Delightful, madcap romance

Chloe is a charming and enterprising young woman, and she far outshines Lawrence, the new Duke of Faircliffe.  Lawrence is, thankfully, nothing like his father, which forces him to focus almost entirely on trying to right his father's wrongs.  The painting in question brings them together, but it is their undeniable chemistry that fuses them together to work through an assortment of obstacles.

I love the quick-witted dialogue, the lighthearted comedy, and the heartfelt emotional insights.  The overall story was terrific with a wonderful HEA, but the wildly diverse cast of characters made the story feel a bit disjointed and at time difficult to follow.  Still, this author knows how to write steamy historical romances, and this one delivers on that promise.  I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

This is the 1st book in a new series called the Wild Wynchesters.  As with a lot of 1st books, a whole host of characters are introduced,  so sometimes the story starts out a little slow or confusing while you try to figure out who's who. 
This series is about 6 siblings who are adopted and are a family not thru blood but thru love. This story is about Chloe Wynchester and the Duke of Faircliff, Lawrence. 
The Duke is trying to repair the reputation and finances that his father shredded.  He needs to marry an heiress and someone of exemplary character. 
Then he meets Chloe Wynchester . Shes everything that is wrong for him but he's fiercely attracted to her. He loves her quirkiness, her love for life, her intelligence,  her love for life.  He tries to stay away but the attraction grows. 
Chloe always thought of the Duke as the Duke of ice.  But as she comes to know him she realizes he carries his own baggage.
This story made me laugh and brought me to tears. Seeing both Chloe and Lawrence come to be their own persons and not what everyone else thinks they should be was very enjoyable. 
I look forward to reading about the other siblings as each had their own unique talents.  
I want to thank Netgalley for the chance to review this book. 
5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Chloe may be unforgettable in most settings but when she comes into the Duke of Faircliffe's orbit, he not only notices her but sees the woman behind the facade. The problem is that no matter how alluring Chloe might be, Lawrence has a duty to fulfill and Chloe is not going to help him reach his goals. This comedy romance is fast-paced and at times a bit confusing as the Wynchester siblings create chaos wherever they go. While I did enjoy this novel and found it entertaining, I sometimes found the humour difficult to follow. Lawrence is an inexperienced hero who tries to follow the rules of society but is nevertheless a gentle man who is able to see beyond his own needs. Chloe is vivacious and outrageous, as are her siblings and I found myself wanting to give her a big hug.  The novel is well written and entertaining and comes to a happy conclusion. I received a copy of this book as a gift through NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

This is my fair and honest review, voluntarily given and in my own words, for this ARC.  I read The Governess Gambit and now The Duke Heist.  I ADORE the wily Wynchesters!!  I laughed, I cried, I gasped and i could not put this down!  Straitlaced Dukes, irreverent orphans, surely a match made in heaven.  I do hope there are more to come.  Get these books!!!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review*

The Duke Heist is the first in a new series called The Wild Winchesters. The Winchesters are a rag tag gang of adopted siblings who have recently lost their only parent. To honor his last wishes Chloe Winchester is asked to help steal back a painting of his that has been missing for years. 

To do that, she needs the help of Lawrence Gosling, the destitute new Duke of Faircliffe, who is very paranoid about his reputation in in desperate need of an heiress. Of which Chloe is most definitely NOT. But he can't help being drawn to this wallflower and he is quickly losing his heart to the last women he could ever consider as a wife.

This book took me quite a while to get through, it was difficult to fall into it right at the start, but once I got past a few certain events, I had a great time. I think the best way to talk about this one, is to just list my likes and dislikes.

What I liked:
The banter, the found family dynamic, the unique talents of our hero and heroine (the bonnets and coin tricks!), the longing of the hero.

What I didn't like:
The complicated set up, the "you can’t be my wife but I want to sleep with you on the side" trope. Seriously… I HATE that set up, and the sheer amount of characters made me want to create a yarn wall.

All in all, it was a pretty unique Historical Romance and I like when some of my expectations are usurped, but the "dark" moment of this one still brought it down for me.

I would rate this a 3.5, but will round up to 4 on my reviews. I am intrigued by this family and I would read another.

