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The Orchid Hunter
The daughter of an "orchid hunter" finds her exotic life turned upside down when she meets the twin sister she never knew she had and finds romance in the arms of a wonderful man. Original.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 2000
7 people are currently reading
114 people want to read
About the author
Jill Marie Landis
76 books253 followersJILL MARIE LANDIS is the bestselling author of nearly thirty novels which have appeared on the NYT bestseller list, USA Today and other national bestseller lists. She has won numerous awards for her heartfelt characters and sweeping emotional historical romances that include SUMMER MOON and MAGNOLIA CREEK and the Irish Angels Series; HEART OF STONE, HEART OF LIES, and HEART OF GLASS. All of her Historical Romances are available in eBook format.
She is currently writing The Tiki Goddess Mysteries series which includes MAI TAI ONE ON, TWO TO MANGO, THREE TO GET LEI'D, TOO HOT FOUR HULA and HAWAII FIVE UH-OH! from Bell Bridge Books.
Toes in the sand and head in the clouds, she is living the dream in Hawaii with her husband, Steve. Jill Marie loves to spend hours at the beach reading or writing and she also loves dancing the hula.
She is currently writing The Tiki Goddess Mysteries series which includes MAI TAI ONE ON, TWO TO MANGO, THREE TO GET LEI'D, TOO HOT FOUR HULA and HAWAII FIVE UH-OH! from Bell Bridge Books.
Toes in the sand and head in the clouds, she is living the dream in Hawaii with her husband, Steve. Jill Marie loves to spend hours at the beach reading or writing and she also loves dancing the hula.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 27, 2025
A romance with separated twins and the mystery of how they were separated.
Joya Penn has always dreamed of someone that looks like her alive and well in London, and as she grew, she took pen to paper and drew the scenes she dreamt. She has grown up on a tropical island, living as the natives did, until she reached maturity, when her parents ordered her to cover her body and that she could only marry a white man, none of which come to the island are suitable.
Trevor Mandeville has been seeking Dustin Penn, a famous orchid hunter, for years. He has come to ask to be his partner and to teach him how to find orchids. What he doesn't expect to find is a duplicate of his adopted sister, Janelle, who like Joya suffered dreams. It would appear to be more to Dustin Penn than orchids, he has a story to tell.
And when he takes Joya home with him and Janelle, he finds himself thinking about her more and more. What he doesn't understand is his grandmother's antagonism toward Joya. It happens that she too has a secret that needs to be told. Will her secret destroy what happiness Joya is seeking?
Joya Penn has always dreamed of someone that looks like her alive and well in London, and as she grew, she took pen to paper and drew the scenes she dreamt. She has grown up on a tropical island, living as the natives did, until she reached maturity, when her parents ordered her to cover her body and that she could only marry a white man, none of which come to the island are suitable.
Trevor Mandeville has been seeking Dustin Penn, a famous orchid hunter, for years. He has come to ask to be his partner and to teach him how to find orchids. What he doesn't expect to find is a duplicate of his adopted sister, Janelle, who like Joya suffered dreams. It would appear to be more to Dustin Penn than orchids, he has a story to tell.
And when he takes Joya home with him and Janelle, he finds himself thinking about her more and more. What he doesn't understand is his grandmother's antagonism toward Joya. It happens that she too has a secret that needs to be told. Will her secret destroy what happiness Joya is seeking?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2017
This book was ok, but I did have trouble with the fact that the main male character falls for his adopted sisters twin. Also had trouble with the fact that the rest of society just seemed to accept the fact that one is his sister and the other his sweetheart. Thanks netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 15, 2023
Absolutely a page turner! This is a very good read! Such romance and adventure! I am so glad so many "RULES" have been removed - but then with generation Z I dislike a lot of the idiot decisions they are making - just plain stupid for such a "MINORITY" to think they rule!
Want to Read
May 14, 2022Got book at HV book sale 2022
March 8, 2019
Enjoyable Victorian romance with a very unconventional heroine and a stiff-necked hero who learns to listen to his feelings. The grandmother made an acceptable villain. The surprise secondary romance was actually one of my favorite parts of the story. I was also pleased that Joya retains her values and mores of the culture she was raised in and doesn't turn into an English lady.
