About the Book:
Title: It Takes a Rake
Author: Anna Bennett
Series: Rogues to Lovers #3
Page Length: 320
Publication Date: Jan. 23, 2024
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Synopsis: She’s about to face her biggest challenge yet…
Since she was a girl, Miss Kitty Beckett has been adept at finding trouble: sneaking brandy, running away, and getting under the skin of the boy who, like her, was an apprentice to an architect. Now Kitty’s a talented heiress who can take a dry building plan and breathe life into it with her pencils and paints. Also? She can spot a rake at a hundred yards—and she won’t be tricked or charmed into marriage. Certainly not by a man who might interfere with her dreams. When Bellehaven Bay announces its first ever architectural design contest, she vows to win—with a little help from her childhood rival.
Turning her buttoned-up nemesis into a certified rake.
Leo Lockland, a hardworking architect with a gift for numbers, has returned home after a few years in London, and he has secrets. The biggest? He’s been in love with Kitty since they were both apprentices. She refuses to give her heart to any man, but Leo’s determined to beat the odds—even if it means learning how to be a rake. Fortunately, Kitty’s willing to tutor him in the nuances of fashion, flirtation, and seduction in exchange for his help with the contest. But the whole plan would fall apart if she knew how he felt, so he’ll have to be very convincing.
Let the lessons begin…
Leo proves to be a surprisingly quick study in the ballroom, on the beach, and in the bedchamber. Before long, he’s softening Kitty’s hard edges with his wicked words and kissing his way past all her defenses. Perhaps she’s a bit too skilled at teaching, because her lessons are threatening to backfire, putting her closely guarded heart in grave danger…
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My Review:
A swoon-worthy rivals-to-lovers story, It Takes a Rake is a fabulous conclusion to the series. Kitty and Leo have been rivals for years ever since they both apprenticed with his grandfather. But it’s been years since Leo left without a note, and Kitty is still hurt from the loss.
Leo had an important reason for leaving all those years ago, though why still remains a secret. Though a lot has changed, one thing hasn’t – his feelings for Kitty. And he is so in love with her! The way he thinks about her and talks about her is super romantic, and I totally fell in love with him very early on in the story.
The story delves into their past and explores the beginnings of their relationship, which is equal parts rivalry and friendship. It shows how much they’ve always cared for each other, even if they didn’t always know it. I love all the ways Leo tries to show her he cares for her and how she slowly begins to see how much he has always loved her. He is so in love with Kitty, but she remains pretty clueless to the fact. I mean, the man tries to turn himself into a rake just to be near her and appeal to her. And he’s the opposite of a rake, which makes this even more sweet and sometimes quite comical. They have an amazing rivals-to-friends-to-lovers romance filled with angst, sexual tension, chemistry, and steam!
Throughout the story, Kitty teaches Leo how to be a rake, and he readily agrees to try since he knows that’s the type of partner she’s looking for. However, while teaching him about a rake’s unruly ways, Kitty slowly starts to realize how deep her feelings for Leo run, which is a problem because she is against marrying for love and craves her independence. Between her reservations, the fact that they’re competing against each other, and Leo’s secrets, this couple faces a lot of challenges. It’s interesting to see how they handle all of the obstacles in their way. And I love that Leo accepts nothing less than a love match. There are moments when he could have been with Kitty without expectations of love and forever, but as smitten as he is with her, he refuses to settle for anything less than what they both deserve, no matter how much Kitty protests and denies it.
I also like the messages about female empowerment and sisterhood that are seen throughout this series. In this story, Kitty enters a competition and is the only female entrant. However, she is grossly underestimated because of her gender even though she is as accomplished (if not more so) than the other participants. Kitty is determined to prove her skill and mastery of architectural design, and she the constraints put on women at the time. Each book in the series has a FMC that is independent, intelligent, and progressive, as are their male counterparts. And it was great to see the trio of women together again, and the strong connection they and their partners have formed feels more like family than friends.
Between the characters, the romance, and the setting, I inhaled this story. It’s fun and entertaining, it has strong messages, and there’s great banter and so much angst! Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The romance.
- The setting.
- The characters.
Favorite Lines:
Kitty was the sun, and they were mere mortals content to bask in her warmth.
Some evenings Kitty felt as though she was on the hunt for a unicorn—and destined to find nothing but donkeys.
“Loving someone doesn’t mean losing yourself. It means giving and growing. Together.”
I love a good rivals to lovers story and I love a cinnamon roll simp hero. You’ve sold me on checking this one out. Great review!
Thanks, Dini! I hope you like it if you get a chance to read it. 🙂