Legend of the Jade Dragon (Chintz 'n China Series Book 2)

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!

I was not familiar with this Author or Series when I saw

it on here and decided to take a chance on it.Received It Tuesday And started reading it Tuesday Night.Got hooked

and stayed up most of the night to finish it.Liked the main

character,Emerald 0'Brien and well as the supporting characters

and plan to read other books Yasmine has written.

Emerald is a single mom with a talent for reading tarot cards. She's a practical woman with some playfulness thrown in. She a different type of heroine that I really enjoyed.

After an uneasy reading Emerald finds herself the owner of a mysterious dragon trinket and the bearer of bad luck. Adventure and mystery with a touch of paranormal send Emerald and crew on a fact finding mission to break ancient curse.

Legend of the Jade Dragon is a fun and twisting small town paranormal mystery. Rich details allow the reader to fully picture story with in their minds. The characters are well-developed. Each containing depth, charisma and individualistic traits that make each character's personality unique and very likable. The plot keeps the book moving along with keeping a reader guess. Legend of the Jade Dragon is a very enjoyable cozy mystery with a touch of romance.

A copy of this title was provided for review. I choose to review this title.

***I received a free copy and this review is strictly voluntary.***

In this next installment of the Chintz and China series, Emerald is still reeling from the previous events. All she wants is some peace and quiet and normality. Her business has picked up and her readings are almost always booked now. The town "witch" has seemed to become a touching figure in the town. And then along came this down trodden, gloomy, fatalistic human being, who asks for a reading.

From the start, Emerald could discern a black gloomy cloud around this guy. She didn't like what she felt and was hesitant to even give one. It's one of those "The cards are stacked against you boy, you better get back in bed" kind of readings. As the stranger leaves the store, she realizes he left the Jade Dragon behind. As Emerald tries to get his attention....BAM!!! a van comes around the corner and runs him over. He's dead and Emerald is left with the Dragon. And this is where the absolute mayhem begins.

The Dragon is cursed and the cure is certainly NOT more cowbell...In fact, she finds that she can't give it away, the curse remains with the family while going on to the next one. Everything starts to fall apart. I believe this book, really shows how our Heroine can really pull up her boot straps, show you her mettle and when push comes to shove..her children are her world. And she meant it when she told Andrew that their relationship comes second. The children are first and this time Kip is really in a fight for survival. This book shows Emerald's courage even in the face of danger, even I held my breath a few times while reading this one. I recommend this one for sure and if it's not your cup of tea, then would you care for a Dragon instead?

This one kept me turning the page. Emerald, the only witch in her small town, sure sees a lot of action for such a small intimate place. But this time, luck (bad) hit her in the face with a beautiful and yet scary with a jade dragon... that's cursed. This one was definitely a rollercoaster of emotion for poor Em. But I have seen her children bloom and her relationships grow. An almost fall out with a bestie... but needed to have a scary near death experience to bring back. An unexpected foe turned friend. New family from old friends. Really a must read for anyone. I'm so anxious to see where this new budding relationship is going to go, and where Harlows life ventures take her. Stay tuned! And for the sake of the Gods, read this series. It's amazing!

I thoroughly enjoy reading a book that is constructed by a very good story teller. The story has characters you don't forget easily. A story line that has suspense, some romance a story line that keeps you turning pages and has originality of story. This book has all of this. It would be so nice if we all had some of the special abilities of our main female character. Might make for a better world.

Emerald O'Brien's smalltown shop, the Chintz n' China tea Room, has a client for whom she reads the Tarot cards. he steps outside and becomes a hit and run statistic. In his possession is a small green, jade dragon which turns out to be very old, and cursed. The curse seems to be working on Emerald as the attention the poor victim got seems to be turned in her direction.

In the second book of her successful series, the charmingly-named Yasmine Galenorn, who no doubt got chose her name from the Rivendale phone book, blends a mystery with a supernatural foe. It's an entertaining read, especially if you're tired of the usual drawing room mystery. The settings here aren't very Darth Vader exotic, but are familiar...a single mom raising two kids, trying to build her small shop, all while dealing with a side trip along the yellow brick road that will lead to the Ming dynasty. Good story.

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

Legend of the Jade Dragon is second in the Chintz 'n China mystery series by the talented Yasmine Galenorn. The story revolves around single mother Emerald O'Brien, who owns a small tea shop where she gives tarot card readings. Emerald's psychic and clairvoyant gifts cause her trouble as she is drawn into all kinds of scrapes. In Dragon, a destitute man stumbles into her shop for a reading, which Emerald cannot ascertain. The man is struck by a car upon leaving her shop, leaving behind only an exquisite and mysterious tiny dragon carved out of jade.

I loved this book and could not put it down. Emerald is a great character all woman can relate too, although I felt all the descriptions of her beauty were a bit much, for example when she says she took the padding out of her bra, because her "breasts were big enough and didn't need any help." The two men in her life she struggles to choose from are great supporting characters. Indeed, there are a host of such wonderful supporting characters so that you feel you live in the town of Chiqetaw and can walk down the street for a cup of tea and a sandwich every time you put the book down

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.

