Hourglass

Hourglass #1

by Myra McEntire

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.

Genres: Young Adult, Time Travel, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Science Fiction, Fiction

400 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 14, 2011

Reviews

[Judith (Judith'sChoiceReads) · Rating 1 out of 5]

WARNING: This review will not be coherent and most definitely a rage as I am pissed. That is all.

Emerson: A short poem I have composed and to be sung to the tune of ‘Georie Peorgie,’ the first half and at the second half, to ‘Humpty Dumpty’ lies below. The rest of the verse is purely improvised. Mostly.

“Emerson, Emerson, barely foot five
Tried to be spunky and made the kids cry
She terrorized the readers and made them beg, “Emerson, be gone, fowl beast! Stay away!”
Until one day she fell was pushed off the Great Wall of China
And all the King’s horses and all the King’s men…Wait, who was Emerson again?
I can’t hear you over the party.”

Meaning the party for my completion of this novel. Who wouldda thunk I'd finish?

Rating: .5 stars

As you might have gathered, Emerson is a very special person. Throughout the novel this is all I got: 'OOOH… Emerson is so athletic, Emerson is so gorgeous, Emerson is so thoughtful...' Emerson is so freaking perfect. Get me a hand gun, I wanna hunt her down. How I hate Emerson! I never did understand when people raged about Bella, nor had issues with her because at the time I read Twilight I hadn’t yet found a problem with the essentially 'perfect' heroine who gets love, money and everything she wants in the end.

Until I met the pygmy ninja that is Emerson Cole.

Someone please explain to me exactly how that is even possible? Or how the girl can be everything McEntire intends for her to be? She is snarky, but not too snarky, gorgeous, but obliviously unaware of it even when others persist in gushing over her like she’s some prized turkey. The girl is 'damaged' because the death of her parents provides that opening for empathy sympathy my foot and Emerson is somehow thoughtful as well even though she does as she wishes regardless of people's warnings or opinions a good 99% of the time. I don't know about you lot, but I demand some credibility!

Characters are not genetic engineered people you can put together, McEntire, they aren’t dollies to be assembled into perfect Bella Swan or Nora Grey wannabes. It never works out well when authors attempt to make their characters essentially perfect, this book being a very apt example of how quickly things can go wrong.

Stuff hits the roof when by halfway into the book, a reader despises most of your characters. There is something very wrong with the animosity I feel for this girl, possibly because I was made to suffer through days in her life for approximately 390 pages.

This is a brief summary of my journey with the book. Notice how quickly my patience diminishes:

Page 1: AW YEAH, new book! New book!
Page 50: Is it just me…or is Emerson annoying as that creepy Fellow Orange down on YouTube land? No, maybe more.
Page 130: Am I done yet?
Page 250: *Rolls eyes at everything*
Page 300: Fires flamethrower, about to aim…
Page 390: Very tempted to gag on book, wondering if I can use the pages as kindling. Must ask library. Winter is coming early this year…

This girl grated on my nerves worse than a freaking Woodpecker on an oak tree. It was all about her and by the end I stopped caring about Emerson and Michael, they could both go jump off a cliff together for all I cared. They were excrutiatingly annoying; the fact that they only ended up together because of attractiveness, and some very big problem in the way neurons in their bodies perceived contact, played a massive role in why I do not give a buck what they do!

Because it was so obvious from the beginning that they would end up together.

It practically screamed at me in the face that Michael and Emerson would be a couple. Even when they had no real chemistry past lightning touch and she was running after him dressed like a hooker. By the way, what was that? It was as if a sudden breach in character happened - the change I'd been praying for since chapters occurring - but not for the good. So what? Emerson has the balls to chase after a guy dressed promiscuously. I do not care! Most of the book was useless information for me scratch that, maybe all of it and the sole reason this novel even got a half star is Dru.

Dru who selflessly cared for her sister-in-law, Dru who had so much potential as a character. Dru who was so terribly out-staged by Emerson, and mind you, I do not care that she is the protagonist! The romance sucked, the characters so cliched I hardly knew what to do with myself. It was as if McEntire held a sharpie to Twilight and the first half of Breaking Dawn, slashed out all the original character's names and substituted her own with a twist.

Was the scientific aspect interesting? Barely. Before it could ever get in-depth or explained, Emerson would be there to somehow spotlight the attention back to her Michael woes. It is safe to also say that as a collective they were all selfish. After Michael's sacrifice, Kaleb and his dad do not have even the respect to feel bad - they continue on with their life as if he owed them the act. I mean, What the Eff, Man! Not that the two (Kaleb and Michael) ever related as friends in my opinion.

Behind Kaleb's back, Michael would bad-mouth him to Emerson and behind Michael's back, Kaleb made moves on that same girl! Three words gentlemen: Bros before Hoes. That there is grade school knowledge. All their shared history took an enormous backseat to this girl and they forgot all they had been through together! How is that right??

This is precisely why some women should never pen fiction. A real guy and his B.F. would not sacrifice their relationship for some chick! I positively hated the pedestal everyone gave little Miss Emerson, as if she was some Deity! So frustrating. Especially since I never respected her as a character, I could never relate or sympathize, and at first I did feel bad, but then I stopped caring altogether.

Everything irritated me. How she found a connection to Kaleb after knowing him for no more than 5 minutes irritated me. How the world revolves around her far-fetched infatuation with Michael killed me. She tried so hard to make it seem sexy. So very, very hard! And failed.

Failed so hard.

Did I forget to mention? That the pathetic attempt at making their 'love' seem star-crossed, forbidden and even impossible was so lame? Yeah, it was.

And you know what? Screw it all! This book deserves a review almost as much as Emerson warranted my time. I'm out!

But before I leave...

IMMA FIRIN' MAH GUN!





And one for the Little Emerson as well? Certainly.

[Arlene · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating Clarification: 2.5 Stars (closer to 2)

Well, I’m obviously in the minority when it comes to the appeal of this book. For me, Hourglass just had too many bumps in the journey to make me a fan.

The storyline felt very choppy with its constant starts and stops and I almost came close to calling it quits around mid-way through. The hardest part for me was trying to find a connection or some sort of spark between Emerson (a name I love BTW) and Michael. I just didn’t catch it at all. ^^ However, I did like a couple of the secondary characters, including Lily and Kaleb. I actually preferred those two over the MCs, but what I didn’t understand was why the author chose to reveal Lily’s powers of finding lost objects if she wasn’t going to do anything with that. What was the purpose? The time travel piece of the story was intriguing at first until the author clouded it with mind numbing theoretical physics and even that began to lose its appeal for me.

But my biggest beef with this book is the many similarities to that book I once adored. I have to mention that I’m not one to quickly compare a YA-Paranormal story to that book. I’ve written over 300+ reviews, so give me some lee-way when I say for the first time that this story had so many parallels, so let me just mention a few:
Girl meets boy and they have an instant, undeniable attraction. sigh
Girl has super special abilities that baddies want to take advantage of. sighX2
Boy is rich and drives a foreign car that’s super cool. ^^
Boy is girl's “own brand” of crazy. Really?? (page 87) : /
Boy's bestest guy friend is an empathe (can sense emotions of others). Oh Jasper HALE! Why does that sound familiar? >.<
Boy's friend who happens to be beautiful loves boy and is super jealous of girl. O.o
SPOILER ALERT... When boy dies, girl can’t breathe and feels like half of her is missing. (p 252) I wanted to suggest she go cliff diving, but that would be cliché.
Boy appears to be in pain when he’s around girl. (p 91) My suggestion... don’t put yourself around pain inducing girl! :P
Boy scares the shit out of girl when she’s sneaking around and he’s waiting for her in the car. He’s angry at her for putting herself in danger. (p, 104) He just needs to be holding the car starter in his hands and we’ve got a classic scene from that book.

Okay, I can’t be the only one that caught those similarities, right? Either way, I’ve already read that book several times, so I didn’t really need a repeat or a variation of a repeat and that’s where Hourglass fell short for me. Not to mention that I felt Emerson had some anger management issues. Punching Michael and drop kicking him isn’t my brand of entertainment. ^^ Call it petty, but I was bothered.

Overall, I don’t think I’ll continue with this series as Hourglass wasn’t quite for me. But, I would like to note how obvious it is that I’m in the minority, so be sure to check out other reviews as you might be missing something great.

[Cara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yes, I was one of the people slobbering over the cover and didn't pay too much attention of what the book was really about. Then I heard two words, time travel and I had no choice but to read it of course. I'm confused with my feelings for this one. The "feelings" I have are too all over the place. I loved some of things and some things really bothered me, but I will definitely be reading the sequel Timepiece.

