Showing posts with label Amy Lignor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Amy Lignor. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 16, 2013

A Privilege: The Angel Chronicles, Book 3 by Amy Lignor -- Spotlight


A Privilege:
The Angel Chronicles, Book 3

The beloved Angel/Warrior team face pure evil in their final climactic story!

The first time they were sent down, Irish lives were led. Emily, the angel, ended up embedded in murder and lost in the realm of true love. While Matthew, the warrior, took over a life that left blood on his hands and anger in his soul.

With their second coming, Emily found herself facing an oncoming war that brought her to the shores of America. While Matthew tried desperately to unveil the evil character of a young man who was intent on locking his partner in a ‘gilded’ cage.

Now...Emily and Matthew find that their lives are all their own. Yet, all the memories, hatred, longing and regret have come hand-in-hand with this newfound freedom.

In small town U.S.A., Matthew finds himself loving his new life. From his military school existence to a new, ‘odd’ friend who’s arrived in town, Matthew’s looking forward to graduation and heading off into a brilliant future with Emily by his side.

Emily wants nothing more than to hide. Although doing her best to fit in, she lives a life on the edge, wondering when her past love with reappear to either forgive or seek revenge on the angel who let him down. Battling the shadows that seem to be breaking her soul in two, Emily soon discovers that her small, quiet town has a secret that’s beyond dangerous...

As she and Matthew join forces to help a ‘haunted’ victim, they open the door on a mystery neither of them can believe. A true villain has returned from the past, and not even their heavenly family will be able to save them. This time they’re on their own, as they face a fight that could lead them straight to Hell…and end the angel/warrior team forever.



Excerpt

Without a word, Matthew reached out, took Emily by the hand and pulled her down beside him. He looked into her eyes and smiled. “I knew my Emily was still in there.”

Out of the blue, the room became incredibly hot, as if Gabriel had entered in order to give a lesson to his favorite students. “What?”

“That spark.” He pulled Emily’s face closer before she could push herself away. “You’ve been acting all this time like you’re just here to sit and wait it out until you’re lucky enough to go Home. But you’re still in there, Emily. You still have all that energy and belief in there and you want to do something. That’s the partner I know.”

Shaking her head, Emily listened to her own breathing intensify as she stared at his full lips and wondered why she felt so completely and utterly strange...vulnerable even. “I want to help this girl. This is a job, maybe my only job down here. She saw a ghost and she wants me to help her out, that’s all.”

“And you will.” Matthew captured Emily’s lips, and she could no longer feel the breath in her lungs. Completely different than the one kiss they’d shared up above so long ago, this one was far more demanding, as if Matthew was a young man determined to kiss his human love for the very first time.

Sitting back, Emily practically jumped off the bed.

“I’m sorry,” she heard him whisper behind her. “I guess I was just excited to see you again.”

Not trusting her voice, she remained silent.

“We have jobs, but we also have a life to live. Our own lives this time around. Maybe you should think about adding that into your angelic plans.” Matthew continued softly, “Jason isn’t here, Emily.”

The name being said out loud sent a chill down Emily’s spine. It reminded her of the vow she’d made a long time ago—a vow that an angel couldn’t break.

She cleared her throat. “It doesn’t matter if he’s here. We were sent to do a job, and maybe helping this little girl prove her story is what I need to begin.”

Standing up, Matthew looked as if he was a man who wanted nothing more than to turn back the clock and erase the name he’d spoken aloud. He walked to the open window. “Well, I hope the job goes well. Good luck with it.”

“Matthew,” Emily took a step toward him. “Don’t leave like this.”

He nodded at the book on the bed. “You have your mission, Emily...your job. Ghosts, goblins, lost souls—knock yourself out.” He took a deep breath. “I wonder when you’re going to figure out that the living souls around you would like some of your attention as well.”

Closing her eyes, Emily shed silent tears as she heard his feet hit the ground beneath her window. A friend, a partner, the one who actually listened, was now just an angry young man racing back to The Armory—a place where warriors reigned.

Emily sighed. She’d done it again. No matter how hard she tried to be good, her mouth always got her into trouble. She needed Matthew to understand. She’d made a promise to a young man a long time ago; a promise that was supposed to last for eternity. How was she to know at the time that their eternity would include death by her hand? Had the second time around broken their vow? Emily had no idea. But whatever happened she could not and would not offer Matthew her heart if payment was still due for her past sins. Above all, Matthew was the last person who deserved to be punished for her mistakes.


