New York Times and USA Today Bestseller
He’s been a bad, bad rake—and it takes a governess to teach him a lesson
The accidental governess
After her livelihood slips through her fingers, Alexandra Mountbatten takes on an impossible post: transforming a pair of wild orphans into proper young ladies. However, the girls don’t need discipline. They need a loving home. Try telling that to their … discipline. They need a loving home. Try telling that to their guardian, Chase Reynaud: duke’s heir in the streets and devil in the sheets. The ladies of London have tried—and failed—to make him settle down. Somehow, Alexandra must reach his heart . . . without risking her own.
The infamous rake
Like any self-respecting libertine, Chase lives by one rule: no attachments. When a stubborn little governess tries to reform him, he decides to give her an education—in pleasure. That should prove he can’t be tamed. But Alexandra is more than he bargained for: clever, perceptive, passionate. She refuses to see him as a lost cause. Soon the walls around Chase’s heart are crumbling . . . and he’s in danger of falling, hard.
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Entertaining book. Loved the young girls and the Duke was an interesting guy who was desperate for help with his wards. I enjoyed it. Alexandra handled everything including Chase very well.
A nice book with an interesting couple. A would-be duke who has trouble caring for people, and a governess who’s determined to teach him how. Mostly it worked fine. There were quite a few filler bits and character motivations, however, that sort of sprang from nowhere, with no buildup and in some cases with no followup action either that brought the stakes of the story down. What was left was a sweet story that gave a brief happy feeling and will soon be forgotten. Perfect summer reading.
** 4.5 stars **
I loved Rosamund, Daisy and Millicent, the dying doll. Both girls were resilient, smart and tried to get Chase’s attention any way they could. And Chase, despite his many flaws, started caring about them from the beginning. It took a long while for him to figure out his feelings but when he did, he turned into sweet romantic and wonderful guardian.
I enjoyed the banter between Alexandra and Chase very much. Some of the scathing remarks were truly remarkable. And this time, the book was a bit more explicit in language due to Chase’s desire to distance himself from Alex and due to Alex’s own unconventional upbringing. I loved that both characters were imperfect, had fears and doubts.
This time the road to happiness was wrought with obstacles of their own making – the guilt, the ancestry and social standing seemed to work against the lovebirds at every turn. Well meaning friends tried to assist with curious results. I am glad to say that Alex was not the only one who dreamed of a future with a beautiful stranger. The stranger was enthralled just the same even if it took him a long time to get there. Lovely historical read with an array of diverse characters. I recommend it.
Laugh-out-loud funny in parts and sweetly emotional in others. All the characters are great and the sex is steamy.
It was so funny, I had to stop myself from laughing like a Lunatic
The Governess Game by Tessa Dare (Audiobook)
Narrated by Mary Jane Wells
Series: Girl Meets Duke book 2
5 stars! LOVED it! Tessa Dare and Mary Jane Wells make such a fantastic pair! I was laughing all throughout the book. Alex and Chase were wonderful together, the two young wards made for amusing situations and I loved watching how the adults navigated them.
Tessa Dare’s writing was great and Mary Jane Wells performance just put it over the top! So glad I chose this audiobook! If you haven’t read the first book in this series, The Duchess Deal please do so. I loved it too!
~ Paragraphs and Petticoats ~
Audiobook: Narrator – Mary Jane Wells
Another amazing performance by this narrator! She always does the hero and heroine to perfection. Sometimes the secondary characters can be a little iffy for me, but I’m just being picky by saying that because even her iffy is so much better than others best. I will never hesitate to one click an audio if this narrator is listed on the credits!
I loved almost everything about this story! The heroine was a perfect counterpoint to the hero, the children were so freaking adorable and funny with their little idiosyncrasies. The journey to a relationship and their struggles was believable and entertaining to read/listen.
However, for the first time since I can really remember, the fact that this hero was a player (I really want to call him worse but refuse to give a particular website a reason to banish me forever) really, really bothered me. As in a lot! I’m not a fan of such traits in a hero but I can usually get past them, especially if once he meets the heroine she’s all he sees or thinks about. And while that is basically true here, there was at least one time that was not the case. And while he didn’t do anything with the other woman, it still bothered me.
Otherwise, I absolutely loved this book, the characters, the chemistry and the outcome. So, one star for that hero’s poor choices – even if that was who he was and the author had no choice but to write him as such – and the fact that I don’t have to like it. It’s still an amazing four stars and I almost want to add that lost star back again simply because of the children!
Dual POV
Does this author know how to write a bad book? I think not, folks. Not only does Tessa write sassy and fierce heroines but she also writes the swooniest heroes that sweep you off your feet. Plus there is always some humor in her stories to lighten the mood. If you haven’t read this author yet, I suggest you rectify that soon.
5 Riveting, Fascinating, Wonderful, Typhus having and Bookshop Rake stars***** LOL. In this beautiful story we have Alexandra the clockmaker and astronomer of the quartet, and how can we have the beautiful, learned but quirky heroine without the rake, the scoundrel and Cave of Carnality hero? Just amazingly written with all the quips and humor only present in Ms. Dare’s stories. Oh and how can I forget Rosamund, Daisy and poor Millicent, every day with a malady, Lol.
Loved it for the creativity of it all!!!
I loved this book!!! And the audiobook version was excellent. Hands down, the best romance I’ve read/listened to all year.
