Until Next Time

The Angel Chronicles #1

by Amy Lignor

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.

Genres: Angels, Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Ebooks

255 pages, ebook

First published January 24, 2012

About the author

Being the daughter of a Research Librarian, books and information 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 my books - especially the 'Tallent & Lowery' series - which has been so well-received that I am beyond humbled. Being able to 'link' historical locations together and create puzzles that bestselling authors have called, "The Da Vinci Code With Heart"; "Action/Adventure Gold"; and "The Best of the 21st Century" has been beyond my wildest expectations. I am the Owner/Operator of The Write Companion. Life is busy...but it's good. And I have a wealth of friends, family and fans to thank for allowing that to happen! My favorite advice? "While I live, let me LIVE!"

Reviews

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars: A complex story involving angels trying to redeem humanity.

Emily and Matt are an inseparable team. Emily is the angel and Matt the warrior. They are meant for each other, soul mates. They live in Heaven under the protective care of some of Heaven's most famous archangels. Michael, is their ever wise teacher, Gabriel coaches on the warrior aspects, while Francis is a loving and supportive friend. The pair has spent their entire heavenly existence training and preparing for their missions on Earth. Emily's job is to answer the requests of those humans in need, while Matt's mission is to eradicate the evil doers, while protecting the innocent. As the pair readies to ascend to Earth, they learn that while in their human shells, they will not retain any of their heavenly knowledge, nor will they recognize each other on Earth. Yet, somehow their souls will know one another, for they are destined to be together. Or are they? Can Emily and Matt as humans fulfill their mission to gather information to help save humanity? Will Emily lose her heart to another?

What I Liked:
*My favorite aspect of this novel was Ms. Lignor's characterization of the arch angels. I loved meeting Michael, Gabriel and Francis as she envisions them. They are endearing, kind, patient and caring. They also are a bit mischievous and funny as well. St. Francis was my favorite, I loved the way he morphed into a form compromised of animals. I enjoyed the snippets of famous quotable quotes that kept popping up as phrases the archangels were "trying out." I loved the cameo appearance of Joseph at the end.
*I enjoyed the scenes in the Heavenly realm. I liked seeing Ms. Lignor's ideas of Heaven. It was a beautiful but not uptight or too religious.
*I appreciated the complex philosophical ponderings on souls, soul mates, free will and the redemption of humanity. There are many deep concepts presented that I enjoyed exploring.
*I liked the Earthly characters of Faith and Liz. Liz is Emily's human form and Faith is her best friend. These two girls are resourceful and hardworking young ladies who take care of themselves. They have spunk and a bit of sass. I especially love Faith, she is not afraid to take on the dragons of the upper class and she does it with style.
*I enjoyed the two plots in the book. One story line follows Emily and Matt in their earthly forms of Liz and Daniel, while the other is about their heavenly education and purpose as an angel and warrior. Even though on a couple of occasions it was a bit confusing to follow the shifting scenes between Earth and Heaven, I had fun with the alternating story lines.
And The Not So Much:
*The book opens with Emily being disillusioned by her role to protect humanity, I never learned why she was unhappy fulfilling her mission on Earth as an angel. It is discussed in the beginning and revisited at the end, as an ongoing theme for future books. I would like to know what happened to make Emily want to push away Matt and her heavenly calling.
*I wanted to get to know Daniel (Matt) better. At first I thought that this book would be told from a dual perspective but there is only a couple of small chapters devoted to Daniel's point of view. I would have liked more insight on his character and actions.
*I was a little perplexed by the insta-love between Faith and Charles and even Liz and Jason. Liz and Faith are two resourceful young ladies running a small Irish pub in the 1800's. One stormy night the bedraggled pair, Charles and Jason pound on their door seeking shelter from the storm. Liz lets them in, despite Faith's misgivings. Faith and Charles fall in love instantly and the four end up running off together. I guess I am just not a big fan of the love at first sight theme, the relationships were a little too hurried for my taste.
*I was confused a bit over Liz's dreams and visions. I wasn't quite sure how that all worked and why she bled and bruised during the night. I think this needed a touch more clarification.

Until Next Time, is a complex and engaging book that follows a pair of heavenly inhabitants as they endeavor to fulfill their mission on Earth, while being tutored by some amazing, celestial favorites. Their time on Earth not only will test their will and faith in their teachings and humanity but also in each other. Will Matt and Emily rise to the occasion and find redemption for the human race? Ms. Lignor leaves us musing on the outcome until next time....
Favorite Quotations:
"They were the color of the thin line that separated the ocean from the sky. His gaze was that brilliant horizon that kept her steady so she wouldn't lose herself in the wide majesty of the stars, or the treacherous depths of the ocean. Their souls were one, keeping each other on the right course, oblivious to the rest of the world."
"Even though I am sure the romantic candlelight that our kiss creates would burn through the night, I'm more the roaring inferno type."
"Your thoughts make you wise, your heart makes you strong, but your soul is who you are."
"I hope to never have a son. I would have to hit him over the head and beg the good Lord to take him back and insert a brain."
"Some get tired of waiting and settle for less than what they really want. Their souls grow heavy and they forget what was good in the first place. They don't remember the wonderful things that they can have, the good people they can become, and the true love they can experience- so they simply settle for not being alone."
"Never settle for someone less than the one who can fulfill your soul."
"Her kiss was quick and light, like a butterfly landing on his soft cheek and then fluttering away."
This review appears on my blog: http://rainydayramblings.typepad.com/

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book, per the blog tour, for an honest review!

The Gothic glamtastic cover sold me. The text...that pose, the cracking crusted heart....YES, yes and yes! The model sort of reminds me of Jessica Alba. (I'm just saying! *smiles*) And then it's an angel paranormal novel. It's always interesting to read a story with angels who have issues of the human variety.

The synopsis can be confusing, so I suggest do a one over glace, hop into the story, and use it as a refresher later. I like how this book analysed the difference between a soul mate and a kindred spirit , and finding a way to mingle it all into a very different love triangle. I'm not opposed to love triangles. I'm opposed to BAD love triangles. You know the ones where one guy has zero chance, or then the chick is so "easy" it's more like a Ménage à trois. Any who, this trio was an interesting grouping. I have no complaints on that! Good job!

The story line did not disappoint. It had dark, mysterious creepy undertones. Matt and Emily are angels sent to earth, placed into bodies of spirits who've technically "moved on" to the afterlife already. With each new life, they have a mission to complete. From the story, the reader is lead to believe either this had happened before or will continue to happen for the characters throughout the series. The bodies of which they take over have issues mentally that gives the story an emo feel.

This was slick a historical fiction. I wasn't expecting that. I was a little disappointed but not too overly distraught. I just hope the next book is during a more interesting time.


Overall this book was definitely original. It was a very promising start to very promising series. I look forward to the next installment.

4 hearts

[Giselle · Rating 1 out of 5]

Sadly this wasn't for me. First, I didn't expect it to be set in the 1800s: Me and historicals rarely get along. But mostly I was simply bored, even confused for the most part; going back and forth to the angel realm, her strange dreams, and the actual plot wasn't very clear. I did really like the characters though but that alone was not enough to get me to connect with the story. I still wasn't feeling it at all by 60%, so I figured it was time to put the book down.

Note: As this is a DNF, I will not be reviewing it fully so you won't see this review on the blog.

[Kelly Goodwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Until Next Time was definitely NOT what I was expecting. My expectations having been completely off-base, I find myself of two minds. On the one hand, I loved Lignor's beautiful writing and the more religious-based approach to angel mythology as it was both refreshing and had a feeling of realism to it. On the other hand, the religious undertones had me skimming some of the more "preachy" sections.

Emily and Matt were created to balance each other, as soul mates.

His gaze was that brilliant horizon that kept her steady so she wouldn't lose herself in the wide majesty of the stars, or the treacherous depths of the ocean. Their souls were one, keeping each other on the right course, oblivious to the rest of the world.

