What do you think?
Rate this book
Regency Blooms #2
Taming Miss Tisdale
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 accepts the type of existence Society dictates she must follow 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, but 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. But 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?
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, but 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. But 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?
Unknown Binding
First published April 30, 2014
263 people are currently reading
229 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Jefferson
5 books356 followersJessica Jefferson makes her home in Almost-Chicago with her husband, nine and three year old girls, guinea pigs, and English bulldog Pete. When she's not busy trying to find middle-ground between being a modern career woman and Suzy-Homemaker, she loves to watch "Real Housewives of [insert city here]" and performing unnecessary improvements to her home and property.
Jessica writes Regency-era historical romance with a modern twist, infused with humor. She tries to create endearingly flawed heroes and one of a kind heroines that you'll want to continue knowing long after you read the last page.
Be sure and sign up to receive updates about new releases at jessicajefferson.com
Jessica writes Regency-era historical romance with a modern twist, infused with humor. She tries to create endearingly flawed heroes and one of a kind heroines that you'll want to continue knowing long after you read the last page.
Be sure and sign up to receive updates about new releases at jessicajefferson.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
November 3, 2017
Fun story, great narration by Beverly Crick (audible review)
This was a fun story, I enjoyed all of it. I love Tamsin, she was so funny! She said whatever was on her mind. All the time! LOL.
The story line and plot was very good. I really liked "Mr. Winston" aka The Duke of Grayson. He just wanted to be normal. His mother was awful. Tamsin and Marcus made a great match. There are some very funny moments in this book. A lot of great dialogue too.
As for the narration. It was great, another Beverly Crick narration. Men sound like men, and everyone gets their own voice. She reads with emotion and has a very nice reading voice.
This was a fun story, I enjoyed all of it. I love Tamsin, she was so funny! She said whatever was on her mind. All the time! LOL.
The story line and plot was very good. I really liked "Mr. Winston" aka The Duke of Grayson. He just wanted to be normal. His mother was awful. Tamsin and Marcus made a great match. There are some very funny moments in this book. A lot of great dialogue too.
As for the narration. It was great, another Beverly Crick narration. Men sound like men, and everyone gets their own voice. She reads with emotion and has a very nice reading voice.
August 3, 2018
Finding His Own Wife👰💋
Early 1800s England Adult Regency Romance
Marc Winston🐺🍆🌋, the Duke of Grayson, suffers from epilepsy, but he's had only an attack or two since becoming an adult. However, an attack and fall from a horse🐎 as a lad has scarred him for life. His father came to save him, got cold and wet, and died a few days later. Marc blames himself, partly because his mother, the dowager Duchess👸, blames him and will never let him forget it.
His mother has a girl all picked out for him to marry, it's Katherine👰, a young demure woman the Duchess👸 knows she can control. Marc's mother wants to remain the true Duchess👸 of the manor.
Marc🐺🍆🌋 goes for a walk and finds a young woman from The Beardsley estate next door riding alone and lost in the fog. He introduces himself as Marc Winston🐺🍆🌋 to the beautiful, strong willed, Tamsin💃💋, never mentioning he is the Duke of Grayson. He wants a woman who will like him for himself, not for his title or 💰money. He even involves his best friend in the deception.
While a noble idea to keep gold diggers away, this deliberate oversight will eventually get him into deep trouble with Tamsin💃💋. Marc🐺🍆🌋spends a lot of time and energy hiding his secret from her. It seems the time is never right to confess, and he also fears she won't see him anymore because now he's a liar by omission.
He never thought he would end up falling in love💘 with Tamsin💃💋, and she with him!
This book has sexual scenes between the lovers, Marc and Tamsin. Don't read it if you want a chaste regency romance.
Early 1800s England Adult Regency Romance
Marc Winston🐺🍆🌋, the Duke of Grayson, suffers from epilepsy, but he's had only an attack or two since becoming an adult. However, an attack and fall from a horse🐎 as a lad has scarred him for life. His father came to save him, got cold and wet, and died a few days later. Marc blames himself, partly because his mother, the dowager Duchess👸, blames him and will never let him forget it.
His mother has a girl all picked out for him to marry, it's Katherine👰, a young demure woman the Duchess👸 knows she can control. Marc's mother wants to remain the true Duchess👸 of the manor.
Marc🐺🍆🌋 goes for a walk and finds a young woman from The Beardsley estate next door riding alone and lost in the fog. He introduces himself as Marc Winston🐺🍆🌋 to the beautiful, strong willed, Tamsin💃💋, never mentioning he is the Duke of Grayson. He wants a woman who will like him for himself, not for his title or 💰money. He even involves his best friend in the deception.
While a noble idea to keep gold diggers away, this deliberate oversight will eventually get him into deep trouble with Tamsin💃💋. Marc🐺🍆🌋spends a lot of time and energy hiding his secret from her. It seems the time is never right to confess, and he also fears she won't see him anymore because now he's a liar by omission.
He never thought he would end up falling in love💘 with Tamsin💃💋, and she with him!
This book has sexual scenes between the lovers, Marc and Tamsin. Don't read it if you want a chaste regency romance.
![Profile Image for ᑭᑌᑎƳᗩ [Punya Reviews...].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1572968006i%2F3840999._UX200_CR0%2C33%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
August 20, 2014
My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts as I went with the book... for more, visit Punya Reviews...
