On Broken Wings

Wild Aces #3

by Chanel Cleeton

The author of Into the Blue and Fly with Me returns with the third high-flying Wild Aces romance...

A year after losing her husband, Joker, the squadron commander of the Wild Aces, Dani Peterson gets an offer from his best friend, Alex "Easy" Rogers, to help fix up her house. Dani accepts, and their friendship grows--along with an undeniable attraction.

Racked by guilt for loving his best friend's widow, Easy's caught between what he wants and can't have. Until one night everything changes, and the woman who's always held his heart ends up in his arms. Yet as Easy leaves for his next deployment, he and Dani are torn between their feelings and their loyalty to Joker's memory.

But when Dani discovers something that sends them both into a spin, the conflicted lovers must overcome the past to navigate a future together...

Genres: Romance, Military Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Adult, Military Romance, Fiction

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 3, 2017

About the author

Chanel Cleeton is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick Next Year in Havana, When We Left Cuba, The Last Train to Key West, and The Most Beautiful Girl in Cuba.

Originally from Florida, Chanel grew up on stories of her family's exodus from Cuba following the events of the Cuban Revolution. Her passion for politics and history continued during her years spent studying in England where she earned a bachelor's degree in International Relations from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master's degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics & Political Science. Chanel also received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law.

Reviews

[✦❋Arianna✦❋ · Rating 5 out of 5]

'On Broken Wings' is without a doubt, Chanel Cleeton’s best book to date. She really outdid herself with this equally heartwarming and heartbreaking third installment, installment that sucked me in from the beginning, because trust me when I say, I couldn’t put it down for one minute. Poignant and emotional, Alex 'Easy' and Dani’s story was everything I hoped it will be. Every single aspect of the story was fantastically done, Chanel delivering a wonderful written story that I’m sure will move many readers to tears.

“I don’t know what to do anymore. She needs me to be her friend; I can’t stay away from her. And I can’t stop loving her.”

Dani knows so very well what loss really means. First, she had a miscarriage, losing the child she always wanted, then her beloved husband during an accident. A year after her husband death, Dani is lost and damaged, not finding her place in the world anymore without the one who was supposed to be her forever. She tries to adjust, but with each and every say she feels she’s falling apart more and more.

“I’m happiest with my feet planted on the ground. But my heart- it flies”.

Alex has been in love with Dani since the moment he laid his eyes on her. The only problem? Dani was the forbidden fruit, his squadron commander wife. He always hid his feelings, never trying anything inappropriate since his relationship with his commander was too important to him. While he still feels guilty for lusting over his friend’s wife, he can’t stop wanting Dani. However, he knows she will never see him as he wants to, so he’s content with what he has – Dani’s friendship.

“I would have given everything I had to trade places with him, so he could have come back for her.”

Alex is ready to do anything for Dani, to help her through the worst time of her life, even if this means sacrificing his happiness. Dani doesn’t know about Alex’s feelings. However, she appreciates him as a man, as a friend. Spending more and more time with him, Dani’s feelings slowly start to change, but there are moments when the guilt she feels becomes a little too much. Will Dani realize a second chance to life and love has the power to save not only her, but Alex too?

I loved this book! It rarely happens for me to really love every aspect of a story, but I can honestly say the author excelled with every single one of them. Dani and Alex’s story was not an easy one. It was so intense and gut-wrenching at times, but so sweet and heartwarming other times. Needless to say, these characters’ story really made me feel.

My favorite aspect of the story here was certainly our hero, Alex. In my eyes, Alex was truly a hero. This man simply blew me away. I fell in love with him more and more with every single chapter. Every single one of his actions or words warmed my heart and made me swoon. He was everything I love in a hero!

“I wanted her, had always wanted her, would always want her. But more than anything, I wanted her to be happy.”

I loved how wonderfully his character was portrayed. Chanel did a fantastic job with this complex character. He was more than wonderful…he was simply amazing! The way he loved Dani was astonishing. I felt his love the entire time and I truly believe he was perfect for this broken woman in every single way. He was exactly what she needed – a friend and later as the story unfolded, something more. I loved his loyalty, compassion and generosity and the tender way he treated Dani at times melt my heart.

Dani was such a great heroine. My heart ached for her, but I really wanted to realize that she has the right to love again, to realize that Alex could be everything for her if she opens her heart enough. I felt her pain and devastation and I have to say that I totally understood her guilt. Dani was broken, but there were times when she was so strong and so brave. I truly admired her bravery and the way she handled some aspects regarding Alex as the story unfolded. These two characters’ relationship progresses naturally, which I really enjoyed. I loved them as a couple, mainly because I felt they can be happy together and they can heal each other perfectly. They were great as friends, but so much better together as lovers.

“I’m happiest with my feet planted firmly on the ground. But my heart—It flies.”

All in all, 'On Broken Wings' was such a touching, beautifully written story! If you are looking for a sweet, emotional read with two endearing characters that will make you fell, look no further and read this amazing story!



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[A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars

*happy dance*



Two things attracted me to this book:

#1 Love me some fighter pilots. And marines. And Navy SEALS. And Black Ops. Any kind of uniform will do.

#2 I’ve read several military romances where the hero falls for his best friend’s girlfriend/wife. And I loved them all. There’s just something about loving-my-best-friend’s-girl-from-afar that does it for me. I know it's wrong and twisted. But I never claimed I was sane.



I didn’t expect (too) much from this book. I’d never read this author before and I was prepared for anything. But the book is beautifully written. Raw, intense and so hot.

I can’t decide who I loved more, the heroine or the hero. They’re such a perfect match.

And that epilogue! Yum.

QUICK REVIEW:

Enjoyment: 5/5
Writing style: 5/5
Storyline: 5/5
Hero: 5/5
Heroine: 5/5
Secondary characters: 5/5
Hotness/chemistry: 5/5
Romance: 5/5
Angst: 5/5
Darkness level: 2/5
Humor: 3/5
Depth of the book: 5/5
POV: dual, 1st person
Triggers: death
Similar books: Broken Wings by Erika Asby; Captured by Jasinda Wilder; Set in Stone by Rachel Robinson

[Patty ~ Wrapped Up In Reading Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

*****FIVE STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}


I could drop a bomb without breaking a sweat, had been to war, nearly died more times than I could count, but she was the scariest thing I’d ever faced, my feelings for her sending me into a spin.





I’ve been seeing reviews of Chanel Cleeton books for some time on Goodreads and my curiosity was certainly piqued. I now understand why so many of her books have received such high ratings. Normally it takes me a few days to read a book of this length, but I literally devoured this book in less than a day!! I honestly was sucked in from the very first page. I’ve never read any romances involving Airforce fighter pilots, and now I am wondering why I waited so long!! I mean Top Gun is one of my favorite movies from the 80s!! All I kept doing was picturing “ICEMAN” while reading this book!! SIGH!! Well, let me tell you, ladies, there is an even hotter fighter pilot in town and he goes by call sign “EASY”!! He’s sure to melt the panties off of every woman who ends up reading this one! This is the third book in the WILD ACES series but can be read as a standalone. It’s a “friends-to-lovers” with a bit of the forbidden romance aspect to it.








