Ghost Hold (The PSS Chronicles, #2) by Ripley Patton

Sep 26, 2013 Hazel *Craves the Angst Reviews* rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: EVERYONE!

Shelves: paranormal-young-adult, contemporary-romance, romance, mature-young-adult, science-fiction, paranormal

Find This and Other Reviews At Craves The Angst. (Posting to my blog on Release Day, September 30, 2013)

I received this eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

5 Luminous, Vibrant Stars!
A Thrilling, Wild Adventure with Danger, Intrigue and Excitement And A Chilling End Sure To Haunt You!

The Review:
I'm in awe right now. Ripley Patton has shocked, wowed and stunned me with this book, especially the ending. The story was intense, powerful, fun, frightening and heartbreaking. I ...more

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Feb 05, 2013 Liliana rated it really liked it

Shelves: supernatural-abilities, paranormal-supernatural, young-adult, arc, from-author-or-publisher, alternate-reality

Reviewed on Lili Lost in a Book

So, in Ghost Hold, Olivia and the rest of the crew head out to rescue the next person on the CAMFERs list, and holy shi- *ahem* ;) Ripley really played with my feels in this one! I still cannot get over that ending! I don't know what to think anymore!

Seriously this book had me crying (um, a lot), laughing, swooning, and everything in between. I really do like a book with so much emotion.

There were also lots and lots of twists and turns and shocking secrets unveiled Reviewed on Lili Lost in a Book

So, in Ghost Hold, Olivia and the rest of the crew head out to rescue the next person on the CAMFERs list, and holy shi- *ahem* ;) Ripley really played with my feels in this one! I still cannot get over that ending! I don't know what to think anymore!

Seriously this book had me crying (um, a lot), laughing, swooning, and everything in between. I really do like a book with so much emotion.

There were also lots and lots of twists and turns and shocking secrets unveiled. I love twists and being surprised... Usually. That one at the end though? I'm still in shock.

We also met some new characters with interesting PSS and powers. Plus we got to know some of the characters we're already familiar a lot better! The enigma that is Passion, for example, is one of those characters. We get to know her so much more in depth and I could not believe all the things she's been keeping to herself! So crazy! And I wish I could tell you, but you know, spoilers ;) Jason is one that surprised me, because I actually ended up really liking him.

And then we have Marcus and Olivia who make such a fantastic couple. Olivia I think is a great character, who's had to deal with a lot of tough things. I really hope she'll have the strength to get out of the latest betrayal. And Marcus, swoon-worthy Marcus, I don't know how to explain him to you. I have this love-hate relationship with him because he is just so sweet but such a chronic liar!

One thing, however, I had troubles keeping track of other character we met in the last book. I had to stop and think "Okay, who is this guy and what is this they're talking about?" I read the last book a while ago so I could not remember some of the details mentioned in this sequel. But, overall, I thought this was a fantastic read with a great plot!

It was a suspenseful, action-packed sequel with many secrets, steamy romance and a betrayal that will leave you reeling with shock. This series is a must-read for anyone looking for something a little different and heart-wrenching.

Also, I need the next book now! That ending... Ripley, you are killing me here! Oh, my feels! ...more

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Sep 29, 2013 Tanja (Tanychy) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: paranormal-romance

Review also posted at Ja čitam, a ti?

A month or so ago I've read and reviewed Ghost Hand and then I said that I really loved the uniqueness of this story. I did have some issues with the first book back then, but I can happily say that Ghost Hold was better than expected.

After getting to meet Olivia and her condition it was hard not to be perplexed by the idea of a ghost hand. It was something new and then we got to meet Marcus and see that this whole picture is bigger than we thought. When the ...more

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Mar 19, 2013 Robin (Bridge Four) rated it liked it

3.5 Stars

Ghost Hold picks up a few weeks after Ghost Hand ended. Olivia has left her entire life behind in search of some names on a list with Marcus, Passion and the PSS kids. She is going to go undercover into a private school with Passion in hopes of recruiting a girl from the list into their group. Sounds like a simple enough plan but it turns out that it might not be that easy as Samantha James is the daughter of the leader of a cult. Not just any cult either, one that worships PSS.

I enjoye 3.5 Stars

Ghost Hold picks up a few weeks after Ghost Hand ended. Olivia has left her entire life behind in search of some names on a list with Marcus, Passion and the PSS kids. She is going to go undercover into a private school with Passion in hopes of recruiting a girl from the list into their group. Sounds like a simple enough plan but it turns out that it might not be that easy as Samantha James is the daughter of the leader of a cult. Not just any cult either, one that worships PSS.

I enjoyed the fast paced story line that followed. While a few of my questions were answered (not a lot of them but a few) there were so many more posed. Now not only are there CAMFers that hunt PSS kids there is a semi-religious group called The Hold also looking for kids with PSS to join their ranks. At times there was so much going on I got a little muddled. I did however love the expansion of Passion and Jason’s characters. Passion who was such a mystery at the beginning of the book was shed in a completely different light and I liked her transition in the story. It was great to see Passion and Olivia become friends and find some common ground. Jason really grew up a little in this book and instead of just being a gun toting conspiracy theorist he really started to grow on me as someone who sees what is going on and is always watching out for the people he cares about.

I had a few small issues with the book. One is all the coincidences. I didn’t completely buy into them. I can’t remember the exact number but I think that there were like four or five things that just happened to happen and to be a coincidence. The other was I was foggy on a few details/names from the previous book and most authors I will complain over explain things to jog your memory. I think this is the only book I will say the opposite. Had I read Ghost Hand right before this that wouldn’t have been a problem but I read it six months ago so I forgot a few names and while Ripley did get to who they were in the story it seemed they had been mentioned a few times before she jogged my memory. The last thing was I really wanted Olivia to pull stuff out of people. That was the most interesting part of the first book to me. I loved how the things Olivia took out of people changed them, possibly made them better and I’m fascinated by it. But she was afraid of herself and her gift in this book. I really wish I could have read more about that aspect of the story.

A few of the brighter points from this book: I don’t know what to think about Marcus I flip back and forth between he is a good guy trying to protect everyone in his group to he has something bigger he is hiding and maybe he is the worst villain of all. The mystery surrounding both Marcus’s past and Olivia’s parents added a new layer to storyline. The last five chapters were incredibly intense and the cliffhanger at the end was unbelievably jagged, it cut me.

I enjoyed the first book in the series a little more but overall the addition to the storyline kept me engaged and I will definitely be interested to see what happens in the final book of the series.

Oct 11, 2013
Still pondering. This book was all over the place for me and some stuff happened that played on my emotions so much I have to work through some befuddlement to figure out how I really feel.

Full review shortly with rating shortly. ...more

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Nov 08, 2014 SoWrongItsRANDI {Bell, Book & Candle} rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, action, series, paranormal-romance, book-tours

Bell, Book & Candle | Ghost Hand Review

About a month ago, I reviewed the first book in the PSS Chronicles as per request. I did find it enjoyable so I decided to give it a go and read the rest in the series. Ghost Hold, more or less, picks up where the previous book, Ghost Hand left off. Yet in this book, some rather shocking secrets are divulged (and who doesn't love figurative bombshells being dropped?).

I got to say I like where this story is heading. It's tricky when writing a sequel because Bell, Book & Candle | Ghost Hand Review

About a month ago, I reviewed the first book in the PSS Chronicles as per request. I did find it enjoyable so I decided to give it a go and read the rest in the series. Ghost Hold, more or less, picks up where the previous book, Ghost Hand left off. Yet in this book, some rather shocking secrets are divulged (and who doesn't love figurative bombshells being dropped?).

