An Independent Woman: The brand-new captivating Regency romance from the author of Kingscastle

by Sophia Holloway

The newly widowed Lady Louisa Dembleby is immensely thankful to be released from an awful marriage and vows that she will never marry again. A quiet life of contented freedom with her cherished daughter lies ahead, but her resolution falters when she meets Major Benfield Barkby, recovering from serious wounds sustained fighting in Spain. Against the backdrop of the social season in Bath, gossip, grandmamas and a climatic duel look set to complicate any chance of a happy ever after.

Genres: Historical, Historical Romance, Romance, Historical Fiction

288 pages, Paperback

Published December 4, 2025

About the author

Sophia Holloway describes herself as a ‘wordsmith’. She read Modern History at Oxford, and her factual book on the Royal Marines in the First World War, From Trench and Turret, was published in 2006. Shea takes her pen name from her great grandmother ( hence the photograph portrait). She also writes the Bradecote & Catchpoll mediaeval murder mysteries under the pen name, Sarah Hawkswood. Her third Classic Regency novel, 'Kingscastle' was published in paperback and ebook by Allison & Busby in November 2021, with another due out in spring 2022.

She is a member of the Historical Writers’ Association, the Historical Novel Society, and the Crime Writers' Associationand the Romantic Novelists' Association.

Reviews

[Jackiesreadingcorner · Rating 5 out of 5]

After finishing a very dark and gritty crime novel, I picked this book up—and what a perfect change of pace it turned out to be. I fell completely in love with the characters. The plot, the setting, the emotions—everything swept me away on a very chilly Wednesday afternoon. I ended up reading it in one sitting, utterly unable to put it down.

Lady Louisa Dembleby is a newly widowed young woman with a two-year-old daughter. Relief rather than grief greets her husband’s death; he had treated her poorly, and having failed to produce a male heir, she was cast aside by his family. As was typical in the Regency period, she was left with almost nothing and forced to return to her own relatives. But then, unexpectedly, she inherits a property—an escape, a chance to start over with young Emily. Louisa vows never to marry again; no man will ever have the power to treat her as her husband did.

What she doesn’t expect is Major Benfield Barclay. A wounded war hero returning to Somerset to recover, Barclay is instantly drawn to Louisa—and she to him, despite her determination to avoid marriage. He struggles with the visible reminders of his injuries, but his gentleness and sincerity shine through.

The story shifts between several perspectives, not just the two main characters, and Louisa and Barclay’s romance is not the only one that develops. Every character feels engaging, relatable, and wonderfully three-dimensional. The plot moves beautifully from start to finish, and I found myself completely absorbed.

I love a character-driven novel, and this one brings a fresh feel to the Regency romance genre. If you enjoy a heartfelt, well-crafted love story, grab a copy—you won’t regret it.

[Rosanne Lortz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Louisa Dembleby is less forlorn than a widow ought to be. In fact, she feels nothing but a sense of freedom now that her inconsiderate husband is gone at last, leaving her nothing but the bare minimum required by the law and a three-year-old-daughter that he despised. After receiving an additional bequest from a godparent, Louisa sets up her own household in Frome, near Bath, determined never to marry again.

Enter Major Barkby (about fifteen percent into the Kindle version of the book). With a limp and a hand multilated from a saber-stroke, Barkby is an object of revulsion to most, but Louisa finds him personable, kind, and sincere, The two strike up a friendship. When Barkby takes it upon himself to protect Lady Dembleby’s home from burglars, tongues begin to wag in the neighborhood. Louisa informs Barkby of her decision never to marry again, and he promises to stand her friend since she will not allow him to be more.

The rest of the book follows Louisa’s removal to Bath where, to make up for his late entrance into the story, Barkby performs every heroic deed that one could ever wish of a Regency hero (Provide emotional support during illness of lady’s daughter? Check. Put lady’s enemy in his place at a social setting? Check. Fight a duel to protect lady’s honor? Check.) His friend Mr. Gilmorton proves heroic as well, conducting a very satisfactory secondary romance with Louisa’s best friend Miss Brailes.

