This was an okay read for me. I found a lot of it unbelievable, but I did enjoy the story.

A year after Dani loses her husband in a crash, she's still grieving. She's just going through the motions of life, not sure what she's going to do now. When she runs into Easy, her husband's best friend and squadron teammate, he ends up helping her get her house ready for sale. Only thing is that Easy is keeping a secret. He's been in love with Dani since the first moment he saw her. He's kept his feelings to himself for all these years, but with Dani available, it's not quite so easy to hide anymore.

Easy has some legitimate reasons to take it slow, and this story worked for me because I believed in the depth of his feelings for Dani. He torn between respect for his best friend, even in death. Dani is still dealing with her grief, and she tends to beat herself up for having realizing she has feelings for Easy. When physical attraction gets the best of them, it doesn't exactly lead to everything working out--at least not at first.

I liked how this story dealt with grief and friendship and marriage. It was more complicated that it might look at first glance and I appreciated that about this story. There isn't a lot of conflict-- it's really a tale about two people finding their way to each other in their own time and manner.

This is my first read from this author. This book worked very well as a standalone for me, and it had me interested in reading the other books in the series. A lot about this story was predictable, but the power of love was really the charm in On Broken Wings.

This is my honest review. ARC provided for review.

This was a great read, filled with interesting characters and a pretty good plot line. I loved that I had to work to get to the good stuff. The story developed at just the right speed that made you not want to put the book down. About half way through the book, the characters finally come together and it was worth the wait. I love books that keep me turning pages to get to the best part. I'm interested to see how this series began and will surely pick up more titles by this author.

On Broken Wings is the sweetest ending to the Wild Aces series. We have Easy and Dani as main characters and we have been knowing them so much more throughout every single book since the start. We knew Dani lost her husband, Joker, in book #1 and we have watched her grow and a year after the death of her husband is where On Broken Wings start.

In the other hand, Easy has been in love with Dani since the first moment he saw her. Meaning he has been in love with his captain's wife since the very beginning. He has kept it a secret, of course. He has mourned Joker, he has tried to keep his feelings away when it comes to Dani, time and time again. Though they have become best friends through time.

Definitely On Broken Wings was one of my most anticipated romance books to come out! Easy and Dani's story has been building up since book #1 and it has been bittersweet and painful but this book is surely a perfect way to the end this lovely series I will miss so much.

Though the trope is one I don't enjoy a lot, I truly enjoyed these two characters and how the story developed. Easy really loves Dani, like there is no confusion or anything, you know from the start Easy loves Dani completely, fully, with out any boundaries. Easy is so cute and he blushes so easily when it comes to Dani. She doesn't realize at first so they do all of these things like cuddling together and holding hands (to be honest, they are so frigging cute when they do that). They are there to support each other 1000% that's the truth.

It was also really great to see our fave couples/characters from past books again. Jordan, Noah, Thor and Becca are all there and cuter than ever. They show you what their lives are like since their book and it's so good and nostalgic and will make you want to reread their books again, I assure you this lol. Can't wait for more Chanel Cleeton books to come out! I'm here for the long haul.

Such an emotional book and I loved every second of it! My first 5 star read of the year.

Alex ‘Easy’ Rogers is a part of the Wild Aces squadron and has been in love with Dani ever since he lay eyes on her years ago. Finding out thats she’s married, he tired to be just her friend and keeping his feelings under wraps. He also unsuccessfully tired to move on but has finally realised that Dani was one for him and nothing will change that.

Dani Peterson lost her footing in life when her husband died in the fighter jet and ever since then living has been a struggle. Dani is really trying but her house and her friends were all part of the life she had with her husband and it makes her feel even lonelier. Dani decides to put her house on the market and when Easy offers to help she accepts.

Easy and Dani have been friends for years now, he has always been there for her especially when she needed him the most. For Easy you can see how difficult it was for him through the years being near her but not being near enough. Everyone part from Dani, knew that he was in love with her. After the death of Joker (Dani’s husband) Alex has been feeling guilty.

We get to see them be friends and how much Easy’s friendship means to Dani. He’s the only person she feels comfortable with and when she starts noticing him as more than a friend. She feels guilty and once again she doesn’t know where she stands in life.

I loved Alex, seriously he was great hero. We see trying really hard to be there for Dani and at the same time trying to not to let it show or feel what he feels. He genuinely just wanted her to be happy even if it wasn’t with him. I also really loved Dani, poor woman has been through so much.

