Defiance Falls War

Defiance Falls #3

by Ali Dean

We pulled the trigger and braced ourselves for the fallout. We were ready for anything. Or so we thought.

War revealed our greatest weaknesses, the ones inside of us that we kept hidden. It forced us to face our vulnerabilities, to overcome the battles within that threatened to hold us prisoner.

Enemies came in all forms, but so did strength. As a united front, we were unstoppable. Our power came from each other, and our greatest weapon was about to be unleashed.

Genres: Sports Romance, High School, Contemporary Romance, Sports, College, New Adult, Romance

215 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 30, 2019

About the author

Ali is a USA Today Bestselling author of sports romance. She has always loved to read, especially when there's a happily ever after, but found that there weren't enough books out there featuring girl athletes. So, she decided to work on that. Like the heroines in her books, Ali is an athlete, with running and skiing her favorite sports these days. Ali hails from Vermont and now lives in her own happily-ever-after in Colorado with her husband, two sets of twins, and golden retriever Pancake. When she's not pursuing an outdoor adventure, Ali's less healthy passions include ice cream, coffee, and beer.

Get to know Ali Dean by following her on any of her social media and author links below.

www.alideanfiction.com
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www.bookbub.com/profile/ali-dean
www.pinterest.com/alidean750

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Reviews

[Halle Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 Stars 🌟

The idea of having a person, a girl I love, it’s always scared the shit out of me. What I feel for you, Hazel, I don’t know if I’d survive it if I lost you.



Defiance Falls War is the 3rd and final book in the Defiance Falls Trilogy. These books must be read in order.

This book starts up right where Defiance Falls Revolution ends and we are thrown back into the crazy world of Hazel and Cruz as they navigate what comes next in the fight to keep their town safe and Malone free.

Hazel is as sassy as ever. She is a strong minded character who doesnt let anyone push her around or hold her back from doing what she wants. I still love and admire her.

Cruz, oh my heart is with him every step of the way. I love his character and how much he cares about the people in his life even when he is pushing them away. My heart broke for him at times with everything he had to deal with for someone so young.

This entire series has been a fun and addictive adventure and I'm so glad I read it even though I don't read as much young adult (high school) as I used to. I still enjoyed this series and it was a quick and easy read.

《book aesthetic made by me, I do not own the pictures, all found via pinterest》

[Nadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

RTCS

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a great series finale!! I loved it!! Ali Dean always knows how to deliver beautiful, heartbreaking and wonderful stories.

Cruz went through some rough times in this book. He finally had to face everything he has keeping down and burying under his responsibilities and day to day routine. When everything went down, he had enough time to stop and feel what was finally coming to the surface. He had the support system to help him through it and it was beautiful watching it.
Hazel was stronger in this book. She knew what she wanted and believed in the guys. She had faith in them and their plans. She was finally feeling like she belonged and was ready to be part of the group once again.

It was an amazing story. I loved this finale and how everything fell into place and every question was answered. It was great! Loved reading it.

[queen_of_the_books_18 · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing way to end the Defiance Falls Trilogy!
Ali Dean had me hooked with this world and these characters. It was fast paced, suspenseful and quite emotional at times.

You need to read books 1 and 2 to understand what is going on in Defiance Falls War.

I loved the first two books and gave them 5 stars but this one it took me a little while to get into and I don’t know why.

Following the War between Cruz’s Crew and the Malones that have been going on for years. All the family is tied up in it. I loved how they worked together to over come all of the obstacles and issues in their way and I loved that there was more sports content this time around. I’m happy that I finally have answers after those epic cliffhangers we were put through!


What an action packed series!

[Kate McMurry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Satisfying conclusion to an exciting, YA, romantic-thriller trilogy

The adventures in this book are launched immediately after the cliffhanger at the end of Book 2. This novel does not stand alone, and it is crucial to read the other two books in this trilogy, in order, before reading this book.

Hazel Ross and Cruz Donovan have just begun their senior year in high school, along with their same-age coterie of best friends, Bodhi and Emmett Boyd (Hazel’s first-cousins), Spike Matlock and Peter Moody. These six are the main actors in this drama, but there are also crucial appearances by Hazel’s father, her grandparents, and Cruz’s father and grandfather.

There is plenty of action in the form of shootings, multiple arrests, and attempted murder. There are also more sexy times between Hazel and Cruz, as well as some rocky moments in their romance. All’s well that ends well, however, and there is a positive, upbeat resolution that does an excellent job of rounding out this exciting series.

Fans of the first two books will not want to miss this final book in a terrific, YA, thriller series.