I got to say I like where this story is heading. It's tricky when writing a sequel because more often than not, it's not as entertaining as the last and the world within the book is no longer as exciting and brand new. Although I did like the Ghost Hand, I'll admit that there were aspects of it I was definitely not fond of. But Ripley Patton has seemed to have found her writing groove in this one. I loved the tidbits of information about the history of PSS and powers that each person can get as a result of it. I really want to know more. Everything seemed to flow and somehow fit nicely together like a puzzle; there were no aspects that seemed "out of left field" to me. The introduction of the new characters was probably my favorite part, as well as the character growth and development of the old ones.

For the most part I admire Olivia in how strong and determined she is. Very few people, let alone fictional characters, have it in them to leave all they have known growing up behind and lead a life on the run, constantly looking over their shoulder. She could've been whiny about it, but she decided to suck it up and move forward. And I do so enjoy her sarcasm and feistiness. Add that to the fact that she didn't take any BS from anyone--including Marcus (Mr. Liar-Liar-Pants-On-Fire). The new dynamic between Liv and Passion was great to see, as the latter is finally establishing herself as a main character here to stay.

Speaking of Passion, I'm pleased that the reader is finally getting to "get to know" Passion and find out what makes her "tick". In the previous book, she sort of annoyed me but I think it had more to do with the fact that I didn't really know much about her. I will admit that her little secret was mildly surprising.

Marcus was a little too headstrong in this one. It was almost like his sole purpose of recruiting/saving/whatever of Samantha meant disregarding everyone and everything. Where he seemed a little bit sensitive to people in the first book, he just didn't have a care in the world about using and abusing. Although he did end up being right about certain things, so I suppose I can't tear him down too much. There wasn't a whole lot of romance between him and Olivia, unfortunately, but romance isn't exactly the focal point in this story (it's just extra, like whipped cream) so it doesn't really bother me.

They were some sad parts of the book, so beware because I don't want to spoil it for you all. As stated before, the story progression was good as were the characters developments. I do love this world Patton has created, as it seems entirely too realistic--something like this phenomena could happen in today's world. ...more

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Mar 07, 2014 Maria Bergras rated it it was amazing

Shelves: on-the-run, love-love-love

****SPOILERS ALERT****
Oh. My. God!!
I can't breath, I can't speak. Yet I'm writing this review witch means I can at least do SOMETHING while waiting for this damn good book to come out. And when I found out it wasn't coming until SUMMER, I was sobbing and throwing books all over my room, trying to calm myself down. And then I realized that it didn't even have a release date yet, and I started throwing things again.

And that ending!! It was so mind blowing that I read all the night and woke my si ...more

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Jun 19, 2013 Angie rated it it was amazing

I once read a comment made by an author that went something like this "We work for months and months to write a book and you readers come along and read it in a hour" it wasn't said in anger more in amusement. Well here I am one of those people that read and read until I got to the very end finishing this book in day. I'm a fast reader naturally, but when a book is good and I really like it I tend to go into the zone and don't even realize I've been reading the book for as long as I have or that I once read a comment made by an author that went something like this "We work for months and months to write a book and you readers come along and read it in a hour" it wasn't said in anger more in amusement. Well here I am one of those people that read and read until I got to the very end finishing this book in day. I'm a fast reader naturally, but when a book is good and I really like it I tend to go into the zone and don't even realize I've been reading the book for as long as I have or that I'm almost done with it, that happened with this one.

I wouldn't have been able to guess at 85% of the things that happened in this book. Everything that kept happening had me being surprised, or at least not thinking that it was going to happen that way.

I still really like Olivias character, though she needs to work on keeping her feelings to herself when it comes to certain things. Though at the same time that is just who she is.

I wasn't to sure how I would feel about Passion, but I have to say I really think she was a good add to the book. I was defiantly surprised by her back story.

I have almost jumped from the love/hate train to the hate train when it comes to Marcus, but I'm holding out a little longer with him. I still don't know what to think about him, and I want to like him, but at the same time I want to punch him in the face. He seems like he wants to help everyone and especially Olivia, but at the same time he keeps things hidden from everyone.

The plot was good, there was just enough things happening at all the right times to keep you interested in reading. I had thought at one time there was going to be a love triangle, but thank God it didn't happen. There is action, romance, and some mystery. I wasn't expecting something like The Hold, but it really makes sense when it comes to the PSS, when there is something people don't understand they can hate it like the CAMPers, or they can love it like The Hold. It was defiantly an interesting concept.

The ending. . . .yeah I was all shocked with it. I probably shouldn't have been because just about everything in the book blindsided me, but I really didn't think something like that would happen. I have to say everything does wrap up pretty nicely, and I like that. But I'm still reeling from everything that happened, and I really want to know what is going to happen next. I don't want to spoil anything for others so I'll only say this, I was pretty sad about a lot that happened, and I need to know what happen to Passion and Jason.

Would I recommend this book? Yes, I really enjoyed this one and I'm looking forward to the next book in this series.

**Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review.**

http://zephyrbookreviews.blogspot.com/ ...more

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Jul 06, 2013 Deb rated it really liked it

Shelves: e-book, own-it

Generally really enjoyed this. It continues the story of Ghost Hand and delves into some deeper, darker secrets of the characters and groups involved.

So, Ghost Hold continues the tale of the kids with PSS (Psyche Sans Soma). These kids have "missing" body parts that are replaced with a glowing blue version of said body part... And, under certain conditions, these glowing blue body parts can develop special powers - like the MC Olivia's PSS hand's ability to reach into people and pull items out.. Generally really enjoyed this. It continues the story of Ghost Hand and delves into some deeper, darker secrets of the characters and groups involved.

So, Ghost Hold continues the tale of the kids with PSS (Psyche Sans Soma). These kids have "missing" body parts that are replaced with a glowing blue version of said body part... And, under certain conditions, these glowing blue body parts can develop special powers - like the MC Olivia's PSS hand's ability to reach into people and pull items out... A very interesting ability indeed, since these things she pulls out of people can have a power of their own.

So, if you haven't read Ghost Hand (Book 1 of the PSS Chronicles), I suggest you do. It's a great premise.

And Ghost Hold continues on pretty much seamlessly.

I'm starting to have a little trouble with the fact Olivia can't trust anyone (and I mean ANYONE... everyone's spinning her tales or telling her incomplete truths...), because that means I can't either.

Strangely, the swearing didn't bother me in the first book. I read reviews where stars were dropped because of the swearing and, while I understand people's opinions, I hadn't found it a bother.

This time round, though... 'S***' or 'F***' appear as their own little sentences on almost every page. I found it disrupted the flow of the text for me. Plus, because of the way I choose to use such words (so, this is my own personal stand point colouring my reading) I tend to get all excited when someone uses them, thinking something huge is happening... if they're overused, you keep going "What? What?! Oh, is that all?" and they lose their impact... There were many instances that I went back and read again, skipping over the swear word and found the situation had more impact (for me) without. I understand why Ms Patton chose to use the words - many teens do like to bandy the "forbidden" words around, but I don't think it was necessary. The characters behaved enough like teens to not need it... my opinion. Just sharing.

Other than that, the concept still has me pretty well gripped. Still interested in where this PSS stuff can take us, and what the ultimate conclusion might be... if there is one. It may be better to leave us guessing...

Still a highly recommended read. ...more

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Oct 26, 2014 Rebecca rated it it was amazing

I was given the opportunity to review the first three books of this series as part of the "Ghost Heart" blog tour and all I can say is Where have you been all my life?

When I first started reading "Ghost Hand", I wasn't too sure that I would ultimately enjoy it as much as I hoped, but that quickly turned around, taking hold of my attention with the ghostly tendrils of a PSS sufferer. What is PSS you ask? Good question! It's a medical anomaly, a birth defect dubbed Psyche Sans Soma, in which the ...more

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Feb 01, 2014 Debbie rated it it was amazing

Ghost Hold ( PSS Chronicles #2) by Ripley Patton
I received this book in exchange for an honest review by the Author and the “Lovers of Paranormal” Group on Goodreads.com
This is a brilliant book that I absolutely loved. Ghost Hold is the second book in the PSS Chronicles series and picks up a few weeks after “Ghost Hand” ended...and so the tale of Olivia Black and the kids with PSS ( Psyche Sans Soma ) continues. This book has well crafted elements of mystery and intrigue and will keep you guessi ...more

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Sep 10, 2014 Book Junky Girls rated it really liked it

Being on the run is hard, but now that they've made it to Indi the have to figure out a way to get Samantha on their side and get out before the bad guys get to them. But in this new city secrets keep coming out and Olivia just might reach her breaking point espically when they come from those she's trusted most.

The story continues to grow and take shape and you see more of the world created and learn more about PPS and those that cary it.

Olivia has grown from Ghost hand and is learning how to ...more

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Jul 22, 2013 Janysa marked it as to-read

Shelves: not-released-yet, cannot-wait-for

Oh we have a sneak peek!

Marcus crossed back to the faucet of the now-full Jacuzzi tub and turned it off. He bent over and turned on the jets, which kicked up a lot more steam and a lot more noise. I was starting to melt inside my own clothes, and he must have been too, because when he turned back to me he was slipping his t-shirt over his head.
“What are you doing?” I asked, my voice coming out a little strangled.
“You and I need to talk,” he said, letting the shirt drop to the floor.
“Yes,” I said Oh we have a sneak peek!

Marcus crossed back to the faucet of the now-full Jacuzzi tub and turned it off. He bent over and turned on the jets, which kicked up a lot more steam and a lot more noise. I was starting to melt inside my own clothes, and he must have been too, because when he turned back to me he was slipping his t-shirt over his head.
“What are you doing?” I asked, my voice coming out a little strangled.
“You and I need to talk,” he said, letting the shirt drop to the floor.
“Yes,” I said, trying not to gawk at his chest and the way the steam swirled into it, his PSS shining back and coloring the mist a soft blue hue. “But can’t we do that with our clothes on?”
“We need to talk where I’m sure no one can hear us,” he said, his hands going to the snap of his jeans. “They don’t put bugs in bathrooms because the moisture corrodes them.” The snap was undone. The zipper was next. He had on red tartan boxers. “Plus, not many people plot and plan in the john.” He slid the jeans down his legs, turned, slipped off the boxers, and stepped into the tub, sinking down into it with an audible moan.
I stood there stunned. I had just seen Marcus naked. He’d just stripped to his beautiful bare ass right in front of me as if it were nothing. Yes, we’d been sleeping in a tent together for weeks, and making out, but when one of us changed clothes, the other still looked away. Marcus and I had not gotten naked together. We hadn’t even come close, because I always held back. I couldn’t even bring myself to reach my hands inside his shirt. What if my flesh hand accidentally went into his chest and disrupted his PSS? Even worse, what if my ghost hand reached into him and pulled something horrible out? I was pretty sure either of those scenarios would be a serious buzz kill to our intimacy.
“Do you have any idea how long it’s been since I've had a bath?” he said, almost a purr, laying his head back on the edge of the tub and closing his eyes.
“I—no—I haven’t had one for like a month,” I stammered, looking down at the tile floor, completely flustered.
“Olivia,” he said softly, and I looked up to find his eyes boring into me, dewy drops captured on those thick dark lashes. “Come here.”
I crossed obediently to the side of the bath, both relieved and a bit disappointed to find that the burbling of the jets obscured most of what was in it. Except his PSS chest. It glowed and pulsed like some half-submerged, cerulean, underwater treasure.
Marcus put his hand out for mine. The invitation was obvious.
This was crazy. There was no way we were going to be able to talk, coherently, in a bathtub together.
“It’s a big tub,” he said, nodding at the other end, “and I promise to be good.”
Yeah, but it wasn't just him I was worried about. If I got in the tub with Marcus, I would be in the tub with Marcus. “But I—” I looked down at myself. I had on my sleeping tank with no bra underneath, my sweatpants, and underwear.
“You have no idea how relaxing this is,” he said, slipping his hand back into the water and closing his eyes. Either he was taunting me, or giving me a chance to undress without him watching. Probably both.
“You bastard,” I muttered under my breath. I slipped off my shoes and sweatpants and padding barefoot to the far end of the tub. I was not going in completely naked. I wasn't that much of a fool. I kept my tank and underwear on and stepped into the hot swirling water. As I slid down into it, jets pounding my butt and back, the wet heat rising up and swallowing all my aches and pains in its pure liquid magic, I couldn't keep the moan from escaping my lips either.
And I didn't miss the effect that sound had on my bath mate.
One of his lean, muscular legs brushed mine, trembling. And his eyes widened. And his breath came a little faster across the water, far less relaxed then it had been only a moment before.

And the first chapter!

