Onbereikbaar

Flight & Glory #2

by Rebecca Yarros

#22: Alle verantwoordelijkheden overboord gooien en naar het strand gaan.

Als Paisley had geweten welke gevolgen het tweeëntwintigste punt op haar bucketlist zou hebben, zou ze het dan hebben gedaan? Op het strand gaat er iets heel erg mis en daardoor ontmoet ze Jagger, en dat is dan weer heel erg niet mis. Behalve dan dat Paisley al een vriend heeft. En een hartaandoening.

Onbereikbaar is hartverwarmend en hartverscheurend tegelijkertijd, een ijzersterke nieuwe New Adult van Rebecca Yarros.

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Military Fiction, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Military Romance, Audiobook

304 pages, Paperback

First published December 8, 2014

About the author

Rebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and coffee addict. She is the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels, including Fourth Wing, The Last Letter and The Things We Leave Unfinished. She’s also the recipient of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence for Eyes Turned Skyward. Rebecca loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to hers for over twenty years. A mother of six, she is currently surviving the teenage years with all four of her hockey-playing sons.

Want to know about Rebecca’s next release? Check her out online at www.rebeccayarros.com.

Reviews

[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

”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…”

[image error]

Paisley is faced with a huge medical decision of either getting a pace maker or going through a very risky surgery. She takes her time deciding which makes her parents and friends crazy because her health seems to be deteriorating daily. Paisley suffers from a heart condition that tragically her twin sister died from. She doesn’t want to jump to any hasty choices and in the meantime she has a bucket list that she is trying to get through.

Paisley has been dating her deceased sister’s best friend, Carter for a few years. Things seem stable and safe with Carter but when Mr. California saves her from drowning at the beach she finds that her feelings for Carter aren’t anything compared to the desire and attraction she has for this hot blonde.



Mr. California turns out to be Jagger, Carter’s rival in flight school. Paisley tries her darnedest to keep Jagger in the friend zone but who could blame her, he is absolutely irresistible.

”One kiss brought my world tumbling down around me. One kiss transformed me into something I hated and broke the man I loved in pieces.”

Paisley makes a decision about her relationship with Carter and I must mention that all the supporting characters in this story were very likable and I'm hoping that some get their own books.

Jagger and Paisley hold a lot of important information from one another and it comes back to bit them both.

“We should have told each other a lot of things.”

Overall, this love story was well done but I did get a bit bored with Paisley heart condition decisions and her failure to tell Jagger. Still, it was a good read and I enjoyed the flight school aspects immensely and that sexy-sweet Jagger!



”Loving Paisley had the same effect on me as my first helicopter ride – I simply knew where I was supposed to be, whom I was supposed to become, and I was meant to be hers.”

* ARC provided by Netgalley for honest review *

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

LIVE and only .99!! http://www.amazon.com/Eyes-Turned-Sky...

4.5 Stars



Paisley Donovan is used to being treated like she is fragile, I guess that is because she is. Diagnosis with the same heart condition that killed her sister, everyone is constantly watching and monitoring her waiting for something to happen. Paisley doesn’t even remember what it is like to truly live life anymore. In effort to take back control she begins working on her bucket list. That is how she meets Jagger.

22. Ditch responsibilities and head to the beach.

Jagger Bateman isn’t looking for a girl or any distractions for that matter. He has been accepted into the toughest flight school, and he knows he has to place high enough to get to fly the coveted Apache. He may not be looking for distractions, but when one is literally dropped off the pier he doesn’t really have a choice but to save her.

From that day moment on Paisley and Jagger share this intense connection, but start out as friends. There are so many other factors in the story and I hate to go into them all, because part of the thrill is reading and discovering these things for yourself. Just know that this story is about more than a girl with a heart condition and a competitive guy trying to be at the top of his class.

I loved Paisley and Jagger’s connection. I loved how they developed a relationship and while they didn’t share everything up front, they did develop a plan to default to trust. I loved this! With the defaulting to trust, we didn’t have a lot of misunderstandings and unnecessary fighting or running.



This is a quick sweet read and very sexy. I really enjoyed it, my only complaint would be how long things were drawn out over her heart condition. Other than that, I really enjoyed this story and still highly recommend it.



"For once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been and there you will long to return." - DaVinci

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Catarina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Skyward Stars.

Jagger is a bad boy who likes being reckless to forget his own past. Paisley is a girl with a severe heart condition and a Bucket List she intends to complete until her last day. He he’s in flight school and wants to make the Apaches team. She is the school director’s daughter.
He saves her life, but when their worlds crash together, who is in fact saving who?
And when Jagger realizes that the girl who chase away his demons possibly have her days numbered, will he step up and be the fighter everyone knows he is… or drown even more with his ghosts?



This was a sweet romance, gut-wrenching at times and beautifully heartwarming at others. I didn’t like that she had a boyfriend in the beginning, especially when it was clear that their relationship had no passion at all. And I didn’t like how she kept her condition a big secret for the guy she was falling with. But besides that this was (yet) another amazing book by Rebecca Yarros and again brilliantly written. Apparently every time Rebecca writes a book, she always deliver an amazing story. If you want a sweet and emotional love story, this books is certainly a good choice.



Rating: 4 Stars.
Characters Development: Paisley was good, but I didn’t like how she hide her heart condition for so long. After the moment she knew their feelings were the same she should have told him. Jagger… what is possible to say except that he’s pretty much perfect? Yes, he’s a broken soul and he’s (kind of) a bad boy, but he has such a golden heart that’s impossible not to fall in love with him. One of the best heroes I’ve read in a while. The supporting characters are also pretty good and they provide a huge impact to the book, I would like to read a book about some of them!
Steam: Some hot moments.
Sensible Subjects: Emotional Abuse. Death. Drug Addiction.
Love Triangle: There is kind of one, when the protagonists both have feelings for each other but Paisley still has a boyfriend. But it happens only in the first 25/30% of the book and doesn’t drag unnecessarily. The heroine eventually realizes that her relationship with her boyfriend is more based on friendship than anything else and an event (see below) makes her understand that her heart lies elsewhere.
Cheating: There is one moment that is considering cheating. She kisses Jagger when she is still dating Will. But she immediately tells Will the truth. (See above.)
HEA: Yes.

[Jx PinkLady Reviews ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely 4.5 STARS for a BEAUTIFUL story



Rebecca Yarros has a beautiful and effortless writing style and once again she sucked me into her story with a strong, independent and feisty heroine and a sexy, heart swoony hero.

Eyes Turned Skyward is about trust, living in the moment, taking risks and being true to yourself.

Paisley Donovan was diagnosed with the same potential life threatening illness as her wild, carefree and uninhibited sister, Peyton. Paisley wants to be more like her... Live for her and make her proud. She’s made calculations based on her sister and a bucket list that she must complete. She’s determined, courageous and strong and decides it’s time she lives her life as fiercely and independently as her sister believes she can.

Enter Jagger Bateman, an easy come easy go…. "no-effort, easy-lay, forget-'em-before-morning guy." He sweeps her out of the water and off her feet, and it’s clear they share an obvious and undeniable attraction to each other. As a reader I found myself as drawn to him as Paisley.



