Rating: 
Summary: A stunning debut...
Review: ...for Madeline Hunter.The heroine is one the reader can root for--inexperienced (but not gullible), intelligent, beautiful, loving, loyal. The hero, David, is to die for--smart, complex, ambiguous, always interesting and transformed by his (unexpected) love for the heroine. He evolves as his heart opens to Christiana, but he never loses his edges. He remains an opportunist, but due to the author's skill, we can still see his vulnerabilities and love him anyway. And, as a reader who loves history and has no patience with historically set novels in ANY genre who ignore the "history", let me say that this book doesn't disappoint. The historical setting is used to the fullest (as it should be) and is not merely background. I felt as if I were in medieval England as I was reading, and I could visualize the particulars of the setting as the author described them. There's nothing better than being able to lose oneself in a good book. With this book, I think my house could have burnt down around me, and I never would have noticed. That's the best compliment I can give "By Arrangement." Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Magnificent!!!
Review: A country and western song I listen to goes: "I'm in a hurry to get things done, I rush and rush until life's no fun..." If this describes your life as well, read Madeline Hunter's By Arrangement. I guarantee the first 100-150 pages will make you relax, enjoy and savor the wonderful moments you get to spend with the hero - David de Abyndon. He is described as physically beautiful but it's his quiet, simple, straightforward way of speaking and acting that will SLOW. YOU. DOWN. I don't know how to describe the scenes he was in - they were relaxing but exciting. Lazy but sexy. He's so enjoyable: he steals the show. That's not a bad thing. His bride/wife/heroine Christiana (isn't that a beautiful name?) plays a big part,of course. The romance is about both of them but it is clearly David's book. Even though the book had that lazy charm, it moved along quickly. I read it in a day and a half. The inside cover art is very true to the novel - dark, handsome David with his "Snow White" beautiful Christiana. All in all, a 5 star PLUS book. Very, very highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Magnificent!!!
Review: A country and western song I listen to goes: "I'm in a hurry to get things done, I rush and rush until life's no fun..." If this describes your life as well, read Madeline Hunter's By Arrangement. I guarantee the first 100-150 pages will make you relax, enjoy and savor the wonderful moments you get to spend with the hero - David de Abyndon. He is described as physically beautiful but it's his quiet, simple, straightforward way of speaking and acting that will SLOW. YOU. DOWN. I don't know how to describe the scenes he was in - they were relaxing but exciting. Lazy but sexy. He's so enjoyable: he steals the show. That's not a bad thing. His bride/wife/heroine Christiana (isn't that a beautiful name?) plays a big part,of course. The romance is about both of them but it is clearly David's book. Even though the book had that lazy charm, it moved along quickly. I read it in a day and a half. The inside cover art is very true to the novel - dark, handsome David with his "Snow White" beautiful Christiana. All in all, a 5 star PLUS book. Very, very highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Indeed an excellent debut!
Review: Actually I tackled this author backwards, by first reading her most recent novel and then her debut By Arrangement. Madeline Hunter landed immediately on my true keeper shelves. All the raves are fully justified. Of course there is the unusual premise of love between a noblewoman and a merchant in the fourteenth century (and thus deviating from the lord and lady of the castle theme). What the reader gets is an excellent, intelligent and passionate story. Her characterization is brilliant, intelligent plotline and fine historical detail. But she doesn't overwhelm or intimidate you with the historical details (it's perfectly balanced. Characters are presented in shades of grey and keep their edges or quirks. And indeed even the villans have a sympathetic touch. With her merchant hero David, Madeline Hunter comments also on the attitudes of the nobility vs. merchants. And by way of her heroine Christiana on the position of women. It's a joy to see Christiana blossom into a courageous, intelligent and strong woman. And David of course is a fascinating hero, many faceted yet kind too. But his love for Christiana is his personal Waterloo. Further I loved Christiana's brother Morvan and had already read his story first. In my opinion an author to cherish!
Rating:
Summary: Arrange a time to read By Arrangement straight through
Review: because you're not going to be able to put it down once you start! Lady Christiana Fitzwaryn, ward of the King, is being given in marriage to a merchant, David de Abyndon. She hopes this commoner will be a gentleman and not go through with the betrothal, but David has no intention of not marrying her. The question is, why is David so insistent on this marriage? Is he marrying Christiana to further himself politically? No, a man who has the King's ear doesn't need any help in that arena. Does he want to further himself socially? No, David doesn't seem at all interested in gaining access to court. Could it be that the sparks that ignite whenever they're together are truly his reason for paying a King's ransom for her hand, or is there some other reason? Secrets, plots within plots, riddle the couple as both try to discover who it is they're married to and what the feeling blazing between them truly is. Madeline Hunter crafts a story of intrigue and politics . . . and most especially of love! It was a great read.
