I am clearly in the minority here, but I am getting bored. I've had several false starts with this book, and finally stuck to it yesterday. However, I keep dreading picking it back up.
I think this is a very low-angst, mellow book, and would be more suitable for people who are in the mood for that.
The cover is ridiculously beautiful!
(Edit to add: I actually tried to read a bit more after writing this review, but still no bueno).

Thank you to the publisher and author for the ARC via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Romance at its finest! Anna Bennett caused my heart to overflow with joy during this flawless story of love that develops between two strangers in a secluded beach hut. A love that grows, strengthens, and survives even when the couple returns to society where new challenges abound, their love survives!

I must admit the cover on this book totally drew me in … it’s gorgeous! The cover artist gets an A+ 😍

One Duke Down is book two in Bennett’s *Rogues to Lovers* series and the female MC Miss Poppy Summers is introduced in Girls Before Earls book one of the series, that being said this book could be enjoyed without reading book one. The male MC is Andrew Keane, the Duke of Hawking, and his introduction to Poppy is very wet and unforgettable. I absolutely loved watching Poppy and Andrew navigate their way to HEA! 😍 This book is one of those rare beauties that leaves you feeling completely satisfied and utterly amazing!

I highly recommend this book and the series. I am also claiming Andrew as my new book-boyfriend 💕😍💖

5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 3.5 Flames 🔥🔥🔥 — I can’t wait for the next book of this series 😍


📚Disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press publishing via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, comments, and interpretations of the story are my own and bias free. I did not receive any money in exchange for this review. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to review. Reviews are cross-posted to social media, goodreads, and blog. 🦄

This was the perfect book to kick off 2023...and might be a perfect romance.

An incomplete list of things I loved about it:
Our MMC Keane falls first and he falls hard. OMFG THE LOVE THIS MAN HAS FOR OUR FMC, POPPY. Literally he's down so so bad.

The character development. With the exception of the story's true antagonist, every single character in this is given room to grow as they see and experience the world in new ways..

The sex scenes. OMFG *fans self* There's many. They're ALL unique (including location).

Not only does Poppy have a dedicated reading shack...that's where she hides Keane.

This is a book that LOVES books. Poppy's relationships

The Belles. GOD I love a good friend group! And these women had each other's backs, gave each other space to be fully themselves, and always always always were there for each other.

Low relational angst. Listen...there are bumps. A plot twist at the end. And the whole reason Keane gets tangled in Poppy's net is because someone tries to murder him. So yeah there's a lot here that keeps things moving and surprising as fun. But there's n o third act breakup. No screaming "Just fucking talk about it!" No her changing everything about herself and him doing the bare minimum. This is love (and romance) at its finest.

Related to the previous point: securely attached characters. Again: they (and especially Poppy) have to go on a journey to be open to receiving love. But once that happens? There's not endless doubt and hand wringing. It is goals.

Blindfolds. Sea glass. Sand. Belles. Wish fountains. Lady Rufflebottom. Driggs. You'll understand all this soon enough.

Wish I could erase me memory of this and read it for the first time again. SWOOONING SO HARD!!!

2.5 🌟's.

📝 tropes: class diff, small town, fisherwoman x duke, working heroine, only one bed, road trip, forbidden rom
🌶 spice: 2.5/5
❌ CW: caretaking, child abuse

this was an 📈📉 of a read but mainly.. 📉

i really went into this thinking i'd enjoy it since so many of my friends did but alas.. the low angst and almost friends to lovers ish dynamic did not make me feel any type of connection or chemistry or tension between the two... i liked the beginning where there was some animosity between both and some parts in the 30% area when they were getting to know each other but so much of the book was them together and happy and girl... i just got bored :/ there was not much of a reason left for me to be invested in them since there was no type of third act breakup or like angsty-ness... so yeah. ended up skimming a lot unfortunately cuz this one just wasn't for me. also it says a lot that it has taken me nearly a whole month to even finish this book 😅

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to the publisher St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC via Netgalley. Releases January 24, 2023!*

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

There is something very sweet about Anna Bennett's writing, and I think that's why I enjoy her books so much. Her heroes aren't broken nor vowing to never fall in love. Even when she uses plot devices that I think could be angsty, her stories never come off that way. Her books are always low angst, low drama, lovely reads. Sometimes, after reading a lot of intense books it's nice to read something of hers. It makes me feel lighter and happier in my soul. This one was no different.

I adored the writing, the chemistry, the ease that these characters interacted with each other. Every moment between Poppy and Keane was sweet and genuine, and I felt like I was truly watching them fall in love which I enjoy. I dislike books where I feel that love is instant, but it in this one it built in the tiny moments they shared. I think my only complaint would really be that I felt there were parts while I was reading that I expected the story to be done, but then it continued on. I thought it was unnecessary, but I shouldn't complain about her book lasting a little bit longer since I love them so much.

4.5 rounded down to 4.

I loved Poppy and Andrew's love story! Andrew is a duke who someone recently tried to kill and Poppy is the daughter of a local fisherman who has fallen ill, leaving Poppy to take over the family business. Poppy has dreams but her love for her family and her friends enables her to accept and even be somewhat content with her existence. I visited Bellehaven Bay in Bennett's prior entry in this series and I was happy to return and see some familiar faces amongst the new characters (Diggs!). Poppy agrees to help Andrew hide out while he investigates the attack upon him - for a price. Understandable since taking care of her family is her responsibility. As Andrew and Poppy spend more time together, their relationship grows in a lovely and organic way. Andrew takes the time to actually know Poppy, to understand her, and it is rather beautiful.

This story is fairly low angst but decently steamy and is just a fun, enjoyable read. I cannot wait for Kitty's story.. A nemesis, she says? 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. The opinions herein are my own.

Fancy a rowboat ride? Maybe you are more into hauling fish from nets? Bet you never guessed you would have to haul a body out of the surf? Well that exactly what Poppy Summers did and found herself saving a life that turned into a bargain that saves her family.

Poppy Summer's is loyal to her family and her few friends. She knows that nobility are not kind, caring, or deserving of her time. However, the person she drags up the beach, out of the shore surf, claims he is a duke. So Poppy goes along to humor him after he offers her money in exchange for room and board.

Andrew Keane, Duke of Hawking, has a puzzling dilemma to solve. With the help of his valet, Homer Diggs, and Poppy, Keane travels in disguise to London, Ascot, and around the little beach to figure out his puzzle.

Join In the fun of playing 20 questions while solving a mystery and regaling in new beginnings. As Poppy and Keane thing they are getting close, everything turns upside down when a memory is triggered by a glimpse of a scarf. The solution is a shocking revolution that come out of left field and both are stuck with how to continue with more damage. But in the end they both choose for the good of the future and family.

For a book that begins with the FMC happening upon the MMC and finding him unconscious and washed ashore on her beach, after an attempted murder on his life, not much happens. It’s weirdly low stakes and low angst but strangely, still engaging and I liked it. The characters seemed a bit underdeveloped and a little too perfect and the villain seemed a little OTT. By no means is it a fave and I’m not rushing to read this author but I’m not inclined to avoid her either.

"One Duke Down" was an enjoyable return to Bellehaven Bay and the Belles. While Hazel and Kitty feature in the story, the focus is on fisherwoman Poppy Summers. Poppy has the misfortune of catching a man in her fishing nets. A man who turns out to be a duke, much to Poppy's chagrin, as past experience has given her a rather unfavorable opinion of the nobility. Andrew Keane is the Duke of Hawking, and while in the seaside town of Bellehaven, someone tried to kill him. Assuming his killer believes he is dead, Andrew decides to stay in hiding as he tries to discover who wants him dead. He enlists the assistance of Poppy, who will get to experience things she never expected. As they spend more time together, feelings develop, which they will explore. However, Poppy is convinced that this can be nothing more than a brief interlude, as she does not believe Andrew can understand or properly respect her life. He will have to change her mind.

