Book Review - Until Next Time

Until Next Time

Amy Lignor

Author URL: The Write Companion
Series:  The Angel Chronicles #1
Publisher: Tribute Books
Genre: YA Paranormal 
ISBN13: 9780983741855
Format: E-book
Purchase:  Amazon

"Hope and faith are all we have. No situation is ever completely hopeless. That’s one of the things we’re trying to understand—why people no longer feel a sense of hope in their lives." (115/302)

Meet the author...

"I began to write at a young age when I truly believed that my sister was an evil queen and I was the slayer who would save the realm.:) Now that we are grown...I suppose she's okay, and I have moved on to adventure fiction which I absolutely love.

Being the daughter of a Research Librarian, books and reading were always a 'gift,' and there is nothing I like more. In fact, if the NYPL would let me live in their basement, that's where I would be. I am very proud of 13, being able to 'link' historical locales together in a puzzle that bestselling authors have called, "The DaVinci Code With Heart." The Tallent & Lowery series is the ultimate adventure and I truly hope you all enjoy the ride! I review for many; I am the Owner of The Write Companion; and Editor-in-Chief of Precious Gems Pubishing, which was opened for debut novelists who were being overlooked. :) "

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Goodreads synopsis...

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.

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My Thoughts...

The prologue, first and foremost needs mentioning. It was brilliant. In fact, one of the better ones i have read in a while. The immediate action, questioning undertone and drama has your full attention at once. “He should be allowed to jab, cut, and slice. After all, I did it first.” These are the words of angel Emily as she fights with warrior Matt in training. She is given such a guilt-ridden voice in this scene; it’s hard to not want to know why and the cause of it. The chapter also conjures up a scenario you assume to later unfold, though as you delve further into the pages it takes a completely different turn.

Anyways, the plot...

After years of learning and training in their roles the angel/ warrior duo Emily and Matt embark on their first mission as they descend down to earth to occupy the troubled human shells of Daniel and Elizabeth in Ireland, year 1810. Though their friendship and soul mate status is known to them both whilst ‘up in the heavenly realm’, on Earth they have no idea. They have become human friends, but know nothing more about their past together. Nor do they remember what their purpose on earth is and who they really are as the lives of Daniel and Liz play out.  Their mission to 'save, defend, judge and forgive', plus gather information on why the human race needs faith at the moment, is tested when human emotions and wavering faith becomes an issue.

Until Next Time splits into two directions, plots. One follows Liz and Daniel’s journey on Earth, the other tells of Matt and Emily’s frequent visits to heaven as the duo ‘pop back’ to give the archangels a progress report. It’s torturous as the team return to earth and the human shells with no recollection of their visit.

Throughout the book you bounce back and forth from both worlds. Confusing? Maybe sometimes you get a little lost, yes. But the different setting and atmosphere of both enviroments mostly keep you in check, along with some great characters. For me, as the story progressed the scenes where Emily and Matt are in heaven mainly had my interest because of the archangel trio. They were hilarious!  Written as playful and mischievous they constantly squabbled amongst themselves and as they used some of today’s well-known quotes they would remark that it was a saying they were “trying out”. I found this very entertaining, but, it’s this that highlighted the fact that i really wasn’t getting to know more about the supposed bond between Emily and Matt that made them a couple destined to be together. In the prologue it was fierce! I wish the intensity continued.

I found their lives as Liz and Daniel more appealing. Well, Liz more than Daniel until later chapters. I think she was given more of a voice, as with Emily. As two people dealt a hard-hand in life, both Daniel and Liz are trying to survive their unfortunate situations and some sort of bond is apparent. They clearly care for one another. Though any romantic notions between them? A few flickers.

Until strangers Jason and Charles come knocking on Liz’s pub door one stormy night I viewed her as a tortured soul, but strong and independent none-the-less. So it was quite a shock when she ups and leaves town -and Daniel- after her pub burns down. She chooses to travel through Ireland with the men and her gutsy friend Faith-who again surprises me, when the feisty character falls immediately in love with Charles and him with her :-/  Hmm, i should have rolled my eyes at that, but you know, after the initial surprise of its occurrence, it was a romance that i actually enjoyed as it unfolded. Both Charles and Faith were key characters, a pair that without their presence and strong personalities, Liz and Daniel’s side may have been lacking.

Whilst travelling through Ireland Liz and Jason begin to get to know one another properly. Kind of. I just wish Jason was focused on a bit more and the chemistry between them written a little more intensely. I feel Liz and Charles had some better ‘bonding’ scenes.

During their travels it becomes apparent to the girls that both Charles and Jason have a past in Dublin that they need to confront. After a slight hesitation on Charles' part, they eventually decide to make their way to the city oblivious to the fact Daniel has followed them and is secretly in the shadows recording their every move.

When they reach the capital, the pace of Liz and Daniel’s story picks up in pace as chaos gradually unfolds and the fate of each individual plays out. Humorous, touching, intense, the ending scenes in Ireland were great J. You begin to ask yourself whether the souls occupying Liz and Daniel return to their teachers the same, or if life in Ireland has caused changes to them and their faith that could change things in a big way.

Overall it was an intriguing novel. For me though i just had a few unanswered questions. Why was Liz waking up all bruised and fragile after those dreams? Was she battling whilst up in her ‘Emily form’? I think the reasons needed to be touched upon more. Did the lack of faith in the human race cause Emily’s hesitation in continuing with her role as an angel and her wavering faith? Or was it her heart’s desire that caused the confusion? The ending scenes in heaven highlighted her angst but didn’t elaborate.

Summary & rating:

I’ve toyed about with the rating for this novel. While i originally thought it deserved three stars...and then four and then three again, i’ve finally settled in-between and gone with three and a half. It’s undeniably an intelligent and thought-provoking YA read, with some cracking quotes thrown in too. (On almost every page i kept silently thinking “Ooo that will be great to use for the ‘Teaser Tuesday’ meme!) I think what drove my rating was simply my questioning, but mostly a certain ‘umph’ needed in the romance department when it came to Emily/Matt. Chemistry, flirtation, undeniable attraction, passion (not the x-rated kind, head out of the gutter people) etc, i feel each could have been portrayed a little stronger. This is just to my taste though and i know there will be/ are readers content with how it played out.

There is a love triangle to be developed further with the potential to be riveting, i think the sequel -which i am going to read- will have the background to explore that in greater detail. I do anticipate where the author is going with this series, there's no questioning her ability to create memorable and likable characters.

Recommended to:

Those interested in angels, stories with a religious undertone, Christian paranormal novels and YA paranormal romance in general.

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Thanks for reading!

xo

TToria♥