It's a return to the Devil's Den from her previous books. In love with Broderick Kiloran for ten years and her feelings not reciprocated, Regina plans to open her own music Hall with a former madam of a brothel as her partner. Once Kiloran finds out about her plans, or thinks he does, he feels she's betrayed the family. Blackmailed to chaperone his sister into London society, Reggie has a secret she's never revealed that could destroy Gertrude's chances of a successful season. A lot of pain for Regina due to misunderstanding and a dirty secret from her past. With heartache and tears, it wasn't an easy book to get through, but I loved reading it.

I absolutely loved this story! I'm always half charmed by stories with gambling houses even before reading the first page. Unfortunately sometimes I am disappointed. This is definitely not the case. And the fact that I started reading it with the idea that I might have not liked it because the heroine was already in love with the hero and not reciprocated (which it is a situation that I generally don't appreciate mush), made the final positive thoughts even stronger. It totally won me over!

My first book by this author and I have to say I liked it and that I’ll definitely keep an eye on the author.

However, I have to mention a couple of things that bothered me.

First, after not only ten pages into the book, I felt like I’ve been missing out. I got the feeling that The Governess is a continuation of the previous book (even though the blurb hinted it as a standalone). I checked and from what I gathered, I don’t think it is but I think it is necessary to read previous books before reading this one. They obviously contain a background of the story. So I needed couple chapters to finally figured it all out, why there are things the way they were (and I’m still not sure if I got it right).

For example, I don’t exactly have an idea who is a biological relative and who is adopted and that bothered me in the book. I need to have some sort of picture in my head. I think the sisters were biological…

So, other than leaving me all confused in the book, The Governess is actually not that bad. I loved the sexual tension between Broderick and Reggie, which is why I couldn’t put the book down.

Since the beginning, I had an idea this wasn’t book one in the series but I was still surprised when I learned it’s book three. I was hoping the last sister and the ”mad” marquess will get a book together so I was really happy when I saw there truly is a book about them.

At first, I wanted to give this book 5 stars because the chemistry really made this book worth reading but since I was confused in the beginning and the book didn’t mention the background of the family so a reader will know what he or she is getting into, I’m giving it 4 to 4.5 stars.



Slovenian review and full post here: https://slovenianbookworm.wordpress.com/

Regina Spark or Reggie has had a hard life. After she was saved from the streets by Broderick, her life gets better. Broderick Killoran owns the Devil's Den, a popular gaming hell. Regina has become Broderick's best friend and assistant at the Den. She has loved Broderick for always, but knows that he never sees her as a woman, more like a sister. He is her protector and she is loyal to him. Broderick doesn't know that Reggie has plans of her own, she wants to open a music hall. Broderick and his employees are are loyal to each other. The day that Broderick realizes that Reggie is a woman, a beautiful woman, he is lost. When she leaves, will he find her? Someone with the intent to kill is after him. There's a story inside this story and I love the way everything came together. I received this book from Net Galley and Montlake Romance for a honest review. The opinions are my own.

I enjoyed the relationship between the two main characters,even when their relationship was at its most fraught. I particularly enjoyed Broderick's relationship with his sisters and their whole family dynamic. The writing was witty and swift, the pacing of the story very well handled. I think it would have been very tempting to overdo the drama when it first appeared, however the author did herself and her characters justice by dealing with it in a timely and expected manner. Overall a pretty enjoyable book and I will look out for this author in future. Thank you for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Christi Caldwell adds another gripping and intense story to her Wicked Wallflowers series. I always have to psyche myself up before I begin reading one of this author’s books. Not because the book isn’t good – they are all wonderful. No, it is because they are so intensely emotional that you will be wrung out by the time you are through with it.

The series features the Killoran’s, none of them are actually related by blood, but they are closer than most families could think of being. They were all children living on the streets of Seven Dials and they were all taken into the street gang of Diggory, one of the vilest humans you could imagine. Diggory is dead before this series begins (see the Sinful Brides series for details on that) and Broderick is now in charge. We’ve seen two of the siblings find their HEA in the first two books of the series – Cleo (Cleopatra) marries Adair in The Hellion and Ophelia settles down with Connor in The Vixen. This book features Broderick who finally discovers his love, Reggie, was right under his nose all the time.

Broderick Killoran is absolutely ruthless in his business dealings – he has to be because you don’t survive in Seven Dials without it. He’s also mysterious and everyone wonders how someone who is as cultured and who speaks as well as he does has ended up in the Dials. Broderick longs for respectability – not necessarily for himself, but he feels that is the only way to keep his family safe. He keeps trying to marry his sisters into the aristocracy, but he hasn’t managed to do it yet. So, maybe it is up to him to do it.

