Ghost of a Chance: A Paranormal Women's Fiction Novel (Chintz 'n China Book 1)

Picked this book up free on Amazon. I appreciate being able to try new authors with out regret. While there was no regret the story was a bit disjointed. There was a lot of promise as I started the book and then it just seemed to deteriorate. Writing was not horrible but a good editor was needed. FYI if you picked this up as a cozy it is not. Has a few graphic sex scenes that I am not sure why the author included. Didn't add anything to the plot. Also not a romance. Not a bad read, not a great read and I will be passing on future titles by this author. Wasn't much of a mystery and the paranormal part was a bit fragmented so it was missing the key elements that I read this genre for. However I encourage you to try for yourself especially if you have the opportunity to try it for free.

I think I bailed at about the 40% mark - when the bad (and so unnecessary) sex scene popped up. This is basically a cozy - there shouldn't be graphic sex in cozies. And if you're going to write a sex scene, at least do it well. (Emerald meets a guy & wants to "go slow" but she's sleeping with him inside of a week?) I hadn't enjoyed the book much up until then, so I wasn't about to continue. There were too many errors. There are misused words, awkward phrasing, problems with lay/lie & was/were, and so many plot problems. She unplugs the phone before the seance but then it's ringing a few minutes later. She's picking up her son before he gets on the bus, but he walks to school because it's only a few blocks away. She says not to let the water boil when making tea, but then her kettle whistles (boiling). Her daughter uses her toast to mop up her scrambled eggs? There's the zipping up of a windbreaker (every windbreaker I've ever seen snaps). There are many more. The characters (particularly the main character) weren't particularly "real" or likeable. The dialog wasn't natural. There was no believable chemistry between Emerald and Andrew (yet she falls right into bed with him). So, I just didn't care enough about Susan's death to continue enduring the rest to see what happened.

Mostly, I enjoyed this book. They mystery and its relevations were well-paced, and the characters decently drawn.Emerald's kids came across as very realistic; her appeal as catnip to the lads was rather less plausible. The romance part of this was the weakest part. I hate the love-triangle trope anyway, and our girl (a mother of an 8-year-old and a 13-year-old) getting TWO younger hunks panting after within a week is, I think unrealistic (though possibly a nice fantasy fulfillment!). The paranormal stuff was handled well, which I would expect from Galenorm. What was not handled well, I thought, was the pragmatics of Emerald's life. Even after her 8-year-old has proved his irresponsibility, she leaves him at home- alone, or under his 13-year-old's supervision (when said girl is known to pretty much ignore him); when that becomes impractical, she fobs them off onto various other people, who are all delighted to accept them for an indefinite visit! Similarly, Emerald frequently ignores her shop- the shop that produces the revenue she lives on... and, again, others are eager to step into the breach with NO problems resulting! And- while this is petty- I hated the names of the 3 main women. Honestly, "Emerald", and "Harlow", and "Murray"? their personalitites did not seem to match the nomenclature especially well, either. Plus, the weather was sometimes- but not consistently- an issue. In short, while the gist of the mystery was pretty good, there were enough irksome details to make me unlikely to read more in the series.

Emerald is a divorced mother of two who owns a tea shop. She also reads tarot cards and has special skills inherited from her Nanna...in other words, she's a witch. Her young son has inherited her abilities and she is training him in the arts. Against her orders, he sneaks into her grandmother's chest and reads her book of spells. Unfortunately, the spell he uses backfires and an evil entity is able to manifest. At the same time, a prominent woman in the community has been killed and appears at Emerald's bedside to let her know that 'her husband' has murdered her, although her death will be declared an accidental overdose. With ghosts, two murders, a psychopath, and an evil entity on the loose, there is plenty of action going on. It is really hard to classify this book. I got it thinking it was a cosy...it isn't. Nor is it really a romance although there is some (mild) sex in the book. I guess I would call it a mystery with a whole lot of paranormal stuff going on! I enjoyed the book and look forward to more in the series.

Ghost of a Chance is the first book in the Chintz & China Series, by Yasmine Galenorn. Being a huge fan of Ms. Galenorn's multiple other series. I was enthusiastic to check out this , as well. I usually don't read mysteries often, being a fantasy fan, but this one is a bit different from your ordinary mystery ~ this is a mystery, no doubt, but accompanied by spirits. A spine tingler, but on a comfortable level. Emerald O'Brien owns the Chintz & China tea shop and reads tarot cards. She's a divorced mom of two, and has special "gifts." When a deceased woman shows up in her bedroom one evening, she becomes convinced that the woman did not commit suicide, as speculated. This book was a complete and utter joy to read. I could picture myself enjoying tea in the shop and reading. The characters are well developed early on, the books flows well, and the story is well written. A lot of teasers to keep you guessing, and multiple plots made "Ghost of a Chance" a gem to read. I'm already into book 2 , " Legend of the Jade Dragon." That should tell you something.

7. ****Ghost of a Chance (Chintz n’ China No 1) by Yasmin Galenorn Emerald O'Brien is the owner of the Chintz 'n China Tea Room, located in Chiqetaw, WA. She’s a recently-divorced mom to two brilliant adolescents, the “town witch,” and a reluctant detective. She can see dead people, and those who died unsettled come to her for help. She’s aided in the cause by her two bffs, a recovering anorexic former super model, and a Cherokee deputy sheriff. A ghost asks her for help in solving a murder, and the resolution is not as simple as it seems. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a re-read for me (I read this back in the pre-e-book days, and didn’t realize it until midway through) and I enjoyed it just as much this time as the first time. The paranormal elements do require a suspension of belief, but the author handles them in a plausible way, which I appreciate. The scenes are well set (so much so I wish Emerald’s shop really existed so I could go there). I also enjoyed the cultural diversity in the cast of characters, and the fact that all the characters are dimensional. I particularly liked the relationship Emerald has with her children. She lets them be kids, but she doesn’t sugar coat life for them either. I appreciate her bluntness, and that she doesn’t dither when it comes to the romance (or possible romances) in the book. She sets a boundary and sticks to it, even when it might displease the other party. The ending was a complete surprise, which is nice in a re-read. I was hooked all the way through. I am glad there are a few more in the series I can catch up with. If you are a fan of paranormal mixed in with your mysteries, and characters with depth, I recommend the Chintz n’ China series. I have read other reviews complaining this isn't a cozy because of "graphic" sex scenes. I didn't read anything offensive in the book, but then I tend to page past stuff like that anyway. I don't need to know how people are getting busy, just that they are (because it makes the books more interesting to me). If that's an issue for you, you might want to read with one eye closed, or with a finger ready to swipe past what you don't like. I find this to fall under the cozy umbrella, maybe on the darker side, but cozy still.

I really wanted to like this book. In some ways, it is incredibly predictable but mostly, the characters are annoying as hell and act in ways that make no sense at all. The plot had such promise but the characters are a random assortment of clichés, thrown together in ways which just do not make any sense. The main character is the typical bitter and angry divorcee with 2 kids who supposedly lives and breathes for her 2 kids, but for reasons that make absolutely no sense, skips decorating for Christmas for 2 years after her divorce, even though her kids love it. More unbelievably, the kids apparently never ask her about it. It is a minor detail to be sure, but it is just an example of how unrealistic this is. The other characters are no better, or any less clichéd and random. The former model, playing the role of the sassy best friend. The Native American medicine woman, who is the other best friend. The attractive, successful author, who instantly falls for the frumpy, psychic main character and after meeting her for all of 15 minutes, is willing to meet the kids for leftover soup at her place. The list goes on.

I've read a few books where the protagonist talks to spirits, and I have to say this one was disappointing. I agree with other reviewers who have mentioned they found the main character's appeal to the opposite sex unrealistic. What bothered me the most about the book, though, was the way the writer never introduced characters. Here is an excerpt: Here, it was still safe to leave the car unlocked when I ran into a shop. Kids in Chiqetaw didn’t disappear on their way to Mickey D’s. Once Cinnamon and I were alone, I snapped up the ”Open” sign and smiled wearily at her. “Well, the place looks better. Thanks for coming in this morning. We needed the help... " If you're wondering who (or what) Cinnamon is, you're not alone. This is the very first sentence mentioning a character named Cinnamon. I had to go back through the book because I thought I had missed the introduction of this character. She did this with a few characters, so I had a hard time following along. I think this story had a lot of potential, and I found it intriguing enough to finish the book. I did not hate it, but I just found a lot of things I would have liked to see done differently. Grammatically, the author did a great job.