First of all, let’s talk about this cover. The color! The smiles! Such a joyful cover, OBSESSED.

Now to the story. :) This is a book about class, family, honesty, mistakes, and making an effort.

Our heroine, Poppy, is a fisherwoman, a fisherman’s daughter, a self sufficient, rational, kind, and smart young woman. She is a devoted friend, daughter, and sister. One morning while out fishing she discovers a man on a beach. She pulls him from the shore and rouses him.

The man on the beach, our hero, is Andrew Keane, a Duke. He’s been attacked and left for dead.

Keane and Poppy eventually agree to work together to discover his would be murderer and, of course, they find themselves discovering each other. Poppy shows Keane her life, including her private escape, her love for her family, and her self awareness. Keane shows Poppy adventure, care, trust, and that not everyone is what they seem.

We especially enjoyed how pragmatic Poppy is, the character with stars in their eyes in this book is the hero. He is determined to prove to her that they can make it despite their differences and he does it.

We recommend and think you’ll enjoy!

*Received a copy for review.*
Book 2 focuses on Poppy and a wayward Duke.
What does a fisherwoman do when she finds a handsome man passed out on her beach, tangled in her net? Assume he’s a pirate and drag him out of the surf of course.
I loved how determined Poppy is. She is capable and does not need a man to complicate things.
I also love a book where the man falls first.
This book was an easy read with great chemistry & the perfect amount of steam.

One Duke Down is a low-angst, steamy historical romance that I adored! Poppy is a Fisherman's daughter who is trying to hold own the family's business while her father is ill and her brother has run off to London. Until one day she finds a washed-up man upon her beach who claims to be a Duke. Poppy initially doesn't believe Keane and is dubious to help hide him while he investigates who might have tried to murder him. She eventually agrees with the promise of money and as she and Keane get to know each other, neither of them can deny the chemistry between them.

What I loved about this is how stupidly in love Keane is with Poppy from almost the very beginning! He really tries to understand her and her hesitancy around the aristocracy. And this one gets a bonus for there being no 3rd act breakup. This was a super charming book and I was really rooting for both Poppy and Keane.

Also for my fellow "anywhere but a bed" fans - yes, there is a bathtub scene in this one!

This is the first book I've read by Anna Bennett but I'm definitely looking forward to reading more.

Thank you to Netgalley and

What a wonderful story. Loved reading.
Poppy helps her sick father to keep business afloat, one day she finds Andrew in the nest she cast.
He ask her for help and finally she agrees to do it.
Great writing

Rogues to Lovers has a second book in the series! One Duke Down by Anna Bennett is the next book to read. The novel starts off with Poppy finding a man on “her” beach with a head wound. From there the novel twists and turns until Poppy finds her true love.

The Duke of Hawking, Andrew Keane was hit over the head and pushed out into the sea to die. Poppy finds him weak and badly hurt on the beach. She helps him find a place to hide while he figures out who tried to kill him and why. Throughout the novel Andrew is painted as a bad person who is a rogue and not worthy of the title, however, slowly Poppy gets to the truth of the matter of what a good person he really is. This doesn’t answer all the questions though and it is clear someone has it in for the Duke.

I loved Poppy and her friends. I thought the storyline was cute and interesting. I swear the story sounds so familiar that I have read it before, but all I can think of is that parts of the story were revealed in the prior book, which doesn’t make sense to me.

One Duke Down by Anna Bennett is an historical romance that is a fun read.