Chapter 1, Almost to Civilization
I had never been so happy to see a barn in my life. Yes, it looked like it was about to fall over, which had me questioning the wisdom of storing all our worldly belongings in it, but the squat red building had a roof and four walls, something I hadn’t seen up close in over two weeks. As our ATVs pulled up to it, I removed my hand from Marcus’s waist and yanked my bandanna over my mouth to keep from inhaling the cloud of dust they always kicked up. I still hadn’t gotten used to the constant grime of camp life, the way my clothes held a layer of dirt, like Pigpen from the Peanuts cartoon, or the grit I could always feel between my teeth, no matter how many times I brushed them. They didn’t show you that in the movies; that the life of a fugitive was filthy and sweaty, especially in the middle of an unseasonably-hot Indiana October.
Marcus cut the engine of our wheeler and, one by one, behind us, Yale, Jason, Nose and Passion cut theirs too. We’d replaced Jason’s stolen ATV fifty miles outside of Greenfield and gotten one for Passion while we were at it. Marcus had offered to get me one too, but I’d opted to ride with him because I was a crap driver, and also because there was just something about wrapping my legs around a thrumming motor while wrapping my arms around Marcus’s waist that had made the two-hundred miles of dust and dirt-eating worth it. Even so, I was really glad to be making it back to civilization.
Marcus was pulling off his helmet, and I pulled mine off as well. He looked over his shoulder at me, and we smiled at one another, not needing to say anything. We were here. We’d made it to Indy, and without any apparent pursuit by Mike Palmer or the CAMFers. Well, we’d almost made it. We still had thirty miles to go, but this was where we’d trade in our wheelers for a comfy rental van. We’d lock away all our camping gear and dirt-stained clothes in the barn and disguise ourselves as wealthy suburban teenagers. This was where the mission to save Samantha James really began.
I slid off the vinyl seat, set my grimy helmet on it, and stretched my legs. My ass hurt more than anything, but I’d learned not to complain about it. It seemed there was nothing in the world teenage boys liked to do more than make sore ass jokes.
Marcus stepped off the wheeler too and dug in his pocket for the key that would unlock the giant padlock on the chain entwined around the barn’s steel door handles.
Impatient to get out of the mid-day sun, I strode forward and sank my ghost hand into it, feeling the satisfying click as the lock popped open.
“Thanks,” Marcus said, coming alongside me. “You’re sure handy.”
“Ha ha, very funny,” I said, poking him in the ribs with my elbow. “Like I’ve never heard that one before.”
As Marcus and I pulled the heavy barn doors open together, the others joined us, and we all entered the vaulted, slat-lit interior of the barn. It smelled musty inside, with a slight sweet undertone of rotting hay.
“You’re sure our stuff will be safe here?” Jason asked.
“Pretty sure,” Marcus said, “But if it isn’t, we’ll buy more. Anything personal you should bring in the van though, just in case we don’t make it back.”
Just in case we don’t make it back. There was a subtle message in that statement for all of us. We were heading into danger. We’d been outrunning it, but now we were headed straight into the thick of it, and we had no idea exactly what that would look like, or what the ultimate outcome would be.
I looked around at their faces, these boys who had once been my rescuers. Was this how it had felt when they’d been just outside of Greenfield preparing to come get me? This calculated fear? This tingle of excitement and anticipation?
My eyes fell on Passion, and she stared back at me, her pale face almost glowing in the darkness of the barn. Was she afraid and excited too? I had no idea. She was a complete mystery to me, a mystery I had spent weeks avoiding despite the fact that we’d been living in the same camp together. It hadn’t been that hard to avoid her. She had her own tent, and I’d shared Marcus’s. She tended to keep to herself, just like I did, so we’d mostly seen each other at meals or in the evenings around a low fire on the nights Marcus had deemed it safe enough for one. In the first week or so at camp, Nose had paid her a lot of attention, but she’d given no indication she was interested, and eventually he’d backed off. She hadn’t been mean or anything. She was always nice to everyone. Too nice. Painfully nice. I suddenly realized I was still staring at her, and I glanced away, heat flushing my face, a strange anger rising in me.
What was my problem with Passion? I just didn’t like her, and I had no real reason for it. A couple of days before, Marcus had actually taken me aside and said, “Don’t you think it’s time you had a talk with her?” But that had made me want to talk to her even less. Honestly, Passion should have had a problem with me, not the other way around. I was the one who’d yanked something out of her soul, used it for myself, and then basically handed it to the bad guys. She probably thought I was a complete bitch. And maybe she was right.
“How about if the guys unload the stuff from the trailers into the barn, and we’ll set aside the personal stuff for Olivia and Passion to pack into the van,” Marcus directed us.
“Where’s the van?” I asked.
“It should be out back,” he said.
We all exited the barn and circled around back and there it was, gleaming in the sun like a golden chariot—an extra-long, brand new, white passenger van with bucket seats, tinted windows and a grey leather interior.
It was one of the most beautiful things I’d ever seen. My butt could already feel that padded bucket seat. My face could feel the cool, gentle, dustless breeze of the air-conditioner.
Marcus opened the back doors of the van, and started passing out duffle bags for each of us containing a change of new clothes, new shoes, and our fake IDs. Mine said that I was Anne Clawson, 17, and Passion was playing the part of Mirabelle Clawson, also 17 and my cousin who’d come to live with us after her parent’s recent and messy divorce. Anne was my middle name, and Mirabelle was Passion’s. Marcus said it was always better to play close to the truth. It made the lies easier to remember.
I tried not to be disappointed that the clothes in the duffle weren’t my style at all. Apparently, Anne Clawson, a rich girl with rich parents, didn’t have my dark sensibilities.
But the clothes and the cousin thing weren’t the worst of it. Not even close. The worst part was that Marcus would be playing the role of my older brother, Clayton Clawson, a twenty-one year old pre-med student. The story was that our parents were away celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary in the Mediterranean while Clayton orchestrated the family move to Indianapolis. Yeah, my boyfriend was going to pretend to be my brother. I was really looking forward to that.
As for Jason, Yale and Nose, they were a little too ethnically diverse to fit in to the Clawson family, so they’d be hiding out in the basement of our new house, running security detail and laying low. But they still got new clothes and fake ID’s casting them as three of Clayton’s college buddies, just in case.
“We can get changed in the barn after we get everything loaded,” Marcus said, handing the last duffle bag to Yale.
And so we got to work, like the well-oiled machine we’d become. The packing was easy compared to setting up and tearing down camp every day. Marcus had us pack the guns and ammo deep under the back seat in case we got pulled over or something, though, according to Jason, Indiana had some of the laxest gun laws in the country, which was the argument he gave for refusing to pack his away.
“Jason,” Marcus said. “”You’re not going to need it in the next thirty miles.”
“You don’t know that,” Jason said, gripping his gun even more tightly, so, in the end, Marcus let him keep it.
After we all got changed, the last thing to go into the back of the van, carefully wrapped in a quilt, was The Other Olivia.
Then Nose called shotgun, and he and Jason fought over who should get to sit in the front. Jason’s argument was that he was carrying a gun; therefore he should get the shotgun position by default without ever having to call it. Nose countered that Jason’s gun was technically a hunting rifle, not a shotgun, therefore his argument was invalid and Nose should get the front seat. Marcus pointed out that neither a guy in a ski mask, or a country boy armed with a rifle, were probably the best choice for most-visible front-seat passenger, and I began to understand why he’d gotten a van with darkened back windows. In the end, he assigned Jason and Nose to sit all the way in the back. Yale and Passion sat in the middle, and Marcus drove with me riding shotgun.
I started nodding off almost as soon as we turned onto the highway. Given normal circumstances, I was a drowsy passenger. One of my dad’s nicknames for me had been Sleepy Gonzales, because I’d always fallen asleep so fast in the car whenever we traveled. It didn’t help the situation that I’d slept like crap the night before, and I also hadn’t sat in a comfy, cushioned, leather anything for way too long. It just felt so damn good. Camp life had definitely worn on me more than I’d realized.
I was just beginning to drool against the window when Marcus suddenly swerved off the interstate onto a dirt road.
“What the hell?” I asked, gripping the dash with my gloved hands and glancing frantically in the side view mirror, expecting to see a caravan of CAMFers in hot pursuit.
“Just a quick stop to pick up some supplies,” Marcus said, avoiding my gaze.
When we passed an old wooden sign that read “Warren Gun Club” I stared at him until he looked at me.
“We all need to know how to protect ourselves,” he said, staring back at the road. “Not just Jason.”
I wanted to argue, but I really couldn’t. I had always disliked guns, but I’d disliked seeing Marcus get shot in Greenfield even more. The CAMFers tended to come well-armed, and who knew what kind of opposition we were going to face in Indy?
Marcus pulled the van up to an old farm house, a long low building next to it stretching into the endless fields of rural Indiana. Just as he shut the ignition off, a thick man in dirty coveralls came out of the long building, shotgun in hand, moving toward u
“As soon as I close my door, lock the van,” Marcus said, handing me the keys, “and get in the driver’s seat. Don’t get out, under any circumstances, unless I tell you to. And, if something goes wrong, drive away.”
“Wait!” I said, but he was already out, slamming the door behind him.
He walked slowly around to the front of the van, arms out to show he had no weapon.
The guy with the shotgun was advancing on him, and two more guys had come out of the farmhouse, guns in hand. Their stance, their mannerisms, their dress, everything about them screamed CAMFers. What the hell was Marcus doing driving us right into the very threat we’d worked so hard to avoid?
“Fuck,” I said, clicking the button on the key ring to lock the van, the little chirp it made completely at odds with the adrenaline and anger surging through me. Marcus could have warned me we were doing something stupid today. I looked back and saw the shock on the other’s faces as they peered out the windows of the van. So, he hadn’t told anyone. Well, he wasn’t the only one who could bark orders.
“Jason, I need you up here, right now, with your weapon,” I said, sliding across to the driver’s seat and putting the keys in the ignition. “Nose, can you reach the other guns?”
“I can try,” Nose said, diving down to rummage for them.
Jason slid into the seat next to me, rifle in hand, and I tried not to show my surprise that he’d actually listened to me.
“Let them see it,” I told him, “but don’t point it at anyone. Yet.”
Jason nodded and made his rifle as visible as possible.
Outside, Marcus had moved further away from the van, still in front of it though.
The three gun-toting country boys were nearly upon him, and I cracked my window just as the one in the front said, “You David?”
That surprised me more than the fact that we had just pulled up to a CAMFer gun club. Why would Marcus give these guys his real name? He always went by Marcus, and he’d obviously gone to the trouble to get us all fake IDs, including himself. Why not use his new identity? What was he thinking?
“I’m David,” he confirmed, “and we’ve come unarmed, as specified.”
“That one has a gun,” Shotgun said, gesturing at Jason.
Marcus turned and looked at us, frowning. He turned back and said, “It’s not loaded. I emptied it myself this morning.”
I looked at Jason, and he looked at me. Then he yanked open the chamber of the gun, and showed it to me. It was empty.
“Do you have any ammo on you?” I asked him.
“No,” Jason shook his head, looking more pissed off than I’d seen him look in a long time, and he usually looked pissed.
Shit. We were screwed. We both turned and looked back out at Marcus.
“How do we know you’re who you say you are?” Shotgun asked, his buddies grunting in Neanderthal agreement behind him.
“Come and see,” Marcus said, gesturing Shotgun forward.
At first, I didn’t understand. I thought Shotgun was just getting a better look at Marcus’s face or something. He walked up to him, his gun held up between them, and gestured at Marcus’s chest with it.
Marcus reached down and began to unbutton his shirt.
Jason went stiff in the seat next to me. You could have heard a pin drop in that van. No, you could have heard a feather drop. This could not be happening. Marcus didn’t reveal his PSS to anyone. He hadn’t even told me about it until I’d seen him come back from the dead, and at that point, he’d pretty much had no choice.
I jammed the keys into the ignition of the van and turned it on. I thrust the stick into drive, and with one foot on the brake and one on the gas, I revved the engine.
Marcus paused in unbuttoning his shirt and glanced at me, looking annoyed. Then he turned back, resuming his little striptease.
Shotgun and his buddies were eyeing me, but they couldn’t seem to keep their eyeballs from straying back to Marcus.
They were all right there in front of me. I could take them out like bowling pins. Yes, Marcus might get hurt in the process, but probably not fatally, and he could always reboot. The hillbilly brothers might get off a shot or two, but Marcus wasn’t a complete idiot. I had noticed earlier that the tiny little labels on the van’s windows indicated they were not only tinted, they were also bulletproof.
I revved the engine again.
Marcus got to the last button at the top of his shirt, and it fell open.

