Can we talk about this cover, please?! It’s stunning!! Their smiles, the colors, everything!! I love it so much!!

This book had me hooked from the very first paragraph:

“Miss Poppy Summers was accustomed to finding odd, unwanted objects tangled in her fishing nets: clumps of seaweed, discarded rum bottles, even the occasional clay pipe. But until that sun-soaked June morning, she had never, in the course of all her twenty-three years, had the misfortune of catching a man. A strapping, half-dressed, unconscious man, at that.”

Poppy & Keane were great. Good banter, had great chemistry together. They really came to understand one another, totally trusted and put all their faith into the relationship. No running away from each other which means no third act breakup in this book!

Poppy and Keane come from very different classes — a fisherman’s daughter & a Duke. Poppy brought her fears and thoughts to Keane and he came to understand where she was coming from. He didn’t want to change her even if (more like when she became a duchess).

Anyways, loved this one! So charming and so cute!!

[Thank you SMPRomance and NetGalley for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own!]

I fell down alongside the Duke! I fell so hard for One Duke Down.
It was funny, charming and the romance gave me butterflies.
The characters were charming and lovable. I specifically loved how spunky and resourceful the heroine was. Also adore when the hero falls first, which happens here even though he's suffering from memory loss.
The plot is interesting and kept my interest. I wasn't disappointed by how everything turned out.
Overall a wonderfully delightful romance that any historical romance lover is going to absolutely fall for!

Recommend for readers who enjoy: hero in danger, amnesia plot, smart wallflower heroine, beach town setting, no third-act breakup(!), humor, close proximity and mild steam.

I received an ARC copy through NetGalley, but all my thoughts are my own.

Poppy is out fishing when she notices a man caught in her nets. She's irritated and pokes the gentleman and calls him a pirate. When he says he isn't a pirate but a duke, she scoffs! Keane is a hopeless romantic who decides to fake his death in order to find out who was trying to kill him. Poppy's traumatic past with members of nobility leaves her guarded but she reluctantly teams up with Keane to help him find his killer and in doing so they both learn more about themselves than they bargained form.

Tropes: small town (seaside), class difference, no third act breakup, one bed, heroine makes the first move (very boldly!), mastermind (man with a plan)

What worked for me? I love Poppy. She might be my new favorite heroine. She's witty and adventurous and thinks the man she caught in her net who claims he is a duke is just suffering from a head injury. This is a very light and low angst read and i had so much fun reading it. Keane is absolutely a romantic and when he does fall in love he becomes a man with a plan and is all in on making Poppy his duchess even though she is of lower class. The quippy banter and the side characters. the small seaside fishing town and the private little lean to. I loved it all. My face hurts from smiling so much.

What didn't work for me? After the main conflict with finding Keane's killer is resolved there is still 30% left and left me wondering what the heck was going to happen. Luckily there is still conflict and twists to be had. There is also quite a lot of nautical themed words that start to become a little cheesy. Neither of these things bothered me enough though to detract from my rating.

Favorite Quote: "You are an insufferable romantic."

Why should you read this? If you need a low angst, super sweet read with quippy banter and characters supporting each other no matter what happens, READ THIS!

This is a cute low angst rom-com like romance. The hero and heroine are well matched and well written. Poppy is strong woman who has made the best of things. Andrew has the best of intentions but being raised as duke has left some blind spots.

Tightly written ,fast paced, funny with some steaminess I recommend it.

2.5 stars

I've never read any of Anna Bennett's books, but this absolutely STUNNING cover basically begged to be picked up. The blurb also drew me in with a unique story about a fisherman's daughter helping (and falling for) a duke out of water who is trying to figure out who is responsible for a recent attempt on his life.

Unfortunately, for me, the actual execution of the romance did not necessarily work for me. I really enjoyed the story's setting and some of the more unique plot points that we got like going to the races at Ascot, but the pacing and the fairly obvious clues to the mystery really sucked a lot of the tension out of the tale. I enjoy the fact that these two characters have such a simple and fairly straightforward love for each other, but we really don't get to spend much time in their heads. When we do, it is either fairly repetitive or it really only scratched the surface of the big emotions that the characters are grappling with.

All in all, what I had hoped was going to be a five-star romance ended up being pretty middle of the road for me. I'd definitely consider reading more from Anna Bennett, but I most likely go in with a little trepidation.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Paperbacks for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

One Duke Down is the second book in Anna Bennett’s Rogues to Lovers series following up the first book, Girls Before Earls, which I adored! While this one didn’t live up to my expectations for it, the cover is so much fun (the orange, their smiles) and it is a low-angst historical romance read if you’re wanting that.

