Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion...

Seriously, how did I pick up this series from the middle, and miss the earlier books? This was such a fun read that I have to go back and read more of the Wynchesters and from the beginning.

This is a swashbuckling, sword wielding adventure love story with a theme of misfits/outcasts/acceptance, a bit of enemies to lovers vibe. The writing and dialogue was sparkling very brightly with wit and humour and I absolutely loved how the characters interacted and how their inner thoughts were expressed on page. This made me laugh and smile as I was reading it (and made a nice light break from deeper, heavier reading).

Elizabeth Wynchester is a bold, blood thirsty sword wielding warrior goddess in the making - a woman undaunted in her desire to conquer the world and overcome her foes, ideally with them bloody by her blade. But each day, the foe she seems to have to fight first, is her own body. She suffers from some kind of joint/muscle disorder (I am guessing some kind of autoimmune inflammatory condition such as fibromyalgia, a juvenile arthritis or some such), but after having been misunderstood, mistreated, and not valued by her own family, she refuses to allow anyone in her life now to pity her or allow her illness to identify her. Being a part of the Wynchester family gave Elizabeth a chance to find a new family, one who loves and supports her and she likewise is fiercely loving and loyal to them.

But as their renown grows, their caseload grows, and when they are approached by a woman seeking to gain her rightful inheritance to a castle, from her wastrel nephew, the Earl of Densmore, Elizabeth finds she is venturing outside of London by herself to solve the situation. Time is of the essence, as he has been rumoured to have gambled away the property, and the new owner to making noises to take what he believes is his. Ideally by finding the proper will and deed, proving the Earl was not the legal owner and could not gamble away what does not belong to him... Or with negotiation and diplomacy; not Elizabeth's forte. Or, ideally in her mind, by force and the edge of her sword, in a duel to the death.

But when she lays siege to the castle, she finds herself entangled in a series of cunning traps - and instead of finding the Earl, she is ensnared by the lusciously bulging muscles, abs, and brains of his cousin instead. Stephen Lennox is a reclusive hermit and inventor, used to being alone except for his gadgets and inventions. As a child, he was mocked and abused by others, including his family, for his talents. Except for his cousin, the future Earl of Densmore. Even when he is frustrated and annoyed by his wastrel cousin, he loves him for his loyalty and love to Stephen. So when Densmore asks Stephen to take his place at the Castle, while Densmore takes a couple of days to deal with some issues, he agrees.... not expecting the couple of days to be a few months and counting. Nor is he expecting an invading army lead by a spoiled nobleman with delusions of grandeur threatening to engage in warfare to take what he believes is his. To protect himself and the Castle, Stephen kits the Castle out in defense mechanisms that turn the place into mass of deadly triggered traps and seals himself and the other residents within. What he does not expect is that there would be a sword wielding warrior goddess to breach the defenses of the castle, and when she gains entrance, the defenses of his heart as well.

This was just a fun, sparkling, read that was joyful to read and made me laugh out loud several times.

4.25 stars out of 5

The fifth story in the Wild Wynchesters, another engaging story in this series. Elizabeth Wynchester is one strong and gentle woman, she meets reclusive inventor Stephen Lenox who has agreed to impersonate his cousin for a few days. When things start getting nasty she becomes his bodyguard. Both of them have things to overcome, if they are to get their happy ending. I found their story to be well worth reading. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

HOW FUN

Thank you to the folks at Netgalley and Forever Publishing for this sweet treat of a novel!

I've only read Duke Heist, which is the first of the Wynchester series, and I absolutely ADORED this one!
The only warning I'd give to you, if you do end up reading them in a funky order, is that you'll know which sibling ends up with which love interest.
Since I don't mind a wee spoiler here and there, I had a lovely time.

Elizabeth is tough, you might even call her Beth the Berserker tough (and some do).
Stephen is logical, careful, methodical, you might call him a tinker and inventor (and some do).
They both keep away from people as best as they can.

BUT

When the Wynchesters are hired to find the will and deed to a nearby castle, so that a woman may inherit the castle her nephew has taken over, Beth the Berserker, aka Elizabeth, storms the castle where Stephen is . . . castle-sitting? house-sitting? for his cousin.

As the two of them explore the castle,

Elizabeth keeps a sword stick with her at all times, disguised as a cane, and discovers she may like a guy who tinkers, more than she expected.
Stephen keeps Elizabeth with him at all times, since he is helping her look for his aunt's will, and discovers is shockingly into battle-axe wielding redheads.

Stephen lets her into the castle, but will they let each other into their hearts?

Another delightfully cheeky installment in the Wild Wynchesters series!

