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The Orchid Sister
From the bestselling author of The Halo Effect comes a heart-racing novel of love, suspense, and the unbreakable bond between sisters.
The people you love are taken from you. That’s what Maddie DiMarco learned when she survived the plane crash that killed her parents. Fifteen years later, the scars remain. And the ones no can see are hardest to heal. Since the accident, Maddie’s avoided the unpredictable and uncaring outside world, including any relationships—except for the one with her devoted older sister, Kat, who has always been there for her.
When Maddie meets handsome pilot Jack Moroni, she finally begins to let down her guard. But just as quickly, her hope and trust are once again shattered when a plane crash forces her to revisit her traumatic past. Maddie turns to her sister for comfort and guidance, only to realize that Kat is missing.
But Kat hasn’t vanished without a trace. An investigative journalist, she’s left behind a subtle trail of clues leading to the mysterious, myth-shrouded Yucatán coast of Mexico. To follow it, Maddie must confront her deepest fears—of flying, of intimacy, and of loss. She hopes that in doing so, she will find her sister. And if she’s lucky, she may also find herself along the way.
The people you love are taken from you. That’s what Maddie DiMarco learned when she survived the plane crash that killed her parents. Fifteen years later, the scars remain. And the ones no can see are hardest to heal. Since the accident, Maddie’s avoided the unpredictable and uncaring outside world, including any relationships—except for the one with her devoted older sister, Kat, who has always been there for her.
When Maddie meets handsome pilot Jack Moroni, she finally begins to let down her guard. But just as quickly, her hope and trust are once again shattered when a plane crash forces her to revisit her traumatic past. Maddie turns to her sister for comfort and guidance, only to realize that Kat is missing.
But Kat hasn’t vanished without a trace. An investigative journalist, she’s left behind a subtle trail of clues leading to the mysterious, myth-shrouded Yucatán coast of Mexico. To follow it, Maddie must confront her deepest fears—of flying, of intimacy, and of loss. She hopes that in doing so, she will find her sister. And if she’s lucky, she may also find herself along the way.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 7, 2019
624 people are currently reading
2240 people want to read
About the author
Anne D. LeClaire
30 books99 followersI grew up on a farm in a small town in Western Massachusetts, the middle of three daughters of a school teacher mother and an electrician father. I was the family "story-teller," not always meant in the good way. In fact, I love that while I was once punished for making up stories, I now get paid for it.
Okay, so I was a small town girl. But my ambitions were as fanciful as they were impractical. My early career choices were fueled by dreams nurtured in our town library where books fired my imagination. At various times I dreamt of being an FBI agent, a girl detective, a pilot, a spy and a cow girl.
I'm a graduate of the MacDuffie School in Springfield, Massachusetts and an alumna of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams, Massachusetts and Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.
I met my future husband, Hillary, while on summer break from college. It's a classic summer story. Co-ed goes to Cape Cod for a summer job, meets and falls in love with a native and ends up living on the Cape. We now live in the seaside village of South Chatham and have two children, Hope D’Avril and Christopher, and sixteen chickens.
While raising a family, I was no closer to being the F.B.I. agent or cowgirl but did work as a radio broadcaster, an actress, a journalist and a correspondent for The Boston Globe. My work appeared in The New York Times, Redbook, and Yankee magazine, among others.
It wasn't until 1983 that, pursuing a long-held dream and encouraged by the fiction editor of Yankee, I quit my journalism jobs and began a novel, Land’s End, which was published by Bantam Books in 1985. I have since written eight other novels, including the critically acclaimed Entering Normal, The Lavender Hour, and Leaving Eden. My work has been published in many countries including Great Britain, Italy, Greece, France, Japan, Germany, Portugal, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Czechoslovakia, Slovakia, Netherlands, Brazil and Israel.
My first book-length non-fiction, Listening Below the Noise, is a meditation on the practice of silence. In addition to novels and the memoir, I write short stories and essays. I also teach and lecture here and abroad on the creative process, as well as on the practice of silence. I have taught creative writing on Cape Cod, in France, Ireland and Jamaica, at the Maui Writers Conference, and to women in prison.
My essays have been included in a number of anthologies, among them I’ve Always Meant to Tell You, Letters to Our Mothers: An Anthology of Contemporary Women Writers; From Daughters and Sons to Fathers: What I’ve Never Said; and A Sense of Place: An Anthology of Cape Women Writers.
My interests are gardening, yoga, theater, travel and aviation (I am a private pilot). I'm also interested in genealogy and am a cousin of the poet Emily Dickinson.
Okay, so I was a small town girl. But my ambitions were as fanciful as they were impractical. My early career choices were fueled by dreams nurtured in our town library where books fired my imagination. At various times I dreamt of being an FBI agent, a girl detective, a pilot, a spy and a cow girl.
I'm a graduate of the MacDuffie School in Springfield, Massachusetts and an alumna of Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, North Adams, Massachusetts and Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.
I met my future husband, Hillary, while on summer break from college. It's a classic summer story. Co-ed goes to Cape Cod for a summer job, meets and falls in love with a native and ends up living on the Cape. We now live in the seaside village of South Chatham and have two children, Hope D’Avril and Christopher, and sixteen chickens.
While raising a family, I was no closer to being the F.B.I. agent or cowgirl but did work as a radio broadcaster, an actress, a journalist and a correspondent for The Boston Globe. My work appeared in The New York Times, Redbook, and Yankee magazine, among others.