I’ve been looking forward to book 2 of Regency Blooms by Jessica Jefferson ever since I read the first book in the series. In that one, I found the author’s writing style great, enjoyed the storyline just as much. But most of all, I was taken with one of the secondary characters, the h’s sister who, I knew, was going to have a book of her own... which is Taming Miss Tisdale. Unfortunately, this story didn’t live up to my expectations. Maybe I had high hopes, I don’t know but I’ll try my best to elaborate what I felt in my review.
In Compromising Miss Tisdale, we’re introduced to the Viscount Tisdale’s 4 daughters, Ambrosia, Lilly, Tamsin and Rose. They also had an elder brother, the only heir, Thomas. Sadly, he passed away some years prior due to a grave illness. Because everybody loved and adored him, his death cast a shadow over the family. All of the sisters were affected, as were their parents, dealing with their grief in their own way.
Ambrosia, the beautiful eldest sister worked hard to become the epitome of grace, beauty and efficiency because she was trying to live up to the expectations of now being ‘the eldest’. To herself, a poor replacement of Thomas. Yet she was also known as a cold fish throughout the ton. Her father is very rich and an important figure, even if he’s a mere viscount. Still Ambrosia was fast reaching the age of spinsterhood, not because she lacked anything or wanted to be one, but… just that society deemed her cold and aloof. Also, maybe, because of her no nonsense attitude towards those fortune hunters. But then, the rakish lord Duncan enters her life, creating a whirlwind of emotions. It was so sudden and unexpected; something Ambrosia just couldn’t resist. The attraction was palpable, making her want something more. But Duncan had other ideas in mind, and not very nice ones. Not at first in any case. I didn’t like him either and it took me quite a while to see that he was, indeed, capable of becoming more than his wild lifestyle. Though Duncan was a bit impatient and somewhat immature, he wasn’t evil. It didn’t take him long to fall for the goodness and beauty of Ambrosia. What the other men were blind to, Duncan saw through with his vast experience. The kisses helped as well. He figured easily Ambrosia is no cold fish and the deceitful plan he’d made to compromise her to get to marry him (and access her dowry) can never be a reality. Because at one point, Duncan realized to his shame that he just can’t go forward with it; that he didn’t want to hurt her. I’d say, the impulsive yet wise Tamsin’s threats may have worked its ‘charm’ on Duncan (one of the best scenes of the book IMO); that if he hurts her sister, he’ll have to answer to her! *grins* I became fond of Ambrosia very early in the story. And as for Duncan, though it came a bit late, I was glad for his self-reflections, then the decisions he made to change his life to make it more worthy of Ambrosia.
I adored Tamsin so much that I was practically impatient to get my hands on her book. Maybe that was the reason why it turned out to be rather a downer. When the story begins, it’s been a year or so after Duncan-Ambrosia’s marriage. Their other sister, Lilly was already married to her childhood sweetheart, another reformed rake, William. We get to see them in the family way, among the few scenes with the family that I absolutely enjoyed the most in this book.
Tamsin has been sent to her uncle’s country estate for something ‘untoward’ she did to some lord. It was a short banishment from London, and for the time being, Tamsin is stuck here. For quite sometimes we don’t get to know what the hell she did that made her parents banish her to the country in the middle of a season. Later it was revealed that she ‘took care’ of a lecherous lord bend on groping her all by herself, even if the method was rather... unconventional. I’d like to stress that I LIKED what she did but can’t say the same about the Ton.
Now, Tamsin wants to explore her surroundings. She can’t just sit at one place, contemplate and converse on weather like a ‘proper lady’, or so her younger cousin Elizabeth would like to point out. This is why one very early morning, she secretly rides out before anyone got the wind of it. While she’s at it, she manages to forget the direction to her uncle’s and stumbles upon a handsome young man. She’s attracted to him on spot. Without much of an intro, she asks for the direction and gets help. He introduces himself as one ‘Mr. Winston’, a cousin to the recluse Duke of Grayson. The Duke’s estate is also nearby, hence Winston informs Tamsin that he’s staying at the house for the duration of a house-party. Tamsin leaves, thanking the man, no less intrigued and bemused. She’s sure she’d never see him again because there’s no way she’s going to the Duke’s estate.
But before that, we were already introduced to said recluse Duke aka Marcus or Marc. He hasn’t had a usual upbringing due to childhood asthma which almost took his life a few times. He still has bouts of breathing problems, though they’re not as frequent as they were before. Marc has become a recluse not by choice but because of his situation. Being the only child and the heir to a noble bloodline, his parents were always overtly cautious about him. Hence he wasn’t allowed to roam, play, make mischief or just have fun like any other young boy. Marc’s life has been essentially centered around this estate, and as big and prosperous as it may have been, he now feels trapped and smothered. His father has since passed on but his mother still holds the iron grip. She still won’t let Marc even visit London to mix with the Ton or the few friends he has. Since no one but very close friends and family have seen Marc in flesh, he has come to be known as a recluse; a mysterious figure.
Even in those few, no one but his childhood bud, Jason, knows Marc better. Jason is a rake and has tried his best to ‘corrupt’ Marc. Well, Marc certainly doesn’t have the kind of ‘experience’ with women as Jason does but he has had a few encounters with light skirts and such, thanks to his buddy’s help(?). And those had probably been Marc’s most interesting ventures ‘out in the wild’. Marc is efficient in the running of the estate but most of his dealings are done thru correspondence. He’s doing well and much better than he’s ever been. Hell, he’s even grown up to be an attractive young man, not sickly as one would imagine. He now wants to be out and about, exploring the world, sightseeing and doing whatever he wants to do. But will that day ever come in his lifetime?
