Monday, February 13, 2012

By The King's Design by Christine Trent ~ Review & Giveaway

Genre: Historical Fiction
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 Event Twitter Hashtag:  #BytheKing'sDesignVirtualTour
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 :)















30 comments:

  1. Wonderful review, Teddyree. I should really read more historical fiction, I do enjoy it but seldom read it.

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  2. Please count me in for this delightful book.

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  3. This 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!

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  4. I 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!

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  5. This 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.
    lcbrower40(at)gmail(dot)com

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  6. I love Put's name pronunciation.
    I'd love to win this book!
    Thanks!
    Allisonmharper@hotmail.com

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  7. 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.

    mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. tweet
    https://twitter.com/#!/mamabunny13/status/169109100058247170
    mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'd love to read this so please enter me.

    niteofblu at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I have read so many interesting reviews of this book and I would love to read it. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
    kaiminani at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/BrokenTeepee/status/169127501250035712
    thank you
    kaiminani at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  12. International, yay then I am in cos I have heard only good things about this author


    booksforlife01 gmail dot com

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    Replies
    1. I love the idea of fashion from this era being in a story. I would love to read this!

      Margaret
      singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

      Delete
    2. New to twitter and I must say I'm lost on there lol! I retweeted but... no link to show here.

      Margaret
      singitm(at)hotmail(dot)com

      Delete
  13. 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!
    ilepachequin(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I forgot my tweet:
      https://twitter.com/#!/Gisselle_Alv/status/169216568184684544
      Thanks! Fingers crossed! :D

      Delete
  14. Holy historical fiction, Bookgirl! I want to read this one big time. Your reviews are the best ever!!

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  15. Thanks for thje giveaway and for opening nit to worldwide entries.

    Much appreciated.

    This sounds like a good old historical roamnce so please enter me.

    Carol T

    buddytho {at} gmail DOT com

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  16. 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!

    Meljprincess AT aol DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh my! This sounds like a winner! Please enter me in the contest to win a copy :) Thanks so much!

    jwitt33 at live dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/jwitt33/status/169536299286536193

    jwitt33 at live dot com

    ReplyDelete
  19. LOL
    Loved your review! You slap the left cheek and I'll slpa the right. We are too much alike at times my friend.

    ReplyDelete
  20. This sounds like a wonderful book! I love good historical fiction and this sounds like it fits the bill. Thanks!
    candc320 at gmail dot com

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  21. 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.

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  22. i have been wanting to read something by this author, thank you for the contest!!

    inthehammockblog at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  23. +2 i tweeted here: https://twitter.com/#!/in_the_hammock/status/170703120488349696

    thank you!

    inthehammockblog at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  24. I've seen good reviews of it and I love the setting. I like even more that the hero really seems like a gentleman.

    thebookish96(at)gmail(dot)com

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  25. I love great historical romances so please enter me. You've convinced me to read this one.
    stacybooks at yahoo

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thank you for the chance to win this book

    griperang at embarqmail dot come

    ReplyDelete
  27. Amazing!
    First 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

    ReplyDelete

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