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Myra McEntire
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Hourglass Hardcover – June 14, 2011

by Myra McEntire (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 288 ratings
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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 roma
Previous page
  1. Print length
    400 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    EgmontUSA
  4. Publication date
    June 14, 2011
  5. Grade level
    9 and up
  6. Reading age
    14 years and up
  7. Dimensions
    6.22 x 1.36 x 8.5 inches
  8. ISBN-10
    9781606841440
  9. ISBN-13
    978-1606841440
  10. Lexile measure
    HL660L
  11. See all details
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Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A perfectly well-rounded book with paranormal, action and love triangles, this will keep you guessing until the surprising end. If you're a paranormal lover, you do not want to miss this one!" --Romantic Times Book Reviews

"Em is an entertainingly cheeky narrator and appealingly resilient heroine ... first-time author McEntire deftly juggles plot, characters and dialogue; her portrait of grief is particularly poignant."
--Kirkus Reviews

" ... the story centers itself in Emerson's voice--by turns sardonic, world weary, ardent, and hopeful." --Publisher's Weekly

"Buffy for the time-traveling set." -- Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books

"Doctor Who in a YA package." -- MTV's Hollywood Crush

About the Author

Myra McEntire knows the words to every R&B hit of the last decade, but since she lives in Nashville, the country music capital of America, her lyrical talents go sadly unappreciated. She's chosen, instead, to channel her "mad word skills" into creating stories. She's an avid Doctor Who fan and will argue passionately about which incarnation is the best. You can visit her online at myramcentire.com. 

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1606841440
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ EgmontUSA; First Edition (June 14, 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781606841440
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1606841440
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 14 years and up
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ HL660L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 9 and up
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.15 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.22 x 1.36 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 288 ratings

About the author

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Myra McEntire

Myra McEntire

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Myra McEntire lives in Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and two sons. You can visit her online at www.MyraMcEntire.com

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
288 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

MK
5.0 out of 5 stars Electrifying read!
Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2011
Verified Purchase
I'm not sure I can accurately express how much I adored Myra McEntire's Hourglass. It's one of those books I'll be happy to read over again, and I can't wait to see how Myra fleshes out the rest of the series.

Here are just a few of the reasons why I wouldn't mind snuggling up to Hourglass again and again:

Emerson - Even though Em knows martial arts and has a tough skin due to her past, she's not afraid to be a girl. It seems (at least to me) a lot of stereotypical kick-butt heroines shun makeup, dressing up, or anything deemed "girly," as though those things would make them less tough. But not Em. I found it refreshing that she was comfortable in her own skin, comfortable being feminine, and comfortable kicking some butt along the way.

Em's bff, Lily - Thank you, Myra McEntire, for ditching the cliched "ugly" or overweight best friend who's really only there to serve as comedic relief. Lily has her own life outside being Em's bestie, which makes her character all the more believable. And another refreshing reason to love Lily and Em's relationship? They don't spend their time quibbling over boys. They have real, meaningful conversations. They love each other and have stuck by each other through the worst of times. I came out loving Lily just as much as Em does.

Michael - He's not your token YA bad boy. He's an amazing friend, mature, intelligent, and loyal to the core. He doesn't for one second feel entitled to Em or act obsessive over her. His relationship with Em is an unconventional one, to say the least, but there's a reason for everything he says and does. Trust me. Just keep reading!

Em's family - Through it all, Em's brother, Thomas, and sister-in-law, Dru, have stuck by her. They believe in her and are committed to doing whatever it takes to help Em lead a normal life. Em couldn't have a better support group, and I loved immersing myself in their healthy, hilarious, and at times heart-breaking family dynamic.

Simplicity - Yes, Hourglass is a sci-fi, time travel novel (with a bit of paranormal and romance mixed in), but you don't have to have a degree in quantum physics to understand how Em's world works. McEntire takes actual scientific theory and explains it in a way that's both easy to grasp and fun to explore. Hourglass isn't just for sci-fi or time travel fans.

Southern wit - I've read too many novels set in the South that focus so much on the culture and the sayings that it just feels fake. I start to wonder, has this author ever even been to the South? But Myra McEntire is a true Southern girl, which makes Em's voice authentic and addictive. And the humor! If not for anything else, pick this book up for the wit. I found myself laughing out loud throughout the entire novel, as well as shedding a few tears.

The voice - McEntire's writing voice is effortless to read. From the very first hook, she holds readers safely in her grasp so we can just sit back and enjoy the ride. No tripping over awkward prose, no going back to reread paragraphs. In fact, you might want to have some caffeine ready if you start this one late in the day. Plan on staying up until it's finished!

I can't recommend Hourglass enough. It's clean, fun, deep, witty, and downright charming. When you mix humor, spunk, and Southern attitude with unexpected twists and turns, electric characters, and hot romance, you know you've got a hit.