It wasn't until 1983 that, pursuing a long-held dream and encouraged by the fiction editor of Yankee, I quit my journalism jobs and began a novel, Land’s End, which was published by Bantam Books in 1985. I have since written eight other novels, including the critically acclaimed Entering Normal, The Lavender Hour, and Leaving Eden. My work has been published in many countries including Great Britain, Italy, Greece, France, Japan, Germany, Portugal, Poland, Russia, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Czechoslovakia, Slovakia, Netherlands, Brazil and Israel.
My first book-length non-fiction, Listening Below the Noise, is a meditation on the practice of silence. In addition to novels and the memoir, I write short stories and essays. I also teach and lecture here and abroad on the creative process, as well as on the practice of silence. I have taught creative writing on Cape Cod, in France, Ireland and Jamaica, at the Maui Writers Conference, and to women in prison.
My essays have been included in a number of anthologies, among them I’ve Always Meant to Tell You, Letters to Our Mothers: An Anthology of Contemporary Women Writers; From Daughters and Sons to Fathers: What I’ve Never Said; and A Sense of Place: An Anthology of Cape Women Writers.
My interests are gardening, yoga, theater, travel and aviation (I am a private pilot). I'm also interested in genealogy and am a cousin of the poet Emily Dickinson.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
June 8, 2019
“Everyone has scars, Maddie. They just hide them in different ways.”
Beautifully written and with a vague hint of lore and mystery, The Orchid Sister was simply magical. In the wake of a challenging upbringing, two sisters prove that their bond is greater than the bad things that come their way. This suspenseful women’s fiction novel is a beautiful story, and one with many layers.
About the Book
The girl with the scars. The girl with many masks. Maddie has many names, and many ways she is described by others. It is hard for people to see past the scars that Maddie wears, marks from the plane crash that killed her parents. Marks of a survivor, though they don’t always feel that way. When Maddie met Jack, handsome and adventurous, she fell for him quickly. Jack was one of the first men that didn’t recoil from her scars. He sees Maddie as the beautiful person she is, inside and out. Her scars are just on display.
Maddie is fascinated with masks, and she also creates her own masks. Perhaps this is part of her healing, a way to show that the outward appearance often hides who someone is. But the masks also have so much meaning, and Maddie is fascinated by the way different cultures create and use masks. The symbolism and the work that goes into them lends to the magical and ethereal quality. And of course, the masks also have symbolism in this book!
Maddie’s sister Kat has disappeared, and though the police initially doubt Maddie’s insistence that something happened to her sister, Maddie knows it to be true. It is the kind of thing you can feel when you have a bond like Maddie and Kat. But of course, we know where Kat is, because half of the chapters are told from Kat’s perspective. And the more we learn about where Kat is, the more sinister it becomes…
Reflection
There are eventually 5 narrators to this novel, though Maddie and Kat narrate the most chapters. Structurally the changes between the storylines kept it engaging. I ended up listening to the audiobook for this one, and all of the voice actors were fantastic. It made it so easy to follow whose chapter it was. Each was very unique, as were the stories they had to tell!
A good portion of the book takes place in the Yucatan in Mexico, and it really is the sort of book that transports you there. I loved the local lore that surrounded Kat’s disappearance and discovery. There was a dark, mystical quality to this mystery that leant to the atmospheric feel of the book. Wonderful!
Many thanks to Lake Union publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own.
Beautifully written and with a vague hint of lore and mystery, The Orchid Sister was simply magical. In the wake of a challenging upbringing, two sisters prove that their bond is greater than the bad things that come their way. This suspenseful women’s fiction novel is a beautiful story, and one with many layers.
About the Book
The girl with the scars. The girl with many masks. Maddie has many names, and many ways she is described by others. It is hard for people to see past the scars that Maddie wears, marks from the plane crash that killed her parents. Marks of a survivor, though they don’t always feel that way. When Maddie met Jack, handsome and adventurous, she fell for him quickly. Jack was one of the first men that didn’t recoil from her scars. He sees Maddie as the beautiful person she is, inside and out. Her scars are just on display.
Maddie is fascinated with masks, and she also creates her own masks. Perhaps this is part of her healing, a way to show that the outward appearance often hides who someone is. But the masks also have so much meaning, and Maddie is fascinated by the way different cultures create and use masks. The symbolism and the work that goes into them lends to the magical and ethereal quality. And of course, the masks also have symbolism in this book!
Maddie’s sister Kat has disappeared, and though the police initially doubt Maddie’s insistence that something happened to her sister, Maddie knows it to be true. It is the kind of thing you can feel when you have a bond like Maddie and Kat. But of course, we know where Kat is, because half of the chapters are told from Kat’s perspective. And the more we learn about where Kat is, the more sinister it becomes…
Reflection
There are eventually 5 narrators to this novel, though Maddie and Kat narrate the most chapters. Structurally the changes between the storylines kept it engaging. I ended up listening to the audiobook for this one, and all of the voice actors were fantastic. It made it so easy to follow whose chapter it was. Each was very unique, as were the stories they had to tell!
A good portion of the book takes place in the Yucatan in Mexico, and it really is the sort of book that transports you there. I loved the local lore that surrounded Kat’s disappearance and discovery. There was a dark, mystical quality to this mystery that leant to the atmospheric feel of the book. Wonderful!
Many thanks to Lake Union publishing for my copy. Opinions are my own.
March 24, 2020
📚 Series: No.
📚 Genre: Mystery.
📚 Cliffhanger: No.
⚠ Content Warnings: Plane crash. Dealing with death. Fire burns. Abortion.
⚠ Read if: you are a fan of mysteries with a hint of magic/folklore.
