I don't lie, as soon as I saw this pop up on Netgalley, I couldn't click faster. This is the third book in the Game of Chance series and I loved the first two books. One thing I love about Susan Stoker is how she can create the best book boyfriends. Kendric "Bob" Evans is secretly helping with rescue missions when he is called to help Marlowe get out of Thailand. In addition to the romance, where she does a great job of creating connections between the two main characters, she always adds some suspense to her stories. She has quickly become one of my favorite authors and I cannot wait for this one (and the Lumberjack) to come out!

I’m sorry but this is the definition of a guilty pleasure! WHY is the MMC called Bob? That is absolutely the least sexy rugged military hero name ever. And the fact that this is written in third person… so “Bob” is in every second sentence 😂 lord help me. Don’t get me started on “Punky”. Also, not Bob talking about all the other women he’s slept with right before and after they have sex for the first time.

Still though, stellar plot with lots of my favourite tropes, like instalove and caretaking and dominant male (who’s really a big teddy bear) saving the day. Very chaotic and unrealistic and all the more entertaining for it. I will continue to shame read Susan Stoker and you should too.

Thanks Montlake for the ARC!

I like that Susan Stoker's books offer little surprise - if you know her style, you know what you will read.

This is another book in her classical style of romantic suspense, featuring a young archeologist that is rescued by an ex military guy at her brother's efforts. Because of a co-worker, she is wrongly accused and imprisoned in Thailand and the book is the story her escape to her home country and the beautiful relationship she develops with the man she rescues her.

While the suspense is a great point of this book and this genre's fans will appreciate it, what stood out for me were the hero and heroine, such strong and resilient characters yet tender and honest, truly they were wonderful in love. Along with this, the book is very well written, the supporting cast is charming, overall it's a great read if these are coordinates that you look for in a book.

I got a copy of this in order to share my views on it.

This was everything I had hoped for and more 🥹😍

Kendric and Marlowe are so perfect for each other. I have no words. The way they bond in the crazy situation they’re in was so beautiful to watch. The ceremony though.. 🥹 Everything happens for a reason and they’re such a great example of that. Marlowe is such a badass even though she doesn’t think so which just makes her more lovable. And Kendric.. that man is what we all wish we could have. He’s so sweet and dependable but doesn’t sugar coat anything. I’m obsessed with these two.

This series has me in an absolute chokehold and after that ending, I’m DYING for JJ and April’s story!

*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review with my honest opinion.*

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Fast paced, lots of twists and turns. Susan Stoker knows her stuff. Kendrick is totally into working dangerous missions without his best friends knowing. It’s always went down smoothly, until it doesn’t and Marlowe has to literally safe his life. Great story in a wonderful Game of Chance world.

Thank you to Netgalley and Susan Stoker for an eArc of this book!

By now I know that if Susan Stoker writes it, I’m going to absolutely love it and this book was no different!

She has written a swoon worthy hero who comes to the rescue when Marlowe needs him! I love romance books with suspense and a bit of danger in them so this book was right up my street!

I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

This was a very addicting suspense romance. The characters were very well thought out and it was very well written. I could not put this book down!

That was a whirlwind of a romance and suspense! We start out in a women’s Thai prison and end up in a small town in Maine, and a whole lot of things happened in-between those two situations. Marlowe and Kendric connected right away, but they were in a whole lot of danger and on the run. The pace of the story kept things moving quickly, and you felt the urgency in their situation. They weren’t done once they were supposedly safe, as the threats were still out there. More danger before they can finally settle into the life they have been missing. Loved how this found family bonds together, how they support and are there for each other, and how much they feel and love

‘The Hero’ was my first Susan Stoker novel, I picked it out on a whim not realizing it was the third in a series, but I read it cover to cover nonetheless.
This book in one word would be, whirlwind.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced insta-love romance this is the book for you, Stoker wastes no time dropping you into the plot from page one. I’m a big fan of forced proximity and I personally would have liked to have seen some more build-up to the relationship between main characters, given the setting there was definitely time for some more sexual tension, banter and giving each other butterflies, but it was a good read! Overall light-hearted, and easy to digest despite touching on tougher subject matter, with interesting characters. I’m looking forward to going back to read the series from the beginning!

Susan Stoker is my go to for romantic suspense. I have been reading this series from the start, so I was super excited to read Kendric “Bob” Evans story!

This book was packed with adventure, suspense and danger. The first 1/4 of the book is entirely about Kendric & Marlowe simply trying to escape & survive. I loved the journey they went on together & how they both refused to leave the other behind - even though they had just met.

My favorite part of this series is definitely the found family between all the guys, so I loved when the rest of the boys finally showed up to help Kendric & Marlowe!

I also really loved how the guys & the wives embraced Marlowe right away. It gave me all the found family feels!

Read if you like:
-marriage of convenience
-he's sent to rescue her
-on the run / suspense
-found family

This is book three in Susan Stokers Game of Chance Series. It follows Kendrick "Bob" Evans and Marlowe. We pick up not long after book two left off with Kendrick's assignment revealed. (Note: This is a solid stand alone but I would recommend reading the other books in the series simply because they are worth the read). We open the book with Marlowe in prison in Thailand, she has been there for about a month and since there is a language barrier she is losing hope that her brother can get her out, she is even a bit unsure if he knows where she is. She is summoned to the visiting room where she meets Kendrick, he is introduced as her attorney. They don't get much time to talk but before she is escorted away he tell her to hang in there and when the time comes she should be like Forrest Gump. What happens next is a crazy jailbreak, an escape across two countries, and a bond between two people that forms from their forced proximity.

