Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the first book in a new series, and I am delighted that there are four guys, so plenty more goodness is already promised for the future! There is some world building, but done so intrinsically to the story, that the reader just slips into their world; from the funny way they decide what to do once they leave the military and where they will do it – classic humour.

Riggs has taken himself off to his private space to have some downtime, and ends up with not one, but two unexpected cabin guests in a snowstorm. How that comes about is already pretty dramatic, but there is definitely more angst through the book, which had me tensing up more than once. Stoker led me down a few dead ends, but I love getting so stressed about what is going to happen next – as well as enjoying the humour, the nursing skills demonstrated, and the obvious chemistry.

Carlise proves herself to be a really good person, and a very patient, understanding, and resilient one too. If she were being interviewed for the role of perfect partner to Riggs, she could not have done better – and we really get to enjoy that fact as she survives the questioning of his friends. I shall say no more!

I am really looking forward to the next installment, as I already care for these guys.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 stars
M/F Romance
Triggers: Stalking

Chappy is living his best life with his best friends. But when the past becomes too much in the present, he heads off to his forest hideaway. Sometimes he just needs a place of peace and nothingness. During one trip, he knows a snowstorm is heading his way, but he has enough supplies to last until he can get back to town. Plus, he knows his friends would come dig him out if need be.

Carlise is lost. She isn't sure which way it up right now and she's running scared. When she takes off and figures that she'll just head willy-nilly to get away, she doesn't expect to get stuck in one of the biggest snowstorms. With little to no options, she knows that staying in her car would mean death, and takes her chances at walking to find a house or town.

Almost frozen, Carlise is saved by a starving dog. The dog also gets Chappy from his flu-induced resting time to figure out that someone is needing help and Chappy is able to find Carlise in time.

These two are both a little bent and in need to love and support.

And while I will say that the Stoker books that I truly love have this exact main character combination, this one was a little lackluster for me. I figured this story out well before the conclusion, so that was disappointing, and I didn't feel that this had the chemistry that most Stoker books have.

But while I was slightly meh about this story, I do like that the characters banded together and that there will be further books where we get to see them again. Maybe they will grow more on me with time.


Veronica – ☆☆☆
Carlise is running from a stalker after splitting with her abusive boyfriend, and ends up stuck with Riggs, a complete stranger, in his cabin in Maine while a storm rages around them. I do like this kind of forced proximity scenario. I was impressed by how Carlise deals with her situation, taking it all in her stride, doing what needs to be done, especially given she is a city chick. Riggs is such a good guy, I felt like she deserved a good man like Riggs after what had dealt with in the past.

THE PROTECTOR is a mix of romance and danger and there is a little twist, which I did see coming. I particularly enjoyed the climax of the story, and seeing the stalker get what was coming to them was quite satisfying. The story is predictable and, at times, a tad sappy but I didn’t mind it at all. I liked how easy this story was to read and that it required nothing more from me than just the pleasure of enjoying the love story, which I definitely did. I’m looking forward to reading more of this series.

Chappy and Carlise meet in an unusual way. I loved Carlisle’s strength and determination. Chappy warms up to Carlise, as do his friends. Sweet dog also takes center stage. Hea.

A great read! Some twists and turns and a whole lot of hot scenes somewhat of a slow burn book but totally worth reading it....

Can't miss a Susan Stoker book at all!

Her new series Game Of Chance starts off with "The Protector" with Riggs Chapman, the ever protector no matter what the circumstances are. In comes a damsel in distress, Carlise Edwards, her guardian stray dog leading the protector her way. Two strangers under one roof, empathy and care take a root, emotions and attraction spark a fire, and danger and love cement their feelings for each other.

Four friends, survivors of enemy captivity, an unbreakable bond of trust and heart, a dream that seeded as POW, to own a business in a quiet little town and help the innocent as they run Jack' Lumber, a premise for Susan Stoker's new series.

As always, Susan does not disappoint, and leaves a satisfied reader!

This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I’d certainly like to read more. While it was a little slow at times, it did pick up and I so loved Riggs. Him and Carlise were perfect for one another. They both had past demons, and I felt so sorry for Riggs and what he went through in the war. I received an ARC copy.