With a name like An Independent Woman, one worries whether the book will become too anachronistically modern in tone. The author handles Louisa’s jaded attitude towards marriage well, however, creating a realistic heroine within the bounds of Regency society who understands the very real legal downsides of Regency matrimony and yet wishes she could trust well enough to love. The writing style of the book is very traditional, with a slow start rather than an immediate “meet-cute” and a third person omniscient viewpoint that allows one to get to know many of the characters, rather than just the main couple. Major Barkby is a gem, through and through, and just gets better as the book goes on. The reader will find all the romance and charm of a Heyer novel in this new Holloway book. Recommended.

[Frankie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really, really enjoyed An Independent Woman; it is a true classical Regency romance story, but with a fresh and new feel which brings it right up to date.

I adore a second-chance story, especially when the characters aren't in their first flush of youth. Louisa is newly widowed, and she has vowed that she will never remarry, especially as she didn't particularly have a happy marriage; she is relieved and thankful that he has gone; she is all set and determined to have a quiet, peaceful life with her daughter. But the plan soon gets set aside when she meets wounded war hero Benfield.

After being severely wounded in Spain, he wishes for peace as he recovers in Bath, until he meets beautiful Louisa!

I love these two; they both deserve a happily ever after, they are both scarred mentally, and both need care and compassion to be able to be free of their individual demons. Their romance is a beautiful thing to watch.

These types of stories are my bread and butter, despite loving Regencies, some tend to fall far too close to the stereotypical Pride and Prejudice style, which is all good if you like P&P, but I personally find all the bowing, curtsying and all the pomp just too draining.

Give me a war hero over a Darcy any day!

Thankfully, this book steers clear of all that and gives a pretty overused genre a new lease of life; it's fresh and engaging but still keeps its classical for all of the devout P&O fans out there.

This is definitely charcter focused and I liked how it suddenly shifts point of view between characters; some readers may not like that, but I did it kept the whole narrative fresh.

If you love Regencies with a little extra something, then this is a must, highly recommended from me!

[Cathy R Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a horrible marriage, Louisa has no intention of putting herself into a man's hands again. Ever. And being left an estate by her godmother some time later makes independence possible. But when her mother-in-law visits her neighbourhood and starts spreading malicious rumours that Louisa killed her husband, she fears she'll never truly escape. Somehow, though, when Major Benfield, the wounded son of a neighbourhood friend, enters the neighbourhood, she finds herself faced by a man who not only truly sees her and appears to care for her, but actually puts her needs first rather than his own. Can she come to accept that marriage to the right person doesn't actually mean the feared loss of independence?

This is a story that has a lot more going on, and a lot more depth, than any reasonable-length blurb can express. And that's a good thing, unless you're looking for a quick, light read, which this is not. The basic premise is that Louisa needs to come to terms with the idea of giving marriage another go, but she (understandably!) takes her time to do so. And in the meanwhile, he's there supporting her in various ways, from naming Emily's animals to helping protect an unsuspecting girl from a rogue, to nursing. Add in another couple finding each other, a man who's fighting demons from his military service and a young woman who's been passed over time and again until she no longer expects anything else - and is saddled with a somewhat irritating family - and you've got another dimension to the story that really fleshes it all out. All in all, a great read and I'm really looking forward to seeing what the author writes next.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Laura Black Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

'An Independent Woman' is my first romance from Sophia Holloway and I'll read more of her work. This is Regency life written small, set in the country in and around Bath. The action has a strong interior quality with recently widowed Lady Louisa Dembleby and her daughter trying to make a new life for themselves away from her miserable marriage. After being widowed and virtually seen off her husband's estate, she is left a small holding by a long-forgotten relative. Louisa makes herself a new home where she meets Major Benfield Barkby, who has returned after being injured in the Napoleonic wars.

