The Scoundrel (Mass Market Paperback)

The stunningly beautiful whore, turned out to be the Lady Elspethï¿s daughter, Lady Evangeline of Inverfyre. Elspeth on her dying bed informed Evangeline that her father had died from a fit of apoplexy when after the theft of the legendary icon, the thieves offered to sell it back to him at an exorbitant price. Evangeline vowed to make it right, remembering from childhood the golden-haired thief whom she had once suffered a crush over. On her way to Ravensmuir to steal it back, it was by chance that she recognized Gawain entering the inn so she seized the moment and seduced him. The story is so lively after that with Gawain ï¿ who truly is a scoundrel (though charmingly so) himself - going boldly back again, and again, to steal it back from her. In some instances it was quite comical as these two matched wits against each other, even against the backdrop of some truly treacherous acts going on.

Claire Delacroix provides a truly imaginative tale that her legion of fans should truly appreciate in this second installment in the Ravensmuir series! Having read the third and first installments already, I can testify to the fact that these all stand-alone and are surely worth the effort of locating and enjoying both the sensual delights and wonderfully witty dialogs of this series.

Evangeline catches up to Gawain and seduces him, but when he awakens the next morning the Titulus Croce is gone. Angry that he was duped by sex, albeit the best he ever had, Gawain goes after the female scoundrel who stole his prize possession. Gawain catches up to her and so begins a contest of wits and some physical interplay between two obstinate individuals who fail to see that Aphrodite may have solved the issue of ownership as love has entered the battle.

Fans of fourteenth century Scottish romances will enjoy the battle of sexes due to the lead characters, both heroic and rogues in their own ways. The prime plot is clever and the war of words fun, however the rotating chapters first person narrative seems to slow down the action even as it enables the audience to better understand the principal protagonists. Claire Delacroix provides an engaging whimsical tale that an appreciative audience will cherish.

Harriet Klausner