The Orchid Sister was one of the first books I was approved for on Netgalley. Unfortunately, it was buried under my TBR mountain and I was unable to come back to it until recently.
This book gave me a touch of mystery, family, romance, self-love, fantasy, folklore, trauma, and courage. Going in, I was expecting nothing, but I was enraptured with this world and felt for the characters.
From the first chapter alone, this story has proved to be very intriguing. I enjoyed the pacing and the different revelations you will find as you go. I was fascinated by the overall plot points of this novel, and I was not expecting that this was where I will be brought by this read.
Overall, an absolutely amazing read!
☁ THE CRITERIA ☁
🌼 Blurb:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Main Character:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Significant Other: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Character Development:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Thrill Factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Romance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Unputdownability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
☁FINAL VERDICT: 4.41/5 ☁
Much thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and opinions are fully my own. Also, all quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.
📚 Blog ♡ Bookstagram ♡ Facebook ♡ Twitter 📚
📚 Genre: Mystery.
📚 Cliffhanger: No.
⚠ Content Warnings: Plane crash. Dealing with death. Fire burns. Abortion.
⚠ Read if: you are a fan of mysteries with a hint of magic/folklore.
The Orchid Sister was one of the first books I was approved for on Netgalley. Unfortunately, it was buried under my TBR mountain and I was unable to come back to it until recently.
This book gave me a touch of mystery, family, romance, self-love, fantasy, folklore, trauma, and courage. Going in, I was expecting nothing, but I was enraptured with this world and felt for the characters.
From the first chapter alone, this story has proved to be very intriguing. I enjoyed the pacing and the different revelations you will find as you go. I was fascinated by the overall plot points of this novel, and I was not expecting that this was where I will be brought by this read.
Overall, an absolutely amazing read!
☁ THE CRITERIA ☁
🌼 Blurb:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Main Character:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Significant Other: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Character Development:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Thrill Factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Romance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌼 Unputdownability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
☁FINAL VERDICT: 4.41/5 ☁
Much thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and opinions are fully my own. Also, all quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.
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May 24, 2020
August 12, 2019
Let me start by saying that overall I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed the characters and their POVs. There were many unique stories that all intertwine in the end. This is a story that starts with the backstory of the sisters, Maddie and Kat, whose parents were killed in a plane crash. Maddie was also involved in that crash but survives, spending months in the burn unit going through difficult treatment and being left with scars that she must live with forever. It is clear from the beginning that the two sisters are extremely close as a result of these events so that when Kat doesn't call or contact Maddie for several week, it is obvious to her that something is not right.
I thought the author did a thorough job of detailing how Maddie would go about hunting for her sister and what might clue her into there being a problem.
The issues I had with the story were 1) some pacing issues, seemed like a lot of detail in some areas and not enough in others, 2) If someone is missing, why would any solo female go off alone when she has a trusted male friend to help (in a foreign country no less) and 3) ending felt rushed compared to the build-up.
I liked the book and I am glad that I read it but there were small issues for my taste.
#TheOrchidSister #NetGalley #LakeUnionPublishing
I thought the author did a thorough job of detailing how Maddie would go about hunting for her sister and what might clue her into there being a problem.
The issues I had with the story were 1) some pacing issues, seemed like a lot of detail in some areas and not enough in others, 2) If someone is missing, why would any solo female go off alone when she has a trusted male friend to help (in a foreign country no less) and 3) ending felt rushed compared to the build-up.
I liked the book and I am glad that I read it but there were small issues for my taste.
#TheOrchidSister #NetGalley #LakeUnionPublishing
May 14, 2019
The Orchid Sister was an alright book, but one I know I'll essentially not remember reading in a year or two. However, I guess I can say it simply didn't quite speak to me, but it might speak to you. At first, I wasn't too invested, but after reading about a third I decided that I'll stick with it to the end because I just want to find out what happens to the characters. You could say this is one of those steady books where everything is written quite simply and it progresses smoothly, there are no slumps in the storytelling or anything like that. But at the same time, there are no real tense moments either. For me, it lacked a spark. It's both a story of sisterly love, as well as a story of moving on. Perhaps it was just that there were too many things it was trying to talk about. Anyway, I find that I have nothing to say in the review, and I guess that tells a story on its own.
Triggers include: PTSD, missing persons, plane crashes, fire and severe burns, family members dying in accidents (these are not spoilers, they're part of the setting). One spoilery one:
I thank the publisher for giving me a review of the ebook through NetGalley in exchange to an honest review. It has not affected my opinion.
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Triggers include: PTSD, missing persons, plane crashes, fire and severe burns, family members dying in accidents (these are not spoilers, they're part of the setting). One spoilery one:
I thank the publisher for giving me a review of the ebook through NetGalley in exchange to an honest review. It has not affected my opinion.
Book Blog | Bookstagram | Bookish Twitter
May 13, 2019
I haven’t picked up anything by this author, Anne D. LeClaire before I chose to read her latest novel THE ORCHID SISTER. I selected this to read because I liked the interesting premise and I was attracted by the beautiful cover design. I can’t resist a novel which is about sisters, although don’t ask me why!
After her parents were killed in a plane crash, Maddie decided that she no longer wanted to be close to anyone again except her sister, Kat. Growing up, the two girls had always been there for one another. Now, Maddie has decided to risk her heart by forming a relationship with Jack, a pilot, but another plane crash devastates her all over again. She needs Kat, but her sister, a journalist followed a story to the Yucatan and is now missing. Maddie must confront her greatest fear and board a plane, perhaps to find that the one person she had left has gone forever.
