The Duke's Somerset Sins

by Anne Knight, Colleen Kelly, Kay K. Denner

This is your invitation to the Bastards’ Ball.

All of London knows the sixth Duke of Somerset for his sprawling wealth, stern demeanor, and the antics of his five (mostly) illegitimate children, known in ballrooms and gossip rags as the Somerset Sins.

But each of the Sins is soon in for a surprise. The duke is dying, and he has one demand for his children: marriage. If they can’t secure a spouse that meets his approval, he’ll find one for them with a glittering ball on Valentine’s Day.

Christened the Bastards’ Ball, the beaumonde will turn out in droves to watch one of the most powerful men in England play matchmaker for his unruly brood.

Except, much like their father, the Sins have their own schemes.

William - the duty-bound heir finds himself locked in a room with a beautiful, free-spirited woman he shouldn’t want but desperately does.

Alex - the charming rake hatches the perfect plan to wed the lovely flowerseller, and annul the marriage later.

Addy - the hellion likes all the things a duke’s daughter shouldn’t: gambling, wearing waistcoats, and a certain lovely proprietress of a gaming hell.

Sebastien - the independent industrialist will do anything to further his financial interests, even marry an intriguing older woman in exchange for a share in her family’s business.

Sophie - the darling of the family decides to break free and find her own adventure, alongside a gruff, working man with the eyes of a poet traveling the same direction.

Discover each Sin’s story in this steamy anthology of interconnected novellas. One family, five stories, a thousand ways to start a scandal.

Spend your Valentine’s Day with the Somerset Sins.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Novella

684 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 13, 2026

About the author

Anne Knight has been writing stories since she was three years old. Before she could read or write, she followed her parents and babysitter around, begging them to dictate her words. Eventually she learned the alphabet and began writing herself. She sneaked her first romance novel when she was thirteen, but did not become an avid reader or writer of the genre until after college.

Anne has lived in two countries, studied in three, and traveled through a total of thirty four. Her work history includes ESL teacher, domestic violence advocate, paralegal, and hospital project manager. She lives in Arkansas with her real-life swoony hero, four children, and two cats. The cats are named Cyrano and Ivanhoe.

Reviews

[Nikki (awallflowerreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I heard that some novella superstars were getting together to give us an anthology of five siblings for Valentine's Day I was instantly intrigued. I thought I’d read one story and ease my way in… that did not happen. I ended up binging the whole thing and was Obsessed with the premise, this family, and overall how this all played out. The prologue was such a great hook and introduction to each of the siblings. The stories felt intertwined just perfectly without divulging too many details or spoiling anything that was to happen, but sprinkling enough to leave me hooked.

Truth or Heir by Anne Knight and Kay K. Denner - Favorite
I really loved the dichotomy of these two characters: William the ever dutiful heir and Lydia free spirit who deems happiness a responsibility. I’m also a sucker for a sibling’s best friend when there’s always been this underlying Thing between the two. When they are both locked inside a room together during the Valentine's Ball, the two reconnect and find ways they never knew they fit before. I personally LOVED their dynamic with her being the more “in charge” when it came to their intimacy. It’s always the starchy men in charge who like to truly let loose. And when the “good boy” came out, I fell more in love with William than I expected. This anthology is off to an excellent start with this entry, and also just the setup with all of the siblings. I’m intrigued by some of the storylines already laid out and can’t wait to read more!

A Rose for a Rake by Anne Knight
This one was a perfect rake-to-wife guy pipeline novella, and I adore itd! Alex is one of the carefree twins and prefers to live his life on his own terms, which is why, when his ducal father issues a decree to marry, he decides to propose to the first girl he sees, with plans to annul the marriage. Rose just so happens to be that girl, and although she shouldn’t agree, her family has fallen on desperate measures. If they want to keep their flower shop dreams alive, and also keep food on the table, this is her best chance. What starts as an MOC with plans to annul, turns into Alex trying to avoid temptation so they can actually get annulled, while Rose is confused that he might be impotent after a carriage accident. It’s silly, sweet, and just the right touch of steamy! Them communicating through the broadsheets, and just getting their letters in general, was cute as hell.

All in for You by Kay K. Denner
Give me a gambling hell owner and I’m one happy camper! Throw in the fact that the owner is a badass woman who has our dear twin Addy wrapped around her finger, and I was immediately obssessed. What started as angsty tension between the two after Addy wins Eleanor’s gambling hell (in an effort or save her but absolutely against her wishes) turned into this really poignant story of life after grief and moving on. These two have great chemistry and I’m further convinced Papa Duke is gonna win some father of the year award.

Love Locked by Colleen Kelly - 2nd Favorite
Talk about an absolute blast of an entry into this one with our two leads writing increasingly more irate letters to each other in regards to the canal on her brother’s property. After this prologue of letters were thrust into Sebastian’s pov at the ball where he meets the most entrancing woman he’s ever seen hidden away in the library. The two have a brief but heated moment before they are interrupted and properly introduced. From which Sebastian goes from wanting to immediately marry her to the earth dropping out from under him. It’s hilarious and just the right start for these two! Never has a man felt more gloriously starchy since Winter Makepeace and that truly says something. But Sebastian is Giving that energy from the moment he meets Hortensia and I do love a man turning slowly more feral as the book goes on. These two also do the thing where they think they’re each not attracted to the other (like idiots) but are secretly undressing the other constantly. Their individual insecurities become a driving conflict in the beginning that I think makes total sense for these characters.