They have been trained from birth by their Archangel teacher's, Michael, Gabriel and Mark, in order to serve unique, yet complimentary purposes. Emily has been trained to answer the requests from humans in need, while Matt has been trained as a warrior in order to eradicate sinners while simultaneously protecting the innocent. Together, they're sent to Earth in human shells - Liz and Daniel - in order to gain information about the human experience in order to help Heaven understand why people lose their faith. They are given no information pertaining to whom they are meant to help or what they are meant to do, and are told their training will guide them towards the right course of action. Their world is shattered, however, when they learn that while on Earth they will not retain any of their memories from their training in Heaven.

I don't usually provide a summary of the plot in my reviews, but in this case I felt it necessary, as it took me almost the entire book to piece the above summary together. Small clues and details were leaked throughout the book, which helped to eventually put together the entire picture. While I can appreciate the element of suspense this helped to create, it did make for a very frustrating read. I kept wondering what purpose Emily and Matt were serving while living human lives as Liz and Daniel, and how battling with the lingering emotions of their human shells was supposed to help enlighten Heaven about humanity. My frustration built as it seemed that Matt and Emily finally figured out their purpose, and alluded to knowing what course of action they had to take (regardless of the consequences for their own souls) but neglected to inform me about their sudden clarity in their mission! My frustration over these unanswered questions kept distracting me from becoming absorbed in the story, and I personally found it took away from my reading experience.

Once you get past the prologue, we enter in to Lignor's absolutely stunning portrayal of Heaven. Doors of silver, gold or pure mahogany appear on a whim, whisking you away through white mist into rooms who's walls change to reflect your emotions. Open one door and you're in the Lightning Room - a dark room full of wands that produce bright colours - open another and enter Saint Francis' lush fields full of exotic animals, picturesque landscapes and peaceful ponds. Angels flit around, on their way to fulfilling their own duties, and everyone is happy - even when faced with the burden of reprimanding two teens using their powers for mischievous ends. Heaven is also where we get to see Gabriel, Mark and Michael in their roles as teacher's and concerned parents. I loved seeing these Archangels as slightly feared, endearing and patient teachers, who also have a lighter side (Emily catches them playing cards for candy bars at one point).

Once in their human shells, Emily/Liz and Matt/Daniel continue to feel their human shells' strong emotional ties to each other, as they were fairly close before their deaths, while also unconsciously feeling their bond as soul mates. Daniel's feelings for Liz are romantically passionate, while Liz is fiercely protective of him as only a friend. It's these feelings that Emily/Liz is trying to sort out, when Jason walks in to her life. She is immediately attracted to him, and finds herself struggling to deal with her newly awakened feelings. Periodically returning to Heaven, Emily seeks guidance about how to overcome her new-found human emotions, and is told repeatedly that her training will help her to make the right decision, and that while she will always be Matt's soulmate, that does not necessarily mean they need (or should) be together romantically.

The confusion Emily/Liz faces over her feelings for both Jason and Matt/Daniel was written in such a way that I didn't realize her hesitation with Jason was because of her fear of making the wrong decision, of not fulfilling her purpose - I actually found myself wondering why Emily-as-Liz was unable to return Jason's affections. I had a nagging feeling in the back of my head for almost the entire book, and towards the end I realized it was because I couldn't understand where the dilemma for Emily/Liz laid. I didn't feel any sexual tension between Emily and Matt - their relationship felt much more like a brother-sister relationship to me. Granted, I didn't really feel much sexual tension between Emily/Liz and Jason either, but it was definitely written like a romantic relationship. I never felt like Emily/Liz was forced in to making a choice, as she never had romantic feelings for Matt/Daniel - her only choice was whether or not to be with Jason. So while Emily/Liz does struggle with whether she's making the right choices while in her human form, she never admits that the thing she is struggling with is choosing to love someone who isn't her soul mate. Especially after her reaction at the end, I thought she was confused and upset over the amount of doubt her human emotions caused in her faith. That being said, I do feel like Lignor accurately captured the emotions that come with the struggle and uncertainty that comes with making the "right" choices, and I love how she was able to humanize angels, showing that maybe even they can feel lost and alone.

I wasn't overly attached to any of the characters, which might explain why I couldn't understand Emily/Liz's anguish over her conflicting emotions. I couldn't relate to Emily because she was struggling with her faith and what it would mean if she were to lose it completely. As someone who has never had a strong connection to faith, while I can understand that it would be frightening to begin questioning your beliefs, it is not something I have dealt with personally. I quite liked Liz in the beginning, as she was fearlessly opinionated and quick witted.

I've never understood men. You boys long for freedom and then spend the rest of your lives looking for someone to take care of you and give you the things you didn't want in the first place. I hope to never have a son. I would have to hit him over the head, and beg the good Lord to take him back and insert a brain.

But as the book progressed, she became more and more withdrawn, pulling away from those who loved her. I think she started to connect more with Emily, pulling memories from the angel living inside her (which terrified her), but it wasn't articulated clearly. I also didn't understand her blackouts, and why they left her bruised and bleeding. I liked the boys well-enough, but found their ominous foreshadowing of their horrid past to be a bit exaggerated, and it got to be repetitively annoying - so much so that I was tempted to jump forward and find out what their big secret was. Charles was arrogantly funny, but his softer side was kind and intelligent.

Hiding the person you really are is breaking him, because the person you are is all that he wanted in the first place.

Jason came across as quite desperate, and there were a couple points where I feared he might demand that Liz return his affections before he was forced to do something drastic. I didn't dislike Charles or Jason, I just didn't really care about either of them. The other issues I had with the characters was their dialect and maturity. None of them spoke like 19th century Irishfolk - they all spoke quite modernly - which made it easy to read, but jarring when I was reminded of the setting. I also found myself thinking of these characters as mid-to-late twenty-somethings, as the way they spoke suggested wisdom beyond that found in your average teenager.

My next issue, and this will be completely subjective for each reader, was the amount of religious undertones that saturated this entire novel. My objective side can appreciate the religious teachings that were presented, and I'm not opposed to reading slightly more religious-based material, but it's not really my cup of tea. On one hand, I did like the message that humanity is a learning experience where mistakes will unavoidably be made, and that redemption is never impossible. Meanwhile, on my other, slightly more cynical hand, I was rolling my eyes.

The last issue I have with Until Next Time was that it ended where I feel the story should have started. The prologue shows us a dark and tortured Emily who is running on empty. Her faith has been shattered to its breaking point, and Matt and the archangels are trying desperately to remind her why her lives on Earth are important and how its absolutely imperative that she continue with her journey. The story of Liz and Daniel is the story of her first life spent on Earth. It does nothing to show us why she is now broken, or why her faith is at an all-time low. It does introduce us to Jason, and (apparently) shows us that Emily will choose true love over her soul mate when given the choice (which might be important later on in the series). However, the epilogue shows Emily about to relive her second life on Earth...about to relive her very own judgment day - and that sounds like a story I want to read!

Beautifully written with a message of eternal hope, Until Next Time is a thought-provoking read for those who don't mind a significant amount of religious references/undertones. The characters are easy to read, if not completely relatable, and the mythology is refreshing and original. The summary's claim that Emily is facing a choice between her true love and her soul mate fell flat for me, and the story seemed to end when I felt it should have been beginning. But overall, I did enjoy it and I will most likely be continuing with the series to see what happens next!

[Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

© TToria ttoria.blogspot.com

Thanks for reading!
xo

[Gwenyth Love · Rating 3 out of 5]

Until Next Time is a beautifully written book that deals with the idea that even angels sometimes question their faith. Emily and Matt, and angel and warrior team specifically paired to journey to earth over several "lives" to learn why the population has lost their faith. By living and experience life on earth as humans do, the higher-ups hope to be able to understand where they went wrong and how they can fix things to bring faith in God back to the people.

This book focused very highly on bases in religion to tell its story. At first I felt this would be a hindrance to my enjoyment of the story, but as the author was also smart enough to mix in just the right amount of humor, I wasn't as overwhelmed by the religious aspects as I first thought I might be. The comedy breaks with Gabriel and Michael playing poker for candy bars just about did me in as I laughed hilariously, trying to catch my breath. What a sight! Amy Lignor has a knack for writing that many should be envious of. She has the wonderful flowing poetry style that makes descriptions of places and time play on the page like mini movies. I can envision the sun rising as it bleeds beautiful oranges and reds across the lightening sky. It's stunning.

