4 stars! I thought the Beth and Stephen had great chemistry, where they complemented each other’s weirdness (in a good way). They just supported each other just as they are, which was lovely. Beth has a chronic illness which causes her to be in pain occasionally, and I thought it was handled really well. It’s a Wynchester book, so there is lots of banter and the quirky siblings are around, but it can be read as a stand alone.

Hot Earl Summer is a light, fun, sometimes goofy Regency romance that also has really well done chronic pain representation.

This installment of the Wild Wynchesters series is about Elizabeth, a plus size woman who lives with chronic pain day in and day out. Elizabeth has lived with her condition all of her life, which led her family to treat her as useless and basically threw her away. After she was found by the Baron and joined the Wynchesters, she took up fighting with swords and other implements as a way to ensure neither she nor her adopted siblings were ever victimized again.

Elizabeth is the point person in the Wynchesters’ latest case helping an older woman regain the property inheritance she should have received from her sister. What develops from there is the main story of the book. Stephen, Elizabeth’s love interest, is stuck at the castle at the heart of the dispute. Stephen is a kind and rather unique sort of person who falls fast for Elizabeth.

Some of the story gets pretty goofy but intentionally so. I enjoyed the silly parts and the laughter. But as a plus size woman with a chronic pain condition, Elizabeth’s character and her experiences with her disability touched me deeply. It felt true and I saw myself in her in many ways (not including berzerking.)

I enjoyed Hot Earl Summer and look forward to Jacob’s book. Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. All opinions are solely my own.

This was unfortunately too over-the-top for me, and the characterization for each main character felt really heavy-handed. The overdone eccentricities made it difficult to feel connection to either main character, and they ultimately felt more like caricatures than people. This particular book is not for me stylistically and I chose not to finish the book after teaching 30%, but I plan to read more by Erica Ridley, because I sense that I would likely enjoy less zany plot set-ups and characters that she writes.

4.5/5 ⭐️

The Wild Wynchesters are back, this time with Elizabeth at the helm! She's determined to help their latest clients create the orphanage/school of their dreams, but in order to do that, she must defeat the dastardly Earl of Densmore. Elizabeth is SO ready for a fight, but finds an inventor instead...one who is house-sitting and handsome as heck! There's instant chemistry between Stephen and Elizabeth, and but it's hard to explore it when there are bad guys about, wacky inventions doing their thing, and a castle full of hidden secrets they must uncover.

I had the best time with this book! What a breath of fresh air! I loved the chemistry, the Rube Goldberg machines (yea science!), and the mystery of it all! It was also HILARIOUS. I found myself laughing out loud so many times! I love that Elizabeth was an unapologetic, curvy, courageous, if a bit stab-happy, heroine. She's also dealt with chronic pain her whole life, and I was thrilled to see that representation in an historical romance. I really enjoyed Stephen's character as well. It was great to see the ensemble cast again, all of the characters we've gotten to know and love in this series, who are loving and living their best lives. Happily, there's more to come in this series!

I'd like to thank Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own!

This book started out so promising: chronic pain representation, non-traditional gender stereotypes for the FMC and MMC, and lots of quirk to the characters.

There's a promise of romance and sexual attraction, but this never results in any spice. There is plenty of kissing, but there are also two closed door scenes where spice is implied, but never written out.

The story itself was okay until the quirkiness of the characters became almost absurd and silly. The light heartedness of the book comes through, but I never once laughed.

This is one of a saga of books, but I won't be going back to reading the others. I was disappointed and was happy to be done with the book.

A fun little historical romance set in the Victorian era. This was sweet and cute and a ton of fun to read if you are into more of the historical romances

This was such a fun, quirky, sweet historical romcom! And, even though it's part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone...which I did...without feeling like you've missed something. The characters are fantastic, both the family and, of course, the two mains. I love that Elizabeth is such an unorthodox lead - one with a real love for going head-first into battle and unabashedly proclaiming her enjoyment of swinging her sword. She battles her chronic pain with grace and doesn't let it stop her when it comes to doing what needs to get done. She's a true warrior! Stephen is such a sweet man who loves inventing machines that make life easier (if not always faster). I really enjoyed watching these two characters, who were used to being on their own, come to terms with each other and, ultimately, fall in love. Their chemistry is wonderful and their banter was smart and witty. These two are a perfect couple and their adventure was truly entertaining. This was my first Erica Ridley book but I know for sure it won't be my last!

