Looking for a romantic suspense read? Susan Stoker has just what you need!
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Opposites Attract: When Cole Claims Sarah
In Claiming Sarah, Cole Johnson is co-owner of one of his townโs most popular gyms. Heโs extremely busy since his partner, Felicity, is out of town. He makes an appointment to meet with Sarah Butler, to arrange for some self defense training for her, but he almost loses his chance when she overhears him telling his secretary heโs too busy and to give her an excuse as to why he canโt meet her. The couple (obviously) works out that awkward first meeting and Sarah begins learning how to defend herself from a creepy man who keeps giving her inappropriate presents. Of course the more time Cole spends with Sarah, the more he likes her and they end up dating. When she disappears itโs up to Cole, and Ace Security, to put together the clues to find her before itโs too late.
Cole Johnson is a man whoโs used to plowing through his day and when he needs or wants something, he simply gets it. Sarah Butler is more reserved. As a kid who didnโt feel wanted until she was finally adopted she was used to being in the background. Cole and Sarah compliment each other perfectly. Cole is able to ferret out what Sarah wants and needs and he delivers. And in return Sarah keeps Cole grounded. She smooths out his jagged edges.
I think thatโs how good relationships work, at least in my books. The Hero is there to protect and shield his woman from anyone or anything that might want to hurt her, and sheโs there to keep him grounded and to support him. It seems to just work.
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Claiming Sarah
Ace Security series
by Susan Stoker
Release Date: September 10, 2019
Publisher: Montlake
Blurb:
Sarah Butler isnโt flattered. Sheโs angry and unnerved. Sheโs been getting intimate gifts from a man she barely knows. Nothing threatening yet, but thereโs just a weird vibe she canโt 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 Sarahโs breath away.
Cole Johnson is definitely the man for the job. Heโs eager to train her. Eager to get closer. And when it comes to Sarahโs instincts, Cole knows sheโs not imagining things. Heโs also not imagining the intense attraction between themโand his desire to protect her is growing. But so are Sarahโs 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.
Buy Link:ย https://amzn.to/2NPoUTv
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Excerpt:
โDo you ask out every woman you train at your gym? It just seems . . . fast.โ
Cole stared at her for a long moment, and when he frowned, Sarah felt as if sheโd somehow disappointed him.
โNo, I donโt ask out every woman I train. Not even close. Itโs been a long time since Iโve askedย anyoneย out. And believe me, Sarah, Iโm looking at youโand I like what I see. A lot. Youโve got an air of innocence about you that I find fascinating. Youโve had a tough life, but havenโt let it harden you. I respect you, and I . . . Iโd like to get to know you better.โ
She bit her lip and took a deep breath, but didnโt immediately protest, so he went on. โI have a feeling simply being around you will make me a better person.โ
Sarah shook her head. โDonโt do that. Donโt put me on a pedestal. Iโm not some paragon walking around sprinkling glitter throughout the world.โ
Cole laughed. Threw his head back and laughed as if sheโd said the funniest thing heโd ever heard.
Sarah tugged on her hand again, somewhat offended, but he still refused to let go.
When he got himself under control, he said, โI know youโre not perfect. Youโre too trusting. You see the good in everyone, even when there isnโt any there. You probably neglect your own health in order to do something good for someone else.โ
โYou make me sound like an idiot,โ Sarah grumbled, despite being secretly kind of flattered.
โYouโre not an idiot. Youโre refreshing. And Iโm not. Iโve got more than my share of flaws that Iโm sure youโll discover sooner rather than later. But as I said, if you let me get to know you, go out on a few dates with me, Iโm hoping youโll find that you like me back . . . just a little.โ
Sarah frowned. โI already like you, Cole, but I donโt understand you. You donโt know anything about me. I could totally be lying to you right now, and you just bought my lies hook, line, and sinker.โ
He smiled again. โYouโre not lying.โ
โHow do you know?โ
โBecause Iโm an expert at reading body language. Iโve been around some bad people in my life, angel. You are who you say you are. What you see is what you get.โ
Sarah licked her lips nervously, and his gaze immediately followed the movement.
Cole persisted. โSay youโll go out with me, Sarah.โ
โI thought I was here to figure out how to defend myself.โ
โYou are. And weโll get to that. Agreeing to go out with me in no way affects whether or not Iโll teach you some basic moves that will allow you to get away from someone and get to safety.โ
โBut if I say no, things could get weird.โ
โThen say yes,โ Cole cajoled. โI swear youโve got nothing to fear from me. Iโll even get references if that will make you feel safer.โ
โItโs not that. I think I feel safer with you than anyone Iโve ever been around . . .โ She hesitated.
โBut?โ
โIโm afraid once you get to know me, youโll decide Iโm annoying. Too much work or something. I work odd hours, weird shifts. And I looked you up online. I know about your friend and what happened to her. And about the Andersons. The last thing I want is my stalker getting upset when he sees us togetherโbecause he willโand taking out any anger on you and your friends.โ
โBreathe, angel. Take a breath. Nothing is going to happen to them.โ
โYou canโt control people, Cole,โ Sarah pressed. โTheyโre unpredictable.โ
โFine. Then weโll meet with Logan, Blake, Nathan, and Ryder, and make sure they know everything about this Owen guy. Weโll let them investigate and figure out what will make him back off. In the meantime, weโll hang out at my place. Or here. Or your house. We wonโt shove our relationship down Owenโs throat. Weโll be discreet. Howโs that sound?โ
Sarah could only gape at him. โHowโd we go from me wanting some tips on protecting myself to having Ace Security investigating Owen and you and me hanging out at each otherโs houses?โ
He smiled at her again, but didnโt answer her question.
She took a deep breath and gave him the only answer she could. โOkay.โ
He beamed. โOkay,โ he said quietly. Then he finally let go of her hand and stood, before immediately reaching the same hand down to her again. โTime for your first lesson.โ
Automatically, she reached up and let him help her off the floor. She wasnโt sure what she was expecting. A kiss to seal the deal. A hug. A discussion about when and where their first date would be. But so far, Cole hadnโt done anything the way she expected him to.
โFirst lesson for today will be how to get a guy to let go of your hand if heโs been holding on too long and youโre uncomfortable.โ
Sarah knew he was referring to her feeble attempts to pull her hand out of his, and blushed. But he was right, this was something she should know. It would come in handy at the hospital too, just in case one of the patients or family members got a little too familiar, as theyโd done in the past.
Concentrating on his instruction, she did her best to put her nerves about dating Cole behind her.
*****
Author Info:
Susan Stoker is theย New York Times, USA Today,ย andย Wall Street Journalย bestselling author ofย Claiming Felicity, Claiming Bailey, Claiming Grace,ย andย Claiming Alexisย in the Ace Security series. A lover of alpha heroes, Susan is also the author of the Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes, SEAL of Protection, and Delta Force Heroes series. Married to a retired Army noncommissioned officer, Stoker has lived all over the countryโfrom Missouri and California to Colorado and Texasโand currently lives under the big skies of Tennessee. She is a true believer in happily ever after and enjoys writing novels in which romance turns to love. To learn more about the author and her work, visit her atย www.stokeraces.com.
Website:ย http://www.stokeraces.com/
Facebook:ย https://www.facebook.com/authorsstoker
Twitter:ย https://twitter.com/Susan_Stoker
Goodreads:ย https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8247140.Susan_Stoker
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Giveaway:
$25 Amazon Gift Card and Digital Copy of Susan Stokerโs CLAIMING SARAH
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