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 … 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?
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All she wanted was a little trouble but is she really ready for those troubles and consequences. She fell in love with him and she thought he felt the same. He broke off with her but now she wants to find out their secrets. Will she regret starting it? Will she find out their secrets? See what will happen
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book is so great. Ali Dean has amazing skill with telling a story. This new series already has me hooked!! I am really excited to read more. I loved the characters and the way they were portrayed! Those cousins are awesome!!! The cliffhanger is perfect…I wish book 2 was already out!! Thanks for another amazing read Ali Dean!!!
Usually I have my reviews spiked with quotes I loved from the book. So please don’t get the wrong impression when this is a review without quotes. Only because I didn’t find anything in the book I’d liked to mark or quote here, that absolutely doesn’t mean I didn’t love or enjoy the book.
Quite the contrary. I had a fantastic time with it. Defiance Falls was my first book by Ali Dean and definitely won’t be the last! Especially not with a cliffhanger like that.
When I started the book I never expected to dive into a page-turner like this. It quickly became “one more chapter” until I was finished. Captivating characters (specially the twins), turn of events, secrets, power games, chemistry, thrill – all in a perfect harmonic mix.
Defiance Falls is an addicting joyride that will make you heart race and your mind spin!
Defiance Falls is Book #1 in another excellent Series by Ali Dean. I really enjoyed the mystery and drama that unfold in the storyline. And the characters, especially Cruz and Hazel, are interesting and entertaining. As always, sports are a big part of this book, (Soccer, this time) but not as integral as in previous books. I always love the way Dean writes her female lead characters to be strong and athletic, and Hazel does not disappoint this time around. This book does end in a cliffhanger and I’m looking forward to reading Book #2 to get some answers when it arrives. 4 Stars!
Absolutely amazing! I already can’t wait for the next part of the series to come out. This book has a great mix of suspense and intrigue. Literally read it the whole way through without stopping…a must read!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
3.5 stars
This is the first book of a trilogy . It’s YA – angsty and so far definitely a slow burn .
Hazel and Cruz are in high school , getting ready to finish up and go to college . As far as Hazel knows Cruz already knows where he’s headed and Hazel is yet to decide .
Hazel has spent the last few years floating between groups at school Never really fitting in – though as the story progresses we come to realise that that’s because she did have a group a few years ago – the boys that included Cruz and her cousins all of whom play soccer and gel together but because she and Cruz broke up Hazel pulled away and became on the out from the group – this part of the story is actually what lowered the score for me . I feel like there was a whole prologue missing (unless there is and I just haven’t seen it ) – I want to know what Cruz said to her to break up with her the first time and the reasons he gave her …
Cruz comes from a rich powerful (in the local area ) family and has lots of secrets to hide but wants to claim Hazel as his …
Hazel is naive at times but has the potential to become a strong h ! I got frustrated by her as I prefer bad ass or stronger women , but I’m also hoping that as the story continues we will see Thais die of her come out more !!
So off to book 2 I go 🙂
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
Twisty turny topsy turvy goodness!!
Cruz Donovan, the popular guy in school.. he’s more than just a party boy, more than just a jock, and much more than you could ever expect.
Hazel Ross decides she is tired of being the good girl, she is tired of being strict and doing nothing but playing soccer and working on her straight A’s. She wants to find a little bit of trouble, a little bit of fun, and figure out where she belongs. And boy does she find all of that and more!
Hazel and Cruz have a magnetic connection that can’t be denied that everyone can feel. There is an electric energy pulsing between the two of them. Hazel is drawn to Cruz despite their past, and vice versa. Little does she know.
This book was so good. It’s a cross between new adult and young adult with a hint of mystery. I loved it and was surprised by the events that take place. I didn’t expect it. I am a fan of Ali Dean’s book and the sweet chemistry between the lead characters but this is a different story line than her normal writing and she nailed it!!
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.
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.
Great Audiobook
I rarely rate a story with a cliffhanger 5 stars, but Defiance Falls is a really interesting start to the trilogy. It’s one of those terrible cliffhangers where it breaks right at a big event, so plan to listen to Defiance Falls Revolution right away. That one ends in a better place (otherwise I’d be more hesitant with my recommendation). Defiance Falls is part new adult, part second chance and it seems to be heading toward suspense/action as Hazel gets caught in the middle.
I listened to the Audible version. Sarah Puckett is one of my favorite narrators. She does a great job bringing the story to life, and I highly recommend listening to the audio version.
#AudiobookObsession
Defiance Falls
Defiance Falls, Book 1
By: Ali Dean
Narrated by: Sarah Puckett
I love authors who are versatile and this first book in Ali Dean’s new series proves how versatile she can be. While it is young adult sports, Defiance Falls has mystery and intrigue that has caught my attention. Hazel has always been wrapped up in soccer, but now her senior year, she is looking to change things up a little. Going to Cruz’s 18th birthday party may just be the start of something new for her, but it’s much different than she expects. She and Cruz have a history, and now he is coming back again. With Cruz comes the group of friends who are ready to let her in, but she can tell there is something she doesn’t know. Secrets are kept, passion is high and Hazel is about to find out what is going on. I love this kind of story. It invests me in the couple, but it also is keeping me on the edge of my seat as I try and figure out what all the families are hiding. Left on a cliffhanger, I am queuing up book 2 right away!
Sarah Puckett narrates this story and I loved it! She is very good at getting to know her characters and I love how she portrays their personalities. Just the right amount of angst and suspense in her voice, she too has left me hanging! Can’t wait for more!