The opportunity falls on his lap or in front of him one early morning, when he went out alone to have a walk, as the form of a comely young woman who introduces herself only as ‘Tamsin’. Marc is struck by her uncommon beauty; wild red hair and sparkly eyes. Most of all, Marc is entranced by her vivaciousness. She’s like everything he has never known! When they are getting to know each-other, Marc makes an impromptu decision. It was clear that Tamsin doesn’t have a good impression of the ‘recluse and haughty Duke who doesn’t want to mingle with people’. But Marc really wants to impress her. So he goes for the semi-truth, hiding his true identity, thinking this would be such fun! And apparently, when he’s only ‘Mr. Winston’, Marc feels more confident because he doesn’t feel like the recluse Duke with a negative reputation or the once sickly boy, someone still under the reign of his mother.
Er, really?
Honestly, Marc’s ‘plan’ was almost as bad as Tamsin saying unkind stuff about the Duke she has never met before, accusing him of things based on heard-tell. As I read forward, I begin to feel premonitions too, of this story not being what I expected it to be. For one, the more I read of Tamsin, the less I felt impressed. She apparently possessed no grace at all. She was rather loud, reckless, thoughtless... and many other things that I NEVER once associated with her when she was introduced in book 1. Maybe I had some false impression but that wasn’t THIS Tamsin! I decidedly begin to dislike her at one point and eye-rolling in almost everything she did after that.
Marc and Tamsin’s rather auspicious introduction creates much pointless drama and trouble. Marc had to hide himself because Tamsin’s uncle being a prominent lord of the area was invited frequently at his estate, as was Elizabeth and Tamsin. He begins to find or invent silly ways to cover things up with Jason’s help, who was rather having fun doing it. I’m not very fond of the theme of hidden identity and with all that have been going on, I began to lose interest.
Then there was this unnecessary love triangle between Tamsin, Jason and Marc. Tamsin has already become fond of Marc in the few times they met here and there, still under the impression that he’s the Duke’s cousin. At that point, some debutantes and their parents were invited at Marc’s by his meddling mother. We knew that the woman likes to run his life. This time, she had taken it to a new height by deciding it’s time he marries and settles down. She already had a candidate in mind, adamant that that girl will be the next Duchess. Marc, though found the girl attractive, wasn’t interested in the least. Yet he was sure he’s going to marry where his mother wants him to- until he met Tamsin.
Jason, on the other hand, suddenly found someone he wants to marry and settle down with when he had no interest when we first met him. Yep, it was Tamsin. Since Marc was being a wuss and won’t tell the truth, now fearing her reaction, Jason is willing to take the chance. He even tries to charm Tamsin with his usual rakish stuff, but she’s not impressed. That was one thing about her I always loved, not caring for rakes all that much. Though she likes Jason, and their banters were much more interesting than that of hers with Marc, Tamsin has no interest in Jason beyond friendship. That gets the young rake going, and creates tension between Marc and him, threatening their long standing friendship.
The drama goes on until one day Marc and Tamsin end up having sex. Another down moment for me, intimacy under false identity. Marc was going to tell Tamsin everything because he had suddenly made up his mind of marrying her. He has fallen in love and wants to be with Tamsin, to hell with what the world and his mother thinks. I would find his efforts noteworthy if, 1. I felt the chemistry between him and Tamsin, and 2. if their feelings for each-other felt anything close to real. Unfortunately, I didn’t. And he never revealed his true identity to Tamsin.
Now, after the sex, Marc promises Tamsin that he’s going to propose to her and make it official, but the next day something happens. I was already annoyed that she, STILL, had no idea who Marc was and the author took the worse possible time to reveal this to her. One of Marc’s asthma bouts strikes just as Tamsin came to meet him the next morning. As Tamsin didn’t know about his illness either, she’s scared witless. She runs for the Marc’s mansion, quite far away if I might add, for help. In the process, she falls and sprains her ankle rather bad. If that wasn’t horrid enough, when she reaches there, Marc’s mother takes this opportunity to tell Tamsin that Marc is the Duke and he’s going to marry that other chit everyone has been expecting him to.
Way to go. *sigh*
Tamsin knew of the rumor like everyone else but how was she to know it was about Marc? She didn’t even care for the Duke! No one, except for Jason, linked her with Marc until, just a day before when Marc made it clear to his mother that he’s marrying Tamsin. The woman doesn’t lose one minute to insinuate negative things and ask her to leave her son alone. After all, a Duke with a noble bloodline can’t marry a girl who has already ruined her name!
Now you’d think, when Marc came to, he’d run to Tamsin, apologizing to her for this mess, to convince her that his intentions were honorable. And... you’d be wrong. A couple of months pass by and the story just jumps forward. Seriously? You gotta be kidding me! What the hell was Marc doing in between? After leading us to believe that he doesn’t care what the society or his pain-in-the-arse mother thought, he got cowed by her and decided not to pursue Tamsin? He went as far as to confirm his betrothal to that other girl? Oh....... My........ Gawd! I was like... utterly speechless, in shock and by the overall ridiculousness of this part of the plot twist. And Marc’s ‘excuses’ weren’t even that much of an excuse to me. I’m not sure why Tamsin even forgave him! I’d rather give him my back and move on. Would’ve been the perfect thing to do.
By then all hope for me was lost where this book was concerned. I just couldn’t bring myself to care about what happens next. Even though I’m always suspicious of rakes, Jason, throughout, proved to be the most sensible character of this book. This is why I want to see who is going to be his heroine, because the ending indicated that the next installment is going to feature him. I’m guessing the last Tisdale sister, Rose?
For Taming Miss Tisdale, 3.5 stars but barely made it.
I received a review copy from Goddess Fish Promotions in exchange of an honest review as a part of a review tour, July 2014.
