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  • Challenging Saber

  • The Alliance Book 4
  • By: S. E. Smith
  • Narrated by: David Brenin
  • Length: 6 hrs and 32 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (35 ratings)

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Challenging Saber

By: S. E. Smith
Narrated by: David Brenin
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Publisher's Summary

Sometimes it takes losing the one thing closest to a warrior's heart to wake the beast that lives inside him....

Saber, a wounded Trivator, believes he is no longer a fit warrior, much less strong enough to claim a mate. Scarred, he does everything in his power to push away the delicate human female he has fallen in love with. He knows that she deserves a warrior who can protect her, not one that will need her constant help.

Taylor Sampson may be human, but that doesn't make her weak. She and her two older sisters survived living on Earth for four years after their world went crazy. She is all grown up now and has her eye on the one stubborn Trivator that captured her heart seven years before.

Taylor has one last requirement in order to complete her schooling. Once she finishes, she plans to show Saber that he is the man she wants, but when the planet she is on erupts into a civil war, she is trapped behind enemy lines. When Saber discovers that Taylor has been left behind, the warrior inside him refuses to think of her as collateral damage in a savage battle for power.

Journey to a lawless, alien world and discover what happens when the beast awakens inside a damaged Trivator warrior when the woman he loves is threatened.

©2015 S.E. Smith (P)2016 S.E. Smith

What listeners say about Challenging Saber

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*****five star*****

I liked Taylor and Saber's because it deals in realistic situations (not being aliens etc.) but people suffers from severe injuries that not only affects their quality of life but so their loved ones. It reminds me of our brave military men and women who got injured on duty or worst. It takes a whole community to helps heals an injured returned soldiers and it take a special woman like Taylor to support a broken man. Devid As always you are amazing, i do have a huge crush on your voice (sighs) :P thanks.

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Loved going to a new alien world with this author.

AUDIBLE REVIEW
Loved listening to this but I still found Jessie a bit of an independent idiot in the beginning. I can understand part of her thinking but I would have made sure I was stronger and well fed before running from the compound.
Loved going to a new alien world with this author.
Having read the whole series a few times doesn’t take away from listening to the audible version.
BOOK REVIEW
The start of another new series by one of my favourite authors.
This time we find earth has been invaded by the Trivators, not so much invaded but being bought into the Alliance. Humans being human, fight each other and destroy their own cities for self-aggrandising reasons rather than banding together for the betterment of earth. Self destruction rather than become something more.
What the three sisters Jesse, Jordan and Taylor have had to endure is horrible but they have survived and grown stronger with a bond that will never be broken.
Jesse was a strong and independent person doing her best to protect her younger sisters but she should have been out of the city ages before this time frame. She may have been reckless, but I did not find her stupid.
Hunter is exactly that, an elite hunter, amongst the Trivators and is ready to leave this horrible planet and head home after 3 years of duty. When Jesse saves his life he owes her a life debt and takes her as his Amate, (life partner) so she and her sisters can get medical help.
The girls take off and of course nearly get raped and killed but are once again saved by Hunter and his men.
We have a few hiccups with their relationship but Jesse being the strong person she is ends up being a perfect balance and a good partner to Hunter. Once she finally accepts her new life on a different planet and her head wrapped around a new universe, she adapts well.
I am not sure but I felt Jesse and her sisters should have been just that bit older to give them some credibility. The constant wishing for things to be as they were was a bit wearing, even if understandable. The earth had changed and not for the better so I would be thankful for the chance to leave that behind.
Not quite hooked but looking forward to the next book.

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5 stars plus

This series just keeps getting better with each new story. The underlying plot is evolving to include the author’s new series Lords of Kassis. We initially met a Kassis character in Dagger’s story. I just love the narrator David Brennin, he does a superb job with each story, you feel like you are there, wrapped up in what is happening. This was Sabre and Taylor’s story, and how they eventually overcame all the obstacles they had to endure before they could be together. Action aplenty, it will keep you guessing at what’s coming.

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  • Cheri
  • 30-05-2016

Taylor Challenges Saber In Every Way!

If you are familiar with this series, then you've probably come to like Taylor, she's a fighter with a bubbly personality. From the beginning, she has naturally gravitated towards Saber, even while under Hunter's protection. Saber knows in his heart, once she is of age, he will claim Taylor as his Amate. Until then, there's a lot of banter between them, which is fun to watch.

