Broken Wings [Kindle Edition]

Alexandrea Weis (Author), John Snell (Photographer)

Book Description

As a wildlife rehabilitator in southeast Louisiana, Pamela Wells has dealt with her fair share of wild animals, but her reclusive life is forever changed when she meets an elusive former soldier named Daniel Phillips. Sent to Pamela’s wildlife sanctuary as part of his parole requirements, Daniel and Pamela quickly clash until Daniel’s troubled past unexpectedly comes to light. After serving in Iraq, Daniel suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. Pamela tries to help ease his condition by introducing him to the healing power of animals. Daniel begins to find peace, and an unexpected kindred spirit in Pamela. Fearing one day she will be forced to give up her beloved sanctuary, Pamela confides in Daniel about her debilitating health. United by their misfortunes, the relationship turns romantic.

Just when Pamela has found someone to love and share her burdens, Daniel skips town, crushing her heart. Suddenly Pamela finds herself alone and in a desperate situation. She has no choice but to turn to a ruthless Louisiana attorney, Bob Patrick, for help. Bob promises Pamela financial security in exchange for a life as his obedient wife. When Daniel unexpectedly returns, Bob is not willing to give Pamela up. Like an ensnared bird, Pamela struggles to free herself of her cruel capture. The fight may prove deadly, but Daniel is willing to do anything to save her. Can two broken souls eventually find happiness or, like the broken wings of a dove, will they be forever kept from reaching the heights of heaven.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Alexandrea Weis is a registered nurse from New Orleans who has been writing novels and screenplays for over twenty years. Her first novel, To My Senses, was a finalist for commercial fiction in Eric Hofer Book Awards, a finalist for romance in the Foreword Magazine Book of the Year awards, and a finalist for romance in the USA Book Awards. Her second novel, Recovery, was ranked #1 on the Amazon top rated for romantic suspense in kindle books. Buyer Group International, an independent production company in Austin, has optioned the motion picture rights for Recovery. Ms. Weis is also a permitted wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries and when she is not writing, Ms. Weis is rescuing orphaned and injured wildlife. She lives outside of New Orleans with her husband and a menagerie of pets.

Product Details

• File Size: 413 KB
• Print Length: 270 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: World Castle Publishing (February 5, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007624F1U
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #396,839 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A pleasant surprise! February 11, 2012

By MsBaba4

Format:Kindle Edition

Daniel said to Pamela:
"Despite what you may think, you and I are a lot alike, Pamela. We are both birds afraid to fly in case we should fall and break our wings. But broken wings heal. And every bird must fly, even if it's only for a brief moment. But in that moment, they get their chance to spread their wings and try to touch the sky."

4.5 stars.

Wow, such a pleasant surprise! I was waiting for months to read Broken Wings and it was so worthwhile!

Pamela Wells is a permitted wildlife rehabber and the owner of Second Chance Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. She pampers injured animals to put them back into their natural habitat. Pamela suffers from a chronic disease called lupus. Her immune system has trouble telling the difference between her body and a foreign body, like a virus. It attacks her joints (causes pain and swelling) and can destroy major organs, like her kidneys, liver, lungs, and heart. But she is not broken, only bruised. Pamela doesn't fear a possible death sentence but much more the loss of control over her life. Lupus had robbed her of her marriage, her chance at motherhood, her health and, at times, her sanity.

Enter Daniel Phillips. He was busted for assault and battery, and therefore his sentence was one hundred hours of community service. He's assigned to help Pamela. Daniel suffers from a serious case of PTSD since he came back from Iraq about six years ago. He said:

"For someone like me there isn't a forever. Right now is about all I can handle."

At first they didn't get along so well since Mr. Phillips said a few things that didn't appeal to Ms. Wells:

"Only a bored housewife looking to show off her altruistic side to her posh friends would waste her days chasing flea-infested fuzz balls around a makeshift petting zoo."

But don't be afraid. It will get better between these two!

Broken Wings is NOT a steamy and passionate love story. But it is warm. It is sweet. It is heartfelt. And it seems that the author did pay homage to the wildlife. She did a truly fine job! Pamela doesn't like to socialize, and she finds animals more pleasant than people. Her wildlife center is her safe haven. It was incredibly rewarding to see how Daniel and Pamela helped each other. The both of them had issues to opening up to people again:

"I guess the more wounds you have, the deeper the scar tissue you have to cut through. Makes people like you and me impossible to get to know." He paused and let his lips graze her cheek. "But I think we are making progress," he whispered. "Progress?" "I think you're beginning to trust me. Tonight you showed me a side of yourself that I suspect not a lot of people have seen."

Ms. Weis does a fine job in portraying two scarred and damaged people. They are very likeable and believable. I'm not a PTSD expert but I felt that Daniel's disease was realistically written, and I'd say the same about Pamela's chronic disease lupus. Daniel's panic attacks felt very palpable and vivid. Being surrounded by all those fuzzy balls is helping him to calm down. He finds his inner balance and peace. Again. After a while it becomes his little sanctuary. At a certain point Pamela had attached herself to some place deep inside Daniel's heart, a place he had not dared to visit for a very long time. He just knew that his life would never be the same.

