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Wild Orchids
Have you ever lost someone who meant more to you than your own soul?
Ford Newcombe has. For years he loved his wife, Pat, more than anyone -- and anything -- in the world. She came into his life when he was just an inexperienced college student with big dreams of becoming a published author. With love and humour, she guided him down the path that would eventually lead him to more success than he ever dreamed possible. Since Pat's death six years ago, Ford has lived a life of solitude, barely able to put pen to paper, and rumours are flying that it was Pat who actually created the books the world so loved. If there's one thing that Ford needs it's inspiration, and it finally comes in the guise of Jackie Maxwell -- a smart, sassy university researcher with just enough attitude to match Ford's sharp intellect. But it's her intimate knowledge of the story of a young woman's friendship with the devil -- and what the townspeople did to her -- that persuades Ford to hire Jackie as his assistant and to move to Cole Creek, North Carolina, where the story is said to have taken place. They soon learn that even though the inhabitants of Cole Creek try to deny it, they are still plagued by the consequences of the otherworldly tale of passion and death. As Ford and Jackie work to unravel the truth, they discover a connection between their lives and the past, a connection that not only helps them solve a long-ago crime but offers the promise of new love.
Ford Newcombe has. For years he loved his wife, Pat, more than anyone -- and anything -- in the world. She came into his life when he was just an inexperienced college student with big dreams of becoming a published author. With love and humour, she guided him down the path that would eventually lead him to more success than he ever dreamed possible. Since Pat's death six years ago, Ford has lived a life of solitude, barely able to put pen to paper, and rumours are flying that it was Pat who actually created the books the world so loved. If there's one thing that Ford needs it's inspiration, and it finally comes in the guise of Jackie Maxwell -- a smart, sassy university researcher with just enough attitude to match Ford's sharp intellect. But it's her intimate knowledge of the story of a young woman's friendship with the devil -- and what the townspeople did to her -- that persuades Ford to hire Jackie as his assistant and to move to Cole Creek, North Carolina, where the story is said to have taken place. They soon learn that even though the inhabitants of Cole Creek try to deny it, they are still plagued by the consequences of the otherworldly tale of passion and death. As Ford and Jackie work to unravel the truth, they discover a connection between their lives and the past, a connection that not only helps them solve a long-ago crime but offers the promise of new love.
454 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
445 people are currently reading
1651 people want to read
About the author
Jude Deveraux
199 books7,046 followersJude Gilliam was born September 20, 1947 in Fairdale, Kentucky. She has a large extended family and is the elder sister of four brothers. She attended Murray State University and received a degree in Art. In 1967, Jude married and took her husband's surname of White, but four years later they divorced. For years, she worked as 5th-grade teacher.
She began writing in 1976, and published her first book, The Enchanted Land (1977) under the name Jude Deveraux. Following the publication of her first novel, she resigned her teaching position. Now, she is the author of 31 New York Times bestsellers.
Jude won readers' hearts with the epic Velvet series, which revolves around the lives of the Montgomery family's irresistible men. Jude's early books are set largely in 15th- and 16th-century England; in them her fierce, impassioned protagonists find themselves in the midst of blood feuds and wars. Her heroines are equally scrappy -- medieval Scarlett O'Haras who often have a low regard for the men who eventually win them over. They're fighters, certainly, but they're also beauties who are preoccupied with survival and family preservation.
Jude has also stepped outside her milieu, with mixed results. Her James River trilogy (River Lady, Lost Lady, and Counterfeit Lady) is set mostly in post-Revolution America; the popular, softer-edged Twin of Fire/Twin of Ice moves to 19th-century Colorado and introduces another hunky-man clan, the Taggerts.
Deveraux manages to evoke a strong and convincing atmosphere for each of her books, but her dialogue and characters are as familiar as a modern-day soap opera's. "Historicals seem to be all I'm capable of," Jude once said in an interview, referring to a now out-of-print attempt at contemporary fiction, 1982's Casa Grande. "I don't want to write family sagas or occult books, and I have no intention of again trying to ruin the contemporary market." Still, Jude did later attempt modern-day romances, such as the lighthearted High Tide (her first murder caper), the contemporary female friendship story The Summerhouse, and the time-traveling Knight in Shining Armor. In fact, with 2002's The Mulberry Tree, Deveraux seems to be getting more comfortable setting stories in the present, which is a good thing, since the fans she won with her historical books are eager to follow her into the future.