Broderick rescued Reggie years ago and has protected her since. How could she not love him? He saved her, he gave her a place in the running of the Devil’s Den, he treats her with respect and he listens to her thoughts and opinions. Except, he doesn’t know she exists as a woman.

Things are getting really intense in Broderick’s world. Years ago, a baby was stolen from the home of a Marquess and was subsequently delivered to Diggory in the Dials. That baby is now called Stephen and he is Broderick’s brother. That Marquess (know as the Mad Marquess) has discovered that Stephen is his kidnapped son and he’s coming after Broderick. Broderick may very well hang for it. To that stress, add that his most trusted right-hand person, Reggie, is planning to open her own music hall in competition with him.

In the previous books, both Reggie and Broderick’s pasts have been in shadow and we learn more about those in this book. It is nice to learn their history and see how they came to be the people they currently are.

It was emotionally exhausting to see Broderick and Reggie thread-the-needle to find love, protect Broderick, protect Stephen and deal with the villains.

Definitely a recommended read! Now, to wait for The Bluestocking that will feature Gertrude Killoran and the Mad Marquess. That has to be a hum-dinger!

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"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."

4.5 stars

A Good exciting romance between Broderick and Regina. He is the owner of a gambling Den and she has been his friend and book keeper. Regina has reached a stage when she's prepared to create an independant life for herself away from the club. Broderick wakes up to the fact that she's been the one person he trusts and relies on. The story is linked to the first two in the series but it didn't spoil my enjoyment that I hadn't read them. It did make me keen to read Gertrude's story and see how Stephen was going to get on with his Dad.

I've read quite a few of Christi's books and will continue to look out for others. She's an excellent author to follow.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Regina "Reggie" Sparks has been in love with her employer, Broderick Killoran, ever since that long ago day he saved her. Reggie knows by now that he is never going to feel the same for her. It is past time she move on. Reggie begins with the plans to open up her own music hall.

Broderick cannot believe Reggie would betray him by opening a competing business so close to his own gambling hell. When he sees the proof with his own eyes, Broderick undercuts Reggie to get what he wants, her working as a chaperone for his last unmarried sister during the Season in London, a task Broderick knows Reggie doesn't want to accept. It doesn't help when things start heating up between them. Suddenly, Broderick isn't so sure Reggie was in the wrong, and he may have lost a real chance at having more with her because of his actions.

I love, love, love author Christi Caldwell's WICKED WALLFLOWERS series. It consists of three books to date, THE HELLION, THE VIXEN and THE GOVERNESS. All three are keeper shelf material. I highly recommend reading them in order to follow the story and get to know each character better. All that aside, THE GOVERNESS is Broderick's story. His is the story I've been waiting for. Broderick is just such a complex character. To have survived and thrived like he has, he deserves recognition. And on top of that all, he has tried to atone for some of his past sins by being a different man than what circumstances forced him to be in the past. Reggie's past is equally sad. She is the perfect mate for Broderick. Together, they can be themselves and learn to let the past go. THE GOVERNESS gets a solid 5 star rating from me!

Reggie and Broderick’s story, 3rd in the Wicked Wallflowers series, is a standalone, happily ever after, no cheating, historical romance with some sizzle.
Secrets, perceived betrayal, a “Sword of Damocles”, ghosts from the past, are some of the obstacles to our H & H path to true happiness.
I love how C.C. can take one of her characters that we shouldn’t, and maybe haven’t liked, from previous books, and turns them into someone you feel for, cry for and then cheer for them to find their HEA.
All of her cast are well thought out, adding color and layers to this heartfelt romance. I felt their pain, and shed some tears right along with the characters. This is one of the stories that I couldn’t read fast enough, yet I also wanted to read it slowly in order to savor it.
As with the other books in this series, this story is, at times, dark and intense, delving into the harsh realities of life.
I have already pre-ordered my copy on Amazon along with the Audible narration (can’t resist Tim Campbell’s narration). Looking forward to Gertrude’s story.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

I loved Reggie and Broderick's story!!

Reggie has been in love with Broderick for years. Her heart just can't take seeing him every day and knowing that he sees her as another one of his sisters. Reggie has decided to go out on her own and open a music hall. When Broderick learns of her plans, he sees it as her being a traitor to the family and vows to make her pay. Reggie is furious that Broderick would interfere with her plans to make a life for herself and pushes back. Broderick starts to wonder if he has ever really known Reggie. Who is this woman that is suddenly impossible to ignore?

I loved watching these two together! I loved that Reggie pushed back at Broderick's antics and didn't allow him to walk all over her. These two were perfect for each other!!

