Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆
3.5 stars

This story provides a thoughtful and considered look at the impact of domestic abuse in two very different situations. While Logan and his brothers are still recovering from physical abuse in childhood, Grace is trapped as an adult in a brutal web of emotional and psychological abuse.

While I appreciate the ideas that underpin this story, I felt little connection to either Logan or Grace. Both characters feel more like vehicles for the author’s message rather than fully developed people I could care about. We are told about their experiences in quite graphic detail, but they rebound too quickly and heal too easily for their pain to feel real. Grace’s recovery period isn’t quick, but it is briefly summarised in a few pages before the author returns to the romance between her and Logan.

I liked the second chance romance between Logan and Grace. It is sweet to see the high school couple reunited ten years later. Again though, once the initial miscommunication is cleared up, the path from reunion to happily ever after is rushed and far too easy to be believable.

The investigation into Grace’s parents becomes a whirlwind ride at the end of the story. Again, months of investigative work are recounted in quick summaries and a string of increasingly implausible action scenes add excitement – but also some confusion to the conclusion of the story.

This is an important topic and the author shares some important messages here.


Mary – ☆☆☆☆
Reading the synopsis on this book before I accepted it, I thought it was going to be about a second chance romance. But it was more than that. It was two people dealing with different types of abuse. While Logan was dealing with the physical side of it, Grace was dealing with the emotional side.

Logan Anderson is one of the Anderson triplets; when it came time, they left their hometown and weren't planning on coming back. But ten years later, they are back for their father’s funeral. Logan and his brothers came up with the idea of starting ACE Securities in their hometown, an agency that would help victims of abuse.

Grace Mason was Logan's tutor while they were in school and they became friends. Both wanted more, but Logan left for the Army. He told Grace he would write and let her know where he ended up and then she could come to him. They were both ready to take the relationship to the next level.

Now, ten years later, Logan is bitter that Grace didn't write him back and she walks around like the princess that she is. Her parents basically own the small town and Grace works at the family business.

What happens when Logan learns the truth about Grace's past? Can Grace and Logan forgive each other for the hurt in the past? Will there be a chance for a future for Logan and Grace?

This story touches on a subject most don't want to read because no one thinks about emotional abuse as being abuse. They think "If you can't see any signs, then it must not be happening." Well abuse happens in more ways than one and I am happy Susan Stoker wrote this story and I got the chance to read it. I can't wait to see what she has in store for Blake in book two, Claiming Alexis, due to release July 2017.


Rachael – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 Stars

While I didn't think the book was necessarily a bad read, I also felt absolutely no connection to either of the main characters. It really felt like they lacked in emotion even during incredibly intense and stressful scenes.

That being said, I did like how Ms. Stoker showed us that not everyone who is a victim of abuse is the same. There are many types of abuse and just like with Grace, it isn't always so obvious to the person who is living with it or those outside of the circle involved in that abuse.

There were a few little surprises that I liked to keep me wondering what was going to happen. However, a LOT of the trouble was so seamlessly solved and it was too unbelievable that this couple had gotten away with so much and never had anyone go against them before.

All in all, it had a good premise and a lovely second chance love story with a decent plot line, I just wish there'd been some strife and work needed to get a solution instead of it seeming so easy. This could've been because a large part of this portion of the story was told to us instead of letting us really be involved and see as it came together piece by piece.

Another fantastic book by Susan Stoker. A start to a new series. 3 brothers who had a rough life so far. This was a great storyline of one of the brothers getting a second chance at love. But it doesn't come easy. So many twists and turns in this book.

I started reading this book and couldn't go to sleep, I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. There is just something special about the writing of this author that you get so involved in her books, that I need to read them in one sitting. Definitely recommend this book and any other Susan Stoker has written, you can't go wrong.

I really struggled to get in to this book at first. I mean, it starts off at a grave site, a business is created to help those who are abused and then the female ends up in a completely abusive situation with her parents. Throw in a high school romance that was doomed from the start and I was pretty sure I wasn't going to make it to the half way mark. Thank goodness I stuck with it. Turns out....good things can happen to those who wait. And I'm not just talking about me waiting for this to get good.

Logan is a triplet. Not only is he a triplet, he's the one who took the brunt of the punishment his abusive mother dished out. After a traffic event, the triplets decided to move back to their home town and start a business that helps those who are in abusive relationships and trying to get out. Moving back home came with a price though. Logan had to face the one girl he's been in love with since high school. The one girl who broke his heart when he left for the Army. The one girl he STILL loves.