#2 in the Chintz 'n China Mystery Series. Things go downhill quickly for Emerald when a man leaves her shop after a reading and is killed by a hit and run driver leaving behind a small jade Ming dragon that has been cursed and disrupts the lives of those that are in possession of it. Unfortunately, little things in this book kept distracting me from the story. Doesn't Yasmine have an editor that would point out that you don't give a school nurse your insurance card or that you don't hear the "ringing" of the dial tone, even if this is a cozy mystery shouldn't an editor still do their job?

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.

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 second book in the Chintz 'n' China series is even better than the first. The mystery is offbeat, Emerald is drawn into taking more chances, and the other characters each emerge as individuals in their own right. I especially enjoyed Jimbo. The book grew in tension, too, and really kept me turning the pages. A highly enjoyable second act in the series.

Somewhat predictable on both the worldly and paranormal mystery. The pacing of the storyline dragged at times and some parts were just tedious. I actually stopped in the middle to read another book, then came back to this one to finish it up. Too lite on the paranormal side for me.

I picked up this entire series in the local bookstore. I like them. They are nice, sweet mysteries and easy reads for my commute. Hard to put down. The main character is very easy to relate to and just like any of us. I enjoyed these books and will read them again.

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.

Emerald and the family certainly have a number done on them in this book. While real world crime sucks, having it happen in a fiction book where everything is supposed to turn out okay, somehow makes the bad stuff seems worse. Don't let that put you off reading an amazing story of challenges and mama bears.

After a client has his tarot cards read, he leaves the shop and promptly gets hit by a car and dies. Emerald gets to take care of the deceased small jade Dragon. From that moment on her life takes a turn for the worse. Could there be a curse on the Dragon? As she tries to find out who killed her client, she begins to piece together the history of the jade piece. It's not something you want to own. Everything goes wrong. Will Emerald solve all the problems before the curse catches up with her??? Read on.

Entertaining story about a jade dragon that has a curse attached to it. The owner accidentally leaves it a the tarot card reader's place and is killed by a but and run driver before she can return it to him. Her life begins to take a horrible turn for the worst and she feels the jade statue is responsible. Lots of misadventures in this one.

Interesting premise and a delight to read. Characters were well developed and the flow of the story line was very well written. Enjoyed this book in one sitting and worth the time to read. You will fall in love with the heroine.

Legend of the Jade Dragon by Yasmine Galenorn is book 2 in her Chintz ‘N China series. In Legend of the Jade Dragon Emerald is busy keeping up with her flourishing business after solving a murder that has now garnered her renown and interest from many of the locals in town. Business is booming and life is going well overall. Then one day a man named Daniel comes in and asks her to read the cards for him. When she reads the cards she sees danger and trouble ahead for him but what she doesn’t know is how quickly it will come and that it will soon impact her as well. Daniel leaves behind a jade dragon and not long after acquiring it trouble comes in a big way. Emerald’s daughter Miranda loses her brand new $600 plus telescope to a freak accident, Emerald’s shop is broken into and destroyed and there’s more to come. Emerald now must figure out why she is having all of this madness happen to her and how to deal with it before things get to the point of no return.
Legend of the Jade Dragon is an engaging mystery novel with touches of the paranormal in it. Emerald is very adept at reading the cards and she tends to trust her intuition when it comes to the things going on around her. She’s in a relationship with a man named Andrew but you quickly get the sense that he’s not as engaged in the relationship as she is and in time we see exactly what his true colors are. Emerald has another love interest as well, Joe, but she’s unsure about him despite the fact that he shows himself to be more caring and considerate but she lets certain factors get in the way of her judgment.
I really like how Emerald is a strong character and how she also relies on her deceased Nanna as well. When she needs some guidance she meditates and focuses on her Nanna and she comes to comfort her when she needs it. Emerald also has a more than a couple good strong friendships that she is able to fall back on. She’s flawed but it adds to the realism of her character. Her friends Murray and Harlow are both dealing with their own issues but they still try to be there for her as best they can when she is dealing with the chaos of constantly dealing with one drama to the next to the next. But she also learns that she needs to be there for them in turn as well, especially Murray as she is dealing with a lot of mess at her job that has her questioning what she should do and whether it’s the right thing or not.
Despite the fact that Emerald tends to seem as the perceptive type I find it a bit off putting that she doesn’t start with things that have changed recently in her life that has brought about this stint of bad luck. That was probably the only thing that I honestly didn’t like because it seems like the most sensible course of action for anyone to take especially after more than one or two unexplainable incidents that just seem to be too farfetched to be just happen stance.
There is love, mystery, danger, betrayal and murder but it all weaves together to create a story that is hard to put down as you find yourself turning the page again and again eager to learn the history of the jade dragon, why it’s cursed and whether it can be stopped. I love the flashbacks, the history of both the dragon and the tragedy that it has brought over the years.
If you are looking for an engaging mystery with some paranormal in it then I recommend this book. It will engage you to the very end and leave you ready for another Chintz ‘N China novel by this dynamic author. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. This book will most emphatically be added to my collection.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for a voluntary review.