An excellent start to a new series! Each new book will cover a different Wynchester adoptive sibling. "The Duke Heist," covers eldest sister Chloe's road to romance with the dreamy Lawrence, the Duke of Fairfield. They are my favorite type of lovers - star-crossed. Society and financial concerns say they should not be together, but they cannot deny their feelings. Lucky us! Ridley delivers a couple of super steamy love scenes as payoff (their game of "hide the coin" was the sexiest, cutest thing ever.) Plus, there is plenty of conflict, angst and romantic diaglogue to keep you interested. I can only hope the couple is featured in some family capers in future editions!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

The Duke Heist is Erica Ridley’s trad-pub debut, and I’m so happy for her in this new chapter of her career. And given her unique style, I’m glad to see this one still has a similar flavor, in spite of working with a publisher, and may just be the zaniest thing I’ve read in a romance in a while. The Wynchesters are very much a new historical romance family to engross yourself with and root for, and while they have their childish moments, it’s nice to see a family that’s over-the-top and unconventional, yet loving nonetheless.

I really liked Chloe, and how she could use her plain looks to her advantage in the shenanigans, but that it also has a dark side that comes to rear its head. Beneath the plain exterior, she’s utterly dynamic and fiery. Her sharp tongue also had me rolling with laughter. 

Not being a fan of dukes, I actually really liked Lawrence, in spite of girding my loins a bit after first reading the blurb. He’s trying to do the right thing for his estate following his father’s excesses, and he’s prepared to marry for money to do it, although he finds himself conflicted as he meets someone unsuitable. In that regard, it was so refreshing that while Chloe was of unequal rank, he never looked down on her. He did make some mistakes where she was concerned, but he was sweet and more or less saw her as a person when few outside her family did, which I really liked. 

This book is an absolute delight, and is an absolute must-read for longtime Erica Ridley fans. You’ll also love it if you enjoy historical romantic comedies.

A heroine with the talent of going unnoticed by everyone, Chloe Winchester has pledged to get her family's cherished stolen painting back. A Duke determined to marry a rich heiress to save his dukedom from ruin, Lawrence Gosling's every move is planned to get his end goal. Hilarity and drama ensues when in an attempt to recover the missing painting, Chloe manages to kidnap the Duke instead!


This book introduces the readers to the diverse yet bound by love, the Wynchester family. Though not of one blood and considered to be misfits and scoundrels, the Wynchesters are a family who value love above everything else. When their most priced painting is stolen and their father dies with his last wish being that they get it back, no one and nothing can stop the resourceful and master of the art of being spies, Wynchester siblings from honouring their father's last wish, not even the powerful and arrogant Duke of Faircliffe who has ignored their every plea to give their painting back.


This book is my new favourite by Erica Ridley! It has everything from splendidly endearing characters who are so much more than what they appear at first glance, a romance that will make you sigh in happiness, funny scenes that will have you laughing-out-loud, and a story that had me entranced throughout and then left me wanting to read all the upcoming books right now!


The Wynchesters are my absolute favourite family. They are witty, scoundrels, not-part-of-the-ton, and unashamedly oblivious to what others think of them. They are a family who love each other and will do anything for their siblings. They felt like long lost interesting friends who we all want to be friends with!


The story is fast-paced and will grab you right from the start. All through the book, the author keeps surprising the readers by revealing new dimensions to the characters' profile. They seem something else at the start and by the end you will feel like everything that you saw at the start was just an illusion. I thoroughly enjoyed this regency romp and excitedly jumped to read the prequel novella, The Governess Gambit that introduces the six Wynchesters as they work to save innocents from harm using their many talents under the tutelage of the Baron Vanderbean.


This is also a book that shows that sometimes our first impressions are not the correct impressions and that sometimes people are so much more. The Duke comes off as icy and arrogant when in reality he is shy and awkward in social situations. Chloe comes off as plain and unremarkable when in reality it is all an act. This is a story of a woman trying to prove her worth and being brave, and a man in search of home. This is a love story that will touch your heart.


All in all, I adored everything about this exciting new regency romance by Erica Ridley and Njkinny recommends The Duke Heist to all historical regency romance lovers and people who love disguises, undercover operations, daring heroines and prim dukes, and witty sibling banter that is inspired by love. 5 super shiny stars out of 5 to this must-read romance that will leave you wanting more! I am now eagerly awaiting the next book in this amazing new series. Go read this book now. It is not-to-be-missed!