One of my two main issues with the book were the confusion I felt while reading along the timeline. The constant flipping back and forth from Present to Past and then between Heaven and Earth was often jarring. I kind of felt disillusioned as I thought the story would be about one thing (from the prologue) and then it really didn't go that way. To be honest, I kind of felt like the book ended where it began and I ran around in an endless circle not really discovering what I wanted to know. Now I will have to read the second book and hope for the best.

The characters were fabulous! I absolutely loved the fiery Faith and her dedication to her friend Elizabeth and her sharp tongue that keeps those around her in line when they need it the most. The rebellious Charles is another terrific addition to the story, fighting to forget a past that has haunted him for years. And let's not forget the compassionate Emily/Elizabeth who's job it is to help her friends find their happiness and faith in life once again, supporting them and standing beside them as they make their difficult journeys and decisions. She is the epitome of a strong heroine.

The second issue was the romance between Emily/Elizabeth and Jason. I'm sorry, but I just didn't feel the passion at all. To me it more or less felt like Jason was desperate and E/E just went for it because she felt obligated. It is very crucial that this romance be believable because the whole story is basically based around this romance. The whole title Until Next Time is based around this endless love that is supposed to endure time and multiple lives. But I just didn't feel it.

Characters, and romances between characters, can be very difficult to portray. I am hoping that in the next book the author's writing matures even more and she is able to accomplish more with the intended romance. I can tell she has the talent to do so. I look forward to reading the next section of the story and proving myself right.

[Faye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Until Next Time is a promising start of what is sure to be a captivating series.

This book was so…. different. In a good way. There are definitely elements of this story that I like and other elements that I felt were lacking or confusing in one way or another.

I loved the story of Emily and Matt being these two characters who lived a thousand lives, waking up in these various bodies and inhabiting them for short periods of time, not knowing exactly why they're there, but in a way they've done this mission before, protecting the world. Liz, The body Emily that she currently inhabits, is feisty, Emily gives her a voice which I believe reflects in herself; strength, honor, intelligence.

I was a little confused with the introduction to Jason… there was something going on there but I’m not sure what. I didn’t understand Emily’s wanting to be with him, there was a connection but why…isn't her soul mate Matt? Did I miss that part? Perhaps a story arc that will span the entire series? I’d like to know more of the who, the what, and the why.

And Matt… I am hoping this is not the last that we see of him! Please have more Matt!

There were some confusing bits in the beginning, but once I gotten into the flow of Lignor's writing,Everything else fell into place. I really did enjoy Lignor's take on Angels. She made them new and refreshing! Eagerly anticipating book two!

[Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Original posted on my blog: http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy....

The Good
A Tasty Recipe...
I was completely in rapt fascination when I started reading Until Next Time. It had such a unique concept that made me perk up with interest right away. Angels, warriors, experiencing human life for the first time, getting familiar with human behavior and emotion. All great ingredients for an exciting recipe.

Oh, the Complexity...
Matt and Emily have been created to be both angel warriors and to experience human life while bringing back their gained knowledge to their caring family of angel mentors. But once Matt and Emily are thrown into human shells with pasts, not all goes as expected. Matt may have been created to be Emily's soulmate, but as a human, Emily can't help but fall for the irresistible Jason, a man with a troubled past. It doesn't help that neither angel can remember their real identities while in their human bodies. But Matt wont give up. He knows Emily is the only one for him. And through their individual adventures, Emily and Matt try to hold on to their faith, even as humanity gives them every reason not to.

Though, in the beginning, the complexity of this story was a bit confusing, I easily fell into the gist of things after the first few chapters. I really did enjoy Lignor's take on the angel genre. I can confidently say I have never read a book like this one before. The storyline was original, the characters were realistic, and the angst and heartache were almost unbearable. Until Next Time will make you feel something, that is for sure.

Emily/Liz...
Emily was an engrossing character that I couldn't help but be both happy and sad for. She knows a life of mischief and friendship in Heaven, then is placed into another world to find out that human emotions and actions can test ones faith like nothing else. It was fun watching her (in her Liz shell) and Jason grow closer, even if they both struggled with their feelings, in different ways. But in the back of my mind I wanted to scream at Liz (who is really Emily) that she was destined for Matt (who is in the shell of Daniel). But Emily/Liz does the best she can with her circumstances, even when confronting Jason's past. Confused yet? LoL. It is actually quite simple once you read the book.

Let's Hear it for the Boys...
In the beginning, it is easy to tell that Matt loves Emily very much. But his willingness to do anything for her borders on obsessive and dangerous. Matt was very unpredictable and it actually brought more tension to many scenes. But the problem is, once Emily is turned into Liz, you completely fall in love with Liz's choice for a mate, who happens to be the human Jason. Jason is so sweet my teeth hurt just thinking about him. He is kind, gentle, and compassionate. I hate to say it, but I hope Emily and Jason get their happily ever after. Maybe Matt can find someone else to complete him. Jeeze, I just feel bad for all of them. What a mess.

And then we have Charles. Now he was a character. With him being Jason's best friend, it was only obvious that he would end up with Emily/Liz's best friend, Faith. I loved Charles nonchalant attitude and breezy ways. And Faith was the perfect spitfire to tame him. I only wish the main couple of this book could have had an ending like Charles and Faith's.

The Bad
I was greatly drawn to this story from the beginning. But I felt that as the book went on, it lost some of its spark. Nothing really big happens until the end, and I just wish there was more going on throughout the whole story.

I actually found the fact that the Angel pair kept leaving their human bodies and going back up to Heaven (with full memories of both lives) to talk to their mentors very irritating. I felt like it detached me from caring about their human lives. If it's that simple to go back to Heaven, then why should I worry about what happens to them on earth? It made their human endeavor seem more like a game rather than a real experience.

The whole plot was a little off to me. I wasn't sure where the story was going, and when we finally got there, I wasn't as satisfied as I hoped to be.

The Snuggly
This was a pretty clean book. You can expect some sexual tension for sure. And the actual sex is done off-screen. The romance was nice but kind of sad. It's not a happy ever after kind of romance, but I did like the relationships between the characters. It was very sweet. I had this urge to keep saying, "Awwww."

Overall
I can't say I didn't enjoy reading Until Next Time. It was an enjoyable read with interesting characters. And the ending only makes me want to beg for book two to come out now. But I can't deny that there were a few things that could have been better. I was conflicted on what kind of star rating to give this book because it had both intriguing and annoying elements to it. So I settled for 3 stars because I do believe some people will find this book amazing. I just feel for me it wasn't as close as a fit as I would have liked. So recommended for those who find this concept interesting.

Quotes
Someday I know that I’ll have to choose between the one I was made for and the one I made a promise to down there… but not today. “You already know I love you,” I answer. “I’ve said that to you since we were ten-years-old.”

His blue eyes sparkle. “Like you love him?”

Thankfully, I don’t have to answer that… yet. Luckily, Gabe and Mike appear out of nowhere causing me to jump out of my chair. “Jesus! What is it with you guys? Can’t you cough, or something?”

~

Michael raised his hand in the air. “I don’t care who did what. I don’t care where it happened, or even if permission was granted— which I’m quite sure was not!” Emily sat up straighter as Michael’s glare shot through her body like a bolt of lightning. “What I want to know is why a very great man is now… crawling up my robes?”

Emily stared at the lizard that was now sitting on Michael’s shoulder. The reptile gazed at her and shook its small head back and forth. He blinked one of his large eyelids then stuck out his tongue.

[Rea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review can be found here.

The first thing that struck me about this book upon completion of it is that the prologue and the epilogue are separate from the story itself. For one, they’re narrated in the first person by Emily herself at some unknown time in her life and they’re in the present tense. Well, most of the prologue is anyway. Part way through it slips into the past tense for a while for no discernible reason before going back to the present tense. They also don’t really make sense with what information we glean from the story. In both, Amy is disillusioned with her life as an angel but we encounter nothing in the book that would explain why she has become so disillusioned. As such, I felt that they stuck out: they didn’t make sense in the context of this story and though there are hints that we may come to understand her feelings better after the next book, there could potentially be an infinite number of books, or ‘lives’, before Emily gets to this present.

