Ghost Huntress Book 2: The Guidance [Paperback]

Marley Gibson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Ghost Huntress | Publication Date: September 7, 2009

Kendall and her ghost hunting team is the talk of Radisson, Georgia, but one person isn’t so pleased. Courtney Langdon doesn’t appreciate Kendall’s new popularity or her relationship with Jason, Courtney’s ex.

So Courtney begins dabbling in the paranormal world. At first it’s all a game to draw attention away from Kendall. But Courtney doesn’t know what she’s getting into—or what wants in her. This is one game that’s about to turn deadly serious.

And for more about Kendall and the ghost huntresses, check out www.ghosthuntress.com!

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This trilogy is well put together and attractively packaged--fast-paced, twisty plot."--VOYA, 3Q4P

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

About the Author

Marley Gibson grew up in a southern town very much like her fictional Radisson. She never saw any ghosts growing up—that she knows of—although she has been on a few ghost hunts recently with the famed New England Ghost Project and has gotten some verrrrrry interesting pictures. Marley is a member of the New England Romance Writers of America (RWA) and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. She is the creator and founder of Chick Lit Writers RWA. She lives in the Boston area with her best friend, personal webmaster, and hubby, Mike.
She can be found online at www.marleygibson.com or at her blog, www.booksboysbuzz.com.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Graphia; None edition (September 7, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0547150946
• ISBN-13: 978-0547150949
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #870,500 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Marley Gibson is the author of the GHOST HUNTRESS young adult series, and co-wrote THE OTHER SIDE: A TEEN'S GUIDE TO GHOST HUNTING AND THE PARANORMAL with Patrick Burns and Dave Schrader. She also co-authored CHRISTMAS MIRACLES with Cecil Murphy. She lives in Boston, MA, and can be found online at www.marleygibson.com, www.ghosthuntress.com or at her blog, www.booksboysbuzz.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars First the good news, then the bad news, July 31, 2009

By 

William Polm (North-western Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Ghost Huntress Book 2: The Guidance (Paperback)

(What's this?)

The good news is that the author continues to realistically portray teenagers, their experiences, attitudes and particularly their zany and metaphoric way of using language. This makes for a humorous and entertaining reading experience. The story, like the previous novel (Ghost Huntress I the Awakening), is a page turner. The characters quickly come to life and are convincing. Their emotions are effectively communicated in the story, and I felt those emotions right along with the characters. There are frequent exciting scenes, and moments of genuine warmth and caring.

The bad news is that I have three areas of concern, rather perplexing to me after liking the author's first Ghost Huntress novel so much.

The author no doubt wants to be accurate with her paranormal details, so much so that, if I recall correctly, she has participated in actual ghost hunter investigations. But in this novel the author has a teenager possessed/oppressed by a civil war soldier's ghost. Now, I have never heard of any alleged ghost supposedly having the power to possess or oppress to the extent the fictional ghost does in this story. Theologically speaking and also in the arena of paranormal research, possession/oppression is only accomplished by demons/evil spirits. Oppression, by the way, is more than spooking, scaring, and minor harassment, when it allegedly occurs.

Now it may be that the author knows this but sought to lighten-up things by having a ghost do the possessing/oppressing rather than a scarier demon/evil spirit.

Second, in the story Kendall (the heroine) seeks to reassure her mother about her psychic powers and activities by sharing a list of Bible references, provided to Kendall by her Episcopal priest. Objection: there is no way a competent Episcopal priest would have used those verses. They are surprisingly lame. I will permit myself just three examples:

One example on Kendall's list is Mathew 14:26 where Jesus catches up with his disciples in their boat by walking on water, a rather famous incident. They mistake Him for a ghost. Kendall's conclusion: "Right! So if Jesus was a ghost, maybe they are real?" That's a rather dumb conclusion by a gal that has a fictional IQ of 152! Just because, in the story in the Bible, Jesus was walking on water at night and looked like a ghost to his disciples doesn't mean the story portrayed Him as an actual ghost! This verse certainly in no way comes anywhere near proving that ghosts actually do exist.

The author cites Psalm 91 and Luke 4:10 and writes: "there are references to angel and spirit guides" (page 184). The verse says that angels guarded Christ, meaning in a protective way. Spirit guides are not mentioned. (Luke 4:10 quotes a verse in Psalm 91.)

I mention one more. Regarding, John 16:12-23, the author writes that "Jesus talks of future truths that will be revealed to the world through mediums." That's pure garbage. Read the verses. There's nothing there about mediums. Jesus mentioned that "the Spirit of Truth" (which most sensible Bible interpreters take to mean the Holy Spirit) will come and lead His disciples into all truth.

Why these inept "proof-texts"? The author is obviously intelligent enough to avoid mistakes like these. Was she in a hurry? There are, after all, much better verses to support to existence of paranormal things (for example Matthew 17: 2-3 at Christ's Transfiguration and 1 Samuel 28, the medium of Endor).

I need to comment on one more issue: This novel's reading level is designated as appropriate for "young adults," meaning ages 12-18. There is a scene in it in which a teenage cheerleader, who is in the story possessed/oppressed, "feels herself up" (page 199) in front of a football-game-watching crowd and includes a few explicit details. The author even has one unnamed character comment, "This is totally rental porn" (also page 199). My own feeling is that this certainly is not appropriate content for younger readers.

The author is a talented weaver of tales. She writes good stories. I looked forward to this second installment of her Ghost Huntress trilogy. But I was disappointed, especially by the careless use of Bible verses and the highly questionable content for young readers. Personally, these aspects to an extent dampened my reading enthusiasm.

Recommended, with reservations, only to older teens (better young adults) and adults interested in paranormal stories.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marley does it again!, January 13, 2011

By 

reneewriter65 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ghost Huntress Book 2: The Guidance (Paperback)

It may be a tad lame for a woman in her mid 40's to be reading a YA book but do I care? No! Was it a good book? Heck frickin' YES!! I'm no writer (not fiction, anyway) but if one wants to appeal to the yound adult crowd, one has to speak their language...and Marley Gibson definitely does! I have an 18 yr. old son and some of the texts he sends me (on my BlackBerry, of course) look very similar to the ones in this book. I especially like Marley's/Kendall's description of the "oh s**t!" handle above the passenger door Kendall grabs when she and her mother drive into ATL to the para-shrink. Too funny! (btw, that decription is accurate...think about it). I'm a total book nerd and usually have 4 or 5 books on my nightstand at any given time. This one, I had to read completely through and did so in 5-1/2 hrs., which is a new personal best. As for the Episcopal priest's dialogue at the critical moment in the story...it's entertainment folks. It's not meant to be verbatim since this is not a "based on a true story" kind of book. Don't be so theological, mmmkay? Kids don't give a rip about things like that, they just want a good story with characters they can relate to. Period. I think Marley balances everything quite nicely but that's just my opinion. I'll be reading #3 and 4 today (yes, both in one day) and can't wait. I'll read anything Marley Gibson writes because I think she's that good. p.s. LOVE your sense of humor Marley! U so crazy! LOL

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ATTENTION EVERYONE!!!, October 18, 2010

By 

Thomas J Austin (Fort Collins, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ghost Huntress Book 2: The Guidance (Paperback)

ATTENTION ALL BELIEVERS AND NON- BELIEVERS ALIKE!

This is the second book in the Ghost Huntress series by Marley Gibson.

I have already written a review for the first book, and I am now on to the second. This book is a PERFECT sequel to the first one, and I really am amazed. This book is as captivating as the first one, if not more! There is action, suspense, mystery, and just so much more!!!

PLEASE read this series, trust me, you won't regret it!