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Confirmed Bachelors #4
Ormsley
He wants a respectable bride who will not ask for more than he can give – love. She has no need or desire to marry, and love is the only thing that might change her mind.
Hugh Brandforth, the seventh Earl of Ormsley, returns to his estate after wasting several weeks searching for a bride. He is looking forward to some much-needed rest and recreation. All is not as he left it, however, and within the space of an hour, he finds himself berated by his old nurse, assaulted by an eccentric termagant and subjected to the disrespect of her coachman.
Wishing to escape Bath and avoid the imminent proposal of a determined rake, Miss Cressida Harrington accepts Lady Ormsley’s offer of the dower house at Leighfield Park. A peaceful sojourn in the country is just what she needs. If Cressy did not expect to find the house in disarray and the garden a wilderness, these minor inconveniences do not have the power to disturb her. The unexpected presence of an earl she had no notion existed is quite another matter.
Secrets and scandal lurk behind the respectable façade of the house and grounds. Will they bring them together or drive them apart?
Hugh Brandforth, the seventh Earl of Ormsley, returns to his estate after wasting several weeks searching for a bride. He is looking forward to some much-needed rest and recreation. All is not as he left it, however, and within the space of an hour, he finds himself berated by his old nurse, assaulted by an eccentric termagant and subjected to the disrespect of her coachman.
Wishing to escape Bath and avoid the imminent proposal of a determined rake, Miss Cressida Harrington accepts Lady Ormsley’s offer of the dower house at Leighfield Park. A peaceful sojourn in the country is just what she needs. If Cressy did not expect to find the house in disarray and the garden a wilderness, these minor inconveniences do not have the power to disturb her. The unexpected presence of an earl she had no notion existed is quite another matter.
Secrets and scandal lurk behind the respectable façade of the house and grounds. Will they bring them together or drive them apart?
446 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 11, 2022
146 people are currently reading
43 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Hambly
34 books90 followersI love history and the Regency period in particular. I grew up on a diet of Jane Austen, Charlotte and Emile Bronte, and Georgette Heyer.
I now write traditional Regency romance novels. I like to think my characters, though flawed, are likeable, strong, and true to the period. Rosalind is the first in my Bachelor Brides series. Sophie and Katherine complete the series. The books are linked by characters introduced in each. They can be read as stand-alone novels, but are best read in order.
I live by the sea in Plymouth, England with my partner, Dave. I like reading, sailing, wine, getting up early to watch the sunrise in summer, and long quiet evenings by the wood burner in our cabin on the cliffs in Cornwall in winter.
Find out more about me, join my mailing list, or just see what I am up to, at www.jennyhambly.com
I now write traditional Regency romance novels. I like to think my characters, though flawed, are likeable, strong, and true to the period. Rosalind is the first in my Bachelor Brides series. Sophie and Katherine complete the series. The books are linked by characters introduced in each. They can be read as stand-alone novels, but are best read in order.
I live by the sea in Plymouth, England with my partner, Dave. I like reading, sailing, wine, getting up early to watch the sunrise in summer, and long quiet evenings by the wood burner in our cabin on the cliffs in Cornwall in winter.
Find out more about me, join my mailing list, or just see what I am up to, at www.jennyhambly.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
May 7, 2022
Gave this Regency (w/ a touch of odd goings-on)
3.5 stars. It had kisses only.
Hugh was heir to his sire the Earl of Ormsley. His
sire was 68 when he wed his 2nd bride, 22 yr old
beauty Eliza. Eliza's unpleasant mother, Mrs.
Sherborne (Mrs. S) moved in with them too. Eliza
and the old earl begot Henry, then the earl died.
Cressida "Cressy" lived w/ her late Aunt Mellicent
10 yrs, or 15 yrs or 9 yrs (the author could not make
up her mind.) Hugh had been the new earl for several
yrs. Cressy and her friend/ companion Miss Flitwich
for a few months rented out Eliza's dower house &
Hugh had no knowledge of this. Surprise!