Elizabeth "Beth the Berserker" Wynchester may not always operate at 100% but she is always 100% up for a challenge. Especially if that challenge should involve swords or bloodshed. When she and her siblings take on the case of a missing will for their new client Miss Oak, Elizabeth finds herself shuffled off to Dorset solo. Her mission? Discover the location of Miss Oak's sister's will, hidden somewhere in Densmore Castle, so that the sisters' dreams of running an orphanage and school can come true. However, Miss Oak's nephew, the Earl of Densmore, and his gambling have left an irritating complication standing in the way.

However Elizabeth arrives at Densmore castle, ready to take the case head on and blade first, only to discover the Earl of Densmore has left his cousin Stephen Lenox behind in his place and absconded to God knows where. Can the pair navigate death threats, treacherous castle architecture, a series of less than obvious clues, and their own growing attraction towards each other in order to find the will in time to save Densmore castle from falling into the hands of another?

This was yet another brilliantly witty Wynchester romance from Erica Ridley. I absolutely fell in love with this eclectic bunch of siblings in her previous novel My Rogue to Ruin and let me tell you, Hot Earl Summer does not disappoint. Elizabeth is headstrong, fearless, and lets nothing stand in her way. Stephen is cooler, more collected, and beyond brilliant. These two make such a perfectly balanced pair and I was in love with them from the outset.

As I've come to expect from Ms. Ridley, the banter is second to none, the shenanigans are high, and the happily ever after is timed out perfectly. If you're a fan of regency romance, this is a perfect addition to your TBR. I don't think I could have asked for more from this novel. And if you're not? I dare you to add it anyway. You may just find Stephen and Beth the Berserker breaking down your barriers and worming her way into your heart as easily as Elizabeth was able to weasle her way into Castle Densmore.

I love the Wynchesters so much! Each one so beautifully original and yet so supportive of their found family.
Elizabeth has been such fun in all the other books that I couldn’t wait to see her match unfold. I loved that he is a tinker and builds mousetrap like contraptions.
I loved the banter and the one upmanship while the fell in love with one another.
It was a swashbuckling read without the high seas.

3.5 stars because I like the characters and was glad that spiky, unlikeable Elizabeth found her HEA. But even knowing this is silly and unrealistic, I found much of the storyline and specific scenarios too over the top and ridiculous.

I would like to know what we would call Elizabeth's condition today. I will look for the next in the series, when the last Wynchester finds his person.

few things are as important to me as strong female characters and erica ridley writes the best of them. i absolutely fell head over heels for elizabeth and would demand 5 more books about her life but i fear i may have to sacrifice those books because there are so many other erica ridley books i havent read already and now i must read her entire backlog. a plus size, chronically ill heroine that is still a bad ass? sign me UP!!!!

Elizabeth is a sword-wielding, chronic pain warrior and one of the infamous Wynchester siblings. The Wynchester’s are busier than ever, so Elizabeth is sent on a solo mission to recover the missing will and deed to the Earl of Densmore’s castle, which was not his to gamble away to an absolutely bonkers war reenactor.

Stephen Lenox, professional scientist/engineer/inventor/tinkerer, was asked by his cousin, said Earl, to fill in as his proxy while he runs a quick errand. They look so much alike and he is the heir apparent, after all! Months have passed and not only has Densmore yet to return, but the man who won his castle is relentlessly attempting to claim his prize (by force and in full military regalia if necessary).

Elizabeth notices Stephen is in a real pickle and agrees to act as his bodyguard whilst attempting to locate the documents that his aunt had meticulously hidden in her castle. Antics and smooching ensue!

This was such a fun romp that I did not want to put down! Elizabeth and Stephen are the epitome of “is somebody gonna match my freak?” in the most wholesome weirdo sorta way. The plot is silly and chaotic, the banter is SO GOOD, and it’s really everything you want in a historical rom com. I also loved the invisible disability rep, and how Stephen learned to ask what “percent” Elizabeth was at to gauge her boundaries. The fact that I could vividly picture each of his machines is a testament to the brilliance of Erica Ridley’s writing. I just always *feel good* after finishing one of her novels.

This is number 5 in a series, and while I think it would help to read the previous stories, I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary! I haven’t finished the Wynchester series and I had no trouble thoroughly enjoying this book.

Hot Earl Summer is released on 8/6/2024!

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of this eARC via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

I LOVE the Wynchesters so very much!!

I had a blast reading Elizabeth’s book, I loved her character. She is someone that despite her struggles FIGHTS for herself and for those around her. She is a very passionate and determined character which I LOVE about her.

Stephan and Elizabeth complement each other perfectly. Their love for puzzles and all things logical is so perfect for their relationship.