Emerson is a 17 year old living with her older brother and his wife. When we meet her she is recovering from her parents’ death and her time in a mental hospital, and is grasping to find some normalcy. The problem with that is she keeps seeing beings from the past, and this is where Michael Weaver comes in. Emerson's brother, Thomas, hires Michael to help her with her problem. Soon enough Emerson learns she has a deep connection with Michael and the society he works for, called the Hourglass. That turns out to know more about her than she does. Emerson feels like she can trust Michael, but then she finds out some things that cause her to ask questions. Michael is being vague and avoids answering her questions, and Emerson can tell something is up but she can’t tell what exactly. What she finds out is something huge and of enormous scope, which leaves her wondering if she may be in over her head.

All right so I think I can sum up with one line what irked me most about this book:

"Jumping between them was as smart as jumping in the middle of a cage match, but I did it anyways, putting a hand on each of their chests. Even in the heat of the moment I had to appreciate the muscle tone of both."

Now, I think this is the most cringe-worthy line of the book but there are lines similar to this peppered throughout, and I felt it kind of took away from the actual romance of the book. And of course more than one guy has to like her. *sigh* If you cannot stomach things like this you should probably steer clear. I'm pretty tolerant of these romances and it's clear from the beginning that they have a strong connection/attraction to each other. Another thing I have to gripe about is her brother who lets her get way with a lot. I am the oldest of my siblings and I would have no way accepted some of the things he did. I guess I'm old school that way, but you ask any responsible (keyword) older sibling and they'd probably tell you the same thing. I also felt like I was reading a magazine article at times because we are told what Emerson is wearing all the time. I don't actually need to know that much, but that may be just me.

Put aside all I said though because despite that I was really engrossed with this story. The plot moves along at a good pace and the story has an epic feel to it. The strength of the book is the time traveling and how that works. Towards the end of the book my stomach was literally in knots anticipating what was going to happen next. I am getting attached to characters and the idea of what is going to happen to each and every one of them, so the author can certainly write.

Bonus they actually mentioned empanadas in the book! Now for those of you who don't know it's a Hispanic dessert that is sooooo good, so yes it got kudo points just for that. So in conclusion if you are a huge fan of paranormal romances I suggest you move this up on your to-read list.

Later added: I switched my rating from 4 to 3 stars. I don't usually do this but I think I fell for the swept-off-my-feet-syndrome. Still entertaining but needed something a little more real for me to feel like it deserved the 4 star rating.

[Mar · Rating 1 out of 5]

As you all know, I always the rate the entire series in general in the final book… however, what I gotta say is.

The main character SUCKS ASS. She’s written like a 12 year old with a Mary Sue complex, pick me girl, she’s annoying. Romance is awful. Plot is boring. No. Just no. Plus, characters are flat as fuck.

[Victoria Schwab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come, but oh my can Myra write.

I have said and will say, I always want to be friends with her characters. Add to that the positively YUMMY boys, and a killer plot, and you have a WINNER.

[Danielle. · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is all kinds of fucked up. and also my rant/review

Here's the deal, I'm going to let off my steam right now. So, this rant will be incoherent and flat out rude (well, not really rude, but very vulgar).
Hell, I might be very annoying. Read at your own risk; when I'm cooled off, I will write another review that's mature... deal? OK.

I honestly don't understand why authors feel the need to write insta-love, angst-y, and/or novels with a love triangle. I fucking don't. Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? IT'S ANNOYING, it's been done over a hundred times. I swear it has. It doesn't make your book "unique", it doesn't make your book "awesome", it doesn't make your book "enjoyable". Not. At. Fucking. All.

It bugs the shit out of me. It makes me want to burn your book. It makes me want to pull the hairs from my head.

This started off to be a pretty decent read then everything turned to shit. The protagonist is a bitch. I hate her (like I do for the majority of YA novels). "Michael has my heart." Emerson, are you kidding me? You just met the guy, what the fuck do you mean?

OK, I can't do this. I need to calm down.


___________________________________________________

For authors:

Greetings. So… you want to be an author for the Young Adult genre, aye? You’re feeling pretty proud of yourself for that uncorrected copy you have in your hands, huh? You’re feeling triumphant of your success in finishing it – all the sweat, the headaches, and the staying up for 24 hours straight trying to perfect your characters as well as your storyline? Well, I’m here to spoil it all for you because I’ve some DO’s, DON’Ts, and AVOIDs for writing YA literature. I’m sorry to wipe the smile from your face; if you followed all of this you have nothing to worry about (same for the authors in the process of writing their debut novel). It’s a small list, it’s not much....

DON’T create the clichéd “my best friend is a gorgeous slut and I’m the plain boring girl no one pays attention to” concept.

DON’T write a novel that’s either an insta-love or a love triangle or both. Statistics show that 70% of YA authors use this as a way to “lure” us readers into their "oh so sexy" world; however, it's been done, and it's not our cup of tea.

DO write a delicious hot romance that's wholly original and not an insta-love/love triangle.

DO craft well-rounded; funny characters that would be memorable. Sass is acceptable -- ENDURABLE sass.

DON'T make your protagonist's lover an abusive prick. This is an extremely terrifying situation that I don't take lightly. I will not brush it off because he's sexy and later on I might grow to love him. That's a terrible risk you're taking. It's not something I (and many other readers) find enjoyable. It's annoying.

Click the view spoiler to see what I'm talking about, it's quite a long passage so I'm going to hide it:

"Emerson [...] why were you looking up Liam Ballard?"
The tone of his voice sent chills up my spine. I stopped fiddling and answered cautiously, watching him through the mirror. "Because he's the founder of the Hourglass?"
His expression changed, moving from concern to anger in the split second the word Hourglass was uttered.
I turned around. He was just as frightening face-to-face as he was in the reflection, his brown eyes almost black, his full lips flattened into a thin line. "What --"
He interrupted me. "How did you find Liam's name? What else did you find when you searched him?" The question sounded more like an accusation, his tone stone cold. I didn't know this Michael.
I didn't like this Michael.
"That he" -- I paused, forcing my voice to stay level -- "that he died in a fire."
He stood and crossed the room in a few long strides. I took an uncertain step back, my spine bumping uncomfortably against the dresser.
Speaking each word distinctly, he leaned over and looked into my eyes. "You need to mind your own business."
I swallowed [...] "Why does that sound like a threat?"
"It's a warning," he said, placing his hands on the dresser. "Forget about Liam Ballard."
"Why?" I asked breathlessly, feeling caged in, trapped by his stare as much as his arms.
"Just do," he answered, authoritative and dismissive, his voice hard as steel.

This passage continues for another page and a half, Michael's trying to control himself as he struggle for his words. He's quick to lose his temper, he invaded her space and came too close to her -- close enough to strangle her. I did not like that at all. It was over something so small and he flipped batshit. What I also cannot fathom was the author's incessant description of his sexiness whilst this was happening (i.e. description of his oh-so-beautiful eyes, amazingly toned arms, etc.) and Emerson, the protagonist, wondering what it'd be like to be in his arms if he wasn't angry.



How thick can this bitch get? He lost his temper over the smallest thing, why are you so interested in this lunatic?

Please, for the love of all Greek gods, DON’T use phrases like this when talking about a guy your female protagonist is interested in (even though she’s already “in love” with another):

“Kaleb was so pretty I was jealous.” That’s an official virtual slap across the face.



AVOID writing passages you think are funny... because the majority of the time they won’t be:

E.g. “Hey, bro, do you think you can put Shorty back on her chain?"
I stepped forward with my hands on my hips, only slightly intimidated to find Kaleb almost eye level with me when he was seated and I was standing.
"First of all, no one is the boss of me but me. Secondly, if you ever reference my 'chain' again, I will kick your ass." I jabbed him hard in the chest with my finger. Possibly breaking it. "And thirdly, don't call me Shorty."
Kaleb sat silently for a second, his eyes wide as he looked at Michael. "Where did you get her? Can you get me one?"



AVOID writing a passage about your protagonist wanting to slap a girl for being gorgeous and living in the same “house” as the boy she’s “in love with”:

“I had a dilemma. I could find absolutely no good reason to slap the girl standing in the kitchen door.
And I really wanted one.”

But then write a chapter later she’s coming on to the guy she’s “in love with”’s best friend. It’s tacky and I’ll hate you.

AVOID cheesy lines like this:

“My heart stumbled a little, but the tenderness in his voice kept me from falling.”

Last, but certainly never least, don’t write a line about being in love with a guy she doesn’t know shit about like this:

“If he wasn't already holding my heart in the palm of his hand, I would have taken it out and given it to him right then.”

