From the author of Fly with Me and the Capital Confessions Novels comes the newest in the sexy Wild Aces Romance series. Eric Jansen—call sign Thor—loves nothing more than pushing his F-16 to the limit. Returning home to South Carolina after a tragic loss, he hopes to fix the mistake he made long ago, when he chose the Air Force over his fiancée. Becca Madison isn’t quick to welcome Thor … isn’t quick to welcome Thor back. She can’t forget how he shattered her heart. But Thor won’t give up once he’s set his sights on what he wants—and he wants Becca.
Thor shows Becca that he’s no longer the impulsive boy he used to be, and Becca finds herself irresistibly drawn to him. But will Thor be able to walk away from his dream of flying the F-16 for their love or does his heart belong to the sky?
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He walked away from the love of his life to follow his dream of being a fighter pilot, but now he’s back and wants another chance. She is still nursing a broken heart and doesn’t believe she has another chance in her. This was a passionate, heartwarming story of second chances that captivated me from beginning to end.
The second book in the Wild Aces series can be read standalone or out of order in a pinch though works best in order because of the ongoing series arc that began in book one and still carries through this one with the previous couple and the next book’s couple.
This book opens with Eric Jansen call sign ‘Thor’ realizing that he is messed up from his former squadron leader’s death when he has a near miss of his own while out on a training run. He gets permission and heads to his hometown for the first time in a decade. He walked away from his childhood sweetheart and fiance’ when their dreams for a future took them in two different directions. He has regrets and is confused, but he does want her forgiveness and maybe start fresh with Becca.
Becca Madison loved Eric and thought they would spend the rest of their lives together until she got the letter and he never came back. He broke her heart. She picked up the pieces and tried to go on with her life. She finished her education and has her dream career as a prosecuting attorney for the state, but she never quite got over him. This is obvious when he comes back into her life. The anger and pain are sharp. She uses it to hold him at bay, but he won’t stay at a distance and breaks through her walls faster than she can raise them up again. But with nothing really changed since she has her dream job and won’t leave her home town and him with his dream job that would take them all over the place, how could she possibly let something happen that would crush her heart again when he leaves?
This is one of those stories that I felt sad for both main characters from the beginning. The lovers of the past were young and in love, but were in two different places in their lives and it tore them apart. This was a great second chance romance because this was truly a situation that needed the years, maturity, and experience to make for a better, stronger, and more satisfying romance. I enjoyed how the author gave these characters deep backgrounds and a connection that never quite died even though they were apart for so long. The settings of Eric’s military scenes and the small home town were great. Loved what both settings added to the story.
The romance is the heart of this book. Eric has some issues to work out, but really it is unresolved relationship issues that have held this pair back. They couldn’t move on and held every other person they tried to be with up against the ideal of each other. At first, it seems this broken situation was all on Eric since he’s the one that made the move to break things off, but then their story is teased out and things are more complex than at first sight. I thought the author wrote an amazing romance as a result. The sizzle of attraction and whew, the heat from these two was off the charts, but so was their connection and need for each other even though trust and communication needed to be restored.
I had a little niggle going on for several chapters because of the way things were headed in their romance. I need to see both players putting the same effort in. But for a time, Becca seemed to be insisting that Eric make all the concessions and he felt guilty enough that he’d probably go along with it and that never works long term, but then things righted. It showed the author has a strong grasp of how a real relationship needs to work and helped me completely buy into the romance.
The peek-ins with Jordan and Noah from the first book and the promise of what is to come for Easy and Dani in those end scenes was a nice touch. I’m glad the whole cast of characters gets together as I love Eric’s military family and was glad that Becca got to see that and could appreciate that.
In summation, this was a strong second installment in the series. The blend of military and small town with a poignant and sizzling second chance romance was fantastic. I am eager for more from this series and would definitely recommend it to others who will definitely go weak-kneed for the Wild Aces fighter pilot heroes and their special ladies.
Second chance is my absolute favorite trope to read about after enemies to lovers. With Into the Blue being the second in the Wild Aces series and absolutely loving the first book, there was no doubt it would be the same for this one.