October 16, 2020
Instagram'da takip ettiğim bir hesabın haftalık yaptığı bir etkinlik sayesinde kitaptan haberim olmuştu. Kitabın bir kısmının egzotik adada geçtiğini öğrenince merakım iyice büyüdü ve Güz Şenliği için kitabı listeme eklemiş oldum.
Genel olarak beğendiğim bir kitap oldu. Joya karakteri tam anlamıyla masumiyet ve çekiciliğin bir karışımıydı. İngiliz yaşantısına uyma çabaları bir yandan güldürürken bir yandan başarısız olunca kıza verdikleri tepkiler yüzünden rahatsız olmamak elde değildi. İyi ki o dönemlerde yaşamamışım.
Diğer karakterimiz Trevor ise bildiğimiz klasik İngiliz erkeğiydi. Joya'ya yaptığı odunluklardan ve kızın yaptıklarını sürekli kınayıcı bakışlarla eleştirdiği için hikayenin en itici 2. karakteriydi.
Trevor'un büyükannesi de maşallah yapmadığı kötülük kalmadı kitap boyunca. Neyse ki Allah'ından buldu da rahat nefes aldım.
Joya'nın ikizi Janalle'ye bayıldım, hatta Joya'dan daha fazla sevdiğimi söylemeliyim. Dışarıya karşı mesafeli bir duruş sergilemesine rağmen oldukça açık fikirli, kültürlü, anlayışlı ve kardeşini her zaman destekleyen bir yapısı vardı. Özellikle kardeşinin bazı düşüncelerini ilginç bulsa da bunları hiçbir zaman eleştirmeyen hatta büyüleyici bulması onu daha sevmemi sağladı.
Normalde kitaplarda araya 2. çift sokulmasından nefret ederim çünkü bir kitabın büyüsünü bozuyor. Fakat burada tam tersini hissettim. Janelle-Garr çifti olmasaydı hikaye oldukça eksik kalırdı. Şu da var ki Janelle-Garr çifti, Joya-Trevor çiftinden onlarca kez daha iyiydi. Garr'ın hafif ukala tavırlarına rağmen eşi olacak kadına saygıda kusur etmemesi çok güzeldi. Janelle'nin Garr'ı süründürmesi de genel olarak eğlenceliydi. En azından üvey kardeşi Trevor gibi katı bir tutumu yoktu.
Hikayenin sonunda Joya bağımsız bir şekilde yaşasa daha çok severdim ama böyle bir son olsa kitabın romantizmi kalmazdı.
Genel olarak beğendiğim bir kitap oldu. Joya karakteri tam anlamıyla masumiyet ve çekiciliğin bir karışımıydı. İngiliz yaşantısına uyma çabaları bir yandan güldürürken bir yandan başarısız olunca kıza verdikleri tepkiler yüzünden rahatsız olmamak elde değildi. İyi ki o dönemlerde yaşamamışım.
Diğer karakterimiz Trevor ise bildiğimiz klasik İngiliz erkeğiydi. Joya'ya yaptığı odunluklardan ve kızın yaptıklarını sürekli kınayıcı bakışlarla eleştirdiği için hikayenin en itici 2. karakteriydi.
Trevor'un büyükannesi de maşallah yapmadığı kötülük kalmadı kitap boyunca. Neyse ki Allah'ından buldu da rahat nefes aldım.
Joya'nın ikizi Janalle'ye bayıldım, hatta Joya'dan daha fazla sevdiğimi söylemeliyim. Dışarıya karşı mesafeli bir duruş sergilemesine rağmen oldukça açık fikirli, kültürlü, anlayışlı ve kardeşini her zaman destekleyen bir yapısı vardı. Özellikle kardeşinin bazı düşüncelerini ilginç bulsa da bunları hiçbir zaman eleştirmeyen hatta büyüleyici bulması onu daha sevmemi sağladı.
Normalde kitaplarda araya 2. çift sokulmasından nefret ederim çünkü bir kitabın büyüsünü bozuyor. Fakat burada tam tersini hissettim. Janelle-Garr çifti olmasaydı hikaye oldukça eksik kalırdı. Şu da var ki Janelle-Garr çifti, Joya-Trevor çiftinden onlarca kez daha iyiydi. Garr'ın hafif ukala tavırlarına rağmen eşi olacak kadına saygıda kusur etmemesi çok güzeldi. Janelle'nin Garr'ı süründürmesi de genel olarak eğlenceliydi. En azından üvey kardeşi Trevor gibi katı bir tutumu yoktu.
