Ghost Hope

The PSS Chronicles #4

by Ripley Patton

Olivia Black does not feel safe. Nightmares plague her sleep and haunt her days. If she has to endure one more minute stuck in a safe house in rainy Portland, she's going to lose it. When Mike Palmer sneaks off to find her sister Kaylee without her, it's the last straw. She has to do something. Then Palmer's hackers find the Dome on a satellite dark, abandoned and smack in the middle of the Oregon desert three hundred miles from where it started. If they can reach it before anyone else, they can crack the computer systems and access every piece of information on PSS the CAMFers and The Hold have ever collected. But in order to do that, Olivia must return to the origin of her fears in a race against all the forces that have ever pitted themselves against her. She must unravel decades of deceit to reveal the true origins of Psyche Sans Soma to the world at last.

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Magic

420 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2016

About the author

Ripley Patton lives on 22 wooded acres on a lake in Southern Illinois with a cat named Lemmy. Her two young adult children, a daughter and a son, are her favorite people. When Ripley's not out exploring nature and getting her hands dirty, she's usually reading or writing a book.

Reviews

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Were they the product of government science gone wrong or are they something more? Children born with special “abilities.” Children treated like Guinea pigs and lab rats. Olivia Black has suffered under the brutal care of Dr. Fineman and she is now physically free, but her emotional and mental self is still caught in the horrors of her CAMFer capture and imprisonment. She still remembers when her ghost hand was cut off.

Now in a command center, hideout she again feels caged, but the computer hackers working in the basement could bring the answers they need to find the Dome, the vilest place on earth. Her sister is still missing and no one will let her risk looking for her. Has Kaylee fallen into the hands of Dr. Fineman? Is she alive? Is she just another pawn in the game to capture all those with PSS, starting with their budding leader, Olivia? Only the most daring of plans will suffice, this is war and ground zero is the target. The Dome must be breached and taken and the people must know what has happened, but will Olivia and company find their full PSS abilities in time? Do they stand a chance against the armies they must face?

Ghost Hope by Ripley Patton is another edge-of-your-seat adventure from start to finish as the action just keeps coming at us like a speeding bullet! So many lives have been affected, so many loose strings will be gathered and tied off, people will die and others will be awakened to what PSS truly is. Will it be enough to stop the madness? What of the future, will there be one?

Ms. Patton has nailed this final book of the series as her characters grow up, learn the meaning of working together and trusting in others, as well as what facing and embracing their destinies can really mean. A MUST read YA series that will leave you breathless in the end. This entire series is truly another hidden gem in the world of reading!

I received an ARC edition from Ripley Patton in exchange for my honest review.

Series: PSS Chronicles - Book 4
Publisher: Ripley Patton (June 15, 2016)
Publication Date: June 15, 2016
Genre: Science Fiction
Print Length: 250 pages
Available from: Amazon
For Reviews & More: http://tometender.blogspot.com

[Michelle's Paranormal Vault of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series, and the series just gets better in this 4th book. I was amazed at some of the revelations that came about to the source of PSS. Very cool, I really felt it was believable, and got sucked into the story once again.

Since this is the 4th book, I do not want to give anything away to the previous books. So will just say if you have not started this series yet, you need to start now. You will fall in love with the characters, like I did.

A very satisfying ending to a wonderful series.
I highly recommend this series.


I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

[Hazel *Craves the Angst Reviews* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Find This and Other Reviews At Craves The Angst.

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

4 “Come Home To The Dome” Stars!
A Wonderful Conclusion to an Exciting, Young Adult Journey!

Where They Are...
Ghost Hope picks up just after the previous book, Ghost Heart, ends.

The CAMFers and the Hold are struggling to regroup after Olivia’s powerful displacement.

Olivia, along with her mom, Mike Palmer, Samantha, Grant, Passion and two of the hackers from B-Ominous are hiding out and trying to regroup, unsure of what’s become of the CAMFers, the Hold, the Dome and everyone that was inside.

But soon, Mike leaves the group to try and play his double agent card and gain new information on how the CAMFers and the Hold, who have both been greatly disabled, plan to proceed. But as usual, Mike has his own agenda.

Marcus and Kaylee were displaced to the dessert and fortunately ran into Rainy and Lonan who tried to protect them by hiding them on the rez. Kaylee is experiencing the world for the first time and Marcus is living in a past he can’t remember.

Everyone is scattered and you just don’t know what’s in store for any of them. Secrets are revealed, mysteries are unveiled and relationships change.

