What do you think?
Rate this book
Book 2 of the series, Chemsworth Hall
“The whole scheme hangs on you, my love.”
So began Lady Mulholland’s directive to Henry Granger, her one and only son. He is to bring suitable gentlemen home from Oxford and he is to make all haste. There are still six daughters left to be married—Rose, Daisy, Marigold, Lily and the twins, Poppy and Pansy—an undertaking that will span a decade.
Lady Mulholland, however, is not faint of heart. She devised her plan on a long ago evening when she happened to look down her dining table and note precisely how many daughters were to be had. She is confident of its success, as she is confident in all of her plans. Whether her daughters will cooperate is another matter entirely.
While her sister Violet is now happily married to Lord Smythesdon, Rose Granger may be more of a challenge. She considers herself bold and not constrained by society's opinions. If she deems a person horrible, she may very well say it aloud. More than once. Naturally, she expects no less from any gentleman worthy of her notice. HE is to be prepared to violently throw down his napkin at the slightest provocation.
Edwin Hamilton is in the habit of rushing off in bold action. In fact, he is renowned at Oxford for leading a rabble to get his friend reinstated. He is also renowned at home for the same, as his father had to pay for the resulting property damage. He also happens to owe Smythesdon a hundred pounds from cards, and is happy to visit Chemsworth to clear the debt. Who better for Rose Granger?
When a scheme dreamed up by Poppy and Pansy Granger goes awry, the house is thrown topsy-turvy. Chemsworth Hall's intrepid butler, Smuckers, will do his best to stand with the house and help Lady Mulholland gain her aim. However, it will be up to Rose to discover the truth, and discover what is really in her heart.
In the spirit of Nancy Mitford, Chemsworth Hall follows the fortunes of the Granger family in all their delightful eccentricity.
“The whole scheme hangs on you, my love.”
So began Lady Mulholland’s directive to Henry Granger, her one and only son. He is to bring suitable gentlemen home from Oxford and he is to make all haste. There are still six daughters left to be married—Rose, Daisy, Marigold, Lily and the twins, Poppy and Pansy—an undertaking that will span a decade.
Lady Mulholland, however, is not faint of heart. She devised her plan on a long ago evening when she happened to look down her dining table and note precisely how many daughters were to be had. She is confident of its success, as she is confident in all of her plans. Whether her daughters will cooperate is another matter entirely.
While her sister Violet is now happily married to Lord Smythesdon, Rose Granger may be more of a challenge. She considers herself bold and not constrained by society's opinions. If she deems a person horrible, she may very well say it aloud. More than once. Naturally, she expects no less from any gentleman worthy of her notice. HE is to be prepared to violently throw down his napkin at the slightest provocation.
Edwin Hamilton is in the habit of rushing off in bold action. In fact, he is renowned at Oxford for leading a rabble to get his friend reinstated. He is also renowned at home for the same, as his father had to pay for the resulting property damage. He also happens to owe Smythesdon a hundred pounds from cards, and is happy to visit Chemsworth to clear the debt. Who better for Rose Granger?
When a scheme dreamed up by Poppy and Pansy Granger goes awry, the house is thrown topsy-turvy. Chemsworth Hall's intrepid butler, Smuckers, will do his best to stand with the house and help Lady Mulholland gain her aim. However, it will be up to Rose to discover the truth, and discover what is really in her heart.
In the spirit of Nancy Mitford, Chemsworth Hall follows the fortunes of the Granger family in all their delightful eccentricity.
227 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2019
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 26, 2026
Delightful Romance
Thoroughly enjoying the series and this story felt like a romp in the best sort of way. Charming characters, witty prose, lots of humor, and the most delicious ending. Well done, Ms. Archer!
Thoroughly enjoying the series and this story felt like a romp in the best sort of way. Charming characters, witty prose, lots of humor, and the most delicious ending. Well done, Ms. Archer!