Dani Peterson is a woman who has suffered so much loss in a short amount of time – losing her unborn child during a miscarriage and then her beloved husband during an accident while on a mission. It’s been a year and yet the pain is still very crushing. She hasn’t been able to get passed her grief. But she has found some solace from her friendship with her husband’s best friend, Alex “EASY” Rogers. The man is the hottest fighter pilot in “Wild Aces” and is a well-known ladies’ man but there is such a sweetness about him when it comes to Dani. What she doesn’t know is that EASY has been in love with her from the very first moment he saw her. But when he found out she was his best friend's girl, he kept all of his feelings buried deep inside. He was happy just being able to be a good friend to her and he’s been there for her through some of the darkest moments of Dani’s life.



Now, after a year has passed since Joker’s death, something is shifting between Dani and EASY. Dani is starting to see Easy in a different light and she doesn’t know what to do with these new feelings. She struggles with guilt over her love for her dead husband and her fear of opening her heart up to someone new--someone who could be taken away from her just like her husband. Dani isn’t willing to go through that kind of heartbreak again.




Alex is also struggling with the new developments in his relationship with Dani. He feels as if he is betraying his best friend by going after Dani and he fears that if he pushes her too soon for something more that he could lose her all together and that’s something he wouldn’t be able to endure.








I fell so hard for Alex and every time Dani seemed to reject him, my heart broke for him. The heroine definitely had her head up her butt for most of the story but I was so engrossed and could hardly wait to see how the story would end for this couple!




If you’re looking for a sexy adult contemporary romance, then look no further!! ON BROKEN WINGS releases on January 3rd!!




Amazon: http://amzn.to/1Uis6Qb
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Kobo: http://bit.ly/1ZR6qyD

[Astrid - The Bookish Sweet Tooth · Rating 5 out of 5]

ALL THE STARS - 5 EASY Stars

Now on Amazon!


Review @ Vanilla & Spice Books

"But I knew. I knew.
Hadn’t I always known we hurtled toward this?
That at some point the bill would come due, and eventually he’d go up in the air and
the sky wouldn’t give him back."

Jesus H. I have the worst book hangover...

I have loved this group of fighter pilots from the start. Burn was the level headed guy, Thor the silent and deep water, Easy the...well...easy going one, a big kid with a quick smile and little depth. Well no, we KNEW that he had layers upon layers about him...

Dani's life took a tragic turn when her husband lost orientation, crashing down to earth while sitting in a fighter jet. She has been trying hard to find a semblance of normalcy but the void in her heart and house is overwhelming at the best of times. The most simple tasks have become a Herculean effort:

“Do you want matte or gloss?” I blinked, the paint cans blurring before me. What type of paint did you use to erase a broken dream? No fucking clue.

Through it all there has been one constant: Alex "Easy" Rogers. He has been her rock, a friend she can count on whenever she feels the ground slip away under her feet.


Easy has been in love with Dani since the first time he laid eyes on her, his reputation as a player a distraction from his love for her. Dani being his squadron leader's wife he never acted on his feelings, the bro-code of honor he lives by has always been too important to him. The guilt that comes with his friend's death smothers him and he would do anything to help Dani through the worst time of her life.

I would have given everything I had to trade places with him, so he could have come back for her.

For the hours Dani spends with Easy she gets relief from the soul deep grief she feels. At the same time there is guilt because she doesn't want to forget her husband, but Alex awakes feelings in her she hasn't felt in a long time. When they escalate they have to face consequences they didn't see coming.

“Don’t you get it by now? There is no one else. There never will be anyone else. There’s just her.”

I fell in love with Easy in the first book of the series and he has been holding a soft spot in my heart ever since. If there is a perfect man out there who is anything like him, raise your hand and tell me where you are. I want to call DIBS. That guy? Utter perfection. He is EVERY-FUCKING-THING. Understanding, tender, loving, funny, loyal, generous, strong, and has so many layers upon layers upon layers that you would have to spend a lifetime with this guy and still would not find the end of his larger than life personality. He is simply everything a woman can want from a man. My heart shattered for him, every time his was crushed yet again by the love of his life. Yet this woman brought out the best man he could be.

I loved her, and loving someone was more about them than you, so it didn’t matter what I wanted.

His unrequited but irrevocable love for Dani was the reason that made me love him so hard. The reputation he had as a player, his silent suffering, his quick smiles despite it, it all added to his appeal.

Dani was such a wonderfully broken heroine. It was hard to watch her pick up her life and start from scratch. Her guilt over wanting to move on is so misguided yet understandable, she loved her husband deeply. Even with Easy's help it is everything but easy. She is confused and afraid and has had her soul stripped to the essence of it - first by the death of her husband and then by Easy. Dani always tries to do the right thing. She knows what she has in Alex, loves him just as much and once her feelings started to change I could hear an imaginary faint "halleluja" from all people involved, including Joker. I felt relief when the angst eased and was genuinely happy for these two.

"I’ve loved you in so many ways— my friend, my family, my lover."

The insane sexual chemistry between these two was magnificent. It was in every word, every sigh, it was so intimate that I almost felt like a stalker looking in.

This was a worthy conclusion of this series and I think Chanel Cleeton has outdone herself. There was lots of angst, lots of tears and a huuuuge amount of love. Each and everyone of the books in this series is a favorite of mine, honest to God, but Easy is hands down one of my all-time favorite heroes. I mourn the fact that Chanel Cleeton is done with this series. I truly hope that she will return to the fighter pilots one day and write more of them. There is something about this group of men that is irresistible. Until then I'll just read whatever she throws at me because, honestly, this author has talent in spades.

“Are you ready to go home?” she asked when she was right in front of me, and I nodded, my throat and heart suddenly so fucking full. She might not have realized it, but I’d been home ever since I’d stepped off that ladder and taken her into my arms. She was my home.

[Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS

I could drop a bomb without breaking a sweat, had been to war, nearly died more times than I could count, but she was the scariest thing I’d ever faced, my feelings for her sending me into a spin.

Do you know that feeling when you meet a secondary character in a series that steals your attention from the second he appears on the pages? That was Alex "Easy" Rogers for this girl. Now it's no secret that I have a weak spot for the unrepentant manwhores, but there was also something much more to Easy. He was the goofball of the group, the easy going one always quick with the jokes and a smile, but you knew that beneath that is the heart of a man much more complex that he first appears. I've been slowly dying in my wait for his book since first meeting him in Fly With Me, and all I can tell you after finishing this book is he was absolutely worth EVERY SECOND of the wait. Every. Second.

I don’t know what to do anymore. She needs me to be her friend; I can’t stay away from her. And I can’t stop loving her.”

If you're expecting your typical manwhore hero, think again. Alex is such a complex character. His jokes and smile a facade to the deep feelings he hides, but his love for his fallen friend and brother in arms is his worst kept secret. Alex has been in love with Dani Peterson since he first laid eyes on her... as the loving wife of his best friend. Dani has been an unreachable and unattainable dream for him, so he drowned himself in easy and forgettable women, but nothing erased his feelings.

A year after the tragic accident that took Dani's husband from her, she's still trying to pick up the pieces of her life. Her one constant has always been Alex. Unlike everyone else of their friends, Dani is absolutely ignorant of his feelings for her. He's never made a move, always respecting her boundaries and their friendship while being her rock. But soon Dani's feelings begin to take a turn from the friendly camaraderie she's always had for Easy to something much more. But will the guilt they both have over their feelings get between a love that may save them both?

