What a Scoundrel Wants, by Carrie Lofty.

Unusual Historicals, a subgenre of historical romance tackling seldom explored settings or historical periods, are Ms Lofty’s passion, and she delivers a great example of what can be done with them in her print debut, What a Scoundrel Wants. Set in the England of Robin Hood and Richard Lionheart, it tells the story of Will Scarlett and Meg of Keyworth.

Right off the bat, we are faced with unusual choices for our main characters. Will Scarlett has been a truant, a ne’er-do-well, a troubadour, an outlaw, a traitor. So far, he has never been a hero. And a female alchemist who is also blind—in the late twelfth century? Talk about daring choices!

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Apparently the last transformational American president, he had some might fine pearls of wisdom.

Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.

Interesting thought.

For time and the world do not stand still. Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future.

I really like the following quote:

If we cannot now end our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity.

And TTG’s favourite quote:

Our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children’s future. And we are all mortal.

Sometimes it’s hard to believe that anybody could have been evil enough to murder such a man.