ARC Review: One Duke Down (Rogues to Lovers #2) by Anna Bennett
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Series: Rogues to Lovers #2
Author: Anna Bennett
Published January 24th 2023 by St. Martin's Paperbacks
Goodreads Synopsis
The next delightful novel in Anna Bennett's Rogues to Lovers series!
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.
Goodreads
Review
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!
Dates Read:
January 3-5, 2023
Rating
4 Stars
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