Broken Wing
by Kathleen Mareé
(Arthur Academy, #1)
Publication date: April 26th 2021
Genres: Contemporary, New Adult

Synopsis

Hendrix:
It’s funny the things you notice as a child.
Like the way people uneasily glance away from me whenever I catch their eye. Or the way a stranger seems to smile happily at other children, but when I say hello, their smile looks more uneasy than warm…

But as I approach the steel gates to the elite Arthur Academy, I can’t help but take a long-awaited breath towards my freedom. Finally, I have the chance to build the life I want. A future. Something that gives me more to live for than the daily beatings my childhood only ever knew. The girl I used to be doesn’t exist here. But even as the confidence grows about a life I now have control over, I can’t help but feel there could be something else waiting for me here. Something I’ve never faced before.

And it isn’t something I could prepare for.
And preparation is what got me out. It got me here.

I can’t afford to lose this opportunity, because if I lose this hand, it’s more than just a loss.
It’s like not being able to breathe. Not being able to fly.

Paxton:
I grip the leather ball in my hand, feeling the weight of the year pressing down on me. If it was just football, I could deal, but with my last name – it’s everything else that suffocates me. The Arthur Elite is what they call us, and we each have our roles to play. But my fathers given me the next two years to do what the hell I want without his interference, before he’ll own me and I’ll become nothing but his pawn.
After that, when college is done, I dread the life I’ll have to lead. The role I’ll be forced to play.
It should be simple. Just stroll through the steel gates and be the crown they all see; but I can’t help but feel there is something lurking beneath the surface. There is something different about this year that I sense inside my dark soul.
And it isn’t something I am prepared for; even when staying ahead is the one thing that ensures my next breath.

Because when I lose a hand, it’s more than just a loss.
It’s like losing a limb. A bird breaking its’ wing.

And without that – I can’t fly toward freedom.
And my freedom right now, is all I have to hold onto.

Available Now!

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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56951094-broken-wing

Review

Feels 4
Steam 2
Storyline 4
Overall Rating 4
Kindle eArc provided by Author
Reviewed by Stephanie

Hendrix is getting the chance to start fresh, The chance at a future and to finally be able to live her life in peace. Getting a four year scholarship to the elite Arthur Academy means freedom. She gets to escape her past, judgment, stares, and never ending bruises and pain. Here at Arthur Academy no one knows her past. Here the girl she used to be no longer exists or so she hopes.

“It’s like losing a limb. A bird breaking its wing. And without that – I can’t fly toward freedom. And my freedom right now. Is all I have to hold onto.”

Paxton Reed is Arthur Elite royalty. Captain of the football team, king of the school and the guy who for some reason despises the scholarship students. He has a lot on his plate…football, school and dealing with his father’s crazy expectations. The next two years are supposed to be his. His freedom before he is forced to bend to the will of his asshole of a father. What he didn’t anticipate his two year plan including is Hendrix James.

“I knew without a doubt that when it comes to Hendrix James, I was completely and utterly fucked.”

These two don’t have the smoothest start. Pax is kind of a bully and Hendrix is determined not to get her heart broken. They are drawn to each other and have some crazy intense chemistry. But so many secrets and outside forces stand in their way. There’s your token catty mean girl, tons of drama, a shitload of angst and a ton of feels. I loved Hendrix. Her past hurt my heart but her determination, loyalty and strength were amazing. I went back and forth with Pax for a while. Mostly because sometimes the choices he made had me cringing but the farther we got into the story we realize not everything is as it seems. Sometimes there is no other choice and we do what we have to do for the people we love. There were some fantastic secondary characters in this story that I can’t wait to see more of. Of course, there were a few I’d rather not see again. This book does end on a bit of a cliffy with a lot of unanswered questions. Great start to a new series and I can’t wait to see where the author leads us next!

“I may have to hurt her to keep her safe, but as far as Hendrix and I were concerned-we weren’t over. Not by a long shot. We hadn’t even got started yet.”

About Kathleen Mareé

Kathleen grew up in the south-western suburbs of Sydney, where family holidays by the beach and tormenting her two younger brothers, was how she spent her early years. But at the young age of 11, when she submitted a short story to a talented writing competition through the NSW schools program, not only did she win it, but she quickly found a love for it as well.

Throughout her schooling, writing was a hobby, along with sketching and various sports. But fast forward to her adult years when she moved to Europe to follow her husbands field hockey dream, and her love for writing surged to the surface.
Her debut story, Cut, was penned over two years where her hobby seemed to lead to the completion of Pennys’ world. The rest of the series came the following year.

Kathleen enjoys writing stories full of self-discovery, emotional journeys and of course, love.
Something else she loves is hearing from her readers, so feel free to follow her blog or drop her an email.

For signed copies of her novels, more information about upcoming stories, or to follow her blog, please visit her website www.kathleenmaree.weebly.com

Dream often. Believe always.