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!

6 of 6 found the following review helpful:


Disappointing for Deveraux  May 19, 2003 By Wanda Scarpinato
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) - ...

11 of 13 found the following review helpful:


A wonderful new book by a remarkable author !  Apr 30, 2003
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.

5 of 5 found the following review helpful:


Disappointing  May 11, 2003 By Maggie
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.

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