Customer Reviews

Orchids in the Snow

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
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This book was given to me as a Christmas present and I have already given it to a good friend to read with the stipulation that she return it to me. It takes a fictitional yet real look at women and men in the military and the roles they play professionally and socially. I am not in the military but have worked many years ago (at the very end of the Vietnam war) for a short while at a military installation plus I have had several close friends who were military officers. Even though the characters in this book are all military personnel and their spouses or civilian employees at military bases, their lives and problems make you look at your life and examine what is important to you as you read of their travails. The relationships and changes occurring as life's circumstances change are explored intimately and empatheticly. For all of us baby boomers who are entering middle age, it is a thought provoking look at our own lives and values. Charlie Hudson is an excellent, entertaining new author who I hope will write many more books.

Does that opening line make you want to read this book? I hope so. It gives a glimpse into the not-too-familiar life of a military couple. But, the story is not limited to the military. The kind of life choices made and discussed in the book can, and do take place, in all walks of life. And these choices are not limited to women. As seen in the book, men and women of all ages are asking themselves: Have I made the right choice/s? How will I know when to make a change and move on? When should I do what I want to do, and not just what is expected of me? The book also has a down to earth look at the problems and concerns in a long-term marriage and how separation can affect it. Read the story and find out what happens!

Orchids in the Snow is a super read for people of all ages and backgrounds. It is especially touching for those who've made or are considering making any sort of major transition in life. Although seen from the perspective of military spouse, the thoughts and feelings encountered strike home with anyone who is reflecting on the choices they've made in life. This is must-read for those who love the exploration of human relationships. It's a true page-turner -- captivating from beginning to end. I can't wait to read Charlie Hudson's next work!

"Orchids in the Snow" is a provocative, compelling book that depicts the challenges and life choices of being a military spouse. The characters are believable, the situations are realistic, and the heroine experiences them with a candid journey of self-discovery that is both interesting and at times, discomforting, to read. Beyond being the kind of book you enjoy too much to put down, it is a wonderful impetus for introspection into one's own life and choices, something we all need to do at some point.

The book jacket calls it "A book for any woman who has ever wondered if she made the right choices for her life." -- I highly recommend this book to every military spouse. It makes a great gift for someone you know, who is married or engaged to a member of the armed forces.

I liked Orchids in the Snow so much that I gave it to my co-workers, who loved it, too. The characters and the situations have a ring of truth. You feel like you know these people. It is a timely story for couples dealing with career induced separations and transitions in life when children leave home. Orchids in the Snow explores the choices we make as our lives must change and we either grow or wither. This is a great book for husbands or wives who must be away from home and want a way to express their need to trust and be trusted, despite the temptations that arise. It is clear that the author has an important message to convey, one that is too often not heard.

This book was given to me as a gift for Christmas. I really enjoyed reading it! I am not in the military, nor is my husband of 21 years, but there are many things that Andrea faces that I recognize. It helped me to look at my life from a different viewpoint and made me appreciate what I have. I have a daughter who has just started college and another daughter in high school. They don't need their mother the same way they used to. I am now able to give more time to my husband and it has really made a difference in our relationship. I guess we all grow and change in many different ways. We just have to find what makes us happy and content. Thank you Charlie for sharing this story. I look forward to your next book!!!

Orchids in the Snow is a wonderful book written by a new, and soon to be well-known, author. This book will appeal to people who have ever wondered about the choices they made and the paths those choices led them down. It will appeal to the wife that has a husband that's not always as attuned to her feelings as she would desire and it will appeal to the husband that hasn't got a clue what his wife is feeling, but would like to. This book is about the inevitablity of change in our lives and relationships and how one couple adapts to all life's changes. The characters soon feel like family and are hard to let go of on the last page. When finished, you will be eagerly awaiting Charlie Hudson's next book!

Ms. Hudson has captured the trials and joys of relationships in the military. Her characters are well drawn, and the dialogue realistic. I am a former military officer, and reading this book took me back to the days of forced separations, transfers, and the gaining and losing of friends and romances.

Orchids in the Snow is a lovely, well-written book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and immediately become drawn into the characters' lives. Being a military spouse for the past 24 years, I could easily relate to the various changes the character,Andrea, went through. Friends become like family during the many times of seperation which frequently are part of a military spouse's life. The military lifestyle can be extremely challenging and as Andrea was soon to find out it's very important to keep the lines of communication open. Charlie brought the characters to life with the insight of someone who herself has a personal knowledge of how the military works. I highly recommend this book and will definitely be getting it for my friends. I'm looking forward to reading Charlie Hudson's next book!

Although I am normally not a reader of human relationship-type books, I do enjoy stories that provide insight into a part of life which I am not readily familiar. And for the story to work for me, it must be entertaining, believable and motivating. This book succeeded very well on all three accounts. I gained an insight into military life which somehow had previously eluded me. It strengthened my appreciation for human relationships and the importance each of us has in our support of one another. And, I found it so entertaining that despite a busy schedule, the highly-memorable characters and story made it easy to pick up where I hadleft off, even after being a way from the book for an extended absence. But the story is so compelling that you will not want to delay finishing once you start. I usually read biographies and historical novels. "Orchids" was a nice, restful retreat from those types of books. In fact, I can see that it would appeal to a wide range of interests - from romance, to military to human interest to novel readers. Those considering this book should not hesitate to add to their "must read" list. It's hard to see how you could be disappointed.