Now that the DO’s, DON’Ts, and AVOIDs have been written, make sure you make those changes before sending it in to publishing companies. If you had some of these DON'Ts and/or AVOIDs in your book but it's already been sent out... how unfortunate.

[YA Reads Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally featured on yareads.com, reviewed by Kiona

This book blew me away – probably because I wasn’t expecting to fall so thoroughly in love with it. I went in thinking it was a ghost story, due to the summary on the back cover, but I was completely wrong. It’s a fantastic blend of paranormal and science fiction, at times reminding me of elements of Harry Potter and X-Men, both of which I love. Hourglass has so many great twists, some I saw coming and some that completely blind-sided me in the best possible way. This excellently crafted book is well-organized and completely absorbing, one of those I-really-shouldn’t-stay-up-until-2-because-I-have-class-in-the-morning-but-I-can’t-stop books.

But let me backtrack for a minute. Hourglass tells the story of Emerson Cole, a teenage girl who began seeing what she believes to be ghosts shortly before her parents died in a horrific accident. Since then, Emerson has spent her time at mental institutions and boarding school. But when her scholarship is pulled, she is forced to move back home with her brother and his wife. She has only one friend at home, Lily, who has stuck by Emerson throughout her entire ordeal. And then Emerson meets Michael – the handsome consultant her brother has hired – and he turns her world upside down.

The first thing I like about Hourglass was that Emerson confides in her brother and he actively tries to help her. There are so many books where the protagonist feels like they have to hide their “dark secret” because no one could ever possibly understand them. I just want to shake those protagonists and tell them to give their friends and family a little more credit. Of course, Emerson does spend some time in an asylum, but that’s realistic; she’s able to handle that and come out even stronger. Her brother, Thomas, is a wonderful character. He looks out for Emerson, doesn’t think she’s crazy, and continuously tries to help her. He’s also the perfect mix of cool-older-brother and authoritarian. I love his relationship with Emerson and even his rules regarding Michael. It’s easy to see how much he cares about his sister and how seriously he takes her predicament.

Emerson. One of my favorite protagonists. First of all, she has a great name (and I’m not just saying that because I go to Emerson College). She is one of the most three-dimensional characters I’ve seen in awhile. Her biting sarcasm is consistently hilarious; she can take care of herself, due to martial arts lessons; she doesn’t let anyone tell her what to do and only opens up to those she truly trusts; she gets jealous easily, is willing to put others before herself, and occasionally breaks all the rules. She has such a traumatic past and though she certainly draws strength from it, her past is also a source of pain and confusion; she hasn’t completely healed. In fact, by the end of the book she’s even further from healing than the beginning, which just allows the possibility for more growth.

I love the whole science fiction aspect of this book. The idea behind the Hourglass is so innovative and I was dying to know what it was from the beginning. Each character – especially members of the Hourglass – is fleshed out and serves a purpose. Myra McEntire is clearly a master at weaving intricate plots. She includes all the elements of great story-telling, including realistic characters with depth, witty dialogue, suspense, foreshadowing, and sizzling romance. Emerson’s emotions are so strongly conveyed that I felt them right along with her: her suspicion regarding Michael, confusion over Kaleb, anger at Ava, and love for Thomas and Dru. I like that Emerson doesn’t trust people easily. She has no reason to. So when certain characters finally gain Emerson’s trust, they also gained mine, which means I was just as shocked as Emerson by some of the final twists of Hourglass.

This book literally has everything and I really hope I won’t have to wait forever for a sequel. The ending is left open and there are so many questions I still have about this world and the characters. Hourglass is sure to be a hit in the YA scene and I look forward to seeing it receive the recognition it deserves.

[Isamlq · Rating 2 out of 5]

I caught myself rolling my eyes at how hot she found him. Throughout the book, Emerson could not get over how good Michael looked. She was all, “His classic looks, his lips, his clothes, even his muscles (even saying his muscles have muscles!)” So, yes, there were plenty eye roll, head-meet-table moments. Then I realized I was being too critical and actually expecting it to suck. Once I recognized these, let go of some of my expectations, things got a little better. Yes, there’s a lot of the same old, same old in it, but two things kept me going: her family… and the hope that it wouldn’t be too YA typical.

The good things first: Her family is present. One normally reads of YA protags who feel left out and misunderstood, alone to deal with their issues (until the requisite love interest shows up to shake things up.) In Hourglass, Emerson has a loving and supportive family. With their parents dead, Thomas and Dru, his wife, are all she has. And that’s a good thing because they are there for her, while still setting down some rules for her.

Another positive was the whole seeing ghosts and time travelling thing. Or at least it could have been a good thing. Because honestly? A lot of the book was Emerson obsessing over Michael’s physical perfection. The time travel aspect just came across as to easy with the serious lack of explanation. Readers are expected to take things at face value: Em can see dead people (sort of.) Em can harness her powers. And Em can do this by following what bleep-bleep says. For a character touted to be independent and not so trusting (and she really was those things at first,) I was very surprised by how easily later on she accepted some of the explanations. Well, maybe because it’s their “electric connection,” that’s time and again, alluded to in the book.

Again, it still sadly is just another YA despite the story being “I see dead people” with the added element of time travel. Hourglass could have been so good. However, the characters weren’t developed: Emerson is not as independent or strong as I would have liked. But maybe that’s a good thing because there can only be so many “strong” characters, right? Uh. Nope, not right, at all. She came across as jealous and childish. Then Michael. He’s there, he’s hot... and Em likes him (a lot). Why? Whu...? How? Is it because he is hot, has pouty lips and muscles that have muscles that they develop a romance? I mean really?! The other characters too were not as developed; I wish their abilities were explored a little more.

Oh, and there’s also a love triangle.

If you still haven’t gotten enough of inexplicable YA romances, with characters thought to be tough and strong but are really just enamored with the physical attributes of their requisite romantic interest, this might do.

At least the ending was good. It was surprising enough to get me to want to read the next one.

[Nic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favourite quote: "Most of what I say is complete truth. My edit button is broken."

I was excited to read Hourglass. I mean how could you not be with such an intriguing synopsis and gorgeous cover. And while I ended up really enjoying Hourglass I did struggled at the beginning.

The start was a bit slow for me. It lacked that something special that makes you get caught up in the story and care about what is happening. But half way through things changed and there was action, plot twists and chemistry between the characters and I began to feel captivated by Hourglass. And even though the concept of time travel is not unique this did feel like a fresh take on this supernatural element.

Emerson is an enjoyable protagonist. She is brave, strong and quick witted character and is a stand outs in the sea of likeable YA lead females. Then there is Michael, he is loyal, smart and gorgeous. You know the typical leading man. I liked him but he is kind of forgettable once you read the book. There is nothing wrong with him I just didn't feel the swoon.

The secondary characters however are strong and distinctive. I especially loved Kaleb (a lot more than Michael, no there is not a love triangle, well not really, okay only a little). And the villain he would have to be one of the most surprising and fascinating characters in the story.

The romance was sweet. Much like the rest of the book it took me a bit to warm up to it. I got frustrated at the beginning because the characters had this instant-attraction-love thing but did this no whole we can't be together dance. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. And it didn't at the beginning. But as I got to know the characters better and understand the reasons behind their actions I ended up liking the romance.

Overall, despite my rocky start with Hourglass I did really enjoy it. And will be definitely reading more of this series.

[Bonnie · Rating 1 out of 5]

'I'd never been as honest with anyone as I'd been with Michael.He made me feel safe, like I could be real - shattered and fragmented and wholly imperfect - even though he was the polar opposite. Intact, complete, fully perfect.'

And this is how she feels after a day. Uh-huh. Those types of lines was everything I found wrong with the book. A girl who sees ghosts from the past? Sign me up. Except what I got was a typical teenage girl who falls head over heels for some guy and CAN'T TALK ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE. I was incredibly intrigued by the storyline and the initial 30 pages and I wouldn't have minded the 'love-interest' so much if it wasn't beaten into you every flipping page. The story finally got around to explaining their total attraction to one another and blamed it on some scientific reasoning that didn't do anything to justify it in my opinion.

There were other issues I had but I'm going to leave it at that and be done with it.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 stars? Maybe 20 stars?

[~Tina~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hourglass is the kind of book that took me by surprise, I hoped that I would enjoy it, but I never thought I'd love it the way I did.

Myra McEntire's writing is fierce and sassy, one of my favorite combo's. She gives such delicious flavor to the voices she's created and her time-travel concept was absolutely fascinating. She did a stunning job of making the plot really standout in a fresh, unique and mysterious way, only fueling my need for the second installment that much quicker.