Jude married Claude White, who she later divorced in 1993. Around the same time she met Mohammed Montassir with whom she had a son, Sam Alexander Montassir, in 1997. On Oct. 6th, 2005, Sam died at the age of eight in a motorcycle accident.
Jude has lived in several countries and all over the United States. She currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and has an additional home in the medieval city of Badolato, Italy.
She began writing in 1976, and published her first book, The Enchanted Land (1977) under the name Jude Deveraux. Following the publication of her first novel, she resigned her teaching position. Now, she is the author of 31 New York Times bestsellers.
Jude won readers' hearts with the epic Velvet series, which revolves around the lives of the Montgomery family's irresistible men. Jude's early books are set largely in 15th- and 16th-century England; in them her fierce, impassioned protagonists find themselves in the midst of blood feuds and wars. Her heroines are equally scrappy -- medieval Scarlett O'Haras who often have a low regard for the men who eventually win them over. They're fighters, certainly, but they're also beauties who are preoccupied with survival and family preservation.
Jude has also stepped outside her milieu, with mixed results. Her James River trilogy (River Lady, Lost Lady, and Counterfeit Lady) is set mostly in post-Revolution America; the popular, softer-edged Twin of Fire/Twin of Ice moves to 19th-century Colorado and introduces another hunky-man clan, the Taggerts.
Deveraux manages to evoke a strong and convincing atmosphere for each of her books, but her dialogue and characters are as familiar as a modern-day soap opera's. "Historicals seem to be all I'm capable of," Jude once said in an interview, referring to a now out-of-print attempt at contemporary fiction, 1982's Casa Grande. "I don't want to write family sagas or occult books, and I have no intention of again trying to ruin the contemporary market." Still, Jude did later attempt modern-day romances, such as the lighthearted High Tide (her first murder caper), the contemporary female friendship story The Summerhouse, and the time-traveling Knight in Shining Armor. In fact, with 2002's The Mulberry Tree, Deveraux seems to be getting more comfortable setting stories in the present, which is a good thing, since the fans she won with her historical books are eager to follow her into the future.
Jude married Claude White, who she later divorced in 1993. Around the same time she met Mohammed Montassir with whom she had a son, Sam Alexander Montassir, in 1997. On Oct. 6th, 2005, Sam died at the age of eight in a motorcycle accident.
Jude has lived in several countries and all over the United States. She currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and has an additional home in the medieval city of Badolato, Italy.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 298 reviews
August 20, 2016
This was the story of Ford Newcombe, and his assistant, Jackie Maxwell. How they met was cute and unexpected. When things fell apart for Jackie, she took his offer for a position as his assistant and went with him.
They moved to the small town Cole Creek that had a story about the devil and a woman. They were both wanting to solve this mysterious tale of meeting with the devil and murder. They were going to see if it had any validity.
Things in this book were a bit crazy, unexpected and even fun. I love Jude Deveraux and when she writes she brings me along to new locations. That was exactly what happened here. I became invested in the story, the story she was telling and the story they were investigating. Jude mixed supernatural with romance in a subtle manner and came away with a charming story. It was good. I enjoyed this book.
They moved to the small town Cole Creek that had a story about the devil and a woman. They were both wanting to solve this mysterious tale of meeting with the devil and murder. They were going to see if it had any validity.
Things in this book were a bit crazy, unexpected and even fun. I love Jude Deveraux and when she writes she brings me along to new locations. That was exactly what happened here. I became invested in the story, the story she was telling and the story they were investigating. Jude mixed supernatural with romance in a subtle manner and came away with a charming story. It was good. I enjoyed this book.
