4.25stars-THE LUMBERJACK is the fourth and final instalment in Susan Stoker’s contemporary, adult GAME OF CHANCE romantic suspense series focusing on a group of former US Special Forces soldiers and former POWs (Callum ‘Cal’ Redman, Kendrick ‘Bob’ Evans, Jackson ‘JJ’ Justice, Riggs ‘Chappy’ Chapman) who own and operate a tree service, search and rescue, Appalachian Trail maintenance company called Jack’s Lumber. This is thirty-nine year old Jackson ‘JJ’ Justice, and forty-six year old, office manager April Hoffman’s story line. THE LUMBERJACK can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. There is a slight cross-over using a number of characters from several of Susan Stoker’s interconnected series.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Jack and April) THE LUMBERJACK follows in the aftermath of a car accident that sent our heroine to the hospital. Struggling with severe headaches and the after affects of the accident, April temporarily moves in with her boss Jackson Justice, the man with whom April will fall in love but someone is taking aim at the close knit group of former US Special Forces soldiers, and the women they love will pay the price. What ensues is the building relationship between Jack and April, and the potential fall-out as the women fall victim to a man demanding revenge for sins of the past.

The world building follows several paths including the building relationship between our story line couple. Jackson Justice has lusted after April Hoffman for as long as he can remember but Jack’s attitude often left April confused, and in this, April is willing to walk away to allow Jack to reconsider his choices going forward but the past is about to take aim at the women involved with Jackson and his friends, threatening the lives of everyone, a threat meant to kill them all.

The relationship between Jack and April is a friends to lovers in which Jack declares himself guardian and protector of our story line heroine. An accident that may have been anything but finds Jack declaring his love for the woman in his life, a woman who will pay the price for another man’s sins. The $ex scenes are intimate and provocative without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

There is a large ensemble cast of fantastic and familiar secondary and supporting characters including all of the previous story line couples, as well as several search and rescue members, former soldiers, and assassins from the author’s interconnected series.

THE LUMBERJACK is a story of obsession, vengeance and madness, family and friendships, relationships and love. The premise is dramatic, edgy and emotional; the romance is seductive; the characters are desperate, dynamic and professional.


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Thank you for letting me read this book.

I've spend a really nice time with this novel.

It was a pleasure to read this story.

Immediately I was drawn into this story. Starts off with a bang. Just when you think it is going to go one way, it goes another. This is my favorite in the series. April and JJ have a few obstacles to overcome, but so worth it in the end!

The Lumberjack (Game of chance series book 4) by Susan Stoker is a 4 ⭐️ read.
I’ve been waiting on this book for what feels like forever, I love how the author builds up to the last book throughout the series, you knew April and JJ were going to be great together right from the start.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book through Netgalley.

Not really my type of book. Not really about a lumberjack. I’m not sure that I liked the characters much, or that it just wasn’t my type of book, should have been, maybe just too much detail about the sex ( showing my age).

This series end is JJ and April's story. It took an accident and amnesia for JJ to come to his senses, he and April were destined to be together.
These two reminded me of Wolf and Ice from a previous series. Both leaders in their friendship groups, both surrogate uncles and aunties to their friends kids and both the glue that holds them all together.
An enemy brings danger to their doorstep. Will they all come out of this alive. An exciting end to this story and it's series. I highly recommend diving into this author's work.

This is the fourth and final book in what has been an absolutely superb series It was a game of chance when four teammates were taken prisoner that led to them starting a lumberjack business in Maine and shortly afterwards April joined their business as a receptionist but she was so much more helping them, to grow the business All this time Jackson “JJ” Justice the mn that ked he team has been pining after her but he knows he isn't good enough for her. What none of them know is that there past is about to catch up with them and it has bput all the women they love especially April in the firing line. JJ will finally have to man up and admit how he feels and it will take the entire team to keep everyone safe. The ising on the cake is the epilogue at the end that tells us the future of the team

This was an exciting, suspenseful, steamy, and romantic story; I enjoyed every page. I was beyond happy to finally see Jack and April get together. I adored Jack. The way he took care of April was so sweet. I really liked how strong April was under pressure and duress. I loved the epilogue, as we got a peek into the future and got to see all of the guys with their families. This book was the perfect ending to an amazing series and group of characters!

In this final book in this series about the men of Jack’s Lumber, Jack aka JJ finally gets his HEA with their office manager April. It’s about time! These two have been tiptoeing around each other forever.