I am so thankful to the author and the publishers for sending me an ARC to read. This is my honest and unbiased review and in no way influenced.

All Chloe wants is to get her family's stolen painting back. But the Duke of Faircliffe refuses to even acknowledge her existence. So she and her family do the only logical thing—they plan to repossess the painting and replace it with a copy. 

But when she confiscates the painting, she accidentally confiscates the duke as well. From the moment they meet, they can't forget about each other. But he needs an heiress, and Chloe is shunned by society for her ignoble birth. Can this unlikely couple find their happily ever after?

This novel is witty and fun, with unique and unforgettable characters. The plot was fast-paced and emotional, with a little steam and a lot of heart.  

I received and read an advance copy of this book. This is my voluntary and unsolicited review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 stars

Thank you to the author for a gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. 

If you are a fan of Bridgerton, I think you will enjoy this one. It was a little slow to start for me and the theme was a bit repetitive. However, I absolutely adored Chloe and her siblings! I thought they were quirky and hilarious - their antics always put a smile on my face. You can tell they love each other and don't give a crap what the rest of high society think of them.

I can't wait to see what comes next for this family!

When torn between feelings and duty, which path will he decide to follow ...

I have read the author for some years now and her latest series Twelve Dukes of Christmas was so much fun, I could not pass this new one.
Everyone of the Winchesters siblings is a delight, they all love each other unconditionally, accepting everyone’s difference, even praising them for them.

And do not miss The Governess Gambit, the prequel as it is actually free. It introduces the siblings and how the family’s portrait was stolen.

Chloe, while the glue of this patched up family, is also the mouse of the household, she is the one who can enter everywhere as she leaves no marked imprint of her visit, she is like the invisible man, she is seen but not noticed. Her ability at being forgettable is her very talent. But from time to time, it hurts to leave no mark in people’s mind.
Why she so longs to be acknowledged outside the wall of their home, yet she is a Wynchester, and it comes with a price as people believe them as being a bunch of misfits up to no good. In some way they are wrong but also right, the Wynchesters are different, and when they take matter in hands, it is to help others in a very unconventional way.
And while I was sad at time for Chloe and the first part of her childhood, she then has won a wonderful family and is truly loved. And whatever her doubts, she is cherished for whom she is.

Which is very different of what I felt for Lawrence, I quite pitied him. As in fact he is the one who has the most to loose. Because Chloe is assured of the love of her siblings. When all he has is the mask he presents to the world as an upright scandal-free all-duty heir then Duke. He puts so much weight in restoring his family’s name and trying to patch up what is left of his estates, he lost sight of what is important. He believes that a marriage even of convenience will grant him what he truly longs for, to belong and never be lonely again. 
And while he makes mistakes after mistakes, his view of those beyond his sight change when in close contact with Chloe why he steps in and stands next to Chloe when people tend to disparage her. Not an easy task when he has to overcome all he had been taught from birth. Lawrence is far from perfect, awkward among crowd, perfectionist to the fault, yet he has so much to forfeit if he chooses the wrong path, I understand he is distraught and a bit lost. He knows what and whom he wants in his life but does not envisage a happy outcome if he goes after his heart’s desire. So scared he is he might lost everything he stood for until now and more.

And while it is a romance novel packed with humor, twists and turns and a real menagerie, it is more than that, it is too a tale of family’s love, not the kind about blood relatives but the family one’s can create with the people one’s care about.
I loved the dynamic of the siblings’ relationship, they are all unique but linked by a shared love for the one man who brought them all together and for one another. They are never alone, always standing up for the others.
5 stars for this first in a series.

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen detailed lovemaking scenes.

I have been granted an advance copy by the author and publisher, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

Oh Ms. Ridley - Thank you for starting a new historical romance series. The Wynchesters are a hodge podge of orphans adopted by an eccentric baron. After the Baron passes away, he has one request - to retrieve a missing painting with much sentimentality. And so, Chloe Wynchester, the "leader" of the siblings devises a plan to steal back the painting from the new Duke of Faircliffe.

