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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Enjoyable
I liked how the hero and heroine found themselves out of their element in this book. It added to the humor in this story and lightened the seriousness of the plot, especially where Chase was concerned. Each was just what the other needed to chase away their demons.
This is book 2 in the Girl Meets Duke series but it can be read as a standalone. It is written in third person from a dual POV.
I absolutely loved how strong, resilient, and determined Alexandra’s character is. Chase, on the other hand, had to grow on me a bit. The author did a good leading me to the place where I understood Chase, his fears, and his self-doubt. I loved that Alex had so much belief in him and could see past the act he was putting forward. The girls, Rosamond and Daisy were a real treat. Their shenanigans brought me many laughs. I loved how Chase went along with all of their drama. I adored how Alex finds a way to reach the girls, and her understanding of their need of love and security. Alex is a fighter. She is tiny but fierce and she has become one of my most favorite female characters. Laughs, heat, and a bit of drama mixed with the support of wonderful friendships. This is a winner.
A charming guardian.
Chase Reynaud needs a governess. He’s had at least seventeen quit. When Alexandra Mountbatten walks through the door he knows she’s the one. Only Alex didn’t come to interview for the job. When her livelihood disappears, she accepts the job. Two little girls need her, but they need their uncle more. Alexandra doesn’t give up to convince Chase he deserves love and can give love to those little girls. An emotional rollercoaster that had me laughing one minute and crying the next. Tessa Dare knows how to write a romance.
Is it possible that every Tessa Dare book I read immediately becomes my favorite Tessa Dare book? This one is fabulous as usual, full of wit, challenge, heart, and of course a hefty dose of steam. If you love romance, put everything by this author on your list.
Alexandra Mountbatten is one of those strong, plucky heroines that you cannot help but fall in love with. Just ask Chase. The soon-to-be Duke hires her on the spot (by accident) to be the governess for his two girl-child wards. Soon the whole staff, the willful children, and Chase are all under Alex’s spell! I loved this book so much; it was everything I love in a book! Smart, funny, and sexy!
I looooved these two! Once again, Tessa Dare provides a witty, charming, romantic, and fun historical romance.
Dare is amazing! This is my second reading of this book in her series, Girl Meets Duke, and I laughed my butt off (when I wasn’t having hot flashes, that is)! I’ll probably go back and re-read #3 (Wallflower Wager) sometime soon — during the pandemic, these romances by Dare just lift your spirits and make you grin.
Oh I’m enjoying this book. It’s actually quite funny – I think. A doll burial every 2 hours. Consumption?! Custard disguised as phlegm?! Where did this girl grow at? Ten ways to kill your nanny?! If I was Alex, I would slowly backed out of that room yelling feet don’t fell me know and jumped out the nearest window head first. It would have been an epic pool dive I tell you.
Oh and let me tell you I thought the world map was a genius ideas. I could not stop laughing every time Chase tacked a place for them to go. Hilarious. If you love romance, humor and a little comedy intertwined in your reading then you will enjoy this book. My fellow readers, I strongly recommend this book.
If you are looking for a fluffy, funny, feel-good romance, this book is well worth your time.
Read my full review: https://rebeccasreadingcorner.blog/review-tessa-dare-the-governess-game/
This is a wonderfully written book, and haas everything needed to tell a tale of romance.
This is a well-written, entertaining historical romance novel with likable, engaging characters, a heartwarming romance, and a happily ever after ending. I look forward to reading the other entries in Ms. Dare’s “Girl Meets Duke” series.
Classic Tessa Dare
I enjoyed this book a lot, especially in the beginning. I would give it 4.5 stars if I could. I got a bit frustrated towards the end with the hero, but overall I really liked it.
Alexandra, Alex to everyone but the hero, has never been a governess before but ends up in a position where she has no choice to accept the position. As a private childcare giver myself, I am always rather wary of books with a first time governess (for historicals) or nanny (for contemporaries). They always seem to let the kids run all over them in the beginning but I was extremely pleased that this wasn’t the case with Alex and her two charges. She did everything I wanted her to do when it came to teaching and caring for the girls. Alex was all around, an excellent heroine.
Chase was on one hand, a great hero. But on the other hand, I found him to be quite the pansy. I understand that people push other people away to prevent themselves from getting hurt and Chase was a pro at this. It got to the point towards the end where I was groaning at his stubbornness. This is why I’d drop half a star. I’m glad Ms. Dare gave him a good grovel scene.
Chase and Alex were great together and the two girls were wonderful additions to the story. Ms. Dare wrote the little girls behavior for their backstory perfectly.
There’s quite a few sexy scenes and they’re fairly detailed. There’s at least one use of the F word, possibly two, and a few uses of other explicit words and sexual innuendos.
I’m really looking forward to Penny’s book, which is up next!
A WONDERFUL read! The characters practically leap off of the page! Funny, funny, funny dialogue interspersed with great story telling make for a book that is hard to put down.
I enjoy the banter between this author’s characters.
This is simply one of my favorite historical romances, ever. I love the intelligent and independant heroine, who suddenly finds herself in the role of governess to two deeply wary, orphaned little girls, when her means of supporting herself sinks to the bottom of the River Thames, and the generous, caring, but self loathing hero, who engages in rakish behaviors as self-medication. I adore Rosamund and Daisy, and hope the author writes the stories of these two young ladies, all grown up. And the eulogies –oh, the eulogies! Can’t recommend this book highly enough.
Cleverly written with all the feels!
This is the first Tessa Dare book that I read. I have since read several more by her. If an author makes me want to read more of their work, I consider them a good read. Good characters, less emphasis on the super perfect lives of the haute ton than many other regency authors. Who always wants to read about perfection?
I just love Tessa Dare books…love her sense of humor that she develops in her characters…always laugh out loud at least once while reading
Enjoyed!