This is book one in The Game of Chance series and it is Riggs and Carlise’s story and what a great start to a new series. When Riggs and his teammate, brothers, family was captured by terrorists while on a mission and tortured they made a pact between them that if they were rescued and all made it out alive they would all resign and move to Maine and start a new business together and this kept there spirits up and made them even more determined to survive and that is exactly what they did when they were eventually rescued even though they all had trauma, scars on the inside and outside and all suffered some type of PTSD. Riggs was at his cabin for a few days where he liked to occasionally go to get away and relax but when he got there a severe snowstorm was coming in so he needed to prepare to hanker down and wait for it to be over. Carlise had left her boyfriend after he became so abusive and wouldn’t leave her alone and then other things started happening and she realised that she had a stalker because everything was getting really dangerous so she decided to get away so that she could be safe and she was also lucky that the job she had as a translator meant that she could work anywhere which worked well for her but now she is lost and in a really bad snowstorm and her car had hit a tree leaving her totally stranded and scared. Riggs and Carlise have a really beautiful and strong connection that neither had felt before and I loved how safe she felt with him especially after everything that she had been through in her life because Riggs is a protector but what happens when the person stalking her finds her and wants revenge and becomes enraged, dangerous and wants her dead. Will Riggs with the help of his brothers be able to eliminate the threat and find Carlise safe giving her and Riggs the chance of being together and getting the happy ending that they both deserve. I absolutely loved this book and it had me completely hooked right from the start and Baxter held a really special place in my heart and he was so protective even after everything that he had been through and Riggs and Carlise were so perfect together and for each other and the outcome was just what I was hoping for. I definitely recommend you read this book and you will not be disappointed and I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

3rd POV

I'm a romantic suspense junkie and I got my hit with new series from Susan Stoker. This time around our veterans have settled in small town Maine. After the weirdest game of chance ever, Jack's Lumber is born when Chappy and crew decide they have had enough of the military and wnat nothing more to do with violence.

But Chappy, JJ, Bob and Cal are all protectors to the core and it looks like fate might just make them fight for something else...love. Chappy loves his solitude but just as he does down with a nasty bug, a half starved dog leads him to a stranded female. He manages to get her to safety before collapsing.

Carlisle may be on the wrong from a stalker but she feels instantly safe with Chappy. That may have been helped along by the fact that he's sick as a dog and about as scary as a puppy currently! I loved her sweet nature, Baxter sure knows how to pick a human!

There may have been instant attraction between these two but the essentially forced proximity in the blizzard fosters a quicker connection and a deeper sense of knowing the other. Carlise and Chappy both have baggage but they are willing to share that baggage to ensure that the other is cared for the way they need.

Chappy may be all protector and Alpha male but he is a kind and considerate man and gives Carlise all the time she needs to make up her own mind. He supports her decisions, he doesn't steam roller her into his way of thinking.

I had an inkling about the stalker but the motive was whack! I can't wait to learn more about the guys and April, the wunderkind Office Manager!

Susan Stoker never fails to amaze me! I instantly fell in love with this group of Army Special Forces soldiers, turned Maine wilderness men! Stoker did a beautiful job showing us the connection this group of men have with each other and I was immediately wanting more of them….even before I finished this book I was diving into her website to find out when more of this series was releasing!
Riggs “Chappy” Chapman and his friends, once POW’s and were determined to find a new place to call home once they were done in the Military. Their team decision making model was perfect for this fun loving group. While Chappy loves his team and they are his family, he also likes his solitude…which is why his little off the grid cabin tucked in the woods of Maine is the perfect place for him to recharge. He just never expected two visitors in the middle of an epic snowstorm.
Carlise Edwards has had a string of bad luck and needs to get away from her life for a bit. Deciding to drive she ends up in the middle Maine wilderness in a snowstorm. When Baxter, a loveable dog, finds her in the middle of a snowstorm and leads her to the safety of Riggs’ and his cabin.
What I loved most about this book is it really is focused on Riggs and Carlise getting to know each other. While the threat is still there the focus is really on the couple- Carlise hasn’t had great luck with men in her life and she is learning to trust. Riggs’ has never found someone that he can just “be” with. In the quiet wilderness of Maine these two learn to trust, love, and build a beautiful relationship. While there is not a lot of on page interaction with the other guys they play an active role in their lives, because they are so close and protective of Chappy. Stoker did an amazing job of showing us the connection between Riggs and Carlise and while this might be considered a slow burn it is not at all because the couple lacked any connection, but let me tell you that Susan brought the steam, friends. Riggs never hides the fact that he will stop at nothing to protect Carlise and that he is deeply in love with this woman. Stoker had us on the edge of our seats while Carlise stalker closed in on her. If you love a beautiful small town feel, a great group of men, found family, and some mystery thrown in this should be your next read!

Loved this book. I finished this in one sitting, I couldn't put down my Kindle.

When Riggs "Chappy" Chapman went up to his remote cabin for some peace and quiet for two weeks, he never expected to be disturbed. Right as a big blizzard hits Maine, a stray dog scratches at his door with a woman not to far behind him. The woman took the wrong turn and crashed her car. Now she's stranded and following a stray dog to a cabin in the middle of a storm.