The last book, The Hero, ended with April having a car accident. You don’t have to read the previous books to enjoy this one, but for those who have read them, this story picks up a few days later. April had a head injury so has some temporary (they hope!) short-term memory loss. Although she doesn’t remember any of her current friends, she cannot deny that they all give her a sense of belonging, peace, and safety. Especially Jack.

Jack is beside himself. He is angry he kept himself back from April for the last 5 years, that became quite clear when she got in her accident and he realized he could lose her. He’s done with running from his feelings and is now all in, he just hopes she is, too.

In the previous stories, each couple met amidst danger. Jack and April think her accident was just a fluke, and it was in a way. Yet there is still danger lurking. Not just for them but for their whole group of friends. April, June, Marlowe, and Carlise all get taken captive by a deranged young man who wants vengeance for his brother’s death. Jack, Cal, Bob, and Chappy are in a race for their lives to find and save their partners.

Something that I loved about this book was the cameos. The author brought together so many of her past heroes from other series to save these women. Again, if you haven’t read any of the previous books it won’t matter. But it was fun recognizing many of the names. Not only are these men a huge help with resources, wit, and muscle, but the women are also integral in saving themselves.

I loved reading about the different friendships and bonds this group has. The chemistry wasn’t off the charts, but it was there. The epilogue was a sweet ending to the overall series.

I loved getting to see April and JJ get their happily ever after. The Lumberjack is the final installment in Susan Stoker's Game of Chance series.
JJ and April have been dancing around the attraction but when April has an accident that could have been much worse, bot April and JJ know it is time to take the plunge. I love that the comfort they had with each other translated into their budding romance. The love was always there but now the are building on that trust. The are trusting each other with their hearts and it was seamless and real. Now if only the oast will allow them a future.

Always enjoy Susan Stoker's books. Definitely a comfort/distraction read author for me! Loved the relationship between the characters and the reverse age gap (is that the right word?) aspect. I've enjoyed finding more books lately where the characters are closer to my own age than in their early/mid twenties.

Jack's Lumber is about to pull off its last HEA!

So far April and JJ have been fighting the mutual attraction between them. They can spout all the reasons why they haven't crossed the line: he's her boss, she's slightly older, they don't want to lose their friendship/working relationship. But it all comes down to each of them just being too fearful of losing each other.

But someone has it in for JJ and the crew and they've decided to add on some fear by attacking their partners. Considering the other 3 partners are all in various stages of pregnancy, the devastation would be total for them!

They may move somewhat quickly into the relationship phase but let's face it- these two have been stuck for years, all that passion has to come out sometime and JJ and April own that passion. Their chemistry is intense and JJ is one determined male. April is no shy, retiring flower - she has decided what she wants and she is determined to grab her future with both hands!

I cannot tell you how many cameos there are in the big finale! I swear just about every series of Susan's has someone popping in to help! I loved that - the epilogue was also great as it shows that you don't need to have kids to be happy - not every couple needs to end up married or pregnant.

I will not lie, the little scene with Baxter at the end made me tear up and I really hope we haven't seen the last of Jack's Lumber - here's hoping they can lend a hand in the future!

Sweet end to the series…

This series was about four brothers in arms who re-united to face their past trauma and uncertain future, together. It was about finding a future after thinking it may never come. About opening yourself up to possibilities.

On the surface, April and JJ didn’t seem to have a lot in common but their chemistry was not to be denied. An almost tragedy forced them both to dig deep and realize what – and who – was more important than anything else. If some of the dialogue and inner thoughts were a bit too fromage-y for me, I let it to go to enjoy the parts that stood out for me including…

Their courtship. Years of friendship set the stage for honest conversations, heartfelt revelations and a love that couldn’t be denied…

★★☆*•.¸★☆★ OUT NOW★☆★¸.•*´☆★★ LIVE

The Lumberjack by Susan Stoker
#4 Game of Chance

New York Times bestselling author Susan Stoker wraps up her steamy Game of Chance series with an explosive novel about an ex-soldier fighting to save the woman he loves—even if she can’t remember him.

A game of chance during a horrific POW experience decided the future for Jackson “JJ” Justice and his teammates. Years later, they’re well settled into their lumberjack business in small-town Maine. And for nearly as long, JJ’s been pining for April, the woman largely responsible for growing their business, but insecurities keep him at arm’s length from the sexy receptionist.

