Media Type: Book
Title: Hourglass
Author: Myra McEntire
Publisher: Egmont USA
Pages: Hardcover; 397
Release Date: June 14, 2011
Source: Publisher/TBS
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Intended Reading Group:
Young Adult
Content Screening:
Mild language
HDB Rating:
5 Keys to My Heart
One hour to rewrite the past . . .
For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back.
So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past.
Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?
Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.
Someone please pinch me. I’m pretty sure I’ve died and gone to book heaven and, if Hourglass is what I can look forward to, I’m not coming back! Wow, just wow. I apologize in advance for all the rambling that will ensue. This book is so fantastic, so amazing, that I just cannot seem to express exactly how much I loved it. I’ll try though, for you.
First of all, there are the characters. Emerson Cole takes her rightful place among my all time favorite female characters. She’s sassy, she’s fiery, and the best part is that Emerson isn’t taken in by bedroom eyes and vivid smiles. Oh sure, she might notice them. However if you want to be a part of Emerson’s life, you’d better be prepared to hold your own on the battleground of wit. The snark that comes out her mouth so naturally cracked me up, and I loved the chemistry between her and the other characters. Then there is Michael. Smooth, put together, and off limits for Emerson. The tension between them just crackles deliciously. Finally, and my favorite, the beautifully broken bad boy, Kaleb. This boy is a mess, but wow does he own it. In this humble reader’s opinion, he is the only person who can stand their own next to Miss Emerson Cole.
The Science Fiction portion of Hourglass comes into play in Emerson’s unique ability. She can see ripples from the past, and it’s not doing her any favors in the normalcy department. I could definitely see that Myra McEntire had done her research on time travel. Everything that is presented is completely plausible, and as a regular reader of Science Fiction I found that amazing. In fact, this whole story is blended together so perfectly, so seamlessly, that I could almost believe I’d be walking down the street and come face to face with Emerson, or any one of her unwanted guests. Truth be told, the web that is woven in Hourglass is one that I wasn’t able to pull out of, and I really didn’t want to.
I know I’m rambling now, so I’ll finish off with a last thought. I have read over 100 books so far this year, and sometimes they start to blend together. However, after finishing Hourglass, I am reminded that there are gems out there that stand out. Myra McEntire has written a stunner of a novel. Complete with realistic characters, gorgeously blended science fiction and paranormal elements, and one heck of a story line, this is a book that you need to read. Buy it.
FTC Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. I was not monetarily compensated for my opinion.
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