November 13, 2020
Another delightfully frivolous tale from Perpetua Langley, wherein Lady Mulholland continues on her majestic way to marrying off all seven off her daughters, in strict order of seniority, naturally. Book 1 saw Violet happily paired off, so now it’s the turn of Rose, and that’s a bit problematic, because only the boldest man will do. No milquetoast suitor need apply. But happily such a man has been found, a friend of brother Henry at Oxford, and since he owes a favour to Violet’s husband, off he goes to Chemsworth Hall, happily unaware that he has been earmarked for Rose.
A series of misunderstandings leaves Rose seriously underwhelmed by Edwin Hamilton’s boldness, and leads him to believe that several members of the family are quite mad. How Edwin rediscovers his boldness and comes to understand that Rose is not mad at all is a joy to read. Every page is laugh-out-loud funny, and every character delightfully eccentric, not excluding the butler, housekeeper and footmen. I would be hard pressed to name one as a favourite, even, for they’re all wonderful.
It’s all dreadfully silly, of course, and anyone expecting a conventional Regency romance might be disappointed, but if you’re in the mood for the light-hearted and whimsical, this might just hit the spot. There’s a fair sprinkling of Americanisms, although nothing too terrible, an overuse of shall instead of will and one very bad historical error (no, a peer can’t disinherit his heir from the title, ever). Notwithstanding that, I loved it (what can I say, I’m a sucker for any book that makes me laugh out loud). Five stars.
A series of misunderstandings leaves Rose seriously underwhelmed by Edwin Hamilton’s boldness, and leads him to believe that several members of the family are quite mad. How Edwin rediscovers his boldness and comes to understand that Rose is not mad at all is a joy to read. Every page is laugh-out-loud funny, and every character delightfully eccentric, not excluding the butler, housekeeper and footmen. I would be hard pressed to name one as a favourite, even, for they’re all wonderful.
It’s all dreadfully silly, of course, and anyone expecting a conventional Regency romance might be disappointed, but if you’re in the mood for the light-hearted and whimsical, this might just hit the spot. There’s a fair sprinkling of Americanisms, although nothing too terrible, an overuse of shall instead of will and one very bad historical error (no, a peer can’t disinherit his heir from the title, ever). Notwithstanding that, I loved it (what can I say, I’m a sucker for any book that makes me laugh out loud). Five stars.
July 5, 2026
The hilarity continues with story two. Lady Mulholland resumes her plans to marry off her seven daughters by conning her son, Henry, into bringing a 'likely suspect' from Oxford. It is Rose's turn, and she is hard to please. Rose is direct and wants someone bold to marry. However, when Mr. Edwin Hamilton, the only son of Viscount Grabeley, arrives, he is inundated with advice about how to survive Chemsworth Hall.
Edwin is famous for leading a riot at Oxford to demand the reinstatement of his friend, James Charles, to the institution after his expulsion. However, taking the advice of the family members at Chemsworth Hall, he became a wishy-washy numbskull. Rose wasn't impressed.
After Edwin is injured and his father arrives at the Hall, he demands that his son leave with him the next day because the Granger family is probably mad. Besides, it had been his mother's dying wish that he marry one of her dearest friends' daughters. Edwin left but decided that if his father were going to disinherit him, that would have to happen because he was going to marry Rose.
One example of the craziness: The twins, Poppy and Pansy, are up to their latest devilment and suggest that Edwin gently take any knives or scissors away from Rose for his own safety. They tell him this because they want to put Rose in the worst light possible, so he will not marry her (and she can stay with them at Chemsworth Hall.
Chemsworth Hall
1. Violet (2017)
** 2. Rose (2019)
3. Daisy (2026)
4. Marigold (2026)
5. Lily (2026)
Edwin is famous for leading a riot at Oxford to demand the reinstatement of his friend, James Charles, to the institution after his expulsion. However, taking the advice of the family members at Chemsworth Hall, he became a wishy-washy numbskull. Rose wasn't impressed.
After Edwin is injured and his father arrives at the Hall, he demands that his son leave with him the next day because the Granger family is probably mad. Besides, it had been his mother's dying wish that he marry one of her dearest friends' daughters. Edwin left but decided that if his father were going to disinherit him, that would have to happen because he was going to marry Rose.