I actually just really loved all the characters. Even the evil dudes. Emerson (great name) was not only brave and caring, but she felt very real and had the most realistic and natural reactions. She had some...overly sensitive moments that I could have lived without, but considering what she's had to endure, it was easy to overlook.
Loved Thomas and Dru! They are such good people and I loved the never ending support and acceptance they gave Emerson.
I also got a real kick out of the other characters at the school and what they could do, but Kaleb was my favorite. I'm not sure his...affections were entirely necessary mind you...but it was awfully amusing to see certain reactions unfold.
The 'villains' in this one actually shocked me, I really didn't see that twist coming and thought that was very well played.

With that said, there were still some little things that bothered me. The whole 'no-fraternizing dance' started to get a little frustrating between Michael and Emerson not to mention the misunderstanding-arguments that quickly followed one or the other hotly stomping off.
But despite the drama and heated exits, I simply adored the fun and funny chemistry that these two characters sparked. They most definitely earned a few chuckles along the way with the witty dialog and had me swooning over some of the more intense scenes. A very well developed couple who has me begging for more.

Plain and simple, I kinda loved this one. It was fun, exciting and I was completely absorbed with the plot and loved the concept of time travel and the other sci-fi abilities.

Good stuff! Really looking forward to the sequel!

[Whitley Birks · Rating 1 out of 5]

See my other reviews at Whitley Reads

It takes quite a bit for me to DNF a book once I get past the first chapter. A merely bad book won’t do it; no, the book has to actively piss me off before I’ll put it down halfway through.

Hourglass pissed me off.

It was an accumulation of things, really. A line here, a subplot there, a logic hole over yonder. Each by itself would have made the boom mediocre, but as they all piled up, my patience wore thinner and thinner until seething rage just boiled over. I was so annoyed by the end of my reading and a mere misplaced comma could make me go cross-eyed with fury.


Close enough.

So, join me on this journey from mild interest to frothy rage.

The book started out well enough. It was readable, had a decent set-up with Emerson seeing “ghosts” and the promise of a “consultant” coming in to help her with that. Ball got rolling right off the bat, and Emerson’s narration actually made me chuckle a few times.

I quickly realized that the writing in this book is a kind of…intermediate fail. It got the basics right, and even did them well. On a line-editing level, this was good stuff, so it was easy to read and get sucked in. But when it came to stuff like pacing, characterization, plots, showing vs telling, all that stuff you learn after you get the basics down? Fail, fail, fail, fail. It tricked me into thinking it was well written, the sly little devil.

The first thing that pissed me off was the rampant ableism and misuse of a mental illness subplot. At first this was just confusing, with lots of conflicting details so that I couldn’t quite tell what was going on. Emerson said she was committed for talking to a ghost in public, says she was on drugs that put her into a stupor, several times admitted that it was all hallucinations, and then went ahead and treated her ghosts like ghosts? It took a while to shake out, because the book couldn’t decide what it was doing with that subplot and it really felt like the whole thing was written more on the fly than a season of LOST, but the final version as I understand it was this: Emerson got depressed after she lost her parents, was committed to a mental institution because of depression + visual hallucinations, and then her medication (either antidepressants or antipsychotics, depending on what page you’re reading, it kept switching) made her stop seeing ghosts. Eventually she got out of the institution (because…she was better? Left because she felt like it? Brother pulled her out? Fuck you, this book doesn’t care) and then stopped taking her meds but didn’t tell anyone.

Oh, so, so, so many things wrong here. First of all, the book has no fucks to give when it comes to displaying mental health care in…any sort of realistic light. Positive, negative, fuck it, that whole committed thing is just in her backstory for sympathy points not to be examined or anything. Second, who the fuck decided to drug her? With what drugs? If it was done for the depression, then drugging someone into a stupor for depression seems counterproductive and would only be done if the person was a danger to themselves or others. If it was done because of the “hallucinations” then fuck off right now because 1) you need more than one symptom to be diagnosed with a mental illness and 2) antipsychotic drugs are no joke and wouldn’t be given to her based on what we know about her symptoms. There are times when you really want people to stop hallucinating no matter what, but those times tend to be “when the voices tell them to kill the president and they actually listen.” If Emerson can tell the difference between reality and her hallucinations, and can ignore anything the hallucinations tell her to because her reasoning skills still work fine, then there’s NO reason to drug her into a stupor over it. We don’t give people these drugs because having hallucinations is icky, we do it because it interferes with their ability to function. If you can still function while seeing ghost people, then a doctor should go “oh thank god, we don’t have to kill your liver, let’s get you into therapy and see if we can’t figure this out or come up with coping techniques.”

This book has no fucks to give on that point, because this book can’t even be arsed to keep straight what drugs she was on, much less treat the matter with respect. Drugs = bad, so drug backstory = instant sympathy and that’s where the logic behind this subplot keeled over and died.

And if we go with the “depression” version of the story, then she stopped taking antidepressants and…? Yeah, she stops taking her medicine, and NOTHING NEGATIVE HAPPENS AT ALL. She’s not depressed, not even mildly. Apparently she was bad enough off to need the drugs and they’re still being prescribed to her, but not really? That whole plot gap makes it especially obvious that the book didn’t give a fuck about its mental illness handling.

And that’s on top of all the really, really disturbing statements about “crazy” people in this book. If Emerson wanted to self-identify as “crazy,” that’s fine, but it didn’t really get that impression from her, and also she gives us lines like this:
“crazy people don’t generally get to claim self-control as a personality trait.”
“could capture me and hold me prisoner while performing experiments on me. Not unlike a mental hospital.”
“At least he didn’t have to be inside his mom’s crazy.”

So that set the groundwork for me to really hate this book, but then it just kept going. We had the standard “impossibly gorgeous guy” as the love interest, and any hint of progress was replaced with endless gushing about how he made her hot and tingly all over. Supposedly this was ‘justified’ because their complimentary powers made them get the horny for each other, but that strikes me as less justified and more fanfic sex pollen. An excuse to write the same tropes as everyone else is not a justification, it just means you put more effort into excuses than into doing something original.

The pacing dragged on and on and on and on. The first 40% of the book was just Michael not telling her stuff while she got mad at him for not telling her stuff. Then when he did tell her stuff, there was no actual reason for him to have been withholding that.

But one of the biggest problems for me was the absolute slap-dash way the whole book was put together. Too many times were things just stated and accepted. “You can time travel!” “Okay, got it, and also I have no questions, nor do I want to test this claim or require any proof.” “The buy guy is evil!” “What has he done?” “He’s evil!” “OMG, how terrible! Even though you didn’t answer my question, I will never ask it again.” “Hi, I’m a weird almost-ghost boy that likes to hang around in your house!” “I will not think about you except for the few times I need to, and those points will be hundreds of pages removed from each other.” Everything about this book was so disjointed and poorly handled. Every chapter gave me something new to be annoyed about. Even the time travel couldn’t hold my interest, because it felt like the book itself cared less about the time travel than every little mundane detail that went on in Emerson’s day.

I DNF’d at 65%, when the second love interest was introduced and decided he was in love with Emerson despite having known her for less than a day.

There were many, many more problems in addition to the ones listed here, but this review is already too long and my brain is trying to forget them.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was like Back to the Future meets Twilight meets X-Men. Loved it!! Full review to come soon!

Full review added 6/28/11. See my blog www.fictitiousdelicious.com !

I love storylines that are new and different, not to mention AMAZING, and HOURGLASS definitely fits into those categories! This book was at once fun, captivating, romantic, suspenseful, and hilarious. I love, love LOVE Emerson. I love that she can kick butt, I love her awesome ability (and the fact that it scares the crap out of her), and I love that she is short. Hey, we vertically challenged girls have to stick together!

Holy moly did these love scenes make my heart pound! You are a big tease, Ms. McEntire! The relationship between Emerson and Michael is reminiscent of…dare I say it…Edward and Bella. Although I hate to compare things to Twilight, the feeling of anticipation and “JUST KISS ALREADY!” was quite similar! And it totally worked.

As I mentioned above, the storyline was quite delicious, mixing time travel, super heroes, romance, and mystery together in a really refreshing way. I wanted to see more of this cool world Myra created! In fact, this is the only complaint I can make about HOURGLASS: I wanted more! Which I guess isn’t a complaint at all, just an incentive to get me to wait a whole year for the next book in the series.

An all-around great read for any fan of YA fiction!

[Mariya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could not stop reading Hourglass until I got to the last page. This book is a mix of romance, plot twists, and wicked mystery. I was so into this book I may have forgotten to go to sleep. So I stumbled upon this book and read the description and I was like what is this book about. It feel like the cover, book title, and book description is all a mystery of what the contents of this book contains. I was curious, so I had to crack open the book and once the book was open I could not close it.