I liked 37 yr old Hugh + 25 yr old Cressy together even
though he used 'crisp words' & had exacting ways. The
author mostly pulled the story in another direction &
the romance became secondary. I liked how Hugh got
to know 6 yr old brother Henry & spoke to Henry as if
he were an adult. Henry planned to become a soldier
in future. I enjoyed the crusty dialogue between Hugh
and Mrs. S. & his reference to venom and snakes.
3.5 stars. It had kisses only.
Hugh was heir to his sire the Earl of Ormsley. His
sire was 68 when he wed his 2nd bride, 22 yr old
beauty Eliza. Eliza's unpleasant mother, Mrs.
Sherborne (Mrs. S) moved in with them too. Eliza
and the old earl begot Henry, then the earl died.
Cressida "Cressy" lived w/ her late Aunt Mellicent
10 yrs, or 15 yrs or 9 yrs (the author could not make
up her mind.) Hugh had been the new earl for several
yrs. Cressy and her friend/ companion Miss Flitwich
for a few months rented out Eliza's dower house &
Hugh had no knowledge of this. Surprise!
I liked 37 yr old Hugh + 25 yr old Cressy together even
though he used 'crisp words' & had exacting ways. The
author mostly pulled the story in another direction &
the romance became secondary. I liked how Hugh got
to know 6 yr old brother Henry & spoke to Henry as if
he were an adult. Henry planned to become a soldier
in future. I enjoyed the crusty dialogue between Hugh
and Mrs. S. & his reference to venom and snakes.
May 6, 2022
Another stellar read from Jenny Hambly, which I read more or less in one sitting. Lovely characters who feel like the sort of people you could actually meet in real life (and enjoy spending time with), beautiful writing and a perfectly evoked Regency with no anachronisms that I detected.
Here’s the premise: Hugh Brandforth, the Earl of Ormsley, returns unannounced to his estate after a futile pursuit of a wife. He’s thirty-seven, and was enjoying his discreet dalliances with married women too much to bother marrying himself, but being the only son, his ageing father had decided to secure the succession more firmly by taking a second wife, younger than Hugh. She produced a son, Henry, but Hugh has no love for his stepmother and her mother, and has belatedly decided to do his duty and find himself a sensible wife who won’t be difficult and will definitely not expect him to love her. He doesn’t believe in love. But it’s proving to be trickier than he’d supposed, so he’s not in the best of moods when he arrives home.
It’s not the homecoming he might have wished for. The gates are locked, for one thing, and then he finds himself berated by his old nurse for neglecting his little brother, accosted by an aggrieved woman, who is a complete stranger, when he mistook her for the boy’s nursemaid, and even the woman’s coachman is disrespectful. It’s a bit much for an earl to put up with.
But who’s this aggrieved woman, I hear you ask? Why, that’s the heroine, Miss Cressida Harrington, who has leased the dower house from the Countess of Ormsley, in order to escape from Bath rather precipitately. She was about to receive an unwelcome proposal from a notorious rake, and feared he was about to resort to heavy tactics to ensure her acceptance. But that’s not the sort of marriage she wants. She was once betrothed to a man who then died, and she’s not about to settle for something less than the perfect love she shared with Robin.
This is quite a lot of groundwork to get past before the story properly gets underway, and quite a bit of it is upfront in the first chapter, which describes Hugh’s childhood and upbringing in some detail. It’s very much the way Georgette Heyer would have done it, too, but for my taste I think I prefer to uncover the characters’ histories in dribs and drabs over many chapters.
From then onwards, the story unrolls without too many surprises. Hugh learns how to love, and Cressy learns that her first love was very different from the grown-up passionate feelings she develops for Hugh. In between, Henry learns to become less wild, Hugh’s youthful stepmother and her mother throw spanners in the works, Hugh’s loose-lipped friend does his unwitting bit to muck things up and Cressy’s erstwhile suitor turns up to drum up a little macho maleness in Hugh’s breast. And there are some family secrets to emerge, none of them terribly surprising, but nicely done.
