59 of 62 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book dragged me right back..., May 30, 2001
to reading romances, after I had sworn in a fit of New Year resolutions to stop reading them. I would recommend reading the book to find out why. The other reviewers have said it all, but this is what *I* felt was different about this book (which got a rare five-stars from picky old me):
1) wonderfully detailed historical research, which is yet not overwhelming. That is, Hunter does not use details to impress us, but to add color, and all the rest of the sensations to her story. For example, the details about the room where David and Christiana first meet, with the fact that Christiana notices only certain things about the room at first, and rather more in her second visit (because it is a different time of day, she is less frightened, and so on). There are small, telling historical facts added to enable us to place the book exactly in time and place. There are general details about the social and economic structure of society, which are sometimes overlooked by other writers of medieval romances. In short, if you like to see your facts right, you will be very happy in this book. [Mind you, you either have to like a very intriguing story, or to love medievals].
2) the unconventional love story, with the hero being a merchant. Although his birth father is a nobleman (as it turns out), his mother was the daughter of a merchant, and he was raised by another merchant. Throughout the story, we see David battling with the values of his upbringing and the great love and loyalty he has for his city (the City of London), which runs counter to possibilities that arise for his advancement by the standards of the time. The heroine is a noblewoman, but a rather strong-willed and intelligent, even perceptive, heroine. Not a woman who willfully throws herself into danger, nor a woman who depends on her beauty to get her out of trouble.
3) The motives for the marriage itself. No spoilers here, but let us just say that David's attraction to Christiana (although very real) is not his primary or even secondary motive for marrying her. Even at the end, if you are like me, you will wonder whether the motive stated at the end of the book was his real reason for marrying her. I could think of two other possibilities, both mentioned in the book.
4) The hero. Ahh! I don't usually sigh over fictional heroes (even Mr Darcy), but this hero is really unusual. Some people will be put off by the dark streak in his character, his ruthlessness, his ability to compartmentalize and calculate even in times of crisis. Others will find him fascinating and all the more complete for his double-edged motivations and actions. Let me just say that if you like a tortured hero, you will probably like David - but if you want your hero to be totally redeemed by the end of the love story, you might be put off. David's transformation (if it happened) is an ongoing process, incomplete in this book, and perhaps more visible in the forthcoming sequel THE PROTECTOR.
5) The love scenes, which are very detailed. Again, I normally don't discuss love scenes, but some people might be put off by the intense passion generated by this couple (as well as some of the unusual techniques). For the record, there is every possibility that medieval men would have been familiar with such techniques, given the very recent history of the Crusades which brought a lot of Middle Eastern and thus other ideas and innovations to the medieval West. If you don't believe me, I recommend Runciman and others.
Now, go and read this book! I promise you that you won't be disappointed. Frustrated perhaps, but not disappointed. As for myself, I read this book several months ago, started a fan club online for Hunter, and chewed over my thoughts (over some partial re-reads) for months before writing this review.
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57 of 62 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Real Historical Romance, June 6, 2000
Readers who know my reviews from The Romance Reader are aware that I am not fond of the current trend of using history merely as "wallpaper" for the story. Having cut my teeth on Roberta Gellis' well researched and well written romances, I like my historical romances to have real history. Well BY ARRANGEMENT fits my requirements.
Set against the early years of the 100 Years War, this novel deals with the intrigues and the machinations of the English and the French, as well as the actions of Edward III.
But however much I like the history in BY ARRANGEMENT, it is the love story that makes this book special. Christiana Fitzwaryn, after a romantic indiscretion, is informed that she is to marry the merchant David de Abyndon. She wants her prospective fiance to withdraw from the marriage; she is in love with someone else, or so she thinks. But David refuses. There is more to this marriage than a social climbing merchant's desire to marry a baron's daughter.
David sets out to woo Christiana away from her knight. And what a wooing. David is one cool hero. He is handsome, intelligent, sexy, and more than a little bit devious. He has his own agenda. Christiana finds herself attracted against her will. She also grows up as she comes to terms both with her feelings for David and her immature crush on an unworthy suitor.
Truth in advertising requires me to admit that Madeline Hunter is a friend of mine and that I have been in love with David for four years, ever since I read BY ARRANGEMENT in manuscript form. But I truly believe that I would have given this story a five star rating, whoever the author is.
It's a wonderful HISTORICAL romance.
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22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fantastic read!, June 10, 2000
By A Customer
If you enjoy historical romance, this is a must read! It's well-written and well-researched and it spins a fantastic variation on the "arranged marriage" plot. I also give Madeline Hunter an A+ for character development and plot. Her hero, the merchant David de Abyndon, is intriguing, textured, and complex. Her heroine, Lady Christiana Fitzwaryn, is intelligent and equally intriguing and complex. They evolve and surprise us over the course of the novel. As one of the other reviewers notes, many authors use a historical setting as "wallpaper" for romance. Not so here! Hunter takes great pains to render the social and historical world of 14th-century London in vibrant detail and it makes for a great read! I look forward to her next book.
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