October 12, 2013
I've read a lot of books in my life, but for some reason this book hit something inside me. It isn't that this book is wonderfully written (because yeah, it is), it isn't that Jude Deveraux is a talented writer (which she is), but there was something in the characters that pulled me in. I fell in love with them. Wild Orchids wasn't exactly the greatest story line I've ever read, but because of these characters this book won me over. It is, and will forever be, my favorite book of all time. I own THREE copies of this book (one is a first edition for my collection). This book is definitely worth a read. Even if the story line isn't really your thing, or if you are sick of these types of "romance" books, the characters and the interactions make this book worth reading. I laughed my butt off, I soaked my shirt in tears, and several times a year I go back and read this book again.
May 26, 2019
Çok acayip kitaptı, hiç beklediğim gibi çıkmadı da. Küçük kasaba hikayesi heralde dedim öyle başladım, evet küçük kasaba hikayesi ama aynı zamanda hayalet hikayeleri gibi. Ürkütücü bir yanı da vardı, eğlenceli kısımları da boldu. Vakit bulamadığımdan istediğim hızda bitiremedim ama gerçekten iyiydi.
October 20, 2024
I honestly was speed-reading/skimming to the end and if you asked me what actually happened, I don't think I could tell you ... too much supernatural going on for my liking. Started off ok but just did not hold my interest.
I hate to leave a book unfinished - that is the only reason I stuck it out ...
I hate to leave a book unfinished - that is the only reason I stuck it out ...
June 7, 2021
3,5 / 5
Light Stephen King okumuş gibi hissettim 🤔
Light Stephen King okumuş gibi hissettim 🤔
October 28, 2016
This is the first book I've read by this author. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it, since I'm not much of a Romance genre reader. The plot is actually a mix of Romance, Mystery, and Paranormal and thus was something a bit different. There was a lull in the middle of the story, and sometimes having the same incident described from the two main characters' point of view was a bit tedious. However, the story was still enjoyable.
February 8, 2019
Oldukca degisik geldi yazarin diger okudugum romanlarina göre. Ilk sayfalarda alistigim temayi bulmasamda sonradan bambaska bir konuyla surukledi. Paranormal konulari roman okumayi sevenlere tavsiye edecegim bir roman cok begendim.
June 28, 2021
Too much backstory for my taste. The first chapter is 38min long and is about the hero and his ex wife and her family and his family, his uncles and his dead cousins and the lost of his mother in law and stuff like that. I get that we need stuff about the hero, to know his suffering and his loss ,but this was a little OTT.
I was ready to still give it a try after that first chapter but when i saw that the age difference between the h and H is 20 years, i decided to stop. I am ok with an age gap, but 20y is too much. She was in her 30 s, he in his 50 s... definitely not for me.
I was ready to still give it a try after that first chapter but when i saw that the age difference between the h and H is 20 years, i decided to stop. I am ok with an age gap, but 20y is too much. She was in her 30 s, he in his 50 s... definitely not for me.
August 5, 2011
I am usually not a fan of "paranormal" or "supernatural" type novels, romance or otherwise. (With the exception of Stephanie Meyer). Therefore, I picked up this book from the library because it looked like a nice, fluffy, generic romance that I could read in two hours and be in a good mood afterwards. What I was not expecting was a thought provoking paranormal/mystery/romance novel. By the time I got to the paranormal stuff I was already in love with the characters so I didn't just quit reading. Ford our protagonist establishes himself early on as one of the most gruffly loveable men I've encountered on the page. He has a troubled past (cliche, I know) but is a great albeit sarcastic guy. As the novel opens he is still grieving over the loss of his wife Pat. Deveraux also depicts him as being a little overweight, and older which I thought was gutsy but put him in a class of his own. He had more substance than just a handsome face and I liked that. Jacqueline is a spit fire gal who is not afraid to say what she thinks and bother the consequences. While her character is a little abrasive I liked her as well. Her independence resonated with me because so many female protagonists are so dependent. Now the whole murder mystery/devil sighting/bargaining of souls business was just an interesting subplot. Yet, it kept me interested!