Rating:
Summary: A triumphant debut novel¿
Review: By their king's order, Lady Christiana Fitzwaryn would marry David de Abyndon, a man whose station is far beneath her but whose success as a merchant allows him to pay the bride price for her hand. Believing she is in love with another man, Christiana urges him to let her go only to find herself reluctantly captivated by his gentle kindness and protective concern for her. Slowly but surely, she comes to realize her love for him in the happiness they share together. David de Abyndon is more than just a wealthy merchant his financial success has helped him overcome his dark heritage as the bastard son of Joanna de Abyndon. His talent as a cartographer and travels as a merchant make him the perfect tool to employ in England's campaign to take Paris. But his love for Christiana and the truth about his paternity leave him with more at stake than he ever thought possible. With his heart and loyalties in jeopardy, David must struggle with the concept of being a truly noble man as he makes a decision that could change the course of his life forever. Madeline Hunter's debut novel is a triumph. It is full of rich historic detail and wonderfully carved characters that come to life on the pages. I have never been as touched by a character as I was by David de Abyndon who, despite the misery of his childhood, manages to come out on top all the wiser and all the more determined to succeed. His character is not without its insecurities but his confidence in his capabilities and his loving concern for Christiana is admirable. Hunter enriches his relationship with Christiana by drawing parallels between her and the fate of his mother, which affected him deeply. Hunter also paints Christiana as an innocent girl who is sometimes ignorant by default but by no means lacks intelligence. Because he is older and wiser, Christiana learns much from David and comes to understand him as well as he understands her. At the same time, being with David allows her to let go of many of her own uncertainties and opens her up to a more unrestricted way of life. In illustrating this, Hunter strengthens both characters and their relationship together. Also, though the campaign to capture Paris is an integral part of the story, the pace the author assumes from the very beginning is moderate. This is clearly a character-driven book but it is an excellent story because of the strength of the characters and the richness of detail.
Rating: 
Summary: Just Not Compelling
Review: First, let me say this... I think I am the only one who did not care for this book. It was a well-written and well-researched novel. It was just not a compelling story for me. I never got involved with the characters, and I never understood why the fell in love. The development of the relationship between the characters was sacrificed for the plot of the book. In the end the story was an OK read but not memorable to me. Plus, I never understood the attraction to the main character. He was entirely devoid of humor and personality.
Rating:
Summary: Just Not Compelling
Review: First, let me say this... I think I am the only one who did not care for this book. It was a well-written and well-researched novel. It was just not a compelling story for me. I never got involved with the characters, and I never understood why the fell in love. The development of the relationship between the characters was sacrificed for the plot of the book. In the end the story was an OK read but not memorable to me. Plus, I never understood the attraction to the main character. He was entirely devoid of humor and personality.
Rating:
Summary: I finished the book, but . . .
Review: Have you ever watched a movie or tv show or concert, and then afterwards read the review of it? And did you wonder, "gee, did we both see (or hear) the same thing?" That's how I felt after reading this highly-praised and very recommended book. I adore this time frame--late 1300s, and really wanted to like the book. In all honesty, however, I have to say it didn't register with me as it has with all the other reviewers here. I found very little medieval sensibility; oh, certainly they rode horses or used carts, and if anyone was dressing or undressing, the medieval name for the garment was mentioned, and sometimes a room in a building had an old-fashioned name--solar, for example. To me, the dialogue could have been in last week's movie, it was that modern, other than either an 'aye' or a 'nay' in every few paragraphs. The characters also didn't seem very medieval in attitude or character; revisionist history doesn't work so well for me, and making them all sweet and lovely just doesn't get it. The writing was some better than most first-time authors, but again, it was just too close to ordinary. There is certainly nothing offensive about this book--it just isn't one I can love!
Rating: 
Summary: Did not hold my interest
Review: Having read stories by J. McNaught, N. Roberts, K. Woodiwiss, Sue E. Phillips, S. McKenna and M. Cansham, I found the writing didn't flow and I had a hard time immersing myself into the story. I like to escape from reality when I read romance novels and this time reality was more appealing than the story....
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