Despite the complications of a rival boyfriend and flight school, Jagger and Paisley begin a beautiful friends-only relationship. Yes, I did mention the B word but fear not, I wouldn't class this story as a classic love triangle. Carter, although comfortable and safe, is completely wrong for her. As a reader I did not especially warm to him which made it feel less like a love triangle and more like…. she’s with the wrong person…. She needs to find a love that makes her burn.

They are drawn to each other…. Fate is pulling them together but they're JUST FRIENDS... Their friendship blossoms. It’s beautiful to see, as a reader one wants more for them… I wanted it all.



They both harbour secrets from each other and feel a certain risk by being together. He feels he’ll inevitably disappoint her and needs to learn to trust himself, open up his heart, and his story, to Paisley... and she needs to do the same.

The supporting cast are wonderful…. I adored seeing glimpses of Josh and Amber, a couple I loved from a previous story, Full Measures. Their happy ever after still makes my heart so happy. Paisley has a great relationship with her friend Morgan and Grayson is intriguing, I’d love to discover more about these latter two characters.

Eyes turned Skyward is romantic, lovely and gorgeous. It made me smile, it made me swoon and it made me cry. The last section of the book was absolutely perfect… I felt hopeful and fearful and it completely warmed my heart. I highly recommend this to readers who enjoy New Adult, beautifully written layered stories with depth ridden characters that emote deep, swoony, heart melting emotions.

P.S. I loved that she’s studying Library Science and she loves to read! Simply fabulous ♥




Amazon link

Arc received from Entangled publishing, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had to many problems 😵
2⭐⭐

[MELISSA *Mel Reader* · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Be Fierce Stars!
(ARC provided by Netgalley)





Paisley Donovan aka Lee is a 20 yr. old college student living in Enterprise, AL. with her best friend Morgan. She works at the library, and lives a cautious, reserved, boring life. This is mainly because her sister Peyton dies from a heart condition that Paisley also has. Everyone in her life treats her like breakable glass including her boyfriend Will. Paisley just wants to live her life to the fullest, and misses feeling normal.



Paisley is determined to complete her bucket list, and won't be held prisoner by her body. She heads for the beach to relax and be a carefree college girl for a day before classes start back. She unexpectedly finds herself in a situation where she needs rescued while at the beach. A gorgeous guy named Jagger Bateman aka Mr. California saves her life. Jagger is a 23 yr. old reckless, wild, hot guy from Colorado. He's just moved to Alabama to attend flight school at Fort Rucker, the home of army aviation.



Jagger has never been in a relationship, and has a lot of secrets in his past. He doesn't easily trust, but is drawn to Paisley from the moment their paths collide. He can't get enough of that sweet southern accent, and finds her absolutely beautiful & captivating. When he finds out she has a serious boyfriend, he decides he will take whatever she is willing to give, even if it is only friendship.



As Jagger & Paisley spend time together as "friends", they both really enjoy each others company, and become extremely close. Paisley has trouble fighting the way she wants Jagger, & he is also the first person to treat her like she isn't broken. He makes her feel alive instead of fragile, and makes her forget all about her failing heart & helps her to just live in the moment. The problem is there are a lot of things about to blow up when their two lives collide, and they find out each others secrets. They have to decide if they want to fight to be together. I loved this couple & adored me some yummy Jagger! Can't wait to read Josh & Ember's story! :D



-That need to get away was almost as powerful as the one screaming to get closer.

-For some reason, I could breathe easier when she was around.

-"He makes me feel...free. That's something I haven't had. He doesn't treat me like I'm about to break."

-"It was like... he was meant for me."

-It didn't matter how many times I'd looked into her eyes; I was lost, spun out of control.



-Kissing Jagger was as necessary as breathing.

-He makes me feel alive, and amazing, and me.

-I'd never felt anything as right as having her in my arms, her lips moving with mine. It was a sense of home that I hadn't felt since...well, too long.

-Everything I wanted and everything I was terrified to lose sat in front of me.

-You are as much a part of me as my own heart, and it doesn't beat without you.

-"I finally understand having something not just worth dying for, but living for."



-I was already on fire for her. My heart had screamed out mine.

-"I've seen love burn someone to the ground, and I've seen it make sense of the ridiculous. I won't settle for less than that kind of fire."

-"Steady doesn't do it for you? You'd rather chance destruction?" "If it's between being numb the rest of my life or burning exquisitely for even a moment, I'll take the burn. The best things in life are worth the burn, the risk."

-"What matters most is how well you walk through the fire."

-"Though she be but little, she is fierce."

[ambsreads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Eyes Turned Skyward was yet another let down of a re-read. This book in particular felt like it too me forever to read. Why? It was the exact same as the first one. There was no difference. The characters were the same, continuing to make the same mistakes by refusing to say what was wrong and then proceeding to say 'I love you' way too early.

This book in particular focuses on Jagger who was Josh's best friend in the first book, we are however introduced to a bunch of new characters as Jagger takes on flight school (I honestly don't know what it's called). Paisley is the female lead, and other perspective, and I've never wanted to punch a character more - that's probably a lie I think I've said I've wanted to punch characters in way too many reviews. Paisley lost her sister two years prior due to a heart condition which Paisley has as well. Paisley is living to please everyone so she doesn't cause any strife on her family until Jagger enters her life.

That's when stuff gets unbelievable. I hated the whirlwind romance. The cheating. The characters overall. Everyone was ridiculous and couldn't communicate. Now, I'm a straight up person. I like to lay everything down but I know some people don't. I just don't see the point in tip-toeing around things and I don't think it would have been hard for Jagger to say the secret he had and for Paisley to say her life-threatening heart.

Characters

“Hi, I’m Paisley. I’m twenty years old, and my heart is a ticking time bomb. Want to be friends?”

Paisley was infuriating. I didn't understand her. Her character kept changing from personalities, and it got tiresome. I didn't really care for her by the end and I honestly skipped the epilogue because her and Jagger are obviously going to get their happily ever after. The lines said by her were incredibly cheesy and the only credibility I can give her is that she waited at least a month before saying 'I love you'.

I also understand that romance heroines are meant to be meek and weak a lot of the time, but Paisley took it to a whole new level. She couldn't even tell people that she didn't like the nickname Lee until Jagger mentioned it. I'm all about girl power (I sound like my mother) and I hate when girls in books don't do anything until a male lead comes into their life and changes them. No girl, you do you and you work for what you want.

Paisley was one of the worst female characters I have read in New Adult fiction I think.

“I'd rather burn for just a moment, to really experience love than live a lifetime safe without it."

Jagger was better than Paisley, but only marginally. He was the reformed bad boy who had a photographic memory - which I felt was a pointless attribute to him since it was rarely used. He is a "flyboy" and for some reason for half the book doesn't tell Paisley that. I know, my reaction was okay, so this book is about two idiots. I mean, don't get me wrong. In books you can't give everything away, but simple things like "I'm studying to be a pilot" isn't that damn hard.

