Erica Ridley is one of my favorite historical authors and Hot Earl Summer did not disappoint. If you like feisty female characters, castle sieges (but make it sexy) and socially awkward main characters, this is the book for you!

Hilarious! This is Elizabeth"s story. She has Juvenile Arthritis (?), and because of that she was rejected by her family. Luckily for her, Bean found her and she became part of the Wynchester family, but because of the pain and the rejection, she is a bit of a curmudgeon and always ready for a fight. The family has become so successful and famous that they have more clients than they can service together and are having to split up to bring their clients justice. Elizabeth volunteers to help Miss Oak, whose nephew has gambled away the family castle that he knows was willed to his aunt to be repurposed into an orphanage. But the will is missing and so is her nephew, the Earl of Densmore. Miss Oak's sister and her husband had both loved puzzle, so she hid her will, with clues that her husband could easily find, but he died shortly before she did from the same illness. And their son lost it to a popinjay, who lives in the property next door, and wants his castle. Elizabeth goes to the castle and finds not the missing earl, but his cousin, Stephen Lenox, a tinkerer who batted down the hatches with numerous inventions to keep the castle save form the neighbor next door until the will can be found. And as it turns out he is lonely, because he also was rejected by his parents. The perfect match for Elizabeth if she is only willing to risk her heart. I'm not a fan of anachronisms in historical novels, but these were just too funny, as is the banter, the characters and the situation.

I was gifted with an Advanced Reader's Copy from NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased, voluntary and honest review.

Hot Earl Summer by Erica Ridley was another hit for me. It's described as "Indiana Jones meets Bridgerton" and that's very accurate. This novel is delightful, engaging and fun. It's the fifth novel in the series and is ok and a stand alone but is better enjoyed having read the previous novels. That said, the writing is well done and the characters are engaging and quite brilliant.

Elizabeth Wynchester is a curvaceous and bold woman who loves cuddling hedgehogs (me too) almost as much as she adores beating villains. Despite others’ opinions about her body and gender, nothing stops her from ensuring justice is done.

Elizabeth is on a mission at the Earl of Densmore’s castle, and well she is ready to duel like gentlemen—only she finds herself locked inside! While locked inside she comes across traps, death threats and and a devilishly handsome man.

Reclusive inventor Stephen Lenox agreed to impersonate his cousin for a few days at his castle but he never expected the Earl to disappear. Nor could Stephen have predicted the arrival of a gorgeous, blade-wielding woman who declares herself his new bodyguard.

If you are a regency romance reader or a lover of powerful women this novel is for you!

So I'm very late with this review but I read the first Wynchester book this summer, saw that this book was available on NetGalley and requested it not realizing it was the latest book in the series and I had completely skipped over three whole books. Could I have read this without reading the others? Probably. But would I have? Unfortunately for all I cannot. But I've read everything in the series so far and I am ready to review Elizabeth's book.

I was a little hesitant on Elizabeth's story. I enjoyed her as a character in the other books - who wouldn't enjoy a cranky curmudgeon whose solution to injustice is bloodshed via sword (or other weapon)? I'm being 100% serious I love curmudgeonly, misanthropic characters (probably because I am a little that way myself). But I also worried that while she was interesting as a side character she would be one dimensional as a main character.

Of course I was absolutely wrong.

The Wynchesters have become well known for their heroic deeds and vanquishing of injustice. The family has grown but not enough to take on the many cases heading their way. The only solution is to split up which is how we find Elizabeth on a diplomatic mission to the country estate of a wayward Earl. The earl turns out to not be in residence - instead we meet Stephen Lennox: inventor, scientist, maker of murder rooms, and most importantly the love interest. Elizabeth and Stephen team up to solve the case - which involves searching the entire manor, illicit kisses, lots of inventions, an annoying enemy and more.

Elizabeth and Stephen make a great pair and are eventually able to be real and open with each other. Elizabeth's cranky exterior is mostly for protection and Stephen's constant inventions are to feel useful (that's just a tiny bit of info - more would spoil the romance). I also liked how Elizabeth's pain and pain management were depicted.

My only complaints were that the ending felt a little rushed and that the spicy scene was kind of boring.

Otherwise I really enjoyed this and am definitely looking forward to Jacob's book.

I was provided a free copy of this book through NetGalley,

This was a like not love for me. A lot of it really worked -- banter! castles! -- but there were points when I found it just too outlandish. I did really love the representation of chronic disease.

Hot Earl Summer was another fun read in The Wild Wynchesters series! This time we get to follow ELizabeth as she is sent on a mission alone to find the will and deed to a castle owned by The Earl of Densmore who conveniently has left the country leaving his cousin Stephen in charge. Sparks and weapons fly upon there first meeting and as the search for the will and the clock comes to a close will what they have last after their time is up? I really enjoyed this one because we got to see Elizabeth's vulnerability and her defenses come down.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review. I greatly look forward to reading Jacob's story this coming summer.

Yes, but no, I don't know. I loved most of this book but there were certain parts that just didn't mesh with me. Guess you'll have to give it a try.

Erica Ridley’s HOT EARL SUMMER (Forever, 354 pp., paperback, $9.99) is the other kind of historical: a champagne fizz of a romance, where trying to possess history and wear it like a costume is a villain’s gambit.

Stephen Lenox is an inventor of ludicrously improbable machines (the kitten dispenser?!) who’d much prefer to spend all his time tinkering in his London workshop. Unfortunately his cousin, the Earl of Densmore, needs a favor — and, long story short, Stephen is now pretending to be the earl while defending a medieval castle from the Waterloo-reenacting neighbor who claims the real earl lost the castle to him in a card game. And this jerk is determined to seize the place with cannons, if necessary.

