Book one in a new series. This one is about 3 brothers who start up a company to protect abused men and women. Logan is the oldest, did I mention they were triplets? This is Logan's story and his romance with his high school romance that had not blossomed over the years. Grace is from a wealthy family, but her parents are manipulative and emotionally abusive. Enjoyed the building up of a second chance romance and seeing Logan and his brothers in action. Would recommend, and look forward to the next book in the series.

3.5 Stars - Logan and Grace's story had me cheering for them from the very beginning. I really enjoyed the interaction between the triplets and their back story as well. Here we have Logan who has returned from his military career and he and his brothers, who are triplets, decide to start Ace Security in memory of their father. There's a woman he really does not want to have anything to do with who is around town. He won't admit it, but she broke his heart ten years ago. Grace has been under her parent's thumb for way too long. Not all is as it seems. Now Grace is shocked to find out the man who broke her spirit so long ago has returned.

I look forward to the next story in this series.

I loved reading this one! Susan Stoker does a wonderful balance of the couple and their working together on Grace's problem. I don't want to say too much and spoil the reading experience for others. Logan and Grace had some road blocks to work through with their past and Grace's family but it was wonderful to read their journey to becoming a couple. It was also good to see the relationship between Logan and his brother's. I look forward to their stories as well. Susan Stoker is one of my favorite authors and I always am excited to read the next story regardless of which series it is for. I highly recommend her books!

Ahhhh, Loga... From the moment I met Logan and then Grace, I was rooting for them. There were moments where I was yelling at Logan for being a block head and I wanted to shake Grace for falling for manipulation once again, but I understood it. Susan Stoker is a very talented writer that pulls you into the story and makes you care about the characters. I wanted friends like Felicity and Cole. Heck, I could really use a Logan in my life, for sure!

As a child abuse Survivor I thoroughly connected with this book. Unlike the main characters, Logan and Grace, mine wasn’t just physical or just mental, mine was physical, mental, and emotional. But, thankfully, my brothers and I were saved, while we were still young, by two people who cared; our Grandparents.
One of the things that has always concerned me, because of my brothers, was that there are more shelters and help available for women than men. Don’t get me wrong, I know more women are abused than men, but for those men that are abused there isn’t much help around. You hear, and see, more about assistance for women or children, and rarely for men. Hopefully this book can help some man, somewhere, be able to find it in himself to go find the help he needs. Thank You Susan Stoker, for adding what may be some man’s lifesaving information in your book.

Logan was at the Rock Hard Gym as was his friend Cole was there also. Logan had left town and been gone for ten years and hadn’t seen Cole all that time but once he came back to town Cole and Logan were just as close as ever. Then Cole asked about Grace and how close they had been in HS and then Logan just left. Logan said he wanted out of that town and Grace just wanted to stay there so they broke up and said goodbye. Felicity and Grace are best friends and Felicity co-owns the gym. Grace is glad Logan is back in town but because of their history between them Grace didn’t really want to talk to Logan. They had avoided each other so far but eventually they would run into each other . Cole didn’t want it to be awkward. Grace had met Logan in tenth grade when she had been asked to tutor him in history. Grace had been quiet and reserved and spending time with Logan was exciting. He’d been rough around the edges back then. It had been two months since the triplet brothers - Logan, Nathan, and Blake-had come home and opened the doors to Ace Security named after their dad who had been murdered by their mom. They had more business than they expected. It turned out there was men and women everywhere who needed their services. Grace’s parents had been very controlling and abusive ex: when she had tried to rent her own apartment when getting out of college to get away from them they had her committed for a month in a mental institution.
Really didn’t enjoy this book how can you enjoy a book with a heroine who has no backbone and does what Mommy and Daddy says and lets them do to her what Grace allowed her parents to do to her. She was in her twenties she could have just left and got a restraining order against her parents as they deserved to be forced out of her life. Or Grace could have just left town as she originally wanted to. It totally ruined the story for me. I hope there are people out there that really liked this.

