By Design

Rating:
Summary: One Reader's Opinion
Review: A review is just one person's opinion. I've heard that again and again and it is certainly true. And it is always interesting to read others' opinions of books that one personally loves. I admit to being puzzled by a couple of reader reviews of BY DESIGN. The suggestion that the characters just did not come to life leaves me scratching my head. For me, Rhys and Joan became real people facing a real dilemma, people I really cared about.

BY DESIGN carries on the theme that Hunter has dealt with so successfully in her first two novels: love that crosses social boundaries. Rhys is a master mason, what today would be an architect, builder and sculptor all rolled into one. When he sees Joan selling her little sculptors at the market and then discovers her in the stocks, it would seem that she is in fact lower in the social order than he is. But the reader soon discovers that Joan's origins are much higher than her current situation suggests.

Moreover, Joan has her own agenda, to gain revenge on the men who ruined her family. Thus, she draws Rhys into the conspiracy to unseat Mortimer and the queen and gain the young Edward III control of his kingdom.

This political subplot enhances a story that is primarily the tale of the growing attraction and love between Rhys and Joan. But if the effort succeeds and Joan is restored to her rightful position, what will become of their love?

It isn't often that a book moves me to tears, but BY DESIGN did. Hunter has created another compelling medieval romance, with great characters, good history and wonderful sexual tension. And that's my opinion of BY DESIGN.

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous story!!
Review: After reading some of the less-than-enthusiastic reviews given here, I am compelled to write in defense of Madeline Hunter's newest book By Design. I loved both of her previous books and this one is JUST AS GOOD. As much as I enjoyed Moira and Addis' story in By Possession, I was fascinated by Rhys, the mason who tried to woo Moira, and was thrilled that he would be the hero of the next book. In this story, Joan and Rhys have fabulous chemistry - their initial physical attraction, their mutual artistic talents, then the slow building of caring and friendship which eventually leads to love and beyond. I say "beyond" because they truly achieve the state we all wish for in our romance heroes and heroines ( as well as ourselves): a merging of souls so that two people become one. Joan and Rhys were not "wooden" as one reviewer said: they were slow, deep and unified in their actions and feelings towards each other. By Design is a thoroughly satisfying medieval love story. It's right up there with the high standards set by Patricia Ryan (Secret Thunder, Sun and the Moon), Julie Garwood (The Wedding), Susan Carroll (Bride Finder) and Judith McNaught (Kingdom of Dreams). Bravo, Madeline! I can hardly wait for your next book.

Rating:
Summary: Great Story
Review: Another wonderful love story by Madeline Hunter - She just keeps you enthralled with this time period. Having read the previous novel - By Possession - you tap into Rhys' story. Rhys was interested in Moira in the previous novel and lost her to Addis. Well, Ms. Hunter gave him his own story and wow, what a story it turns out to be.

Rhys, a well to do free mason runs into a lovely vision selling her wares in the market place. He recognizes her talent and is amazed at how good her work is when she doesn't even have the appropriate tools to work with. Her name is Joan, that is all she tells him and as luck would have it (for her) he runs into her again while she is in stocks being punished for someone elses mistakes.

Joan has issues, of trust, and it is not easy for Rhys to break down her barriers, when he has secrets himself that seem at odds with her issues.

This book is wonderful in that rather than the Lords and Ladies, balls and soirees, you get a glimpse into the lower classes life and see again, the class distinctions, and most of all not only a love story but two souls that come together as kindred spirits.

I loved this story as well as the previous ones and will retain this book for my keeper shelf as well.

Rating:
Summary: Great Story
Review: Another wonderful love story by Madeline Hunter - She just keeps you enthralled with this time period. Having read the previous novel - By Possession - you tap into Rhys' story. Rhys was interested in Moira in the previous novel and lost her to Addis. Well, Ms. Hunter gave him his own story and wow, what a story it turns out to be.

Rhys, a well to do free mason runs into a lovely vision selling her wares in the market place. He recognizes her talent and is amazed at how good her work is when she doesn't even have the appropriate tools to work with. Her name is Joan, that is all she tells him and as luck would have it (for her) he runs into her again while she is in stocks being punished for someone elses mistakes.