The intriguing story-line totally captured my attention from the start as I found myself transported to a different world, planting me firmly into the life of Maddie. With perfect pacing, I was totally absorbed all the way through, until the fulfilling conclusion. The author’s writing style was very appealing, brilliantly encapsulating the core of the scenes that I was visualising whilst reading. Anne D. LeClaire’s special way with the narrative made this complex and enthralling novel quite distinct.
Overall, THE ORCHID SISTER is a very worthwhile read with loads of raw emotion and plenty of heartache and relationship dynamics to unearth. If you’re a fan of general or women’s fiction you should really read this captivating and wonderful book!
Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author, Anne D. LeClaire, for my complimentary copy of The Orchid Sister. My honest review is entirely voluntary.
After her parents were killed in a plane crash, Maddie decided that she no longer wanted to be close to anyone again except her sister, Kat. Growing up, the two girls had always been there for one another. Now, Maddie has decided to risk her heart by forming a relationship with Jack, a pilot, but another plane crash devastates her all over again. She needs Kat, but her sister, a journalist followed a story to the Yucatan and is now missing. Maddie must confront her greatest fear and board a plane, perhaps to find that the one person she had left has gone forever.
The intriguing story-line totally captured my attention from the start as I found myself transported to a different world, planting me firmly into the life of Maddie. With perfect pacing, I was totally absorbed all the way through, until the fulfilling conclusion. The author’s writing style was very appealing, brilliantly encapsulating the core of the scenes that I was visualising whilst reading. Anne D. LeClaire’s special way with the narrative made this complex and enthralling novel quite distinct.
Overall, THE ORCHID SISTER is a very worthwhile read with loads of raw emotion and plenty of heartache and relationship dynamics to unearth. If you’re a fan of general or women’s fiction you should really read this captivating and wonderful book!
Thanks to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author, Anne D. LeClaire, for my complimentary copy of The Orchid Sister. My honest review is entirely voluntary.
April 12, 2019
The bond between the two sisters, Madison and Kat, was a powerful one. Since the death of their parents years before in a plane crash, they were the only family that remained. Given this attachment, it made sense that Madison would become alarmed at her sister's extended absence. Unfortunately, there were other things about the book that just didn't make sense to me. Also, I felt like I was being "told" things throughout the book instead of seeing them happen or feeling them through the character's perspective. Because of this, I had a difficult time connecting with the characters. I should point out that this is my personal opinion though and the things that bothered me may not bother someone else. That said, I stuck with the book because I did find the overall plot intriguing and wanted to see how things played out and were resolved. I'm glad I did as I was satisfied with the ending of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 21, 2019
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Warning: the entirety of this review contains spoilers
Writing a book about pregnant brown women (pregnant brown teens!) being forced to abort their babies so the fetuses might be used to rejuvenate white women is never a good idea. It’s most certainly not a story a white woman should write.
Let’s go by parts. The book is told from multiple perspectives, with the main ones being Maddie’s and Kat’s. The supporting cast consists of multiple Mexican characters, and I swear I wanted to pull out my hair every time I started reading one of their chapters.
The “Spanglish” in which it’s narrated was incredibly irritating and distracting, it severely ruined the prose in my opinion, because it was pointless and added nothing to the characters - saying “calle” or saying “street” is the same, saying “padre” and saying “father” is the same, saying “cerveza” and saying “beer” is the same, et cetera. Adding the words doesn’t make the characters any more Latino than they already are - and neither does their exotification and their obsession with mysticism.
As a matter of fact, that only adds to the pile of already-there offensive stereotypes: cheating men, “temptress” women, “magical” old ladies, and characters with visions to the past in which the protagonists are being sacrificed to the gods. Nothing I, as a Latina woman, appreciate.
I don’t appreciate the main characters, either. They are meant to be women with careers, smart and sharp, yet they are so incredibly dumb it’s mind-blowing. An example: when Madison realizes Kat has gone missing and calls the police, she lies to them about having talked with Kat’s doctor. When she finds evidence that her sister might be having drug problems, she hides it and keeps it to herself. She ditches Jack in Mexico to go look into the mysterious spa-slash-clinic that the cab driver is too scared to see - and she goes without any way of communicating with the outside world.
And not just Maddie, oh, no, Kat is just as bad. Going back to get the treatment that’s aging her instead of making her look younger, blindly trusting the shady doctor with armed guards outside of his spa, ruining her first chance at escape by swallowing the pill she could’ve hidden in her mouth (as she did later, once the chance had been thrown away), not telling absolutely anyone where she was going… Do I need to go on? Most of the problems these people have would’ve been easily fixed if they had just talked to each other.
Frankly, the best thing about this book is the bond between the sisters. It was made believable, they obviously loved each other and I really appreciate that. I just wish the Mexico plot and characters had been better handled, because that way this would have been a completely different story.
Thank you to the publisher for giving me a free ARC in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts expressed here are my own.
Warning: the entirety of this review contains spoilers
Writing a book about pregnant brown women (pregnant brown teens!) being forced to abort their babies so the fetuses might be used to rejuvenate white women is never a good idea. It’s most certainly not a story a white woman should write.
Let’s go by parts. The book is told from multiple perspectives, with the main ones being Maddie’s and Kat’s. The supporting cast consists of multiple Mexican characters, and I swear I wanted to pull out my hair every time I started reading one of their chapters.
