Five of Avon’s most popular authors offer romance readers a sizzling assortment.

Cathy Maxwell starts off with "The Irish Duke." Susan lost her parents at a young age, but what she learned in finding husbands for her sisters has helped her to survive. In selling her skill of matchmaking, Susan uses the rule never marry an Irish Duke; they are last in everything.  You can only imagine what happens when she comes face to face with a strikingly handsome Irish Duke. Sparks fly, wagers are made and it all goes by too quickly. I hope these two show up in a stand alone novel.

In "The Duke Who Came to Dinner" Elaine Fox offers a more contemporary love story. Sam is a classical music critic. Virginia is house-sitting a haunted home. The two meet after Sam’s dog, Duke, steals Virginia's dress while she’s skinny dipping. Matching wits and mutual attraction, but will the ghost approve? A romance of the mind and the heart.

Jeaniene Frost takes a paranormal approach in "The Devil to Pay." Blake is possessed—literally when Elise finds him in a tunnel. Elise is a vampire and Blake hopes she will kill him. Death is the only way out. But for the first time in decades Elise begins to feel again...  Definitely an intense urban tale.

In Sophia Nash’s "The Catch of the Century" schoolmistress Victoria and her students are nearly hit by Duke John’s coach. In return he offers them a ride, which leads to a 65 mile trip of frustration and temptation. The Duke’s not sure if Victoria needs a good kissing or a hard spanking.  A lot of chuckles throughout this one.

Tracy Anne Warren’s short romance "Charmed by Her Smile" is also a historical romance. India Bryon uses the lips of the Duke of Marlowe to escape the attentions of Peter "the pest," an unwanted suitor. But as Peter persists, India drags the Duke even further into her escape... Unfortunately for India, her escape leads to a trap of her own. Warren delivers some memorable characters. Peter is one heck of a pest.

Readers can expect a variety of lead characters, lively sub-characters, sizzling love scenes, and humorous situations. It’s amazing how well these ladies fill the pages with the ardor of the chase. Each is a quick, entertaining read. Readers will find it over all too soon and beg for more.