Today’s review is the latest work from Susan Stoker, and the third installment in her Game of Chance series; The Hero, published in March 2024.
The Hero
Author: Susan Stoker
Series: Game of Chance (3)
ISBN-13/ASIN: 978-1-6625-0968-1
Publisher: Montlake
Published: March 5, 2024
Genre/s: Adult Fiction, Romance
Format: E-Book
Pages: 283
Source: Montlake – Netgalley
*** Thank you to the publisher, Montlake, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. ***
Synopsis
In this thrilling romance from New York Times bestselling author Susan Stoker, an ex-military man is on a mission to rescue a wrongfully imprisoned archaeologist – and to make her rightfully his.
Any soldier who gets out of the service with his life should be happy to leave danger behind. Though his army brothers are content running their new business in Maine, Kendric “Bob” Evans isn’t ready to give up the fight. He’s been supplementing his hours with covert rescue missions organized by the FBI. But his latest charge may be more than he bargained for.
Marlowe Kennedy is on a routine archaeology dig in Thailand when she’s arrested for drug trafficking. She has suspicions about the true culprit, but even when she’s rescued from prison, there’s nothing she can do about it without proof. Her protective bodyguard’s only objective is to keep her safe until they cross the border into friendly territory.
The best way to do that? Travel as man and wife.
After returning from Maine, as Bob and Marlowe navigate this treacherous terrain with the help of their friends, they face vengeful authorities, a vindictive frame job, and perhaps most important of all – turning their fake marriage into something real.
My Review
First Thoughts: The Hero was jam-packed with non-stop action from cover to cover.
This novel was sweet and spicy, just the right amount of both for how long the book was – which was surprisingly on the shorter side. It was longer than a novella but I was disappointed when it came to an end.
The main characters were fleshed out. They had relatable characteristics and stories that pulled at your heartstrings.
The setting of the first half or so of the novel was Thailand and Cambodia, and while I’ve never personally traveled to either of these countries the author did a fantastic job of describing the setting. Lots of details that made sense about the setting. Especially around the setting of the prison in Thailand and all that Marlowe had endured.
I can say that the character’s relationship wasn’t insta-love but it also wasn’t a slow burn. Marlowe and Kendric’s story and their situation forced two complete strangers to place their trust and faith in each other for no other reason than their survival. Their relationship was formed as a result of that. It needed to because their survival demanded that. And so the pace of their relationship fit and felt natural without that icky feeling to it.
In conclusion, I really enjoyed this book, it was a fantastic read to curl up and crush in an afternoon.
Readers will enjoy this novel if they enjoy a little action in their spicy romance novels.
