The Hero by Susan Stoker Book Review
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Looking for an exciting military insta-love story? You’ve come to the right place!
As an avid reader and fan of romance novels, I’m always on the lookout for new books to add to my collection. And let me tell you, when I discovered Susan Stoker’s Game of Chance series, I couldn’t wait to finish the books!
Her latest installment is book 3, The Hero, which is about Kendric “Bob” Evans and Marlowe Kennedy.
I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) through NetGalley and Montlake. This is my honest opinion of The Hero by Susan Stoker book review.
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 to 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.
Summary: The Hero by Susan Stoker
In The Hero, we meet Kendric “Bob” Evans, a former military special ops agent who currently lives in small-town Newton, Maine with his 3 best friends. While being prisoners of war, they made a pact to get out together, find a place to live, and open up a lumberjack company.
Bob, however, had been unsettled with small-town living. He missed the adrenaline rush that he gets from saving lives.
To fix this, Bob takes short-term missions from an FBI agent. His current mission is to extract Marlowe Kennedy from a prison in Thailand where she was wrongly accused of selling drugs.
Marlowe is an archeologist who found her co-worker stealing from the work sites. When she confronted him, she found herself dragged to prison the next day.
During their flight from Thailand, they dash from safehouse to safehouse, tie the knot, and just about make it back to US soil. But once they’re home, Marlowe has to finally face her co-worker who double-crossed her.
My Thoughts: The Hero by Susan Stoker
I really loved Bob’s character in this book! He was strong, protective, and had a big heart. It was refreshing to see how he wasn’t afraid to show his vulnerable side when it came to Marlowe.
Marlowe was also a great heroine – smart, independent, and compassionate. I loved how she didn’t let her past experiences break her spirit and instead used them to become a stronger person.
The chemistry between Bob and Marlowe was off the charts! Susan Stoker always knows how to write steamy scenes that leave you wanting more.
What I appreciated most about their relationship was the level of trust and understanding they had for each other, especially with the insta-love vibes. It made their love story all the more captivating and heartwarming.
Although the first 2 books of Susan Stoker’s Game of Chance series, The Protector and The Royal, were both a 5-star hit for me, I rated The Hero 3-stars.
I was disappointed in the first part of the book which talked about Thailand and their flight through the country. Thailand is one of my favorite countries and I had a hard time imagining the horrors that Marlowe was experiencing.
Even the premise that they needed to get married was a little far-fetched for me. I felt that they could have come up with a better reason for them to be tied together.
However, once they were back in the US and dealing with the aftermath of their escape, the story picked up and I couldn’t put it down. The ending was satisfying and left me excited for the next book in the series.
Final Thoughts: The Hero by Susan Stoker
Overall, The Hero was an exciting read. It had suspense, romance, and plenty of heartwarming moments. Susan Stoker’s writing style is personal and engaging, making you feel like you’re right there with the characters as they go through their journey.
If you’re a fan of military romances or just looking for a good love story with some action mixed in, I highly recommend giving The Hero a read. You won’t be disappointed!
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