February 23, 2010
When my mom handed me this novel and told me I had to read it, I was more than a little skeptical. Any novel with a title like “Wild Orchids” had to be pretty lame, right?
The novel ended up being not at all what I expected. I was expecting some romance novel with a main character like Fabio but instead I got a sad writer trying to peace together his life after his wife dies of cancer. This novel is a little all over the place since I would classify it as an introspective, mystery, with supernatural elements. It is a quick read and I would definitely say that it is worth your time to read. The author, Jude Deveraux, does a great job developing her characters and as the mystery develops she does not just stop character development like a lot of mystery writers tend to do. I loved the ending. It has a nice twist that makes you really think. I will not spoil it but the last confrontation/conversation between the main character and the character that is the protagonist is really interesting!
The novel ended up being not at all what I expected. I was expecting some romance novel with a main character like Fabio but instead I got a sad writer trying to peace together his life after his wife dies of cancer. This novel is a little all over the place since I would classify it as an introspective, mystery, with supernatural elements. It is a quick read and I would definitely say that it is worth your time to read. The author, Jude Deveraux, does a great job developing her characters and as the mystery develops she does not just stop character development like a lot of mystery writers tend to do. I loved the ending. It has a nice twist that makes you really think. I will not spoil it but the last confrontation/conversation between the main character and the character that is the protagonist is really interesting!
May 18, 2012
I feel like watching a soap opera while reading this novel. Yes, it was that long, with so many sub plots.
You want a romance with a hero who is 20 years older than the heroine? Check.
You want a secluded town with mystery in it? Check.
You want town's people who are quirky all over? Check.
You want strings of family relatives who are up to no good? Check.
You want a murder plot in it? Check.
You want a paranormal element in it? Check.
This is not a romance novel. I repeat, this is not a romance novel. I was so dead wrong that I assume it is going to be a romance novel. After all, it is written by Jude Deveraux.
I kind of liking the novel a bit - with its many quirky subplots. This is sort of paranormal/horror/murder/romance/family novel mixed up together. I do think that the author had quite a few serious sub plots that she might be thinking she can develop it for a novel, but may not be able to finish it. So, why don't we try to mix it up all together so the readers wouldn't complain the novel does not cater for other genres as well?
Ok, I like the twist by the end of the story. Who would have thought there is a paranormal protagonist/antagonist (depends on how you viewed the character) in it?
You want a romance with a hero who is 20 years older than the heroine? Check.
You want a secluded town with mystery in it? Check.
You want town's people who are quirky all over? Check.
You want strings of family relatives who are up to no good? Check.
You want a murder plot in it? Check.
You want a paranormal element in it? Check.
This is not a romance novel. I repeat, this is not a romance novel. I was so dead wrong that I assume it is going to be a romance novel. After all, it is written by Jude Deveraux.
I kind of liking the novel a bit - with its many quirky subplots. This is sort of paranormal/horror/murder/romance/family novel mixed up together. I do think that the author had quite a few serious sub plots that she might be thinking she can develop it for a novel, but may not be able to finish it. So, why don't we try to mix it up all together so the readers wouldn't complain the novel does not cater for other genres as well?
Ok, I like the twist by the end of the story. Who would have thought there is a paranormal protagonist/antagonist (depends on how you viewed the character) in it?
January 18, 2016
Ford Newcombe, bestselling author has been uninspired and can't write after the loss of his beloved wife. He's looking for inspiration and finds it in a devil story told by a research assistant at a dinner party. Offering her a job as his assistant, Jackie Maxwell at first turns him down, she's about to be married and wants to open a photography studio. But, on the day of Jackie's wedding when she finds out her groom has stolen and then lost her entire life savings, she leaves him at the altar and accepts Ford's job offer to move to the town from her story.
Arriving in Cole Creek, the town where the story of a young woman who befriended the devil and was murdered by the town's founders supposedly took place, Jackie is immediately struck by recognition. Turns out she spent some time here as a child and has some knowledge buried deep of the truth behind the devil tale. Uncovering the secrets that the town's residents are trying to hide, Ford and Jackie solve a long-ago crime and find love in the process.
