A review by kimalah
Hot Earl Summer by Erica Ridley

emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Hot Earl Summer is a light, fun, sometimes goofy Regency romance that also has really well done chronic pain representation.

This installment of the Wild Wynchesters series is about Elizabeth, a plus size woman who lives with chronic pain day in and day out. Elizabeth has lived with her condition all of her life, which led her family to treat her as useless and basically threw her away. After she was found by the Baron and joined the Wynchesters, she took up fighting with swords and other implements as a way to ensure neither she nor her adopted siblings were ever victimized again.

Elizabeth is the point person in the Wynchesters’ latest case helping an older woman regain the property inheritance she should have received from her sister. What develops from there is the main story of the book. Stephen, Elizabeth’s love interest, is stuck at the castle at the heart of the dispute. Stephen is a kind and rather unique sort of person who falls fast for Elizabeth.

Some of the story gets pretty goofy but intentionally so. I enjoyed the silly parts and the laughter. But as a plus size woman with a chronic pain condition, Elizabeth’s character and her experiences with her disability touched me deeply. It felt true and I saw myself in her in many ways (not including berzerking.)

I enjoyed Hot Earl Summer and look forward to Jacob’s book. Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. All opinions are solely my own.