I liked that we get to see them transitioning from friends to more in a slower pace and we get to see Dani fall in love without it being coming across as rushed or forced. I really loved them together!

It’s very heartbreaking at times as well because you see Easy trying (and failing) to not love Dani and move on from her but he can’t and Dani doesn’t know what to feel now that’s lost her husband and is unwilling to move on but is getting closer to Easy. I cried so many times probably wasn’t a good idea to read it on new years night but oh well.

Easily the best book of Wild Aces series (Ha! see what I did there) anyways anyone who’s a fan of military romances would enjoy it! Pretty sure you can read it as a standalone but I think it would enhance the experience of Dani and Easy’s book if you read the others in the series.

I cannot even express how eagerly I've been waiting for On Broken Wings. I was practically stalking the author and goodreads to see if any early reviews have been up and if so, how I could get my hands on an arc. On Broken Wings is the third book in Chanel Cleeton's Wild Aces series. This book is the much awaited story of Easy and Dani. I have to admit, it definitely met my expectations with a few surprises as well. I loved it!

Let's start with Dani. Its been a year since Dani lost her husband Joker. She is drifting when it seems like everyone has moved on and try as she may she can't stop loving her husband. We'd met Dani before in the previous two Wild Aces books so we know she's the sweetest thing. It was hard to see Dani sad but she's tough. It was great seeing her heal with Easy's help and finally realising that he could be more than a friend to her.

Alex "Easy" Rogers has a reputation with women. But the truth of the matter is he's always been in love with Dani. Even though she was married to one of the men he respected the most. He's tried really hard to get over her but he can't and he feels extremely guilty for it. When Easy sees Dani in pain, trying to cope with her loss he can't help but be there for her. Easy was a great guy. There was so much more depth to him than one could imagine and his feelings for Dani was just swoon worthy.

On Broken Wings is the epitome of a slow burn romance. Dani and Easy start of as friends, something they always were even before the tragedy that happened. Poor Easy struggles to control his emotions but Dani makes it all too easy for him to fall and stay in love with her. I liked how Dani didn't want to hurt Easy and how she was unsure of loving someone the way she did Joker. The chemistry between them was there for everyone to see.

On Broken Wings deals with grief, loss, heartbreak and healing. It was beautiful to see Dani and Easy realise that they had it in them to stick through the tough times and be with each other. There is also a little surprise which hits them. I also really enjoyed seeing Jordan and Burn along with Thor and Becca. They are great couples. All in all I really enjoyed On Broken Wings and I would highly recommend this series by Chanel Cleeton.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

I’ve been anxious to read this story since I read the first book in the series. I knew it wasn’t going to be an easy story to tell and it was going to be packed with emotion. And it delivered on that. What I wasn’t expecting was to fall head over heels more in love with Easy than I already was. Is that even possible? The love and devotion (because really that’s the right word for it) that this man has for Dani was so powerful that as much as I love Dani’s character, at times I had to question whether she was worthy of all that love because there was no way she could give back just as much to him. And how could that be fair?

The path this book takes was not what I would’ve expected but in the end it was right nonetheless. I think it answers my previous question perfectly and leaves me happy with where Easy ends up. I felt a bit over-protective of his delicate heart, if you can’t tell. It was truly beautiful to see how someone who should otherwise be the biggest player, and probably most good looking of the bunch, be so selfless in his love and dedication to Dani. Always putting her needs above any of his. His struggle that started from his internal conflict over being completely in love with his best friends’ wife. At the same time, Dani had a lot to get through as well. So my heart went out to both of them.

This book is packed with sexual tension, the connection that has always been there between them and Dani never noticed it for what it was. But there’s also plenty of sweetness. I think my only complain was not seeing more of them embracing their love as a couple after they overcame the reasons why they shouldn’t be together. But we would’ve needed a longer book for that because the pacing of their relationship was just right for the situation.

I think the author has done a great job with a very touchy situation developing this story arc from the first book. Not overdone angst. The emotions were spot on and never dragged the story down. Instead they kept you anxiously reading to get to the outcome and the HEA. And I can’t say this enough. Alex “Easy” Rogers is going on my book boyfriend list. There isn’t a bad boy out there who loves this deep. He’s got the looks and the moves, the dirty talking and even the sexy uniform. But it’s the way he loves that had my heart beating extra fast. ON BROKEN WINGS is swoon-worthy and a must-read.

