I’m an eclectic romance reader. When I read the description of Hot Earl Summer I was immediately intrigued! I was excited to hop in when we were gifted an E-Arc for review.

Elizabeth Wynchester is a part of an eclectic family that bands together to fight crime and solve mysteries. As with each member in this family, Elizabeth has a speciality, sword play. When an elderly woman approaches Elizabeth’s renowned family with her case Elizabeth feels connected to the woman’s plight and jumps at the chance to do a case solo. It just so happens that this case brings her to the doorstep of the Earl of Densmore’s castle, a reported gambler. That sneaky Earl of Densmore is able to coax his inventor cousin, Stephen Lenox, of his to pose as him at his castle to avoid his neighbor who he gambled the castle to. Fun fact, this neighbor is really into battle reenactments, oh…and technically the Earl of Densmore is not the rightful owner of the castle he has gambled away. How will Elizabeth and Stephen prevail?!?!

This was such a fun forced-proximity, espionage, mysterious, historical romance!

I loved that I never knew what was coming and the quirky charm this brought to every chapter. From sword fighting smc’s with definitie Nancy Drew vibes to crazy contraptions invented by our adorable mmc to battle re-enactment villains. I loved the humor brought in by our main characters and our FMC’s fixation on Stephen’s abdomen.

If you are looking for a historical romance that will put a smile on your face, this is the one for you! I would definitely suggest adding this book to your TBR!

Zany, crazy and unconventional, the Winchester family takes their work very seriously. When Miss Oaks comes to them for help, Elizabeth must take the job on her own. A will and deed to Castle Harbrook are missing. The castle was promised to Miss Oaks by her sister for a children's home, but the Earl of Reddington lays claim as an IOU from her nephew's gambling. Inside the castle is the cousin of the missing nephew. A tinker and inventor. Not conventional at all. They have their work cut out for them to defend the castle until the rest of the Wynchester family. shows up. It seems a perfect match between the cane-welding Elizabeth and Stephen with his unusual and practical inventions. It's not easy to admit you're in love and can't live without the other.
Never a dull moment with the Wynchesters.
Descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley.

I love a good historical romance! This has been my newest obsession since reading Evie Dunmore’s League of Extraordinary Women series and this one didn’t disappoint!

This one was very fun. I loved the Wynchester family! This was the first one I’ve read by this author so now I need to pick up the rest of the series! I did get overwhelmed with keeping track of the characters so I may need to reread after I finish the other books in the series.

I loved Elizabeth’s character. I loved how determined she was despite her chronic pain. Adored Stephen and his inventions/booby traps! This was such a fun read with a lot of action! I had originally picked this one up because I loved the cover so I’m glad I enjoyed it as much as I did :)

Hot Earl Summer is the perfect Elizabeth Wynchester book I was looking forward to! One: the title is amazing and two: Elizabeth was her brash, deadly, and strong self throughout this book and I loved it! Even when she met Stephen, she never changed who she was.

They both accepted each other for who they were and when there was a miscommunication, once they had time to cool down, they talked about it and what should change next time the situation comes up. Also, Elizabeth is chronically ill and Ridley shows how she handles it in her everyday life especially when it’s a bad day and that was awesome to see in a historical romance where back then, they didn’t know that term.

As always I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Wynchester family and how accepting they are of each other and the people their family falls in love with. AHHHHH I can’t wait for Jacob’s book and I’m so sad it will be the last book!!

I absolutely loved the first two books within the Winchester series and was excited to jump back into another book with this quirky family. I appreciated and related to the chronic pain representation though the FMCs complaints/how she wanted to be treated were not consistent and confusing. While I wanted to enjoy the unique characters, the plot and behaviors were too zany, too outlandish. This is more of historical fantasy and was not for me.

A silly and joyful summer read.

I quite enjoyed the disability representation in Elizabeth, a chronic joint pain sufferer who is nonetheless a berserker warrior prone to breaking down doors and fighting in many on one sword fights (even if she'll be paying for it the next day). Stephen is similarly delightful, a nerdy inventor tinkerer constantly coming up with new machines.

The book is definitely very over the top in pretty much all the ways, from the ridiculous inventions to the hijinks the characters get up to and down to the besieged castle premise, but it's all great fun and very entertaining.

This is my first Wild Wynchesters book and I did feel a bit overwhelmed at times by the sheer amount of characters. They don't appear for most of the book but are out in full force for the main battle scene, and Elizabeth does speak about her siblings quite often as they are central to her life. I do think it worked fine as a standalone but I suspect it reads even better if you're already familiar with all the background characters.