I rate this book as follows:

Heroine: 4 stars
Hero: 4 stars
Subcharacters: 4 stars
Romance Plot: 4 stars
Thriller Plot: 4 stars
Writing: 4 stars
Overall: 4 stars

Note: I received an ARC of this book via Booksprout.

[Jennifer Hinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was game time. We weren’t the underdogs in this game anymore though, and it was time to show who was on top.



3.5 Stars!

Being totally up front here, I broke a BIG ARC rule of mine for this book....I skipped over quite a few "past due" ARCs just to finish this series. I was that excited and eager to get to the epic finale I just knew awaited me with this group. I needed more answers, more of Hazel & Cruz, more of the guys.... just MORE. So I fully planned to devour this one as quickly as possible.....would or be a fitting conclusion? Well, if I'm being totally honest here, it was disappointing compared to the previous two. The pace was off compared to the others, it lacked the suspense the others did, & Hazel went from a well liked heroine of mine to one very close to landing on my hated list. 

"His love for me, his loyalty, and even the sacrifices he’d made that tore me apart, it all filled me up. Made my skin hot from the inside out. I was on fire for him."

Book Facts: Told in dual POV, this is the final installment of the Defiance Falls trilogy. It cannot be read as a standalone, it should be read only after the first two. Its the final showdown, war has come to Defiance Falls & Hazel and her boys must be prepared to see it through to the very end. The major players may be knocked out the game but the threats aren't over. Can Cruz & Hazel's relationship survive now that they are in power? Or will they let it destroy them? There is a HFN ending, but I'm hoping its so we eventually get to see the other boys with stories of their own.

Timeline of Thoughts:
Starting: I can't believe its finally coming to an end....let the final battle begin!
9%: Oh hes on a war path, and I'm totally digging it.
12%: Blake has more to do in all this than this surface level BS.
14%: “If you go rogue with your pain again, I’ll withhold kisses for a year.” -- This shows that despite their "war", just how young they are....its sweet & kinda refreshing.
23%: She needs to stop treating him like he's completely broken.
29%: Well that escalated quickly.
33%: I'm going to need the pace to rise or something to happen bc this is rather boring.
35%: Well that might be just what is needed....
36%: So far my fav scene in book....I can literally envision this all going down.
50%: Why am I suddenly not a huge fan of Hazel? She is blurring the line between confident & over-cocky.
65%: How does she not comprehend why Cruz is acting how he is about this situation? I also have yet to truly understand wth the point of this third book is, and we are over halfway through it. 
67%: You go Bodhi....only one making some sense lately.
74%: That was just too easy....it made the detachment feel forced for the book & not authentic to the story.
83%: Another golden opportunity that resolved way too easy/fast.
87%: This should have been the kind of stuff going down at 50ish% to take full advantage of it. Now we all know with so little space left it too will resolve quickly.
90%: Insert so many eye-rolls here.
95%: Wait where is Ch28? It just says Hazel & its blank.
Finished: Well wasn't that a cute way to end it. Still I hope the reason it wasn't an extended epilogue is bc we will get to see the other guys at Harvard-- like their love stories?

Loves from Book: the innocence of Hazel & Cruz's relationship, Sonia, the intruder vs Dad scene, Cruz's dad, Louise's redemption.
Hates from Book: how Hazel treats Cruz like he's broken & her suddenly inflated ego, the slow pace,  pretty much Hazel in this book, Ch 28 is blank, lack of "suspense".
Quotes:
He pointed it at the man on the ground. “Don’t move.” Then Dad looked up at me. “Hi, sweetie.”“Uh, hey Dad.”“I thought I told you to stay in the car.”
-Jeremy & Hazel

"We’ve still got too much fighting to do." "I’m tired of fighting." "Good thing you only brought me into this war a few weeks ago," I told him. "I’ve got enough energy to fight for the both of us." "I don’t want you to be a casualty. Like I am right now, like Dad, like Mom. Hazel, I just wanted to keep you safe. All this time."
-Hazel & Cruz

“I think we got our answer about what happens when gasoline’s dumped on an open wound.”
-Bodhi

“Well, it’s not entertainment they’re after. Have you taken a good look at us, Hazel?” He gestured to himself and swept an arm around our circle. “They want us for our bodies.”
-Spike

“You terrify me. Us, together, it’s the scariest shit I’ve ever faced in my life.”
-Cruz

Final Thoughts (in "Five"):

Current Feelings:


