Ghost of a Chance: A Paranormal Women's Fiction Novel (Chintz 'n China Book 1)
Ooo-spooky paranormal women's fiction with a heroine who is pushing the edge of forty! Spooktacular mysteries with a side of gentle romance.
Reading Order:
1. Ghost of a Chance
2. Legend of the Jade Dragon
3. Murder Under A Mystic Moon
4. A Harvest of Bones
5. One Hex of a Wedding
6. Holiday Spirits
7. Well of Secrets (forthcoming)
By the NYT bestselling author of the Wild Hunt Series, the Moonshadow Bay Series, the Otherworld Series, and much more.
Reviews (162)
Not Bad, Not Great
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.
If you don't like bad language, graphic sex, or lots of errors, you might want to skip this
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.
Decent mystery, with some irritating elements
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.
Paranormal / mystery...not a cosy
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.
Not Your Ordinary Mystery ~ Loved It !
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.
Just as enjoyable the second time around
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.
Disappointing
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.
Interesting story, but not very well written
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.
Fans of Galenorn's other series might become confused while reading this book.
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.
A cute cozy mystery with a paranormal flavor
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.
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