Hourglass

Highly Anticipated and a Sure Not to Miss Title

Hourglass is released this month and it is a long awaited title for me.
I have to say that the cover enthralled me the many months ago that I saw it online and it portrays the elements in the story perfectly.

Hourglass brings us into the topsy-turvy world of Emerson Cole, who at fourteen began seeing ghosts of history blending into her present day reality.

What Emerson has coming for her will turn her world upside down. What happens when the past flows too fully into reality and the only one experiencing it is you?

Emerson is about to experience a whole new way of looking at her future when her brother hires a new consultant to help with Emerson's abilities. Michael Weaver steps in and changes her whole world forever after he reveals to her the scope of her time-space abities.

Hourglass asks us: How far would you go to change the past? How far would you go for love? How much is too much?

Hourglass will change the way you look at the time that we have, and make you fall in love with it's characters and their stories.

Hourglass is a great first book in a series and I cannot wait to see what the consecutive books have in store for us in our own reading as well as the plight of these amazing characters.

I loved how the title of the book also tied so well into the story since on the cover you see everything turned around and the name of the organization helping/hunting Emerson is the Hourglass. Amazing author, and amazing read. Here is a book not to miss.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Possibly My New Favorite Book of All Time

Hourglass is snarky, sarcastic, funny, romantic, action-packed, and surprising. And there's two hot guys. Emerson easily makes my list of Lovely Badass Heroines. Is there anything else I can say besides I loved it with the passion of a burning suns? Which, may sound crazy but is totally true?

No matter what, 2011 is an excellent year for YA and this one is definitely one of my favorites. And Myra McEntire is DEFINITELY an author to watch.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Awesome Time Travel Novel

One of the first things that attracted me to this book was the cover. This is one of the most beautiful covers I've ever seen.

And the book only got better from there. :)

I went into HOURGLASS thinking it was going to be about ghosts, but the story was a little more awesome than that. While Emerson sees people that have died, she isn't seeing their ghosts, she's seeing their imprint on time. Because she has the ability to travel to the past.

Only she doesn't know it, and she thinks she's crazy. Which, I think, was a completely realistic reaction.

With her brother's intervention in seeking out Michael's help from Hourglass, Emerson learns how little she really knows about herself. (And in an incredible, didn't see this coming twist near the end, she learns how little she really knows about her past.)

I loved Emerson's personality and voice. And I really enjoyed the plot. I liked how the whole time travel aspect was handled. Kind of like in X men, some people are born with special abilities. Hourglass is a secret organization that deals with people who have abilities relating to time. Not everyone can time travel, and time travel seems to be a one way street. You either have the ability to travel to the past or to the future, but not both unless you pair up with someone who has the opposite ability. And pairing up--you travel to the past, he/she travels to the future--is like the ultimate in opposites attracting.

So there is some heavy attraction at first sight when Emerson runs into her other half. Attraction that leads to love. There is also a bit of a love triangle that happens when Emerson is introduced to others who have defected from Hourglass as the new person director doesn't care so much about helping people deal with their abilities as he does about power. The third side to the triangle is Kaleb, the dead founder of Hourglass's son, who is an empath. And to be honest, as great as Michael is, I really liked Kaleb better in some ways even though he wasn't as straight laced.

Michael is very intense and, at times, overprotective of Emerson. There were a few times I wanted to smack him, but I didn't have to because Emerson did it for me. I understood his reasoning as the story unfolded, but I appreciated that Emerson fought back when his need to protect her became too constrictive. Kaleb, on the other hand, didn't try to protect her from the hard realities of what was going on. He was there to support and help her, but wanted her to know what she was dealing with so she could make her own informed decisions. Something Michael was learning to do closer to the end of the story.

All in all, I really enjoyed HOURGLASS, and can't wait for the sequel to come out. I want to know what happens with the bad guy, more about the Powers that Be, and the repercussions of Emerson going back in time--once on a mission to save the founder of Hourglass, and once more to save Michael's life.

