Devon’s review of What a Scoundrel Wants by Carrie Lofty
Historical romance released by Zebra 2 Dec 08
This is Carrie Lofty’s Zebra debut, and it is an interesting and unusual one. What a Scoundrel Wants builds upon the Robin Hood legend, focusing on Robin’s wayward nephew Will Scarlet. Will has always butted heads with Robin Hood, and in an effort to distance himself from his legendary uncle, he has gone to work for the Sheriff of Nottingham. In the course of carrying out his henchman duties, Will finds more trouble than he bargained form of the blind, headstrong Meg of Keyworth. What follows is a fast paced story that I didn’t always like, but always kept my interest.
I wasn’t sure I was going to like this story. I found the beginning to be slow, and I didn’t find Will or Meg to be sympathetic characters. Will is rough and very mercenary, and Meg is quite cold and calculating, never hesitating to screw Will over. I warmed up to Will sooner, as he found himself falling for the strange and difficult Meg. It took me a while longer to like Meg. She is a bitch, but glimpses of vulnerability do show through, and I found myself firmly in her camp.
Part of the reason I was able to like Will and Meg, despite not always being sympathetic, was that I felt both were products of their time and circumstance. I shy away from Medieval romances, because I never think they’ll actually capture the setting. What a Scoundrel Wants shows Medieval England in all of its dirty glory: a hardscrabble place, full of violence, corruption, superstition, and a huge disparity between the nobility and the rest. Will and Meg are the way they are because of survival. They’ve built the kind of defenses needed to survive in a harsh world. Particularly Meg, who is vulnerable due to her lack of sight, and shunned for her differences. She has adapted admirably, but it has made her a bit hard. Ultimately, I found it very satisfying to see these two come together.
After a slow start, the plot gets going and doesn’t let up. There is a lot of action, violence, blood and dirt. Meg and Will spend most of the book beat up and filthy (again this felt authentically Medieval to me). Sometimes I found myself hoping they would bathe soon, if a love scene was a possibility. The bad guys are really bad, and I was intrigued by some of the secondary characters (I would like to see Meg’s friend Jacob get a book eventually). Those who enjoy Robin Hood lore will enjoy seeing Robin Hood, Maid Marian, Friar Tuck and Little John.
This is not an easy read. It takes awhile to get used to the rhythm of the speech, as well as the harsh setting and characters. But the effort is worth it. The hero and heroine have quite a bit of chemistry, which deepens into a lovely romance. The characters truly grew and changed. It is very fast paced. And the setting, the forests, are very vivid. The reason I’m not giving it a higher grade is the slow beginning, and that I don’t think I’ll be revisiting it. But I’m curious to see what’s next for Ms. Lofty, because this was an intriguing debut.
Grade: B
The Summary:
In this dazzling, original tale, Carrie Lofty imagines a new chapter in the well-loved Robin Hood fable. Meet Robin’s rakish nephew, Will Scarlet, a man whose talents with the sword and the ladies are legendary–until his desire for one woman changes everything.
A Passionate Lover…
A swordsman for the Sheriff of Nottingham, Will Scarlet has finally emerged from his famous uncle’s shadow. But when he’s unwittingly drawn into a bloody battle between the Sheriff and a nobleman, it’s impossible to tell friend from foe. A woman’s screams lead Will straight into the carnage to save her–but the ravishing young lady is not the helpless maid she appears to be…
An Amorous Lady…
Meg of Keyworth lost her sight to illness years ago, but that hasn’t stopped her mission to save her imprisoned sister, who’s been arrested by none other than Will Scarlet. Meg wants to hate Will for betraying her family, but he sparks heated desire in her heart–a desire that only he can satisfy. Meg is lovely and loving, and bedding her is sensual bliss. To please her in every way is what he wants most, for Will knows he will cherish her forever….
Read an excerpt.