Where They Are Going...
After an extensive search for the Dome, Olivia, with the help of her group, head out to the Dome’s new location in an effort to acquire any and all information the CAMFers and the Hold gathered on PSS. But trouble soon finds them and before they know it, they are the center of a very public and very dangerous situation.

Olivia has to overcome her fear of what happened to her in the Dome. Along with that, everyone is now looking to her for leadership and a huge weight has been put on her shoulders. She’s grown so much since the first book and she doesn’t let the fear consume her. I’ve loved Olivia since the beginning but in this book, she really shined.

“Come home to the Dome”... This one action puts in motion the entire outcome of the book.

The Review:
This book was wonderfully told in multiple POV’s, each from a different perspective but all converging into one huge, epic heartfelt ending that answers all the questions you’ve had since the beginning of the series. Where PSS comes from, how it affects the person who has it, why is happened and where it all leads. I was completely surprised at the answers we get. And I loved that. Everything that I guessed... it was all wrong. This author's imagination and creativity make this story unique and exceptional in every way and add to that, intelligent and bold characters and you’ve got an instant win.

But I Wanted...
Though I loved this book, there were a few things that I wanted, I didn’t get. Olivia and Marcus started us out on this journey, with Marcus basically recruiting Olivia into his fight. The tables get turned when Marcus loses some of his memory. Along with that memory loss, he loses a lot of the drive he had for revenge and change. I missed the intensity he had in the first two books. He let his own fear keep him stagnant and restrained. I was hoping we’d get some of the old Marcus back before the end of this final installment and we didn’t. He’s still a great character, but he was missing some of his spark. We also didn’t get much in the way of a continuing relationship between Marcus and Olivia and I really missed that lack of human connection and relationship. I know this wasn’t really a “romance” series, but that connection grew in the first two books and the author did such a great job connecting us to their relationship, when it was snatched away so suddenly, you couldn’t help but miss it.

The Wrap-Up:
This series has been so much fun. From beginning to end, it’s originality kept me coming back and needing more. With all that these character have been through, all the good and the bad, and with so many characters and agendas in play, it would have been easy to miss the mark on getting closure for all of them. But this final book gave me the closure I needed and did it superbly. Ghost Hope was a truly wonderful ending to a fabulous and exciting series and I’m sorry to see it end. But what an ending!

[Jennifer (Bad Bird Reads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

At A Glance
A solid ending to the series.
The Good
To make a long story short, the whole series is about Olivia's life turning upside-down when she finds out she has PSS (a rare birth defect) in her hand. PSS makes certain parts of your body go ghost-like and sometimes you have certain abilities with the PSS body part. Olivia has no choice but to team up with Marcus and his group to find other people with PSS to fight against the CAMFers who are trying destroy them.

Ghost Hope brings us a lot of answers we had throughout the series, like the origins of PSS. I was freaking blown away with that reveal. Never saw it coming.

Olivia has grown a lot from the beginning of the series. She has become a leader, reluctant as she may be, but she fights with every breath of her body. I love the multi-POVs because we really get in-depth insights on other characters that were always a mystery to me, like Mike Palmer and Kaylee. Kaylee was really intriguing. She's lived her whole life in captivity. Her thought process was so unique. I never knew what she was going to say or do next because she didn't live by the same rules as the rest of the world.

Everything wrapped up pretty well. Definitely a different direction from anything I could have guessed which was a nice surprise.
The Bad
So very little action. The beginning was exciting but once the group gets into the dome, things slow way down and never really pick up again.
The Snuggly
No snuggly here. Olivia and Marcus have no relationship until the end. This series never focused on the romance anyways so I didn't expect any and it wasn't needed.
Final Thoughts
The whole PSS series was pretty good. Not perfect but very entertaining and unique. Ghost Hope was a good ending to a good series. Recommended.



Haven't started the series yet? Grab the first book, Ghost Hand, FREE on all ebook venues. And don't stop there. Ghost Hold (The PSS Chronicles Book 2) and Ghost Heart (The PSS Chronicles Book 3), are on sale for only 99 cents in June.
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This review was originally posted on Bad Bird Reads

[Shona Booky Ramblings of a Neurotic Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story so far... Olivia Black was born with a rare birth defect known as Psyche Sans Soma, or PSS. Which means instead of having a regular hand she has a glowy hand made of ethereal energy.
One day in school her hand started acting weird, it reached inside the body of another student (Passion) and pulled some razor blades from her body. From that point on Olivia's life has been turned upside down. She has met Marcus and his group who are searching out people on a list, all of which have PSS to varying degrees, she has fled from two groups of people; The Hold and the CAMFers opposing groups who are keen to get to the bottom of this whole PSS business. Which brings us to this instalment where we finally learn the origins of PSS and what it means for Olivia, her sister Kaylee and the rest of the world.