The “Spanglish” in which it’s narrated was incredibly irritating and distracting, it severely ruined the prose in my opinion, because it was pointless and added nothing to the characters - saying “calle” or saying “street” is the same, saying “padre” and saying “father” is the same, saying “cerveza” and saying “beer” is the same, et cetera. Adding the words doesn’t make the characters any more Latino than they already are - and neither does their exotification and their obsession with mysticism.
As a matter of fact, that only adds to the pile of already-there offensive stereotypes: cheating men, “temptress” women, “magical” old ladies, and characters with visions to the past in which the protagonists are being sacrificed to the gods. Nothing I, as a Latina woman, appreciate.
I don’t appreciate the main characters, either. They are meant to be women with careers, smart and sharp, yet they are so incredibly dumb it’s mind-blowing. An example: when Madison realizes Kat has gone missing and calls the police, she lies to them about having talked with Kat’s doctor. When she finds evidence that her sister might be having drug problems, she hides it and keeps it to herself. She ditches Jack in Mexico to go look into the mysterious spa-slash-clinic that the cab driver is too scared to see - and she goes without any way of communicating with the outside world.
And not just Maddie, oh, no, Kat is just as bad. Going back to get the treatment that’s aging her instead of making her look younger, blindly trusting the shady doctor with armed guards outside of his spa, ruining her first chance at escape by swallowing the pill she could’ve hidden in her mouth (as she did later, once the chance had been thrown away), not telling absolutely anyone where she was going… Do I need to go on? Most of the problems these people have would’ve been easily fixed if they had just talked to each other.
Frankly, the best thing about this book is the bond between the sisters. It was made believable, they obviously loved each other and I really appreciate that. I just wish the Mexico plot and characters had been better handled, because that way this would have been a completely different story.
Thank you to the publisher for giving me a free ARC in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts expressed here are my own.
January 17, 2019
The Orchid Sister is a poignant story of fear and love. Maddie loses her parents in a plane crash. She still has her sister, Kat. Imagine two against the world. Such an unbreakable bond forms between the sisters. Maddie wants nothing to do with any other relationships. Years later, Maddie opens her heart to a man. Unfortunately, more tragedy for Maddie, and her sister is missing. Maddie must confront every fear now. She must fly in a plane. She must face the fact that her sister may be gone forever. It's gut wrenching to even think about the choices Maddie makes. The bond between sisters made her a strong woman who can face these challenges. Will she find Kat? This is a tragic yet lovely story. The characters are loveable and engaging. I recommend for anyone who enjoys a good read that you can't put down. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
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May 8, 2019A heartbreaking and intriguing read. This is my first opportunity to read Anne D. LeClaire and I’m super excited to continue! I’m only a few chapters in and I’m already trying to sneak in more reading time. A big thank you to @lakeunionauthors and @amazonpublishing for sending it my way.
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January 5, 2019
I feel like I didn't really connect with this book as much as others had. The plot sounded interesting, but when I started the book, I was immediately bothered by how frequently the author used pronouns and how similar every sentence sounded. It didn't flow well to me, and that very much affected how I saw the rest of the book. Every sentence would somehow be like "He told..", "He saw...", "He said.....," and it really started getting annoying about 20% through.
The plot still remains interesting to me, and I recognize that a lot of people like this author's writing style– it just wasn't my taste. I felt like the insta-love was very strong on this novel, and it kinda overshadowed the sisterly love that I was expecting.
The plot still remains interesting to me, and I recognize that a lot of people like this author's writing style– it just wasn't my taste. I felt like the insta-love was very strong on this novel, and it kinda overshadowed the sisterly love that I was expecting.
June 7, 2019
The build up was incredible in this book but when you finally get to the climax it was over within pages which seemed a shame; a bit of an anti climax I thought
May 7, 2019
Brief synopsis from the book cover:
The people you love are taken from you. That’s what Maddie DiMarco learned when she survived the plane crash that killed her parents. Fifteen years later, the scars remain. And the ones no can see are hardest to heal. Since the accident, Maddie’s avoided the unpredictable and uncaring outside world, including any relationships—except for the one with her devoted older sister, Kat, who has always been there for her.
When Maddie meets handsome pilot Jack Moroni, she finally begins to let down her guard. But just as quickly, her hope and trust are once again shattered when a plane crash forces her to revisit her traumatic past. Maddie turns to her sister for comfort and guidance, only to realize that Kat is missing.
But Kat hasn’t vanished without a trace. An investigative journalist, she’s left behind a subtle trail of clues leading to the mysterious, myth-shrouded Yucatán coast of Mexico. To follow it, Maddie must confront her deepest fears—of flying, of intimacy, and of loss. She hopes that in doing so, she will find her sister. And if she’s lucky, she may also find herself along the way.
My rating:
Story: 4 out of 5 stars
Writing: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Character development: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
Review:
This is a poignant story about the bond between two sisters and how the main character Maddie has to overcome her fears in order to find her sister. The relationship between the sisters is described vividly and is realistic. The story is suspenseful and nail biting at times. It was hard to put the book down.
After I finished the book I felt that the story of Maddie and Kat was a little bit unfinished something was missing.
It would have been nice if the author would have gone into a bit more detail about the past. Explain how the plane crash happened Maddie was in all those years ago.
How did Kat get into the clinic and what happened there? This would have strengthened both story and the character development and also made their actions more realistic.
Overall this is a nice story well worth reading.
I received an ARC through Netgalley at no cost to me.
The people you love are taken from you. That’s what Maddie DiMarco learned when she survived the plane crash that killed her parents. Fifteen years later, the scars remain. And the ones no can see are hardest to heal. Since the accident, Maddie’s avoided the unpredictable and uncaring outside world, including any relationships—except for the one with her devoted older sister, Kat, who has always been there for her.
