📖book review - my rogue to ruin by erica ridley
⭐️ rating: 3.5/5
⚡️genre: historical romance

🫧my thoughts: thank you to @netgalley, @ericaridley, & @foreverpublishing for this arc! i haven’t read historical romance in a while but i love the setting and fun aspects it brings to a typical romance!

this story also had a heist which is so fun and i loved seeing all the Wynchesters work together, which Marjorie at the forefront.

the main reason this book is at a 3.5 and not quite a 4 is there was a lot of filler conversations that sometimes seemed very similar to previous ones. this is not to say that Marjorie and Adrian didn’t have fantastic banter & chemistry (because they did!), I just wished that some conversations were cut down a bit sometimes.

overall, if you want a fun, historical romance complete with a heist, fun family, and witty banter, you should give my rogue to ruin a read when it comes out september 12, 2023 (tomorrow!!)

Banished Lord Adrian has been using his art skills to forge masterpieces. Loved how confident, charming and dapper he was. He was playing into a reputation his father and brother forced on him.
But he was also trying to reconnect with his sister.

Love the Wynchester siblings and who better to investigate forgeries and counterfeit coins than Marjorie. She's performing her first investigation alone without their help and she's very intuitive and brilliant but also is worried about letting them down. Though the stakes are pretty high if she fails. She also has a idea of who she thinks he is but it's not the complete picture.

These two fall into forced proximity as he was a prisoner and she volunteered to be there but it was undercover. They fall pretty fast since they had a chance meeting before everything started where they couldn't get eachother off their minds.

Loved how it all played out and how we got to see the siblings we have already met in the prior books.

Thank you readforeverpub for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

Thank you Forever and NetGalley for the ARC!

Disclaimer: this is the 4th book in the series and I haven't read the others

My Rogue to Ruin is a standalone genre hybrid book in a series about the Wynchester siblings. We get a decent amount of backstory without it feeling like it could be retelling for people who have read the rest of the series.

This book focuses on art-centric sister, Marjorie, and the perceived villain, Lord Adrian Webb.

-Their romance is an enemies-to-friends-to-lovers type of romance, though the friends phase is short. They reach mutual respect for their art forging skills and their respective goals in the crime solving scheme.

-The pair, along with the rest of the Wynchester clan, are aiming their skills at taking down a despicable loan shark who is stealing from his poor clients and making our MCs forge currency, a felony crime punishable by hanging.

I truly enjoyed all of the characters. This story was very well written and intriguing. The first third was a bit slow for my taste but overall an enjoyable story. Especially when you consider the last 25% had no less than 4 twists. I thought we were on the path to HEA multiple times and got completely blown back.

I am definitely adding the rest of the series to my TBR.

Bridgerton meets White Collar with forced proximity plus spice. I really enjoyed this book. This is the first Erica Ridley and definitely not my last. I need to read the rest of this series. This book kept me on the edge of my seat not knowing what plan or contingency would work.

4.5
This book, as if with all of the Wild Wynchester series, is just pure fun! If you like your romances to include heists and hedgehogs, this is definitely for you!

Marjorie Wynchester has usually stayed on the sidelines when her siblings take on a new project. But this time, she takes on the lead role to expose a counterfeiter by posing as a counterfeiter herself.

Adrian doesn't want to make counterfeit coins, but he's forced to do so to protect his beloved sister. He has a plan but that all goes out the window when he gets an attractive apprentice named Marjorie. Will they be able to band together along with the rest of the Wynchester to outsmart a crime lord?

Format - E ARC (netgalley)

Rating- ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Spice- 🌶 🌶

Series- The Wild Wynchesters #4

Troupes- opposite's attract, forced proximity found family

Representation- BIPOC, Nerodivergent

CW- Confinement, Sexual harassment, violence

This series just keeps getting better and better! I have been looking forward to Marjorie’s story since I started and oh My did Erica ever deliver!

This one has the usual intrigue and minor mayhem with a counterfeiting ring that needs to be stopped and a Rouge who isn’t really who he seems! Throw in a Hedgehog in training and a big dose of forced proximity between two humans who could not be more different there are sparks flying and humor abound!

Adrian is trying to make amends for the past and have a life back in London he’s very much a reluctant golden retriever hero, with his “criminal” past coming back to haunt him but the moment he sees Marjorie he has no choice but to try and protect her. Marjorie wants a piece of all the action her family is always getting into so going undercover to take down this counterfeit ring from the inside is just the thing. If only Adrian wasn’t so handsome and kind and funny…

I loved it! It’s a wild fast paced ride with lots of steamy looks and witty banter and some spicy scene that are perfect for the story!

I can’t wait to read what Ridley has in store for the remaining Wynchester!

My Rogue to Ruin by Erica Ridley is the fourth book in the Wynchester’s series. The series focuses on an unconventional family whose skills help people get out of trouble with some nasty customers. In this novel the family takes on a counterfeiter and Marjorie takes the lead role, her first.

