Rating: 
Summary: Couldn't Even Finish It!
Review: 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!
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I was really looking forward to reading this mystery series, but unfortunately this first book fell way short of my expectations. Not toward the metaphysical aspects, but toward the more important aspects of storytelling and characters. There was so much the author could have done with this story that was just not done. And quite frankly, I felt as though I were reading a failed attempt at a romance novel with too much plot. I kept reading, mostly because I thought, surely now . . . but eventually gave up around the 3/4 point because the mystery didn't matter and the characters wavered back and forth so much that I just didn't care.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I was really looking forward to reading this mystery series, but unfortunately this first book fell way short of my expectations. Not toward the metaphysical aspects, but toward the more important aspects of storytelling and characters. There was so much the author could have done with this story that was just not done. And quite frankly, I felt as though I were reading a failed attempt at a romance novel with too much plot. I kept reading, mostly because I thought, surely now . . . but eventually gave up around the 3/4 point because the mystery didn't matter and the characters wavered back and forth so much that I just didn't care.
Rating: 
Summary: My wife and I loved this book!
Review: My wife brought this home and, after hearing her laugh her way through it and sit up half the night reading it, I decided I'd give it a try. Well, I couldn't put it down either. The characters are fun and very real, the plot was different--not the usual mystery, and the book felt modern, not stuck in the mud. I liked it a lot, and we'll be buying two copies of the next one so we don't have to fight over it.
Rating:
Summary: My wife and I loved this book!
Review: My wife brought this home and, after hearing her laugh her way through it and sit up half the night reading it, I decided I'd give it a try. Well, I couldn't put it down either. The characters are fun and very real, the plot was different--not the usual mystery, and the book felt modern, not stuck in the mud. I liked it a lot, and we'll be buying two copies of the next one so we don't have to fight over it.
Rating:
Summary: Murder She Wrote Meets Poltergeist!
Review: Single mom Emerald O'Brien gets into the holiday spirit-literally! in this engaging debut mystery by the talented Ms. Galenorn. The Pacific Northwest setting, a fresh cast of quirky characters, and the creative plot are as luscious, refreshing and satisfying as the tasty trifles Emerald serves in her Chintz 'n China Tea Room. Along with the warmth and humor of a traditional "cozy" there are also plenty of human spills and ghostly chills along the way to keep readers on their toes, wondering what comes next---and if Emerald, her kids, and a potential new love will survive to celebrate the New Year. This is a charming and delightful tale by a talented writer, and I can't wait to read the next installment of Emerald's adventures! I am a fan.
Rating:
Summary: It had so much promise!
Review: The story: Emerald O'Brien, a divorced mother of two, opens a tea and china shop in the small town of Chiqetaw, WA. Emerald comes from a family with a long history of paranormal experience, and uses her tarot-reading skills in the tea shop. On the night Susan Mitchell dies, Emerald is startled but not frightened to see Susan standing at the foot of her bed. The unhappy spirit writes Emerald a note: "I was murdered by my husband, but nobody knows. Help me." I was disappointed in this book; I thought that Emerald's paranormal abilities and Susan's ghost might have been amusing plot twists if Emerald had then gone on to investigate the murder using more conventional detection methods. The woo-woo stuff takes over, however, and dominates the book. When Emerald's son Kip is possessed by a malevolent spirit, and Emerald and her daughter are threatened by the same entity, it turns into Poltergeist-in-print. Emerald spends about half the book trying to evict the nasty spook, who has nothing to do with the murder. I don't want to be a spoiler, but the explanation for the wording of Susan's "help me" note is ridiculous. There is already a second book out, "The Legend of the Jade Dragon", but I don't think I'll read it. I thought this would be just the kind of mystery I like, but I was disappointed!
Rating:
Summary: A Great Read!
Review: This book grabs you fast - right from the first page - and it doesn't let go. I was *immediately* taken in by the characters and the storyline. And when I finally I turned the last page, I found myself wanting to know what was going to happen next to Emerald O'Brien, her kids, her friends and her teashop; and wishing I could just step into that lovely teashop for a wee bit of tea & tarot... Yasmine Galenorn is a born storyteller. Her writing is crisp, clear, fast paced, and in places, pretty darn funny. She knows how to keep the reader turning the pages. I am going to have a hard time waiting for the next book in this series to come out!
Rating:
Summary: Loved it!
Review: This book has friendship, romance, spirits, magic, deception, betrayal and a sizzling love scene. All with a cup of tea! The story takes place in a cozy little town in the Northwest and had everything I need to keep reading. The story has so many twists and turns. Im excited to learn more about the characters and cant wait to read the next book in the series!
Rating:
Summary: Loved it!
Review: This book has friendship, romance, spirits, magic, deception, betrayal and a sizzling love scene. All with a cup of tea! The story takes place in a cozy little town in the Northwest and had everything I need to keep reading. The story has so many twists and turns. Im excited to learn more about the characters and cant wait to read the next book in the series!
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