Hourglass Hot

I can't believe it took me so long to read this one! I will admit it is completely my own fault, and a case of judging a book by its cover. I saw so many reviews of this when it first came out, but I took one look at that cover and said "Oh it's one of those really heavy contemporary books, I might read it eventually, but it's gonna be hard." WRONG! The cover totally doesn't match what I thought it would be! What this book REALLY is about, is time travel, one of my favorite topics.

Time travel is a very difficult topic to deal with, and I felt McEntire did a very good job of knowing what her rules are. Every time she introduced a new event, she was careful to place it in perspective with the rest of the events. She made the changes in timeline make sense, on a level that even those unfamiliar with theories of time travel should be able to follow it.

My main complaint (and it's not much of one) is that the love story seemed a little too pat. I'm not a big one for the "love at first sight" angle, nor the "I'm so in love after 1 week I can't live without you" thing. It just feels too unreal for me. But, that said, McEntire makes a point of explaining the attraction beyond that, at least a little. I am curious what would happen if one of them lost their ability. Would they lose their connection? Would they lose their entire relationship? (Probably not - YA authors aren't nearly as callous as that!)

So, bottom line: Don't judge this one by its cover! Give it a chance!

I love me a good time travel story, and this had all the trappings of a great one. I liked Emerson. In spite of her 17-year-old-girl-ness (a plague among YA heroines, considering they are inevitably 17-year-old girls), she was likable. She was obviously attractive yet a bit insecure, but not one of those narrators who's constantly lamenting her ugliness while every guy around her proceeds to walk into telephone poles as they are stunned by her beauty. She had a quick wit and dry sense of humor that I enjoyed. She actually used her brain a good chunk of the time (not all the time, but I dare you to name a main protagonist who always makes well-informed and fully considered decisions).

I also liked the sci-fi elements of the story. I liked the premise and the structure. I liked that a "scientific" explanation was given for how all their crazy abilities worked individually, and how they worked in tandem. And of course, a major sticking point for me is always if the "rules" of the world made sense. In this case, I think they did.

We drifted a bit into X-Men territory for a little while, but I forgive Ms. McEntire for those small similarities. I kind of think X-Men has such a large scope that it's kind of hard not to call it to mind when writing anything about people with powers. Also, like with almost any time-travel book, there were scenes reminiscent of other time-travel stories (the one that came instantly to my mind was Back to the Future II). But again, it's hard to have a time-travel story without talk of paradoxes and the space-time continuum. There was no mention of flux capacitors, so I'm good.

The love story between Emerson and Michael was a bit heavy-handed at parts. It was obvious that was where the story was headed from the first moment they laid eyes on each other. But I honestly mean it was only a bit heavy-handed, and only in parts. She talked about his superhuman gorgeousness a little too often for my liking (although it was probably toned down for what an actual teenage girl would have been thinking). Her descriptions of her reactions around him were occasionally a tad over the top. But overall, I enjoyed their chemistry and their interaction.

I will also give Emerson credit for not turning into a complete pile of mush, a la Bella Swan, every time he was around. He may be super-pretty and she may have a tummy full of butterflies, but at least she still spoke her mind and stuck to her guns. She even got annoyed with him on occasion. That was refreshing.

The secondary characters were mostly well-developed. I loved Thomas and his wife Dru, and their sweet relationship with each other and with Emerson.

Emerson's quintessential gorgeous BFF Lily was also fun. She wasn't ridiculous and annoying like gorgeous BFFs so often are in YA lit. She was actually loyal and funny and I could understand why she and Emerson were friends. Plus, her character had some intriguing twists that I hope and expect to see developed in the sequel(s).

Michael also had a likable best friend, which is something I find a little rare in these types of books. Normally the male love interest either has no friends or his best friend is a jerk. But I really enjoyed Kaleb. He was charming and interesting, and the more I found out about him, the more intrigued I became.

I guess that's a good thing, since Timepiece is all about Kaleb.

Another bonus: for once, there was a twist at the end that took me completely by surprise. I am very rarely taken by surprise in a YA book, and when I am, I even more rarely feel that the book really earned the ending. Sometimes I feel like a twist ending is dropped in simply for the sake of a twist, with nothing else in the book backing it up. It feels forced and awkward. This one I totally didn't see coming, but it also didn't feel random just for the sake of having a twist.