The main body of the story is presented as Emily reading about herself – one of her human lives. As an angel, she gets sent to live out a human life that ended before its time but there’s a catch: once she’s sent to live a new life, she doesn’t remember the old one. So the stories of the angels' human lives are recorded in books for them to read. Until Next Time is about Emily’s first mission to live among the humans.

On Earth, she is forced to come to terms with human emotions and she has no memories of her angelic self. For all intents and purposes, she is Liz – a young Irish woman at the turn of the 19th century. The other half of her angelic team, Matt the warrior, is also there but because their memories have been wipes, they don’t remember each other.

Liz runs the local pub with her friend, Faith. When two strangers beg for shelter during a storm, both of their lives are turned upside down. The strangers turn out to be two young men, Charles and Jason, who very conveniently turn out to be romantic interests for Faith and Liz. This is where the book doesn’t just touch on one of my personal pet peeves but really chucks it in the reader’s face. I’m not fond of love at first sight at the best of times but in this case it happens to four characters at once and I just didn’t buy it at all.

What’s more, Matt was also presented as a romantic interest. Of course, he’d grown up with Emily and they’d spent all their time together in training. I can understand where feelings came from in this case even if I’m not shown the evolution of them – not that I’m shown the evolution of them with Jason either; they just suddenly sprouted there.

I never really knew which of the two men in Emily/Liz’s life I was supposed to be rooting for. I still don’t. Honestly, I didn’t really like either of them all that much. I found Matt to be hypocritical when he gets high and mighty because Emily went and fell in love with a human but he did exactly the same thing. And Jason never grew as a character beyond his love for Liz and his willingness to take things at her pace even though he wants more from her (because he fell in love with her the moment he met her and wanted to marry her, as Charles and Faith did, but she held back).

Another thing that left me unable to appreciate Jason as a romantic interest was the whole thing with Angela. It was far from romantic. Especially as Jason admits that he never stopped loving his angel. It’s… I don’t know, I feel like Angela deserved more. Every woman deserves to be loved completely by her partner and Jason couldn’t possibly love Angela completely because he still loved Liz.

All in all, neither of the males really appealed to me and I didn’t buy the relationship between Liz and Jason, so the romance aspect of the book didn’t work for me.

I liked the ideas behind the angels, though, and how they worked by taking on a life that was destined for more but the human soul left the shell too soon. It seemed a little weird to me that they didn’t really meet any other angels while they were rushing around Heaven. Other than the well-known saints, that is. Maybe in future books, hey? The saints and archangels that were around were all fun characters very different from how I tend to picture them myself. I thought it was a great twist to give them a sense of humour!

The portrayal of Heaven was original as well, if a little confusing at times. Ok, so it was the wands in the lightning room that confused me. I don’t know what happened, whether I zoned out as their explanation was given (very possible) or what. Despite this, I did like how Heaven worked and the scenes where the angels were brought back to Heaven were a good breather from the scenes down on Earth.

Obviously, this being a book about angels, it has a significant religious aspect. My only problem with this is that it sometimes becomes so Christian that it ostracises readers of other religious beliefs. There are some parts that are particularly preachy and I’d find myself zoning out each time. It could just be the Christian fiction I’ve read but I’ve found that each time there’s a passage that could be construed as insinuating that I, as a non-Christian, should be pitied because I don’t happen to believe in the Christian God. I realise that the author is American and that society’s view of religion is very different there, but I find it insulting when it is implied that I should need to turn to someone else’s deity to live my life right.

Other than this, I enjoyed the book well enough and the epilogue has piqued my interest enough for me to want to read the next book. Maybe then I’ll figure out whether I’m supposed to be rooting for the angel or the human!

[Evie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally captivating, a powerful and entertaining read that will make your heart pound. Amy Lignor's writing style is engaging and full of charm, making it easy to loose yourself in the magical world she created, and connect with all the fabulous characters. Dealing with love, duty, destiny, and difficult choices, Until The Next Time is a beautiful book in many ways.

Matt and Emily are angels sent down to Earth on a mission to stop bad things from happening, all the while leading a "normal human lives" in their human shells (human bodies they're inhabiting). They've been training for that their whole lives, they have skills and unique angel powers, they're well prepared for anything that could happen. The only problem is once their souls are placed in human bodies, their own memories are wiped clean. They don't remember anything, including each other and their meant-to-be relationship. Overwhelmed by human emotions no training could ever have prepared them for, Matt and Emily will need more than faith to survive their time in human world.

What sets Until The Next Time apart from all the other angel books I've read so far, is that the concept behind the story is entirely unique and fresh. And, let's face it, that does not happen very often when it comes to angel books. Sure, the general idea remains the same, but at the same time Amy Lignor puts a very original spin on it, giving us something exciting and new. Something that is very hard to dislike. I liked the idea of taking over someone else's body at the exact moment of the person's death, to ensure that their purpose in life is fulfilled. It was fascinating to read about, thought-provoking and very emotional.

I found the plot line very interesting and mostly well thought out. I say mostly, because there was a couple of instances when I scratched my head and wondered "hmm.. how did that just happened?" or thought to myself "well, I'm not quite sure if that was entirely necessary". For instance, I wasn't quite sure why all the angel warriors had to train so hard in preparation for their missions, just to have their memories wiped clean before being sent down to Earth. And don't get me wrong here, it's not that I don't understand why their angel memories needed to be removed, as Amy explained all that very well (they needed to start fresh and go into their missions with open mind), I just didn't see why the extensive training was necessary in the first place.

But that's basically all I could possibly complain about. Everything else - from the wonderful mythological backdrop that Amy so skilfully builds on and expands, to the complex, convincing, likable characters, to the incredible depth of the story and the profound messages it carries - was simply fabulous. I devoured Until The Next Time. Touching and thrilling, it's an excellent angel book, and one you should definitely have on your shelf (or eReader).

[Anna's Herding Cats · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished reading Until Next Time earlier this evening and am honestly having a difficult time writing this review. Each time I sit down to write out my thoughts I get all teary eyed again and have to shut everything down and go distract myself for a bit with something around the house. This wasn't a lighthearted easy read but rather a wonderfully bittersweet story that by the end left me reeling emotionally with tears streaming down my face. Lignor created an amazing cast of characters and an interesting world that grabs hold of you and doesn't let go.

I thoroughly enjoyed both aspects of the story as it bounced back and forth between Matt and Emily's life in Heaven being guided by the Saints and their first taste of real life on earth as Daniel and Liz.

I loved the soul that was Emily/Liz. She's a wonderful being to watch in all of her many forms. The present day angel, reliving her past, who has lost her faith in humans. Struggling to deal with her anger and being torn between her soulmate and the love of her life. The angelic soul experiencing life for the first time as Elizabeth. Falling in love and standing up for what she thinks is right and protecting the family she's created. And finally the young, innocent angel setting out on her first mission. Finding life and emotions are messy and things don't always turn out as you expect. That your soulmate may not be the one who wins your heart. Finding her way, growing up and committing the ultimate sacrifice to protect those she loves. She's absolutely captivating and fierce with her emotions.

The men won me over just as easily. Matt/Daniel who will always be there for Emily and no matter what will stand by her side. Best friends who were made for one another. The two of them as children are highly entertaining. Jason who loves her completely and experiences life with her while winning her heart. Both men dealing with such inner turmoil while they try to figure out their lives with Liz/Emily. Even the Saints who were absolutely quirky and managed to add some levity to the story with their antics when not on the job. Play fighting with each other, bickering like siblings and best friends, an obsession with chocolate candy bars and cheating while playing cards. It was an interesting portrayal that kept me smiling and made it hard not to be awfully fond of each of them.

This was a complex and very well written story that pulled me in from the very start and kept me captive until the very end. It will keep you thinking and make your heart ache for the men and women you meet. I loved the experience of reading Until Next Time and I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series and seeing where it takes Matt, Emily and the souls they've bonded with.

Originally posted at Herding Cats & Burning Soup

[Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was exciting. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I first agreed to read it for the blog tour, but overall, I’m very glad that I did!

