A cute romance. A bit too syrupy sweet at times which would have been helped by little more angst mixed in. It did hold my interest though so overall a worthwhile read.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and this is my freely given opinion.

This is the second book in the series and about the second of the Bellehaven Belles, Poppy Summers, the hard working, proud fisherwoman who is friends with Hazel, the new Countess of Bladenton and headmistress, from book 1. Life has been hard for Poppy, who is the only one working the nets to keep their business going, takes care of her ill, widowed father and their home, while her brother takes off for London. But she is fiercely loyal to her family and close friends, the other Belles, and tries to do the best she can with what she has.

While fishing one day, her net draws up a different catch than the usual cod, a strange man, beaten and unconscious has drifted into her cove. When he rouses, he says he is Andrew Keane, the Duke of Hawking and was attacked when leaving the local pub one night, and thrown into the water. Unfortunately, it was not just a simple robbery, but an attempted murder. Poppy initially disbelieves him, but when he makes her an offer for more money than she would normally make, to allow him to hide in her cove while trying flush out who would want him dead.

Poppy has a distrust of nobility, developed from her own experiences as her mother was born a lady, but fell in love with a simple fisherman and when she chose love, her family disavowed her. Poppy suffered their rejection first hand when seeking help for her mother when she was ill and dying, and never forgot it. This colours her initial relationship with Andrew. But as they get to know each other, they develop a friendship and trust that becomes closer, and there is the underlying attraction they eventually cannot deny, despite being so far apart in status.

Drew has a bit of a roguish reputation, and a few people who would wish him dead, so hiding in the cove as he heals with whoever wanted him murdered thinking they were successful would give him a chance to work on plans to flush them out. He is not overly proud or arrogant, and manages to win Poppy's trust and liking.

This was a sweet story of lovers from different sides of society, and definitely suspends belief, but is rather sweet. Drew has a reputation for being a rogue that as the story goes on seems to be a bit unearned and he is more the mislabeled or wronged party. The murder mystery does end up being a bit predictable, but makes a decent device for allowing Poppy and Drew to have intimate alone time to develop a relationship, that would never have happened in open. The intersection of Poppy's family and Drew's murder attempt was an interesting development.

I liked Drew's earnest outlook and found him to be a sweet character. I wish there was a bit more about his past, since it sounds like his father mistreated him because of his mother's affairs and that created his own lack of confidence in himself and his ability to be a duke, and contributed to other problems in his life. But otherwise, this was fun and sweet romance with a bit of steam.

3.75 stars out of 5.

Delightful!! This story has wonderful characters with a splash of intrigue. Poppy Summers, a fisherwoman, taking care of her ill father in Bellehaven Bay. One morning she comes upon an unconscious man on the shore entangled in one of her nets. Not sure if he's alive or dead; she drags him up the beach; away from the water. Good thing she's strong from dragging the fishing nets in.
He's been hurt and she bandages his head as best she can. Eventually, he regains consciousness and tells Poppy that he's a Duke. Of course she doesn't believe him and even if she did; she's learned not to trust any aristocrats.

Keane, the Duke of Hawking, is in awe of this woman that's helped him. He doesn't remember how he got hit on the head or how he ended up in the ocean. He enlists Poppy's help to try to narrow down the suspects. Despite herself, Poppy, finds herself drawn to Keane and wants to help him discover how he came to be on "her beach".

A beautifully written story of friendships, learning to trust, believing in oneself, and romance along with a little mystery and intrigue; plus a delightful array of characters.

I got my wish for more Belles and the follow up installment with Poppy & Keane did NOT disappoint.

Poppy is a headstrong daughter of a fisherman who happens to catch a disoriented duke in her net. As the two try to figure out who left the Duke for dead, they also begin to realize they might be a perfect fit for one another, despite their differences in station.

This book had intrigue, wonderful friendships, family drama & low spice but still made me smile the entire time. I really felt like I knew each and every one of the characters, which is such a tribute to the strength of the writing.

Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! Can’t wait for Kitty and her “nemesis” to be next!

The cover art perfectly captures the tone of One Duke Down -- it's adorable and cheesy but also really romantic. Poppy and Keane are so cute together in the story, and their fairytale-like romance is swoon-worthy. This is the type of book that works best if you can go with the flow of it and not think too critically on historical accuracy or get bogged down in details. I will definitely be adding it to my comfort re-read list for the future.

After Poppy finds Keane unconscious on the beach following someone's attempt to kill him, she gives him shelter and a place to recover in secret while he plots to uncover who attacked him. They end up working together to solve the mystery, and in the meantime Poppy joins Keane on his adventures in London and Ascot in his quest to find the villain. Although Poppy has no aspirations of joining the ton -- and in fact actively dislikes them after her mother was disowned by her aristocratic parents for marrying Poppy's father and abandoned when in need of their help -- she sees this as her one chance to live her dreams of attending a masquerade ball and escaping her life for at least a few hours.

