He almost let her go. Her past could tear them apart. But a love like theirs is worth fighting for...
Phoenix Walker will never be the same. Nine months after a heroic act leaves him forever changed, he refuses to hurt Orchid Paige ever again.
Orchid is ready to forgive. Convincing her guy she still loves him, no matter his injuries, she works to rebuild their intimacy. But their move to her family's ancestral country unveils China's superstitions against people with disabilities. Worse, their friend's life has been upended by those prejudices.
Will Phoenix and Orchid find a way to beat the odds and turn discrimination into acceptance?
Always Orchid is the riveting third book in the Goodbye, Orchid contemporary fiction series, and can be read as a standalone. If you like relatable characters, surprising twists, and stories that pull on your emotions, then you'll love award-winning author Carol Van Den Hende's journey to unconditional acceptance.
Releases October 24, 2023
Goodreads | Amazon
Rating: 2 Stars
My Review: Everyone else has seemed to fully fall for this story and for the most part I was bored. I was hoping it was going to drag me into the story fully but it just never did. This is for those readers who love stories such as Kristin Hannah and others like her. And unfortunately it just was not for me.
Review
"Carol Van Den Hende never disappoints. Her books are full of rich characters, real challenges and deep emotion."
— Kristan Higgins, New York Times, USA TODAY, Publisher's Weekly bestselling author
"A compelling story of sacrifice, resilience, and acceptance, Always Orchid crosses countries and cultures to stir emotion and self-reflection."
—Robert Gwaltney, award winning author of The Cicada Tree
"Profound and redemptive, Always Orchid made me understand the power of forgiving each other and ourselves."
— Rebecca Rosenberg, award-winning novelist of Champagne Widows Novels
"Always Orchid is an important book that will help people. Every detail of Phoenix's reaction to his injuries is authentic. Reading the interactions, his thoughts, his actions, and reasoning behind them takes me back to my initial recovery and daily challenges a decade after injury."
— Doc Jacobs, Bronze Star with Valor and Purple Heart-decorated Navy Corpsman, author of MaCoven and There and Back Again
"Always Orchid hits it out of the park! The lovers may be fictional, but the emotions and physical challenges are genuine. I couldn't put this book down."
— Dr. Linda Olson, author of Gone a Memoir of Love, Body, and Taking Back My Life
"Always Orchid explores the power of love and perseverance in the face of trauma and discrimination. A heart-warming story with compassionate connections. Readers won't be disappointed!"
— Rachel Barenbaum, author of Atomic Anna
"Honest and stirring, Always Orchid inspires hope for every wounded veteran. Always Orchid earns 5 Purple Heart decorated stars."
— Sgt Bryan Anderson, Purple Heart-decorated veteran, actor American Sniper, author No Turning Back
"Phoenix and Orchid's journey explores what it means to be a whole person, in body and in heart. It questions what it means to be fulfilled, whether alone or with another. Theirs is not an easy story, but Carol Van Den Hende tells it with kindness and care."
—Jeffrey Dale Lofton, award-winning author of Red Clay Suzie
"A powerful, emotional story, Always Orchid follows the welcome reunion of lovers Phoenix and Orchid only to have the demons of his injuries and the ghosts of her past drive them apart again. Carol Van Den Hende's artistic gaze is unflinching in the depiction of Phoenix's recovery and Orchid's ongoing PTSD. Propulsive and richly detailed, this third book in the Goodbye, Orchid series is an absorbing read. Absolutely gripping!"
—Jeannée Sacken, award-winning author of Behind the Lens and Double Exposure
— Kristan Higgins, New York Times, USA TODAY, Publisher's Weekly bestselling author
"A compelling story of sacrifice, resilience, and acceptance, Always Orchid crosses countries and cultures to stir emotion and self-reflection."
—Robert Gwaltney, award winning author of The Cicada Tree
"Profound and redemptive, Always Orchid made me understand the power of forgiving each other and ourselves."
— Rebecca Rosenberg, award-winning novelist of Champagne Widows Novels
"Always Orchid is an important book that will help people. Every detail of Phoenix's reaction to his injuries is authentic. Reading the interactions, his thoughts, his actions, and reasoning behind them takes me back to my initial recovery and daily challenges a decade after injury."
— Doc Jacobs, Bronze Star with Valor and Purple Heart-decorated Navy Corpsman, author of MaCoven and There and Back Again
"Always Orchid hits it out of the park! The lovers may be fictional, but the emotions and physical challenges are genuine. I couldn't put this book down."
— Dr. Linda Olson, author of Gone a Memoir of Love, Body, and Taking Back My Life
"Always Orchid explores the power of love and perseverance in the face of trauma and discrimination. A heart-warming story with compassionate connections. Readers won't be disappointed!"
— Rachel Barenbaum, author of Atomic Anna
"Honest and stirring, Always Orchid inspires hope for every wounded veteran. Always Orchid earns 5 Purple Heart decorated stars."
— Sgt Bryan Anderson, Purple Heart-decorated veteran, actor American Sniper, author No Turning Back
"Phoenix and Orchid's journey explores what it means to be a whole person, in body and in heart. It questions what it means to be fulfilled, whether alone or with another. Theirs is not an easy story, but Carol Van Den Hende tells it with kindness and care."
—Jeffrey Dale Lofton, award-winning author of Red Clay Suzie
"A powerful, emotional story, Always Orchid follows the welcome reunion of lovers Phoenix and Orchid only to have the demons of his injuries and the ghosts of her past drive them apart again. Carol Van Den Hende's artistic gaze is unflinching in the depiction of Phoenix's recovery and Orchid's ongoing PTSD. Propulsive and richly detailed, this third book in the Goodbye, Orchid series is an absorbing read. Absolutely gripping!"
—Jeannée Sacken, award-winning author of Behind the Lens and Double Exposure
From the Author
The Goodbye, Orchid series came about as a way to pay homage to the wounded veterans who inspired me. So I'm proud that they see their strength and resilience reflected in my characters:
"Honest and stirring, Always Orchid inspires hope for every wounded veteran. Always Orchid earns 5 Purple Heart decorated stars."
— Sgt Bryan Anderson, Purple Heart-decorated veteran, actor American Sniper, author No Turning Back
ABOUT ALWAYS ORCHID
This is the most emotionally impactful story that I've written to date.
I adore Phoenix's desire to protect Orchid, her hope that she'll never cause Phoenix to feel "less than," and the surprise new character that you will meet right on page one. Mind blown. My heart will never be the same again. I hope you'll find the same.
"Honest and stirring, Always Orchid inspires hope for every wounded veteran. Always Orchid earns 5 Purple Heart decorated stars."
— Sgt Bryan Anderson, Purple Heart-decorated veteran, actor American Sniper, author No Turning Back
ABOUT ALWAYS ORCHID
This is the most emotionally impactful story that I've written to date.
I adore Phoenix's desire to protect Orchid, her hope that she'll never cause Phoenix to feel "less than," and the surprise new character that you will meet right on page one. Mind blown. My heart will never be the same again. I hope you'll find the same.
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FTC Guidelines: In accordance with FTC guidelines regarding endorsements and testimonials for bloggers, I would like my readers to know that many of the books I review are provided to me for free by the publisher or author of the book in exchange for an honest review. If am compensated for any reviews on this site I will state that post has been sponsored.
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