Anyway, this review has gone on long enough. Bottom line: I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun, exciting read that put its own spin on the special powers/time travel theme.

Seriously, what's not to love about Hourglass. Fantastic characters, incredible settings and a refreshing plot all wind together to create a book I couldn't put down. If you haven't experienced Emerson, you are missing out.

I shamelessly traded a pair of fingerless mitts for this ARC, and I'm really, really glad I did.

Here's a secret: I think about time travel a lot. Probably more than the average girl. (Probably not as much as Myra or her characters.) When it comes to time travel in books and movies, I can drive myself insane finding paradoxes and getting annoyed by characters who don't consider the consequences of their actions or use their ability to its potential.

Not so with HOURGLASS.

HOURGLASS fully lived up to what I hoped it would be. Strong, sweet, intriguing, and completely unique.

There were a lot of things I loved about this book, starting with Emerson and her voice, on to the depiction of the Southern town, and to the romance. Emerson was a tough character with a rough past, but she never let it slow her down. She was strong, loyal, and the kind of person you'd want on your side if time were slipping.

I loved the Southern atmosphere. The way Myra captured it reminded me a lot of where I grew up: definitely Southern, but not stereotypically Southern. It felt like a real place, somewhere I'd like to visit.

And the romance-- If you like kissing books, this is for you. (And I'm not going to say anything else about that because I don't want to spoil you.)

What really impressed me is how well information is seeded, how cleverly hints are given, so reveals at the end are surprising, but not too surprising. You know there's something coming out of Myra's literary hat, but it's probably not a rabbit.

HOURGLASS is a strong debut novel written in a clean, enjoyable style. The pace never flags, the plot is solid, and the premise is unique. If you've been looking for a time travel story that's not your typical time travel, this is it.

Also, check out that beautiful cover. Now tilt your head to the left. (I know, right?)

So I splurged and hit Books-a-Million the other day. Please do not rat on me to DH that I bought more books without prior authorization. I had to, it is morally imperative to my sanity to keep a healthy supply of reading material.

Anyway, among the books bought was a copy of Hourglass from Myra McEntire. I had been following her on Twitter and heard a lot of rather boastful reviews of the book. I have to admit I was intrigued. It certainly did not hurt that she was a fellow Tennessean.

From the very beginning I was drawn in. Hourglass starts off with a slap in the face of weirdness and keeps slapping. You don't really know what is going on other than Emerson sees dead people, but let's keep the Sixth Sense goofball references to a minimum.

Myra is a fantastic debut author. I have heard the rigamarole about the greatness of this novel and I was not disappointed. As I said the book had me from the beginning. By the time I reached mid-story I had fallen, quite willingly, for Michael and totally wanted Emerson as my BFF. Hourglass was absolutely hilarious with Emerson's wit and general semi-cynical outlook on life, which I am a huge fan of.

I am not familiar with time-slip/time-travel novels, but I didn't feel that anyone had to be in order to follow the plot. Miss Myra unravels this idea slowly through Emerson's discovery of what she can do and I never felt there was a data drop of crazy time travel philosophies that one would need a PhD to understand. Hourglass was perfectly balanced for amateur time related novel readers.

The main characters, Michael and Emerson, were fantastically written. Michael plays the part of the 'I want to do what is right' sort of drive and Emerson is clever, although a bit closed off after a less than favorable childhood, and just all around cool chick. I have to admit I was mentally fist bumping Emerson after she threw Michael over her shoulder pseudo-mini-ninja style. WOOT! But I digress...

Hourglass was a fast-paced read (finished in three days of obsessive cannot-put-it-down while making dinner bouts) and I was thoroughly entertained. The chemistry between Michael and Emerson was very pant worthy and I often giggled in true girly-girl fashion. The humor kept things sort of edgy when it could very well become oppressive with Emerson's tragic past. The concept may not be completely original, but I like the subtle twists Miss Myra plugs in. She just make me a Dr. Who fan after all...

