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Crowning Design
A tender, classic love story about the secrets that linger in our hearts and the choices that set us free?Ķ
Some people aren't meant for happily-ever-after. And Deborah Standridge is one of them. When she called off her wedding to the perfect man to pursue her passion as an architect, she didn't mean to hurt anyone. But Deborah saw her chance to finally make her own dreams come and she took it, setting in motion a tragedy that has haunted her ever since.
Now, as one of Denver's most successful architects, Deborah has avoided love at all costs...until Daniel Parker walks into her life. He commissions her to design his company's headquarters and soon makes her want to believe in love again. But Dan is keeping a shocking secret that could rip apart everything they've built--and break Deborah's heart once and for all. Will Deborah find the strength to put the past behind her to fight for a love that could last for all time?
Some people aren't meant for happily-ever-after. And Deborah Standridge is one of them. When she called off her wedding to the perfect man to pursue her passion as an architect, she didn't mean to hurt anyone. But Deborah saw her chance to finally make her own dreams come and she took it, setting in motion a tragedy that has haunted her ever since.
Now, as one of Denver's most successful architects, Deborah has avoided love at all costs...until Daniel Parker walks into her life. He commissions her to design his company's headquarters and soon makes her want to believe in love again. But Dan is keeping a shocking secret that could rip apart everything they've built--and break Deborah's heart once and for all. Will Deborah find the strength to put the past behind her to fight for a love that could last for all time?
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1984
73 people are currently reading
516 people want to read
About the author
Leila Meacham
18 books1,376 followersLeila Meacham was a writer and former teacher who lived in San Antonio, Texas.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
December 29, 2016
Definitely a throw back style of writing...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After reading Ryan’s Hand I had high hope’s for this book. Loved the storyline and the plot itself but there are certain aspects about this book that I didn’t care for, which caused me to rate this a little lower than normal.
One of the first things I found was that this is definitely written in an older style of writing form. Some of the conversations were stilted. In some cases the story jumped around a bit and it seemed like areas could’ve been filled in with more detail to blend the story and make it flow better.
The 80s were definitely in full swing where a woman was not highly valued in her position and was supposed to be a wife first. However, this was important to the story itself so you have to remember in what era it was written to enjoy the full aspect of the story.
Overall, the book was engaging and a pleasant read, written in a classic romance storytelling method. The author is quite talented at telling a great story so there’s very little difficulty enjoying what she has crafted.
If you enjoy throwback writing and stories that are clean, this is one you want to check out and grab. Now available in ebook for immediate enjoyment!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After reading Ryan’s Hand I had high hope’s for this book. Loved the storyline and the plot itself but there are certain aspects about this book that I didn’t care for, which caused me to rate this a little lower than normal.
One of the first things I found was that this is definitely written in an older style of writing form. Some of the conversations were stilted. In some cases the story jumped around a bit and it seemed like areas could’ve been filled in with more detail to blend the story and make it flow better.
The 80s were definitely in full swing where a woman was not highly valued in her position and was supposed to be a wife first. However, this was important to the story itself so you have to remember in what era it was written to enjoy the full aspect of the story.
Overall, the book was engaging and a pleasant read, written in a classic romance storytelling method. The author is quite talented at telling a great story so there’s very little difficulty enjoying what she has crafted.
If you enjoy throwback writing and stories that are clean, this is one you want to check out and grab. Now available in ebook for immediate enjoyment!
February 10, 2017
Wow, I did not see that coming. Well, I did at first, but then I thought not. Most of the book while I was reading it, I wasn't that crazy about. I felt it was good, but not remarkably so. Well, the last 20% was so full of twists. The very last part really redeemed everything and I could see how the first part set the stage for the ending. I'll give this 4 stars, because of all the surprises at the end. 3.75 stars, if I could. I received an ARC of this book from from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Update on 1/3/2012
While I was reading the first 3/4 of Crowning Design, I felt the book was all right, but not remarkable as I had thought Roses was which I listened to at the beginning of December, but boy, once I started reading the last quarter or so, the book just took a life of its own. The twists and turns it took! Although the book is not anything like Roses, which is a saga covering about 100 years of a Texas family, Crowning Design ended up totally redeeming itself.