Now I can only hope that we’ll get more from this series and this author.

Favorite quote:

“There is no one else. There never will be anyone else. There’s just her.”

4.5 Stars!

I was pulled right into this story. The story has laughs, love, suspense, pain, and heartbreak.

Before reading this story please read the below books first:
Fly With Me (Wild Aces #1)
Into the Blue (Wild Aces #2)

This is Dani and Alex’s story. Alex is helping Dani fix up her house after losing her husband who was his best friend. Spending a ton of time together make these two bond and become really great friends. But what happens when they both start to have feelings for the other. Can they overcome the guilt of moving on from the past and letting the one they both loved go? Can they get past the lose of Joker and move on together?

I felt I was able to connect with the characters and the story was a great read.

I recommend this book.

I have been on pins and needles for Easy and Dani’s love story since the foundation was laid in Fly With Me, the first novel in Chanel Cleeton’s Wild Aces series. In that book, as well as the second, Into the Blue, Chanel gave her readers a teasing trail of breadcrumbs toward an angsty tale of heartbreak and unrequited love. I knew their story was going to be painful, knew it would tug on my heartstrings a little harder than the others; but I waited all the same in eager anticipation for the emotional fallout I knew was awaiting me. And as much as On Broken Wings ripped me open and left my feelings to spill all over the place, it also stitched me back together in the most uplifting of ways when all had been said and done.

On Broken Wings is truly the standout for me among the Wild Aces novels. The first two books were steamy, sexy, and romantic; however, On Broken Wings has an added layer of depth that sets it above the rest. Love is messy even on a good day. Add in grieving the loss of a spouse and friend and dealing with the heartache that comes from loving someone you really aren’t in a position to love and terrain that is already rocky becomes an emotional minefield. The deft exploration of all of Easy and Dani’s conflicting emotions was incredibly poignant and had me rooting harder with every turn of the page for these two to somehow find their way to each other.

One of the pleasures of reading for me is being able to fall in love with the characters and it’s not hard to adore Easy’s devotion, steadfastness, and passion or Dani’s strength, fortitude and resilience. As the series concludes, I find myself reflecting on how l will miss not only these two, but also the other Wild Aces and the ladies who love them. Without a doubt, I’ll be returning to these emotionally satisfying books for re-reads down the road and I’m already looking forward to reconnecting with old friends.

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.

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.

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.

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.

4.25 stars--ON BROKEN WINGS is the third installment in Chanel Cleeton’s contemporary, adult WILD ACES erotic, military romance series focusing a group of U.S. Air Force fighter pilots known as the Wild Aces. This is fighter pilot Alex ‘Easy’ Rogers, and Wild Aces widow Dani Peterson’s story line. ON BROKEN WINGS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty although I recommend reading the series in order for backstory and history.

Told from dual first person points of view (Dani and Easy) ON BROKEN WINGS is a friends to lovers romance focusing on widow Dani Peterson, and Wild Aces fighter pilot Alex ‘Easy’ Rogers. One year earlier Dani lost her husband, fighter pilot Michael ‘Joker’ Peterson to a jet crash in Alaska, while Easy lost his best friend and mentor. For years Easy has been in love with his best friend’s wife but he wasn’t the type of man to carry on an affair with a married woman. Following the death of Joker, Easy had a difficult time with his need to protect the woman he has always loved. As Dani prepares to sell her house, Easy offers to help with the repairs, and their struggling friendship begins to take on an air of sexual attraction. What ensues is the building relationship and love between Dani and Easy, and the battle between guilt and a happily ever after.

The relationship between Easy and Dani is fraught with guilt and remorse. Easy doesn’t want to stain his friendship with his former mentor, and Dani is afraid that to fall in love again means forgetting about the man she lost. Easy is the epitome of the perfect hero-a passionate, heartwarming and emotional hero who struggles with his attraction to his late friend’s wife. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense.

All of the previous story line couples and characters play secondary and supporting roles. We are witness to the birth of the next generation, and an epilogue that fast forwards the story line approximately one year.

The world building continues to focus on the fighter pilots and their missions, and the men and women left behind. The ‘forbidden’ aspect of Dani and Easy’s relationship is compounded by outside interference, and a series of confusing messages from well meaning friends.