One example of the craziness: The twins, Poppy and Pansy, are up to their latest devilment and suggest that Edwin gently take any knives or scissors away from Rose for his own safety. They tell him this because they want to put Rose in the worst light possible, so he will not marry her (and she can stay with them at Chemsworth Hall.
Chemsworth Hall
1. Violet (2017)
** 2. Rose (2019)
3. Daisy (2026)
4. Marigold (2026)
5. Lily (2026)
June 22, 2026
just ok
I enjoyed the first book in the series more.
Book 2 Rose, I felt lacked a feel of any depth in the relationship. I didn't see anything that seemed to really draw them together other than they thought each other good looking. The H was said to be Bold a million times, but in general he really was a milk sop. So paranoid at the beginning and gullible. He had to be convinced or drugged to take any action. I just didn't feel them falling in love in the story, there was no action truly other than when he was drugged that he acted"bold" but everyone could tell something was wrong with him at that moment. One moment they didn't like each other and then the next moment longing for each other. Just not a believable relationship.
And a person considering marrying a crazy woman just because she is pretty is very ridiculous. Also assuming Violet had been cured so quickly. Extremely naive! And ask because she was pretty. What in her personality drew him? I didn't see it feel anything was there.
Even book 1 violet, the main interest was looks. But at least they had several intellectual conversations where I could see/feel a relationship developing.
I bought the whole series so will read it. But I'm hoping the next ones are better. And frankly I'm really hoping the daughter's mess up their mom's schemes a little and marry out of order. Too predictable otherwise.
I enjoyed the first book in the series more.
Book 2 Rose, I felt lacked a feel of any depth in the relationship. I didn't see anything that seemed to really draw them together other than they thought each other good looking. The H was said to be Bold a million times, but in general he really was a milk sop. So paranoid at the beginning and gullible. He had to be convinced or drugged to take any action. I just didn't feel them falling in love in the story, there was no action truly other than when he was drugged that he acted"bold" but everyone could tell something was wrong with him at that moment. One moment they didn't like each other and then the next moment longing for each other. Just not a believable relationship.
And a person considering marrying a crazy woman just because she is pretty is very ridiculous. Also assuming Violet had been cured so quickly. Extremely naive! And ask because she was pretty. What in her personality drew him? I didn't see it feel anything was there.
Even book 1 violet, the main interest was looks. But at least they had several intellectual conversations where I could see/feel a relationship developing.
I bought the whole series so will read it. But I'm hoping the next ones are better. And frankly I'm really hoping the daughter's mess up their mom's schemes a little and marry out of order. Too predictable otherwise.
February 18, 2026
Really fun story
The twins
The butler
The footmen
The lord and lady
Mrs. D
Mr. Hamilton
Rose
Daisy
Marigold
The brother
The Ravencrafts
Violet and her husband
The whole package comes together in a comedy of errors, misunderstandings, good intentions and more at a fast pace.
I loved this one even more than the first one in this series and can't wait for the next one.
I still think Archer should fire her editor, but modern readers won't notice anyway.
The twins
The butler
The footmen
The lord and lady
Mrs. D
Mr. Hamilton
Rose
Daisy
Marigold
The brother
The Ravencrafts
Violet and her husband
The whole package comes together in a comedy of errors, misunderstandings, good intentions and more at a fast pace.
I loved this one even more than the first one in this series and can't wait for the next one.
I still think Archer should fire her editor, but modern readers won't notice anyway.
May 23, 2026
Book 2 did not disappoint! Once again, the story, the characters, and the overall quirkiness of this story was delightful. And how else would bold Rose ride off into the sunset! Love the larger part the twin play into the story. Those two are perfection. Once again the whole list of character melded together to form a cohesive cast of eccentric delight! Off to read about Daisy's search for a wistful, poetic hero!
April 4, 2026
Kate Archer Never disappoints me...
The humor in the storyline is paramount, and hard to find an author to portray it, like Kate Archer.
The butlers, down to the cook and everyone in between, has a hand in rounding out the story.
