Eyes Turned Skyward (Flight & Glory #2)

Received ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I am always a little nervous to start a book when I receive it as an ARC because I feel this sense of obligation to read it to completion even if I may not like it all that much, and then to come up with a review that does the book justice whether it is good or bad. There are times that I get lucky and I immediately get sucked in by the story and its characters; thats when the obligation becomes an absolute pleasure. Reading Eyes Turned Skyward by Rebecca Yarros was one of those times. This is the second book Ive read by Rebecca Yarros and Im super happy to say that she is no one hit wonder in my eyes. I actually enjoyed reading Eyes Turned Skyward more than Full Measures and I liked that one a lot. I can easily connect with her writing style. She has this great ability to create these beautiful love stories and amazing characters. I love that her secondary characters dont take up too much of our reading time and take away the spotlight from our MCs, but theyre still present enough to draw you to them and leave you wanting to know more about them (HINT Rebecca – I want you to write a book about Will, Morgan and Grayson). Her characters are not shallow or immature. There is so much more to them than a pretty package. I love getting to know them, as well as, reading about their journey to happily ever after. And what an emotional journey it was. If youre worried about cheating, dont be. Rebecca did a great job at keeping our hs integrity and upholding her morals. There is the inevitable moment where a line is crossed, but not the whole nine yards, and even then there was immediate honesty that followed. The H was all that and a bag of chips. The h was one lucky girl let me tell you. He really put himself out there for her. I hate it when the h does all the chasing. It was extremely nice to read about how both the H/h loved each other unconditionally and how much effort the H had to put in to win the hs love. The chemistry was pretty intense right from the start. I highly recommend this book. If there was one thing Id have to pick at, Id say it was the title. Thinking and saying the title out loud doesnt flow nicely, but besides that, there isnt a thing about this book that I didnt like. I will most definitely purchase it when it is released and put in my Kindle under favorites. Rebecca has most definitely been added to my stalk for upcoming books list.

And holy crow, it will not be my last. I loved this book! It gave me all the feels; frustration, anger, teary sadness, real and genuine heartbreak and yummy sexiness. These were characters who are not perfect and struggle with real, genuine issues. Yarros has a strong voice, but I could differentiate between the two main characters POV, and I like that. Sure, there were times where I wished they would just TELL EACH OTHER ALREADY, but to me, that’s the sign of good writing that I could also have complete sympathy for why they didn’t. And I kinda wish Jagger was real. Yum. Just Yum.

Review originally posted at The Book Enthusiast: http://thebookenthusiast.net/eyes-turned-skyward-rebecca-yarros-review-rebeccayarros.

After falling in love with Rebecca Yarros’ debut novel Full Measures earlier this year, I was so excited to get my hands on another book of hers. Once again she stole my heart with Jagger and Paisley’s story in Eyes Turned Skyward. This was a beautifully written book about forgiving yourself and living the life you want to live to the fullest. I adored both characters and the connection that they shared. When I wasn’t swooning over Jagger I was busy rooting for Paisley. I became so invested in the story that I didn’t want to put this book down for a single second. Simply put, I fell in love with Eyes Turned Skyward.

Paisley is 20-year-old woman living with the same heart condition that killed her sister. Both her parents and her boyfriend view her as something fragile that must be protected. She, however, is bound and determined to complete the bucket list she carries around with her at any cost. Jagger is attending the country’s toughest flight school in the hopes of achieving his dream of one day flying an Apache. Dangerously attractive and impulsive, he is definitely not looking for a serious relationship when he saves Paisley from nearly drowning. Drawn to each other but with many obstacles standing in their way, can their hearts soar above it all?

Paisley yearned for a normal life for a girl her age. Her parents were afraid to lose her like they did her sister, so they went to great lengths to keep her healthy and safe. I really felt for Paisley, having lost of her sister so suddenly and being treated as if she was so delicate she would break at any moment. She was being suffocated, but her will was very strong. Jagger made her feel alive despite her physical limitations. Paisley was the kind of girl I would want to be friends with in real life. She was so spirited and truly appreciative of every day of her life. I loved how she stood up for herself and made her own decisions.

Jagger was smart and a hard worker. I admired his competitive side and dedication toward achieving his dreams. He won my heart almost immediately when he didn’t think twice about jumping into the water to save Paisley. I loved how he was determined to be a part of her life any way he could, even though he knew she had a boyfriend. Jagger had some surprising secrets, and the pain he carried with him was heartbreaking. I hated that he felt like a failure because he was unable to help the people he thought needed him the most. He was so full of heart and truly the perfect guy for Paisley.

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but Jagger may have even topped Josh in the swoony hero department. Yes, he was hot, but more than that he proved his love for Paisley was fierce and endless. There were so many things both big and small that I loved about him like his nickname for Paisley and his loyalty to his friends. I was very happy that this book featured dual point-of-views. It was wonderful to be able to get into Jagger’s head and understand his thoughts and fears. He and Paisley had intense chemistry, but they also had such a sweet and emotional connection that tugged at my heartstrings.

