Rating:  Summary: I want more !...:) Review: "Orchid" can be read either on its own or after reading "Amaryllis" and "Zinnia" (see my reviews on those books), and it is exactly as great as them.To sum up, this novel is a wonderful futuristic paranormal romance written by Jayne Castle (also known as Jayne Ann Krentz). To enjoy it you will need some (or a lot of)imagination: the plot is set in the colony of St. Helens, where the pioneers from Earth that settled there were stranded after the connection between Earth and St. Helens disappeared (+ or - 200 years before the beginning of this story), and people have developed psychic abilities unknown in Earth (but needed by them to survive in a new world). Anyway, given that, you will enjoy a wonderful novel. The main characters are Orchid Adams and Rafe Stonebraker. Rafe Stonebraker is a highly talented strat, who is looking for a wife. His search (or hunt) will take him to Orchid Adams, a full spectrum ice prism who seems to be all wrong, but feels right... The plot includes also some investigations and a lot of really good love scenes. You cannot help but be involved in this novel. Seemingly bizarre at first (specially if you haven't read "Amaryllis" or "Zinnia" before starting with "Orchid"), it bewitches the reader... You end up wanting more. I've just bought "After Dark", by the same author. Hope it is as good as this one!!!.
Rating:  Summary: An Unusal, Futuristic Favorite Review: "Orchid" is the first Jayne Castle and futuristic book I've ever read. The plot with mystery and a mix of romance was a perfect blend with the backdrop of a futuristic world not too far away seemed to catch me and made me hate to put down the book. I am looking forward to any of her books in the near future.
Rating:  Summary: A great disapointment Review: As a real fan of JAK, I tend to buy her books no matter what. But as in all her latest books, I found once more the same recipe as in her previous ones. I don't think I'll waste my time anymore.
Rating:  Summary: I don't understand why this book is so highly rated Review: Everyone who reads romances has heard of Jayne Castle, including her pseudonyms Jayne Ann Krentz and Amanda Quick. Given her reputation-to-date as a "good writer," I understandably approached Orchid with expectations of a well-crafted tale, above-average writing and well-developed characters. How could I be so wrong? Castle's main failing seems to be the complexity of her sci-fi/fantasy world and her overwhelming urge to explore it relentlessly through several hundred pages of excruciatingly boring exposition. Additionally, the suspenseful plot that several reviewers have raved about made several questionable leaps of logic to arrive at the final climax where readers are introduced to a character who has vaguely been hinted at throughout the book and has no place in the story whatsoever (IMHO). The primary conflict faced by Rafe Stonebraker (romance character names being what they are, this one still sucks) is actually resolved in one page with NO confrontation when his nemesis-cum-cousin suddenly decides to assist rather than oppose him after all. Dramatic? No. Anti-climatic and cheap considering the purportedly excellent reputation of this author? Yes.
Rating:  Summary: It grabs your attention and keeps it.... Review: I enjoyed reading the book...it kept my attention, once I started to read the story. It was hard to put it down...The characters were interesting, real in a sense and they made the story worth reading...
Rating:  Summary: Orchid is as entertaining as Zinnia and Amaryllis Review: I have enjoyed a number of Ms. Krantz's books. In this series she explores what it would be like for Terran's to live on a new and distant planet, with different flora and fauna. I especially like the spider-frogs, and six-legged dogs. But I found horn-harps distracting. The everyday quality she gives to psychic abilities is fascinating. I especially like the individuality of her characters. If you don't know Ms. Krantz is also Amanda Quick.
Rating:  Summary: Deja-vu???? Review: I have read JAK's trilogy attempt and have found the three novels to be variations of the same theme. I was looking forward to reading about Rafe Stonebraker, who seemed to be the most mysterious and sexy of the trio, but was disappointed with the same old, same old. Not to mention the fact that the characters in "Orchid" were strangely unsatisfying. They just didn't inspire that magic feeling; with each other, or with me.
Rating:  Summary: Enjoyable, but St. Helen's names are a little silly Review: I have really enjoyed this entire series, and recommend it to anyone who likes this author under any name. But, I have a request. St. Helens is a fun world, and it really shows good imagination. But, good grief, names like coff-tea and aspara-cado are just painful to read. (The worst from this book is cat-dog). There is the potential for some fun with this new-world, new things naming scheme. Just stringing them together is grating. Of course, this new world is fantastic, and somewhat unrealistic, but it's great fun. I can close my eyes and believe in it. But I can't believe in these stupid names. Come on, Jayne, come up with something a little more imaginative.
Rating:  Summary: Jayne Ann Krentz never fails to entertain. Review: I just loved the first 2 books in this series and Orchid lives up to my expectations. The characters are wonderfully witty and intelligent. I just couldn't put it down and stayed up all night reading it. I can't wait to see what characters she puts in the next St. Helens book.
Rating:  Summary: Another WINNER!!! Review: I loved it!!!! Ms. Castle further developed the world of St. Helens which she created in Amarallys and again her characters of Orchard and Rafe were wonderful. I hope that Ms. Castle will contine with this series and further develop this world or perhaps a special book about their (Amarisllis,Zinnia,Orchard) children?
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