When gossip makes things difficult, Louisa mothballs her new home and goes to Bath for a change of scene, where a steady stream of new friends and old come to visit, and perhaps to meddle. There are many secondary characters and I really enjoyed how many of them have a point of view as this enlivened the world of Louisa. There is also a delightful secondary romance as well as the slow burn between Louisa and Barkby.

Louisa was traumatised by her marriage and vows never to marry again, which leaves Barkby hanging. Luckily there are plenty of reasons for them to interact in Bath and they continue to dance around each other.

I enjoyed the world that Sophia has created and cheered for Louisa and Barkby. I'd have loved some more tension, both between the leads and in the romance over all. Recommended for Regency lovers and Sophia's fans.

Thank you Sophia Holloway and Allison & Busby for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a first time read for me by this author and I found this to be a gentle, charming historical romance that I really enjoyed. Lady Louisa is a quietly strong heroine—newly widowed, relieved to be free from a terrible marriage, and determined to build a peaceful life for herself and her daughter. I loved how clear she was about not wanting to marry again, and how much she valued her hard-won independence.
Major Barkby is a lovely match for her. He’s wounded, thoughtful, and carrying his own scars from war, which makes their connection feel tender and believable. Their relationship develops slowly, built on kindness and understanding rather than dramatic fireworks, and it suited the tone of the story perfectly.
The Bath setting adds a lot of charm, with all the expected gossip, matchmaking relatives, and social pressure. The duel and society complications raise the stakes without overwhelming the romance, keeping the story balanced and engaging.
Overall, this is a sweet, satisfying read about second chances, healing, and finding love when you least expect—or even want—it. A great choice if you enjoy softer historical romances with mature characters and heartfelt moments.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review. 

[Ann-Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this has everything a Regency romance could ever want. Powerful storyline with interesting characters, easy to read and become absorbed in – I read it in less than a day.

Louisa Dembleby is newly widowed, but so relieved to be freed from her dreadful marriage. Declaring that she will never marry again, she moves back to live with her parents whilst she begins to look at her finances to see how she can set up her own household to become an independent woman. Much to her surprise she discovers her godmother has left her an estate which she moves to, much to her parents’ disappointment. All is well at first but with gossips in her new village starting to declare that she doesn’t behave like a ‘proper widow’, she decides to take a house in Bath for a few months. And so, it begins!

Everything you could want: couples falling in love, new friends, gossip and scandal, heroes and villains, a handsome Major, a duel, an empty headed ninnyhammer, a redoubtable grandmama with a long memory and a path to true love that does eventually run smooth. Fabulous – highly recommended.

Thanks to Net Galley and Allison & Busby for an ARC for my honest review.

[Anne-Mammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have now read most of Sophia Holloway's books and have liked them all. This is no exception. The characters are very engaging. Lord Barkby is the perfect hero: kind, sensible, supportive, loving, understanding. I just loved his encounters with three year old Emily. The dialogue is sparkling, witty in parts. There is a very good period feel and of course it is a romance, so one can forgive the number of "convenient" events which happen : The unexpected inheritance, the straight talking duchess, the demise of Barkby's father and so on. Perhaps not so felicitous was the Orlando- Miss Newent trope. I suppose ultimately it was there to show Barkby's sense of honour to support his intended.
I liked the secondary characters (Caroline and Gilmorton). Their quiet love story gently develops in the background.
Perhaps a bit more might have been made of Benfield becoming more used to his wounded hand. His disability seemed to fade in the background. However, it is not enough to lose a star.
I really enjoyed reading this book and hope Ms Holloway writes many more. I strongly recommend it.

