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

Fans of the historical genre will be thrilled by today's guest who is making a return visit to my site.  Keep reading to get a glimpse of Taming Miss Tisdale by Jessica Jefferson, along with my impressions of it, and learn even more about this book by visiting the other blogs hosting this tour.  Make sure to fill out the form below for the chance to win a $50 Amazon GC too!

Miss Tamsin Tisdale believes herself to be completely unsuitable for London life. After a myriad of social mishaps, and the potential ruination of her family name, she’s shipped away to her cousin’s northern estate. Only after she comes to her senses will she be welcomed home.
Marcus Winston, the Duke of Grayson, has a lackluster reputation. The last in a dying line, he’s endured a protected life—rank with privilege, encumbered by isolation. After a brief encounter with rebellion, he learns the devastating consequences of his carelessness and willingly accepts living life from inside his gilded cage.
However, a chance meeting with the brazen Miss Tisdale gives Marc the opportunity to reinvent himself into the man he’s always dreamed of being. When his deception comes to light, and ghosts from both their pasts threaten to unravel the intimacy they’ve come to cherish, will either of them set their fears aside long enough to embrace love? Or will Miss Tisdale’s stubbornness divide them?

EXCERPT:

Marc watched the faint outline come across the dense morning fog, becoming more discernible as it approached. The tall, thin figure was riding along at a perilous speed, given the morning’s lack of visibility. He thought perhaps it was some gangly young man misguided in the fog. It wouldn’t be the first time someone accidentally stumbled upon the vast property that made up his family’s immodest estate.
Then the fog parted in an almost biblical manner, revealing his gross inaccuracy.
Were those ... breasts?
Marc closed his eyes and thought for a moment. Typically, women didn’t ride alone at such an hour and they certainly didn’t wander unexpectedly across his property. It’d been quite a while, his last birthday to be exact, since his last intimate encounter with a woman—a gift, compliments of St. Regis—so there was always the possibility that perhaps his half-drunk, sex-starved mind had conjured up the sensual image.
He shook his head, opened his eyes, and looked back again toward the horizon.
Yes, those were most certainly breasts.
And she was most definitely not a young man. The woman’s riding habit pulled taut against her body as she raced toward him. Her hair was blowing behind her—various hues of auburn and gold, like wild flames curling about in the wind. Then a decidedly feminine voice burst through the morning’s silence, interrupting his self-doubt.
“Oh, thank goodness I found you!”
This was no mirage. She was indeed very real.
And very loud.

MY IMPRESSIONS OF THIS BOOK:

After enjoying this author's first book in the Regency Blooms series I greatly anticipated reading this installment and enjoyed it just as much as the characters were memorable and immensely likable.  From start to finish the romance was refreshing and the banter delightful though some of the events were predictable.

Marc, the Duke of Grayson, lived a life of solitude growing up as his parents tried to keep Society from discovering he had epilepsy.  He was kept cosseted at home with very little friends, save one, and no chance to truly live life beyond what he read in books.  His mother in particular kept him close and as such he enjoys a more studious and quiet life.  All of this made him a very sympathetic character though he never wanted to be treated like an invalid.  His ideas for the future change the moment his mother invites a slew of eligible women to his estate for him to choose a wife from.  He's tired of doing the expected, tired of doing what his mother thinks is best.  Of all the women he meets the only one to truly capture his attention is an outspoken one with less than ladylike comportment.  His plans to woo her take an unexpected turn though as she despises the real Duke of Grayson for his perceived standoffishness which has Marc taking on a different persona, that of average Marc Winston.  Taking on this new identity gives him the chance to live the kind of life he always dreamed of and to be the kind of man his friend is, a charming and witty man at ease with the ladies.  Though his relationship with Tamsin is at first based on lies it's not long before he becomes a stronger-willed man choosing to make his own decisions which makes him a more worthy match to this equally outspoken woman.  As his self-esteem grows will he finally stand up to the woman who's kept him safe his whole life and put himself at the mercy of a Society who frowns upon imperfection or will he revert back into his world of books and turn his back on the love Tamsin's brought to his life?  It's an emotional journey every step of the way as lies become truths for these two apparently very different people.

Tamsin is a very unlikely Regency heroine in her words and deeds which made her immensely likable.  Relegated to the country for a major social faux pas she continues to live her life as carefree as she always has.  She's an outspoken woman uncaring of any consequences as seen by her thoughts on the Duke of Grayson who she sees as rude with an air of superiority.  This leads to an unexpected friendship and romance with the man himself under a haze of lies.  Will this relationship survive once the truth comes out or will Society take her to task for her continued social improprieties?  Tamsin was like a breath of fresh air and I appreciated her outspokenness as it was endearing.  Though Society frowned upon her acts she always had her sisters supporting her which added a heartwarming aspect to the story as well.

This was an immensely enjoyable read with likable characters and witty banter.  Their friendship which morphed into a romance was sweet yet sensual with an outcome that kept me guessing until the very end.  Along with a delightfully unique main couple comes an entertaining cast of secondary characters, especially Marc's friend Jason.  Jason is everything Marc aspired to be, carefree and charming with the ladies which has me dying for his story to be told.  Though certain themes felt familiar Ms. Jefferson made them fresh courtesy of a unique main couple.  With this installment this continues to be an entertaining series that historical fans will embrace.

My rating for this is an A-

*I received this book from the author for review 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.  She is heavily inspired by classic sweeping, historical romance novels, but aims to take those key emotional elements and inject a fresh blend of quick dialogue and comedy.  She invites you to visit her at her website and read more of her random romance musings.

http://www.JessicaJefferson.com and www.embracingromance.com
Like me at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jessica-Jefferson/545243542195152
Follow me at https://twitter.com/authorJessicaJ/

**********GIVEAWAY**********

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