Wed Locked and Ruined by Anne Knight and Kay K. Denner
The final sibling, and we have the youngest and sweetest- Sophie. After an illness in childhood had left her with a permanent limp, she’s been treated as the child of the family. When she’s not included in the bastard ball, it’s her final straw, and she runs away. But like all good daddies, the dukes got the best Bow Street Runner on speed dial. In swoops Locke who not only saves Sophie on multiple occasions but the two fall into a sweet love story and she heals this broken man. I enjoyed their road trip romance and the eventual third-act break when Sophie realizes Locke was sent by her father. The grovel was satisfying, and I appreciated the boundaries our girl drew. That said, switching to the third person present tense did kind of throw me for a loop after reading the rest of the anthology.

Epilogue...
Honestly, overall, the story I was most invested in was the Duke and his Duchess. Which made the epilogue oh so very satisfying, and I loved that we got to see her in Sophie’s story. Not that she was ever a villain in my mind, but not always the best mom. So all of the prior siblings’ memories are all really colored by this. But she was a refreshing pace, and I just loved her forthright attitude. She truly was a match for the Duke, and it breaks my heart a little bit that they didn’t work things out sooner. But also, good on her for taking a stand and getting her groove back. Their chemistry was fun, and I could have watched them argue for more chapters.

William and Lydia’s story (Truth or Heir) might be my fave- just because I’m such a sucker for their dichotomy and a “good boy.” Followed by the close second of Bash and Hortensia (Love Locked), whose chemistry was electric and felt so beautifully raw. When a hero gives me Winter Makepeace vibes (minus the leggings, though Bash does have the thighs for them) you know he’s gonna be all kinds of raw. Plus, an older woman/younger man combo is hot this spring (and eternally).

They were all so wonderful, and I feel like this anthology will give historical romance lovers a little bit of everything they love. And while this might seem a monumental task, it’s done in a way that just works!

4.5/5
Thank you to the authors for an eARC of this anthology.

[Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free from the authors, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Overall this anthology is 4.75 ⭐
All the novellas really hooked me and the stories were so beautifully done, even the one included in the prologue and epilogue of this anthology, so this one was a fun journey.

The Somerset Sins Prologue & The Somerset Sins Epilogue by Ambriel Wrenn
5⭐
I think we need to give a round of applause to the engineer of this whole thing the man itself, the Duke of Somerset, like this man knew his children and honestly gave them all the push to find themselves what they wanted, and never knew they needed, and to actually act to the ones who have been brewing for someone for years.
I also gotta say I was really happy with what happened in the epilogue after reading the prologue, like that man was yearning for years, but he also was man enough to own up what he did and raise all the kids he could, and truly accepted them the way they were, and got what he deserved in the end so yay!

Truth or Heir by Anne Knight and Kay K. Denner
4.75⭐
I truly loved this story, William and Lydia were really interesting characters.
William brought a freshness to the stereotype of the eldest son and heir with the burden of the family on his shoulders. Lydia was also a breath of fresh air character. I liked that she really didn't care what society dictate or said, she only cared about the people she loved thought and said, even when it hurt her. I love this particular scene where she described how she will paint William or the way she portraits him on her mind.
I think together gave a lovely story of finding the person that let's you be your true self that gives your freedom with only listening to you and existing next to you.The spicy scenes were so nicely done, the tension before them were exquisite and the softness of it despite of the dominance there was, it was amazing.
The only thing that was just a bit off was the pacing of the chapters, but regardless it was beautifully executed. 

A Rose for a Rake by Anne Knight
4.75 ⭐
Rose and Alex were a delight honestly. I don't think I have read a lot of historical romance to speak in general, but this is the first time I read about bastards children being recognized by their noble father so it was enlightening for me to see Alex's journey and they way he walked and felt in the society.
Also Rose as a character of being a blue collar, who is trying her best to sort out her family's business was engaging and I liked that she actually married with him by convenience of helping her family and the business without thinking much about it.
I liked seeing the familial relationships in both characters. I enjoyed the close relationship the twins had, and the little moment we got of Sebastian and William. Also, Rose and Georgie were so heartwarming trying the best to help their mother. I would have liked to see a little bit more of Rose's family, although the little moments of Alex with Georgie were completely adorable, and it was so cute the ones Alex got with Rose's mom. I would have loved to see the same with Rose and Addy or the Duke.
I found hilarious that at the end Rose knew more than Alex regarding the state of their marriage when it came to the annulment, that man really thought. The spicy scenes were so well built up and lowkey I found them cute, I don't know why.

All In for You by Kay K. Denner
4.5⭐
This one was so action packed, which surprised me a lot. 
Addeline was such a fun and loving character, and eager to please and help in any way she can her love. Eleanor is the most independent and competent character, and also the strongest in adversity. These two together made a pretty cute couple, that I enjoyed reading getting together with their ups and downs. Their intimacy scenes made emotional, don't at me please.
I loved the way Eleanor's grief, the doubts and reservations she had on loving again, was treated throughout the story. I also liked that we got to see her interacting with Alex and the Duke and see the dynamics she brought to the family. I also liked the few moments we got of Alex and Addy.
The only complaint I got it is that I wished to have a bit more of Eleanor and Addy together in their HEA.

