Wild Orchids : A Novel

Rating:
Summary: woeful, neither romance, suspense, nor paranormal
Review: The book is dull right from the start, and all her attempts to shock with grisly details never get it off the ground. There is enough angst in the first chapter to keep shrinks busy for a life time, and to have the supposed hero get a happy ever after ending is insulting to our intelligence. The whole Devil thing is predicatable and trite, and as for the romance, well, she is abou as steamy as a chilled latte. This writer is long past her sell by date if this is the best she can come up with. Try some Christine Feehan if you really want sensuality and chills.

Rating:
Summary: Very Interesting!!!
Review: I think there's no douby about it. Jude Deveraux is a versatile writer. I liked this book alot. I was looking forward to reading and I am glad I did. This book was different from her other books in plot and characters. I recommend this book to anyone except if you're really religious. Then I would suggest not reading it.

Rating:
Summary: Scared the bejebies out of me
Review: This is not her normal fare! As others have pointed out, this is not a romance. This is more in the Stephen King genre than romance. Yeh, there is someone falling in love, but it is secondary to the character change and the character insights. I did not like it-I also don't like horror genre or vampire novels. If you like that sort, it is a well written story. But if you are looking for a romance, stick to her old stuff or another author.

Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: I really enjoyed this one. It was well written and very easy to follow. It kept my interest from the first page. Keep up the good work Jude.

Rating:
Summary: Not Her Best Effort
Review: The synopsis of this book sounds so great but the story differs from it too much. The characters are interesting, but there is no romance in this novel. I typically expect more of a love story from Jude Deveraux. Also, I expected more of a ghost story not a tale about the devil. I really wouldn't reccommend this book to Jude Deveraux's normal readers.

Rating:
Summary: Decent, not wonderful.
Review: Overall, this book was interesting and fun to read. I have two complaints. The first is that there is VERY little romance, just a lot of built up tension between the two main characters but Jude takes way too long for them to get together. Also, the book is pretty slow on action. A lot of the scenes are just people hanging around and while it is interesting, it gives the book a "drag on" feeling. Like you wish something exciting would happen. Overal, a good read though.

Rating:
Summary: Intriging idea, different heros and funny dialogue!
Review: I am not a long-time fan as many of the other reviewers seem to be, but have read a few of her "straight" romance books. While good, they did not set her apart from many other romance writers. In Wild Orchids, Ms. Deveraux presents the often written premise of second love in a fascinating way . . by including a curse, the devil, odd characters, a hero with angst and a heroine with a very sharp tongue. The romance was perfectly suited to this plot - an older man hesitant about a younger woman; an average Jane undecided if a famous author could be interested in her. It would have been unrealistic if they had fallen in bed the first week!
Certainly Ms. Deveraux had some sterotyped country boys with a love of trucks and mechanical things but the exaggeration made the novel funnier. It was not written in such a way as to offend anyone - regardless of their roots (and mine are in the South)- and she showed the best side of family before the book's ending.
All in all, a good read and highly recommended to readers not expecting the same romantic novels previously written by Jude Deveraux. As many of us have done, she's trying something different and it works.

Rating:
Summary: A Very Enjoyable Read
Review: Simply put...I enjoyed this read. I enjoyed seeing the same situation through both characters senses. I enjoyed seeing the Devil (ex-Heaven resident) be a character in this story. He is protrayed as he was made...something beautiful (ex-angel...as do you ever see an evil looking angel?)vs the red-horned devil we are used to seeing. I enjoyed the story premise. I try not to limit myself to an author ALWAYS writing each book the same way. When an author has a large library of characters I feel it is nice to see them stretch their imagination and not try and limit themselves. I wish more readers would simply allow all the walls built around an author fall down and enjoy the story. If a person was telling the story as a storyteller would I think we would all pull up a chair and listen to a good tale. Simply put. I have enjoyed this author's hardback's and feel she has grown. Go Jude !!!

Rating:
Summary: Very Disappointed
Review: I have every book Jude Deveraux has written. That tells you how much I love her work. But the last 4 books have been disappointing. "The Mulberry Tree" started out great but dissolved into a mystery novel. "Forever", with it's take-turn 'voice overs' and a female lead that I found I couldn't really care about. (She was more annoying than anything else). Not the strong women leads Deveraux is known for. (This 'he said-she said' continues in "Wild Orchids". Again a mystery novel rather than romance and nothing about the Taggerts or Montgomerys). Then "Forever and Always". The same annoying her turn/his turn and just a filler novel until the third "Always" book comes out to finish the story. There seems to be a running "I really want sex" theme throughout these 4. I noticed in her biography bit at the back of the book she seems to be unmarried/divorced and lives with her small son. If that's what it takes to bring back the old Jude Deveraux writing, take Jackie Maxwell's advice in "Wild Orchids" - 'I decided I needed to start dating'

Rating:
Summary: A Different Deveraux
Review: I enjoyed this book. The style was a little different from past books of hers that I've read. She's trying here to write a part mystery novel, part romance fiction. The blend seems to work - at least it kept my attention. The other departure from "formula Devereaux" is that instead of including a storyline or two about an angel this time she introduces the devil to readers. There is good nonsensical escapism here!!!! Some may like it others may hate it. I enjoyed the read.