Author Amy Lignor

Amy Lignor began her career at Grey House Publishing in northwest Connecticut where she was the Editor-in-Chief of numerous educational and business directories.

Now she is a published author of several works of fiction. The Billy the Kid historical The Heart of a Legend; the thriller, Mind Made; and the adventure novel, Tallent & Lowery 13.

She is also the owner of The Write Companion, a company that offers help and support to writers through a full range of editorial services from proofreading and copyediting to ghostwriting and research. As the daughter of a research librarian, she is also an active book reviewer.

Currently, she lives with her daughter, mother and a rambunctious German Shepherd named Reuben, in the beautiful state of New Mexico.


Books 1 and 2 are now 99 cents on Kindle!
   




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Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Blog Tour: Gilded Wings (The Angel Chronicles #2), Amy Lignor: Read-Along Excerpt, Guest Post, & Giveaway


As part of Tribute Books blog tour, I am featuring information about Amy Lignor's Gilded Wings (The Angel Chronicles #2). I am so excited to share this information because I loved the first book, Until Next time (read my full 4.5-star review here).

Enjoy the read-along excerpt and guest post below. And, don't forget to enter the amazing giveaway!

But first...

Gilded Wings Summary

The Beloved Angel-Warrior Team from Until Next Time Returns!When Matt and Emily are sent on their second mission they have no idea how truly dark human nature can become...

Emily never wanted to face humans again. With the heartache that went on down below, she’s still trying to figure out how to save souls that don’t deserve saving. The only one she wants to see again is Jason - the young man she fell in love with who became the soulmate she simply can’t forget...

Matt was trained to protect and defend the souls down below. Longing to feel the heartfelt emotions that come from being human, Matt wants nothing more than to have just one life - one chance - to live and love the girl of his dreams...

The powerful team find themselves in a brand new century, living in the Gilded Age of New York City. Emily takes over the body of Anya, a young Russian girl who arrives on Ellis Island after a hideous tragedy. There she meets up with a strangely familiar young man by the name of Drew Parrish, who helps Anya survive in an unknown world of luxury, snobbery and…obsession.

What Anya’s inner angel doesn’t know is that the soul she loves is also back. This time around Jason goes by the name of Max Carrow. Once a quiet and kind boy, he’s now part of the ‘Four Hundred Club,’ and wants nothing more than to be among the most admired as he climbs the shaky ladder of society’s elite.

As two worlds merge, Emily and Matt struggle under the weight of their “Gilded Wings.” Not only will they have to figure out who they should fight to save, but they must also face a romantic choice that could destroy them both.


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Excerpt
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The man raised an eyebrow, as Drew explained, “They’ve just come off the Island —new employees for Mr. Carrow.”

“Ah, then that would make this fine young lady the new tutor?”

Anya nodded but remained silent. The image of the policeman pulling her through the crowd, saving her from the terrible fate that’d befallen so many, flashed before her eyes. She felt humbled before Henry. In Anya’s eyes he represented a group who truly deserved respect for pledging their lives to save others.

Drew cleared his throat. “Yes, this is Anna...Churchill. She’s originally from Russia. Anna was a governess there and speaks all kinds of languages. Very smart, this one.”

Confusion raced through Anya, as she listened to the strange lies being told.

Henry bowed. “Well, the young Carrow is in good hands then. Yu’ll like the family, miss. One o’ the very best, if you ask me. Not like these other robber barons around ’ere.”

“Actually,” Anya’s voice grew loud. “My name is pronounced Anya, not Anna. And...Churchill—”

Henry held up his hand and smiled. “S’kay, miss. Yu’ll soon find out that a more native name helps.”

“Native name?”

“You’re more apt to fit in as a Churchill in this neighborhood.”


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Guest Post
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An Angel/Warrior Team Arrive in America

Ellis Island is the place where our angel/warrior team once again ‘find’ each other for adventure number two…and what an amazing place it was.



 
Emily is one of the people stepping off that boat. On a hideous ride where some got so ill they had to return home and never set foot in the land of opportunity, Emily was surrounded by people who  went from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other; happy and excited, knowing that they would make their mark in America, or depressed, angry and practically mad with disease, wondering if they would make it at all.

