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Emerson has had a rough four years. Shortly before her parents were killed in a crash, she began seeing things, and then after their tragic death, she wound up in a mental institution. After a couple of years spent at a special private school, she’s lost her scholarship and has to go back home to her town in Tennessee, where her brother, Thomas, and his wife live. She has a good relationship with them, but she still feels like she’s intruding on their life and is not looking forward to being the “freak” in her high school again.
Thomas has tried all kinds of consultants and professionals to help Emerson, but none has really made a difference. Emerson has given up on medication because she’s tired of being in a fog. But she is seeing these strange people all the time, no matter where she is, and it’s annoying. The people are always from different time periods in the past, either Southern belles or hippies or ‘50s teens hanging out in a diner. Emerson can make them go away by touching them, but sometimes she isn’t sure if they’re figments or if they’re real, and that can be troublesome.
Her brother has just found a new consultant, and even though Emerson isn’t holding her breath that he can be of any help, she can’t help but be interested when she sees what a good-looking, young guy it is. And there seems to be a mutual attraction. Only problem: there are rules with the group for which he works, the Hourglass, and Thomas also makes it clear that he’s an employee, so there should be no fraternizing.
Michael not only gets Emerson’s attention by how he looks, but by what he tells her: she’s not crazy, and she doesn’t need to be cured. She can actually see people from the past, and she has a gift. While Emerson isn’t completely buying what Michael has to tell her, she eventually has to start accepting some of what he is trying to say because he needs help. And she’s the only one who can do what needs to be done.
Hourglass is a fairly good fantasy, involving time travel and some supernatural gifts. It doesn’t feel completely original, but it’s a good read, and the romance works. I’ll be open to reading further books in what’s obviously going to be a series.
Rated: Mild, for some mild and moderate language, some mild violence, and some moderately intense kissing scenes.