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–“I’d come here for me. It was time to make some decisions about my life. And I couldn’t do that living in the safe bubble I’d made for myself”–
Defiance Falls by Ali Dean is book one in the defiance falls trilogy
This book follows Hazel Ross who is in high school and plays soccer. Wanting to live a little, get back in with her old crew which includes her ex boyfriend Cruz and maybe find some trouble, the good kind but what she finds is so much more and now she is stuck in the middle of a fued she doesnt understand and things get a little dangerous
This was such an addictive read and reminded me why I love mature YA books so much, the drama, the secrets and the suspense at the end all helped make this an enjoyable read and such a good start to a series
–“I’ve waited years for you. I can wait one more night.”–
I loved Hazel’s character she was fiesty, resilient, conflicted, strong, funny, snarky and such a joy to read about. I loved her chemistry with Cruz and even though there were certain parts of the story that frustrated me and I kept wanting to scream ‘just tell me what’s going on already’ I still loved it, it was like a slow torture to get to where the story was headed and I’m so excited to continue on with book 2 Defiance Falls Revolution
First of all, I have to say that I’m so so glad that I was able to read this in a boxed set, because if I had to wait for each book I think I would’ve died! LOL
Ali created such an amazing world! I’ve only read one other book of hers and this one was soooo different. There was so much drama, suspense, & emotions. I loved watching Hazel & Cruz figure out a way to be a part of each others lives.
I don’t want to say too much & accidentally give away spoilers, but I would definitely recommend this box set! You won’t be able to stop reading it!!
I devoured this book. It is completely addicting from the very beginning and the more the story continued the more invested I became into the story, the characters and wanting to know what was going to happen next.
Hazel Ross didn’t expect her life to completely change the night she attended Cruz Donovan’s birthday. Sure, she used to be friends with Cruz and his crew, but that changed 3 years prior. She thought they forgot about her, but in reality they never did and they were doing everything they could to protect.
I loved Hazel. She is a pretty strong female lead. I loved Cruz, too. He has been through a lot in his life, but still continues to fight each day. The whole crew is fantastic. The twins and Hazel’s cousins, Bodhi and Emmett added some comedy to the story, Spike and Moody were also great secondary characters and Hazel’s dad. That man deserves an award! Every single character in this story plays a major role and adds something different to the story.
This book is full of secrets, lies, family and plenty of drama and suspense. It will have you hooked and the ending will have you craving the second book to know what happens next.
Defiance Falls is the first book in a brand new series by Ali Dean. Ali writes great heart warming books mostly set in the High School/College Atmosphere. Her writing style is so fluid, and her build up left me staying up to finish the book.
We meet Hazel who is an avid soccer player who isn’t really close to anyone even though she is friends with everyone. Growing up Hazel has her cousins Bodhi and Emmett, and their friend Spike. When a new kid, Cruz, interested the picture Hazel had the sense of being replaced which took her on a different journey without her boys. Now in their senior year Hazel reconnects with boys as she starts a new chapter to live life fuller.
This book has push and pull between Cruz and Hazel, and we (the reader) get an inside look of just how much of an impression has left on Cruz all these years. As they navigate a new relationship along with Hazel reestablishing her connection with her three boys from years gone by they have to deal with new threats. Hazel learns just how much she has been kept out of the loop from her friends, cousins, and dad. Now she must determine if she is going to be all in, or out.
This book ends on a cliff hanger, but is well worth the read and wait to book two.
”I’ve waited years for you. I can wait one more night.
I loved this book! I read it in one sitting.
Hazel was such a great character, she has a past with the boys and in senior year of high school is finding herself in situations that she doesn’t like because doesn’t want to need them. She fights it with everything she’s got.
She thinks they’ve forgotten about her, that Cruz has forgotten about her and their childhood bond. When in actual fact there is a reason the guys weren’t allowed in her life anymore.
Hazel also has a close relationship with her dad, or so she thinks but finds out he’s been lying to her too. Her world is turned upside down.
Secrets
lies
fights
Deceit
loyalty
Hazel needs answers.
Hazel unbeknown to her needs Protection
This book is packed with action and suspense.
Enter the world of secrets surrounding Cruz, Hazel, Emmett, Bodhi, Spike and Moody.
Also Damn you to hell for that cliffhanger!!
Give me book 2
I need answers Dammit!
This is the first book in this series and it does end in a cliffhanger. Hazel is a star soccer player at her high school. She is destined to go to Harvard but she has to get through high school first. Cruz Donovan transfer from another school and immediately is taken with Hazel. But yet all is not what it seems to be. There is something going on but we only get glimpses so within the other books I guess more will be revealed. Looking forward to more from this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Ohhh my this book is amazing, I was hooked from the start. This book will definitely give you a ride with emotions from Cruz and Hazel. Cruz and Hazel were together once before and he broke up with her, now she is pinning over Cruz and wants to get his attention. Hazel got what she wanted and a whole a lot more then she bargain for, but everyone was keeping secrets from her. The only thing that Hazel wanted was to know why all these things are happening to the boys and her dad but no one will tell her, then comes the big cliffhanger at the end of the book and it just leaves me wanting the second book like right now. Only took me a day to get through this book because I was sucked in now I need the other 2 books now. I can’t wait to see what happens next!!
I’m not really sure how I feel about this book. There parts I liked but there were parts I didn’t. I didn’t really warm up to Hazel. She seemed so shallow and there was nothing to make her different than any of the other girls. At least you get a feel of what and who Cruz is but I just couldn’t pin Hazel down.