Marjorie is an artist. She almost always lets her siblings take the lead in all their adventures, but this time it is counterfeit money that is what they are investigating and Marjorie is the best bet for the family to infiltrate the place. While there, she finds Lord Adrian Webb, the man who is making the coins. What she finds is that he is a prisoner of the scheme and while he is not perfect, he is not the one to take down. It doesn’t hurt that Marjorie is falling for him.

The novel was an interesting twist on most historical romances. I have found the books fun to read with all the characters (and I mean characters). The story lines are rarely expected, which leads to the citations that are so interesting. My Rogue to Ruin by Erica Ridley is a good read.

Another wild romp with the Wynchester! The 4th in the series but one shouldn’t have a problem with the story of Marjorie and Adrian. Although the previous books are just as fun to read.
Marjorie Wynchester feels like she is the one not pulling her weight when it comes to solving the various capers the family gets involved in. When a widow appeals to the family for help, to reclaim her wedding ring and replace the counterfeit coin with real currency, it was a case for Marjorie. Being the family art lover and forger when necessary.
Adrian the banish son of a Marquess returns home after 7 years for 2 reasons. 1st to reconnect with his beloved sister Iris and 2nd to answer the summons of the Grandfather of St. Giles, Snowley. One last delivery and then he will be done with the man. Unfortunately Adrian has been founded out by Snowley of passing off counterfeit works of art and is now Snowley prisoner till his debt is paid. With no other choice he is minting fake coins and committing treason and sees no way out but to be Snowley puppet.
Love the antics and the banner between the characters. Yes a bit on the wild side, but then they are known as the Wild Wynchesters. Thank you NetGalley for this eARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #MyRoguetoRuin

He's just misunderstood.

The latest Wynchester to fall is Marjorie, the artistic, half deaf sister who can see and taste color.
The Wynchester's are stil as lively and fresh as a found family can be. Adrian is a lost soul. He's good natured and an artist as well, but is always the scapegoat and was banished from his home and family for something his older brother did, but he was blamed and banished. He's made a living doing forgeries in the continent and after seven years, is back in England to attempt a relationship with his sister, Iris, who is drawn into his drama with Snowly, a very bad guy. Adrian plays many roles, a social chameleon, he has the good sense to be attracted to Marjorie.

Marjorie as her own growth in this book as well. Her journey is to be as capable a Wynchester as the rest. While Adrian's is to well, be good. Which is very hard for him with currency forgery in store.
Recommend for all the charming Wynchester shenanigans. and capers.

"This was what family meant."

I love this series for the entire Wynchester found family, a group who gather around and support anyone in trouble, always trying to help the good guy. And so I was especially intrigued to see that the love interest, Lord Adrian, is also the suspect in their escapades for this book.

My Rogue to Ruin is Marjorie's story. We haven't gotten to know her as well as many of her siblings in the earlier books, in part because she tends to stay home and contribute via art and forgery. I loved getting to see her as the more active protagonist. And the Adrian sees her has me swooning. Their relationship is such fun to watch.

This was so much fun and included all my favorite elements of the series. It has animals involved in heists, outrageous disguises, and many back-up plans for everything that can and does go wrong. And it demonstrates what family is or should be again and again. All that, and I was kept guessing until the end.

I also love this book for the writing. I underlined and highlighted whole passages, nodding along and saying yes. The way Marjorie sees the world in color is so beautiful. And it is perfectly captured in the metaphors Erica Ridley employs.

Thank you to Forever and for the advanced reader copy and free book. These opinions are my own.

4.5 stars rounded up

Adventurous, spicy, and fun!

My Rogue to Ruin is a mysterious, engaging tale that sweeps you away to London during 1818 and into the life of Marjorie Wynchester, a kind, unique young woman who embarks on a mission to use her artistic talents to do whatever it takes to take down a local swindling pawnbroker with a side business in counterfeiting coins, even if it means having to work alongside the handsome, disgraced Lord Adrian Webb who has a past littered with scandal and a pile of troubles of his own.

The writing is witty and light. The characters are resourceful, clever, and endearing. And the plot is a humorous, compelling tale full of family, friendship, tricky situations, scheming behaviours, awkward moments, secrets, attraction, desire, and romance.

My Rogue to Ruin is an amusing, lighthearted, entertaining tale by Ridley that I thoroughly enjoyed and which is the fourth novel in a series, The Wild Wynchesters, that I absolutely adore.

There was a lot happening in this book. Marjorie and Adrian were cute and I really liked them. I do think the book was too long and some of the middle could be cut out because it was a bit repetitive. I also want more of them together in the real world.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Oh, how I adore Erica Ridley and the Wild Wynchester's series! I could go on about the entire series and how I discovered her because I was intrigued by the cover and blurb for Wallflower - but you'll have to read it, and the entire series for yourself to understand just how special of an author she and these books are.

