A NYT bestselling author kicks off a new Regency series of “irresistible romance and a family of delightful scoundrels” as a woman looking to recover a stolen painting accidentally kidnaps a duke instead. (Eloisa James) Chloe Wynchester is completely forgettable — a curse that gives her the ability to blend into any crowd. When the only father she’s ever known makes a dying wish for his adopted … known makes a dying wish for his adopted family of orphans to recover a missing painting, she’s the first one her siblings turn to for stealing it back. No one expects that in doing so, she’ll also abduct a handsome duke.
Lawrence Gosling, the Duke of Faircliffe, is tortured by his father’s mistakes. To repair his estate’s ruined reputation, he must wed a highborn heiress. Yet when he finds himself in a carriage being driven hell-for-leather down the cobblestone streets of London by a beautiful woman who refuses to heed his commands, he fears his heart is hers. But how can he sacrifice his family’s legacy to follow true love?
“Erica Ridley is a delight!” –Julia Quinn, New York Times bestselling author of the Bridgerton series
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The Duke Heist (The Wild Wynchesters #1) by Erica Ridley
The is Lawrence Gosling, the Duke of Faircliffe and Chloe Wynchester’s story. We first met them in the prequel THE GOVERNESS GAMBIT. If you didn’t read it I strongly advise that you do. It is not necessary but it explains a lot. The book shows you more of of the siblings lives and is full of laughs, tears, angst, some hurt feelings, lots of love and plenty of steam to get us to a very HEA. I cant wait for the next book in this series which I hope is Tommy’s story.
“The Duke Heist” by Erica Ridley
This first story in “The Wild Wynchesters” series can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone and without a cliff hanger. Well there is a hint of who the main characters will be in the next story. But back to the here and now. Yes, I loved this story, there was romance with a bit of spice but easily handled. And, I enjoyed the suspense in trying to guess what would happen next and just how the story would evolve. I do love the wild Wynchesters they will be a force to be reckoned with, I am sure. Happy Reading ! !
note: I receive an ARC of this story from the publisher. This is my honest review.
COLORFUL, FANTASTIC, WHIMSICAL, … FAMILY
THE DUKE HEIST is the second book in the Wild Wynchesters series. Though this story will stand on its own, I predict you will want to read this series in the order of release. I have not read the prequel and I hope I do receive it.
The Wynchesters are a colorful, fantastic, whimsical family brought together by Bean Wynchester. Bean did not have his own children, so he adopted Chloe, but she wouldn’t come alone. She insisted that she would only come if Tommy (Thomasina) could also be brought along. Then Graham, and Leslie, and… until Bean had six children. They saw themselves as the six sprites dancing with their Puck in the Puck and Family painting above the parlor fireplace. The painting that was stolen by the Duke of Faircliffe shortly before he died.
Chloe is the leader of this eclectic group of young adults who have been twice-orphaned. Four young ladies and two gentlemen who are determined to retrieve the legacy art that represents their family and their beloved patriarch.
I love that this book isn’t just about Chloe being invisible. Women are used to being invisible. Lawrence is also invisible despite being in the House of Lords. He is only his title, not himself. They each learn to pursue their heart and bloom because of it.
I love the fun, the romance, and the pure family of the heart. I absolutely cannot wait to read more of this series. The animals, the family, and the fun-fun-fun are wonderful.
Note: While I received this book as a gifted ARC via NetGalley, my opinions are my own and are given freely.
Title: THE DUKE HEIST
Series: Wild Wynchesters #1
Category /Genre: Romance
Recommended for: 18+ due to sexual content
Grammar/editing: A – near perfect
Received from: Erica Ridley (as an ARC gifted copy)
Erica Ridley never disappoints with her quirky characters, innovative plots and some anachronisms thrown in to keep the reader on her toes.
This is the first book in a new series about the Wynchesters, a group of 6 orphans rescued and adopted by Baron Vanderbean (Bean), the children he’d always wanted but never had. Together they had purchased a painting Puck & Family, from the Duke of Faircliffe, a painting depicting Puck and 6 fellow spirits dancing around a fire. To them it was their family portrait, and considered their most cherished possession. It hung next to a portrait of Bean. But then the Duke came around demanding the painting back. When the family refused, he snuck into the house, taking the painting and leaving a vase behind as a trade. The Duke dies shortly thereafter, but the heir refused to even see Bean, or reply to any correspondance. Then Bean died and the family was bereaved of both their beloved father and the painting. They have vowed to get it back and with their many talents, learned on the street and from the education by Bean, they will.
