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!
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Story
Review: I have read all 3 of her books, and I think that this is the best out of the 3. Like most romance aficionados, I like the standard formulaic fare. However, Madeline Hunter deviates a little by allowing us to really get to know the characters and see how and why they fall in love. The story between the two characters is really beautiful. Her heroine is trying to overcome her current tragic situation and painful memories. And the hero, Rhys, he is really something special. He is possessive, but not overbearing, understanding, and patient...willing to wait until the heroine comes to him. She also addresses the issue of class differences again, and does a fantastic job of, yet again. And she still manages to make the story very sensual, too. So, yes, it has depth, sex, and romance!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Strangely lifeless
Review: I have read and enjoyed By Arrangement, but By Design falls somewhat short. It reads like a totally politically correct story, quite predictable and all the characters are strangely lifeless and wooden, never feel quite real but instead like generic sensitive characters.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent compelling story!
Review: I think this is probably about a 4 1/2 for me -- not quite as good of a love story as Possession - but still very good. Sometimes these books are a little confusing as to what order they are best read in - and also the characters -- since there was a Joan in By Arrangement - at first I thought that was the same Joan. And I am thinking the David in this book was the same one that later is the merchant. This was however a good love story and Rhys who I absolutely did not like in By Design you came to know in this book and he was really quite a wonderful man. You definetly feel the love between Joan and Rhys and root for them to eventually get together!
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating medieval romance
Review: In the marketplace near the Cathedral, freemason Rhys observes a beautiful newcomer serenely and quietly trying to sell crockery. For some strange reason, Rhys finds himself enchanted by the "alien" and even more excited by her work that is geometrically perfect especially since he learns that she lacked the proper equipment. Reluctantly by gleefully for having met the latest hawker, Rhys finally moves on to conduct his own business.A few days later, Rhys sees his enchantress in quite a different situation. Apparently she did something that led to her master blaming her. Now she is a victim of the stocks. Rhys rescues Joan by buying her indentured contract. Joan wants nothing to do with her savior even if he is kind and handsome, and she is falling in love with him. Even with the enticement of Rhys and his love, Joan's goal remains vengeance on those who destroyed her and her family though some of her enemies reside in the court of young King Edward. BY DESIGN is an exciting late medieval romance that uses the political and economic conditions of the times as a backdrop to a warm historical romantic intrigue. The story line works because of the historical depth, especially that of the guilds which brings much color to the tale and leaves the audience feeling they are inspecting pottery among other wares. The lead couple seems real because of the full flavor of the period. Though Madeline Hunter has written a medieval romance that sub-genre fans will enjoy, readers of historical fiction will gain much pleasure from the novel too. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: A captivating read!
Review: Joan once knew a life of luxury. Now she's selling her pottery in the marketplace, trying to build a future for herself and her brother. She doesn't have time for anything but her narrow goals. Until Rhys comes into her life. He buys her indenture, but it's not the piece of paper that gives him power of Joan. It's her traitorous heart that doesn't seem to realize that falling in love with this man would be insanity. But the heart doesn't recognize boundaries of class -- it measures a man in it's own way, and assures Joan that there is no other man for her. Madeline Hunter writes a passion packed novel of love.
