Early Review: Used

Used 
By Kate Dunbar

Publication Date: March 8, 2021
Date Read: February 16, 2021
Genre: New Adult – Romantic Suspense
Source: eARC from Kate Dunbar
Format: E-Book
Pages: 368

From Goodreads:
Heartbreakingly beautiful and completely engrossing, USED is packed full of twists, turns, and a gripping romance sure to leave readers emotionally spent and asking for more.

At the age of seventeen, after a decade of lies, hurt, and severe abuse by her brother Lucas, Sabra Valentine is able to breathe. Lucas is behind bars thanks in large part to Sabra’s quick thinking and self-preservation-even if that’s one more secret she has to keep. Now, seven years later, life is moving forward, and Sabra is starting to heal, live, and love again with her friends and Trevor Collins by her side. He’s tall, dark, and sexy, and he doesn’t fall for Sabra’s games. The future is finally looking bright-until one phone call shatters everything.

Used is a romantic suspense with domestic thriller elements. Please be aware that there are topics that may be triggers for some readers, and this work is meant for mature readers.

“I’ll never control you or ask you to do something you don’t want to do because I love you.”

Kate Dunbar has been a great friend of mine for many years now. We met online many years ago and fangirled over books together. I can’t even tell you how excited I am that I am sat here writing a review for her debut novel. When she reached out to me to tell me she was publishing Used and asked if I would like to review it, I jumped at the chance. And I am so, so, so glad that I did. Used was everything I didn’t know I needed in a book. It was utterly brilliant.

Used follows the story of Sabra. Sabra has a mysterious past and she never lets herself get close to anyone. As soon as someone starts to show feelings, she bounces. But there’s just something about Trevor that she can’t let go. But when her past comes back to haunt her Sabra doesn’t know what to do. How can she move on with her life when her past is just one step behind her.

Now, I love a good thriller but I don’t actually read them all that often. I’m a fantasy reader through and through and usually contemporary novels or romantic thrillers can take me awhile to get into because I’m used to reading lots of magic etc. That did not happen with Used. Right from the very first chapter I was completely sold on this book. I was sucked right into Sabre’s story and I was on the edge of my seat dying to know what was going to happen next.

One thing I loved about Used the most was that we are technically reading two stories at once. We have present day with Sabre’s love story and turmoil over her family and we also have the past of what happened between her and her horrific brother. Kate has the most incredible writing style. It’s so powerful and fantastic. She had me swooning and gushing over Trevor one moment, and then my stomach was in knots and I felt like I couldn’t breathe the next, when we went back to Sabre’s past. It takes a really talented and phenomenal story teller to do that. And that is what you get here, a moving and stunning story written by an incredible storyteller.

Used was everything I could have wanted in a Romantic Suspense book. It was filled to the brim with swoon-worthy moments and it had to terrified to continue reading, scared of what was to come… but at the same time unable to put the book down. I loved every single moment of this book. It was absolutely incredible. Kate has cemented herself at the top of my auto-buy authors list. I can’t wait to see what she writes next. If you want a fast-paced, action-packed, thrilling, terrifying, yet sexy and beautifully romantic story then look no further. Used is in a word… perfection! I loved it!

“I want a present and a future with you, sweetheart. We can’t ignore the things that have happened or were done to us in the past. They have helped mould us into who we are today. And I love who you are today.”

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