Hourglass by Myra McEntire
Hardcover, 400 Pages
2011, EgmontUSA
ISBN: 1606841440
Series: Book 1 of Hourglass
Synopsis
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?
Review
First and foremost, Hourglass is not a ghost novel. The synopsis and first few chapters make Hourglass appear to be a novel that features ghosts, but I want to make it clear that this is not the case. I usually pass by ghost novels and I don't want anyone who avoids that type of thing to miss out on this book. Hourglass is definitely more science fiction that paranormal fantasy and much of the novel is one surprise after another. It was a very enjoyable book to read.
Weeks before Emerson's parents died, she began seeing what she believed to be ghosts. Eventually, it got so bad that she was committed. Years later, she's come home to live with her brother and his wife. Her brother hires the Hourglass to try to find out why Emerson can see these "ghosts" and how to make it stop. Michael, a consultant for the Hourglass, can see the same "ghosts" Emerson can see. They are also inexplicably drawn to each other, but can't be together because of professionalism and other reasons Michael's not quite willing to share.
Emerson has had a bad life these past few years. Things do not get easier for her in this novel. While I loved the story, I found it sort of difficult to empathize with Emerson. The emotional pull just wasn't there. I wanted her to succeed in things, but only really so that the story itself moved forward. The same can be said for Michael and the relationship between the both of them. Whether it happened or not did not concern me. I think they were a little too "meant for each other" for my taste. When Michael's friend Kaleb appears in the novel, I immediately wanted him to be with Emerson.
I could say so much more about Hourglass, but the entire book is like one big spoiler. Without revealing anything, as the surprises make the story as addictive as it is, I can only say that Hourglass is a wonderfully unique surprise. As each piece fell into place, I became more and more drawn into the story and hoped it would never end. Luckily, Hourglass seems to be the first in a series. I can't wait to read more.
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