I have read, and enjoyed, the other books in this Series; however, this one was a disappointment to me. The story started off very quickly but by the time I had read the first 40% I felt the story had lost steam and couldn't imagine what the next 60% would bring and I lost interest at that point. I enjoy Anna Bennett's writing, and expect to enjoy future books, but this one just wasn't able to hold my interest. 3-1/2 Stars

I received an ARC from the Publisher and NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this story about Poppy, the fisherwoman, & Keane, the Duke. I always love a story with a strong female lead in an unusual job with a man that is willing to look at the woman & not her status. I wonder how often that really happened back in this time. Highly recommend reading this book to see their story & the adventures along the way.

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

Poppy is a young woman who fishes to support her family. Her father is an invalid and her brother comes and goes to London to work on the docks.

When she finds an unconscious man on the beach one morning, she drags him out of harm’s way and doubts him when he comes to and claims he is a duke.

When she finds that he is telling the truth, even though he is charming and handsome, Poppy knows that he is untrustworthy. Members of the ton have hurt a member of her family and she will never trust any of them.

Things change.

Slowly, Poppy and Keane share who they are with one another. Someone tried to kill him and the two of the team up to find out who that someone is.

Poppy is a strong young woman who has taken over managing her family and their fishing business. She has devoted her life to protecting and caring for her father and brother. She loses herself in books. That may be because she sees not much of a future for herself. She has dreams and they seem very distant.

Keane is a man who never had support from his father. He has been wasteful about his life and reputation. But, underneath it all, he is a good man with a heart full of love that appears to be unwanted by anyone.
As he watches Poppy live her life, he begins to realize that he was born into privilege and wealth and has not made good use of either.

There is adventure here. Poppy and Keane try to find who attempted to kill Keane. As they put clues together, they focus on three men who may have been the villain. That leads to one adventure after another.

Actually, the mystery is not hard to solve. But, the trip to the solution is filled with entertainment.

Ms Bennett has created a well done plot with twists and turns.

Her characters are well rounded people. Poppy and Keane are well matched. They are intelligent, caring and charming. And both of them are drawn to one another because they have similar values.

The secondary characters add a great deal to the story. I especially liked Keane’s valet, Diggs, a man of many talents.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.

One Duke Down follows the ladies of Bellehaven, a small beachy town where everyone knows everything that goes on. I absolutely LOVED the first book in this series, so this was one of my most anticipated books of this year. Keane and Poppy were the stars of this romance, and I loved them both so much. One thing I loved the most about Anna Bennett’s writing is that I always have so much fun when I read her. I loved the low angst romance, the beachy setting, and NO third act breakup!!

This story started off with a bang. The first meeting between Poppy and Keane had me laughing out loud and the banter that these two convey with each other is outstanding. The murder aspect that is laced within this plot was surprising, but I found myself immersed in the mystery of it all.

I found the middle/end of the book to drag a bit. I felt like nothing was happening and the plot was at a standstill. However, the characters made up for the lack of plot in the middle. I loved the sweet and adorable romance that the two had and never felt a dull moment between the two! I can’t wait to revisit this town with the next book!

I received this as an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

I LOVE Anna Bennett and I was so excited to see this on Netgalley. The opening scene had me grinning ear to ear. A gorgeous man washes up on the beach, tangled in our heroine's fishing net? Are you KIDDING ME? What a magical setup. These two were too cute, it was instalove on his part and the whole book was just a matter of convincing her it would work out. He is a true cinnamon roll and all the subterfuge to keep him hidden was very fun.

Poppy is a very confident and adventurous heroine, the sex scenes were steamy and these two had great chemistry.

This was a very sweet, if ambling story - it did tend to get a little laggy near the end, but all the interactions between these two were just gorgeous. If you've read the first. book, you're already familiar with the whole cast of characters. If not, it might be a lot to unpack but they don't play a huge part in the story.

I truly appreciate St. Martin's Press providing an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is Poppy's book. I knew it would be good as she lives by her own rules. WHen a duke washes up on her beach, SHe feels the need to help him. SHe is taken out of her comfort zone but she is enjoying every bit of it.

THis book kept my interest and i read it in a few hours