For a moment I stopped pretending everything was okay, that loving her wasn’t broken glass slicing through my veins, leaving me bleeding out, that the sheer fucking torture of wanting someone I couldn’t have wasn’t a constant ache that brought me to my knees and made me feel as though I’d broken an unspoken promise. “Don’t you get it by now? There is no one else. There never will be anyone else. There’s just her.”

Can I just say how much I loved this book? Words can't describe all of my feels for it. It's so poignant and sweet, emotional and gutwreching. I absolutely loved the way that Alex is with Dani. There's no one else for him. He doesn't try to deny it, or spend his time on meaningless hookups. He's well past that point. The man was just perfection. He's patient, understanding, sweet beyond words.

Dani struggles with her building feelings for Alex and her memory of her beloved husband. My heart simply broke for her. I respect the fact that this author didn't go the easy route and try to make light of her relationship with her husband. She still loves him immeasurably but her feelings for Easy are not discounted either. It's no small feat to pull that off. To make the reader truly invested in their relationship and BELIEVE it, while still honoring the memory of her husband.

I get scared with romances with a dead spouse because so often an author will try to discount that relationship in order to more easily sell the present one. That was not at all the case here and man but I loved it.

This was no typical or cliche; it was a story that will stay with me for a long LONG while. The feelings between Dani and Alex wasn't less or more...it just was. It was a different kind of love but a love nonetheless. There's no stereotypical drama at the end; just two people dealing with a hard past in order to build a future.

I’m happiest with my feet planted firmly on the ground. But my heart—It flies.

On Broken Wings was a poignant and beautiful romance packed with emotion and meaning. It was full of swoons and steam. There was no clutter to take away from what Dani and Alex go through on their way to their HEA and I loved it. I loved every second of it. I loved every page of it. I. Just. Loved. It.

ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review

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[Eliza · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS

If you’re already a fan of Chanel Cleeton’s Wild Aces series, then you know Easy needs no introduction. From the moment he was mentioned in the first novel, Fly with Me, myself and I’m sure everyone else included was sure he would next up for the CC treatment. It’s simply genius the way our frenzy was fed with Chanel’s decision to delay our gratification.

At this stage I have to point out the fantastic flow of this series. The onus of the first novel was the red hot passion between Noah and Jordan, and Into the Blue focused on Eric and Becca’s skilfully emotive second chance romance. With all the novels in the series I was completely enamoured with the integrity of each couple. They all drew on something new from me, cementing its must read status. Delaying Easy’s story only seemed to heighten my enthusiasm for a story that was begging to be told.

It may be a strange thing to say but I felt as though I already knew Easy. He had a reputation of being a ladies man, but no one would dare deny his veracity. He’s a man who is loyal to a fault, and being in love with his late best friend’s widow is a personal hell for him. He has been in love in Dani from the moment he saw her, and distraught as the realisation is he, he has long come to the fact that the most he would ever be was a friend.

Unrequited love is a huge draw for me as a reader. This combined with the forbidden element made for heavenly reading. On Broken Wings was an anticipatory delight and there’s no part of it I did not love.

Through their friendship he has been a huge support to Dani, and has been with her through her darkest times. Through it all he has always been respectful and set aside his feelings for her. Navigating their friendship since her husband’s passing is uncharted territory and it’s an eye opening experience for them to discover how entwined their lives are.

I lived for this romance. I became its personal cheerleader. Easy and Dani are characters that deserve so much happiness and in finding theirs, I found mine for them. The abundance of angst, emotion, and passion along with my personal love of this couple and series, make it one of my top reads of 2016.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

NOW LIVE!
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Dani and Easy's story wasn't a simple one, and they had a lot of obstacles they needed to hurdle. Dani is still trying to move on from the death of her husband, Easy friend, and trying to figure out what to do with her life now. Easy is still trying his damnedest to move past the feelings he has for his friends wife, but he's finding it harder than he thought it would be. Especially when Dani starts reaching out to him, in need of a friend.

Easy stole my heart from the very moment he was introduced in Fly with Me and I absolutely adored him. In his own story he actually started to break my heart when it was clear how much he wanted Dani but couldn't have her. I just wanted him to get the Happy Ever After that he deserved. With Dani he was so attentive it was swoon worthy and I wanted to take him away from her and keep him for myself.

Their relationship is predictable, but in the best way possible. Yes, I could guess what was going to happen but that never stopped me from loving ever moment of their story. I just kept reading and was waiting to see their reactions to everything with bated breath and wide eyes. I loved that I was so involved in their story and it was just that good. Both of these characters were amazing and together they were explosive.

On Broken Wings is a story that I hope everyone will give a chance. It's the third in the Wild Aces series but could be read as a standalone. Very low angst, sweetness overload, and so much heat you'll need oven-mitts to handle this book.

[Christie«SHBBblogger» · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: On Broken Wings
Series: Wild Aces #3
Author: Chanel Cleeton
Release date: January 3, 2017
Cliffhanger: No



On Broken Wings in the most fitting title for Alex "Easy" Rogers and Dani's book. Dani has been completely broken by the unexpected loss of her husband a year ago. The Air Force squadron commander was lost during a training flight, and she's been quietly trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered heart ever since. Throughout this series, we've been introduced to her as the devoted and loving wife, and trusted friend to all who know her. She was beautiful, vivacious, and the object of Easy's secret torturous affections. He's known for his ways with the ladies (hence his nickname.) But almost everyone knows it's really his desperate attempt to drown the voice in his head telling him that she will always be the only one for him.

Since meeting him in Fly With Me, "eager" doesn't even begin to describe my need for Easy's book. I've always loved the tortured hero. Throw in the fact that it's caused by unrequited, deep, and devastating love? Sold! To see his craving for her, how it causes him such physical and emotional distress, you really feel for the poor man. When you have it so bad that it's like a knife in your gut to be in the same room as someone, you know that moving on is a lost cause. Even now, with Dani being single, he feels as if there's a line there that he should never cross. So he's forever stuck in the friend zone.

She smelled like apples. Forbidden-fucking-apples.

Dani is struggling, as any woman would be in her situation. She's a maelstrom of chaotic emotions. Depression, helplessness, and guilt over even contemplating wanting to move on from her loss still have their hold on her. When she runs into Easy at the hardware store, he gives her a small slice of comfort and understanding that she's been needing. He's tried to keep his distance, but seeing her in distress is like a beacon calling him to his siren. He has to be her solid ground to stand on, no matter how hard it may be for himself. They form an unlikely special friendship, one that gently grows and helps her want to start living again.

My world had been shaken enough in the past year, and considering Easy was my rock, I couldn’t handle the possibility of losing that, too.

I thought I loved this guy in the previous books. But that was nothing compared to how completely he won me over and made me crave his happy ending in this one. For him, there's no other word to describe his feelings other than worshipful. He utterly and passionately adores this woman.

When I tell you that he was worth waiting for, ladies...that is an irrefutable truth. Trust me on this, all these months of anticipation building and impatience will be well rewarded. This guy!! He was there for her every step of the way, holding her, cherishing her, guiding her through the darkness. And that first kiss, their first everything...it was so hot it almost incinerated my kindle. Delayed gratification worked for them in a huge way.

