Customer Reviews

Wild Orchids (Deveraux, Jude (Large Print))

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

Why is it that all the good writers i.e. Jude Deveraux, Judith McNaught, Julie Garwood, and Elizabeth Lowell think that they need to "branch out" and take their writing in different directions. The stories about relationships and characters are what sold their books in the first place and it is unfortunate that these women want to concentrate more on the overall plot and sub-characters now. I enjoy a story about 2 main characters and think that that is were these authors are strongest. In this book there where way too many wacky and unbelievable characters who took away from the very under-developed main characters. If you are a long time Jude Deveraux fan I think you will be dissappointed. This is nothing like the magic of books like Sweet Liar or AKISA. Deveraux's strength is in writing a good sit down romance. A romance where you read the book in 3 hours because you just can't put it down. I struggled through this one for three days and had a hard time finishing it. My vote - bring back the fun and excitement of the Taggarts and Montgomerys.

Now that I've grown accustomed to Jude Devereux's 'new style', I must say that I am truly enjoying her latest books. Initially, her leap from historical romance to contemporary mystery was difficult for me, but with each new novel, she clearly becomes more proficient at this type of storytelling, and I have become more involved in the new genre.

In any case, "Wild Orchids" is a terrific, page turning, interesting novel. The chapters alternate between the male and female protagonist's point of view, in a "he said", "she said" format. While this can be confusing in some books, Ms. Devereux makes the first person character transitions so flawlessly, and so adeptly, that as the reader learns one character's point of view, you can't wait for the next chapter to see how the other one is going to view the same event.

"Wild Orchids" involves love, suspense, mystery, and an inkling of the supernatural. It's a page turning novel, with flawed, but likable characters. It certainly is the best book I've read in quite some time. I am certain that this is a novel that will please both Jude Devereux fans and mystery fans alike.

I have been reading Jude Deveraux for years, and I just love her writing style and her compelling characters. Both were present in this book.

The plot kept me on the edge of my seat, I love the dark aspects and the mystery. I read it in one sitting, couldn't put it down all day.

However, if you are a romance fan, the romance in this book will probably not be satisfying. There are no love scenes, and not a whole lot of sexual tension. Their romance almost seems like an afterthought to the whole book. But, I wasn't reading it for the romance. I was reading it for the ride, for the mystery and for the characters.
I can't wait for her next one!

Frankly, this one doesn't live up to standards I have for Deveraux novels. It is interesting but could be BETTER. It is good but could be GREAT. I feel that Ms. Deveraux needed Ford's dead wife Pat to edit this work... and point out the problems she created but didn't solve.

A chapter from Ford's viewpoint; rehash the same happenings from Jackie's viewpoint and create a few new happenings; rehash those new happenings from Ford's viewpoint... well, you get the idea.

We've got a hero(?) who is almost twice his counterpart's age (she's 26 and he's at least 49 (graduated at 22, married for 21 years, wife dead for 6 years = 49+). To work as his assistant and track down a tale of the devil, she up and moves to another state with him to live in a rundown house and doesn't even discuss salary until after they get there (get real Ms. Deveraux). Once there, Ms. Deveraux doesn't get into the "mystery" until almost the last chapters of the book. Then she solves it without telling us any of the details, other than the fact Jackie has a grandmother and that the devil tempts Ford.

Oh, at the end of the book Ford snickers that Jackie now knows why he saves his energy (he supposedly wore out Jackie sexually) - ...

I was anxiously awaiting the latest Jude Deveraux book and I must admit this book is not worth the wait. I loved many of her previous stories but the last few have been dull with improbable plots and characters. I was so tired of reading yet again about an incredibly rich older man who spends enormous of money on a young impoverished but appreciative woman. It is entirely unbelievable that a woman who has worked as a university researcher for years does not have any decent clothes to wear to a small town function but miraculously finds something perfect in an old attic. Also, I can not believe that in this day and age, she would drop everything and leave town with an unknown man for a job without having any information about the job, her salary, or even where she will live. And when they arrive, she has no problem living with him, being totally dependent on him and becoming nothing more than a housekeeper. She does not seem to question that she is not doing the research he has hired her to do and happily takes his money whenever she needs anything. Since Ms. Deveraux's strengths have always been in providing interesting relationships between the key people in the book, I wonder why in her past few books, that is the one piece that is missing. There was none of the excitement as the attraction between Ford and Jackie is supposed to grow, and their relationship was lost in a group of misfit secondary characters. Even the mystery part was dull - Agatha Christie has done the young woman moving to an old house she has supposedly never been in and knowing all about it, so much better.