Emerson sees spirits and her brother is very worried so then she meets Micheal who is from Hourglass who ends up helping her with this gift of hers. Emerson goes deeper into the world of Hourglass. There are other people like Emerson who have these gifts, so she is not alone. And her past may not be what it really is.

This book was quite exciting because from the beginning you want to know what the hell Hourglass is, and it's like it's kept a secret for a while and every chapter you have more and more questions. Which brings me to Micheal. SO he is Emerson's love interest and he is sweet and caring like any guy.

One annoying habit that he had that drove me crazy was that Micheal sort of tried to do what he thought was best for Emerson. If he thought something was too dangerous or if he thought he was protecting her he would do it his way without considering her feelings on the subject. Another thing is he stresses at the beginning how they can't be together and I swear I sat through the whole novel wondering why the hell not? Only to find out it was something stupid.

I thought Emerson's family, her brother Thomas and her wife, Dee. we great family. But I thought her brother was way too protective and smothering her too much. If I was Emerson I couldn't handle it. I think he is the same as Micheal in doing what he thinks is best for Emerson without her consent and even though he is her legal guardian he should give her some space.

We were introduced to some characters of the Hourglass that have some ablities like Emerson does and it was cool to meet them and I hope that we get to learn more about their ablities in the next book. Overall this was a great 2011 author debut. I enjoyed it a great deal and look forward to reading the next book in the series. You will not want to miss Hourglass. It is a must-read.


More of my reviews at Mystifying Paranormal Reviews

[Kristi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hourglass was an incredibly impressive debut.

I was captivated from the very first page. Emerson is an irresistible character, I loved everything about her. Her snark, stubbornness, selflessness.... vulnerabilities. She was a very likable character, and I don't think the story would have been that impressive without her. Her relationship with Michael was heartfelt and warm, it just felt natural, no insta-love for these two.

There were aspects of the novel that I didn't anticipate at all! And I don't really want to get into them, because I think the surprise of discovering it yourself is half of the fun! Myra does an excellent job of keeping the reader engaged and giving them just enough information without the overload.

Hourglass is a must read. It has a little bit of everything... romance, mystery, suspense... it's definitely a book that will appeal to a wide range of readers. Add Hourglass to your reading piles, I know it'll be one of your favorites too!

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emerson Cole began to see people that weren't actually there right before her parents passed away. Relying heavily on the ghostly visitors attire to discern if they were real or an unwelcome "blast from the past". Emerson's condition caused numerous embarrassing situations, as well as her eventual admittance to a mental hospital.

The Emerson we meet in Hourglass has come a long way since she was a ghost seeing patient at the local loony bin. She seems like any other teen girl, but really she has just learned to keep her visitors a secret from her family and friends. She lives with her brother and his wife who both seem to easily accept Emerson's affliction. Even going so far as to recruit people claiming they can help her, but unfortunately they are just frauds. Then Em's brother hires Michael who works for the secretive organization called The Hourglass. Emerson feels like she finally found someone who can truly understand and help her. What Michael eventually reveals Em never saw coming.

I have to start by saying this is NOT a ghost story. I've seen it referred to as a "time slip" novel. Call it what you want, but what this book should be called is full of awesome! I was craving something unique and different. Hourglass fit the bill perfectly. Having had bad luck with other time travel novels, I was worried I wouldn't be able to get into this one. Not the case at all. I grieved for this book when I finished the last page. It was that good!

What debut author, Myra McEntire, brings to the YA genre is truly refreshing. Protag Emerson is just amazing. She is 100% smart ass with some of the best dialogue I've ever seen grace the pages of a book. I loved her moxie, and her ability to kick some serious ass. Em is just the beginning of what I loved about Hourglass. This book starred such an array of well-developed characters and relationships. Even though I loved all the amazing characters, the aspect I appreciated most about this book was the dialogue. This author has a writing style that is uniquely her own. I can't even think of an author who is similar. It gives her a definite edge that makes her writing stand out among other authors in this genre. AND it isn't dumb downed! I can definitely see this series appealing to teen and adult readers alike.

Now I can't review this book without talking boys. There are two serious hotties in Em's world. Michael and Kaleb. Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy! I don't even know where to begin. They both bring something special to the table. I'd be hard pressed to choose a favorite. For the reader who is anti love triangle, please don't let the mention of two boys scare you off. This book doesn't go the expected route when it comes to the romantic relationships. Yet another reason I love this book! The angst was practically nonexistent.

Hourglass is a delicious mix of romantic and sci-fi elements. The plot was fast paced and packed with twists and turns. The dialogue was witty and smart. Talk about a page-turner! I am madly in love with everything this author has created. I don't think a series, let alone author debut, has ever impressed me more. Only complaint is the next book in this series won't be out for an entire year :( I will be anxiously awaiting more of Emerson's story!

[Mundie Moms & Mundie Kids · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this mix of southern hospitality, snark, romance, plot twists, and mystery. Hourglass's fresh voice adds something new to the YA/Paranormal genre. I WANT MORE!
*review to come*

Full review- 6/20/11

What a fabulous debut! I absolutely love this mix of southern hospitality, snark, romance, plot twists, and mystery. Hourglass's fresh paranormal voice adds something new to the YA genre and left me wanting more.

I enjoyed getting to know each of Hourglass's characters, especially the main character Emerson. She's broken, but in a different way. Having dwelt with tragedy before and having an awesome paranormal ability has taught her to be a fighter. She's strong and isn't afraid to say what she's thinking and will go after anything she sets her mind to. Not to mention she's a relatable teenage girl and one of things I admire about her is how honest she is with herself. Plus anyone who says buttered biscuits and honey gets props in my book. I loved getting to meet Michael and Kaleb, and can I just say how much I loved the way Myra wrote the chemistry between Emerson and these two, especially with Michael. I'm a sucker for a well written love triangle, though this really isn't a love triangle per se.

One of the things I really liked about the romance in the story is that it's not a love at first site kind, but one with an undeniable connection. I felt that made the love story much more relatable and realistic. My inner teenage self had a few nice laughs at the way Emerson describes the two hotties, Michael and Kaleb. My favorite of the two is of course the broken boy Kaleb. There's so much more to him than what he wants people to see, and I loved how careful and sweet he is with Emerson. Plus these two provided the right amount of humor to the story. What I enjoyed the most about the characters is how Myra allowed me to get to know them, but didn't overly reveal everything about them, which makes me even more drawn to them.

I absolutely loved the way in which Myra combined paranormal and history into her story. I'm a huge paranormal fan and I love the different paranormal abilities characters have and the way Myra created the ability for some of them to time travel. I'm also a huge history fan and I really enjoyed the way in which Myra ties the ghosts Emerson can see into some of the more historical places in the story's TN setting, that Emerson's brother Thomas restores. Hourglass is a captivating story and I loved how every detail, big or small all ties into the story, either with the characters, the setting or the plot itself.

Hourglass is a fabulous debut that not only has a fresh voice, but it's an engaging, fast paced, fun read. It's one of those books that no matter how many times I read (3 times so far) I fall in love with it all over again. If you're looking for a unique paranormal mixed with time travel, ghosts, betrayal, lots of romance, engaging mystery, exciting plot twists, wonderful characters and a great setting, than I highly recommend picking up Hourglass. It's one of those books that you'll sit down to read and before you're know you'll be sucked into into the story. I'm really looking forward to what happens next and I can't wait to get my hands on the sequel when it's released next year.

[Amy Plum]

This book sucked me right in and didn't let me out until the last page. (And even then, I wanted to linger with it for a while longer.) I love McEntire's sense of humor, and really connected with Em. And Michael and Kaleb...well, although they're both dreamy I always go for the bad boy. In books, of course. Thanks Myra McEntire for a fabulous read. I can't wait until Book 2!

[Misty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not entirely sure what I want to say to you about this one.  It had its high and low points, as all books do, and in the end it left me feeling a little middle of the road.  I think a few years ago, I may have loved this, but now I feel so used to this story (even though I hadn't read it) that it didn't leave much of an impression.

Here's the thing: I find the ideas behind the book really interesting.  I like timeslip novels conceptually because I find the whole thing fascinating.  It's then down to whether or not the concept is carried off well, and in this case, it was.  As a time travel book, it worked for me and was interesting.  Yes, the "time gene" and all that was a little muddled.  I had my questions, assuredly.  But they didn't bother me too much, and I thought the different ways the "time gene" could manifest was very interesting.  So it wasn't the crux of the story that sort of threw me off.