I'm so excited for this book to come out!

...more

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Dec 30, 2013 Mieneke rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2013, young-adult, fantasy

Ghost Hold is the second book in the PSS Chronicles after Ghost Hand and continues the story of Olivia Black and friends in their struggle to remain safe from those who would do them harm. It's very much a middle book, as it doesn't really standalone. We start the novel weeks after the ending of Ghost Hand and end it on a huge cliff hanger with not much explanation of what has gone before in-between, which means that it's necessary to have read Ghost Hand before starting Ghost Hold and when Ghost Hold is the second book in the PSS Chronicles after Ghost Hand and continues the story of Olivia Black and friends in their struggle to remain safe from those who would do them harm. It's very much a middle book, as it doesn't really standalone. We start the novel weeks after the ending of Ghost Hand and end it on a huge cliff hanger with not much explanation of what has gone before in-between, which means that it's necessary to have read Ghost Hand before starting Ghost Hold and when you finish it you'll really want to start book three immediately when it is released next year.

We re-join Olivia, Marcus, and the rest of the group when they arrive fresh of the trail in Indiana to go and rescue Samantha James, the next name on the CAMFer list. Marcus has arranged a place for them to stay and new false identities which they will use as cover. We quickly get the lay of the land within the group, with Marcus and Olivia only having grown closer and Olivia and Passion still awkward around each other due to the events of the previous book. And as ever the three boys, Jason, Yale, and Nose orbit around them being mostly attached to Marcus. Olivia is still her loveable, snarky self. I liked the way Patton played out her relationship with Marcus. She keeps it interesting, without letting Olivia sliding too far into the apologetic girlfriend role. She makes Olivia – and Passion for that matter – stand up for herself and demand to be treated with respect. But Olivia's development in this book isn't all about the boy. She discovers some pretty shocking things about her family's past and she discovers that she's spread her wings and can't return to her small-town home in Greenfield.

Marcus' secretive nature is starting to work against him in Ghost Hold, when time and again Olivia catches him in an outright lie or a lie by omission. While at first Olivia tries to rationalise them to herself, blaming them on Marcus' troubled past and the need he's had for secrecy in the past, but slowly it just becomes too much and she calls him out on it. And she's not the only one who's questioning Marcus' decisions; when he decides to have all of them armed and taught to shoot, Yale doubts whether that's a wise decision. The unquestioning obedience from the first book is gone. I really liked Passion's development more than Marcus'. We really get to know her and her past and there are some surprising revelations from the pastor's daughter, one of the major ones is that she is a lesbian. The only thing I found a little disappointing in this regard was that where Patton stayed away from the insta-love thing with Marcus and Olivia, she lets Passion and Samantha fall in love instantly. Or perhaps more accurately they crush instantly, but the attraction is immediate and mutual and they're an item in about half a day. I understand that because this novel takes place in the space of two weeks at the most, there wasn't much time to develop this burgeoning relationship in, but I really don't like this instant relationship trope.

One other thing I found problematic was the fact that a lot of the elements established in the first book are treated as known fact. The reader never gets a refresher on some fairly important things. For example, we know the CAMFers are bad news, but why and who they are exactly is never really repeated. Similarly, there is a list of PSS kids who the CAMFers are trying to snatch, but we never get a clear recap of this. I dislike it when authors feel the need to give bio's for every character we re-encounter each book, but at the same time Patton's approach is completely minimalistic and that's a bit too far to the other extreme for my taste.

Still, despite those problems, I had a great time with Ghost Hold. I loved how Patton further developed her world and how she went about creating relationships and friendships between Olivia, Marcus, Passion and the three boys. The story was thrilling and Patton threw in some twists that are absolutely delicious. And the biggest twist of all comes right at the end, which leads to my biggest complaint: I'll have to wait at least till the autumn to read how this ends and I want to know now! *stomps foot like a two-year-old in a tantrum* Seriously, the PSS Chronicles are great fun and super-fast reads. If Ghost Hold sounds appealing make sure you've read Ghost Hand first to get the most out of the story.

This book was provided for review by the author. ...more

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Mar 23, 2014 Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads) rated it liked it

Shelves: reviewed, young-adult, paranormal

http://readingandwritingurbanfantasy....

3.5 stars

At A Glance
Wow, this story is getting interesting. I loved the new characters. But the action was kind of lacking.

The Good
Ghost Hold starts off a couple weeks after Ghost Hand. The group has made it to the next stop to save another PSS teenager, Samantha from falling into the hands of the CAMFers. But they are not prepared for the cult brainwashing Passion into staying and the cracks forming within the group.

Olivia has grown since the last book. ...more

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Nov 08, 2013 Sahar Sabati rated it it was amazing

I am extremely unhappy with author Ripley Patton, for I am forced to wait another couple of months before the third and last installment of the PSS Chronicles. She hooked me with the first installment, Ghost Hand (read my review here), got me addicted with Ghost Hold, the second installment, and now, I have to wait for the third one to find out what is going to happen to Olivia, Marcus, Passion, Samantha, and the rest of the gang.

Just like with its predecessor, Ghost Hold captured me from the fi I am extremely unhappy with author Ripley Patton, for I am forced to wait another couple of months before the third and last installment of the PSS Chronicles. She hooked me with the first installment, Ghost Hand (read my review here), got me addicted with Ghost Hold, the second installment, and now, I have to wait for the third one to find out what is going to happen to Olivia, Marcus, Passion, Samantha, and the rest of the gang.

