Wild Orchids [Mass Market Paperback]

Jude Deveraux (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 25, 2004

Since his wife's death, world-famous author Ford Newcombe has lived a solitary life, void of creativity -- or love. Then Jackie Maxwell tears down the walls of his isolated world with her sassy wit and fierce intelligence. Ford's heart is touched by his vivacious assistant -- and his imagination sparked by her knowledge of a strange story that drives them to a small North Carolina town brimming with secrets. There, they will trace the mystery of a woman said to have loved the devil himself...and discover not only the truth about a crime from the past -- but a passion that holds the promise of a new life together.

Jude Deveraux, whose "enchanting and extraordinary" (Chicago Daily Herald) novels have enthralled millions, creates two of her most memorable characters in this powerful bestseller.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Forget garden-variety ghosts and poltergeists-the devil himself makes an appearance in bestseller Deveraux's latest romantic suspense novel. When famed mystery writer Ford Newcombe loses his beloved wife, Pat, he can't bear the thought of writing without her. Six years later, Ford is moving from one small town to another in an attempt to cure his writer's block when he hears the story of a woman who was murdered because she loved the devil. Fascinated by the tale, he decides that he must investigate it and approaches Jackie, the storyteller, to offer her the job of assisting him. Needing a change of pace, Jackie agrees to accompany him to Cole Creek, N.C., and strange things begin to happen when they arrive-Jackie instinctively knows her way around the town, she begins to have frightening premonitions that come true and the townspeople insist that the devil tale is just a rumor. Not one to give up, Ford continues to investigate and discovers an article about a 20-year-old murder. As he uncovers more gruesome details, he begins to suspect that Jackie may have somehow been involved in or witnessed the murder. Meanwhile, Jackie meets a man who seems too good to be true, who is also interested in the devil story. As Ford and Jackie work their way closer to the truth, it becomes clear that the story about the devil may be horrifically true. Deveraux's writing is sloppy ("I tried to pep Jackie up because she was looking as forlorn as an abandoned puppy"), but her plotting is effective, and she does a superb job of building up to her chilling conclusion.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Ford Newcombe grew up amongst his 11 uncles and their families, never really fitting in with his ne'er-do-well relatives. He met his wife, Pat, in college and she became his muse, helping him become a famous author. But after 21 years of marriage Pat dies, and Ford is at a loss, looking everywhere for the inspiration to begin writing again. He meets Jackie Maxwell, a young woman with a gift for storytelling, and she tells a doozy about a modern-day woman who is stoned because she was seen consorting with the devil. Ford wants to hire Jackie, but she is about to get married. Life has other plans, however, and Jackie ends up traveling with Ford to Cole Creek, North Carolina, the site of the stoning. Jackie recognizes the town, and she and Ford soon realize that she must have been there before, and perhaps witnessed the event. As in her last book, Forever [BKL O 15 02], Deveraux combines romance and the occult in a new and entertaining manner. Patty Engelmann
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books (May 25, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743437136
• ISBN-13: 978-0743437134
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #701,386 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #46 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Romance > Authors, A-Z > ( D ) > Deveraux, Jude
  • #49 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Horror > Ghosts

More About the Author

Jude Deveraux was once a fifth-grade teacher who loved to read. When her imagination began to be filled with her own stories to tell, her career as a writer began. Jude's novels have been set in both contemporary and historical periods. Her strong, lyrical writing style and ability to write stories with memorable characters, rich detail, and believable dialogue has garnered her many devoted readers.

Jude has had over thirty books on the New York Times bestsellers list, has over 60 million copies in print, and has been translated into 18 languages. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading murder mysteries, working in her garden, and in boxing class she likes to show much younger males that she can throw a mean right cross.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Stick With What You Know, April 28, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Wild Orchids : A Novel (Hardcover)

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.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful new book by a remarkable author !, April 30, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Wild Orchids : A Novel (Hardcover)

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.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is NOT a romance novel, but I loved it anyway, June 20, 2003

By 

Me "tressab" (Redmond, WA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wild Orchids : A Novel (Hardcover)

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!