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 Journalist & author Betty Dravis' 5 star review:Ghost Orchid

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dkchristi
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Location : Florida

Journalist & author Betty Dravis' 5 star review:Ghost Orchid Empty
PostSubject: Journalist & author Betty Dravis' 5 star review:Ghost Orchid   Journalist & author Betty Dravis' 5 star review:Ghost Orchid EmptyFri Jul 23, 2010 2:37 pm

Ghost Orchid

D.K. Christi
L&L Dreamspell (2009)
ISBN 9781603181365
By Betty L. Dravis "BettyDravis@gmail.com(Silicon Valley, CA) -
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)


This review is from: Ghost Orchid (Paperback)

I was always told that you can't judge a book by its cover, but with Ghost Orchid you can! The story inside is just as beautiful as the cover. Both are as rare as the ghost orchid on the cover. Author D.K. Christi has woven her knowledge of the Florida Everglades and nature into an exquisite, enchanting love story where a rare ghost orchid plays a magical, pivotal role for all the characters.

The story opens with a lonely, middle-aged woman, Mel, taking her daily walk at the Audubon Society Sanctuary, reminiscing about her lost love and other secrets of her past. Although melancholy, she feels blessed to have experienced a "Great Love" in her life. She longs to see her estranged lover "just once more before she dies" and is happier among the sights and sounds of nature than anywhere else. She's a solitary figure at the sanctuary, but she's a "regular" and is known and well-liked by the staff.

The story switches back and forth between Mel and Neev, a statuesque beauty who quit modeling to study philosophy at Oxford University. Neev loves photography, so eventually decides to pursue that career, a path that takes her to exotic locations around the world. She lands a plum assignment with a famous photographer, Roger Andrew, who is always seeking a rare "find" in nature. Roger is much older than Neev, but he becomes her mentor and best friend and they have a loving relationship.

Although Roger and Neev share many things, she never confides to him about her family life or her reluctance to visit Florida. And Roger doesn't talk much of his ex-wife and son. Roger is passionate in his mission to uncover a "rare find," so when he learns that a ghost orchid is blooming at the Audubon Society Sanctuary, he convinces Neev to accompany him.

For reasons I can't reveal without spoiling the plot, Neev is as passionate in her dislike of her mother as Roger is about his drive to find the elusive flower. Neev was raised by a devoted German couple and always wondered about her father. She longs to know more about him, but harbors little hope for a "love of her own."

Something happens to Mel at the same time the rare orchid is spotted. That's a tragedy, but it creates the magic in this story, bringing the most unlikely people together in the most magical ways.

What happens to Mel? Why has Neev chosen such a solitary, lonely life? What is so unique about this particular ghost orchid? Does it really have mystical powers? Who is the mysterious amateur photographer who becomes Roger's email friend? And how do Roger's Florida relatives fit into the picture?

D.K. Christi answers all those questions in a masterful way, with near-perfect pacing, believable, likable characters--and a little help from a rare ghost orchid.

I highly recommend this haunting, exquisite love story.

ENDNOTE: There are some coincidences that could be considered as contrived by the author, but with a story this well-written and beautiful in its symmetry and uniqueness of plot, who would question that?

Reviewed by Betty Dravis, July 22, 2010

Author of "Dream Reachers" (with Chase Von) and other books



  • A new voice in fiction…and through her stories perhaps discover something new about yourself. – Amazon.com
  • Ghost Orchid is brilliant! . . . a must read. I can't say enough about this title. Christi's style will definitely leave you feeling the magic. – BK Walker Books
  • The beauty of the Everglades shines through on every page; the (ghost orchid) …the heart and soul of the story. – NPR Reviews
  • Characters that are believable…descriptions of the sanctuary are fantastic and illustrate her skill at writing. – Reader Views
  • Loved the story – Ed Carlson, Executive Director, Blair Audubon Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
  • Fall under the spell of Christi as she weaves a magical tale of love, betrayal and forgiveness. – Midwest Book Reviews
  • A true romantic… the beauty in nature is only surpassed by the inner beauty she
    portrays in finding true love. – Abe March, To Beirut & Back