Grace is the girl. The rich girl with money, mansion and everything her hearts desired. At least that's what it looks like on the outside. That's not the case at all. She's been living in hell her entire life and can't wrap her head around why Logan never came back for her like he promised all those years ago. Now that he's back in town, it's time to clear the air and find out what really happened. But the answer is just the beginning to more problems for Grace. Turns out that the abuse she's lived through with her parents was nothing compared to what's to come.

Like I mentioned in the beginning, this was hard for me. I understand that we needed to get to know the characters and their background in order to get to the story. But it took a long time for that to happen in my opinion. That being said, once Grace and Logan had their talk...the story moved at a perfect pace with enough drama, anticipation and love that kept me interested. We meet and fall in love with the other brothers and close friends, setting up the series for what looks to be promising. I know I'm already looking forward to the next one.

reviewed by Chris

This is a good mix of contemporary romance and suspense. Grace has been emotionally/mentally abused by her parents all her life, just a warning if this could be a trigger for you. Grace and Logan are both very likeable characters, well written and believable. Logan was caring and protective without being over the top and domineering.

The realism was one of the big positives of this book. At one point the brothers would love to hack into a surveillance system but acknowledge that is the stuff of spy stories and films. The final resolution of Grace's situation was also portrayed in a very believable manner. I had to smile at one point when Grace mentally refused to behave like a female horror movie character by putting herself into a dangerous situation, again a normal or real choice.

The writing is of a high standard, the dialogue very natural and the plot was both very well thought through and executed well. The pace was good whilst the plot had lots of unexpected little twists and turns. The supporting characters were all fully rounded and believable (if not all likeable), although I would have liked to have has more scenes later in the book between Grace and Felicity (her best friend). This didn't spoil the book but I felt her best (and for a long time only) friend was a little absent from the story.


The chemistry between Grace and Logan is there from the start, feelings carried over from their teenage years. Again the author didn't rush the couple into bed and love straight away but allowed time for their relationship to be rebuilt. When time was 'skipped', in order to move the story on, this was made clear and the story flowed well because of this. The love scenes were 'warm' and very genuine, and thankfully didn't abruptly end or fade to grey.

An entertaining read.

This book tackles some tough, emotional subjects but was very well done. Full of angst and heartache but an HEA in the end.

Looking forward to book 2...

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Claiming Grace by Susan Stoker.......What a great start to this new series. As always Susan Stoker writes books you can't put down, I finished in one sitting. I enjoyed watching this story unfold between Logan and Grace. Susan Stoker is one of my top authors, I know the book will be a five star read. I highly recommend reading this book and starting the new series. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

First let me say that I love Susan's books -- the heroines are strong and the heroes treat them like a man should treat a woman. Claiming Grace did not disappoint; Logan and Grace were fantastic. I also enjoyed the side characters whom I hope to see more of. My hesitation for giving 5 stars comes largely from my inability to connect totally with the type of abuse in this book. The emotional nature of it did not completely resonate likely because I have never been in a similar situation. While I felt bad for Grace and hoped she and Logan got together, I was at times frustrated that she didn't just stand up for herself. Not a fault of Susan Stoker, just my inability to relate to the situation completely.

A really great read with great characters. I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book through NetGalley and am glad that I did. If you enjoy Susan Stoker's books or just a good, action-packed read, you need to check this book out.

I have read all of Susan stoker's books as I really like her as an author. Her usual genre is seals, Deltas and law enforcement so this security book was going a little differently. I was apprehensive about reading it but chapter three in and there was no doubt that she can write any book she outs her mind to.

We have three bothers. Logan (this book), Blake and Nathan. They came from a brutal household where there mom used them as a punching bag until they got out. She then went on to kill their dad as he suffered from domestic abuse. She then killed herself. They decide to open up a security company called ACE after their dad and their promise is to help men, women and children who are in the same situation they were in. Grace has lived at home after her mom and dad seem to need her time after time and control everything she does in her life even her money.

My heart broke for grace after reading about what she went through, how crazy her parents were with what they done and to the point that they didn't mind Kidnapping her either. Logan and his brother are lucky enough to be there to help her and to try and break the cycle. This was a fantastic book and I enjoyed it. It sucked you in from chapter one all the way through to the end just to find out what was going to happen.

