A mysterious orchid is central to a story of love, lies, and redemption. Once more before I die...the haunting mantra of a lonely woman. A woman grieving more than one loss. On her regular walks amongst the splendor of the Audubon Society sanctuary, situated at the edge of the Florida Everglades, the sights and sounds of nature filled the void in Mel's soul. She found peace here. No tears for what might have been. Only joy for having experienced the ecstasy of a great love. Her secrets stayed buried. In another part of the world an exquisitely beautiful young woman also found peace by immersing herself in nature, capturing its beauty on film for National Geographic. Educated in Europe's finest boarding schools, Neev became a model at fourteen, but after four years of posing and false smiles she knew she wanted more out of life. She quit modeling to study Philosophy at Oxford University. Neev's love of photography brought her to the other side of the camera lens, and to exotic locations around the globe. Working on assignment with famous photographer Roger Andrew, she often trekked deep into the jungle in search of rare flowers. Having a young, beautiful woman as a partner seemed like a good omen, and Roger thought their travels together could lead to a unique discovery. In spite of the age difference, their shared passion soon blossomed into a loving relationship. He wondered why someone so young would crave this nomadic, isolated lifestyle. Although Neev did share bits of information about her family, she always kept parts of her past a secret. When a Ghost Orchid began to bloom at the Audubon Society sanctuary, Roger knew this was the opportunity he'd been waiting for. Neev was reluctant to visit Florida, for personal reasons, but he convinced her to accompany him on the trip. After a series of odd coincidences, they soon discovered this sensuous flower wasn't just rare and beautiful, it also had a strange, mystical power...
Ghost Orchid
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More About the Author
D. K. Christi is a traveler and adventurer who chronicles her experiences in short stories in The World Outside the Window anthology, "Rose's Question", Romance of My Dreams anthologies I and II, "The Ice Storm" and "The View From the Balcony" Amazon Shorts at Amazon.com and in her debut novel, Arirang: The Bamboo Connection that takes the reader on a world adventure. Ghost Orchid, a mystery of love, lies and redemption wrapped around a mystical ghost orchid was released in 2009 to rave reviews by NPR and MBR. Amour, a collection of former Amazon Shorts was just released on Kindle.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A haunting love story as rare as a ghost orchid...,
By Betty L. Dravis "BETTY DRAVIS, author/reviewer" (Silicon Valley, CA) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Ghost Orchid (Paperback)
I was always told that you can't judge a book by its cover, but with Ghost Orchid you can! The story inside is just as beautiful as the cover. Both are as rare as the ghost orchid on the cover. Author D.K. Christi has woven her knowledge of the Florida Everglades and nature into an exquisite, enchanting love story where a rare ghost orchid plays a magical, pivotal role for all the characters.
The story opens with a lonely, middle-aged woman, Mel, taking her daily walk at the Audubon Society Sanctuary, reminiscing about her lost love and other secrets of her past. Although melancholy, she feels blessed to have experienced a "Great Love" in her life. She longs to see her estranged lover "just once more before she dies" and is happier among the sights and sounds of nature than anywhere else. She's a solitary figure at the sanctuary, but she's a "regular" and is known and well-liked by the staff. The story switches back and forth between Mel and Neev, a statuesque beauty who quit modeling to study philosophy at Oxford University. Neev loves photography, so eventually decides to pursue that career, a path that takes her to exotic locations around the world. She lands a plum assignment with a famous photographer, Roger Andrew, who is always seeking a rare "find" in nature. Roger is much older than Neev, but he becomes her mentor and best friend and they have a loving relationship. Although Roger and Neev share many things, she never confides to him about her family life or her reluctance to visit Florida. And Roger doesn't talk much of his ex-wife and son. Roger is passionate in his mission to uncover a "rare find," so when he learns that a ghost orchid is blooming at the Audubon Society Sanctuary, he convinces Neev to accompany him. For reasons I can't reveal without spoiling the plot, Neev is as passionate in her dislike of her mother as Roger is about his drive to find the elusive flower. Neev was raised by a devoted German couple and always wondered about her father. She longs to know more about him, but harbors little hope for a "love of her own." Something happens to Mel at the same time the rare orchid is spotted. That's a tragedy, but it creates the magic in this story, bringing the most unlikely people together in the most magical ways. What happens to Mel? Why has Neev chosen such a solitary, lonely life? What is so unique about this particular ghost orchid? Does it really have mystical powers? Who is the mysterious amateur photographer who becomes Roger's email friend? And how do Roger's Florida relatives fit into the picture? D.K. Christi answers all those questions in a masterful way, with near-perfect pacing, believable, likable characters--and a little help from a rare ghost orchid. I highly recommend this haunting, exquisite love story. ENDNOTE: There are some coincidences that could be considered as contrived by the author, but with a story this well-written and beautiful in its symmetry and uniqueness of plot, who would question that? Reviewed by Betty Dravis, July 22, 2010 Author of "Dream Reachers" (with Chase Von) and other books
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Reviewed for Midwest Book Review,
By
This review is from: Ghost Orchid (Paperback)
Mel, consumed by her love for a man who shares her passion but cannot commit to her, finds consolation in her daily walks at an Audubon Society sanctuary near the Florida Everglades. Her daughter, Neev, raised by foster parents, does not understand nor can she forgive her mother for abandoning her and deliberately keeps her at arm's length. A former model and graduate of Oxford University, Neev interns under Roger Andrew, an acclaimed photographer with National Geographic. As the two travel to exotic locales, they enter into a romantic relationship which deepens into an affectionate friendship. Roger's passion is shooting scarce and endangered flora, and when he learns that a Ghost Orchid, a rare form of the orchid family, is blooming at an Audubon Society sanctuary in Florida, he cannot miss this opportunity. Knowing Neev dislikes the area where her mother lived, he nevertheless asks her to accompany him there. Neev agrees, setting in motion mystical occurrences surrounding the Ghost Orchid connecting Neev's past to her present and future.
Ghost Orchid is a lovely story brilliantly depicted through the author's poetic prose and vibrant descriptives. Characters are well-developed and intriguing, as are the locales portrayed. Readers will fall under the spell of Christi as she weaves a magical tale of love, betrayal and forgiveness.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Charming Reading Experience,
By Al Stevens "author, musician" (Cocoa, FL United States) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Ghost Orchid (Paperback)
I started to read this book several times. Other matters would take me away from it, and by the time I'd return, I'd need to start again. Finally, I told myself to sit still and give it a chance. I was rewarded by that decision with the gift of a well-crafted story about a woman I think I must have known if only in my youthful fantasies.
While this is not the sort of fiction I usually read, its title, however, pulled me in and drew me to the book. When I realized that a lot of the story is set in the Everglades, I was hooked. (He said with illogically sequenced metaphors.) I want to say that this is a romance book, but I'm not sure. The characters are fascinating, the plot compelling, and the narrative descriptions of nature are exquisite and accurate. The story is not only about romance and beautiful people being involved with one another, however, although that does play a part. It is more about the mystery of the elusive flower for which the book is named, and the subtle suggestion that the orchid itself somehow channels the love known in life by the ghost of a character and draws together, as if by the will of the orchid, the people she loved. Once into it, I didn't want it to end. I predict the same for most of you and suggest you give it a try.
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