When our angel steps onto this ‘welcoming’ land, she immediately faces some truly heartbreaking incidents as she slowly walks up the lines toward a young man behind a desk whose job it is to check her in and offer her the chance at a brand new life. That young man is another immigrant who was lucky just a little while before, when he walked off the boat with his father, was accepted into the country and brought into the home of a very kind, wealthy man. He works at the Island to give back to others for the good luck he received. Even though he had to watch a man in a white coat write a letter on his father’s forehead in chalk - a letter that had him sent home on the next available boat to never be seen again - Mathew had found a home on America’s shores.

You are talking about a very frightening moment for a great many people; you are also talking about a building that, to some, looked a lot like the monument of Alcatraz. There were rules you had to abide by and an interview you had to pass in order to make it through the Island and out the other side where New York City waited. Support, friendship, help - these were key to a family’s survival…and some stories did not turn out well.

The ‘golden doors’ were opened to the immigrants and without that - without America standing up and placing that ‘Lady’ in the harbor with her torch that was the statue that still stands for the pride and honor we have in this country, we would’ve missed out on a great many who brought amazement to one and all.

From the magic of Harry Houdini who stepped off the boat in 1914 (who Emily has the pleasure to see later on) to Theodore Roosevelt who stepped off on the Island and went on to become the President of the nation that accepted him to Charlie Chaplin, Albert Einstein - even the much beloved Disney World would not have existed without the Island, seeing as that Walt stepped off the boat in 1919 and began a career that has brought the most entertainment and amazement for children and adults. These incredible imaginations, pioneering spirits - these people gave America a huge gift - and we can all be thankful that we had the ability to welcome them into the fold.  

So as you watch Emily and Matthew - two immigrants who were given a chance in America - remember how honored we have all been by the arrivals of the good, hard workers who made this country what it is today. And…who knew? Among the pioneers and intellects and entertainment gurus came an angel and a warrior who touched lives in ways that no one could possibly have dreamed of.

Until Next Time, Everybody, Amy

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Amy Lignor's Bio


Amy Lignor began her career at Grey House Publishing in northwest Connecticut where she was the Editor-in-Chief of numerous educational and business directories.

Now she is a published author of several works of fiction. The Billy the Kid historical The Heart of a Legend; the thriller, Mind Made; and the adventure novel, Tallent & Lowery 13.

She is also the owner of The Write Companion, a company that offers help and support to writers through a full range of editorial services from proofreading and copyediting to ghostwriting and research. As the daughter of a research librarian, she is also an active book reviewer.

Currently, she lives with her daughter, mother and a rambunctious German Shepherd named Reuben, in the beautiful state of New Mexico.
 
For more information about the author, please visit her blog, website, Facebook page, and on Twitter and GoodReads.
 
Buy Gilded Wings
 
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Other Blog Tour Stops
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Giveaway
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Friday, August 24, 2012

Gilded Wings: The Angel Chronicles, Part 2 Sneak Peeks

I am so excited to read Gilded Wings, the sequel to Amy Lignor's Until Next Time: The Angel Chronicles.

The book will be available November 1, 2012, but today is the exciting cover reveal. To take a look, please click here.

UPDATE: Since the cover has now been officially revealed, I'm thrilled to share it here (you can also still visit the link above -- it's a lovely blog!)



The Gilded Wings Summary

The Beloved Angel/Warrior Team from Until Next Time Returns!

When Matt and Emily are sent on their second mission they have no idea how truly dark human nature can become…

Emily never wanted to face humans again. With the heartache that went on down below, she’s still trying to figure out how to save souls that don’t deserve saving. The only one she wants to see again is Jason - the young man she fell in love with who became the soulmate she simply can’t forget…

Matt was trained to protect and defend the souls down below. Longing to feel the heartfelt emotions that come from being human, Matt wants nothing more than to have just one life - one chance - to live and love the girl of his dreams…

The powerful team find themselves in a brand new century, living in the Gilded Age of New York City. Emily takes over the body of Anya, a young Russian girl who arrives on Ellis Island after a hideous tragedy. There she meets up with a strangely familiar young man by the name of Drew Parrish, who helps Anya survive in an unknown world of luxury, snobbery and…obsession.

