A gorgeous romance with a strong, passionate heroine, thoughtful and caring hero, lots of adventures and a mystery to solve- what more can a reader ask? There are also a few hot, swoonworthy, steamy scenes, just to warn you in case you decide to listen to the audiobook version in a public place.

Poppy Summers is a fisherman's daughter, hard-working and loyal to her ailing father, her brother who has been drinking and gambling too much, and of course, her friends- Hazel and Kitty. Imagine her surprise when she finds an unconsious man tangled in one of her fishing nets! Poppy tries to help the poor soul by bandaging his head wound and moving him further away from the sea, all the time ignoring his attempts to pass for a duke. She does make a few discrete inquiries later and it turns out Keane was telling the truth- he is the Duke of Hawking! All Keane knows someone tried to murder him and throw his unconscous body in the sea, so he comes up with a brilliant plan to hide away on Poppy's beach for a few days and do a bit of sleuthing in the meantime to find the attacker. Poppy could do with the money the duke offers for staying in her humble beach shack, but more importantly Keane offers an opportunity for an adventure.

I was amazed how well Poppy took to her new role of an amateur sleuth and how good she was! Keane and Poppy make up a wonderful couple- they complement each other, listen and learn from each other which is a perfect recipe for a happy relationship. There's a lot more to Poppy's life story and it isn't particularly easy for an aristocrat to gain her trust. Needless to say, this is exactly what makes their story even sweeter and more swoonworthy.

Recommended to anyone who likes fun, entertaining historical romance with low-angst and a bit of spice.

One Duke Down by Anna Bennett, book two in her Rogues to Lovers series, is an entertaining, steamy, romantic, and wonderful story with a touch of humor, intrigue, family drama, supportive friends, a beautiful, vividly described setting, a delightful, heart-warming romance, with a twist. 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 claiming to be a Duke. That head wound has obviously made him delusional. Andrew Keane is the Duke of Hawking, and he's having a heck of a time convincing the fiery haired fishing beauty that he is truly 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. Those sparks flying between the pair are just her imagination; or so she tries to convince herself. Poppy doesn't trust aristocrats due to an incident in her past, while Keane is quickly drawn to Poppy's warmth, wit, and adventurous spirit. Getting to know each other through Keane's questions, which was quite clever, drew them together and their quests to find the attacker brought them a common bond. Poppy’s secret place, where she hid Keane, is a healing location. It is here, overlooking the sea, where they fall in love, and share a mixture of sweet, fun, and steamy moments.

Keane had already been questioning himself about his place in life and the way he's lived it. However, the more time he spends in Bellehaven Bay and with Poppy, the more he finds a sense of purpose. As the two of them 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. As the pair works together to uncover the truth, Keane is determined to show Poppy that although they are from very different worlds and social classes, they truly have a future together.

Ms. Bennett wrote a charming, clever, entertaining story that is not to be missed. She provided a tale with some strong messages about love, life, prejudice, taking chances, finding adventure, and forgiveness. There is a perfect blending of family ties, friends, and even a bit of suspense filling the pages. Bennett included amusing banter, sizzling chemistry, and charming characters giving Poppy and Keane a chance for happiness, love and a future together. I definitely recommend One Duke Down to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Great continuation of the Rogues to Lovers series! Great characters, Poppy was such a wonderful, strong woman that knew what she wanted, even when she was slightly wrong. Keane is a strong protector who is trying to convince Poppy that their differences don't matter. I love series, since I like to see what happens from the previous story and it looks like we'll get to see Kitty in the next book if I inferred things correctly.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.

I’m not ashamed to admit I requested an ARC of this book based on its cover. I don’t do that often, but this one really caught my eye. At the time, I hadn’t read anything by this author but then again I had only gotten back into reading historical romance about a year ago. And again, this cover! Being a completionist (if that’s the right word) of sorts, I promptly requested the first book in the series from the library and enjoyed that story quite a bit. Poppy was introduced in Girls Before Earls and I love her strong will and eagerness to learn. I knew she’d be a challenge for anyone to woo.