ON BROKEN WINGS is an emotional and heartbreaking story but also frustrating as it pertained the heroine’s inability to move forward without the constant guilt of pushing aside the memories of what was and what could have been. The premise is moving and intense; the romance and attraction are palpable and inspiring; the characters are broken but healing; animated and passionate. ON BROKEN WINGS is a wonderful and poignant story from the pen of Chanel Cleeton.

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4.5 stars

Alex "Easy" Rogers has been living in his own personal hell for a long time. He fell in love the first time he met Dani several years ago, but he quickly realized the woman of his dreams was already married to a friend and man he respected, his squadron leader Joker. So he locked down his feelings, reverted to the easygoing swagger associated with his call sign and simply became her friend. He stood by Dani's side for some of the biggest and most painful moments of her life while Joker was unavailable, but he always made sure to hide his true feelings from her no matter how hard it was. Unfortunately his feelings are a secret to no one other than Dani, but the guys in the squadron don't say a word because they know he would never act on them.

When Joker was killed in a training accident last year, Alex would have given anything to trade places with him to take Dani's pain away. He helped her through the immediate aftermath, but then he distanced himself from her for the next year. It was too painful to be around her due to both a sense of survivor's guilt and the inability to act on unrequited feelings that remained as strong as ever. When he realizes the loss of his friendship has hurt her more, he tries to suck it up and be around to help her more.

Dani has been struggling to find a reason to get out of bed every day since her husband's death, and for the past year she has been existing rather than living. She still finds herself battling anger at the situation and overwhelming grief that pops up at the most unexpected moments, and the man who was her rock through so many trying times has disappeared from her life. When she runs into Easy by chance, she realizes exactly how much she has missed his steady friendship in her life, and although he seems reluctant, he agrees spend some time helping her with a few things around the house to help her prep it for sale.

Have you ever seen someone all the time but never really SEEN them? Yeah, Dani has one of those moments when she walks into the room to see a shirtless Easy painting the wall, and a switch flips in her brain. Suddenly this is Alex, a man of incredible hotness, loyalty and humor and he is so much more than just a friend who is part of the background of her life. Commence the freak out!

What follows is an emotional journey to overcome fear and guilt on so many different levels mixed with hope and the desire to find happiness again. Alex is afraid to hope that maybe after all these years Dani might actually see him as something more than his reputation, and Dani is terrified to have her heart ripped out by love again especially if the man holding her heart is another fighter pilot. They both worry that their friendship may not survive if things don't work out between them, and Dani is worried about the gossipmongers of the small community too. As they grapple with all their feelings, life steps in to throw them another curve ball that forces them to make a decision on how to move forward.

I have been looking forward to this story for a long time, and On Broken Wings certainly lived up to my expectations to provide a fitting end to their journey! There is plenty of humor and smokin' sexy times to offset the constant emotional upheaval, and through it all the thread of hope lingers that they will find their way to acceptance to finally get their HEA. If you have not read this amazing series yet, I highly recommend not just this story but the whole Wild Aces series.

LOVED THIS BOOK. Did a joint review with Mandi about this book.

I was SO excited when I got my hands on this book. I've been itching to get Easy's story ever since we learn of his love to Dani, one of his best friend's wife in Fly With Me. Knowing how broken these two would be since the death of Joker, especially Dani, I braced myself for tears and feels while I was to read this book. So when I read Dani's first chapter, I was a mess. Chanel Cleeton had me crying like a baby while my heart broke into tiny little pieces.

I was curious to see how Cleeton was going to handle Easy and Dani's story because of their connection but I just loved how it was dealt with. The grief and guilt and the acceptance that it's okay to move on, Cleeton handled that absolute care and in perfect characterization for these two. It definitely resonated true and real for me. Also, when these two are together, the familiarity that they share and how easy and relax they are around each other, I just loved it. It was so well written that it just oozes off the pages.

My biggest complaint against this book is something that I don't want to give away but considering it bothered so much to the point that I can't rate it any higher, is the subplot that happened after Easy is deployed. I honestly saw it happening a mile away and it bothered me so much because I felt like they could have come together without this plot point. In a way, it felt like a cop out for Dani in not being able to admit to her feelings without that added influence. I felt like that relationship they were brewing didn't need that to happen.

