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!

I may have discovered this book late in the year, but as soon as I did, On Broken Wings soared to the very top of my most anticipated list. And I was not disappointed. This was one of those books where it was so damn good I just know my review isn’t going to do it justice. Every word was beautiful, seeping with emotion and breaking my heart more than the last. But don’t despair, reader friends. My heart was (barely) intact by the end of this read.

First off – I love a story where the widow’s previous marriage was a happy one. Not only because I feel like it’s not the norm, but because you suspect someone who was that content isn’t going to settle for anything less the second time around. Dani and her first husband, Joker, were incredibly happy together, but she didn’t have this man on a pedestal. She loved their marriage as it was, imperfections and all. She just didn’t think she could find that happiness again. Luckily for her, Alex ‘Easy’ Rogers is out to prove her wrong. (Even if he doesn’t know it yet.)

Dani and Easy’s road was a rough one and a long one (especially for Easy,) but boy was it ever comfort food to my reader’s soul. There were things that happened in this story that frustrated me, but not in a way that made me angry with the actual writing. It was more like, ‘man. I know it needs to go down this way, but why, oh why?’ One of my frustrations was Easy’s friends telling him to be careful with Dani. As if he would ever do anything to intentionally hurt her. And I know, I know. They were looking out for their brother Joker’s widow. But I just wanted to reach into the book and shake them and say ‘can’t you see how much this man loves this woman? Leave him alone! He is broken, damn you!’ I don’t say this often because I don’t feel this often, but I feel like Easy was made to love Dani. That his one purpose on this Earth was to love that woman. And he was so damn good at it. I love the way he appreciated every single moment with Dani, no matter how ordinary that moment might seem. Nothing about her was inconsequential to him.

And there was one scene with Dani that broke my heart, but even while I was frustrated with her character, I knew exactly where she was coming from and understood her choice. For me, that’s what separates a good writer from a great one. When the character makes choices that kill you, but you can’t possibly be mad at them because the author has so clearly communicated their motivation. To be honest – when I started reading this book, I wasn’t sure Dani could possibly be in a place at the end of the story where she was ready to move on, but the events that took place really made me believe she was. And I think it helped Dani that Easy loved Joker, too, and wanted to treat his friend’s memory with respect. At the end of this story, I was convinced that the way things went down were the only way they could have for Dani and Easy to find their way together. This story was absolute perfection. And the title of this book...wowza. It could not be more aptly named.

While this book is amazing, I don’t recommend reading it as a stand-alone. You could, for sure, and appreciate Dani and Easy’s story on its own. But there are things in the first two books that lead up to this one, and I guarantee that if you read this book and love it (which you will, love it, that is,) and then decide to go back and read the others, you will be kicking yourself in the ass for reading them out of order. (Thanks to Birdie Bookworm for keeping my ass straight and making sure I did not read book three before book one!) There are appearances from previous characters in the series, and I loved seeing them. They were pertinent to the story going on, and, of-course, I am always up for a Noah-sighting! (Psst...things happened in this story that made me love him more than I already did. Can you even believe that's possible???!??!??!)

I know this review has already just been one big endorsement for On Broken Wings, but wait! There’s more. This series has reinvigorated my love for Contemporary Romance. It had everything I love, and it has made me so excited to read more from the genre I’ve always loved most. I would feel 100% confident in recommending this series, knowing that while this series keeps its momentum, each story's circumstances are so different that even with the reappearance of previous characters, they remain new and fresh. My only complaint? These books are not in audio yet, and as that is the best way for me to re-read, I need them! I plan on rereading this series. Often. Let’s make this happen!

To recap - read this series! You won't be disappointed.

Find this review and more at kimberlyfaye reads.

How much did I love this book? Well, I've read it twice since I got my review copy and even still, as I was pulling out quotes to use in my review, I wanted to drop everything and read it again. I've been putting off my review of On Broken Wings forever because I'm just not sure how I can possibly express my love and appreciation for this book in any way that will do it justice.

