“A Waltz on the Wild Side” (Wild Wynchesters, book 6 of 6) by Erica Ridley
an okay story
I had a bit of trouble truly getting invested aka hooked on this story; but then a couple of lines re: creating/crafting the perfect poem had me thinking of a friend who is a poet. That connection managed to get me turning the pages and wanting to discover the rest of the poet’s story. Then the intimate scene in the waning chapters between the two lead characters was rather a bucket of cold water on my enjoyment of this story; but I guess necessary to boost sales to a segment of the reading population.

⭐️: 3.5
🌶️: 1

Favorite Quote:
Tiglet had been the first of Jacob's messenger kittens and was now a fully grown, multi-talented part of the Wynchester family.

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever Grand Central Publishing and Erica Ridley for gifting me this ARC.

This book is like a cross between Umbrella Academy meets Bridgerton meets Murder She Wrote. And I’m not sure how that combination works exactly but it does for the most part.

Viv is a tenacious FMC that I strongly identified with a lot of the time. Having to be self sufficient, doing it herself because otherwise it would never get done, wanting to buck the system because she should have just as much access and rights as everyone else. I loved her stubborn ideals even if sometimes she got a bit heavy handed with it. Although that’s all part of her character’s growth.

Where do I find a Jacob? Because damn. A man who trains/loves/heals animals, cares about others to a fault and worships the ground this woman walks on? Plus a loving, caring family?! AND HE LISTENS, ACCEPTS FAULTS AND EVOLVS?! Sign. Me. Up.

Overall I liked the story but something felt off with the pacing. I can’t quite put my finger on it but I felt like there was so much exposition that happened between 40-60% that I kept looking at where I was in the book and surprised it wasn’t further. The spicy scene is at almost the end and felt a bit out of place since the every thing else leading up to it had been tongue in cheek innuendos and kisses but not over the top passionate ones? Maybe I just needed more build?

I just realized this is book six in the series which I don’t remember reading on NG. But thankfully I didn’t feel like I needed the backgrounds from those books to appreciate this one? I don’t think I’ll be checking out the rest of the series but it’s good to know they exist.

I have loved this series so much. It’s always hard to let go of a family this well constructed.
Jacob has been a fun side character and I was excited to read his book.

Another amazing entry to the Wynchester series, Erica Ridley never fails to disappoint. Vivian Henry is exactly who Jacob Wynchester needed to balance him. Their slow burn from adversaries (sorry I can't quite call them enemies) to lovers is delightful. They both had lessons to learn and walls to break down. It's very much giving Pride and Prejudice, but make it intersectional. I couldn't put it down and I'm already ready for more.

These flipping Wynchesters are the best rag tag family of absolute smoke shows. I have LOVED this series and each subsequent book Erica has dropped has only make me fall deeper in love.

A perfect end to this series full of love, understanding, care, hijinx, humor and authenticity.

This book. Phew! An absolutely perfect end to the Wynchesters series (I'm very sad to be saying goodbye to them!)

This book had so many layers. Viv, the FMC, a former sugar plantation slave, who now lives in England to take care of her cousin, the natural born son of a Lord and plantation owner. Her cousin who is OBSESSED with the Wynchesters, a "caper-committing family of delinquents" that Viv wants less than nothing to do with. So of course her cousin goes missing and the only people Viv can rely on is the Wynchesters, including the very attractive, very single Jacob Wynchester.

Both Viv and Jacob happen to be aspiring writers (playwright and poet), both are Black people living in Regency London and face rejection after rejection. Their ongoing discussion about using little white lies to even just be acknowledged and have their work read was important, and sadly still relevant even today.

And with all that we also get a charming, delightful romance between Jacob and Viv. Viv felt almost too perfect at times (how and when did she learn some of her skills?!) but as the final book in my favourite HR series I just went with it and enjoyed the Mission Impossibleness of it all. I laughed every time she dunked on the Wynchesters. She had zero tolerance for their careless breaking of rules, and rightly so. Of course she ends up falling for all of them, and for Jacob specifically. Overall a low heat, but instant chemistry romance between two people who have so very much in common.

I have loved this series so much, and very much enjoyed this final Wynchester book. While this is a standalone romance, the series is best read in order as the Wynchesters are very much all up in each other's business.

TW: on page, and past discussion of, racist acts.

Overall, I think this is one of my my favorite Wynchesters’s story, I loved Jacob and Vivian’s story, and the vulnerability that both showed and to untimely overcome it to find and accept love.

Vivian is not a fan of the Wild Wynchesters but she finds she must turn to them to help find her cousin. Attracted immediately to Jacob, Vivian tries to fight the attraction. While helping to look for her cousin, Vivian proves she is as wild (if not more so) than the famous Wynchesters. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Forever for my honest review.

This series is about a funny and quirky family. I didnt care for the main romantic character at all. This book wasn't one of my favorite in the series I am sorry to say. I will look forward to another story from this author.

I wasn't sure what to expect for the final installment of the Wild Wynchesters. Knowing it was about Jacob I assumed there would be lots of animals (I was correct), teasing about poetry (correct again), and lots and lots of love (correct again!).