1. The pace felt a lot slower than I expected, with this one being the finale & so little actually going on.   Other times the drama felt authentic to the story, where the events in this one were so random & over so fast it felt manufactured. Something exciting would go down only for it to be 100% wrapped up before the end of that chapter.
2. I love Cruz & Hazel's relationship & the innocence of it despite what they are doing (fighting a war they are too young to fight).
3. This is the first of the 3 I found myself not as "into" it.....it was kinda boring at times..... okay very boring at times.
4. I feel like at 65%, I should have a clearer picture of what this book is for exactly. I know it is the conclusion & the one that ties everything together, but this is just a bunch of filler & a few random bouts of suspense/ action. It is easily the worst of the 3 books.
5. Hazel's entire attitude in this book grated on my nerves. From how she suddenly treats Cruz like he's a broken toy, to her psycho-analyzing him & his actions, to her inflated confidence and cockiness, to her acting like Cruz is unreasonable bc she continues to be caught in compromising situations w Isaiah.....she just rubbed me the wrong way.

Overall, this is easily my least favorite of the trilogy. It lacked so many elements that made books 1 & 2 so exciting. It did the job of resolving all the loose ends, but it did it in a way that didn't live up to the others. Maybe that was meant to be, as a "breather" after so much intensity..... but the result was all the same - pretty dull in comparison. I was happy to see a HFN ending, but I will continue holding out hope that we will see more of these guys in the future. 

“I’m glad you went to that party for Cruz’s birthday, Hazel,” Dad admitted with a reluctant smile. “Yeah Dad, me too.”

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

[Mandy Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these books. The characters were quite complex for their age. I think what done it for me was the performance. Both Sarah and Gregory work so well together the voices compliment each other and they capture the characters very very well.
#audiobookobsessionreviewer

[Secretly Adorkable Readers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is an overall of the Defiance Falls series. I love a lot of work from this author and she never disappoints. Most of them are sports romance and each series has its own take and knowledge of the background of that particular sports.

This series was one of my faves so far and fell in love with the characters. It not only had a sporty love romance but some suspense thrown in. I loved Cruz, Hazel, and her cousins Bodhi and Emmett!

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy through booksprout.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

[I received a digital arc for an honest review]

Defiance Falls War is the conclusion to the Defiance Falls trilogy by Ali Dean. This is story continues seamlessly from books 1 to 3 and can not be read as a standalone. Defiance Falls War wraps up the battle between the Cruz's crew and the Malones. The road to peace for them his paved with some speed bumps in the form of some high intensity situations.


"I'm tired of fighting."
"Good thing you only brought me into this war a few weeks ago," I told him. "I've got enough energy to fight for both of us."


Once again my favorite part of the story was Cruz's point of views. We get to see into his internal struggles and how he's so much more than the 'tough guy'. He has spent so much of his life focused on taking down the Malone's and getting revenge that not that it's almost over he has to faced things he's been avoiding. He doubts himself and his ability to keep Hazel, and he has to face his fears when it comes to losing his dad. On a another note, Hazel was a bit annoying in this book, a little naive and flippant towards Cruz's feelings of jealousy. Their intimacy scenes were great and steamy but in their other reactions she came off pushy and immature to me.


"You terrify me. Us, together, it's the scariest sh*t I've ever faced in my life."


Even though I found my interest in the story waning at times in this last book, as a whole the Defiance Falls series was an enjoyable one with some memorable characters.

[Amy [Book Addict Reviews] · Rating 4 out of 5]

Will Hazel, her father, Cruz and the boys be able to take down the Malone’s. Will there be an end in sight for this long standing battle?

Defiance Falls War picks up right where Revolution ended. This book is just as intense and drama filled as the other two in the series. I was on the edge of my seat throughout this entire story, I felt like so much happened in such a short amount of time and if I blinked I’d miss something.

Hazel and Cruz continue to fight for their relationship and so many things are thrown in their path that could potentially destroy everything for them. The entire group is put to the test. They all have a role in this war and finding an end to it.

Like book 2, this one is also a dual POV and I loved that because there was so much going on for both of them, especially Cruz it helped to see his thought process and know what was going through his mind at times.

This was the perfect conclusion to such a drama filled, suspenseful series. I hope that there are more of theses characters in the future!

[Kate R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Defiance Falls War is the third and final book in the Defiance Falls trilogy. This is not a standalone. You need to have read Defiance Falls and Defiance Falls Revolution. It’s an action packed, thrilling series. Those two books ended in a cliffhanger but everything was cleaned up nicely in this one. It’s a very satisfying ending.