There’s a lot to be said for a pleasant and undemanding read like this. There weren’t any great obstacles to the main characters’ romance, apart from their own reluctance, that is, and after the initial hostilities their sparky exchanges are perhaps a little flat. But they’re both sensible, their moments of high drama are understandable, and thank heavens for people who talk openly to each other, and have wise friends to steer their budding romance away from the shoals of the Great Misunderstanding and into open waters. And at the end, most of the antagonists have repented somewhat and are Doing the Decent Thing. And if that makes it seem slightly dull, overall, that’s partly a reaction to the sheer brilliance of Carteret, which was so epic that almost anything would be a bit of a come-down afterwards. So it doesn’t quite reach the heights of five stars for me, but it’s a very, very good four stars, and highly recommended.
Here’s the premise: Hugh Brandforth, the Earl of Ormsley, returns unannounced to his estate after a futile pursuit of a wife. He’s thirty-seven, and was enjoying his discreet dalliances with married women too much to bother marrying himself, but being the only son, his ageing father had decided to secure the succession more firmly by taking a second wife, younger than Hugh. She produced a son, Henry, but Hugh has no love for his stepmother and her mother, and has belatedly decided to do his duty and find himself a sensible wife who won’t be difficult and will definitely not expect him to love her. He doesn’t believe in love. But it’s proving to be trickier than he’d supposed, so he’s not in the best of moods when he arrives home.
It’s not the homecoming he might have wished for. The gates are locked, for one thing, and then he finds himself berated by his old nurse for neglecting his little brother, accosted by an aggrieved woman, who is a complete stranger, when he mistook her for the boy’s nursemaid, and even the woman’s coachman is disrespectful. It’s a bit much for an earl to put up with.
But who’s this aggrieved woman, I hear you ask? Why, that’s the heroine, Miss Cressida Harrington, who has leased the dower house from the Countess of Ormsley, in order to escape from Bath rather precipitately. She was about to receive an unwelcome proposal from a notorious rake, and feared he was about to resort to heavy tactics to ensure her acceptance. But that’s not the sort of marriage she wants. She was once betrothed to a man who then died, and she’s not about to settle for something less than the perfect love she shared with Robin.
This is quite a lot of groundwork to get past before the story properly gets underway, and quite a bit of it is upfront in the first chapter, which describes Hugh’s childhood and upbringing in some detail. It’s very much the way Georgette Heyer would have done it, too, but for my taste I think I prefer to uncover the characters’ histories in dribs and drabs over many chapters.
From then onwards, the story unrolls without too many surprises. Hugh learns how to love, and Cressy learns that her first love was very different from the grown-up passionate feelings she develops for Hugh. In between, Henry learns to become less wild, Hugh’s youthful stepmother and her mother throw spanners in the works, Hugh’s loose-lipped friend does his unwitting bit to muck things up and Cressy’s erstwhile suitor turns up to drum up a little macho maleness in Hugh’s breast. And there are some family secrets to emerge, none of them terribly surprising, but nicely done.
There’s a lot to be said for a pleasant and undemanding read like this. There weren’t any great obstacles to the main characters’ romance, apart from their own reluctance, that is, and after the initial hostilities their sparky exchanges are perhaps a little flat. But they’re both sensible, their moments of high drama are understandable, and thank heavens for people who talk openly to each other, and have wise friends to steer their budding romance away from the shoals of the Great Misunderstanding and into open waters. And at the end, most of the antagonists have repented somewhat and are Doing the Decent Thing. And if that makes it seem slightly dull, overall, that’s partly a reaction to the sheer brilliance of Carteret, which was so epic that almost anything would be a bit of a come-down afterwards. So it doesn’t quite reach the heights of five stars for me, but it’s a very, very good four stars, and highly recommended.