I know I was. Having read some of her Otherworld and Indigo Court books years ago, I snatched this book up when it came up free on Amazon, recognizing the Author's name. It wasn't until the end when I read the note stating that this was the beginning of her first published non-fiction series that things became clear. This is a paranormal mystery, not Fantasy Romances like her other series. The writing style isn't as refined. The characters aren't as appealing. The paranormal aspects aren't there as much. The romance is poor, and the plotline isn't smooth. Not to say that it's a bad read, if you like paranormal mysteries--it's (understandably, since it's an early piece) just not up to her current abilities. For me, it didn't captivate my interest like some of her other books. My issues with this one is that the Heroine wasn't very appealing. She had an inconsistent personality. Her new boyfriend was "off" in some way, I couldn't get a handle on him. There wasn't much background history or depth concerning her abilities. There was too much adult angst. Because of these things, the book didn't hold my interest thoroughly. But it wasn't a bad read, and I'll read the second book in this series to see where things go.

First in the Chintz 'n China cozy paranormal mystery series and revolving around Emerald O'Brien in Chiqetaw, Washington, where Christmas is approaching. This eBook was sent to me by Nightqueen Enterprises, LLC for an honest review. My Take Definitely a cozy tale with a family you'll love. Well, except for their "ex"-dad. What a jerk?!! The story is told in first person protagonist point-of-view from Em's perspective. She is a stern mom, insisting on manners and consideration for others...while she is also lenient in what she hopes for, for her children. It's an introduction to the concept of the series, that of a single mom doing her best to raise her children well and cope with her own psychic abilities. Love interests are introduced, creating slight conflicts. More conflict is the information Emerald imparts about her jerk of an ex. I do love the kids. They're smart, snarky, helpful...and kids with all their lack of thought. I enjoyed the pace and the easygoing prose...although there were a few bits where I had to track back and/or re-read to figure out who was what. Of course all those red herrings Galenorn spread throughout the story made that twist at the end a pip. It's a fun tale that is both character- and action-driven that I couldn't help but enjoy. The Story That ghost that appeared in Em's bedroom may be inspiring a new business for Emerald: Spooks-R-Us. It's a cryptic message Susan Mitchell passes, and the reputation Walter has only cements its truth for Emerald. Now if she can prove it to the cops... The Characters The two-years divorced Emerald "Em" O'Brien runs a tea shop and gives readings to her clients. Miranda, a.k.a., Randa, her daughter, is a computer whiz and loves astronomy and is desperate to go to Space Camp. Mr Sanders is her teddy bear. Eight-year-old Kipling "Kip", her son, has the gift as well. Sly is his best friend and a little con artist. Samantha and and her kittens — Nebula, Nöel, and Nigel — have been recently acquired. Nanna is her grandmother who taught her how to use her psychic abilities. Nappa is the grandfather who died in the old country. Rose is Emerald's baby sister. Grandma McGrady is Em's critical paternal grandmother. Roy O'Brien is her jerk of an ex-husband who refused to give up the family cat, Fluto. His parents aren't that interested in their grandchildren. The Chintz 'n China Tea Room is... ...Emerald's place where she sells and sources fine china; serves tea, cookies, and lunch; and, reads the tarot. One of her waitresses, Cinnamon, has three kids and lives with her mother since her boyfriend is in jail. A friend of Cinnamon's, Lana, is a new hire. Nancy Reynolds, the sisters Farrah Warnoff and Sheila Smythe, Frieda Halston, and Bette Thompson are some of Emerald's customers. Harlow Rainmark, a former model, is Em's best friend who runs Harlow's Gym and is a primary sponsor of the town's theater group. James, a photographer, is the childhood sweetheart whom Harlow married. Detective Anna Murray is another friend and the niece of a medicine woman, White Deer — yep, Murray accepts the supernatural. Sid, a seven-foot red-tailed boa, and Nancy, a three-foot, nasty-tempered emerald tree boa, are Murray's pets. Andrew Martinez is a local writer who wrote a play, Obsidian, to be performed by the Chiqetaw Players. He also writes romances under the name Andrea Martin. Jenny Dillon's mom is one of the players, and Ned Cantrell plays the lead. Liam is tutoring Randa in English. Joni is a friend of Randa's. Karri Banks, a librarian, was one of Susan's closest friends. Cathy Sutton is an overly bright reporter. Western State Hospital is a nuthouse. Mrs Gardner likes making spaghetti. Another ghost is the regretful Fiona Lynch. Captain Joe Files, Lopez, and Whitman are paramedics. Joe has an Aunt Margaret, a retired county clerk, who is another of Em's tea room clients. Officers Nelson and Leary are investigating a death. Officer Dowling is at the jail. Emerald's neighbors include the retired Ida Trask who pinch hits as a babysitter and Horvald Ledbetter who keeps up the gardens his wife planted. The Schroeder boy may shovel Em's walkway. Susan Mitchell had been a romance writer living in Chiqetaw and is now a ghost. That scumbag Walter is her husband, and there's Susan's estranged daughter, Diana Mitchell, who lives in Seattle and works in a bookstore. Bernard Addison had been Walter's stepfather, married to Eunice, Walter's mother, and the dangerous Joshua Addison his stepbrother. Mae Tailor is the Mitchell housekeeper. Dr Johansen was the family physician. Toby Gilmore is Walter's assistant. The Cover and Title The cover is clever with its seemingly steaming teapot on which Susan Mitchell's face is imposed, golden ectoplasm swirling around the royal blue teapot. Blue glass ornaments studded with golden snowflakes snug in on the left of the teapot. Behind it is Samantha, a calico cat wearing a collar with mistletoe and her name tag. To Sam's left is a much-used gold candle, a blue smoke twirling in the air. In the background is a gorgeous winter scene as viewed through the muntin'd window. The author's name is in royal blue at the very top with an info blurb between first and last name. The title is at the very bottom in white. Below that is a narrow band of pale yellow fading off at the sides and providing the series information in black. The title is what Susan Mitchell is asking for, a Ghost of a Chance.

Picked this book up free on Amazon. I appreciate being able to try new authors with out regret. While there was no regret the story was a bit disjointed. There was a lot of promise as I started the book and then it just seemed to deteriorate. Writing was not horrible but a good editor was needed. FYI if you picked this up as a cozy it is not. Has a few graphic sex scenes that I am not sure why the author included. Didn't add anything to the plot. Also not a romance. Not a bad read, not a great read and I will be passing on future titles by this author. Wasn't much of a mystery and the paranormal part was a bit fragmented so it was missing the key elements that I read this genre for. However I encourage you to try for yourself especially if you have the opportunity to try it for free.

I think I bailed at about the 40% mark - when the bad (and so unnecessary) sex scene popped up. This is basically a cozy - there shouldn't be graphic sex in cozies. And if you're going to write a sex scene, at least do it well. (Emerald meets a guy & wants to "go slow" but she's sleeping with him inside of a week?) I hadn't enjoyed the book much up until then, so I wasn't about to continue. There were too many errors. There are misused words, awkward phrasing, problems with lay/lie & was/were, and so many plot problems. She unplugs the phone before the seance but then it's ringing a few minutes later. She's picking up her son before he gets on the bus, but he walks to school because it's only a few blocks away. She says not to let the water boil when making tea, but then her kettle whistles (boiling). Her daughter uses her toast to mop up her scrambled eggs? There's the zipping up of a windbreaker (every windbreaker I've ever seen snaps). There are many more. The characters (particularly the main character) weren't particularly "real" or likeable. The dialog wasn't natural. There was no believable chemistry between Emerald and Andrew (yet she falls right into bed with him). So, I just didn't care enough about Susan's death to continue enduring the rest to see what happened.

Mostly, I enjoyed this book. They mystery and its relevations were well-paced, and the characters decently drawn.Emerald's kids came across as very realistic; her appeal as catnip to the lads was rather less plausible. The romance part of this was the weakest part. I hate the love-triangle trope anyway, and our girl (a mother of an 8-year-old and a 13-year-old) getting TWO younger hunks panting after within a week is, I think unrealistic (though possibly a nice fantasy fulfillment!). The paranormal stuff was handled well, which I would expect from Galenorm. What was not handled well, I thought, was the pragmatics of Emerald's life. Even after her 8-year-old has proved his irresponsibility, she leaves him at home- alone, or under his 13-year-old's supervision (when said girl is known to pretty much ignore him); when that becomes impractical, she fobs them off onto various other people, who are all delighted to accept them for an indefinite visit! Similarly, Emerald frequently ignores her shop- the shop that produces the revenue she lives on... and, again, others are eager to step into the breach with NO problems resulting! And- while this is petty- I hated the names of the 3 main women. Honestly, "Emerald", and "Harlow", and "Murray"? their personalitites did not seem to match the nomenclature especially well, either. Plus, the weather was sometimes- but not consistently- an issue. In short, while the gist of the mystery was pretty good, there were enough irksome details to make me unlikely to read more in the series.