While I knew I’d fall in love with Keane, I was not expecting to fall quite so quickly. I’m sure Poppy felt the same. He is generous and kind and does not tolerate those that are selfish. Which is why he has a bit of a reputation within the Ton. Not because he’s bad, but because he doesn’t conform to their expectations and will not deign to explain himself to them when they would rather believe gossip and half-truths.

For her reasons, Poppy doesn’t trust anyone in the aristocracy yet finds herself wanting to believe Keane is not as bad as she had at first believed. It doesn’t take long before Poppy learns who the real Keane is, and it’s not from any sort of confession from him. Keane prefers people make their judgments of him without his explanations and excuses, and those that want to believe the worst are not worth his time. Poppy is well worth his time, and she proves that.

I love the time Poppy and Keane spent on their own in their hideaway as well as during their adventures (along with his valet) trying to figure out who is after Keane. The real world is still there, Poppy still has to work and take care of her father, but she’s able to escape from her hard life when she goes down to the beach to bring Keane food and conversation.

Keane is a stalwart throughout this book, which I greatly appreciate. Even when the thought is introduced to him that Poppy may be scamming him, which given the circumstances could have been easily believed, he knows in his heart that it is not in her nature and he can trust her. As much as I believed I’d love Poppy from her introduction in the first book, Keane was right there with her in my esteem.

There were a few times I felt the pacing of the story was off but other than that this was a great read.

5 Solving A Puzzle Leads to Love Stars!!

I fell in love with Poppy when I read the first book in this series so I was giddy with excitement when her book hit my kindle! This is girl has taken on so much in her young life seeing that her brother who we shall not talk about, has basically deserted her with a huge burden. So imagine her surprise when she finds a handsome man washed up on her beach who claims he’s a Duke.

And so begins a story that is filled with intrigue, chemistry and a mystery that had me fully captivated from beginning to end. I love how Andrew went about convincing Poppy to help him prove that his life was in danger. Poppy is naturally wary but as things start to fall in place, it appears he’s telling the truth. And the closer they get to the truth the more Poppy falls for this man that sees her for who she really is inside and out.

One of the things I love so much about this book is that it’s a charming read. Just the right amount of light angst as Poppy and Keane start to fall in love. Poppy remains a strong and capable woman that is equal to Keane even though their stations in life are so very different. And their time between the sheets is steamy and oh so good!

As they solve the “who done its” of this book and their love grows stronger and stronger I had a huge smile on my face because if anyone deserves to be loved with no limits it’s Poppy!! I’m secretly hoping we’re getting Kitty’s book in the future.

Poppy spends her mornings fishing, trying to keep the family business operating since her father is ill and her brother has moved to London. One morning she finds a man tangled in the nets who claims to be a duke. Andrew is in fact a duke but has a hard time convincing Poppy that he is. He has come to Bellhaven to escape London but unfortunately someone in Bellehaven wants to kill him. He asks Poppy to hide him so that he can find his attacker easier but she doesn’t want to be involved. He offers a generous sum of money for food and shelter that she must accept to help her family. As they work together to find his would be murderer they grow closer together but the prime suspect may tear them apart. A delightful Cinderella type story.

4.5 Stars ⭐️ - Top Pick

“And he knew he’d never forget that moment. He and Poppy could live on a majestic country estate or own the most elegant townhouse in all of London. He’d never love any place more than their little lean-to on the beach of Bellehaven Bay.”
Poppy Summers is determined to keep her family’s fishing business afloat after her brother travels to London for work and her father’s ailing health. She is astonished to find an injured man claiming to be a duke caught in her fishing nets. Someone tried to kill Andrew Keane, Duke of Hawking, and he is in need of Poppy’s help discovering the identity of his attacker. Poppy mistrusts nobility after they deeply hurt someone she loved, but the money Andrew offers for her help makes her accept his offer. She is about to realize that Andrew is more than just a duke, and he might not be as rotten and terrible as she believes members of the aristocracy to be.