The only thing missing for me, I think, is there was a surprising lack of steam, especially for a book with "hot summer" in the title and how horny for each other the characters were. There is only one open door scene that is fairly short and happens quite late in the book. I was kind of expecting a much more steamy and hot and heavy affair between the MCs based on the plot summaries and interactions between them early in the book and then was quite surprised when they kept putting it off.

I should also note that Elizabeth is bisexual though it doesn't have strong impact on the plot.

Thanks to Forever for gifting me an eArc of this via Netgalley!

Thanks #NetGalley for an advanced copy of #HotEarlSummer by Erica Ridley in exchange for an honest review.

The characters in this series are fun and different than most romance MCs. I love Ridley's comedic writing that still gives you great emotions. Ridley is great about giving you fun stories with unique characters with real problems while still giving you great spice and strong feelings. It really gives you everything you are looking for in one book. If you like a found family, please check out this book and this series.

I thoroughly enjoyed this rollicking romp of a romance. It was funny, sweet, spicy, thrilling, action packed, heartfelt and emotional. I absolutely adored Elizabeth and Stephen was lovable, cute and swoon worthy. This utterly charming, laugh until your face hurts book is not to be missed.

Delightfully Entertaining

The Wynchesters are a delight. Beth is a determined woman. She is off to secure a castle, and secure it, she will. What about Stephen the inventor and all his death traps? If her disability hasn’t stopped her, Stephen the tinkerer certainly won’t. He might not prevent her from invading the castle, but can he stop her from stealing his heart?

I loved this entertaining historical romance. I found myself laughing aloud quite often. I recommend this story to those who enjoy historical romance with humor, strong women, and men who do not fit the typical mold.

I love historical romance, but Hot Earl Summer was a disappointment. The book read more like a parody of historical romance and not an actual romance. I found everything silly and cartoonish: the premise, the dialogue, the villain...I am not quite sure what I've read. The only thing I liked about the book is the chronic illness representation. Hot Earl Summer has high ratings on Goodreads, but it was not for me!

Sadly this is a "it's not you, it's me situation". I like the writing, but for whatever reason the story wasn't jiving for me. I may come back to it someday, but for now it's a DNF.

An action adventure rom-com. Elizabeth Wynchester is a blood thirsty swordswoman who wants to draw blood from anyone and everyone. She has multiple swords with her at all times. Stephen Lennox is a recluse (of his making) and loves to create new inventions to see if he can sell any of them and help make people’s lives easier. When Elizabeth comes into his life, with a battle axe in each hand trying to break down his door, he’s smitten with her from the beginning.

The story involves an older woman who claims her sister left her the castle and she hires the Wynchester’s to find the deed and will to prove it. This is where Elizabeth enters, by arriving at the home only to find that the Earl at home isn’t actually the Earl but his cousin whose been fighting off another Lord who claims the castle is his and he will fight anyone who claims it’s not. This is Elizabeth’s wheelhouse.

While I did like parts of the story, there were parts I felt were a bit too farfetched. Elizabeth and Stephen were a good couple together, and I loved the scenes where he started walking around the castle with only his vest on, no shirt or jacket. Those were funny scenes. But the fighting scenes were a bit over done and what Earl leaves his home for four months with no contact with his cousin? And with the pain that Elizabeth suffers, I was surprised she could even wield a sword. If you like romantic comedy, you will enjoy this story.

Be forewarned this series is on the wild side! The Wild Wynchesters! I have read a few in the series and the craziness grows on you. It’s time for Elizabeth, alias Beth the Berserker. Sword wielding, crabby, grumpy and ready to kill something sums up the Elizabeth as the world sees her. There is much more to her, although never said but she suffers from Fibromyalgia and one gets an inside glimpse of the pain of this horrible disease. One will see the different layers of Elizabeth as she is on a mission to find a missing will and testament for the true owner of a castle.
Stephen is left in charge to guard the castle for his cousin the Earl of Densmore. When an axe welding beautiful woman tries to chop her way in, he finally relents and allows her entry. Of course as a tinker, the whole castle is a booby trap.
Now this is where I think of the movie “Home Alone.” Lots of laughs, the whole gang comes together to help in the end with the craziness battle scene ever. And another Wynchester finds their HEA. One more left and I think will be the best one yet. Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC, all opinions expressed are my own. #HotEarlSummer #TheWildWynchesters

Ridley continues to be on her A-game. Her books are so fun! The also combine a nice balance of the HEA formula. We want to know characters inner lives and flaws just enough to root for them and she is a master at romantic tension!