Elizabeth and Stephen together make for an exciting adventure. They are amusing and entertaining throughout the entire story. The plot sees them coming up with all kinds of neat tricks while on the hunt for a missing document. Elizabeth is fierce despite her difficulties and is willing to fight to protect the weak. Stephen is a creative genius who didn’t know he was lonely until Elizabeth. The dialogue is jaunty and easy to follow. Readers will have so much fun turning the pages and getting to know another Wynchester. Make sure to get your copy of this absolutely marvelous book.

Elizabeth Wynchester adores vanquishing villains with the sharp blade concealed inside her cane. Her latest mission takes her to the Earl of Densmore’s castle, she’s to find a will & the deeds to the castle so that Miss Oaks can open her orphanage but she didn’t expect to meet reclusive inventor Stephen Lenox. Stephen agreed to impersonate his cousin for a few days, he didn’t expect the earl to vanish altogether. Time is running out for Elizabeth to complete her mission but that will mean leaving Stephen.
The fifth Wynchester to find love & another fast paced book with plenty of humour. I loved both Stephen & Elizabeth their chemistry sizzled. The villain whilst being nasty has delusions of grandeur & is also a comical figure. I love the Wynchesters who are always there for each other & once again they rally to help Elizabeth. A captivating romance which I thoroughly enjoyed
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

This book had a lot of elements that I like but it just didn’t resonate for me. Elizabeth Wynchester is a sword wielding part of a crime fighting family. She is sent on a job but ends up finding Stephen Lenox, the cousin of her mark, instead. They’re both a bit awkward in their own ways and they hit it off almost immediately. There is a lot to love about this book if you like slightly modern Regency tales. Elizabeth is also a great depiction of a badass FMC with chronic pain.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the eARC!

I’ve been waiting for Elizabeth Wynchester’s love story and it does not disappoint. The Wild Wynchesters series is about a group of adopted siblings that form a family who operate within society but operate missions or cons to correct wrongs and help people. The siblings are of various races. One has married a Duke, giving them more influence. I love how accepting the siblings are for each other and the partners they love including one f/f partnership.

Elizabeth loves her swords and dreams of being a warrior. At 31 she doesn’t plan to marry but secretly pines for a bold romance. When the rest of the family is caught up in various missions it is up to her to solve a mystery about a missing will. Finding it will mean an old castle will become an orphanage and school. She thinks the villain is the Earl of Densmore and off she heads to his castle. Instead she finds his cousin in residence. He is Stephen Lenox, a reclusive inventor. He is trying to hold the castle from a neighbor who is claiming the earl lost it to him in battle.

Stephen has wonderful inventions and has created many traps around the castle to Elizabeth’s delight. Their word play is wonderful. Their personalities mesh so well. I highlighted so many funny lines showing their sarcastic wit. I wish it was more steamy on page but the humor and loving acceptance of each other's quirks more than makes up for that. This can be read as a stand alone as there is recapping of people and couples. This is easy to recommend if you enjoy a more humorous historical romance that may break some rules.

3.5 ⭐️

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of Hot Earl Summer. This book was adorable, even if a little cheesy. It had adventure, romance, sword fighting, booby traps and a whole lot of heart.

Beth the Berserker isn’t afraid of anything, she would take on an army of sword fighting aficionados and come out on top. But her latest mission might have her afraid of one thing, loosing her heart to Stephen Lenox, cousin of the Earl of Densmore. While protecting her heart and the castle from harm she might find she’s in for a couple surprises along the way.

Akin to Bridgerton and Pride and Prejudice, this historical romance is sure to be an entertaining read.

Tropes: found family, hard exterior with a heart of gold, he fell first

A quirky & cute historical romance.

Although this is book five in a series, it can be read as a standalone. However, if you have read the other books in the series the found family vibes are still as strong as ever.

The heroine is such a delightful character. She's stabby (takes no BS) and is generally badass. She also suffers from chronic pain which just made her even more kickass. The hero is nerdy but also incredibly hot?! Yes, please! I felt Beth & Stephen were so cute! It was like the jock with the nerdy girl but make it historical and gender swapped. They were so sweet yet also steamy.

