"The Governess Game" by Tessa Dare is a historical romance novel set in the series 'Girl Meets Duke'. The story follows Alexandra Mountbatten, a professional clock setter turned governess, who finds herself employed by Chase Reynaud, the duke's heir with a less than stellar reputation. Alex must navigate taking care of Chase's two young wards, Daisy and Rosamund, who engage in quirky and amusing antics. As the relationship between Alex and Chase develops, they both learn from each other and find unexpected connections amidst humorous situations and romantic entanglements. Tessa Dare's writing style is praised for its witty banter, engaging characters, and inclusion of funny and heartwarming moments throughout the book.
Genres:
Tropes/Plot Devices:
Topics:
Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include themes of self-esteem issues, parental neglect, and loss.
Has Romance?
The romance is a central element of the plot and is richly developed throughout the story.
From The Publisher:
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.
Ratings (22)
Incredible (2) | |
Loved It (9) | |
Liked It (6) | |
It Was OK (5) |
Reader Stats (38):
Read It (24) | |
Want To Read (11) | |
Not Interested (3) |
4 comment(s)
Tessa Dare can really write and her books often has a quality to them, but this was just not my yam. Not bad though
as reliably entertaining as tessa dare's body of work has always been
more and more i'm seeing romance writers point out that these sexy hot fun dalliances are not an easy choice for their heroines; these women are putting their reputations, livelihoods, and thus lives in danger because they want to be with these men
which raises the stakes for the hero to come around to not being a shit, because he really has nothing to lose. same double standard we live with today
and tessa dare does a great job with that, not to mention integrating two children into the plot without making them meaningless moppets
DNF for now. I may come back to it, but about a third in and it just wasn't doing it for me. Based upon my friends' reviews, this is definitely a case of It's Me, Not You.
This book served as a perfect palate cleanser for me, fitting well into one of my reading challenges. While Tessa Dare's writing style doesn't quite resonate with me, it still made for an enjoyable and breezy read. The contemporary approach to historical romance elements sometimes took me out of the story, but I appreciated the likability of the main characters, particularly Alexandra's intelligence and Chase's sympathetic backstory. Despite the quick development of their relationship and the abundance of sex scenes, their connection felt believable. The motif of children killing a doll every night felt oddly familiar, though I'm unsure if I've encountered it in this book before. Overall, it's a good choice for readers new to historical romance or those seeking a different tone within the subgenre.
What can you read after
The Governess Game?
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.