The only thing remotely negative I can say about Hourglass is I felt sort of teased by Lily, Emerson's long-standing and patient best friend. We are given a super quick peek at some other twisting happening with Lily, but Miss Myra never indulges on this in Hourglass. It just makes me wonder what Miss Myra has in store for the next installment.

So do yourself a favor and pick up this read from Myra McEntire. She has a great voice and clever wit that translates well into her characters. Hourglass was fun, flirty, and a truly great read.

Did it rock my world? Yes, I give Hourglass an 8.5 on my Richter scale.

You don't know Jack.

No, seriously. You don't know him. Not until you pick up this book. And you might want to know him. Or you might not. I'm not giving anything away. Well, okay, I will give ONE thing away (sike, it's not really a spoiler, I promise)--you DO want to know Emerson. The main character of Hourglass. She's southern and spunky and kick-ass, despite having come from a heartbreaking past. If she were real? She'd be my best friend. Which means her other best friend, Lily, would have to step aside. Which I doubt she'd do. Which means there might be an old-fashioned duel. Or at least the ripple of one.

Hourglass is twisty and turny and it's hard to give it a proper review without spoiling anything, so I'll just say this: Read it. Intriguing girls. Yummy boys. Fun and original plot.

What else could you ask for?

Well, *I* could ask for the next book to hurry up and get here. I can't wait to see where these characters go next

When I first read the cover leaf for Hourglass I wasn’t impressed and thought it sounded like it belonged primarily in the paranormal category. Did I really want to go there? No. No, I did not. However, after a great recommendation and a comforting “don’t judge it by the cover” comment I decided I’d try it out. I am, after all, a huge Doctor Who fan and there is a time travel element. Make that a HUGE time travel element. Needless to say, I was hooked by the first chapter.

Hourglass is the story of seventeen year old Emerson Cole and her discovery of what her visions from the past mean for her future. It is also a story that examines opportunities to right the wrongs of life, as well as the choices we make and their consequences. Hourglass comes complete with a cute older guy, secret organizations, and a cheeky tone. Heaving with romance, I caught myself blushing and giggling all the way through, which I think might have been more so than my entire teenage life. (Not to worry, moms, there is nothing too over the top. Promise.) My only complaint is that the story features another petite heroine who likes to run. Really?! Who in their right mind likes to run?! I keep holding out for an average build, average motivation heroine. That could work, right?

Hourglass will leave you breathless and wondering what would happen if someone screwed with the space time continuum of your life. The downside is that this obsession, I mean symptom, will probably last until the sequel comes out, maybe longer. I recommend a healthy dose of Doctor Who to tide you over, preferably featuring David Tennant as the tenth Doctor, the supreme Doctor.

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 revealing 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.

I highly recommend this book. You'll be hooked!

** SPOILERS **

MAIN CHARACTERS:
Emerson. I love her. She's just so witty, and stubborn, and sarcastic. My kind of girl! I love her with all my heart! And then there's Michael, her love object. Michael is fiercely protective of Emerson. He would do absolutely anything for her. The thing is, he keeps hiding things from Emerson saying that he just wants to protect her. Much like Edward. I hate it.

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT:
Time travel. Various gifted individuals. School for gifted individuals. One character is so similar to Professor X. The book is about acceptance of oneself and literally correcting past mistakes.

FAVORITE CHARACTER:
Emerson. So snarky! I think I see myself in her.

FAVORITE LINE:
"I am sorry." Kaleb grinned at me. "Sorry I didn't meet you first."

MUSINGS:
Like the others would say, this book is about time travelling, correcting mistakes in the past. But the romance in this book, oh! the romance! Swoon. The tension between Michael and Emerson is amazing. I wanted to possess Emerson, and jump on Michael for her. I like these kinds of books, where you think you already have someone when you don't. So close, yet so far. Rubberband-ish. I couldn't stop reading. Once I stopped, I couldn't stop thinking about it.

CONTENT REVIEW:
profanity: moderate
violence: moderate (There was Arson, by a character like Pyro from the X-Men.)
sexual content: moderate
mature themes: mild to moderate
age recommendation: 14+

RATING:
Cover: 3.5
Plot: 3.5
Writing: 3.0
Characters: 3.5
Ending: 3.0
Overall Rating: 3.5 - Superior (93% - 96%)