Book Tour Compromising Miss Tisdale by Jessica Jefferson (Review & GIVEAWAY)

Today I'm introducing you to a new-to-me author in Jessica Jefferson and her delightful historical read, Compromising Miss Tisdale.  Keep reading to get a tantalizing taste of this book, along with my impressions of it, and learn even more by visiting the other blogs hosting this tour.  Make sure to fill out the form below for your chance to win a $50 Amazon OR BN GC too!

Ambrosia Tisdale is the very picture of propriety and the epitome of what a respectable young lady should be. Haunted by a memory and compelled by her family, she pursues perfection to a fault.

The Earl of Bristol, Duncan Maddox, has returned to London after years of familial imposed exile. As the second son, he has led a life filled with frivolity, leisure, and a healthy dose of debauchery. Now his older brother has died, leaving the family’s flailing legacy in Duncan’s unwilling arms.

At the behest of his uncle, Duncan is advised to do the one thing that could provide instant fortune and respectability – he must marry. But there is only one prospect who meets the unique requirements to solve all the Earl’s problems – the lovely Miss Ambrosia Tisdale. But securing the prudent daughter of a Viscount’s hand proves to be more challenging than this scandal ridden second son of an Earl has bargained for.

With scandal, extortion, treachery, and even love itself threatening to keep him from his goal, will Duncan succeed in compromising Miss Tisdale? 

EXCERPT:

He stepped forward, a twig snapping under the force of his right boot.  
She startled and turned.
She had been crying.  Even in the shadows he could see that her eyes were red and face blotchy from the trails of tears.  For once, Miss Tisdale did not look her best, and in that imperfection he found her to be the most enticing she had ever been.
Duncan fell into her eyes, endless pools framed with wet clumps of black lashes that drew him towards her.  And then her lips, already full, now swollen from her sobbing, parted slightly.  
He was lost.  God help him, he was no longer intoxicated by brandy alone, but rather the beauty of one woman.  
Duncan reached up and cupped her face in his hands.  Without any words or pretense, he simply swooped down and kissed her.  It wasn’t a gentle kiss, nor was it rough.  It was certain and decided.  He kissed her ardently, holding her face and savoring the salty taste of her tears still wet on her lips.  
He waited for it to stop, for her to slap him or push him away.  But then she did something totally unexpected.  She grabbed his arms and kissed him back.  The action left him disarmed and completely infatuated.  This was the woman from the library whom he had come to remember.  And her kiss was not tentative as it once was - but now firm and without trepidation. 

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

As a fan of Julia Quinn I found much in this story to remind me of one of my favorite authors.  From the delightfully witty dialogue and fast-paced banter oozing sexual tension to the many colorful familial interactions, I found myself consumed by this Regency romp and impressed by this new-to-me author.  Add in a bad boy trying to be good and a good girl trying to be bad and you have a wonderful romance to delight those looking for a HEA.

Ambrosia is taking part in her fourth Season and knows she has to choose a husband as it's what's expected of her.  As she's always done what's expected she continues to meet one suitor after another but ends up being drawn to the one most inappropriate....Duncan Maddox.  Since the death of her perfect older brother she's taken over the role of representing the family name.  It's led her to living a regimented existence, never doing anything other than what's perfect.  It's also led to an uptight, unhappy woman choking from the pressure of expectations.  She's become a woman who barely even smiles and fights every bit of intense emotion she starts to experience.  I ached for her and the pressures she's put on herself.  Meeting Duncan though both scares her and excites her as she wants to be bad with only him though she knows he's completely inappropriate.  I loved seeing her slowly come to life through the erotically-charged banter between her and Duncan.  She's like a butterfly coming out of its cocoon and I loved seeing her vibrant and fun side emerge, through their sizzling sexual encounters, against her better judgement.

Duncan has always been happy being the bad boy.  He's a charming and sexy man full of life.  As the younger son he was happy living his carefree and debauched ways, but with the death of his brother he must now clean up his act and the prim and perfect Ambrosia is just what he needs to earn his place in society.  What starts out as a cold-hearted plan though soon involves the heart and has him looking at her in a whole new light.  He never contemplated real marriage before as his parent's numerous affairs left him disillusioned but he finds himself drawn to her, admiring her the more time they spend together and the more similarities he discovers between them.  He works hard to woo her which leads to an intense battle of wills which makes their HEA even more rewarding.

Along with this wonderfully intense romance comes a despicable villain unashamed in using friends and family for financial gain.  James pretends at being Duncan's friend but he's a cheat and his scenes with Ambrosia are unsettling as he wants her for himself and lets her know that constantly.  His actions add an element of suspense and moments of heart-pounding anticipation as we wait to see him come to a satisfying end where he gets what he deserves.  James is a villain who richly earns the title.  Along with a good villain there's an entertaining cast of secondary characters in Ambrosia's colorful family who aren't afraid to speak their minds.  They aren't ashamed to play matchmaker as Ambrosia continues to fight her attraction to Duncan and I applauded their actions done in love.  From start to finish I found this a thoroughly compelling read with characters I came to care about and I look forward to what Ms. Jefferson plans next.

My rating for this is an A.

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

AUTHOR INFO:

Jessica Jefferson makes her home in northern Indiana, or as she likes to think of it – almost Chicago.  Jessica originally attended college in hopes of achieving an English degree and writing the next great American novel.  Ten years later she was working as a registered nurse and reading historical romance when she decided to give writing another go-round.
Jessica writes likes she speaks, which has a tendency to be fast paced and humorous. Jessica is heavily inspired by sweeping, historical romance novels, but aims to take those key emotional elements and inject a fresh blend of quick dialogue and comedy to transport the reader into a story they miss long after the last page is read.  She invites you to visit her at jessicajefferson.com and read her random romance musings.

WEBSITE:  http://www.jessicajefferson.com/

FACEBOOK:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-Jefferson/545243542195152

TWITTER:  http://www.twitter.com/authorJessicaJ

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