Susan Stoker writes the best heroines!!! It is amazing that no matter what awful things have happened or are happening to them, their spirit is never broken. Grace is just such a heroine. She has been going through hell her entire life without anyone knowing it, yet she is still trying to get herself out of that hell. Logan is a wonderful hero. He is gorgeous, sexy, compassionate, strong and most of all has been in love with Grace forever. Now that he is back in his hometown after 10 years, he sets out to clear the air with her and find out what happened to them all those years ago when he left for the army. He too has been through some awful hell and come out an amazing man. He and his brothers, they are triplets, decided to open up Ace Security to help those who need help. He never knew Grace would be one of those people that needed their help. He wants to protect her and help her out of the situation she finds herself in because he cares and because he loves her.
Grace and Logan pick up where they left off 10 years prior and begin seeing each other. They are sweet together. Sensual, passionate and loving, just perfect. But life around them is most definitely not perfect.
The story was awesome and kept me riveted the whole time. I don't like to give the whole story away in my reviews but suffice it to say, this is an awesome first book in the Ace Security series!! 5 plus stars for Susan Stoker!!
Also reviewed on Barnes & Noble as KindleKat64

Claiming Grace by Susan Stoker is OMG the best book I've read this year.
Logan Anderson is back in his hometown where the first 18 years of his and his two brothers lives was made hell by his family situation,the oldest of triplets and a punchbag for their abusive mother Logan couldn't wait to leave town and join the army. Finally back home after 10 years but it's to bury their father ,who was Killed by their mother,the brothers decide to start up a security firm in honour of their father they want to protect people,mainly men, who have nowhere else to turn. Logan's old high school crush still lives in the town but she hurt him badly and as much as he tries to stay away from her he's drawn to her and the sadness he sees in her eyes.
Grace Mason is a woman on the edge,to those around her she has the perfect life,rich family,a cushy job at her parents Architectural firm but inside she's dying,since she was born she's never been good enough for her parents as she wasn't a boy,but at 28 they still run her life and Grace is feeling trapped but when her high school crush comes back to town Grace starts to feel again but with that comes danger and for the first time ever Grace must let people in so they can help.
Susan has another winner with this one.

I am a huge fan of Susan Stoker and have enjoyed reading her many books and series. Having said that, it took me a bit to get into this book. At first, I had a hard time relating to the heroine (Grace). I couldn't wrap my head around a grown woman allowing her parents to manipulate her the way they did. But I stuck with it and I'm so glad I did. I ended up enjoying the book and really liking Grace and Logan and the way they worked together to help free Grace from her parents grasp. Add in the help they received from Logan's brothers and Grace's friends, and you have an excellent start to a new series. I look forward to the next book.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher, Montlake, via NetGalley but my opinions are my own.

Claiming Grace is not for the fainthearted. Both characters have suffered from abuse, either physical or emotional. Logan managed to escape his abuser and has now returned home with his brothers. But can he rekindle the love he felt for Grace, after leaving her behind?

Grace's trauma may not be visible but it was just as damaging. I loved the ethos behind Logan's company - rescuing abused adults and children, a very worthy but emotionally draining cause.

At turns sad, sweet, romantic and heart wrenching. I really teared up at times and before I knew it I'd read the book in one sitting!

ARC provided by NetGalley and I voluntarily leave this review.

I love second chance romances and this one didn't let me down. Grace and Logan were so much stronger than they thought and the love they found again was stronger because of it. Can't wait to see how the rest of the series turns out.

Susan Stoker writes some great alpha males with their strong women and the first book to this new series is no different. Logan and Grace met in high school and were friends, but nothing romantic ever happened. They both cared about each other, but Logan was leaving for the Army. He told Grace he would write. Grace never received the letters and assumed he was moving on without her. Ten years later, Logan is back and Grace wants to know why he never wrote and Logan wants to know why she never answered! Grace's parents are the worst kind of controlling bullies. When Logan and his family figure out the danger Grace is in, they will stop at nothing to protect her.

This was a fast paced read. I loved watching the strength that Grace possessed come to flourish. Watching her and Logan take their second chance and take on Grace's parents was a thrill ride. This was a really good read and I enjoyed it.

Claiming Grace is a second chance romance that won't be for the faint of heart. Both main characters grew up with abusive parents. While Logan was able to get away from the abuse, Grace didn't. 10 years after Logan left town, he's back with his brothers for good and will learn that Grace's life was more like his than he knew.