Emerald is a divorced mother of two who owns a tea shop. She also reads tarot cards and has special skills inherited from her Nanna...in other words, she's a witch. Her young son has inherited her abilities and she is training him in the arts. Against her orders, he sneaks into her grandmother's chest and reads her book of spells. Unfortunately, the spell he uses backfires and an evil entity is able to manifest. At the same time, a prominent woman in the community has been killed and appears at Emerald's bedside to let her know that 'her husband' has murdered her, although her death will be declared an accidental overdose. With ghosts, two murders, a psychopath, and an evil entity on the loose, there is plenty of action going on. It is really hard to classify this book. I got it thinking it was a cosy...it isn't. Nor is it really a romance although there is some (mild) sex in the book. I guess I would call it a mystery with a whole lot of paranormal stuff going on! I enjoyed the book and look forward to more in the series.

Ghost of a Chance is the first book in the Chintz & China Series, by Yasmine Galenorn. Being a huge fan of Ms. Galenorn's multiple other series. I was enthusiastic to check out this , as well. I usually don't read mysteries often, being a fantasy fan, but this one is a bit different from your ordinary mystery ~ this is a mystery, no doubt, but accompanied by spirits. A spine tingler, but on a comfortable level. Emerald O'Brien owns the Chintz & China tea shop and reads tarot cards. She's a divorced mom of two, and has special "gifts." When a deceased woman shows up in her bedroom one evening, she becomes convinced that the woman did not commit suicide, as speculated. This book was a complete and utter joy to read. I could picture myself enjoying tea in the shop and reading. The characters are well developed early on, the books flows well, and the story is well written. A lot of teasers to keep you guessing, and multiple plots made "Ghost of a Chance" a gem to read. I'm already into book 2 , " Legend of the Jade Dragon." That should tell you something.

7. ****Ghost of a Chance (Chintz n’ China No 1) by Yasmin Galenorn Emerald O'Brien is the owner of the Chintz 'n China Tea Room, located in Chiqetaw, WA. She’s a recently-divorced mom to two brilliant adolescents, the “town witch,” and a reluctant detective. She can see dead people, and those who died unsettled come to her for help. She’s aided in the cause by her two bffs, a recovering anorexic former super model, and a Cherokee deputy sheriff. A ghost asks her for help in solving a murder, and the resolution is not as simple as it seems. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a re-read for me (I read this back in the pre-e-book days, and didn’t realize it until midway through) and I enjoyed it just as much this time as the first time. The paranormal elements do require a suspension of belief, but the author handles them in a plausible way, which I appreciate. The scenes are well set (so much so I wish Emerald’s shop really existed so I could go there). I also enjoyed the cultural diversity in the cast of characters, and the fact that all the characters are dimensional. I particularly liked the relationship Emerald has with her children. She lets them be kids, but she doesn’t sugar coat life for them either. I appreciate her bluntness, and that she doesn’t dither when it comes to the romance (or possible romances) in the book. She sets a boundary and sticks to it, even when it might displease the other party. The ending was a complete surprise, which is nice in a re-read. I was hooked all the way through. I am glad there are a few more in the series I can catch up with. If you are a fan of paranormal mixed in with your mysteries, and characters with depth, I recommend the Chintz n’ China series. I have read other reviews complaining this isn't a cozy because of "graphic" sex scenes. I didn't read anything offensive in the book, but then I tend to page past stuff like that anyway. I don't need to know how people are getting busy, just that they are (because it makes the books more interesting to me). If that's an issue for you, you might want to read with one eye closed, or with a finger ready to swipe past what you don't like. I find this to fall under the cozy umbrella, maybe on the darker side, but cozy still.

I really wanted to like this book. In some ways, it is incredibly predictable but mostly, the characters are annoying as hell and act in ways that make no sense at all. The plot had such promise but the characters are a random assortment of clichés, thrown together in ways which just do not make any sense. The main character is the typical bitter and angry divorcee with 2 kids who supposedly lives and breathes for her 2 kids, but for reasons that make absolutely no sense, skips decorating for Christmas for 2 years after her divorce, even though her kids love it. More unbelievably, the kids apparently never ask her about it. It is a minor detail to be sure, but it is just an example of how unrealistic this is. The other characters are no better, or any less clichéd and random. The former model, playing the role of the sassy best friend. The Native American medicine woman, who is the other best friend. The attractive, successful author, who instantly falls for the frumpy, psychic main character and after meeting her for all of 15 minutes, is willing to meet the kids for leftover soup at her place. The list goes on.

I've read a few books where the protagonist talks to spirits, and I have to say this one was disappointing. I agree with other reviewers who have mentioned they found the main character's appeal to the opposite sex unrealistic. What bothered me the most about the book, though, was the way the writer never introduced characters. Here is an excerpt: Here, it was still safe to leave the car unlocked when I ran into a shop. Kids in Chiqetaw didn’t disappear on their way to Mickey D’s. Once Cinnamon and I were alone, I snapped up the ”Open” sign and smiled wearily at her. “Well, the place looks better. Thanks for coming in this morning. We needed the help... " If you're wondering who (or what) Cinnamon is, you're not alone. This is the very first sentence mentioning a character named Cinnamon. I had to go back through the book because I thought I had missed the introduction of this character. She did this with a few characters, so I had a hard time following along. I think this story had a lot of potential, and I found it intriguing enough to finish the book. I did not hate it, but I just found a lot of things I would have liked to see done differently. Grammatically, the author did a great job.

I know I was. Having read some of her Otherworld and Indigo Court books years ago, I snatched this book up when it came up free on Amazon, recognizing the Author's name. It wasn't until the end when I read the note stating that this was the beginning of her first published non-fiction series that things became clear. This is a paranormal mystery, not Fantasy Romances like her other series. The writing style isn't as refined. The characters aren't as appealing. The paranormal aspects aren't there as much. The romance is poor, and the plotline isn't smooth. Not to say that it's a bad read, if you like paranormal mysteries--it's (understandably, since it's an early piece) just not up to her current abilities. For me, it didn't captivate my interest like some of her other books. My issues with this one is that the Heroine wasn't very appealing. She had an inconsistent personality. Her new boyfriend was "off" in some way, I couldn't get a handle on him. There wasn't much background history or depth concerning her abilities. There was too much adult angst. Because of these things, the book didn't hold my interest thoroughly. But it wasn't a bad read, and I'll read the second book in this series to see where things go.