Their story isn't traditional, simple, or without a lot of soul searching. The misplaced guilt he feels still chokes him. He feels a sense of responsibility as well as a need to give her what she needs-even if it's not himself. As her feelings move past platonic into a muddled in-between, they must come to terms with her attraction and give themselves permission to grasp happiness together. She had to accept his love for flying despite the fact that it was the life that led her to losing Michael. Not an easy task, it takes an incredible amount of bravery. It wasn't a decision they entered lightly by any means.

Love was different once you’d known loss. Now I held on a bit tighter, knowing all too well how it felt to have your heart ripped away from you.

There wasn't any OTT, or unnecessary drama. Even with a surprise thrown at them, they handled every complication with maturity and mutual respect. It was two people in an unconventional situation building a friendship that moved to a strong and solid love without regrets. I closed the last page of this book and literally let out a sigh of complete contentment. I felt giddy, butterflies in my chest kind of happiness over how these two connected and found their way to each other.

Although it would improve your reading experience to get their history in the previous books, this can most definitely be read as a standalone and I highly suggest to anyone and everyone to read this book! WELL worth the wait, in fact it exceeded every lofty expectation that I had. It was everything I could ask for as a romance reader.

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[Flo · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 **easy** STARS



Not going to lie, I was scared shitless going into this book. That’s usually the case for me when characters I already love to pieces get their own book. You never know if the author will live up to your own expectations, or if your favourite character ends up butchered. Well, I’m happy to report Chanel Cleeton delivered, and boy did she knock it out of the park. I loved this book, I loved Easy’s story and I loved him even more with Dani.

A perfect book to start the year off.

“I could drop a bomb without breaking a sweat, had been to war, nearly died more times than I could count, but she was the scariest thing I’d ever faced, my feelings for her sending me into a spin.”

For those of you who haven’t read the Wild Aces series--firstly, what are you waiting for--secondly, this might be a spoiler, so please stop reading..... On Broken Wings is the third installment in the series and it tells the epic story of Easy and Dani. Alex ‘Easy’ Rogers is a F-16 fighter pilot and Dani Peterson is his dead friend’s widow. Easy has been in love with Dani since he first met her, while she was happily married to his fellow fighter pilot. He never acted on his feelings, but became friends with Dani regardless. During a lot of hard times in Dani’s life he was there for her--as a friend. After her husband’s death things between them begin to change in a lot of ways.

“I’m happiest with my feet planted firmly on the ground. But my heart—
It flies.”

I have to say, I am throughly impressed how the author developed the relationship between them. The slow build was on point. Dani and Easy were heart breaking together, at times a lot of fun and so damn endearing. I fell in love with Easy all over again and I’m kind of sad it’s over. I really adored this series and all the characters in it. I’m also happy to say some of my faves from the first two books were around to catch up with. All in all, it was just a well rounded, beautiful done love story. Very respectful of the past, not overly dramatic or rushed--just perfect. And now that I finished the Wild Aces series I can happily say I can’t wait to read some more books by Chanel Cleeton.

That's all. Thank you for your time.

**ARC very kindly provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

RE-READ JULY 2020

I've made no secret of my love for the Wild Aces series so far, but On Broken Wings is the one that has stolen it for me. I’ve loved Alex “Easy” Rogers from the moment we met him in Fly With Me, and his harboured feelings for Dani Peterson plus all she has gone through, has seriously pulled on my heartstrings; all the build-up to their story was worth it.



My heart actually hurt reading this, for both Easy and Dani: for the fact that he is fighting his feelings towards the widow of one of his best friends whilst she has no idea that his love goes way deeper than that of friendship, for her loss and her determination at trying to carry on and find some kind of normality without her husband, and for her feeling torn between letting go of the past and looking to the future. But it's the support they give one another, the little things they do and the quieter moments with unspoken words which are really something else.

"I’d crossed a line I’d sworn I would never breach, in doing so betraying a man who I respected and missed."

This is simply a beautiful love story between two amazing people who deserve find happiness probably more than most. I absolutely adored them both for too many reasons to list. And, with an exquisite chemistry, they bring every emotion to the table: whilst my heart and tear ducts had a real workout, it held many moments that made me smile and sigh happily.



Chanel Cleeton has created the perfect dynamic in this group of people, bringing her readers strong, smart heroines and men who have a real-presence, turn heads yet have huge hearts underneath those very sexy flight-suits and wear their hearts on their sleeves. And what has struck me is how relatable they all are. This series has been a complete joy from start to finish, is certainly one I'll re-read in the future and if Chanel Cleeton writes it, I'll read it. I can't recommend highly enough.

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 INTENSE stars

Everyone knows how much I love Chanel's books! This one wasn't an exception, it was another fantastic story! I adored Dani and Easy's story and I wanted their HEA! Chanel delivers an emotional, intense, heartbreaking story with a strong romance!



Dani's husband died and now she is devastated and struggles with everything. Easy was one of his friends and there for her. But what she doesn't know is that Easy has loved her for a long time.

Their relationship was built slowly. Both 9f them needed time to preccess what was happening! But everything felt so realistic that I felt like I was a part of the story!

If you haven't read a book by Chanel Cleeton yet you should definitely check this author out! I've loved all her books and I can say that she is so talented!

 

  

[Geri Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's only the second day of 2017 and I already have my first 5 star read! Amazing!

Okay, now that that is out of the way, on my review!

In all honesty, I was a bit worried about the theme of this book going in. While I do like the dead ex trope, most of the books I’ve read and enjoyed, it was the hero who needed to get over the loss of a wife or a girlfriend or fiancée and not the other way around. I always find it harder to read when the heroine is the one who lost the love of her life because I feel like women feel more deeply and takes a lot more time to get over a relationship especially when that relationship was a loving one. I know it’s prejudiced to think this way but I cannot help it. Hence, my worry that I won’t be able to enjoy it as much.

I was wrong.

I repeat. I WAS WRONG!

This book slayed me. Chanel Cleeton found a way to make this story shine. And there are a couple of things (really smart decisions on her part) the author did that really made this book work for me.
One, she made this book messy.

Yup. You heard me right. This book didn’t shy away from all the messy emotions involved in trying to get over someone you love. You feel Dani’s emotion from pain and devastation to guilt to lust to guilt to love and everything else in between. The same goes for Easy.

To anyone who’s not familiar with the Wild Aces series, Dani lost her fighter pilot husband during a routine exercise. He was part of the Wild Aces which includes the previous two heroes in the series and Easy, the sexy and wild pilot who carried a torch for Dani for years. When Dani lost her husband, her Air Force family rallied behind her, especially Easy. As much as Easy wanted to be there for Dani, he has to deal with the fact that he’s in love with her and feels guilty for being the one alive instead of Joker.

I loved how the author didn’t shy away from all these things. Everything was laid out for readers to experience. My heart hurt for Easy. You feel his pain of always loving someone who can’t love him back. You’re there when he tried so hard to reel in his feelings and failing. To be perfectly honest, I was torn between wanting him to find someone else to love him completely and wanting him to find his HEA with Dani.

It was a beautiful mess. And I loved every single word of it.