Carlise Edwards is hiding from a stalker from Ohio. She thinks that it's her ex- boyfriend who wasn't dealing with her dumping him after he hit her one too many times. So she got into her car and drive East. When she crashes into a tree because of the lack of visibility due to the snow, she finds herself following a dog to a cabin. There she meets Riggs and he welcomes her to stay and goes right to bed; he was sick with the flu. Carlise spent 3 days worrying about him while he had a high fever and was delirious. For the first time in a long time, she feels safe around a man.

Quickly, strong feelings are developing on each sides, but Carlise is worried about her stalker finding her. Little does she know, her stalker is someone she actually trusted with her life.

A definite must read!!

Riggs "Chappy" Chapman is living in Maine with his 3 former military buddies. The left the army after being held captive. He goes to his cabin in the woods for some down time and solitude.
Carlise Edwards has left Cleveland and her stalker behind. Her previous boyfriend was abusive to her. For the past few weeks, she has been getting emails and text that she thinks are from him. She gets lost in the snowstorm and turned around; hits a tree and has to walk to find help.
Carlise ends up at Riggs place and he's sick with the flu and she has to take care of him for several days. They find that they are attracted to each other and decide to spend some time together. Carlise finally opens up about her stalker to Riggs.
This is a great suspense book from Susan and I love her writing. The book has several twists on who is the stalker. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.

Yet another wonderful book from Susan Stoker. It's the perfect mix of romance, drama, and fun. The characters are well-written and the plot has just enough twists to keep the reader turning the pages.

Carlise Edwards needed to get away from her abusive ex-boyfriend/stalker so she packed a couple of bags and left Cleveland without telling her best friend. By the time she realized she was in trouble, she was lost in a snowstorm, missed a turn and ran into a tree. Getting out of her car, she started walking looking for shelter.
With business being slow during the winter, Chappy left for a short vacation from his business partners in Newton, Maine for some much needed alone time at his secluded cabin near Baldpate Mountain. Having just gotten to the cabin and getting situated, he hears noise on his porch and finds an abandoned pit bull clearly in need of help. Chappy grabs his gear and follows the dog where he finds Carlise passed out in the snow. Getting her safely back to the cabin and giving her the layout of the area, he is suddenly ill and passes out for basically three day while she takes care of him and the dog.
When his fever breaks and he is able to help, he learns of Carlise’s stalker and promises to help. But first, they need to figure out who she needs to be shielded from… With her new four legged friend Baxter by her side and Chappy in her corner, what can go wrong…

I read this book in one setting. This is the story of Riggs and Carlise. Riggs is an ex military living in a secluded area and is caught by a powerful snowstorm and is sick for a few days. But, before his fever sets in and mother nature unleashes all its power, he is alerted by a stray dog that something is happening outside. And that something is Carlise. She is running from an abusive ex boyfriend and from a stalker and ends up on Riggs' property, in the middle of nowhere on a mountain, during a snowstorm. When she is rescued by Riggs, she takes care of him during his illness and of the stray dog as well.
I absolutely adored the connection the main characters had, as well as the close ties with his friends. I loved the presence of the dog in the story ☺️ he was like their guardian angel 😇
I loved every minute of this book. It was a slow burn, suspense romance, with a strong Heroine and an alpha protector hero. I can't wait to read the next book in the series ☺️
I highly highly recommend it 💕

I had wanted to read this author for some times, so when I saw this eARC opportunity, I jumped on it.
Plus discovering an author with the first book in a new series, is probably the best option.

This tale is such a lovely slow burn sensual romance with two sweethearts, both well deserving their HEA.
They have an instant attraction, their chemistry off the chart but her poor experience with the men from her past left her wary and stands between them, holding her back. But Riggs is a patient man, More than ready to wait for her to trust him.
Carlise is on the run, trying to distance away from her present circumstances, a stalker whose threats have escalated. Thus how she finds herself stranded in an unknown place during a winter storm.
Riggs with his friends has turned his back to his military career, yet he is still a protector. Why even sick, resting in his rejuvenating isolated place, he rescues a woman lost in a snow tempest.

Carlise and Riggs are so sweet together, there is no conflict between just the time needed to learn about the other. Yet they immediately feel they are secure with one another, enough to begin making plans for something more in the future.
If they will have one as the threats against Carlise ascend to a threatening level.
A lovely sweet romance between two wounded beings and their mascot little hero Bax.
5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen lovemaking scenes

I have been granted an advance copy by the publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

I have never read this author before and the blurb sounded like something I would enjoy. The first third of the story was entertaining and had some suspense. But after, the story lacked the punch it needed. I lost interest and was somewhat disappointed. Liking a book is purely subjective so what didn’t work for me might work for another.

When Riggs "Chappy" Chapman goes to spend his vacation at his mountain cabin, he isn't expecting to spend it with a strange woman and a stray dog. And he's definitely not expecting that woman to be THE ONE. But after plenty of bad luck in the military, luck seems to be smiling on him. Except for the stalker problems Carlise is running away from.