I'm so excited for Gertrude and Lord Edwin's story which is up next!!

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
💋💋
I think that maybe Broderick is going to be one of my all time favourite characters from a book or series , he is so complex , so devoted , and so misunderstood in many ways .
The books before this have given a good grounding of his character , but until now he’s not been revealed, get ready because it’s all in here .
Reggie is a strong , stunningly devoted woman . She takes no messing , the Killorans have rubbed off on her, living with them as she has for 10 years , but what took her to their doorstep and what keeps her there .
Christi has done a magnificent job of pulling all the clues and characters together and weaving an wonderful adventure and love story from the tangle .
As she always seems to do she’s given us tension and danger , sadness and joy , love and Romance in spades, with relentless pace .
The book is thrilling and addictive, Christi Caldwell at her best , always leaving you satisfied but begging for more .
I loved this book ,and wether this is your fist book by her or your twentieth you’ll enjoy every page, I guarantee.
I received an advance copy of this book and chose to submit a review

Some great characters in this one, and I enjoyed the interactions between Reggie and Broderick.

I found the story hard to get into at the beginning. I couldn’t understand why Broderick was so keen on getting his sisters to be part of the ton. I also wasn’t convinced why Reggie would want to leave if she had such strong feelings for Broderick.

Regina, a member of the gentry, had been rescued from a life on the streets by Broderick, after escaping from an abusive relationship with an aristocrat.

He doesn’t know anything about her past, and she has been working in the club as his right hand woman for 10 years. She has decided to go into business for herself and has joined forces with Ryders’s ex mistress Clara who now works for Broderick. They want to start up a music hall, and take some of the staff who want to go, with them.

Broderick is worried for his family, he fears the loss of Stephen, his younger brother,who in book 2, The Vixen, was discovered to be a Marquess’s son. The Marquess has not collected Stephen, and Broderick worries over losing Stephen, and being hung, as he has been accused of abducting him.

He is desperate to keep his family safe so wants Gertrude, his half blind sister to have a Season and marry. She says she will only do this if Regina chaperones her. Regina refuses as she is worried about her true identity being revealed. Broderick feels doubly betrayed as Stephen has revealed that Regina is planning to open another gaming den, so Broderick blackmails her into chaperoning Gertrude.

The season starts, and a battle of wills commences, with Regina spending every spare moment refurbishing her new premises, and Broderick feeling more hunted. Broderick finds himself more and more attracted to Regina, as the season progresses, Eventually her background is revealed.

How they resolve the misunderstandings between them, ably churned up by Stephen, who is the most tricksy and infuriating child ever (bravo. Christi) takes up the rest of the book.

The second half of the book really worked well for me, and the ending sets up book 4, the reuniting of Stephen with his father, and the HEA, finally, for Gertrude.

I received an ARC of this book which I voluntarily reviewed.

Also posted on Goodreads

Although I was waiting for this book for quite some time, this book started off really slow for me. Then about 25 percent into the book, the story took an interesting turn and had me immediately hooked. The characters of Regina and Broderick were so rich and well written that I could feel their pain, love and despair. I absolutely adore Stephen and cannot wait to read more about his reunion with his father in future books. Regina and Broderick’s love story starts off as unrequited love on behalf of Regina but as she stands up to Broderick and gives a voice to her opinions, he starts seeing her in a different light. I adore Regina with her strong values and brave personality. It was a pleasure to read about such a fierce and awesome heroine. I liked Broderick but thought that he had made a lot of decisions in his prior life a little selfishly. It takes Regina to shake up his foundation to understand what his decisions have cost his family and loved ones. This flawed but willing to accept and change attitude in Broderick made me absolutely adore him. I hope Gertrude also has her own HEA. This is book three in the Wicked Wallflowers series, and although it can be read as a standalone, I would highly recommend reading the first two books in this series. You will not be sorry. I suggest sitting with a box of tissues as this author can make you cry.

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

Wow this book had so much drama. I cried and laughed and got angry as all get out a times. I so enjoyed this story about Broderick and Regina and how they helped and healed those they loved. I loved Regina’s sprite ,it forces Broderick to see what he has not.

The beginning started a little slow for me but once the story began to unfold i couldn't put it down. Reggie's story was heartbreaking and being doubted by Broderick and his family made it all the worse. I am glad that everyone came to see her for the strong, kind and selfless woman she was.