First in the Chintz 'n China cozy paranormal mystery series and revolving around Emerald O'Brien in Chiqetaw, Washington, where Christmas is approaching. This eBook was sent to me by Nightqueen Enterprises, LLC for an honest review. My Take Definitely a cozy tale with a family you'll love. Well, except for their "ex"-dad. What a jerk?!! The story is told in first person protagonist point-of-view from Em's perspective. She is a stern mom, insisting on manners and consideration for others...while she is also lenient in what she hopes for, for her children. It's an introduction to the concept of the series, that of a single mom doing her best to raise her children well and cope with her own psychic abilities. Love interests are introduced, creating slight conflicts. More conflict is the information Emerald imparts about her jerk of an ex. I do love the kids. They're smart, snarky, helpful...and kids with all their lack of thought. I enjoyed the pace and the easygoing prose...although there were a few bits where I had to track back and/or re-read to figure out who was what. Of course all those red herrings Galenorn spread throughout the story made that twist at the end a pip. It's a fun tale that is both character- and action-driven that I couldn't help but enjoy. The Story That ghost that appeared in Em's bedroom may be inspiring a new business for Emerald: Spooks-R-Us. It's a cryptic message Susan Mitchell passes, and the reputation Walter has only cements its truth for Emerald. Now if she can prove it to the cops... The Characters The two-years divorced Emerald "Em" O'Brien runs a tea shop and gives readings to her clients. Miranda, a.k.a., Randa, her daughter, is a computer whiz and loves astronomy and is desperate to go to Space Camp. Mr Sanders is her teddy bear. Eight-year-old Kipling "Kip", her son, has the gift as well. Sly is his best friend and a little con artist. Samantha and and her kittens — Nebula, Nöel, and Nigel — have been recently acquired. Nanna is her grandmother who taught her how to use her psychic abilities. Nappa is the grandfather who died in the old country. Rose is Emerald's baby sister. Grandma McGrady is Em's critical paternal grandmother. Roy O'Brien is her jerk of an ex-husband who refused to give up the family cat, Fluto. His parents aren't that interested in their grandchildren. The Chintz 'n China Tea Room is... ...Emerald's place where she sells and sources fine china; serves tea, cookies, and lunch; and, reads the tarot. One of her waitresses, Cinnamon, has three kids and lives with her mother since her boyfriend is in jail. A friend of Cinnamon's, Lana, is a new hire. Nancy Reynolds, the sisters Farrah Warnoff and Sheila Smythe, Frieda Halston, and Bette Thompson are some of Emerald's customers. Harlow Rainmark, a former model, is Em's best friend who runs Harlow's Gym and is a primary sponsor of the town's theater group. James, a photographer, is the childhood sweetheart whom Harlow married. Detective Anna Murray is another friend and the niece of a medicine woman, White Deer — yep, Murray accepts the supernatural. Sid, a seven-foot red-tailed boa, and Nancy, a three-foot, nasty-tempered emerald tree boa, are Murray's pets. Andrew Martinez is a local writer who wrote a play, Obsidian, to be performed by the Chiqetaw Players. He also writes romances under the name Andrea Martin. Jenny Dillon's mom is one of the players, and Ned Cantrell plays the lead. Liam is tutoring Randa in English. Joni is a friend of Randa's. Karri Banks, a librarian, was one of Susan's closest friends. Cathy Sutton is an overly bright reporter. Western State Hospital is a nuthouse. Mrs Gardner likes making spaghetti. Another ghost is the regretful Fiona Lynch. Captain Joe Files, Lopez, and Whitman are paramedics. Joe has an Aunt Margaret, a retired county clerk, who is another of Em's tea room clients. Officers Nelson and Leary are investigating a death. Officer Dowling is at the jail. Emerald's neighbors include the retired Ida Trask who pinch hits as a babysitter and Horvald Ledbetter who keeps up the gardens his wife planted. The Schroeder boy may shovel Em's walkway. Susan Mitchell had been a romance writer living in Chiqetaw and is now a ghost. That scumbag Walter is her husband, and there's Susan's estranged daughter, Diana Mitchell, who lives in Seattle and works in a bookstore. Bernard Addison had been Walter's stepfather, married to Eunice, Walter's mother, and the dangerous Joshua Addison his stepbrother. Mae Tailor is the Mitchell housekeeper. Dr Johansen was the family physician. Toby Gilmore is Walter's assistant. The Cover and Title The cover is clever with its seemingly steaming teapot on which Susan Mitchell's face is imposed, golden ectoplasm swirling around the royal blue teapot. Blue glass ornaments studded with golden snowflakes snug in on the left of the teapot. Behind it is Samantha, a calico cat wearing a collar with mistletoe and her name tag. To Sam's left is a much-used gold candle, a blue smoke twirling in the air. In the background is a gorgeous winter scene as viewed through the muntin'd window. The author's name is in royal blue at the very top with an info blurb between first and last name. The title is at the very bottom in white. Below that is a narrow band of pale yellow fading off at the sides and providing the series information in black. The title is what Susan Mitchell is asking for, a Ghost of a Chance.

In this book we are introduced to Emerald O'Brian. Emerald is the proud owner of the Chintz 'n China Tea Room. They serve tea and tarot readings. Emerald is also known as the town witch. She is also the mother of two great kids, Kipling and Miranda. When a ghost named Susan shows up asking for Emeralds help to solve her murder things take a turn for the crazy. lol It is up to Emerald and her family and friends to solve this mystery and to stay alive themselves. I really enjoyed this book. It was the very first book I had ever read of Yasmines and I was hooked. Emerald is a really fun character who I wanted to learn more about. This book was a fun and delightful read.

This is the first of her books I have read, I just ordered 2 more of her other series. This woman can write and keep you on the edge of your seat. I felt like going to the back of the book to see who done it and how she got rid of her problem. If I tell too much you will know' if you like some mystery, & suspense this is the book for you. This book is well written it's a MUST READ

I have just discovered this series. I love these books because I love magic and I certainly wish I was able to protect my family with charms, wards, etc. I am not a crazy person. I am a down to Earth Veterinarian. But reading is a passion of mine to help me destress from my day. I also read so I can clear my mind of worry and fall asleep at night. In this book the characters both people and animals are described to such a degree that you feel that you know them personally or would really like to know them. The books in this series are well written. The descriptions are wonderful and really give you a view of the town, the store, the characters and their adventures and their feelings. I really love it that there is a charm for certain protections or to take certain actions at the end of most of the books. I REALLY WISH THE AUTHOR WOULD WRITE MORE STORIES ABOUT THESE CHARACTERS. PLEASE??? The author has written other books but these are my favorite. I hope she can find more stories for this family, town and store in the future.

This book just isn't really my cup of tea , to use an old adage. What is the bad thing here, I feel books like this will end up in other "Kip's" hands with equally disastrous results. The "Spirit World" is real. And dangerous. Anyone who thinks less and tries to enter it without learning personal basic energy protections could, all too easily, find their own "Mr. B & U's"! Relying on holy water, crystals, herbs, and incantations in a sure way to find things you are better off not having part of your life. This book doesn't stress this enough and this author should heed Universal Laws here.

I received this free eBook through The Fussy Librarian in exchange for a fair review. In the first book of the mystery series, Emerald O’Brien moves to a small town, an hour away from Seattle, in Washington to be near to her best friend and to have a new beginning after her divorce. The book is about her new life including her new business, friends, and the love interest. I liked the story flow, character development, and intimate feel of the book. Since there are two story lines in the book, the ghost of a murder victim, showing up and asking Emerald to find her killer and a destructive and violent ghost Emerald’s young son conjured up, causing so much chaos, it is complex and interesting. However I didn’t care for the graphic sex in at least two places.

Ok, I'm hooked. Emerald lives in Chiqetaw. She owns the Chintz 'n China Tea Room, where she sells fine china and lite lunches. She has 2 kids (Kip and Miranda (or Randa)), and 2 best friends (Harlow (Harl) and Murray). She's a tarot card reader with psychic abilities and the ability to see ghosts. And some handiwork with folk magic which earns her the label “witch of the village.” It doesn't bother her, or anyone else at all. In fact, the Native Americans revered those with abilities like hers. One night a ghost appears in her room. She is Susan Mitchell, and she wrote a note to Emerald that read, “I was murdered by my husband but nobody knows. Help me.” Em took on the chore, and called Harl and Murray in to help her. But then things got ugly. A dark, evil spirit starts showing up. She sent the kids to stay with Murray and her aunt, White Deer, and that left her alone in the house with the spirit she now calls Mr. B&U. Things just got worse from there. A new friend, Andrew, steps in to help. Eventually, the police are pulled in but wrote it off and didn't investigate. (One of the cops seemed very interested in Em, though.) So Em is trying to keep her business open, trying to keep her kids safe, trying to help solve Susan's murder (ruled suicide) so Susan rest in peace, and trying to rid her home of Mr. B&U. I think the author, Yasmine Galeron, did a bang up job! The storyline read smoothly, I stayed interested and wanted more as I read through the book. I loved it, and I'm looking forward to reading her next book in this series! (And I want to see what happens between Em, Andrew, and the seemingly interested cop.)

Due to sex scenes This is not a Cozy! This series must be read in order. This is the first book. I can't wait to read "Legend Of The Jade Dragon"! Emerald moved to Chiqetaw with her two children from Seattle after her divorce. It has been a change for the better. It is a safe place to raise her children and her tea shop Chintz and China does good trade. It would be perfect, except for the dead woman, Susan Mitchell, standing at the end of Em's bed, saying her husband murdered her. She has always seem spirits, but this is a first! Feeling she must help Susan, she starts investigating her life and death. Will she be able to solve this crime? Should she even be trying? How will it affect her children? Why did Susan choose her? ***This series is perfect for adult readers who enjoy cozies but like the fact bits as well :)

Not that memorable. I read a lot of books in the course of a few days, not because I'm an editor (tho I would like to be), but because I am a fast reader. So when asked to review this book, I had to review the write up about it. Still didn't ring my chimes, so I am pretty ambivalent about this book. I do remember it needed a good editor and could have skipped the sex scene. As one reviewer said, it's not a cozy.

An interesting book. Emerald 'Em', is divorced & has 2 children. And, has a shop where she sells china, tea & lunch. She's also the town witch. Her daughter, Miranda, wants to be an astronaut & loves school. Her son, Kip, has psychic abilities & wants to work with his mom on the occult business. A local author dies & her ghost comes to Em for help, meanwhile her son opened a trunk that he was not to touch & ended up inviting a demon into their house. Add some romance from blind date & a paramedic . Things get complicated & then work out at the end. Some, violence, romance & drama. I usually read cozies & this was a bit different for me.

