About the Book:

A DUKE FOR ALL SEASONS!

What’s better than a dashing duke? A dozen of them! In this case, a baker’s dozen—thirteen of your favorite historical romance authors have come together to bring you more than a dozen tantalizing novellas, with one per month, for a year’s worth of never-before-released romances.

January – Duke in Winter by Alyssa Alexander — When the highwayman demanded that the Duke of Highrow stand and deliver, he didn’t know she would steal his heart.

February – The Difference One Duke Makes by Elizabeth Essex — All it takes is one frosty night for two imperfect people, former naval commander Marcus Beecham and ruined Penelope Pease, to meet and make the perfect February Valentine.

March – Discovering the Duke by Madeline Martin — Reunited at a house party after a lackluster start to their marriage, the Duke of Stedton attempts to win his Duchess’ heart. Will a sizzling wager be enough to melt the frost between them, or will it truly remain the coldest winter in London?

April – The Duke and the April Flowers by Grace Burrowes — The Duke of Clonmere must marry one of the Earl of Falmouth’s three giggling younger daughters, but Lady Iris—Falmouth’s oldest, who is not at all inclined to giggling—catches Clonmere’s eye, and his heart!

May – Love Letters from a Duke by Gina Conkle — The Duke of Richland needs a proper duchess, but he wants his thoroughly fun, entirely inappropriate neighbor, Mrs. Charlotte Chatham. She’s widowed, older, and if the whispers prove true—barren.

June – Her Perfect Duke by Ella Quinn — Still suffering over the loss of his wife and child, Giles, Duke of Kendal sees Lady Thalia Trevor at a market and is instantly smitten. There is only one problem. She is already betrothed to another man. Will she defy her powerful father to marry him?

July – How to Ditch a Duke by May McGoldrick — Lady Taylor Fleming is an heiress with a suitor on her tail. Her plan to ditch him is simple, escape to the Highlands. But there is nothing simple about the Duke of Bamberg. And even with the best laid plans, things can go awry…

August – To Tempt A Highland Duke by Bronwen Evans — Widowed Lady Flora Grafton must be dreaming. Dougray Firth, Duke of Monreith, who once pledged her his heart but then allowed her to marry another, has just proposed. Why now, after eight years? When she learns the truth, can she trust Dougray to love her enough this time?

September – Duke in Search of a Duchess by Jennifer Ashley — The meticulous Duke of Ashford is dismayed when his children ask Helena Courtland, the gossipy, busybody young widow next door, to find Ash a new wife. But she sweeps into his home and his life, turning Ash’s precisely ordered world into a chaotic whirlwind.

October – Dear Duke by Anna Harrington — When the Duke of Monmouth, decides to build a canal, he isn’t prepared for an old mill owner and his daughter to stand in his way. The only person who understands him is the anonymous pen pal to whom he’s been pouring out his heart, a woman not at all who she seems.

November – Must Love Duke by Heather Snow — Lady Emmaline Paulson already has the only Duke she wants in her life—an adorable puppy she rescued from the Serpentine with the help of a handsome stranger. Can Maxwell Granville, heir to a dukedom, convince her there’s room for him, too?

December – The Mistletoe Duke by Sabrina York — The Duchess of Devon can’t think of a better way to tempt her widowed son into marrying again, than to throw a Christmas Ball. And there simply must be mistletoe everywhere! But it’s not until Jonathan meets his mother’s humble companion under the mistletoe, that fireworks erupt.

January – Dueling with the Duke by Eileen Dreyer — When Adam Marrick, Duke of Rothray, shows up on Georgie Grace’s doorstep, she thinks it is to become acquainted with his cousin James’s widow and daughter. Instead he brings news that will completely upend their lives and put them all in danger.