April Hoffman loves her job…and her boss. She’s unsure where JJ’s head is at, but for her part, she knows exactly why she’s not revealed her feelings. Not only does she have one failed relationship under her belt, she’s also several years older than JJ. Why would a man so brutally hot settle for someone almost past her prime?

After a car accident nearly takes April’s life, leaving her with temporary amnesia, they both understand what they almost lost. The floodgates are open, their feelings exposed…but it may be too little, too late.

An enemy from JJ’s past has come calling, putting not only his future happiness on the line, but the lives of several people he holds dear—starting with April.

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REVIEW

The Lumberjack is the perfect ending for The Game of Chance series.
I thought I would feel a little melancholy at the ending of this book, this series by Susan Stoker it’s one of my favorites, instead to my great surprise I enjoyed so much this story, that I couldn’t have imagined any better.
By the end of the third book things between JJ and April were stuck and I couldn't think how they could easily find a way to each other. For several reasons they are the characters that intrigued me the most, perhaps also because of their ages and backgrounds, and everything seemed so complicated, but I loved their new beginning.
Another thing I really liked was the presence of a strong villain and the space he was given, how well his plan was concocted, hitting Jack and the others at the time in their lives when they are most vulnerable.
This time the guys encountered difficulties that made them more humans, they accepted help from the outside as well, from characters we saw in other series by this author.
April was an outstanding protagonist, strong, charismatic and essential in this story.
Yes, definitely a great book, thanks also to an amazing epilogue dedicated to all the couples of this series.

RATING: 5/5 ★★★★★
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An absolutely amazing end to this series and the perfect story for Jackson “JJ” Justice and April Hoffman. JJ and April have “danced around” each other as they work together at Jack’s Lumber. April is in charge of the office and is an indispensable member of the team made of JJ, Callum “Cal” Redmon, Riggs “Chappy” Chapman and Kendric “Bob” Evans. Perhaps that is why JJ has kept his feelings for Alice to himself so as not to affect their working relationship. That all ends when he learns that Alice was injured in a car accident. The four men have been through unimaginable torture during their military service, with memories they prefer to forget. JJ realizes that life is short and to think Alice could have been taken away from him has him finally revealing his feelings for her. JJ and the team never thought that after all this time the past would come back to haunt them by targeting the women they love. They haven’t survived what they did to give up and with the aid of some very unique friends will they be able to neutralize the threat and save the women they love? Loved the bonus epilogue! I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

This book didn't stop from page one, a thrilling romance of recognizing what is right in front of you and how a single moment can change your life. I was instantly hooked into the wonderful relationship between April and Jack, from falling in love (again) and fighting for their found family. This is a group of characters you can't help but be obsessed with, their love for the women in their lives and the game of chance that brought them all together. If you love suspense and high stakes action along with your romance this will provide the edge of your seat excitement to keep you wanting more. I went in almost blind to the story and enjoyed every second, you won't regret reading!

This is the book in this series I’ve been waiting for—the story between April and JJ. April gets into a wreck, and gets temporary amnesia. This prompts JJ to act on the feelings he has had for years. Honestly, this was not my favorite story of the series. Maybe is out too many expectations on it, but it just didn’t grab me like the others had. I would still recommend reading it if you’re a fan of the series, but it just wasn’t my favorite.

3.5 stars

The Lumberjack is the final installment of the Game of Chance series and with the build up from the first few books in the series I couldn't wait for April and Jackson "JJ" Justice's story!

I couldn't believe the twist in this book! It was not what I was expecting at all! I couldn't put the book down!

One of my favorite parts of the book were all the Easter eggs/references to the author's other series. I loved seeing the crossover!

Overall, I enjoyed the book, but there were a few scenes that felt a little repetitive. The first half of the story felt a little slower than the second half, but I think it all came together in the end.

3.5 stars!
I was lucky enough to read this as an ARC. I highly recommend reading the other books in the series before this book. While it can be a stand alone, it really helps to know the previous characters/information.
This book does have a slow beginning which was a little difficult for me. However, once you get passed it, the story was a wild ride. It truly shows what a man would do for his partner, especially when there is danger involved.

What a great end to this series! You can enjoy the book without reading the others in the series, but it is so much better if you have. Since I have read the other books, I was rooting for JJ and April to get over themselves and act on their feelings. I was invested in their relationship from the first page. The story moved quickly and the suspense kept building with each page. I really liked that all the characters played a role in this book. The epilogue was perfect. I'm sad this series has ended, but look forward to more from this author. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.