✫✫ 4.5 Stars ✫✫

What a great debut novel for Kate Dunbar! I was unsure if this was going to be a very dark book because of the warnings but in the end it really wasn't IMHO. Yes there were dark themes and situations but most of them were in the past and even in the flashbacks we didn't get more than a quick retelling without descriptions or details. So while I am sure this book needs trigger warnings for some, it wasn't an issue for me at all.

In the very beginning I thought the story was going to be very different and I am so glad I was wrong. I really enjoyed the love story between a girl with a bad past and a boy who just wanted to love her. For me this was a story about sexual abuse, family dysfunction, shame and growth all in one. We learn that no matter how bad the past, if you find the right person to trust and share your issue with, you can come out of it a stronger person. Loved that so much!

Stella Hunter's narration was great, she has a young voice and was perfect for these characters. She hit all the emotions spot on and her voice for Lucas was creepy.

11 people found this helpful

Intense and emotional

I’m not sure where to start with this review. Both the author Kate Dunbar and narrator Stella Hunter are new to me.
This was a raw, gritty, powerful story that drew me in and kept me on the edge of my seat whilst listening. Please be advised that there is some domestic violence and therefore may be a trigger for some, so you have been warned. The author handled the subject matter with honesty and dignity.
After years of abuse Sabra is finally coming into the light with Trevor by her side. It was beautiful to listen to her learn to trust in Trevor and find real love.
There were so many twists and turns that I felt as though I was on an emotional roller coaster that wouldn’t stop and let me off.
This is a powerful story of determination, of overcoming the horrors of ones past and learning to live, love and trust again. The narration drew me in and brought the story to life for me. Stella Hunter certainly did justice to the characters.
I was amazed to learn that this is Kate Dunbar’s debut novel, what a book to start her career on.

3 people found this helpful

WOW ❤️ 5 ⭐

WOW ❤️ 5 ⭐
What an amazing story for Kate Dunbar's debut novel! This was a very emotional story that at first I thought was going to be hard to to listen to but it was very well written. When the story goes to the past abuse, it was just touched upon the time when it happened and no details were mentioned. Sabra was such a strong woman getting on with her life with Trevor until her brother Lucas was let out of jail. I wish she didn't try to do everything on her own and alienate Trevor. I found myself with tears many times listening to this story because my heart was breaking for Sabra because she was just so ashamed to tell Trevor her past until she had to. I also found myself happy and smiling and enjoying their love story. I love Trevor and what a wonderful man he is and that no matter what she did or said to him, he kept coming back and always loved her. This was a wonderful story of letting real love in to help heal you and start living again. Stella's narration was just phenomenal! She did all the voices and characters fantastic, and if you didn't know better, you would have thought there were male and female narrators. I think her beautiful narration also helped bring out the feelings in this audiobook. I really loved this book and would recommend it, if the abuse triggers aren't an issue for you.

2 people found this helpful

Heartbreaking and Compelling!

Used by Kate Dunbar is so much more than a book about abuse. The author handles the topic with compassion, awareness, reality and panache. I loved how love was the healing mechanism in this book. The imagery and descriptions were vivid and emotional. Stella Hunter was perfect at performing this book. She added the right emotions and brought the characters to life. I highly recommend it. Thank you #AudiobookObsession for recommending this title to me.

1 person found this helpful

Deeply Emotional Book

There are a Lot of hard emotions in this book. It made me happy when Sabra started healing but it made me cry for the fact that she suffered at Lucas's hand so much.
Standalone with no cliffhangers.
Sabra grew up in the perfect family with a brother from hell, and her parents never new.
Now she is moving forward with a great guy, Trevor who refused to give up on getting her attention.
Then he'll came back into her life. Can she survive this time.
I received a free copy of this audiobook for my unbiased opinion.
Some parts are hard to hear but Kate did an amazing job.

1 person found this helpful

Beautiful story about survival!