Jagger fell for Paisley way too hard as well. From the moment he sees her on the beach he's basically obsessed. And, of course, because Paisley is a damsel in distress she can't swim and is tossed in the water!!! What?!?!?!? Yes. Her best friend who she has known her whole life asked a guy to do it. Now, side note, shouldn't the best friend have known Paisley couldn't swim? Anyway, whatever, that is never brought up again despite two swim lessons from Jagger and the epilogue.

I realise that Jagger is painted as a literal hero, but I don't think I can even count how many times I rolled my eyes at the dialogue. For a reformed bad boy/player who had sworn off girl's I must say he was fucking cheesy as hell. He was constantly talking about love and how it was all burning and powerful. Like, okay, but you've known her a day - can we rethink that?

Plot

The plot wasn't very much there. It was there to support the romance. The major plot besides the romance was the fact that Jagger was studying to be a pilot and Paisley didn't want to tell Jagger about her heart condition while she tried to make a decision on whether to get a pacemaker.

Problems popped up incredibly Jagger's father and the surgery that Paisley would eventually need, but it was all supercial and not developed enough to actually be substainial to the plot.

Writing

The writing is what saved this book from being a single star. It was a fast read despite feeling like dragging on due to how many times I found myself rolling my eyes or groaning in annoyance. I couldn't get past a lot of the plot, but I will applaud the author on her writing. Just, next time she should create different characters from her first book - in my opinion.

Overall

Overall, I don't mean to offend anyone who liked this book, I didn't like it and now I'm not sure if I want to continue the series since this book was painful.

[Annie Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

***5 Jagger-lovin' stars!***

Oh. My. God! This gem of a book was just...indescribable! It was so much more than I thought it could be. It consumed me. Broke me. Repaired me. And I couldn't ask for more. The story is such a beautiful and heartbreaking tale of loss, love and the ability to live for the now. Because you never know when you'll take your last breath. So don't waste the life you're given now, because it's all we have. This story captivated me from the first word. And I was sucked into Paisley and Jagger's emotional turmoil-both struggling with pasts that haunt them. But together? They're indestructible. They're fearless. They're determined. And God, they're both so beautiful inside and out.

These characters owned me. Not just Jagger and Paisley, but they're friends and family. Well, mostly Paisley's family. But Jagger's best friends, Josh Walker and Grayson and even Carter really stole the show for me. Each of them, flawed and willing to stick by each other. I mean, they're all pilots...totally hot! Jagger melted both my heart and panties. He was incredible. But it was his tenacity, determination and loyalty to Paisley that made me fall as hard for him as Paisley did. She is one lucky lady.

There's just so much to this story that I don't want to ruin anything, which is why I'm laughing because this is more of a rambling raving review than an actual review. Yes, there's plenty of angst, hot sex and puncturing of lungs. Plenty of secrets and drama that makes the story entertaining. So much was going on but you never felt confused. Jagger and Paisley both have distinctive voices, so you followed along just perfectly. But rest assured, it meant you felt their heartache right along with them. Your heart will be in your throat. You'll cry, laugh, swoon like crazy and then cry some more. Oh what a true beauty this was.

Since it's not out until next month, I'll keep my review short and sweet. I'll just cover the basics and say; when it comes out, I'm buying it. I thank Netgalley for providing me with an ARC and can't express how happy I was to stumble upon this book I had no clue about. But damn, did I gobble up this story. It was just beautiful, all soul-consuming, and profound. It just was. I can't even think right now. The last 30% was soul-crushing and I couldn't hardly see the screen through my tears. I had to stop several times to catch my breath and wipe my face. Only to have my face drenched in sorrow again. But it was worth every bit of it.

Every. Single. Tear.

These two have left an imprint on my heart. I am so happy I got to read this book. Yet I'm so sad that it's over. I loved these characters as if they were my friends. I really rooted for them. I begged the stars that my fictional friends would get their happy ending, after all they've endured during this however-many-pages novel. They each suffered so much in their lives and they deserved some semblance of normal...happy. But I won't go into the ending. My heart hurts too much, but not all bad. Damn, I just ramble too much.

I highly recommend this book to those who love a good riveting and sexy tale. Yeah, it wasn't just tear-jerking and heart pounding in fear. It was H. O. T. Damn, Jagger is so flipping sexy. He's a definite book boyfriend contender. And he'd be close to the top. There was some humor mixed in with the heartache, so that was great. I'll never forget this story. And I hope others will add this to their shelves, because it deserves to be experienced. Thanks again Netgalley; I sometimes love the crap out of you. Even if you do decline my requests sometimes. It's books like these that make it all worth it.

ADD THIS TO YOUR SHELF

and then when it's out....

READ THIS BOOK



***ARC provided by Netgalley for honest review***

[Christie«SHBBblogger» · Rating 4 out of 5]

**ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

3.5 Little Bird stars



Title:Eyes Turned Skyward
Series:Unnamed #2
Author:Rebecca Yarros
Release date: December 8, 2014
Rating:3.5 stars
Cliffhanger:No
HEA: Yes



I was more than excited to see that Rebecca Yarros had a new release that was just on the verge of release day. I was beside myself. I completely fell for this author and her style of writing. Full Measures was so beautifully written and emotionally rich and it's one of those books that sticks with you long after you've finished. It was a perfect example of how to do New Adult right. I had a hard time rating this one, I really was leaning toward 4 stars, but there was something inherent in the plot that I kept hoping would get resolved and that just didn't happen until nearly the end. The time this took to work itself out and the resulting effects were pretty frustrating to me. I settled on 3.5 stars, but don't let that fool you into thinking this was just an average read for me. This author's ability to wring emotion out of me was still noticeably present in this book and I enjoyed not only the MC's growth from friendship and the forbidden love angst, but also getting to see more of Josh and Ember from book one.

The forbidden love angle in this book was pretty strong. There were several reasons why logically, these two shouldn't get together:

*She has the same potentially fatal heart condition that her sister died from and she's recklessly trying to complete a bucket list because she feels like she's living on borrowed time. Falling in love would only hurt them in the long run if her health doesn't stabilize.

*She's the general's daughter and he's a flyboy in flight school run by her father. If she gets hurt, he can kiss his career goodbye.

*He's more than a little rebellious and she's a good girl. In fact, he pulled a prank before he met her that almost got him kicked out. He's not her father's favorite person.

*She has a boyfriend named Will. He's Jagger's top competition standing in the way of his lifelong dream of flying the highly coveted Apache Helicopter.

I was everything she didn't need: self-destructive, egotistical, and reckless. But damn if she didn't feel like what I needed. Even only as friends, I'd take whatever piece of her I could get.

When Jagger pulls her out of the water and rescues her from drowning, she stirs feelings that he hasn't experienced before with other girls and it leaves him feeling very unsettled. But their meeting was fleeting and he never expects to see her again. Which is probably for the best because he can't afford any distractions right now. Little does he know that she's about to turn up in his life in an unexpected way very soon.

When he pulls a prank and gets caught, he's ordered to help out in the library with repairs and clean up. And who is the sweet, southern, blonde librarian he sees after walking in? You guessed it. Paisley, our heroine. When Jagger comes along and jumbles everything around and turns her world upside down, she's even more set adrift than she was before.