Until Next Time tells the story of Emily and Matt, two angels who are sent to Earth to further understand humans and to gather information. But, not everything is always as simple as that.
It was mysterious, creepy—dark at times and I loved it! This isn’t your typical light and fluffy angel story—it’s so much more than that.
This story always kept me on my toes, not knowing what to expect next and often left me surprised and guessing at times.
The plotline was a little confusing, I will admit—having to keep up with the knowledge that you were reading about two angels who are now in ‘human shells’, who now have new names (Liz and Daniel) and a personally so different from their own, and always being left confused by even their own actions. At times, something will happen that makes you double back and try to find your place of who said what and what happened when, but overall, the story isn’t that hard to keep up with. It definitely threw me at times, and I would have loved a bit more detail from the author to cover some ground on certain things.

The characters of Emily and Matt (Liz and Daniel) were very complex. They make you fall for them, want to know more about them, and then a little bit more, but you never really do. I would have liked to see a little bit more into their minds. Sometimes I found it hard to connect with any given character, but with a story this engaging, that isn’t always a must. But it would have been nice.
Jason, Liz’s ‘other’ love interest, is very cute and loveable and I really liked him. But I am a diehard fan of the idea of ‘soul mates’, so I found it hard to feel for anyone other than the soul-mates of Emily and Matt. I really must start being more open-minded to these kinds of things…

Nevertheless, with action, romance, mystery and a whole new twist and outlook on all of those ‘other’ angel books out there-- Amy Lignor writes a unique, thrilling paranormal YA book about love, loss, destiny and finding out just how far you would go for love.
Amy Lignor is an author to watch—her writing style is very unique and a breath of fresh air for all of these other paranormal YA books that either has you rolling your eyes, or chucking the book at the wall. She writes soundly and beautifully and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in this exciting series!
Check it out! You will not be disappointed!

(Full review will be available on my blog as soon as possible)

[Gina - What She Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

Join the Blog Tour for Until Next Time by Amy Lignor!
Be at http://behindamillionandonepages.blog... on 28th March for my exclusive Review!

The novel started off slow but as you go through the book it starts to pick up. Your attention doesn't start wandering as it started to in the beginning. We are made to quickly get used to their world and know exactly what is going on, instead of havingto slowly ease into it we are thrust into their world.

As the novel continues, we start to get caught up in the characters. You start siding for one of the guys, but then something else happens and you start thinking again who really is worthy of her.

hmmm....


or.....


I love the new spin on the classic Guardian Angels. In all Angel stories nowadays, we only hear about the other Angels they are with, no novel mentions God or any other high being like the Archangels Michael, Gabriele etc. It is good to see something newdeveloped from where the general idea of Angels come from, as well as Lignor's own spin on the ethics and characters featured in the novel in heaven.

We question the truth behind Dublin and what the place contains. We can tell that the main action and biggest complication of the novel will happen while in Dublin, but when we find out why they don't want to go back there, we aren't satisfied with theanswer we get. Yes, it explains most of it, but we still feel like we are left in the dark, because there is something else that keeps them away from Dublin and not just what they told the girls.

Liz seems wise, but she is also so very innocent at times. When we go back into Emily, we realize just how innocent, from how confused she becomes on Jason as well as Matt. Some things we realize, stays with her as she transferred into Liz's shell. BothEmily and Liz are innocent minded, and sometimes seem like they are blind to the world.

Everything starts to pull into place. All we were questioning have been answered in the 'big reveal.' Be prepared for a shock. Emotions will be everywhere (not tissue box approved however). Be careful.

The title of the novel has a whole new and deeper meaning at the end of the novel as it comes into play more and we see it bring together the novel nicely. Great choice of title for the novel.

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Until Next Time is not your typical angel's story, it is very different. I will admit I was a little confused at times but I quickly got sucked into the whole world. The characters are strong and interesting and I love the world Amy Lignor has created here. Special thanks to Amy for the review copy.

Emily is an angel and she resided up in heaven, her partner Matt is a warrior. Together they have been in training to go to earth to gather as much information as possible about mankind. They will have a mission and will have to help as many innocents that they can along the way. They will have a choice when their missions on earth finish, to return to earth to do things differently, if they choose to do so.

Matt and Emily are put on earth, Emily as Elizabeth (Liz). Liz owns a bar in Ireland with her best friend Faith. They meet two men by chance, called Charles and Jason. Something terrible happens, Faith and Liz are left homeless. So they head off on horseback with Charles and Jason, leaving everything they ever knew behind, including their close friend Daniel.

They travel into the heart of Dublin, to Charles' parents house, they are vile creatures, the lowest of the low. Everything becomes clear from here on in, so I am trying to be careful about what I say.

Faith and Charles are in love and they have a great chemistry together. Liz really likes Jason and Jason loves Liz but she won't let him in. Liz has strange dreams and blacks out all the time, but really she is going to heaven to get advice and see Matt even though she can't remember anything when she returns to earth.

The ending is the best part in the whole book, for me. I loved how everything fits into place and is explained. It also intrigues me with the prologue, I am now dying to read the next instalment in the series.

The storyline is fantastic, everyone involved had a really amazing journey, learning what they could about life, Until Next Time.

My favourite characters have to be:

Liz- she is such a strong, earthly individual. I love how she can handle any situation and the firm way she deals with the people who means the ones she loves harm. She is a great friend and a very intelligent lady.

Charles - I wasn't too keen on him at the start, I didn't really trust him. But he turned out to be a really charming individual, a loyal friend and had a really good sense of humour, he made me giggle throughout with his overly confident manner.

Carly :)

http://fictionfascination.blogspot.com/

[Christie Cote · Rating 5 out of 5]

Until Next Time by Amy Lignor
★★★★★

Matt and Emily completed each other and were soul-mates. They were created to be an angel team that was supposed to stick together. They were best friends and loved each other, but that didn’t stop fate from taking an unexpected turn when they were sent down to Earth. They didn’t remember their angel lives when they became Daniel and Liz. Not knowing sent Liz on a path without Daniel, and she was drawn to someone else instead of who she was meant to be with. Emily and Matt were not ready for what they would experience as humans, or how it would affect them as angels.

This was a fantastic read. The only other books I have read that have to do with any angel form was the Kissed by an Angel series by Elizabeth Chandler, so I didn’t know what to expect. This was very different from the Kissed by an Angel books, which I also love a lot. It was interesting reading about Heaven and the well-known angels there, like Michael. I don’t really know stories about angels, and my only angel fix I have gotten like that was from watching Supernatural. Different stories have different takes.

I liked seeing pieces of Heaven and how the angels acted. It was also entertaining when they were playing with different human things in Heaven and trying to understand them. Angels didn’t have human experiences unless they went down to Earth and had them, and then, they received all of the human emotions like anger and hurt. I never thought about angels not having those emotions; maybe life is easier that way.

The author did really well with having Emily and Matt experience these emotions, and, the longer they were on Earth, the harder it was to separate them when they were back in Heaven. Emily and Matt (as Liz and Daniel) were touched by some truly kind people - and some truly vile people - on Earth, which is really how it is in the world. Even as angels, they struggle to make the right choices and protect the people they love.

I enjoyed the characters and the world and the entire experience. I liked that you got to see their human life and also get glimpses of the angel life. I really look forward to reading more books in this series when they come out.

I received a copy of this book from the author for review. Thank you, Amy Lignor, for this great read.

[Britni · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 earth 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.

The setting switches back and forth between a heavenly scene and earth with Matt and Emily going back and forth between the two. The catch, Matt and Emily are only Matt and Emily in the heavenly setting, they are placed in the lives of other humans on earth, trying to remember who they are and what they are there for. While many young adult novels have one-dimensional characters, Amy Lignor's characters are anything but and I loved both the main characters but also the supporting cast. And I really felt the love and confusion that Emily felt as she tried to remember her true purpose, a feeling I think we can all relate to as we try to decide what we think we should do and what we feel.