There were many sweet moments between Cruz and Hazel. The relationships between the boys and Hazel was so good. I did struggle with how many characters there were. The trilogy itself is just bursting with characters. You almost need to write them down to remember who they are. But, the story is entertaining and different, and I enjoyed the series as a whole.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Amazeballs Book Addicts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Defiance Falls War is book three in the Defiance Falls series. It's the last book in the series and it can not be read as a standalone. This one picks up where Defiance Falls Revolution left. I liked this one. It's not my favorite in the series but it's still really good. There's plenty of action and romance in this one. There were times I was like urgh, Cruz and Hazel just need to get it together. I loved Cruz and Hazel and their friends. AS whole those one was a really good series.

[Brittany (happy.ending.always) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my all time favorite series!!! I love Hazel, Cruz and the gang sooo much. The chemistry Hazel snd Cruz have for one another blows me away, it is hot snd gives me butterflies. This story had so many unanswered questions but wrapped up perfectly. I loved all the twists, turns and excitement!!! An absolute amazing ending to this awesome series!!! A must read!

[Lara's Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third and last book from the Defiance Falls series that ends the story of Hazel and Cruz.

This series was a hell of a ride and this book ends it perfectly. There's a lot of suspense and sometimes it was quite emotional. This series was amazing and it was very addictive and I highly recommend.

[Gallianne Goural · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was bored the entire time. Couldn't get in the story so it was kind of paintful to keep reading.

[Lexee Toste · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this story! It was a great read and a great conclusion to this series. I would highly recommend reading the previous two books in this series as they definitely build off of one another and the actions in book 2 really affect this book, (book 3). It was great getting to see Cruz and Hazel together and seeing them present an united front. This book falls between the new adult and young adult genres. There is sex but it is not explicit and you really don't get any details, but you know that it is happening between the characters. I loved getting to see Cruz and Hazel together and watching them figure out how to be together and dealing with fears and what was going on around them. They have dropped the evidence on the Malone's and so everything has changed. They are more in power now and have to figure out how to deal with that and what it means for everyone. This story has plenty to grab and hold your attention the entire way through. I really enjoyed the story and all the characters within our main group. It would be cool to come back and visit them again to see the rest of the crew get their happy endings. This book does conclude the story and you get a happy ending for sure. There is action and intrigue along with the romance and watching the characters figure out their relationship and how it fits with life and a future. Fantastic read!
The narrators were great! They did a fantastic job with the emotions and different voices and really brought the story to life. I loved listening to it!

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Defiance Falls War
By: Ali Dean
Narrated by: Sarah Puckett, Gregory Salinas

The third book of this trilogy had me on the edge of my seat! Picking up right where we left off, Hazel and Cruz are on a mission to keep their families together and the town safe. But life is never that easy. There are still struggles between the families and secrets are plenty. Hazel is still strong willed and competent, loving her sass and ability to stay on track with her dreams despite the craziness. Cruz is an incredible character, dealing with the company, his schooling, his dreams and his dad. But what I really enjoyed with this book is the compassionate way Ali Dean introduces the struggles of dementia. It's a fantastic series, exciting, action packed, romantic and addictive.

Sarah Puckett and Gregory Salinas finish out the series as Hazel and Cruz. Their narration is impeccable. Each nuance and inflection led to me feeling the characters emotions. I enjoyed this team and hope to hear them together again!

[Megb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hazel and Cruz have started a war, not exactly what they were wanting but this is what they've gotten.

The crew is ready, the plans are in place, and all the back up plans are set up and ready to go. They have prepared this, but the turn of events is more than even they could've imagined. The new questions that arise during this book kept me on the edge of my seat whispering to myself "what the heck, what happened?"

I was sucked in from books 1 and 2 so book 3 was a very quick read. I couldn't get enough I had to know how it played out and the story did not disappoint. I loved it. The secondary characters and all of their lives and the bond between the whole crew, I craved more. I loved the dynamic between the crew and the acceptance of each other and the closeness that they all had with each other. The revelations were well played out and the heartstrings were definitely tugged. Ali Dean did a phenomenal job with this series!

[Reading to Escape · Rating 4 out of 5]

**3.5 Stars**

I was so excited to read the conclusion to the Defiance Falls series after all of the drama and action and manipulation throughout the series, but unfortunately it lacked some of the umpf found in the previous two books. There was still a lot happening in the book and it wrapped up in a pretty package with a HEA but I felt it lacked some of the excitement I felt in the previous book. I continued to like Cruz, and overall I liked Hazel, and Hazel's cousins were always good for a laugh throughout the book. I don't always expect my books to be 100 percent realistic because I read to escape reality so if they veer off a little that doesn't always bother me, however, I don't feel like this type of a story line is representative of a typical high school experience or high school aged kids, but again this didn't necessarily bother me as I read for fun. I did find the story to be overall enjoyable.