Unfortunately, it was sort of the characters.  And here's where it gets tricky, and why I'm not sure what I want to say about the book.  I liked the characters themselves for the most part.  I liked Emerson, I thought she was fun and spunky.  I liked Michael, though he was maybe a little flat (I don't particularly care for flawless men. Strange, I know.)  I really liked Emerson's best friend, Lily, and am curious to see where her storyline goes.  I liked Emerson's brother and his wife, Michael's friends and colleagues.  I seemed to pretty much like them all. And yet...they didn't quite work for me.  I don't know how to explain it; it was partly that I never really felt too much of a connection with them, and it was partly that they were a little  one-dimensional, save those who turned out to be super-crazy.  (Like, no joke.  Cat-petting, mustache-twirling, hyena-cackling, Bond villain, bald-Brittany cray-cray.)  For whatever reason, I just never found myself completely invested in their stories, for the most part.  There were moments where I would just start to become attached, and then I would lose the thread.  They were never real to me.

Part of this, I think, was because of the insta-love storyline.  I have to hand it to McEntire, she certainly tried to make insta-love believable and gave it some legitimate scientific reasoning, which made me not loathe it the way I generally would.  (She gave it some good lustiness, too, which didn't hurt.)  But it remains one of my biggest pet peeves regardless, so I can't entirely let it slide.  And I think it was part of what made me disconnect from the characters.  As soon as you get into insta-love, can't live without you, saying I love you and meaning it fanatically in a matter of minutes hours days, I stop believing that you are in any way real.  Don't get me wrong, I know there are people out there who completely act like that, but I don't think they're real, either (I think they're crazy).  I am a jaded hardcore bitch cynic, so this whole immediate twoo wuv thing just cancels out a lot of my WSOD.    So, there, I guess.  That's a big part of my disconnect. (Coupled with the caricatures that developed at the end.)

So in the end, I guess it was a bit of a balancing act, trying to decide if the plot and the time-travel and the character-aspects I did like outweighed the things I didn't.  And it ended up a pretty balanced scale.  I don't see it as a book I will be pushing people to go out and read nao, but it won't be one I'll discourage people from reading, either.  It ended with an interesting basis for further books in the series, so I likely will read them, even if I won't rush to buy them.  The idea of time paradoxes and the multi-history lines, coupled with the consequences of changing the timeline provides fascinating potential, and the revelations of Emerson's past, and any revelations that I think may be to come, will likely keep me reading, even if the books don't end up on the top of my stack.


Check out my interview with Myra here.
Also, you can enter to win a copy of this here (ends 11/5/11)

[nancy (The Ravenous Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hourglass by Myra Mcentire totally surprised me on how much I adored it and how amazing it was. The reason I believe I was so pleasantly surprised is because I went in believing this book was about a girl with the ability to see ghosts, nowadays a plot that isn't original, but I was nevertheless intrigued. So you can imagine my surprise that the concept of this book was something altogether different.

Hourglass is a story about Emerson Cole a teenage girl that has been plagued with ghostly apparitions shortly before her parents death in a tragic accident. Since then she has had a difficult time coping but after a stint in a mental institution and years away at boarding school she is back in town as her scholarship runs out. Luckily she has her older brother Thomas and his wife Dru that have become Em's anchor and support. It is Thomas who finds Micheal, a consultant from the Hourglass whom he hires to help Emerson with her "problem" and from that day on she is never the same again. Normal is so overrated anyway.


There are many aspects of this story that I enjoy and one of them is the strong adult presence in Emerson's life. Many times stories have absent parents and adult guidance but this story is not the case. It was refreshing to see Emerson confide in her brother Thomas and that they have such a special bond and that he doesn't treat her as if she is crazy and he truly looks out for her *sigh* so heartwarming. I also admire Dru for she is a great motherly influence that has an awesome sense of style and she gives Emerson that balance that she needs.


As for Emerson Cole she a kick ass protagonist and she has won a special place in my heart. Her wicked sarcasm is consistently hilarious. "Holy Hormones Batman" is one of my favorite Emisms and I totally admit to using it. Her interactions with Micheal are sizzling, fun and you just never know what is going to happen next between them but you know you want more of it. Micheal lends that mystery and intrigue to the story that keeps you on the edge and as you get to know and understand him you are already half in love with him. As with the another character Kabel, yowza talk about someone to get the blood pumping faster than a roller coaster ride. Whenever he made an appearance I would be left fanning myself, what a lady killer and I cannot wait to see happens with him in subsequent novels as with the other characters that also became endeared to me.

I admired the whole science fiction concept of this book and considering that I am totally not a sci-fi fan that is saying alot. The idea behind Hourglass is so very innovative that I was eager to know what it was all about from the very beginning. I was made a captive audience and I did not want to stop reading. Hourglass has so many amazing twists, and although I saw a few coming I was completely blind-sided by some of the others and I loved that about this book.


I cannot sing enough praises for Hourglass and I know that the YA genre of readers will devour it greedily and demand more because it is that engrossing and original of a novel and in this market of overused themes and characters, that says alot.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Limited character development & stereotypical romance disappoint

In Myra McEntire's debut novel, Hourglass, seventeen-year-old Emerson has been haunted with apparitions of people from the past since right before her parents' deaths. When her well-meaning older brother brings in yet another "expert," Emerson expects another failed attempt to help her. Instead, she gets Michael, a gorgeous young man who believes her and thinks the visions are real. When Michael proposes that Emerson can harness her powers - and their electric connection - to change the past, she must decide how much to risk in order to save a life that should never have been lost.

While HOURGLASS had the opportunity to shine due to its time-travel aspect, it fell short for me due to its limited character development, stereotypical romance, and incomplete world building. The writing, while adequate, faltered sometimes due to unrealistic dialogue and the use of some silly metaphors. Constant physical descriptions of the characters, such as Emerson's short height or Michael's pouty lips, stood in for character development. Despite being told repeatedly that Emerson is tough, she spent most of the novel swooning over Michael's beauty instead of being strong or making her own decisions. Michael may appeal to many readers due to his brooding and handsome nature, but his character developed little beyond his physical beauty and his condescending and controlling reactions to Emerson. Outside of their physical attraction and an "electricity" between them, the romance between Emerson and Michael was also never explained. As expected, a love triangle was introduced, though it was never fully explored, which was a relief. Talents or abilities of other characters, like best friend Lily, were also left unexplained and unexplored.

Plot-wise, the time-travel facet could have added a lot to the book but the time-travel process came across as too easily accomplished. Emerson accepted the risks involved without any real doubts or fears to save someone she didn't know; likewise, the utter willingness of other people to believe the time-travel explanation was unbelievable. Even though the villains and twists at the end were a surprise, their appearance and motivations didn't draw me into the story because I knew they were merely set-ups to drive the sequels.

On the positive side, I know there are many people who will enjoy this book for the brooding love interest, the time-slip aspect, and the relatively clean language and sexuality (just a few curse words, kissing, and some innuendo). Emerson was sometimes very likable and sympathetic as a character, and family played a big role in Emerson's problems and how she worked through them. In the coming books, I hope McEntire develops her characters, the romance, and the time-travel mechanics further to create a more compelling story.

Note: This review refers to an advance reader's copy.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, so good even the second time around!

Content and trigger warnings : swearing, kissing, depression, trauma, mild violence.

Full review plus Hourglass ARC, jewelry and ring giveway at http://fireandicephoto.blogspot.com ends 4/18/11

I have been anticipating this book since I very first heard author Myra McEntire announce it on twitter, and can I just say what is there not to love about Hourglass? It is a-ma-zing. From the cover to the first page which contains my favorite quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, to the end which left me reeling with a mind full of impossible possibilities.

Snarky, sarcastic Emerson has just moved from a boarding school in Arizona to the deep south town of Ivy Springs. She's sent there to her brother/guardian Thomas, who is a well known architect in the area and his wife Dru. Thomas' historic renovation sites are layered in history and as a result begin to trigger visions that only Emerson can see of people from the past.

Enter in Michael Weaver, a secretive and angtsy consultant hired by her Thomas from a foundation called Hourglass. Michael's hired under the agreement that things are to stay strictly business and must not get personal, But not getting personal could prove dangerous for these two. And things get even more complicated when Emerson has to pick between the three men who suddenly take an interest in her: Michael who is fully understanding, Kaleb who is sexy-bad but offers more than meets eye, or Jack- the man who Emerson's not even sure is real.

Oh my Myra. I was messed up (in a good way) after reading Hourglass. She masterfully explores the issues of grief and depression with skill I have never before seen in young adult fiction. McEntire takes a heroine from a broken fragile past and gives her some black belt hard core sass. Then she adds in Southern charm, and supernatural sci-fi elements. This is a book that will surely soar to the tops of the bestseller list as the best in time slip YA romance. Hourglass struck me deeply and had me in tears which very few books have ever had power to do. It's gutsy, intelligent and inspiring with a voice you will never forget. I can't wait for you all to read it!