Love Locked by Colleen Kelly
5 ⭐
I was just hooked with Hortensia and Sebastien and their banter since the first pages with their letters, and from there I just had to know what happened between these two. Both of these character were so interesting from the get go too, with Sebastien being also a bastard of the Duke, but different from the rest of his siblings because he spend his first 20 years with his mother, and running away from France, and working hard, and Hortensia being basically the head and the manager of her brother's business. And the way they lowkey liked each other from their letters even though they were basically rage baiting each other was the cherry on top, and when they met each other, bro the tension, the lust, to then being hit with their identity was cinema.
Another aspect I really liked to read was the comparison and contrast between Sebastien and his relationship with his siblings, to Hortensia and her relationship with her brother. It was nice to see in perspective the whole thing.
It was really hilarious to read the phrases at the beginning of the chapters that were from the book about canals being put in parallel with the way Hortensia and Sebastien's relationship was doing. Also, even though I'm not a big fan of the miscommunication trope, in this novella, it is executed in a way that I found delicious to consume, I swear, it was so freaking good. Specially when everything it is said and expose on the table, the sparks were flying.

Wed, Locke, and Ruined by Anne Knight and Kay K. Denner
4.5⭐
This one y'all, throughout the anthology we were given glimpse of Sophie, and we knew from the first story that she ran away, and basically from the last story that she was back, but we didn't know what the hell happened, so I was so hyped to read this, and it deliver so good.
Sophie was really angry that she wasn't consider to be included with her siblings of the obligation of getting married before Valentine's day, which was completely valid, because she already felt different from them due to her disability, so seeing her journey of standing up for herself and find an ally in her, lowkey, long lost mother, and start her adventure was amazing.
And then we are introduced to Locke, who was an unique new point of view of the society, being the bastard of a Magistrate and also an ex-soldier, he brought a new set of eyes to the story. I don't know how much I can say about it but the way these two connected and found each other was so sweet and cute, to later have the biggest angst of all.
My one complaint is that the story was having a nice pace but I truly feel this was rushed in the end, which was a bit frustrating because I truly loved these two.

[Jody Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somerset Sins is a remarkably cohesive anthology of (longish) novellas about the (mainly illegitimate) offspring of an estranged Duke and Duchess. The Duke commands them to find spouses, and if they don't in six weeks time, he'll find some for them at a Valentine's Day ball. The stories intertwine and relate, but each approach the universe slightly differently. While I had a clear favorite I thought was a standout, many of the novellas hit the mark.

Truth or Heir: William, the oldest and only legitimate child has completely picked up the workload for his ailing father. He knows he'll have to marry and provide an heir, so doesn't care who is father picks, its just another item on the todo list. His bestie suggests his sister Lydia, who is also on the market (against her will) after a stay in Italy. Not the childhood friend who he awkwardly became *very* aware of when she turned 17! "He would never marry Simon's sister." Well, guess what, folks?

The childhood lifelong friends of it all, and preexisting attraction really helps in the novella format. Lydia and William are both avoiding the ball when they are locked in a study, do some compromising stuff and William leans a little too hard into "let me pretend I'm doing my honorable duty and seize with both hands what I desperately want" and forgets about the whole "gee I wonder how Lydia will feel hearing that marrying her is a burden and a duty?"

I really liked this one, Lydia sees the weight that William is carrying for the family, and gives him space to lay it down with focussed attention and praise. At the same time, she refuses to be less than wanted for herself as she is, and keeps her boundaries. Everyone, her brother Simon, William, Lydia, everyone has a role that fits them uncomfortably, and needs to find their way to their true selves.

A Rose for a Rake: This is a marriage of convenience story. Alex, the wastrel rake decides to thumb his nose at his father's demands by marrying the first person he sees, and then present them for lolz at the ball. The first person he sees is a flower grower and seller named Rose Farmer (name is destiny). She needs money for her flower business, done and dusted.

This one is very insta-love/lust, which I guess you need for a novella. "An irresistible tug, like a line from her body to his, brought his feet her direction." Alex learns about working hard and being poor from Rose, and they make excuses to spend time together more and more frequently. Originally meant to be for "several months" Alex soon starts thinking of their marriage as "a few years." He thinks they'll be able to annul if they don't consummate, a little Romance Misunderstanding has her thinking they'll annul because of his impotency. Should have read the fine print, Alex.

I got a little impatient with Alex. He's not telling anyone about his marriage, seems to initially approach it from a place of poverty tourism and rich boy favor granting, and doesn't seem to think overmuch about compromising someone he isn't planning to stay with. He really does NOT have a realistic idea of what it would be like to be lower working class and moved into his snobbish milieu (his friend group is terrible). Also he pouts a lot. And doesn't let the poor girl go to the ball she spent a lot of time and money getting ready for. Romance jail.

All in for You: The daughter Addy is in love with the proprietress of a gambling hall in this F/F age gap story. Unfortunately she does something she thinks is helping against the specific request of Eleanor and it causes a lot of trouble. Again, this is a class-difference romance, and Addy calls her dad to clean up some mess, which he does in a way that makes sure everyone is aware of who has the power in their world. Also her dummy twin (Alex) knew they were both in love with the other and never bothered to tell either. Great job buddy. This was the least successful for me, a lot of people just kept acting illogically and against their own interests. Must have been all the lead in the water back then.