There's very little conflict here (apart from family issues both Poppy and Keane have), but in the context of the story it works. Keane is caring and attentive with Poppy, and his daily insightful questions to her show how much understands her and her reservations about their future (which is the only real stumbling block in their relationship). Keane's valet and Poppy's family/friends are all supportive of their relationship despite the large social gap and are entertaining additions to the story.

The only minor issue I had with the story is that it seemed like it could have wrapped up earlier. Although I'm glad that extra time was spent to address some other lingering issues, at the same time it felt like the ending dragged a bit.

As with book 1 in this series, I highly recommend this for fans of Tessa Dare, as well as anyone who just wants a fun, entertaining and relatively angst-free historical romance.

Thank you to St. Martin’s and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!

One Duke Down features the unlikely pairing of a duke and a fisherwoman, specifically when Keane washes up on Poppy’s beach with a lump on his head. In unconventional fashion, Keane decides to hide out in Poppy’s reading nook while he, his valet Diggs and Poppy hunt for his attacker. Naturally, the unconventional duke falls for the charming and selfless Poppy, but Poppy is skittish about getting involved with Keane. Love may find a way but the pair have some family dramas to sort out along the way. The story is sweet, maybe a bit too much so. Doesn’t every “normal” woman want a rich, good-looking man to fall head over heels with them? And be at their command? It also feels like the main climax comes too early in the book. It doesn’t mean all of their conflicts are over, but when you get to that point it will make you wonder how Bennett is going to play things out over the last quarter of the book. I enjoyed this book, but I may have loved it more if it felt like there was more keeping Poppy and Keane from their happily ever after. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Although an otherwise enjoyable (and nicely steamy) read, One Duke Down was a little too insta-love for my taste and that, unfortunately, really impacted my enjoyment of this.

What a delightful story! I loved it from start to finish. Great romantic tension, exciting characters, and the cover is a perfect match for the vibe of the book. I mean, the duke is totally GONE for Poppy, the fisherman's daughter who saves his life (and a great strong female protagonist) and it is so sweet to watch him try to win her.

And best of all, I discovered a new historical romance author! brb off to read Anna Bennett's backlist...

Thank you to NetGalley, SMP, and the author for the eARC in exchange for my review.

I love a great story with a twist.

Let's face it. When it comes to romance, especially niche romance, like historical romance, you have to have a great twist to keep the reader involved and engaged.

This story is a great example of just that. This story features a very strong female lead and a delightful Duke who washes up on her shore. Sparks fly and hearts grow tender.

I love the interactions and banter between the two. Bennett crafted the characters with a delightful, fun warmth to them that you cannot help but fall in love with them.

A perfect blend of family ties, friends, and even a bit of suspense fills the pages. Plus, Bennett does not shy away from heating up the pages with steam and sexy romance.

One Duke Down by Anna Bennett is a fun and sweet story that was truly a pleasure to read! And the cover... fire!

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Poppy finds a man in the water while fishing. When he wakes up he lets her know that he is a Duke which she is skeptical about. The Duke took a blow to the head and has no recollection of how he got their. I enjoyed the chemistry between Poppy and the Duke.

Out of this world fun, Heart wrenching page turner. Absolutely loved the originality of this story.

This is an entertaining, well-written, steamy, historical romance novel. It has a strong and capable female protagonist, a warm and caring male protagonist, wit, a touch of humor, intrigue, family drama, supportive friends, a beautiful, vividly described setting, a delightful, heart-warming romance, and a happily ever after ending.
This is the second entry in Ms. Bennett's fabulous Rogues to Lovers series, and can easily be read and enjoyed as a stand alone.
St. Martin's Press, Anna Bennett, and NetGalley kindly provided me with an ARC of this wonderful novel and this is my honest opinion.

Poppy rescues Keane, who just happens to be a Duke, after she finds him awash on shore tangled in her fishing net.

This book has mystery, intrigue and romance, with a few twists and turns before Poppy end Keane get their HEA. Well done.

I received an advance reader copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

One Duke Down is the second book in Bennett's delightful Rogues to Lovers series. The stories and characters are unique, interesting and highly emotional. Poppy Summers is truly a fisherman's daughter, and now the sole provider for her ill father. She spends her days on the water, hauling in her nets and selling her fish at market. Imagine her shock to find a gorgeous injured male tangled in her nets one morning - one who claims to be a Duke. Right . . . that head wound obviously has made him delusional. Andrew Keane is the Duke of Hawking, and he's having a devil of a time convincing the fiery haired fishing beauty that he's telling the truth. He does, however, convince her to hide him away on her beach allowing him time to heal and figure out who wants him dead. Poppy may not believe him, but she can't turn down the large sum of money he offers her to help him. Never mind the sparks that are flying between the pair. It's just a business arrangement, right?

One Duke Down is an apt title as Keane finds himself questioning his place in life and the way he's lived it as he learns more about Poppy and the hard row she hoes every single day just to put food on the table. As the story unfolds, the pair grow closer and while Poppy may dream of what a life with Keane would be like, she's convinced there's no way she'd ever fit in a Duke's world nor would she be accepted. Keane is determined to gain her trust as he falls head over heels for her. Meantime, they work as a team to determine who tried to kill Keane.