The plot is a bit silly but for a romcom that doesn't bother me. It just makes the story more enjoyable. Isn't that the point of romcoms anyway? I did like the silly mystery stuff and thought it added a little something extra to the story.

A fun time!

Is this series almost over? It started so strong and has gotten progressively worse. This is the best one since the first book and even parts of this book were a struggle for me.

The Wynchesters send "Berzerker Beth" on a case alone to find a lost will and restore a castle to an old lady to convert it into an orphanage. To do so, she must team up with the Earl's cousin who is holed up inside castle-sitting, defend it from an invading army of pompous, misogynistic reenactors and decipher the clues that lead to the hidden will (the clue hunt was real disappointing). Stephen Lenox is a WAY over-the-top inventor and a better cousin than the Earl of Densmore deserves who is immediately smitten with the cartoonish Elizabeth. The whole family (minus their oldest sis and her hubs) does eventually come to help defend the castle (which was a really fun part of the action).

I didn't like when this book went overtly preachy dealing with Elizabeth's vague disability. Elizabeth was so mean to Stephen at one point I never recovered my like for her. For someone who's been dealing with a disability her entire life she has learned zero compassion. Stephen was a rich, intelligent, sweetheart but also, he was too good to be true. A few faults would've humanized him a bit more. They both had parents who didn't love them for themselves. Stephen's because.... he was smart? Huh?

Needless to say this is not my fave historical romance read of the year by any stretch, but I'm also not as mad at it as some of Ridley's other recent books. It's always felt very Umbrella Academy rip-off to me.

Sword-wielding Elizabeth sets out to confront the elusive Earl of Densmore—but her mission takes an unexpected turn when she encounters handsome inventor Stephen impersonating his missing cousin. Danger closes in as Elizabeth and Stephen work together to uncover the mysteries of the earl’s castle, all while fighting a growing attraction to each other.

This whimsical and romantic novel boasts unique, fun characters and a hilarious plot. It’s a joyful story about love and belonging. Elizabeth and Stephen are misfits who fit perfectly together.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

You will find if you read the series about the Wild Winchester’s, that they are a quirky bunch but also each have their own unique talent. They were all taken in and raised by a duke that saw their potential and pretty much gave them free reign to advance their knowledge. They were a bunch that supported each other and always had each other’s backs. That being said, this story is about Elizabeth who was in constant pain but seemed to always never let it get in her way righting wrongs done to others. As Elizabeth tries to find a missing will, that would turn a castle into an orphanage/school, she starts at the castle and there is where she finds Steven. Finding the will is the only way to prove the son who lost the castle gambling was not his to lose. Stephen is determined to help Elizabeth find the will as well as keep the new owner at bay. As these two work together, they fall in love. Between the two of them, will they be able to save the day? Great read.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a complimentary copy.

The Wynchesters seem to get more and more absurd as the series progresses. How much you enjoy this book is going to depend on how much genuine emotion you want out of a romance. We're not talking about historical accuracy (although no, that's not the forte of this series, either); we're talking about realism write large. To wit: in this book, Elizabeth Wynchester has been tasked with convincing an earl to honor the terms of his mother's will. When she shows up at his castle (yes, literal castle) it turns out that the earl has absconded and no one knows his whereabouts. Instead, Stephen, his cousin and heir presumptive, is in residence, pretending to be the earl and barring anyone from entering. So, Elizabeth gets out two battle axes and tries to chop down the door, which charms Stephen so much (?) that he lets her in and decides to allow her to stay and try to locate the will ... which has been hidden by the dearly departed countess and can only be found by following odd clues for a treasure hunt throughout the castle.

Speaking of Stephen: he is an inventor who does pushups whenever he's anxious (which is so often that he's super buff). Since they're hanging out in a castle together they obviously fall in love. (Do not ask me why, exactly, other than the fact that they're stuck together. That's not the point...?) Also in the mix besides wacky inventions and the treasure hunt? The lord of the neighboring estate is planning actual military action to invade the castle. Because he wants to stage a reenactment of the Battle of Waterloo on the grounds. (Told you this was absurd.)

