This read was delicious. It had all my favorite ingredients: sizzling tension, satisfying dash of humor, fully developed characters, and healthy undertones on intrigue and mystery.
Something that I found unique about this installment was the variety of different themes that were used and seamless blended together. There is the overarching mystery, with a bit of purposeful mistaken identity, distrust (enemy/non-friend) to lover, class difference, and bluestocking heroine. Really this novel had it all.
Readers are sure to fall in love with Olivia Everett, proper school mistress and secret mathematician, and Alexander (Alec) Sinclair, Earl of St. James, notorious rake and agent of the Home Office. Plus, for those reading the Lords of the Armory, we learn more about the far reaching tentacles of Specter.
As always, another highly recommended read by Anna Harrington.

A judgemental, entitled, selfish rake. Here. I corrected it for you.
I had serious problems with this book, the storyline wasn't the strongest and the characters were extremely hard to love. I would go as far as saying I hated Alec.
It astounds me how I loved the romance scenes when I didn't like the characters.
The banter and dialogues were well written, I wasn't bored and was thoroughly hooked.
Like, if their scenes were divided into Wattpad one shots, you would fall in love. However, when you understand the context and backstory, you would feel uncomfortable.
Alec was a walking red flag. He was super judgemental, he took his father's sins as a shield, the trauma enabling him to judge people and whether they were good or bad.
I couldn't understand his weird classifications either. He could tolerate mistakes, however big, but only if they were done in public. He hated when people had secrets when he was literally hiding his identity from Olivia.
I think Olivia let him go over her many times, she was more controlled by her desire and taken with the novelty of a man's attention.
Overall, the book left a lot to be desired.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

A really beautiful book. Lots of adventure, but especially two very intriguing characters with a painful past who heal each other. Harrington is a great writer: her characters are vivid, they think as real people and you can relate to everything they feel.
A good standalone, even if it’s a series and should be better enjoyed in order. I read this one after the one that was supposed to be before this and I really didn’t mind. On to the last book now! (And listen to the audiobook, if you can, it’s gorgeous!)
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I adored Alexander and Olivia's story! I just loved watching these two work together to find the villain!

I enjoyed the romance in this book but there was a bit too much danger for what I wanted. If you like pirate romance or mafia romance, those love stories with that danger element, this would be great

I enjoyed this historical romance and the two lead characters were well drawn and I want to go back and read the rest of the series

Love a noble in disguise.
Olivia is the head mistress of a school for girls and her brother has been acting suspicious. They run the school together and she "helps" him with commissions for his math and equations in his reports.
The Earl of St James is undercover and keeps running into Olivia making Olivia and her brother suspects in this very large plot.
They both had very hard truths slapped in their face at a young age and their public persona was definitely a mask hiding the trauma and pain that they hid.
Loved how the Earl was protecting his mother from his horrible father but didn't realize how much she knew. She couldn't do anything really unless she wanted to be abused too there was no right choice for any of them.
Was rooting for their hea even though he was a noble and she was working class. Sometimes when there's already so much gossip why not add a little more?😂
Hope that Reed gets a book.

Thank you sourcebookscasa and netgalley for the e-ARC for my honest and voluntary review.

Evidently the universe has just decided to place books in front of me with the same issue: everything is fine in the first half of the book and then it fizzles into dirt in the second half. I don't to spoil the ending but the story relies *heavily* the miscommunication trope and doesn't do much remedy it by the end. Not a terrible story but really not one I want living rent free or that I would choose to read again.

"A Relentless Rake" tells the story of Alexander and Olivia who work together to uncover a plot that could have fallen the British government. I enjoyed this book as I always enjoy Anna Harrington's books. She knows how to write engaging stories and likeable characters that the reader can empatise with.

This book can be read as a stand-alone but is a part of the series.

Anna Harrington is one of my favorite Regency romance authors and this is one of her best. This is the fourth book in the Lords of the Armory series, but can be enjoyed as a standalone.

Alexander "Alec" Sinclair, Earl of St. James, is tasked to work with his recently discovered half brother to find Henry Everett, a mathematician/schoolmaster who appears to be working with Specter to assassinate the Prime Minister. In addition to having to work with Reed, he also has to follow the lovely Olivia Everett, Henry's sister, who is also trying to find out what her brother is really doing.

I especially appreciate the fact that Olivia is a strong, independent, and intelligent woman. So many Regency females are not any of these things! And, the addition of the mysterious masked man who is involved is just another thing to love!

All of the aspects of a Regency romance are here: the lovely fashions, the balls, society norms and the caste system that keeps the ton on their toes. But, there is also a great spy/espionage component to the story, as well as a wonderful cast of characters. Full of flaws and past mistakes, the hero and heroine try to fight against their growing attraction while trying to save their country.

And, of course, there are a couple of steamy bedroom scenes that will satisfy Ms. Harrington's readers and a happily ever ending that we all know will ultimately happen.

