Published: 28th August 2018 (paperback out 7th September)
Source: Netgalley (also preordered)
Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating:
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.
I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I thought The Duchess Deal was one of my favourite Tessa Dare books but oh my goodness I just could not get enough of The Governess Game. It was so, so good and I couldn't stop smiling throughout. I was that person with a silly grin on her face because the book was so damn adorable and downright funny. Seriously, people on the bus probably gave me side-eye thinking I was going to go off on one… or I was on something.
I admit I don't remember the whole of The Duchess Deal as much as I thought I did because when I started reading I'd totally forgotten about Alex's chance meeting in the bookshop. Once I got remembering everyone from the last book, though, I was all kinds of happy. I loved Alex and her total misunderstanding in meeting Chase for the second time. Her swift put down of him and his behaviour was awesome and the names she gave his man cave were awesome. I adored Chase and Alex together from the very beginning. Especially when he chased her and offered her his coat when she was dripping wet and accepting a job offer as a governess for his unruly wards.
Another win for this book was the fact I enjoyed it despite there being children involved! I'm not normally one for books with children in. Sometimes the kids are cute in books and sometimes they just feel like a plot device and don't get fully fledged personalities. That was definitely not the case when it came to Rosamund and Daisy. That pair had so much personality it was bursting off the page with every scene they were in. They were hilarious little troublemakers and they were awesome. From the daily funerals of poor Millicent (a doll) which were hilarious to the petty thievery of Rosamund. They were not good, sweet little girls. They were beasts and I loved them. Especially when they started their lessons in piracy. They stole, they were dramatic, and they weren't afraid to talk back when necessary (or tip some water out of a window when Chase needed to cool off with his womanising).
I admit a little bit more of the cute romance between Alex and Chase would have made me happy, we got plenty of good scenes with them together but I would always be happy for more. Especially as when they were together I felt like they bounced back and forth from being head over heels (and in denial) to acknowledging their love but denying themselves because it's not the done thing. I hate that back and forth in romance and the ending was then dragged out because of it. But I did adore the two of them and was happy with every page we got with them on it. And their grand romantic finale was pretty amazing. I couldn’t help but swoon at Chase’s grand romantic gesture and Alex deserved to be swept off of her feet just a little.
It was a fantastic read. I loved Alex and Chase and their book was amazing I cannot wait for what the next one will be. I will spend my time contemplating rereading Tessa Dare because I know I’ve not read some of her earlier books, like the Stud Club books. She always has me laughing whilst reading her romances and they are the kind of books you want to hug close upon finishing because you are always happy to see her characters got their happily ever after.
Don’t you love when an author can keep surprising you with their books? What’s your favourite Tessa Dare book? (And if you haven’t read any sort yourself out! And read the comments for suggestions of where to start.)
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