A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews was a delightful Victorian story about Sophie Appersett, who was willing to marry a wealthy tradesman to ensure her family survived the upgrades her father kept doing to Appersett House. Mr. Edward Sharpe had asked to court Sophie but he came across quiet and somber. Could they work through their differences? I received an advance copy of this book from Net Galley for my honest review.

In this Victorian romance Sophie Appersett is willing to marry a wealthy tradesman if it saves her family from ruin. But could she be happy with the taciturn Mr. Edward Sharpe. As Christmas approaches and after two months of courtship what does she decide to do.
A delightful romantic novella. The characters are a well-developed group most of which are likeable. Overall a charming read.

London - 1861

Sophie Appersett is walking in Hyde Park with Edward (Ned) Sharpe, a wealthy manufactory and railway owner in London. They have been courting for a couple of months, but Sophie realizes they do not suit and he agrees. Many wealthy merchants are looking to marry impoverished, yet titled people. But, in this case. it just won’t work. It turns out that while Ned is an intelligent gentleman, Sophie has been the one having to keep up both ends of any conversations they had. She found that exhausting.

Ned is back in his office. He wishes his courtship of Sophie had been successful, but he realizes that his rank below hers is to blame. When he first met her, he was taken by her beauty and learned that she is the daughter of a baronet, Sir William of Appersett House. The man has two daughters, Sophie and Emily, and is nearly bankrupt. He and his wife are in London hoping to find rich husbands for their daughters.

When Sophie tells her parents that she has broken off her courtship with Ned, they are furious. They had already invited Ned to spend Christmas with them at their family home. Sir William had spent an enormous amount of money on their home outfitting it with gaslights and using Sophie’s, not Emily’s, dowry to do so. While they cannot really afford to have the Christmas house party, Sir William wants to show off the gaslights.

Sophie seeks out Ned and tells him that she hopes she has not made a mistake in calling off their courtship. She is honest and tells him that his lack of talking to her was the problem. She then asks him to please attend the family’s Christmas house party to see if they can truly make a go of their relationship. In addition, she invites his parents and his good friend, Walter Murray, to attend as well. But when Prince Albert dies suddenly, many guests send their regrets for the party. However, there are still enough local people to attend and make it a good time.

Sophie and Ned get to spend time with one another at the party and Ned finally open ups to her making her realize that he truly is a nice man. But she is angry when she discovers that her father may be pressing Ned to marry her so he can get money to make even more improvements to their home. She doesn’t want to marry the man for his money, but for his love. Can there be a chance for true love for them?

This is a truly delightful love story. It is clean and written the way a historical romance novel should be. I loved it and hope lots of people will read it and enjoy it as much as I did. Mimi Matthews is an author to watch.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I received this story as an ARC thanks to Net Galley in return for a fair and honest review.
A Holiday in Gaslight was everything that I am currently loving in a story I am very much a mood reader and this hit all the best holiday feels! It was a hallmark Christmas movie crossed with Pride and Prejudice or Emma! this beautiful tale was atmospheric and sweet and I just fell completely in Love! I Love the Characters, the setting, and just everything about this story! Great Job Mimi Matthews!!

This is my second Mimi Matthews book, and I feel like I can now say that she is an author that can easily pull me in and make me quickly care about her characters. A Holiday by Gaslight starts in the middle of scene between Ned Sharpe and Sophie Appersett. They've been courting, and Sophie has decided to break things off despite the financially stable position that marrying Ned would put her in. I mean if that doesn't make you interested and immediately asking questions about these characters and what will happen between them I don't quite know what will.

I pretty much liked everything about this novella. I could easily appreciate Sophie's stance of breaking off an engagement to a man that won't interact with her. She knows that her family needs her marriage to a man with stable finances, but she won't lower herself to marrying for convenience without even a hint of the possibility of being happy or content in the marriage. Ned isn't from the same class as Sophie so he isn't sure how he should behave exactly and the bad advice he's received has kept him closed off. This was a great concept to me because a lack of communication between couples due to cultural hindrances is so much of the conflict in books from this time period. I also loved the inclusion of so many timely advances in technology and society.