Love Locked: This was far and away my favorite of the anthology. Sebastien is a self-made man, who escaped revolutionary France and was only told he was fathered by the Duke when he turned 20. He feels the difference from his siblings, who were all recognized early on, and have been brought up and reared like nobility. He's been in a correspondence with Hortensia (who manages her idiot brother's estate and business) about her canals, which ended in a snit of an impasse. The epistolary start of the novella is a delight.

This enemies to lovers, age gap (she's 33 to his 25) story was a delight. They meet in the library at the ball where they are both hiding, and nearly kiss before his father walks in and introduces them. Gasp! The enemy! Too late they are each super smitten. He's obsessed with her sharp edges, and her nose with "the most attractive bend in it, angled like a buttress or a rafter, something steadying. Fortifying." She's obsessed with his giant body and proving that Kelly knows what readers want from the business, his spectacles.

For Romance Reasons they have to get married, and what follows is a delightful round of "I'm so big and rough, how could she want me" "Why did he leave me alone on our wedding night, he must hate the way I look" while they are both cartoon googly eyes at each other the entire time. The scene where the misconceptions are cleared up? HOT. Also they both very competently take care of some business with her idiot brother, and then very competently take care of some business. "That did it." Indeed. There's a fantastic pan over of them in the epilogue looking at a book about canals together and getting all hot and bothered. Sweet nerds.

Wed, Locke, and Ruined: This is an age gap, class difference, roadtrip romance with a Big Secret that comes out at just the wrong time. Also! This is for some reason in 3rd person, present, unlike the rest of the book. It's very jarring. Anyway, Locke is a bow street runner, trying to find Lady Sophie, who ran away because she wasn't included in the marriage edict from her father. They end up on an adventurous road trip together.

Again, he's too Scarred By His Past to be worthy of her, "Careful, mate, he tells himself. She isn't for you." Nevertheless that doesn't stop him from doing things you *possibly* don't want to do to the daughter of the duke who employed you. The Big Secret comes out, he's put in cold storage, and there's an excellent grovel. It's more than fine, the tense thing is a little weird.

The prologue and epilogue bookend the novellas, and show the duke may be ailing and old, but he's still a little meddling mastermind. "They had all taken the bait." HEAs all around!

[Alexandra G · Rating 4 out of 5]

An eccentric Duke spurring his eclectic adored brood into marriage before he kicks the bucket... and yes, daddy does know best 😉

I just loved how beautifully each of these five short novels is entwined with the next!
Lots of heart, humour and heat. All of them unique and captivating. These siblings stick together for better or for worse – even when they’re not sure where they fit in. They all worship their father in their own way, and maybe they don’t like his ultimatum... but none of them truly dares to defy him and break his heart.

Except for William and his self-imposed burdens, they all know they’re leading a wonderfully privileged life, and it was especially lovely seeing Addy and Alex realise just how lucky they were. Bash joined the party fully-formed, a budding businessman of 20 with a dislike for upper-class entitlement; his journey was definitely the most emotional, and dare I say, the most rewarding. And little Sophie, smothered by her well-meaning family, totally deserves her small adventure!

1️⃣ Truth or Heir
♀️ Lydia (26) curvaceous, exuberant, talented painter, rebel & Lady
♂️ William (30) honorary Sin, heir with an Atlas complex, tight-laced, dutiful
💟 childhood friends, best friend’s sister, secret crush, locked in the library, unstarch yourself!
Loved how the intimacy of the moment unlocks their insecurities and how she chips away at his resistance – the little minx, calling him a “good boy”. I admired her for following through on her dream, and his attention to detail that reunites them.

2️⃣ A Rose for a Rake
♀️ Rose (22) Covent Garden flowerseller struggling to make ends meet
♂️ Alexander (23) 3nd Sin, opera singer’s son, jolly jester, lives on his own terms
💟 perfect strangers, fake marriage, real feelings, slow burn personal adds & hothouses.
He’s been playing the fool to fit in with a fast crowd that barely tolerates him, and she, hardworking and humble, is his eye-opener. Their newlyweds’ courtship was so witty and utterly charming! The messages, the flowers, his small gestures, the impotence thing… brilliant!

3️⃣ All In for You
♀️ Eleanor (33) mummified widow, survivor, gaming hell owner... or should I add former?
♀️ Addeline (23) 4th Sin, Alex’s twin, impulsive, hellion, card wiz, likes waistcoats & pants
💟 secret crush, good intensions, wrong outcome, she’s no damsel, teapot to the rescue
A battle of wills, a clash of classes & a lovely frenemies-to-lovers. Addy’s chivalry isn’t received the way she hoped, yet she rallies to unravel Eleanor with tenderness and honesty. And yes, she shamelessly drums up the Duke to save the day but also learns that love requires bravery and not just pretty promises.

4️⃣ Love Locked
♀️ Hortensia (33) Lady, brother-coddler, ingenious & practical
♂️ Sebastien (25) 2nd Sin, French dressmaker’s son, industrialist, slutty little glasses
💟 epistolary intro, marriage of convenience, canals & narrowboats, blackmail, assumptions & secret admiration
Such a gorgeous tale! Absolutely adored these dorks-to-lovers; I just love it when two strong-headed horny MCs bud heads right into happily ever after! And I was moved by how their rocky journey helped him to finally find his place in the family.