Aside from that, I enjoyed this book for all the emotions it managed to bring out in me. This love story had me sobbing and hoping for relief from the pain and I love books that are able to bring such emotions out in me. Chanel Cleeton wrote such a wonderful series that I'm sad to say goodbye to and managed to introduce me to a different military lifestyle I didn't have much knowledge on. I can't wait to see what else she writes but in the mean time, I might just go an reread some of my favorite parts of the Wild Aces trilogy.

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 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.”

Kini: I read Fly with Me, book one in the series, earlier this year. It was a middle of the road read for me, except for the relationship between Dani and Easy. I LOVE the trope where one character loves the other from afar, but doesn’t/can’t make a move. Because I am a horrible person, I felt okay about the circumstances that allowed for Dani and Easy to have their own story. I had no interest in reading book 2. I am sure it’s great, but after I read Fly with Me, I was waiting impatiently for Easy’s story to end up in my greedy little hands.

I was not disappointed with this book. Dani has resigned herself to living a life of being “happy…ish.” Easy was tortured and felt like he isn’t worthy of Dani. Ya’ll know I love the tortured hero.

Mandi: Having a spouse die is tricky for romance readers to accept.. Our hearts love a HEA which means all heroes and heroines live to be at least 100 and die peacefully in their sleep holding hands. So when Dani’s husband dies in a plane crash – it was hard to take! (although they never starred in their own book together). A year passes before this book starts – a year where Dani has grieved and tried to accept her new life by herself. Living on an airforce base for her entire marriage allowed Dani to develop a strong sense of community with fellow spouses of air force pilots. She has a strong network of friends who are there for support – but the most support has come from her late husband’s best friend, Alex aka Easy.

Easy fell in love with Dani the first time he ever laid eyes on her – but she was with her then to be future husband, so Easy never told anyone or ever made a move. But he fell in love with her so hard, it’s been torture to watch Dani be in love with her husband. And then he dies. And Easy doesn’t know what to do with himself. So he protects Dani and cares for her and supports her the best way he knows how and it’s so romantic yet he is SO tortured over it all I could barely stand it!!

Kini, how did you feel about the progression of Dani feeling friendship to Easy to actually loving him? And all the mixed feelings about her late husband swirling around?

Kini: I felt like it was a fairly natural progression from best friend love to romantic love. Easy had already been acting as Dani’s best friend. Easy was there for her when her husband had been away. I think that Cleeton did a great job of portraying Joker as a character but not getting us too invested in him. Otherwise, it wouldn’t have worked for Easy and Dani. To me, all the feelings and apprehension that Dani and Easy had felt very true to their characters and circumstance. Also as someone who is working through the stages of grief, although not a spouse, this part of the book felt authentic without being overloaded. I loved that Cleeton didn’t make it all magically better. The way Easy was just there for her even though it was so painful to love her from afar, it was so agonizing, yet wonderful.

Mandi- What did you think of the progression?

Mandi: I always get nervous when there is a dead significant other because I hate it when the living hero or heroine realize they never really loved the dead person and they truly love the new HEA in the book. You are allowed to love the dead person! And thankfully in this book, Dani truly loved her husband and even though she falls in love with Easy, she recognizes her love for her late husband will never end. And that’s okay.

Let’s talk about how deliciously tortured Easy was in this book. He wants Dani so badly but also feels so guilty and I just wanted to hug him and rub his abs and say it would be okay!

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

Oh Easy. Go get her – she wants you too!

Kini: Mandi, I loved that quote too!!!!!

He cuddles with her! Before she is in love with him. If that doesn’t define tortured love, I don’t know what does. He brings her tiramisu after Dani goes on a date with another man. When Jordan and Noah’s baby is born and the way he thinks about Dani and her smile

Most beautiful fucking thing I’d ever seen. I stood there, bathing in her glow, corny as that sounded… I love you. I love you. I love you.

Oh Easy, that was so not corny, go get your lady!!!

The way that Dani starts to recognize she has feelings for Easy that might be more than friends was great. I loved the scenes in the bar when she was ready to throw down when Easy was off talking to other women.

“I told myself I didn’t sound defensive, that I hadn’t imagine Easy, my Easy as a man, a man I could want, a man who could make my body yearn for things I hadn’t felt in a long time.”

This book worked for me on every level. The tension. The love story. Easy’s torture. Dani’s grief and then love for Easy. I wanted to shout from the rooftops how excited I was for Easy to get his love and believe that he deserved it.

