This series is fantastic! The Belles get through the most interesting situations with strength and poise.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. If you enjoy old English romance novels, or recently got into Bridgerton, then you need to give this one a read! It is childhood enemies who see one party move away suddenly and then return years later to find his attraction towards her has not changed. They make a deal that brings them closer together and you'll need to read it to find out what happens next!

He's Only A Rake For Her

Leo has been in love with Kitty since they apprenticed together as teenagers in his grandfather's architectural firm. Their relationship has been based on competition and respect and he is captivated by the way Kitty challenges him and prompts him to rethink what he knows. After leaving for London suddenly four years ago, he has now returned to their small seaside town of Bellehaven.

Kitty's life has been filled with losses - the death of her parents in an accident, being abandoned at different schools by her uncle, and Leo's abrupt departure for London in the past. She is terrified of loving someone and losing them. She thinks she wants a marriage of convenience with a man who will not demand her heart.

When an architectural contest is announced, Leo and Kitty strike up a bargain. He will serve as her technical consultant for her design and she will teach him how to become a rake. He really just wants to spend time with her.

I loved seeing this couple's relationship develop both as they work together on the design and over the course of Leo's lessons. Kitty and Leo collaborate to optimize her design. Kitty helps Leo improve his wardrobe and cultivate an air of mystery. The more practical lessons develop into ones about kissing and passion. This couple has sparks!

Both main characters are very likeable and sympathetic. Leo is completely supportive of Kitty's professional goals. He also understands the fears underlying her reluctance to commit. He is willing to step outside his comfort zone to demonstrate his love. Kitty is creative and driven and vulnerable. It's easy to empathize with her uncertainty about love and relationships.

The book is suspenseful and moves quickly. While I was able to anticipate some of the twists, I was still motivated to keep turning the pages.

While this is book 3 in Rogues to Lovers, it definitely works as a stand-alone. (If you want to meet Kitty and Leo as teenagers, read Book 1.)

Special thanks to the author, publisher and netgalley.com for an advance copy. This is an honest review.

This is a wonderful story. Leo and Kitty grew up together and studied together to become architects. The plot of the story is interesting and entertaining. The characters are witty and fierce in their beliefs. The story is easy to read and understand. As Leo and Kitty work through their issues they find themselves a lasting love.

It Takes A Rake is the story of what happens when a woman cares more about her career than finding a suitable match!! Women in STEM, and in Miss Becket's case, architecture - aren't commonplace at all - but neither are the type of truly kind, honorable, or hard-working men (AKA nice guys)\ like the honorable Leo Lockland that she's trying SO hard to avoid!

**Thank you to St. Martin's Paperbacks & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

LOVED!!! This series is FANTASTIC!! I keep thinking one can’t top the next and each book does!!! Leo & Kitty’s story was one of my FAV genres - childhood friends to lovers!!! I loved the story and how it unfolded! The writing was perfectly done! This book had SO many funny moments!! I was chuckling throughout!! I SO loved how Leo was in tune with Kitty and understood her!!

I DEFINITELY recommend if you are in the mood for a cute, funny, historical romance!!! Glad I discovered this author!!!!

Thanks to Net Galley for an advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review!

FAV QUOTES:
“But what he liked best about her was the way she made the entire world buzz with possibilities.” Leo

“Love is fickle. Fate is cruel. But if we each hold back a part of ourselves, we never need to fear that our heart will be ripped from our chest. No matter what happens to us, or between us, we’ll know we can survive it.” Kitty

3.5 STARS!

This book has so many positive parts to it. I enjoyed the concepts and the forward-thinking the author puts into her stories. The female leads are usually “normal” people with jobs or businesses of some sort. Not just titled women needing a man. Her strong women are a key part of the story.

For me, the characters have to be a likable part of the book. We have to connect with them and get the buy-in for the story to flow. Leo was awesome. I love that he was all in for Kitty and he showed his heart on his sleeve many times.

Kitty was stubborn and overbearing in many ways. She came off hot and then cold to me, and while I understood her plans, she was annoying and close-minded in many ways. But when the two of them figured out their agreement, it was a delight. Swoony with a sweet second chance romance which takes a bit to find that delicate balance.

For me, I just did not care for the female main character. She annoyed me with her bossy and overbearing attitude much of the time and everything was always his fault. Not a favorite part of the book for me.

Loaded with heat and some great twists, It Takes a Rake is a unique story that is strong on women empowerment and independence of women long before it was fashionable. A tight connection with friends as a unit makes this a fun story with a great ending.

This book is part of a series and though I have not read earlier books in the series, I did not feel as though I was lost.

Leo is a young man who has returned from London in order to work in his grandfather’s architectural office. In the past, he had been apprenticed there and the other apprentice is Kitty. Leo and she had been competitors. Leo had been in love with her forever.

Leo is a responsible young man. He is smart and funny and kind. He has come home to support his mother after his father’s death. He plans to run the architectural office. He even saves a child from drowning in the ocean. In short, Leo is a good man of many facets.

Kitty is beautiful but very immature. She acts like a toddler when she does not get her own way or if something displeases her. There is a scene where she throws things and nearly destroys Leo’s home because she believes he has moved some of her things from her desk. That scene was enough for me to believe Leo deserves someone so much better. Yes, by the end of the story, she is better, but she is an exhausting character.

I did not want Kitty to be docile, but I would have expected a little bit more disgression in her actions.

