A Hold of Me was an interesting take on the fantasy/supernatural genre.

This book goes in many different directions, and leads you to places you wouldn't expect. It's definitely not your cookie cutter fantasy novel, but it definitely did not wow me.

I found the plot was very wavy - I wasn't exactly sure where it was going or why certain scenes were involved at all. Half of the book could have been removed and I would have gotten to the same ending. There were many useless scenes that left me confused.

Our main character is interesting and not a weak character. She has a great background story and definitely has layers. Her loyalty towards her family is clear, and she holds onto her values regardless of the situation. She is headstrong and believes in herself, which is great for a main character.

Some of our cast of characters is kooky and interesting - they leave you wanting to know more about them. I would have liked if these characters were built more upon in this story instead of involving useless, silly party scenes to prove that this is for the young adult genre.

Pat Esden does a miraculous job creating the location and scenery of the novel. It was very spooky and interesting. Her descriptions are wonderful, and if anything I would give that specific part of the novel five stars. Her ability to create an intriguing setting is superb!

Our author definitely includes themes in this novel - family loyalty and good vs evil. I assume this will be continued upon in the next novel. The author did make sure this book ended to create a second book, as there were many doors left open.

The book's pace is very slow. I got bored several time and had to keep putting it down and picking it up again to be able to read it. As fantastic as the writing itself is, the author needed to include more action or drama to keep it moving.

I did like this book, don't get me wrong! It is a fantastic fantasy novel, but it was not aimed directly at me. I like fast paced books with drama, romance and action. This novel had those, but not at a fast pace.

Two out of five stars - based off the slow pace that left me wanting to put the book away several times.

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads. ( )

I received an ARC in exchange for review through Xpresso Book Tours.
See more about this book and other reviews on my blog, Carlene Inspired. Giveaway going on right now!

Annie is taking her father back to his home where his sister and father await to help care for him. After years of being on their own, traveling the world and picking out artifacts, coming back to a family she knows her father hates will be hard. When the shadows on the walls point out a more sinister past, Annie begins to investigate what is going on with her father and the past that stole her mother from her when she was young.

A Hold on Me was not at all what I expected, while I had an idea there would be some fantasy paranormal to it, I definitely didn't expect the extent. Pat Esden does a phenomenal job of setting the scene with the spooky location, the mythological history, and the strange secondary characters. The concept, without giving anything away, was very unique for me and I really enjoyed the arabian themes mixed with witchcraft. I enjoyed Annie as a character, though at times I was annoyed with her. She was caring of her father, intrigued by her unknown family, and dedicated to her future and her current hobby of knowing artifacts. The secondary characters stole the show for me, from Chase the groundsman to Kate the suspicious aunt, and even the secretive cousins, all brought a lot more to the story than the main character did. I felt like we saw glimpses of the story over time, but none of it ever gave away the twists. The themes of loyalty and good versus evil were very prominent and I enjoyed the impact they made on Annie as a character.

While A Hold on Me was well-paced and included all the details for a perfect paranormal novel, I felt like some of the plot lines could have been more explored. At times Annie seemed fine with receiving very little information and other times demanded more, and as a reader what Annie was told was all we were told as well. I didn't feel the chemistry between Annie and Chase either, which makes for a huge part of the book. I think it was just personal feelings though and others would definitely get behind them. While their histories were well developed, they didn't mesh for me and Annie's fear from her past I would think would play a huge part in who she dates in her future and Chase just wasn't it for me.

A Hold on Me is a unique book in the new adult paranormal genre, with mixes of horror and suspense, this one will grab your attention and hold on tight. If you're anything like me, you'll want to read it with the light on. There are tons of twists and it was impossible to guess what was coming next. ( )

I am telling you when I got this book. I had already read several chapters in the second book because I was not clear on the fact there was a first book when I began it. Once I was into it and felt sufficiency lost I looked for book one. Smart to read book one first.

Now A Hold on Me. . .I got me a Gothic read with splatters of romance with the forbidden. Annie was more than I was expecting. She showed her strength and her loyalty to her family. Her determination to get her mother back. Even if it meant obtaining help from someone she does not know, Chase.

Chase was the unknown. He was mysterious. He kept his personal life personal and close to his vest. There are some twist to how things become connected. There are secrets revealed that may have consequences down the line.

I felt more equipped to re-enter my read of book two after reading book one. Book one did not end of a cliffhanger. Big Plus. ( )

A Hold On Me by Pat Esden is an interesting paranormal novel. Annie Freemont is twenty years old and has just been accepted into the Sotheby’s summer program. However, her father’s health has been declining and Annie will have to refuse. Annie’s father, James has been acting odd and seems to have the beginning of dementia. Her father’s illness started when they were in an old church buying antiques. They opened a hidden space and a dark shadow came out. Does it have anything to do with her father’s condition? Annie wants to take care of him, but then her Aunt Kate takes her to court. Aunt Kate wins custody of Annie’s father. Annie is forced to take him to Moonhill, the families ancestral home (and a place they left fifteen years previously after the death of Annie’s mother) in Port St. Claire, Maine. Upon arrival Annie and her father are separated and Annie is kept from seeing him. What is going on in this home? Annie is being told lies and she wants the truth. What secrets is the family keeping from Annie? Is she ready for the truth and can her father be helped?

A Hold On Me is an interesting book, but it was not great. Annie comes across as flighty, obsessed with guys (I guess that could be any twenty years old), paranoid, and she over reacts to everything. Annie has severe trust issues (paranoia). Annie’s fear of darkness is mentioned repeatedly in the book. Annie acts more like a sixteen-year-old than a twenty-year-old (just how she came across to me). The book contains a lot of Annie’s thinking (over thinking) which was not enjoyable. There is mild foul language and sex in the book (just letting you know). I liked the paranormal elements in the book (one of the reasons I picked the book) and the mystery. I did not like the ending. The novel is left with an incomplete ending (and we have to wait for the next book). I give A Hold on Me 3 out of 5 stars.

I received a complimentary copy of A Hold on Me from NetGalley in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel. ( )

This book, to be released in January from Kensington, is classified as a New Adult paranormal romance; to be even more specific, this is a gothic novel in modern form. Annie Freemont is a bold heroine with an eye on college and life-long experience in antiquities and art appraisals. As her father slowly succumbs to dementia, she is forced to move with him to her estranged paternal family. Their estate is gothic in all its glory: a palatial home centuries old, built on salt mines along the isolated Maine coast. Annie soon finds her family drowns in secrets and her father's illness is supernatural rather than natural.

I found this to be a fast and enjoyable read. The romance works very well, and the plot offered many twists and turns as it delved deeper into the paranormal element. This is a solid book on its own but there is still plenty of plot left for more Freemont adventures. ( )