~ from YABooksCentral.com
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Crossroad Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars With witty banter and wonderful characters
Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2012
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The cover of this book is so neat looking. It is unlike anything I have ever seen. I believe that the description gives a good idea of what the book is about. With maybe some things left out. But, that doesn't take away from the book but adds to it.

This book started out so well! With witty banter and wonderful characters.

Yet as it went on it just got boring. It lost my attention and didn't do anything to grab it back. It just kept dragging on and on.

I did finish the book and towards the end it started pulling me back in.

I was disappointed a little that the book just went on and on and on. I don't like books that drag. Authors/Editors could cut it down and take out some of the nonessential crap and make such a better book with fewer pages.

I did enjoy the ending of the book. I think it ended with a somewhat cliff hanger but not such a big one that you would be pulling your hair out until book 2 came out. So thats very good.

There are so many books out there about time travel. I LOVE that in this book it takes more than one person to do it. I have never liked that books like Tempest, and tv shows like the Time Travelers Wife. Where they can travel alone without help. It never set very right with me. (I don't know why- Maybe I was a traveler in another life)

This book again is about Time Travel but also toward the end it turns into a love trio. I think that could have been skipped all together. With the connection that Em and Michael have trying to add another person to that love is just plain stupid if you ask me. I understand why it was added. But it could have been ended before the next book. It added an extra element that it just didn't need.

Ok Characters! I LOVE EM! She is awesome! She will kick your ass if you mess with her or her family! I love that. You don't get a lot of female characters that know how to use what they have. With Em its martial arts and yes she kicks some ass.

Michael he is a great male lead. I do think that he was kinda of stupid towards the end of the book. But it all works out so thats fine. But again it kind of adds an extra twist that the book just didn't need.

So all in all I did like the book. I think that this is one of those books that could go either way.
So Ill give it two rating.
3 stars it could go either way and 4 stars it made me ripple with excitement

Check out more of my reviews at [...]
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Top reviews from other countries

Miss Page-Turner
5.0 out of 5 stars An action-packed time travel extraverganza with flair and three infectious love stories.
Reviewed in Germany on November 28, 2013
Verified Purchase
Since her parents's death Emerson has been seeing things others can't. Apparitions from old days are crossing her way and she can't make them go away. Her brother Thomas is set on finding a cure, but nothing has helped so far. Until he calls the Hourglass organisation on the plan, and with it super smart and hot agent Michael. Thank you, Thomas! His task is to help Emerson find a way to get rid of her ghosts from the past. And of course all scruples aside he's there to provide us with a swoon-worthy romance. What a lucky providence that he's staying in the same housing complex as Emerson and her brother. Offers room for a lot of flustering encounters and much time for their feelings of attraction to grow into something stronger and more sustainable.

Only the love story would have been enough to name HOURGLASS an awesome read. A conspiracy, mysterious organisations, insane antagonists, explosions, very short windows of time to act and turn the ending into a happy one and time travelling - loved the time travelling components in HOURGLASS just as much as in recent favourites such as TEMPEST by Julie Cross- complete HOURGLASS to a well-balanced and absolutely gripping read.

4,5/5 ****/* HOURGLASS series - An action-packed time travel extraverganza with flair and three infectious love stories.

One minute you are totally relaxed and laid-back, that jazzy feeling of old days bewitching you, the next you are on the run from your past and your future. Trust me, you want to have all three books in your reach when you turn the first page of HOURGLASS.
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Lyndsey OHalloran
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfection!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 12, 2012
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I really loved this book from the very first page where we meet protagonist Emerson. She thinks she's a complete freak and that there is something terribly wrong with her. After all, she sees what she thinks are ghosts and has once been committed for what she can see. No matter what she does, these people from the past haunt her and she hates it. Although this may sound like Emerson was quite depressing, she wasn't at all. She was full of sass and quick come-backs and only wanted to feel normal again. Even though Emerson has all of this going on, she is still super sweet and caring and has a close connection with her brother and his wife which was a really nice touch.

As people seem to think she's crazy, Emerson's brother Thomas attempts to help her by contacting others who think that they can help. This is where Michael comes in. Hired by Thomas, he works for something called Hourglass and knows exactly about Emerson's `problems'. However, not long after they meet Michael explains that these people Emerson can see aren't ghosts but `rips', people from the past. I loved Michael just as much as I did Emerson. Even though he has been hired to help Emerson, there is a clear connection between the two which he fights so hard to ignore. He's also such a gentleman at times but has some hidden secrets of his own which were exciting to find out about.

