The Royal by Susan Stoker

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Former military man and member of a royal family Callum Redmon can’t deny his sense of responsibility. So when his cousin’s latest love interest claims to have a stalker, Cal reluctantly meets with the young woman and her mother. He wants to write off the situation as a complete farce—if only his feelings for another member of the household could be as easily dismissed.

Since her father’s death seventeen years ago, Juniper Rose has been at the cruel beck and call of her stepmother and stepsister. Her fantasies of escape mean leaving behind her father’s beloved home, but enough is enough: when Cal offers her a way out sooner rather than later, June takes the leap.

Cal’s home in Maine with his military brothers seems like the safest place to start fresh. But as Cal and June’s fairy-tale romance blossoms into something real, they find that the dangers stalking them may have been real all along.

A Modern Cinderella and Her Broken Prince

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚💜💙❤️🩷
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙📔
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😋🙂🤨🤣🥰
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration

🛡️ Audiobook Review: The Royal (Game of Chance, #2)

Author: Susan Stoker
Genre: Military Romance
Narrators: C.J. Bloom and Jeremy York

🦸🏻‍♂️ The Hero: Callum “Cal” Redmond (a.k.a. Prince Redmond)

Cal is a former Delta Force operative whose life was shattered by a catastrophic mission three years ago. Sent in with almost no intel, he and his three brothers‑in‑arms walked straight into a nightmare. Captured, tortured, and pushed past the limits of human endurance, the four men made a pact in the darkest hours: if they survived, they were done. Done with the military. Done with blind obedience. Done letting anyone else dictate their future.

And they kept that promise.

Instead of slipping into the private‑security world like so many of their peers, they chose something quieter and wholly theirs. A few rounds of rock‑paper‑scissors later, they found themselves in a tiny town deep in the forests of Maine near the Appalachian Trail. Another round determined their new profession—lumberjacks and forest guides—and they named their business Jack’s Lumber, honoring their team leader, J.J.

Three years later, the business is thriving, and Cal is still healing from the brutal torture he endured. As a royal from Liechtenstein, his captors took particular pleasure in breaking him, reveling in the idea of a prince brought low. His scars—physical and emotional—run deep, and they shape everything about the man he has become.

—

🦸🏼‍♀️ The Heroine: Juniper Rose

Juniper has spent years living under the thumb of her stepmother, stepsister, and their pampered dogs. Ever since her father died when she was fifteen, she’s been trapped in a Cinderella‑like existence—cooking, cleaning, chauffeuring, and enduring constant belittlement. Her father’s life‑insurance money vanished into their designer wardrobes and luxury whims, and the house he left to her was stolen out from under her when her stepmother tricked her into signing away her rights under the guise of “inheritance paperwork.”

She’s been dreaming of escape, but with nowhere to go and nothing to her name, she’s been stuck… until fate drops a certain scarred prince into her orbit.

🔥 Plot Dynamics

Cal receives a message from his family: his cousin has fallen in love, and the woman he loves is in danger. Because of Cal’s military background, he’s the one they need to step in. Reluctantly, he heads to Washington, D.C., to assess the situation.

There, he learns that Carla—his cousin’s love interest—is an internet model who claims she has a stalker. But the moment Cal arrives at the mansion, his attention is stolen by someone else entirely: June. Short, curvy, sun‑kissed, and utterly unlike the brittle, polished royals and models he grew up around. He’s captivated by her softness, her quiet resilience, and the way she tilts her face toward the sun like she’s trying to absorb every drop of warmth she’s been denied.

But before he can approach her, someone inside screams her name, and she disappears back into the house.

🌟 Strengths

• Susan Stoker continues to excel at blending romance, steam, and action. This series delivers exactly what fans of military romance crave: danger, devotion, and a slow‑building emotional connection that feels earned.
• Cal’s instant attraction to June is handled beautifully. It’s not superficial—it’s recognition. He sees her exhaustion, her goodness, her quiet strength, and he wants to cherish her in a way no one ever has.
• The love triangle twist is delicious. Carla has no idea the man she’s been flirting with online is a royal, and when Cal arrives, she immediately tries to sink her claws into him. Watching her fail spectacularly is deeply satisfying.
• Cal’s protective instincts shine. From the moment he meets June, he wants to treat her like the princess she’s never been allowed to be.

💔 Limitations

• Cal’s self‑consciousness about his scars is understandable but repetitive. His belief that no woman could want a man so damaged becomes a recurring refrain, and at times it slows the emotional momentum.
• The ending leans a bit too sweet. A good HEA is always welcome, but this one edges into saccharine territory.

🎙 Audiobook Narration

The dual narration by Jeremy York and C.J. Bloom elevates the entire experience.

• Jeremy York’s soft baritone fits Cal perfectly, and the choice to use an American accent for Cal’s internal thoughts and a European accent for his spoken dialogue adds a subtle but effective layer of characterization.
• C.J. Bloom brings warmth, vulnerability, and quiet strength to June, capturing her emotional journey with nuance.

Together, they make the story’s emotional beats land with even more impact.

💭 Final Thoughts

This audiobook delivers exactly what fans of Susan Stoker’s military romances come for: a protective, emotionally wounded hero; a heroine who deserves the world; and a blend of suspense, tenderness, and heat. While Cal’s insecurity and the overly sweet ending may not hit perfectly for every listener, the core romance is heartfelt, the pacing is engaging, and the narration is excellent.

Overall, it’s a satisfying, comforting, and emotionally rich listen—perfect for anyone who loves scarred heroes, Cinderella‑style heroines, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

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