5️⃣ Wed, Locke and Ruined
♀️ Sophie (20) baby Sin with a limp, the duchess’s indiscretion, golden cage escapee
♂️ Locke (32) by-blow, former soldier turned Bow Street runner, handy
💟 road trip, highwaymen, play in the hay, one bed, he screws up... and grovels!
He saves her, but she heals him. Their perilous road trip everything you could hope for!
A delightful tale; I’m only sorry the sudden present tense made my movie falter and broke the spell

The Prologue & The Epilogue
They may only play a small part in this anthology, but they deserve love nonetheless…
The prologue was such an exquisite set-up for these five stories! I loved how it introduced this elderly ailing father with a ginormous heart for all his children – and how he hoped a bit of sneaky matchmaking would settle them happily for life.
And the epilogue… now I can only wish there would a second one because I long to see what the future holds for our dear duke. I bet he would make a brilliant grandfather, but most of all I’d like a peek at his own happily ever after!

[KelseyreadsHR · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 The Duke of Somerset has five children that are legitimate, natural, or somewhere in between. Being in declining health, he’s decided that they need a push in finding love. In the only way a well meaning but a Duke nonetheless can, is to hold a ball for his children to find a partner. That or the Duke chooses.

There’s a wide range of responses to this edict and most feature similar tropes of class difference and age gap which was fun having each story explore these in a variety of ways. Each sibling is different with a wide range of interests and I enjoyed that they each felt as their own story.

Being inter-connected, I appreciated that the details and teasers stayed consistent through each story.

Anne Knight and Kay K Denner have both become a favorite of mine and I also enjoyed reading Colleen Kelly for the first time.

The author of the prologue and epilogue, Ambriel Wrenn was NTM as well. They were from the Duke’s perspective and set up/closed the anthology perfectly. Leaving me warm and hopeful.

All the stories were over a hundred pages, with the longest 136 and shortest 112.

Truth or Heir by Anne Knight and Kay K Denner
Overview: William needs a bride that fits a list, Lydia wants love in a match. Can a game of truth or dare even the playing field and let them see what they’ve known all along?
Thoughts: I loved the arrogant hero and carefree heroine dynamic and having a previous connection worked well. The Truth or Dare game helped re-establish who they are now. Lydia’s an artist and we also get a
nude portrait scene.

A Rose for a Rake by Anne Knight
Overview: Alex is going to thwart his father by marring the next woman he sees and then getting an annulment down the road. Rose sells flowers from her family’s farm and trying to make ends meet.
Thoughts: I always enjoy when a rake gets their comeuppance being blind-sighted by love. Especially when all it takes to turn their world upside down is one kiss. Their misunderstanding surrounding the
annulment was also a lot of fun.

All in for You by Kay K. Denner
Overview: Addy doesn’t ever plan to marry, but she does plan to win the Piquet Tournament and then declare her feelings for the gaming hell’s owner, Eleanor. Eleanor loves the life she created even though she‘s living it without her late husband.
Thoughts: I enjoyed how Addy’s love of cards and strategy played into the whole story. I liked too that they got a chance to work together. Wished there’d been more
development of their feelings.

Love Locked by Colleen Kelly
Overview: Hortenisa and Sebastien first meet via business correspondence about the estate’s canal. After meeting one another at the duke’s ball, Hortensia finds herself desperate and Sebastien is the only one she can think to turn to.
Thoughts: Sebastien has remained aloof amongst the other siblings so far and I’d been looking forward to his story. A self-made man and a lady that ran her brother’s estate. The focus on canals was interesting and diagrams made it fun.

Wed, Locke, and Ruined by Anne Knight and Kay K. Denner
Overview: Sophie wasn’t included in her father’s edict and decides to take her life into her own hands. Locke, a bow street runner, gets tasked with returning Sophie home but gets more than he bargains for.
Thoughts: What happened to Sophie has been teased through the other stories, I’d been looking forward to this. An adventurous story and a chance of fate that was endearing and had me in the edge of my seat.

The Duke’s Somerset Sins is an inter-collected multi-author anthology.

Each story has open door encounters. One story has one scene and the rest each have two.

I received an advance reader copy from one of the authors. All opinions are my own.

[Fanosse23 · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sixth Duke of Somerset is dying, and before he goes, he needs to see his five (mostly illegitimate) children settled. Known throughout society as the Somerset Sins, these siblings are each acknowledged and loved by the Duke, despite their scandalous reputations.

They are stunned when he decrees that all must marry before he dies. If they fail to secure a spouse who meets his approval, he will find one for them at a glittering Valentine’s Day ball—the infamous Bastard’s Ball. I hope you’ve received your invitation, because you are in for a night of surprises! I loved how each of the siblings approaches love in their own clever, manipulative, and often heartfelt way, with each novella ending in a satisfying and delightful conclusion.

What makes this anthology truly special is the beautiful writing of the various authors. Each voice is distinct yet seamlessly woven into the larger family saga, making it nearly impossible to pick a favorite. Every story shines, and each author brings depth, humor, and heart to their characters.

William and Lydia: William, the too-serious heir, is determined to avoid the one woman he cannot help but want. Lydia, who sees the man beneath the title, is exactly who he needs. Their journey to love is filled with tension and release—when the truth finally emerges, it truly sets them free. I adored their story!