This book was ridiculous. A comment written about the loss of a loved one is not a call to the devil. And the fact that the devil appears in this town and is so good looking that Jackie can't function for three days after meeting him and is immediately convinced that she's in love? Seriously? And the visions, they have no purpose in this story. They don't move the story forward or even add to the plot. It's not like they are helping Jackie figure out who killed her aunt and why. They are completely unrelated to that mystery. It's actually Ford who's untangling the mystery while stuffing his face with sweets. And then of course, there's the ultimate proposal of bringing back the dead for Ford's soul, which comes after everything else is wrapped up and really has no purpose. Overall, the worst Jude Deveraux I have ever picked up. Totally not worth reading unless you really want to read a bad book.
Arriving in Cole Creek, the town where the story of a young woman who befriended the devil and was murdered by the town's founders supposedly took place, Jackie is immediately struck by recognition. Turns out she spent some time here as a child and has some knowledge buried deep of the truth behind the devil tale. Uncovering the secrets that the town's residents are trying to hide, Ford and Jackie solve a long-ago crime and find love in the process.
This book was ridiculous. A comment written about the loss of a loved one is not a call to the devil. And the fact that the devil appears in this town and is so good looking that Jackie can't function for three days after meeting him and is immediately convinced that she's in love? Seriously? And the visions, they have no purpose in this story. They don't move the story forward or even add to the plot. It's not like they are helping Jackie figure out who killed her aunt and why. They are completely unrelated to that mystery. It's actually Ford who's untangling the mystery while stuffing his face with sweets. And then of course, there's the ultimate proposal of bringing back the dead for Ford's soul, which comes after everything else is wrapped up and really has no purpose. Overall, the worst Jude Deveraux I have ever picked up. Totally not worth reading unless you really want to read a bad book.
January 5, 2012
I have not read much Jude Deveraux and most of what I have read has been her historical romances so when a coworker recommended the book to me (and let me borrow it) I was a bit skeptical. But I found myself looking forward to snatching moments I could read this book and enjoying the characters. In fact, having just finished it, I am sad to see it end. I enjoyed the characters and the setting a great deal and the plot was not something I expected either. Sure, I figured romance would be a part of the story but it wasn't as big a part of the plot line as I normally associate with Jude Deveraux's work. The pay off, such as it was, was a VERY long time coming but I was satisfied with it. And I was delighted by much of the last chapter!
July 15, 2018
Jude Deveraux'un kalemini özlemişim.
Her zamanki gibi herkesin birbirini tanıdığı küçük bir kasaba.
Kasaba halkının hepsinin sakladığı bir sır.
Bolca gizem, biraz aksiyon, bir cinayet ve elbette olmazsa olmaz çok tatlış bir aşkın anlatıldığı harika bir romandı.
Kitapla ilgili en sevdiğim olay hem kadın karakterin ağzından hemde erkek karakterin ağzından olayları takip etmek oldu.
Kısaca okumalara doyamadım :)
Her zamanki gibi herkesin birbirini tanıdığı küçük bir kasaba.
Kasaba halkının hepsinin sakladığı bir sır.
Bolca gizem, biraz aksiyon, bir cinayet ve elbette olmazsa olmaz çok tatlış bir aşkın anlatıldığı harika bir romandı.
Kitapla ilgili en sevdiğim olay hem kadın karakterin ağzından hemde erkek karakterin ağzından olayları takip etmek oldu.
Kısaca okumalara doyamadım :)
January 27, 2025
I almost stopped reading after the first chapter, but I stuck it out till the end. There was way too much back story. There were a few entertaining parts. I didn’t hate the writing style, but the story was a bit convoluted and not for me. By the time I was halfway through, I couldn’t wait for it to be done and over with.
January 30, 2020
A great read guaranteed to entertain you with angst, laughter, romance and a generous helping of fantasy.
When I read the blurb, I expected to read a romance novel. And so it is, but that element is almost an accessory for a multigenerational mystery, family drama and a fascinating glimpse of how an author functions.
