Take nothing at face value!

Anne Sheffield is the daughter of Stanton Sheffield, a powerful politician whose ideas are ultra conservative, where women are seen as the property of fathers and husbands. Anne’s been betrothed to a much older man, the Duke of Kendal since she was twelve years old. Definitely sleazy connotations, cohesive control, and abuse—both physical and mental are part of her life from her father and the Duke.
She has six weeks to find an alternative to her marriage to the Duke, but how to dodge her father’s decrees?
Who better to help her than Richard Grey, a dedicated politician opposed to all her father stands for. A thorough rogue to train her in the art of flirting and help find someone else to wed. Anne’s bar is not high.
In return Anne will give Richard the names of politicians whose vote her father has obtained by manipulation and blackmail. Anne trades her lessons for that damaging political information.
Anne has had to maintain an empty facade, concerned only with new gowns and hats. In reality she is highly intelligent with an astute mind, and gifted with a phenomenal memory.
A Bill is about to be introduced into parliament for the right to vote for all men. Grey of course champions this. Stanton Sheffield is vitriolic in his opposition.
Anne and Richard’s relationship grows, sparked by the attraction between them. A pull that is both illicit and troubling. After all rakes don’t reform! Sensuality comes to the fore. A redeeming quality of Richard’s is his kind heart and unswerving loyalties to friends.
What follows is a novel that tackles age old issues of power, wealth, dominance, and all matters in between. As I said in an earlier review of the ebook edition this is an oftentimes fun read with intrigue and romance, in a taming of the rake and quasi enemies to lovers vibe.

A Bloomsbury (Aria) ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher. ( )

plot had great potential, but it was duller than I expected. ( )