When Maddie meets handsome pilot Jack Moroni, she finally begins to let down her guard. But just as quickly, her hope and trust are once again shattered when a plane crash forces her to revisit her traumatic past. Maddie turns to her sister for comfort and guidance, only to realize that Kat is missing.
But Kat hasn’t vanished without a trace. An investigative journalist, she’s left behind a subtle trail of clues leading to the mysterious, myth-shrouded Yucatán coast of Mexico. To follow it, Maddie must confront her deepest fears—of flying, of intimacy, and of loss. She hopes that in doing so, she will find her sister. And if she’s lucky, she may also find herself along the way.
My rating:
Story: 4 out of 5 stars
Writing: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Character development: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars
Review:
This is a poignant story about the bond between two sisters and how the main character Maddie has to overcome her fears in order to find her sister. The relationship between the sisters is described vividly and is realistic. The story is suspenseful and nail biting at times. It was hard to put the book down.
After I finished the book I felt that the story of Maddie and Kat was a little bit unfinished something was missing.
It would have been nice if the author would have gone into a bit more detail about the past. Explain how the plane crash happened Maddie was in all those years ago.
How did Kat get into the clinic and what happened there? This would have strengthened both story and the character development and also made their actions more realistic.
Overall this is a nice story well worth reading.
I received an ARC through Netgalley at no cost to me.
May 6, 2019
Rating 3.5 stars!
When I saw this cover, I was in love......it's beautiful.... I couldn't help myself from requesting the opportunity to read and review it from NetGalley, so I was happy to see I was approved.
Kathrine ("Kat") is Madison's older sister, who cared for Madison ("Maddie") as she survived and suffered horrible burns and injuries in a plane crash that killed their parents. The Orchid Sister is a story of two sisters who share a bond strengthened by loss and hardship. Readers learn about each sister and understand each of their feelings.
The sisters are older now and Maddie is an artist who makes expressive masks. She lives alone with her cat, Winks, and lives a very peaceful and secluded life. Kat is a freelance journalist who travels extensively tracking down stories for the news. She's often on secret assignment and while doing so, she goes missing. Maddie must face the fact that her sister may be gone forever.
The story then shifts to Maddie overcoming her fears and flying out to try and find her sister. I won't post spoilers, but Maddie has to seek out clues in order to find out what has happened to Kat in Mexico.
I loved the bond between the sisters. The author made it very believable, and they obviously loved each other. This is a tragic yet beautiful story. The characters are believable and engaging. I recommend The Orchid Sister anyone who enjoys a good read that you can't put down.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary digital copy of this book that I received from Lake Union and NetGalley. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
When I saw this cover, I was in love......it's beautiful.... I couldn't help myself from requesting the opportunity to read and review it from NetGalley, so I was happy to see I was approved.
Kathrine ("Kat") is Madison's older sister, who cared for Madison ("Maddie") as she survived and suffered horrible burns and injuries in a plane crash that killed their parents. The Orchid Sister is a story of two sisters who share a bond strengthened by loss and hardship. Readers learn about each sister and understand each of their feelings.
The sisters are older now and Maddie is an artist who makes expressive masks. She lives alone with her cat, Winks, and lives a very peaceful and secluded life. Kat is a freelance journalist who travels extensively tracking down stories for the news. She's often on secret assignment and while doing so, she goes missing. Maddie must face the fact that her sister may be gone forever.
The story then shifts to Maddie overcoming her fears and flying out to try and find her sister. I won't post spoilers, but Maddie has to seek out clues in order to find out what has happened to Kat in Mexico.
I loved the bond between the sisters. The author made it very believable, and they obviously loved each other. This is a tragic yet beautiful story. The characters are believable and engaging. I recommend The Orchid Sister anyone who enjoys a good read that you can't put down.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary digital copy of this book that I received from Lake Union and NetGalley. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
January 23, 2019
The Orchid Sister by author Anne D. LeClaire is very interesting and I enjoyed it from beginning to the end! It starts with a mysterious chapter which is narrated through Tia Clara and the thoughts and dreams she experiences of lost girls and a scarred woman of many masks. She has lived for many years in her little house along the coast of Mexico and has sadly watched the little village change as tourism grows.
Madison and Kathrine are sisters who live in the eastern US. Kathrine is the oldest and cared for Madison as she survived and suffered injuries with horrible burns in a plane crash which killed their parents. The girls are older now and Madison is an artist who makes beautiful and very expressive masks. Because of her scars, she prefers to live alone with her cat, Winks and enjoy a peaceful life.
Katherine is a freelance journalist and travels a lot tracking down stories which usually make the news. She is very secretive when she is on assignment for just the right subject in her next expose'.
I won't post spoilers, but Katherine goes missing and Madison must decide what to do to find her sister. She is reluctant to travel, but she must seek clues as to what has happened to Kathrine. There is also a narrative of Katherine as she experiences unthinkable experimental procedures because she asked too many questions!
Publication Date May 7, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Madison and Kathrine are sisters who live in the eastern US. Kathrine is the oldest and cared for Madison as she survived and suffered injuries with horrible burns in a plane crash which killed their parents. The girls are older now and Madison is an artist who makes beautiful and very expressive masks. Because of her scars, she prefers to live alone with her cat, Winks and enjoy a peaceful life.
Katherine is a freelance journalist and travels a lot tracking down stories which usually make the news. She is very secretive when she is on assignment for just the right subject in her next expose'.