I thought I was going to find Sophie's sister extremely annoying but in the end I really just wanted more of her story. Her thought process. Etc.

I find that I don't have anything at all negative to say about A Holiday by Gaslight other than wanting more of it. I loved the characters. I loved the setting. I loved the historically accurate tidbits included. A Holiday by Gaslight gets 4.5 Stars. Have you read A Holiday by Gaslight? What did you think? Let me know!

This fun tale begins with the heroine and hero deciding to break off their courtship. Apparently they just don't suit. The unusual beginning to the story had me from the first page. When Sophie Appersett, in a very unlady-like action, talks Edward Sharpe into a second go round, the real romance begins. I was delighted by the earnest efforts of the unconventional Sophie as she made an effort to get to know Edward. I smiled at Edward's surprised reactions to Sophie. As they became friends, and then more, against the background of the family drama the entertainment factor just kept going up.

Fa la la la la!

If you want to brighten your holiday season, deck your bookshelf with this charming Christmas romance by Mimi Matthews. This little novella will warm your heart and bring a smile to even the Scroogiest of humbuggers.

Through NetGalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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

This is a fun little novella about a Christmastime romance during the Victorian Era. I really enjoyed the characters, and the plot. This is the perfect book to curl up by the fire this winter and immerse yourself into for a few hours.

History. Romance. Christmas. Three of my favorite things all together! This is a very short and sweet novella. The cover alone is what had me dying to read it. The story lived up to the cover. I am so glad I got a chance to read this sweet love story.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

Sophie Appersett is trying to be a modern woman. The world is changing rapidly all around her and she is trying to take Mr. Darwin's theories to heart and change with them. While her family has no money, she is a baronet's daughter and has been raised to expect a marriage of convenience instead of love. When the wealthy Edward Sharpe shows an interest in her, it doesn't bother Sophie that he isn't an aristocrat. But after two months of courting, it does bother her that she still knows nothing about Ned. He never says more than a few words and always seems to wish he was somewhere else. While Sophie might not expect love, a vague liking would be nice! She's ready to call it off if they can't get to know each other during her family's Christmas house party. What Sophie doesn't take into account is the gaslight . . .

Sophie is a wonderful heroine: smart, independent, kind, and warm. While on the surface she and Ned Sharpe seem to be complete opposites, once Ned realizes he needs to break down and be a little more himself around Sophie, it becomes obvious they are a perfect match. She has shouldered the burdens of her family: her spoiled sister and her father's mania for modernization of the family home even when it means spending Sophie's dowry to make it happen. The idea of having a partner in life, a man who will treat her as an equal, is more beguiling than any romance to her. Ned doesn't believe in romance or love, but Sophie teaches him that both are exactly what he needs. They just need a little plain speaking between them, and a little relationship advice from Charles Darwin.

Blending the rapidly evolving scientific discoveries of the 1860s with changing societal ideas and prejudices makes for a fresh approach to the Victorian Christmas novella. Romance and high family drama allow Sophie and Ned to evolve naturally in front of us, often surprising themselves as much as us. A sweet, delightful holiday novella, Gaslight brings all the charm and magic of a Victorian Christmas to life on each page. Fans of Lisa Kleypas' Wallflowers series will love Mimi Matthews' A Holiday by Gaslight!

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

Like I've stated before, I usually don't read holiday-themed books (except for maybe Halloween and Valentine's Day), but the cover of this book drew me in and when I read the synopsis I decided to give it a try. How bad could it be?
Turns out, not at all bad.

I absolutely adored this novella. It is the right length for the story and the romance conflict is understandable to me. Even the romance build up was pretty decent for a novella! I mean, my biggest issue with romance novels is usually that they don't know each other besides from the sexual tension, BUT here that is the whole point of the story! She breaks off their courtship because she isn't learning anything about him, so they must not suit... until they start being open and sharing with each other.

The setting is beautiful, the Christmas spirit is there mostly as setting and as activities, but doesn't overcrowd or take over, and many of the characters feel decently worked out. For a book this length, I think that is an amazing accomplishment. There is also a blurb in the end about how the author tried to include historical events and keep it accurate-- I love it!

I absolutely had an amazing time reading this story and as soon as I finish writing up this review, I plan at looking at other books this author has written, because I need to read more. I totally recommend this to historical romance readers or even those looking to read a Christmas romance and potentially trying out the historical setting.

A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews

Loved it – from beginning to end!

Having read only one other book by this author I wanted to see if she could hold my attention, make me care and believe in the characters as she did in The Matrimonial Advertisement – AND – I have to say she definitely did.

This is a novella length story that packs a lot into a few pages. It deals with the concept of women and their “value” on the marriage market, the idea of status and station, progress in science and society, economizing, love vs duty, societal expectations vs emotions, and how not having an heir could impact a family.

I found myself actually there with Sophie and Ned and wanting them to find a way to be together. I could see how Sophie wanted at least the potential of more than the traditional emotionless marriage and applauded her for trying to achieve it. I felt for Ned as he tried to do what was “right” only to find that it might not get him what he wanted. The people were well fleshed out and believable as was the story AND I have to say that ANY book that comes my way that is written by this author is one that I will snap up in a second.

Thank you to NetGalley and Perfectly Proper Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

"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."

It's the time of the year to line up your holiday reading and I strongly suggest you add A Holiday by Gaslight to your list!

A Holiday by Gaslight is a well-written novella that takes place in Victorian England. Sophie Appersett is breaking her engagement to Ned Sharpe - a well-to do investment banker. Her excuse is that they "don''t suit" having nothing in common at all. When Sophie's parents find out she's broken the engagement, Sophie is ordered by her father, then manipulated by her mother into renewing the relationship so the family can have access to Sharpe's considerable fortune. Lord Appersett has squandered the family's fortune and Sophie's dowry throwing lavish coming out parties for the younger daughter, Emily, and modernizing the family estate by adding gaslights throughout the manor. Sophie talks Ned into bringing his parents to the estate for a week of holiday festivities. The plans were almost ruined by the death of beloved Prince Albert. Sophie's quick thinking involved inviting guests from many status levels, making for an interesting mix. Sophie and Ned fall in love amidst the gaslight balls and snow-covered fields. Sophie's spoiled younger sister is "the beautiful one" who finds herself falling in love with Ned's rakish partner. Their engagement and subsequent marriage takes care of the family's debt and promises to fund Lord Appersett's lavish plans for indoor plumbing. This leaves Sophie and Ned free to live as they will.

This is the perfect tale to put you in a holiday mood!! I plan to read the rest of Mimi Matthews books as soon as possible!

I was immediately drawn to this book by the cover but after reading the description I knew I would enjoy this book. It’s a charming historical Christmas romance and it’s a great book to read as we head into the holidays.

I can't believe how good this book was. The cover is beautiful and caught my eye immediately. After reading the description I knew I wanted to request this book from Netgalley. I love historical fiction and this book even has some historical events that really happened written in. I love that the author has really done her research on the time before writing this book. This book was a quick and fun to read. I loved the way it was written - it really helps you to visualize the way things were and emphasize with the characters. There were a few words that I stopped to find the definition for - which I enjoyed the challenge of adding to my vocabulary. My only complaint is that the story could've been longer to allow more time to build the characters. I might be interested in a sequel. Well done, Mimi Matthews and Netgalley!

