THE GOVERNESS GAME
Series: Girl Meets Duke #2
Author: Tessa Dare
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: August 28th, 2018
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.
3.5 ‘Stars, Smudges and Not so Lost Souls’ Stars
Goodness Gracious, this Bookstore Rake! The Governess Game was fully packed with incredible and captivating surprises that ensnared me in the most deep and banterful of ways!
First of all I have to say that this book was one of my most anticipated books of the year, after my deep adoration of the Duchess Deal, I couldn’t wait to find out all about Alexandra and her Bookstore Rake. In that I caught my first surprise, with the book starting on a timeline of six months after their first meeting, and like Alex, that was hoping for a reunion the stuff romantic dream are made of, Chase Reynaud, completely started on the wrong foot here for me. Like Alex, all my expectations in is regard, not long vanish with the wind, but left kind of a bad taste in my mouth, with his rakish ways being slapped in her face – the man she had been dreaming a future and fantasizing about for months, not only did seem not recall her, but had been living a more than standard rake life with the ladies of town – and even joked about by the gentleman himself. I was sure in my mind that after that initial reunion scene, between the two, and knowing what he had been doing for those months after that first impactful day – at least to Alex, lol – that there was no way that I’d ever warm up to him, but Ms. Dare’s fantastic writing and strong female characters once again proves that not only the male character makes or breaks the story, even if he is a OTT rakish one, lol.
“Be careful of him, Alex,” Nicola said. “If he is truly a rake, as you say.”
“Believe me, there’s nothing to fear. He isn’t interested in me. He didn’t even remember meeting me. Apparently I was quite forgettable.”All those silly fantasies had popped like a soap bubble when it became clear he’d forgotten her completely. Chase Reynaud was not the man of her dreams. He was a devilish, incurable rake—and one who, by his own declaration, would never even think of seducing her.
Alexandra, even if deep down a dreamer and romantic at heart had a SPLENDID reaction to all her secret dreams of a romantic reunion being shattered in the presence of such blunt rakish manner. I just adored how she called him out and took no prisoners. So strong and practical, independent and smart, she was my very favorite type of HR female character. Much like Emma in the first book – and seems to be a Tessa Dare feature, much beloved by myself – her spunky and practical spirit, very wild and free, with a tragic past of her own, she was also the sweetest of souls and a passionate star and universe study lover. The stars and comets were her hidden passion, and you could truly feel her soaring when discussing the matter. She was just full of surprises, and so delightfully complex, even one as rakish as Chase couldn’t stay away.
One more thing the water had taken from her. It was the insatiable monster in her life. Jonah’s whale. Devouring everything she loved, but spitting her back out, again and again, more lost and lonely than ever.
“A binary star is created when two stars are drawn together. Once they come near enough, neither one can resist the other’s pull. They’re stuck together forever, destined to spend eternity revolving about each other, like . . . like dancers in a waltz, I suppose.” She scribbled a note in her notebook. “The fascinating thing is, a binary star’s center of gravity isn’t in one star or the other. It’s in the empty space between them.”
No wonder Chase saw in Alexandra the perfect candidate to tend as Governess to his strong willed and spirited little wards. The job, that Alex was forced by Fate to take, close to the very last person she wanted to contact with, the future Duke, Chase Reynaud, proved to be even more challenging that she anticipated. Not only by the two little girls made tough by their background, but the devilish handsome rake employer of hers, that she couldn’t seem to stay away from, as neither did him. Evidently, the denied attraction and refusal to acknowledge their chemistry, resulted in the most delicious of banters! Seriously addictive, and I was just blown away by Alex’s no non-sense and straight forward, even naughty comebacks, his of course were as devilish as the rake himself.
“You’re simply too virile to be tied down, is that it?” Her eyes teased him. “Must be all those antlers.”
“If you must, but do it quickly. Otherwise we’re going to move a good seven inches in the wrong direction.”
Of course the bon vivant nature of Chase and his run instinct towards attachments had to hide a tortured background, and I understood his reasoning, I just wished his rake ways, his numerous lovers and many, many amorous ventures weren’t brought to surface at every other paragraph. I get that it was his defense and coping mechanism, but I need not be reminded of it – it was already impossible to forget with that start – so many times, specially when I was starting to warm up to him and believe in the sincerity and depth of his growing feelings towards Alex. His past was already obstacle enough, for the love story, his self torture evident, and my heart actually hurt for him and his guilt.
Chase wasn’t good for much, but he could stand between her body and the world.
Holding her breast was like holding her heart in his hand.
And that scared the life out of him.
Only darkness here, darling. Don’t waste your time.
“Chase.” She softened her touch, smoothing back his hair. “No one’s a lost cause.”
His self hate and tortured soul were actually palpable, but when allowed to let go of the rake persona, we could truly feel how much Alexandra enchanted and captivated him, even consumed him in every way. I loved and lived for those moments, and like I said, if not reminded of the casanova past constantly, I’m sure I would have truly loved him too, because one thing I never doubted, he was so in love with this woman. His thoughts and loving, caring and devoted gesture made me swoon each time. When he allowed himself to FEEL, that is…
A man rose to his feet for a lady, his queen, or a divine being, and she was at least one of those—if not all three.
Want. Need. Take. Claim. Mine.
I so wish Chase had woken up to this love and Alexandra a bit earlier in the story. The man took his struggle too long and too late in the book and hurt Alexandra in a way, that even though I adored the groveling scene, I wanted a early grovel and even more impactful, after all he put her through. The scene setting though was PERFECT!
“So? How does it feel to be falling in love?”
Hopeless, Alex silently answered.
It felt hopeless indeed—because it was.
And Alexandra… What a fantastic female character and perfect example for those little girls, who by the way, completely stole the show! Daisy and Rosamund, Chase’s wards were a big part of my enjoyment of the book. Young, fragile, but SO strong, these little girls, really brought to light a side of Chase – specially those epic eulogies to Millicent’s repeated death’s – that endeared him in my, and I’m sure in Alex’s, eyes.
Tessa Dare gave us once again a superbly written historical romance with a very contemporary ‘feel’ that transported me completely to those times, and share the passion and struggle, and all the emotional range possible along with Alexandra. Her identity, her passion and love, as well as every day battle with the times and town mentality were so beautifully portrayed, I felt for her, as well as for the girls.
I can honestly say that these little girls, along with Alexandra were the big high of the book and responsible for most of the rating, as well as recurring characters, like Asbury (spectacular second cameo, btw, lol), the other ladies, Emma, Penny and Nicola. I’ll be counting down the days, for the next two’s very own HEA. Can’t wait! <3 <3 <3 <3
His Alexandra. His always. His only.
“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 your lovely face is the very last thing I want to see before I die. Because I love you, Alexandra.”
ARC kindly provided by the author via Avon Books for an honest review
Tessa Dare is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fourteen historical romance novels and five novellas. Her books have won numerous accolades, including Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® award (twice) and the RT Book Reviews Seal of Excellence. Booklist magazine named her one of the “new stars of historical romance,” and her books have been contracted for translation in more than a dozen languages.
Mixing wit, sensuality, and emotion, Tessa writes Regency-set romance novels that feel relatable to modern readers. With her bestselling “Spindle Cove” and “Castles Ever After” series, she has had great fun creating heroines who defy the conventions of their time—engaging in “unladylike” pursuits that range from paleontology to beer-making—and dreaming up the strong-willed, sexy heroes who find their hearts ensnared by them.
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 trio of cosmic kitties.