I was a little worried - how would a series I had come to love and hold so close to my heart end? Would I be disappointing wanting more? Would I hate it and have to ignore the final book like so many other series I had come to love? Thankfully I was so very, very wrong.

The last installment of the Wild Wynchesters is so full of love and hope - exactly what our main characters stand for. It leaves you with a sense of comfort that for whoever needs it in the world there will always be a Wynchester on their side (or they themselves may find they are one themselves!).

Viv and Jacobs romance moves a little slower than the other pairs in the series. They clearly are attracted to each other and there is plenty of longing but they both have a fierce need to be understood on the deepest level before moving forward. One of them will shout it from the roof tops any time, any day and the other quietly reserves their truth and keeps it to themselves. Despite the differences they both have a longing to be understood, to stomp out injustice and to be free in every sense of the word.

I will desperately miss tickletums, tiglet, Phillipas book circle, Chlole's bonnets, Tommy's disguises, Marjorie's quips and art, Jacob's animals, Grahams strong leadership and childlike joy, and Elizabeth's many...many...many weapons. But all things must come to an end. A Waltz on the Wildside is less of a goodbye to our favorite characters and more of a wondrous hope and joy that will continue long past the final page.

It's been a while since I read a book about the Wynchesters and I had forgotten how much fun they are. Two of the main characters are Miss Vivian Henry and Jacob Wynchester. Vivian lives with her younger cousin Quentin, and barely makes a living writing an advice column. She also writes plays that have never been seen upon any stage. Her 18 year old cousin admires the Wynchesters immensely. He wants to be like them.

Quentin does not come home one night, which is unlike him. When several days pass with no Quentin, Vivian fears that he was arrested for doing something that a Wynchester with their connections could brush off, but that would have serious consequences for Quentin.

Jacob is the only unmarried Wynchester, and has a secret he is keeping from the rest of the Wynchesters. He is a poet, whose poems are published under a pseudonym and they are very popular. Jacob is also an animal lover, and has an army of well trained animals in his barn. I enjoyed this book immensely, and highly recommend it.

I received an e-arc from the publisher Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley, and voluntarily read and reviewed it.

Although I didn't have the chance to read the other books in this series, I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed Vivian's and Jacob's story, without having the context of the other members of the Wynchester family. It was full of romance, action, and so many twists. I would recommend this story and series to anyone seeking a fun, romantic adventure filled with mystery.

Thank you for allowing me to read A Waltz on the Wild Side.

I struggled to like the FMC, Viv was so set in her idea of how terrible the Wynchesters are, and saying terrible things to their face!

This is not the type of FMC I enjoy reading.

I loved this witty, fast‑paced Regency romance. Vivian and Jacob’s sharp banter and slow‑burn chemistry kept me hooked, and the missing‑person adventure added fun intrigue. Ridley balances humor, heart, and social depth beautifully—an engaging, feel‑good read.

Such a love, hate relationship with this one

Thank you NetGalley and Hatchette for giving me the opportunity to read and review A Waltz on the Wild Side

Vivian Henry has a lot on her plate. She's caring for her home and cousin, while trying to make a name for herself in a city that won't quite take her seriously. When her cousin goes missing, she has to turn to the people she dislikes the most: the Winchesters. Teaming up with Jacob and the larger than life Winchester family, Vivian is determined to find her cousin, and potentially a lasting love match.

The premise of this story was really fun, although it did take a bit of time to get the story to ramp up. Once it got to the thick of the plot, it was easy to fly through the story. However, I had such a hard time with Vivian. While it is easy to understand why she goes into her relationship with the Winchesters feeling a bit callused, it was a little hard to get past at times.

She's rather unkind from the moment she first turns to the Winchesters, and it takes quite a while for that to simmer down. I did love Jacob, who seems to have an incredibly large heart and dedication to his job, family, life. I think the two complemented each other nicely, but I do wish there was a bit less abrasiveness from the start of the relationship.

If you've not read any of the other stories in the series, don't worry. This story stood well on its own, and you didn't need much, if any, backstory to understand this story and the characters. While I did like the story plenty, I'm not sure I enjoyed it enough to read the others.

Probably my least favourite of the Wild Wynchesters books; with the exception of Elizabeth’s, which was my favourite, I’ve liked each book less than the last! This instalment sat uncomfortably between a regular historical romance and the modern-sensibility zaniness of the Wynchesters, leaving me feeling like it wasn’t deep enough or shallow enough to enjoy. I saw very little chemistry between the leads and the romance is based heavily in misunderstandings of intent leading to the leads being alternately upset with each other, one of my least favourite tropes. I’ve adored many of Erica Ridley’s books before, so I kept coming back to this series, and I’m sad it didn’t really click for me!

sadly i’m going to have to dnf this one.

it’s well written for sure, and it seems like the character work is strong. unfortunately, though, it’s just too quirky for my taste. even though i liked the perks of loving a wallflower, and even though i understand the appeal of this series, this isn’t what i want out of a historical romance. additionally, i wasn’t a huge fan of either MC, which didn’t exactly make me super invested in their story.

while this is undeniably a book that does what it sets out to do, it’s just not something i personally find enjoyable.

