since he and his buddies got out of the military. While being tortured and imprisoned as POWs they made a pact to stick together and build their own company. But living in a small town in Maine doing tree service work just isn't exciting enough. He needs something more challenging to keep the nightmares away so he secretly takes on rescue missions without letting the rest of the guys know. When he sees Marlowe's soulful, hopeless eyes across the prison fence he knows he'll risk anything to save her. And as they endure many challenges on their way across the border, he grows to love her bravery and spirit. Will he be able to let her go once they're back safe in American soil?
I love that this heroic man finally got his HEA. He's been the most tortured brother of the group with his PTSD throughout the series. He deserves a woman as strong and brave as Marlowe who's just as protective of him. The part in between where they get back to America and the final showdown was a bit slow and repetitive, but overall I liked this book.
Thanks to Montlake through Netgalley for the advance copy of this book. The opinions in this review are my own and given voluntarily.

Susan Stoker is a comfort read author that you can always count on for a good romance story. The Hero gives us ex-military, some thrill and suspense, and covert missions. Perfect book to pick up if you want something to keep you on the edge of your seat with a little heat.

The Hero is action-packed right from the start. Kendric is sent to break Marlowe out of an international prison where she is being held for a crime she didn't commit. These two have an instant connection that continues to build as they face challenge after harrowing challenge to make it back to the US.

Kendric and Marlowe realize that they are perfect for each other and go all in once they are home. There are some loose ends to tie up with the person who caused Marlowe to end up in prison. The third act conflict had me on the edge of my seat.

Susan Stoker does a phenomenal job of packing a lot of emotion and suspense into this story. This is book three in the Game of Chance Series and can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the first two books because they are amazing. I cannot wait for the fourth and final book.

The Hero is the third novel in Susan Stoker's Game of Chance series, and although I've read the first book in the series, The Protector, I haven't read the second one, probably because of its title, The Royal, since I'm not really a fan of novels about royalty, but Ms. Stoker was kind enough to give us enough backstory on that particular royal, and the previous title that I didn't experience any character confusion, and except for a few too many "I love you" exchanges, this was an excellent read and it gets 4.5 stars from this reader. My other issue is the series title, Games of Chance is misleading--these aren't games, lives are at stake in these novels, but the title doesn't really reflect their content.

This novel starts off like gangbusters with the heroine, Marlowe, an archaeologist, working on a dig in Thailand, who witnesses the theft of some recently unearthed rare and priceless coins by one of the newbies on the dig, Ian West. When she confronts Ian about his actions he promises to return the coins to the place they were found--a big mistake because the next day drugs are planted and found in Marlowe's tent, and she's hauled off to a horrid and abusive Thai prison for life. Thankfully, after spending a month in that awful prison, her well-connected brother arranges for her escape and rescue, and it's then we meet the the titular hero--Kendric Evans, aka Bob.

From that point on, their harrowing journey to get Marlowe safely out of Thailand and into Cambodia where Kendric's friend, the aforementioned royal, can help them return to the U.S. before Marlowe is caught and sent back to that prison as a fugitive. It's non-stop danger and non-stop action from that point on. Traveling at night on small side roads on a scooter, it's also the time for some insta-love, and at one safehouse along the way, it's where the two are forced to marry before they are allowed to spend the night together in a tiny hidey-hole, packed together into the tiny space under the floorboards like sardines.

I've always fallen in love with Susan Stoker's heroes--they're invariably smart, strong, brave, beyong capable, caring, and sexy, and Kendric is no different. It's not hard to understand why Marlowe falls in love with her rescuer, since I usually fall in love with Ms. Stoker's alpha heroes too, and I am looking forward to reading her upcoming novel, The Lumberjack, the fourth book in this series.

But this story doesn't end here with Marlowe's rescue. Once Kendric and Marlowe are safely back in the states, Marlowe wants retribution and justice for all she shuffered due to Ian West, and although Kendric is torn about Marlowe putting herself at risk, the plan is set in motion, but will it be successful? I'm not telling since I don't do spoilers, so you'll just have to read this exciting, sexy, danger-laden novel for yourself. In case you've not read the previous novels in this series, have no fear--it works just fine as a standalone, and I think you'll enjoy it every bit as much as I did.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions expressed are my own.

"The Hero" by Susan Stoker. Well, when reading a work by Ms. Stoker, one expects action, danger, suspense and love and "The Hero" was full of all of these things and more! I adored the main characters, Kendrick and Marlowe. They were thrown into a scary and dangerous situation that created an unbreakable bond. Ms. Stoker has a knack for writing tales that include lots of non-stop action that lasts throughout the entire read and this was not a disappointment. The story flows effortlessly, the characters develop and become more likable with each page and the writing style is one I enjoy. I recommend reading this book. Note - This is the third book in this series - I have read the first two, but I think it can easily be read as a stand alone. Thank you for NetGalley for the chance to read this story.

While this is the third book in the series, it can definitely be read as a standalone. But I do recommend you go back and read the other two books in the series as well because they are just as amazing as this one. Isn't every book by Susan Stoker incredible? I certainly think so! And this one was no exception.

