POV: Dual
Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️.5

This is my first Wynchester book and while I didn’t need to read the others to enjoy this one, I imagine fans of the family will love this interesting group being back together to fight more crime!

For me, while I liked the humor and action (it was giving princess bride outrageousness) and the instant attraction between Elizabeth and Stephen, I was missing the romance part of the story. It’s strong on family and defending the castle, but weak on the relationship aspect when it had so much potential due to them both being unique characters. I also struggled to like Elizabeth for anything besides her strength in dealing with chronic pain because otherwise she was very immature for a 30+ year old character.

While I love the title and cover, I think this story is enjoyed more if you go into it expecting more of a historical fiction story rather than historical romance.

Unique. Unexpected. Slightly batty.

Just like its FMC and MMC.

Equal parts love story, war story (not the kind you are thinking), and mystery, Erica Ridley’s Hot Earl Summer is an utterly wild take on the regency romance. Two self-proclaimed social misfits set out to solve the mystery of a long-lost last will and testament that could save an estate from falling into the wrong hands.

Ridley’s book represents both chronic illness and mental health—and it reveals the many ways a person might be seen as strong.

Overall, I enjoyed this read - though I wish I would have known it was part of a series. Hot Earl Summer certainly can be read as a stand-alone, but I had the sense that having access to the full found family backstory would make it even better.

Perhaps a bit over-the-top in its plotting, this was still a catchy story with a lovable cast of characters and engaging setting.

Perfect for fans of India Holton or Virginia Heath.

Hot Earl Summer by Erica Ridley
The Wild Wynchesters series #5. Historical romance with a unique family and plenty of humor. Can be read as a stand-alone but better as part of the series.
Bold and curvy Elizabeth Wynchester loves her trusty sword and vanquishing villains. Her family knows her occasional physical limitations and are totally behind her taking on the mission of finding a will somewhere inside the dastardly Earl of Densmore’s castle and handing it over to the orphans. Finding the castle covered in hidden traps, she’s calls on her Beth the berserker motivation to get past the rogue guarding the keep. She’ll find that will if it means breaking doors and making someone bleed.
Reclusive inventor and tinkerer Stephen Lenox agreed to impersonate his cousin for a few days inside his castle. Three months later, his cousin hasn’t returned and he has multiple people demanding to take possession of the castle which he is mostly trying to ignore other that setting plenty of traps and setting up listening posts around the turrets. When a beautiful and curvy woman starts using a double axe on his castle door, he knows his hiding time is up. She explains her quest for the orphanage and agrees to help repel the neighboring war games threat but she may not be able to keep her hands off him. Those abdominal muscles she accidentally exposed with her trusty sword are lick worthy!

Oh those rascally Wynchesters. They all have their unique skill sets and they are taking on more cases for the underdog.
Fast action, plenty of humor, sexy longings and absurd costumes all lend itself to total acceptance for this do-good family. Don’t miss a single episode. They bring color and joy to life that you won’t be able to resist.

“Did you just say ‘measure the viscosity’? I have never heard a phrase more erotic. Prepare to lose your virginity.”

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

The most charming and fun historical romance series of all time continues. Elizabeth and Stephen are wonderful characters, and since this one sends Elizabeth on her own mission, there is a little bit less of the Wynchesters as a family whole in terms of scene quantity- but they are still, naturally, critically important to the story. This one is at times borderline ridiculous and over the top, but the balance of chemistry between them, incredible banter, sweet understanding of each other, and a great quest more than makes up for that.

3.5 Stars. I really miss the old covers for this series (of course I miss non-cartoon covers in general). This book continues the Wynchester series and their family's more and more bizarre romances. This one is absolutely ridiculous and I had a good time. There is zero historical accuracy in this romp and every romance 101 rule of society is broken. I liked both Stephen and Elizabeth and they fit really well together, this just isn't what I expect in my historical romances.