I think I say each new Tessa Dare release is my favorite, but it might actually stick this time. Y’all. This. Book.
PS
RIP Millicent.
OMG! Come for the romance, stay for the eulogies…you won’t regret it. LOL
Fun read. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters. Will continue to read this author because she made me smile.
Super sweet and fun historical romance.
The Governess Game was another winner from Tessa Dare. I love that Ms. Dare writes such strong female characters in every single book, and Alexandra Mountbatten was no different.
While she appears at the home of Chase Reynaud to try and procure a job as a clock repairperson, she ends up being hired on site as the governess for Rosamund and Daisy, the two little girls Chase inherited along with his title as a duke. Let me just say that Rosamund and Daisy were two of the funniest characters who used morbid humor so often. Seriously, the number of times and ways they killed Millicent, Daisy’s doll had me laughing out loud each time.
The connection between Chase and Alexandra was so amazing. She understood him in a way few others in his life did. However, what I loved best was Chase thought Alexandra was perfect just as she was, with her intelligence being a turn on for him rather than a turn off. He actually listened to what she said about his life and the lives of the girls, even when he didn’t always agree with her. The snark was strong with both Alexandra and Chase, and I loved how often I laughed reading this book.
The romance and chemistry was so strong between Chase and Alexandra, even as he tried to fight to keep it just physical between them. I loved they could talk about everything and Chase even accepted the way Alexandra was able to get the girls to learn. Early on I started looking at them as this little family as the girls really did just need the love Alexandra kept insisting to Chase every bit as much as he did. Chase and Alexandra had a wonderfully sexy physical relationship, yet they really did have so much more between them.
I adored The Governess Game so much. I honestly got pulled in with each new book from Tessa Dare. Her books really are like crack to me and I look forward to getting lost in each book. I highly recommend each of her books to fans of historical romance.
Rating: 4 Stars (B+)
Review copy provided by publisher
An incredible romance that has a roguish hero who doesn’t believe he’s good enough for love or to love someone, because of an accident that wasn’t his fault which cost the life of his cousin. His one rule is always, always no attachments whatsoever! He’s broken, after all and not worthy! Until one tiny spitfire of a woman accidentally barged into his home ….. Alexandra Mountbatten!
Alexandra Mountbatten, Alex to her friends is a smart bookish young woman who loves astronomy almost as much as weaving fairytale fantasies over the “Bookstore Rake”
A miscalculation on her part leaves her with no job prospects but finds herself in the employ of the “Bookstore Rake” who now has a name Chase Reynaud a Duke’s heir.
Chase is in a bind he needs a governess for his two young wards and Alex is the perfect one for the job.
His two mischievous wards have chased away every single governess and he hopes that Alex is the ONE to put them in order!
I adored this new release from Tessa Dare especially the two little girls they had me laughing out loud with their antics. Alex and Chase had so much chemistry that it was palpable. Alex was not a simpering young girl with stars (haha pun intended) in her eyes she’s a sensible young woman who calculates everything. She’s endearing and caring and fell in love with both girls and feels their grief.
Chase needed a shove to wake up, and realize that he is worth being loved and to love, sometimes loving someone isn’t a guarantee that things will always go right but if he doesn’t try his future is a very lonely one.
I recommend this to everyone who loves Tessa Dare books!
Funny and sparkling. So much banter and sweetness. Like a historical regency Mary Poppins romance.
The Governess Game is the second book in Tessa Dare’s latest historical romance series, Girl Meets Duke. Here she pairs Mr. Chase Reynaud, newly appointed guardian to two wonderful ,albeit, quirky girls and avowed rake. He has declared himself never to marry nor provide heirs but to simply enjoy the company of women and all the pleasures that could be had. Now if he could only find a governess that would stay long enough to educate the girls as quickly as possible. Enter Ms. Alexandra Mountbatten, who came at the right place, at a wrong time. And it doesn’t matter if he finds her attractive. He will not seduce the governess! He needs her to keep the girls in check!
She was only offering to adjust the clocks! Now, Alex finds herself being governess to two girls who has a penchant for getting rid of their governess’ as quickly as possible. She was number 15! Blame her constant need for stability and security and no she wasn’t going to blame the charming rake who seduced her with higher wages and yes his great smile. But the longer she gets to know the girls, the more she like them. The longer she comes in contact with Chase, the possibility of giving in to his seductive charms becomes more likely. When they both can’t resist each other, they would have to start rethinking their life plans and maybe planning for a new one!
If you’ve never read the first book in the series, never fear this is a complete standalone with only some characters connecting the books. Ms. Dare’s books are always a veritable delight to read. Her dialogues are smart, witty, humorous and basically page turners. The chemistry between her characters are obvious from the start but its the unfolding story that always holds the readers attention. Sexy, sweet, charming, witty! Alex and Chase will keep you turning the pages and making you fall in love with them as quickly as they fall for each other.
This was a charming read that had me smiling and laughing thanks to wonderful characters, extremely witty banter, and an excellent story! I loved it all!
I loved The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare and was eagerly awaiting the second book in the series, The Governess Game. And I must say I loved this book as much if not more as The Duchess Deal. Tessa Dare is quickly becoming one of my favorite historical romance authors. Her books are funny and engrossing, with compelling characters and interesting storylines. And she writes the best dialogue and sexual tension. If you haven’t read any of Tessa Dare’s books, what are you waiting for?