Rating: 
Summary: A haunting story of renewal and love
Review: Ford Newcombe had a wonderful life with his beloved wife. It was with her encouragement and support that he became a best selling writer, weaving reality into fictions that enthralled the masses. With her death, Ford finds the heart of his stories dead as well. His fans have begun to turn on him, and though he lives, he feels dead, or worse.A chance meeting brings Jackie Maxwell into his life. Jackie is essentially orphaned and has few memories of her mother. One of those memories she shares with Ford, and on the strength of the inspiration it gives him, he hires her as his assistant and they move to the town that has been in Jackie's past. There they find that legendary secrets and the recent past are tied together in a haunting and dangerous mix that must be unraveled to give peace to those still living. Hope and love are the reward that await them if they succeed. ***** With her realistic portrayals of hurting characters, Ms. Deveraux reaches out to a new audience in this novel. She tells a haunting story of renewal and love sure to captivate you.
Rating: 
Summary: Story 4 Stars Romance 1 Star
Review: I have mixed feelings about this book. As far as mysteries goes it was a good book but it didn't have romance in it the way I had hoped it would. Jude Deveraux is well known for her romance writing and boy she does it well :) I just wish I would of known that it was more of a mystery then I wouldn't of been
disappointed of the love story I would of still read it but I would of known what I am reading, so That's why I gave the story a 4 and romance a 1 still enjoyed this book.
Happy Reading Lisa
Rating:
Summary: A good supernatural/romantic/mystery......loved it.
Review: I did not like the previous novel ,Forever, for its corny supernatural content, but that is one of my favorite things about this new book. I also loved all the characters. Each one had its own endearing quirkiness. Ford's continuing love for his dead wife was also very sweetly and realistically done and his family, hahahaaha, you know you see some of your relatives in there.
That said, what is it with Ms. Deveraux's newest obsession with May/December romances between her characters? Ford has to be at least 15 to 20 years older than Jackie. What's up with that? I have nothing against older man/younger woman relationships(or older women/younger men, for that matter) but jeez, 2 books in a row is just a bit much. I love Ford Newcombe's character and Jackie's but sometimes they were just on different wavelengths because of age alone.
However, the oldest character, the Devil, was wonderfully drawn by Jude. He is sympathetically portrayed and also very creepy at the same time. He is simply, the devil and he more than lives up to his reputation for temptation in this novel.
Rating: 
Summary: wild orchids
Review: I am a very loyal reader of Jude Deveraux.I buy every book the first day it comes out. I was very dissopointed in this book.I had to make my self finish reading it.
Rating:
Summary: Another good story from Deveraux
Review: I don't believe Jude Deveraux can tell a bad story. Wild Orchids is written in a different format, but that just adds to the telling of the story. Ford and Jackie are more or less thrown together by fate. Ford is still missing his wife, who had been dead for 6 years. He offers Jackie a job which she turns down until she leaves her groom at the alter. Jackie is furious with men when she takes Ford's job offer. This is another beautiful story told by Ms. Devereaux. If you enjoyed The Mulberry Tree you'll want to read Wild Orchis.