I really love this author and this series! It’s been so intriguing to read everyone of the books in the series in order as we watch romances and a mystery play out! Olivia and Alec are such a great pair! Olivia is a school mistress who has a hard time trusting others. She’s smart, fearless, challenging, and has secrets. Alec, Earl of St James, lives honestly, gambles, and is smart. He has a half brother and had a cruel father. So Alec is tasked to track down a mathematician that leads him to Olivia. Olivia is on the look out for her missing brother. She’s had to look in many bad parts of town. These two have a lot going on. I loved all the action and watching them fall for each other! This series always has me on the edge of my seat, reading the pages too quickly! I’m sad the next one is the last in the series but looking forward to more from the author!

A great start to the series. Its a fun and unexpected story of second chances. Can't wait to read the next one!

I caught the ick at 60% and never recovered.

I am so disappointed because I was really liking the relationship developing between Olivia and Alec up until that point. I was heading towards a four star rating. I'm now 0/2 with this author and the other book I read by this author followed a very similar trajectory in terms of starting out awesome, loving the writing style, and then all of a sudden I hated one of the main characters.

Let me just tell you why Alec is a piece of work and you can decide for yourself whether this is worth a shot.

Olivia is a schoolmistress with a great reputation. We learn pretty early on that she is hiding a past indiscretion because it would be ruinous to her reputation and the school's reputation. She is very passionate about her students and running the school is the most important thing to her. She is also a brilliant mathematician.

Alec is an earl with a father who died naked on top of a prostitute and sired a bastard son that plays a bit of a part in this story. Alec has some super unresolved trauma from finding out about his father's debauched actions that he was hiding from everyone. Alec was under the impression his dad was perfect when he was younger and so Alec used to gamble, have sex, drink, be a rake, whatever to spite his father. So he has the reputation of a rake. But apparently since his father's death he has been reformed and hasn't done any of that. Yet his reputation is still that he is a rake.

[So Alec and Olivia are developing a relationship and have kissed once already. The second time they start getting freaky, Alec is like, woah we have to stop because you're an innocent. Olivia is like oh actually no we don't, because I'm not an innocent. I eloped with a man. You and my brother are now the only ones who know. Alec loses it and storms off.

So the reason Alec got upset is because Olivia is "lying" to everyone. She is living a lie and pretending to be something she is not and consequently is just like his father. ARE YOU KIDDING ME. Olivia is a charitable, smart, caring woman who runs a school and her only indiscretion was falling in love with someone. Olivia calls him a hypocrite (rightfully so) because he is upset that she isn't innocent when he has done all manner of things. He says he lives his life in the open and doesn't lie about it.

It is never once discussed or acknowledged by Alec that as a WOMAN, Olivia does not have the privilege to tell the world about this or she would be ruined, would not be able to run a school, and would never have even met him. Alec's entire attitude towards this is delusional and doesn't even make sense. I was so mad reading it. He can have whatever reputation and it doesn't matter because he is an earl. He literally gets so mad the moment he learns she isn't innocent. and it gave me such uncomfy vibes. He wanted her to be pure so she could heal him and I'm just like.....I can't keep reading this. (hide spoiler)]

The worst part is that he never grovels. He doesn't actually understand the error of his way. He just "forgives her" For what I am not sure. I really don't get the moral point this story was trying to make but if Alec was the last man in the world, he isn't good enough for Olivia.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Alexander Sinclair, Earl of St James, is a Rake. On a job for the Home Office he meets Olivia Everett, a proper schoolmistress. What she doesn't know is that her brother is one of the men the Earl is looking for. Can they solve the mystery together? This is a great romance with a mysterious plot.