I’ve been looking forward to book 2 of Regency Blooms by Jessica Jefferson ever since I read the first book in the series. In that one, I found the author’s writing style great, enjoyed the storyline just as much. But most of all, I was taken with one of the secondary characters, the h’s sister who, I knew, was going to have a book of her own... which is Taming Miss Tisdale. Unfortunately, this story didn’t live up to my expectations. Maybe I had high hopes, I don’t know but I’ll try my best to elaborate what I felt in my review.
In Compromising Miss Tisdale, we’re introduced to the Viscount Tisdale’s 4 daughters, Ambrosia, Lilly, Tamsin and Rose. They also had an elder brother, the only heir, Thomas. Sadly, he passed away some years prior due to a grave illness. Because everybody loved and adored him, his death cast a shadow over the family. All of the sisters were affected, as were their parents, dealing with their grief in their own way.
Ambrosia, the beautiful eldest sister worked hard to become the epitome of grace, beauty and efficiency because she was trying to live up to the expectations of now being ‘the eldest’. To herself, a poor replacement of Thomas. Yet she was also known as a cold fish throughout the ton. Her father is very rich and an important figure, even if he’s a mere viscount. Still Ambrosia was fast reaching the age of spinsterhood, not because she lacked anything or wanted to be one, but… just that society deemed her cold and aloof. Also, maybe, because of her no nonsense attitude towards those fortune hunters. But then, the rakish lord Duncan enters her life, creating a whirlwind of emotions. It was so sudden and unexpected; something Ambrosia just couldn’t resist. The attraction was palpable, making her want something more. But Duncan had other ideas in mind, and not very nice ones. Not at first in any case. I didn’t like him either and it took me quite a while to see that he was, indeed, capable of becoming more than his wild lifestyle. Though Duncan was a bit impatient and somewhat immature, he wasn’t evil. It didn’t take him long to fall for the goodness and beauty of Ambrosia. What the other men were blind to, Duncan saw through with his vast experience. The kisses helped as well. He figured easily Ambrosia is no cold fish and the deceitful plan he’d made to compromise her to get to marry him (and access her dowry) can never be a reality. Because at one point, Duncan realized to his shame that he just can’t go forward with it; that he didn’t want to hurt her. I’d say, the impulsive yet wise Tamsin’s threats may have worked its ‘charm’ on Duncan (one of the best scenes of the book IMO); that if he hurts her sister, he’ll have to answer to her! *grins* I became fond of Ambrosia very early in the story. And as for Duncan, though it came a bit late, I was glad for his self-reflections, then the decisions he made to change his life to make it more worthy of Ambrosia.
I adored Tamsin so much that I was practically impatient to get my hands on her book. Maybe that was the reason why it turned out to be rather a downer. When the story begins, it’s been a year or so after Duncan-Ambrosia’s marriage. Their other sister, Lilly was already married to her childhood sweetheart, another reformed rake, William. We get to see them in the family way, among the few scenes with the family that I absolutely enjoyed the most in this book.
Tamsin has been sent to her uncle’s country estate for something ‘untoward’ she did to some lord. It was a short banishment from London, and for the time being, Tamsin is stuck here. For quite sometimes we don’t get to know what the hell she did that made her parents banish her to the country in the middle of a season. Later it was revealed that she ‘took care’ of a lecherous lord bend on groping her all by herself, even if the method was rather... unconventional. I’d like to stress that I LIKED what she did but can’t say the same about the Ton.
Now, Tamsin wants to explore her surroundings. She can’t just sit at one place, contemplate and converse on weather like a ‘proper lady’, or so her younger cousin Elizabeth would like to point out. This is why one very early morning, she secretly rides out before anyone got the wind of it. While she’s at it, she manages to forget the direction to her uncle’s and stumbles upon a handsome young man. She’s attracted to him on spot. Without much of an intro, she asks for the direction and gets help. He introduces himself as one ‘Mr. Winston’, a cousin to the recluse Duke of Grayson. The Duke’s estate is also nearby, hence Winston informs Tamsin that he’s staying at the house for the duration of a house-party. Tamsin leaves, thanking the man, no less intrigued and bemused. She’s sure she’d never see him again because there’s no way she’s going to the Duke’s estate.
But before that, we were already introduced to said recluse Duke aka Marcus or Marc. He hasn’t had a usual upbringing due to childhood asthma which almost took his life a few times. He still has bouts of breathing problems, though they’re not as frequent as they were before. Marc has become a recluse not by choice but because of his situation. Being the only child and the heir to a noble bloodline, his parents were always overtly cautious about him. Hence he wasn’t allowed to roam, play, make mischief or just have fun like any other young boy. Marc’s life has been essentially centered around this estate, and as big and prosperous as it may have been, he now feels trapped and smothered. His father has since passed on but his mother still holds the iron grip. She still won’t let Marc even visit London to mix with the Ton or the few friends he has. Since no one but very close friends and family have seen Marc in flesh, he has come to be known as a recluse; a mysterious figure.
Even in those few, no one but his childhood bud, Jason, knows Marc better. Jason is a rake and has tried his best to ‘corrupt’ Marc. Well, Marc certainly doesn’t have the kind of ‘experience’ with women as Jason does but he has had a few encounters with light skirts and such, thanks to his buddy’s help(?). And those had probably been Marc’s most interesting ventures ‘out in the wild’. Marc is efficient in the running of the estate but most of his dealings are done thru correspondence. He’s doing well and much better than he’s ever been. Hell, he’s even grown up to be an attractive young man, not sickly as one would imagine. He now wants to be out and about, exploring the world, sightseeing and doing whatever he wants to do. But will that day ever come in his lifetime?