This is one of those books where the author gets the romance so spot on it's unreal. Emerson's brother has made sure that Michael agrees to a strict business only agreement and this is partly what is driving Michael to stay away. The getting to know each other part of the relationship was perfect for me as there were trust issues to deal with and also having to get to know a complete stranger. While there is a slow build up to the romance, it was well worth it. The drawn out moments created immense tension between Emerson and Michael which was so fantastically written. I couldn't get enough of these two.

As well as having amazing main characters, Hourglass has some great supporting characters. First there is Emerson's best friend Lily. I could see why the two of them were best friends instantly. They complimented each other really well and Lily had her own quirks which didn't make her seem boring in comparison to Emerson. Then there is Kaleb who is a friend of Michaels. Kaleb was someone really special who has so much about him that I couldn't get enough of. I wanted to know so much more about him. I think that both Kaleb and Lily will have bigger roles in future books of this series... at least I hope they will.

Hourglass has a wonderful plot and one that sets this book apart from other YA books. The time travel element is why I read this book to begin with and it really was amazing. Out of the other time travel books I have read, this one is by far the most original. I loved the way that different people could do different things and could either go into the past or the future. There are so many different aspects of the plot which made it interesting and unique but saying too much about them will ruin a massive part of the story for anyone who hasn't read this. The plot had me hooked and I was desperate to find out what was really going on and what you happen in the end.

Hourglass is one of the best YA time travel books that I have read and now I can't wait to get started on the sequel, Timepiece.
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Kirsty at the Overflowing Library
4.0 out of 5 stars fab book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 3, 2011
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Hourglass is a uniquely different YA novel which I devoured in a matter of hours. It was fast paced and engaging throughout with excellent characters I just wanted to know more and more about.

Emerson Cole is a fascinating lead character. She has clearly been through a lot in her short life spending a great deal of time thinking she was stark raving mad because she saw ghosts floating around her to the point where she was institutionalised. Since being released back into the wider world she has spent her time trying to work out what has been going on. What I liked was that once she finally started to get some answers with the arrival of Michael on the scene she handled all the things thrown at her remarkably well whilst wanting to know more and more about her abilities and why she could see what see sees on a daily basis.

Michael is also a really interesting character. He is brought on the scene by Emerson's older brother a representative of the mysterious Hourglass company to mentor Emerson. Emerson finds herself immediately drawn to him to which he responds by attempting to be the perfect and totally gorgeous gentleman by her (with only the very occasional slip up). He is aloof throughout which seems to drive Emerson crazy meaning she goes to great lengths to get more anwsers from him as he seems to know an awful lot about Emerson and her condition. I loved how he starts to soften towards Emerson as the story progresses and found myself swooning in awe of his general gorgeousness.

Once the story gets underway the ideas put forward are awesome and the story is complex in how it plays out but I was never left wondering what was going on it that confused kind of way even though there were a few ideas you had to get your head round because the ideas were quite cleverly thought out. I loved the time travel element to the story and enjoyed seeing now the notion was used in the book in a very different way to what I have seen done before. I loved the twists and turns as they came along (me being me didn't see them coming at all) and am left wanting more, lots more.
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Miss Victoria Ramage
5.0 out of 5 stars Familar storyline, better written
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 23, 2012
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This wasn't a book that's been at the top of my wishlist, in fact it's not even on it. After reading this stunning debut, I'm really regretting that. Although I admit that the cover really put me off, it's pretty creepy to look at, even if it's memorable!

I devoured every bit of this story and I enjoyed every bit. I loved all of the characters, even the love interest, Michael! Emerson and Michael really connected with each other, and I liked that he tried to follow the rules set by Emerson's brother as it added a lot of romantic tension between them both. I love the twists and turns and surprises in this, as well a solid explanation as to why Emerson and Michael are so infatuated with each other, instead of the usual, 'He's just so darn hot!' one.

I really enjoyed reading about Emerson's past and how she deals with the ghosts that haunt her. She's a pretty strong character and has been through a lot after her parent's deaths, including being admitted in a mental facility because of the ghosts. I thought the idea of sticking your hand through the middle of the ghost was pretty funny, especially when Emerson punched Michael in the stomach. You know, just to be sure!

Although time travel is hardly a unique idea, this story felt really unique to me. The Hourglass team are kind of like time-manipulating X-Men! There's plenty of storylines that can be done with this and I'm hoping there will be sequel as I'd love to read more and there were a couple of things that weren't quite cleared up. The main storyline was cleared up nicely though and the story ended really well, I just want more!
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K A P Hughes
5.0 out of 5 stars Addicted.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 20, 2012
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I was addicted to reading this book, which is amazing for someone like me who finds it hard to get into books. I convinced my sister and friend to read it and they loved it too. The story completely blew me away. Every part of the story was captivating. There is never a dull moment.

This is the first book I have fallen in love with and it will always be my favourite. This book helped me fall in love with reading.
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