Update on 1/3/2012
While I was reading the first 3/4 of Crowning Design, I felt the book was all right, but not remarkable as I had thought Roses was which I listened to at the beginning of December, but boy, once I started reading the last quarter or so, the book just took a life of its own. The twists and turns it took! Although the book is not anything like Roses, which is a saga covering about 100 years of a Texas family, Crowning Design ended up totally redeeming itself.
October 12, 2018
Reviewed by JoAnne
Book provided by the publisher
Originally posted at Romancing the Book
This is only the second book that I’ve read by Ms. Meacham but it won’t be my last. While not as engrossing as Ryan’s Hand, Crowning Design is also republished and was originally written in the eighties.
Deborah is a gifted architect but being from the South and a family with money she’s expected to marry and not have a career even though she did go to college. She and Roger aren’t in love but it’s the way things are done or are they? When she takes a job in Denver things get heated fast. There are severe repercussions but she runs away from it all. Randall, the head of the architectural firm, is getting on in years but he mentors her and nurtures her and shapes her the way he wants her. He also made promises to her that seemed like a carrot he was dangling in front of her. It was chilling to me that he would make comments to her about what she wore, how she styled her hair and even the friendships she had. They argue a few times but in the end she always feels he’s right and has her best interests at heart but does he? There were quite a few twists to the story and an almost who dunnit feel to it since there were a few unscrupulous things going on.
When she and a potential client , Dan, hit it off Deborah doesn’t know what to make of it as she’s pursued Randall definitely doesn’t like it and is always making snide comments and putting doubt in her mind. She definitely led a sheltered life when she lived at home with her parents but has remained standoffish even in Denver. Deborah and Dan have their ups and downs but he seems to have a hidden agenda and Deborah isn’t always forthcoming about her past either.
There are family and friends, Deborah’s dog, societal rules, hurt, anger, tears, rivalry, jobs to be done, outings and adventures, successes and failures and a romance thrown in as well. The vivid descriptions of the mountains, the buildings, Deborah’s home and the cold made me feel that I was there. There was a nice flow to the story but both Deborah and Dan sometimes let their emotions get the best of them and it wasn’t always professional. There’s a happily ever after in the offing but the epilogue didn’t go far enough for me. I was looking for better closure and hope to see it in other books the author pens.
Book provided by the publisher
Originally posted at Romancing the Book
This is only the second book that I’ve read by Ms. Meacham but it won’t be my last. While not as engrossing as Ryan’s Hand, Crowning Design is also republished and was originally written in the eighties.
Deborah is a gifted architect but being from the South and a family with money she’s expected to marry and not have a career even though she did go to college. She and Roger aren’t in love but it’s the way things are done or are they? When she takes a job in Denver things get heated fast. There are severe repercussions but she runs away from it all. Randall, the head of the architectural firm, is getting on in years but he mentors her and nurtures her and shapes her the way he wants her. He also made promises to her that seemed like a carrot he was dangling in front of her. It was chilling to me that he would make comments to her about what she wore, how she styled her hair and even the friendships she had. They argue a few times but in the end she always feels he’s right and has her best interests at heart but does he? There were quite a few twists to the story and an almost who dunnit feel to it since there were a few unscrupulous things going on.
When she and a potential client , Dan, hit it off Deborah doesn’t know what to make of it as she’s pursued Randall definitely doesn’t like it and is always making snide comments and putting doubt in her mind. She definitely led a sheltered life when she lived at home with her parents but has remained standoffish even in Denver. Deborah and Dan have their ups and downs but he seems to have a hidden agenda and Deborah isn’t always forthcoming about her past either.
