I received this book for free from Avon in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Governess Game by Tessa Dare Also in this series: The Duchess Deal, The Wallflower Wager
Series: Girl Meets Duke #2
Published by Avon on August 28, 2018
Genres: Historical Romance, Regency Era
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: Avon
ISBN: 0062672126
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.
The Governess Game is the second installment in Tessa Dare’s brilliant series “Girl Meets 
Duke”. The first book ‘The Duchess Deal’ was superb and probably one of my favorite books by this author which is saying something since I never thought anything could top her Spindle Cove series. So I was really really stoked for Alexandra’s book because she was such an interesting character in book one. And boy is she ever. My first thought when picking up this book….SEXY BANTER!! Their first main interaction was the best beginning you could ever have for this story and I really liked how impressed Chase (our delicious hero) is with Alex.
Their first “kinda” first meeting is in a bookshop when they bump into each other and Alex wanted Chase as her husband and had no shame about how he made her felt including her libido. But neither of them thought that they would see each other again. Chase, has had the luck (bad or good) to have two wards, two little girls–Rosamund and Daisy, for him to raise and get ready to go to a girl’s school and be trained to be ladies. Chase has NO idea how to raise girls, he is the worst person for the job. He is a charming rake and has no idea how to deal with children. He is going through more governesses than cravats, and he is at the end of his rope.
And then Alexandra walks into his home and even though her occupation is a “clock master” Chase is so impressed with how she handles him in his own home he knows what job she is better suited for….his governess. He knows that she would make sure to train Rosamund and Daisy to be ladies. Alex knows that this is a great opportunity to have the money to get started with her astronomy career and being able to put her plans in motion. At first she doesn’t really have any idea on how to be a governess, and she is a bit uneasy with how “welcoming” the girls are towards her. She knows she is going to have to get her battle gear on and outsmart them but realizes there is one way to get through to them….she needs to be crafty and creative. So she takes a page from her own life, and teaches them in her own fashion and starts to educate them as they very slowly open up to her. But she knows that they have lost their parents, and have been tossed about from relative to relative and they need security and a place to feel loved.
But there is one other person that keeps her on her toes….Chase. A devilish humored Duke that is a scoundrel and a rake, has a room specifically to keep his “women” but there is a strong chemistry between Chase and Alex. Alex is curious about sex and is more than willing to take certain “lessons” from Chase who apparently knows what he is doing. He is so teasing and playful and Alex is more than willing to learn everything she can. But what happens when the summer is over and the girls go to school and Alex will have to return to her old life again…
Devilish charm simply radiated from him, like one of nature’s essential forces… Gravity, magnetism… electricity
This is a wonderfully written story and I loved the well balance of serious and playfulness that comes into play in this book. This is what Tessa Dare really excels at, I always know I will get some fun lively times but there will always be some great plot twists and her stories keep you interested. I had such a fun time with this unique Governess trope. I love having a heroine be a governess, and I have to say this is probably the most FUN I have ever had reading a governess romance. Because Alexandra she is a hoot, super smart but has class. I love how open she is when it comes to sex, she is very curious and a fast learner. She is great with children and I love how she connects with the two girls who are in such need of affection and security which Alex gives them. I really admired this heroine because she has such a fascination with astronomy and it’s NOT boring y’all. She does have a painful past though and still suffers nightmares because of it. So I liked the complexity of her character.
Because when it comes to love, Chase has no idea wht the devil he’s doing. He’s brilliant at caring for others. He’s bollocks at letting others care for him.
Now, Chase, he was a bit different than I was expecting, even for a rakish duke. He definitely is hiding something about his past that he tries to cover up with charm and a sexy smile. But smart and sassy Alex sees right through the cover-up and gets to the heart of him even when he fears it. We see some vulnerability in Chase and we see that not everything is as it seems on the surface. We see a man that still is haunted by a past memory and experience and is afraid to love and doesn’t think he has anything to offer anyone…most especially Alex who deserves better than what he can give her. But Alex is a fighter and not one to give up on Chase.
He would take her.
Take her into his embrace.
Take her lips with his.
And, by God, take her breath away.l
The sexual chemistry between these two is SUPERB….I swear that Tessa Dare is only getting better at writing these sex scenes, they are just phenomenal. They are sensual, and warm but also inflected in them the right wit and emotion that delivers in every satisfying way. It is guaranteed to put flames to your book so watch out or you might get burned from this explosive chemistry that is shared between Chase and Alex.
We, of course, get some fun times between the group of friends and I loved seeing them all and of course, we get some hilarious moments with Emma and Ashbury. And Chase PASSES the test with the girls….so he definitely has promise right?
You are the last person I want to see before I fall asleep at night. Every night. The last woman I want to kiss for the remainder of my life. And yourlovely face is the very last thing I want to see before I die. Because I love you, Alexandra.
The romance as a whole was purely delicious, I honestly didn’t want to let go of Chase and Alex, their story was bright and emotionally entangled, I love how happy their love tale delivers to the reader. It’s a story that packs a punch to curl your toes and leave you happy and with the urge to go out dancing in the street. PURE DELIGHT!!
About Tessa Dare
Note: Tessa has a Goodreads group! All readers welcome.
Tessa Dare is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of twelve historical romance novels and four novellas. Her books have won numerous accolades, including Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® award and multiple RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Awards. Booklist magazine named her one of the “new stars of historical romance," and her books have been contracted for translation in a dozen languages.
A librarian by training and a booklover at heart, Tessa makes her home in Southern California, where she lives with her husband, their two children, and a pair of cosmic kitties
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