What Anya’s inner angel doesn’t know is that the soul she loves is also back. This time around Jason goes by the name of Max Carrow. Once a quiet and kind boy, he’s now part of the ‘Four Hundred Club,’ and wants nothing more than to be among the most admired as he climbs the shaky ladder of society’s elite.

As two worlds merge, Emily and Matt struggle under the weight of their “Gilded Wings.” Not only will they have to figure out who they should fight to save, but they must also face a romantic choice that could destroy them both.


For more information, please visit The Angel Chronicles website.

*****
An excerpt from my review of Until Next Time:


I am drawn to strong female characters, and this story gives you two for the price of one. Emily becomes a better version of herself by having been Liz. She loves two men, and knows she always will. Throw out any preconceived notions you have about white-as-snow angels, because there's an interesting complexity to both Emily and Matt as angels. Making them human only adds to the depth of the characters and the story.

RATING: 4.5 stars
*****
 

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Until Next Time, Amy Lignor (4.5 stars)


Until Next Time: The Angel Chronicles, Book 1 Summary
How does a girl choose between the one who steals her heart and the one who owns her soul?

Matt and Emily were created for a specific job. Raised and trained as the ultimate angel/warrior team, they are sent down to save, defend, judge and forgive, depending on the 'life' they've been assigned. What they don't realize is that the power of human emotions, such as love, anger, passion and fear can take over even the best of souls, causing them to make mistakes and follow paths that lead to confusion and heartache.

When the reason for their training is finally revealed, the angel/warrior team find themselves thrust into a world they know nothing about. Matt takes over the life of Daniel, a young man with a great deal of baggage. Emily becomes Liz, a girl living in a remote village who relies on nothing more than her own strength to survive. A violent storm erupts one night, and framed in the window of Liz's establishment is a frightening face. Let in by the soul of a Good Samaritan, the two visitors bring with them a past full of secrets that could literally change an angel's path and a warrior's plans.

From murder to redemption, this angel/warrior team must find a way to keep the faith they have in each other in a world that's ripping them apart.

For more information, visit The Angel Chronicles website or on Facebook.

Review
Torn between two men and struggling with parts of herself, Emily is an angel with a purpose. She, along with her warrior counterpart, is sent back to Earth to save others. On Earth as Liz, she doesn't fully realize her angel side at first. She struggles with her faith and a feeling of being torn.

I fell in love with Emily, both as an angel and as Liz, and the intriguing concept of this book--that the Saints and angels above want to better understand what about the human condition sways us from faith, makes us hardened. Emily's journey (as Liz) through the trials and tribulations of humans was compelling and thought-provoking.

I am drawn to strong female characters, and this story gives you two for the price of one. Emily becomes a better version of herself by having been Liz. She loves two men, and knows she always will. Throw out any preconceived notions you have about white-as-snow angels, because there's an interesting complexity to both Emily and Matt as angels. Making them human only adds to the depth of the characters and the story.

Plus, there's the added benefit of two unique , yet intertwined, stories playing out. Each was equally engaging. I would become so engrossed with Emily's tale, I wouldn't want to switch back to Liz. Then, I wouldn't want to leave Liz's tale.

I highly recommend this book to readers who search for a strong, memorable female character and a deep story with heart and purpose. Just don't give up during the more convoluted and confusing parts. The journey is worth any stumbling blocks. I, for one, can't wait to read the next in the series.

The more I digested this novel, the more I came to appreciate it. It'll stay with you. By the end, it is a 5-star read.

Rating: 4.5 stars

About Amy Lignor:
Amy Lignor began her career at Grey House Publishing in northwest Connecticut where she was the Editor-in-Chief of numerous educational and business directories.

Now she is a published author of several works of fiction. The Billy the Kid historical The Heart of a Legend; the thriller, Mind Made; and the adventure novel, Tallent & Lowery 13.

She is also the owner of The Write Companion, a company that offers help and support to writers through a full range of editorial services from proofreading and copyediting to ghostwriting and research. As the daughter of a research librarian, she is also an active book reviewer.

Currently, she lives with her daughter, mother and a rambunctious German Shepherd named Reuben, in the beautiful state of New Mexico.

For more information on the author

Buy Until Next Time

Note: I received a complimentary copy from Tribute Books for review purposes. No other compensation was received. A positive review was not guaranteed or asked for; the views expressed are my own.

For more information on Tribute Books, please visit their website, on Facebook, and on Twitter.