August 30, 2023
This was okay, but after four of these in a row I’m feeling kind of meh about this series. I was going to rate it 4 stars until the ridiculous duel and Eliza’s even more ridiculous transformation (leaving one dead curate in her wake whom she kinda sorta feels is unfortunate) at the end dragged it lower.
April 15, 2022
Delightful
A great story and a wonderful series! I have enjoyed each one of these stories and am sad to see that this is the end of the series. A tender and sweet story of love and reconciliation with a mix of anxiety. Truly a great story to be read!
A great story and a wonderful series! I have enjoyed each one of these stories and am sad to see that this is the end of the series. A tender and sweet story of love and reconciliation with a mix of anxiety. Truly a great story to be read!
September 14, 2022
Ornsley
Loved the storyline, absolutely great storytelling. Cressy & Hugh are made for each other & adult enough to not act like "randy teenagers" as they are learning where their hearts belong. Put in half brother to Hugh, Henry, & the picture just gets bigger & bigger..but alot of sideline things going on & it's not all conducive to great family memories. Hughes father's wife, mother to Henry gets into a nail biting situation contrary o good family vibes.
You have to read this one dear reader; It's not all cut & dried.
You want a good read, here you are, from the man's point of view.
Loved the storyline, absolutely great storytelling. Cressy & Hugh are made for each other & adult enough to not act like "randy teenagers" as they are learning where their hearts belong. Put in half brother to Hugh, Henry, & the picture just gets bigger & bigger..but alot of sideline things going on & it's not all conducive to great family memories. Hughes father's wife, mother to Henry gets into a nail biting situation contrary o good family vibes.
You have to read this one dear reader; It's not all cut & dried.
You want a good read, here you are, from the man's point of view.
July 9, 2022
Freddie
Every book I have read so far by Ms Hambly has been wonderful but Ormsley is the ABSOLUTE best!!! I’m so glad I found Ms Hambly ❤️❤️❤️
Every book I have read so far by Ms Hambly has been wonderful but Ormsley is the ABSOLUTE best!!! I’m so glad I found Ms Hambly ❤️❤️❤️
October 21, 2024
4.5*
I liked Hugh Earl of Ormsley when we first met him in book two I think. Although there he was very.much an older single gentleman and painted to be very austere and sober. But in this his book he stops being nearly as awful as his father and becomes an all round better person, barely flinching when facts come at him at a remarkable speed. Since inheriting Hughs home also contains his young brother, who has had little interaction with, his very young step mother and her dragon of a mother who's living her life through her daughter, and very much has her eye on living way beyond her means and keeping herself front and centre.
Cressy has fled Bath with her companion to avoid an overly amorous marquess, and finds herself renting the dower house on Ormsleys estate, at extortionate cost, the money going to the late Earl wife's mother. Within days she rescues a young lad after he's fallen from a tree and become acquainted with his older brother Hugh.
Enjoyable book although there's a pattern in this series (of course there is they're all confirmed bachelors, who at the start of the book want to marry but don't know how to go about it).
Like the others some things happen that don't sit quite right, but an enjoyable read in its own right, although having read the series gives this a little more depth.
I liked Hugh Earl of Ormsley when we first met him in book two I think. Although there he was very.much an older single gentleman and painted to be very austere and sober. But in this his book he stops being nearly as awful as his father and becomes an all round better person, barely flinching when facts come at him at a remarkable speed. Since inheriting Hughs home also contains his young brother, who has had little interaction with, his very young step mother and her dragon of a mother who's living her life through her daughter, and very much has her eye on living way beyond her means and keeping herself front and centre.
Cressy has fled Bath with her companion to avoid an overly amorous marquess, and finds herself renting the dower house on Ormsleys estate, at extortionate cost, the money going to the late Earl wife's mother. Within days she rescues a young lad after he's fallen from a tree and become acquainted with his older brother Hugh.