Another thing that the author did with this book aside from not shying away from messy emotions was how natural the progression of Dani and Easy’s relationship was. It wasn’t an easy journey. Their HEA was hard won. I kept looking at the percentage of my Kindle device noting that even towards the end, things are still shaky between them.

Now with any other book, that would’ve infuriated me. But again, this book was able to convince me that Easy and Dani have a strong enough foundation that despite the uncertainty now, that everything will turn out amazing. I mean, how awesome is that? And the whole credit goes to how well written this book is. Don’t worry though, their HEA was definitely solid and like I said hard won, which made it even more precious.

My new year is off to a good start because holy smokes, this book was amazing! I highly recommend that you guys read this book. It can be read as a standalone but I would recommend that you guys read the other two in the series, especially book one. You’ll appreciate their story more if you get a glimpse of what these characters have been through before they could get their happily ever after.


ARC provided by the publisher

[Sonya ♕Chatterbooks book blog♕ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐ 4 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐





“ I’m happiest with my feet planted on the ground. But my heart- it flies”.

I’m seriously smacking myself so hard right now for not getting on board with this series earlier!! What is wrong with me?! This book completely took me by surprise and it left me with a dangerous craving of wanting more. And you know what happens when you give in to those kinds of cravings don’t you? You indulge.

It’s been a rough year for Dani. Still grieving the loss of her husband, she’s learning how to balance life without him in it. The funny thing about grief is that just when you THINK you have it under control and your good days are starting to out weigh your bad ones, something triggers all that progress. But that’s the beauty about having a strong support system with friends who do anything for you. And her biggest cheerleader was none other than the ladies man Alex “Easy” Rogers.

“Love was different once you’d known loss. Now I held on a bit tighter, knowing all too well how it felt to have your heart ripped away from you.



Easy has been fighting his own personal battle for the almost the past decade. Being in love with a woman you know you can’t have is nothing compared to seeing her heartbroken over the loss of your best friend. He’s knows Dani is trying her best to move on and he’s determined to help her in any way he can. Loving her from afar has been a struggle, but what happens when that distance suddenly becomes a thing of the past?

“I loved her, and loving someone was more about them than you, so it didn’t matter what I wanted.

I LOVED every single one of these characters! Dani was beautifully broken but she managed to be this strong heroine who took all of her heartache and grief, and turned into something worth living for. Her and Easy’s relationship was certainly an unconventional one but the way they felt about each other left no question. Easy’s love and devotion to Dani was awe inspiring and I loved how he gave her time and assurance in trying to work out her own feelings.

I will never forget these two characters and the way this author portrayed them was so effortlessly. She made us grieve with Dani and fall in love with Easy. They were simple but yet oh so complicated and I really liked that about them. Some of the best love stories are the most complex ones and Dani and Easy’s one was no different. If you’re like me and you’re just starting this series, then you are in for one adrenaline ride! This is a story that is not to be missed.

[Wil Loves Books! · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, this book was everything I was expecting it to be and so much more. Totally all the feels! This is such a great series overall but this book is definitely my favorite so far. This was beautiful, sad and romantic at the same time. I loved everything about it.

“Some women slid under your skin so deep, you couldn't carve them out no matter how hard you tried.”

I will say that although all the books in the series could be read as standalones, I totally recommend you read the previous ones, especially Fly With Me. The stories are very much interconnected. I also might reveal some plot twists of Fly With Me in my review since I’ve read them all. Either way if you read the blurb for On Broken Wings, some of those things are revealed. I’ve been waiting for Easy’s (Alex) story ever since I read Fly With Me. He’s Noah’s best friend and Wild Aces squadron mate. Since Fly With Me, we know he’s hopelessly in love with Dani. It’s a very tough situation for him since she’s married to his squadron commander, who is also a dear friend of him and a man he greatly respects. Easy never makes a move, he’s a gentleman through and through and loyalty is one of his biggest virtues.

“I would have given everything I had to trade places with him, so he could have come back for her.”

Now, if you’ve read the blurb, or Fly With Me, you know the Aces had an accident in which Joker, their squadron commander, and Dani’s husband, sadly passed away. This situation marked everyone forever. Thor (from Book 2) suffered from PTSD and Easy was plagued with guilt.

And well, poor Dani was left alone and heartbroken. Her husband and being a military wife was basically her life, and without that she was left with nothing and trying to pick up all the pieces. Also, before her husband died, she also lost her baby. I felt so bad for her; she was trying to just survive.

So, as you guys know, I have huge issues with second best and with books where a spouse died. So although I was dying for Easy and Dani’s book I was extremely scared as to how Chanel would handle this situation. And boy did she deliver! The pacing, the pacing was perfect. And the angst! And it was also so real, and so messy. It was just perfect.

At the point we find Dani and Easy in this book, a year has passed since Joker died. Dani is trying to move on and Easy is trying to keep his distance from Dani while also supporting her though everything, after all they’ve always been great friends. God, Easy was such a great character. He’s such a great guy, and such a great friend, he totally makes the book. His love for Dani is so deep, yet he knows she will never see him as more than a friend (or so he thinks!) so he’s ok with just giving her what she needs, which is a friend.



“As much as it hurt, there was something about being around her. I loved her, and loving someone was more about them than you, so it didn't matter what I wanted. If she wanted me around, if she wanted to be friends, then I'd give her that. I'd give her everything I could.”

Like I said, the pacing of how things happen in this book was key for me to love it that much. Their relationship has always been one of great friendship. Easy has always been there for Dani, in many of the worst moments in her life, so they already relied in each other a lot. So there’s always been so much love there. It’s the type of love that changes in this case. And the shift from friends to lovers is slow and with a few bumps on the road but everything just felt...right. For Dani, it’s especially hard to move on, to give in to the idea of loving someone else. Her confusion is so real and understandable, although at some point, she definitely started looking at Easy with different eyes. She's definitely attracted to him, they shared a night of passion, which was uber HOTT, and then it gets complicated, which I definitely won't spoil! In the end, although slowly, she realizes that Alex (Easy) is definitely that person that can totally change her life, give her everything she needs and make her love again. And well, swoons, he is one of the best heroes I’ve read, and I’ve read tons.

“Love was different once you'd known loss. Now I held on a bit tighter, knowing all too well how it felt to have your heart ripped away from you.”

“She might not have realized it, but I'd been home ever since I'd stepped off that ladder and taken her into my arms. She was my home.”

I was hooked from beginning to end, and I definitely cried reading this book, and I’m usually not a crier. But this was raw, emotional and painful at times. I felt so much for both of these characters. I also laughed a lot, especially with the interactions between the Aces. And the happy moments, they were so worth it. All of my favorites from the previous books also play huge parts in this book, which I loved. The ending was so beautiful, and the epilogue elevated this book to my favorites list! Chanel Cleeton is an extremely talented writer and this series is so well written. One of my favorite things about it is that the situations feel so real, and the adults totally behave like adults, with no unnecessary drama or stupid misunderstandings. This book, well, this entire series is a must read and I absolutely recommend.


“The thing about love was that it was infinite; it stretched and molded itself and filled up the empty spots inside. I loved them both, differently, with no regard for measures or guilt. With Michael it had come on strong with a look, a smile at the bar, and then I was hooked, completely and utterly his. With Alex it was a slow burn, something that snuck up on me unexpectedly, until he was there, in my head, in my heart, standing beside me, supporting me, giving me back a piece of myself I'd thought died with Michael. Giving me a future I hadn't dared hope for.”