Emerald has a cute china/tea/gift shop that also serves hot soup, beverages and some pastry at lunch time. She is also known as the town “Witch” sort of anyway. Divorced with two children of school age Emerald manages her business her children and the occasional ghosts that find her for help. Emerald is just starting to open herself up to dating but always remembers that she is a package deal which makes her children her first concern. This book has romance, murder, ghosts and a very dark and dangerous spirit that enters the family’s home causing some very scary and dangerous things to take place. This story has some dark situations but a satisfactory happy ending. I hope to read more of this authors work.

I am told that it's hard to write a book from a single point of view. If that is so, then this author is an expert in that discipline. This is all written from the viewpoint of Emerald O'Brien, the star of the show. She has two kids. One is Miranda, who is obsessed with astronomy and Space Camp, and is a teenager. The other is Kipling, a son who likes video games and his mother's witchcraft, and he is a pre-teen. A ghost comes to Emerald and says she was murdered and asks Emerald to bring her husband to justice, saying he did it. This is not your light-hearted messing around with magic; this book graphically shows up the dangers of messing around with stuff you haven't thoroughly studied and all the things that can go wrong. A cautionary tale right from the beginning.

Emerald is a fascinating character. She's a great friend, an even better parent, and a person of more courage than most. It's wonderful to see how she navigates the convoluted problems in this book. The witchcraft seems fairly realistic, so I wouldn't recommend this for anyone who takes issue with that, and the men in the book... Can I just say that I don't like them much? Even the ones I kind of want to like wind up being seriously problematic. Realistically problematic, though. On the whole, a very good read.

First I want to say to Yasmine I am so sorry for all the sadness & hardships you" have had in your life! But you conquered & you should be proud! Loved Ghost of a Chance! A LITTLE bit different from other Cozy Books I have read but very good! I'm kind of old fashioned, so I skipped the sexual descriptions you included, never been happy when sex is included in a mystery book! All in all a good book! I hope to read more of your books but be in love just. Please don't draw us any pictures of your movements! Thank you!

I choose the rating of 5 gold star because I found that I couldn't put the book down. Once you start at Chapter One you can't stop reading until the end. You are so cought up with wishing you could be there to help Emerald and family and friends to stop this madness and find away to to let Emerald and David get together and be happy. As for recommending the first in this series to Adults and the older teens ( 17 to 19 years in age ) with the few cuss word and the really bad entity mute upset from the younger.

Usually when I get to read a cozy mystery book, there’s always something lacking. They either don’t have enough creative mystery or way too much cozy and those books are just horrible reads. I’ve had to skip pages because the love scenes were a little out there. This book was like a breath of fresh air. It was impressive! It had a full and complete mystery with just the right amount of cozy on the side. I ask that you give Chintz and China book 1 a chance. You will not be disappointed. Happy reading!

A single mom who practices the craft finds herself confronted by a ghost who can't rest until her murderer is brought to justice. Combine this with an over-eager son wanting to practice the craft and our heroine Emerald has her hands full. For the most part, I really enjoyed this book. I did find it a bit incredulous that just about everyone she tells is so accepting of her talents. I also was taken aback by the two sex scenes. Not that I disapprove, but I don't usually find such with cozy books. Having said this, I give the book a solid 3.5 stars. It's the first of a series, but I honestly didn't enjoy it enough to purchase the rest of the series.

Had a lot of fun reading this book. I am definitely going to read the rest the series. However, I had a few items that battered against my suspension of disbelief and it wasn't the ghosts. She met a guy and took him home that night to eat soup. When she said that she had a perfect place to get something to eat, I thought she was going to take him to her shop. Sure her friend introduced her, but really, with two children in the house. I don't think so. How am I supposed to think that she is an intelligent woman and a protective loving mother if she is so silly. The other issue I had was the names. It is in first person but she keeps switching back and forth between the other character's nicknames and their full name. I got a little confused at first. Loved the kids and the shop that she owns. I love the family background and the problems that the kids cause, Really, after I looked past those two issues, I really enjoyed reading the book since the author is a good writer.

I have not read this author before, but have become a fan. I certainly loved this book. I received book 4 in this series as an Amazon First Reads freebie this month. As soon as I started reading I wished I could start at the beginning of the series. When I signed up for the author’s newsletter, I received book 1 of the series! I had a hard time putting it down. I loved the characters. I loved the locale, set in the Northwest US. I loved the mix of Native American spirituality with traditional folk magic. I loved the descriptions of the various teas and meals. Wow. Now I will read the rest of the series and move on to the other series! Thank you Yasmine Galenorn.

I've read several series by Yasmine and this one is just as amazing as the rest. It is tamer and set in a more "normal" world than the other series so it's a good starting place if you are interested in Yasmine's work. Emerald is a very likable character. Her two kids are down to earth and relatable. She has a best friend who is a detective and their friendship is enviable. You will always find a strong friendship between the main character and another female in Yasmine's books and I really enjoy that.

Not sure if I read the whole thing. Plot sounds familiar but that's about it. I wish Amazon did a better job of reminding you to review things. The emails I get list books I've never even downloaded so hardly am about to review them. Can't even contact them to complain. However, I digress, book was probably okay whether I deleted it or not. Subject to my moods. If they sent a reminder right after I read it, I might be able to remember it. As it is, Kindle books are infinitely forgettable and, after a couple days, no use.

I'd read several books in this series before backtracking to book 1. Glad I did. Even though I had no problem following the other books, it was helpful to read this one. The main character, Emerald O'Brien, is quirky (she sees ghosts), smart, both confident and vulnerable - a very likeable character. I like the mix of mystery and paranormal activity, sprinkled liberally with romance, female friendships and family ties.

This is a bit different from the types of mysteries I usually read, as I’m not particularly into the paranormal aspect. This, however, is well written and very edge-of-the-seat entertainment. I did not solve the mystery until it was disclosed, so I especially liked that about the book. I’d already read the second book in the series so enjoyed the development of the characters as “real people”.

Others have already done a good job of describing this book. It was good enough to finish reading it, but I was disappointed in several ways. Knowing that this was her first book, helped me to forgive some of the things I found doubtful or even ridiculous. I can't imagine myself giving young children access to things that I know are deadly dangerous. I couldn't quite give it 4 stars ... but it held enough promise that I do plan to read the next of the author's books.

I had a good time reading this story, I got it free & am now going to go read more of Yasmine's books. The story weaves through the scenarios keeping your interest all the way through. The description of the evil spirit Mr. Big & Ugly let me envision it ...I wouldn't want to have to mess with something like that! Good ending... thanks :-)

While not as dark in nature as her Otherworld series, this series is just as entertaining. Plenty of action, mystery and suspense without going over the top with graphic gore and superfluous violence or excessively described sex scenes as so many modern books do these days. Emerald O'Brien does not think of herself as a detective, and especially not to the supernatural world. A divorcee with two children to raise, she runs a combination china and tea shop, with a bit of tarot reading on the side (although I still don't understand why everyone who writes about tarot reading insists on having other people touch the cards) and maybe does a little spell casting in private. But, when her son tries his hand at spell-casting in order to impress his friends, all manner of entities get invited into Emeralds life, leaving her with no options but to solve their problems in order to solve her own. Aided by her two best friends and the new man in her life, Emerald hunts for proof of murder so the crime can be solved and the ghosts pacified. This is a very entertaining book, and one I recommend to any Galenorn fan for their library. And, for those of you who are not Galenorn fans...read this and you will be.

The story line was lethargic at places. In contrast, the pace picked up by the finish and resolved very nicely. The stabs at explicit sex impressed me as gratuitous.

I bought a copy of this e-book and I received a free copy for a voluntary review. I know this series has been out for a while, but when Ms. Galenorn re-released them, I had to read them. I enjoy mysteries as much as the paranormal romance novels. In Ghost of a Chance, we're introduced to a woman named Emerald who owns the Chintz 'N China tea room, does tarot card readings, and can communicate with the dead. A ghost named Susan Mitchell wants help to find who killed her and bring them to justice. This is not an easy quest when you have two young children at home. One of which has talents of his own. I enjoyed this book, I think it had a good balance of danger and mystery.

Nope nope nope. Not for me. the writing? Good. The story? Seems pretty engaging, but it's not to my taste. Fans of some of the later Anita Blake mysteries or anyone who likes some traditional style horror mixed with romance might get into this. The rating is PURELY based on my preference in literature, which is a little less supernatural violence.