This couple had a deep instant attraction, but lived in denial of their feelings. Paisley struggles with her illness and feeling like she's in a gilded cage with her parents and boyfriend. Everyone treats her like a fragile, weak girl who's incapable of making her own choices. Her feelings for Will are very muddled. I think she was with him because he was her sister's best friend and it helps her cling to her sister's memory. He's also a really good guy, but their feelings of love are based on friendship rather than passion and she doesn't want to see that.

She finally feels intensity and need and thrills at the freedom she can explore with him. Jagger pushes her to live her life with passion and zest when all she's ever known was moderation.



My reasoning for lowing my rating was based on a couple of things. One thing bothered me about how they got together but it may not bother others. The reason she finally leaves her boyfriend is because she slipped and kissed Jagger. She admitted it to Will immediately after it happened, she felt remorseful and heartbroken, but I couldn't help but wish that she had had the strength to leave Will first before anything happened. It was kind of the catalyst to push her to see reality-how her feelings with Will were lacking. I didn't like that she hurt him in that way.

But my main issue was based on the heroine's inability to face reality over her medical condition (continuing to do dangerous stunts that endangered her health) and her complete stubbornness in avoiding telling Jagger about how sick she is. She hides this from him for almost the entire book and I kept chanting repeatedly...Tell him. Tell him. Please, for the love of god, tell that poor man. She never did admit it to him until it was taken out of her hands. He deserved to know her fragile situation and she selfishly allowed his feelings to grow deeper while keeping him in the dark. They even swore to each other to be completely honest with each other and yet their relationship is based on her lies of omission. *sigh* If it weren't for that, I would have easily given this 4 stars or more, but that was frustrating on a level I couldn't ignore. (I tried.)

I did love this couple's sweet connection, Jagger's addiction and fire that he had for her and how incredibly protective he was. They were adorable together, and they had a lot of angst and intensity between them.



While I didn't rate this book as enthusiastically as the last, I still adore this author's writing and am without a doubt reading the next book about Grayson. Her ability to make you swoon, laugh, curse, and smile right along with her characters makes her an author that I will continue to follow.



FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON:

[Casey Reads 🌸 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEAUTIFUL. ✨

I loved this one.

I could understand Paisley and her chronic health condition and how it can ruin parts of your life. I also can understand feeling like you don’t want to bring anyone down with you. This book really tugged at my heart strings. If you struggle with a chronic condition, especially a heart issue, you will probably deeply relate to this book.

I fell for Jagger, he was the perfect ‘seems like a bad boy, but really has a heart of gold’ type. I was rooting for him every step of the way.

I even liked her ex-boyfriend who she is dating in the beginning. He was wrong for her, but instead of being made out to be the villain, we see throughout the 2nd half that he really is a good person too.

I am glad we got to see the characters from the 1st book too. You technically could read these out of order and they would still make sense, but I wouldn’t since previous characters show up so much.

[Val ⚓️ Shameless Handmaiden ⚓️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

I loved this book's predecessor Full Measures, hard. But, for some reason, I just didn't love this one as much...and I really can't put my finger on why.

In this instance I do think it's a case of it's not you, it's me, however. I think perhaps I just wasn't in the mood for a lower steam YA when I read this, but I jumped in anyway because I had been so looking forward to it.

Next time I will wait until I am in the proper mood. And I just might try re-reading this one when that proper mood comes around again.

[Kelli C · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars Turned Skyward!

This is the second book that Rebecca Yarros gutted me with! I am an true Fan! She has an amazing ability to write true, deep, soul reaching love with palpable tone and more than that, no one writes a "male character in love" better than her!

This is one of those angsty, heart-wrenching, forever kinda love books that is good thru and thru. Paisley Donovan is living with a severe medical condition. She wants more than anything to just "live" carefree, take risks, to truly breath in life.



I could be fierce. I used to be, I just had to remember how.”



But is her time limited??? Who is she even really living for???

It is "Mr. California", Jagger Bateman, who comes along and breathes life into her...both literally and emotionally! After a scary introduction and "life saving moment" both Jagger and Paisley are affected by one another. Jagger sees true beauty and pureness and a chance to be better for someone. Paisley sees a RISK, a beautiful man who causes her heart to accelerate thus making her feel, no matter if it is safe or not!



“I’ve seen love burn someone to the ground, and I’ve seen it make sense of the ridiculous. I won’t settle for less than that kind of fire.”

Who is this man? Poetically beautiful...emotionally open...mysteriously offering friendship. Jagger is trying to forget his past by living his dream in flight school. Paisley is trying to live her days as her older sister would have, including taking on the safe friendly relationship of her sister's bff Will. Just like fate, the cosmos pulled Paisley and Jagger into the same setting, the same realm of life and now facing one another, there is undeniable attraction!

"Every fucking cell in my body screams out that she belongs with me.”



Against all the warning, the safety net of her family and friends, it is time for Paisley to live. It is time for her to take a risk. It is time for her to do what she truly wants. Good thing for her Jagger is there with open arms to guide her thru the wild and fun times! Keep it simple, Full trust, No lies...but omit the past? Can Paisley keep her secret from the man who now owns her broken heart? Can Jagger love her enough to keep her alive?

“You’re it for me, and it didn’t matter if we were together or not. You’d always be it. You push me away, and I’ll still show up here looking for you because you’re all I want.”

Holy emotional hell! Three times I cried during this book! Reading Jagger's words to the woman who took ownership of his heart had me weeping. For a man who had no family, who came from a home void of emotional cuddles, his ability to realize the truth in love and then fight for it was beautiful.

[Patrycja · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 super stars!

Review to follow.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 - "The best things are worth the burn." Stars.

Rebecca Yarros got herself an Insta-fan with me after I finished reading Full Measures it is a book I read with my heart in my mouth and a tissue at my eyes. So you can imagine my joy at seeing that this wonderful author had another book due up for release. Eyes Turned Skyward is loosely connected to Full Measures but you don’t need to read it to understand anything from Paisley and Jagger’s story, this book is wholly their own. I would however recommend that you do, because it is a bloody marvelous book!

”No one is friends like we are.”

This book, like its predecessor, grabs you from the offset, and doesn’t let you go. Rebecca has a way of interweaving the characters stories together, and throwing in little plot twists that keep you guessing right up until the end. At the beginning you sense that Paisley and Jagger both have more to their stories and backgrounds than the information that is immediately provided, and you are not wrong.



What surprised me is just how deep and far their pasts go, and how much a difference every revelation could potentially make to each of them and their blossoming relationship. This isn’t a light fluffy book. Paisley and Jagger are both dealing with some pretty serious issues, some personal, a lot familial, but I didn’t finish it bummed out, it is a book that lifts you, makes you think about life and the people around you, and appreciate the things you have.



I loved this book, I loved the characters, it’s not overly angsty, but the drama and romance is absolutely stellar. Rebecca Yarros is an absolutely outstanding talent, probably the best new author I have discovered in 2014. I want more, I want it now, and I want it in plentiful amounts (I know that I am not going to get that, but it is the season of magic and sparkle and a girl can wish!)

You’re my only Little Bird.”



ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was my absolute pleasure in providing the above honest review.