*crosses fingers that it's next year*

There is some mild swearing and kissing. I received a review copy from the publisher.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Addictive and Refreshing

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!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Hourglass...the book that sent my mind forward in time as the pages of the book turned!

ALL PEOPLE WHO ENJOY TIME TRAVEL AND ROMANCE WITH A PINCH OF SUSPENCE, THIS BOOK MAY BE FOR YOU!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Will Make Your Head Spin

In a good way, of course.

This is by far the greatest and most clever young adult book I have ever read.

I purchased the HOURGLASS ebook, because I couldn't get to the book store this morning. My husband said, "Fine, but please don't turn around and buy the hardback next week." I wasn't sure at the time. I told him we'd see. He rolled his eyes.

See, I have a thing for owning the actual books, but I can't own them all. Not until I'm rich, which I WILL be one day. Until then, ebooks are great for feeding my expensive reading appetite. However, there are certain books I want on my shelf now. Okay, books I have to have on my shelf now. HOURGLASS is the first young adult book that I HAVE TO HAVE ON MY SHELF ASAP. Sorry, dear.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

I am ashamed it took me so long to finally read this book, but I

I am ashamed it took me so long to finally read this book, but I can assure you I'm glad that I did. The concept and plot are fresh, with plenty of twists and turns, with a pace that will keep you turning pages late into the night (I would know, I yawned my way through work today). It's not what you expect it to be, and I mean that in the very best way possible.

I'll admit it took me a while to warm up to Emerson, the main character, but once I did she became a girl I'd like to be friends with, if that were possible. What I love maybe best is the lack of a love triangle in Myra's book, even though there are two (very) intriguing men for us ladies to drool over (I prefer Michael, though Kaleb certainly has a way... I can't wait to hear much more from him in the sequel).

At any rate, as someone who likes paranormal YA, but has recently been a little burned out on paranormal YA, I didn't expect to fall headfirst into "Hourglass," but it didn't care what I had planned. The story dragged me under and the characters held me down, not letting me up until I could breathe enough to admit how much I adore them.

Recommend.

I can't believe I waited so long to read this one! Hopefully I w

I can't believe I waited so long to read this one! Hopefully I won't let another gem like this one fall through the cracks again in the future. I've had this title since it was released and somehow I overlooked it until now. While I'm regretting waiting so long, I'm thrilled that I corrected my mistake and finally gave myself the chance to read this fabulous title! I simply enjoyed every single turn of the page on this one. McEntire created a scenario that fascinated me. Time travel has always been one of those phenomena that I couldn't help but be intrigued by. And when you take that and add in all the other remarkable details and twists that McEntire did in her novel, it became a combination that is utterly impossible to turn away from.

I stayed up late into a few nights reading, so that I could try and race through this title and was simply sad when I would have to close it for the night. If that isn't a clear mark of a great read, I'm not sure what is. Emerson is one of those characters that shows a great combination of bravery and spunk, while remaining humble and somewhat vulnerable at all the right times that makes it impossible to not adore her. The other characters like Michael, Lily and Emerson's brother, Thomas and his wife, Dru, are each endearing in their own ways. It's a great cast of characters and the situations they find themselves in will leave readers rooting for them to come out on top. But when so much is at stake it's hard to predict what will happen, and where McEntire will leave her characters in the end. After finishing up this series opener, I'm extremely anxious for the chance to read, the second installment, Timepiece, when it releases in June 2012.

Hourglass

When I first heard about this book I really couldn't wait to read it. Now that I read it I can see why so many have loved the story. I could not get enough of the whole story. I love Michael! When I was first introduced to the character, I knew that he would be my favorite. He was so mysterious but yet at the same time he is a great addition to the story. I love stories that has a main character that you just do not know about. A main character really grows with the story. I think that what turns a good story into a great story.

Emerson thinks that she is seeing things that aren't there. Deep down she thinks she is kind of going crazy. But she is not. So they bring in Michael and he is going to try and help her. But is she really there to help him....