Just like with its predecessor, Ghost Hold captured me from the first page and was very hard to put down, even briefly. Those of us who read the work of independent authors know that oftentimes, independent authors only think they can write. Out of those who write well, some produce a great first book out of beginner’s luck. But in Patton’s case, the quality of the writing in Ghost Hold demonstrates that Ghost Hand was a by-product of talent that manages to avoid many common, first time sequel author mistakes. For example, sequels can often be weighed down by unnecessary repetition. This is not the case with Ghost Hold, which manages to be just as fast-paced, to include as many tense moments and action packed sequences, to have as much dry humor, and to explore further the important social issue of accepting differences, in a manner just as fresh and engaging as its prequel.

PSS stands for “Psyche Sans Soma”, which I understand as the psychic presence of a missing body part. In lieu of your typical human hand, seventeen-year old Olivia Black was born with one made of luminous, delicate, yet strong filaments of blue energy. Just like with anything that is slightly different from the defined norm, a shady organization known as “Citizens Against Minus Flesh”, or CAMF, is still after Olivia and her friends, who also have PSS. As the group of fugitives continues their mission, we find out more about them, including the potential that Marcus might not be as selfless as he appears to be. His secretive behavior finally gets in the way of his relationship with Olivia; I will let you find out if the couple of makes it or not

The story brings both a deeper understanding of the characters by zooming in on them, and a broader understanding of the context by looking at the context within which the action is taking place. Zooming out from the group of teenagers brought together by Marcus, Ghost Hold touches on some of the societal forces acting on them. Ripley Patton manages to explain the broader context without incurring a typical challenge of sequels, that is to say, plot holes and contradictions. We find out more about many things encountered in Ghost Hand, such as the circumstances around which Olivia’s father painted the portrait of The Other Olivia, Marcus’ childhood and the circumstances of the death of his parents, and Passion’s story, to name but a few.

Again like with the first installment, I see great potential for this book to be book club material. The exploration of the topic of “the other” that was started in Ghost Hand continues in Ghost Hold, and yet again, the author never adopts an authoritative or preaching voice. I also liked the concept of letting go of one’s fears to be able to embrace one’s powers fully.

By contributing yet another quality work of fiction aimed at a young adult audience that could, in its pages, find the inspiration often needed to navigate through sensitive years in a turbulent work, Ripley Patton is making good uses of the proceeds of her Kickstarter fundraising campaign. But seriously, have mercy on us, Ripley, and finish the third installment sooner rather than later! ...more

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Aug 07, 2013 Chiara rated it really liked it

Shelves: not-mc-lgbtqia, young-adult, e-arcs

There is one word to describe Ghost Hold, and that is awesome. Really, Ghost Hold was just awesome.

At the end of Ghost Hand, Olivia has decided to join Marcus and the boys, in order to find the other kids with PSS, and to try and run from the CAMFers. In Ghost Hold, they are trying to find Samantha James, but everything is a lot more complicated than they anticipated.

Ghost Hold was action-packed. You were constantly questioning who you could trust, and who you couldn’t. There were so many questi ...more

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Apr 08, 2013 Richa rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, for-review

Originally posted at City of Books

I had been waiting to read Ghost Hold ever since I finished Ghost Hand in May, and now that I've read it, I can honestly say it's absolutely amazing! There's loads of action, of course, and quite a lot of surprises. It was intriguing to read about The Hold and what it represents, as well as everyone's role in it.

The PSS kids have found a safe house (Marcus's old house) to stay in while on the run from CAMFers, as well as to talk to Samantha James about her PSS. Originally posted at City of Books

I had been waiting to read Ghost Hold ever since I finished Ghost Hand in May, and now that I've read it, I can honestly say it's absolutely amazing! There's loads of action, of course, and quite a lot of surprises. It was intriguing to read about The Hold and what it represents, as well as everyone's role in it.

The PSS kids have found a safe house (Marcus's old house) to stay in while on the run from CAMFers, as well as to talk to Samantha James about her PSS. But when Olivia and Passion go undercover, what they find is nothing like what they expected. There are secrets everywhere, and it's getting harder and harder for Olivia to trust - even those close to her.

Olivia's become more comfortable around the guys now, but not so much around Passion. Initially, at least. They do spend a lot of time together later, and get to know each other better. Olivia and Marcus become closer, too, but at the same time further apart. Marcus is still holding back secrets from Olivia, and she resents that. I really liked Olivia in this book - she hasn't lost herself in any way, and she's dealing with everything really well. She's still as strong and determined as ever.

Marcus is still quite an enigma, but we find out more about his past in this book, which I loved. We find out about his connection to The Hold, as well as other things too. I don't agree with they way Marcus kept such huge secrets from Olivia, secrets that concerned her, but I understand him. We get to see him and Olivia together a lot more, and there's quite a bit of romance. I love how protective Marcus is of Olivia! But there are also fights. Marcus and Olivia have their ups and downs, and they're both stubborn so they tend to disagree quite a lot. But it's clear how much they care about each other.

I didn't care much for Passion in Ghost Hand, but she has a much bigger role in Ghost Hold. We find out some unexpected things about Passion, and I definitely never saw them coming! She's the reason Samantha accepts the newcomers so willingly, and she does a lot to help the gang reach out to Samantha. Speaking of Samantha, I really liked her too. She has a great sense of leadership, which you'll probably only appreciate later on. She's talented, she's kind, and she cares. I really admire her, and I hope to see more of her in the next book.

I love how fast-paced this book is. I was on the edge of my seat most of the time, and I was so engrossed in reading this. I know I've mentioned this already, but the surprises in this book are incredible! I was left reeling at quite a few of them. Especially one particular bomb dropped towards the end. It makes me want to pick up the next book right now! What an ending. I have no doubt that this series is just going to get better, and if you haven't picked up Ghost Hand yet, you really really need to.

*Thank you to Ripley Patton for providing an ARC for review*

Rating: 4.5/5 ...more

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Jun 28, 2013 Jess at Such a Novel Idea rated it it was amazing

Shelves: to-review, 2013-reads, favorites, own-arc, review-request

STOP BY SUCH A NOVEL IDEA UNTIL 10/31 TO WIN E-BOOK COPIES OF THE SERIES!

For this review and more, visit Such A Novel Idea!

When Ripley first contacted me to review Ghost Hand, I was pretty intrigued. By the end of the book, I was a tad obsessed, so when I got the chance to beta read Ghost Hold, I was jumping up and down with excitement.

And I've got to tell you, book two does NOT disappoint. It is packed with snark, action, and a lot of awesome story telling.

Olivia and Marcus' relationship remai STOP BY SUCH A NOVEL IDEA UNTIL 10/31 TO WIN E-BOOK COPIES OF THE SERIES!

For this review and more, visit Such A Novel Idea!

When Ripley first contacted me to review Ghost Hand, I was pretty intrigued. By the end of the book, I was a tad obsessed, so when I got the chance to beta read Ghost Hold, I was jumping up and down with excitement.

And I've got to tell you, book two does NOT disappoint. It is packed with snark, action, and a lot of awesome story telling.

Olivia and Marcus' relationship remains complicated, which I really liked. One of the reasons this book series is so successful in my eyes is how realistic everything seems. I mean the science fiction was so incredibly done I had to check it wasn't a real phenomenon (and I'm not alone as you'll see in Ripley's interview)! But also, the interactions are real: they are messy, complicated, and confusing. Living with a bunch of teens on your own, including your boyfriend may not be most teenager's experience, but I think they will relate to the relationships between Olivia and the other characters. She and Passion don't hit it off and things are awkward. This is really intuitive on Ripley's part and speaks a lot to the complex character of Olivia.

This book is much darker and more complicated than the first. Even though we know more about this world going into book two, there is a lot of back story that we learn as Ghost Hold progresses. We find out things that set up a much darker plot line as the story progresses. There are also a lot of layers to the book, and they are interwoven perfectly.

