By Arrangement (Medievals)

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

This book is fantastic I totally enjoyed this book from begining to end. The scene is set in medievil times. Lady Christian is a daughter of a dead nobleman. She and her brother are taken in by King Edward when their parents were killed in a battle. King Edward has made arrangements for Lady Christina is to marry David a local merchant (for the kings own reasons). Lady Christina doesn't want to marry the merchant, for she thinks she is in love with an other nobleman and tries to get out of the arrangement by all means, to no avail the wedding takes place and Lady Christina learns a great deal about her merchant. The romance is intensive and the passion is there from the start. Pay attention to David and his character.David does not lie to Lady Christina but wants to see if she loves him for who she thinks he is,a merchant. You will cheer for the couple to over come any obsticles in their way.I could not put this book down, This is the first book I have read by Madeline Hunter and I will read many others. I hated to see this book end. This book is well written by a wonderful author who knows a womens desire. I would recommend this book to any one who loves to read a good romance novel. Excellent!

What a wonderful historical romance novel! There are enough intrigue and mystery in this story to keep one guessing for days! Although all the twists and turns in the plot had me scratching my head for a while, it was thoroughly entertaining. It is well written with great character development and there are several HOT love scenes! :) David de Abyndon is not your average London merchant. He secretly does side work for the King Edward which had earned him the beautiful and highborn Lady Christiana Fitzwaryn. Which she doesn't know about. David is achingly sexy and intelligent with a mind of his own. Although, her heart belongs to another knight, the king forces Christiana into the marriage with David. Christina may be young but she has enough wit and intelligence to give David plenty of trouble. And against her will, she falls in love with David, desperately. As the story unravelled, I was hooked...which led me to finish this in the wee hours of the morning. I was deeply touched by the love between the two characters.The historical base seems well researched and informational. I even checked out her website and there was a whole section on the historical background on the book with interesting facts about real characters that she based the book on! But the highlight of the book is of course, the medieval love story of David and Christiana. Their story in the backdrop of the war was engrossing and mesmerizing! This books is one of the reasons why I love historical romance novels! I cannot wait for for her next book, By Possession!

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.

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.