Poppy is a fisherman’s daughter determined to keep her family’s fishing business afloat, even if that means cheerfully spending her mornings working. It’s on one of these early mornings that she’s out casting her fishing nets when she finds a man tangled up in them! The handsome stranger finally wakes up, has a head wound, and is claiming to be a Duke. Andrew Keane, Duke of Hawking, was in the seaside resort of Bellehaven Bay to escape his London life when he was attacked and almost-killed. Now he wants Poppy’s help in hiding him out while he tries to discover who intended to harm him. And all this extra time together leads to Keane and Poppy falling for one another along the way.

I thought this had such a fun setup and I loved how Poppy doesn’t believe Keane is a Duke at first. I love a class difference romance and a fisherwoman and aristocrat is one I haven’t read before. We do get some time with these two at the beach hideout, a trip into London, a masquerade ball (she dresses as Artemis, he arrives as Dionysus), and many appearances of her friend Hazel (heroine of book 1). Around the middle the story started to drag for me. It was a little too low-angst for me and the story just felt stagnant. The romance was just easy and kind of lackluster, while the main plot is Keane trying to discover who has it out for him. I still do enjoy this seaside setting and while this book wasn’t my favorite, it had its moments.

“What am I, Keane?”
“You are a beam of sunlight. A breath of air. A force of nature.”

Thank you to the publisher (St. Martin’s Press, SMP Romance) for an e-ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts in this review are my own. One Duke Down has a release date of January 24, 2023!

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and these are my opinions.
This was a highly entertaining read. Poppy Summers is running her family's fishing business while her father is ill, and her brother is in London. She finds an unconscious man tangled up in her fishing net and pulls him to safety. She doesn't believe him when he wakes up and tells her that he is The Duke of Hawking. She takes him to her private sanctuary to recuperate and he asks her to not tell anyone his whereabouts since he believes someone is trying to kill him.
There are many interesting characters and twists and turns in the story that keep you wanting more.
This is the first book that I have read from Ms. Bennett, but it won't be the last.

From the minute Keane washes up on Poppy’s stretch of beach, they both know their worlds are going to turn upside down. They have nothing in common, except an attraction Poppy tries very hard to ignore. But as they work together to find out who attacked Keane and left him for dead in the water, they grow closer until their lives are hopelessly entwined. Keane is charming and sweet and smarter than he’s given credit for, and Poppy is confident and self-sufficient but secretly dreams of someone stepping up to help her. In other words, they’re exactly what the other one needs.

I’m a sucker for the dynamic between characters who think they shouldn’t be together when it’s obvious they’re perfect for each other. I’m also a sucker for books where the guy falls first – and falls hard. Poppy’s hesitance is completely understandable, and the way Keane took his time convincing her they should be together was both sweet and sexy in turn. Most importantly, he respected her boundaries at all times and never pushed for more than she wanted. Basically, a regency era heartthrob.

The underlying mystery was entertaining as well. I never correctly guessed who was behind the attack on Keane, and I thought all of his plans to ferret out information were somehow both insane and ingenious. I was totally sucked into finding out who it was, and that’s not always the case. Sometimes in historical romance, the mystery element falls flat. Anna Bennett created something that really worked.

There’s definitely going to be a third book in this series, and I’m excited to see where both that heroine and the town of Bellehaven Bay go next.

“One Duke Down” (A Rogues to Lovers Novel) by Anna Bennett
A Busy Read – Do not get left behind
I enjoyed my time within this story with one wee but. It was a long read. I thought the next chapter would be the last when what to my wondering eyes appeared another twist in the tale and I was off once again in search of answers. A touch of spice but not over-done. Happy Reading ! !
NOTE: I received an ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley
This review expresses my honest opinion.

One Duke Down
Book 2 in the "Rogues to Lovers" Series
Rating: 3 stars
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC given through NetGalley for review. All opinions are my own.

This was a very sweet read. It had very sweet moments between the two leads and even some adventure entangled with some mystery.
I'm giving it three stars because, even if it was an okay read, I kind of got a little bored towards the end. I think I needed more angst or something between the two leads. At a certain point in the story I thought I was close to finishing it when I looked and I saw that I was barely at 80%! I felt it lacked some kind of drama to get me more invested in the story. There were some kind of conflicts, but even those got resolved a little too easily. Also, this is a story about a couple who were in very different social standings, yet they very easily adapted to each other's world.
One of the things that I did like was how Keane always found a way to fulfill Poppy's wishes even before he realized he had fallen in love with her.