This is the first time I've read anything from Ms. Jude Deveraux and I'm really glad I did. I will definitely read more of her books.
When I read the blurb, I expected to read a romance novel. And so it is, but that element is almost an accessory for a multigenerational mystery, family drama and a fascinating glimpse of how an author functions.
This is the first time I've read anything from Ms. Jude Deveraux and I'm really glad I did. I will definitely read more of her books.
April 1, 2020
*Reread Review*
Down rated to 3 stars. Went with the audio for the reread.. it was terrible. Sorry but was not a fan.. I have loved this story in the past. Own it both physical and ebook. Was not a fan at all of how the narrator portrayed the characters. The MC, Ford, was portrayed as fat, old, ugly.. and while I like me some flawed characters.. and even when reading the book myself Ford is definitely flawed.. but the way the narrator came across it was "too" much. This book like so many of Jude's works also has that flair of mystery and a touch of paranormal that I oh so love. I feel like the romance takes a back seat to the mystery.
Famous author Ford Newcombe has lost his muse, his wife Pat. Now he no longer has anything in his head to write about.. that is until he happens upon Jackie Maxwell, and her devil story. Right away his writer senses tingle and Ford ends up hiring Jackie as his assistant as they journey to her home town to research this story. Only the town wants nothing to do with the story.. says the kids made it up. Some really big secrets are being kept... secrets about murder. The most disturbing part is that the devil story is way more true than either of them planned...
I feel like Ford and Jackie become a relationship of convenience, because as they go through this experience together, they don't actually become "closer" they are just already living their relationship so why not make it official type thing. It kind of puts a meh damper on the romance but the rest of the story is really good.
Down rated to 3 stars. Went with the audio for the reread.. it was terrible. Sorry but was not a fan.. I have loved this story in the past. Own it both physical and ebook. Was not a fan at all of how the narrator portrayed the characters. The MC, Ford, was portrayed as fat, old, ugly.. and while I like me some flawed characters.. and even when reading the book myself Ford is definitely flawed.. but the way the narrator came across it was "too" much. This book like so many of Jude's works also has that flair of mystery and a touch of paranormal that I oh so love. I feel like the romance takes a back seat to the mystery.
Famous author Ford Newcombe has lost his muse, his wife Pat. Now he no longer has anything in his head to write about.. that is until he happens upon Jackie Maxwell, and her devil story. Right away his writer senses tingle and Ford ends up hiring Jackie as his assistant as they journey to her home town to research this story. Only the town wants nothing to do with the story.. says the kids made it up. Some really big secrets are being kept... secrets about murder. The most disturbing part is that the devil story is way more true than either of them planned...
I feel like Ford and Jackie become a relationship of convenience, because as they go through this experience together, they don't actually become "closer" they are just already living their relationship so why not make it official type thing. It kind of puts a meh damper on the romance but the rest of the story is really good.
November 18, 2008
I love Jude Deveraux. She's "classified" as a "romance" writer, but this isn't the trashy, Harlequin crap. There's always a bit of love in her books, but there's also a heaping pile of story. This is one of the most original stories I have ever read. I CAN NOT put it down.
July 26, 2015
Great book, it's not very predictable, and Jude is a very good writer who gives good perspective from many different character angles! Also, the ending was AMAZING! It starts out slow, but once it picks up, you are thrown for a look every which way. Such a good book, I recommend!
August 14, 2022
This book wasn’t quite as suspenseful as some of Devereaux’s other books, nor as romantic as some others and I felt like it dragged on a bit longer than it might have. But overall I enjoyed it quite a bit. I haven’t read anything by her in years but I quickly remembered what I loved about her books!
March 8, 2019
WOW. I so enjoyed this book. I have read "Forever" (2002) Darcie Monroe, Page 322, AND "First Impressions" (2005) but I can't recall why on that one. Farrington Mano, Eden, that is why. Ford is super and so is Jackie.