Enjoyable book although there's a pattern in this series (of course there is they're all confirmed bachelors, who at the start of the book want to marry but don't know how to go about it).
Like the others some things happen that don't sit quite right, but an enjoyable read in its own right, although having read the series gives this a little more depth.
May 16, 2022
BRILLIANT SERIES BOOK 4 MY FAVOURITE
LORD ORMSLEY - HUGH
Did not believe in love even though as a young man is eighteen he though himself in love until she left him for someone else, High had very little love from his parents as there was Nine between them he swore to marry for convenience store only.
Lady Cressy did fall in love and he died her parents also loved each other therefore would only marry for love.
BRILLIANT STORY GREAT CHARACTERS EVEN HENRY THE SIX YEAR OLD BROTHER OF HUGH.
Could not put this down so many twists and turns LOTS of bc action.
ALL BOOKS IN THIS SERIES ARE.GOOD BUT THIS ONE WAS MY FAVOURITE. SAVED THE BEST TILL LAST.
LORD ORMSLEY - HUGH
Did not believe in love even though as a young man is eighteen he though himself in love until she left him for someone else, High had very little love from his parents as there was Nine between them he swore to marry for convenience store only.
Lady Cressy did fall in love and he died her parents also loved each other therefore would only marry for love.
BRILLIANT STORY GREAT CHARACTERS EVEN HENRY THE SIX YEAR OLD BROTHER OF HUGH.
Could not put this down so many twists and turns LOTS of bc action.
ALL BOOKS IN THIS SERIES ARE.GOOD BUT THIS ONE WAS MY FAVOURITE. SAVED THE BEST TILL LAST.
September 20, 2024
Not as enthralling as the first and third in the series, but better than book two! I’m enjoying this series and they follow on nicely, one from each other. I listened to the audiobook version of this title, very well written and superbly narrated by Helen Taylor. Very enjoyable tales which take us deeper into the characters and personalities. I enjoyed learning more about Ombersley, who came across as enigmatic and mysterious, previously and develops really well.
Onward to book 5…
Onward to book 5…
August 6, 2022
The storyline was OK. The romantic elements were predictable as usual in these types of stories. But what I found difficult was to keep up with the names of many characters, some of which were only talked about by the main characters, not directly in the plot, therefore difficult to follow in parts.
August 13, 2022
Book #4 this summer from Ms. Hambly and I might have liked this one the best of all. The H and h are wonderful, but the supporting cast is equally good. And I am a sucker for a story where the hero's locked up heart is unlocked first by the love for a much younger brother. I like happy families, so sue me.
April 5, 2022
Ormsley review
I'm always delighted when a new book by Jenny Hambly pops into my Kindle feed. This book is warm and wonderful with a dash of spice form the spunky heroine. A little danger sprinkled in. A must read!!!
I'm always delighted when a new book by Jenny Hambly pops into my Kindle feed. This book is warm and wonderful with a dash of spice form the spunky heroine. A little danger sprinkled in. A must read!!!
April 8, 2022
Excellent! This is a d@mn good book!!
I haven't read a book by this excellent story teller yet that I didn't enjoy. I only stopped reading it when I fell asleep...♥️ If you don't go grab a copy of this book, you'll truly miss out on an excellent story!
I haven't read a book by this excellent story teller yet that I didn't enjoy. I only stopped reading it when I fell asleep...♥️ If you don't go grab a copy of this book, you'll truly miss out on an excellent story!
April 13, 2022
Excellent from beginning to last page!
Reading this well written story was a pleasure.
The main characters were independent and their attraction grew slowly lending a realism to their love story.
Reading this well written story was a pleasure.
The main characters were independent and their attraction grew slowly lending a realism to their love story.
May 4, 2022
Again a beautiful love story
Lord Ormsley. Does not believe in Love. And is now about to learn more about the one thing he doesn't believe exists . Full of so many twists and turns it's hard to believe it's not a mystery. A very good tale. Loved it.