I won't post spoilers, but Katherine goes missing and Madison must decide what to do to find her sister. She is reluctant to travel, but she must seek clues as to what has happened to Kathrine. There is also a narrative of Katherine as she experiences unthinkable experimental procedures because she asked too many questions!
Publication Date May 7, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 5, 2019
I was a little wary of this book based on the first chapter, but I am glad I gave it a shot. It is a simple story (in some ways) of two sisters who share a bond which has been strengthened by loss and hardship. We get equal time with each sister to understand their current situation.
One sister is caught in a trap and the other starts a hunt to find her. There are men and other supporting cast thrown in for good measure but they were quite interesting, sometimes I liked them more than the leading ladies. The rest of the story is punctuated by other characters who are also living in the same town in Mexico and they are placed strategically to try to confuse us about the solution. The relationships and the emotional quotient of the book were satisfying but as a thriller/mystery, it did not work since we are aware of the background from the beginning. There is the extra tale of another pair of sisters that does not end as happily as our main protagonists which adds to this book's status as a family drama than anything else. It was well narrated and overall a pretty interesting read
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely made up of my own reading experience.
One sister is caught in a trap and the other starts a hunt to find her. There are men and other supporting cast thrown in for good measure but they were quite interesting, sometimes I liked them more than the leading ladies. The rest of the story is punctuated by other characters who are also living in the same town in Mexico and they are placed strategically to try to confuse us about the solution. The relationships and the emotional quotient of the book were satisfying but as a thriller/mystery, it did not work since we are aware of the background from the beginning. There is the extra tale of another pair of sisters that does not end as happily as our main protagonists which adds to this book's status as a family drama than anything else. It was well narrated and overall a pretty interesting read
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely made up of my own reading experience.
June 27, 2019
The beginning of this book starts off well and draws you in. Kat and Maddie are sisters who lost their parents to a fiery plane crash that Maddie survived. For years, Kat has been Maddie’s rock - now, she’s missing.
Following Maddie’s journey to find her sister and overcome her fears and trauma is inspiring. The love she finds and fears letting in along the way is something I empathize with. Trauma will do that to someone. Also interesting is that Maddie is an artist, known for creating masks, which is a motif used throughout the novel.
Told by 5 different narrators, LeClaire does a wonderful job creating different voices and capturing a beautiful culture. However, I believe that the several narrators convoluted some important character building. I felt like there was a lot of build up and not enough actual story. There was so much more that could have been done with these beautiful characters, and it all felt so stunted. The end, especially, felt rushed.
All in all, it’s a fine read. I think it could have been better, and it may be more for other readers than me, but I really wanted to like this more than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!
Following Maddie’s journey to find her sister and overcome her fears and trauma is inspiring. The love she finds and fears letting in along the way is something I empathize with. Trauma will do that to someone. Also interesting is that Maddie is an artist, known for creating masks, which is a motif used throughout the novel.
Told by 5 different narrators, LeClaire does a wonderful job creating different voices and capturing a beautiful culture. However, I believe that the several narrators convoluted some important character building. I felt like there was a lot of build up and not enough actual story. There was so much more that could have been done with these beautiful characters, and it all felt so stunted. The end, especially, felt rushed.
All in all, it’s a fine read. I think it could have been better, and it may be more for other readers than me, but I really wanted to like this more than I did.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!
May 13, 2019
Anne LeClaire has done it again. The Orchid Sister is tightly plotted and beautifully written. Her prose flows gracefully, full of vivid images but never overdone. Her primary characters, two sisters named Kat and Maddie, have a complex history in which Kat took care of Maddie after a tragic accident, and now it’s Maddie’s turn, upending her own life to find Kat, who seems to have disappeared. This book classifies as a thriller: it kept me up later than usual several nights in a row and I found myself holding my breath for the last fifty pages or so! There is romance as well, but I was gratified that the men, while helpful, were not “rescuing damsels in distress.” Anne portrays her characters as very human but very resilient. Much of the action takes place in Mexico, and the cast of locals, especially Tia Clara, who reads divination cards on the town square, add flavor and color to the mix. To all the film makers out there: this would make a terrific movie! But for now, know that it’s a compelling read.
June 12, 2019
This was my first Anne D. LeClaire book. I went into it with an open mind. The premise really intrigued me and I thought it would be a book that ended up sticking with me for a long time.
I didn't dislike this book, but I was a little disappointed with it. Perhaps I put too much pressure on it based on my own expectations. Very possible.
I found the first few chapters a little tough to get going and if I had been reading this by my own choice rather than an ARC I may have DNF'd it, as it just wasn't speaking to me. However I powered on and it did get better. It was just a bit of a slow book. There wasn't any major slumps in the writing, apart from the beginning, it just seemed to plod on. But that meant there were no major tense moments either. Nothing that made me desperate to turn the pages.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own and are in no way influenced.
I didn't dislike this book, but I was a little disappointed with it. Perhaps I put too much pressure on it based on my own expectations. Very possible.
I found the first few chapters a little tough to get going and if I had been reading this by my own choice rather than an ARC I may have DNF'd it, as it just wasn't speaking to me. However I powered on and it did get better. It was just a bit of a slow book. There wasn't any major slumps in the writing, apart from the beginning, it just seemed to plod on. But that meant there were no major tense moments either. Nothing that made me desperate to turn the pages.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own and are in no way influenced.
May 1, 2019
Maddie's fear of flying is very real. She's secluded herself away from the world, even as her sister Kat, has reached out. Kat cared for Maddie for years but now she's journeying around the world- and then she goes missing. Maddie's efforts to find her lead Maddie to an inner discovery as well. This is interesting primarily for the story of how a woman overcomes her fears. This took for me at least a surprising turn in the Yucatan. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Well written and....no spoilers.