Olivia has grown so much since we first met her, bu considering the things she has gone through, the things she has had to survive its understandable that she isn't your typical 17 year old anymore. She is definitely a reluctant leader, but there comes a moment when she realises what needs to be done and she steps up and gets it done.

It's been almost two years since the last instalment in this series was released, but finally we have the answers to all those questions that have plagued us throughout the series.

[Amy Rosenkoetter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding series!

I regularly get intimately involved with a series that I'm reading, but this series took it to an entirely new level. To say I was riveted through the last two books would be an understatement. The first two books were a little lighter in style, but contained excellent action. This is truly one of the finest young adult series that I have ever and certainly one of the most unique and fascinating concepts I've ever encountered in sci-fi.

Personal disclaimer : I sought out the author on Facebook after reading the first book or two, so we now qualify as friends, but that has absolutely nothing to do with my review. I have reviewed books written by other friends and given them average scores because that's how i felt about the book. I never review a book less than honestly as that would damage both my credibility and my integrity.

Ripley Patton created well fleshed-out characters (pun absolutely intended) and a devious, intricate plot line that kept me from guessing the truth right along.

An extremely satisfying read, which ended most eloquently. Ultimately, I can't think of a single thread left hanging.

Truly 5 stars.

[Mieneke · Rating 4 out of 5]

With Ghost Hope Ripley Patton brings her PSS Chronicles to a close. Patton's series is one that has to be read in order to really get the entirety of it and discussing the last book of the series without giving any spoilers for prior books is impossible. So take this as your spoiler warning.

It is worth noting that this is the final book in the series, which is always a bit scary, especially if you’ve really enjoyed the series so far, because will the author stick the landing? And while Patton hits the mat solidly, it is not without wobbling. As I noted in my review of the second book Patton is extremely economical in her re-introductions of characters, not giving any introductions or explanations, which at times left me confused as I’ve been reading these books as they came out, with about a year in-between. And the PSS Chronicles are books that work best when read close together. Still, as the series is now complete, new readers won’t face that particular problem anymore.

The confusion of trying to identify the characters again and remembering who they were and what their story was, carried over further on in the book. At one point, I couldn’t keep the CAMFers and the Hold apart—all the bad guys started running together and I had a hard time remembering the party programmes for either group until quite late in the book. And my last gripe, before I turn to what I really liked, was that the resolution to the crisis in this book while told very well, for it was completely gripping, was also a little too signposted throughout the novel. By the time we got there, it wasn’t as surprising as I felt it might have been meant to be.

Despite the above, Ghost Hope was a great ending to the series. The main theme of the book seems to be convergence on different levels. There is the collision of the past and the present, the reunion of people long separated, and globally of humanity being returned to the same page. I particularly liked the way people found their way back together, both literally and figuratively. I loved the development of the relationship between Olivia and her mum, going from troubled and distant in the first book to solid and understanding here at the end. But of course there are also Olivia and her sister Kaylee, Kaylee and their mother, Olivia and Marcus, Mike and Chase, and Gordon and Mike. They all have to bridge different kinds of divides to make peace with their mutual pasts.

Patton weaves an intricate history for her world and her characters, a history that is elegantly revealed throughout the narrative. I especially enjoyed the way we learned about the true nature of PSS and the way it came into the world and of how all of our characters are connected to it. There were some smaller reveals that were really well constructed once they clicked into place, as they not only made this book more interesting, but also revealed a lot about the previous books.

As a whole I enjoyed this series a lot, due to its breakneck pace, exciting adventure and wonderful main characters. Ghost Hope’s final chapter is a brilliant, hopeful epilogue to a very entertaining story. If you start the PSS Chronicles make sure to have all four books on hand, because you won’t want to wait between books.

This book was provided for review by the author.

[Richa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on City of Books

Ghost Hope is the fourth and final book in the PSS Chronicles, and I've got to say it was a very satisfying finale. Though the novel itself is on the shorter side, it's packed with action and intensity and lots of emotion. I've gotten to know these characters so well over the series and can't help feeling like I'm a part of their lives. When that ends, it's inevitably sad, but I really enjoyed this last part of their journey.

The book picks up where Ghost Heart left off, with the main characters still split into different groups. Marcus and Kaylee are together looking after each other, and I loved getting to know what Kaylee is like. She intrigues me the most out of the characters in this book, and I just wish I got to see more of her. She's innocent but incredibly wise at the same time, and her unpredictability makes for some interesting plot points.

