Defiant: An Enemies-to-Lovers Standalone

By: Sara Cate

Narrated by: Aiden Snow, Kelley Huston

Length: 5 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's Summary

Rafe 

Hate is easy. A hell of a lot easier than the alternative.

It’s my job to keep Wicked safe, which means getting my hands a little dirty sometimes. After I lost my best friend, I’m not pulling my punches anymore. So it’s hate that helps me win every fight and close every case. 

But now the past is coming back to haunt me, and I refuse to be cornered. As for the girl who just moved in next door, hate is my only option, and I won’t go down without a fight. 

Shelby 

Ten years ago, he ruined my life. Now, it’s my turn to ruin his.

I didn’t plan to move in next door to Rafe Nolan - especially after what he did to me and my brother. But now I have the opportunity to make his life as miserable as he made mine. 

And for a man who is so tortured, this should be easy. 

But there is a dark secret behind all that pain of his that draws me in. He’s trying to hold his power over me, but I can see him losing control. 

I can use his secrets against him, but as I start falling for him, I know this is one fight I am going to lose. 

Welcome to Wicked Beach....

Defiant is a stand-alone, enemies-to-lovers romance. It has a love-to-hate alpha a-hole and feisty heroine with no cliff-hanger and a guaranteed HEA.

©2020 Sara Cate (P)2020 Sara Cate

A pleasant surprise

I was gifted a copy of this book and I wasn’t sure what to expect as I had not heard of the author or listened to the narrators before. I was pleasantly surprised with a nice, easy listen. It has enough of a story to be intrigued without being overly angsty. It also has some steam to it. Although it’s a standalone I would recommend reading the prior books to have the full cast experience.

I love this Series!

This is the third book in the Wicked Hearts Series, a standalone romance in an interconnected series. I like this series. Rafe and Shelby's story is entertaining, and captivating. Rafe is handsome, wounded, and enigmatic. Shelby is strong, caring, supportive, and determined. They are perfect together! The storyline is well written, and intriguing. I loved to see again the characters from the first books in the series. Aiden Snow and Kelley Huston did an amazing job with the narration. I enjoyed it.

Second Chances

We all have things in our past we regret. Some regrets are bigger than others, but I love a good redemption story. Coming back from those retreats and getting a second chance to mend relationships melts my heart. This wasn’t just a story of a man and woman re-finding each other. This is a story of two people re-finding themselves and those they consider family.

second chance??

I didn't like shelby and didn't connect with her. She wanted revenge for a crime her brother committed???? She's a hospice nurse so she should have compassion and empathy and a better understanding of right and wrong. Her brother was very wrong and got what he deserved . Where's her sense of honor and integrity. Too little too late imo. I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this and am giving an honest review. The duet narration was great.

Second chance at a first love

This book is all about a decision made 10 years ago. After tens years of not seeing each Shelby and Rafe are now living next door to each other. Will they be able to rekindle what they once had or will that one decision be the end.

Book as well written and duration absolutely fabulous would definitely recommend this book

A steamy listen

This a good listen entertaining story I enjoyed the narrators and the way the story deleveoped.
it is a stand alone but do recommend to read The other's in series. to get the back story for the other characters

She does it again!

I absolutely love Sara Cate and this is another winner! Enemies to Lovers is one of my favorite tropes, and Aiden and Kelley brings this story to life. I didn't listen to the first two in this series, but will definitely go back for more. :)

So sexy & hot! A Must listen

Really enjoying this book by Sara Cate. The enemies to lovers trope is my favorite. The angst & banter between Rafe & Shelby is beyond hot! Rafe has some secrets. Definitely give this one a listen! Aiden Snow & Kelley Huston (new to me narrator).

Unbelievable! It was that good!