To learn more about the book Hourglass visit Myra McEntire's site. Then be sure to check back here at Fire and Ice both tomorrow and May 24th- the day of her release for more Hourglass inspired giveways.

[Tina (Fantastic Book Review) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addictive and refreshing, this time-traveling romance had me glued to its pages right down to the very last. HOURGLASS was a delightful surprise. I got so much more than what I expected - I was utterly captivated.

What's not to love about Emerson? This girl is a fighter. She's had to endure so much since seeing her so called ghosts. Coping with the death of loved ones, being committed into an institution, and now she must face the fact that maybe she's not crazy after all. With aid from gorgeous heart-throb Michael, Em finally understands her gift. The chemistry between these two sizzles. Em had me cracking up with what she calls her "edit button." When things came out of her mouth unfiltered, especially her thoughts about Michael, I was constantly laughing out loud.

I enjoyed reading about some of the secondary characters and their abilities. One character in particular captured my heart. The ever charming Kaleb, who’s also Michael's best friend, was a constant joy. With the time traveling elements, sizzling chemistry between the characters, and the special abilities that the surrounded the Hourglass inhabitants, at times I forgot I was reading a book. It was quite the page turner for me. I can't wait for the sequel!

[Irisheyz77 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a wreck. A complete and total wreck. This book has left me a jumbled mess and I spent a good 10 min willing more words to appear on the blank pages. This book is so f***ing unbelievable. Put it on your wishlist...you don't want to miss it!!! Because 5 stars isn't a high enough rating...

(full review to come)

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hourglass was fun, interesting and very well thought out. I anticipated reading this book and I'm so glad I jumped on it.It started a little slow at first but I think it is partly due to interuptions. The writing is easy to follow and the timeline of events is precise, well executed.

Quote:(PAGE 8,e-book)
"You know, Scarlett, Rhett didn't give a damn, and frankly, I don't either."

I loved that quote, reminding me of one of my favorite childhood movies. It was relevant due to the fact that Emerson our protagonist can see ghosts (rips as she calls them). Since her parents passed away in an accident, Emerson now is living with her brother Thomas and his wife Dru. Both Thomas and Dru are fantastic characters.There really is an undeniable love there between themselves and with Emerson. I love that they took her in under their wings.

Emerson has been through a whole lot of tramatic events in her young life and she has been close lipped about not taking her medication to her brother and Dru. Her brother has been trying to find someone to help Emerson with her particular "problem". The only person Emerson really talks to is her friend Lily. She is the only one who has been there for her and accepts the way she is. Lily also has a fun sense of humor and has a little secret of her own...

Dru and Thomas restore old buildings which is unfortunate for Emerson due to the fact that people from the past seem to be popping up around her. Thomas had a contact who might be able to help Emerson. He works for a place called Hourglass.

In walks her so called "consultant", Michael Weaver. (He sounds like a super yummy, attractive guy and oh so swoon worthy). There seems to be a connection between them somewhat early on in the story. Michael doesn't want to mix business with pleasure and throughout the story he reminds Emerson even though deep down you know there are intense feelings being harbored.

I got a little agitated with the "no fraternizing' issue, but after I was further along in the book it made sense. As much as I wanted them to unleash on each other, I understood why Michael had to stay strong. You will understand as well once you read the story.

Emerson's eyes are opened up to a whole lot more than she ever could have imagined. There's a creeper named Jack who appears in her room, a mysterious death, time travel, scandal, romance, and so much more.

This story will captivate you and bring a few giggles too. All in all, a very good story and I would recommend it to anyone.

The story unfolds beautifully and there's some unexpected twists that will have you gasping out. The ending was everything I could have hoped for and more. I admit, I had tears in my eyes, but happy tears.

[Stacia (the 2010 club) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. If more of the book had been like the last few chapters, I might have gone a full 3 or higher. Unfortunately, so much of this book was painful to read. The characters felt very one note, I ended up liking a character who turned out to be evil (sheesh), and I was very frustrated at the fact that the main female and male character had a connection that I had to be "told" about and not shown. There was nothing in the story that made their love feel believable to me. All we knew is that they met at some point, and then met again, and had a connection. Uh...okay. In some instances, I don't mind fated-to-be-mated if there is at least some sort of character development that continues after the original meeting, making you feel like the characters are in fact meant for each other. I didn't feel any of this while reading the book.

This is not my jaded nature coming out. I really do try hard to give leeway whenever possible. There are some books that have caused me to roll my eyes because the sappiness was so unbelievable, but if the characters were likeable or the plot was interesting, I'd give it a pass and continue on to give the book a good rating.

Unfortunately, the plot didn't save the weak characters. I found myself uninterested in how the time travel was going to work, and by the time I got to the point where something happened, I was starting to wish I was done reading.

But of course, just as I was going to chalk this book up as a lost experience, I did manage to gather a spark of interest during the last few chapters. The ending was actually alright. Maybe I'll read book 2 and see where this goes. So many series have weak starter books, and this could very well be one of them. We shall see. I might end up surprised.

[P.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 20 for 2010. There are so many awesome things about this book. Like time travel (that's really been logically thought out). And romance (that kept me on the edge of the page). And readability (I poured through it in 2 quick nights). This book is what happens when time travel meets the X-men, complete with Wolverine, Jean Gray, Cyclops, and Professor Xavier. And seeing as how I LOVE X-Men and how I love time travel, well...this book was right my virtual alley. Aside from one of the best covers of 2011, the inside of this book definitely delivers! Highly recommended for girls and boys, seventh grade and up, fans of fantasy and science fiction.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole has spent the last four years believing herself crazy. She sees ghosts from the past, lifelike images that pop and disappear as soon as she touches them. After the death of her parents, her spiralling depression and increased craziness get her committed to a mental health institute for treatment, drugs and supervision. After that, she went to a girls' boarding school and, now that her scholarship has run out, she's returned to Ivy Springs to live with her much-older brother, Thomas, and his wife Dru, an architect-interior designer team that's giving the old town a complete makeover.

Em isn't looking forward to going back to her old high school, but she has time yet. Her brother surprises her with a new consultant, someone they both hope can cure her. His name is Michael Weaver and he's a university student with a flashy car who does consultant work on the side for an organisation called the Hourglass. The connection between Em and Michael is immediate, and not just based on his sexy good looks: whenever they touch they create electricity.

Michael explains to Em that what she sees aren't ghosts, they're time ripples: she's seeing the past. With his ability to see the future, they are like two halves that complement each other, and they have the potential to time travel. He wants her help in going back six months in the past to save the Hourglass' founder, Liam Ballard, from death in a fire at his lab - a fire Michael is convinced another Hourglass member, Jonathan Landers, started to take out Liam so he could take over the Hourglass, using people's varied abilities for his own nefarious purposes.

Having lost her own parents, Em is determined to help - especially after meeting Liam's eighteen-year-old son, Kaleb, who is an empath. But going back in time is dangerous and risky, and there's only a small window in which to rescue Liam before the fire starts. With the help of some renegade people from the Hourglass who live in the house of a drop-dead gorgeous physicist called Cat who can control matter, they might have a chance. But upon the discovery that Jonathan has taken the files from Liam's safe, files containing information about numerous people like Em that he could take advantage of, time is running out to go back in time to save the one man who can help them.

Oh I wanted to like this, I really did. It began so promisingly, setting the scene in a historic old town in Tennessee, and introducing us to an opinionated heroine who more than makes up for her short stature with her mouth - and she does have some good lines, like "My ass was grass, and big brother was the lawn mower." [p.185] The atmosphere was a mix of slightly spooky, intriguing and comforting in the familiar - for all that Em has been through, her family unit is a tight-knit, caring, loving one. Sadly, all too soon it devolved into an unoriginal plot and suffered from that frustrating of all frustrations, Glaring Oversight.

Plotwise, this was just like any number of movies I've already seen, books I've already read. The ignorant but special main character (in this case, also the narrator), who is introduced to some shady secret society that's been betrayed from within, who takes it upon herself to save the day with some sacrifice along the way - but retaining a happy ending regardless. There's the double-crossing, the unnecessary love interest on the side (Kaleb), and the exceedingly, devastatingly beautiful main love interest (Michael) who I just couldn't come to like. Sure he was handsome and caring and thoughtful and considerate, but he was also an utter wet rag, a bit too perfect (any kind of perfect is too perfect), who has unexplained wealth (of course) and rarely makes much sense when he speaks - not if you're paying attention and trying to connect the dots. He came across as a lot older than he supposedly was (nineteen), and his unexplained wealth bothered and distracted me. But it was mostly the way his information and explanations jumped around that really annoyed me.