April 27, 2023
I like a good romance novel, and I'm totally down with paranormal elements when they are done well. This rating isn't about either of those factors. I simply felt like the book took a weird left turn into fairytale land about halfway through. Such strange elements and highly specific odd details were thrown in without any explanation for their being there that I kept feeling like I was reading a translation of a myth from another language, and lacking the cultural background knowledge to make any sense of it. Why did Ford's father look exactly like a garden gnome? Why did one of the town's matriarchs look like a skeleton covered in skin? Why did these two characters immediately fall in love? Why did a character immediately fall in love with a lace blouse hidden in the attic of a house that turned out to be... not significant at all? What's with the ethereal child that turned out to be... just a neighbor? I felt like about halfway through, the author just started making it up as she went along, throwing in story elements that might add to the fairy tale feeling for readers, but never developed them fully. The disjointed feeling detracted from an otherwise enjoyable romance/mystery.
March 29, 2019
Best one ever
I think this is the best book Deveraux has ever written and I have read almost all off them in the last 35+ years! I'm not giving a synopsis of it but as far as mysteries go, it's perfect. And character development is far superior than most novels of this genre. It was tough to put down and a lot of chores went undone for a day and a half!
I think this is the best book Deveraux has ever written and I have read almost all off them in the last 35+ years! I'm not giving a synopsis of it but as far as mysteries go, it's perfect. And character development is far superior than most novels of this genre. It was tough to put down and a lot of chores went undone for a day and a half!
June 7, 2010
I remember why I was not easily impressed by this book. At first reading about the renovations of the home that Ford bought in Cole Creek was almost enchanting. I found that story focused too much on the spending of Ford's money. The plot of the devil wasn't brought in until the very end. And it just seemed to have an anti-climax to the story when I felt it could of been more grasping and even sensual. However, I own it and it is in my collection as a "lazy read". I think it will take me another seven years to find it readable again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2017
Surprising book, because I assumed it was a romance. I would say it's mostly fiction, with a mystery and small romance. Refreshing in that the devil is in the book, but not portrayed as the usual, completely evil entity, and you're never quite sure if there is a devil, ghost or just foul play. Romance that is in the story is a slow forming, friendship first, no immediate attraction, which was also refreshing. The only reason I did not give a 5 star is the ending wrapped up suddenly and cleanly, almost like the author just wanted to finish the story.
December 25, 2018
The book goes back and forth from chapter to chapter with a first person narrative from first Jackie and then Ford, so you get more than one perspective. When Ford's cousin Noble enters the scene, it happens again, only not in first person. It is fascinating to get different perspectives of the same incidents or of the past in this way. I loved the interaction between Ford and jackie, but Ford's eating habits drove me as crazy as they did Jackie. The storyline was a bit over the top, but I thoroughly enjoyed it nevertheless. It brings up some interesting questions.
November 5, 2007
I read a ton of Jude Deveraux's books when I was a teenager and really liked most of them. I don't know if her plots and writing style have become more simplistic in the last decade or if my tastes have just changed, but I found this book to be quite dull. It felt like a book that was churned out without much writer's passion behind it, unlike some of her other books. A letdown in general and not much of a romance to the storyline either.
August 5, 2014
Okay, probably more like 2 1/2 stars. But, coming from a best-selling author like Deveraux, I expected more. This is actually a strange little book. It's not quite a love story, and not quite a paranormal thriller. A tweener that probably leaves fans of both genres a bit disappointed. I actually really liked the first half of the book-- Devereaux was doing a great job creating and flushing out her characters. But at a certain point, things started moving a bit too fast in the plot pacing.
March 29, 2018
I love Jude Deveraux! I've read almost all of her books. I was searching her book list for something I might have missed and I found Wild Orchids, Up until now Knight in Shining Armor was my favorite but this book is my new favorite. It pulled me in right away and didn't let go until the end. I loved this book!!!
February 3, 2021
Jude Deveraux writes the most marvelous books. and another great one here. This one is about the Devil, lol. Jackie Maxwell comes into writer, Ford Newcombe's life at a time he's ready to move on from the death of his wife. Together they go to North Carolina to research a story that Jackie heard from her mother as a young girl, about a woman that supposedly talked to the Devil.
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