[SH · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lady Louisa Dembleby is a widow who is immensely thankful to be released from an awful marriage. Vowing never to marry again, she looks forward to a quiet life of contented freedom with her cherished daughter. Yet her resolution falters when she meets Major Benfield Barkby, recovering from serious wounds sustained fighting in Spain. Louisa is exactly the kind of heroine I love - intelligent, self-possessed, and determined to reclaim her life after years trapped in a miserable marriage. Her vow to remain independent feels completely earned and her relationship with her daughter adds real emotional depth to the story. Her connection to Benfield unfolds with warmth and patience, and he never rushes Louisa’s reluctance to risk her heart again. This was a charming, heartfelt romance about choosing happiness after hardship, and about love blossoming exactly when it’s least expected. A lovely read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by Allison & Busby via Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
“An Independent Woman”, by Sophia Holloway, is an interesting historical romance between an inteligent, determined heroine and a wounded hero captivated by her free spirit, showing the barriers imposed on women during the Regency period.
I loved the main characters, Louisa and Benfield, and, of course, the little girl. The heroine is well fleshed-out and her life philosophy and purposes are admirable.
Watching the hero falling for her while also understanding her and respecting her motives is great.
Benfield is a wonderful hero: valiant, smart and grounded.
I liked the depiction of the disability and the fact they’re both practical about it.
The attraction between them is plausible and progresses well. I liked the honesty between the leads while admitting their feelings for each other.
I thought the sudden changes of point of view were distracting; there were many characters to keep up with and too much dialogue.

[R Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a readable and thoroughly enjoyable regency romance. There is really good characterisation, my favourite being Caroline, the blue stocking with a lively sense of humour. While the main feature of the book was a romance between a widow seeking independence and an officer home from the peninsula war there were a couple of other liaisons intertwined making this a well thought out plot. There was a strong emphasis on the role of women. Louisa’s first marriage saw her regarded as little more than a brood mare despite the fact she was a competent, forthright person. Her second marriage was a love match based on equality but she feared she would lose her independence if this match proceeded. She was proved wrong only thought the decency of her spouse. Interesting!

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I did like the characters of Louisa, Lady Dembleby and Major Benfield Barkley. It was understandable that Louisa was wary of trusting a man again after the experience with her first husband. Benfield was an honourable man and very patient, which worked well for him. There are some vindictive people and the fear of scandal touching the family was very real. The only drawback for me was the pace of the story, it was just a bit too slow for me. However, I did enjoy the story and enjoyed the romances. Little Emily was very sweet. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Mary Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

A well detailed story. Louisa is reluctant to wed again after the atrocious behaviour of both her husband and her MIL.
She'd prefer to lead an independant life and luckily for her a relative leaves her a small estate. She and her daughter Emily move there with a relative that acts as a chaperon. She meets our hero who has been injured in the peninsula. It's a charming story. Our hero falls and it takes some time before Louisa catches up. Only kisses but the wait was worth it.

Recommend.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Pgchuis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet novel; all the worst of the unpleasantness - war, an unhappy marriage - had happened off page before it started. Not everything in it struck me as entirely period-appropriate, but I enjoyed three year old Emily and her Noah's Ark characters - children rarely appear in Regency novels like this. There was an awful lot of plot and bits of it inevitably reminded me of Georgette Heyer novels (minus the humour), but this was a pleasant enough read.

[Sue Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed

A lovely gentle romance I really enjoyed. Louisa is a widow with a young daughter and has been living with her parents since the death of her husband. Her marriage had been an unhappy one and when she is left a property by a relative she decides to move there and be independent. She meets Major Barkby whose family are neighbours of hers. This is their journey to happy ever after.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent plot that reminded me of Georgette Heyer novels, although not quiet as funny .
There was a war hero and the love interest had had an unhappy marriage. I really enjoyed Emily a three year and Lord Barkely's interaction with her Noah's Ark characters.
I felt the book needed more tension. The drama was there but you didn't feel it. I liked Barkely the best as a character

[Brontesruleromance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Content warning: Miscarriage, pregnancy, loss of infants spoken about in passing, suicidal ideation,

Slow-burn between a widow who dislikes and distrusts men and a wounded ex-soldier.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A light delight! Major Barky, and the ensemble of well formed characters jump off the page. Fun read.

[Gloria]

Excellent