The opportunity falls on his lap or in front of him one early morning, when he went out alone to have a walk, as the form of a comely young woman who introduces herself only as ‘Tamsin’. Marc is struck by her uncommon beauty; wild red hair and sparkly eyes. Most of all, Marc is entranced by her vivaciousness. She’s like everything he has never known! When they are getting to know each-other, Marc makes an impromptu decision. It was clear that Tamsin doesn’t have a good impression of the ‘recluse and haughty Duke who doesn’t want to mingle with people’. But Marc really wants to impress her. So he goes for the semi-truth, hiding his true identity, thinking this would be such fun! And apparently, when he’s only ‘Mr. Winston’, Marc feels more confident because he doesn’t feel like the recluse Duke with a negative reputation or the once sickly boy, someone still under the reign of his mother.
Er, really?
Honestly, Marc’s ‘plan’ was almost as bad as Tamsin saying unkind stuff about the Duke she has never met before, accusing him of things based on heard-tell. As I read forward, I begin to feel premonitions too, of this story not being what I expected it to be. For one, the more I read of Tamsin, the less I felt impressed. She apparently possessed no grace at all. She was rather loud, reckless, thoughtless... and many other things that I NEVER once associated with her when she was introduced in book 1. Maybe I had some false impression but that wasn’t THIS Tamsin! I decidedly begin to dislike her at one point and eye-rolling in almost everything she did after that.
Marc and Tamsin’s rather auspicious introduction creates much pointless drama and trouble. Marc had to hide himself because Tamsin’s uncle being a prominent lord of the area was invited frequently at his estate, as was Elizabeth and Tamsin. He begins to find or invent silly ways to cover things up with Jason’s help, who was rather having fun doing it. I’m not very fond of the theme of hidden identity and with all that have been going on, I began to lose interest.
Then there was this unnecessary love triangle between Tamsin, Jason and Marc. Tamsin has already become fond of Marc in the few times they met here and there, still under the impression that he’s the Duke’s cousin. At that point, some debutantes and their parents were invited at Marc’s by his meddling mother. We knew that the woman likes to run his life. This time, she had taken it to a new height by deciding it’s time he marries and settles down. She already had a candidate in mind, adamant that that girl will be the next Duchess. Marc, though found the girl attractive, wasn’t interested in the least. Yet he was sure he’s going to marry where his mother wants him to- until he met Tamsin.
Jason, on the other hand, suddenly found someone he wants to marry and settle down with when he had no interest when we first met him. Yep, it was Tamsin. Since Marc was being a wuss and won’t tell the truth, now fearing her reaction, Jason is willing to take the chance. He even tries to charm Tamsin with his usual rakish stuff, but she’s not impressed. That was one thing about her I always loved, not caring for rakes all that much. Though she likes Jason, and their banters were much more interesting than that of hers with Marc, Tamsin has no interest in Jason beyond friendship. That gets the young rake going, and creates tension between Marc and him, threatening their long standing friendship.
The drama goes on until one day Marc and Tamsin end up having sex. Another down moment for me, intimacy under false identity. Marc was going to tell Tamsin everything because he had suddenly made up his mind of marrying her. He has fallen in love and wants to be with Tamsin, to hell with what the world and his mother thinks. I would find his efforts noteworthy if, 1. I felt the chemistry between him and Tamsin, and 2. if their feelings for each-other felt anything close to real. Unfortunately, I didn’t. And he never revealed his true identity to Tamsin.
Now, after the sex, Marc promises Tamsin that he’s going to propose to her and make it official, but the next day something happens. I was already annoyed that she, STILL, had no idea who Marc was and the author took the worse possible time to reveal this to her. One of Marc’s asthma bouts strikes just as Tamsin came to meet him the next morning. As Tamsin didn’t know about his illness either, she’s scared witless. She runs for the Marc’s mansion, quite far away if I might add, for help. In the process, she falls and sprains her ankle rather bad. If that wasn’t horrid enough, when she reaches there, Marc’s mother takes this opportunity to tell Tamsin that Marc is the Duke and he’s going to marry that other chit everyone has been expecting him to.
Way to go. *sigh*
Tamsin knew of the rumor like everyone else but how was she to know it was about Marc? She didn’t even care for the Duke! No one, except for Jason, linked her with Marc until, just a day before when Marc made it clear to his mother that he’s marrying Tamsin. The woman doesn’t lose one minute to insinuate negative things and ask her to leave her son alone. After all, a Duke with a noble bloodline can’t marry a girl who has already ruined her name!
Now you’d think, when Marc came to, he’d run to Tamsin, apologizing to her for this mess, to convince her that his intentions were honorable. And... you’d be wrong. A couple of months pass by and the story just jumps forward. Seriously? You gotta be kidding me! What the hell was Marc doing in between? After leading us to believe that he doesn’t care what the society or his pain-in-the-arse mother thought, he got cowed by her and decided not to pursue Tamsin? He went as far as to confirm his betrothal to that other girl? Oh....... My........ Gawd! I was like... utterly speechless, in shock and by the overall ridiculousness of this part of the plot twist. And Marc’s ‘excuses’ weren’t even that much of an excuse to me. I’m not sure why Tamsin even forgave him! I’d rather give him my back and move on. Would’ve been the perfect thing to do.
By then all hope for me was lost where this book was concerned. I just couldn’t bring myself to care about what happens next. Even though I’m always suspicious of rakes, Jason, throughout, proved to be the most sensible character of this book. This is why I want to see who is going to be his heroine, because the ending indicated that the next installment is going to feature him. I’m guessing the last Tisdale sister, Rose?