May contain some spoilers:
In book one, Saber is hurt with a debilitating injury which makes him feel less of a warrior, and unfit to claim Taylor, and he pushes her away. However, with Taylor's determination and personality, she is not willing to let him feel sorry for himself or give up. She's even chosen a career in the field that will people with these types of injuries. She applies what she learned to help and push him, even when he does not have the strength to push himself.

After years of Saber trying to push her away, she finally giving him an ultimatum, to search his heart and soul to figure out if he wants to claim her. To ensure he has time to think about them, and for her to get hands on experience she needs for her career, she leaves on a peace mission to a planet that has recently been brought in the Alliance. During this mission things go terribly wrong, and Taylor gets caught in the crossfires. Saber's made up his mind; however, once he learns she's in a life or death situation, he will have join the other warriors, and become the man Taylor needs in order to help save her.

This story is one of these best in the series so far, and has been developing since book one. I've became emotionally invested in both Saber and Taylor. Well worth my time, and I recommend this series, sale or credit!

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  • Soriea
  • 05-02-2016

Very Heart Warming and Emotional.

Any additional comments?

Taylor is all grown up! I have always loved the antics of Taylor and Saber. It started out rather innocent as Taylor was under age but Saber had always known Taylor would one day be his.

If you are new to this series, start from the first book, Hunter's Claim. That faithful day, three warrior's met three sisters and their future wives. These are not your typical woman in need of saving. Although these are capable warriors, these women are cunning, thinkers and they have brains. What they lack in brute muscle and warrior fighting skills they more than make up with brains that not only compliment these warriors, its often saved them.

This book is no different. Over the series we've seen Taylor remain Taylor but also grow up. Saber has a crippling injury that makes him doubt his having a future with Taylor. He doesn't want her to have to take care of him for the rest of his life. She deserves someone whole, someone that can protect and take care of her.

Taylor has other ideas. Instead of leaving him, giving up on him, she devotes her studies to helping people like him and Hunter, her Guardian and her oldest sisters husband, with his back injury. Saber has been fighting Taylor and wallowing in self pity for 5 years. Something happens and he tells her he doesn't love her. Taylor tells him she is leaving for 3 months, if he still didn't want her she wouldn't see him again because as she told him, she is not chasing him. You go Taylor!

In that three months Saber starts to get himself together and this because possibly because of the break throughs Taylor made in her studies. Then Taylor gets caught behind enemy lines, and the friends, Hunter, Dagger, Saber, Trig, and Razor team up to go bring her home.

This story is my favorite. I loved the others, but this one the love they all feel for Taylor and her sisters really come through. Its Deep, its emotional and these warriors made it personal. Screw council, they were getting her out of there.

This one is a real winner and more then worth a credit.

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7 people found this helpful

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  • Luv2Read
  • 10-11-2019

Good Book, but...

I like reading series and this one does not disappoint if you're into sci fi romance. There are only two issues that caused me to give it 4 stars; the narrator gets a bit dramatic in parts and the next two books aren't offered on audible escape. If a series is offered the whole series should be available.

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  • Netta
  • 17-09-2020

Saber and Taylor

These two characters have loved each other for a long time. The problem is that by the time Taylor has fully grown up, Saber doesn't feel worthy of her. You don't know what you've lost until it's gone, is the story behind their love. It takes Sabers soul brothers, Hunter and Dagger, to truly bring him out of his self pitty. This book does show these two will have their HEA, but does leave you on a plot cliffhanger. I look forward to continuing this series. David does an excellent job with the narrative for this series

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  • Kindle Customer
  • 01-03-2020

Cliffhanger

There is a big 'ol cliffhanger at the end of this book. At least our heroine runs circles around Saber in every meaningful way including sexy bed play. Well, he is pretty good at blunt force combat.

Review of audio book.

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  • Kindle Customer Dee
  • 04-11-2016

Another great book,<br />

Love the the book ,can't wait to get the next chapter in the series. My one compliant is men reading woman's part
in the story. I think it sounds terrible, when a man or a woman tries to read the part of the opposite sex.

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  • Sharon Demond
  • 31-01-2016

Saber is one great warrior.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. You feel for the people. The love, the pain and the strength. Heart warming to say the least.

What other book might you compare Challenging Saber to and why?

Hunter's, Dagger's and Razor's stories. Each story different but each containing sadness, love, happiness and the rocky road to a great ending.