I was still iffy about the new Marcus, because he's not the same guy he used to be, the guy I loved in the first book. But I warmed up to him in this book. He steps up and really tries to do good instead of staying rooted to his past and what he remembers. It still hurts to see Marcus and Olivia interact like strangers, but from the title of the book, you can tell that there's always some hope.

Olivia is still up there among my favourite YA protagonists. She's stronger and more determined than ever, and her drive to protect those she loves is so admirable. Especially after everything she's been through, and with Marcus not remembering her, and now with her long-long sister being back in her life. Olivia takes up the role as a leader, and she doesn't shy away from it. Her tenacity is incredible, and I applaud the author for writing such a strong but realistically flawed character.

I won't say anything much about the plot, but there are a few big things we find out related to PSS, its nature and beginnings. Questions I've had since the first book have been answered! The ending of the book (and series) is bittersweet for many reasons, but like I mentioned before, the title of the book is a key indicator of the events that happen. All in all, The PSS Chronicles is a unique YA paranormal series, and Ghost Hope closes it out superbly.

*Thank you to Ripley Patton for providing me with an eARC for review*

[Rachel Barnard · Rating 5 out of 5]

After everyone was displaced at the end of Ghost Heart, Olivia is with Mike Palmer stuck waiting for the hackers to find out where the dome and everyone else went. Mike Palmer leaves to find Kaylee. The hackers find the dome and Olivia is ready to go back because her goal is clear: get into the computers in the dome and find out everything the CAMFers and the Hold know about PSS, what they’ve been doing, and what they’ve done. Olivia doesn’t plan to stop at finding the research, however, she has bigger plans for the information.

What a wonderfully satisfying ending to this series! Everything I wanted to know and everything I didn’t realize I wanted to know was revealed throughout this final and fourth book. What is PSS, how does it work, and finally where did it come from are fully answered. As a series, Patton does an amazing job at revealing the perfect amount of information on her imaginative PSS concept at the perfect intervals. Everything came together in this final book.

Characters I thought were minor were given more depth. For instance, Anthony, was shown to have a bigger role in the overall plot and more significance to the story than just as Dr. Fineman’s henchman. Every character mattered. Every character was their own person. Even Anthony is not entirely evil as a bad guy. His motivations and why he thinks the way he does is shown. He even gets some of his own chapters!

The breakdown of POV in this book was masterfully crafted. There were multiple POV, but they didn’t always alternate every chapter. The reader gets inside the heads of everyone important, except perhaps Olivia’s mother. There’s David Marcus, Olivia, Anthony, Jason, Mike Palmer, and Kaylee to get to know better. Kaylee was the most unique and different voice. Even though I couldn’t get into her perspective as much as I could the others, she was the most interesting voice to read.

The climax was excellent in both this book and as a series finale. There was buildup of tension throughout, with action interspersed expertly with character development and scene. The ending was as tense as any thriller and the conclusion was perfect for the plot, even though I thought there could be more written for the denouement. Some of the character reactions to the climax were not as full as they could have been.

I look forward to reading whatever Ripley Patton writes next.

Disclaimer: I was provided an ARC of this book and this review is my honest opinion.

[Mercedes Roth · Rating 5 out of 5]

**I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review**
Shit. Excuse my French, but shit! So, I may or may not have cried and laughed and got angry...I may or may not be upset that this is the last book in this fantastic series.
This book is the finale of a fantastic, inventive, original series that will have you constantly guessing, sitting on the edge of your seat, and closing your eyes because you're a little terrified to see what happens next. There are a lot of books out there that do the whole "it's up to you" ending that is kind of annoying, but this one wraps everything up well.
We meet some new, interesting characters in this book and of course our favorites are very present. There is still plenty of action and mystery, but we also learn some mew information about PSS that I didn't even think to question.
Above all this is a great ending to an amazong series that I'm sad to say goodbye to. I love these characters and I hope that they all live happily ever after in their PSS world. Thank you Ripley for this amazing series, wonderful characters, and fantastic world.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

The conclusion to the PSS chronicles takes you through many of the characters you've come to know throughout the other three books. You see things from many different perspectives as each group is working not only to find each other but to figure out the ultimate truth about their PSS and how it came to be.

The story is intense throughout and every question you've had finally gets answered. There is still a lot of evil out there trying to stop Olivia and the others from finding out the truth, but they all work together for their common goals.

I loved seeing Olivia truly become a leader and Marcus as he learned to be himself without his memories. I also enjoyed getting into the mind of Kaylee and the others, seeing their perspectives on everything that was going on.