I am always looking for new authors to read. Some I like okay, others not so much. Those I delete off my device and move on. This author I think I might just need to put in my list of favorites. She tells the story so well, Very descriptive, so you can almost feel like you are in the story too. I found Emereld a delight. Her feelings and observations are just what every day people feel. Nothing exaggerated or fake. This story sucked me in immediately and was very hard to put down. The actions and emotions of her children, Miranda and Kip, we so true to the age. All in all this story is very well told. I will definitely be reading more of this author's works.

This was a free kindle book. I wanted to like it, but so much fluff and shuttling from place to place was tiresome. Heroine Emerald not likeable and her love interest A was so yuck that I was hoping he was the killer so he'd be gone. Her children are kinda neglected because she's so self centered and into mysticism. Guessed actual killer in first few chapters. Boring and drawn-out. The tea leaves say no book #2 in my future.

This was really a pretty good book but there was too much paranormal for me. There was also a good bit of descriptive sex. I read the entire book but don’t know that I will read other books by Galenorn, however I recommend this book to anyone who likes reading paranormal,intrigue and romance. .

Emerald O'Brien wakes up in the middle of the night to find a ghost of Susan Mitchell at her bedside. This isn't all that unusual occurance for Em. She's known as the town witch. Susan has been murdered by her husband, and she wants Em to prove it. The next morning Em sees in the paper that Susan Mitchell has died from an accidental overdose of insulin. Em begins a tentative inquiry with her friends into the possibility of Susan's death not being an accident. The next night Em's son is terrorized by a spirit. It seems Susan isn't the only spirit in Em's house. Em must now fight a malignant force as well as discover the truth behind Susan's death. All in all it's an entertaining cozy style mystery. The character of Emerald O'Brien is fairly well fleshed out as a mother struggling to make a life for herself and her children. Emerald is also dealing with the sense of betrayal by her ex-husband, and his inattentiveness towards their children. Unfortunately the secondary characters are missing that spark that makes them seem totally real. They have moments, but as a whole I found it difficult to picture them in my mind. The side romance just seemed tacked on, and didn't really add that much to the story. It was if the author needed a strong male character, and borrowed one from the nearest romance book. His reactions seemed too stereotypical romance hero to ring true. I did enjoy the book. It was a quick read, and I'll probably check out the later books in the series. On a side note I love the cover art on the paperback copy.

I loved Ghost of a Chance. The author. Yasmine Galenorn is a treasure . While writing about Ghosts, real live wickedness, she could still slip a word or a sentence about a terrible person about the evil person or deeds, she could bring in humor. I don't understand, though, how the main character could go without sleep the way she did. That was the most evil part. Thank you. A goody. Mary Parsons Sunshine

I really like this book. The characters are well drawn, and the story is solid and well written. It was a little bit scarier than I thought it was going to be but not so scary as to send me screaming out of the room. I like it so much that I’m going to try to read the rest of the series.

Entertaining storyline. Wonderful to find a book that’s both engaging and well edited. Had to knock down to 4 stars just because the cutesy names (hon, babe, etc) just got to be too much and annoyed me enough to interrupt my reading flow. Not sure how much I liked the characters either, but the entertaining storyline made up for it.

I have read books by Yasmine before, but never any cozy mysteries! I really enjoyed this book, as well as the others I have read. When I saw her name on this book I needed to read it!!! She has a great writing ability and I am very glad to have the privilege of reading her books. Fabulous.

Emerald opens the china shop after her divorce with her two children. She sees ghosts and one come to visit her and say her husband killed her. She’s a famous romance writer who is wealthy. She gets help from another romance writer in town who thinks Susan’s husband did kill her. The police arrest Susan’s husband but he is already wealthy and doesn’t need Susan’s money so Emerald wonders if the wrong man was arrested. A number of twists in the book to miss direct as to who is the guilty party.

Loved the story. Loved the heroine and her children and her 2 female friends. Did not like her new romantic interest Andrew. I would not put up with his attitude and stomping his hand down on the table because he is upset. The ghost exorcism was scary. Loved the book.

This book wasn't what I had expected, but I mean that in a good way. It starts out in a direction and twists and turns in some delightful ways. It is worth the read, it will capture your interest and pull you in and out of the drama. I liked her story telling style and the subject matter as well as the journey she took me on in this story. I am eager to read more of her fiction stories. Enjoy!

Emerald O'Brien owned and ran a small Tea/China Shop. She was a signal mom with two children. That was not her only jobs,it seems she has a talent of seeing ghost or feelings. After a famous writer was found dead of an apparent suicide her and her friends decide to try to solve what they think is a murder. Come enjoy this book with all the ups and downs and danger

Ghost of a Chance is a modern day fantasy with some truth to it if your a believer. From the start the author engages the reader to the point that’s hard to put the story down. The excitement and flow of the plot kept me wanting to learn the outcomes of each event. Readers beyond youth years will love it from beginning to end.

I liked this book a lot more than I thought I would! I'm not usually one to appreciate protagonists who "communicate with the dead" but Yasmine Galenorn is an excellent writer who creates realistic characters and good plots. The story moves right along, is exciting, and more than a little scary at times. I'm looking forward to reading more in this series. Definitely recommend.

This is really the very best book I have read in years. It is a paranormal mystery, but the main characters are so real and well written you feel as if you are experiencing the story with them. Its refreshing to read about a family that is so very normal, even though they are caught up in a paranormal situation. As a mother I completely related to the main character Emerald, and the day to day struggles, joys, and fears,of raising two children. I hope you will read this mystery, it is wonderful. I am already starting the second in the series...👍

The story was scary but interesting. However, the graphic sex did not enhance the story; I flipped past those pages. Why do authors think they need to add that trash.

This paranormal mystery is perhaps more chilling than cozy. Although the heroine 's day job is running a tea room she is equally adept at assisting ghosts and battling demonic forces. The ghosts are truly scary and the human villain even more so. Good read.

I enjoyed getting to know the writer's style and was entranced by the way the story was evolving. I found it hard to put it down because I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. I look forward to reading more of Ms Galenorn' s books.

Though this book came to me through the "cozy mystery" heading, there is a lot that's scary in here. Also very smart writing and tight plotting. The characters are genuine -- some genuinely horrible -- and interact in truly human ways. What I expected to be a fluffy paranormal cozy was much deeper and psychologically surprising. I'll keep an eye out for the author's other books!

Couldn't put the book down. Finished it with one read. Great storyline, including the Shivers and goosebumps. Wouldn't want to meet any of the ghost that she came in contact with. Think I'll stick with the mortal world. Highly recommend...

I had ordered this quite a while ago and didn't really know the plot. When I began to read I was surprised that one of the main characters was a nasty demon trying to do our protagonist in. That was one story and then there was the physical bad guy that provided another layer, along with the romantic aspect. I enjoyed this book quite a bit. Well written and lots going on with some suspense for sure.

This is a unique story spin on ghosts asking for help to find their killers. In this case when Emerald if asked for help she doesn't hid the fact she sees and talks to the dead from friends and family. Not even her kids. Good combination of interesting characters and a good mystery.

I have been waiting to rate a book that is so obviously well thought through and that has no grammatical errors. The author very clearly paid attention to her first editor who gave her first-rate advice even though many pages were "blood-red" with correcting ink. Bravo!!! Keep up the very fine work.

Good read! I was hooked for the entire book. I couldn't imagine what was happening next. Every character was real to me. So grab a copy and cozy up for a good book! You won't be able to put this one down!

I really enjoyed this story! I don’t read a lot of cozy mysteries because the pacing is a little slow for me. But, this story had me hooked from beginning to end. The author actually managed to keep me in suspense and guessing who the killer was right up to the end. I’m actually about to read the second book in the series, which is highly unusual for me. Loved the wonderful twist at the end!!! I highly recommend this book!

Couldn't't get Into it. Usually I give a book a chance beyond the second chapter, but I couldn't even get through chapter 1. Paragraphs repeat, sentences show up randomly... 're-edit, and I'll try it again. Story seemed good, writing was fine, but I can't handle mixed up editing.

It was ok but not the greatest or most captivating of paranormal type mysteries that I've read. At times I wasn't sure if this was a paranormal murder mystery or a witch craft story with a bit of Indian lore thrown in for good measure or a not so great romance story. Even though I wasn't too taken with any of the characters I did want to see how the mystery was solved. The thing I liked most about the book was the answer to "whodunnit?"

