The Governess Game
Girl Meets Duke
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4.3 • 418 Ratings
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- $2.99
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- $2.99
Publisher Description
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 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.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In Dare's sizzling second Girl Meets Duke Regency (after The Duchess Deal), a young woman discovers that her romantic fantasies about a handsome rake are vastly different from the reality of him. After bumping into the effortlessly charming man of her dreams in a bookstore, Alexandra Mountbatten meets him again when calling at his London home, offering to set his clocks. Chase Reynaud mistakenly believes that Alex has come to apply for the position of governess to his two precocious wards, Daisy and Rosamund and she needs a job, so she plays along. The witty banter of the misunderstanding is the perfect prelude for their future encounters. Chase professes himself a confirmed rake who refuses to marry as self-punishment for his past actions, but Alex sees through Chase's callous fa ade to the kind and generous man inside. Even as she tries to convince him that he deserves happiness, she knows that he must marry someone of suitable rank, which excludes her. Alex is an intelligent, independent heroine who is the perfect match for Chase, whose hardened heart softens as Alex reveals how much she cares for him. Sensuality and witty repartee fill the pages of this fast-paced story, which is made complete by the expertly developed characters and hints at future installments.
Customer Reviews
Alexandra was a true gem! Loved every page!
I generally read contemporary romance, but read the Duchess Deal after seeing all the positive reviews and was so happy I gave regency romance a try. I fell in love with the historical tale and the author, then read the Wallflower Wager and now The Governess Game. I truly am in awe of the talent and range of knowledge possessed by Ms. Dare. She delves into so many engaging topics such as various animals, pirates, astronomy, health ailments of the time, etc.
Of the three books, I have to say the Governess Game was my favorite, and it’s very hard to find a favorite. I love broken characters and women who are fierce and independent and in this book, our heroine is so deserving of the title. I love how she was friends with Emma and Penny from the other two books, who also were unique, strong, and loveable characters.
Alexandra Mountbatten suffers from a traumatic past loosing both of her parents, her father rather tragically, yet she is so hopeful, poised, and a true survivor. She is so wise and patient, and when she becomes the governess to two young girls, she remains loyal and steadfast in her desire to show them love and support, something they know nothing of. She is wise beyond her years, and it was so very moving to me how she could see through all of their pranks; she knew they were pushing her away because they feared getting too close. The same could be said for wealthy and handsome guardian, Chase Reynaud, whom suffered from self-loathing and a guilty conscious from something in his past. Not feeling worthy of love either, he pushed everyone away until Alex entered and upended his world.
I adored these two together and their wonderful honest banter. I loved how he couldn’t say the words but would show how he felt with his deeds, especially with the children, who were a hoot. Alex knew her station in life but dared to dream of a future with him, and it was so beautiful to read their every interaction. This book has it all–they were serious, flirty, funny, sexy, and at times, very emotional as they admitted truths about their past. I loved how smart and educated she was, and how she genuinely gave so selflessly. I loved how she pulled no punches with the children or with Chase letting them know that yes, sometimes life is unfair, and sometimes we make mistakes, but it’s our life to live and we need to move forward. She was such a steady, loving influence, all the while making learning fun, and embracing the uniqueness of each of them.
Tessa Dare has exceeded all my expectations with “The Governess Game.” I loved how everything came full-circle and how so many tidbits were included and then brought back up again. And of course, I loved the HEA, and would love a follow up book or novella catching us up with Alexandra and her friends.
A new twist on a told story
Rake. Check.
Poor governess. Check
But an original story in plot and character make up that makes Tessa Dare’s books a reliable bet for an entertaining read. Does not disappoint.
A disappointment
This book was so very different from her other books and even from the series. The heroine was very naive, immature and childish in her thoughts in regards to the Hero who she didn’t even know! And the book took place in the Hero’s house, nowhere else. This just felt like the author wrote to give them a story and get it out of the way. No imagination, no laughs, no effort. It was soooo overly cheesy at the end and cliche. Skip this one.