Big Duke Energy eARC

Y’all I’ve had a couple sh*tty weeks on this trash rock spinning through space. I lost a mentor and friend to suicide. Have been deep in my feelings about my career and what is going to fulfill me and was two bathrooms down in home renovations that just, kept going and going. So when I woke up a few weeks ago to the NetGalley email telling me I was approved for an eARC of the Big Duke Energy anthology I gotta tell you, I was really happy. 

Big Duke Energy is a historical romance anthology featuring stories from Kerrigan Byrne, Amalie Howard, Christi Caldwell, Stacy Reid and Janna MacGregor. Heading into this one I felt like I knew what to expect, having read (and loved) Byrne, Howard and Caldwell late in 2021 but was really interested in what Reid and MacGregor’s stories would bring to the table. 

BDE is a great amount of fun and offers a lot to enjoy, and will keep even a passive HR fan engaged. Ready to get into it? Ok, let’s begin.

The Earl On The Train by Kerrigan Byrne 5⭐️

The two main characters in this steamy and fast paced novella are first introduced in Bryne’s Duke with the Dragon Tattoo, so jumping back in with Sebastian and Veronica in a train car in the middle of the night was an immediate delight. In classic KB fashion both the leads have some legit backstory trauma, and find shelter in each other’s hearts, minds and bodies. 

Y’all this was hot as hell, and sex in the compartment full of luggage gave me Titanic Car vibes in the best way. 

Loved and Found by Christi Caldwell 5⭐️

Oh my heart this one was emotional. This is a second chance romance between two childhood friends, turned lovers and then estranged heartbroken acquaintances. The love between Edie and Thad was SO visceral and real and my goodness the pining! This is higher-angst, with decent steam and has some sickbed care that might wrench your heart right out of your chest. 

Thad finally understands what drove them apart all those years ago and it comes in like a wrecking ball. This one really worked for me and had me in my feelings from beginning to end. 

The Wolf of Westmore by Amalie Howard 5⭐️

Having just read (and loved) the Beast of Beswick last week, I was excited to jump back into the same world Amalie so expertly crafted. This was highly enjoyable and sees the virginal daughter, pay to be ruined by Wulfric Bane at the Silver Scythe. There’s some light allusions to little red riding hood, but y’all this is a BDSM historical romance that features some hot AF sex club vibes that I was really living for. 

What’s more is the connection these two find both inside and outside the bedroom. The connection is believable and the cameo’s from Thane and Roth (from fans of Amalie’s other books) will have you smiling, among your happy sighs. 

Put Up Your Dukes by Janna MacGregor 4⭐️

I wasn’t sure I was ever going to come around on the main character (Martin) in this one. PUYD is about an estranged married couple who both still love each other but can’t live with what one does for a living (runs a gossip rag). At first, I really did feel like Martin was incapable of redemption, but as the story went on I could see the slow and steady decline in his steadfastness in keeping his dirt rag going. When Martin finally gets a taste of his own medicine, the grand realization finally arrives: what he does hurts people, and now its hurt who he cares the most for, his wife.

All is not lost though. A good grovel and grand gesture absolutely turned this one around. 

Duke of Every Sin by Stacey Reid 4⭐️

This was my first ever foray into Stacey Reid and I really enjoyed it. It gave me similar vibes to Amalie Howard, and our man Ethan, Duke of Bainbridge has just come into possession of his late friends by-blow. Verity, a disgraced lady shunned by the ton is committed to not letting her beloved (and mostly brand new) nephew Thomas end up with this devilish duke. Storming into his home and life Verity is going to take Thomas away from this place to ensure Thomas is loved and cared for in a way only she knows how. 

The duke, seeing an opportunity offers for her which is a win for both. He gets a wife and she has unlimited access to her nephew. There is some interesting plot swerves and a late 3rd act tension that, to me felt a little weird but over all this was really fun and decently steamy.

Okay pals that’s it, that’s all! Overall rating is 4.5/5 ⭐️. Super fun, steamy, sinful stories that will make you happily sigh, swoon and enjoy the heck out of each of these Dukes with BDE.

Grab this anthology wherever you get your books March 29th 2022.