**An ARC was generously provided by the author and Berkley Romance in exchange for an honest review**


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[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review



Heartwarming. Poignant. Devastatingly beautiful. These are a few words that comes to mind when describing Chanel Cleeton’s latest new release, On Broken Wings. It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of the author as Cleeton continues to soar high with her sizzling romance that packs a punch when it comes to the matters of the heart.



To say that she is flying high is an understatement because Cleeton once again delivers a love story that has you on cloud nine. With her heart tugging and emotional prose, Cleeton allows her readers to get lost in a world of hurt, love, passion, hope and second chances. Readers like myself are swept away as two people found solace, love, friendship and comfort in one another. What may be seen as somewhat a forbidden and uncharted romance, Cleeton douses her readers to feel the beauty that surrounds Dani and Alex as their friendship soars into a new territory of possibilities.

When it comes to this type of romance, authors usually dismisses the previous relationship and focus solely on the present and in this case of On Broken Wings, Chanel allowed readers to see the love Dani had for her deceased husband and her emotional struggles of sharing and opening her heart. I applaud Chanel Cleeton in that aspect because she made me feel for her characters as they face and tackle their emotions and feelings for one another. So if you are looking for a read that was visceral, breathtaking,raw,uplifting, and special then I urge readers to come aboard and fly with Chanel Cleeton as she soars into your hearts with a romance that is wildly addicting and heartwarming.

Chanel Cleeton

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

On Broken Wings was an emotional story of both finding love after loss, and of unrequited love. I’ve been waiting for Easy’s story for a while since witnessing his yearning for the one woman he couldn’t have from the beginning of this series, and I was not disappointed!

Easy’s been in love with Dani ever since he laid eyes on her not knowing at first that she was the wife of his squadron commander, Joker. Upon finding that out Easy resigned himself to loving Dani from afar, knowing he’d never move on a married woman. Since the death of Joker it’s been both heaven and hell to be around Dani, thinking she’ll never feel the same for him. But Dani needs him now more than ever, and Easy’s determined to be there for her even as it breaks his own heart.

Dani was drowning in grief, never thought she’d feel desire again, but the stirrings of it surface when she starts to look at Easy in a new light. She’s always felt a special bond with him, especially since he’s been there for her during the roughest times in her life, but only ever thought of him as a friend. Hanging around with him, taking comfort in their closeness gradually changes her feelings, and she’s blindsided by the lust she feels for him.

This romance was a slow buildup; something that crept up on Dani before she even realized and took root in her heart. I cried several times, but I think my heart went out to Easy even more, maybe because I’ve had his side of things from the beginning; felt his painful longing for a women he thought he could never have. Unrequited love brings a special kind of torture, and I wanted Easy to get his HEA so badly!

I read On Broken Wings in one sitting consumed by Easy and Dani’s story! I’ve loved this series so much reading all three books within a week! I hope this isn’t the last book of the series, because I’m not ready to say goodbye to this world yet!

A copy was kindly provided by Berkley in exchange for an honest review.

[JewelsyGoolsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.85 -Easy- Stars

I was able to jump into this book without reading the other books in this series and had no problems at all in getting to know all the characters :) This was pretty a slow burn but was very easy to read. I don't have anything bad to say bout this book cos there was really nothing bad about it at all. It was just... Easy :)

Told in dual POV with a HFN ending that also borderlined as a HEA (if that makes sense). Standalone story in a series that has sparked my interests in this author's future works, however, hasn't compelled me to pick up book #1 or #2.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d had it bad for her since the first moment I saw her, but as guilty as I’d felt wanting my friend’s wife, the desire inside me now for his widow was infinitely worse.
I would have given everything I had to trade places with him, so he could have come back for her.

Alex “Easy” Rogers met the woman of his dreams two years ago. But unlucky for him she was the wife of his squadron commander, Joker, a good man who was a very good friend. Knowing nothing could ever come from loving Dani, but becoming one of her dearest friends while loving her from afar was hell. And when Joker unexpectedly dies during a test flight, live gets ever more complicated. Now with the guilt he feels about loving Dani comes the feeling of betrayal, especially when one night changes things between them. Has fate given him a chance at loving Dani openly, or will Dani be forever out of his reach?

He was the same Easy I’d always known, and yet he wasn’t. He’d somehow become someone new and I saw him for the first time, as someone other than my friend.

Dani Peterson has suffered terrible loss and pain. First she miscarried her and her husband’s baby, and then her husband died in a crash. This last year she has lived in a fog of pain, barely surviving. The only highlight is her dear friend, Easy, who has always been there for her. Especially when she was at her lowest. And when Easy offers to help her fix her house in order to sell it, she accepts readily, glad for the time she can spend with him. Until she suddenly finds herself attracted to him, something she’s having trouble accepting. Dani doesn’t want to risk her heart again, but circumstances force them to decide whether they can let go of the past so that they can have the future both of them has always wanted.

I loved her, and loving someone was more about them than you, so it didn’t matter what I wanted. If she wanted me around, if she wanted to be friends, then I’d give her that. I’d give her everything I could.

I loved Easy from the first moment I met him in Fly with Me. He’s definitely one of my favorite book boyfriends ever and the way he loved Dani from afar made me love him even more. I had always hoped he would get his own HEA but the fact that it would be with Dani had me concerned. This beautiful and wonderful man deserved someone who would love him best, the way he loves Dani, and I feared that he wouldn’t have that from her, that he would always be second best. But in the end his perfect HEA couldn’t have been with anyone else except Dani. He loved her completely and exclusively, there would never have been anyone else for him.

There was something about Easy that flipped a switch in me every single time; I was sleeping, and then he woke me up.

I really liked Dani and my heart broke for the pain and loss she was trying to heal from. It was wonderful the way Easy was always there for her when she needed him, and how much she valued his friendship. At times I did want to shake her for not seeing how he felt about her, not seeing how much she was hurting him by relying on him so much and not being able to give any of the feelings he felt for her back. But the way she saw Easy’s good qualities, how she saw beneath his charm, made me hope she could love him like he deserved.

Some women slid under your skin so deep, you couldn’t carve them out no matter how hard you tried.

Of course I knew their romance was going to be an angsty one and it was. It was such an emotional rollercoaster, Dani’s heartache, the guilt and feeling of betrayal both felt made it so hard for them to give into their feelings. But Easy’s love was so damn beautiful, that it was worth every tear to get to their HEA.

Chanel Cleeton was my favorite new author of 2016 and she did not disappoint with this book. While Fly by Me was fantastically scorching and full of passion, On Broken Wings was a beautiful raw and angst filled love story. This series is a must read for all romance lovers.

Maybe I was finally growing up, or maybe I’d tried all the tricks in the book to get over her and finally come to the irrefutable conclusion that I was one of those poor bastards who was done for once he gave his heart away.

[Mirjana **DTR - Down to Read** · Rating 5 out of 5]

***4.75 Stars***



I don't even know where to begin my review for this book!

It brought me out of a serious 6 month book slump.