I loved this book. It was a truly great story! It kept me on my toes and it is a great page turner. I can not wait to start the next book, which I got from Netgalley!!! (Thank you!) So look back in the coming days for that review!!!

A fantastic introduction to the time travel genre.

I loved this book! I don’t know why I waited so long to read it. I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting, but this book was way more. It didn’t strike me as your typical time travel sci-fi book, it had romance, mystery, adventure and all that other jazz.

Emerson was a great protagonist, she was flawed but okay with that. She had begun seeing ghosts shortly before her parents died and had pretty much learned to ignore them. If they got in her way, she could just touch them and they would “pop” and disappear. Because she sometimes couldn’t tell a ghost from a real person, she had learned to avoid people altogether, except for her brother and his wife, with whom she had lived since her parents’ death. They were the only people who knew about her “visions” so she could be herself around them. She had a great sense of humor (love the snark!) and was a genuinely nice person. She cared about her family and even as she got to know the people from The Hourglass, she cared for them and wanted to protect them.

Michael was your typical mysterious handsome dude who just happened to see the same ghosts that Emerson did. It took a while for us to find out his story, but it was a good one. We learned all about how Michael grew up with his visions. The other people we met along the way were all very well-developed and I didn’t think they lacked anything, although I think Emerson’s best friend could have used more explanation.

The real “action” didn’t really take place until the last few pages of the book, but the intensity of those scenes more than made up for the delay in getting there. Most of the book was a set up to get to the final climax, but that was okay because the set up was really good! And there was a nice twist I didn’t expect; I always like when a book can surprise me like that.

I enjoy Myra McEntire’s writing, she truly has a gift for setting the scene and sucking the reader in. I finished Hourglass within 2 days, I just did not want to put it down. I can’t wait to pick up the sequel.

The cover is quite striking. It doesn’t really have anything to do with the story (Is she standing on the ceiling? The wall? At no point in the novel does she stand on anything other than the floor.), but it is beautiful. I love the clean lines and lack of competing colors. Plus, she actually does wear that dress in the story.

As reviewed by The Busy Bibliophile.

Hourglass!!!

Hey everyone just saying u can get this book at the the library website for free instead of buying it for 10+ bucks...thats what im doing right now.btw I love the book and you must read it either way.

Great Start to a Promising New Series

So, Emerson is your typical orphaned teenage girl with one big exception: she sees dead people. This obviously causes a great deal of drama in Emerson's life because, once you start talking to people whom no one else can see, you just bought yourself a one way ticket to the loony bin.

Now, Emerson is supposed to be on her meds (she's not, natch) and her "visions" are getting worse. What's a girl to do? Well, enter hunky, mysterious, Michael (hired by Emerson's brother to help her out.) Turns out, there's more to the people Emerson sees than your typical spectral encounter. Michael knows a thing or two about it thanks to a secret group called Hourglass.

When Emerson becomes more entrenched with the Hourglass group, that's when things really get interesting. I like that McEntire threw in a couple of curveballs that I didn't see coming. The other people in the group seem to have compelling backstories and I can't wait to see more of them in future books in this series.

Naturally, there is a love angle (or tri-angle, if you will) with Emerson and Michael having literal electricity between them when they touch and then Emerson and Kaleb (super-playah-type with the required heart of gold) having numerous flirty-type encounters. Not to ruin it for you, but my money's on Michael being the obvious victor in the war for Emerson's heart here. Have to say though, Kaleb is a man after my own heart in a hunky, bad-boy way.

Overall, I really liked Hourglass and feel that it is an excellent start to what is sure to be a page-turning series.

Highly Recommended!!

This is a story about time travel and true love. I hate the bad guy and love the main characters. I can't wait until the next book!

LOVED IT

i loved this book, i read it in like a week. So great. One of the best books i have read in a while!

sweeping, urgent and filled with extremely dramatic twists and turns

For the past four years Emerson Cole has seen strange things--things that shouldn't be there--Southern Belles, Civil War soldiers, and other apparitions from the past. Without obvious cues from clothing, it's hard for Emerson to tell if people are part of the here and now or a window from the past; it's hard for Emerson to convince herself she isn't losing her mind.