For Taming Miss Tisdale, 3.5 stars but barely made it.
I received a review copy from Goddess Fish Promotions in exchange of an honest review as a part of a review tour, July 2014.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 11, 2014
Tamsin Tisdale is in exile. Not exactly, but since she spilled soup on the Marquess of Stapleton in London, her family thought it best to visit her cousin Elizabeth and Uncle in Barton, away from London. Just until the scandal wore out. But with Tamsin, she was one scandal after another. Not your typical Lady, Tamsin is outspoken, acted before she thought and did not act at all like the ton expected. This was one such time, when on a ride in Barton, she got lost and met Mr. Winston. Well, he said he was Mr. Winston, instead he was Lord Marcus Winston, the eighth Duke of Grayson. Lord Marc was recluse due to his black spell. His overdominering mother had kept him away from others his whole life. Until he meet Tamsin. But can their friendship become more since it is all based on lies? And when Tamsin is called back to London, can Lord Marc face the ton again. I also enjoyed the secondary characters in this book. This story weaves a great story of how love has it’s good and bad path. Tamsin is the type of heroine I enjoy reading. Strong, bold and lives life like she want. This is the first book I’ve read by Jessica Jefferson and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I plan on reading more of her books
August 19, 2018
Sickly Duke
Well, I didn't read the first two, but I will now. There are 4 Tisdale sisters, but 3 books so far. Marc, the Duke has epilepsy and has been coddled and protected all his life. Tamsin Tisdale brings light into his dreary life. After many misunderstandings, they of course get their HEA.
Well, I didn't read the first two, but I will now. There are 4 Tisdale sisters, but 3 books so far. Marc, the Duke has epilepsy and has been coddled and protected all his life. Tamsin Tisdale brings light into his dreary life. After many misunderstandings, they of course get their HEA.
July 22, 2018
The reviews led me to think this would be more funny than it was. Maybe I've overdosed on these hoydenish misses. Bonus for never once calling her a hoyden. Many more demerits for the rampant apostrophe abuse. Just because a word ends in S doesn't make it possessive. *sigh*
July 28, 2018
Meh. Though, it began well enough...
This one was very "meh" for me, which is disappointing. Compounding my disappointment is the (possibly faulty) memory of having enjoyed the first and third books a great deal.
But if those two books are anywhere near as good as I think I remember them being, then Jefferson truly dropped the ball with this one.
The Miss Tisdale featured this time around was poorly drawn, much as if her creator was ticking boxes for a Charming Regency Hoyden. Except Tamsin ended up being neither charming not truly a hoyden. What she was, for the most part, was an anachronistic practical-and-outspoken-one-of-the-guys sort. Only, there were inconsistencies to her personality, and I'm not convinced that they were all intentional. Still, I rather liked her, and she's the main reason this isn't a two-star book.
Marc, the Duke of Grayson, was utterly unappealing. Not that there was anything so very wrong with him; it's that he was written more as a foil for all of the characters surrounding him than as if he were a main character. I never got the feeling that he could be real. He was...blah, bland, almost invisible. However, had he been a side character, I certainly would have thought him nice enough to deserve this own story. In fact, since he didn't really get it in this, his own book, I would STILL like to actually read his story.
The conflict between the two was ridiculous and underdeveloped. The entire plot was more ticking boxes and "painting by numbers". The inclusion of one scene, in particular -- one that appears to now be de rigueur for regency romances that aren't labelled "clean" -- made no sense for Tamsin and Marc.
Most aggravating for me (because it was the first oddity to catch my eye) were the constant references to Marc and his mother, the dowager duchess, as "Lord Grayson" and "Lady Grayson". Its use grated throughout the book, and might have negatively coloured my opinion of other parts of the book.
This one was very "meh" for me, which is disappointing. Compounding my disappointment is the (possibly faulty) memory of having enjoyed the first and third books a great deal.
But if those two books are anywhere near as good as I think I remember them being, then Jefferson truly dropped the ball with this one.
The Miss Tisdale featured this time around was poorly drawn, much as if her creator was ticking boxes for a Charming Regency Hoyden. Except Tamsin ended up being neither charming not truly a hoyden. What she was, for the most part, was an anachronistic practical-and-outspoken-one-of-the-guys sort. Only, there were inconsistencies to her personality, and I'm not convinced that they were all intentional. Still, I rather liked her, and she's the main reason this isn't a two-star book.
Marc, the Duke of Grayson, was utterly unappealing. Not that there was anything so very wrong with him; it's that he was written more as a foil for all of the characters surrounding him than as if he were a main character. I never got the feeling that he could be real. He was...blah, bland, almost invisible. However, had he been a side character, I certainly would have thought him nice enough to deserve this own story. In fact, since he didn't really get it in this, his own book, I would STILL like to actually read his story.
The conflict between the two was ridiculous and underdeveloped. The entire plot was more ticking boxes and "painting by numbers". The inclusion of one scene, in particular -- one that appears to now be de rigueur for regency romances that aren't labelled "clean" -- made no sense for Tamsin and Marc.
Most aggravating for me (because it was the first oddity to catch my eye) were the constant references to Marc and his mother, the dowager duchess, as "Lord Grayson" and "Lady Grayson". Its use grated throughout the book, and might have negatively coloured my opinion of other parts of the book.