Yeah, I've head some really good 4 star reads...but damn did I miss the feeling of being unable to put a book down. I’ve spent most of the year floating in a 3 star raft, looking for a 5 star to pull me to shore. I’ve missed those days...where all you think about is the story and characters. Where putting the book down leaves you feeling sad and empty until you can get back to it. Where all that’s on your mind is when exactly you CAN get back to it.

THIS BOOK FINALLY GAVE ME THAT! After months and months of good and really good reads....I finally had AN AMAZING READ! I was consumed by this book!

I highlighted the crap out of so many scenes. Scenes that were brutal in their honesty. Heartwrenching in their vulnerability. I have pages and pages of highlights on my kindle. How to pick which one's to include...it'll be a struggle.

Alright, I guess I need to go and compose my thoughts now. Full review to come....but seriously....READ THIS BOOK!

[~Stéphanie's Journal~ · Rating 5 out of 5]

On Broken Wings was probably my most anticipated read of the year ever since I read Fly with me, first book in the Wild Aces series. I knew all along Easy's story would be one of the toughest to read. First because I had really high expectations and also because I knew it would be emotional.

It's safe to say Fly with me did a number on me. If you asked me now I could say that it's still my favorite book of the year after reading more than 130 books in 2016. That book was everything in one. And even if the story is about Noah & Jordan, Alex "Easy" Rogers is taking a huge part.

I wouldn't recommend to read On Broken Wings as a stand-alone even if it's meant to be one. Some event begins in “Fly with me” which have a direct impact on Easy & Dani.

I was really nervous to start it. I remember I said I would start their story as soon as it hit my kindle but I didn't because I was a wrecked before I started. I knew this book would be emotional no matter what. I knew having both Dani& Easy together would be a journey in itself.
But Chanel's book kept calling me until the moment I couldn't see past it and I had to read it.

The entire book was utterly perfection. The angst, the love, the guilt was e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e
Easy has always loved Dani. He never meant to but he did. And he did it by himself, suffering in silence, taking what he could when he could, never asking for me.
Losing one of his best friends left a indelible mark on him. If you pair it up with the guilt he feels for loving Dani, his wife, it left you with a shattered man not knowing what the next right move is.

” That was the thing about Dani – it wasn’t only that I wanted to be inside her; I wanted to hold her hand. That alone, the simple gesture of her fingers linked with mine, would be everything.

Even if it's now a year since Dani lost her husband she can seems to move past it. She is living she's trying to make the best of her life but something is missing. The grief is crushing her and soon other feelings are going to complicate everything she thought she knew.

I devoured this book like I take my next breath. If there was one person who deserves his happiness, it was Easy for me. He always did the right thing, he was always there for his teammates but also for the love of his life.
Dani was a perfect fit for him and getting to know her better was pure perfection. The many feelings she has were crushing me and I only wanted to make them all ok for them both.

I’m sad to say goodbye to this wonderful squad! I love them all and beyond. I wish I could have more. I need more from all of them. I’m not ready to say goodbye… But I’m so happy and thrilled to see what Chanel as in store for the future. I’m so happy I can count her as part of authors I’m now expecting books from! So Chanel , see you next time ;)

~ARC provided by the publisher in exchange of an honest review ~

[Liv ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

✱3.5 STARS!✱

☾This book just hit me right in the feels. hard. I've read books like this before, ones where a significant other has died leaving the other to dive back into the dating scene. I've never really enjoyed these books because it's hard for me to connect with them and understand if what their feeling is realistic. Obviously, this is because I have never lost a significant other - therefore reading about it seems foreign. I was surprised in the best way possible when reading this because even though I've never been through it, I feel like they depicted it in a way that seemed real.

☾This book is sad, gut wrenching, but also so incredibly sweet. Easy is probably the ideal book boyfriend for me, I mean he's loved her ever since the first time he saw her, he treats her like a princess, and just adores everything about her. I feel as though the dual POV's worked in amazing ways as I loved reading what they both were thinking during the book. Easy was a close friend of Dani's husband, so it's really touching to see how he treats the situation especially.

☾I believe there are two other books in this series, neither of which I have read but I probably will after this!

[Mandy]

I think I set a record for acquiring the book to read (via NG) starting it and finishing it. To be honest, I'm still a little emotionally raw from this book, but it hurts so good.

I stayed up way late to finish this one, I had to have Easy and Dani's story, I had to have their HEA. I laughed, cried and swooned and I know I'm going to read this one again, just as I have the books the before this one. I'd gladly pick it up and re-read it immediately if I weren't a bit emotionally spent.

This is such an incredible, heartfelt book, Cleeton knows how to reach in, grab my heart, squeeze it a bit and then make it all worth it.

I'll have more to say when it releases but this was a no brainer 5 star book for me. Broken Wings was everything that I hoped for and more.

[Malene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unrequited love is tough and it’s heartbreaking. Watching Easy and his love for Dani through two books has been difficult. That man loves and hides it so well in front of her. His friends see right through him.
On Broken Wings Easy finally gets his HEA but it took its time. I appreciated that it took time cause Dani was grieving for her dead husband, Easy’s close friend Joker. I enjoyed how Dani and Easy slowly found each other and how Dani came to see Easy as more and in a different light. They both struggled with guilt for moving on, for wanting more and letting go. The other characters from the previous books appeared and were a great support to both Dani and Easy.
The Wild Aces has been a fabulous series and ends on a high with Easy and Dani.

4 My Home Stars

[Allison ❤️Will Never Conquer Her TBR❤️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I must admit I entered into reading this book just a little like this...




I was fearful this book was going to fail me due the risk of my super high expectations. I am so thankful it didn't. Easy is, bar none, my favorite fighter pilot in the Wild Aces. He hooked my heart early on with his silent, sweet love for his best friend, Joker's wife. I mean, what an awful secrete to live- afraid your feelings will be exposed, right alongside the guilt of knowing your heart is attached to the one person it shouldn't be. Couple that with the events that occurred in Fly with Me, I knew, KNEW, Easy's book would likely gut me. But could Chanel Cleeton give me his happily ever after without cheapening both he and Dani's journey to there by making it "too easy?" I knew this would be angsty. I knew this would be emotional. And she truly hit the nail on the head.


First of all, I must say the book blurb for On Broken Wings doesn't give the book justice. It doesn't rouse interest and for that, I say, ignore it. Don't put any weight on it. In fact, I think it's very spoilery. This book is so much better than its blurb. The absolute perfect friends-to-lovers romance with an added dose of angst with Dani being a widow, and also the thrill with all things that come with hot, adrenaline-junkie fighter pilots. The fact that this author is well versed in the life of both a fighter pilot and being a wife thereof, it really comes through for the reader. Some lingo or abbreviations even I, a wife of an Air Force (not pilot) veteran, didn't have a clue to their meaning. Maybe some of that could've been left out, but it by no means distracted from my enjoyment of the story. Nothing could distract me from my thoughts of a tall, muscular, blonde haired (a bit too long for military rules) and blue eyed Easy in a flight suit. Flight suits rock. Take my word for it... I've experienced them in the flesh.





But I digress...


Kudos to Chanel Cleeton for giving these two the story they deserved at the pace it needed to be. Nothing was breezed over or, on the other hand, overdramatized. It was simply perfect.




Advanced copy received by Berkley Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Jenny - TotallybookedBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ‘everything we wanted’ stars

“We got this, okay?”
“Okay.”

