Customer Reviews

Legend of the Jade Dragon: A Chintz 'n China Mystery

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm another reader who was somewhat disappointed by the first in this series (though I still liked it a lot). Still, it was a promising start, and this novel is much stronger. We've been introduced to most of the characters and the paranormal aspects, so the focus is on a riveting plot and excellent characterization.

The mundane mysteries are well-handled, if relatively slight, though their effect on the victims is powerful enough, but the paranormal mystery is fascinating. The Chinese magic is fascinating, and it's great that Emerald is frankly at a loss about what to do about something so far outside her own traditions and training. I really enjoyed the introduction of Jimbo, and I'm glad Emerald is sorting our her confusion about her love life.

White Feather is a powerful character and goes a long way toward addressing my one continuing concern: that Emerald needs an "equal" in the psychic arena (one who is still alive, that is). I hope that White Feather will continue to play a prominent role in the series -- and I'm looking forward to finding out what happens next!

This book, like the first, has both a paranormal and normal mystery that the main character needs to solve while balancing running her own business, romantic relationships, friendships, and raising two children. This book moves the series along as well. As far as the main character's personal life, this book seems to focus on a transition period.

In this book, Emerald only does one tarot reading, for a client who is hit by a hit & run driver after leaving Emerald's shop. He leaves a cursed trinket behind that turns Emerald's life upside down. While bringing back many of the characters from the first book, we meet some new ones as well.

The book is well written and very entertaining. I think the first book was better, but this one is definitely worth the read. The book is a little hard to find but worth the effort.

Yasmine Galenorn's second entry in her Chintz 'n China Series is another fantastically fun read. It's a "pick you up by your bloomers and fly you along to the finish" kind of a tale; in other words, don't plan on getting much else done if you start this on a weekend! Emerald O'Brien is one of those rare literary characters that don't feel literary at all. She's real, her kids are real, her life is real, even her magic is real. Of course, pitted against an ancient Chinese curse that is far outside of her tradition, Emerald has to scramble. I think that Ms. Galenorn's "voice", her choice of clear language and her fantastic sense of humor all work together to make an engaging and comfortable universe for readers to visit - or escape to. I can't wait to read the next installment!

This was my first Yasmine Galenorn book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The writing is richly textured and the plot is delightfully suspenseful, with some surprising twists at the end. The touch of the metaphysical adds depth and interest. The "good witch" heroine is very engaging, and all the other characters are lively and memorable. I look forward to Ms. Galenorn's next mystery!

This was the first book in the Chintz and China series that I read, and from the other reviews, I'm wondering if perhaps it ought always to be. I was immediately ushered in to the town and it's people the same way I would have been had I been out on a week-end antique seeking adventure. As for feeling a kinship with Emerald, the kids and the friends? Ms Galenorn must know some of the same folks I do here in the Northwest, because the penchant for good coffee is just the beginning of all too personal familiarities.
I was drawn in quickly and easily, envisioning each place and person as though I was there. The story line was excellent, and I was hooked until finished. I also have an appreciation for how Ms Galenorn continues to teach, albiet with subtlety; a nice leftover from her non-fiction days. She gives us Harlow to teach us about not allowing ourselves to be affected by false beauty standards, and the rude hairy biker dude (I'm married to one), leaving us with knowing that one can't judge a book by it's cover, so to speak.
I want to add that I then read Ghost of a Chance, and having already been introduced to them all, I enjoyed it .

An excellent second entry in this series...the story is well developed and keeps you guessing all the way through....excellent character development as well. The story is offbeat yet the characters and situations remain quite recognizable. You can relate to Em...

Great character development and interesting combinations of mundance and supernatural issues, with bits a humor thrown in. Well paced and believable, I was definitely cheering Emerald on through her adventure, and even developed a soft spot for Jimbo.

A nice light book to cozy up with and escape for a while. I don't usually read mysteries because I find they drag, but these characters pulled me through. I read the first book, Ghost of Chance, and will also read the next one when it comes out.

The owner of the Chintz `n' China shop, Emerald O'Brien, is also a psychic who had her fifteen minutes of fame when she solved a double homicide thanks to the ghost of one of the victims. Business is booming as a result of that incident and people come from all over to have her do a Tarot reading.

Daniel Barrington arrives at her shop for a reading, but Emerald fears telling him how negative his future looks. When he leaves, Daniel forgets to take his expensive dragon statue with him so Emerald runs after him to give it to him. However, she sees a hit and run driver kill Daniel. From that moment on, Emerald's life spins out of control. Her store is broken into with valuables stolen or broken. Next her home is invaded. Meanwhile that dragon statue is moving about with no help and its eyes are periodically glowing. Can things get crazier and worse? Absolutely as the perpetrator abducts her son.

Yasmine Galenorn provides an offbeat, quirky and delightful amateur sleuth tale that includes interwoven paranormal elements that enhance not overwhelm the plot. The heroine is a charmer as she cheerfully copes with her two brilliant children and manages her business that she built from scratch. LEGEND OF THE JADE DRAGON is a paranormal mystery that enchants the audience with its engaging lead character starring in an exhilarating action-packed story line.

Harriet Klausner

I really liked and characters in the first book in the Chintz and China series. Emerald and the children grabbed me right away in "Ghost of a Chance." I love the paranormal aspects. I found "Legend of the Jade Dragon" even better than the first. More intense, I had to stay up and finish it. I can't critique paranormal aspects like astral projection, never having experienced them, but I find it all great fun to read. I like the humor and reality of the characters, the fact that they have the same job, relationship, romance problems as everyone; they are not super heroes but come through in a pinch. What more could you ask of your friends and these characters have become friends. Can't wait for number three. Way to go.