[Kathe L · Rating 5 out of 5]

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



"Grayson was right. She was going to rip me apart.
And I was going to let her."

This book is fulllllll of amazing quotes and my book is marked all over. no regrets This is an amazing book and one of my favorites this year because this isn't just a romance book. No. This book touches your heart and it delivers different things from page one.

1 - Our main girl, Paisley, actually has a boyfriend at the beginning of this book and he isn't our main guy, Jagger
2 - Paisley isn't all over herself at Jagger and she is the one who says she just wants to be friends with him.
3 - Jagger doesn't grab about himself! I thought that was so cool, because he is obviously the most handsome guy around and he isn't all "I can be with any girl I want" every 5 pages.
4 - This book has very few clichés, my friends. And I was extremely pleased to realize that.

"I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul."

A librarian. A pilot to-be. What were the odds of them ending up together? Our fantastic book starts with Jagger saving Paisley from drowning and everything after that seems to pull this two together. And initially, neither of them wanted to be together because they both have secrets. (I know I said that there were few clichés, and here is when they end.) I'm glad to say that the universe and me thought they were better to each other when they were together. Because they were absolutely perfect.

"I choose him because he makes me feel alive, and amazing, and me. He makes me remember who I am."

Jagger won the title of book boyfriend of the year. I want him desperately to myself! I love a guy who isn't a bad boy, and despise appearing so, we soon find out that there's a lot more to Jagger. He is brave, fierce, cute, passionate and protective of those he cares about. Of course, he wouldn't have been as perfect if it weren't for his love for Paisley. And I really liked her, not only because of the admiration I could see in Jagger's words, but because I knew he had a reason to love her so much. I could see why he fell in love with her because she was a girl I wanted to be friends with. I know that if I met Jagger and Paisley in real life they would be a couple I would stalk on Instagram to see their cute photos together and that I would root for them, because their love was so real. A love that you feel a pang of jealously over but you're mostly happy because people deserve to find a true love like that.

"That's the thing. I'll settle for any part you want to give me. That's how badly I want every part of you."

Jagger is adorable

We also have secondary characters that are not only there to be there. They add meaning to this story and are extremely important, almost as much as the main ones. Without the secondary characters, we can't understand fully some of the main character's behaviors and personalities. That's why they are so vital for this story. And honestly? I think every book should be like this. We should have strong-minded secondary characters as much as our main ones. Who doesn't love a fierce character?

Among other things, this book delivers:
- Love scenes that made me swoon
- Fights that left me with tears
- Twists that made me gasp
- Friendships that I wanted to myself
- Mysterious characters (cough cough Grayson and Anna)
- Family issues
- Bucket lists
And it was a roller coaster of emotions from the first page to the last one. This book throws informations at you at all times. It doesn't let you be bored, oh no. Or you're worried/in love with Paisley and Jarred, or you're thinking about that little thing one of them slipped, or you're just brazing yourself to what's to come. This was definitely a book I won't be forgetting any time soon.

[Jacqueline's Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Live life to the fullest stars!.

I love Rebecca Yarros! I want more books, I want like five million of her books so I can read them all.

Eyes Turned Skyward is Rebecca’s second book in the NA series. It didn’t make me ugly cry like Full Measures, but Eyes Turned Skyward still had lots of drama to keep me on my toes.

There’s lots of angst!

Paisley’s sister dies after her 21st birthday. Paisley is turning 21 soon and she has the same heart condition that killes her sister. Paisley created a bucket list of all the things she wants to do.

She wants to live her life to the fullest, weak heart or not

Jagger is training to fly. His enemy is Paisley’s boyfriend. Boyfriend or not, Jagger can’t help but form a friendship with Paisley.

My thoughts… ups and downs and emotions

Let’s put it out there, I do not like love triangles. So, let’s just say I picked up Eyes Turned Skyward without knowing the summary.

The love triangle is tolerable. It still makes me cringe a bit, but don’t worry! You won’t be pulling your hair out…. As much

Paisley

I wanted to punch Paisley in the face, whoa… calm down now Jacqueline. Okay, not punch, more like slap, maybe give a hard nudge. Paisley has a heart condition and of course, OF COURSE! She keeps it from Jagger because she wants to be treated normal.

I know, I wanted to shake my fist too.

She also has a really sweet boyfriend, Will. Some are Will haters, but honestly I like him, faults and all. Paisley is in a no frills, no fun relationship because Will doesn’t want to upset her heart.

I find that SUPER SWEET.

Jagger

Jagger can give Paisley what she needs. He can give her excitement, fun and life without worries. But Paisley has a boyfriend and that boyfriend hates Jagger as much as Jagger hates him.

You can feel the tension right?

Overall

I liked Eyes Turned Skyward, but it does have a touch of too much angst for me. I wished Paisley wasn’t so difficult throughout the whole book. I get she wants to live her life, but a lot of people, like her parents and boyfriend want her to be safe and you can’t help, but feel for them too.

I also am always biased towards a love triangle read. I don’t like them, so it takes a lot of effort on my part to be okay with it. It’s also harder when the current boyfriend is totally sweet and I love Will.

I loved that Jagger is training to fly, that’s really sexy.

Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I still love Rebecca’s books.

An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review

99 Cents | REVIEW | AMAZON
| 99 Cents | AMAZON

[Syndi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a high expectation on this book. I really regreting picked it up. Miss Yarros usually can deliver a sweet romance.

The whole idea of forbidden romance intrique me at first. I do like Jagger. He is typical alpha hero. What I do not like is Pansley. From the very beginning she is a selfish heroine. She wants to experinece life and fail to tell Jagger her secret.

Until the end, she still.not warming up to me. Nor she shows some compassion.

Overall this book fails to pleased me.

2 stars

[Fanny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eyes Turned Skyward es el segundo libro que leo de la autora, Rebecca Yarros, y aunque puede ser leido como independiente, el protagonista masculino aparece en otra de las historias de la autora, Full Measures.

Ya lo he dicho en varias de mis reseñas, soy bastante superficial, lo primero en lo que me fijo antes de leer un libro es en su cubierta y si, se que esta mal, pero hay veces que no puedo evitarlo aunque quiera. * sonrojo *

Asi que lo primero que me llamo la atencion de Eyes Turned Skyward fue la portada hermosa que tiene y en segundo lugar fue la sinopsis, quien puede resistirse a un soldado en uniforme??.

Aunque pueda parecer que es una historia mas de New Adult o Young Adult, me sorprendio muy gratamente, puesto que no tiene los tipicos cliches que muchas autoras utilizan en la actualidad en sus libros.

La trama avanza de una forma muy ligera y eso es muy importante puesto que el libro no es precisamente corto, aun asi a mi se me paso volando.

Ademas cuando empece a leerlo pense que no tendria nada de especial, que seria un libro mas y que seguro que solo alcanzaria las tres estrellas, pero no, fue una lectura que recordare durante mucho tiempo, ademas te deja una leccion de vida hermosa.

A partir de ahora soy una fan indiscutible de la autora, totalmente a la altura de grandes como Colleen Hoover o Cora Carmack.