[Christi Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: Defiance Falls: War
Author: Ali Dean
Format: Audio
Narrator: Sarah Puckett, Gregory Salinas
Genre: Romantic Suspense, YA, NA, mafia, sports (soccer)
Standalone: no, read books one and two first
Part of a Series: book three of the Defiance Falls Trilogy
POV: Hazel and Cruz
Steam Level: some but not very graphic
4.5/5

Defiance Falls War is the final book in the Defiance Falls trilogy. Action-packed and suspenseful Defiance Falls War is a great mix of waiting to build tension and see what will happen next, humor, and epic battles. There were several twists that I didn't see coming. Ali Dean is a great author. I love her mix of strong, competent female characters, athletes, friendship, and suspense.

I received this audiobook for free from Audiobook Obsession. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cruz and Hazel

Book 3 is the conclusion of the defiance falls trilogy ,
While this trilogy held some good interesting moments I didn’t love it and I found my interest in it raining at times .
Book two was the most interesting with the plot unfolding and getting to know Cruz on a deeper level but I found this book (3) not a lot happened . I was expecting a mafia war that they would be up against but there was little to no fight back .
Character development of the MCs was pretty minor too, I could see what the author was aiming for but it got lost in the boring parts of the story .
So yep not a favorite of mine , I would probably recommend for younger teen readers though as it’s not gritty and no triggers but enough of a story line for that age group

[Trisha c · Rating 5 out of 5]

The investigation regarding the Malones is ongoing. Cruz is crumbling on the inside, but still keeps his confident persona. One thing through this ordeal, Cruz, Hazel and the guys all are loyal to their mission and each other. It's a game of chess, revenge, trying to take charge of life, plotting and fighting. Ali Dean has another stellar sports romance.
Sarah Puckett and Gregory Salinas are phenomenal. They both bring depth to each character. They live the story. I can feel each moment of anguish, anger, torment, fear, throughout the story. Thank you for bringing this story to life.
🎧audiobookobsessionreview🎧

[SLSR · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kids foiled the murderous plot again

This is a 4.5 stars because really the series needs to be read in order.

This is definitely an R rated scooby doo gang of teenagers foiling the murderous plots of a small town Irish Mob. Every time the kids plan worked I kept imagining the leader of the mob shaking his meaty fist in the air and growling “you meddlesome kids”

It was entertaining a a few steamy-lite events.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a stand alone story. Start with the first book in the trilogy (Defiance Falls). This installment had more relationship drama than action compared to the two prior books in the series, but it does wrap up the story nicely.

I listened to the Audible version. Sarah Puckett and Gregory Salinas are a fabulous narration team. They're a big part of why I liked the story so much and I highly recommend the audio version.

#AudiobookObsession

[Rina's Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, man!
After book two I thought I couldn’t be surprised by anything that happened in this final book, but I was wrong.
I almost threw my headphones near the end because of how things were playing out.
I’m glad I didn’t because it all worked out in the end.
I would love to see more from this crew though—perhaps a short story about their time at college?
I’m not at all ready to say goodbye to them.

Sarah and Greg did a fabulous job of narration again.

[Tammy Bulcao · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story!💜

In spite of my major book faux pas, (I read book 3 first), I really enjoyed this story.
I feel that even without reading the first two books, I had a good understanding of what led them to the events in this book. Great storyline and I loved the characters.
The narration was absolutely perfect!! Well done!
I recommend this book!

#audiobookobsession
Sisters Spotlight💜

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the serie! I was hoping to have more books, after all not all the guys found love. I would love to hear more about the dad (Jeremy) and maybe the hitwoman? Anyway, I really liked how lot's of characters got more depth, and how special their friendship is. I also liked how it wasn't open ended. I also really like Ali's narratives, she didn't disappointed - again.

[Jamie Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome series

I loved the conclusion to this series. Everybody got what they deserved! The writing was spectacular and oh. My. The characters! I would like to see the other guys stories. Maybe when they are wrapping up college? Just a thought. Lol

[Ashley Crapps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ali Dean has a way of writing that is so good that you’re sucked into the story and have finished the book 6 hours later in one sitting without having eaten or even checked your surroundings. This book was nothing short of phenomenal!!!

[Kirsten Pardini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hazel and Cruz

This book is also duel prospective. While still intense, I feel this book was much less angst. I loved the intensity in the other books, but after that it's nice to have a slightly lower intensity. Questions are answered, and the group becomes much closer.