Review: Hourglass

Author: Myra McEntire
Publish date: 2011
Source: purchased ebook
"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?" (Goodreads)

I bought Hourglass for my Kindle when it was pretty cheap and read it while I was on vacation recently. By the way, it was my first vacation with the ereader and it was AWESOME. I brought 2 regular books plus my kindle and ended up reading 6 books total. So much easier than bringing 6 books with me! Anyway, I read Hourglass on my Kindle and despite having a shaky start, I enjoyed it.

After finishing Hourglass, I think I liked the actual plot the most. The idea of what/who Emerson can see, time travel, the Hourglass: all are cool and I felt pretty satisfied by the end in terms of wrapping up the plot points. I will admit, I was caught by surprise by the plot twist at the end (I love when that happens!). So all in all, pretty good plot and storyline.

But...but but but the romance. It was. So. Cheesy. I felt like it overtook the story for a while, which I am not a fan of. And how conveeeenient that Michael was assigned to Emerson and was only a little older than her! At least it wasn't really insta!love, which I appreciated. The relationship progressed fairly normally, but was cheesy at times, plus Emerson could be a little whiny. Also? She got away with A LOT for being in high school. Her brother was not very parenty.

Verdict: I liked it, but didn't love it. The plot was enough to keep me engrossed when the romance over-cheesed. Should I read Timepiece?