I like the approach the author took. The abuse Grace suffers is often times not recognized. A lot of people don't realize that emotional abuse can be more damaging than physical abuse. People who have been mentally abused can be broken down to the point of not being able to function independently. This is where people who've never been in a situation like this may not understand why someone doesn't just leave.

This was a great way to educate others to be more open minded. It's a beautiful but sad story that makes the ending a lot sweeter. ARC provided by NetGalley.

Logan, Blake and Nathan Anderson (triplets), and their dad, were physically abused by their mom growing up. When they turned 18, they all left, never looking back. They spoke every few months to their dad, but never once returned to town. Until their mother killed their dad then committed suicide. The three of them returned for their dad’s funeral and decided to start a security firm for abuse victims, specializing in male victims, in their hometown.

Grace Mason works for her family’s architecture business as a receptionist. She has a business degree because her parents insisted when she didn’t want to be an architect. She really wanted to major in marketing. Her parents are emotionally and psychologically abusive. It was truly heinous the lengths they went to so they could keep her under their control.

Logan and Grace were best friends the last 2 years of high school. When Logan left for the Army, he promised to send for her. She never heard from him. 10 years later, he shows up in town for his dad’s funeral and opens a business. They avoid each other for a few months. He believes she’s a pampered princess who decided he wasn’t good enough for her, even when his/her friends try to convince him otherwise. Logan did an awfully quick and easy turn around concerning Grace, and Grace seemed to get over her issues rather quickly after 28 years of abuse. After 10 years of believing the other terminated their relationship, one short conversation and they’re back together. It just advanced a little too quickly.

We get glimpses into the other characters to set up the series as well as the next probable storyline. This is my first book by this author and I have mixed feelings about it. I would probably read the next one because I am curious about Blake and Nathan.


SPOILER ALERT:

I had a problem with the whole pregnancy thing at the end. First, the potential for multiple births comes from the mother, not the father, though the gene can be passed from father to daughter. Second, if you are only 10 weeks pregnant, you are not going to be able to tell the sex of the baby on a sonogram. And, hot tubs are not recommended for pregnant women.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley.

***4 ‘I had no idea it could be this good’ Stars***

I didn’t expect that. The description is accurate. Very much so. But I wasn’t expecting THAT. It’s not a bad thing, not really, because that whole situation kept me at the edge of my seat, but holy hell. But outside of that, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. It was sweet, smexy, suspenseful and filled with characters that I want to get to know better.

Logan’s childhood was no fairy tale. He battled every day to keep himself and his brothers safe and left as soon as he could with the knowledge that his brothers were also getting away from the hell they lived in. I really liked Logan. He’s got a good heart and once he sets a path for himself he doesn’t back down. But there were moments where he needed a good swift kick in the arse, in fact one time I really did wish his friend had hit him, but he quickly got his head out of his ass and showed what a good guy he really was.

On the outside Grace looks perfect. Well off family. Good looks. Intelligent. A secure job in the family business, but looks can be deceiving. I loved Grace she has a kind and gentle soul and, when given the opportunity, can be quite feisty. But the secrets she has to hide are slowly killing her and though I understood what was happening to her, I wanted to smack some sense into her and have her fight for herself and her happiness. Thankfully, we finds the strength and it was a joy to watch her become the woman she was meant to be.

Logan and Grace’s road to their HEA was an interesting one. The obstacles they faced weren’t due to anything they did or didn’t do, but due to outside interference. The one main issue between them was resolved early on in the book and I liked how it was dealt with and though I liked them together in the end, the beginning, after they resolved their issues, was a bit off for me. I can’t put my finger on it, but I wasn’t feeling the intensity of their feelings towards each other. As the book progressed and they re-connected it got easier to see why they were a perfect fit for each other as they not only helped each other to heal, but become stronger.

While the reason for the birth of Ace Security is a sad one, I loved what it stood for and what the brothers wanted to accomplish through it. All of the characters peaked my interest for one reason or another, some because I really liked them, others because I wanted to gut them with a spoon, but they were all well written and I can’t wait to get to know them all better. The suspense element was done very well, scarily so, and though I won’t go further into it because it may or may not teeter into spoiler territory, I will say that the topics may be triggers for some. As I said, I was surprised by it all and that doesn’t happen all that often. It didn’t put me off reading the rest of the book, in fact it hooked me even more, but some may have issues so be prepared.

