One Duke Down
By Anna Bennett
Rating: 4/5 Genre: Historical Romance Steam: Explicit! Publisher: St. Martin's Press Pub Date: January 24, 2023 Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for my Advanced Copy! You're the best! Available: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop
One Duke Down Synopsis:
A FISHERMAN’S DAUGHTER
Miss Poppy Summers is determined to keep her family’s fishing business afloat. Her poor widowed father has fallen ill, and her foolhardy brother has moved to London, leaving her precious little time to read or pursue her own dreams. But she’ll do anything for her family, so she cheerfully spends mornings in her rowboat, casting her nets. The very last thing Poppy expects or wants to find tangled in them is a dangerously attractive man. Especially one with a head wound―who’s convinced he’s a duke.
AND A DUKE OUT OF WATER
Andrew Keane is the Duke of Hawking, but he’s having the devil of a time convincing his fiery-haired rescuer of that fact. The truth is he came to the seaside resort of Bellehaven Bay to escape his life in London. Unfortunately, someone in Bellehaven wants to kill him―and he intends to find out who. He implores Poppy to tend to his injuries and hide him on her beach, reasoning it will be easier to find his attacker if that man assumes Keane is already dead. She wants no part of the scheme but can’t refuse the generous sum he offers in exchange for food and shelter while he recovers. It’s a mutually beneficial business arrangement…nothing more.
ARE ABOUT TO MAKE WAVES
Under Poppy’s care, Keane regains his strength―and a sense of purpose. As they work together to solve the puzzle of his would-be murderer, he’s dazzled by her rapier wit and adventurous spirit; she’s intrigued by his mysterious air and protective streak. Though Poppy’s past gives her every reason to mistrust someone like Keane, the seawalls around her heart crumble in the storm of their passion. But when clues hint at the prime suspect in Keane’s attempted murder, Poppy must decide where her loyalties lie. Torn between the world she’s always known and the one she’s always dreamed of, she’ll need true love for a shot at her fairytale ending.
One Duke Down Review
I liked this book. It’s a cute, low angst, sweet book. Will it be something I will reread often? Probably not, but was it the *perfect* book to read after a long stressful week of work? 100000% yes. Plus the cover to this book? So freaking adorable.
Loves:
I really enjoyed how low-angst and happy this book was. Yes, there were several darker moments and some heavier themes throughout this book, but the overall feel to the book was really light.
The class difference between Poppy and Keane was a nice touch, especially all things considered with the plot. This made for some really good moments with Keane throughout the book.
Keane, Poppy, and Diggs were so much fun to read. I loved how closed up Poppy was and how caring Keane was. Diggs was probably my favorite character because I always love the valet.
Meh:
There wasn’t a lot of depth to the book. It lacked a lot of the emotional depth and intensity that typically comes from a historical romance. The lower angst was enjoyable, but I still wish there had more complexity to things.
Poppy and Keane didn’t seem to have a lot of chemistry between them? I don’t know what it was or if I was in a weird mood, but their attraction didn’t translate well. I kinda was meh about their whole relationship.
Long Story Short
Do I recommend this book? Yes! If you want a fun historical romance without all of the heaviness then this is the book for you. It’s cute and fun. I enjoyed reading it even if it wasn’t exactly my favorite. A great nice book between some heavier reads or when you don’t feel like reading a book you need to pay attention to all the details with.
If You Liked This One…
Highly recommend picking up the first in this series, Girls Before Earls, as it is a fun similar book. You don’t need to read this one first as there is a little overlap with characters but not with need to know information. Additionally, Virginia Heath’s Never Fall For Your Fiance and Never Rescue a Rogue are both on par with this book in delightfulness. I’d also say Tessa Dare would be another great author for this style of book.
