Series: Rogues to Lovers #3
Publisher: St. Martins Press
Release Date: Jan. 23, 2024
Order Link: Amazon
Special thanks to the publisher for an arc.
4 Heated Hearts
Review:
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.
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…
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…
No comments:
Post a Comment