This book had a lot of elements that I like but it just didn’t resonate for me. Elizabeth Wynchester is a sword wielding part of a crime fighting family. She is sent on a job but ends up finding Stephen Lenox, the cousin of her mark, instead. They’re both a bit awkward in their own ways and they hit it off almost immediately. There is a lot to love about this book if you like slightly modern Regency tales. Elizabeth is also a great depiction of a badass FMC with chronic pain.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the eARC!

I’ve been waiting for Elizabeth Wynchester’s love story and it does not disappoint. The Wild Wynchesters series is about a group of adopted siblings that form a family who operate within society but operate missions or cons to correct wrongs and help people. The siblings are of various races. One has married a Duke, giving them more influence. I love how accepting the siblings are for each other and the partners they love including one f/f partnership.

Elizabeth loves her swords and dreams of being a warrior. At 31 she doesn’t plan to marry but secretly pines for a bold romance. When the rest of the family is caught up in various missions it is up to her to solve a mystery about a missing will. Finding it will mean an old castle will become an orphanage and school. She thinks the villain is the Earl of Densmore and off she heads to his castle. Instead she finds his cousin in residence. He is Stephen Lenox, a reclusive inventor. He is trying to hold the castle from a neighbor who is claiming the earl lost it to him in battle.

Stephen has wonderful inventions and has created many traps around the castle to Elizabeth’s delight. Their word play is wonderful. Their personalities mesh so well. I highlighted so many funny lines showing their sarcastic wit. I wish it was more steamy on page but the humor and loving acceptance of each other's quirks more than makes up for that. This can be read as a stand alone as there is recapping of people and couples. This is easy to recommend if you enjoy a more humorous historical romance that may break some rules.

3.5 ⭐️

I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of Hot Earl Summer. This book was adorable, even if a little cheesy. It had adventure, romance, sword fighting, booby traps and a whole lot of heart.

Beth the Berserker isn’t afraid of anything, she would take on an army of sword fighting aficionados and come out on top. But her latest mission might have her afraid of one thing, loosing her heart to Stephen Lenox, cousin of the Earl of Densmore. While protecting her heart and the castle from harm she might find she’s in for a couple surprises along the way.

Akin to Bridgerton and Pride and Prejudice, this historical romance is sure to be an entertaining read.

Tropes: found family, hard exterior with a heart of gold, he fell first

A quirky & cute historical romance.

Although this is book five in a series, it can be read as a standalone. However, if you have read the other books in the series the found family vibes are still as strong as ever.

The heroine is such a delightful character. She's stabby (takes no BS) and is generally badass. She also suffers from chronic pain which just made her even more kickass. The hero is nerdy but also incredibly hot?! Yes, please! I felt Beth & Stephen were so cute! It was like the jock with the nerdy girl but make it historical and gender swapped. They were so sweet yet also steamy.

The plot is a bit silly but for a romcom that doesn't bother me. It just makes the story more enjoyable. Isn't that the point of romcoms anyway? I did like the silly mystery stuff and thought it added a little something extra to the story.

A fun time!

Is this series almost over? It started so strong and has gotten progressively worse. This is the best one since the first book and even parts of this book were a struggle for me.

The Wynchesters send "Berzerker Beth" on a case alone to find a lost will and restore a castle to an old lady to convert it into an orphanage. To do so, she must team up with the Earl's cousin who is holed up inside castle-sitting, defend it from an invading army of pompous, misogynistic reenactors and decipher the clues that lead to the hidden will (the clue hunt was real disappointing). Stephen Lenox is a WAY over-the-top inventor and a better cousin than the Earl of Densmore deserves who is immediately smitten with the cartoonish Elizabeth. The whole family (minus their oldest sis and her hubs) does eventually come to help defend the castle (which was a really fun part of the action).

