Showing posts with label Myra McEntire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Myra McEntire. Show all posts

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Infinityglass by Myra McEntire



Infinityglass by Myra McEntire
Release Date – August 6, 2013
Publisher Website – Egmont/RandomHouse Canada
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter
Pages - 336 pages
My Rating- 3/5
**received from publisher for an honest review**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis
The stakes have risen even higher in this third book in the Hourglass series.

The Hourglass is a secret organization focused on the study of manipulating time, and its members — many of them teenagers -­have uncanny abilities to make time work for them in mysterious ways. Inherent in these powers is a responsibility to take great care, because altering one small moment can have devastating consequences for the past, present, and future. But some time trav­elers are not exactly honorable, and sometimes unsavory deals must be struck to maintain order.

With the Infinityglass (central to understanding and harnessing the time gene) at large, the hunt is on to find it before someone else does.

But the Hourglass has an advantage. Lily, who has the ability to locate anything lost, has determined that the Infinityglass isn't an object. It's a person. And the Hourglass must find him or her first. But where do you start searching for the very key to time when every second could be the last?
If I had to describe Myra McEntire's series one word, I would choose fun. They are enjoyable, and delectable. This installment is no exception. It provides a thrilling conclusion to the Hourglass series and fans of the previous books will not be disappointed.

One of my favourite elements of this series it the different narrators. These side characters are given the chance to step into the spotlight and some of them become personal favourites. This installment features Dune and Hallie. Dune, previously a side character, more than shows why he needs his own story. Hallie and he create a wonderful team, and the dual narration allows us to get to know each them. They compliment each other and I enjoyed their banter.

My only issues, with the series as a whole, is that is often lighter than I would like. It's the type of book I have to be in the mood for, kind of like candy. It's plot could have gone deeper, darker, and it could have added something to the series to take it that much further. The focus on romance and action will certainly appeal to some, but others may want something more from the series.

Romance is a huge focus of this entire series. It's often filled with tension and an excruciating build up. It's the tease before the kiss that makes these books so scorching, in my opnion. Myra McEntire makes the characters, and the reader, work for it. The anticipation only increasing the payoff when the characters finally do kiss. Myra certainly creates wonderful characters that are easy to root for so the romance element comes naturally.

Wrapping up any series is not an easy task. The world Myra's built is vast, and full of potential. The ending while resolving the major plot points, leaves a little wiggle room, not everything is wrapped in a bow. Things set in motion in the first come full circle, and are resolved making sure everything ties together that should. The characters, and their world go on however, and that is possibly the most fitting ending there can be.

A series that surprised me. If you are looking for something fun, action packed, and high in romance this will certainly hit all the right notes. It provides a fitting ending to the series that left the world Myra McEntire created open to explore if she wishes. 

Saturday, August 3, 2013

New To My Book Closet


It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various "mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews). 

I have some amazing books that I've borrowed, and some books for review as well. First up the ones I borrowed from fellow bloggers


Losing It by Cora Carmack (Goodreads)
The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead (Goodreads)
Hidden by Catherine McKenzie (Goodreads)
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan (Goodreads)

Next up are two books that I got for review this week


Infinityglass by Myra McEntire (Goodreads)
The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Goodreads)

A huge thank you to Random House Canada, my fellow bloggers, and Netgalley/Hyperion for all these amazing reads. I can't wait to get started on them.

Happy Weekend and Happy Reading!

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Weekly Obsessions


The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday.

Here are my obsessions this week:

BOOKS

Cover for 3:59 by Gretchen McNeil


I love the simplicity of this cover, and the slightly creepy vibe that matches the synopsis perfectly. I am loving that the title numbers look exactly like ones on an alarm clock (non digital obviously).

Cover of The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White


So pretty! I think everyone immediately loved this based on the response on twitter. After reading the synopsis I am equally excited to read this one.

cover of The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater


Okay so this really has more to do with the name than the cover. I am not partial either way to this cover, but the name...oh the name is PERFECT! The Dream Thieves, for those who have read The Raven Boys, is such a fitting title. I am intrigued and am dying for a synopsis to be released. I can't wait for more Gansey!

Cover of Infinityglass by Myra McEntire


Stunning. I really LOVE this cover. The striking red dress against that pale green wallpaper stands out and each of these covers has such an eye catching pose for the model on the front. I think this is actually my favourite of the three. Add it to Goodreads if haven't already.

Cover of Teardrop by Lauren Kate


The water cascading as her dress is quite pretty. The mystical look to the city behind her piques by interest, especially after reading the synopsis! 'A girl who got her heart broken and cried an entire continent into the sea' leaves me with thoughts of Atlantis.

TV

Once Upon A Time

This Sunday is the episode I have waited a long time for. The one in which we get answers. The one in which   not one but two of my favourite characters are set to return. Also one that will prove my guessing skills correct once again. I am so invested in this show that I literally have a bottle of wine, tissues, and chocolate ready for what is sure to be an emotionally draining episode for me. *Yes, I get too attached to TV/book characters. It's a thing*

So what are you obsessed with this week?

Thursday, June 7, 2012

Timepiece by Myra McEntire




Timepiece by Myra McEntire
Release Date –  June 12, 2012
Publisher Website –  Egmont USA
Publisher Social Media -  Twitter
Pages -  336 pages
My Rating- 4/5
**received for an honest review from publisher/Netgalley**

Here is the Goodreads synopsis
A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking... 
Kaleb Ballard's relentless flirting is interrupted when Jack Landers, the man who tried to murder his father, timeslips in and attacks before disappearing just as quickly. But Kaleb has never before been able to see time travelers, unlike many of his friends associated with the mysterious Hourglass organization. Are Kaleb's powers expanding, or is something very wrong? 
Then the Hourglass is issued an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he's stolen on the time gene, or time will be altered with devastating results.  
Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no choice but to use their unusual powers to find Jack. But where do they even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough... 
The follow-up to Hourglass, Timepiece blends the paranormal, science fiction, mystery, and suspense genres into a nonstop thrill ride where every second counts.
Intense. Funny. Page Turner. These are just some of the words I could use to describe Timepiece by Myra McEntire. This follow up to Hourglass takes place shortly after Hourglass ends and sends Emerson, Michael and the rest on a whirlwind race to prevent a disastrous outcome to a stacked ultimatum.

Fans of Myra’s writing in the first novel will be happy to hear that it’s just as great in Timepiece. She’s created an engrossing novel that is a rather quick read. It feels very polished and follows really well from chapter to chapter. The use of small cliffhangers at the end of the chapters made me eager to keep turning the pages.

The story is entirely from Kaleb’s point of view. I fell for his charm, quick wit, and was delighted to find much more to his character. His self assured attitude hides a lot, and it was nice getting to see things from his perspective. I found myself chuckling at a lot of things Kaleb thought, even though there is sadness to him that we get to glimpse under the bravado. This may not have come through without his perspective. I loved his banter with Lily (Emerson’s friend). They play off each other, and the sparks between them make sense. I fully enjoyed getting to learn more about Lily, and seeing her become a larger part of the story.

I didn’t find myself missing Emerson as much as I expected to. She and Michael are still very much a part of this story. Getting to see Michael and Emerson thorough Kaleb’s point of view was interesting. I liked getting to see their connection and actions through the perspective of someone else. It provided an outlook I didn’t think we’d get as I expected the novels to continue with Emerson’s point of view.

It sometimes feels like, with series, that a two book plot is being dragged out to make three. Timepiece avoids this issue. In book one we are introduced to the inner workings of Hourglass, and the complexities of time travel and its repercussions. In Timepiece we are shown that this world is much larger, has more depth, and is more calculated that we could have imagined. The mythology evolved and I was so glad to learn some of the character’s secrets.

With the introduction of the Infinityglass Myra has created a mythology that easily lends itself to more novels in this series. The story is just beginning, the stakes are about to get higher, and time is ticking on our beloved characters. I am looking forward to getting to know whoever narrates the next installment and hope to love them as much as I ended up loving Kaleb.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Hourglass by Myra McEntire


Hourglass by Myra McEntire
Release Date – June 14, 2011
Publisher – Egmont USA
Publisher Social Media - Twitter
Pages - 397
My Rating- 8/10
Obtained - library

Here is the Goodreads 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?

Full of atmosphere, mystery, and romance, Hourglass merges the very best of the paranormal and science-fiction genres in a seductive, remarkable young adult debut.

I picked up this book due to the sheer number of people buzzing about this book. Science fiction novels and I do not usually agree, so I was not really sure what to expect. Myra McEntire’s novel is one of the few science fiction novels I have enjoyed.

The characters in this novel really make the difference. There were some characters I really liked and surprisingly they were not who I was expecting.

Emerson is a puzzle. She’s snarky and tries to keep people at a distance. She is afraid of people finding out about her visions, and thinking she’s weird. She’s also someone who has been through a lot. I felt it harder to connect to her as a character. Her family consists of her brother and his wife. I liked how concerned her brother was for her, and the relationship she has with her sister-in-law is actually really sweet.

Emerson’s best friend Lily was fantastic. She provided a lot of humours moments, and was a really fun character. I think I liked her more than Emerson. I really hope to see more of her in the next books.

The character of Michael is very typical of the “cute boy” in a lot of books. He is good looking, is a little snarky like Emerson, and is part of the Hourglass organization. He and Emerson have this hot and cold relationship and I found myself just wanting them to talk it out already.

Kaleb is another boy who ends up on Emerson’s radar and could potentially give Michael some competition. I liked Kaleb a lot too. He was damaged, and broken. He made mistakes. I liked that even though he had some awful things happen in his life he could still joke around. I hope he is in the next few books a lot more.

The science part of this was really unique and my favourite part of the story. Michael asks her to help him prevent a murder that happened and to do this they travel back in time. I haven’t read a lot of books that deal with time travel so I was really excited to dive in. I felt it was adequately explained and I wasn’t confused.

I was expecting a huge cliffhanger as I read this is just the first book in a series, and was surprised to see that was not the case. There was enough to set up the next books though, and I am looking forward to getting to know these characters more.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

In My Mailbox



This is a weekly meme hosted by the awesome Kristi at The Story Siren. It gives us a chance to showcase the books we got during the week.

I got 2 books from the library this week




The Vampire Stalker by Allison van Diepen (goodreads)
Hourglass by Myra McEntire (goodreads)

I also received a nice surprise in the mail this week. A big thanks to Maureen Johnson for this awesome button!



What books did you get this week? Leave me a comment and I will check it out.

Happy reading everyone!

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