Alex and Rose: Alex’s story was the most humorous and joyful. Thinking he can outsmart his father, he decides to marry a beautiful flower seller with plans to annul the union later. Fate, of course, has other ideas, and their romance blossoms into something utterly charming.

Addy and Eleanor: Addy, the fiery, gambling, waistcoat-wearing hellion, forges her own destiny. Her love for Eleanor burns bright, while Eleanor’s hesitations are portrayed with moving realism. Watching Addy claim her happiness was one of the anthology’s most satisfying moments.

Sebastien and Hortensia: Sebastien seems the most emotionally guarded, focused on his financial empire and convinced he doesn’t belong. Hortensia, the sharp and passionate woman he first encounters in his father’s library, challenges him in every way. Their romance, set against the fascinating backdrop of the British canal system, was tender, intelligent, and full of heart. Bravo to the author for this beautifully layered story!

Sophie and Locke: The youngest sibling, Sophie, walks with a cane after childhood paralysis and longs to claim her own adventure. When her father expresses his relief that she will “always stay with him,” it sparks her daring journey. Her misadventures lead her to Locke, a stern yet protective man whose secret loyalty to her father complicates their growing connection. Her emotional arc, and the moment of forgiveness, was handled perfectly.

This anthology is a triumph of storytelling, full of steam, humor, and heart. The writing from all three authors is so rich and immersive that every story feels like a favorite. A family of sins, five scandalous journeys, and countless ways to fall in love—this collection is unmissable.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Winnifred D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tropes: brother's best friend; class difference; opposites attract; enemies to lovers; hidden identity; age gap
Steam level: 3 (all 5 novellas contain steam)

This is an enjoyable collection overall. Each novella is focused on one of the Somerset Sins, who are the illegitimate children of the Duke of Somerset (except the youngest, Sophie, who has her own novella in the collection). The Duke is considered an unusual member of the Ton in that he has publicly acknowledged each of the Sins as his own, and he wishes to see them all settled in marriage before his death.

The first two novellas are well written and hit the usual HR highlights with just the right balance of romance and steam.
--I loved the art references and clever dialog in William and Lydia's story, plus the extra kick of spice (a tiny hint of MFC-as-dom kink). Great chemistry. Brother's best friend works well here. 4.25 stars.
--Alex and Rose's novella is sweet and, other than a brief third-act conflict, low angst. Alex seemed rather immature at times but he had his character arc. 4 stars.

The third and fourth novellas feature atypical leads.
--Addy's novella involves her relationship with an older gaming hell owner, Eleanor. There's an unexpected emotional punch involving Eleanor's late husband. Addy was a bit TSTL at times, the villain is OTT, and the Duke seemed rather manipulative in this one but I really liked Eleanor. 3.75 stars rounded up.
--Sebastien and Hortensia don't fit the usual mold either: he has working class values and struggles with feelings of social inferiority, while she is a bluestocking who is plain by the Ton's standards. The misunderstandings here do go on a bit long, to the point that I wished this had been a full novel with well-fleshed out backgrounds for both Sebastien and Hortensia (they have a lot of baggage). But it's all told with humor, heart, and intelligence. Older MFC/younger MMC. 4.5 stars.

The only novella I didn't really care for was the last. Sophie's story just didn't fit in with the others; it's told in present tense and felt pretty modern. The writing and depth of characterization weren't quite there. The action-oriented plot, while it moved along at a decent clip, often felt implausible, and I ended up skimming. 3 stars.

Thanks to Net Galley, Victory Editing, and the authors for the opportunity to read the advanced reader copy of this book. This is my honest, voluntary review.

[rosyyy.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙤 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙜𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙎𝙪𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝘼𝙍𝘾 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬𝙨!

Started: January 31, 2026
Ended: February 6, 2026 - 9;11 P.M.

Oh my goodness how dear is this book!

Historical Romances always holds a special place in my heart, but if when you add well-loved and respected illegitimate children of the duke (very rare during regency era btw), Anthology (multiple stories in one book?!), and fake marriages turn to true love? Oh honey you just made a truly scrumptious book..

Now, between the Somerset Sins, I particularly loved William and Sebastien's storylines the most. With William's story tackling the pressure Eldest children carry to uplift their family's reputation, as well as the realistic story of Lydia's grief and second chance at finding true love. Then, with Sebastien's cold but mature pursuit of personal financial success, and Hortensia's efforts to handle her family's estate and businesses effectively despite the limited rights given to women during their time. Both of their stories truly made me fall in love. However, one thing I do observed was that the instant love trope was well used throughout the 5 storylines, and while I do understand that it is to be expected since we are reading an Anthology which contains 5 storylines in one book, I still would have loved it if there was a little bit more of push and pull scenes, just like in Sophie's story wherein there was a slight misunderstanding between her and locke, in the other MCs story so as to add a little bit of tension to each plotline, rather than just straightforward love at first sight.

Still, this book is definitely to watch out for in the Historical Romance Category and you should definitely get it once it gets published of February 13, 2026, because goodness does this book takes you to an adventure of family, second chances, and true love.

[PlotTrysts · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do you like romance novella anthologies? I love them as a way to try out new-to-me authors in a bite-sized way. So I was excited to try this one out!

The Duke's Somerset Sins collects five novellas through the frame story of a terminally ill duke who wants to see his children, legitimate and illegitimate, married before he passes. He's got 5 kids (how about that? One for each novella!).