Lord Ormsley. Does not believe in Love. And is now about to learn more about the one thing he doesn't believe exists . Full of so many twists and turns it's hard to believe it's not a mystery. A very good tale. Loved it.
October 31, 2022
Likely one of the truest and best I’ve read recently
This one reminded me of Heyer, and was thoroughly enjoyed. Possibly more sentimentality towards the end than necessary and everyone is too perfect, but that seems to be how current romances are done now.
This one reminded me of Heyer, and was thoroughly enjoyed. Possibly more sentimentality towards the end than necessary and everyone is too perfect, but that seems to be how current romances are done now.
November 14, 2022
A beautiful example of what is love and what is not
Much excitement in this one. Never a dull moment. A window of the past shows what makes a person choose villainy or honor. Weak and strong characters, interesting story. Highly recommended for all readers.
Much excitement in this one. Never a dull moment. A window of the past shows what makes a person choose villainy or honor. Weak and strong characters, interesting story. Highly recommended for all readers.
January 4, 2024
Sweet romance
Enjoyed Jenny’s writing and detail of the period. The characters were charismatic and well rounded. Delightful romance of Hugh and Cressy which follows along the trope of enemies to lovers.
First book read in her series and will be reading more !
Enjoyed Jenny’s writing and detail of the period. The characters were charismatic and well rounded. Delightful romance of Hugh and Cressy which follows along the trope of enemies to lovers.
First book read in her series and will be reading more !
July 28, 2024
best book l’ve read so far in this series of confirmed bachelor
I was able to get into this book right from the beginning. All the characters strong and interesting. The little boy Henry was a nice edition and added to the story greatly.
I was able to get into this book right from the beginning. All the characters strong and interesting. The little boy Henry was a nice edition and added to the story greatly.
March 20, 2022
Lord Hugh Ormsley appears as a secondary character in the first two Confirmed Bachelors books. He now has his own story that explains many events in those books from his POV. Hugh is a bit older than the other bachelors but is similar in personality and family dynamics as well as in personal experience and reserve to Laurence Carteret. This is a lovely but bittersweet story of a man raised without love who learns to love. Several characters are not at all sympathetic and a couple are downright dangerous. Some sad events occur because of the selfishness of others. However, all in all, this is clean and hopeful story with appropriate HEAs, and a wonderful addition to the Confirmed Bachelors series.
March 22, 2022
sweet read
Our fourth bachelor has met the lady that wins his heart over. His family does have obstacles to overcome and when all that is behind, they find their hea
Our fourth bachelor has met the lady that wins his heart over. His family does have obstacles to overcome and when all that is behind, they find their hea
March 31, 2022
a wonderful Regency romance
The story developed at a steady pace and I didn’t want to put it down. All of the characters were well written.
The story developed at a steady pace and I didn’t want to put it down. All of the characters were well written.
April 13, 2022
Quite nice
A woman in her late thirties rents the dowerhouse of an estate and gets to know all the people living there.
Mystery no explicit sex, good worldbuilding.
A woman in her late thirties rents the dowerhouse of an estate and gets to know all the people living there.
Mystery no explicit sex, good worldbuilding.
April 15, 2022
Loved it!
June 2, 2022
I especially enjoyed the funny parts.
June 3, 2022
Good world building. Nice read.
September 20, 2022
quite addictive this series!
Liked it as a story and the way it flowed .
Strong characters with some action and of course a happy ending!
Liked it as a story and the way it flowed .
Strong characters with some action and of course a happy ending!
September 29, 2022
I just loved, loved Ormsley. Too bad this series is at the end but I am now reading Derriford also by Miss Hambly.
Hope she starts up on more books of that subject.
Hope she starts up on more books of that subject.
October 26, 2022
Another wonderful historical romance in this lovely series.
December 1, 2022
dnf
boring
boring
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews