Reviewed by Lexie Fox for Readers' Favorite

Broken Wings is the new romance thriller from L M Hedrick and the third book in The Rigel Affair series. The book follows the journey of Allison Brownley, daughter of series protagonist Mattie, as her marriage to husband Jack becomes increasingly strained by his erratic and sinister behavior. As Allison investigates further and further into Jack’s activities, his threatening behavior only worsens as he attempts to take control of his wife and the marriage. But as the danger from having Jack in her life starts to grow out of control, Allison has not just her safety to worry about.

The book begins partway through Jack’s scheming and Allison’s investigation into it which serves it well, letting the reader hit the ground running with the tension and intrigue high from the very first page. I appreciated how L M Hedrick shared not just Allison’s perspective but Jack's too, allowing us an insight into the selfish and twisted view of the world that had seen him devolve into the monstrous personality that Allison feared. Both characters were excellently portrayed, with a nuanced representation of a neglectful relationship that frequently strays into abuse. Allison never fully loses her power in the wider story even if some scenes depict her as the victim of Jack's controlling rage.

In summary, Broken Wings is an intense portrayal of a marriage in which the selfish desires of one partner have caused an imbalance that has turned the relationship toxic, with Allison’s pushback giving her an insight into a much bigger plot of which Jack is a part. Please note that this book is unsuitable for younger readers due to scenes of a sexual nature.