Ademas no podran evitar enamorarse de su protagonista masculino, Jagger * enamorada * quiero tener a sus bebes! xDD


- Jagger : Te amo. Tu eres lo mejor que me ha pasado. Mi vida comenzo en el momento que te di respiracion, y no puedo pensar en un mejor uso para mi aliento ahora que usarlo para decir " te amo ", para el resto de nuestras vidas. Voy a casarme contigo, y vamos a tener hermosos bebes, de ojos verdes que nos vuelvan grises con su imprudencia.



4.5 Estrellas!!!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

" 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. "

" If it's between being numb for the rest of my life or burning exquisitely for even a moment, I'll take the burn the best things in life are worth the burn, the risk. "

❤️ loved this one with my whole heart! ❤️. I was intrigued by Jagger when I stumbled across this authors Debut novel Full Measures . I love my broken bad boys and this one was amazing. Jagger had a heart of pure gold. Swoon ! Book Butterly attacked hardcore and took flight.

Josh, Jagger and now Grayson .... I've got my eyes on you ! Can't wait for Grayson's story !

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

Items ticked off: 24

“I’m headed to the gym for a few, so listen for the timer. Burn lunch and I burn you.

Since I'm going to rage so hard on this one, I figured I'd start the review off with a quote from the only good thing about this book. Grayson, a secondary character. I love him. That's it. Let's move on.

Let me introduce you to the typical New Adult.

“You know, there’s more to a man than how he looks. You have to know what’s—” Sweet Lord, have mercy.
My Kindle hit the sand with my jaw. I’d never seen a man so beautiful, so raw in energy, or so…delicious looking.

A sexually repressed heroine who loses her mind when she sees the hot hero on the beach.

I was not a tender kind of guy. Hell, no. I was a no-effort, easy-lay, forget-’em-before-morning guy.

A hero who's sexually experienced and is proud of it. He's also not a relationship type of guy, because why would he be? But when he lays eyes on the heroine, he is able to take creepy to a whole new level.

I ran my barbell across my teeth, speechless for the first time since…ever and reminded myself that I did not believe in love at first sight, or that insane voice in my head that clearly said, “Mine.”

But not only do they see each other on the beach. No, our heroine gets in trouble and almost drowns so our hero must play the hero and save her. Guess what? After that they're in love. Sort of. I call it instalove, or at least disturbing obsession which, in New Adult, is the equivalence of (insta)love. So while they hang out more and more, they keep their deep dark past secret from each other. Because drama is necessary at all costs. There are rich secrets too, the type that can (and will) blow up in their faces once they're out. (I'll give you one guess if that will happen or not.)

And while they're being all secretive and things, what else is going on? Well, the hero is violent. The heroine is slutshaming other women. There are stereotypes all over the place. We have comments like these:

“You girls, all worried about your figures. A man likes curves, my gal.”

(And I need to comment that a man can like dicks too, just sayin'.)

In the male POV we have the man reminding us of the status of his dick as if that'd make his POV more male (it doesn't).

Basically, it's all very typical New Adult.

I've given away two stars for that in the past if some elements are good enough. That is not the case this time. Apart from the usual issues, it has some others; one that is really big, and one that's relative. Let's start on the big one.

Paisley, our heroine, has a heart condition that might cause her death. (Not a spoiler, because it's said in the blurb.) Now, she needs surgery or a pacemaker. Everyone is telling her a pacemaker is the safest choice. And when I say everyone, I mean everyone. The doctors, her parents, and friends. It's the reasonable choice. It's the one that will most likely let her live. But Paisley doesn't want one. Why? Hell if I know. She has some reasons, but the main one being that she doesn't want one and that it doesn't feel right. (Helluva argument, right?) Basically, she's making this huge decision based on nothing but a hunch. In comes Jagger, the hero, who early in the book stated that he doesn't believe in God (I swear, this is important soon), and then have a big fight. It causes Jagger to leave, but Paisley finally decides to give the pacemaker a shot. A little later, Jagger comes to the conclusion that maybe Paisley's reasons for refusing the pacemaker are valid (they aren't). So he rushes to the hospital, and once again, because Paisley has a feeling that surgery is the better choice (she's still basing this on nothing but a hunch), she once more changes her mind and goes for the surgery.

Here comes the thing about Jagger saying he's not religious early in the book. While he's at the hospital, suddenly he's going to church, and Paisley's dad makes the "there's atheists in a foxhole" comment (which is insulting to both religious people and atheists, by the way), and then Jagger is praying like never before for Paisley's health. And (little spoilerish here) what do you know, it turns out the surgery is the better choice for Paisley due to a complication with her heart condition. Guess what, Paisley doesn't need the pacemaker after all, not with the surgery. Queue happily ever after. I, on the other hand, wasn't happy. I couldn't help but feel like I was being forced religious morals down my throat.

This is why I shy away from books with religion in them unless it's non-fiction. I understand that people are religious, it's their right. But when it comes to medicine, I tend to disagree with religious people. Like, in this instance, it felt like Paisley's decision to refuse the pacemaker was due to religious reasons (never really stated in the book, but given the outcome, that's what it felt like). I respect that people will make these decision with their religion in mind. But I disagree with their choice. And the fact that Paisley was saved by her little hunch and (as implied) Jagger's prayers... it doesn't sit well with me. There's a reason why we use modern technologies in medicine today, and it's to save lives. They are not saved by prayers and what else. That's my opinion (and there is research conducted on patients where prayers are involved and the result is not in favor for those patients who were prayed for).

That's the big one. Here's the relative one. Jagger, our Gary Sue hero, has photographic memory. (It's called eidetic memory, and google is your friend about this is a real thing or not and to what extent if it's real.) Jagger is also a physics mayor that doesn't know shit about physics from the look of it. According to this book, you're smart if you can memorize facts. And if you can memorize facts, you know physics. Let me tell you something, physics is not simple. It's not about memorizing facts. There is that, but there's so much more to it. You need to be able to analyze the facts, the equations, and the numbers. I know people that can memorize these equations, but can't use them worth a damn because they don't know how to use them. And when Jagger proclaims he has a degree in physics... my question is, what area? Jagger mentions how he likes the predictability of motions if you know the rules. Which only makes me wonder. And by movement, which ones does he mean? If he means a plane - he's becoming a pilot - that's another thing. Or does he mean the movements of electrons or subatomic particles? Yeah, saying he's got a degree in physics doesn't say much. And since his degree didn't add anything to the story, I assume it's included because it makes him sound smart. Sorry for long rant on this topic, but as I'm getting a degree in applied physics myself, all of these misconceptions about studying physics strikes a nerve with me.

And on that note I will finish this review. Since I loved Grayson, I'll end it with him.

“I figured you wouldn’t leave, so there’s a clean change of clothes, a flight suit, shaving kit, and a shit ton of caffeine. You’re going to need it.” He was halfway out the door before he turned around. “Oh, and I left your boots under your truck since the door was locked. Just pray no one steals them.”