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 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.



* * * * *


I have to admit that I wasn't too sure that I would like this book because of Grace. She had been emotionally abused by her parents all of her life and I just didn't see how she would be able to go from a victim to a strong woman all in one book. Boy was I surprised at her strength once she was out of their control.


Logan also come from a background of abuse from his mother. And I want to give huge kudos to Ms. Stoker for bringing up the fact that women can also be the abusers. This issue is mainly not talked about because most men will not report that they are the ones being abused.


I ended up really enjoying CLAIMING GRACE and am ready to dive into the next book in this series. The characters are all wonderfully developed and I loved watching Grace grow throughout the book. The dialogue is on point and the pacing is tight. I am sure that any of my readers who enjoy romantic suspense will enjoy this book.


*** I received this book at no charge from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed within are my own.

Taking back your life…

Logan and Grace were once the best of friends who lost touch after high school. Why their friendship ended years earlier is part of the problems that Grace continues to face. Her relationship with her family is complicated and I cannot say enough what an understatement that is. Her struggle to be independent and make her own decisions will see Logan back in her life and her biggest champion. Grace needs a knight in shining armor and Logan is up for the task!

“I want them to love me.”

Those words, that need, define Grace’s relationship with her parents. What would you do to gain the love and approval of those closest to you? How much would you sacrifice? How much of yourself could you lose in that process? Grace is stuck. Stuck in a life that does not feel like her own. When she begins to reconnect with Logan, she realizes that she could have more…

Logan is ex-military and his ability to make decisions, to take charge, is just the support Grace needs to make changes for herself. Their second chance to be friends, to be more to each other, was sweet and loving, protective and fierce. There was action and suspense but with an emotional thread that had my heart completely invested.

While I wanted Grace to find her inner strength sooner I appreciated the honest struggle she had to break ties. Logan and his brothers were the perfect shield for her to find that courage. She ultimately did not disappoint as the plot twists butted against her beliefs and her loyalties.

I did a happy dance when I learned this author was starting a new series and I can’t wait for more Anderson brothers!

Claiming Grace is the first book in the Ace Security series by Susan Stoker. 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 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.

Claiming Grace is a romance that takes some serious topics (like physical and emotional abuse) and frames them in a way that helps readers understand the toll it can take on people, and connect with the characters. I think Grace and Logan are well described and multilayered. At no point was anyone just a victim, or hero. The only people that were one dimensional were Grace's parents, who were pretty much pure evil. I like that Logan and Grace both went through a full range of emotion, and while some of their connection seemed easy, part of that was clearly because of their history. I found that while some of the danger and action seemed over the top, the way I have seen people treat others in the world lately has me fully believing that there are people capable of this kind of scheming and abuse. I liked that the secondary characters were also more than placeholders, and I would love to see more about Felicity, Cole, and Brad as the series continues on, even though I know they are not the stars of any upcoming books.

Claiming Grace is a god start to a new series, which I fully expect to continue tackling abuse and emotionally scarred characters. I just might continue this series, in fact I just downloaded the second book Claiming Alexis which I am likely to read soon.

Grace and Logan know each other in high school, but nothing ever comes of it. When Logan leaves for the Army he promises to write to Grace and she promises to write back.

Years later after the death of his father, Logan is back with his brothers. In high school they were abused by their mother and their father was weak and never stood up to her. Now the brother have formed Ace Security and are making something good come of their horrible situation.

Grace comes from a wealthy family and her parents are respected. To the outside world, this seems to be the case, but what is hidden behind the closed doors of the Mason house is not what you would expect.

4 stars

This book had potential, but I felt like it fell short.

First off I struggled with how and why Grace would continue to allow her parents have such control over her life. She had the means to leave, but didn't. She continued to stay and put up with their crazy rules and allowed them to have control over her life.

SPOILER ALERT....
There's no discussion of birth control in this book. They both state they're clean from STDs but why is there no conversation about the risk of pregnancy? STDs is not the only reason you use a condom.