Becca and Eric’s story was absolutely perfect. I usually have a bit of hesitancy with second chance and how much time is spent apart. PLUS, I’m always curious to see if they were seeing other people and whatnot during that time. I never find it believable when the main characters go that long with trying to see other people. Everything that Becca and Eric went through is something so many people can relate to especially those in a military relationship.
With Eric dealing with his PTSD and realizing that he’s not fit to fly, he heads back home after 10 years. And that’s where Becca comes in, the love of his life he left behind to pursue his career.
Career-wise, they’re both doing great with what they wanted to do. They achieved their goals, but deep down their connection and longing for each other never completely severed.
I love second chance because the journey back together is my favorite part even though it’s so emotional. After so long and they see each other, you just know that they’re meant to be. They definitely have a lot of baggage to work through, but seeing Eric put everything out there was the absolute best.
Chanel is such an amazing romance author and I wish she still wrote romance, but we have one more book to go in this series. And it’s definitely my most anticipated.
Swoon swoon swoon. Eric Jansen, Thor to his brothers in the US Air Force, has joined my book boyfriends. I don’t think I want to share this red-headed beast of a man, especially with how he manages his feelings. Sorry Becca, I sort of want to steal your man.
I was a mess, felt cracked and broken inside, and she’s always been the one I’d counted on. It seemed like my entire adult life had been spent either running from or to this one girl. She was the compass when I was so lost I couldn’t find my way.
Eric “Thor” Jansen can’t shake the feeling that something is missing, not after that horrible night in Alaska. Going home seems like the best solution, especially after a chance run in with the girl he let go of 10 years prior in order to join the US Air Force with big dreams of flying F-16’s. What he doesn’t expect are the feelings to come rushing back or for her to be so resistent.
Becca Madison has done just fine without Eric in her life, sure she’s still single in her thirties, but she isn’t unhappy and she’s a lawyer in her small town like she’s always wanted. She’s more unhappy that he’s back and trying to push his way into her life, she knows he won’t stick around, just like he didn’t 10 years ago when he chose the Air Force over her. The feelings are still there though and avoiding him becomes harder and harder as he turns on the charm.
Eric is determined to show her he’s a different man, that he wants the same things as her, but are either one of them willing to give up their dreams?
Soon the leaves would change, the weather cool, and we’d slide into my favorite season. And he would be gone.
Into the Blue is the second-chance romance you’ve been looking for, especially if you like your men in uniform and your ladies strong-willed. I adored Becca, I obviously loved Eric, and I really enjoyed their reunion, the chemistry still burning strong after ten long years. I really liked both characters and felt like they were true to what I would see in a real life small town lawyer and a hot-shot fighter pilot. The character development through out the novel is insane, both Becca and Eric take significant steps in sorting out their emotional baggage in order to come together. Chanel Cleeton knows how to write a romance novel, because this one wasn’t full of those cliches you’ve grown to expect. Not a bit. There’s no over-the-top angst, no interfering friends, no situations that make you want to throw your book, it’s just two hurting individuals discovering that they are both one another’s source of pain and cure. This book is all about the emotions; the growing pains of romance, of lost and found love. It’s a thoughtful story, with a lot of depth. Plus, it’s got a lot of sexy scenes too.
Smile. Laugh. Hooked. Fucked.
“Maybe” was a lot to hang everything on, but right now I clutched it in my fist, praying it was enough.
If you’re looking for your perfect military, rekindled romance with realistic problems, romance, and smut, Into the Blue is for you. I have been hooked since Fly with Me, book one in the Wild Aces series, and I think Into the Blue topped it for me. I cannot wait for Easy’s story in 2017, On Broken Wings. You’ve got to meet these handsome, strong, and sensitive men, as well as the women who complete them.
The Wild Aces series keeps on delivering some yummy fighter pilots and terrific stories. This time it’s Eric aka Thor and Becca’s second chance at love.
Eric chose his career over Becca ten years ago and both haven’t gotten over it. His try at a second chance with the love of his life was swoon worthy, cute and filled with all the feels.
I appreciated Becca not opening her heart immediately to Eric. Her trust had been broken and it takes time to gain that back. Eric definitely did all he could to do that. Their chemistry was stronger and more poignant than ever.