This is the 4th book in the Lords of the Armory book. If you’re mostly interested in the romance aspect of the story you could read this as a standalone. However, there is a secondary story that has been ongoing since the first book, which is where the danger and intrigue parts of the story come into play. In order to fully understand how dangerous Scepter is and what they are capable of, you should start with book 1.
Alexander Sinclair, Earl of St. James, and Oliva Everette were perfect together. When Alec was first introduced, he appeared to be like every other Rake in the Ton. His reputation is in tatters, the rumors are outrageous, but he could care less as marriage was the last thing on his mind. However, we soon find out there is more to Alec than just women and drinking. Since inheriting the title, he ceased his rakish ways and has been focused on building back the fortune his father lost, and maintaining his family’s position in society. If society found out the true severity and extent of his father’s abuse and depravity, all would be lost. Fortunately, fate intervened and he and his half-brother, Captain Nathanial Reed, are sought out by the Home Office to carry out a covert operation to stop Scepter from another assassination attempt on a Government Official. His first order of business is to locate Henry Everette, the man that may be responsible for a recent bombing and assassination attempt. Instead, he finds Henry’s fearless, brilliant, and beautiful sister Olivia.
Olivia is a gifted mathematician that not only runs a preparatory school for girls but is also the true genius behind her brother’s mathematical work, which will soon gain him entrée to The Royal Society. When her brother suddenly goes missing and finds himself in trouble, she makes it her mission to find him and clear his name. Following a clue, Olivia sneaks off into the dangerous alleys of London and encounters not only VERY dangerous men set out to hurt, or maybe even kill her brother, but a VERY intriguing, masked man. The masked man comes to her rescue in the alley and soon finds himself unable to stay away from her and not just for the sake of the mission.
“Olivia raised the knife over her head. The blade was posted ready to slash downward if he reached for her, if he dared to touch her. Closing her eyes, she steeled herself for the sickening puncture of flesh—He clasped her wrist and pinned her arm to the wall above her head. She gasped, God help her, she couldn’t move! But the blasted devil only grinned, as if he found her threat to stab him simply adorable.”
“Was he giving her a lesson on fighting or attempting to seduce her? With the way his hand continued to stoke suggestively over hers on the knife handle, for the life of her she couldn’t have said which.”
Between the collaborative effort in locating Henry and the matchmaking efforts of Alec’s mom and sister, Oliva and Alec find themselves unable to avoid the inevitable. They know giving in to their mutual attraction adds complexity to their investigation, but it can’t be helped.
“What else do you want?” he rasped out. Beneath her kips, she felt his pulse race. “Touch me,” she commanded, daring to give this powerful man orders. “Down…there.” “Are you certain?” She gave a jerking nod of permission. Taking his hand, she laced her fingers through his, then lifted her skirt high enough to slip his hands beneath.
He wants to arrest Henry; she wants to rescue Henry and clear his name.


“And I’m supposed to simply trust you?” He placed his forefinger beneath her chin and lifted her face until she had no choice but to look straight into his eyes. “Right now, I’m the only person you can trust.”
You will not regret reading this book. Anna has such a way with details that keep you captivated until the very last page. I can’t wait to continue the rest of this series; Nathanial Reed’s story is bound to be HOT!

A Relentless Rake is book 4 in @anna_writes_romance Armory Series. It can be read alone but you are missing out on other great stories.
Not so proper school mistress
A Rakish Earl
A faceless villain (common piece through series)
An all consuming passion.
Great secondary characters.
I loved Olivia. LOVED. One commone theme in both books is the fact that skilled and smart women are forced to hide their true selves behind acceptable occupations/societal rules.

This is a very exciting series about a conspiracy by a criminal organization, Scepter, to overthrow the British government. I can't remember if Captain Nathaniel Reed was in the previous books, but here he appears prominently with his half brother. Alexander Sinclair, Earl of St James. Nate is one of their father's bastards (Are there others? None are mentioned) and until now, the Sinclairs have never recognized him, but now he is the hero of Toulouse and the previous Earl, who was a monster is dead. The brothers are coerced to work together to prevent the assassination of Lord Liverpool, the prime minister. Olivia Everett, is a beautiful, brilliant spinster school teacher, who gets pulled into the investigation, when evidence of her brother being involved in the conspiracy. While Alex begins to investigate her, he is drawn to her and vows to keep her save. Is there any future for an Earl and a school teacher? Aside from the brilliant characters, the author provides detailed descriptions of the settings, architectural information and history. Looking forward to the next book- about Nathan and the continued hunt for the head of Scepter.

I read an ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. This book was just amazing. I just lost myself in this story and didn’t want it to end. It was really well written and just drew in you into these characters lives. I look forward to seeing what’s next from this author.

My Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐⭐/ 5

Perfect for those with Bridgerton/Regency historical romance withdrawals, this 4th installment of the Lords of the Armory series really hit the spot. I had not read the other books, but I had no problem following along and understanding what was going on. Alex Sinclair, Earl of St. James, is a notorious rake and also tasked by the Home Office to investigate the attempted assassination of the Prime Minister. All clues lead to Henry Everett, a mathematician - and his school teacher sister, Olivia, who seem to be holding her own secrets about her past.

After reading a historical romance, I try to remember if I actually learned a historical fact and in this case, it was the assassination attempts during this time period. As a simple, quick, Regency romance, this fits the box. The chemistry between Olivia and Alex is evident, but Alec’s hot/cold behavior drove me nuts especially when her secret wasn’t really something to be that mad about. It turned me off of him and left me with a bad taste in my mouth.

Tropes: opposites attract, rich/poor; hidden identity

Thank you to Casablanca/Source Books and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

"A Relentless Rake" was my first Anna Harrington but it certainly will not be my last. This book swept me up in its excitement and suspense to the point where I read it all in one sitting (which I rarely do). I have a soft spot for the devilish rake and prim and proper heroine duo and Olivia and Reed's chemistry did not disappoint.