If you like a lot of hijinks and a silliness, then this book is an especially good one. Erica Ridley will definitely make you laugh many times in her books. In this one, Elizabeth is a sibling of many other talented siblings who fight crime together. She has a brother whose specialty to caring for a variety of animals. Another who is a master of disguises. A sister is a great pickpocket. Elizabeth is very much brute strength, and loves to wield her sword. I found it very tender that Elizabeth is both shown as strong, and as someone who is dealing with chronic pain. Her pain does not keep her from her adventures. Her pain also does not keep her from her mission of helping a woman find the deed to a castle. Staying in the castle is tinkerer and recluse Stephen. The two of them have great chemistry and banter, and it's really fun to see them fight an absolutely absurd enemy. This book has intrigue, a mystery, and Romance. Quite fun.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A goofy, over-the-top farce with the volume dialed up to 11. Which seems *absurd* to complain about, given how I just read and loved Something Extraordinary—surely if anything is dialed up to 11 it’s the Tarletons. But Alexis Hall grounds his farce with deep emotion and intimacy, using it to scratch away at the actual farce of a society that dictates such rigid, preposterous roles.

I feel Erica Ridley wanting to do something similar, but it stays at the superficial level, with ripped abs and lust at first sight and a relationship that’s just as conventional as you please, apart from a heroine with a sword. I applaud the found family and the chronic disability rep, but without deeper character work, this veers into cartoonish and (she winces) boring territory for me.

Hot Earl Summer is the fifth book in Erica Ridley's fantastic Wild Wynchester series. This book focused on Elizabeth as she takes on a solo mission to capture the elusive Earl of Densmore, find his mother’s will, which would validate that Castle Harbrook new owner was her sister, Ms. Oaks. But the Earl gambled it away despite not being the rightful owner. Miss Oak did not have the original document to validate her claim, and she was in danger of losing the property. It is up to Elizabeth to find the lost will hidden in the castle.

When Elizabeth arrived at the castle, she discovered that the Earl’s cousin, Stephen, impersonated the Earl at his request and was unable to leave until the Earl returned. Elizabeth and Stephen quickly team up to find the clues that will give the location of the will. The attraction between them is strong and they soon fall in love.

I really enjoyed this book and liked the fact that it was both a romance and an adventure. The characters were fantastic, and I was pleased to see there is representation for people with disabilities in the story-line. It is full of humorous quotes and wild characters. Elizabeth's family were quirky and eccentric, and it was amusing to watch the mostly conventional Stephen interact with them. I loved guessing what would happen next and cannot wait for the next sibling’s book. Although part of a series, you can read this book as a standalone but reading the previous books will give more context and background. I recommend this to lovers of historical romances.

Thanks to NetGalley, Forever Publishing (Grand Central Publishing), and Erica Ridley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hot Earl Summer" is a delightful historical romance filled with quirky characters and fun adventures. Elizabeth Wynchester, a bold and competent woman with chronic pain, teams up with Stephen Lennox, an inventive and vulnerable man, to solve the mystery of a missing will and defend a castle. The dual POV allows readers to understand their backstories and vulnerabilities, making them relatable and lovable.
The plot is engaging with a mix of insta-lust, friendship, and banter, keeping things interesting. While the villain feels a bit cartoonish, the overall story is lighthearted and fun. The representation of Elizabeth's chronic pain and joint issues is well-incorporated, adding depth to her character.
The Wynchester family scenes are enjoyable.
"Hot Earl Summer" is Perfect for fans of historical romances with a modern twist.

Ridley does it again. A fun, steamy, historical romance that leaves you wanting more. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

3.7 Stars
One Liner: A bit silly and OTT but entertaining

Elizabeth Wynchester loves nothing more than an opportunity to stab the guilty with her sword. She is bold, beautiful, smart, and competent despite the unknown reason for her joints to jam at random. When Elizabeth’s mission takes her to the castle of Earl of Densmore, she realizes she needs more than a sword to complete the mission.
Stephen Lennox loves tinkering with machinations. He has invented too many of them and continues to do so. After all, machines are more reliable than humans. However, when he agrees to take the place of his cousin, the Earl of Densmore, for a while, Stephen comes face to face with a woman who truly understands him.
Elizabeth and Stephen are similar yet different. However, before they explore their feelings, they need to sort out the case of the hidden/ missing will and put a criminal in his place.
The story comes in the third-person POV of Elizabeth and Stephen.