Rating:
Summary: They shared a love that had no place in society
Review: Joan sinks her hopes, her fears, and her grief into her tiny statues. She looks forward to the day when the craft she has successfully adopted will liberate her from her self-imposed indentured servitude. Though that is her immediate goal, she harbors another whose purpose lays in the secrets she keeps and the brother she has vowed to protect. Rhys, a skilled mason, is drawn to the beautiful tiler. When he discovers she has been put into the stocks for her master's faulty work, he does the unthinkable and buys her. But more than a piece of paper binds these two craftspeople. As Rhys shares his love of the craft with Joan, he finds himself falling fast in love with the tiler who is not entirely what she seems. The deepening affection between the two is ill-timed as the winds of change stir and spark the unhappiness of the realm. Rhys finds himself unexpectedly drawn into the deadly political struggle with too much at stake. "By Design" is the conclusion to Madeline Hunter's first trilogy. It picks up both historically, and politically, three years after its predecessor, "By Possession". Hunter does a spectacular job of building the political edge of this story through Rhys's evolving role. In addition, she successfully threads the interweaving plot, involving Joan's past, into the story as well. She is to be commended for skillfully integrating Rhys and Joan's friendship and love into the plot and making it central to the story. Both protagonists are strong-willed and admirable. Rhys is initially reluctant to be drawn back into the dangerous political games he was once a part of, but Joan's cries against injustice stir him into action, making him shake off his cynicism. While Joan fills him with hope, Rhys helps Joan overcome her fears, her distrust, her rashness, and her hasty sense of judgment. He lends her patience and wisdom with his steadfast loyalty.
Rating:
Summary: An intelligent medieval
Review: Madeline Hunter has never denied that she re-took the theme of love between the social classes in 'By Design'. The protagonist of 'By Design' is Rhys a freemason who was introduced as a supporting character in her 'By Possession'. And again Ms. Hunter has written an interesting and intelligent medieval ['By Design' was her third book]. Set in England at the first half of the fourteenth century, we see Rhys meet the enigmatic young Joan who sells her statues at the market and who also makes tiles. A meeting which will change both of their lives irrevocably, and I will not spoil any more of the story. As with 'By Arrangement' and 'By Possesion', 'By Design' is marked by wonderful historical detail [Madeline Hunter always does a thorough research for her novels, see for instance the superb market scene at the beginning of 'By Design'], excellent characterization or a poignant, riveting and intelligent story. With Joan and Rhys she provides the reader with another pair of unforgettable protagonists. Rhys is a wonderful, gallant hero, a gifted man of integrity [see his defense of Joan in the stocks]. Rhys has to walk a very fine line between danger and love/ideals. Joan is more enigmatic, and with her Ms. Hunter uses the 'by snippets method' which she already had used for David in 'By Arrangement'. Joan's motives and background are slowly revealed. Anyway the author created with Joan a tough heroine who did what she had to do, so she and her younger brother Mark could survive. With Mark Ms. Hunter provides the reader with a very well drawn brattish teenager [Mark's story has just been released as 'Stealing Heaven']. Further we see a glimpse of the young David de Abyndon [the hero of 'By Arrangement'], who's Mark's friend here. And of course there's an interesting encore for Addis and Moira, the hero and heroine from 'By Possession' [Rhys and Moira enjoy an extraordinary and enduring friendship]. For those who seek an intelligent, poignant or powerful medieval romance I recommend 'By Design' very highly!
Rating:
Summary: Hot Romance!
Review: Madeline Hunter is currently one of my favorite authors. She brings the reader to a different place and time. This story touched my heart. This is simply a wonderful love story. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: A Disappointment
Review: Perhaps _By Possession_ set my expectations too high. It was a well-crafted, unique love story with compellingly realistic characters. It immediately joined Laura Kinsale's _Seize the Fire_, Nora Robert's _Honest Illusions_ and M.M. Kaye's _Far Pavilions_ in my pantheon of all-time favorites. Hunter is a talented writer, wonderfully adept at both plot and characterization. I had hoped that her talent and tendency to write refreshingly novel stories would dictate her delivering another gem. Instead it was a retread of the class-difference problem seen in earlier novels, without the interesting characters who make the story reverbrate strongly to the modern-day reader. Frankly, I had no real attachment to Rhys or to Joan and was not moved enough to care whether they got together. The depiction of the characters seemed more strained than it did with Moira and Addis in _By Possession_, almost as if caring about these characters was as much of effort for her as it was for me. Perhaps not. Perhaps it's just that characters like Moira and Addis happen so infrequently that it's unfair to expect that magic again, especially so soon. As far as this book goes, it is still better than much of the romance currently available. With such intelligent writing, sharply drawn historical context and good dialogue, it still offers much more than the typical romance.
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