It's really hard to get into a book when the main character doesn't ask the obvious questions, and their source of information doesn't always make sense. When discovering that the world is not quite what you thought it was, and that you yourself are more than you ever imagined, you're bound to have questions. With Emerson, all too often she forewent the relevant questions in favour of some smart-arsed or bitchy or even sulky comment. I wanted to snap at her, "Focus!" Her reactions were often weird to me, freaking out about some new revelation (another way for her to simply not ask the glaringly obvious questions that really really needed to be asked in order to move the story forward) or, more frustrating still, focusing instead on some really trivial detail.

Rather than utilise the common plot device of ignorant-main-character-asking-questions-about-sudden-new-world, McEntire instead allowed Em to just know things. Reading this was a bit like whiplash, it actually hurt my head how many times I did a "Wait, what?" double-take. Because not only did conversations go strangely, all things considered, they glossed over things that the characters later talked about as if the conversation had taken place! I can't give you examples because it's a matter of reading the whole book rather, but I think I have permanent frown marks on my head now after reading this.

There were times when the dialogue just seemed so contrived, like when Michael discovers Em has tried to research the Hourglass online and found an article about the death of its founder, Liam Ballard. His reaction just didn't make sense - not to Emerson, and not to me. He became quite angry and threatening, and his explanation later was that the new founder, Jonathan Landon, was dangerous - but he never really explained anything (you connect the dots yourself but it's all out of sync with the plot and Em's own understanding), and his whole method of keeping Em in the dark as a way to protect her was laughable and insulting from the beginning. And what, all to create some mystery and a sense of danger? That would have come quite naturally had the right things been discussed at the right time, questions and answers that would have gone a long way to building this new world bit by bit, with some teasing but also by making sense. It felt like a smokescreen, because at the end of it all I reflected back on the story and its plot and it struck me how plain and ordinary it all was.

It wasn't only the dialogue that read as contrived, quite often the plot felt that way too. Little things were just unnecessarily dramatic in order to add, well, drama and mystery and also suspicion (can she trust Michael? That sort of thing). For instance, when Michael is called away by Ava and tells - no, orders - Em to stay home and wait for him to call her, which he doesn't do, why couldn't he have just said to her, "Hey Em, my best friend is on a drunken bender and I've gotta go pick him up and take him home, make sure he's okay. I'll try and call you tomorrow, otherwise I'll see you back here." It doesn't matter that Kaleb is drunk for some deep dark reason that Michael doesn't want her to know about - at least, I think that was his reason, but I don't really know - it doesn't matter because at the time it would have sounded perfectly innocent, completely reasonable, and - this is where it wouldn't have served much dramatic purpose - it would have kept Emerson home and she wouldn't have met Kaleb and so on and so on. But what was the big deal? Why not let her meet Kaleb? She met the others at the Renegade House.

What about her scholarship - her brother seems to make loads of money, so why need a scholarship? (The answer is, she didn't, it's connected to the plot, but badly.) Why does Michael sometimes talk about time travel like they do it all the time, and yet when discussing it with Cat it becomes clear that they've never done it? Why is the Renegade House described as a bungalow when, inside, it has an upstairs floor full of bedrooms and bathrooms? Little things like this just weren't explained properly and didn't, at the time, make sense. Sure later when more information is finally given, some things might make sense, but the problem is that Em doesn't seem confused, as if she already knows it all and so doesn't ask. And her reactions to learning about people's different abilities was just plain weird - what person in this day and age, someone who has their own ability, would be so completely shocked and overwhelmed to learn of others'? And how can she be so utterly incurious about it all?? I couldn't relate to her, and I couldn't follow the way her mind works - which frankly, didn't seem to work at all most of the time. I mean, incurious is fine in a person, plenty of people aren't particularly curious (though it's hard to believe when faced with this kind of scenario), but not when it's just a lazy character trait used to avoid having to make things make sense.

The plot, too, was very predictable. I wasn't even trying and I could have told you who Jack is, and what would happen. I could have told you who the spy amongst them really was - and the red herring was laughable. Oh so disappointing. I did like Lily, who sadly doesn't get much of a presence, but since she too has a gift (so not a spoiler, it's clear early on), I'm sure she'll be drawn into it in the next book or something. Chemistry-wise, sure there was some between Em and Michael, but since he acts like an overbearing, overprotective big brother - rather like her real brother, Thomas - it was actually a bit icky. He was also a bit condescending at times, which again made him sound rather old. And his refusal to start a relationship with her never made sense, not until the truth finally came out, which is fine except that, for readers, if it doesn't make sense at the time, it's frustrating to have the heroine accept it as if it does. Just one of the many things that did my head in - and it's not like some complicated time travel stories that loop around and become tricky: this doesn't have any time travel in it until the last hundred pages.

I do enjoy a good time travel story, and I LOVE stories about people with special abilities (big Obernewtyn and X-Men fan, me), but sadly this one just didn't have any chops. While not original, it still had good bones and could have been really exciting, just like a good cheesy movie can be, but McEntire wasn't able to build a mystery, gathering the threads together, leaving the right kind of clues behind, building on your knowledge and finally spinning you for a loop. It would need a great deal of re-writing for that. Still, I know from a quick glance at Goodreads that plenty of people loved this and didn't have my critique, so it clearly didn't bother everyone. Overall though, the mess of the structure, contrived plot-building and rather bizarre dialogue really spoiled this one for me.

[Imbob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, i finally got around to writing the review, hope you enjoy :D

Hourglass was a heart-stopping, adrenaline filled read that captivated me from start to finish. Though Myra Mcentire is only a debutant her work shows effortless writing and iconic wit that will make her books an insta-buy in my local store.

Ever since the horrific accident that claimed her parents, Emerson has been able to see the phantoms or ‘rips’ of those who lived before her time. After multiple stints in therapy and endless medication, Emerson is beginning to give up when her brother Thomas insists on meeting one last person who may be able to help: Michael.
Michael Weaver is gorgeous, smart, sympathetic, and definitely nothing like she imagined. He comes from an organisation called the Hourglass, but his distinct evasiveness stirs an unease in Emerson as she is plunged deeper into the world of psychic abilities and the people who harness them. She’s sure things can’t get any stranger when suddenly Michael asks of her the seemingly impossible: her help in the prevention of someone’s murder. The only problem is that the murder has already happened: six months before.

Emerson is the kind of heroine most authors would dream of writing about: strong, sassy, and able to flip a guy on his ass without chipping a single nail. She’s a fighter, a loyal and honest friend, and someone who takes what life gives her and lives to the fullest. Her smart ass comments had me cracking up and her ‘edit button’ is something I can relate to. In fact, the dialogue in this book is probably the best bit, and Mcentire’s writing is completely her own. The idea for a time slip/travel based plot is not unheard of, but the author puts it in a unique twist that appeals to all readers, not just the young’uns. The secondary characters were also rewarding in their own way, each padding out the nooks and crannies in this novel and making it more real.

And what kind of review would this be if I didn’t talk about the boys. And god, are there boys. Two, in fact, but don’t panic just yet, a love triangle does not seem to be occurring in the distant future. Emerson’s focus is solely on Michael, and who could blame her? Both Michael and Kaleb bring in that special something, adding tension and emotions that would otherwise be lacking. Whilst Michael and Emerson are ‘the thing’ in Hourglass, I honestly can’t say which guy was my favourite. Kaleb may be a player, but damn, he’s a hot one.
The romance in the book was definitely satisfying, add in some sizzling tension and steamy kisses, and, well, you have yourself a winner.

Breaking away from that topic though, as hard as it may be, the actual plot of Hourglass is not deficient in any department and delivers exactly what it promises. This may not be a proper ghost story, but the introduction of Emerson’s powers and how they can be used is intriguing, almost as much as the ‘who dunnit’ mystery and the big betrayal at the end. Yes, there is action, yes there are explosions (thank god), but this is the kind of book I hang out for when stalking Goodreads and other blogs.

Hourglass is a fantastic mix of sci-fi, paranormal, and romance. The plot is packed with twists that will throw you off balance and I found myself turning the pages like a woman possessed. Myra Mcentire is to be thoroughly congratulated on all that she has achieved in her debut novel, and I have now found that there is a sequel I can want as much as Spell Bound (Hex Hall #3), dang, Ms. Hawkins, what a cliff hanger!(Sorry, getting a bit carried away there…) Anyways, buy it buy it buy it! You’ll be sure to love it as much as I do.