This book does what Susan Stoker does best, shows how her Alpha protectors will go to any lengths to protect the women they love. Susan has created a strong FMC in Marlowe, who despite adversity, rises to the occasion to save her Alpha man right back when necessary. You also have the added benefit of the found family that Kendrick has with Chappy, Cal, and JJ and how the bond of brothers is stronger than any secret that is ultimately revealed. I love Susan Stoker, I have read each and every one of her books and I am never disappointed and this one is no exception. While the description of the book doesn't reveal much, the story plays out in a way that will add this one to my reread list for sure.

This book gets one of my rare 5 start ratings.

Another great story in this series which can be read as a stand-alone. What more can you ask for, action, danger, suspense and of course romance.
The adventures begin in the bowels of a Thailand prison, Marlowe is rescued by Kendric and they continue their journey together on the run, through Thailand, Cambodia and on into his small home town in American.
Their trials to avoid discovery results in a marriage and almost death as Kendric suffers from his wounds. Marlowe becomes a hero in her own right as she contacts his friends to get them home. Then they work together to capture the man who had her framed for drug selling in Thailand and to clear her name so they can have a future together.
Looking forward to reading April and JJ’s story.

This is a Romantic Suspense, and this is the third book in the Game of Chance series. I have not read the first two books in this series before picking up this book, but I think you can read this book as a standalone without any problems. I will go back and read the first two books in this series. I was so happy Tex is in this series too because I have read many of Susan Stoker's other book series that have Tex in them. I love Tex's character so much. His character just shows up by phone calls and characters talking about what he said. I love all the action and suspense in this book, and the romance was cute and sweet. I loved it so much. I also love the characters so much. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

I am completely blown away by how much I enjoyed this book. I have had several Susan Stoker books on my kindle for years that have gone unread. Now I can’t wait to go back and read the other books in the series.
Marlowe and Kendric had the most unconventional not-so cute meet cute. Right from the start, they were amazing characters both full of strength and determination and both knowing they had found the one. The spark was immediate and their connection and chemistry palpable. You cheered when things went well for them because the author threw obstacles at them. From the prison break to the royal plane ride home, our couples fought through challenges, but you never felt like their relationship was forced. It was beautiful to watch their love bloom even when sleeping under the floor or crossing a gross canal. Their love strengthened with each obstacle overcame.
I loved the first part of the book which I call out of Thailand but about midway, we got something more from the book. We got all the feels. When Marlowe took a chance to reach out to Kendric’s friends to get him home the feels started and didn’t let up until they were back stateside.
No longer will I let book by Susan Stoker sit on kindle unread. This is the third book in this series, and you get a chance to get a brief synopsis of the other stories. The brief synopsis made me want to read those books very much. I absolutely loved this book. It has been a while since I read a book where everything can together to create a book that kept you turning the pages and reluctant to set the book down.
Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for the opportunity to read this ARC.

What more could you possibly want from a book?

The premise of the book it’s something that I have yet to find in any other romance book.
I absolutely loved the chemistry behind these characters and ever interaction left me wanting more.

The characters were very well rounded, the thrill of the book kept me on the edge of my seat. I quite literally devoured this book in one sitting’.

This story was quite fast paced which sometimes makes it hard to immerse myself in the world, but in this instance it played out perfectly.

Loved this read, definitely recommending to all my friends and family!

I loved how this starts out right in the action. It made for a fast paced read and I was enthralled with their journey. Marlowe was such a strong heroine. I loved how she handled every situation and she was easy to love. Bob aka Kendric was also very easy to love. His protectiveness from the very start is what I love to see in Heroes! This was a fun read and I can't wait to get April and JJ's book!

Action and adventure, an escape from a Thai prison, corruption, greed, betrayal, and trusting one stranger through it all. Yea, a bit of steam brewing that rapidly escalates along with the intrigue. A fun romantic action adventure!

This story will capture your attention right away!
As in the very first few pages.
We meet Marlowe in prison for a crime she didn’t commit in a country she doesn’t know how to speak the language. A few more pages later we meet Kendrick who is claiming to be her lawyer. Of course we already know who he is from the previous stories.
Kendrick is a bad a who knows how to get things into motion. He helps Marlowe escape from prison and then over an action packed part of the book arrive back in the US.

I greatly enjoyed this one!
Definitely in my top 10 by this author - maybe top 5.
**I made the mistake of reading chapter 1 of the next story and now I can hardly wait: I just know that’s going to be a good one!

I need to read the other books in this series because this story was fast paced and the characters were really interesting. I liked how they were both so much more than just a couple. They had personalities. Well done! Thanks to NetGalley for the AArC.

The Hero kicks off with our archaeologist Heroine Marlowe, stuck in a Thai prison sweatshop wrongly locked up regarding drugs. Kendric “Bob” Evans has been hiding his “extracurricular” contract missions for the FBI from his buddies. When he’s enlisted to help get Marlowe out of her prison and back to the US, they run into a few snags.

I’m always a sucker for Stoker’s books and the Game of Chance series has been no different. I really enjoyed the time that Marlowe and Kendric have together to get to know each other and form a relationship prior to their return to the US. Game of Chance has really focused on some faster relationship developments but also allowing our main characters time to get to know each other by themselves. This story was super fast paced and had plenty of action. I enjoyed seeing more of Kendric and learning more about how he’s dealt with life post his POW time since he’s seemed to have a different experience adapting compared to Chappy and Cal in the previous books.

I’m excited as ever to get to the final book in the Game of Chance series!