Which character – as performed by David Brenin – was your favorite?

Saber I think. Although I would any character that David performs. David is a great narrator.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Challenging the Warrior. That sounds corny.

Any additional comments?

Please start with Hunter's story first and read the books in the order SE Smith wrote them. I think you will enjoy them that way. Good job SE!

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  • Kindle Customer
  • 18-10-2022

loved it

Loved it !! this story. the narrator is so fantastic it's like your really there!! good overall

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  • Edwina "I Love books"
  • 31-07-2021

GREAT NARRATOR!!

I loved Taylor from bk1 when she was just 16 years old and captured by The Trivator Warriors along with her 2 older sister. Taylor gave poor Saber a fit. She was always biting him.

But from the moment Saber the Trivator Warrior saw Taylor he new she was his Ameta/Wife. But he had to wait for her to grow up. Before Taylor can turn 21 Taylor has a major accident that almost cost him his life. His leg was basically crushed. It took year for him to even walk again. In the meantime Taylor reaches and adult age.

Listen to Audible!! Another Great Narration by David Brenin. 5Star Narration!!

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  • BusyBookMomma
  • 30-10-2020

Well done!

Thoughts while listening:
Hearing the introduction between Saber and Taylor through Saber's POV is funnier than it was from Dagger's POV. In this book you get to hear more about what happened between them than either of the previous books. This is definitely the funniest of the previous couples. Taylor is, in Saber's words, a little hellcat. ROFL!!!!

If he does what I think he's gonna do after his and Taylor's first night together, I will beat him with a stick until he begs forgiveness. He did it and I'm gonna beat him until he begs forgiveness.

Taylor is a mouthy one isn't she. Even when faced with the odds she was, she still opened her mouth and bit back. I don't know if she's brave or foolish.

The surprises that pop up at the end are very interesting. I can't wait to see where they go.

The Sampson sisters are awesome, and always up to no good. LOL!

Final Thoughts:

This story starts with a flashback seven years into the past. It might be a bit odd for some, given that Taylor is only 15 at the beginning, but nothing really happens between Saber and Taylor until she's 22. Though, he does act a bit possessive and really protective of her. Also, they do have some really emotional conversations and he does start building her a house, but he still waits. I like that this story Starts at the beginning of their story and proceeds forward. There are a few flashback scenes, but not like how they were laid out in the last book. The last two books, I think, have been the most interesting, because of how they author included so much of their background interactions into the story. I always love when the characters have a strong background that is introduced into the story. The author did a fantastic job writing this story and I really enjoyed it. Well done to the author, and to the narrator as well for his performance. I'm looking forward to seeing what comes next for the Alliance.

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  • Bookwormruth
  • 01-09-2022

Terrific

I absolutely loved listening to this one. Well read. Excellent story. I can't wait to listen to more in this series

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  • Kindle Customer
  • 02-04-2018

Challenging Saber

When you can read the story and listen at the same time, it add's an extra little bit to the excitement of the story, adding other characters from other story lines makes it that much better and this is the best one yet, keep them coming please.

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  • Dawn
  • 19-09-2016

More than interesting

I found that the beginning half of this was a really great addition to the world created around the Samson sisters and the Trivator warriors, but I was a bit disappointed with how it worked out towards the ending, it was almost as if it started to become another totally different story and I personally would have preferred it to have a slightly different or more rounded ending.

I can however, only presume that this is because there are other stories in this world which the author has written or is in the process of developing. The fact that the Red Crystal ship is brought up and the future/past of earth by Dagger was neat, and it tied in a lot of things, but I'm just puzzled how it does all fit in... and I do really want to find out.

It seems that there's a lot more going to happen in the world of the Samsons, and I am going to dig around amazon to find out more.

David's voice in this series is a pleasure to listen to, his range of voices, and hidden context when needed is one of the best I've heard. I'm more than happy to follow him around the world of any audio book now. :)

Thank you so much for the entertaining series, and I hope there's many more for me to listen to from both author and narrator.

Dawn

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  • Christine H. M. Moore
  • 07-05-2016

Excellent work S E Smith :-)

I loved this book, the story gets better and better with each new book in this series and David Brenin has such a wonderful range of voices :-)

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  • menchu
  • 02-02-2016

Great series

I love Saber and Taylor, so fantastic!! Definitely recommend!! All this book in the series are awesome.

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