We’ve both loved this series. From book one to On Broken Wings, Chanel Cleeton has ensured we’ve been completely invested in her characters, readily taking them into our hearts and eagerly devouring their stories. Every book has been a winner. We’ve laughed, cried and swooned all the way through, and this was the one we had longed for, the one we were desperate to read. Whilst the Wild Aces series can be read as standalone’s, we’re happy we read all three books as each gave us an insight into each fighter pilot, Noah (call sign Burn), Eric (Thor), with so much heartbreaking insight into Alex (Easy) and Dani’s friendship throughout the series. Was Dani and Easy’s story everything we’d hoped for? It sure was!

‘Love was different once you’d known loss.’

From the outset, Easy had loved Dani from afar. She had captured his heart from the first time he met her, but Dani was married to Easy’s squadron leader and friend, Michael (Joker) and was definitely hands off because despite his gallivanting, Easy was not the type to chase after a married woman and he respected and loved Dani way too much to show his hand and let her know his true feelings, suffering an unrequited love after giving his heart to her completely.

‘I loved her, and loving someone was more about them than you, so it didn’t matter what I wanted.’

We’ve felt his desperation, longing and his love from day one and always hoped he would one day find a love that was returned and yes, we hoped it would be with Dani. This was one of our most anticipated releases this year, and we have to say, Chanel Cleeton delivered on this one. We absolutely loved it. Easy and Dani’s story is easily our favourite of the series!

Easy had been there for Dani every step of the way. He was her friend and greatest supporter. He’d been there for her during her best of times and her worst, painful times. When Joker was killed on duty, it was Easy who was there for Dani, he was her rock, but being so close to Dani, loving her as deeply and intensely as he did became too difficult for him and he backed away. However, as much as Easy tried to stay away, his feelings repeatedly led him back to Dani as her friend.

‘There was no wall now. Only emotion. So much emotion – raw and naked, staring back at me – more than I knew what to do with. ‘

On Broken Wings begins a year after Jokers death with Dani navigating through life without Joker which is hard when her future and all her plans revolved around Joker. Struggling to pick up the pieces, it is her friendship with Easy that lifts her and helps her face the day. He gets her, understands her and knows her pain. Easy has faced war and unimaginable challenges, but it is his feelings for Dani and laying his soul bare that would be his biggest challenge.

‘Some women slid under your skin so deep, you couldn’t carve them out no matter how hard you tried.’

The pacing to this story was perfect, the relationship built beautifully and believably and we especially appreciated how Chanel Cleeton never once disrespected the memory of Joker nor did she diminish Dani’s feelings for him in any way to ‘sell’ the love between Dani and Easy. Dani loved Joker with all her heart, but she had to move on. We’re lucky to find love once, finding it twice is a miracle. As their friendship evolves into deeper feelings our romantic hearts soared. Seriously, the ‘aha’ moment left us completely breathless. It was so beautifully crafted, so searing and emotional it gave us goosebumps and made us tear up, yet Chanel Cleeton didn’t make it easy on them in anyway, ensuring we felt every single moment!

‘My heart, my love, my life was somewhere out there, and I couldn’t rest until I knew he was safe.’

Spending time with these sexy, swoony, romantic and alpha fighter pilots, who put their life (and hearts) on the line and experiencing them finding love has been an absolute joy and it’s a series we’ve truly devoured, making it a definite TBB recommendation! Romance, emotion, passion and swoon with vulnerable yet alpha fighter pilots…..What could be better?

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[h o l l i s · Rating 5 out of 5]

There will be spoilers from the previous books in this series mentioned in this review so read this write up at your own peril.


Hello my name is Hollis and I am a wreck.

"I hated when everyone told me I would be 'happy'. They meant well, hoped I'd find solace in their words, but if anything, the promise of 'happy' -- the lie of it -- almost made things worse. Grief didn't allow for 'happy,' instead it yanked the rug from under your feet and knocked you on your ass until you were drowning in quicksand with no one there to pull you out."

This book was heartbreaking. Sure, we had already lived through the catalyst -- the literal event -- of the loss and heartbreak in FLY WITH ME. We'd seen some of the impact of the residual fear and how it can manifest in INTO THE BLUE. But being in Dani's head, a year later, and watching her struggle with her grief.. man, Cleeton is something else. This was painful and raw and that's even before we factor Alex 'Easy' Rogers into the picture.

"I don't want your gratitude, Dani. I haven't done any of the things I've done for you because I loved you. I did them because they were the right things to do. Loving you was extra."

Slayed. Skewered. Wrecked. Ruined. Pick one, any one, maybe all of the above.

The emotion of Dani's grief, of Easy's grief, the loss of one life and one future and the inability to imagine another, is one thing. But the raw emotion Cleeton gave us with Alex, with him struggling day in and day out with the love he carried for Dani, a love he carried through her marriage, carried through the losses she faced even before Joker's death, and then again once he was gone..? Trying to be a friend, then trying to be out of her life for his own sake and sanity, then trying to help her move on when he put her before himself..

Easy is the star of this show. There's no question.

ON BROKEN WINGS is just devastating. In so many ways. But the friendships, the solace, the love, the strength -- all of which are present and lost and found again, discovered for the first time, seen reflected back after never imagining it might be possible.. was so so beautiful. Cleeton masterfully plucked on my feels and my heartstrings and made me cry. And I would gladly go through it again.

This story was painful but wonderful, her writing stunning and heartbreaking, and while this feels like such an intense and profound and well-deserved ending for these couples, I would gladly read more. Scratch that, I will read whatever this author puts out.

five "loving you was extra" stars

[Bookphenomena (Micky) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been one of my most anticipated reads of 2016/17. Easy and Dani were introduced in book one of the series and I have wanted to read their story ever since. These two have had something special about their characters that has captured the attention of many fans of the series. I literally devoured this book during a 12 hour period.

There's been a theme running between these two of unrequited love for years. A strong friendship, a close bond but no romance. To appreciate the journey these two have travelled you must read this series in order. Dani eventually begins to find some inner strength and belief in this story and I enjoyed seeing her transformation. Easy is the most selfless man with the kind of deep love that any woman would dream of. As Easy became Alex he grew even further in my affections.

This book delivered on a story fans have been after. It met my expectations and I adored the story, the emotion, the writing and the characters. On broken wings is my favourite of the series and I find that I would like more flying aces.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.

Re-read June 2019 I loved it. What built between these two was just fabulous reading and the chemistry was fireworks all the way.

[Shawna · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars - Contemporary Romance

I’ve been eager for tortured Easy’s story since the first book in the series, but I was nervous, too. I’m not usually a fan of romances with one of the main characters mourning the love of their life because I want the H/h to be that for each other and to be the focus of the story. I wasn’t sure how the author would handle Dani’s grief and still give her and Easy the romance and HEA they deserved.

But this book was everything I hoped it would be and more! I loved it! There were so many moving, emotional scenes, and it gave me all the feels. And Easy? Mega SWOON! Big 5 stars!

I recommend reading this series in order to get the most out of Easy and Dani’s story, and they’re all great reads.

[Lacey (laceybooklovers) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, my heart. Dani and Easy were seriously so sweet! So happy I finally finished their story. Review to come!

Thanks to the publisher for generously providing me an ARC to review.

[Talltree · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!