The book also engages with some chronic pain rep: Elizabeth has a chronic undiagnosed condition that causes her pain. Throughout the book she identifies how well she feels in each particular moment by "x% Elizabeth" (e.g. "this morning I'm at 75% Elizabeth). I honestly can't speak to how authentic the representation is, but I can say that this reminded me a lot of the Murderbot series, in which the eponymous main character refers to its own functioning in percentage points. There's even a part where Elizabeth's ability lowers to "0% Elizabeth" and then she passes out, which is so Murderbot I can't describe it any other way. I'll just say that the juxtaposition of Murderbot and historical romance wasn't my favorite thing.

Our favorite book in the series has been The Perks of Loving a Wallflower, which was truly an amazing read. Sadly, none of the other books have recaptured that mix of absurdity and emotion. But like I said at the beginning of the review, this level of absurdity might be right up your alley!

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the book.

This is THE most fun romance!! As my first Erica Ridley, I wasn’t familiar with the Wynchesters, but now I’ll be reading the backlist, too!

Elizabeth Winchester is a swashbuckling berserker, full of sword skills, battle plans, and determination, and despite her disability, she’s always 100% Elizabeth. She’s called to Dorset to solve the mystery of a hidden will and runaway Earl of Densmore. She doesn’t count on meeting Stephen, the earl’s cousin. He’s a master tinker, a social recluse with exceptional abs. Between the two of them, they must defend a castle from entitled brat Reddington, and set things to rights.

I LOVED every single thing about this book, including the disability rep, found family elements, hilarious violence, and the perfect combo of brains and brawn that is Stephen. The swoon a despise are all there, albeit a bit different, because Elizabeth and Stephen are themselves different. We love the sexual innuendos and violent threats - of passion??


All in all, highly recommend! Excellent, fun, hilarious!

Not a perfect book but there were definitely aspects I enjoyed. The relationship between Stephen and Elizabeth was really fun to read. A grumpy swordswoman and a quirky tinkerer boy, what’s not to love. I also through the disability rep was really well done, I don’t have the conditions that Elizabeth does so I can only comment so much on it but it’s much better executed than some other books I’ve seen. If you picked up the Bridgerton books and wanted something more diverse then you should definitely pick up this series. It’s got more kooky silly energy than Bridgerton’s classic regency melodrama, but I think that’s what makes them fun.

I was disappointed by this book because based upon the description I assumed that Elizabeth and Stephen would do lots of mystery solving together. Specifically, I was rooting for like a Holmes and Watson dynamic to happen but instead Elizabeth did all the hunting while Stephen tinkered with machines. This decision killed the urgency that this book should have had. The characters know that Reddington and his troops are doing all they can to take the castle so they should be using all their resources.

Similar to the last book I was bummed by the lack of sibling content. Since Elizabeth was isolated about 75% of the book lacked other Wynchesters. I love the dynamic between the siblings and I think that’s why books one and two work so well for me. As each sibling has added a partner I think the cast of characters has become too cumbersome to include them for the whole book. An easy remedy for this would be to pair each sibling off with a bestie sibling. That’s what was done with Chloe and Tommy and I think it made their characters even stronger.

Finally the third act conflict just felt blah. Every book in this series has had a breakup as the third act conflict even when it doesn’t make sense. I totally get the third act breakup is a staple of the genre but it just felt strange for these two. These two already had their big blowout fight and reconciliation so it feels like Elizabeth should be over her hang ups by the last 10%. The big final conflict should have been the battle, it’s way more high stakes and feels like a culmination of Elizabeth’s character growth.

Though I may have had my issues with this book I still enjoy this series and can’t wait for book six. Jacob is my favorite character after Tommy and I’m ready for some animal hijinks. It also sounds like his book may be queer and I’m so down for that!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This series continues to be such a joy to read! The Wynchesters are definitely not your standard historical romance siblings, but they are so fun!

This book in particular is a mixture of adventure story/treasure hunt, with a heroine that excels at weaponry, and a hero that may be a scientific genius inventor. Their relationship is a little bonkers but so enjoyable.

While you might be able to read this one as a standalone, I would definitely recommend reading the series as a whole. Each sibling is so unique, and they deserve their own time to shine in each book. I’m already looking forward to Jacob’s book!