As for the plot, I thought it was silly. At times it was entertaining and others it felt like filler. If you enjoy silly mystery movies like Clue or Knives out this is a great historical romance with those vibes

Thanks for the ARC NetGalley & Forever 🫶

This was cute! I’ve read one other in the Wynchester series and this one definitely fit the vibe of the other. I enjoyed it, but didn’t love it. I think that’s mostly a timing thing for me- it didn’t suck me in enough and I was so busy that it took me a while to read. I loved the invisible disability rep and how it was portrayed though! If you like a regency romance, this is cute!

I received an E-Arc from Netgalley and the publisher, Forever for an honest review!
Thank you!

Drama! Banter! Crazy inventions! Swords!
Fighting and yet there's a tiny spark in this historical rom com.

I literally could not stop reading this magical gem because I really enjoyed Elizabeth's courage, spirit, guts, conversation and banter with Stephen and her fighting skills. The lady loves her swords. Who doesn't like a character who can fight and have fun with it.

Stephen was a rather unique character too. And...the description of his abs...*Swoon*

I was amused and hooked from the story from the get go to the ending. I was laughing, rooting for the good guys and even wanting to to help the characters. As I mentioned of great conversation between Elizabeth and Stephen, there was also some hot banter and a few kisses here and there.

I thought the author did an amazing job on the representation of how Elizabeth had to cope with her disability, chronic illness.

This is a must read. Repeat a must read!

A historical, rom com with laughter, fun, adventure and banter!

Does Elizabeth and Stephen spark flare into something more? Guess you'll have to find out on in August!

For anyone who’s been counted out or called teasingly even a spinster…this book is a wonderful moment away from all that bullshit.


Absolutely worth the read and the moments of self help it did for my “late in life” moments!

It's cute and fun! I really loved the writing and the plot. The characters were fun and I was invested. I read through this book fast.

The Wild Wynchesters have done it again! Such a fun romp of a story filled with delightful characters and antics.

The Wynchester family has been growing as four of the six siblings have now found their perfect match. And while Elizabeth loves solving things with her sword, she secretly also longs for her own partner. Their growing fame has meant they are in high demand, so when their newest client comes to them for help finding a missing will & deed that would give her claim to a castle where she hopes to open an orphanage, Elizabeth is dispatched solo.

When she arrives at the castle she finds that the Earl who has possession of it is not in residence -- but instead has left his inventor cousin to hold down the fort while he escapes town. Except the event that led up to his hasty exist was accidentally wagering the castle away during a card game with his cad of a neighbor -- who is ready to claim his bounty by force, if necessary.

Hilarious antics ensue, giving this read a healthy dose of laughs and tender moments between two people who thought their idiosyncrasies would mean a life of solitude but are instead learning to open up to the joys of finding someone who loves you exactly as you are. Just a really fun read!

I went into this one pretty much blind (and completely unaware that it was part of a series) and I really enjoyed it.

The concept felt very Umbrella Academy in terms of the siblings and how they all ended up together. I love the idea of someone adopting a bunch of misfits and all of them turning into what is essentially a private investigation agency. It is the found family trope in its most literal sense and I definitely appreciated that.

Elizabeth was just entertaining from start to finish. I love a character that is strong and unapologetic despite their difficult circumstances, and she is definitely both of those things. I really liked that she didn't let anything slow her down or stop her, and I loved seeing her open up and find someone that fits in her world perfectly. That being said, Stephen is perfect without question. It was great to have a male character that's more brains than anything else, and one that - considering the time period the book is set in - still supported Elizabeth and her need for adventure and chaos without a second thought. He was exactly what she needed and I love them together.

The 'mission' plot was also excellent. It was a fun storyline between the whole hunting for clues aspect and the 'threat' the castle was under the whole time. Overall, this was a fun read and I will definitely be looking into the rest of the series!

This was a cute, fun romance. I found myself relating to the characters and wanting to know how they were going to end up together. While somewhat predictable, this is what I enjoy about romances like these.

Another gem by Erica Ridley. The newest in her playful Winchesters series, this time we get up close and personal with the seemingly prickly Elizabeth. We've seen Elizabeth in the other Winchester books, always out for blood. This time she gets to shine, heading out on a mission of her own.

Stephen Lenox would rather be home tinkering/inventing but a weak spot for his cousin finds him holding down the fort (castle) actually, while his cousin is nowhere to be found. Elizabeth Winchester gets past his defenses (or rather he lets her in), will he get past hers.

This book is silly and fun and romantic, just like you would expect with a Wild Winchester tale. Satisfying ending and cameos by all the other Winchester characters.

Many thanks to Erica Ridley for the advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love this. But honestly, I think I find most of Erica Ridley's works too chaotic. This was just too much and not in a good way. I ended up DNFing

DNF at 15% I felt like I needed to read the rest of the series, which I haven't. I wish the description made it more clear that it was a series as I love the general concept.

I went into this expecting something like a bridgerton knock off but this was way more than that! I loved the adventure aspects and how the characters both felt so vibrant and came off the page.