Pills helped. For a while. So did being away from her small Southern hometown at a boarding school where she didn't need to think about the hallucinations or the loss of her parents. But with her scholarship gone Emerson finds herself back home facing the undesirable prospect of a senior year spent with the people who watched her lose her mind the first time.

Emerson knows she is beyond help, but agrees to one last consultation with a man from an organization called the Hourglass. Her brother, Thomas, assures her this one will be different.

Turns out Thomas was right about that.

Michael Weaver isn't like the other people who tried to help Emerson. He is good looking and he isn't much older than Em herself. He listens. He believes her. He doesn't think she's crazy at all.

Emerson is inexplicably drawn to Michael and into the secrets surrounding the world of the Hourglass. Her past, her future--it all comes back to the Hourglass and her strange connection with Michael. If Emerson can make sense of the secrets and get at the truth about her visions it might change everything for her and Michael in Hourglass (2011) by Myra McEntire.

Hourglass is McEntire's first novel.

Emerson's narration is crisp and frank. McEntire has created a heroine here who is endearing, sharp, and quite entertaining. More importantly, Emerson is a survivor--even at her lowest and most damaged she remains strong. And Michael is a male lead who can match her par for par (sometimes literally).

Hourglass is sweeping, urgent and filled with extremely dramatic twists and turns. As much as this story is romantic and a fantasy it's also a page-turner with a few surprises and a lot of suspense. Hourglass is an irresistible debut that resolves beautifully but also promises more stories about Emerson and her world.

Possible Pairings: Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly, Enchanted Ivy by Sarah Beth Durst, Always a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough, The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver, Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin, Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Awesome

Freakin amazin book!!!! Cant wait for the second one to come out

Un-freakin-believable!(:

This by far is at the top of my top ten list. I finished it in two days;it would have beem shorter but my mother dearst told me i had othe thing to do. I love books like this and a romance alwas makes a book better, in my oppinon. Though my only complaint is wen the pace blew up i was lok totally confused but tht might b cause th pages were sticking.:P

Fast-paced and delicious!

Wow. This book was incredible! I love the mind-bending concept of time traveling and I'd never read a book about it before. It's just so cool, even though if I think too much into the details it's a bit hard to wrap my head around - like what traveling to the past and making any changes would do to the future. And paradoxes. Whaa - it's like the dream within a dream within a dream stuff from Inception. Makes my brain hurt!

Let's start with Emerson. She's everything I want in a female protag that I wish many other books had. I absolutely adored her and right from the start I made a connection with her. Why, you ask? She's witty and fluent in sarcasm (automatic brownie points), wears Converse, hates dresses, knows karate, and she's short. Okay, so maybe I don't know karate (even though I wish I did), but she's lot like me. I loved her from the moment she punched Michael in the stomach and my thought was, she and I could be best friends in real life...
I loved her even more when she told Michael, "Most of what comes out is complete truth. My edit button is broken." YES! Mine too, girl! :D
A couple of quotes that made me relate to her:
"Lily's the kind of girl who causes men to run into street signs and trip over chairs because they're too busy looking at her to walk. If she didn't have a wicked sense of humor and more loyalty than a Saint Bernard, I would probably hate her on principle alone."
"The only way I'd ever experience children would be vicariously, as the spinster aunt living in a tiny house with thirty cats." DUDE, I don't know how many times I've joked about this being my retirement plan. This was definitely my favorite quote.

To see the rest of this review and other reviews, visit my book blog at geobobspinelli[dot]blogspot[dot]com

Such a great book!

I am really looking forward to the nexr book!

Good for a vacation reading!!

I'm a collage student, the story was good written and good plot. Easy to understand if I'm bilingual person. The story was really cute and amazing. I could say was the best book I read about ghost this holidays.