thank you to netgalley and st martin's press for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest thoughts <3 

after fleeing from bellhaven bay unexpectedly several years ago, architect leo lockland is back. he had hoped that his time in london would help to rid him of his feeling for kitty beckett. unfortunately, that isn't the case. his feelings for kitty are just as strong as before he left. when bellhaven bay's rich benefactors announces an architecture design contest, kitty will do whatever it takes to win. even if that means coaching leo in how to be a rake so that he will double check her calculations for her contest entry. she is afraid of losing people, he left her without explanation, and now all the time they're spending together is bringing up old feelings. 

it takes a rake is my first anna bennett; it won't be the last. listen, i love a rake but even more i love a man who will pretend to be a rake in order to get the girl. leo lockland is as obsessed with numbers as he is with kitty and i love him for it. this was a fun historical with a touch of emotion that had me invested pretty quickly, the tension yall!!! kitty and leo were the perfect balance of yearning and desire, so much so that when the smut came around i was screaming. a quick, fun, escapist historical romance from anna bennett.