I appreciated the thoughtful dialogs. The author mixed them with a nice touch of humor. Furthermore, I so adored Carol! She is Pamela's best friend and such a funny and dear person. Actually, the cast of secondary characters is very good too. Admittedly, Pamela's ex is such a self-centered, conceited ba*tard. With that said, he was the cause for a bit of drama that was woven throughout the plot. Naturally having two "sick" main characters enhanced the drama as well. Additionally, the ending was pretty upsetting and heart-wrenching.

Reading this story makes you feel humble again, and you don't take anything for granted anymore. Broken Wings is beautifully written. It's a very satisfying read, and if you're on the lookout for a "new" author then I strongly advice you to give Ms. Weis a try!

I'd like to conclude my review by saying:

Yes, she can fly now. It's time to let her have her chance to spread her wings and try to touch the sky.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! What a Surprising Treasure! February 9, 2012

By the reader

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I am very familiar with Alexandrea Weis's books and I have to say that I think this may be my favorite. It is a moving novel filled with characters that you instantly love( Carol was the best) and highlighting the struggles of those who live everyday with disease and disability. Daniel suffers from PTSD and Ms. Weis does a great job describing what so many soldiers coming home from the war have to deal with. Pamela Wells suffers from lupus and her day-to-day burdens are compounded by her worry for the future of her facility, Second Chance Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. Together, Daniel and Pamela help heal each other's wounds, emotionally and physically, and despite some problems in their realtionship(brought about by Pameal's sinister ex-husband), the lovers eventually find their way. This is an uplifting tale about wildife, the healing power of animals, second chances, and the struggle to find happiness. It is a beautifully written story that will pull at your heartstrings. Filled with emotion and stirring dialogue, this is so much more than a romance, but then again all of Ms. Weis's novels have so much depth. A truly wonderful story that will warm your soul and leave you with a new appreaciation for life. This novel satifies on every level.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars "EDUCATIONAL, HEARTWARMING, COMPELLING!" May 24, 2012

By Geraldine Ahearn TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Pamela Wells is a wildlife rehabber, who devotes her time and energy in giving animals a second chance in life, her facility is the world she lives in. She often worries about who will care for her sanctuary if her health should take a turn for the worst due to lupus. Daniel Phillips is a former soldier, who returned from Iraq with post traumatic stress disorder and is sent to Pamela's facility as part of his parole. Two different people struggle everyday with disease and disability, at first they clash, then their hearts are joined together. Through the healing power of animals, two lives begin to change as they share the same peace and love they give to animals with themselves. The drama becomes intense after Pamela and Daniel share their love, before he skips town. Pamela has no choice but to turn to her ruthless former husband for help. Does Daniel return, and will the fight for Pamela become deadly? Who will survive, and will Pamela lose what she loves the most? I highly recommend this captivating novel to all romance lovers, who enjoy inspiring stories, combined with drama and suspense. Alexandrea Weis uses her expertise as a wildlife rehabber with a love for animals, combined with the compassion she has acquired from Nursing in creating a Masterpiece of love, struggle, and healing. This heartfelt story is a tale of one woman's struggle for happiness, set in rural Louisiana with genuine characters who become unforgettable, long after the book is closed. The author portrays conflict, trials-and-tribulations of illness, and how the little things in life have the greatest value. This engaging story that's filled with drama, made for the Movie screen, will tug at the heartstrings page-after-page. The reader will laugh, cry, and take a new look on life of what they have, but never realized how special it is! "BROKEN WINGS" is as fascinating as MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE, as deeply moving as A WALK TO REMEMBER, and as dramatic as THE NOTEBOOK.

More About the Author

Alexandrea Weis is an advanced practice registered nurse who was born and raised in New Orleans. Her first novel, To My Senses, introduced readers to the world of Nicci Beauvoir and garnered numerous awards and rave reviews. Her popular second Nicci Beauvoir novel, Recovery, won the Gold Medal for best romantic suspense from The Reader's Favorite Book Awards 2011, was named best Romantic Suspense novel by the Spring 2011 NABE Pinnacle Book Awards, and was a Finalist in the ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards in 2011. Her fourth novel, Broken Wings, won best Contemporary Romance by the NABE Pinnacle Book Awards in 2012, was a finalist in the USA Book Awards for Romance in 2012, and was a finalist in the Reader's Favorite Book Awards for Contemporary Romance for 2012. Her sixth novel, Diary of a One-Night Stand, was released in August 2012 and was named a Paranormal Romance Guild's Best Reviewed of 2012. A permitted wildlife rehabber with the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries, Weis rescues orphaned and injured wildlife. She lives with her husband and pets in New Orleans.

website: http://alexandreaweis.com