Brava’s latest installment in the Bad Boys series promises to deliver to readers exactly what they’ve come to expect: three short and sexy stories from three very talented authors.

Lori Foster headlines this summer anthology with her sexy novella Luscious. Lucius Ryder, SWAT-team member and apartment building owner – nicknamed Luscious by his bevy of female tenants – has found himself in a sticky situation. Engaged in a standoff with a crazed man holding his own mother hostage, Lucius attempts to defuse the situation only to have a stray dog steal his thunder. Softy that he is, Lucius takes the dog home with him only to find out there’s something wrong with it – and his next door neighber Marci is the only one who can figure out what.

Bethany Churchill is spending some time at her twin sister, Marci’s apartment while she tries to get her life straightened out. After quitting her job and dumping her boyfriend, the only thing Bethany is looking for is a new place to live. She’s certainly not thinking about getting involved with the sexy landlord across the hall – who, incidentally, is the one person who can consistently tell Bethany and her sister apart.

Lucius has had his eye on Bethany for quite awhile, but has been waiting for the right moment to make his move. When he overhears Bethany proclaim that her favorite part of sex is “when it’s over,” he decides the time has come to set about proving her wrong.

It’s About Time is part of Erin McCarthy’s loosely connected Bowling Friends series. County prosecuter Trish Jones shows up at her neighborhood bar after being stood up for her date. Her bartender and friend, Joe, directs her to Caleb Vancouver’s side as he tries to drink himself, and his sorrows, under the table.

Caleb’s ex-wife is getting married tomorrow, and to add insult to injury, she’s marrying an old guy! It’s not that he still loves her, but it does something to a man’s ego when your wife leaves you for an older man. Caleb’s plan was to wash away his ex-wife’s memory with beer – until Trish plunked down next to him, determined to keep him company and raise his spirits.

Last call at the bar finds Caleb engrossed in a stimulating, if slightly drunken, conversation with Trish, who has declared him an adopted brother for the night. Trish can’t very well let Caleb drive drunk, so she takes his keys and takes him home with her. Too bad her newly “adopted brother” is pretty hot. And too big to fit on her couch. All of a sudden the thought of Caleb in her bed is starting to sound like a pretty good idea…

Amy Garvey rounds out Bad Boys of Summer with Wish You Were Here. Photographer Mackenzie Pruitt has just inherited a quaint beachfront cottage that has a somewhat run-down shed in the backyard. She envisions the shed as the perfect little work studio and hires carpenter Leo Dawson to make the necessary changes. Leo agrees to do the work on Mackenzie’s shed but draws the line at her idea to document the job in a photo essay. Living a quiet life, designed that way on purpose, there is no way that Leo is going to chance that Mackenzie’s proposed essay might end up published.

With some difficulty, Mackenzie accepts Leo’s demand to leave the camera alone while he’s around. Then she gets an altogether different idea. This time Mackenzie plans to have Leo spend the daylight hours turning the shed into a studio and spend the nighttime hours turning her on! But Leo’s got a big secret that he is sure will turn Mackenzie off if she finds out.

While none of the stories are centered on a particularly summery theme, the anthology as a whole still makes for a great beach read. Each story in this trio is short and to the point while managing not to skimp on the romance. Three hot and steamy stories, best read during hot and steamy days – these authors know how to deliver great romances!