A Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestseller.All defenses are down in the fifth Ace Security novel from New York Times bestselling author Susan Stoker.Sarah Butler isn’t flattered. She’s angry and unnerved. She’s been getting intimate gifts from a man she barely knows. Nothing threatening yet, but there’s just a weird vibe she can’t ignore. Her recourse is Ace Security. Their solution: … recourse is Ace Security. Their solution: self-defense lessons at Rock Hard Gym with a personal, hands-on instructor. One look at the bearded, tattooed, green-eyed alpha is enough to take Sarah’s breath away.
Cole Johnson is definitely the man for the job. He’s eager to train her. Eager to get closer. And when it comes to Sarah’s instincts, Cole knows she’s not imagining things. He’s also not imagining the intense attraction between them—and his desire to protect her is growing. But so are Sarah’s fears, the worst of which come true when she disappears.
Enlisting the help of Ace Security, Cole will stop at nothing to find the love of his life…before she vanishes forever.
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As with most Susan Stoker books, Claiming Sarah kept me on the edge of my seat with Cole and Sarah’s story. Sarah has an interesting past and has lost the only family she has ever known, now she is in a situation that just doesn’t feel right. When Sarah walks into Cole Johnson’s gym to learn self defense she has no idea she will find love and a whole new extended family.
Susan Stoker is one of my favorite authors! I’ve read every book she’s released!
Ouch, what a book. I felt so much related to Sarah, because my sight of the world is nearly the same as hers. I adore her so much. And Cole is cool. And sexy. In the middle of the book I needed to throw a look at the cover to search for the authors name . Sure it is Susan Stoker but that was immediately hot steaming insta – love with phrases I never read before in one of her books. It is so hot and sexy. The story is fine and the fears are subtle.
I love this book so much and won’t forget it in a long time, most because of Sarah and her feelings to the world. I also often feel like a stranger, alien whatever you will call that, because the world and the people get more and more rude and selfish.
Susan is an awesome author and I have read this entire series and each book is awesome. Must read
Great series of books. I’ve read all of them.
Loves it.
I thought Cole was a little over the top and so was Sarah. She was too naive and for a kid who spent six years in foster care I thought she lacked any street smarts. A man who was drawn as simple as Owen and Sarah, a CNA didn’t pick that up? Come on. I’m normally willing to suspend my reality but I found with this book I couldn’t. And the kicker for me was Cole wanting to get Sarah pregnant. First it was “use a condom til this stuff with Own is over” two pages later they aren’t using protection. Way to look out for your girl there, Cole.
Not my favorite Stoker book but I seem to be in the minority.
Claiming Sarah is the 5th book in the Ace Security series and I had hoped that Cole would be getting his own story. Yes!! As with all of Ms Stoker’s heroes and heroines, Cole and Sarah are not perfect but they are perfect for each other. People might think that Sarah is a little too nice (Is there such a thing?) Others might think that Cole is a little too brash. But the truth is… they fit together. Throw in a little suspense and a little heat and we have another 5 star book from Susan Stoker.
This is an awesome book, the chemistry between Sarah and Cole is intense al almost right from the start. I love the setting it is a page turner, there is a tension leering in the background almost from the beginning . I love the familiarity from the guys and the girls the friendship and the bantering.
This is a great read again.
Susan Stoker is always the best!!!!
Claiming Sarah by Susan Stoker is book 5 in the Ace Security Series. This is the story of Cole Johnson and Sarah Butler. I have yet read the previous book, so for me this was a standalone book. Sarah is a nursing assistant who has a admire that is sending her intimate gifts. There is not threat in the gifts but it makes Sarah feel uncomfortable and worried that this person can turn ugly. So she goes to Ace Security where they tell her that she should take self-defense classes to help with her safety. Ace Security sends her to Rock Hard Gym to train with Cole. Of course there is some wrong missteps at first with them but both feel a strong attraction. Cole sees the soft caring women that Sarah is which brings out the protective alpha male in him.
This was a perfect ending to the series. I love how the leading lady is wants to be her own hero and her new friends are supporting her in this quest. That doesn’t mean they aren’t there to help along the way though. I love how Susan’s characters develop over each book in the series. This book continued to build on that, illustrating that the bonds that hold people together are priceless. Read this book. It’ll give you the feels from the romance, the friendships, the girl power and the hot book boyfriends.
Sarah and Cole’s tale bring the end of the Ace Security series. Just find a comfortable seat and enjoy.
Ebook from netgalley and publishers with thanks. Opinions are entirely my own.