THIS is the story I was waiting on since Joker died in Fly With Me. Don't get me wrong, I loved Jordan and Noah and Thor and Becca. Their stories made my heart happy. But I've been waiting to see what would happen between Easy and Dani since the beginning. I knew it wouldn't be an easy read — no pun intended — and that my emotions would be all over the place, just like Dani's would, but I NEEDED these two to find the happiness they each deserved. I desperately hoped that's the story Chanel would give us and I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I was the furthest thing from disappointed that I could possibly be. Total satisfaction. That's what this book gave me.

Having already fallen head over heels for Easy and Dani, they were so easy to root for. I knew there was a chance Dani wouldn't be ready or that Easy's pain and (unnecessary) guilt over Joker's death would keep them from getting the second chance they both deserved, but thankfully that wasn't the case. It took them a little while to get there, but that's part of what I loved so much about these two. I can't even begin to explain the number of feels I had as Dani and Easy struggled with their deepening friendship and developing feelings for each other, all while trying to remain respectful of Joker. I felt like my heart was being torn in two at times because, while I wanted Dani and Easy to work out, I recognized how painful it had to be to let go and move on. The emotions and feelings — both from the characters AND me — were so real and raw. More than a few tears were shed along the way — and I had to turn to wine, too.

There's not one single thing I would change about On Broken Wings. It's easily one of the most beautiful books I read in 2016 and definitely in my top three. (If I'm being honest, it's probably my number one.) I was totally sucked into the characters, the story and the words. I think I highlighted roughly half the book as I was reading. I can't think of a more perfect ending to the Wild Aces series. Not only did it do justice to the relationship between Easy and Dani, but it never dismissed for a second what Joker and Dani had before his death. Seriously, y'all... I'm getting teary eyed just thinking about a couple scenes in the book as I'm typing this, so I'm going to wrap this up. Fans of the series will find this totally satisfying. If you've not yet picked up the Wild Aces, you need to get on that. You have no idea what you're missing.

I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

FAVORITE QUOTES
The thing about being a widow was that you never knew when the tears would come. You could have a string of good days, and them something would set you off — the scent of your husband's cologne on a stranger, the sound of a jet screaming overhead, your wedding song playing on the radio.

I closed my eyes for a beat, trying to drown her out, to throw the wall back up, attempting to push her out of the cracks and crevices of my heart where she'd snuck in and taken up permanent residence in my chest.

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

Grief didn't allow for "happy," instead it yanked the rub 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 was everything. The dream. Coming home to the woman you loved after going to war. Maybe it didn't look exactly as I'd imagined it, but it was enough.

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

This is a worthy finale book in Chanel Cleeton’s Wild Aces series. This is Dani and Easy's story . Dani is still trying to move on from the death of her husband while Easy , who was her husband’s friend and part of the elite military fighter pilots, deals with the secret attraction he still feels for her and the pain from his friend's death.
In this book we see how deep the depression is that Dani is suffering from and how Easy is always there for Dani. She has been trying hard to find a semblance of new normal in her life after her husband’s death but its overwhelming . The only person who seems to understand and not placate her is Easy. Whenever she is around him, life is simple and she feels like how she was before she lost her husband, like a normal woman. Things are simple and easy, she feels free and normal, not out of control and wild with grief. She starts to notice that she is developing feelings for Easy and feels very guilty. What she doesn’t know is Easy has always been in love with her and has hidden those feelings because she was married then she was drowning in the despair of her grief and didn’t see him in that light. When they both let go and let those feelings go, When those feelings escalate they have to face the consequences they didn't see coming. Oh their actions were very predictable but in a very good way. I loved how they were there for each other and kept coming back around to each other. Both of these characters were amazing and together they were passionately explosive with each other. Their relationship is one that I was very much rooting for and the story had twists and turns that keep you on your toes until the very end.
On Broken Wings is an emotional read that I highly recommend to be read, one I hope everyone does read because it is that great. It is book 3 in the series and the final one which goes out with a Boom. There is angst, heartbreak, pain, love, passion, joy and forgiveness , not necessary in that order. This is one story that you will find you will need tissue for.

My Rating: 4.6 stars *****
"I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

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?