April 23, 2019
Stupid Feminism
Strong heroines are great. But I abhor authors who have swallowed feminist bull that feminine skills like embroidery were a stupid waste of time. Before the industrial revolution (1830's), all decorative arts were hand made at great expense of time and skill. Women who wanted beauty in their homes and on their clothing had to pay for it or create it. Plus--something feminism has stolen from 2 generations of women in our time by denigrating the textile arts--creating beauty is tremendously satisfying. The blanket assumption of this author that only ninnies could possibly enjoy these skills is a disservice to women today and an insult to women of the past.
Outside of this major flaw, the book has another serious problem. The author has in many places chosen incorrect words in what appears to be an attempt to seem erudite. Too bad. She is a good plotter and has drawn interesting characters. Too bad that she has such a limited understanding of women's history and of the English language.
Strong heroines are great. But I abhor authors who have swallowed feminist bull that feminine skills like embroidery were a stupid waste of time. Before the industrial revolution (1830's), all decorative arts were hand made at great expense of time and skill. Women who wanted beauty in their homes and on their clothing had to pay for it or create it. Plus--something feminism has stolen from 2 generations of women in our time by denigrating the textile arts--creating beauty is tremendously satisfying. The blanket assumption of this author that only ninnies could possibly enjoy these skills is a disservice to women today and an insult to women of the past.
Outside of this major flaw, the book has another serious problem. The author has in many places chosen incorrect words in what appears to be an attempt to seem erudite. Too bad. She is a good plotter and has drawn interesting characters. Too bad that she has such a limited understanding of women's history and of the English language.
July 23, 2018
Could have been better!
OMG! Another author who knows nothing about the Regency aristocracy! A dukes mother remains the success until he marries. Once he marries she becomes the Dowager Duchess. She would often live in the Dower House, not dowager house!
She is referred to as 'your grace' or 'her grace, the duchess of Grayson' not Lady Grayson or madam.
There is no way that a viscountess, especially a wealthy one, would allow her daughter to wear her sister's old gowns! It might help the story but it's ridiculous.
Another error is that pregnant women did not attend balls! In fact their social life was severely curtailed. As for dancing closely in a waltz.... just not on. No way would a young woman put her hand anywhere but on her partner’s right shoulder.
These stupid errors, including the incorrect use of words, totally destroys a story for me.
OMG! Another author who knows nothing about the Regency aristocracy! A dukes mother remains the success until he marries. Once he marries she becomes the Dowager Duchess. She would often live in the Dower House, not dowager house!
She is referred to as 'your grace' or 'her grace, the duchess of Grayson' not Lady Grayson or madam.
There is no way that a viscountess, especially a wealthy one, would allow her daughter to wear her sister's old gowns! It might help the story but it's ridiculous.
Another error is that pregnant women did not attend balls! In fact their social life was severely curtailed. As for dancing closely in a waltz.... just not on. No way would a young woman put her hand anywhere but on her partner’s right shoulder.
These stupid errors, including the incorrect use of words, totally destroys a story for me.
July 31, 2018
Tamsen Tisdale is sent to her cousin's house in the country to live down a scandal. Marcus Winston is the Duke of Grayson, living secluded because he thinks having "the falling disease" aka epilepsy makes him weak. Marc also is completely dominated by his mother, letting her run his life and restrict him from most things. When he meets Tamsen, he decides to pretend he's someone else, Mr. Winston, cousin to the Duke.
I liked Tamsen, and the Duke's friend, Jason St. Regis, but the duke himself, I didn't care for. He lied to Tamsen over and over again
I liked Tamsen, and the Duke's friend, Jason St. Regis, but the duke himself, I didn't care for. He lied to Tamsen over and over again
August 7, 2018
Taking Miss Tisdale (The Regency Blooms Book 1)
The love story of Marcus and Tamsin. Tamsin is the wild child of the Tisdale's sisters. She has been send down from London because is was seen wearing man's pants and pouring soup over a man. While cost her cousin She meet the Duke of Grayson but her tell her he is the duke's cousinMarc is the Duke of Grayson, his mother want him to marry Lady Elizabeth, so she can keep running the dukedom. His mother keep tell him, he is to sick to run the estate . After he mets Tisdale his world change. Will he tell Tisdale the truth and win her heart or will his mother win and have him married to someone she can rule? Great story
The love story of Marcus and Tamsin. Tamsin is the wild child of the Tisdale's sisters. She has been send down from London because is was seen wearing man's pants and pouring soup over a man. While cost her cousin She meet the Duke of Grayson but her tell her he is the duke's cousinMarc is the Duke of Grayson, his mother want him to marry Lady Elizabeth, so she can keep running the dukedom. His mother keep tell him, he is to sick to run the estate . After he mets Tisdale his world change. Will he tell Tisdale the truth and win her heart or will his mother win and have him married to someone she can rule? Great story
July 30, 2018
Taming Miss Tisdale is my first book by Jessica Jefferson but it won't be my last. Ms. Jefferson has delivered a well-written book and filled it with outstanding characters. Marcus has been sequestered at his estate so the ton doesn't learn of his "falling disease." Tamsin has been sent to her uncle after she dumped a bowl of soup on a man's lap after he groped her under the table. Marcus and Tamsin's story is loaded with drama, humor and spice. I enjoyed reading this historical romance and look forward to reading more from Jessica Jefferson in the future. Taming Miss Tisdale is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
March 3, 2019
Tamsin is quite a tomboy with little regard for elegance or manners. Due to a recent scandal in London, she’s been sent to stay with her uncle and cousin in the country. She has a talent for sneaking off unchaperoned, and one of her early morning rides she meets a friendly man on the neighboring estate who introduces himself as Mr. Winston. Marcus Winston is the Duke of Grayson, but finds the title restricting. With Tamsin he can be himself, especially since she doesn’t know he’s the duke. He has to decide whether he will fulfill his duty or follow his heart. I enjoyed this light regency romance.
