What a Scoundrel Wants by C. Lofty

I am such a bad girl. I was suppose to have this read and reviewed by the first of the year, but I’m running about a month behind with my TBR stack. For some reason, December just wasn’t a reading month for me.

Anyway, I finally read Carrie Lofty’s What a Scoundrel Wants and I was instantly captivated.  I love the story about Robin Hood and his Merry Men, and when I found out that was the setting for Lofty’s novel, it was one I really wanted to get my hands on and now I’m kicking myself for forgetting it was in my TBR stack.

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…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…

I am a huge Robin Hood fan.  I own three different versions of his story on DVD – Robin Hood: Men in Tights (love Mel Brooks), Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (Mmm..Christian Slater), and Disney’s Robin Hood (talking animals, c’mon people) – and I love how each rendering tells the same basic tale, but does it with their own spin.  So what does that have to do with this novel – well, didn’t you read the blurb?  What a Scoundrel Wants takes place 5 years after Robin clears Nottingham of it’s garbage and it focuses on Will Scarlett.

I have to say, I am loving Lofty’s portrayal of Will Scarlet.  I’ve seen two different portrayals of Scarlett in the past and I have to say that Lofty seems to have given him Christian Slater’s (Prince of Thieves) attitude more than Matthew Porretta’s (Men in Tights).  This works really well because she has set Scarlett up with the most unlikely of woman – a alchemist who is blind and has her own attitude.  The two clash so much during the novel that it makes their…relationship all that much more appealing.  I wanted to continue reading to see what next they were going to fight about and how they were going to make up.  Because, believe it or not, they always ended up making up and never in the same way.  Usually you get the whole opposites attract in romance novels, but this time around, Scarlett and Meg were more alike than most genre couples and yet they were still different enough that they clashed every step of the way.   That chemisty made this story that much more fantastic.

Overall, I am really upset that it took me so long to read What a Scoundrel Wants by Carrie Lofty.  It was a fabulous read and even if you’re not a fan of romance novels, this is definitely a must read for any Robin Hood fan.  I only hope I can be forgiven for not reviewing this book sooner.  Now if you don’t mind, I’m going to go watch some Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves because I am really in the mood for it.

Also reviewed by:
Alpha Heroes