Click on title below for direct Amazon buy link:                                                                                                      Dukes by the Dozen

My Review:

DUKES BY THE DOZEN is a collection of high quality novellas which makes for some fabulous reading.  Each story can be read in roughly an hour or so, and is perfect for when you don’t have the time to sit down for several hours of reading.  The heat level varied, though most stories were warm, and some were kisses only. I definitely recommend this diverse collection of ducal tales, and am sharing my thoughts on those which were my favorites:

DUKE IN SEARCH OF A DUCHESS by Jennifer Ashley – Widowed Duke of Ashford (Ash) has organized his life around schedules and timetables ever since his wife died six years ago.  His three children feel that they’re just an item to be checked off his daily to-do list, as he spends a brief amount of time with them before their bedtime.  His son, Lewis, along with his two sisters, has decided that it’s time for him to remarry, and they know just the person to help him find a bride.  Helena Courtland, the widow next door, loves the duke’s children dearly, and is more than willing to help them find a wife for Ash.  Unfortunately, Ash has no desire for a wife, or to spend any time with Helena, whose vivaciousness and cheery personality is the polar opposite of his own structured life.  Helena is determined, however, and despite Ash’s refusals, she keeps appearing in his home and bringing up names of suitable candidates for his duchess.  Ash finally comes to realize that he desires his lovely neighbor, and that, perhaps, marrying again won’t be so bad.  Helena is a strong woman, and her bubbly personality is just what is needed to bring Ash out of his self imposed scheduling nightmare of a life.  The schedules were his defense mechanism for giving him some semblance of control over his life, but he comes to find that a little chaos is just what he needed.             

THE DUKE AND THE APRIL FLOWERS by Grace Burrowes – Henning Whitcomb, the Duke of Clonmere, has been approached by the Earl of Falmouth, with a letter from Henning’s late father, indicating that his son would marry one of the earl’s daughters.  While the letter is not legally binding, Henning is willing to meet the young ladies, and see if there is any possibility of a successful match.  The earl’s three youngest daughters are advised of the situation and instructed to enchant the duke, while their older sister, Iris, is not part of the “competition.” At twenty-six, Iris is considered to be on the shelf, and her duty is to rave about her sisters to Henning, leaving him to have a favorable impression and willing to choose one to marry.  As fate would have it, Henning and Iris almost immediately find that they want each other, and have to find a way to make their dream of a future together come true.  I love this couple and their interactions with each other.  This warm and delightful story flows beautifully along as a magical happy ever after seems to be in the cards for all four sisters.                                     HOW TO DITCH A DUKE by May McGoldrick – Lady Taylor Fleming is the daughter of an earl, but she’s unlike a typical delicate female, as she is tall, strong, and buxom.  Her two failed seasons have made her an object of ridicule to her awful father and brother, who mock her unmarried status.  Taylor is determined not to be taken in by a fortune hunter, who pursues her only because she is an heiress.  When Taylor hears gossip that a Bavarian duke, Franz Aurech, has come searching for a suitable wife, she avoids meeting him at every opportunity, because it seems that he, also, needs to marry for wealth.  Little does Taylor know that she has already met Franz before, without knowing his identity.  She also doesn’t realize that Franz was immediately taken with her, and that the rumors of his needing to marry an heiress are false.  The chase finally ends with two truly magnificent people finding genuine love and the promise of a full and adventurous life together.                                                                                                                       

THE MISTLETOE DUKE by Sabrina York – Life hasn’t been kind to Meg Chalmers.  The man she desired, a childhood companion, ended up marrying her best friend.  Upon her father’s death, she was displaced from her home, and is now companion to the mother of the man she loved, Jonathan Pembroke, the Duke of Devon.  Jonathan is now widowed, and his mother is urging him to remarry to provide a mother for his young daughters, and to, hopefully, produce an heir.  She plans a house party, where she invites several eligible young ladies, one of whom may catch Jonathan’s eye.  Meg is also in attendance, assisting the dowager duchess with the party, and still feeling a pang when she sees Jonathan.  It seems that his mother has another plot in mind, one that would pair Jonathan with her beloved companion.  Jonathan is delighted to spend time with Meg, someone he’s always loved like a sister, or, so he tells himself.  As the party goes on, he sees how little he has in common with the other young ladies in attendance, and how much he comes to see Meg as a desirable woman in her own right.  This is a lovely story with good flow, and some amusing moments.  I loved seeing the blinders come off of Jonathan’s eyes, and the well deserving Meg achieving her heart’s desire.