I did like the fact that we were able to see both people's perspectives in the alternating chapters and I was so touched by the relationship between Ford and his wife Pat. That was the true romance of the story. I can appreciate that Ms. Deveraux is expanding and trying new things, and I do love a good mystery. I am only hoping that in the future she can combine the mystery and the romance to give us a story that sparkles - as only Jude Deveraux knows how.

Although a far cry from her earlier writing, this book has suspense, intrigue and a little (very) romance. I enjoyed the book throughly but it was extremely reminiscent of her more recent novels. I understand that writers must evolve to stay fresh and stay true to their artistic integrities but I'd be a liar to say that I don't miss the old standards!!!

Ford Newcombe is an aging writer who has lost the desire to write and is basically living in the past. He knows he needs a jump start to get back to writing and is thinking of putting together a collection of stories of the occult. When he asks Jackie Maxwell to be his assistant, she puts him on the track of a story she had heard long ago about a woman in a small North Carolina town being presseed to death for allegedly consorting with the devil.

When Ford and Jackie move into a crumbling Victorian house in the deep woods of this town to investigate the story they start finding troubling answers that raise even more troubling questions. Such as why does Jackie seem to have so much first hand knowledge of Cole Creek? Could a body found recently point to a community using a "ghost story" to cover up nefarious activities? And if this is a true, could they be exposing themselves to real danger by exposing the killers?

It is rare to find modern fiction with character developemnt of this caliber. By page 23 I was so into the character of Ford Newcombe that I had to read privately in case something made me cry. (He recounts the best moments in his life with his late wife). The format, one chapter from Newcombe's point of view followed by one from Jackie Maxwell's gives each character time for development as well as enhancing the story line by letting us see multiple angles somtimes of the same event.

I picked up the book because it was written by Jude Devereaux and I was looking for a few hours of romance. When I put the book down, I found I was stunned instead. As others have said, this is not about romance; but, it is about love. Told in the first person, the story is NOT a formulaic story. No typical heroes or heroines here. The book is a journey into the heart and mind...it's like one of the Pulitzer novels that were spoofed by Jackie in the early dinner party setting. The book tugs at you....you'll find yourself fascinated, teary, happy, and thoughtful. A great read.

This was the first Jude Deveraux novel I ever read, and I was not disappointed. I've noticed that a lot of reviewers have complained that the narrative was too slow, or that the plot seemed to be little bits of everything, but I kind of thought that was the point. I liked the way we had plenty of time to get to know the characters and watch them change, to really settle into the 'mood' of the town and the story. Even though this story has some incredible elements (like psychic powers, murder, and the devil), at the heart it is a story about realistic people and how they affect each other as they go through life, about jealousy and prejudice and how events can change when you look at them from different points of view. And what I enjoyed most was the caustic relationship between Jackie and Ford. My grandparents have been married for sixty years and they can't get through a day without snapping and poking at each other-I thought it was wonderful to see an author portray love as something that happens gradually, when you aren't looking; showing it as having more to do with coming to know someone's every quirk and soft spot and habit, all the little niggling details, instead of love-at-first-sight lightning-strike passion, where two characters don't even know each other but are suddenly, implausibly in love. I loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who wants to read a story that feels like it could have happened to someone you know, instead of a romantic fantasy.

I am an avid romance reader and split my time between Ms. Devereaux and Nora Roberts. Having just finished this book and "Always" - second in the Darci Montgomery saga - I must say I am very disappointed. The he said/she said and overlapping of events were just a bore. I have always looked forward to reading her books in the past and honestly, with the exception of "The Summerhouse", from "An Angel For Emily" on down have been quite disappointing. How I yearn for the days of "Eternity", Knight in Shining Armour", and "Sweet Liar".