For Logan Anderson, moving on from a traumatic past means moving back to his hometown of Castle Rock, Colorado, to start a personal-security business with his brothers. But it’s not long before Logan runs into Grace Mason, his best friend from high school…and the woman who never answered his letters during his Army years.
Grace was pleasantly surprised to see Logan return to Castle Rock, despite … Rock, despite their falling-out ten years ago. Everyone always assumed they would end up together, including Grace, who had eyes only for him. But as Logan eventually escaped their town, Grace got pulled further into her family’s controlling grasp—and farther away from the man she loved.
Now, united by scars both visible and not, the two must fight to free Grace from the suffocating hold of her family. But the Masons won’t let go easily—and they’ll do whatever it takes to keep the couple apart.
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I love Susan Stoker’s novels. Usually I prefer historical romance, but when I need a change and want contemporary, Ms. Stoker’s novels promise a great read. Loved the wee twist on the hero’s background. You had to pull for Grace from the beginning. Enjoy!
Grace works at her parents architectural business but wants to be a marketing designer. Logan comes back home for his Father’s funeral and he and his brothers decide to open up Ace Security, a place for abused men to go. But it ends up being more than just men, women too. When Grace disappears, Logan and his brothers check in on her. Something seems wrong so they stake out the house and then go in and rescue Grace, who is handcuffed to her bed. Logan was physically abused by his mother and Grace is being emotionally abused by both parents. Can they bring her parents down before they destroy their lives?
Excellent story. Sex, crazy parents, and second chance at love. I love Ms. Stoker’s books but this one blew me away. I can’t wait to read about the rest of the Anderson brothers. You may need a cold shower after reading this.
Great start to a new series and I can’t wait for the next book!! The plot I found new and unusual and it made for an intriguing and emotional rollercoaster ride that will grip you from the first page and not let go!! I LOVED Logan and Grace’s story!! If you enjoy a really awesome romantic suspense and like to be kept on the edge of your seat this is the story for you!!
“Claiming Grace” by Susan Stoker. I was so excited when I learned that Ms. Stoker was writing a new series. I have enjoyed all the works I’ve read by this author (although I still have a few to go) and am happy to report that she did not disappoint with this one. I love, love, love alpha Heroes. And, although not everyone likes them, I like when a heroine comes across as a bit on the shy/meek side. Usually their strengths come across in other ways that differ then the rough and tough Hero. Grace and Logan certainly fit that bill. Ms. Stoker has given us a story of second chances and renewed life. It was certainly a bit of a different take on the domestic abuse angle and that made the story even more intriguing. The story makes the reader think about the hell people are living in, and how it isn’t so easy to leave that situation. “Claiming Grace” takes the reader on a journey that is filled with love, anger, remorse, control, friendship and happiness. While it sounds like a rollercoaster, Ms. Stoker is able to pull it off and the writing and story progress fluidly. While I wait for the next story in this series (“Claiming Alexis”), I will happily catch up on the other works by Ms. Stoker that I have yet to read. (received copy from NetGalley for honest review)
What I so love about Susan Stoker is the way she creates such believable characters. Grace and Logan, the main characters in Claiming Grace , are great examples of Susan’s creative genius. To begin with Logan, a hunky ex-military turned security expert, is the perfect example of a hero with a “cracked soul”. On the outside he is a strong alpha male. Yet,deep inside, soul deep, he harbors hurts from a childhood filled with abuse. Like many alpha males he doesn’t recognize his own broken soul, believing he left the pain behind years ago when he left home and joined the army. Until he returns home to bury his father, a victim himself of the same abuser as Logan and his brothers, and realizes that something more needs to be done to help men like his father and himself. In true Susan Stoker fashion, this troubled hero captures the reader’s heart from page one. The mixture of strength and brokenness is what makes Logan so relatable and loveable.
Then Susan introduces Grace. Grace at first glance is not much of a heroine. To many readers she appears weak and the epitome of a whining rich girl. “You are an adult! Just walk away!”; I have heard many readers scream. This is where Susan’s masterful character development really shines through. If you stick with Grace you begin to see that her strength is in her ability to remain positive and determined to live despite living in a secret hell all her life. Through Susan Stoker’s magical word craft, Grace emerges as another “cracked soul”. Again, many of us can relate to Grace’s quiet strength, the secrets she has hidden from everybody, but that have shaped her into a woman just waiting for the moment to break free. And then Susan shows us how love can succeed in healing the cracks in our deepest darkest spots. This is what makes Susan Stoker one of my favorite romance writers! She recognizes that heroes and heroines exist in real life but rarely are they perfect. She has a way touching not just my heart but my very soul.