The new Duke of Faircliffe is not at all how he appears. He disguises himself as a cold calculating man, because he too lost his mother at a young age and was basically ignored by his father, who frittered away their fortune, not caring about the estate, their employees and tenants. Duscal reputation is all he has. He was isolated at school because of his father’s reputation, has no friends and does not know how to make them and the only way to save the estate is to marry an heiress. But once he notices Chloe Wynchester in her own disguise and for the first time since his mother died, finds joy with another person, can he really give that up for money?
I look forward to reading the rest of the series about the incomparable Wynchesters and how they will break down social barriers with the “modern” aristocracy. I read an ARC provided by NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.
Loved it!
Great start to a new series.
What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Part of a series: The Wild Wynchesters
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue
I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC from NetGalley.
I loved the Winchesters! What a colorful group of characters they are. I don’t want to give anything away, but each sibling has a great talent that makes for hilarious antics, and each of their talents all complement the others’ talents. In this book, Chloe falls for the man she is supposed to be stealing from, and the Lawrence forgets that she is “one of those Wynchesters.” I definitely enjoyed this book and can’t wait to see what other escapades this family gets into.
I love the Wynchesters! This is a new series by Erica Ridley and I am excited to see how the Wynchesters’ lives unfold. I enjoy reading about strong characters learning to address areas of weakness as their relationships grow. There were some really fun interactions along the way! This was one of those books I read until 2 in the morning because I was enjoying the characters so much.
Delightful! I love the whole tribe of Wynchesters. After all, they CAN do anything!
This is a lovely romance with many obstacles to overcome as Chloe and her siblings run riot over London and the Duke of Faircliffe.
Warning: steamy scenes.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader copy of this book.
*I received a free review copy of The Duke Heist. This has in no way influenced my voluntary review which is honest and unbiased.*
Lighthearted, funny, punny, romantic and with fantastic characters, The Duke Heist is my new favorite book by Erica Ridley! The writing is rather fast-paced, and the story itself is so well executed.
We have the eclectic and not-part-of-the-ton Wynchester siblings on one side, and the Duke of Faircliffe on the other side. And there are definitely sparks! A lot of them.
While The Duke Heist is definitely anachronic in many ways, it’s still a historical romance. And I have a special place in my heart for impertinent heroines and the heroes who have to struggle to finally let go and fall for them. I can’t wait to see what will happen in the next installment of this new series.
The Duke Heist is witty, romantic, frustrating, and impossible to put down. It is the story of Chloe Wynchester, an orphan adopted into a family of “Wild Wynchesters”. When a family painting is stolen the siblings set about to bring it back home. In the process, Chloe accidentally steals the coach of the Duke of Faircliffe with him inside. When she finds the painting she retrieved from the Duke of Faircliffe’s intended is a forgery, Chloe then ingratiates herself into the Duke;s household to find the original. The methods used a hilarious and clever. This is a great book and I can’t wait for others in the series.
Erica Ridley has started a smashing new series. It is a family of unusual siblings that is going to provide hours of entertainment. This is Chloe’s story. She is an enigma. A puzzle that the Duke has to solve before he can deserve her love and join the family. She is multifaceted and multi talented. She manages to bring out the true Lawrence without him even realizing what is at play. There is so much wit and hilarity at play. Each page is a new adventure as you discover this precocious family and fall in love with each of them.
I just read this book The Duke Heist, which is the first book in a new series called the Wild Wynchesters. This book is about Chloe Wynchester and Lawrence Gosling. It was a wonderful lovely story, with two wonderful characters. Chloe is from a family of Wynchesters who are fun, loving and unique. Lawrence is a Duke who has no family, except his servants. Lawrence needs to marry a woman who has money and help him bring back respectability to his title. The Wynchesters are all adopted children of a Baron and according to society have no respectability, but they have plenty of love. This book was so good the time flew, I enjoyed every part of it. I also have to say I think I could fall in love with Lawrence.
I received a Beta Copy of this book and am giving my honest review.