  • A well-written story of crossed paths and missed connections that all fit together like a puzzle. – Ghostwriterreviews
  • Ghost Orchid inspires us. One flower. Four destinies. – Romancing the Pubs
  • I loved the story. – The Book Buff
  • A beautifully haunting story of love, loss, and redemption – Contemporary Romance
  • Well-written and beautiful in its symmetry and uniqueness of plot- Betty Dravis, journalist and author, Dream Reachers
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Carol Troestler
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Number of posts : 3827
Registration date : 2008-06-07
Age : 86
Location : Wisconsin

Journalist & author Betty Dravis' 5 star review:Ghost Orchid Empty
PostSubject: Re: Journalist & author Betty Dravis' 5 star review:Ghost Orchid   Journalist & author Betty Dravis' 5 star review:Ghost Orchid EmptyFri Jul 23, 2010 3:16 pm

DK,

What a beautiful review!!

Carol Journalist & author Betty Dravis' 5 star review:Ghost Orchid 931984
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dkchristi
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dkchristi


Number of posts : 8594
Registration date : 2008-12-29
Location : Florida

Journalist & author Betty Dravis' 5 star review:Ghost Orchid Empty
PostSubject: Re: Journalist & author Betty Dravis' 5 star review:Ghost Orchid   Journalist & author Betty Dravis' 5 star review:Ghost Orchid EmptyFri Jul 23, 2010 5:18 pm

Thank you, Carol, for taking the time to read it. It's funny (or not so funny) how every reviewer misses the spiritual quality in the book. The love stories are really quite weak in comparison to the search for meaning and the importance of family. The writer writes and the reader reads and the two are not necessarily in the same story.

"One thing she knew about walking in the swamp: she did not cry. An overwhelming sense of peace filled her heart to overflowing with joy from the first step into its wonders until the last step out. Tears were for lonely automobiles, the back of the church, the empty rooms. Her Creator who made this swamp such a beautiful and serene place where nature lived in harmony according to it predestined imprint had done no less for her. In the swamp, she felt her God filling the void in her soul, and she was at peace. This walk was the highlight of her day, a raison d'etre ...The swamp never disappointed." p. 12, Ghost Orchid by D. K. Christi
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Abe F. March
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Number of posts : 10768
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Location : Germany

Journalist & author Betty Dravis' 5 star review:Ghost Orchid Empty
PostSubject: Re: Journalist & author Betty Dravis' 5 star review:Ghost Orchid   Journalist & author Betty Dravis' 5 star review:Ghost Orchid EmptyFri Jul 23, 2010 9:59 pm

Good review and worthy of mention.
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alj
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Number of posts : 9633
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Age : 80
Location : San Antonio

Journalist & author Betty Dravis' 5 star review:Ghost Orchid Empty
PostSubject: Re: Journalist & author Betty Dravis' 5 star review:Ghost Orchid   Journalist & author Betty Dravis' 5 star review:Ghost Orchid EmptyFri Jul 23, 2010 10:09 pm

A beautiful passage, and very real.

It is so true that the words we write often have a very different perspective than the same word read by our readers.

Ann
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Shelagh
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Number of posts : 12662
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Journalist & author Betty Dravis' 5 star review:Ghost Orchid Empty
PostSubject: Re: Journalist & author Betty Dravis' 5 star review:Ghost Orchid   Journalist & author Betty Dravis' 5 star review:Ghost Orchid EmptySat Jul 24, 2010 1:22 am

Great review and wonderful comments, DK!
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dkchristi
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dkchristi


Number of posts : 8594
Registration date : 2008-12-29
Location : Florida

Journalist & author Betty Dravis' 5 star review:Ghost Orchid Empty
PostSubject: Re: Journalist & author Betty Dravis' 5 star review:Ghost Orchid   Journalist & author Betty Dravis' 5 star review:Ghost Orchid EmptySat Jul 24, 2010 5:33 am

Thank you Carol, Abe, Ann & Shelagh for taking the time to read the recent review of Ghost Orchid. Abe was also kind enough to provide a review some time ago. Dick Stodghill read Ghost Orchid in answer to a question I had about character names and was kind enough to provide feed back. I'm sure you know that I value your thoughts.
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