The other fighter pilots Noah aka Burn and Easy made appearances too and it was amazing. The build up to Easy’s book has been great and I can’t get to finish this awesome series with his book.
4 Trust Me Stars
After a devastating loss to his team, fighter pilot Eric Jansen is having a hard time dealing with the loss, and maintaining his focus while he is in the cockpit, so he decides a break from work is in order to get himself back on track. He thinks returning home to South Carolina might be just what he needs, but he has his reservations about facing what he left behind when he walked away ten years ago. Leaving his ex-fiance Becca behind was the hardest thing he’s ever done, but he knew staying there with her wasn’t the right thing for him at the time, he had dreams of accomplishing big things in the military and she wasn’t willing to follow along, so he chose to walk away. Running into her a few weeks ago completely knocked his world off it’s axis, and the minute their eye’s connected everything he once felt for her came rushing back full force and he hasn’t been able to stop thinking about her since. He knows letting her go was the biggest mistake of his life, one that he has paid dearly for over the years, but now he’s ready to try and make it up to her, and try to find a place in her life again, and maybe back into heart…
After a stressful week in the office Becca Madison was looking forward to a night out with the girls, and the minute she arrives at the bar and sees her friends talking to a group of handsome fighter pilots, she thinks her plans to unwind for the night just improved… that is until she comes face to face with her past. The minute they lock eyes, those old feelings hit her like a ton of bricks, and her heart and head are screaming for her to run, so she does, and hopes she is giving him a little taste of his own medicine while she does too! Seeing him again was something she wasn’t prepared for, after all he walked away from her ten years ago and has never looked back, so she has spent the last ten years trying to move on and let go of what they had, and she thought she had done that. But seeing him again just proved her thought wrong, all those hurtful feelings are back full force, along with the lingering feelings of love she once had for him, and now she feels like she is back at square one again… and before she can start to tuck them away again, she learns he’s back in town, and has agenda that involves her!
The second I finished Fly With Me, the first installment in this series, I was desperate to dive right back into the world of the Wild Aces, and get myself better acquainted with another one of Ms. Cleeton’s sexy fighter pilots!! There is something about these stories that grabs a hold of you from the very first paragraph, manages to captivate every ounce of your attention, and puts you front and center in these characters lives, as if every bit of it is real, and has you feeling every expressed emotion right along with them. For me, the best stories are the ones that hit you deep, have you literally feeling every written word on the page, and completely take control of every facet of your life while your with them, and this series has done that to me! These characters have struck a cord deep within me, and have taken me on a literary journey I have every intention of never letting go of, and I look forward to getting back to them very soon!
Ms. Cleeton has created a true literary gem with this series, and I HIGHLY recommend you make a point to meet these characters, they’ll pull you into their world, monopolize your every thought, and have you never wanting to let go!!
Into the Blue is a fantastic addition to the Wild Aces series by Chanel Cleeton. The first book in the series absolutely knocked my socks off and I was absolutely salivating for this book. Into the Blue is a true second chance story. Thor and Becca fell in love as teenagers and he made the decision to go into the Air Force against Becca’s wishes. Hindsight being 20/20 and all it was the right decision to make at the time for Eric (Thor).
Ten years later, they come face to face and realize that they still have very real feelings for each other but are faced with how to deal with those feelings and the reality of their situation. This is something that Cleeton has done so well with this series, balance the romance with the reality of real life. He has a job that requires moving around, she has a job that she loves and has worked and sacrificed a great deal for that she cannot and will not leave. Thor has already made the decision once to choose the Air Force over Becca and she is understandably weary of entering into any kind of relationship with Eric. He’s only there for a wedding… it’s temporary.
Of course, things change and Eric decided to spend his extended time Becca, in their hometown, to make her understand how good they can be together. Into the Blue is about former lovers trying to make decisions about how to live their lives together-despite the professional and personal challenges they face and I appreciated how Cleeton slowly walked her characters through those decisions.
Into the Blue does not have the crazy flash bang love at first sight chemistry that Fly With Me had. This book is a different animal and is much more of a slow burn but an excellent read, nonetheless.
http://bit.ly/intotheblue_cl