So cute! Honestly has made me add Erica to my must-read list! I can't wait to read more by her!

I loved Elizabeth - she was such a fun character to adventure with, and Stephen just sounds yummy! Not only that, but I laughed, I swooned and just had a great, enjoyable time reading this whole thing. Highly recommend for a fun sexy read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was a humorous story with "Beth the Bezerker" and Stephen. I wasn't as interested in this story as I have been the past ones. This one as just a bit too "over the top" as far as the characters and actions go. I've enjoyed all the past Wynchester stories, but this one wasn't as good as the rest in my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced reader copy of the eBook in exchange for my honest review.

Sometimes we do judge a book by its cover and in this case very much by the adorable title. This was a very cute and funny read. I did not realize this was the 5th book of a series and I had not read any of the other books in the series prior to this one. I doesn't read as a standalone, but I was not exceedingly lost either, though it was a bit tricky when all the siblings were together. Based on this book, I do plan to read the rest of the series.

A badass sword yielding FMC? Sign me up. I also really appreciated the representation of a main character with what seems to be some sort of AutoImmune issue, as I have both Fibromyalgia and Lupus.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In Hot Earl Summer by Erica Ridley, the fifth installment of the Wild Wynchesters series, readers are treated to a rollicking mix of Regency romance and adventurous hijinks. The story centers on Elizabeth Wynchester, a bold and curvaceous heroine with a hidden sword in her cane and a passion for justice. Despite societal expectations and chronic pain, Elizabeth tackles her missions with flair. Her latest task leads her to the Earl of Densmore’s castle, where she finds herself trapped alongside Stephen Lenox, a reclusive inventor impersonating the missing earl. Their chemistry ignites as they navigate hidden traps and a burgeoning romance.

Ridley’s signature blend of humor, romance, and action is on full display as Elizabeth and Stephen team up to locate a missing will and defend the castle from sinister threats. The witty dialogue and playful banter between the protagonists add a layer of charm, while the depiction of Elizabeth’s chronic pain provides a thoughtful touch to her otherwise swashbuckling persona. Although the story's pacing may feel a bit uneven at times, it delivers a satisfying mix of laughter, passion, and daring escapades.

Bold, curvy Elizabeth Wynchester loves cuddling hedgehogs almost as much as she adores vanquishing villains with the sharp blade concealed inside her cane. Despite others’ opinions about her body and gender, nothing will stop her from seeing justice done. When her next mission drops her at the dastardly Earl of Densmore’s castle, she’s prepared to duel like gentlemen—only to be locked inside! Her trusty sword cannot defeat the castle’s hidden traps… or protect her heart from the devilishly handsome rogue guarding the keep.

When reclusive inventor Stephen Lenox agreed to impersonate his cousin for a few days, he didn’t expect the earl to vanish altogether. Nor could Stephen predict mounting death threats… or the arrival of a beguiling, blade-wielding spinster who declares herself his new bodyguard. As the earl’s enemies lay siege to the castle, Stephen fights his way past Elizabeth’s defenses. She’ll share his bed, but when the adventure concludes, she vows to sever their affair. Unless he can somehow convince a swashbuckling siren to surrender her heart…

This is what the book Hot Earl Summer by Erica Ridley is about. It is a historical romance with a modern touch that I have really grown fond of. It is currently the last part and an interconnected standalone of a five-part series that can be read without the previous parts. The story is written in the third person, which didn't bother me at all. At times, it is funny and I was entertained the whole time.

Hot Earl Summer features the 5th Wynchester, Elizabeth, who suffers from chronic pain and measures herself daily on scale of "how much Elizabeth is she feeling." It's always great to see chronic pain representation in a book, but Elizabeth felt like an uneven character to me: she didn't want to be defined by her pain and at the same time she's judging and talking about it all the time. (While I personally experience pain on a regular basis, my arthritis has yet to reach chronic levels, so perhaps my personal view as an athlete with pain will change in the coming years....but also I'm thankful for the miracle of ibuprofen and anti-inflammatories.) For me as a romance reader, the unevenness and one-dimensionality of Elizabeth distracted from the swoon of the story.

I do enjoy parts of the Wynchester series, but this was a bit more of a miss for me than I'd hoped, since I love the rep for chronic pain and also the nerdy inventor. Unfortunately this just felt uneven and a little mechanical overall, missing the magic from the Wynchesters that I've really enjoyed.