Chasing the Other Tisdale by Jessica Jefferson is a 2015 Soul Mate Publication. I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this ugly duckling type story set during the regency period. Lillian has stood in the shadow of her three other sisters who are all considered beauties. Lillian, however is the “funny one”. She isn't tall, had a outbreak of acne, and perhaps she is a little plump. But, she longs for something more than just being “the other sister ”. She wants to be desired and experience true love and passion.

When Lillian meets Will Colton, a good friend to her brother, Thomas, in the most awkward, painful, and embarrassing way possible, the two strike up an unlikely friendship. But, Lillian believes Will only sees her as a friend, and her feelings go much deeper. Still, the two continue to write one another on a regular basis. These letters mean the world to Lillian, but they also mean a lot to Will, who still doesn't understand what category his feelings for Lillian falls into.

However, when he has a chance to step up and defend her, he fails utterly and he pays an incredibly high price for his cowardice. Losing Lillian is only the beginning of his troubles though, as his relationship with his father grows more strained and they all suffer through an incredible period of loss. But, through it all, Will grows as a person and becomes more and more like Thomas, the man who has made the biggest impression on him in his life and given him an example to follow. Can Will prove to Lillian he really does love her and will be there for her forever this time?

I absolutely loved Will and Lillian. Both of them were so funny and charming. The author does a great job of adding humor in just the right places, and I needed that especially when the book takes a sudden unexpected turn that left me gasping for air. The character growth for both these characters is huge, but they seem to grow in opposite directions for a time. Lillian has experienced too much pain and heartbreak and begins to turn a little cynical. Will on the other hand grows up emotionally and makes big personal sacrifices in order to do the honorable thing, which is a far cry from the type of man Will was when the story began.
For a book that is only a little over two hundred pages in length, the story packs a lot of depth and emotion into a small space. The romance between Lillian and Will has an epic quality to it, since it is spread out over a period of time. The author also impressed me by staying true to the period in language and customs. This is not a fluff regency period romance by any means. I admired Will for loving Lillian before she transformed into a beautiful woman, how he saw the qualities she possessed as more important than mere outer beauty. It also explored the issues faces by Lillian's sister who was most sought after, but only for outer beauty and not for the person she was underneath. We do get a little glimpse of her depth toward the end of the book and I hope we get to read about all of Lillian's sisters in the future.
This is a well balanced historical romance and loved it from start to finish. Very well done!