[✩ zahara ✩ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok, I have mentally recovered enough to write a review that isn't me just crying and screaming. I cannot promise there will be no spoilers, but I have tried my best to hide the most spoiler-y ones. x

⭐4 stars⭐


What to expect:
⁠
» Emotional Rollercoaster 😭💔
» Heart illness rep
» Military romance
» MISCOMMUNICATION 😭😔
» Forbidden/risky romance
» Dual pov
» HEA, when I found out Paisley only had a certain number of days to live, I skipped to the last page to make sure it was a happy ending, because there was no way in hell I was putting myself through that just for her to die!


My Own Blurb

Paisley Donovan has been told her whole life she’s fragile — a girl with a faulty heart and an expiration date she can almost feel ticking. Determined to live before she dies, she’s working through her secret bucket list when a reckless, infuriatingly charming, HUGE, flight-school cadet named Jagger Bateman crashes into her world… by literally saving her life.

Jagger sees through her porcelain shell to the wild, brave girl underneath — but he’s carrying scars and secrets of his own. As they race against time, love becomes both the most dangerous and the most necessary thing they have. But falling for each other means confronting the truth: sometimes love can’t fix what’s already running out.

yes, i know, just call me dickens



The FMC

Paisley - Lee (hates to be called that) - Donovan is the daughter of a military commander and overshadowed by late sister’s memory. She lives with a serious heart condition, and she is not allowed to perform any kind of strenuous activities, thus limiting her everyday life. She is dating Will, her late sister's best friend, and her parents are very protective of her. Paisley has a bucket list to complete, and while at the beach, she drowns, being rescued by the handsome *swoon* Jagger Bateman. In the book, there are lots of twists and new information revealed, but without spoiling anything, I'll give a brief character description:

✨Paisley Donovan✨

● Sheltered but determined
● Lives with a serious heart condition
● Bucket-list dreamer
● Craves freedom from overprotection
● Fiercely loyal
● Sweet and gentle yet stubborn
● Feels overshadowed by late sister’s memory
● Hides her fears
● Yearns to be truly seen
● Balances fragility with inner strength
● Teeny tiny, because 👏 OF COURSE👏, this Rebecca Yarros


The MMC

Jagger Bateman later you find out that is not actually his real name is a military cadet, training to fly Apaches for the army. *Yes, I did have to look that up, and no, you are not allowed to sigh, judge or laugh at that. I'm British, ofc I don't know what that is. I barely even know where North Carolina is!!! *
ANYWAY, Paisley and Donovan both hide their connection to the military, and I bet you can imagine how they find out - it is rather awkward. Later in the book, there are quite a lot of plot twist on both MC's part, you find out more about Pailey's sister and boyfriend, and you fin out about Jagger's family too. So, without spoiling the whole book, Ill give you a brief summary of Jagger:

✨Jagger Bateman✨

● Rebellious flight-school cadet
● Charismatic risk-taker
● Protective to a fault
● Haunted by his past
● Sees beyond appearances
● Flirts as a defense mechanism
● Defies authority when necessary
● Courageous in danger
● Drawn to Paisley’s spirit
● Determined to help her live fully
● Absolutely huge, and no, the author does not stop referencing that every five seconds, like hello, Miss Yarros, WE👏 GET👏 IT👏


The Plot and Writing

I am so glad this book (and the rest of the series, are dual POV, because Full Measures just wasn't as good with only Ember's perspective) - I'm so glad Rebecca realised that.
As always, it was well executed and well written, yes, maybe the language felt a little corny and clunky, but it was easy to gloss over when you were so emotionally invested you didn't look up in over two hours.
I will warn you, while I didn't cry, my heart definitely felt like it was ready to collapse (no, that is not a joke, i would never) after all the emotional strain put upon it. Rebecca sure does know how to emotionally invest you in her characters, so much so I was willing to literally do anything to save Paisley and Jagger (I can't think of a ship name for them Jaisley?? Pagger 😂 😭)

➜ I would recommend this book, but just remember, while it has a happy ending, it is not a light read (it is not dark, but emotionally wrecking).

[Floripiquita · Rating 3 out of 5]

A ver cómo explico lo que me ha pasado con este libro. Es muy entretenido y en muchos momentos el imprudente y sexy bocazas de Jagger me recordaba a Tom Cruise en Top Gun, no en apariencia (no pueden ser más diferentes) pero si en actitud. Perooooo, ¿hacía falta ser tan cursi?

Me ha encantado volver a saber de Josh y Ember y conocer al misterioso Grayson, me pongo con su historia ya.

[Jeannine Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was absolutely amazing!! Normally I don't like love triangles of any kind, but surprisingly I rather liked this one. It fit into the story so well and while cheating is never good, it all felt genuine to the situation, especially given all we learn about Will.

The secondary characters were as captivating and fantastic as the MCs. The only thing I had a problem with was the interactions between Jagger and Anna. I suspected that Anna was not an ex-girlfriend because it made no sense when he talked about how much he loved Paisley, but at the same time his words didn't always come across as brotherly and I think that was solely to get us to think that more complications would arise for Jagger and Paisley. But other than that tiny complaint, I loved everything else.

It dealt with love, family, and responsibility to oneself. I could relate to Paisley a lot, I am very much a people pleaser and one quote in particular got to me:

"How much was there to give before I wasn't me anymore?"

Mistakes are made and secrets are kept, but it never felt forced for the story and it certainly wasn't drawn out for drama. I loved the steadfastness of their love and devotion to each other. Even when Paisley shouted all those horrible things to make Jagger leave I think he knew the truth behind it. They were both just scared.

It was a perfect combination of sweet, funny, and heartbreaking. Reading this at work was definitely not a good idea, as I spent the last 25% in tears, but it was absolutely worth it. The emotion in this book had my chest physically aching, and that's my favorite kind of book. This is one that I'll remember long after I put it down.

[☆ Susana ☆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Como me paso con el anterior libro de esta saga de la autora, este libro me ha gustado, pero no me ha entusiasmado.

Empieza bien, pero se va diluyendo por el camino y a ratos se empieza a hacer algo pesado. Estaba deseando acabarlo porque además veía venir por donde iba a tirar todo desde el principio y no me equivoqué, pero así y todo ya os digo que tiene algo que te engancha. La chispa de la autora que engancha hasta leyendo la lista de la compra.

Lo mejor del libro, ya os digo, es la narración de la autora. Se nota que el libro tiene unos años, eso también, pero que así y todo siempre es un gusto leerla.

Una historia perfecta para estos días de calor intensos, que es fresca y ligera y que se lee sin ninguna dificultad.

[Trigger Happy · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I was reading I had the sudden need of a certain spoiler … about Anna I didn`t find it here... so here we go Anna is Jagger`s twin sister.

From the first pages of this book to the last I couldn`t not ask myself “Why I like so much to waste my time with random books and not read the gems in my TBR list?... Seriously … Why, Nina ???


So, Rebecca Yaross was this author that out of nowhere managed to write a great book. I absolutely adored it and Rebecca made me look with new eyes at the army books. Good!! And now she went and wrote another one... Jesus... women!!! Yes, I loved and this one! Thank you! I learned my lesson and the minute the third one is out I will read the living hell of it!!! True story!