One Duke Down – Anna Bennett

Poppy has worked hard for her life. While her brother is away trying to make money for the family. She takes care of her ailing father and keeping the family business afloat. When she comes across a stranger claiming to be a Duke in need of help. Duke of Hawking; Andrew must find out who is attempting to kill him. With the help of his Valet and the beautiful Poppy, he is close to figuring out who is behind the attack. It doesn’t help that his mind is distracted where Poppy is concerned… can they accomplish their mission?

This is a second book in the series Rogues to Lovers #2. I haven’t read the first one yet but this book can also be a standalone. I really liked Poppy’s character; she is strong, realistic and driven. There was an instant attraction from the start but it doesn’t help that they come from two different worlds which is majority of the conflict. I really enjoyed seeing Andrew attempting to spoil Poppy with everything she desires to cut through her icy barrier. While this is mostly a romance, there was some action and intrigue near the end.

Hope you enjoy this book!

I enjoyed this refreshingly different historical romance especially the fact that Poppy was a fisher person. I really liked both MC’s – Poppy was independent, thoughtful, family conscious, proud yet humble. Keane, a duke, was gentle, humble and supportive. I was cheering for their romance.

I did find Poppy’s sexual confidence somewhat out of character for the time period. No blushing virgin here although there was no sexual history mentioned for her. She seemed to have a very modern view of intimacy that was a bit disconcerting given this was a historical romance.

I liked the touch of mystery and the fact that Poppy was an active participant in the investigation.

This seems to be part of a series but this can be read as a stand alone.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

After her father's illness, Poppy Summers is left in charge of the family business. Day in, day out, she's up at the crack of dawn to hopefully catch enough fish to keep the family afloat. Finding a half naked man floating in her cove, wrapped in her nets, was not what Poppy expected one morning, and when he awakens, and can't remember what happened, she knows she should help him. But he claims he is Andrew Keane, Duke of Hawking, which is almost too good to be true, right?

I loved this book. The meeting between Poppy and Keane was executed exquisitely, and their every moment together was magical. Both were from very different backgrounds, but they had a connection and a similarity which was easy to see, and their banter was joyous. Because of her history with nobility, Poppy was very wary of trusting Keane, but after discovering he was in fact a duke, and he wanted her to help him discover who attacked him and left him for dead, Poppy could see that not all nobles were cruel. Their interludes in London and at Ascot were so fun, and I loved seeing it clearly when Keane fell for her. Having the hero fall first is always a favourite of mine, and this one was no different. I had guessed at who was the main culprit for Keane's injuries, but a secondary player did surprise me, though that person redeemed themself later on. A great addition to the series, and I'm glad Hazel, Blade and Kitty play a part. Roll on book 3!

This opposites attract, class difference romance was absolutely delightful!

Andrew Deane is rescued from the ocean by a woman that may as well be a mermaid. He’d be perfectly happy seducing her in the hideaway she’s provided from him and doing everything he can to ease her burdens. But someone is trying to kill him and he needs to figure out why.

Poppy helps him heal, and falls in love with the handsome, kind-hearted scoundrel against her better judgment. Her family’s livelihood depends on her competency as a fisherwoman. Although she’s literate and can hold her own in a discussion, and knows the steps to a waltz and the proper fork to use, she can’t change her background. Which means the incognito duke can never be hers.

These two determined lovers face obstacles that seem insurmountable. But they can’t bury their attraction or feelings forever.

Andrew just had to prove that he loves Poppy because of who she is - not despite it. And Poppy needs to find the strength to bear any judgment that will be leveled against their union, because she won’t face it alone.

Historical romance. Regency England. Book 2 of the Rogues to Lovers series. Another fun book from Anna Bennett. Fisherman’s daughter Poppy discovers an injured man washed up on shore who claims to be a duke. She trades him shelter for money while he figures out who might have attacked him. These two have instant rapport and chemistry with each other with a lot of easy teasing and flirting. However, there’s Poppy’s poor history with members of nobility, the duke Keane actually turning out to be a duke, plus the drama of Poppy’s wayward brother, and the mystery of Keane’s assault. Despite all of these obstacles, Poppy and Keane are sure of each other’s character and integrity and never once doubt the other person. Absolutely enjoyable read!

