Defiance Falls

Defiance Falls, Book 1

By: Ali Dean

Narrated by: Sarah Puckett

Length: 5 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

All I wanted was a little trouble. Okay, so, maybe, choosing Cruz Donovan’s 18th birthday party wasn’t the way to go about it. Three years ago, I fell for him. I thought he fell for me, too. But when he broke it off, he took my heart, and as if that wasn’t enough, he took my best friends, too.

They aren’t the same boys I knew before high school started. They’ve got all kinds of secrets they’re keeping from me. If I want back in, I’ve got to be ready to play their game. I might be a killer soccer player, but I’m not real eager to join a team when they won’t tell me who the opponent is, how to score a goal, or what rules I’m supposed to be following.

I’m in the wrong place at the wrong time - a pawn in games I don’t understand. Maybe, I never should have gone looking for trouble in the first place. Is it too late to change my mind?

©2019 Ali Dean (P)2020 Ali Dean

Intrigue and Romance

Title: Defiance Falls Author: Ali Dean Format: audio Narrator: Sarah Puckett Genre: Romance, YA, NA, Sports (soccer), second chance, suspense Standalone: nope - ends on a cliffhanger Part of a Series: Defiance Falls book 1 POV: Hazel Steam Level: minimal but with some dark sexual elements 5/6 I’ve listened to/read many books by Ali Dean and am always enthralled with the stories. Defiance Falls continues this pattern. The suspense keeps growing and you don’t know who you can trust or why anything is happening. I desperately need answers to what is going on and why. I love the suspense in this story which adds another element to Ali Dean’s masterful storytelling. I received this audiobook for free from Audiobook Obsession. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Interesting World Building

This is the first book in the Defiance Falls Series. Hazel and Cruz's story is interesting. The world building is complex. There is a lot going on in this story. Sarah Puckett did a great job with the narration. Looking forward to listen to Defiance Falls Revolution, the next book in the Series. #AudiobookObsession

Fantastic Start to the Series...

Defiance Falls was my first book by this author. I was intriqued by the blurb and pleasantly surprised as I was hooked in to the story line early on. Hazel is a senior in high school and while she gets great grades and is an amazing soccer player, she is looking to have some more adventure and fun and maybe get in a little more trouble.

Cruz is a bit of a bad boy and the guy all the girls want. He seems to be always around Hazel's cousins, which means that he seems to be around her a lot more. They had previously dated, though it is not ever really clear why they broke up, though it seems they are both pining for each other.

The book is chock full of drama, and there are lots of moments that raise a lot of questions. Defiance Falls is book one in a series, so be prepared it ends in a cliffhanger and it is a bit of a doozy. I really enjoyed Cruz and Hazel together and am looking forward to reading more of their story and seeing how all of this unfolds with all of these characters. There is definitely a lot going on to keep the reader interested.

Sarah Puckett is seriously awesome to listen to. I discovered her only within the last several months but she has become one of my favorite female narrators to listen to. She makes audiobooks so enjoyable to listen to. I think she did a fantastic job with Defiance Falls and would highly recommend this book and her work in general. #AudiobookObsessionReviewer

Audio made this story come to life

I’ve read this book and liked it but the audiobook made me LOVE this story! I never finished the series but now I’m going to now all 3 books are available on audible. I loved this start of Cruz and Hazel. Their history was betrayed well and by the end we finally get them actually talking about their relationship. I love the other guys and her cousins too and I can’t wait to listen to more.

The only reason I did 4 stars for performance is that sometimes I couldn’t tell if it was an inner thought or part of a conversation. And I really don’t know how that could be changed but sometimes it would confuse me while I listened. But all in all I love this audiobook and thanks to loving it and the cliff hanger I will be starting the second book’s audio today too!

Not enough stars in the universe

Defiance Falls
Book 1 of Defiance Falls
Ali Dean

Not enough stars! This series is one of the best series I have read in a while and I read A LOT. I loved the characters, all of the boys and Hazel. The way Cruz loves her is so heart warming. This is such a great book with a well written and developed story.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Great new series

This is a story about Hazel and Cruz. They had a summer fling 3 years ago but Cruz ended things and Hazel stopped hanging out with the crew. Hazel is a star soccer player with dreams of going to Harvard. Hazel crashed Cruz's 18th bday party and the group reconnects. Hazel very quickly realizes that Cruz and her cousins are keeping secrets from her. She also starts to reconnect with Cruz. The secrets eventually put Hazel in a dangerous position. This books also ends on a cliffhanger so I don't want to spoil it. This is a bit slow moving at first but stay with it because it gets better. I freakin' love Sarah and will read anything she narrates. Ali is so good at writing angst filled new adult dramas. #Audio Obsession Reviewer.

Great Book/Series 💜

This is book 1 in a Trilogy series.
I enjoyed this storyline very much. Due to the ages of most of the characters it was quite intriguing. Real life drama mixed in with a little mafia style angst and the perfect amount of romance.
The narration was very good.
I recommend this book/series.

#audiobookobsession
Sisters Spotlight 💜

danger

Hazel’s life is about to turn upside down and she never saw it coming. She was in the wrong place in the wrong time and now she is in danger. In the middle of a war between the most powerful families in Defiance Falls and with her heart in the line. Can she trust Cruz and his friends when he broke her heart three years ago? Looking forward to listen to the next audiobook in the series. This one is a really good one.


I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

I loved it!

This was a great story. I love Hazel and Cruz as characters. They have an interesting dynamic. The narrator does a great job telling the story. Sarah Puckett is one of my favorite narrators. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
#audiobookobsessionreviewer

love it

What a wonderful start to this amazing series. Why does Hazel feel that she is a pawn in this game of secrets and lies? Why is her father and Cruz keeping her out in the dark? If she really knew what is going on could it harm her, or worse yet, kill her? Who can she really trust, and why is Cruz, her cousins, and his crew always there to protect her? Ali Dean has written an intriguing story about lies, betrayal, secrets, murder, jealousy, drugs, fights and a lot of teenage angst. I couldnt stop listening! Oh and there's a WTF just happened cliffhanger at the end!
Sarah Puckett, as usual, is a phenomenal narrator. Showing Hazel at her strongest, weakest and most vulnerable moments. Her voices and personalities for each character made this story come alive! Her ability to transition from one character to the other is flawless.
🎧audiobookobsessionreviewer.🎧