Book Review: Hourglass (Hourglass, #1) by Myra McEntire

(Click image to take you to Goodreads)

 

Format: Paperback

Publishers: Egmont

Published: 14th June 2011

Pages: 390

Genre: YA, Dystopia, Romance

Main Characters: Emerson, Michael

Date Read: 1st February - 6th February 2014
 

Rating Given:

Blurb:

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 also 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've happened?

If I remember rightly I was gifted this book a few years ago and I have now finally gotten around to reading it and for the most part I wish I had read it sooner as it was really good.


I really love the cover it looks really quirky and slightly different to the other covers that have a girl on the cover. Even though you can't feel the over but trust me it has a beautiful velvet feel to it which I love, I just had to keep feeling it while I was reading it.


For the first part of the story it was quite confusing to the point where I didn't understand what was happening. Once I got over the confusion I fell in love with it and just got hooked by the end I didn't want to put it down. I haven't read that many time travelling books but I do find them engaging and this one was no different. There was a lot of things that kept happening in this book that I just never expected but there was also times when I predicted what was going to happen. The romance side of the story was good but I just wished there was more of it. I kind of enjoyed the ending as a lot of things was cleared up but I do feel like some of the issues was glossed over.


Most of the characters was enjoyable to read about but then there was some that I just didn't like but I guess that's how we was supposed to feel. Emerson was a great character as she seemed such a strong willed character but she also had a vulnerable side to her that really made me feel for her. She is a very short character but that didn't stop her from being physically strong especially when she threw Michael over her shoulder which I found really funny. I don't really know what I feel about Michael he was funny at times but then he would also annoyed me but overall he was nice. My favourite character would have to be Kaleb even if he wasn't in it much but when he was he was so funny but he was considerate to everyone. I can't wait for the next book as it's from Kaleb's point of view so I will get to see a lot more from him.


Overall Hourglass was a really enjoyable book although there was times when it got a bit too confusing.

Showcase Sunday #8

Showcase Sunday is a new weekly Meme that I am taking part of. This weekly meme is hosted by Vicky over at Book, Biscuits and Tea and for more info click on the SS image which will take you straight to the blog. Click on the images of the books to take you to Goodreads.

I only received one book this week which wasn't worth doing a vlog but I will definitely be doing one next week.

Review Books

Revived by Cat Patrick

The cover of the book that I received wasn't actually this one but Goodreads didn't seem to have it. This will be my first book that is written by Cat Patrick so I'm hoping it will be a good one. I remember seeing this book when it was the American version and I knew that I had to get it and was very pleased when Egmont UK said they would send me a copy for review. Can't wait to read this book thank you very much Egmont UK!

So that's all I read this week what did everyone else receive?

Book Review: Unearthly (Unearthly #1)

Unearthly (Unearthly #1) by Cynthia Hand

Format: Paperback
Publisher: Egmont UK
Published: 2nd May 2011
Pages: 435
Main Characters: Clara, Christian and Tucker
Date Started: 1st September 2011
Date Finished: 5th September 2011
Rating Given: ****

Goodreads: 

In the beginning, there's a boy standing in the trees . . . .

Clara Gardner has recently learned that she's part angel. Having angel blood run through her veins not only makes her smarter, stronger, and faster than humans (a word, she realizes, that no longer applies to her), but it means she has a purpose, something she was put on this earth to do. Figuring out what that is, though, isn't easy.
Her visions of a raging forest fire and an alluring stranger lead her to a new school in a new town. When she meets Christian, who turns out to be the boy of her dreams (literally), everything seems to fall into place—and out of place at the same time. Because there's another guy, Tucker, who appeals to Clara's less angelic side.

Unearthly is a moving tale of love and fate, and the struggle between following the rules and following your heart.

This is Cynthia Hand's debut so I hadn't know what her book would be liked but I found I was drawn to it because of the beautiful front cover, the description and I had also heard a lot of good things from this book so I just had to try it for myself and I wasn't disappointed.
As soon as I started this book I found I already was starting to like it and a few chapters into it and I was hooked I just had to find out what was going to happen next which a part towards the end with Christian surprised the hell out of me. I just didn't see it coming which for me is great as usually you know what is going to happen to a certain degree but that one I didn't but that could just be me! There was also other things that I was guessing at but I got them completely wrong which I am pleased about as it just kept me reading and well guessing.
I loved the different take on the Angel's lore as it is different take on Angels to most Angel books (that I have read anyway) I found it rather intriguing.
Clara was nice enough I did find her a bit shallow but she did have some depth to her which made her more likable than what she could have been. Tucker I loved , his character was so likable as he was funny which I find the best trait in characters which makes them more relatable. With Christian I didn't really like him as he really was shallow and cocky but not in a funny way like Tucker there was times however when he showed a better side which I liked maybe in the next book we might see more of that side of him.
The only reason why I didn't give the book the full marks in which it did actually deserve was because of the ending which ended in  a bit of a rush it should have maybe had a few more pages so it wouldn't have been as rushed.
There was a cliffhanger which the more books I read the more I am liking the cliffhangers as it makes me want to read the next book all the more I just wish that they came out quicker.
Overall Cynthia Hand's debut was a great way to start and I can't wait to read more from her and not just in this series but in others that are sure to come.

Book Review: The Lost Saint (The Dark Divine #2)

The Lost Saint (The Dark Divine #2) by Bree Despain

DON'T READ IF NOT READ FIRST BOOK!

Format: Paperback
Publisher: Egmont
Published: 7th March 2011
Pages: 404
Main Characters: Grace, Daniel and Talbot
Date Started: 11th September 2011
Date Finished: 15th September 2011
Rating Given: ****

Goodreads:


A family destroyed. A love threatened. An enemy returns.

Grace Divine made the ultimate sacrifice to cure Daniel Kalbi. She was infected with the werewolf curse while trying to save him, and lost her beloved brother in the process.

Desperate to find Jude, Grace befriends Talbot, a newcomer to town. But as the two grow closer, Grace's relationship with Daniel is put in danger - in more ways than one.

Unaware of the dark path she is walking, Grace begins to give into the wolf inside of her - not realizing that an enemy has returned and a deadly trap is about to be sprung.

Bree Despain delivers sizzling romance and thrilling action in the heart-pounding sequel to the The Dark Divine.

After reading the first book The Dark Divine I just fell in love with the story and when the next one was released the obvious choice was to buy it so I could continue with Grace and Daniels story which I wasn't that disappointed with the second book.
The start of this book I absolutely loved it and I got into it straight away but then when secrets was starting between both Daniel and Grace I was starting to get annoyed as I was scared to what was going to happen between the both of them. As the story continued and we met a new character called Talbot I got even more scared I just didn't trust this character and am still not sure whether to trust him or not by the end as he sure did bring out the worse in Grace.
Grace was a bit different in this book compared to the first book which is because of the wolf side of her so her dark side was coming through in this book which I didn't like. Daniel seemed to have more secrets in this book than the first which I also didn't like. Jude wasn't in this book as much as the first one but when he was I didn't know if I liked him or not he just kept changing his mind but again that would be the wolf inside of him. Graces' mum was rather annoying in this book but I guess if one of your children go missing I am sure anyone would be the same. As for her dad who wasn't in it much until nearer towards the end I just didn't know what to make of him for just disappearing on the family when he knew how much his family needed him but again there is probably reasoning in his madness. We also got see more of Gabriel in this one which I liked knowing more about him.
As for the ending well it was a huge cliffhanger which makes me both excited and scared to read the next one but one things for I will be!