Pick up Claiming Grace and pay close attention to the subject of abuse that makes up the conflict of the story. This is another reason I love Susan Stoker’s novels. Susan is not afraid to tackle the tough subjects. In Claiming Grace she explores the rare but still real, physical abuse of men by women. She also tackles the subject of verbal and emotional abuse. Logan himself a victim of abuse, sees verbal and emotional abuse as something “that psychologist made up to allow weak people a way out of unwanted relationship”. Susan Stoker often forces her readers to examine the many intricacies of a situation and to let go of long held beliefs based mostly on misinformation. Through the story of Grace and Logan, Susan Stoker helps us to understand that being strong isn’t just about having the most muscles or being able to take down someone twice your size. True strength means “being able to stand up for what you know is right even if it means you get hurt”. And with that realization you can see cracked souls begin to mend.
To be able to read a book, escape reality to a different time and place, and to finally come back to my own reality armed with some profound wisdom gained through others experience, is what makes reading such an essential part of my life. Susan Stoker’s ability to write novels that have this effect on me is why she remains on my favorite authors shelf!
“Claiming Grace” is the first book in the Ace Security series. Logan Anderson and his two brothers move back to Castle Rock to start a personal security business to help people deal with domestic abuse, after all the three of them know first hand about abusive relationships. Grace Mason is the woman from Logan’s past, they were best friends in high school but after she never answered any of his letters during his Army years, he figured she had moved on. Grace always thought they would end up together but after he left and she didn’t hear from him, she thought maybe he had forgotten about her or simply didn’t want her anymore. Both were wrong and Logan soon finds out that it will take him and his brothers to get her out of the mess her family has held her captive in.
A confronting story
Claiming Grace is the first book in the Ace Security series and I will say I read Cole’s story first but loved it and am only now getting around to all the Andersons That said, this story is quite confronting as it really highlights the differences of emotional and physical abuse but the way Susan addresses it all is done brilliantly as usual
Grace and Logan are certainly going to be a couple that I will remember as they have both had such difficult pasts and I love that they now get a future together as well Can’t wait to read the next book
I enjoy this book, it’s very interesting. This book proves that you never know what people do behind closed doors. My heart breaks for Grace and I’m happy she reconnected with Logan. He’s her protector and he makes her comfortable with who she is, free to be herself without apology. I know some people write bad reviews about this book but I form my own opinion and I love the book. The plot is different and never boring exactly what I like in a book.
I love any and all books by Susan Stoker
I have already downloaded the next 2 books in the series. This book was hard to put down. Grace’s parents were horrible. They kept her chained in her room and threatened her friends if she didn’t do what they said. She was a grown woman and her parents wanted to tell her what to eat, what to wear, where to work, and who she could see. Grace tutored Logan in school. He wrote to her when he went into the service after high school. She returned all the letters he
wrote unopened. At least, he thought it was her, but instead, it was her parents. Once he is back home after his time in the service, he meets up with Grace. Once he finds out what is going on with her parents, he won’t stop until he rescues her from them. Will Logan and Grace get the chance to see if they can be more than just friends?
I anxiously await each of these books !
Loved this story – errands, chores all had to pause while I devoured this story.
Love this author !
I love her books. Smart, fun, great characters.
Loved this series!
I enjoyed this book and have read others by this author.
This author writes a lot of military stories, many about special forces. Enjoyable, quick read. Always with a happy ever after.
Susan Stoker digs into the sordid world of parental abuse in Claiming Grace. Grace Mason and Logan Anderson are both survivors of abuse. His was mostly physical. Hers emotional, mental and psychological. Kept apart for 10 years by her manipulative parents, Grace and Logan discover the truth when they finally talk through their assumptions. The truth is that they never stopped loving each other.
Susan stoker is always a great read!
Anything by this author is a must read for me
Another great read by Susan Stoker. The story grips you from the first chapter and I could not put it down until I got to the very end. A sensitive subject handled with grace. Would highly recommend to anyone
Great read. Love this series