May 15, 2019
Loved the book. The whole story ended up being unexpected. It definitely held my interest. The stuff people do to stay young is crazy. The plane crash that killed Kat and Maddie's parents was still a bit of mystery to me. Was it ever explained what happened to cause the crash? How did Maddie survive? How was she rescued?? I have so many questions. I felt like I got to know Maddie a lot better than her sister Kat. I do know that Kat doesn't make good choices. She picked all the wrong men and then found herself in some scary Mexican spa. I would have loved to read about her experience at the spa before everything went wrong and then how she discovered the truth about what was happening.
I enjoyed the story, characters and writing style. I loved the whole mystery of Maddie trying to figure out what happened to her sister. I hate when characters go off somewhere and never tell people where they are going. This always leads to something bad happening. Maddie is in another country, her sister is already missing, so what does she do????? She goes off on her own without telling a soul and better yet-- she doesn't own a cell phone. I really enjoyed the book, but the ending seemed rushed. Maddie finally gets to the spa and then it's pretty much over and the story wraps up. Everyone is at the spa, mystery solved and then the story jumps a few months. Kat never really tells her side of what happened. What caused her appearance to change hat drastically.
Definitely recommend the book. I loved the mystery side of the book. Remember to tell people when you go somewhere, in case you get held against your will and need to be saved!!! Just leave a note! ( I read too many of these types of books.) Also LOVED Winks. Looking forward to reading more books by the author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I enjoyed the story, characters and writing style. I loved the whole mystery of Maddie trying to figure out what happened to her sister. I hate when characters go off somewhere and never tell people where they are going. This always leads to something bad happening. Maddie is in another country, her sister is already missing, so what does she do????? She goes off on her own without telling a soul and better yet-- she doesn't own a cell phone. I really enjoyed the book, but the ending seemed rushed. Maddie finally gets to the spa and then it's pretty much over and the story wraps up. Everyone is at the spa, mystery solved and then the story jumps a few months. Kat never really tells her side of what happened. What caused her appearance to change hat drastically.
Definitely recommend the book. I loved the mystery side of the book. Remember to tell people when you go somewhere, in case you get held against your will and need to be saved!!! Just leave a note! ( I read too many of these types of books.) Also LOVED Winks. Looking forward to reading more books by the author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Lake Union Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
June 1, 2019
What happens when you take a creepy spa that has figured out how to reverse aging and combine it with a missing sister, a Mexican witch and a handsome pilot? The relationship between two sisters forms the backbone of this debut novel that weaves between character and place but never lets up on the pedal with its twists and turns. Escape into this fun fiction and enjoy suspense, romance, intrigue and a host of other surprises.
July 22, 2019
Enjoyed first half (I’m a sucker for stories about close sisters) but the last part was just so ridiculous. Why would evil Verner (who’s harvesting fetal tissue for his anti-aging scam) allow Maddie in, especially after they discover she’s not who she says she is. Why would Maddie go without telling anyone? I am willing to suspend belief, but the utter implausibility just ruined the story for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2019
So when I started this book I was thinking wth??? It quickly engrossed me though. I enjoyed Maddie's fighting spirit. I loved Jack's dedication. There are a few things in the book that had me thinking, "ya right", but isn't that always the case in a romance/fictional book?
Overall I would read again... this is a great easy book to read on a vacation or a couple days by the pool.
Overall I would read again... this is a great easy book to read on a vacation or a couple days by the pool.
May 21, 2019
Great read.
On didn't know what to expect when I started reading The Orchid Sister, I got engrossed almost immediately, Each character is brilliantly described in a way so easy to picture. The only negative thing I have is the way it's rounded off so quickly in the last chapter, but I would still definitely recommend reading this.
On didn't know what to expect when I started reading The Orchid Sister, I got engrossed almost immediately, Each character is brilliantly described in a way so easy to picture. The only negative thing I have is the way it's rounded off so quickly in the last chapter, but I would still definitely recommend reading this.
February 23, 2021
Interesting-ish story. Semi-mystery (missing girl), and semi-pseudoscience (pursuit of eternal youth). But not the most clever plot... In fact it sounds more interesting than it is. I vaguely enjoyed it as a light read but didn’t really connect or relate to the characters. Probably wouldn’t recommend it unless you have time to waste.
May 15, 2019
A!though touching on fantasy and magic this novel kept me with it to the end.
If a person is okay with magic and wild fantasy then it is a good fit for them. It kept me reading although at times I wished it would end. I wouldn't even consider re-reading it.
If a person is okay with magic and wild fantasy then it is a good fit for them. It kept me reading although at times I wished it would end. I wouldn't even consider re-reading it.
June 20, 2019
Ancestors
I am always reluctant to read novels that are of modern day times. Just because I am so find of historical stories. But "The Orchid Sister" as so captivating that it held my interest to the very last word.
I am always reluctant to read novels that are of modern day times. Just because I am so find of historical stories. But "The Orchid Sister" as so captivating that it held my interest to the very last word.
July 12, 2019
Interesting with predictable outcome. The story itself was good, showing the challenges the sister's overcome and their support for one another. There were a couple of twist and turns but the outcome was just sort of meh. Otherwise, great book!
October 4, 2019
A captivating quick read, of sisterly love and devotion. Great mystery and unexpected twists in the plot, this book was wonderful. Thank you NetGalley for the e-reader for review, all opinions are my own.
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