Hikayenin sonunda Joya bağımsız bir şekilde yaşasa daha çok severdim ama böyle bir son olsa kitabın romantizmi kalmazdı.
July 6, 2014
The Orchid Hunter was a pleasure to read. Jill Marie Landis is one of my favorite authors and like her other books this one had the right mix of romance, heartbreak, family secrets and laugh out load moments. From the very beginning you know Trevor is lost as soon as he meets Joya.
But you can not be sure what the family secrets are going to reveal. The scene in the millhouse and one of the wedding nights had me laughing so much my husband asked what I was reading. Joya's pure heart and honesty was so refreshing. Jill Marie Landis describes the settings so that you feel you are right there with all the sights, sounds and smells of the jungle. I would recoomend this to anyone one who wants to escape to a beautiful tropical island....even if it is just for a few days.
But you can not be sure what the family secrets are going to reveal. The scene in the millhouse and one of the wedding nights had me laughing so much my husband asked what I was reading. Joya's pure heart and honesty was so refreshing. Jill Marie Landis describes the settings so that you feel you are right there with all the sights, sounds and smells of the jungle. I would recoomend this to anyone one who wants to escape to a beautiful tropical island....even if it is just for a few days.
September 19, 2012
Me and my sister both read this one in high school to see what romance novels are all about. Apparently they're awful.I'm sorry, I just couldn't get over the fact that the Orchid Hunter could have sex with his adopted sister's long lost IDENTICAL twin. He keeps telling himself she looks nothing like her, because she's more tanned. Okay, but you recognized her likeness right away! He must have a secret thing for his sister, like Richie Tenenbaum. If you are into reading ridiculous books for lulz, this might amuse you. But after awhile I got really tired of the heroine, who acts like an idiot child.
February 1, 2011
***** "Orchid Hunter" by Jill Landis is a favorite 1850 Victorian romance for many reasons, some personal. I too have identical twin sisters, blond and blue-eyed. We have experienced "How often ... are secrets kept ... and bad decisions made in the name of love?"
The girl was raised to run wild on an isolated tropical isle. The man was raised in London to run the family business. Both are orchid hunters. Both have unknown family secrets. Landis writes a twisting tale of passion, humor, an imaginary native culture, and clever independent men and women.
The girl was raised to run wild on an isolated tropical isle. The man was raised in London to run the family business. Both are orchid hunters. Both have unknown family secrets. Landis writes a twisting tale of passion, humor, an imaginary native culture, and clever independent men and women.
April 3, 2015
Excellent Writing!! I'm not a fan of fiction at all, but a friend dared me to read this book. I was delighted to say the least. This book was well written; I could not put this book down. The book kept me wondering what would happen next. There were great cultural inferences and some sexually explicit content but it was written in a very classy manner. The problem that I had was that the story didn't seem realistic. I don't like the feeling of living on Fantasy Island.
April 30, 2015
Excellent Writing!! I'm not a fan of fiction at all, but a friend dared me to read this book. I was delighted to say the least. This book was well written; I could not put this book down. The book kept me wondering what would happen next. There were great cultural inferences and some sexually explicit content but it was written in a very classy manner. The problem that I had was that the story didn't seem realistic. I don't like the feeling of living on Fantasy Island.
October 24, 2012
I read this a very long time ago & this story has stuck with me because it was just a great book! It made me laugh, it made me cry but most importantly, it made me remember. After all, as an author (i would imagine) at the end of a novel, don't we all want our stories to be remembered and live on?....
February 4, 2015
Wonderfully written story!!! Trevor goes to Africa to find the elusive orchid hunter Dustin Penn. He not only finds him but a woman who could be his adopted sisters twin (Joya). You have laughter, intrigue, secrets and so much more all wrapped up in a great read!!! You have Lust, Laughter and Live!!!
December 10, 2011
Once in a while you read a book that is fantastic and it is one that you will never forget. The Orchid Hunter by Jill Marie Landis is one such book. How can an English gentleman and a girl from native islands ever suit? Read Jill Landis' book to find out.
August 15, 2022
Was good nothing to complain about other than a lot of insight into certain characters who take advantage of other people so sad how rape culture Is romanticized thank you for bringing up Trevor to defend Joya
November 21, 2012
Cute fun fast read.
March 24, 2014
Typical bla bla romance where you know the ending after the first chapter.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews