Rating: 
Summary: I know I'm in the minority!
Review: However, I feel the need to give a contrasting opinion. I bought this book based on all the online rave reviews, but I was very disappointed. The story was very dull. The paperback I read is 389 pages long, and my interest was not gained until the last 100 pages or so. The political storyline was dull mainly because we had no details until the end of the book - just mysterious 'hints' throughout. And David's personality came off as being more uneven and inconsistent rather than three dimensional. I would not recommend this book. But as I said, I am in the minority...
Rating: 
Summary: The Raves are Well-Justified
Review: I am often a little bit sceptical of five-star reviews, but here is a book that well deserves the rating. I read it in a day because I just could not bear to put it down. By Arrangement has everything you could want in a historical novel--a couple, David and Christiana, thrown together by politics, held together by attraction, and slowly realizing their love, a historical background that is alive with sights, sounds, and realistic, character-accurate behaviors, but never bogged down in detail or description, characters that have depth, believable emotions, interesting ambitions, and that show contradictions, growth, and humor. I especially liked how Christiana's discovery of the true nature of love was handled, with an accumulation of everyday situations, each one handing her another piece of the puzzle until the whole, shattering picture was revealed. Even the "villians" were not cardboard cut-outs, but had believable motivations and pasts that explained their current behaviors. In short, it is a masterfully crafted novel, and I can't wait to buy the next in the series.
Rating:
Summary: By Arrangement
Review: I applaud Madeline Hunter for an outstanding job writing this book. It kept my attention and my heart beating from the beginning to the end. Just when you think this couple has gone through it all she takes you one step further. I laughed and cried. Bravo! Ms. Hunter Keep the fictional romance books coming. I can't wait to read your new one...By Possession.
Rating: 
Summary: a must read
Review: I did enjoy this book. The only problem was that i'm use to reading books were the charators are more important then the setting. Hunter prefers to write more on what is happening aroung the charators rather then the charators themselves. Overall this was a great book and i enjoyed reading it and recomment it to anyone who loves to read romance novels.
Rating: 
Summary: By Arrangement
Review: I enjoyed the love story between David and christina, but I was confused about some of the story itself. I found myself having to go back and reread to see if I had missed anything along the way. I could not remember all of the characters since most were not described fully enough for me. I would have to go back in the book sometimes to figure out whom David or Christina were talking about. The bother was fully described, but I feel she could have given him a little more romance than she did. The author could almost write a novel just about the brother and i'm sure it would be a hit.
Rating:
Summary: A Treasure Worth Keeping!
Review: I found this book worth keeping in my library. I had been browsing around in my local bookstore when I saw this book on the bookshelf - a new author - and I told myself to give it a shot. Now I am extremely glad I bought it. This is one book which has captured my interest from the beginning to the end. Madeline Hunter has been able to bring alive the very realistic yet interesting, dynamic chemistry between David and Christiana. The interaction between characters were intriguing and had a spark I find lacking in some books I have read. The author has done a good job on character development - a very important aspect in romance novels, making them 'come alive' to the reader. I feel that the background of politics and socioeconomic strata is well-woven in, the historical aspect interesting and educational for me. Even though English is my second language, I found the books easy to read and understand. Finally, I really think that BY ARRANGEMENT is a treasure worth keeping, a book I can reread without getting bored. I look forward to BY POSSESSION. Thank you very much for this wonderful romance.
Rating:
Summary: Read Lord of a Thousand Nights first if you have doubts
Review: I honestly don't know if I would have liked this story if I had not read about David & Christiana in Ian & Reyna's story first. David so intrigued me I couldn't wait to read his story. So...if you aren't familiar with David & Christiana, you may find this book a little slow.
Rating:
Summary: Original.
Review: I like my medieval romances, well, medieval. I was quite pleased with this book because the characters, setting etc. were just that medieval. It takes place in the mid-to late 14th century so ok maybe technically it's late medieval. The story is original and the romance bit was lovely. I'm not a writer so read the back of the book or one of the other reviews if you want to know what it's about. Apparently it's the author's 1st book & it shows in a few places. Just a sentence here and there, certainly nothing that would make one struggle to get to the end of a paragraph let alone a page.
Rating:
Summary: I know I'm in the minority!
Review: I picked up all of Ms. Hunters novels based on reviews and started with her first - By Arrangement. I found this to be an excellent story with enough suspense to keep you turning the pages. Here you have your captivating heroine, Lady Christiana Fitzwaryn, a ward of the King promised to be wed to a Merchant. Now this is a premise that in this setting is most unusual, but of course the merchant, David de Abnydon is a most unusual merchant! There are a lot of reasons why he has bought his bride, sight unseen and with no dower, at such high bride price. But you must read the story to find out as I'll never tell. Lady Christiana, on the other hand, believes herself in love with a Knight of the Realm and is insulted that her status is being lowered so devastatingly by a marriage beneath her class. Her brother, Morvan, also is furious but powerless to stop this unusual arrangement! You see a lot of growth by the heroine, well fleshed out characters and a glimpse into this medeival period that is wonderfully portrayed by this author. Altogether, a wonderful book and another superb author to watch!
Rating:
Summary: Engaging and Different Medeival
Review: I picked up all of Ms. Hunters novels based on reviews and started with her first - By Arrangement. I found this to be an excellent story with enough suspense to keep you turning the pages. Here you have your captivating heroine, Lady Christiana Fitzwaryn, a ward of the King promised to be wed to a Merchant. Now this is a premise that in this setting is most unusual, but of course the merchant, David de Abnydon is a most unusual merchant! There are a lot of reasons why he has bought his bride, sight unseen and with no dower, at such high bride price. But you must read the story to find out as I'll never tell. Lady Christiana, on the other hand, believes herself in love with a Knight of the Realm and is insulted that her status is being lowered so devastatingly by a marriage beneath her class. Her brother, Morvan, also is furious but powerless to stop this unusual arrangement! You see a lot of growth by the heroine, well fleshed out characters and a glimpse into this medeival period that is wonderfully portrayed by this author. Altogether, a wonderful book and another superb author to watch!
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