Used is a story that will break you and put you back together again. It’s a story of abuse that becomes a story of empowerment.

Sabra spent years at the abusive hands of someone that should always want to protect her. Her very own brother, Lucas. Finally able to breathe after he’s sent to jail, Sabra is free. Seven years later, Lucas is out and she is thrown back into the nightmare she thought she woke up from.

This book was a beautiful story of survival. Sabra should be broken. But she’s the strongest woman I’ve ever read. To go through what she did and still be able to want happiness out of life is so admirable. She has two people that helped with this. Her best friend, Micah, who’s a protective spitfire that I loved. And Trevor. Trevor is absolutely amazing. Strong, confident, compassionate. And those are just a few of his traits.

This story pulls you in from the very beginning until the end. I was given an ALC of the audiobook version. It was narrated by the talented Stella Hunter. She brought Sabra to life and narrated her story with such passion. This is Kate Dunbar’s first novel and I’m so thankful she chose me to listen to something so personal.

1 person found this helpful

5 Twisty Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Used by Kate Dunbar has been on my TBR since 2017 and I had not gotten around to reading it yet. I got the opportunity to review Used in audio... my socks were knocked off. This story is a dark, twisted and fantastic story of a woman that must face her past and her fears to get to her happiness. Trevor is a rock and the light in her darkest hour. I would recommend this story to anyone and plan to reread this over and over.


5 Twisty Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#twistylovestory #fivestarreview

1 person found this helpful

Epic and thrilling! Loved it!

Used by Kate Dunbar is an intense, epic, ride! This story is narrated by Stella Hunter.

Sabra has had a dark past, that she has kept locked inside for a long time. She finally gives herself to Trevor, who she trusts and eventually comes to love. However, demons from her past that have used her keep coming back to haunt her, so its difficult to truly give her entire self to Trevor. Trevor is persistent, and gives his whole self to her. I love how he becomes her rock. Then one fateful night, Sabra comes face to face with her past...

Stella Hunter was fantastic as Sabra. I truly felt all of Sabra's twisted, and haunted emotions in her performance. Her "Trevor" voice was super tempting, and made you truly root for her to make it work with him. Overall, her performance of this story kept me captivated the entire way!

Kate Dunbar's debut novel was haunting and alluring in all the right ways. This book has some triggers, so I encourage you to listen to the beginning of the novel, to make sure this is the right book for you. This story will leave a lasting impression on your heart, and will give light some tough topics, that are so worthy of being aware of! I really enjoyed this story and I look forward to Micah's story next!

1 person found this helpful

Through the darkness a light will shine

I was pulled in from the very beginning of this story. Warning this book has dark subject matter that may not be suitable for everyone but I will say this, the author told the story without having to give all the disturbing details that you know were there for this character. Well done and I applaud the author for getting the story out without having to expose Sabra's tragic experiences any more than she did.

Sabra Valentine is a sweet child but she has a secret. One that could destroy her family. Fast forward to adult Sabra and she is still keeping her dark secrets hidden deep in her soul. When her best friend Trevor finally earns her trust she starts to see she can never heal without exposing the wounds that have been there for years. There is healing in this book and an understanding for domestics abuse victims as to why things are allowed and kept silent. I got wrapped up in Sabra and wanted her to find her HEA. I loved Trevor and his patience and love for Sabra. I love that he never gave up on her no matter what.

Stella Hunter did an amazing job narrating this story. The emotion for Sabra was there throughout and I felt she captured her perfectly. I loved listening to her narration.

I loved this book and highly recommend it. Even if dark thrillers are not normally your troupe, as they are not my go to either, I hope you will explore it as I really enjoyed it and so glad I listened. I hope you will be too.

Through the darkness a light will shine and love will heal all the broken pieces.

1 person found this helpful

Just Missing Something

I really wanted to enjoy. I have a love for dark stories and taboo subjects. But I just couldn't get into this story. Narrator was fantastic though.