A Holiday By Gaslight: A Victorian Christmas Novella

Mimi Matthews

Nov 2018 · Perfectly Proper Press

About this ebook

"Readers will easily fall for Sophie and Ned in their gaslit surroundings." -Library Journal, starred review

 A Courtship of Convenience

Sophie Appersett is quite willing to marry outside of her class to ensure the survival of her family. But the darkly handsome Mr. Edward Sharpe is no run-of-the-mill London merchant. He’s grim and silent. A man of little emotion—or perhaps no emotion at all. After two months of courtship, she’s ready to put an end to things.

A Last Chance for Love

But severing ties with her taciturn suitor isn’t as straightforward as Sophie envisioned. Her parents are outraged. And then there’s Charles Darwin, Prince Albert, and that dratted gaslight. What’s a girl to do except invite Mr. Sharpe to Appersett House for Christmas and give him one last chance to win her? Only this time there’ll be no false formality. This time they’ll get to know each other for who they really are.

Ratings and reviews

Sophie Appersett is quite willing to marry outside of her class to ensure the survival of her family. But the darkly handsome Mr. Edward Sharpe is no run-of-the-mill London merchant. He's grim and silent. A man of little emotion--or perhaps no emotion at all. After two months of courtship, she's ready to put an end to things. Severing ties with her taciturn suitor isn't as straightforward as Sophie envisioned. Her parents are outraged & Mr. Sharpe has been invited to Appersett House for Christmas so Sophie goes to see Ned & they decide to try again over Christmas bus this time with honesty & no false formality. A heart warming short story which I read in one sitting. I really liked both Ned & Sophie. He’s a hard working successful businessman & she's the down to earth practical daughter of a baronet who tries to rein in her father’s & sister’s aspirations. I liked how the pair came to know each other, their verbal exchanges are very entertaining, Ned doesn't show his emotions but fell hard for Sophie from their first meeting but thinks he should treat her like differently to other women. Sophie wants to be liked & if possible be loved for herself. My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

the storyline was ok, but lack the ability to keep you with the desire to read more that was not written in the story. what was Ned's decision regarding her father's desire to abuse these men because he felt he they had money that he could take charge, he felt he was above them. left much to desire in this story.

This is a new author to me and when I saw the beautiful cover and title, I just had to read it! Set in Victorian England, we find our heroine, Sophie, knowing that she needs to marry for money. You see her father overspent trying to keep up with the times by putting in gas lines and running water in their home. I mean wouldn't you have done the same with these inventions to make life easier? Sophie began a courtship with a tradesman, Ned Sharpe. But after a couple of months, it seemed they truly were not comparable But at Christmas, even something magical might happen to bring these two together. I really enjoyed the details and historical descriptions brought forth in this novella and hope to read more by this author in the future!

About the author

USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning Victorian romances. Her novels have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, Kirkus, and Shelf Awareness, and her articles have been featured on the Victorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes a retired Andalusian dressage horse, a Sheltie, and two Siamese cats.