My Thoughts:
After enjoying the previous book in the series and loving Elizabeth in that one, I knew I had to read this. I understand her urge to stab anything/ anyone that annoys her. Naturally, people don’t let us act on it, but one can dream!
The dual POV does what it should and gives us the backstories of the main characters. Both of them present a façade to the public to hide their vulnerabilities. While Elizabeth is kinda sunshine, she is also grumpy (with loads of delightful bloodlust). She loves that the MMC builds murder machines (even if not all are meant to… you know… pop off a person).
There is insta-lust (obv) but there is also some friendship, banter, and the case, which keeps things interesting. I enjoyed the puzzle parts.
The villain is pretty much a 2D cartoonish man though we can see glimpses of his cunningness and evilness. Not sure if he’ll appear again but in this one, he is more like a comic villain than a real one.
The FMC is curvy and has Fibromyalgia. This is my second book where the FMC has this condition. However, this book is historical, so no one knows what her condition is called and why it affects people. I like how the whole aspect is incorporated into the plot and her character arc.
Stephen is well-written, and there were instances when I liked him more than Elizabeth. Somehow, his vulnerability comes out more clearly. I empathized with his loneliness and sense of wanting to belong.
There’s some filler which at times results in uneven pacing. There’s a 3rd act breakup, but no miscommunication. This one was bound to happen, so I was okay with it.
The battle scenes are nice but lighthearted. This aligns with the book’s overall tone but it may not work for everyone.
The Wynchester family scenes are always fun to read. I missed Tickletums, the hedgehog. He barely got any space. Ugh! So not fair as I was hoping to meet the cutie again. The book ends with a teeny lead to the next one. I know Jacob’s book will be lovely with all those animals and… Tickletums!

To summarize, Hot Earl Summer is a lighthearted and fun read that also deals with some important themes like acceptance, found family, loneliness, finding love, etc. It is moderately paced and enjoyable if you like historical romances with a modern touch.
Thank you, NetGalley, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

DNF at 49%

I really enjoyed My Rogue to Ruin but this one I just couldn't get into at all.

I was super excited about neurodivergent and disability rep and was disappointed with insta-lust, making out immediately in a regency romance, and an overall lack of differences in chapters.

The characters are adorably nerdy and I love them but it started to be the exact same formula in every chapter and I couldn't keep going.

Maybe in the future this will hit differently but right now, it's just not what I'm looking for in my books.

This book is a fun, quirky read with a heroine who’s anything but ordinary. Elizabeth Wynchester is bold, curvy, and loves cuddling hedgehogs just as much as she enjoys taking down villains with her cane-sword. She’s definitely a character who stands out, and the whole idea of her getting stuck in a castle with a handsome inventor has a lot of promise. Stephen Lenox, the inventor who’s in over his head, is also pretty likable. The mistaken identity plot and the danger they face together keep things interesting, and there’s definitely some good chemistry between him and Elizabeth. Their back-and-forth is entertaining and adds a bit of humor to the story. That said, the book has its ups and downs. The pacing can be uneven—some parts drag a bit, while others feel rushed. The romance is sweet, but it doesn’t always hit the emotional highs that would make it really stand out. The adventure elements are fun, but sometimes they take away from the romantic build-up. Overall, it’s a light, enjoyable read if you’re in the mood for something different in the historical romance genre. It might not be a top favorite, but it’s worth checking out if you like quirky characters and unique plots.

This was a cute regency romance but it wasn't as exciting as some other one's that I've read. It definitely has a lot of exciting elements such as a the FMC being a swordsman and being part of a family that focuses on bringing justice to those who deserve it. There wasn't as much focus on the actual romance bit of the story, which I would've preferred since the build up was a little anti-climatic.

Hot Earl Summer by Erica Ridley is exactly the kind of quirky, joyful romp you want in a summertime historical romance!

The novel follows Elizabeth “Beth the Berserker” Wynchester and the “improbably athletic” inventor Stephen Lenox as they team up to locate a missing will and defend a medieval castle against an impending siege.

This is so silly and over-the-top and I had so much fun. The two romantic leads are the most lovable oddballs! I also looove a forced proximity romance and these two are stuck in an old castle together. Love that for them and for me :)

There’s great disability representation here with Elizabeth’s chronic pain and joint problems. I hadn’t encountered invisible disability rep in a historical romance until this!