Shelby once loved Rafe. He was also her brother’s best friend. That was until Rafe betrayed them both. Now, years later he’s her new next door neighbor and that’s a problem, for both of them. Defiant is a intense, well written, gripping, emotional, enemies to lovers, to forever story that held me and would not let me go. I cried uncontrollably, intense ugly tears, and there is no way I am getting over this one any time soon. What scares me to the depth of my soul is the fear that for some, this story is all too real. The writing is gritty and brilliant. The dialogue painfully realistic and the narration? Unbelievable! Raw emotion comes through so loud, so clear that the mere thought of increasing the speed seemed like sacrilege. Don’t take this one lightly. And don’t pass this one by. Not enough stars on the face of the earth! WOW!

defiant

first off I absolutely love both of these narrators, they do an amazing job with this book. the storyline is great and it will draw you in and not let you go.

Great Listen

This was great enemies-to-lovers romance, there should have been a tissue warning for this as heartbreaking and emotional at times.

I can't wait to listen to the rest of the series.

“I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.”

Emotionally immersive and absolutely brilliant.

This story is heartbreaking, thought provoking but absolutely brilliant. There should be a special punishment for adults who hurt children, but a extra special one for parents that do it. OMG! The terrible abuse Rafe endured from his parents is utterly disgusting, devastating, traumatic and life altering. Despite all the trauma and years self loathing, he was able to find redemption through love. Very emotionally immersive, I feel like I'm there in wicked. The narrator captures the thought and feelings of the characters brilliantly. I read this story before but re-reading the audio version makes it even more potent and unforgettable.

Great

Another great enemies to lovers story from Sara Cate perfectly narrated by Kelley Huston & Aiden Snow.

Defiant

Wow I loved this book. Rafe is dealing with so much trauma from his childhood. Just to be touched is torture for him. When the girl that got away from his past appears back into his life. At first they come together out of revenge. They are exactly what the other needed to reach their fullest potential. Kelley Huston and Aiden Snow were both phenomenal to listen to.

True enemies to lovers

I've not come across a true enemies to lovers story in a while and boy howdy did this check that mark. Shelby and Rafe have a history, they grew up together but were torn apart. The chemistry between them was off the charts but because of that history and the issues Rafe has they fight it for a while. I REALLY enjoyed this. And the audio was smoking hot. Will for sure be looking at the rest of this series.

Fast-paced, heartfelt, steamy

DEFIANT by Sara Cate was an unexpected surprise for me. Fast-paced, intense and steamy with a hero that stole my heart with his dark, tormented soul and a heroine with an incredible huge heart. A broken cop and a sweet hospice nurse and their second chance. A heartfelt story about broken trust, overcoming past trauma, healing and love. A second chance enemies to lovers romance that hits the mark.

Aiden Snow is perfect for Rafe’s wounded character with his growly voice that I love so much. Kelley Huston was new to me. She conveyed Shelby’s emotion beautifully, the only slight critique I have is that I wished the characters’ different voices were a bit more distinguishable.

Fabulous!

Loved this. Great story, really good narration by both actors and an HEA that is completely satisfying! 💖💖💖💖💖

wow

I AM IN LUST! SUCH A HOT GREAT AUDIO!!! I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF THIS

Brilliant

I loved the enemies to lovers vibe that this one had, I also loved that the characters were broken and stuck in a rut. But they slowly found trust and built a solid foundation. A fantastic book with fantastic narration.

I liked this second chance story

I liked this second chance story about a traumatized cop slash boxer and the woman he betrayed–more precisely, he put her twin brother in jail, for reasonable reasons. They start as enemies, but undeniable sparks flare between them and they soon become lovers… almost. Because of his troubled past, Rafe has problems with intimacy. If I thought Shelby was a bit too bossy–and almost disrespectful–trying to get him past his fears, the way he tries and overcomes them for her was beautiful.

The background plots, with Rafe the cop investigating a possible drug trafficking, the illegal bets, Shelby’s work as a nurse for dying people, were interesting but barely used, as the story really focus on the relationship and Rafe’s trauma. Ezra’s revenge was more useful, as it creates the conflict between the two main characters.

The female narrator’s pace and voice did nothing to me, even annoyed me at times, while the male voice did a much better job. So the narration was okay but could have been much better. At least they both knew how to read the sexy scenes.