After the blurb if I have to be completely honest I was scared that the book would be too hard to read and my tissue supply would take a major hit. But in the end I will just say that Eyes Turned Skyward is a beautiful story of life, family – the one you have and the one you choose, self discovery, making your dreams come true, finding and fighting for the love of your life, the bonds you form with your friends and enemies… and all that is making it worth living for. Gorgeous book.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

worth the risk, worth the burn !

" 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. "

" If it's between being numb for the rest of my life or burning exquisitely for even a moment, I'll take the burn the best things in life are worth the burn, the risk. "

❤️ loved this one with my whole heart! ❤️. I was intrigued by Jagger when I stumbled across this authors Debut novel Full Measures . I love my broken bad boys and this one was amazing. Jagger had a heart of pure gold. Swoon ! Book Butterly attacked hardcore and took flight.

Josh, Jagger and now Grayson .... I've got my eyes on you ! Can't wait for Grayson's story !

[Anastasiia · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐️

Ох, це було так добре
Пейслі дуже сильна морально героїня. Вона має проблеми зі здоров'ям, але вона емоційно зріла, справляється з викликами.
Джаггер має тяжке минуле, але він продовжує боротися зі своїми тарганами.
Взаємодія між гг просто вау. Вони проходять різні стадії в відносинах, кожен бореться зі своїми проблемами. Чудово, що вони все відпустили та довірилися один одному.

мені дуже сподобалась історія.
Ребекко, дякую!

[Antonella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Teddy Hamilton's narration is always a win for me..
Enjoy this one more than book one..
if you like angst, keeping secrets, and forbidden romance check this book out..

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I’ve seen love burn someone to the ground, and I’ve seen it make sense of the ridiculous. I won’t settle for less than that kind of fire.”

OMG, yes! Jagger and Paisley’s story is funny, sweet, sexy, full of emotion and incredibly swoony. Their romance is intense, and is blended beautifully with drama that contributes to but never overwhelms the story. It sucked me in immediately and had me madly flipping pages, and I loved every moment of it.

This book follows on from Rebecca’s first book, Full Measures, where Jagger was introduced as Josh’s best friend, and both Josh and Ember appear in this one – but this book can still be easily read as a standalone. And as much as I enjoyed Full Measures, I didn’t completely connect with it, but this one had ALL the feels!!!

Jagger is enrolled at a prestigious flight school where he is training to become a military pilot. Despite being a reckless, fun-loving, man-whore, flying an Apache helicopter is the dream he has been chasing his whole life, and after overcoming tragedy and some major family issues, he has made it on his own and is going to let nothing stand in his way.

20 year old Paisley is attempting to step outside of the glass box she is kept in by her parents and life her life to the fullest. Following the sudden death of her beloved sister, she is determined to complete her Bucket List - despite being afflicted with the same heart condition that took her sister, and the danger that the adrenaline-fueled list represents to the ticking time-bomb in her chest.

When her first foray into the ocean becomes a fight for her life, she is rescued by Jagger, who pulls her from the water and revives her. That moment sparks something deep inside of both of them, so that when they unexpectedly see each other again, their deep attraction pulls them together in a way neither of them expected.

“Look, I know it’s odd, and that you don’t know me. But I pulled you out of that water. I filled your lungs with my own breath, and if that doesn’t make me responsible for you, I’m not sure what does.”

There are some big complications in their way – firstly Paisley has a boyfriend, secondly, that boyfriend is Jagger’s rival and biggest competition for the top spot in his training program, and thirdly, Paisley is the daughter of Jagger’s Commanding General. They are both also battling issues in their personal lives, but none of that can stand in the way of true love!

“Every fucking cell in my body screams out that she belongs with me.”

Jagger and Paisley’s relationship is intense and full of emotion and mad lust from the very beginning. Unable to stay away from each other, they become friends and (insisting on total honesty with each other) neither of them can deny what is blossoming between them. The deepening of their relationship is full of joking, banter, gorgeously sweet moments and heaps of UST, and with all that is standing in their way, there is definitely some angst. It creates a delicious tension, and the build-up is fantastic! It’s realistic and dripping with feels and I loved every moment of watching them fall and fall hard, unable to resist their attraction.

“I want everything, Paisley. I want your smiles, your laughs, your kisses. Yes, I want to be your friend, and more. 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 want to study on the couch while you do your homework. I want to fight with you and make up with you. I want to shoulder the burdens your carrying, even the ones you still won’t tell me about, and I want…I want everything.”

But they are both keeping a secret from the other. Despite their total honesty, they know that there is something the other is holding back, but they are content to be together and wait for the other to be ready to share. I really liked the way this was done. It’s not like they are maliciously hiding something, they both have their reasons for shutting a part of themselves away, and these side stories played out really nicely alongside the romantic storyline until the time comes for it all to converge, and holy hell, when it all comes out, the feels are intense!

“Nothing in my life prepared me for how much I would love you.”

I love these characters! Paisley is relatable, sweet (but not in an irritating way), and so brave! She knows what she wants, and she goes for it, and I loved watching her journey. And Jagger is the perfect mix of funny, arrogant, sexy, swoony and vulnerable, and I absolutely love him! He is a strong man who has worked hard to be where he is at, and his love for Paisley, and his devotion to the ones he cares about it absolutely amazing!

I’d be worthy of her, not because she asked me to – she’d never ask me to change – but because she deserved the best man to hold her, understand her, love her.

I love how much they love each other. How they are strong enough to fight for what they want, and to stand together when they need to. I love how open and honest they are about their feelings for each other. There is no game playing, no stupid behaviour, no love triangle, and it’s all very functional. Yes there is drama, but it’s realistic and not drawn out, and it’s resolved quickly.

“I love you, and it’s not the kind of love that wavers. It’s the scary kind that doesn’t fade. I look at you, and I see not just everything I want for my life, but everything I am, because you took the emptiest, darkest pits of my soul and filled them with you. You are as much a part of me as my own heart, and it doesn’t beat without you.”

You can tell that Rebecca Yarros is writing about what she knows, because even though the focus is definitely on the romance, the military stuff has a strong part presence, with lots of details and intricate knowledge that goes along with the lifestyle, and, like the first book in the series, she gives it a lot of heart.

“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.”

The writing is funny, romantic, sexy and emotive, and the pacing of the story is perfect. The story is told in dual POV, which is absolutely necessary with the importance of the side stories, and it’s all tied together beautifully.

I was completely swept away by the story, and have my fingers crossed that we’ll get to see more from this group of characters very soon – both Grayson and Will need happy ever afters!!!

4.5 stars.


An Advanced Reader Copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Bea · Rating 5 out of 5]

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; that’s when the obligation becomes an absolute pleasure. Reading Eyes Turned Skyward by Rebecca Yarros was one of those times. This is the second book I’ve read by Rebecca Yarros and I’m 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 don’t take up too much of our reading time and take away the spotlight from our MCs, but they’re 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 you’re worried about cheating, don’t be. Rebecca did a great job at keeping our h’s 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 h’s love. The chemistry was pretty intense right from the start. I highly recommend this book. If there was one thing I’d have to pick at, I’d say it was the title. Thinking and saying the title out loud doesn’t flow nicely, but besides that, there isn’t a thing about this book that I didn’t 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.