Like dukes? Enjoy steam? Like Regencies a whole lot? Then this anthology of Dragonblade Publishing authors ought to please you with Sizzling Duke Summer, a set of stories that all include dukes and plenty of steam. As with most anthology series, there are some hits and some misses.

The Duke’s Deadly Vows by Deb Marlowe contained my catnip – childhood friends who become lovers after a long separation. It was excellently told and wonderfully romantic. Recklessly with the Rake by Tracy Sumner has another childhood friends to lovers plot, but this time the stable boy has grown into an experienced, moneyed rake. This one was a lot of fun, too, and was as spicy as it was sweet. The Science of Seduction by Lily Harlem and Forever Bridesmaid by Tara Kingston were solid runners-up.

A couple, however, don’t work without previous knowledge of the universes in which the stories are set. Moonstone Castaway by M. Platt and its magical glowing stones don’t make much sense unless you’ve read something set in the Moonstone Landing universe before. A Duke’s Life by JR Salisbury just didn’t make sense, with so many dangling plot threads you could tie up and whip a duke with them. 

Overall, this is a fun, saucy romp that I well enjoyed. Sizzling Duke Summer isn’t perfect, but it sure is fun.

Lisa Fernandes has been reviewing romance novels ever since her great aunt left a Billie Douglas book out in the bathroom. She’s currently working on a biography about Julian Sands.