I really enjoyed reading this book, I loved the fact that it's an adult read, I love paranormal cozy mysteries and witch stories are my favorite, this book captured my interest and kept me enthralled until the end, love it

Emerald O'Brien is the owner of the Chintz 'n China Tea Room where guests are served the perfect blend of tea and tarot reading. She never set out to be a detective, but once word gets out that she can communicate with the dead, there's no turning back... That is the blurb for this book and yes to some effect it is true, however it starts to deviate from the expected path almost immediately. Not in itself a bad thing, the book is a fun little read and it begins the story of Emerald O'Brien which I found delightful in all the continuing books. It has the paranormal in it, but very little tarot... so if this is where your interest lies do not go here. That said. I still enjoyed the reading and the series really needs to be read in sequence to truly enjoy the character developement. I so much appreciated this series over the other one by the author not only for the character developemnet and stories, but lack of what I am now told is the Anita Blake factor.

Found this accidentally and thoroughly enjoyed it. First of a series and she has several more series. I hope to read all of them! Good plot and character development. It left me wanting to know more about these fictional people!

I probably would have enjoyed this book more if I had read it straight through. Life kept getting in the way of that, so every time I picked it up again, it took a while to remember the plot. I liked the characters very much.

Usually I'm not one for ghosts and the paranormal, but this book held my interest and was a joy to read. Many most interesting and well drawn characters. They had a real feel to them. It was an extremely exciting end to the mysteries. Will enjoy reading more books in this series.

Liked the main characters very much. It may be a paranormal, but the setting and people that populate the story are very real. Emerald's china shop sounds like a place I'd love to visit.

This isn't the type of book/cozy mystery I normally read but I have to say, I really enjoyed it. The characters and storyline were well developed and interesting. Emerald, Harlow and Murray are so different but have a great friendship. Even with heart-stopping situations this book is entertaining. Definitely going to check out the rest of this series.

Wow! I could not stop reading until the end. It was different from what I usually read but boy did it keep my interest. I will definitely read this author again. Read this book!

Interesting story of revenge, misinformation, hate and murder. This is the first of a series, and I’m looking forward to more stories of Emerald O’Brien and her family and friends.

Emerald is a witch living in a small town when she wakes up to find the ghost of a newly dead women at the end of her bed. She insists that she was murdered and wants Emerald to prove it. Enter a new love interest, a really nasty spirit, and lots of magic. This book is perfect for cozy fans who want romance and magic too.

I have read all her Otherworld novels to date, plus some of her other works. When this one popped up for free here, I had to try it. I was not disappointed. While the writing isn't quite up to the other books, I did read that this was her first book so I wouldn't expect it to be as polished as her later books. I enjoyed it, thoroughtly and have put the next 2 in the series on hold at my local library. I am very much looking forward to reading them.

This was an enjoyable read. Not sure about the paranormal stuff, but enjoyed the story. Appreciate that an author of a cozy mystery acknowledges that the audience are adults.

This was a good book. It was such a unusual story from beginning to yo end. The author really makes you feel like you know the character's which is such a huge talent. It has such a surprise ending that it really keeps you guessing. Your really enjoy this light hearted book

This is the first I have read this author (I believe this is her first published book) but it won't be the last. I liked the characters, who were more complex and believable than many authors manage. I also liked the plot of the book and all the twists and turns it took.

Two murders instead of one and several subplots as the kids realize they have a louse for a dad and Emerald gets back into the dating scene. Not sure if Joshua or the specter were scarier.

This would not be my usual fare in light reading, but the plot did suck me in and I enjoyed the characters. Easy to read style of writing. I will look for more by this author.

This book takes you on a ride and makes you just crave more. Another gem of a book from Ms. Galenorn. I cannot wait to purchase the next book in this series.

While I was born and raised in the North East, educated in the Roman Catholic Church and had a very traditional Italian -American upbringing, I have a healthy respect for spirits and other worldly entities. Yasmine wove her story well, with strong characters and a story line which pulls you in whether you believe or not!. Well worth the time...📔📒📚📗📘📕

Per the write-up following the novel, this was Yasmine's first published fiction, and I loved it. It is also the introduction to her A Chintz 'N China Mystery series. Meet Emerald who practices magic and attracts spirits. But, she gets more than she bargains for in this cozy mystery.

What an entertaining, page turning, story this was. The mix of ghosts and magic is done in just the right way that neither of them overwhelmed the story.

Add a pinch of murder and a dash of scandal and boom, you have an excellent book! Simply wonderful and heartwarming. You learn what strength it takes to come back from a devastating divorce and begin to date again. You learn what family means, and the importance of friends who are family. This book teaches you that and so much more.

I really enjoy this book it was exciting fun the characters were great the story was great you never knew what was gonna happen next I highly recommend this book

Emerald has 2 children, cats, a big old house, a great business and a houseful of ghosts. One of these ghosts is extremely violent and really, really scary. On top of this is a murder or two and a very scary murderer. Is she a good enough witch to get herself, her friends and her children out of danger? Give this one a read.

Emerald O'Brien is the owner of Chintz `n China Tea Room, she sells a blend of china and teas and does tarot readings as well. She's also able to talk to the dead and the one currently talking to her is Susan Mitchell. Susan showed up in Emerald's bedroom one night asking for help by writing "I was murdered by my husband but no one knows. Help me." At first Emerald isn't sure what to do, yes she can talk to the dead and knows how to deal with spirits (thanks in part to her grandmother's help growing up) but she's a shop owner, not a ghost buster. When she and her children are attacked by another entity, one brought back by Susan by mistake, Emerald knows she must fight back and begins to dig deeper into Susan's life. While doing so, she finds a rumor that says that Susan's husband Walter beat her, an accusation that he molested her daughter, and that he's been cut out of her will, he gets nothing. If he doesn't get anything, then who killed her and why? This book wasn't bad, I liked the fourth book A Harvest of Bones better, but this was interesting. It's a little slow at the start but it does pick up speed as we get to know the characters better.

I loved this book it's so "enchanting" that I could barely put it down! It's really quite fun and interesting to read. Emerald is a "bewitching" character, but as a single mom, I totally relate to her love for her kids and friends. Just wish I had all her great skills!

It was a very good book. She showed the main character as being afraid even though she had seen ghost before. She made you want to continue reading.

I've read other books by this author and really like her sense of humor. The characters are believable and the story was interesting with a good twist. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys paranormal mysteries that don't need to be filled with gratuitous sex. Looking forward to the next story.

This book has everything one could wish for. Murder, mystery, testing the strengths of friendships and trust.and knowing that there are paranormal events out there. Recommend highly.

A lot of action and very intense. Moves well throughout. Good characters with depth and a lot of family issues intertwined. Needs better editing.

Em is the best character heroin ever! She's not afraid to admit when she's in over her head and scared witless, but keeps on going!

This kept me guessing with the ghosts, possible murder and suspense all through the story. Finished book on this cloudy rainy day.

A great book. The mystery was so good. It is a bit more hardcore then most cozies, but it is actually quite believable. Loved all the charactets. .

Emerald wakes up to a surprise visitor. The information Susan conveys is concerning. She was murdered by her husband but the police think it was accidental. Then evil follows Susan into Emerald’s house threatening her family and friends. Can she figure out what’s going on and prevent more damage?

This is not the kind of story that I normally read but I enjoyed it a lot. The idea of the story leaves pause for contemplation.

It's really interesting to read and wonder. I will read the rest of those series just to see what happens with these characters.

Loved the characters. Loved how the mom grounded her children, forgot to sign the paperwork for the scholarship seemed like a real mom. Really enjoyed the twists and turns

This is a real page turner. There is so many twists that captured my attention. The characters were well developed and I was mesmerized by the introduction of witchcraft and the explanations of the rites and rituals.

I chose a 5 star rating for this book because I couldn't put it down. The characters as well as the ghosts were interesting. It was even somewhat scary. That part really had me turning the pages. I love cozy mysteries but the addition of the super natural made this one special. I would love to read the next one in this series.

Emerald is running a China shop,taking care of two children and now she has to solve a murder. How is she going to get all this taken care of and still have a Christmas for everyone?

And talks to them. And they talk back! When Emerald wakes up to a ghost sitting on her bed she's surprised to say the least. When the ghost of the well-known romance writer tells Emerald that her husband had killed her, things start going south.

Enjoyed the story.just enough scary moments to raise your heart beat. Just enough romance to make you smile. A great bunch of characters, read it and enjoy it.

I rated this book high because it easily kept my attention. I enjoy mysteries that include the life of the character. I recommend this book to those who enjoy mysteries wrapped in motherhood, ghosts, demons etc. And let's not forget the seeds of romantic interests. I think this qualifies as a summer read. Easy and interesting.

