Claiming Grace by Susan Stoker

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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.

Second Chances Wrapped in Suspense

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 🩷💚❤️💙
Spice/Steam: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌏🌍
Character development: 😋🙂😁😍
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration

Audiobook Review: Claiming Grace (Ace Security, #1)

Author: Susan Stoker
Genre: Military Romance
Narrator(s): Erin Bennett

Characters and Plot

Logan Anderson has spent the last ten years in the military. He and his two brothers left home the moment they turned eighteen, escaping an upbringing marked by severe abuse. Their mother terrorized the triplets and their father, and the brothers have returned only because their father has died. Their mother killed him, then took her own life. The guilt the brothers feel is heavy, yet they know that if their father had ever asked for help, they would have moved mountains to get him out.

With Logan only two months from leaving the military, the brothers decide to return to their hometown and open a security agency. Their mission is deeply personal. They want to help people like their father, people who feel trapped and judged, people who need a lifeline. Within six months, their business is thriving and they have already helped many men and women escape dangerous situations.

Logan had been close friends with Grace in high school. Before he left, he told her to wait for him and promised to write. He never did. Now that he is back, he avoids her, even though his best friend Cole keeps reminding him that Grace has been through a rough stretch.

Grace’s life has been shaped by manipulation. Her parents controlled every part of her existence, from her job at their architectural firm to her spending. For years she rebelled in small but meaningful ways. She kept a secret phone, a secret bank account, and a secret best friend named Felicity. She saved every dollar she could from the allowance her parents gave her for food and clothing. She feared her parents might force her into a marriage with Bradford, a man who worked at their firm and clearly had his own agenda.

Highlights

• Grace’s parents were absolutely unhinged. Grace thought they were merely controlling, but they turned out to be full on looney tunes. Their wealth and influence in town made them even more dangerous, and their willingness to use blackmail and worse added a sharp edge to the suspense.
• Logan’s emotional reaction to Grace’s letters was one of my favorite parts. Watching a tough, disciplined man break open emotionally shows a depth of character that feels genuine and heartfelt.

Limitations

• Grace was not my favorite heroine. She often felt passive and hesitant, and I kept wishing she had found the courage to leave her parents years earlier. Yes, they sabotaged her attempt to move to Denver and even managed to get her placed on a temporary psychiatric hold, but it still seems like something a determined lawyer could have dismantled quickly. Her situation was awful, but her lack of agency made her harder to root for at times.

Narration

The audiobook is told in dual points of view but performed by a single narrator, Erin Bennett. Erin has a pleasant voice and does a solid job differentiating characters. Even so, I found myself wishing for dual or duet narration. I usually avoid solo narration, especially when male characters are central, but I have been making exceptions for Susan Stoker’s books. Her stories blend romance, emotional depth, and suspense in a way that keeps me engaged even when the narration style is not my favorite.

Final Opinion

This story delivers a compelling mix of emotional history, small town danger, and second chance romance. Logan is easy to root for, and the brothers’ mission gives the book a strong emotional core. Grace’s journey is frustrating at times, but the escalating tension with her parents keeps the plot moving. The narration is serviceable, though not ideal for listeners who prefer multiple voices. Overall, it is a solid romantic suspense audiobook with enough heart and intensity to keep you invested from start to finish.

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