Until Next Time surprised me. While I was expecting fantasy, I was surprised by how many parts of it actually rang very true on a deeper level to me, which made this story much more than just your typical young adult novel. Things like Emily and Matt learning and training in heaven to prepare them for their time on the earth. And that when they are sent to earth their knowledge being taken away so that they can be tested and learn during their earthly experiences. Other small insights throughout the novel give this story and the characters in it more depth and meaning to me and I loved it. This is Book 1 in the Angel Chronicles and I will definitely be reading the next one to see where Emily and Matt's partnership takes them next. 5 stars.

[Ottilie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
What is life about, and how much control does fate has over us? For Emily and Matt they were born for a purpose as Angels and are soul mates. They were taught by the famous archangels Gabriel and Michael. Amy Lignor does a beautiful job creating this world for these angles to live in and gives you a new look at what the archangels are like; gives them a bit of personality. Right off the bat Amy grabs the readers attention with a battle between the two destine lovers after their mission on Earth which Emily sees as a failure on her part, but the archangels do not see it that way.

This tale is a tale about love is all in the grey. Emily and Matt are sent to Earth to be people who have left their shells. The book is about their journey as people, when they are people they do not remember their lives in Heaven creating the mission to be harder. When Emily is in her new life she meets Jason who turns her world upside. Amy is able to use words to illustrate these beautiful scenes, (I want to go to Ireland eventually so I might be slightly bias…) and considering that this is a time piece the readers are transported to this new world completely. I’m a history major so conversations kind of threw me off, I might have been spoiled by Outlander, but the dialogue seemed too modern for 1810. One issue I had other then the dialogue was Daniel seemed to flip flop personality a little bit more then there should have been though I get his confusion, but then there was a quick switch both happened later on in the book. I got a little confused in the grey area of love and soul mates. The book was a little vague at a couple parts, but otherwise this book is a girl power, witty, fun book for any reader. Amy Lignor created a creative book that leaves the reader waiting for the next installment.

[Mesa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t know what this book was about other than it’s being an angel book. I didn’t know what to expect when I first started it. (To be honest, I’d never have picked this book if I haven’t been contacted by the publisher to do a blog tour.) I thought it would be the typical angel book. But I was wrong. This book was REALLY good. I’m happy to have read it.

This book started out great and it kept getting better and better. The take on angels in this book is very fascinating. It’s true that I don’t read a lot of angel books and few of the angel books I read were good, but this one was different ... in a good way.

The characters in this book are very likable, funny, and quirky. Until Next Time was written in third POV, so it was easy to see what they were thinking, and it was easy for me to relate to them. However, I had a problem with Daniel/Matt, the main character. I didn’t really like him. His attitude, clinginess and anger made feel unease. I wasn’t able to relate to him, and it was really hard for me to see what his intentions were. Emily/Elizabeth, on the other hand, is a really strong character. Even when things were hard when she is on Earth, she didn’t gave up.

The other reason why I really enjoyed this book was Faith and Charles. They really made this book fun. Also, Jason is another side character that I liked. He’s caring, sweet, and well mannered. I really liked him. And okay, I do not like love triangles, and there is love triangle in this book…kinda. However, the love triangle in this book is great. Amy wrote it in a way that I found myself fascinated by their relationship instead of choosing sides.

Overall, Until Next Time was a quick, easy, really fascinating read. I read it in one day. I recommend you check it out.

Rating: 3.5/5

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I initially chose to read this book based on the cover. It just pulled me in. I love the gothic feel of it. Plus, I have been on quite the angel kick recently. And actually, this book was a completely fresh take on the concept of Angels. While I do love the tradition angel books lately, my favorite part of the story was how unique it was.

The character's in this book are all great, but it was the writing and the storyline that really sold me. So rather than talking about each of the characters like I normally do, I'm going to focus more on the plot and writing.

This book does have a love triangle, and you know I like a GOOD love triangle. This was a good one. Both of the guys complemented Emily. The idea that they threw a soul mate into the mix, and then take away their memories for an extra measure. That was really interesting.

I loved that emily and Matt took over their "assignment's" body right after they died. They did this in order to complete whatever it was that person was supposed to accomplish in life. This is such an awesome idea, but I wasn't completely on board with the total loss of their memories. They trained their whole lives to be able to do these "jobs" and then they wipe away all memories of their training. Plus is leaves them very isolated and alone. Now, I do understand why they temporarily lose their memories, I just know that if it were me I would hate that.

Overall, this is such a unique story. There were a few slow moments that lost my attention, but I would always become re-engaged within a few pages. I really enjoyed reading it. I can't wait to see what Amy has in store for us next!

[Once · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover of Until Next Time is simply amazing. I totally love Emily on the cover. This is a different take on your average angel book. Once you start it, it will capture you and steal your heart from the very beginning. The characters are well developed and once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down.

Matt and Emily are best friends and soul mates and have been living in Heaven for many years. They are sent to earth to study and understand humans. Once on Earth, Emily and Matt are sent to live in a little village. The only thing is, they don’t remember where they came from and that they are a couple. They also don’t remember anything about their mission. Their new names are Liz and Daniel and are both very different from who they were when the lived in Heaven. When they meet on Earth, they feel a strong feeling and a connection, but neither of them know why that is. Then one night, Liz meets this stranger named Jason and starts falling for him. Jason is very lovable and I immediately feel for him. Will Emily (Liz) stay with her soul mate? Or, will their mission on earth cost them their love for each other??

Amy Lignor has created a new and original twist for the angel book lovers. Until Next Time is filled with action and love. There were moments where it did get a little confusing because of Liz and Matt going back and forth from Heaven and Earth, but it didn’t take away from it being a fantastic read. I recommend this to all my YA paranormal book lovers!

review link: http://www.onceuponatwilight.com/2012...

[Cecilia Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Until Next Time is about angels. Amy Lignor created angels (characters) who are both fun and quirky.

Emily and Matt are angels, soulmates. They are sent to earth to gather knowledge/information,to better understand humans. They are assigned to two human 'shells'namely, Liz and Daniel. And in order to inhabit those bodies, they don't retain any memories of being in Heaven. Liz has had a hard life. One stormy night Liz and her friend Faith meet Charles and Jason, who later play a big part in both lives. Emily and Matt exeprience and see so much as humans, and partner until the end.

I enjoyed Until Next Time's unique storyline. The story is about choices, friendship, love, acceptance, forgiveness and quite an emotional story at that. I look forward to the second book in the series.

[Shauna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay so I'm just going to give a short Pros and Cons list because you don't need a summary!
Pros:
The story, in it's category, was original. I enjoyed how the angels weren't all just...good,and that they had personalities and hobbies.
It was quick and easy to read.
The characters weren't flawless, and there was a good bit of humour.
I liked the setting of Ireland 1810.

Cons:
Though I liked the setting, I didn't think it was created very realistically. There were certain phrases and words that I thought wouldn't have been used in that time loosely.
It was a bit hard to follow and I found that even when it was finished, I wasn't sure what the point had been. I also thought the prologue and epilogue didn't really connect much to the story.
It was extremely dramatic and romantic, but that's more my opinion than a bad thing. I knew it was going to be a romance, I can only blame myself!

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is really to me is 2 stories in one. You have the Angel and Warrior Emily and Matt. The other side of the story is Liz and Daniel humans on earth.

I personally loved the story of Liz and Daniel more than Emily and Matt.

When the story takes place as Emily and Matt it has a religious feel to it. The Saints guide Emily and Matt into their jobs on earth.

For a person that is not religious sometimes the Emily/Matt parts were hard to get through. It was not over powering religious though.

I did enjoy the book, I read it in one day.

I do have to say as much as a good read this was, if the story was just about Liz and Daniel I would of probably enjoyed it more.

[Louise · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok ish. I got really confused by what was happening though. Whether parts of this were from before or after Emily and Matt went out on their lives.
I didn’t really understand why liz was silly enough to open the door to two strange men in the middle of the night, and I didn’t get the love triangle – she seems to like Jason but Matt is her soulmate? I didn’t quite understand why they went to Dublin either, and I didn’t guess what had been going on with Charles and jason’s families. I also thought the ending was quite sad, although I suppose Jason will meet up with Emily in the next life.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Until Next Time is one of those angel books that make you realize why Paranormal Angel Romances have become so popular. What is more romantic than a heavenly being committing themselves to protecting you? And of course, anything from heaven is going to be easy on the eyes :) Until Next Time is not a lazy "on the surface read" but a beautifully written, emotionally involved novel. Filled with great characters, this story will be your next "I can't put down read!" At least it is for me :) A full review of this great book is to come!