I can't say too much about the story line without giving it all away but I enjoyed the way the story flowed and I thought that the ending to this was very well written. There are a few characters I would have wished to have known their endings in this but overall this is a great finish to the series!

[Angel Leya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when it looks like the band is back together, they're split apart again, and this time Olivia has displaced an entire complex. Something big is brewing, and they'll need to figure out how to take advantage of the situation if they hope to change the world for the better.

What a stunning conclusion. It's incredible, sweeping, and it will draw you in in the most astounding way. I have to wonder at the author's inclusion of the mural, as it seems to point to something that never occurred in this book. Does she have more planned for this world and series? It certainly would be welcome, as this series is an incredible journey through a fascinating world where the impossible is possible and the spark that lights humanity has the potential to brighten the world.

[Karley Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well...did i see it going the way it did..no bit thats what made it great.
The story kept you turning the page to see what would happen and you cant help but love the characters

[Sahar Find Me On Story Graph · Rating 4 out of 5]

*** Full review available on Sahar's Blog. ***

Once again, Ripley Patton delivers. Ghost Hope is a great ending to a series with many a high. While the writing is tight, the plot engaging, and the characters well developed, for me the main reason to read this book remains its lead character, Olivia Black.

There is still quite a dearth in strong female characters available in youth adult literature. While there have been some strong ones that have made an appearance in recent years, these are not enough to counter the stereotypes that still abound.

Olivia continues to be a character I feel many a young female reader can connect with. Most importantly thought, because the chapters of the book are written from different points of view, we also see what others see, giving legitimacy, in a way, to Olivia’s strength and leadership. She is seen as a threat by the enemy, which implies she is powerful; she is seen as inspirational by family and friends, which implies that she is worth looking up to; she is seen with begrudging respect by colleagues, which implies that she does not hold back because of her gender; and she is seen as beautiful and attractive by a romantic interest, which implies that she can do all of the above and be a woman.

I also liked that although Olivia has the many concerns of any young woman her age (she turned 18 during the course of this book), she really doesn’t fall into the typical female character stereotypes. For example, although she is clearly in love with Marcus and is heartbroken about his memory loss, she doesn’t fall into a mess because of it. The pain is present and it comes and goes as she interacts with him, but she isn’t defined by it.

Similarly, when she loses someone very close to her (you’ll find out yourself who), she is again heartbroken. Although this death deeply affects her—and we see the effects—Olivia isn’t defined by it. Quite the contrary actually; she uses it as a way to step, once and for all, into the leadership role that was meant for her for quite some time.

Ghost Hope is a great book for young adults and adults alike, male or female. Action-packed, well thought out, touching upon many important concepts (such as the elimination of prejudices by increasing one’s perception to really see beyond each person’s outer skin), and featuring an actual strong female character rather than one seemingly is so, Ripley Patton has finished off the PSS Chronicles on a high.

[The Book Beacon · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's no secret that I am a huge fan of The PSS Chronicles - if you are new to the series and the author, do yourself a favor and get Book 1 (free!) and Book 2 & Book 3 for $.99/each. For less than two bucks you will be enthralled by the adventures of Olivia Black and company, and you will be glad you took a chance on this series. You will be able to read them back to back, which will help with remembering all the characters and events (I needed a reminder between books).

There is humor, adventure, romance, betrayal, mystery, surprises, and more wrapped up in an incredible sci-fi setting. As with the first three books, Book 4 had me riveted to the pages as the action comes full circle with Book 1. It is immensely satisfying to get answers to the questions that begin with "what is PSS?" and "who can Olivia trust." I liked how the characters are scattered and then reunited in the final book. Saying what else I liked and why would include spoilers, so I will just say this series is not to be missed.

Kudos to Ripley Patton for such an incredibly original and entertaining story - from the PSS malady to allowing it to be more of an enhanced state than disability. I loved the multiple narratives and points of view, and the entire series plays out like an action movie with insane special effects. Just as soon as you catch your breath, the ride continues. And at the end of the ride, you can't help but marvel at the excellent storytelling.

[Tanya Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the final book of this series. In this book all things that you have been questioning get answered. There are many ups and downs in here just like all the others with just the right amount of action. I fell in love with this series right from the start on Ghost Hand and I will admit that I am sad to see this series come to an end but I'm happy with the ending. If you have read the previous three books, you will not be disappointed!

[Shelly Pfeiffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ending to a great series!!

I love the wrap up on this series! Kept me engrossed through whole book. I highly recommend it! Only problem was it ended.