Claiming Sarah by Susan Stoker

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: 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.

Book 5
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Also Available on KindleUnlimited  ~

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
M/F Thriller, Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

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.


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.

Also Available in the Ace Security Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Also Available on KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our Claiming Grace post.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Also Available on KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our Claiming Alexis post.

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Also Available on KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our Claiming Bailey post.

Book 4
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Also Available on KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our Claiming Felicity post.

Susan Stoker is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author whose series include Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes, SEAL of Protection, and Delta Force Heroes. Married to a retired army noncommissioned officer, Stoker has lived all over the country—from Missouri to California to Colorado—and currently lives under the big skies of Texas. A true believer in the happily ever after, Stoker enjoys writing novels in which romance turns to love. To learn more about the author and her work, visit her website or find her on Facebook.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Claiming Sarah (Ace Security #5) by Susan Stoker to read and review.