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By Design [Mass Market Paperback]

Madeline Hunter
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
RRP: £6.99
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Book Description

1 Mar 2001
Bound by honor...

The moment Rhys saw the stunning young woman selling her exquisitely crafted pottery in the marketplace, he was captivated. But the wealthy freemason would never have guessed that just a few days later, a misunderstanding would land Joan in the town stocks and he would become her unlikely savior. After the grueling ordeal, Rhys tenderly cares for Joan's bruised body—and her bruised pride. Yet he longs to do much more ... to satisfy the fire that sparks between the pair the moment they are alone.

Rhys could not have known that Joan once enjoyed a more privileged life. She'd had no choice but to become an indentured servant, but she is determined to avenge the crimes that ruined her family and destroyed her world. When Rhys meets with her employer to buy pottery—and buys her instead —Joan is furious. She vows to resist falling under the spell of the handsome, imposing Rhys. But she finds that her resolve quickly softens when tempted by Rhys's powerful charms—and she can only hope to find a way to avoid surrendering to her potent desire....

Frequently Bought Together

By Design + By Possession + By Arrangement
Price For All Three: £18.59

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  • By Possession £5.86
  • By Arrangement £6.19

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Product details

  • Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
  • Publisher: Bantam USA; Reprint edition (1 Mar 2001)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0553582232
  • ISBN-13: 978-0553582239
  • Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 2.8 x 17.5 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 431,811 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Yes ! a really good medieval romance 21 Nov 2001
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
The hero of By Design is Master Rhys the mason, familiar from By Possesion. He falls in love with Joan, who works in a tile-yard and makes beautiful pottery. There are problems enough to their relationship when it is between two tradespeople, but their growing love has to meet even tougher challenges than her memories of rape.
The story seems firmly grounded in an acceptably accurate historical setting, and both hero and heroine engage your emotions. And although romances always have a happy ending - whatever you do don't read the end first..
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Yet more classic Madeline Hunter 4 April 2010
By Loupop
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Yet again, Ms Hunter has produced a lovely story loosely following on from 'By Possession' and from which the character of Rhys returns as the hero. As ever, this is a well crafted historical romance with strong leads and an enticing glimpse into the lives of the two leads from 'By Possession', which is always welcome. We are also introduced to the gorgeous David De Abyndon from 'By Arrangement' as a young boy which ties it loosely but nicely to that novel. Ms Hunter has never failed to write a solid, well rounded, deeply romantic and engaging story and here we have another fine example of her mastery of the genre. Enjoy!
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Amazon.com: 4.2 out of 5 stars  37 reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars An engaging historical romance 17 Jan 2006
By Michelle888 - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Set in 14th century England, in the time of King Edward III, BY DESIGN is the story of a noblewoman sworn to avenge the wrongful death of her father and restore her brother's birthright.

After losing her home during the war that overthrew Edward II and saw his son on the throne, Lady Joan de Brecon and her brother find themselves in the mercy of Sir Guy Leighton. Three years later, after escaping their oppressor, Joan ekes out a living selling her craft at the local market where she catches the eye of a well to do mason.

From the very first moment he saw her, Rhys was captivated by Joan's beauty and calm dignity. A few days later and Rhys finds himself playing savior to her and after caring for her, Rhys knew that he would do anything to be with Joan - and if it means buying her indenture, then so be it. And that's exactly what Rhys ends up doing, much to Joan's ire. But while Joan is initially defiant about the situation she's been thrown into, Rhys' kindness would eventually win her over.

What I liked most about this book is the undeniable chemistry between Rhys and Joan. Not only do we see the passion between them, but the bond that stems from their past. I thought that Rhys was a great hero - kind and honorable, and his tenderness towards Joan is truly touching. Joan's dignity is really admirable. You can't help but feel for her after everything she's endured. She's one of the most selfless heroines I have read about and there is nothing to dislike about her.

With its well-developed characters and the sexual tension between the main characters, not to mention the tender love that develops between them, BY DESIGN is an engaging historical romance. Even readers who are not familiar with the historical background won't lose interest for the author has done well in ensuring that you don't lose focus on the romance between Rhys and Joan.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Three and a half stars really 22 Aug 2004
By M. A. Bechaz - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This book reminded me of an overgrown shrub--it was undeniably beautiful in places, but it really needed to be trimmed back! A bit more editing should have been done before publishing to iron out its flaws and make the wording flow better.

To give the writer credit, though, she does seem to have a rather good feel for historical writing. In places I could almost see, smell and taste the dubious delights of ye olde London. The author didn't gloss over the harsh realities of life back them, but rather used them to her advantage: they don't bring down the book at all, or darken the story, but instead create a contrasting backdrop against which the main characters shine even brighter.

Joan is a lovely heroine, brave and determined and artistic. But it is the hero, Rhys, whom you will really adore. Unlike many of the 'heroes' I've read about in historical romances lately, he is not cruel or bitter or bent on revenge, but nice and honest and really very sweet, all of which makes him a lot more manly and attractive than those other annoying, overbearing 'heroes'!

This book actually has a decent plotline too--which is more than can be said for many romance novels thesedays--and while it's not a master work of literature, it is nonetheless an entertaining, appealing read that is reasonably good for its genre.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Story 19 April 2002
By M. Rondeau - Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback
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.

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