There are family and friends, Deborah’s dog, societal rules, hurt, anger, tears, rivalry, jobs to be done, outings and adventures, successes and failures and a romance thrown in as well. The vivid descriptions of the mountains, the buildings, Deborah’s home and the cold made me feel that I was there. There was a nice flow to the story but both Deborah and Dan sometimes let their emotions get the best of them and it wasn’t always professional. There’s a happily ever after in the offing but the epilogue didn’t go far enough for me. I was looking for better closure and hope to see it in other books the author pens.
December 7, 2016
I liked this story at first...young woman used to following orders runs away from her intended groom to make a career for herself. She strives to help the little people... and then she meets Dan and loses all reason and while I was okay with it at first as the story continued and her obsession with him continued and she failed to connect the dots, I was rolling my eyes. I connected the dots way too early. Though who I thought was the perp turned out not to be the perp. I'll give it that.
Just not a winner for me though.
Just not a winner for me though.
October 2, 2018
A short book with a good plot and story line. Both characters were strong,
Independent individuals who wanted to succeed. Deborah and Dan both
kept secrets they had to overcome in order to be free to start new lives.
I enjoyed this tale and especially the ending with its twists and turns.
Independent individuals who wanted to succeed. Deborah and Dan both
kept secrets they had to overcome in order to be free to start new lives.
I enjoyed this tale and especially the ending with its twists and turns.
September 9, 2022
Sweet romance, not a lot of detail in the development of the relationship between the 2 characters making it feel unrealistic. Good twists and turns in the end.
Read
May 1, 2017I would read the phone book if Leila Meacham wrote it. She creates a good story with memorable characters.
August 22, 2018
Man this book was nothing like I thought it would be. It had intrigue in it and I was pleasantly surprised by it as a whole.
Even though this was a short story, it held you captive till the end.
Deborah Standridge is about to be married. Except she doesn’t love him or feel anything toward him, which is crazy cause he’s rich and gorgeous. So when she calls off her wedding to pursue a career as an architect, everyone is dumbfounded. Her fiancé doesn’t understand and mystery abounds there. Her parents basically disown her. So now 8 years later, she is an upcoming architectural designer and about to hopefully win a huge bid for a building for Daniel Parker. He is a developer and designer in his own right and he wants the best for his headquarters. But as she gets to know Dan she finds he may have ulterior motives for getting close to her. On top of it all, her designs are being tampered with and she has no idea who would do that to her and her career.
The answers to the questions that may be obvious are not. And when Deb gets to the bottom of it, she becomes devastated. Deb and Dan’s relationship to me seemed like a whirlwind and that was prolly the point. However, I had this image of Dan being somewhat aloof but that was quickly squashed. Deb was too trusting and naive sometimes but she was also such an encourager. It was a good short read nonetheless.
Even though this was a short story, it held you captive till the end.
Deborah Standridge is about to be married. Except she doesn’t love him or feel anything toward him, which is crazy cause he’s rich and gorgeous. So when she calls off her wedding to pursue a career as an architect, everyone is dumbfounded. Her fiancé doesn’t understand and mystery abounds there. Her parents basically disown her. So now 8 years later, she is an upcoming architectural designer and about to hopefully win a huge bid for a building for Daniel Parker. He is a developer and designer in his own right and he wants the best for his headquarters. But as she gets to know Dan she finds he may have ulterior motives for getting close to her. On top of it all, her designs are being tampered with and she has no idea who would do that to her and her career.
The answers to the questions that may be obvious are not. And when Deb gets to the bottom of it, she becomes devastated. Deb and Dan’s relationship to me seemed like a whirlwind and that was prolly the point. However, I had this image of Dan being somewhat aloof but that was quickly squashed. Deb was too trusting and naive sometimes but she was also such an encourager. It was a good short read nonetheless.
October 29, 2020
I wanted to like this. I really did, even though I have no idea why I received this in a subscription box that has been sending me mysteries at my request. This isn't a mystery.
This is a romance. Deborah jilted her fiancé and went off to start a new job as an architect. The fiance went on to die in a car wreck that she felt responsible for.
When a man (Dan) hires her architect firm to build his company's headquarters in Denver, she tries to get over the guilt from her past and fall in love with Dan, not knowing that he has a secret of his own.
The ending of this is a little too much. I felt as if the author was trying too hard to make the reader feel emotions that weren't there. I found myself entering a reading slump, not really interested in the characters. There is a slightly creepy vibe going on in the book, and the reader easily knows what is going to happen in the end. The book was also only 202 pages long. I felt as if there could have been more build up and fleshing out of characters and plot. From the blurbs about the rest of this author's books, and there are plenty of them, it sounds as if this is probably the least likable one of them all. I wish I had gotten one of her other works.
This is a romance. Deborah jilted her fiancé and went off to start a new job as an architect. The fiance went on to die in a car wreck that she felt responsible for.
When a man (Dan) hires her architect firm to build his company's headquarters in Denver, she tries to get over the guilt from her past and fall in love with Dan, not knowing that he has a secret of his own.
The ending of this is a little too much. I felt as if the author was trying too hard to make the reader feel emotions that weren't there. I found myself entering a reading slump, not really interested in the characters. There is a slightly creepy vibe going on in the book, and the reader easily knows what is going to happen in the end. The book was also only 202 pages long. I felt as if there could have been more build up and fleshing out of characters and plot. From the blurbs about the rest of this author's books, and there are plenty of them, it sounds as if this is probably the least likable one of them all. I wish I had gotten one of her other works.
February 6, 2017
3.5 stars
Crowning Design is an easy read (in my case-an easy listen) with a focus on romance, jealousy, control, forgiveness and revenge. I haven't read any books by Leila Meacham before, but I understand this an early effort by her, originally written in the 1980's I believe. When I heard that in the preface, I was ready for it to not be very good, but I really did enjoy it. It's not literary or deep, but light with touches on more serious issues.
Crowning Design is an easy read (in my case-an easy listen) with a focus on romance, jealousy, control, forgiveness and revenge. I haven't read any books by Leila Meacham before, but I understand this an early effort by her, originally written in the 1980's I believe. When I heard that in the preface, I was ready for it to not be very good, but I really did enjoy it. It's not literary or deep, but light with touches on more serious issues.
March 24, 2017
I have never read Leila Meacham's work before. I have read in other reviews how much people enjoy her later works.
In general, I thought that there were a couple of aspects of the book that were undeveloped. However, it did have some very redeeming qualities. I liked the strong female lead and the unexpected twists and turns of the plot specifically near the end. I did not like the male characters as much and some of the conversations were a bit forced. Overall, the good and bad bits balanced each other out, I did enjoy several aspects of this novel.
In general, I thought that there were a couple of aspects of the book that were undeveloped. However, it did have some very redeeming qualities. I liked the strong female lead and the unexpected twists and turns of the plot specifically near the end. I did not like the male characters as much and some of the conversations were a bit forced. Overall, the good and bad bits balanced each other out, I did enjoy several aspects of this novel.
November 22, 2017
The mischief-maker's opinion back in 1985 would only be ampliefied more then 20 years later.
"And as for children, the modern child is little more than a monster. It is intellectually and physically lazy, undisciplined, indulged, and promiscuous. It has no mind no heart it runs on glandular secretions stimulated by television and fueled by soda pop and snack foods."
"And as for children, the modern child is little more than a monster. It is intellectually and physically lazy, undisciplined, indulged, and promiscuous. It has no mind no heart it runs on glandular secretions stimulated by television and fueled by soda pop and snack foods."