I feel like Anna Bennett’s writing is a balm for my soul. All her books I have read are low drama and high romance, and I mean that in the best way. When life is hard or I’ve been reading books that are too intense, I look to pick up something of hers because it genuinely makes me happy. I smile like a fool throughout the whole thing and can’t stop. It’s like a tiny ray of sunshine on a cold and dreary winter day. This book was no different for me, and I can’t tell you how much I needed to read something like this. The characters were loveable, the story was charming, and the romance was perfect. One Duke Down is another lovely release for Anna Bennett.

If you’re a fan of other low-angst authors such as Christy Carlyle and Amelia Grey, then you definitely don’t want to miss this new release.

~ Michelle

Anna Bennett is back with another Rogues to Lovers novel, One Duke Down!

And we were introduced to the fisherman’s daughter, Miss Poppy Summers, in the last book, and it’s finally her time to find her HEA! Poppy has been taking care of her father and his fishing business, since his health is ailing, and then her brother left for the London docs to find more prosperous work.

She was surprised to find a man washed up on the shore, while she’s out,, checking her lines … not only is he a man, he claims to be a duke!

While on holiday, Andrew Keane, the Duke of Hawking is attacked in left for dead. Now he must find out who his would be assassin is… With the help of the fisherman’s daughter!

The story was filled with Hijinx and adventure that gave it a real old-school flavor, and it was a lot of fun. This is the second class difference romance in the series, and Bennett excels in creating a real connection and a believable match between these two opposites.

This series has been a delight and I’m excited to see who is next in Bellhaven Bay to find their HEA!

Thanks to @smpromance for the review copy. Opinions are my own.

#OneDukeDown #AnnaBennett

Thanks #NetGalley for the advanced copy of #OneDukeDown by Anna Bennett in exchange for an honest review.

What a fun, lighthearted story! If you are looking for a sweet romance with a side of mystery, this is a great option. I enjoyed the openness and honesty between Poppy and Andrew. They were both very selfless when it came to their relationships not only with each other but with their families. The learned to trust each other and not blame each other for the failings of others in their lives. This was a very healthy relationship and I enjoyed having that kind of story. The cover makes you happy and this is one of those times that the cover is perfect for the story within. I'm looking forward to reading more books by Anna Bennett.

A fisherman's daughter and a Duke fished out of the water.
This is a remarkable story of opposites who attract.
Anna Bennett is an exceptional author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

I really enjoyed reading this book by one of my favorite authors. Ms Bennett writes a totally moving story about two people who are from different worlds. One is a Duke and the other a woman who fishes. That's how the story starts when a man is tangled up in a fishing net and is saved by same.
Poppy's family is in the fishing business on a small scale to support her family. But when a man is caught by her net, he knows who he is, but not how he landed in the situation.
Andrew Keane, the Duke of Hawking, is thankful for Poppy helping him and be so kind. He thinks she is beautiful and deserving of love and attention. She thinks he's off his rocker. But she is wiling to help get his memory back and the mystery surrounding him.
I felt so much for these two people who start out shaky but end up with a happy ever after.
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.

The duke and the fisherwoman....

Poppy has the hard task of providing for her family by fishing her cove in Bellehaven. She catches a duke, Andrew Keane, the Duke of Hawking. Of course she doesn't believe he's a duke. He's dellusional. I liked that she didn't believe it for a bit.

Andrew Keane, a duke, was hiding out in Bellehaven to escape some London drama, when someone attempts to kill him and almost succeeds. So, he's laying low while trying to solve the mystery of who done it.

There's the Belles (her friends) and Poppy's love of reading, along with the science of fishing.
Recommend.