I believe this large family in this old drafty manor, is one of the best created story, for this oxford suburb.
Thank you Ms. Archer
The humor in the storyline is paramount, and hard to find an author to portray it, like Kate Archer.
The butlers, down to the cook and everyone in between, has a hand in rounding out the story.
I believe this large family in this old drafty manor, is one of the best created story, for this oxford suburb.
Thank you Ms. Archer
August 11, 2020
So delightful!
I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard while reading a romance novel. Every page was so well written and filled with such amusing characters and scenes. I cannot wait for Daisy's story
I can't remember the last time I laughed so hard while reading a romance novel. Every page was so well written and filled with such amusing characters and scenes. I cannot wait for Daisy's story
December 7, 2020
So Hilarious!!!
Really enjoyed reading about Rose and Hamilton’s misadventures into finding love. I laughed a lot. Looking forward to reading about Daisy finding her poet/prince and most assuredly to see who Marigold ends up with.
Really enjoyed reading about Rose and Hamilton’s misadventures into finding love. I laughed a lot. Looking forward to reading about Daisy finding her poet/prince and most assuredly to see who Marigold ends up with.
February 7, 2026
Lots of quirky characters and happy silly plot. The author publicly states that no AI was used in the creation of this book and you can certainly tell. Every character is unique, well drawn and funny. Think of the classic screwball comedies.
February 14, 2026
This series is a delight!
This is the second book in the series and it is as delightful as the first. Filled with humor and perfect for fans of Bridgerton, this series is well worth a read!
This is the second book in the series and it is as delightful as the first. Filled with humor and perfect for fans of Bridgerton, this series is well worth a read!
May 7, 2020
Great fun
I love this series-hilarious happenings, eccentric characters, so well-written! I recommend this series to friends and family on good reads as well.
I love this series-hilarious happenings, eccentric characters, so well-written! I recommend this series to friends and family on good reads as well.
February 14, 2026
Tally ho!
If you like your romances rollicking and your characters full of character this is your cup of laudanum laced tea!
If you like your romances rollicking and your characters full of character this is your cup of laudanum laced tea!
February 27, 2026
Laugh put loud
It is a whimsical gem full of crack pot characters who are gadding about throwing bewildering obsticals in the way of true love. Fabulous read!!!
It is a whimsical gem full of crack pot characters who are gadding about throwing bewildering obsticals in the way of true love. Fabulous read!!!
March 3, 2026
Lighthearted, comical regency
Humorous family and servants!
No surprises but an unrave!ing of a series of misinformation and assumptions. I will read the third book in the series.
Humorous family and servants!
No surprises but an unrave!ing of a series of misinformation and assumptions. I will read the third book in the series.
March 6, 2026
laugh out loud fun!
I was not expecting to love this book so much or to enjoy it more than the first. But it surprised me! Lighthearted fun at its best!
I was not expecting to love this book so much or to enjoy it more than the first. But it surprised me! Lighthearted fun at its best!
April 5, 2026
This one was almost too farfetched and ridiculous.
April 9, 2026
This has been a fun, relaxing series thus far. Chuckled out loud unexpectedly several times in spite of the fact it's not comic writing --- very nicely witty, at times. Enjoy!
May 7, 2026
Hmmm.... a bit too silly.
Read
May 12, 2026Ok this one was painfully ridiculous.
June 3, 2026
I usually hate dramatic irony but this was actually well done. Everyone is a bit of a caricature and it feels like a Shakespearean comedy but I love it
June 11, 2026
This one is cute but a little more all over the place than the first one. The main characters don’t really interact all that much until all of a sudden they are in love but I was still eating it up.
June 20, 2026
Pots and Pans!
The twins hold such an important part in the plot, and the laughing out loud continues in this tale of a Rose among sisters. Bring on Miss Daisy Granger’s story!
The twins hold such an important part in the plot, and the laughing out loud continues in this tale of a Rose among sisters. Bring on Miss Daisy Granger’s story!
July 1, 2026
These books are quite diverting. 😂
July 11, 2026
Enjoying this series! The plots may be predictable bit the humor is not!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews