Hourglass by Myra McEntire

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? 

http://www.myramcentire.blogspot.com/

I have to start by saying what a story!!!!!  From the first couple of pages you are so enthralled in Emerson's story  it is hard to put the book down.  I can't believe that this is Myra's first novel!!!

Emerson is a young girl who has been through some pretty horrific events within the last couple of years and has taken that pain and made herself a strong individual. You love her so much because Emerson doesn't seem to realize the strength she has gained through her pain becoming a little spitfire.  Thomas, Emerson's brother, has arranged for her to meet Michael, this tall, dark, and handsome guy, who believes every word Emerson says and doesn't think she's crazy.  Michael can also see people or "rips" from the past.
The two of them have real electric chemistry and it grows stronger with each physical connection.  But Michael continues to want to keep their relationship professional. I found myself flipping a few pages ahead to see if they finally kiss because I couldn't take the tension anymore.

When you think you what is about to happen the story takes a twist and you find yourself not believing what you are reading.  I can't wait to read the next book and see how Emerson and Michael's story continues.

Bianca

Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton

For Nick Pardee and Silla Kennicot, the cemetery is the center of everything.
Nick is a city boy angry at being forced to move back to the nowhere town of Yaleylah, Missouri where he grew up. He can’t help remembering his mom and the blood magic she practiced – memories he’s tried for five years to escape. Silla, though, doesn’t want to forget; her parents’ apparent murder-suicide left her numb and needing answers. When a book of magic spells in her dad’s handwriting appears on her doorstep, she sees her chance to unravel the mystery of their deaths.
Together they plunge into the world of dark magic, but when a hundred-year-old blood witch comes hunting for the bones of Silla’s parents and the spell book, Nick and Silla will have to let go of everything they believe about who they are, the nature of life and death, and the deadly secrets that hide in blood. (http://www.tesssagratton.com/)

Tessa Gratton has written an incredible novel that had me hooked after the first couple of pages.  I really loved Nick and Silla and the chemistry between the two of them.  Silla is a strong and brave character and you can see why Nick gravitated to her so quickly against the advice of so many around him.  I loved how as I was reading the story I could feel the energy and tension between Nick and Silla through Tessa's writing.

As I was reading I really thought I knew where the story was going and what the ending outcome was going to be, but was blown away by a couple of plot twists. I couldn't put the book down until I read what happened.  Everyone should definitely put Blood Magic on their must read list!!!

As a side note I can't wait to meet Tessa when she comes with Maggie Stiefvater to the Borders in Novi in July!!!

Bianca