This was my first time reading anything by Anna Bennett. Now I am hooked. This story was so well written I just couldn't stop reading.
Poppy Summers is a fisherman's daughter working to keep the family business going when her widowed father became I'll. It all falls on her since her wild brother left for London. Things get complicated when a very attractive man ends up tangled in her fishing nets with a head injury.
The Duke of Hawking, Andrew Keane, came to Bellhaven Bay to escape London and his responsibilities. After ending up injured and tangled in a fishing net because someone wants to kill him then everything changes.
He enlists the help of the feisty redhead to take care of his injuries and hide him on her beach. They agreed he will pay her a large sum of money to feed and shelter him and that in turn will help her and her family. She just had to keep him hidden.
They work together to solve the mystery of his would-be killer. Before long hearts and feelings get involved.
I don't wanna give away the details in this fun story. It is one of those you really need to read to discover it all on your own. This steamy historical romance is full of heart, humor, intrigue and romance. With her attention to details it makes this heart warming romance a must read and a fun adventure.
I received an ARC copy from Net gallery.

Can't resist a pretty cover!❣️✨ Lol 😂 It's usually the cover that catches my eye at first and then I read the blurb and check out the reviews. So, it was the same case for this one when I saw it on Netgalley and I was like 'oh they look so cute smiling at each other' and the orange was eye catching so, I thought I'd give it a try. And well, it wasn't angsty but not really fun in the way I was expecting either. I feel so mean saying this but there was nothing wrong with the book but I was just a bit disinterested alright 🙈 And you might be like what do you want girl? I was the one who wanted a low angst historical romance without much drama 😬 but I also don't want nothing to be happening over so many chapters. Like idk it was my mood, it started off well but later I found it hard not to skip pages because I wasn't paying attention 😅⁣
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So, this one is a Cinderella-ish class difference romance(it had a masquerade ball and everything but no evil stepmothers) with a duke and a fisherman's daughter. Poppy Summers is out fishing one day when she finds an unconscious man tangled up in her net and washed ashore. She helps him and finds out that he's the Duke of Hawking(which she doesn't believe at first) and he asks for her help in providing food and shelter while he tries to find the person who attacked him. Soon, Poppy finds herself roped into helping Keane find his attacker and as they spend more time together their relationship deepens too. But, can a duke and a fisherman's daughter end up together especially when Poppy has enough reasons to not trust someone belonging to a different circle?⁣
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Actually it was very interesting at first and I loved how they met each other. Poppy is brave and hardworking while Keane is misunderstood. But after a while I felt bored and there wasn't much happening till like 75%. And after some chapters everything is resolved. I didn't feel too invested in the characters or the plot and ik you'll be shocked that I'm saying this - but some drama/conflict could have made this more interesting lol 🤣 Idk how to rate this now 😂😅

Miss Poppy Summers never thought at 23 years old that she would be spending her days running the family's fishing business, but with her father ill and her brother spending his time in London, she has no choice. One day she finds the most unique thing in her fishing nets....a man!!!!....and he keeps claiming to be Andrew Keane, the Duke of Hawking. Unfortunately, Keane has a bad head wound and asks Poppy to help him. At first Poppy is reluctant to believe this man is really a duke, but once she does, she agrees to help him get better and hide him on her property until he can heal. It seems someone tried to kill him and Keane thinks it would be better if no one knows he is still alive.

Together Poppy and Keane come up with a list of three potential people who would want to kill him and come up with a plan to figure out who of the three people they think it is. As these two spend more time together on their various adventures, their chemistry really starts to sizzle. Poppy makes Keane an offer that he has a hard time refusing and then these two just explode!

When Keane realizes who was the man who hit him, the life that Poppy and Keane had dreamed of just may never happen. In a surprising twist, the real culprit is found out during their engagement party and all hell breaks loose. In the end Poppy and Keane end up just as they should....together!

I really enjoyed this historical romance. Keane was such a great hero and found something wonderful in Poppy. Poppy may have been a Lady, but she was not afraid to get her hands dirty. Together they complemented each other perfectly. Great characters and a really fun story line.

I read "One Duke Down" by Anna Bennett on NetGalley. This is the second book in a series. I have read the first one also, and liked this one even more! I can't wait for the next book! The main character is Poppy, who spends her days fishing trying to keep her family business going. One day she finds an unconscious man on her beach. He ends up being a duke, who someone had tried to kill. Poppy ends up helping Keane try to solve the mystery. This was a great book to read!

One Duke Down is the second book in the Rogues to Lovers series and can be a stand-alone read.

Poppy Summers is the daughter of a fisherman who is now running the family business. Her father is ill, and her brother has gone to London to get better work to help support the family. As Poppy prepares her nets for the day's work, she discovers an injured man tangled in her net, on the beach. As she works to untangle the unconscious man, she realizes she may need the doctor. Just before she is ready to leave, he awakens. He identifies himself as Keane the Duke of Hawking, Poppy however does not believe him and says so.

Andrew Keane is not sure what happened to him but is pretty sure he was attacked and left to drown. He convinces Poppy to let him hide on her beach to heal and figure out who wants him dead. Andrew offers her a large sum of money to care for him and to find his valet. Poppy may not believe him, but she can't turn down the money which would help her care for her father and herself.

Andrew has not led an admirable life due to his father. Poppy has had a life of hardship and due to previous experiences with the ton. These two are wounded in their own way and will find comfort and care from one another. The more time Andrew spends with Poppy the more he realizes he needs to change going forward. Poppy on the other hand dreams of a life with Andrew but is afraid to take a chance.

One of the things I liked most about this book is the that we meet Poppy first and learn so much about her before Andrew awakens. The details are so important that we feel right away we know and understand Poppy. Andrew wants to know more about Poppy who is afraid to disclose anything. So, he asks her one question a day in order to learn more about her. I really enjoyed the teasing out of information that makes them so endearing.

This is a wonderful afternoon read and I look forward to reading the whole series.

I loved this one! Poppy was fishing and while she was fishing she fishes not a fish but a half naked MAN! There is a lot of banter in this story between her and Keene (the man) and he tells her he’s a duke basically got hit in the head and can’t remember who did that to him tried to kill him. So he makes a deal with her to find out who it is and that he would pay her a lot of money since he is a duke and is rich. Poppy doesn’t believe that he’s a duke she thinks he is lying or just can’t remember got hit in the head and is making it up. But there is alot of flirting they slowly fall in love and its just fantastic! I loved reading this!

This was sent to me as an arc 100% opinion is my own.

Miss Poppy Summers expects a lot of fish in the sea to get caught in her nets, not a figurative fish who claims to be the Duke of Hawking in One Duke Down by Anna Bennett!!

I love Poppy’s cynical, get-off-my-beach vibe, but we also see her kindness during her meet-cute with Andrew Keane. However, she is not kind enough to believe he is a duke. She is busy, she lets him know it, what a boss!

I enjoyed the who-dun-it aspect to the story!! I love that Poppy takes the opportunity to have fun while helping Andrew find his attacker. I love that the Belles, her friends, help her have fun while on her mystery missions.

I love how insanely understanding Andrew is! He has patience with Poppy’s reluctance to share her secrets, keeping them in limbo. He wants answers before accusing his attacker. Then he decides a fair punishment for the mastermind, but does it blow up in his face??

If you enjoy difference, independent woman, masquerades, road trips, and sick bed stories, then this book is for you!!

Thank you to Net Galley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Poppy Summers may work for a living, but that doesn't mean she can't face the scorn of society. Saving the life of the Duke of Hawking is unexpected, but not unwelcome. Working together, they will flush out whoever tried to kill him. At the same time barriers are broken to look at a future together.
A strong-willed opinionated woman brings a duke to his knees.
Heat level 4
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.