Claiming Grace is a second chance love story. Grace and Logan had been best friends in high school. Logan's mom was abusive and Grace's parents were controlling. Logan joined the army as soon as he graduated in order to get away. Grace stayed and did everything her parents told her to. I am going to do this review a little differently. Within the first few pages, I was already dying to dialogue about this book. These are my thoughts as I am reading!

8%
I am struggling to have any respect or sympathy for Grace. Logan left even though his mom was abusive. Grace went to college and then came back. Her parents are certainly emotionally abusive, but I feel there is a great deal more Grace could do to break their hold over her. She's 30 years old for crying out loud. I also understand the desire to please your parents...but again, Grace is just making me irritated.

11%
My least favorite plot trope? The miscommunication. Logan sent letters. Grace never got letters. Yet, now that he is back, they refuse to speak. A simple "Hey, why didn't you write" could have cleared up a lot.

25%
Ok, miscommunication cleared up. Glad that didn't go on long. But Logan is kind of giving me whiplash. "I don't believe in emotional abuse". 2 seconds later "Yeah, somethings wrong. I'm gonna talk to her". Dude? Seriously? You run an agency that helps men and women in abusive situations. While I may find Grace's behavior irritating, I do believe she is being emotionally abused.

30%
Felicity, Grace's only friend, does a fantastic job of really explaining emotional abuse and why it is effective. I am still struggling with Grace as a character because she seems so naive that its difficult to believe, but I can at least see why she has allowed this abuse to continue and hasn't stood up to her parents sooner.

60%
Ok, Grace is starting to get a backbone with Logan's help and she is a bit more relatable now. The letters....those made me tear up a bit!

88%
Grace's parents are almost comically bad. You know those old Rocky and Bullwinkle cartoons? Her parents are like Natasha and Boris...The story is told in 3rd person so I think it would have helped if the reader got a little insight into their motives. But, without that insight, they just feel static.

Final verdict: Not my favorite Susan Stoker book. I think because I have loved so many of her books that I might be a bit more judgmental than your average reader. While I have pointed out all the things that bothered me, there is a lot more to the book. Grace opened up to her friends and it was powerful to see how the abuse had impacted her. One thing Stoker always does well is abuse survivors. While Claiming Grace wasn't a total hit for me, it still is a good book that I think will appeal to readers who like emotional stories of people overcoming abuse that no one sees. As Felicity pointed out, everyone would jump to help a person who had bruises and obvious signs of abuse, but not having a black eye doesn't mean you aren't being abused.

My apologies to all my friends that have been telling me to read Susan Stoker; Claiming Grace is the first in a series and the first I’ve read by this author. This story pulled at my heartstrings and kept me flipping pages. Logan Anderson and his brothers suffered a physically abusive parent growing up. The one thing keeping him going was the knowledge that he was leaving town as soon as he graduated from high school and his tutor in the person of Grace Mason. He was hurt when she didn’t respond to his letters and thought he’d dealt with it. Now ten years later he and his brothers are back in town and he has to deal with his feelings for Grace. There is another form of abuse that is harder to see and harder to prove and Grace has been dealing with it her whole life. She is the victim of emotional and mental abuse and is afraid for both Logan and herself. Can she let him help her escape from her controlling parents and allow them to love each other again? Claiming Grace is an emotional romantic suspense/second chance romance that will have you looking differently at the world around you. I look forward to the next installment.

3 1\2 stars out of 5
I struggled reading this story. I have read other books by Susan Stokers and found that I have to work to get into her stories. I am not sure if it is her writing style or voice but I do struggle.

The author took on a challenging story line of silent abuse. With that story lines comes challenges of how to make the heroin voice heard know she was emotional abused. Both leads were "broken characters" one was physical abused while the other one was controlled and emotionally abused which brought them together.

With all of these type of books the male lead in this case Logan seems to turn a switch and everything changes. He sees what is happening to Grace and works hard to free her. After 28 years of being abused she isn't going to be able to turn a switch either and move on. I'm not saying the story had to be based in reality but give some credit to the fact it takes years to move past that kind of crap.

I found this book hard to read for many personal reason. My opinion is just that someone isn't able to move forwards as quickly as Grace did when they have been in a abusive relationship for their entire life.
Advance Copy from Netgalley