So side series aren't usually my favorite, and the Wynchesters are definitely not my most beloved Erica Ridley series, but it was still a fun, quick read at a time when I really needed something to take my mind off other matters. What more can you ask, right?

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

This was a very lighthearted story set in the Revency era! I found the characters to be very lovable especially the dog. The story was very fast-paced, and I loved how it revolves around a heist! Overall, this is a great summer read! I recommend this for fans of Bridgerton!

An entertaining novella involving the Wynchester family and friends.

Why would the biggest rake turn out to be a shameless robber? Why would Philippa’s mother threaten to disband her reading circle? So many questions, and yet this fast paced 129 pages sums them up completely. I can’t wait to continue the series…

This ARC was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this one. I picked it up purely because I was looking for something relatively short to tide me over from one year to the next, before I could start on my reading challenges. This is a prequel, but it’s book 1.5 in the Wild Wynchesters series, and I really think I’m going to try and dig into all of these! Miss Philippa York lives for her weekly reading circle, with her group of fellow bluestockings. They have formed friendships through their pursuit of knowledge, determined not to let the fact they are women stop them from learning. But when one of her friends arrives distraught, the reading circle vow to set things right. For a particular rake hasn’t just stolen a kiss, but a hairpin, which, if revealed, could ruin the reputation of a young woman about to get married.

But it’s not just the reading circle who are going to get to the bottom of things; they get the help of the Wynchester family, who have a number of resources at their disposal to help pull off a little heist.

This is a Regency novella, but it’s not a Romance novella – there are characters who are in love, get married etc by the end, but not one of the main characters, and the ‘romances’ as such are more off to the sides. Instead, the focus here is on Philippa, her friends in the reading circle, and the Wynchesters, who we meet a few of. They are a really entertaining bunch, and it was fun to read about the family especially, as Philippa is introduced to them. It’s clear she’s kind of smitten with the family as a whole, and it was this aspect that makes me keen to dive in with the rest of the series.

And of course, the heist itself was such a fun element, from the planning, to the late-stage change of plans, to the caper itself, and Ridley did really well with this, even making the word ‘heist’ sound perfectly suited to the time period.

This was a really fun book (if you couldn’t tell already!) with great characters, and if you’re looking for something different in the Regency subgenre, I recommend this.

Thank you to WebMotion for providing a copy of this via NetGalley – views remain my own.

A Regency-set comedic caper featuring a book club of meddling spinsters and an assist by a very good dog. e ready for an afternoon or evening of completely neglecting any chores as this one will have you hooked within the first chapter. I live for books that leave me speechless and this book did just that. I actually feel quite sorry for the next book that I read because there is no way it be able to compete with this twisty gem.

This was a fun and short read, which was exactly what I needed at this moment in time. I was a bit scared I was going to be lost while reading this because I didn't read the main series but that definitely wasn't the case for this. I really love the cast of characters and their frienship just jumped of the page. I also really loved Philippa and I'm now am even more excited to read the main series than I was before.

Thanks to Netgalley and Webmotion for the ARC of this!

A super cute, very short, jump back into the world of the Winchesters, this prequel to Perks of Loving a Wallflower (my fave of the series) was easy and fun. Almost no romance was happening in this one, because the main character doesn’t even know she’s meeting her love interest 😂 but it was great to see the family again.

These novellas slot between the main Wynchesters books, but you could read them at any point after the first – all you need to know is the characters, really! While there isn’t any romance, I still had a huge amount of fun with the ladies of the reading group and their hilarious attempts at a heist, and in fact, there not being romance actually makes the story much smoother and funnier. If what you love about the Wild Wynchesters series is the banter and the cons, this is a fantastic little bite-sized treat.

A fast paced, cute novella surrounding the bluestockings book club coming together to help a member perform a heist. Cue the Wynchesters and all their shenanigans.
Once again, I couldn't get enough of the Wynchester siblings.
Can't wait to read the next book in the series!

Firstly I must admit that I was mistaken about the position of the first novella in the bigger storyline. Although it was a fun side adventure, it depended a lot on the prior established relationships and also future tentative ones, which I might not get a chance to read. This caused me to not enjoy this particular book as much as I had hoped.
We have a Miss York whose mother is furious with her for cultivating more 'wrong' friends than right ones, although she does simper for the ones she considers above reproach. Our lead narrator in this story is not a romantic and is happier discussing books with her friends. It is then that they are put in a situation which has them scrambling to carry out a heist. The story itself was fun, and the writing was quite clear and entertaining. I felt a lack of connection with the people since I had no prior knowledge of it all.
I would recommend it to others who have read the series because it would be a good addition to people in the know.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Although I’m a big fan of Erica Ridley’s historical romances, I had a bit of a hard time to connect to the main characters of this story.

The Winchester family is interesting, but they didn’t sparkle like most of Erica’s characters. It’s not that I didn’t like the story. As usual, the story was witty for I’m still rating it four out of five stars, but it didn’t just do it for me. So no fifth star from me this time. But I’ll still be checking out the new books of Erica, of course!

And a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

The Rake Mistake By Erica Ridley

This is a light and fluffy romp.. it is hard not to compare a little to The Bridgertons as it is from the same period of time but these ladies are feisty and have plans!

So Miss Philippa York is living her lovely life how she wants to.. not married and entertaining the other ladies in a book club, but she does wish for a little more excitement in her life and this is answered when one of the other ladies loses a hairpin to a rake and they need it back before it besmirches her reputation…luckily the Wynchsters are there to help and Philippa gets her adventure…

Now the Wynchesters are apparently a series of standalone books on their own that I have not read but that still did not stop me reading this book and getting some enjoyment out of it.

I liked this book, it was funny and fluffy and the perfect antidote to the cold damp weather and the sad state of the world and the Rakes mistake… trying to get one over the ladies of this book!!!

#TheRakeMistake #NetGalley #prequel #caper #romance

Light, fluffy and fun! This is a prequel novella to the Perks of Loving a Wallflower and it sets up the next book perfectly, while also being a charming burglary caper at the same time. As before, the real joy in this comes from the interactions of the Wynchesters and the Heist Club. Hilarious!

I had so much fun with this, it was wonderful seeing Philippa again! And watching the heist club help right a horrible won't. And I loved watching her interact with the Wynchesters... Especially a special Wynchester! I now want to go re-read The Perks of Loving a Wallflower!!

This book was everything I wanted it to be. It had me turned pages without even realizing. It was so good!

The Rake mistake is a fun little novella that follows the Wynchester family as well as the "Heist Club". Even though I've already Tommy and Phillipa's story this was a really nice way to see more of their prior interactions!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

Ebook received for free through NetGalley

Another incredible book by Erika Ridley. Absolutely loved it.

This is a quick read and an enjoyable read as well. Regency in period, fun and humourous and a delight to read. I whizzed through this book as it is quite short and I loved the crazy spinsters. Although a romance per say it wasn't a really all that romantic which didn't bother me as I am not a big fan of overly romantic novels.

This is just a good book to read in one sitting between those long, epic books I read and I love that aspect. A good fun, entertaining book that made me smile.

I'm enjoying this novella and I think they're a lot of fun and highly entertaining. This is a good series and I can't wait to read a novel featuring these characters
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this ARC! The Rake Mistake is already out for everyone to read!

4 ⭐️

This was a very cute and quick Regency novella. It’s really just about a missing hairpin, but the writing is witty, the characters are really likeable and the story is actually very funny and entertaining. Definitely nice for people who appreciate(d) the Bridgerton-books or anything Regency. I’ll be picking up part two of The Heist Club as well.

A recommendation for when you need a nice, light and quick read that’s actually funny!