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A review by gelsey
By Arrangement by Madeline Hunter
3.0
This probably edges closer to three and. half stars than three.
On the whole I enjoyed this romance novel. Though I'm not studied on the time period, it felt real, and realism is something I always appreciate in a book. There were no sudden exclaimations or word choices or anachronisms that jumped out to me or threw me out of the book. In a historical novel of any sort, this is always a must.
That being said, while I enjoyed the characters, I found David especially to be a bit contradictory at times, and I do feel this could have been avoided a little more. Smoothed over, perhaps. While his views on property grate modern sensibilities a bit, what bothered me was actually how he seemed to flipflop on if he truly believed in it or not. By the end, I feel not, but I do think he was portrayed having two different and opposing views at times and I did not like that.
As for Christiana, she was a believable heroine even in this day and age, for I have met girls her age even now who are just as horribly naive and sheltered as she was. I do find her forgiving certain of David's actions a little questionable, especially his actions in one certain scene, but given how she was portrayed, I can just buy it.
Overall, a decent read. Not sure I'll read it again, but I don't regret picking it up, either.
On the whole I enjoyed this romance novel. Though I'm not studied on the time period, it felt real, and realism is something I always appreciate in a book. There were no sudden exclaimations or word choices or anachronisms that jumped out to me or threw me out of the book. In a historical novel of any sort, this is always a must.
That being said, while I enjoyed the characters, I found David especially to be a bit contradictory at times, and I do feel this could have been avoided a little more. Smoothed over, perhaps. While his views on property grate modern sensibilities a bit, what bothered me was actually how he seemed to flipflop on if he truly believed in it or not. By the end, I feel not, but I do think he was portrayed having two different and opposing views at times and I did not like that.
As for Christiana, she was a believable heroine even in this day and age, for I have met girls her age even now who are just as horribly naive and sheltered as she was. I do find her forgiving certain of David's actions a little questionable, especially his actions in one certain scene, but given how she was portrayed, I can just buy it.
Overall, a decent read. Not sure I'll read it again, but I don't regret picking it up, either.