The story is well written and the characters are complete. But, there is really no feel of an historical period here. It felt very modern.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.

Such a fun historical steamy romance ! I love a head-strong, smart FMC, and there's just something about witty banter in historical romances that hits the spot. It was so easy to connect with these characters.. This is book three in the Rogue to Lovers series, but each book can be read as a stand alone.

I love an enemies to lovers romance, especially when one of the characters loves the other character the entire time. I think that this one does this trope very well, in that they were generally poking at each other, but I never felt one of them was actually mean or cruel to the other (more general teasing and goading, but also mixed in with compliments and support). I wish the author would have gone more into Kitty's backstory. I understand that I was reading this series out of order, and it was likely explained in a previous book- but for her parent's deaths to completely shape her mindset about her future, it would have been nice to know a little more about her circumstances and background in this story. It went into those details more for Leo, but I felt it was missing for Kitty. Overall though, I really enjoyed this book!

It Takes A Rake is a fabulous historical romance by Anna Bennett. Leo and Kitty's story is a fun read. After moving to London for 4 years Leo has returned. Kitty is still mad that he left without warning, just like most of the other people in her life. Their story is packed with drama, humor, sizzle, a little action and suspense and will keep readers glued to their book.
It Takes A Rake is book 3 of Rogues to Lovers Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliffhanger.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Anna Bennett writes the most delicious historical romances! I always know I'm in for a good time with her books. IT TAKES A RAKE is no exception. If you love histrom with plenty of steam, banter and swoony romance, you'll definitely enjoy this one too. This series has been just pure fun and I'm glad Kitty was able to find love. Highly recommend going through the entire series, but each can be read as a standalone (my favourite type of series, as I'm definitely a 'pick and choose' type of reader!)

Give me a historical steamy romance any day! I love when we get a head strong, smart FMC, and there's just something about witty banter in historical romances that make me all sorts of giddy. It was so easy to fall in love with these characters, and you find yourself rooting for their romance to blossom. This is book three in the Rogue to Lovers series, but what I love about this series is each book can be read as a stand alone.

This book is just plainly soul touching. It made me realise that there is always a magical love for almost everyone out there and it is beautiful and eternal. I thoroughly enjoyed it and finished this book in a day because I was so glued to it.

The third installment in this series, this was a quick and sweet enemies-to-lovers romance. I found the main female character to be exhausting, but having read this author before, I think that was intended.

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.

I have not read any of the other books in this series but after reading this one I would really like to. This was a fun story with great characters who have grown up together. I loved the architect aspect of this story. It's not one you hear very often in regency romance books. I also liked that instead of trying to reform a rake they were trying to create one. That was also a new troupe. I am excited to see what else this author has to offer.

This is number three in the Rogues to Lovers series. This is the first book I have read on the series. It can definitely be read as a stand alone. I really enjoyed the characters and the tension between Kitty and Leo. This book had just the right amount of spice. I’m considering reading the first two books since I enjoyed this one so much!
Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

IT TAKES A RAKE is the third installment in the Rogues to Lovers series featuring three women searching for their own chance to live happily ever after. Smart, snarky women and intelligent, gorgeous men stalk the pages of these books often antagonizing one another until they finally give in and admit they're in love. Each book stands alone, but it's fun to get to know each couple by reading the books in order as previous couples appear in subsequent books.

IT TAKES A RAKE features Kitty, a woman making her way in a man's profession. An upcoming, talented architect, Kitty breathes life into otherwise dry drawings and architectural plans with her unique visions which are not only functional, but beautiful. Kitty is disillusioned with marriage. She knows a rake when she sees one and refuses to allow herself to be charmed into giving up her dreams. However, there's one man she can't forget - the one who left her without a word of goodbye years ago. She won't allow him back in her heart.

Leo Larkwood leaves a promising career as an architect in London to return home and claim the girl he left behind. Leo is all about the numbers and while his drawings may not be the most beautiful, they're highly functional and accurate. He's carrying a big secret that involves a secret crush, but he knows she's skittish and won't accept him back into her heart unless he does something to gain her trust again. The opportunity presents itself in the form of an architectural contest to design a new building for the town. Kitty agrees to allow Leo to help her with her project by checking her calculations, and in turn, Kitty will teach Leo how to be a rake so he can woo his secret crush. Little does she know...

Kitty and Leo are great examples of frenemies in the romance genre. They both harbor strong feelings for each other but keep them hidden for their own reasons. Bennett does a fantastic job with the snark and banter as tension and sexual chemistry rise steadily between this pair. The plot line is unique with the competition element, and the pace increases steadily. Past couples make appearances in IT TAKES A RAKE, and as always, it's great to catch up with them.

Author Anna Bennett excels at delivering strong heroes and heroines who are likeable and easy to pull for. The sexy banter will have you salivating one minute and laughing out loud the next. Highly recommended to fans of historical romance with a punch.

“It Takes a Rake” is a entertaining tale of competitors turned lovers. It follows up the enjoyable “Girls before Earls” and “One Duke Down”.
It’s finally Kitty’s turn to blossom and go from mischevious orphan to our female protagonist. Our male protagonist, Leo, is no stranger to Kitty but their story has lots of twists and turns that keep you guessing while enjoying the slow burn of their romance.
I enjoyed this third book in a great series that truly shows don’t judge a book by its cover.