One Duke Down is the second book in Anna Bennet’s Rogues to Lovers series, and it’s the first book I’ve read by the author. First off, I’ll be honest and say the main thing that peaked my interest in this book was the cover. I mean, is this not the most amazingly whimsical, bright and beautiful cover you’ve ever scene?! I love it!! 🧡🌷

As for the story, Poppy, a fisherman’s daughter, and fisherwoman herself, finds a devilishly handsome man washed up on her beach. She decides she has to rescue him, and when he introduces himself as the Duke of Hawking, she thinks his brains have been addled from the obvious thrashing he’s had by the waves. However, Keane is adamant he’s the Duke and Poppy can’t help but believe him. After agreeing to shelter him in her secret, book hideaway, Poppy and Keane try to determine what exactly happened to the Duke. Working together to unmask the mystery man who threw Keane into the sea, the two develop feelings for each other. Poppy has her reservations about falling for a man outside of her station, but Keane is steadfast and honest and gives Poppy the time she needs to trust him. Poppy’s reasons for being slow to trust their relationship were valid, and I appreciated how open she and Keane were about class differences and possible issues that could arise from them being together. Poppy’s dedication to her family was admirable, and I loved how Keane respected and encouraged her devotion to her family.

A few things were predictable, and I think the book was a tad longer than it needed to be, but overall I enjoyed Poppy and Keane’s story. It’s so refreshing to see a romance where there isn’t a third act break up and where the characters are open and honest with each other! Aside from the romance, I liked the female friendships that were portrayed through Poppy’s relationship with the Belles. I’m definitely going to check out the first book in this series, Girls Before Earls, and I’ll be checking out her other works too!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy of this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

What a fun read this is! Poppy, a fisherman's daughter, finds Andrew, the Duke of Hawking, washed up on the beach and then she helps him find the villain who put him there. This is, of course. less about the crime solving than it is about the slow burn and ultimately a tad steamy romance between the two opposites. There's not a lot to say except that it's an entertaining novel with good characters. Thanks to netgalley for the Arc. For fans of the genre.

This was a fun, and different from other historical romances I’ve read, book.

I loved that it was set by the sea and that our heroine, Poppy, is a fisherwoman who’s working hard to support her family. The first few chapters remind me of The Little Mermaid because Poppy discovers Keane (the dashing duke) bruised and soaked on her beach one morning. How did he get there? What happened before he went into the water?

It’s a fun book with a semi strong plot but also lots of action - you won’t find too many drawing room visits or long contemplative garden strolls in this story! Trips to ascot and parties in disguise, clandestine meetings at Poppy’s reading shack, the list goes on.

A fisherman's daughter, Poppy Summers finds herself catching more than just fish in her net when she comes across the body of a man washed up on her beach. Andrew Keane is not fisherman, nor a pirate, but a duke. One attempting to escape a London tryst, only to find himself attacked and left for dead while visiting Bellehaven Bay. So when he finds himself alive, he decides to offer Poppy payment in exchange for her hospitality. But a secluded shack, and the attempts to covertly find out who could have attacked him ignites a passion between Poppy and Keane which neither can deny.

One Duke Down had my heart pretty much from the moment Keane woke up on the beach. I loved Poppy from her inherent strengths to knowing exactly who she believed herself to be. Once their deal was struck I loved that the only thing Keane asked for in exchange was to ask Poppy one question a day, a question she did not have to feel obligated to answer. And each question, even the simplest ones, had an insightful way of making me fall even more in love with Keane and the story. I also loved the attempt to discover who it was who had attacked Keane, and the small adventures he took Poppy on in order to make the discoveries. It feels like I cannot quite put into words how much I loved each interaction between Poppy and Keane. How he immediately fell for her, and never once believed they could not carve out a future together, when she was so reticent to allow him in. This was my first Anna Bennett novel, and I was so happy that Meghan, my buddy reading bestie, had already sent me the first novel in this series so I can catch up on Hazel and Blade's story. And I am immediately pre-ordering One Duke Down to have a copy for my forever bookshelf.

4.5

This is the second Anna Bennett book I have read that has left me sighing with content. Keeping spots open for more of her books on my tbr.

What a delightful and unique package of all these great tropes- part-mystery, part-masquerade, part- only one bed, part-class difference - all wrapped up in one. Slap on a low-angst swoony romance, and the characters on the cover aren't the only ones who will be smiling!

Thank you to the author/publisher for providing me an e- copy of the Advanced Reader Copy through NetGalley. All opinions in the review are honest and my own.