Full Measures (Flight & Glory, #1)

by Rebecca Yarros

She knew. That’s why Mom hadn’t opened the door. She knew he was dead.

Twenty years as an army brat and Ember Howard knew, too. The soldiers at the door meant her dad was never coming home. What she didn’t know was how she would find the strength to singlehandedly care for her crumbling family when her mom falls apart.

Then Josh Walker enters her life. Hockey star, her new next-door neighbor, and not to mention the most delicious hands that insist on saving her over and over again. He has a way of erasing the pain with a single look, a single touch. As much as she wants to turn off her feelings and endure the heartache on her own, she can’t deny their intense attraction. Until Josh’s secret shatters their world. And Ember must decide if he’s worth the risk that comes with loving a man who could strip her bare.

• ISBN10: 149530342X
• ISBN13: 9781495303425
• Publish Date: 9 February 2014
• Publish Status: Active
• Imprint: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 322
• Language: English

Reviews

[leelu92]

4.5 Stars
I'm not a huge NA fan. That being said, Ms. Yarros had me hook, line and sinker. This was a book that I had a really hard time putting down! Josh and Ember were just so sweet together and a couple that I'd love to read about again.

Reread- 12/25

[Angie]

I received an ARC through NetGalley.

Instead of being about two broken people being healed by the power of love, Full Measures is about one girl whose life suddenly crumbles around her, and then finding love among the chaos. It's December's 20th birthday (and yes, it's in December) when her family gets the visitors they've been dreading. Her father, an army doctor, was shot and killed in Afghanistan that morning. Ember has to step up to take care of her two younger siblings, since her mother has mentally and emotionally checked out, but no one is looking out for her. That is until Josh steps back into her life. Ember had a crush on him in high school, and now he's showing an interest in her, and offers himself to her no strings attached for whatever she needs.

Military romances aren't generally my thing, but I really enjoyed Full Measures. Ember's life is a mess, but she's desperately trying to hold it all together, and she doesn't want to drag Josh down with her. She's always had her life perfectly planned out, but with her father's death, and then an unwelcome surprise from her long-time boyfriend, everything is spiraling out of control. Ember has to figure out what she wants, and who she is without a man, while also making sure her family stays afloat. It's a lot to deal with, without falling in love in the process.

I loved Ember and Josh together! He's the sexy, hockey star and her little brother's coach. He also has a reputation with the ladies, but once he gets Ember back in his life, all of that is behind him. They have some super smokin' scenes together! Seriously. And I actually liked their inevitable fight! I was 100% with Ember on that! I couldn't do it either! I suspected that twist, but also thought maybe it wouldn't be that, since it's too obvious. But it was, and that's okay, because I believed it! Of course, they get their happy ending, so I was happy.

Full Measures was really great. It's emotional in the beginning and at the end, the middle is super sexy and fun as Josh and Ember get to know each other better. I also liked watching Ember deal with her family problems. There's some important issues dealt with in regards to her teenage sister, and I liked that Ember actually dealt with them in a realistic manner rather than just excusing her. All in all, this was an enjoyable read.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[thebookdisciple]

It is pretty heavy emotionally, right from the start. I liked the characters and felt their reactions were real. Even though the topics they were all dealing with weren't always happy, the book made me happy-to see that you can rise above it all and thrive.

[Cocktails and Books]

Get your Kleenex handy!!! This one had me crying, right off the bat. Once I got my emotions under control, I was absolutely in love with the story of December (Ember) and Josh. They were incredible characters trying desperately to deal with the hands they'd been dealt while figuring out how "they" would work.

The book starts off incredibly sad. I wasn't joking when I said you needed to have the kleenex ready. Rebecca Yarros writing style puts you in the room with Ember, April, Gus and June after Ember opened the front door. It's devastating, but at the same time we realize just how strong Ember is. She would do anything for her family, including giving up her dreams. She literally puts her grief aside to deal with the things her mother can't while helping her sister and brother. Amazing! But then Ember is dealt another blow and you have to wonder just how much bad stuff is this girl going to have to endure? But she doesn't let it beat her down (entirely). She has her moments when she lets it all to get her, but then she pulls herself out of the moment and moves on.

A big part of why Ember is able to keep going is Josh Walker. Her little brother's hockey coach, he is also the guy she had a crush on in high school who unwittingly seems to be with Ember each time she needs support. He tells her she supports everyone and he's there to support her...and he does. Josh isn't completely selfless when it comes to Ember. He wants her for himself and tells her he won't quit until she's his. He's determined he and Ember will be together, even hiding something very important about himself because he knows her feelings on the subject. But his feelings for her are genuine and no matter what Ember dishes out to him, he's still there for her (even if it breaks his heart).

I loved Josh and Ember together. Their chemistry was off the charts and at times I was right there with Ember begging Josh to cave. Josh was the perfect antidote to Ember's dumbass ex. He showed her how she was meant to be loved. It took a bit for Ember to believe it, but in the end he made her believe in herself, her dreams and in their love.
Rebecca Yarros is definitely going on my must buy list of authors. Her writing style has you running the gamut of emotions, but in the end it's well worth it.