A good start to her fiction career. Not as smooth as her later writing voice but still entertaining and a good story.

I loved the part where ghost are involved and where they banished a spirit and the mom scolded her son about performing spells without her endangering her and himself.

I started out liking this book,but when Mr. B & U made his appearance, I totally lost interest. For some people it might be a fun read. Not me.

I have a strange quirk...when I start a book I feel like I need to keep reading to the end, giving it every chance to reveal itself a good choice to read. This was one of those books (it has only happened a handful of times). I found this book boring and a bit far fetched (to put it mildly). It took me forever to finish, and I was so relieved to be done with it.

I avoid all things scary, but I do like thrillers, go figure. This isn't your normal magic cozy mystery. There is real magic and encounters with spirits going on in this book. You can feel the tension, the coldness of the ghosts, the terror if the people and the insanity of the murderer. Really good book.

I wouldn’t call this a Cozy. The romance story line made little sense to me. More like it was added as padding to make it more Cozy-like. The man wasn’t even likable and the 2 of them didn’t really mesh. The mystery was ok but predictable.

I really enjoyed this story even though I am not a fan of paranormal fiction. That said, the author actually seems to know what she is writing about and after reading her bio, I can see why. Her knowledge and presentation made this such an interesting and enjoyable book. I would read more of her writing.

I mostly read before bed to relax. This wasn’t a good book for that. It was interesting and a good story, but if you’re not into paranormal/supernatural stuff, you won’t want to read this one.

Perfect story for a rainy Saturday afternoon. The characters were well developed and realistic. A sense of quirky humor offset the seriousness/darkness of the haunting and death. Finally, the book left room for the main character to return.

Mrs. Galenorn is a wonderful story teller. I now have another series of hers to catch up on. The characters are so well rounded you would expect to be able to meet them on the street. The plot keeps you entertained all the way through to the end.

And that's a good thing! This has a good deal more 'spine' and, in spite of the paranormal premise, feels much more grounded in reality (due to the strength of the main character) than most of the so called cozy mysteries I've run across. A quick, fun read.

This book is absorbing and I couldn't put it down. Well developed characters, mystery, witchy spells, and scary monsters all combine into a well crafted whole. I'm definitely reading all of her books now!

So delightful and entertaining, a book so hard to put down, twists and turns till you got to the end

I liked the story but I'm really glad I don't see ghosts who can invite evil spirits into my house!

I loved how quick the pace was but it wasn't pushing you so much you felt things were left out. I loved how 'real' Emerald felt in this book. Literally real feeling as if she was my neighbor... Interspersed throughout the story is China, bills, children and real life type scenarios.. Homework, chores etc. I will be reading the next one in this series and any others. Simply put I loved it. 😀

Paranormal murder mystery. Stand-alone in a series that is easy to follow. This is not a cozy or a brutal, graphic mystery. Plenty of twists dealing with demons throughout. Believable characters with distinct personalities. The dialogue is entertaining. 'Kids would listen to a fence post before they listened to their parents.' No desire to re-read this story.

My first book by Galenorn I was very pleased by the immediate kick off. I liked the personality of the main character and the story was interesting and had me turning pages until 3am! I like the writing style and yes, I have ordered book 2!

Just not fond of this book. Smutty, crass parts dispersed with wild, weird, witchy nonsense. I love a good mystery. This was not for me.

It is one that you don't want to put down. Very well written and look forward to reading the rest in the series

Hey, folks! First off, I want to say that I really liked some of the parts of the book. (Like when the main character explained magic to her son, etc.) And I liked how realistic the people seem, but then everything falls apart. I really wanted to like this book, since I like the author's non-fiction book, Embracing the Moon, but that didn't happen. I have quite a few problems with this debut novel. First, the mystery itself is non-existant, or the characters just don't care about it. The whole book, except chapters 23 and 24, is focused on anything but the mystery. The author even stops to talk about the different foods that are being eaten. Second, the sex scenes were a bit too graphic. That was totaly inappropriate for a 'cozy' mystery. Third, some of the parts were so far-fetched that I wanted to throw up, and burn the book! Finally, I simply didn't find myself caring about the victims. Does all this mean that you shouldn't buy it? I wouldn't say that. You may actually like it. I'll give the author another chance with the second book in this series, Legend of the Jade Dragon. If I don't like it, either, I'm thinking about dropping this series. And the sad thing is, this is the first book I ordered from Amazon, and I really wanted to like it. "I disappointed one reader with Ghost and I know it's because he expected more of a 'Wiccan' novel"-The Author Nope, sorry to dissapoint, but I'm not that reader. The above reasons are the -real- reasons why I was disappointed with this novel. I didn't have a problem with the main character being a Christian, and I don't belong to a certain religion anymore, so I don't care if the character was a Wiccan either. The real problems have been explained. This novel is just not a mystery. Paranormal mystery? Sure there were paranormal things on almost every page, but where was the mystery? -Ater

I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I loved it! I love all of Yasmine's other work but was hesitant to start this series for some reason. Maybe it's because mysteries are not my cup of tea. I love the characters! The premise of the book is original and insightful. I cannot wait to read the second book and the rest of the series.

I liked the book very much. Like the main characters and the ghost Susan. Good beach read, would read another of her books

Yasmine Galenorn through me off a bit with the cover. But I will never turn down one of her books.

This book kept me interested from the start. It was hard to put down! The charm spell at the end of the book was a very nice surprise. I can't wait to read more of Y. Galenorn's books.

Great reading! Some do and some don’t believe in ghosts, I myself floats in between but after reading a person could go either way! Great story line and characters. Recommend to read

Yasmine Galenorn took a normally dysfunctional,broken family and successfully bumped this family up with the paranormal excitement throughout the book. I found this book to be very entertaining.

It's been a while since I read a book that kept my interest like this one did. Couldn't figure out who the murderer was until close to the end. Love the way the ghosts were worked into the story line. Loved Susan but Mr B & G seemed unnecessary. I still gave it 5 stars because I enjoyed the book.

Typical heroine, nosy, all the time in the world to put things together because she has a shop, but an assistant who runs it. Very wordy, could use some heavy heavy editing,

I found this novel very interesting . It keeps you wondering what else can happen. It doesn't take long to find out.

What a captivating storyline. The characters are interesting and sometimes amazing. The strength of family and friendships a long way to making the world a more loving place.

Interesting characters and mystery with a supernatural twist and some twisted characters included. Different than anything else I have enjoyed reading.

The dynamics of the characters were incredible. The paranormal aspects were believable. I bought the next five books because I can't wait to see what happens with Emerald, her children, and her friends.

Delightful beginning to a new series, a cozy tea room, giving readings. The town say she is a witch, she has been many things before coming here. With her abilities, she helps the sheriff. Some quirky characters, and kids. Looking for more by her.

This book is fantastic! The characters are just wondering, even the ghosts! The storyline is extremely good, it is funny, a little scary, a lot of wonderful family love.

Couldn't get into it, didn't empathize with the characters or understand their actions. I had to quit at 14% or throw my kindle across the room in frustration.

It was a very good mystery and ghost story combined. It grabs your interest right from start and keeps it.I would recommend this book to anyone that likes ghost stories.

I found this book just ok. It took me weeks to finish it. I could have done without the sex scenes. It seems like the book wanted to be everything to all genres.

Enjoyable characters and very good story line. Easily a stand alone book, but with lots more for a series. Excited to read the next in line.

A great book that I found hard to put down. This book begins with a woman experiencing a ghostly visit from a recently murdered woman. It has many twists and turns until you get to the end. But you have to read it ... I'm glad I did!

A book I really needed. Reading law all day, solving mysteries Nd cases, I wAnted something.g fresh and new. I think I found it. What a joyful, fun, suspend e packed book with a great sense of humor. Best of all I could enjoy cup of to a with it.

I highly recommend reading this book! I hope the rest of the series is as good, if not better! The story contains ghosts, witchcraft, an emotionally damaged family dealing with life after a rather ugly divorce, and murder mystery that kept me guessing until near the end

These books are fun. I got this one because I wanted to reread it and I plan on picking up the rest of the series soon.

Well developed with it's characters and various locations.Fell in love with this book. Can't wait to read the next book

Loved all characters. The tea shoppe, I so wanted a cup of tea and a cookie. The story was frightenly believable can't wait to see who turns up in the next book.

I enjoyed every moment of reading this book. The characters brought the story to life. The drama was exciting and suspenseful. It was difficult to stop reading so I could get some sleep at night.