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

darn you for making me cry...review to post on 2/14/12 to coincide with blog tour stop(review) on my blog:http://www.kimbathecaffeinatedbookrev...

[Lenore Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

FREE ANGEL FRIDAY - July 13th
Help us lower the Amazon sales ranking of Until Next Time: The Angel Chronicles - Next Friday, "purchase" your free Kindle copy at:
http://amzn.to/xOQ4eL

I am also so very lucky to have Amy Lignor (my secret sister switched at birth, I think) to guest post for us. Your going to love her, I promise! Amy began her career at Grey House Publishing in northwest Connecticut (dang cold up there) 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. (Hint folks, this is the type of person that can help us learn what is involved to become a writer!) 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 (where it is much warmer).

Her book Until Next Time: The Angel Chronicles, Book 1 is now out and ready for us to gobble up. Let me tell you a lil of how it goes. 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. 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.

Amy sent me this note too. Lynette, I first want to tell you that I believe we were separated at birth. I love Crazed Mind and your blog is absolutely fantastic - not to mention realistic and true. Thank you for letting me a part of it with UntilNext Time. I have to add in....that I totally agree with Amy and think she needs to be sitting with me having coffee right now! Well here is Amy.

My Mom always told me that a crazed mind was an active mind, which meant I would read my books and stay out of trouble. (That worked…sort of).

My mind became more crazed as I aged, and everything went from carefree to a 24/7 experience. I’m doing what I love, but life is making my once pretty auburn hair resemble Einstein’s. I was really lucky as a kid because I had fantastic parents and my mom, being a career librarian, made every book in the world available to me, making me a reading fanatic. I also began to write when I was 13 - just a whole bunch of stories because my imagination was always going crazy.

Right now I have a nineteen-year-old daughter who is about ready to swim with sharks. Nope. Not kidding. She wants to be a marine biologist and is ready to dive into that ocean. All I can do is sit by and listen to the Jaws theme play in my head.

Dad passed suddenly and my Mom is now living with us. We come from back East, but when I was younger I took off to meet people who I hoped would someday become characters in my books. I loved traveling the highways and listening to all the stories out there, but when it was time for Shelby’s schooling we settled in Dallas, Texas. I loved the Lone Star State, but for high school (and research on a book) we ended up in New Mexico.

As time moves forward it presses down on my Mom, who has osteoporosis and can barely walk without pain. Shelby helps but it’s her ‘time in the sun,’ so to speak, and I want to make sure that she’s able to ‘take flight’ and live her dream now that it’s arrived.

Until a little over a year ago, I was working full-time at one of those jobs you really can’t stand. (You know the ones, where watching a car rust is more exciting?) But gradually, more magazines, sites, clients, etc. began hiring me to write articles, reviews, commentary…and I started up a company called The Write Companion. With my earlier background in publishing, I was beginning to get a bit upset that debut authors were not being looked at. There were some great plots and memorable characters out there, but the polishing and marketing became an impossible expense for writers. I understand. I know about ‘bill worrying’ and the fact that there will never be a J.K. Rowling income in my life (although, you guys could help me with that. LOL.) I was lucky when The Write Companion became bigger and made a name for itself, and the fun I get to have meeting new authors, polishing their novels, and then working to see them go on to publish is just a thrill I can’t explain.

There are a great many times when I feel like I have a stack of fine china in each hand while I’m taking care of Mom, making sure Shelby’s following the path she wants, working to make sure manuscripts are finished in time and the authors are happy, reviews are done and then - for the last two seconds before the next wave begins - trying to throw a word or two on the computer to write a book. Some days I feel like the dog has raced under my foot and the china has now smashed all over the floor, but the desire and passion I have for what I do seems to keep the dishes safe - precarious, but safe.

I have always believed in angels. No matter what religion you are, where you live, what you have faith in - it doesn’t matter. Angels are those protectors that stand behind you when you need support, beside you when you need someone to talk to, and in front of you to defend and protect. My angel has been doing that job for a long time, and I can’t tell you how much this crazed mind thanks him for that! By the way? You have one, too!

Until Next Time, Everybody.
Amy

[Andrea King · Rating 3 out of 5]

Until Next Time was the first book I’ve read featuring angels and I found the premise interesting. Emily and Matt were created to be together forever, to work in tandem every time they are sent to earth to do “a job.” They are sent down into human bodies (also called shells) when the soul inside is ready for a break from earth. Or tried and failed to commit suicide. I think. I’m a little unsure about that one. The twist is that they don’t initially remember who they are when they wake up in their new shells. They have to figure out who they are and what their purpose is while still thinking they are the original people whose bodies they have taken over. (Which leads to one of my many questions after finishing the book: Why do they have to lose their memories when they go to earth? Wouldn’t they be better at their jobs if they could remember why they’re there in the first place? I didn’t think that was explained very well.)

I’m going to come right out and admit I was confused during a lot of this book. A huge part of that was because the point of view jumped often. Between Matt (the warrior angel), Daniel (his human counterpart), Emily (the angel), Liz (her human counterpart) who was sometimes called Beth, Faith (her human friend), Jason (Liz’s romantic interest), Charles (Faith’s romantic interest), Michael (another angel) and more… There was rarely an indication that the POV had changed, you just had to figure it out from the context.

Emily was a strong character, very sure of her mission and her place in heaven, as was Matt. They were destined to be together forever, though Emily only wanted to remain friends and Matt wanted more. Why would things be set up that way, I wondered? Why would God create a couple to be together for all eternity if one would never return the others’ feelings? Plus, if they were meant to be together, why would Liz fall in love with Jason, and talk about seeing him again in another life? (That was mentioned in the prologue, so I’m not spoiling anyone.) Matt’s human shell, aka Daniel, was a lovesick young man who mooned over Liz even though she made it clear they weren’t going to be a couple. Matt took over Daniel’s thoughts very quickly, so we never learned much about Daniel’s character. (Why was he able to remember who he was so much faster than Emily/Liz? Another unanswered question.) Liz/Beth was also a strong person; an orphan, she and her friend Faith had built up their town’s local pub and it was the hangout spot. Faith was a major player in the story, but I felt she lacked something. She was a cute character with a sassy attitude, but she didn’t have any real depth to her. Jason and Charles showed up one stormy night conveniently, they happened to be perfect love interests for Liz and Faith. They were running from their pasts and we learned more and more about them along the way. They were okay characters, though I felt they were clearly created to be the perfect match for each girl. Some of the characters we met later in the book were almost like caricatures of evil people. Too big and bad to be believable.

The dialogue was okay. I liked the way Liz and Faith talked to each other, like they had known each other forever and were totally comfortable being snarky with each other, but you could also sense their deep bond. There were a lot of references to various angels and their ‘jobs.’ There were also unique descriptions of heaven and the different rooms therein. In the beginning there was quite a bit of Irish-speak and that was fun to read with an Irish accent. In my head. Definitely not out loud just to hear how it sounded. Every once in a while, there was a leap in thought, like the scene below which describes a character who was literally looking around as they passed a forest:

Maybe the trees reminded him of his family; the gnarled limbs representing the evil ones who wanted to slice him until he bled to death.

That was quite a leap, from the guy looking at the passing landscape, to her thinking the trees reminded him of people who may or may not have wanted to attack him. There was a lot of religious talk, as expected in a book about angels, but I thought it approached the preachy side, especially near the end.

There was nothing I would call sexy or hot. There was sex, but it was off the page and happened between a married couple. Two other characters slept in a bed together but there was no hanky panky. There were accusations of prostitution (willing and unwilling) and an affair between 2 people of very different ages was talked about. There were a few tender moments that I thought were very sweet.

The cover is unique and I like it. I didn’t at first, but it kind of grew on me. I like the muted earthy colors and that her wings aren’t all white and fluffy. I like the texture change, how her hair is windblown and she looks human, but then her chest is wooden and carved.