I also really liked Passion's story. At first I was kind of "eh" about where I thought her place in the book would be, but of course Ripley went in a completely different direction.

This book on the surface is about these teens trying to save others with PSS; however, when you look deeper, there is a lot of introspection about how we treat people who are different. I mean, even Olivia's mom is upset by her PSS. Although we see a lot of discrimination of PSS in book one, we see a LOT of acceptance and reverence of it in book two. It is interesting to see the power struggle between the two and the organizations behind them.

The end of the book is suspenseful, engaging, and heartbreaking. I was COMPLETELY caught off guard and I may or may not have cried a little. Ripley has an amazing gift and I can't get enough of her work. She breaks norms and patterns of YA and keeps you on your toes as a reader. As someone who reads A LOT, I wholly appreciate this quality.

Wanna know what I thought of Ghost Hand, book one in the PSS Chronicles? Find out here! ...more

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Feb 15, 2013 Lola rated it really liked it

Shelves: got-a-copy-for-review-reviewed, lola-s-blog-tours, books-that-i-own, e-books-on-kobo

I got a copy in exchange for an honest review

Ghost Hold starts of a bit slow, I didn't re-read Ghost Hand and some parts where a bit confusing at first. It took me some time to remember what Olivia and her friends where doing and why they where there. After the confusion was cleared up and the pace picked up I couldn't put it down. I just wanted to keep reading and find out what was going to happen next. There is enough recap to remember the reader what happened in the first book, but not too mu I got a copy in exchange for an honest review

Ghost Hold starts of a bit slow, I didn't re-read Ghost Hand and some parts where a bit confusing at first. It took me some time to remember what Olivia and her friends where doing and why they where there. After the confusion was cleared up and the pace picked up I couldn't put it down. I just wanted to keep reading and find out what was going to happen next. There is enough recap to remember the reader what happened in the first book, but not too much that it feel repetitive.

Ghost Hold is a fast paced book full of action. There is always something going on or happening. There is no dull moment and this book definitely had that keep-reading-feel. Ghost Hold again reminded me what I loved about Ghost Hand and Ripley her writing style. It's story focussed, but there also is room for character development. The world and story is really original. And Ghost Hold is even better than Ghost Hand. The writing is done really well, I was constantly wondering who to believe and speculating about who did something. And then when I thought I had it all figured out something happened that made me doubt again. The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger and makes me eager for the next book.

While the focus is on the story there is also enough room for the characters. The story mostly focusses on Olivia, Passion and Marcus. Sadly this made it hard to remember who the side characters where and even at the end of the book I had no good idea of who the other characters where that traveled with them. I really liked getting to know Passion better, she really is an interesting character and we learn a lot about her in this book. She really surprised me a few times and in the first book I never suspected her to play such a big part in this one.

Ghost Hold adds enough to the world to keep it interesting, but there are no info dumps which slow the story down. The world information is woven through the story and provided where it makes sense. Gradually we learn even more about PSS. I really like the originality of the PSS idea and I think Ripley did a great job to make it all believeable and it alsmost feels so real like this could actually happen.

To conclude: I really enjoyed Ghost Hold, it was even better than the first book. Ghost Hold is fast paced and full of action. There is no dull moment and while the focus is on the story there also enough room for character development and world building. The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger and makes me want to read the next book now! ...more

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May 04, 2014 Mike rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley, indie, kindle

I greatly enjoyed the first book in this series (which you need to read first; there's not much recap or explanation of the situation, even to the point of not defining key terms like "PSS" or "CAMFers"). I enjoyed this one somewhat less, for a couple of reasons which may turn out to be at least partly moot when the third book comes out.

Firstly, there's a massive coincidence. The author even hangs a lampshade on it and has her first-person main character remark on how much of a coincidence it is I greatly enjoyed the first book in this series (which you need to read first; there's not much recap or explanation of the situation, even to the point of not defining key terms like "PSS" or "CAMFers"). I enjoyed this one somewhat less, for a couple of reasons which may turn out to be at least partly moot when the third book comes out.

Firstly, there's a massive coincidence. The author even hangs a lampshade on it and has her first-person main character remark on how much of a coincidence it is. The group go to a city in another state, and not only does it happen to be the city where her best friend's brother attends college, but they happen to meet him completely at random. I'm not sure if it makes it better or worse that the meeting doesn't really do anything except add more angst to an already angsty situation.

(Oh, while I think of it, this girl who's never dated and considers herself unattractive is pursued by three different boys simultaneously. Fortunately, this is her main claim to Mary Sueness.)

The other thing that reduced my enjoyment (and this partly is a personal preference) is that the tragedy dial suddenly gets turned up extra-high near the end. I probably could have dealt with it better if it had been more gradual. As it was, things were going along, not really well, but no worse than in the first book, and then as if in a rush became significantly worse in all possible ways - and that's where we leave our heroine.

As I say, I expect at least some of the tragedy to get reversed and resolved in the course of the third book (or else I'll be very vexed indeed), and there may even be some explanation for the coincidence, though I'm not holding my breath for that one.

Apart from those issues, I did enjoy this. Olivia's snark is in full flight, with observations like "the one thing Samantha was insecure about was her security," which I thought was clever. Her reactions to the situations she finds herself in are convincingly teenage without being pathetic; she's tough, but she's far from heartless. Things matter to her, and she's driven by them into bad situations, which is a great way to create a story.

I'm definitely looking forward to the third book, and some answers.

I obtained a copy of this book via Netgalley for purposes of review. ...more

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Oct 17, 2013 Paula rated it really liked it

Shelves: r2r

R2R (LoP) : Ghost Hold

I received a free copy, through LoP, in exchange for a review.

And then it starts, again. The story picks back up, with Olivia and her unusual band of people. They are not necessarily friends, but they have one thing in common, PSS. After running, from the CAMFers, they are onto their next goal; to save and convince Samantha James the danger she is in and to come with them. But, this is not as easy as it seems and Marcus is not being exactly truthful about everything, making R2R (LoP) : Ghost Hold

I received a free copy, through LoP, in exchange for a review.

And then it starts, again. The story picks back up, with Olivia and her unusual band of people. They are not necessarily friends, but they have one thing in common, PSS. After running, from the CAMFers, they are onto their next goal; to save and convince Samantha James the danger she is in and to come with them. But, this is not as easy as it seems and Marcus is not being exactly truthful about everything, making it harder on Olivia to make heads or tails of things. Samantha's father is part of The Hold, another type of faction, like the CAMFers, but it's more based in the religion of PSS. With this interesting turn of events, all she knows is that they have to try to convince Samantha to come away with them, learn more about her own PSS power and why it does what it does and to help the rest of the group, without getting caught. It should be easy enough, right?

“It's a long story. A long complicated story, but the whole thing kind of started with my grandparents. They were both full-blooded Tenino People; that's a Native American tribe back in Oregon. They were shamans – Spirit-walkers, they called themselves. And they both came to this belief that humanity would evolve into pure spirit beings, that we would lose out husks of flesh and become creatures of light and energy, not in the next world, but in this one. Their teachings began to spread, mostly within the Tenino and a few other tribes, but that was way before I was born when my mom was a kid. I don't think they really meant to start a religion. They were just listening to the spirits of their ancestors. But when babies started being born with PSS, things got out of hand.”

