Ghost of a Chance (Chintz 'n China, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Yasmine Galenorn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 5, 2003

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...

When the ghost of Susan Mitchell asks for Emerald's help in convicting her own murderer, Emerald can't refuse. Along with her friends-an ex-supermodel and a cop-and her new love interest, Emerald must search for clues to put the killer behind bars-and this tortured soul to rest.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Berkley (August 5, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0425191281
• ISBN-13: 978-0425191286
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #667,749 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #40 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Horror > Ghosts

More About the Author

New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author Yasmine Galenorn writes two bestselling urban fantasy series: the Otherworld Series (Sisters of the Moon Series), and the Indigo Court Series, both for Berkley. She's also written a paranormal mystery series (the Chintz 'n China Series) for Berkley Prime Crime, a short-lived mystery series (the Bath & Body Series) under the name of India Ink, again for Berkley Prime Crime, and eight metaphysical nonfiction books (Llewellyn Publications and Crossing Press).

Yasmine is a shamanic witch, and walks an eclectic path. She considers her life a blend of teacups and tattoos--the former in her china closet, the latter on her skin. She's a theatre major, a graduate of the Evergreen State College (Olympia WA). She lives in the Seattle WA area with her husband and is the mother of four cats.

Because so many people ask, you pronounce her name this way: Yaz-mihn (NOT Jasmine--it's a "Y", not a "J"). Last name is pronounced: Gal-eh-norn The accent is on the first syllable.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read. Engaging characters and interesting story., December 29, 2004

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Born to Read (East Coast) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ghost of a Chance (Chintz 'n China, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and dashed right out to buy the other two in the series. I highly recommend reading them in order. The books are sophisticated cozies, if you must. The characters are introduced well in the first book and the author makes you care about them---dead and alive. It's not too over the top with sex (per another reader) or ghosts. If you like a little supernatural flavor in your mysteries, you will enjoy these. If you just like cozies, I think you will still like this series. If you like Charmed on TV, you'll like this series and be able to visualize what the author is articulating so very well. I hope she keeps writing and writing and writing. A great series.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Working Single Mom Running a Successful Business, Solving Murders, and Battling Ghoulies, May 29, 2006

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Monkeyville Citizen (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Ghost of a Chance (Chintz 'n China, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

As if a main character named Emerald O'Brien isn't intriguing enough. Emerald O'Brien is a working single mom who's getting used to raising her two children without much support from their father (her ex-husband). She owns her own tea shop where she also provides warm meals and tarot readings. She also sees dead people, but she's okay with that. Until one night a woman appears to tell her that she'd been murdered by her husband. The next morning, Emerald reads that a local romance novelist died of natural causes. Emerald enlists the help of her children, her best friends, and a new (and of course single man) friend. They battle live murderers, paranormal ghoulies, and a busy Christmas shopping season in an entertaining and sometimes downright scary read. Think twice before reading this one in bed! A fun read. I'm looking forward to more Chintz & China Mysteries!

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing., February 19, 2007

By 

Dragon Lady "Claire" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Ghost of a Chance (Chintz 'n China, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm a big fan of paranormal romances, but this one fell flat. The main character, Emerald O'Brien, a single mother who owns a tea room and can see ghosts, SOUNDS interesting, but isn't. Her character is just too much single-Mom dealing with kids with growing pains, and not enough mystery-solving psychic. The other characters aren't well-developed or fully-formed, and I couldn't develop any real interest -- or belief -- in any of them. The Plot didn't hold my interest either. I think the author tried to do too many things in one story and, as a result, didn't do any of them very well.