Joan has issues, of trust, and it is not easy for Rhys to break down her barriers, when he has secrets himself that seem at odds with her issues.

This book is wonderful in that rather than the Lords and Ladies, balls and soirees, you get a glimpse into the lower classes life and see again, the class distinctions, and most of all not only a love story but two souls that come together as kindred spirits.

I loved this story as well as the previous ones and will retain this book for my keeper shelf as well.

Rating:
Summary: Least Favorite by this Author
Review: As I say in all my Madeline Hunter reviews, this was well-written novel. Ms. Hunter is, technically speaking, an excellent writer. I don't always like her character development. In this novel, I really dislike her heroine. She was both immature and ungrateful. I could see no reason for the hero to fall in love with her. Her behavious ruined the story for me. I am not able to recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: Least Favorite by this Author
Review: As I say in all my Madeline Hunter reviews, this was well-written novel. Ms. Hunter is, technically speaking, an excellent writer. I don't always like her character development. In this novel, I really dislike her heroine. She was both immature and ungrateful. I could see no reason for the hero to fall in love with her. Her behavious ruined the story for me. I am not able to recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: A Bit Disappointed
Review: By Design was the first Madeline Hunter book I've read. With all the attention that has surrounded this new author, I was a bit disappointed. She does a wonderful job with the historical aspect of the story, but I found it difficult to truly care about the characters. Ms. Hunter is definitely talented, and I am looking forward to reading her other novels. By Design is an okay read, but not one of those books that you just can't put down.

Rating:
Summary: I LOVE THIS BOOK!!
Review: I bought By Design because I like unusual romances with out of the ordinary protagonists. (A heroine rescued from the stocks by the hero is very unusual!) But it is so much more than just a better-than-run-of-the-mill romance. This is one of the most moving, passionate stories I've ever read!

Rhys is a kind, generous and tender man (sigh) and Joan a woman who has endured more than her share of suffering in life and is still struggling to recover from it. Until then, Rhys is more than patient. He is open about his attraction to her, yet gives her the space to find her own way to him. Because of that, they form a bond that is mental and physical; they truly become soul-mates.

Ms. Hunter writes beautiful love scenes. They are the perfect combination of sensuality and eloquent prose. The passage where the two express vows to one another in a moonlit pond is nothing short of poetic. Once I finished the book, I immediately re-read the last several chapters -- they were that engrossing. The story didn't leave my head for days!

I've ordered By Possession and By Arrangement and will devour them as soon as possible!!

Rating:
Summary: I LOVE THIS BOOK!!
Review: I bought By Design because I like unusual romances with out of the ordinary protagonists. (A heroine rescued from the stocks by the hero is very unusual!) But it is so much more than just a better-than-run-of-the-mill romance. This is one of the most moving, passionate stories I've ever read!

Rhys is a kind, generous and tender man (sigh) and Joan a woman who has endured more than her share of suffering in life and is still struggling to recover from it. Until then, Rhys is more than patient. He is open about his attraction to her, yet gives her the space to find her own way to him. Because of that, they form a bond that is mental and physical; they truly become soul-mates.

Ms. Hunter writes beautiful love scenes. They are the perfect combination of sensuality and eloquent prose. The passage where the two express vows to one another in a moonlit pond is nothing short of poetic. Once I finished the book, I immediately re-read the last several chapters -- they were that engrossing. The story didn't leave my head for days!

I've ordered By Possession and By Arrangement and will devour them as soon as possible!!

Rating:
Summary: Can't judge a book by it's cover.
Review: I have never read anything by Madeline Hunter before this and I picked this up because from the title and cover picture I thought it was maybe a modern romance about a dressmaker and designer. (I know, I know, but I was in a hurry and never read the back cover.) Imagine my surprise when I begin to read and a beautiful story about the medievel lower classes reveals itself. It always seemed to be moving forward, never stalling as some historicals have the tendency of doing, because this wasn't a story dependent on the rise and fall of power. It was a simple story about Joan and the terrible things that happened to her and what she did to overcome these emotional barriers. And it was about Rhys and how his love for Joan would make him do things he wouldn't normally think he could do. It was a wonderful book, and I loved it! I can't wait to read my next Madeline Hunter!