Fantastic, fabulous! I have not met a Christi Caldwell book I didnt love. This book is heartbreaking and delightful. I laughed, I grimaced, I ranted and I cried. This story tells a tale of a man terrified of leaving his family unsettled when his past catches up to him that hell fo ang thing to ensure their protection. It tells a story of a woman with a past unknown who cant and wont share her secrets, and who will do anything to protect herself. When truths start surfacing, friendships will be destroyed and relationships tested. Youre taken on an adventure to find out if he can outrun his past and if she can find peace with her secrets. You will also catch up with the other Killoran siblings and their lives. CHRISTI CALDWELL has outdone herself again with an amazing tale of love, determination and family.

It was great to read Reggie and Broderick’s story. I would have liked to have seen how Reggie develops her music hall. What happens to the evil Lord Oliver? What happens to Stephen? I guess that will be addressed in future stories!

4 Stars

Loved this book, can’t wait for the next one!

*Arc Provided by NetGalley For an Honest Review*

Reviewed On GoodReads

Broderick Killoran is known for being the ruthless and mysterious leader of the Devil's Den gaming hell and its accompanying gang. Though Broderick's cultured speech has always marked him as not being from the streets, no one knows of his past or true origins, only his ruthless climb to power in London's underworld. His longing for respectability and connections to the nobility have caused issues for two of his siblings of the street in the previous installments of this series, but now he has other issues to deal with after the revelation that his youngest adopted sibling, Stephen, is in fact the son of a marquess, stolen as a child and brought into a life on the streets. This same marquess now blames Broderick and the rest of the Killorans for kidnapping his son and seeks to ruin them and bring down the empire Broderick has spent his adult life establishing. Just when Broderick thinks his family, to which he is absolutely loyal, can't be shaken any more, his right hand at the club, Regina, is making plans to open her own music hall, which will inevitably compete for the same clientele as Broderick's gaming hell. Reggie can't bear to spend any more time around the man she's been in love with for the past ten years; it's too painful when he only sees her as family or a coworker. For Broderick this damning announcement comes just as he's beginning to see Reggie as a woman, in the midst of his world crashing down around him, and he sees it as the ultimate in disloyalty and betrayal.

Faced with the possibility of being blamed and executed for the kidnapping of a nobleman's son, Broderick needs to establish noble connections now more than ever and is shocked by Reggie's lack of cooperation. He was counting on her to accompany him and his only remaining unwed sister, Gertrude, as her companion for a London season and this is the first request Reggie has ever refused him. But Reggie refuses to return to the polite society she was one well-acquainted with and only wants to take the opportunity to begin the business venture she has been quietly planning for months. She has been pining away for Broderick almost since he first saved her ten years ago but when he it becomes clear that his request is really a demand, her final hope of ever having more with the title-obsessed proprietor is quashed.

Both of these characters have been completely cloaked in mystery in the previous installments of this series, with only very small clues given as to Broderick's prior circumstances. It was great to finally get some information on their backgrounds and it made Broderick and the reasons for his actions in this book and its predecessors make much more sense. Broderick is wracked with guilt over his unwitting role in Stephen's initial kidnapping and hopes to make amends by finding a titled husband for Gertrude. He is further besieged by over his newly developed lustful thoughts towards Reggie and then floored by her perceived betrayal. He holds no hopes of saving his own neck from the hangman's noose, but hopes to establish security for his family and those dependent on him before that happens and his best hope for that is to see Gertrude accepted by polite society and therefore, in a position to keep an eye on Stephen when he takes his rightful place in society with his father.

Broderick is forced to open his eyes and see the world beyond his usual framework of definitive black and white and it was great to read. More and more both Regina and Broderick note the sparks between them and there is some serious sexual tension burning between them. Poor Regina finds herself backed into such an awful corner; her options had me stressed towards the end of the book and I couldn't put it down.

Though this book is part of a series it can still be read and enjoyed as a standalone, although it does have spoilers for the second book's plot.

I received an ARC via NetGalley. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is my second book by Christi Caldwell. After reading the first one in the Wicked Wallflowers series and disliking it very much I skiped the second one and went right to this one since I already had an arc for it. I'm glad to say I liked it better than The Hellion, the first one in the series. I still had some problems with the story since it leans heavily on previous books (and not just the previous books in this series sadly) but noting to prevent me from following the plot. I liked the heroine, Regina (and since I'm talking about Regina - who the hell decides to call the heroine Reggie when she has a beautiful, regal name like Regina - it's practically a crime and was a big pet peeve for me, I really disliked that nickname). I wasn't very fond of the hero though. Broderick was not to my liking at all. The plot was ok. Nothing to write home about but it weasn't bad either. I just think that the conflict between Regina and Broderick was way too drawn out. I wish it was resolved sooner, I'd enjoy the book more if it was resolved sooner and we could see them grow as a couple.
So all in all a decent book but not one that will stay with me for weeks to come.