Guest Post + Read along: Gilded Wings by Amy Lignor

Posted by Lizzy on Jan 23, 2013 in giveaway, guest post, tour | 6 comments

Unmasking the Hero

 When Matthew and Jason needed to be born, I began to think about the history of the romantic hero. I used to do that every Monday night when Jack Bauer came on the screen and saved the world in 24, but this time I thought about the heroic men who have graced the pages of literary marvels. It seems funny when you learn that Mr. Darcy is still the one most women of all ages see as the most romantic male in the history of literature. (However, the handsome Colin Firth’s portrayal of him on the small screen, and the stunning Matthew Macfayden’s on the big one, certainly helped that obsession along).

Times have changed, of course. It was Edward who began climbing trees and throwing moony-eyed looks in Bella’s direction when the world went nuts. Even though the guy had no heartbeat, the ability to attack you while you slept and was cold-as-ice, he still remained her supernatural soulmate choice over the much warmer (and hotter…no offense) werewolf.

copyright @2006 Ayla87

The romantic hero always has one very important trait, besides the fact that he’s always more beautiful than the girl. He’s tormented in some way. He has one of those hearts (even if he’s heartless, apparently) that can break when the woman he loves causes him pain. So I wondered…what would fans like to see from a hero that wasn’t tormented? What if he was the ultimate guy, but was already with his so-called soulmate when our story began? This is why Matthew becomes the rage in Gilded Wings.

Matt is a warrior angel. Now, that doesn’t mean he’s one of the ‘fallen,’ it means he was an angel who actually chose the road of the warrior. He trained in the ‘pit,’ he learned how to use every sword, shield and scythe in order to do his job down below, and when he sets off for a life of freedom, the girl he loves is right beside him.

I also began to think about taking this hero and having him run smack dab into the real hero. In other words, that beautiful boy who girls stare at moony-eyed because he’s dark and romantic. Enter Jason. Jason has the sweetness, the right words – he doesn’t even have to be a muscle-bound dreamboat, he simply has to look longingly into your eyes and bring Mr. Darcy back to life.

Now…with the twist in Gilded Wings that many aren’t expecting, Matthew and Jason find themselves in quite a different place than they did in Until Next Time. Matthew is growing up now that he’s faced heartbreak, envy, jealousy, obsession – all those happy human emotions; he seems to be ‘filling’ out that heroic male that girls will not turn away from even if he can aim that cute smile and sarcastic phrase every once in a while. Jason…well, he’s still tall, dark and handsome, but he’s also absolutely human in a time period were being human was almost a novelty. So can the ‘good guy’ remain good? Or, will one of them have to play dirty in order to keep up with the other hero who may be better at wooing and winning the angel?

In most ‘triangles’ the reader already knows pretty early on who’s going to be the friend and who will be the soulmate, but Gilded Wings is far more fun. Because with this adventure…readers just won’t know who‘s who.

Until Next Time, Everybody.

Amy

Gilded Wings (The Angel Chronicles #2) by Amy Lignor

Genre:  Paranormal, Angels/Demons

Publisher:  Tribute Books – Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

Released November 1st, 2012

Links:  #GildedWings  |  Goodreads  |  Kindle  |  Nook  |  iBookstore  |  Smashwords  |  PDF

Series Links:  Website  |  Facebook

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.

Until Next Time (The Angel Chronicles #1) by Amy Lignor

Genre:  Paranormal, Angels/Demons

Publisher:  Tribute Books – Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

Released February 1st, 2012

Links:  Kindle  |  Nook  |  iBookstore  |  Smashwords |  PDF  |  Goodreads

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.

Read along continuation – Gilded Wings

“You have got to stop!” Drew said cheerfully. “Hope, I’m amazed by what you know, but maybe Anya would like to see something else. There are many beautiful places in this city. There are wonderful architectural achievements that she could feast her eyes on, and learn the history of her new country. That’s way more important than talking about a group of stuck-up, old rich people.”

Hope burst into laughter. “My Lord, I am terrible. Here you are, you poor girl. Your first day in a brand new world and I’m teaching you about America by telling you gossip, of all things. Of course there’s more to New York than these people. We’re almost to Madison Square, as a matter of fact, which is our destination.”

Drew sighed. “That’s not exactly what I meant.”

Hope continued on her tirade, locking her arm with Anya’s. “This is called the Ladies’ Mile. All these stores are set up to help a lady pick out her trousseau.”

Anya attempted to wriggle away from the strong woman. “But, I don’t need a trousseau. I’m only a tutor…a servant of the house.”

Hope’s eyes widened. “Well that may be how some families see it but, believe me, Mr. Mitchell Carrow does not think of you or any of us as his servants.”

“I’m sorry…I didn’t mean—”

“Don’t worry,” she said, waving her gloved hand in the air to dismiss the apology. “Not necessary. I’m just very protective of Mitchell’s character, is all.”

“Yes, he’s truly a fine man,” Anya stuttered; she was hopelessly lost in the strange conversation.

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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. Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Website  |  Blog  |  Goodreads

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