Enter the bloodthirsty Elizabeth Wynchester, whose body often rebels due to a chronic joint illness but whose skills with a blade never fail her. One of the “Wild Wynchesters” who help clients seek justice outside of the law, Elizabeth has been hired by the castle’s true heir, Miss Oak, to find the will that proves her claim.

Stephen has been able to keep his villainous neighbor at bay for weeks; it takes Elizabeth all of 10 minutes to breach both the castle’s and Stephen’s defenses. They’re both used to being punished for their differences, so it’s a long, delicious while before they learn to trust one another beyond the battlefield.

Loved loved loved! Elizabeth is fiery, fun, and fierce. Unwilling to conform to society's notions of a lady, her badassery knows no bounds. A great romance novel for those who love a strong FMC.

This is part of a larger series about the do-gooding Wynchester family, I haven't read any of the previous book so luckily this works as a standalone! It feels very feminist and modern so for anyone who prefers the more historical part of historical romance, I don't think this one is for you. However, it is a super fun, sexy romp so if you're liking for a fast paced, hilarious, and a man with lickable abs then this is the book for you!

Another delightful addition to the Wild Wynchesters series. I have greatly enjoyed every book in this series so far, and this one didn't disappoint.

This time around, it's Elizabeth's turn to fall in love. Hot Earl Summer is an action-packed adventure of a historical romance filled with humor and quirky characters. It was just the right amount of whimsy and just the right amount of spice.

There's only one more Wynchester sibling left, and I'm looking forward to it, but also a little sad to be saying goodbye to this beautiful and wonderfully bonkers family.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was a fun, light read with a strong fmc. There would have been a bit more backstory on both families but reading the other Wynchester books will probably fill in some gaps for me.

It is a series and a book 5.
I read things in order so I won't be
reading this at this moment. So I am going
to be DNFing this book.

I absolutely loved The Perks of Loving a Wallflower & then forgot it was a series & there were more books I could read. So I was excited when I picked this up & realized that it featured the Wynchesters.

First off I love the title, there’s nothing like a punny title to tell me I’m about to have a good time. I love Elizabeth and I love reading about a character with chronic pain who doesn’t let that stop her from living her life. And I love Stephen as a nerdy inventor (can we get more of those in historical romances please?)

This was my first book in the Wild Wynchesters series, and perhaps it was my lack of preexisting connection with the characters, but I found myself wanting to like the book a lot more than I actually did. The representation for chronic pain, anxiety, and couples who aren’t interested in having children were all excellent, and the mystery of the will was an amusing MacGuffin, but for some reason the novel ended up being less than the sum of its parts. I found myself really dragging the more the book went along, especially once Elizabeth’s family arrived. The encounters started to feel repetitive, and while I understood the romantic tension from a character perspective, it just wasn’t engaging as a reader.

I so wanted to love this one because of the witty title adorable cover, and wacky premise, but it just didn’t hit the mark for me. I didn’t know that it was part of an ongoing series, so maybe I would’ve enjoyed it more had I read the other books. Elizabeth’s harsh, stab-everything personality seemed a bit over the top, and the writing style was too cheesy for my taste.

✨ Publication date: July 31, 2024✨

Hot Earl Summer is actually the 5th book in the Wild Wynchester series by Erica Ridley. I have not read the rest of the series or this author before and it was a pleasant stand alone. While the other Wynchester’s make an appearance, you don’t need to know their stories to enjoy this one!

Elizabeth Wynchester is a curvy warrior and one of the deadliest Wynchester’s despite her gender and physique. While her siblings are all fawning over their respective spouses, Elizabeth is not interested in finding love and her focus is strictly on solving cases and bringing justice to those that have been wronged.

Stephen Lenox is going to have quite a few strong words with his cousin the Earl of Densmore when he sees him next. After convincing Stephen to stay at his castle for a few days while he was out of town, he’s been gone for months. Stephen is a bit of an antisocial tinker, working away on new inventions no one ever wants to hear about.

Stephen has to masquerade as his cousin to ensure the estate runs smoothly while he’s gone, but when Elizabeth Wynchester shows up with a battle axe in hand and storms her way into his life, Stephen is done protecting his cousin.

As Elizabeth sets out to find the real Earl and follow the clues to the deed of the castle, Stephen and his tinkering prove to be fascinating to Elizabeth. Neither of them are looking for a long term relationship it what’s the harm in having an affair while they wait for the real Earl of Demsmore to return?

This was a good book! I would definitely read the rest of the series. Great historical story qualities with some steamy scenes to keep you interested. This was a 3.5 star for me!

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#NetGalley #ericaridley #hotearlsummer

Such fun. Loved this book and I know historical romance and this is the top of the top. I loved everything about it and I just want to read more immediately.

I love this family and series overall, but the first couple books remain my favorites. These latter books have started to lose my interest and are just out there with the plot.

What is there not to love about this fun and quirky book about this fun and quirky family?! I have loved every book in this series and this one did not disappoint. A crazy neighbor with a faux hero complex trying to start a battle to siege the castle next-door… check. A lonely inventor/Earl creating contraptions to help save said castle…. Check. A fun, smart, beautiful and complex female lead character who comes adorned with swords and the desire to kick some crazy neighbor butt and save the Earl and the castle…check The whole family coming in to swoop in and help save the day…check. A sexy and beautiful romance Between two wonderfully complex and misunderstood leads….check. I also love all the representation of what I can only assume is what we now call fibromyalgia and the discussion of the disparages of orphans, invisible illness and the wonders of Found families and adoption.