My heart was absolutely full after reading Eyes Turned Skyward. This book made me feel such a wealth of emotions. I can honestly say the second that I finished I was ready to read it all over again. Yarros’ writing is so heartfelt. I love the way she is able to draw me into a story and make me feel so emotionally connected to the characters. She is now one of my go-to authors whose books I will never have to think twice about reading. Paisley and Jagger’s story is one of my favorite books of the year. Their journey was heartbreaking at times yet immensely touching and beautiful. It was well worth every tear I shed.

Rebecca Yarros’ first book, Full Measures blew me away so I had high expectations for Eyes Turned Skyward. They were met, as once again she has created a stunning read that stirred my emotions, and whilst it holds moments that wrench your heart, granted not quite as deeply as its predecessor, I still required a tissue or two.

We met Jagger in the first book; Josh’s best friend, they’re now at flight school together. Sexy and a player he’s focussed on his dream of flying an Apache. Paisley has a life-threatening heart defect but is determined to complete her bucket-list. Sick of her parents and boyfriend wrapping her up in cotton wool, she first meets Jagger when he saves her life and they have an instant chemistry. Problem is she’s his commanding officer’s daughter and is dating his class rival, Will – as they say the course of true love never did run smooth.

“I want to feel your arms around me at night, taste your kiss for breakfast, and I want to hear my name on your lips when I make you come apart.”

I adored them. I felt their joy, pain, hard times and happiness. Paisley’s determination is both frustrating and humbling, but she is in a heartbreaking situation and her actions are understandable. Jagger is a patient, thoughtful, gentle guy and, whilst not without his own secrets, the man is honest and wears his heart on his sleeve. I fell completely in love with him.

“…she was my gift, for as long as I could keep her.”

Eyes Turned Skyward absorbed me and reinforced the fact that Rebecca Yarros is a truly gifted author. I look forward to seeing what journey she takes her reader on next because her books are easily up there as two of my favourite reads of 2014.

“I’m going to live for me now.”

Ive seen love burn someone to the ground, and Ive seen it make sense of the ridiculous. I wont settle for less than that kind of fire.

20 year old Southern belle Paisley Donovan is done with being treated like she is made from glass. For years, she has been encouraged to live a cautious and unfulfilling life, in order to please her parents, her boyfriend, Will, and her best friend, Morgan. Paisley wants so much more for herself than her condition allows – and she’s determined to get exactly that, regardless of the risks involved. However, her somewhat reckless pursual of a scored-off bucket list results in a near-death experience – an experience that rocks her life more than any heart condition ever has.

Enter, Jagger Bateman. He brings her back to life. Literally.

Jagger is everything Paisley is not, everything she has ever wanted to be. He is fierce. He is daring. He is reckless. He is dangerous. One look into those crystal-blue eyes, and Paisley is hooked. Just being close to him gives her a bigger adrenaline rush than anything on her bucket list ever could. He can provide her with the excitement and adventure that she has craved for so long – but at what cost?

I whole-heartedly adored this book. I’ve been in a bit of a reading rut recently, and Eyes Turned Skyward brought me right out of it. This book hooked me from the very first page, and didn’t let me go until its final words – which, incidentally, came around at 5.30am! I don’t regret a whole day of feeling like a zombie at work, though. This book was most definitely worth it.

Rebecca Yarros’ paints a beautiful, captivating and heart-wrenching story of love, loss, and living life for the moment. She writes the kind of characters that you can’t help but fall in love with – characters so complex that you’ll still be thinking about them long after you’ve finished reading this novel. I particularly enjoyed the dual-perspective approach taken in this novel, which gives the reader a chance to really experience everything that’s going on with both of the main characters throughout.

Paisley is a wonderful female lead. She is fierce and strong and passionate, never bowing down to the pressures put upon her by her condition or those around her. Although often frustratingly stubborn, she knows her own mind, and doesn’t allow anyone to change it.

Jagger is more than your stereotypical bad boy. He is genuine, intelligent, hardworking and loyal. He has so much hiding beneath his cocky, self-assured exterior – some parts that he isn’t even aware of himself, until he allows himself to fall in love with Paisley.

The main romantic relationship in this novel was beautifully written. The chemistry between the two characters was intense, but it never felt rushed or forced or syrupy-sweet, like these things often can. The relationship wasn’t perfect, but that only served to make it feel more realistic. Paisley and Jagger have many ups and downs throughout the course of the novel but, ultimately, they bring out the best versions of one another, and watching that unfold is a marvel to behold, and a joy to read.

I also have to note how wonderful the secondary characters are. Each one has his/her own important role to play within the story, and they are just as complex and fleshed out as the main characters. They never once fade into the background. In fact, each character is so interesting, that I’m hoping the author will give a few of them their own books in the future!

Yarros has an incredible talent for writing human emotions and experiences – weaving them through beautifully constructed characters and a captivating storyline – in a way that will challenge you, push you, test your limits and, ultimately, warm your heart. This is the first book I have read from this author, and it most definitely won’t be the last.

For once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you will long to return

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