BOOK INFO
Publication Date: June 23, 2022
About the Author:
Sophia Holloway describes herself as a ‘wordsmith’ who is only really happy when writing. 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. She also writes mediaeval murder mysteries under the pen name, Sarah Hawkswood.
She is a member of the Historical Writers’ Association, the Historical Novel Society, and the Crime Writers’ Association.
MY REVIEW
When Henrietta Gaydon leaves the countryside for a Season in London under the aegis of her aunt, she leaves behind her widowed father John and her childhood companion Charles, Lord Henfield. Nearly a decade older than “Henry,” Charles once thought of her as a little sister, but the last few years have changed his feelings into a far different kind of affection. Moping about the countryside as Henrietta takes the London beaux by storm, Charles finally realizes that he needs to take action and throw his own hat in the ring before he loses his best friend forever.
Homesick inside but putting on a bold and flirtatious front, Henrietta discovers that she has attracted the attention of all sorts of handsome bucks. While a few like Lord Netheravon are too much of a rattle to really appeal to her heart, she finds herself intrigued by the authoritative and sardonic Mr. Newbold. When Charles comes to town, she is at first overjoyed to see him–but when he begins to treat her as a little child who needs correction, it sets up her hackles and their once-comfortable relationship is fractured.
If only Lord Henfield can figure out how to express his true feelings to the girl who grew up next door–and if only Henrietta can give herself permission to fall in love with the man she used to consider a brother…
Sophia Holloway is fast becoming a favorite author. This charming story makes you root for Lord Henfield all the way through, bemoaning his false steps and cheering his moments of manly brilliance. The secondary characters (Henrietta’s cousin Caroline, her star-cross’d suitor whom she is forbidden to marry, and the interfering dowager Lady Vernham) sometimes steal the stage, and one wishes that Lord Henfield would show a little more romantic initiative a little sooner, but all in all, this book was a delightful read.
Recommended for devotees of traditional, clean Regency romances in the older style.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Rosanne E. Lortz 