Claiming Sarah by Susan Stoker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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 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.

Fighting Fear and Falling Hard

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 🩷💙💚❤️
Steam/Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘
World building: 🌏🌍🌎
Character development: 🤓😟🤯😎
Narration: 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration Type: Solo Narration

Characters and Plot Dynamics

Sarah Butler is a nursing assistant who is being stalked by a man whose mother she took care of in the hospital. She gets a weird vibe from him, and he continually sends her presents and notes, even after she has told him to stop. She is compassionate and capable yet still haunted by the fear that lingers beneath the surface. Her decision to walk into Cole Johnson’s gym is a turning point. She wants to learn self defense in case the stalking continues, and the stalker poses a threat to her.

Cole Johnson is the owner of the gym and a man who understands strength in all its forms. He is protective without being overbearing, patient without being passive, and immediately aware that Sarah needs more than a standard training routine. Their connection grows through small moments of trust, shared vulnerability, and the steady rhythm of training sessions that become something deeper.

The plot blends personal healing with external danger. As Sarah grows stronger, both physically and emotionally, the threat from her stalkers resurfaces. Cole steps into her life not as a savior but as a partner who respects her autonomy. Their relationship becomes the emotional anchor of the story, while the suspense arc builds toward a tense and satisfying resolution.

Highlights

• A heroine reclaiming her power. Sarah’s journey feels authentic and emotionally grounded.
• A hero who supports rather than controls. Cole’s approach to teaching and protecting Sarah is thoughtful and respectful.
• Training scenes that deepen the relationship. The self defense lessons are intimate in a way that feels earned.
• A balance of romance and suspense. The emotional beats and the danger complement each other well.

Drawbacks

• A slower early build. The story takes its time establishing Sarah’s emotional state, which may feel unhurried to listeners who want immediate action.
• Some predictable suspense elements. The stalker’s trajectory is clear early on.
• Repetition in internal monologue. Certain emotional reminders are revisited more often than necessary.

Narration

Erin Bennett delivers a warm and emotionally intuitive performance. She captures Sarah’s vulnerability without making her sound fragile, and she gives Cole a grounded, steady presence that fits his character. Her pacing is smooth, her emotional delivery is consistent, and she brings out the tenderness in the romance as well as the tension in the suspense. The narration enhances the story’s emotional depth and makes the quieter moments more impactful.

Final Opinion

Claiming Sarah is a heartfelt romantic suspense story centered on healing, trust, and the slow rebuilding of confidence. Sarah and Cole are easy to root for, both as individuals and as a couple. The suspense is engaging, the emotional arc is satisfying, and the audiobook narration adds an extra layer of warmth. Fans of protective heroes, survivor heroines, and character driven romance will find this installment especially rewarding.

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