I didn't like when this book went overtly preachy dealing with Elizabeth's vague disability. Elizabeth was so mean to Stephen at one point I never recovered my like for her. For someone who's been dealing with a disability her entire life she has learned zero compassion. Stephen was a rich, intelligent, sweetheart but also, he was too good to be true. A few faults would've humanized him a bit more. They both had parents who didn't love them for themselves. Stephen's because.... he was smart? Huh?

Needless to say this is not my fave historical romance read of the year by any stretch, but I'm also not as mad at it as some of Ridley's other recent books. It's always felt very Umbrella Academy rip-off to me.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book.

Oh wow!!!!! This was a first for me by this author but will not be my last! Such a good story! The characters worked so well together. Such great chemistry. Good love story!!

Sword-wielding Elizabeth sets out to confront the elusive Earl of Densmore—but her mission takes an unexpected turn when she encounters handsome inventor Stephen impersonating his missing cousin. Danger closes in as Elizabeth and Stephen work together to uncover the mysteries of the earl’s castle, all while fighting a growing attraction to each other.

This whimsical and romantic novel boasts unique, fun characters and a hilarious plot. It’s a joyful story about love and belonging. Elizabeth and Stephen are misfits who fit perfectly together.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

You will find if you read the series about the Wild Winchester’s, that they are a quirky bunch but also each have their own unique talent. They were all taken in and raised by a duke that saw their potential and pretty much gave them free reign to advance their knowledge. They were a bunch that supported each other and always had each other’s backs. That being said, this story is about Elizabeth who was in constant pain but seemed to always never let it get in her way righting wrongs done to others. As Elizabeth tries to find a missing will, that would turn a castle into an orphanage/school, she starts at the castle and there is where she finds Steven. Finding the will is the only way to prove the son who lost the castle gambling was not his to lose. Stephen is determined to help Elizabeth find the will as well as keep the new owner at bay. As these two work together, they fall in love. Between the two of them, will they be able to save the day? Great read.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a complimentary copy.

The Wynchesters seem to get more and more absurd as the series progresses. How much you enjoy this book is going to depend on how much genuine emotion you want out of a romance. We're not talking about historical accuracy (although no, that's not the forte of this series, either); we're talking about realism write large. To wit: in this book, Elizabeth Wynchester has been tasked with convincing an earl to honor the terms of his mother's will. When she shows up at his castle (yes, literal castle) it turns out that the earl has absconded and no one knows his whereabouts. Instead, Stephen, his cousin and heir presumptive, is in residence, pretending to be the earl and barring anyone from entering. So, Elizabeth gets out two battle axes and tries to chop down the door, which charms Stephen so much (?) that he lets her in and decides to allow her to stay and try to locate the will ... which has been hidden by the dearly departed countess and can only be found by following odd clues for a treasure hunt throughout the castle.

Speaking of Stephen: he is an inventor who does pushups whenever he's anxious (which is so often that he's super buff). Since they're hanging out in a castle together they obviously fall in love. (Do not ask me why, exactly, other than the fact that they're stuck together. That's not the point...?) Also in the mix besides wacky inventions and the treasure hunt? The lord of the neighboring estate is planning actual military action to invade the castle. Because he wants to stage a reenactment of the Battle of Waterloo on the grounds. (Told you this was absurd.)

The book also engages with some chronic pain rep: Elizabeth has a chronic undiagnosed condition that causes her pain. Throughout the book she identifies how well she feels in each particular moment by "x% Elizabeth" (e.g. "this morning I'm at 75% Elizabeth). I honestly can't speak to how authentic the representation is, but I can say that this reminded me a lot of the Murderbot series, in which the eponymous main character refers to its own functioning in percentage points. There's even a part where Elizabeth's ability lowers to "0% Elizabeth" and then she passes out, which is so Murderbot I can't describe it any other way. I'll just say that the juxtaposition of Murderbot and historical romance wasn't my favorite thing.

Our favorite book in the series has been The Perks of Loving a Wallflower, which was truly an amazing read. Sadly, none of the other books have recaptured that mix of absurdity and emotion. But like I said at the beginning of the review, this level of absurdity might be right up your alley!