The bond between Kendric and Marlowe was absolute gold from the moment they met and was just completely beautiful to read about. Marlowe started things off in a not so conventional way, and it was certainly unexpected in my book! Wrongfully locked in a prison and one in Thai no less. And Kendric was called in to come get her out. Yeah, I was all in right from the start. The way the relationship ignited and continued to unfold as the book went on was amazing. Every time I thought the action was slowing down, Susan Stoker would throw something else in there and it would feel like the heat was right back on full blast. It kept me on my toes and on the edge of my seat wondering what could possibly happen next.

Absolutely no one is surprised that I recommend you read this book. You definitely won't be sorry and I'm pretty sure you probably won't put it down until it's over. Or maybe that's just me. But you will be glad you read this one and I strongly encourage you to go back and read the rest of the books in the series and every other book by Susan Stoker that you can get your hands on!

As always Susan Stoker knocks it out of the park! I love the plot and how the hero is portrayed. I enjoyed the twist and turns of Kendric and Marlowe story. It’s so easy to read and read until you are all the way to the end!

Another winner by Susan Stoker! We have the heroine wrongly convicted and residing in a Thai prison. We have the hero, there to break her out. Following is the adventure and the romance. The author follows a formula, predictable, but enjoyable none-the-less. Add in the interplay among the hero’s teammates (and the women) and it’s a joy ride. I’m very much looking forward to the final book in the series.

I’d also add the comment that I appreciate that the author has a finite number of books in each of her series and includes an “epilogue” at the end of the final episode.

In my opinion, this is the best book of the three in the series so far! I loved Kendric and Marlowe together. It was full of action and never let up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for this ARC! 

3/5 ⭐️ 

Release Date: March 5th

📖: marriage of convenience, forced proximity, insta-love, ex-military, and dual POV

While on an archeological dig in Thailand, Marlowe was wrongly convicted and put in prison. Insert Kendrick, an ex-military man, to the rescue! The Hero is the third book in an interconnected, standalone series.

This was a fast-paced, action-packed romance. Marlowe has moxie. After everything she experiences in prison, she toughs out the long journey with Kendrick, aka Bob, without complaint. She seems fearless in her pursuit to get home safely and ensure those who help her come to no harm. It was an adjustment getting used to an MC named Bob, especially with being written in third person. However, he was very much a protective, cinnamon roll hero. Since these rescue missions are his side job, he is confident and eager to put others at ease. Experiencing past trauma of his own, he is vocal and transparent with Marlowe as she begins to struggle with her own. I am always a big fan of open communication!

The third book in this series has Kendric Evans Or “Bob” as the guys call him going on an op by himself. As most of the other teammates have all found someone and have settled down he has also felt restless even after they have just gotten back from a mission. Now heading towards Thailand to hopefully rescue Marlow Kennedy an archaeologist who is in prison for drugs even though it was one pill. Marlow is still trying to figure out how everything happened from the night catching someone in the dig to talking to someone and then being arrested and thrown into prison. Now meeting a man who said he was her lawyer but did not look like a lawyer she is totally confused when there is an explosion and she remembers what he said so she runs with the others. Surprisingly he grabs her and they make their way through the jungle working at escaping. Along the way, they meet many different people including one woman who marries them because she will not let them stay together otherwise. When they think they are free he becomes ill and she realizes that he has an infection from cuts he received. Remembering the phone number he told he she makes a call and after some time the guys come and rescue them, but the story is far from over. A very good book to go along with the others and one that will keep you going from start to finish.

This is the perfect book for those of us who love our romance with some action! This was really good. This should be your go to for romantic suspense. I loved Kendric and Marlowe together, although I hate the fake name "Bob". They really should have come up with something better. While the story is predictable, it's definitely a guilty pleasure and something fun to escape real life. This has steam, action, swoonworthy moments, and a love you won't forget.

Thank you to NetGalley, Susan Stoker and Montlake for the eARC of this book!

Once again Susan Stoker does it!! I have been a long time fan of her books and I was so excited to read the hero! Let me say it did not disappoint!! The characters, the plot, the writing overall made a great story!! I very much enjoyed the book and will be recommending it to others!

BOOK: The Hero
SERIES: Game of Chance #3 - it can be read as standalone
GENRE: romantic suspense
TROPES & THEMES: low-stakes suspense story, friends bonded as a family, ex-military, one bed, forced proximity, insta love, protective hero, damaged hero, falsely accused and jailed
HOTTIE METER: 🔥🔥
RATING: ⭐️⭐️.⭐️
RELEASE DATE: March 05, 2024

Directly after the Protector, I started on the Royal. Unfortunately, then I had to wait over six months for the next part in this series: the Hero!

But oh, it was worth the wait! Of course, I was already heavily crushing on Chappy, Cal, Bob and JJ. So, when the last pages of the Royal had already revealed that Bob (Kendric) would be sneaking of to a rescue mission, I knew this story would be about him.

And Susan has created yet another unique story for one of the POW men. And it is full of suspense, love and happiness (in the end of course). Aaaaand more sparks flying between April and JJ. So, now I’m sure that the next part will be about them! Susan has already revealed some clues, but I’m still very curious to their story. But first, of course, you need to read about the Hero!

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

The Hero by Susan Stoke is book 3 in The Game of Chance series. Meet Kendric "Bob" Evans...ex-military who is not quite ready to give up the adrenaline rush so he's working on covert missions. This time his heart just might get in the way when he has to pretend to be married to the archaeologist her must rescue. Will hearts get too involved? Read The Hero and find out for yourself!