The sum up: The interesting premise and creative descriptions aren’t quite enough to counter the confusing dialogue, jumpy plot and lingering questions.

As reviewed on The Busy Bibliophile.

[Pretty in Fiction · Rating 2 out of 5]

Originally posted on Pretty In Fiction.

Until Next Time by Amy Lignor is the first book in The Angel Chronicles. I want to say that enjoyed this book, and I did to an extent, but I did have a few problems with it, as well. From insta-love to confusing narratives to vague plot points, Until Next Time just didn't strike home for me the way I think it could have.

The biggest mistake Lignor made with Until Next Time, was not taking a little more time to develop her characters. Everything in the novel moved too fast. No matter what drama or danger surrounded the characters, I just didn't care, because I never got to know them. If I don't know them, how can I care about their problems? There was a chapter or two in the beginning of the book where I started to care about Liz, but then it felt like everything started to happen all at once and I didn't have time to care about who Liz or Jason or anyone else was.

I'm not a huge fan of insta-love, which is why I just couldn't understand Liz and Jason's relationship. They'd known each other for fifteen minutes before he kissed her. It wasn't chemistry or attraction or whatever you want to call it. It was just pure insta-love. And I get it, they're souls were connected and all, but sometimes in order to believe two characters are in love, I need to see them fall in love. You can't just tell me, "Okay, they're in love now." That doesn't mean anything without the actions to back it up.

There was a whole supernatural element to Until Next Time that I wasn't expecting. I mean, sure the book's about angels possessing human bodies in order to learn about life on earth, but I wasn't expecting Liz's "gift". It made the story just a little bit confusing. Sometimes I wasn't sure if what was happening was Emily's doing or Liz's body's. Even after finishing the book, I'm still not sure if it was the angel's gifts or if Liz herself had some sort of power.

Some parts of the book just made absolutely no sense. I'm not sure if Lignor intended it that way or if poor editing is to blame, but it made an already confusing story much more confusing. At one point, Liz is about to ride away on a horse with a boy, Jason. He asks her her last name and she tells him and then he tells her his name and then it says,

"A smile danced on her lips as she fell into a peaceful slumber." {Until Next Time, Ch. 12}

What? Did she just go to sleep on the horse before they even left town?! She'd just woken up twenty minutes earlier. Why would she go to back to sleep on the horse? (That one little bit just bugged me so much. Sorry if I'm ranting.)

Anyway, I've always hated books where whenever something bad, good, or intense happens to the heroine, she faints. Well, almost everyone in Until Next Time feels like fainting at some point or another. It makes no sense to me. People don't just faint all the time. Maybe if they're out in the hot sun for a long time without food or water they might faint. But you don't faint from "seeing the passion in your lover's eyes"! That's just ridiculous. And if Liz did faint from something so trivial than she has no business being called "strong". And Jason passed out because Liz left him a goodbye note? What? Get out there and find her, don't take a nap! Does anyone know what the word strong even means? Because it doesn't mean "Hey, something bad is about to happen. Instead of stopping said bad thing, I think I'll just pass out until it's all over and done with."

Sending Matt and Emily to Earth to learn about humans just seems incredibly mean to me. The entire time I was reading, I was intrigued, don't get me wrong, but I kept thinking "Why?!" The angels don't ever give any real explanation for why Matt and Emily must be tormented. They usually just talk in circles. Like, "When your on earth you won't remember your an angel and everything you've been taught, but your responsible for everything you do down there so choose wisely." Those poor kids! They were dropped into the bodies of people who didn't want to live any more. How can they possibly make any good decisions if all they have to work with is their bodies memories? Aren't they basically just being set up for failure? That's kind of what it came across as. Like they were test dummies for some great experiment (which I guess they sort of were, actually). But still, sometimes I felt so bad for Matt and Emily it made me want to punch an angel!

All in all, Until Next Time is an interesting read, but it could have been done better. The writing was confusing and I felt like certain things, even simple things, could have been explained or described in a much clearer way. But towards the end of the book I did finally get into the story. And, even though it felt rushed and a little confusing, it was still intriguing enough to have me flipping pages late into the night. I'd recommend Until Next Time to anyone who likes angels (the angels in this book are kinda awesome, by the way!) and is looking for a quick read.

[nick (the infinite limits of love) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read more of my reviews at Nick's Book Blog.

When I first saw the summary of Until Next Time by Amy Lignor, I was very intrigued. It seemed that the author had taken a different and somewhat unique take on angels. When I got the opportunity to participate in a blog tour for this book, I was beyond thrilled. Due to the mixed reviews that this book has received, I was a bit wary to start reading. Fortunately for me, Until Next Time didn't let me down.

The story introduces us to Emily and Matt, two angels. These two have been "created" and trained for specific tasks. Once they are sent to Earth, they are supposed to save, defend, forgive and judge, all of which have been taught to them. Because they have always worked together as a team, Emily and Matt have grown a strong relationship of friendship bordering on love. In fact, they are supposed to be soul mates. At the beginning of the book, they are beyond excited to be able to go onto the "field", that is down to Earth, and put everything that they have learned throughout their sessions into practice. However, what they don't know is that once they go onto Earth, they no longer have their angel memories. Emily and Matt are sent onto Earth in the bodies of two humans, Liz and Daniel. The story of this angel/warrior duo was, according to me, highly complex.

You would think that Emily&Liz and Matt&Daniel would have the same personalities because they basically they are of the same essence, but things are a little more complicated than that.
Emily was brave, out-spoken, mischievous and very much full of life. On the hand, Liz was slightly more quiet than Emily, a bit shy, caring and helpful. However, as a reader, I sometimes got glimpses of Emily's character in Liz. Out of the two, I think I prefer Emily a little bit more. That's because she was very relate-able and throughout the book I felt a lot for her. She went through some period of confusion with regards to her human feelings and this made her seem like a realistic character. I found myself easily vouching for her.
The same personality differences also apply to Matt and Daniel. Matt was someone very sweet, mischievous, caring, protective and passionate. Daniel was a little different. Quiet, yet with an inner fire, he was someone I really fell for while reading. Guilt, confusion and heart-break are some of the numerous feelings he went through in the book and each time he suffered, it pained me as well because I had grown to love his character.
Overall, both Emily and Matt, both in their angelic and human form, were terrific, well-developed characters with flaws that made them easy to connect with.

I will admit that the romance was not my favorite part of the story. I think that most of my readers are aware of how much I dislike love triangles. On Earth, Liz met with Jason, a human boy. There was an undeniable attraction between the two. It was easy to see why she fell for him. For one, he had a caring and loving streak to his character. Yet, part of me loved Matt/Daniel too much to fall for Jason. What I didn't like in the relationship between Liz and Jason has to definitely be the pace at which they fall in love.
Matt's feelings for Emily was prevalent from the first time we are introduced to their characters. They had been friends for such a long time and it was clear to me, as a reader, that he really did like Emily. I thought that they made a cute couple,especially at the beginning of the book when they were indulging in their mischief!

Moreover, I thought that the secondary characters were all well-written. Some authors, sometimes, fail to give insight on their secondary characters. Amy Lignor, however, didn't do that. I was delightfully pleased that the author had given each of the characters depth and vitality. Each and every character had a unique personality and seeing them interact with the main characters was very enjoyable.

I really loved what Amy Lignor did with the whole angels aspect of the story. It was not only refreshing, but also very captivating. Once I started reading, I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen. The anticipation was sometimes very tough!
Amy Lignor's world of angels is one that I've never encountered in my reading before. Sure, she did inspire herself from religion, but she wasn't heavy on the religious aspect of it.
Overall, the plot line was highly engaging, full of suspense and interesting!

There is no doubt that Amy Lignor is a creative, original and excellent writer. Her writing is simple, yet addictive. She did a wonderful job at giving the characters their voices and she is also a skillful world-builder. I commend her for her writing skills and I will definitely read more from this bright author.

Overall, if you're looking for an angel story with a different twist from usual angel stories, some wonderful likable characters and some fantastic world-building, then Until Next Time is the book for you!