Grade: A-

Mandi: I’m glad we get that epilogue too that shows the result of a little surprise during the book. Overall a really nice romance that gave Dani a second chance at love she so deserved.

Grade: B+

If Chanel Cleeton hasn’t already established herself as an amazing author, she’s done so with On Broken Wings.

On Broken Wings is the story of two people struggling with the tragic death of someone very close to them. Dani Peterson has lived the life of a military wife for years. She’s endured separations because of her husband’s deployments, she’s dealt with missed birthdays and anniversaries. She’s been strong because she’s had to be. The last two years of Dani’s life has been filled with tragedies. She’s lost the baby she desperately wanted to have and her husband died on a training mission. Throughout all of her tragedies, she’s always has been able to count on Easy, her and her husband Michael’s friend.

Alex “Easy” Rogers fell in love at first sight, when he laid eyes on Dani Peterson. He had no idea she was married to his Squadron Commander and friend, Michael “Joker” Peterson. When he realized Dani was married, he tried desperately to keep his feelings in check. Something that was very hard to do when he saw her constantly. During the last few years, it was Easy who was Dani’s shoulder to cry on or pillar of strength when the world came crashing down on her. Easy’s love for Dani is so strong that if he could, he would have traded places with Joker, to save her from the pain she endured after he died. Easy’s admiration for Dani hasn’t gone unnoticed. His best friends, Burn and Thor, and their significant others know Easy has feelings for Dani. They either feel sorry for him or tell him he needs to get control of his feelings, “Don’t you get it by now? There is no one else. There never will be anyone else. There’s just her.” Easy definitely has it bad.

On Broken Wings is a standalone read. However, I fell in love with Easy in the first book, Fly with Me. In that story, you got to see the depth of Easy’s feelings and how he was there for Dani no matter what. I couldn’t wait for his story to be told. I knew it was going to be special. I just had no idea how special.

Easy is one of my favorite heroes. He's beyond special. He says the right things. He does the right things. Dani is his perfect heroine, because she sees the special side of him that he tries to hide from the rest of the world. She’s special and amazing in her own right. From beginning to end, On Broken Wings had my attention and never let it go. It wasn't predictable. It was heartfelt, bittersweet, touching, and loving. Chanel has written a story that will break your heart, but at the same time put it back together.

WARNING! This review contains spoilers for the first book, Fly With Me. If you have yet to read Fly With Me, what's wrong with you? Go read it and come back to this review once you are done wiping your eyes from a soul-cleansing ugly cry that will result from that book.

I have been itching to get my hands on this book from the minute Fly With Me ended. I knew it was going to be a tearjerker in the best possible way. On Broken Wings takes place approximately a year after the end of Fly With Me. The squadron is still flying, deploying overseas, and playing hard when they are stateside.

Dani Peterson is such a sympathetic heroine. Having lost her husband, call sign - Joker, in the first book of this series, she has been buried in grief for the past year and doesn't think she will ever come out of it. While the prologue to On Broken Wings lets you re-live part of the difficult moments with Dani, I really think that my emotional connection to her was cemented in Fly With Me. I'm glad that Cleeton did give us a prologue however just to remind the reader of exactly how devastated Dani was after Joker's death. Dani was a complex character full of diverse and conflicting emotions. She knows her grief and anger cannot continue to consume her, but she really seemed at a loss as to how to move forward.

Alex "Easy" Rogers stole my heart from the moment we were introduced to his character. Outwardly he is a playboy with model good looks and kickass flying skills. But inwardly, Easy has been in love with Dani for years, even when she was married to his best friend. The recklessly oversexed persona is a front for his feelings... and sometimes a crutch when the emotional torment is too much to bear. Easy is so drawn to Dani, but he thought it would be better for them both if he tried to avoid her. Yet when he gets even a tiny inkling that Dani needs something, he can't stop himself from stepping in and coming to her aide. Easy's emotions are even more complex than Dani's... his grief is clouded by guilt, love and longing for a woman he can't have. I loved Easy, and I'm glad that Cleeton didn't shy away from allowing this alpha male to experience the full range of emotions. It really helped to draw me into his character and form a strong connection.