I enjoyed the grit and determination displayed by both Poppy and Keane and the emotional turmoil felt by both as they seek an impossible way forward together. These characters are well developed and believable. While this is the second book in this series, this story stands alone as the author includes all pertinent past information. However, it would be beneficial to read Girls Before Earls as it introduces this charming town and the trio of women who form friendships that will carry them through life. One Duke Down explores family ties and loyalty, love between social classes and earning trust in this charming historical romance and mystery. Highly recommended to fans of historical romance.

One Duke Down is a fantastic historical romance by Anna Bennett. Ms. Bennett has provided readers with a well-written story populated with an outstanding cast of characters. Poppy has taken over her father's fishing business since he became ill. She finds Keane, the Duke of Hawking, on her beach with a head injury. Poppy and Keane's story is packed with drama, humor, spice, action and suspense. I loved this book and look forward to my next book by Anna Bennett. One Duke Down is book 2 of the Rogues to Lovers Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliffhanger.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Poppy Summers is out fishing to feed her family. She is the only one that keeps it going. Her father is very ill, and her brother spends his time in London. She finds a large man in her net. She moves from the edge of the water to a safer place farther up the sand. He is unconscious and has a bad cut on his forehead. He finally wakes up and tells her he is a duke. His name is Keane. He believes someone is trying to kill him, but he does not know why or who.

An excellent story with someone trying to kill him and have tried several times. When he was finally able, he started looking into it. It has a serious tone but also a light and frothy one also. I enjoyed where she was very tight mouthed and didn't want to tell him about her life and he started asking one question a night. Their banter was fun and had a great love scene. They are wonderful and kind and interact well with everyone but the bad people. It wasn't rushed or really overdone but easy going except where he got attacked. I really liked this novel and reveled in it.

I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Andrew Keane, the Duke of Hawking, travels to an English seaside resort town to escape scandal. However, trouble follows him there. Keane wakes with an aching head and a fiery-haired woman hovering nearby. He plans to discover the identity of his attacker, but first, he needs his rescuer’s assistance. Keane cannot ignore his growing curiosity of the beautiful angler, especially her distrust of the nobility. Will Keane and Poppy figure out his assailant? Can he convince her to take a chance with him? Or will their differing social status stand in their way?
Miss Poppy Summers is a fisherman’s daughter. She takes over the family’s angler business, while caring for her ailing father. Poppy discovers an unconscious man washed up on the beach and tangled into her nets. She suspects the man will be nothing but trouble, especially when he claims to be a duke. Poppy reluctantly agrees to help Andrew Kean find his assailant. She soon becomes swept up in the adventure and the man. Can Poppy trust Keane with her heart? Will she dare fight the social barrier dividing them? Or will Keane prove to be like the other members of the ton?
Keane is a delightful surprise! I could not help but fall in love with the charming rascal! Keane is a man who has survived his father’s belittling contempt, but he never allowed it to harden him. I adore Keane’s generous heart. He would willingly step in and help someone from the working class against his peers. What I love the most about Keane is that he is not conceited or pompous. He does not care about class distinction. Keane never once put on airs around Poppy or disparaged her way of life.
I am thrilled that Poppy received her happily-ever-after. She deserves it. Poppy has this scrappy personality that I cannot help but adore! She is not afraid to speak frankly or stand up for herself when necessary. I understand Poppy’s negative outlook on the nobility. She has weathered their disdain and superiority all her life; however, she knows there are a few exceptions. What I love the most about Poppy is her dedication to family. For all her brother’s flaws and faults, she has never given up on him or abandoned him. Plus, Poppy sacrificed her dreams for the future to care for her father.
ONE DUKE DOWN is the second book in Anna Bennett’s historical romance series, ROGUES TO LOVERS. The story can easily stand alone. However, I would highly recommend reading the prior book, GIRLS BEFORE EARLS. It introduces the prominent setting, a charming little seaside town called Bellehaven Bay. It also shows the sweet friendship between Poppy, Hazel, and Kitty, plus their secret sisterhood. I love how Kitty and Hazel play important roles in the story’s development.
ONE DUKE DOWN is a whimsical tale of two people managing to overcome their social standing to be together. I finished this book in two sittings because I really did not want to put it down. I wonder if Kitty is the next Belles to find her special someone. I cannot wait to find out!

This checked off everything I look for in a book. Was not disappointed. Really enjoyed this book. I will read more from this author. Must read. Historical fiction oh yeah.

I found a lady character to be very intriguing. I think that she is the main character who leads the story the most. Keane is very intrigued by her. Their story is romantic in some ways. The story focuses mostly on the mystery that surrounds Keane and how he has landed at Poppy’s feet, rather beach. While Keane, Poppy and Keane’s, valet become, detective sleuths, I felt that the story supplied entertainment for me as the reader. The book has a wonderful happy ending that was written so beautiful. I enjoyed the interesting characters that Poppy came into contact with. In some ways these characters brought some humor to the story. I absolutely loved the cover of the book. The writer did a splendid job of combining the colors and the choosing of the couple.

Parts of the story felt very familiar (as if I have read a similar story before) but it was an enjoyable read!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.