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the book.

This is THE most fun romance!! As my first Erica Ridley, I wasn’t familiar with the Wynchesters, but now I’ll be reading the backlist, too!

Elizabeth Winchester is a swashbuckling berserker, full of sword skills, battle plans, and determination, and despite her disability, she’s always 100% Elizabeth. She’s called to Dorset to solve the mystery of a hidden will and runaway Earl of Densmore. She doesn’t count on meeting Stephen, the earl’s cousin. He’s a master tinker, a social recluse with exceptional abs. Between the two of them, they must defend a castle from entitled brat Reddington, and set things to rights.

I LOVED every single thing about this book, including the disability rep, found family elements, hilarious violence, and the perfect combo of brains and brawn that is Stephen. The swoon a despise are all there, albeit a bit different, because Elizabeth and Stephen are themselves different. We love the sexual innuendos and violent threats - of passion??


All in all, highly recommend! Excellent, fun, hilarious!

Not a perfect book but there were definitely aspects I enjoyed. The relationship between Stephen and Elizabeth was really fun to read. A grumpy swordswoman and a quirky tinkerer boy, what’s not to love. I also through the disability rep was really well done, I don’t have the conditions that Elizabeth does so I can only comment so much on it but it’s much better executed than some other books I’ve seen. If you picked up the Bridgerton books and wanted something more diverse then you should definitely pick up this series. It’s got more kooky silly energy than Bridgerton’s classic regency melodrama, but I think that’s what makes them fun.

I was disappointed by this book because based upon the description I assumed that Elizabeth and Stephen would do lots of mystery solving together. Specifically, I was rooting for like a Holmes and Watson dynamic to happen but instead Elizabeth did all the hunting while Stephen tinkered with machines. This decision killed the urgency that this book should have had. The characters know that Reddington and his troops are doing all they can to take the castle so they should be using all their resources.

Similar to the last book I was bummed by the lack of sibling content. Since Elizabeth was isolated about 75% of the book lacked other Wynchesters. I love the dynamic between the siblings and I think that’s why books one and two work so well for me. As each sibling has added a partner I think the cast of characters has become too cumbersome to include them for the whole book. An easy remedy for this would be to pair each sibling off with a bestie sibling. That’s what was done with Chloe and Tommy and I think it made their characters even stronger.

Finally the third act conflict just felt blah. Every book in this series has had a breakup as the third act conflict even when it doesn’t make sense. I totally get the third act breakup is a staple of the genre but it just felt strange for these two. These two already had their big blowout fight and reconciliation so it feels like Elizabeth should be over her hang ups by the last 10%. The big final conflict should have been the battle, it’s way more high stakes and feels like a culmination of Elizabeth’s character growth.

Though I may have had my issues with this book I still enjoy this series and can’t wait for book six. Jacob is my favorite character after Tommy and I’m ready for some animal hijinks. It also sounds like his book may be queer and I’m so down for that!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This series continues to be such a joy to read! The Wynchesters are definitely not your standard historical romance siblings, but they are so fun!

This book in particular is a mixture of adventure story/treasure hunt, with a heroine that excels at weaponry, and a hero that may be a scientific genius inventor. Their relationship is a little bonkers but so enjoyable.

While you might be able to read this one as a standalone, I would definitely recommend reading the series as a whole. Each sibling is so unique, and they deserve their own time to shine in each book. I’m already looking forward to Jacob’s book!

I was just drawn into this wonderful story and I just couldn’t get enough of it. It was just so easy to get lost in this great story. I just didn’t want it to end. I just lost myself in and I just couldn’t get enough of these interesting characters. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

This was my first book about the Wynchesters and also my first historical romance. It took me at least half of the book to understand what was going on and a little longer to figure out if it interested me. Just about then is when I decided I needed to know how the book ended.

Hot Earl Summer is amusing and cute with one spicy scene. Most of the book includes few characters, until the rest of the Wynchesters are introduced at the end. Despite the few characters, I found the book to not be very compelling or engaging. It is silly, which kept me going!