Susan Stoker starts a new series in a major way with The Protector and I'm already completely hooked. Chappy, Cal, JJ, and Bob leave the Army after a mission goes bad and ends up with them captured and tortured by terrorists. They find a new home in a tiny town in Maine and new lives cutting trees and helping hikers, trying to put their past traumas behind them. But, like all of Stoker's alpha heroes, these guys are protectors and not about to leave someone in trouble to fend for themselves. While his friends are a little skeptical that Chappy seems to have fallen in love with Carlise as quickly as he has, they are willing to help out as needed, because they are family and that's what family does. It's a great group of guys and I can't wait to read all of their stories. Chappy is super aware of the abuse Carlise has been through and wants to make sure she never feels like she's anything but safe with him. Carlise doesn't think of herself as brave- when she is threatened she leaves town-but she's sensible, smart, kind, and fits perfectly with Chappy.

The stalker/other story is a little predictable, but since it isn't really the driving focus of the book I was ok with that. This was really about two damaged people learning to open up to each other and trust that wonderful things can happen when and where they are least expected. And Baxter, the abused dog who brings them together, absolutely steals every scene he's in and is the true hero of the book.

The Protector drew me in from the beginning and I really loved it. Can't wait to read the rest of the series!

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

4.25⭐

Meet JJ, Cal, Chappy and Bob. Four soldiers and best friends. Who are captured and tortured when an overseas mission goes wrong.

But thankfully they are rescued. Although the scars and terrifying memories remain.

Yet, thanks to JJ they find a way to survive and on returning stateside, they set about building a successful business in Maine. Where they enjoy the freedom of the outdoors without the risk of being shot at or captured.

But when Chappy decides to take some time out and relax in his remote cabin just as a snow storm is about to hit. He gets more than he bargained for.

As Carlise needs a place to hide after fleeing a stalker in Cleveland. And Maine calls to her.

But when the storm hits and Carlise finds herself injured and lost she needs to take shelter fast. And Chappys cabin is the only place for miles.

However, he's sick and in no mood for guests. Only the pair have no choice but to bunker down together. And when he learns Carlise is in danger his protective instincts, come into full effect.

And with a great mix of suspense, heat, sweetness and drama. The Protector was an enjoyable and engaging read. That touches on some very serious subjects to great effect, and I would happily recommend it to others. And I'm looking forward to reading Cal's story when it's released in August.

The Protector is the first book in Susan Stoker’s amazing new romantic suspense series called Game of Chance. The story has great, well developed characters, intense chemistry, an amazing K-9, and a fantastic storyline that is written the third person point of view (primarily the hero and heroine).

Carlise Edwards is on the run from her unknown stalker when she crashes her car in the middle of a blizzard. The end seems near when fate and an emaciated dog, led Riggs “Chappie” Chapman to her rescue. Illness, danger and a raging storm draws the two strangers together, while trust, compassion and a soul deep connection show them the potential of a loving future. But will Riggs, the protector, be able to keep Carlise safe when her stalker is revealed? Will they get their happy every after? Read it and find out.

I am a huge fan of romantic suspense involving K9’s and the military/ law enforcement and Stoker is a phenomenal writer, who uses these elements to create stories that keep the readers hanging as they go page by page. I loved the men of Jack’s Lumber and I can’t wait for the next book in the great new series.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced readers copy received from Netgalley.

I'm a huge fan of both forced proximity and stranded together in a cabin because of storms so this book was right up my alley. The tropes are done A LOT so it's easy to slip into a boring and repetitive storyline. This wasn't the case at all. I loved the characters and wanted the HEA from the beginning. Plus, I'm a sucker for a story with a dog.

Such a great read.

4 snowbound stars ☆

When two strangers get stranded in the middle of the mountain with no electricity, warm water and one of them is ill, one woman will do everything in her power to bring Riggs "Chappy" Chapman back to health.
Carlise has been running from a stalker for a while, landing her stranded in a cabin with a sick man and a frightened pit bull in the middle of nowhere. However, she's not someone to shy away from challenges: she goes beyond caring for the man delusional from fever and the scared dog, both become an important part in her life.

When Chappy emerges from his sick bed, he finds the woman whose voice had plagued his nightmares, helping him, keeping him calm. As feelings evolve between them, a threat is still after Carlise and will stop at nothing to see her peril. Will Chappy be able to save Carlise from her stalker? Will they be able to get their HEA? Don't waste any more time, read this book and find it out. It won't disappoint.

I'll love Mrs Stoker's books and this one was no exception. Can't wait to read what's next on The Game of Chance series!

***Disclaimer: I’ve applied and received this book as an ARC via NetGalley and this is my honest review***