My Rogue to Ruin might be my favourite in the series so far (and I've truly loved them all) - and I wish we could rate in half stars because this is most definitely a 4.5 and not just a 4-star, my rounding will have to reflect that! This one has gone into disabilities with Marjorie's partial deafness, it's gone even further into criminality and schemes by including the blackmail and threats (and actuality) of jail and holding IOU's over Adrian's head, and it definitely includes all of our favourite Wynchester's and their partners from the previous books.

I love that this one had Marjorie, herself normally a passive member of the Wynchster family plots and schemes, as front and center participant of forging coins and trying to assist a new client, and using her talents because this time, she is the best family member for the job - it's beautiful! And when she thinks she isn't good enough to continue? Her siblings are there boosting her up! The magic of the connection she forms with Adrian while they are held captive is also a wonderful thing!

This adopted family is such a joy to read about - their exploits, their closeness and just everything about them (all of the plots and storylines so far). Ridley's writing is superb, as it is in everything she releases. I know I will enjoy anything I pick up from her and can highly recommend this book (and all of her others) to everybody, historical romance fan or not! I'm just sad that it's more than a year to wait for the next Wynchester book!

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and this is my honest review.

My Rouge to Ruin by Erica Ridley

Setting:
London 1818

Characters:
Marjorie Wynchester
Lord Adrian Webb

Tropes:
Mystery
Forced Proximity
Bluestocking Heroine

Goodreads:
🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

Spice:
🌶 🌶

Review:
I absolutely adored this new work from Erica Ridley. I have loved every book in the series, and this one was a wonderful time. I love a forced proximity romance, and I also enjoyed the mystery and intrigue that was also a forefront to the plot. I highly recommend this book, and the entire series.

Content Warnings:
Loss of bio parents
Blackmailing

✨ PRINCEMAN ARC REVIEW ✨

📝 Marjorie Winchester has always felt in the shadows of her siblings. It also doesn't help that she's partially deaf. But, one thing she knows better than anyone else is art. So when a new case comes across to the Winchesters revolving around counterfeit shillings, she knows that she's the person for the job. Marjorie doesn't expect Lord Adrian to be a part of this scheme....or is he? Can these two team together to bring down the man who's taking advantage of widowed women?

What I 🤍:
🔇 Disability Rep
🦔 Hedgehog Pet
🪙 Women Solving Mysteries
💕 Family Affair
📚 4th in Series

This story had all the makings for a fantastic historical romance! I was expecting romance, sleuthing and character growth. Unfortunately this story fell flat for me. First off, I really disliked the MCC. He came across super arrogant, and he was hard for me to root for. And then, when he's in close proximity with our FMC, he's instantly wanting to kiss her face and making sexual comments. Due to that, I just didn't FEEL the romance. I also thought the insta-love situation didn't work here. Again, it felt more like a physical relationship rather than a healthy, swoony one. Last, the plot moved SLOWLY. At around 45% through, nothing had STILL happened. All in all, I just felt disappointed in this book.

Prince's Rating: ⭐️ (DNF)
Passion: 🔥🔥🔥 (One Open Door Scene)
Read if ➡️: You've read the previous Winchester Books.
Read 📅: Anytime
CW ⚠️: Stealing, Mobster, Kidnapping, Taking Advantage of Women, Disability

Sadly, I DNFd this book at 49%. I really tried to stick with it, but it just wasn't for me. If you've read the first 3 books in this series though, I think you'd enjoy this one. Thank you to Forever Publishing for an ARC of this book. Sorry that it wasn't for me! 😢

Just finished My Rouge to Ruin by Erica Ridley and it is such a fun historical-ish romance. Honestly, it was lovely balance of Bridgerton and Oceans franchise (minus George Clooney).

Hold onto your hats because there’s a lot of twists and turns. I didn’t realize it was part of a series when I requested it from Netgalley but, the author gave good enough details that I could work my way through it.

The chemistry between the main characters, Marjorie and Adrian, was really held my attention throughout the book and I enjoyed the instalove factor

Extra bonus: an adorable hedgehog named Tickletums.

Grab your copy on September 12!

Thank you to @netgalley, @readforeverpub, and @ericaridley for this e-reader ARC for my honest review!

Not going to lie, the sex scenes in the second half didn’t endear this book to me, but mostly it was a fun time.

Definitely preferred the first half to the second but still had an excellent time. Pretty in love with this family. I REALLY wish Jacob’s story was next, but, alas, I’ll survive.

4.5 ⭐️ This was absolutely adorable, sweet, funny, and fully enjoyable…still thinking about it days later and being a bit sad every time I remember I already finished the book because I enjoyed it so much that I wasn’t ready to be done with the story! This series is such a joy, can’t wait for the next one!

Love this fun book about enemies to lovers. It was a quick read about forgery, blackmail, and falling for the wrong person.

This was a very sweet, gem of a story! I honestly didn’t realize that this book was a part of a series. While I feel like I might have known a bit more backstory if I had read the others beforehand, I did not feel lost while reading this story.

I loved the characters and the family is amazing. It was a little slow at the start and it is a slow burn for Adrian and Marjorie. There is wonderful banter between the characters and I loved it!