With an exceedingly protective alpha hero who falls fast and hard, this suspenseful book is fast-paced in all regards. Interesting and immersive writing makes the pages fly by, meaning fans of the series (or those reading this as a standalone) will get caught up in the story. Claiming Sarah follows the titular character, a nursing assistant who tries to see the good in the world. She’s been receiving unwanted gifts from an unstable man, leaving her feeling vulnerable. Sarah begins taking self defense classes from Cole, a tattooed, rugged gym owner, and the two share an instant attraction. Cole takes on the role of protector, helping Sarah feel secure and loved.
There’s a lot to like about the book – the writing is great and both characters are easy to root for. I loved that Cole was such a good guy, falling for Sarah so fast it shocked me. If anything, it’s his intensity that’s the book’s biggest weakness. I love a good alpha hero, but he stepped it up another level and came on reeeeeal strong. That being said, they have a sweet and sexy connection that’s hard to deny – I just wish things hadn’t escalated so quickly. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Both fans and new readers will find this to be a satisfying conclusion to the series.
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To my shame, it’s the first book that I’ve read by the author but won’t be the last now that I’ve discovered her.
I loved the story and the characters are so great together, with flaws and reliable. Their inner thoughts and feelings were very well transcripted into the book and i just couldn’t put my kindle down because i wanted to see how everything will unfold and what they have to go through to find that happy place and recognise their true feelings for each other.
Looking forward to more stories by the author
Another great book by Susan Stoker
Sarah has a problem and folks think she’s just overreacting. A former patient’s son is sending her gifts and ‘love’ letters, even though she’s told him to stop. The police just told her to be careful, but there’s nothing they could do as there were no obvious threats.
Frustrated she went to Ace Security, only to find they are very expensive. they did however recommend getting self-defense classes at Rock Hard Gym.
Cole almost blows this first meeting thanks to the receptionist not closing his office door, but he manages to salvage the relationship.
As Owen’s gifts continue and get weirder, Ace Security tries to find him to no avail.
Talk about edge of your seat, the building tension was incredible. Cole and Sarah get to know each other and things heat up in more ways than one.
I couldn’t put this book down, the story wouldn’t allow it.
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Avid Reader –
M/F Thriller, Romance
Sarah is a nurse who loves what she does. She loves helping her patients and their families. But when strange gifts start showing up at work and her house, she knows that she should probably learn how to defend herself.
Cole is a gym owner, but also a close friend of Logan Anderson. When Logan asks him to help someone who needs self-defense training, Cole agrees without question. But Cole’s first impression to Sarah is less than ideal.
I like that this story was less go-go-go and more learning about the characters and watching their relationship grow and change. It still has action and the romance isn’t in your face. There is less trauma in this story, but the message is similar. I liked how Sarah’s character wanted to see the best in everyone.
Overall, I’m sad to see this series end. I’ll miss these guys. But it was a gentle story to end on and it was very well done.
Possible Triggers: Stalking, Kidnapping, death, mental illness
Ruthie –
This is the fifth book in the series and is a very welcome addition, as although it is not involving a member of Ace Security, it is Cole, one of their closest friends.
Cole runs a gym and self defence trainer, who after a rather embarrassing start, helps Sarah feel safer from her stalker. As they get to know each other, it is clear that these two people who have experienced a lot of abandonment in their lives, may just have found someone who they care more for than their fear. It is lovely watching them come to that realisation – even if it is done through a time of deep fear and worry.
Sarah’s role in the hospital and her honesty about what is important to her reminded me of Abby in ER when she explained how different patient relationships are between doctors and nurses. It was a lovely memory which for me, made this an even richer read.
Thankfully there is less traumatic drama in this story than the others, but it is another great addition to the series. Thank you for giving Cole his happily ever after.
Mary –
I have loved this series from the beginning and am sad to see it end. Sarah has a stalker, a creepy, scary one and she needs to learn how to protect herself. And Cole is the man to show her how to do that. But when she goes to the gym, Cole says some things that Sarah overhears. He rushes after her to apologies and makes arrangements to get her back in the gym.
They hit it off almost instantly, the connection is there, the pull between them is there, neither one has had these feelings before. Do they ignore them or continue and see what happens? Can Cole help her learn to protect herself? Will ACE Securities be able to find her stalker? Will Cole and Sarah have a future together?
I love that Cole got his happily ever after and that this one was a slower-paced, less trauma-filled story than the others. I think it was the perfect way to end the series. I hate to see it end because I will miss these alpha males and the women they love.
Reviewers received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
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