I really liked how this friends-to-lovers romance was crafted. When they are just hanging out, Dani and Easy are so, well, easy with one another. Easy is so solicitous to Dani, taking care of her at every turn and making sure she is happy. I can't imagine having all that yummy attention on me, and it's clear that Easy's beauty starts to trigger feelings in Dani that she doesn't know how to handle. She takes his kindness for granted much of the time, blind to the fact that easy is in love with her. I was worried how she would handle the new and emerging feelings, and she didn't always do well... but it was understandable given the heaviness of her loss. I credit Easy for never giving up on her, especially when things got tough and hurtful things were said.

Cleeton does a fabulous job with detail. She knows exactly what to gloss over and what to include. I love the detail she adds about the military. She either has experience or is a very thorough researcher as I totally felt like I was in the cockpit with Easy as he was prepping his F-16 for flight. I am a huge fan of this series, so I can't wait to see which of the Wild Aces we get next.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from the publisher, Berkley Romance.

Shel: Truthfully, I finished reading On Broken Wings a few hours ago and I've been trying to avoid writing about it because then it'll mean that it's over. *sobs*. One of my favorite military romance series is over?! Can it be? I'm not ready to let go of these guys and their women; they all had such heart and authenticity. Court: These fighter pilots are so hard to let go of, I'll tell you that for sure! I was just so nervous to read this one, though, because of Dani...but Easy is so dang easy to love and make it a wonderful journey.

Shel: Easy and Dani's story was one we'd both dreaded and anticipated. We knew it would be emotional with these two and it was. Easy, this sweetheart with a manwhore reputation, was so deeply in love with Dani that reading his parts were so heart-wrenching. I felt so much for him--I admired his restraint, loved how protective he was of Dani, and adored how closely he paid attention to her and could read her so well. And then there was his guilt and how he beat himself up for how he felt--it was impossible not to feel for him. I also felt for Dani--she was consumed with grief and having such a hard time moving forward without feeling like something wasn't quite right. It seemed like every step forward was so hard fought and not always with a reward...unless it happened with Easy. Easy made her life easy and I kept hoping she'd figure things out; see how much he adored her and allow herself to take a chance with him. She deserved a life, a guilt-free existence, but it seemed like anything more than friendship with Easy was a one way ticket to Guiltsville and therefore off limits. Court: Though, I enjoyed how genuine and authentic it was. I liked how they made sure that the other realized that it was okay to talk about Joker and remember all of the sad and happy times. I enjoyed immensely (and cried a lot) every page of this book. The feelings that Dani has are warranted, and it took her a while to get her head wrapped around everything that had happened in her life. She had suffered a lot of loss in a short amount of time, and I am so glad that she had someone like Easy to lean on...and yes, Shel, he was seriously brilliant about it. Did I want to kick her for not realizing how he felt? Yes, but I was so glad with how everything happened at its natural time.

Shel: As you can guess, there were many scenes that I just hoped one of them would take the leap and do something or say something. I knew it would take just one of them tipping their hand a little and then maybe they'd have a shot a something special. To Chanel Cleeton's credit, she gave Dani and Easy exactly what they needed, on a timeline that worked for their circumstance--she didn't rush the pacing and when things finally happened the emotional fall out was exactly what you'd expect (and lent that authenticity that I enjoy about her characters and this series). Dani and Easy's happily ever after didn't come neatly or quickly but man, when it came, it was a beautiful thing. Court: Yes. Nothing was instant. Nothing was rushed in the pacing of the writing (and the writing is brilliant) and the characters that we know and love made an appearance. I like how the secondary characters that got the most air time were Burn and Jordan, since they started this whole thing, it was nice to finish with them and where they were in their story. Even without the fighter pilot parts of this story, their love is beautiful, but with the military aspect and her finding a way to decide whether or not she could still support this man doing what he loved...that was beautiful too. Sacrifice takes many forms, and this one is definitely about sacrifice on both parties. How the book progressed surprised me, to be honest and that is all I can say!

Shel: I didn't know I'd be so hooked on a series of fighter pilots but I'm completely enamored with this series. Cleeton's experience in this fighter pilot world gives these books that added insight and truthfulness that combined with her interesting characters and fantastic writing all adds up to one of my favorite military romance series I've read. Court: She hit every single one out of the park, but I was glad to see this one come (I'd been waiting on it since the very beginning... Alex Easy Rogers has been on my mind since the beginning and wouldn't let go!) and I'd gladly reread these books and characters any time. In the meantime, can't wait for what Chanel brings us next!