In My Mailbox

IMM (In My Mailbox) is a weekly meme hosted and created by Kristi at The Story Siren. 

This is a way to share books we received for review, bought, and borrowed from friends or library.

Received for review

Anna Lee Cooper has a secret mission. That's why she starts a pet washing business at her family's car wash. Pretty soon, Anna Lee is up to her elbows in soap and fur. And trouble. Neighborhood bully, Roland Tuttle, just won't leave her alone. Anna Lee will do anything to hang on to her hard-earned money--even if it means taking on Roland all by herself.

But things aren't always as they seem. When Roland's family gets in a jam, Anna Lee has to decide if helping them is more important than completing her own secret mission.

Guest Author: Amy Lignor

A New Kind of Hero!

Seeing as that the lady who runs this blog is a fan of the ‘paranormal romance’ genre, I began to think about the history of the romantic hero. I used to do that every Monday night when Jack Bauer came on the screen and saved the world in 24 hours, but this time I thought about the true heroic men who have graced the pages of literary marvels. It seems funny when you look back now and realize that Mr. Darcy is still the one most women of all ages see as the most romantic male in the history of literature. Heck, even my own nineteen-year-old daughter saw Pride and Prejudice a while back and now makes sure to watch it when she feels down and out. 

Times have changed, of course. When the beautiful Edward began climbing trees and throwing moony-eyed looks in Bella’s direction, the world went nuts; they waited with breathless anticipation to see how it would all end up. And even though the guy had no heartbeat, had the ability to attack you while you slept, and was cold-as-ice, he still remained her supernatural soulmate choice over the much warmer (and hotter…no offense) werewolf.

The supernatural romantic hero always has one very important trait, besides the fact that he’s more beautiful than any human or nonhuman alive. This hero must be tormented in some way. He must have one of those hearts (even if he’s heartless) that can break when the woman he loves causes him pain.  So I wondered…what would fans like to see from a supernatural being that wasn’t tormented?  What if he was the ultimate guy - the hot guy from everyone’s dream - but was already with his so-called soulmate when our story began? This is why Matt was created.

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

I also began to think about taking this hero and having him run smack dab into the real forces of evil - humans. Let’s face it, human emotions - heartbreak, envy, jealousy, obsession - we‘ve got them all, and it would be absolutely fun for me to put a perfectly innocent species into a world where his heart is now more important than his head.  Could the ‘good guy’ remain good? Or, would he eventually have to play dirty in order to keep up with the handsome human males who are simply better at wooing and winning because they’ve had more practice?  

As Until Next Time began to take shape, I thought a great deal about the paranormal romances that have become the biggest ‘Romeo & Juliet’ tragedies this generation has ever known…and I wanted to be unique. In most ‘triangles’ the reader already knows pretty early on who’s going to be the friend and who the soulmate is that the girl will eventually choose, but what if being a human changed all the rules? As this series is continuing in my own home with Book II now closed, I very much wanted to know if Matt and Emily could keep their faith and love in one another in a world that was ripping them apart?

Perhaps the warrior angel will be a new way to look at our beloved romantic triangle. But will he top Mr. Darcy? Come on, guys. The man was elegant, classy and said: “I love you most ardently.” That line alone will live forever. What I can give you is how Emily sees Matt when it all begins…

His eyes 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.

Unfortunately, the world came knocking on their door…

Until Next Time, Everybody.
Amy


The Angel Chronicles web site:
http://www.the-angel-chronicles.com

The Angel Chronicles Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Angel-Chronicles/168932393209654

Until Next Time GoodReads page:
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13319888-until-next-time

Amy Lignor's Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/alignor

Amy Lignor's Twitter:
https://twitter.com/#!/HelloWritersAmy

Amy Lignor's Website:
http://www.thewritecompanion.com/

Amy Lignor's Blog:
http://hellowriters.wordpress.com/

Amy Lignor's GoodReads:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5222068

Tribute Books website:
http://www.tribute-books.com

Tribute Books Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Archbald-PA/Tribute-Books/171628704176

Tribute Books Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/TributeBooks

Tribute Books Blog Tours Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribute-Books-Blog-Tours/242431245775186

Until Next Time: The Angel Chronicles, Book 1 Summary

How does a girl choose between the one who steals her heart and the one who owns her soul?

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

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

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

Amy Lignor's Bio:

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

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

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

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

Book Giveaways Winners: The Last Way Station by Jon Reisfield and Mad Gods by Athanasios

Congratulations to:

HannahH (The Last Way Station E-book)

Marjorie/cenya2 (The Last Way Station and Mad Gods Paperback copies)

I just sent the confirmation email guys.

Thank you to Jon Reisfield and Athanasios for the book giveaways!!