Customer Reviews

Ghost of a Chance: A Chintz 'N China Mystery

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

First in the Emerald O'Brian Chintz n China Mysteries and it grabs you from the beginning. If you like a little fright with your mystery, you will love this series. This book got me hooked and made me crave more Emerald adventures and a nice hot cup of tea!

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 really excited about this book, but was disappointed to find that I just couldn't get that interested in it! I tried about five or six times to pick it back up, but finally quit for good.

A couple of main points that bothered me...there may be some "SPOILERS" ahead:

-as another reviewer mentioned, the sex scenes are just way too much and totally unexpected in this genre, a total turn off;

-I felt as though I had started in the middle of a series. I don't mind when authors refer to something in the characters' past, for example, I didn't mind that it was already known by the town that Emerald had psychic powers or that her tea shop was already established, but I started to feel like there was just way too much going on...her friend Harlow's wild past is just dumped out in the middle of the book, perhaps she could have introduced her son's psychic powers, etc. Just felt like too much had already gone on;

-the "mystery" part was a REALLY boring, dit nothing to draw me in and make me care what happened, and this was midway through the book!

I don't have time to read many novels, and reading this one was like a mini-vacation. Yasmine's style is very visual - I could 'see' the little town, the shop, the characters. I could also 'feel' the relationships between Emerald and the other characters. The book is a page-turner. I hated putting it down and getting back to work. 'Ghost of a Chance' is sprinkled with humor and a little romance as well as real magick. After all, Yasmine has also written a few pagan books and knows her stuff. The inclusion of a recipe for a protection charm is a very nice touch. Don't be surprised if it works.

"Mr. B&U" and his "Poltergeist" type activities are a bit out there, but it's fiction, right? Highly recommended.

As others mentioned, I was really looking forward to reading this series, being interested in mystery, metaphysical & romance. The characters and mystery-solving angles were very poorly developed, despite potential for them to be. I have never read a book where so much time was wasted continually talking about junk food and espresso consumption. Is the author that obsessed with food? I already bought "Witchling," so I'll hope it is better!

Not a bad story, but readers should know up front that this is a book primarily about the paranormal, and not a cozy mystery as the name of the book might lead one to believe.

Also, while the author obviously wants to make points about how a divorced mother needs to approach dating, the misgivings that the protagonist has toward her suitor -- while furthering the understanding that the protagonist is a woman who always puts her kids first -- has the (I hope) unintended side effect of making the reader feel like the suitor is creepy. In a book where good and evil are so clearly delineated, it's unfortunate that one of the main characters comes off as ominous and naggingly "there's something not right about this guy."

Emerald O'Brien would be quite happy just running her tea shop, hanging out with her friends, and mothering her children Kip and Miranda, but no. Ain't gonna happen. Not once Susan Mitchell's ghost shows up at the foot of Emerald's bed and begs for help. From that moment on, Emerald is caught in a flood of activity and revelation. Add two (count 'em, two) hunky men, visits from other supernatural elements, and another murder and you've got one busy lady.

With so many mystery novels to choose from, why read this one? For me, it's the characters. Emerald is so real. I love it that she's juggling all these different needs, from the mundane (babysitters) to the dire (try having a supernatural creature grab your arm as you come out of the shower and see if it wakes YOU up). I love the fact that she has friends who care and her precious Nana to watch over her. I love being terrified and following that up with a good laugh.

From the delightful tea caddy on the front cover to the Mystic Moon Protection Charm at the end of the book, "Ghost of a Chance" is as satisfying as a good cup of tea. Cookies optional.