Chloe is quite happy as a wallflower spinster. She has enough money to live comfortably, and she rather likes being her own person. And love is not even on her radar, because no gentleman notices Ms. Wynchester anyway.

But in trying to retrieve the painting, she must strike a deal with the Duke, Lawrence Gosling, in hopes of gaining access to his estate, where she and her siblings can switch their beloved painting with a replica. 
What ensues is a bit of a comedic fiasco- as our hero and heroine, despite their best efforts to resist, fall for one another. In addition, Chloe's siblings almost steal the show - leaving me anticipating the next books in the series.

Once they realize fighting their attraction is futile, the next obstacle becomes the reality of being together. Because our Duke needs an heiress to salvage his estate. And Chloe is not going to be a mistress, nor beholden to a man. 

Furthermore, when Chloe's ruse is exposed, will the Duke forgive her deception? And ultimately, he must decide if love is more important than money. I think we all know the answer to that question.

Overall, this was a fabulous read with a unique story concept and likable characters. The found family of the heroine was wonderful and I'm looking forward to their stories.
However, the end felt wonky to me when the leads acted in a way that did not make sense with the rest of their arc. No explanation to the change of heart, or anything. Just a 180° turn from one page to the next. That didn't work for me.
But the book was otherwise really enjoyable and a great introduction to this new cast of characters.

Lawrence Gosling, the Duke of Faircliffe, is trying to fix the mistakes and pay the debts of his late father, but that takes money, the one thing the dukedom doesn't have. He needs to wed a wealthy widow if he wants the title to be on stable grounds again. His plan is set, that is, until he is accidentally kidnapped by Chloe Wynchester. Once Chloe realizes her mistake, she asks Faircliffe for an invitation to a tea and he agrees to greet her, but nothing more. Deal made they both expect nothing more to come of it, except the more time they spend in each other's company, the more they realize how good they are together. Unfortunately for Faircliffe Chloe is not a suitable future duchess and she has no dowry and he has to walk away from her.

I love Ms. Ridley's stories although it took me a bit to get into this story. I understand things would have been clearer if I had read the prequel which tells the story of how how the Wynchesters came together. Chloe was such an interesting character and poor Faircliffe never stood a chance. Once he dropped his icy ducal facade, he loved being in her company. I really enjoyed the family with all their quirkiness and can't wait to read each siblings future story.

Thank you Net Galley for an ARC of The Duke Heist by Erica Radley.   This is a fun historical romance with a different take.   Chloe Winchester is a character we could all learn from.

Erica has a different voice in her books. I have read about 99% of them and have enjoyed every single one. They are not written as formulaic stories but with their own idiosyncrasies. That is exactly how The Duke Heist is written. What I most loved about this book was the sense of family. They are not blood related but have become this loving family that would do anything for each other. The storyline is original and brings up close and personal with these not quite legal but not quite illegal siblings. There are a few things that upset me a bit. One is Chloe and her constantly putting herself down by saying she was forgettable. She is caring and whip-smart. Unfortunately, I do feel that some women/girls feel this way and it is very sad to read about it. The duke, he was not a very likeable person at least until the very end. That being said, I enjoyed the banter (quick-witted will drawn me in every time) and the sexy playfulness. The unusual aspects of the story are what makes Erica stand out.

I loved this book!! It is the first book in the Wild Wynchesters series and I think the series is going to be great. It is a wonderful cast of characters. This book is about Chloe Wynchester whose talent is being completely forgettable. She views this as a curse that gives her the ability to blend into any crowd. When the only father she's ever known makes a dying wish for his adopted family of orphans to recover a missing painting, she's the first one her siblings turn to for stealing it back. No one expects that in doing so, she'll also abduct Lawrence Gosling, the Duke of Faircliffe, is tortured by his father's mistakes. He begins as the average Duke that you would expect. He is quite egotistical and looks down on the Wynchesters based solely on rumor. 

I think the greatest thing portrayed in this book is the family dynamic and wonderful dialogue. You truly get a sense of why they are called the "Wild Wynchesters." I loved watching Chloe gain a better sense of self and watching the Duke discover that maybe what is best for him is to set himself free of the expectations placed on him by society. This story is full of humor and fantastic dialogue. I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy The Hathaways series by Lisa Kleypas or the The Smythe-Smith Quartet by Julia Quinn.