If you pick this one up, be aware that these are long novellas. I'm used to ~100 pages/10 chapters in a novella, but these are more like short novels (one has nearly 30 chapters). Honestly, it's great bang for your buck when you purchase. All of the novellas are very solid historical romances that work best when you want a meaty story. If you're in a novella mood, do note that all of these have enough plot points to make them feel more novel-y. I guess what I'm saying is that this anthology may not be a bite-sized way to try out new authors, in other words!

The two standouts for me were "A Rose for a Rake" and "Love Locked." Probably not coincidentally, they were also the shortest and embraced the novella form the most. I will note that the final entry in the anthology, and the one that I had the most anticipation for since it had built throughout the first four entries, is written in 3rd person present POV, which took me a bit of time to get used to. I did end up quite enjoying it after I got over myself!

All in all I do recommend this one. All of the authors write well, and all of the novellas have something different to offer. I think it's a good one if you want to jump to other books in between completing the novellas!

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the anthology.

[Mariana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A anthology of interconnected novellas that is exactly what a steamy, historical fiction read should be!

The Sixth Duke of Somerset is nearing the end of his days after a wonderful and full life. Yet he will not be satisfied unless he knows all five of his children, nicknamed the Somerset Sins, will find spouses. He decides to throw a ball for Valentine’s Day, and if his children don’t have a potential engagement lined up, he will be choosing someone for them.

I really loved every novella for different reasons, but William and Sophie’s stories were my favorite! William has always felt the pressure of his obligation as the future Duke/heir. Once finally accepting marriage is inevitable, he assumes he’ll be thrust into a marriage of convenience and propriety. But what happens when he finds someone that excites him and is what he’s always dreamed of? I loved the character of Lydia - a beautiful, independent woman made to believe that since she waited longer to get married, that she would be left with slim pickings. I loved this couple together - sexy and perfect!

Sophie, the youngest and always protected, was fierce and fighting to find her own way in the world. I really felt her character’s need to pull away from the identity as the baby of the family strongly. And Loche was the perfect older man for her to spread her wings with.

I was so excited to be approved for this ARC! It really was exactly what I love in historical romance, and loved having interconnected stories from 3 diferent authors.

Definitely grab this one next month!

Thank you to Sunshine Reads and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was thoroughly engrossed by this anthology of five long-ish novellas. I loved the premise of the Duke of Somerset insisting that his five children marry and this was successfully navigated via an intertwining timeline. And the prologue and epilogue did an excellent job of setting the scene and tying up loose ends respectively.

Truth or Heir by Anne Knight and Kay K Denner - this is a best friend’s sister situation. William and Lydia have been engrossed with each other since Lydia was 17. They reunite after nine years and find that they are perfect for each other. I really loved this.

A Rose for a Rake by Anne Knight - a marriage of convenience between Alex and Rose turns into love. This was a really well done instalove. The relationship was given enough time to develop to make it believable. There were a few areas where the editing could have been tightened up and hopefully they should be fixed before release.

All In for You by Kay K Denner - Addy has been in love with Eleanor since she first laid eyes on her. This was a lovely story of a planner having to let all control go in order to get her HEA.

Love Locked by Colleen Kelly - Sebastien and Hortensia start out bickering by letter over the state of Hortensia’s brother’s canal. This was my favourite of a very good bunch. And includes a great author’s note which gives a shout out to Loretta Chase’s Miss Wonderful as another canal-centred romance.

Wed, Locke, and Ruined by Anne Knight and Kay K Denner - Sophie and Locke. An instalove situation that I really enjoyed.

Thank you Kay K Denner, Anne Knight and Colleen Kelly for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Corinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read and enjoyed stories by Anne Knight and Colleen Kelly. Kay Denner is new to me. The three ladies have created an engaging collection of interconnected and well-told stories. The prologue by Ambriel Wrenn sets the stage for the duke's challenge.

Truth or Heir - Anne Knight and Kay Denner
The heir William's story is not unlike many others of the genre. It's a best friend's sister/mutual (undisclosed) tendre for years trope and well-executed. I liked the characters, the storyline and the outcome.

A Rose for a Rake - Anne Knight
Alex thinks he can outwit his father, little does he know he's in for a surprise. I liked the interactions between Alex and Rose and her family. Alex proves he's not a superficial rake.

All in for You - Kay K. Denner
Stories around gaming hells are not my thing, but this is well executed and is more about relationships in the past and present than gambling.

Love Locked - Colleen Kelly
If I should pick a favorite, I must say I enjoyed this the most. I liked how Sebastien and Hortensia were very honest with each other regarding their wants, while both are somewhat insecure with respect to their own worth as a marriage partner.

Wed, Locke, and Ruined - Anne Knight and Kay K. Denner
This is also an entertaining story, just ignore that it's very naive for Sophie to travel alone using a public coach. ;) It's a bit of a road trip with obstacles and even a few suspenseful moments.