Advance reader copy provided by Forever Publishing and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

The books in this series keep getting better and better! I love the Wynchesters and every new member that joins so much. I read this in one sitting just because I did not want to stop the good time.

My elevator pitch for this book would be:

If you want a "super fun, low angst, silly, kind of campy, two quirky nerds with a lot heart and chemistry, put a smile on your face mood" book, add this to you tbr!

But silliness and Inspector Gadget castle aside, both of these characters were both so unapologetically weird and authentic. And watching them realize how they did not have to change a thing about themselves in order for the other person to love them is always wonderful to read and this series does that so well!

There was a lot to enjoy about Hot Earl Summer, the characters were especially a lot of fun, but it definitely felt like you had to read the books that came before it in the series to really get a good handle on what was going on - at least in the beginning.

The Wynchesters are all absolutely bonkers, and I love it. Bloodthirsty, sword wielding Elizabeth has met her match in reclusive inventor Stephen (whose abs are best admired sans shirt). I loved seeing Elizabeth branch out on her own to save the day, but I was thrilled when the whole family arrived to help. They truly are better together.

If you have not read any of this series, you really owe it to yourself to do so. This whole series is wonderful, a whole family of misfits, taken in by a very wealthy Baron. He gave them not only a home but unquestionable love and family. Now they carry on his legacy by helping others who can’t afford help. The five siblings and their husbands and wives plus the unmarried brother use all their talents to right wrongs. This story is about Elizabeth who was unloved and unwanted as a child, due to having chronic pain in her joints. She is a master with knives, fencing, anything with a sharp blade. She has always taken a back sit helping her family with cases. Now all are busy and she is in charge! She must help Miss Oak claim the Castle that her sister left her to open an orphanage and school. Only she does not have the deed or her will. Her sister like puzzles so she left clues in the castle for her husband but died before anyone could find them. The Earl of Densmore is a rogue and talks his cousin Stephen Lenox, an inventor and reclusive who happens to look like him into impersonating her for a week. That week turns into months! Our villain is a Richard Reddington who also wants the Castle. As Elizabeth and Stephen try to solve the puzzle of where the will and deed are hidden and also keep Richard from sieging the Castle. Both find something neither has ever had. Someone who thinks like them and understands the other! Neither can stop the attraction and longing for the other. The sweetest line in this story is when Elizabeth thinks of Stephan as “the handsomest, kindest, cleverest, sweetest, quirkiest person she has ever known”. What a story, this is a fast-paced Book with lots going on. Many twists and turns, you will run thru every emotion you know while reading this one. Its beyond wonderful. Quick grab a copy and plan to be totally lost to other time and place with such crazy wonderful couple and family. I received and ARC from the author and wish to thank her. This is my honest opinion and am freely giving it.

This book was so hilarious and entertaining.
It had wonderful characters, and the chemistry was fantastic between Stephen and Elizabeth as they tried to find the will and the deed to the castle.
Elizabeth's family, the quirky Wynchesters as usual make for a fun and interesting read.
This is the fifth book in the series but, can be read as a stand-alone.

Hot Earl Summer was an original and captivating plot. I loved the new take on forced proximity and Stephen was a sweet and caring MMC. He had a few boundary issues with Elizabeth but it was always from a place of trying to help her and he would listen when she communicated the boundaries in a clearer manner. I found Elizabeth a really neat character as well but very quick to anger and very slow to forgive even though she was not innocent in all things. Also how she treats Stephen towards the end was not my favourite part to read.

The machines Stephen builds and the way Elizabeth supports him in defending the castle was really fun to read. All the while they are searching for a will that will allow the castle to become an orphanage and keep it out of the hands of a spoiled aristocrat. Elizabeth’s prowess with a sword and the way she became Stephen’s bodyguard was really affirming for women in historical fiction. I loved the theme of self acceptance quirks and all. A wonderful read that I finished in a matter of days.