I loved this one so much! Susan Stoker can do no wrong and I also loved the narrators. 10/10 recommend this one!

✨️💚✨️Audio Book Review✨️💚✨️

Book: The Lumberjack
Author: Susan Stoker
Rating: 4 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

My only regret about this one is not reading the first books in the series before this one.

This was such a good suspenseful, slow burn, spicy, contemporary romance.

I was hooked right from the beginning and was absolutely shocked by how wild this one ended up being.

It starts with the FMC having amnesia from an accident ... and where it ended 🤯.

You have a group of ex military men doing whatever they can to protect their women. Sound like your thing? You will love this one.

You get:
• Spicy
• Dual POV
• Amnesia
• Veteran
• Suspense
• Kidnapping
• Found Family

I highly suggest doing this series in order, but definitely recommend it! Available through KU, ebook, paperback, and audiobook.

This is the fourth and final book in the "Game of Chance" series. Unfortunately, I thought that this book could be read as a stand-alone, but I discovered during reading that the plot is very connected to the previous books, which sometimes made me feel like I started a book from the middle. 💙

After a terrible accident, April wakes up in the hospital with no memory of the last five years of her life, but feels a deep connection to Jackson (JJ) who stays by her side the whole time.
She discovers that the two have been attracted to each other for years, but each had their own reasons for keeping a distance. April ended a loveless marriage and didn't want to get into another relationship again, certainly not with her boss... her younger boss. And Jack was worried that she would reject him because of his intense personality (let me just tell you, the book is called 'The Lumberjack' for a reason 😂) as a former special forces soldier, which might cause her to quit her job.
The accident put things into perspective, and they decides to go for it... Then the story takes a turn when someone from Jack, Cal, Bob and Chappy's past (the gang from the previous books) returns for revenge, using their wives as bait. 💥

This book was just OK for me, and I don't know if it's because I haven't read the previous books (already added to TBR) but for example, the relationship between April and Jack started too fast and I felt the chemistry building between them was not established. As soon as April was released from the hospital, she immediately moved into Jack's house to help her recover, and they begin their romantic relationship that very day... despite the amnesia! 😬
Plus, it was constantly mentioned that the 46-year-old April is older than Jack, but Jack's age was not mentioned at all... There were a few other parts that bothered me, but I won't go into detail for fear of spoilers. 💥

However, the writing was great (even though the book is written in third person), the epilogue was amazing (special forces soldiers are such gentlemen!!! 😍) and closed the stories of all the couples - which totally made me want to go back and read this whole series by order.

All on all, so if you like alpha males and strong women, this series is for you. Just don't be Mali... read it in the right order! 😂💙

I listened to the audiobook - the narrators were excellent and did a great job of bringing the characters to life. 👏

I received this ALC from NetGalley and Montlake in return for an honest review.

The Lumberjack is the 4th book in the Game Of Chance series and I thought it would read fine as a standalone, unfortunately I felt like I missed a lot of backstory between both the main characters. It felt like the setting, the wanting and desire had already been preestablished in a previous novel, so I felt I missed out on their connection. I wished it would've been mentioned.

Also, the author just throws us into it without any introduction, any backstory or anything. If there was just a little to ease the reader into the story I think it would've made my enjoyment much better. It was still a fun read with all the suspense that was added. It was a good blend of both genres, truly half and half. I thought the suspense part was really well done and kept me on the edge of my seat until the end.

🎧 The narration by MacKenzie Cartwright & Teddy Hamilton was amazing. It's what truly kept me hooked, engaged in the story and pushed me to continue. I could feel the panic and suspense climbing in their voices. The chemistry and spice was also very well narrated.

✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @brilliancepublishin & Susan Stoker for my gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review.

🎧 As usual, these narrators kill it! Always an easy listen with nothing distracting or jarring. This audiobook as a whole was great for audiophiles ❤️ 5 stars for audio

📚 This story, was not so much my taste. I can see that some people may love the workplace and age dynamics here. I wanted to give it a go because I often get surprised by books I wouldn't normally choose. Don't get me wrong, this is definitely a well written book, great flow, good writing style, and very immersive. I recommend it for Dramatic Romance, Romantic Suspense, Romantic Thriller, and Veteran Romance fans.

Basically, if you love Virgin River, you'll enjoy this 😊

And if you love good quality audiobooks, then you're at the right place.

(Note: I gave 4 stars to meet in the middle as I gave 5 for audio and 3 for the book).

It’s been a while since I've read a Susan Stoker novel, and "The Lumberjack" reminded me of her signature style of intertwining characters and storylines from her various series. This book continues that trend, creating a familiar world for her long-time fans.

One of Stoker's hallmarks is the internal monologues her characters often engage in. While these can sometimes feel a bit drawn out or daunting, they also provide a unique insight into the character's thoughts and motivations. This aspect adds depth to the story, but at times, I found myself wishing for a bit more brevity.

Overall, I rate this audiobook 3.5 stars. For dedicated fans of Susan Stoker, "The Lumberjack" is a solid addition that delivers on her classic elements. However, for me, something was missing, leaving me wanting a bit more from the story. The narration by Mackenzie Cartwright and Teddy Hamilton complimented the book well, capturing the essence of the characters. Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that the plot lacked that extra spark to elevate it to a higher rating.

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley to listen to and review; all thoughts and opinions are mine.

The Lumberjack is number 4 in the Game of Chance series by Susan Stoker. This was the first one that I listened to and followed along without it being confussing. The series follows four former POW's as they build a new life in a small town located in Maine. The Lumberjack follows JJ (Jack Justice) as he navigates his feelings for April the office manager for his Jack's Lumber company. After a bad car accident, April wakes up to not being able to remember her last 5 years in Maine. When a few weeks later her memories come back she doesn't want to wait any longer to keep Jack away.

Thank you to @netgalley and @brilliancepublishing for a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest thoughts!

This book is book four of a series of interconnected stand alones. It’s my first dive into this series and yet I experienced no confusion regarding the characters. The author did well enough to set up the world in a way that you were able to connect with characters we technically should already know.

I loved the dual narrators for the audiobook and thought they portrayed the characters well. It being in third person was slightly weird as most audiobooks I listen to are in first person, but it was still engaging!

I loved the protective MMC, JJ, and with him being ex military, even his slightly more intense actions were in line with his character. He took the care of our FMC, April, after her accident and loss of her memories. I enjoyed the way that he was respectful of April in that he didn’t engage with her sexually until her memories came back, despite the fact that they agreed to date.

There were a few moments in the audiobook that felt disjointed, as if there were sentences missing, or two different takes put together that didn’t quite mesh, but overall it was a very nice listen!

I wish I would’ve read the first there books before this one, but I’m planning on doing that next! Always love a protective MMC, one who would burn the world to save his woman.