Rating:
Summary: Love - Suspense - Mystery - Friendship - Family - Secrets
Review: Let me start by saying I liked this book (I only gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because of the subject matter - read on) - I have only read the last three HC books by Deveraux because I'm not a fan of traditional, historical romance/fiction which Deveraux is so famous for and of which most of her earlier works of fiction were (Knight in Shining Armor ring a bell?) - I'm more of a fan of "women's fiction" - which class her last three books seem to fall into - - With that said, I like a good love story so the story of Jackie (great name!) and Ford really held my interest - no mushy, corny, hearts and flowers for these two - no, theirs is more of a sarcastic, tease-fest - war of words! I like how the story is told alternately between Jackie and Ford - that's always a good thing in my opinion - gives the reader the opportunity to view the story from two different viewpoints without having to re-read the book to look at it from another angle - I like to see how the opinions of the same events are so different between the two main characters - Most of the other characters were likable (even Ford's cousin grew on you!!) - and there was enough suspense to hold your interest and keep you turning the pages (but not too much to change the subject to mystery or suspense) - although I had pretty much figured it out early on (I'm sure most readers will too) - it didn't make me want to skim the pages or skip anything - I just wanted to know how they ended up where they were - the one thing I disliked about this book is the use of the devil - I don't usually care for occult fiction and I think there may have been a different way that this same story could have been told - although the devil story is one of the major plot points, it does not take over and monopolize the entire book - that's why I was able to [put up with it and] "grin and bear it!" I have to say, I enjoyed this story much more than Ms. Deveraux's last HC release (The Mulberry Tree, which seemed to go on and on & left me disappointed in the end) - while there are many characters and names to remember and it can at times be a little confusing - each character has a purpose and no one was written unnecessarily - the book flowed nicely and because there are "sub-plots" going on all the time, it was easy to overlook the devil aspect of the story and just enjoy some good ole fashioned story-telling! A few things caused "alarm bells" ring - for example, how quickly Jackie agreed to work with Ford and move to another state!! (in this day and age, would you move away to another state, to a town where you knew no one and agree to live with a person you just met only days ago??!!) - Overall, I liked the book and thought it was a good read - I'd recommend it to friends - I think most readers will identify with at least one or two of the characters of the story - and the main characters are really, genuinely likable (one can see right through the rough and tough exterior Ford tries to give off in the beginning - you just know he's a big, lovable "teddy bear!" It's a fun story and has everything you need to be a good 'beach read" this summer - love, friendship, mystery, romance, suspense, etc. - If you're a fan of Deveraux, you will definitely want to read this book - I don't know how it compares to her earlier novels, but compared to some of the novels published recently, this is an enjoyable read - and if you like women's fiction , then you won't want to pass this one up - thanks for an entertaining, "different" story! If it weren't for the 'devil' ' I'd give it 5 stars!!
Rating: 
Summary: Nouveau Jude Deveraux
Review: 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!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Stick With What You Know
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: eerie thriller
Review: Although he is considered by the mystery genre as an "important" author, Ford Newcombe learned the meaning of life six years ago. Life is death to Ford whose beloved wife Pat died after a six month battle with cancer. Ford knows he is only surviving as he died along side of his spouse. At a party, Ford hears university research assistant Jackie Maxwell tell the story of a woman who fell in love with the devil. For the first time since his wife shattered his well being with her cancer sentence, Ford feels alive. He travels to the town that Jackie mentioned and buys a house there to live in while he works on his new tale. He persuades the vivacious Jackie to assist him on researching the story. However, he soon wonders if she witnessed a real homicide as a child. His renewed passion for life includes learning the truth even if it means putting himself in harm's way. WILD ORCHIDS is perhaps Jude Deveraux best work to date although the William James-like plot will surprise many of her fans. The story line moves forward at a fast clip with alternating first person paragraphs between Ford and Jackie. The key to this taut eerie thriller is the lead protagonists who are complete people still feeling respective tragedies from their pasts. Is the novel psychological suspense, a murder mystery, or a horror tale? Read the book as Ms. Deveraux will keep her audience hooked to learn the truth alongside the hero. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: We've grown up together
Review: I discovered Jude Deveraux when I was in high school. So thats about fifteen years. I really enjoy her new style. I got away from her for a few years because I myself was tired of the typical romance theme. But I couldn't give her up. She was just too good. Now this is way more interesting. The style she has now is just my thing. I really enjoy it. Thats why I feel we've sort of grown together. I was at a place where I could enjoy her romances years ago, and now can continue to enjoy her refreshing new style. Its so much more....confident.
"Wild Orchids" takes an insight into the writers world. The story is about a writer who cannot write after his wife died.
There is a link with a devil story and an alluring younger woman. Oh dear, I do have to confess it was the part about the renovation of an older home that threw me. When I read "The Mulberry Tree" I was in ecstasies. I was so pleased to read about recovering gardens and restoring old houses again---and all the other things that went on were great too. I even enjoyed the Pullitzer Prize sarcasm story.
Devereaux has more humor in this story. I am reminded of the fun and humor of "The Princess." I really enjoyed that one. This has the same quality humor in it. Really, its quite well written.
I recommend reading this for what it is: a story about two people finding their families with cool backdrops. It is not in her old format and all I can say to that is this to Jude: YOU GO GIRL! GROW, GROW, GROW!!!
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