March 14, 2018
I have really enjoyed some of Leila's novels; Roses, Titans and Somerset, and was very excited to read Crowning Design. The cover is gorgeous! You can definitely tell that this is one of her early novels, before her style of writing had evolved. I liked the basis of the novel but really felt the ending was rushed and thrown together. Definitely an easy, fast read.
November 26, 2018
Příběh je trochu kostrbatý, ale konec je překvapivý.
s. 12, 18 neřekla čertu, ať ti vleze na záda ?
s. 29 jejicc
s. 55 Doborah
s. 75 vzkah
dnešení
s. 77 zády Oči
s. 105 zavřené „Na
s. 122 blázinku.“ zahihňala se
s. 123 naznanačovaly
s. 129 Watsonové?“zval
jdu.“ zavolala
s. 151 „To mám:“
uvozovky - s. 151
s. 12, 18 neřekla čertu, ať ti vleze na záda ?
s. 29 jejicc
s. 55 Doborah
s. 75 vzkah
dnešení
s. 77 zády Oči
s. 105 zavřené „Na
s. 122 blázinku.“ zahihňala se
s. 123 naznanačovaly
s. 129 Watsonové?“zval
jdu.“ zavolala
s. 151 „To mám:“
uvozovky - s. 151
June 5, 2022
I really enjoyed this! Nice cozy mystery with a little romance sprinkled it. While I enjoyed Roses and Dragonfly better, this wasn't bad. You can definitely see how her writing's changed in ways (since this book was originally published in the 1980s.). Meacham does keep you guessing as to the whole mystery until very late in the game which I really appreciate!
October 11, 2022
So many thoughts on this one. The 80's drama is real. Reminded my alot of the tv series Dynasty. It was interesting and entertaining to a certain degree, but books with smart female mc's like Deborah are frustrating to read. And the ending? What the HELL? That man should at the very least with all Deborah's southern gentility been slapped in the face, if not bashed in the head...a few times. Ugh!
July 4, 2017
2.5 stars. Although I love this author...this book was one of her 1st that has been re-released. You can tell she was getting her legs under her as an author as some of the writing is stilted and borders the "Romance" category. Still worth reading.
August 16, 2017
Just a gosh darn fun, relaxing read. This is a story about romance and like the preview says, it is about letting go. It's a story about life and events that anyone who has fallen in and out of love can relate to.
March 18, 2018
I read all three of her early romance books and while I liked all of them this one was my least favorite. Not sure why I just liked the other two more. Definitely check out her other books of fiction, those are really good!
July 24, 2018
This was a well written romance novel with a thread of mystery/intrigue in it. The characters were both interesting and fully portrayed. I enjoyed reading this novel a lot although I was disappointed that full justice wasn't unleashed against the villain in the story.
October 4, 2019
I saw this one in the library and picked it up. It is one of her first novels, so it isn't as developed as her later novels. It is a quick read though, and I didn't hate it. She even says in her intro, that because it's one of her first novels, it isn't quite up to her standards today.
October 26, 2023
Zklamání. Nelogická konstrukce příběhu a postavy se taky chovaly dost chaoticky. Z téhle knížky je hrozně cítit, že autorka potřebovala dodat vydavatelství novou knihu, ale nevěděla moc, o čem psát. Škoda
December 30, 2025
I would give this 3.5 stars if available. I enjoyed the storyline and the main character. It had some intrigue, romance and a twist at the end. I have read several books by this now deceased Texas author.
August 26, 2017
I thought this book was going to be very predictable but there were a few good twists that make it better. I think this was my first time reading this author but I would try her again.
November 2, 2018
So so good!! Sad it was done!!!!
August 16, 2019
short and lovely very good book
September 9, 2019
One of her early books and you can see she will be a great writer one day. Her set up of story line is great- character depth is good- worth the read.
January 2, 2020
A classic romance indeed 🥰
January 31, 2020
Audio book
Very good
Very good
February 11, 2020
I just love Miss Leila. Simple stories, but told in a masterful way. Thank you, Miss Leila.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews