By Design 
asked by waltersmith on November 26, 2006 1:50 AM
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....
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....
Reviews
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Joan and Mark de Brecon are all alone in this world. Their home was captured and parents killed by order of Guy Leighton, an evil knight reputed to be Roger Mortimer's assassin. Roger Mortimer, by the way, is the Queen's lover. Guy was ordered to the Brecon keep to destroy it and also dispose of the entire family, but he became enamored with Joan and so struck a bargain with her: In exchange for Mark's life, she would become his lover.
Joan endured the horror of being with Guy every night until she and Mark were able to escape. They made it to London where Joan was able to find work as a tiler and make money on the side by selling religious statues she made out of clay. While she's at the market selling her wares, she meets Rhys, a wealthy freemason who has done work for the royal family. He rescues Joan several times, first when one of Mortimer's squires attacks her and also when he finds her in the town stocks, punished for selling damaged statues.
Rhys and Joan are drawn to each other but Joan is like a wounded animal, fiercely attacking anyone who tries to come near her and refusing to trust anybody. Through his kindness, Joan learns to trust Rhys but not entirely for she refuses to share the horrific story of what happened to her family or that her and Mark are on the run. Despite what her head tells her, Joan loses her heart to Rhys and just when she's starting to relax, her past catches up with her.
I think the best thing about this story is the author's prose. She weaves a beautiful tale of two souls melded into one. It's something so special that you won't see the words "I love you" anywhere in the story, because to add to it will simply take away from it. Who else can use words to paint a picture of the coming together of two people as they work together to do something so ordinary as molding clay?
I am enamored with this tale. The storyline is solid with plenty of subplots to add a sense of richness to it. Rhys and Joan have to navigate dangerous intrigue to stay alive and also to bring to justice the man who murdered Joan's parents and raped her repeatedly. I don't have any complaints nor see anything lacking in the story. Needless to say, Madeline Hunter is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. She is as gifted a writer as they come.
Joan endured the horror of being with Guy every night until she and Mark were able to escape. They made it to London where Joan was able to find work as a tiler and make money on the side by selling religious statues she made out of clay. While she's at the market selling her wares, she meets Rhys, a wealthy freemason who has done work for the royal family. He rescues Joan several times, first when one of Mortimer's squires attacks her and also when he finds her in the town stocks, punished for selling damaged statues.
Rhys and Joan are drawn to each other but Joan is like a wounded animal, fiercely attacking anyone who tries to come near her and refusing to trust anybody. Through his kindness, Joan learns to trust Rhys but not entirely for she refuses to share the horrific story of what happened to her family or that her and Mark are on the run. Despite what her head tells her, Joan loses her heart to Rhys and just when she's starting to relax, her past catches up with her.
I think the best thing about this story is the author's prose. She weaves a beautiful tale of two souls melded into one. It's something so special that you won't see the words "I love you" anywhere in the story, because to add to it will simply take away from it. Who else can use words to paint a picture of the coming together of two people as they work together to do something so ordinary as molding clay?
I am enamored with this tale. The storyline is solid with plenty of subplots to add a sense of richness to it. Rhys and Joan have to navigate dangerous intrigue to stay alive and also to bring to justice the man who murdered Joan's parents and raped her repeatedly. I don't have any complaints nor see anything lacking in the story. Needless to say, Madeline Hunter is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. She is as gifted a writer as they come.
reviewed by runabout on November 26, 2006 11:47 AM
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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.
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.
reviewed by orla on November 28, 2006 1:39 AM
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Once you read this book, you will know why so many of us fell in love with it. The love between Rhys and Joan is so strong that many of us will pray that it will also happen to us in our life time.
Now I have to get my hands on "The Protector"!
Now I have to get my hands on "The Protector"!
reviewed by steelers on November 29, 2006 12:20 AM
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Rhys and Joan loved one another, he was a great guy, but I ask you, what WAS his last name? Did he even have a last name? He mostly introduced himself as Rhys, and Addis, or someone, referred to him as Rhys Mason, but he was a MASON by profession.
reviewed by fazer on November 29, 2006 7:35 AM