Then...big surprise she ends up pregnant. Of course it's twins...to which she says she is not surprised since multiples run in Logan's family. UMMMMMM....the fact that Logan is a triplet has absolutely nothing to do with your risk of carrying multiples. A family history of multiples is only relevant if it runs on the mother's side. Also...she's roughly 12.5 weeks pregnant and she already learned the sex of both babies? Not unheard of but probably unlikely especially with twins unless she would have had blood work which wouldn't have been back the same day. And of course, Logan is going to an ultrasound the following day. Not sure what doctor's office would offer another ultrasound the next day just because the mother didn't think to bring the father with her to an appointment.

This story had a little bit of everything, suspense, romance and angst. I can't wait to see what's next.

Susan Stoker is a master at her craft. Her writing is infectious and leaves you wanting more and more. Great depth to her characters and her writing style is spot on.

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 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.

I loved this book. For starters, I'm a sucker for a military or ex military plot. I've read all of Susan's books and what I love the most are her Alpha males...they are true alphas. The whole premise caught me because I so wanted it to be this big misunderstanding and...Im not giving anything away! Read the book. It's a tearjerker but my mom read it when it came out and she thought i was crazy lol. I did...i cried through it and it might be because it struck close to home. Anyhow, read it and you'll want to read the second one.

I was provided an ARC from the publisher/Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and do not reflect anyone elses.

Claiming Grace is Susan Stoker's first novel in the Ace Security series, which I'm guessing will be a trilogy, since it revolves around 3 brothers, fraternal triplets, Logan, Blake and Nathan Anderson, who grew up poor and suffered physical abuse at the hands of their mother--an interesting switch from the typical abusive father, and there are more surprises in this novel, which gets 5 stars from this reader.

The novel opens at the grave of their father, Ace Anderson, who, we eventually learn, was killed by their monster of a mother, who then ended her own life. The three brothers left their hometown of Castle Rock, Colorado, right after high school to escape from her abuse, and this is the first time they've been back in ten years. Logan and Blake both joined the military, and Nathan went to college, and at their father's graveside, Logan mentions an idea he had--to open Ace Security, a safe place for abused men primarily, but women and children too, named after their father and dedicated to his memory, since, as an abused man, there was no place for him to turn, no homes for abused men and once the boys all left town, and their crazy mother's attentions and abuse focused solely on her husband.

When Logan left Castle Rock, he was sorry to leave behind his history tutor and friend from a wealthy family, Grace Mason. After graduation, Grace accompanied Logan to the bus station, where they promised to write each other as soon as he sent her his address, and then Logan asked her if she'd be willing to join him after he was assigned to a base, and she agreed, so it devastated her when, after waiting for that first letter for 18 months, she never received a single one. Since she wrote him faithfully every week, she kept her letters, and assumed his interest in her ended when he climbed aboard the bus.

Now the he's been back in Castle Rock for six months, and although he wants to confront Grace for never responding to the letters he sent, he's so angry and feels that she's so far out of his reach financially, that he's been unable to approach her, while Grace is still wondering why he never wrote her after the promises they made. There was a reason all right.

While seeming to be a golden, little rich girl, Grace too came from an abusive home, an emotionally abusive one, and now, at age 28, she's still totally dominated, manipulated and abused by her parents, having never been able to break free from their clutches. While Logan doesn't get even believe in emotional abuse and at first denies its existence, he soon learns that the rich family and picture perfect life he assumed Grace had was merely a facade. It took me a while to accept that a 28-year-old woman would still be so cowed and controlled by her parents, and so afraid of displeasing them, that she seemed like a doormat, but as the novel progressed, I did eventually come to understand her and the struggle she faced to break free of them.

When Logan, who finally confronts Grace at a party at a local gym, thrown by their mutual friends, Cole and Felicity, he learns why his letters to her were marked Return to Sender, and is shocked to learn that she never received his letters, and why. It's a rude awakening for the man who denied the very existence of emotional abuse.

Claiming Grace is a novel about the effects of both physical and emotional abuse, and contains scenes which might be triggers for some readers. It also contains scenes of graphic sex, and is definitely for the 18+ crowd. This is a deeply moving story about two abused souls who finally get to have a second chance to help heal and rescue one another, and it's also a damn good romance novel. As someone who was emotionally abused and controlled for years by both my stepmother and an ex-boyfriend, I totally understood and empathized with Grace's struggle, and must commend the author for tackling a subject that seems to always take a back seat to physical abuse. As I said, this is not an easy read, but there is an HEA ending in this impossible to put down novel.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this novel and received no compensation for doing so. The opinions expressed are my own.

I really like this book. It was a new author for me and I liked her writing style. Very detailed but not to the point that the pages went on and on in just describing how the character felt. I have read those, and after a while, it gets tedious and I lose interest.
The story between Logan and Grace was perfect! Both had felt betrayed by each other but after the 10 year gap between seeing each other and growing up, they were both able to understand what had caused the miscommunication. The characters were well thought out and developed. Great background on everyone and how they knew each other.
Grace's parents, Walter and Margaret Mason, now that was a an awesome work of fiction (I haven't read in the news of any other parents going that far to leave a family legacy) But that deserves an award for all time villians!
I am looking forward to the next book(s) for this series and if I can, I'll gladly check out other stories by Susan Stoker!

Review By Elizabeth for Love Romance Books Blog

I was asked by the author for an honest review.

5 stars.

There is so many types of abuse. I think a lot of people think abuse only comes when someone hits you, if you can see the bruises, but it is not true. What happens to Logan and Grace in this book look polar opposite but at the end of the day it is the same thing. Both of these characters had to be so strong in this book. Overcoming obstacles that were put in their way day after day. Logan was able to break free. To learn to be free, but Grace she has had a very long road. After reading this book, you start wandering if there are people around you that have gone through the same thing Grace has gone through. Are you going to actually look at the people you see every day and wander? That is what this book make you do, are you going to be a better person after reading this book, are you going to see the signs, are you going to try to help when you can? I was very lucky to get to read this book, because it makes you see such a bigger picture than I was already seeing. Grace and Logan and the whole cast of characters have some type of past that wants to be forgotten, but it will never be. Their past is who make them who they are today. Better and stronger for themselves and everyone around them.

Logan got out of dodge ten years ago. He left his town and his brothers to join the army. He wanted to get away from all the abuse he had taken from his mother. He left behind Grace, that had been a friend to him for his last two years of school. He told her that he would write to her and tell her where he was stationed as soon as he could. Days went to months. Months went to years, with now letters. Grace never thought she would see Logan again and she was stuck in this town with her abusive parents. Manipulated for years she sees no way out. Ten years later Logan is back with his brothers after his fathers death. They open a security business in their father's name. Logan sees Grace and wants to know what happened. Grace wants to know what happened to Logan coming back for her. When secrets are revealed and things that were hidden come to the surface. Lets just say stuff hits the fan. Logan figures out what is happening with Grace, but will it be too late for him to save her?

I loved this book from start to finish. This is my first time reading this author and I can tell you it wont be my last. The Anderson boy's are pretty awesome and how they grew up even better. Everyone in this book I believe should get their own story. Each has a different aspect on what happened in their past, but it happened to all three of them. Grace is one of the strongest woman I have seen in a book in a long time and I loved her in this book. Her best friend Felicity and you know just everyone in this book made a strong impact on the story. I can't wait to read the next book in this series. I think this is a great start to it.

Get this book! Susan Stoker is an amazing author and I've loved everything she has written. The twists and turns for the book kept me turning the pages until it was done.

Very intense relationships in this book. I loved the way Grace finally found an out and with Logan . Great romance between the two. Can't wait for more.

This was a great read. Grace and Logan together as a couple is great. The fact that they overcome so much even with Grace's psycho parents getting in the way is what made this book so good.