Big thanks to NetGalley and Forever for providing this ARC in exchange for my review!

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

Elizabeth's book! I love all of the Wynchesters, and I have always had an especially soft spot for Elizabeth. She is the Wynchester most likely to suggest violence to solve problems, but somehow she never actually deploys it. She is simultaneously such a curmudgeon and so caring of her family. I knew she deserved a wonderful match.

And she got it in Stephen. He has exactly the hot athletic nerd energy that I have been loving this summer (looking at you Summer Olympics). He is an inventor and a bit of a grump himself. And somehow, I am totally here for the grump-grump energy.

They are such a delightful pairing, as they team up to fight this novel's villain. And there are actual fights involved! As well as some of the most amazing and hilarious Rube Goldberg type machines.

I found the plot dragged a bit in the middle, and as always, my favorite parts always feature the whole Wynchester crew. This is absurd and ridiculous in all the best ways. It's a series I choose for the pure fun of it over and over again. I'm looking forward to the next which should feature even more delightful animal antics than we usually get.

4.5 stars rounded up

Attention all my Bridgerton besties! Get ready to swoon over a summer read that blends Regency romance with action-packed adventure! Elizabeth Wynchester is my favorite heroine. She loves cuddling hedgehogs as much as she loves taking down villains with her hidden blade. When her latest mission lands her at the Earl of Densmore's castle, she's ready for battle... but not for the devilishly handsome rogue who has her locked in!

Enter Stephen Lenox, a reclusive inventor who never expected to be impersonating his cousin or facing death threats, let alone meeting a fierce, sword-wielding spinster who's determined to protect him. 🏰 As enemies close in and passions ignite, these two must navigate hidden traps and growing feelings that might just lead to more than they bargained for. Will Elizabeth's heart be the ultimate prize?

This is a must read for anyone who loved Bridgerton. I highly highly suggest it.

3.5/5

First of all, thank you to Forever Pub for the ARC.

That being said, 3.5/5. I wanted to give it a full 4 stars, but hear me out. I liked it, it was fun. Would I recommend it? Yes. But I'm not sure I'd be up for a reread. The lack of communication in this book just put me off and something that happened in the last fourth of the book just seemed unnecessary.

I adored this book, it was short, refreshing and charming! I usually don't like reading historical/regency romances, but after this, I might give them a chance more often.

Elizabeth with such a breath of fresh air, it was nice to see a woman in the regency era described how women actually looked back then! And we love disability rep!

Stephen was probably my favorite part of the book. A nerdy athlete, kinda... He worked out, in a sense.

A 8 1/2 on my Heyer scale: entertaining, original, and compelling.
Original characters, a lot of fun, a good romance that made me root for the characters.
Read it and have fun
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is an odd duck of a romance. In some ways, it’s very sweet and caring, and in other ways, it’s more like a romantic variation of a Monty Python skit. Ridley is clearly aiming at romcom territory in Hot Earl Summer, and while some elements worked for me, many did not.

I liked that Ridley gave both Stephen and Elizabeth back stories of suffering—Stephen from bullying in his youth, and Elizabeth with (somewhat ill-defined) chronic pain. But she covered that in characteristics that drove both protagonists towards caricature to me. Elizabeth is a bloodthirsty swordswoman who constantly thinks about battling someone, repetitively asking if she can maim whoever is annoying her. Stephen is an inventor extraordinaire who somehow manages to build his Rube Goldberg contraptions in a couple of hours but who also manages to restructure and restore his cousin’s fortunes in four months (which I just couldn’t swallow).

Stephen is posing as his cousin the earl and living at his estate because of…guilt over childhood friendship, I guess? He is dealing with multiple claims to the estate while that cousin has gone missing, and then Elizabeth arrives to (literally) defend one of those claims. One thing I loved is how over the moon Stephen falls for Elizabeth and for how accepting her motley family is of both him and her. The villain is straight out of the Snidely Whiplash bucket, adding to that sense of whimsical caricature that permeates Hot Earl Summer.

Rather than romantic comedy, I’d call Hot Earl Summer a romantic farce. If that idea of a romantic romp appeals to you, you’ll love this book. For me, it left a hollow feeling at the center of the story.