[Tiffany P · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this connected anthology about this mix of legitimate and illegitimate siblings. These steamy novellas were unique and entertaining with witty banter, humor, romance, and unexpected love. Each story celebrated love in a different way. While some of the children thought they were rebelling against their father, he had planned the happy ending without them even knowing. The Duke was not your typical aristocrat. He loved his children deeply and accepted and acknowledged them all equally. However, they all had their own insecurities that they needed to resolve, and it turned out that love from the right person was what they all needed. These stories also touched on the relationship between the siblings. All the stories gave a HEA for the Somerset Sins. Some parts of a few stories were tedious and frustrating which is why I’m giving 4 stars instead of 5.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Liz Sturg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley. I enjoyed reading the small novellas of each of the Somerset Sins. The novellas I liked the most were Williams & Lydia and also Alex & Rose. Even though they are all were set around the same time, I did notice that the novels didn't intertwine with what happened to the youngest Somerset Sin. It was only mentioned in the first novella that they were looking for her but for the rest of the novellas they didn't touch on it. The smallest novella in my opinion was Addelines, that was only a couple of days. Even though they were "forced" to get married by the ill Duke, they all found their forever partner with the person they all chose to be with.

[Meghan Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of novellas was a delightful group of stories about five different characters finding their HEA amidst questions of belonging and the power of origins determining your worth. Some of these are more captivating than others. In particular, Sebastien's story was delightful. It's clear these authors worked diligently with each other to plot out how all of the tales would intersect, and it was fun to find easter eggs in different novellas for the stories I had already read, or were clearly foreshadowing for something yet to come.
Read this if you would like a tasting menu of delightful and brief love stories for Valentine's Day.

[Achilles Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Duke’s Somerset Sins has a great premise, and I’d honestly love to see more anthologies done this way. Each author tells their own story, but the shared details and crossover moments make the whole book feel connected in a really fun, satisfying way.

I picked this up for Kay K. Denner’s writing—I’ll read anything that woman writes—and she absolutely delivered here. But all of the novellas are good, which isn’t always a given with anthologies. This one is a win, and I’d definitely recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sunshine Reads for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Marjorie Messerschmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I overall enjoyed the stories of each of the children and think the basis for their tales was very good. We don’t get to see many stories of this time period where a nobleman accepts responsibility for his children outside of marriage and that these were written by multiple authors collaborating is awesome. I would recommend this anthology to anyone looking for shorter stories of multiple family members and wanting to see growth in their characters.
Thanks to the authors for allowing me to review an advance copy.

[Gloria Pastorino · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG, what a great anthology! I loved that it revolves around a family and that every sibling is different and unique in their own way and finds love in a different way. The three authors really make a great team and I appreciated all of the stories. My favorite is Sebastien’s, funny and angsty at the same time, with a touch of adventure.
My favorite character is William, stiff and proper, undone by love and eager to relax and cede contol for a while. But the other siblings are gorgeous as well! I can’t wait to read more from all the authors (I already knew and eagerly follow Anne Knight!).

[Bianka Rose Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This anthology was such a fun, scandal-filled read. Each Somerset Sin gets their moment to shine, and I loved how distinct every romance felt while still being tied together by family drama and the chaos of the Bastards’ Ball. There’s a great mix of steam, humor, and heart throughout.

Perfect for fans of historical romance who love interconnected stories, bold characters, and a little Valentine’s Day mischief! :)

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Duke of Somerset has five mostly illegitimate children known as the "Somerset Sins." Feeling his age, he issues them an ultimatum that he will throw a Valentine Ball and introduce them to their future spouses. They all, of course, go off to find their own spouses. This anthology is the individual stories of their quests. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Sunshine Reads for my honest review.

[Loiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful collection of romantic stories. The children of the Duke of Somerset are a wild bunch, ranging from a responsible big brother to a nimble card player to an adventurous little sister. All of the stories feature various tropes that I love.

Here is a short selection:

"Good Boy!" - Blush seeking - Flower language - Class diffrences - clumsy Rake with a golden heart - Working class - strong heroines - Defiant but loving family - meddling parent

[Writer Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good anthology and I mostly liked how the stories worked together. I think my favorite was unexpectedly Addy, the F/F romance. I liked this twin but I adored her partner, Eleanor. The writer really managed to pack an impressive emotional punch in what I think might have been the shortest of the novellas. Minus one star because some of the stories are too long and I found myself skimming chunks of those.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun quintet of novellas following the children of a duke, all with very different personalities and tropes of how they fall in love. It was nice to follow their different stories and see how they intersected. Some novellas weren’t as good as the others (though that’s personal preference) and the length of the book started dragging as the five stories began adding up in pages. But overall, a good read

[Millie Bowker · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic read! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I absolutely adore the format of the short stories with each of the siblings - Alex + Rose were my personal favorite 😍 It was wonderful to get a sense of each author's individual tone & style too!

I wish there were more books like this on the market!

thank you so much to the authors for an advanced copy - all views are my own :)

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received an ARC for review. All opinions are my own. Thank you to the authors.*
I really enjoyed this collection of novellas centering on the “Somerset Sins.” The interconnecting stories were fun, engaging and heartfelt. We had the opportunity to learn a great about each sibling and watch them come into their own.
I highly recommend if you need to escape a Bastards’ Ball.

[NelleRenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an anthology of five siblings (legitimate and illegitimate) whose dying father (a Duke) wants them married before he dies. He does give them a chance to select their own wives before he picks one’s for them. Each story is written by a different author but they do stream together well. I enjoyed the read and it seems like a good value.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazingly enjoyable collection of historical romance novellas! Beautiful writing, a variety of settings, and a perfect array of tropes to suit every taste. Each time I thought I had a favorite sibling, I met the next and fell even more in love. Fabulous all around!