May 23, 2018
The story of Tamsin and Marc is very well written. Tamsin is sent to the country to stay with her cousin and her father after she has been involved in yet another scandal. She meets Marc(Mr. Winston) who is a Duke. He pretends to be a cousin to the Duke. The Duke he's epilepsy which has led to overproduction by his mother. Tamsin, on the other hand, challenges him and excites him. He becomes more alive. Though they share times together, can they find happiness? What is Tamsin's reaction to Marc's illness?
July 25, 2018
Taming love
I choose a five star rating because the story plot was very good. One temptous, red head and a gentle, understated lover. Opposites do attract. The subject of seizure disorders was handled very well. of course when the story took place, seizures were a mystery to the medical community. And usually families handle illnesses by hiding a person away. Marc did a good job of learning and growing despite his condition. Recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romance.
Sandra
I choose a five star rating because the story plot was very good. One temptous, red head and a gentle, understated lover. Opposites do attract. The subject of seizure disorders was handled very well. of course when the story took place, seizures were a mystery to the medical community. And usually families handle illnesses by hiding a person away. Marc did a good job of learning and growing despite his condition. Recommend this book to anyone who loves a good romance.
Sandra
July 29, 2018
Tamsin did something outrageous in London so she is sent out of town to wait for it to blow over. She meets Marc when she is out riding. They hit it off and want to see each other again. Marc thinks she is a commoner so he doesn’t tell her he is a Duke. How they sneak in meetings without other people giving away his identity is amusing. But trouble is coming when his mother tries to push her agenda. A most enjoyable book.
August 1, 2018
Wonderful romance story
Marc and Tamsin meet without knowing who the other is but feel an immediate attraction. I enjoyed the way their relationship grew and how Marc began to find who he really was beyond the Duke. Tamsin found that loving someone didn't mean she had to give up who she is either. Satisfying, feel good ending.
Marc and Tamsin meet without knowing who the other is but feel an immediate attraction. I enjoyed the way their relationship grew and how Marc began to find who he really was beyond the Duke. Tamsin found that loving someone didn't mean she had to give up who she is either. Satisfying, feel good ending.
March 15, 2019
3.5 stars for the story, but a bonus .5 for the narrator Beverley Crick. I looked for more books she narrates.
I like the personality of the heroine and the fact that the hero has seizures (I think). I loved his best friend Jason St Regis and am eagerly awaiting the book about him, if it’s still coming.
I like the personality of the heroine and the fact that the hero has seizures (I think). I loved his best friend Jason St Regis and am eagerly awaiting the book about him, if it’s still coming.
August 11, 2023
An Enjoyable Read
This is an enjoyable read and a light romance. The book is well-written. I liked the fact that in the end Marc's illness did not stop him from having a successful life, despite his mother's overbearing attitude. Marianne is headstrong but that helps her to deal with situations that arise regarding Marc and his illness. Together, they are strong.
This is an enjoyable read and a light romance. The book is well-written. I liked the fact that in the end Marc's illness did not stop him from having a successful life, despite his mother's overbearing attitude. Marianne is headstrong but that helps her to deal with situations that arise regarding Marc and his illness. Together, they are strong.
July 23, 2018
A little too predictable
One read of the first book and the second will follow a similar pattern. Shame. this book could have looked more closely at how Tamsin would be a true social outcast but it doesn't.
One read of the first book and the second will follow a similar pattern. Shame. this book could have looked more closely at how Tamsin would be a true social outcast but it doesn't.
July 27, 2018
Great book!
Absolutely wonderful storyline! So heartbreaking,exciting and romantic. Excellent writing style. The characters were lovable and approachable. Will definitely be reading more books by Jessica Jefferson!
Absolutely wonderful storyline! So heartbreaking,exciting and romantic. Excellent writing style. The characters were lovable and approachable. Will definitely be reading more books by Jessica Jefferson!
September 1, 2018
This is book two in the Regency Blooms series. In this one we get to know Tamsin one of the Tisdale sisters. Tamsin has been sent away due to some scandals and when a chance meeting with a Duke changes things. This addition to the series was very well done. I am looking forward to book 3.
September 15, 2018
I thought the first half of the book was good - Tamsin was smart, Marcus was the one that needed to find some backbone. I especially liked the fact that the book seemed to be interested in other forms of male friendship than those based on hyper-masculinity. But then there had to be some lame male competition for the woman thrown in, and then a horrible misunderstanding, and then a slightly limp ending. Early promise squandered.
September 10, 2019
An entertaining book about an unconventional woman and a man with a secret who has been the victim of an over-protective family. It was a quick read, with many interesting characters. The editing was superb.
April 14, 2020
Kind of fun if not terribly historically accurate. I also felt it was a bit feeble of him not to attempt to reconnect with her (other than by one letter) when she went away. Not really to my taste, just didn’t grab me.
May 4, 2017
Very good
April 9, 2018
characters discover their best self.
July 23, 2018
Taming Miss Tisdale
This was a delightful read the characters were wonderful.This was interesting full of drama and excitement enjoyed this read very much
This was a delightful read the characters were wonderful.This was interesting full of drama and excitement enjoyed this read very much
July 25, 2018
TAMING MISS TISDALE: is an enjoyable read. A wild woman, an illness, an annoying mother....all in a day’s work.
July 30, 2018
Not terrible, but real issues with continuity.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews