Release Date: 31st January 2012
Pages: 384
Book Source: Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tour
Synopsis: Thanks to her patron and great architect, John Nash, Belle Stirling is a rising star in the homes of London’s fashionable elite. Even the prince regent wants her elegant, high quality fabrics used in the decoration of his new palace, Brighton Pavilion. But when those closest to her conspire against Parliament, she risks losing her reputation, her business. . .and even her life.
My Thoughts:
Set during the
early 19th century Regency period, By The King's Design is a thoroughly
engaging read with easily digestible historical details for those not too
familiar with that period in history.
The
Luddites, the burgeoning industrial revolution and subsequent social unrest,
the Cato Street Conspiracy all made for really interesting reading and my
education of the extra-curricular vices of the "extra-corpulent ...
extra-repulsive" Prince Regent George Hanover were certainly expanded
upon. Sadly, the future King George IV was also well known for
his extravagance in the face of England's starving and dying.
We follow our heroine Belle Sterling from Yorkshire to London where she
sets up her own drapery shop, is taken under the wing of renowned architect
John Nash and receives a lucrative commission from the Prince Regent to
provide drapery for the new palace, Brighton Pavillion.
Belle is an endearing character, she's intelligent and hard-working
but I did question her judgement where her brother Wesley was concerned.
Wesley's a total sap, weak and flighty and I wanted to slap him, hard. Actually
I wanted to slap Belle a few times too ... how many times did she have to
be duped by her brother before coming to her senses.
The hero of the story and Belle's eventual romantic interest is Putnam
Boyce, of "Put rhymes with
shut" fame. Put is extremely
likeable, a cabinet maker and true gentleman but Belle tries to hold him at arm’s
length while fiercely maintaining her independence, no easy feat for a woman in
this era.
This was
my first Christine Trent novel but it's safe to say it won't be my last.
Tour Schedule: Historical
Fiction Virtual Book Tours
Tour Event Twitter Hashtag:
#BytheKing'sDesignVirtualTour
Christine Trent's Website
Christine Trent's Website
Christine Trent on Facebook
GIVEAWAY:
I'm thrilled to offer readers the chance to
win a copy of BY THE KING'S DESIGN & it's International!!
Just leave a relevant comment with an email
address
Extra Entries:
+2 tweet giveaway and leave a link
Giveaway ends 27th February and the winner will be announced on my blog. Good luck everyone :)
Wonderful review, Teddyree. I should really read more historical fiction, I do enjoy it but seldom read it.
ReplyDeletePlease count me in for this delightful book.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds FUN!! I loved reading your review!! And as much as I would love to win, don't count me in the drawing. I was lucky enough to win one of your previous ones, so I want to make sure that someone else has a chance this time. Thank you for the chance though!
ReplyDeleteI didn't really know that much about By the King's Design but I did really enjoy The Queen's Dollmaker which is set during the French Revolution. I love it when I learn something from the historical fiction I read so I will be picking this up at some point from the library. Thanks for your review!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like such an interesting book. I like novels which feature characters from the working classes, that paint a picture of the social and cultural conditions of the era. Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeletelcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com
I love Put's name pronunciation.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to win this book!
Thanks!
Allisonmharper@hotmail.com
I like that the heroine is intelligent and hard-working and I loved that you wanted to give her brother a slap! *giggles* I enjoy books that have characters that can bring that kind of emotion to the reader. Thanks for the opportunity to win a copy of this book.
ReplyDeletemamabunny13 at gmail dot com
tweet
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/mamabunny13/status/169109100058247170
mamabunny13 at gmail dot com
I'd love to read this so please enter me.
ReplyDeleteniteofblu at gmail dot com
I have read so many interesting reviews of this book and I would love to read it. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
ReplyDeletekaiminani at gmail dot com
tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/BrokenTeepee/status/169127501250035712
ReplyDeletethank you
kaiminani at gmail dot com
International, yay then I am in cos I have heard only good things about this author
ReplyDeletebooksforlife01 gmail dot com
I love the idea of fashion from this era being in a story. I would love to read this!
DeleteMargaret
singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com
New to twitter and I must say I'm lost on there lol! I retweeted but... no link to show here.
DeleteMargaret
singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com
Historical romance books are my favorite to read! I never heard about Christine Trent books and I would love to read her! I always like to read books with strong female character, even in that time they were really independent and powerful person! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteilepachequin(at)hotmail(dot)com
I forgot my tweet:
Deletehttps://twitter.com/#!/Gisselle_Alv/status/169216568184684544
Thanks! Fingers crossed! :D
Holy historical fiction, Bookgirl! I want to read this one big time. Your reviews are the best ever!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for thje giveaway and for opening nit to worldwide entries.
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated.
This sounds like a good old historical roamnce so please enter me.
Carol T
buddytho {at} gmail DOT com
I am so excited about this book I can't stand it. *g* I love Historical Fiction and Christine's books appeal to me immensely. She writes about periods in history that I've never read about but would love to. Crossing my fingers for this. What a fantastic book to win!
ReplyDeleteMeljprincess AT aol DOT com
Oh my! This sounds like a winner! Please enter me in the contest to win a copy :) Thanks so much!
ReplyDeletejwitt33 at live dot com
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/jwitt33/status/169536299286536193
ReplyDeletejwitt33 at live dot com
LOL
ReplyDeleteLoved your review! You slap the left cheek and I'll slpa the right. We are too much alike at times my friend.
This sounds like a wonderful book! I love good historical fiction and this sounds like it fits the bill. Thanks!
ReplyDeletecandc320 at gmail dot com
This was my first Regency read and it has made me want to read more from this genre. I love Trent's books and this one was great too. Thanks for the review. No need to enter me.
ReplyDeletei have been wanting to read something by this author, thank you for the contest!!
ReplyDeleteinthehammockblog at gmail dot com
+2 i tweeted here: https://twitter.com/#!/in_the_hammock/status/170703120488349696
ReplyDeletethank you!
inthehammockblog at gmail dot com
I've seen good reviews of it and I love the setting. I like even more that the hero really seems like a gentleman.
ReplyDeletethebookish96(at)gmail(dot)com
I love great historical romances so please enter me. You've convinced me to read this one.
ReplyDeletestacybooks at yahoo
Thank you for the chance to win this book
ReplyDeletegriperang at embarqmail dot come
Amazing!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, thanks for the giveaway!
Then, i have to say that i love the cover :)
It's great! and fits perfect with the synopsis (which only intrigues me more!)
Who doesn't love a king, a lady, some fiction in history and a good story? ;)
Thanks for the giveaway and making it international!
andiiblogs(at)hotmail.com