I was so excited when I got this and it did not disappoint! The characters are becoming more evolved and with that, you really understand the sense of urgency within this story. There were a few twists that I was not expecting at all, making it that much more if an interesting read. Of course, I cannot wait for the next installment! Great job again! ...more

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Sep 30, 2013 The Book Beacon rated it it was amazing

It is always a challenge to avoid spoilers from the first book when reviewing other titles in a series. You should know, however, Olivia and her friends have PSS, Psyche Sans Soma, a rare birth defect affecting one or more areas of the body. A few people with PSS have exhibited extraordinary powers that adversaries would like to exploit for personal gain. To avoid capture, Olivia joined a group hiding from the bad guys. Led by hottie Marcus, the gang plans to locate unsuspecting victims before t It is always a challenge to avoid spoilers from the first book when reviewing other titles in a series. You should know, however, Olivia and her friends have PSS, Psyche Sans Soma, a rare birth defect affecting one or more areas of the body. A few people with PSS have exhibited extraordinary powers that adversaries would like to exploit for personal gain. To avoid capture, Olivia joined a group hiding from the bad guys. Led by hottie Marcus, the gang plans to locate unsuspecting victims before the baddies do.

Olivia’s fast-paced adventure continues with plenty of action, comedy and surprises. Olivia and her friends are embarking on their mission to find others with PSS, Olivia, Marcus & Co. relocate to Indianapolis and go undercover to rescue Samantha James, a girl who has embraced her PSS. Her “special ear” has made Samantha a musical prodigy. She is successful, popular, and the daughter of the man who runs The Hold, an organization that reveres PSS so much it can be considered cult-like worship. Samantha is in no hurry to hide from anyone. In fact, she thinks The Hold can help her would-be rescuers more than they could ever help her. As Olivia learns more about The Hold and what they believe, she begins to question what she knows to be true – much of which came from Marcus.

Can The Hold protect her or are they another enemy trying to abuse people with PSS? Nothing about the story is predictable, and for every answer there are more questions. Passion, a character, from Book 1, is an important piece of the puzzle, and the manner in which truth is revealed is as awesome as the revelations. It is (in my opinion) paranormal done right: a supernatural tale with authentic depictions of fear, love and betrayal. Each character is going through very real emotions – coming of age while coming to terms with the hand they were dealt – all while on the run for their lives. The action scenes balance very well with the internal struggles. Really good stuff.

I was given an advanced copy of Ghost Hold for this honest review. ...more

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Oct 25, 2013 Vrinda Pendred rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy, indie-writers, dystopia, paranormal-romance, young-adult, series-to-finish

I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review, via Lovers of Paranormal on GoodReads.

I want to start by saying how much I was looking forward to this after reading 'Ghost Hand'. However, I must admit it took me a long time to get into this sequel. I think it was around chapter 5 when I finally connected to it. Then I was gripped and couldn't put it down. I was really interested in the new turn the story took. There were new mysteries raised that left me dying to know ...more

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May 11, 2014 Michael Alltop rated it really liked it

“Trust no one.” It’s not a very good motto by which to live one’s life, but in the case of Olivia Black, it may be the only thing that rings true. In the second installment of Ripley Patton’s PSS Chronicles, friendships turn deadly, love breeds fear, the dead appear in the flesh, and the living seem to disappear for good. The one sure thing is the persistence of evil, embodied in the cool and calculating Dr. Fineman, whose army of CAMFers plot to harness the power of PSS—or eliminate those who r “Trust no one.” It’s not a very good motto by which to live one’s life, but in the case of Olivia Black, it may be the only thing that rings true. In the second installment of Ripley Patton’s PSS Chronicles, friendships turn deadly, love breeds fear, the dead appear in the flesh, and the living seem to disappear for good. The one sure thing is the persistence of evil, embodied in the cool and calculating Dr. Fineman, whose army of CAMFers plot to harness the power of PSS—or eliminate those who resist.

Ghost Hold opens with an arms deal and ends with an epic, bloody battle that almost no one except Olivia survives. Between these two events, Olivia wrestles with love and doubt as she tries to figure out the true intent of Marcus—whether, in fact, he loves her or is manipulating her in the service of some larger scheme. Marcus and his three-man PSS crew (Nose, Yale, and Jason) are scheming, to be sure. And Olivia and her reluctant partner Passion are pawns in a game that requires them to walk directly into the lion’s den of Edgemont High School. The mission: befriend Samantha James and extract her from the clutches of the cult-like Hold before the CAMFers come calling to extract her PSS.

But Samantha James is a force to be reckoned with. Samantha James has a mission of her own, one that involves her passion for Passion and intent to seize power of the Hold through a rapturous, revolutionary gathering called the Eidolon. Not everything goes according to plan—not for Marcus, Olivia, or Samantha—and to say that all hell breaks loose is to understate the shocking violence faced by the teenagers as each of their missions spins wildly out of control.

Patton delves deep into the psyche of Olivia Black and breaks the surface with a plot that churns with love, lust, doubt, intrigue, shifting loyalties, double-crosses, murder, and revenge. It is a compelling tale, breathlessly told. Similar to the way the Hold keeps many with PSS under its sway, Patton’s Ghost Hold grips the reader and never lets go. ...more

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Jul 13, 2013 Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: author-request, kindle-books, arc-book-read

4.5 Stars!
As some of you may know that follow my Indie Book of the Week posts, I featured the first book in this series Ghost Hand on my blog as an Indie Book of the Week so it should be no surprise that the second book, Ghost Hold, which was just as fabulous, is making the rounds as this weeks Indie Book of the Week.

Once again Patton has managed to create something totally unique and fun that is action packed with just the right dose of romance to truly make this a stand out series.

If possible ...more

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Sep 30, 2013 Kris rated it it was amazing

It is always a challenge to avoid spoilers from the first book when reviewing other titles in a series. You should know, however, Olivia and her friends have PSS, Psyche Sans Soma, a rare birth defect affecting one or more areas of the body. A few people with PSS have exhibited extraordinary powers that adversaries would like to exploit for personal gain. To avoid capture, Olivia joined a group hiding from the bad guys. Led by hottie Marcus, the gang plans to locate unsuspecting victims before t ...more

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Oct 25, 2013 Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books rated it it was amazing

Shelves: owned-e-books, pnr, fantasy, paranormal

I loved this book. It was even better than the first one, which I also loved. Love how Olivia is still stubborn but feisty as usual. In this book learns more about herself, PSS as well as the CAMFer's, the Hold and the others around her. She is still unsure on who she can and can't trust, which just makes it all that more confusing and complicated. Many things are not quite what they seems, and these twist in the story are really interesting and keep you reading.

We also get some new characters t ...more

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Apr 07, 2013 Tanya Johnson rated it it was amazing

I have received an advanced reader’s copy of “Ghost Hold” from the author for my review.

Before you even think about reading Ghost Hold you need to read Ghost Hand…you WILL NOT be disappointed!

Now onto the Ghost Hold

The story picks up with Olivia, Marcus, Passion and the rest of the gang are on the run from the CAMPfer’s who want to extract PSS from anyone who has it. They are on their way to Indianpolis to befriend and hopefully persuade Samantha (she has a PSS Ear) to go with them and to lea ...more

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Sep 08, 2014 Autumn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2014

I received this book to give an honest review.
Now I want to say it has been a year since I have read the first book Ghost Hand and this is a story that just stays with you because it was unique. So when I was asked to read and review as part of a blog tour which my date is for October 20th I had to jump on the band wagon. I hoped that when I read Ghost Hold it was full of action and I wanted to know what is going to happen between Marcus and Olivia.
Let me say I was not disappointed at all!!!
We l ...more

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Oct 22, 2014 Angela Cruz rated it it was amazing

This is a young adult, paranormal fantasy. The second book in the series. This book is not a stand alone and picks up where the last book Ghost Hand leaves off. I would recommend this for all ages, especially ones who love unique stories. This book is full of mystery and I never knew what would happen next. I was surprised at some of the outcomes and I can not wait to read the next book.

This book is about Olivia Black and her PSS friends. They have joined together to save any future PSS people ...more

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