I was provided a copy of this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

What a gem this book is. To fully understand " The Wynchester's " you really need to read the Pre book "The Governess Gambit " first.
This story is about a noble man who adopts six orphans. All have different skills that help the family solve problems for those who cannot pay and or unseen by the ton.
I want to be a Wynchester!!  What a family, fun, loyal, witty, with lots of animals and kidding.
Chloe is looked to as somewhat being in charge, but all of them work together. She has fought being overlooked her whole life. You will feel sorry for her, laugh and cry with her too.
The ton and society shun the Wynchester's. They are not invited to socials, balls or called on by others.
Lawrence, The Duke of Faircliffe is very straight laced and his reputation is spotless. All the ton mamas would love for their daughters to marry him. He has a plan to save the dukedom from all the losses his drunken father did. All he needs is a Lady with a Hugh dowry to marry him.
No two people could be more opposites than Lawrence and Chloe. Their romance is sigh worthy.
Both have so much they hid from the everyone.
With the wonderful characters, the cute and skilled animals along with a family of misfits whose love is over the top.  
I can't say too much more or it will ruin the story. This book needs to be read by any who want to escape everything going on and join a fun family.
I hope you give it try just don't plan on doing anything till you finish it as you will not be able to put it down.
I can't wait for the second book. With six brothers and sisters I look forward to lots of books on all of them.
I received an ARC from the author and want to thank her.
This is my honest opinion and am voluntarily giving it.

This was my first Erica Ridley book and I enjoyed it but didn't love it.  I think it was because it was somewhat hard to keep straight all the brothers and sisters. I'm hoping as I read more in this series those names/characters will stick a bit better. 

I love the premise of this one - a rich aristocrat adopts a menagerie of children in need and I do enjoy found family stories.  

Chloe was an interesting character - of the bunch, she is the one who blends into a crowd and no one notices her. So when a family treasure, a painting, is taken her family decides she is the one who should be the one to retrieve it! 

Lawrence Gosling, the Duke of Faircliffe has been left a dukedom that is crumbling and has no money.  His only solution is to marry for money. 

While reading this I found I was only semi-interested in their story.  I wasn't grabbed by either's predicament nor did I feel any tension or believable romance happening here and I hated the Duke's reaction to something Chloe discloses when the drama comes to a head, AND while I'm all for realizing your mistakes, how he treated her was pretty crappy.  I know he comes to his senses, and he had a lot of weight on his shoulders (and people) but man it was hard to digest. 

I will continue this series for sure just to see how these stories evolve. 

Thank you for the early copy!

Chloe Wynchester’s best skill is her ability to blend in and go unnoticed in any crowd, but this also means most people find her completely forgettable.  When a beloved painting is stolen from their home, she and her adoptive siblings know Chloe’s skills are the ones needed to retrieve it. Things don’t go quite as planned, however, and she winds up kidnapping a handsome duke along with the painting.

Lawrence Gosling, the Duke of Faircliffe, has spent his life trying to live down his father’s terrible reputation by keeping his own spotless.  Thanks to his father’s profligate tendencies, Lawrence is buried under a mountain of debt and the only way out he can see is marriage to an heiress.  But when he finds himself owing favors to a carriage stealing termagant, she’s soon well on her way to stealing his heart as well.  The more time they spend together, the more Lawrence wants to be with her permanently, but he knows he can’t possibly sacrifice his family legacy, or the well-being of those dependent on him, to follow his heart.

This story was much more light-hearted and whimsical than I’d initially anticipated but I found it rather refreshing.  I loved the dynamic and open acceptance among the Wynchester siblings.  It took Lawrence a bit too long to come to his senses for my liking, but his longing for love and companionship made him likeable despite his stuffy nature and continued insistence upon emphasizing appearances.  Really, that made it all the more satisfying when he finally learned to make his own rules.  The time Chloe and Lawrence spent getting to know one another on a different level than they’d ever allowed anyone else before was lovely and I enjoyed their banter.  This was a strong start to what promises to be a fun new series full of eccentric adoptive siblings.  If you’re looking for a rather fresh spin on Regency romps, this is it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.