My Daring Duchess (Once Upon a Rogue #4) by Julie Johnstone

  My Daring Duchess by Julie Johnstone

Blurb:

When a lady bent on ruining rogues and a duke set on revenge attempt to derail each other's plans, passion erupts into a love for the ages.

After being left brokenhearted by a duplicitous rake, Anne Adair no longer desires a husband—she wants justice. She's traded in her foolish dream of happily-ever-after for the much more sensible one of thwarting the blackhearted lords who prey on innocent debutantes. But her first mission proves rather complicated when the dashing, devilish Duke of Kilmartin comes to the aid of her target.

Simon Sedgewick, the newly titled Duke of Kilmartin, never thought he would return to England, let alone attend a ball full of simpering lords. But when his oldest friend's reputation is being smeared, and Simon discovers that the perpetrator is none other than his enemy's granddaughter, his long-festering desire for vengeance flares to life.

The moment Simon spies Miss Anne Adair across the glittering ballroom, he knows that the ravishing beauty is the perfect instrument for the retribution he thought lost to him. He does not know, however, that Anne has devised a scheme of her own. And soon, these two wary hearts will discover that the best laid plans are no match for love.
 

When the best intentions .....and so on. No matter what you do, always make sure that you have your facts right. And no matter what else - don't fall for the rake. Or maybe just a little bit. More.

A very sympathetic, not perfect but perfectly flawed heroine and a rakish duke whose revenge might just be thwarted by the charme and innocence of a certain young lady, are at the core of this story.
Having had her own heartbreak to deal with in the past, Anne Adair wants to help other debutantes to avoid the traps of the scrupellous rakes who prey on those innocents only to destroy their reputation. Simon Sedgewick, Duke of Kilmartin tries to protect his friend who is falsely accused of having ruined a young lady, an accusation and a situation he is far too familiar with due to his own past experiences.
While those two try to find out what is right and what is wrong, they also have to figure out what they really feel for each other - and whether they will let the past and the lies told in the past destroy waht they have.

Once again another charming story by Julie Johnstone that I really really enjoyed and have already read more than once since it found its way on my reader.

★★★★