Review: special blend of humor and messages
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 23, 2013
I really enjoyed Until Next Time and was excited to begin Gilded Wings the second book in Amy Lignor's Angel Chronicles series. This time we travel to America during the Gilded Age of New York. I have always found the time period after the civil war fascinating and was delighted to visit. Romance, moral decisions and faith all play a strong role in this tale. The tale is mixed with the author's special blend of humor and messages. I easily consumed this and look forward to Matt and Emily's next adventure.Emily returns to Earth as a young Russian woman who has just witnessed a horror in her homeland. She seeks refuge in America and on the passage meets a young boy name Gregori and his father. Upon arriving at Ellis Island refugees have to pass a health screening and Gregori's father fails and will be sent back to their homeland. Emily now known as Anya steps in and claims the boy as her brother. As fate would have it the young clerk Drew Parrish, offers her a job as a tutor, giving both her and the young boy refuge. Drew was taken in as a boy in the Carrow home and Mr. Carrow immediately welcomes Anya and Gregori into his home. Anya is flabbergasted by his generosity. She quickly learns about the social ladder and doesn't like what she sees in the members of the "Four Hundred Club". Max Carrow is a dashing young member and his obsession with the circle shakes Anya's core beliefs, what she doesn't know is that he is her beloved soul mate Jason. Emily truly struggles with her feelings for Jason, and right and wrong. The tale was fascinating, rich in history and kept me enthralled.Both Emily and Matthew struggle to understand humans, the social ladder and their feelings. Everything is so much simpler in heaven. Emily believes people can change, that what society thinks shouldn't matter and that money will rule the day. She becomes attached to the Carrow family and her friendship with Drew (Matthew) deepens. Emily loves Jason and has feelings for Max but she has a duty to protect others and keep faith alive. I loved meeting and hearing about some of the greatest entrepreneurs and financial investors of our country. The Saints were back and I laughed so hard at the quotes and advice. It was fun visiting and I loved their interference.The title is perfect for the Gilded Era and Lignor's incorporation of historical characters was delightful. I recently watched a four week documentary showcasing each of these men and her knowledge was solid. She wove tidbits of these men, and events into casual dinner conversation. While Emily and Matthew learn and work to keep faith alive, the author added in messages about the evils of money, and the social structure of a society. She accurately depicted the prejudices and the slums of the tenets. I cried during a few scenes and felt for the victims. I enjoyed Anya's (Emily) banter with Max and her thoughts on society and being a lady. I felt for Matt (Drew) this time around as his feelings for Emily became crystal clear. The pace was delightful and this time I had no difficulty with the back and forth from Heaven. As I closed the book I did so with a strong sense of who I wanted with whom and excitement for the next installment. ARC was provided for unbiased review. Originally posted at caffeinated book reviewer dot com