Heat Index: 5.5/10

—dislike at first sight... for her... until it isn't

—artsy people love drama

—casual vigilantism

The Basics:

Vivian is a secret advice columnist (and aspiring playwright), and she absolutely hates the scandalous (shall we say... wild?) Wynchester family. But when her cousin goes missing and the police fail to act, she has no choice but to turn to them for help. Unfortunately, the only Wynchester at the ready is Jacob, who is typically on the quiet side, what with his whole "poet boy" thing. While Vivian doesn't exactly want anything to do with him, Jacob definitely wants something to do with Vivian—and as they embark on their mission, they might discover they have a lot more in common than it might seem...

The Review:

I think the "writer on writer" romance has been a subtle trend as of late, though I've seen it more on the contemporary side than the historical side. It's kind of a challenge, because you don't want the two to have too much in common—but they obviously have that one big thing in common right off the bat.

Erica Ridley confronts this by having Jacob fall for someone who is a borderline-professional hater on his family, and that? Is smart. I personally enjoy a novel where the heroine is a bit prickly and determined to dislike the hero while he's smitten. Jacob doesn't NOT rise to the occasion with Vivian (haha) and he's by no means a doormat. But he doesn't have the bias she does, and he's a little more open to all the sexy feelings Vivian gives him.

I will be real—while I think this overall works as a standalone, I do kind of wish I'd read more of the other books beforehand, because this is very entrenched in the Wynchester family. Which is great! I just did feel a little lost at first. And now I've discovered that Jacob is a literal teenager in earlier books (here, he's in his thirties) so no wonder! I plan on doubling back and reading, just wanted to make that note.

We have a few different historical romance conventions crossing swords here—a little light mystery, a bit of a romp and adventure, a bit of the spitfire heroine and the hero who isn't quite sure why she hates him so much, but is definitely willing to go for it anyway. This is what I would categorize as a romp, but it's definitely a thinking romp (in a good way). Ridley doesn't shy away from the politics of the era, and it's kind of refreshing that she acknowledges the societal access Jacob has, which Vivian in comparison lacks. I find that there's a huge gap in knowledge, amongst most white people (and I am one) in the different degrees of class amongst people of color in majority-white societies in the past. Yes, Vivian and Jacob are both Black; but they don't necessarily have the same degree of privilege, taking gender out of it. They have common experiences, but they also have a lot of differences to overcome.

At the same time, the book remains on the lighter side, and I think a lot of that is owed to Ridley's writing style. She has a really witty quality to her work that blends the historical romance (a la Quinn more than Kleypas, I think) with contemporary. It's easy for the layman to get into, I imagine, while not feeling TOO "modern".

'The Sex:

I do kind of wish this had been hotter.

I've read Ridley's work before, but not at large (one or two books, I think) and while I respect her heat level and there is sex on the page... Jacob and Vivian's dynamic just made me want more. That may be a "it's not you, it's me" thing, though! I would love to see her write higher heat in the future, though.

The Conclusion:

While I do think I need a bit more Wynchester history, I still had a lot of fun with this book—and I love a "challenging" heroine. Vivian isn't actually challenging; she's just upfront and doesn't suffer fools. And I love that. As for Jacob.... Well. If you love a loverboy, you'll love Jacob.

Thanks to Forever and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have read four of the 6 Wild Wynchester books and they are always a good time. It was fun to see Jacob more mature in this book. I need to go back and check his age and the timeline of the series, but I always imagined him as a teen distracted by his animals. In this book, he is in his 30s and he is FINE. I love how Erica Ridley aged up his personality to make him a swoony MMC. The main plot in this book contained a bit more mystery than some of the others, so I got to play along, rather than just watching the Wynchesters get up to their hijinks and heists (which can be fun too!)

I'm not sure how I felt about Viv, the FMC. She's too perfect in some ways, but then deeply flawed in others. She definitely makes an impression, but in some ways I think she was too good of a match for Jacob. They are both writers and animal experts. (Plus, she brings even more individual strengths to the table.) I like when characters get a chance to introduce the other to something. While I completely understand how her backstory has colored her perception of the Wynchesters and their privilege, I feel like she was too hot n cold about them. Even after she would come to an understanding, she would still blame them. She was quite rough with people who had grown to love her.

I think the ending hit the sweet spot of representing the series as a whole, but also didn't overpower Jacob getting his own happily ever after. Although the author does a fabulous job of filling in necessary details to make it possible to read her books as standalones, you really get to appreciate the family in all its quirky glory if you read multiple books in the series. They are unique in their own way, and I think they are more satisfying if space them out between more serious reads or else you get serotonin overload.

The Winchester are at it again. Jacob is the only one in the family who isn’t married and thinks he never will be! But it seems fate has other ideas. This is a fantastic series that I just loved reading!