This was an absolutely perfect Christmas novella, hitting all the right notes for a holiday story. Ms. Matthews is a new favorite of mine, and I was very excited to read this story. Sophie's father was interested in marrying his eldest daughter to Ned, a rich businessman. He wanted to "sacrifice" Sophie for the money to make grand repairs to the family estate, while his younger daughter was to be given a season and to find a titled husband to marry. Sophie called off the courtship with Ned when she thought they didn't suit, as Ned was a quiet, stern and reserved gentleman. However, she decided to reconsider and still have Ned join her family for a Christmas house party.

Their courtship was just lovely once they decided to actually give something of themselves to each other. This was in spite of Sophie's father's grandiose plans for Ned's money, Ned's parents who were not happy with the entire situation, and the development of a relationship between Sophie's sister and Ned's business partner. Things began to look quite bleak again..... But this is a Christmas romance; of course the ending did not disappoint! I can't wait to read more work by Mimi Matthews. Besides being a romantic story, it's quite obvious Ms. Matthews knows her history.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley. I received no compensation for this review, and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

From the publisher: 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. But severing ties with her taciturn suitor isn’t as straightforward as she envisioned. Her parents are outraged. 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.

Mimi Matthews has fast become my favorite author of historical romance novels. She is an attorney as well as an author who researches and writes on all aspects of nineteenth century history—from animals, art, and etiquette to fashion, beauty, feminism, and law. Her attention to historical facts and detail really shows in her novels. Her books are published by Perfectly Proper Press and the courtship behaviors are true to the times – no jumping into bed before marriage for her lovers.

A Holiday by Gaslight is short and sweet. According to the author’s note, it “was inspired by the social, scientific, and technological advances of the mid-19th century.” She works in plot points about gaslights, Charles Darwin, and Prince Albert. The main characters are flawed but sympathetic. Side characters like Ned’s parents and Sophie’s father and sister are frustrating but believable. I particularly enjoyed the differences between the rules of upper class courtship and courtship between members of the merchant class.

If you enjoy clean and accurate historical romances featuring likable characters and believable romantic obstacles, you may enjoy the works of Mimi Matthews. I read an advance reader copy of A Holiday By Gaslight, which will be published on November 13 and will be available for checkout at the Galesburg Public Library. We also own two previous works by the author, The Viscount and the Vicar’s Daughter and The Lost Letter.

Sophie has been being courted by Mr Sharpe for a couple of months now, and still rarely speaks or shows any sign of anything beyond indifference. Though Sophie's parents are thrilled at the idea of the match because they are poor and he is rich, Sophie wants a husband who does something more than look stern and remain silent. She breaks off the relationship but is induced to reconsider. He is invited to a house party at the family's country house, and the time together is to decide their future. Ned Sharpe has been attracted to Sophie right from the start, but because of the class difference has been relying on an etiquette handbook to guide his courtship behaviour. Clearly that hasn't worked - so what else can he try, to take advantage of this unexpected second chance?

This is the second book I've read by the author, and though it was shorter than I had hoped, it still managed to tell the story without feeling rushed. I have to admit that Sophie's father really annoyed me, but otherwise I enjoyed the story, and hope to read more by the author. A fun light read that doesn't focus all the time on the physical attraction between the two main characters (hooray!).

Characters: I enjoyed getting to know the two main characters, though some of the others were less pleasant and/or felt a bit less realistic.
Storyline: Short and sweet, well arranged to tell the story briefly but not abruptly.
Content and language: Occasional blasphemy and bad language, which I could have done without, but otherwise no problems.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

Sophie Apperset always does what she is expected to do, even if it means that her life and future is at stake but after 2 months of courtship from very silent Edward Sharpe she decides to put charades to the end thinking that their future together isn't meant to be. After tempered reaction from her parents she decides to give Mr Sharpe one more chance to court her but this time honesty and both sided conversation are her only rules. Will the good looking and rich son of a tailor win her heart this time?

From the first look at the title to the very last page I just want to say BRAVO to very exceptional author of this book- Mimi Mattews. It's been a long time since I have read such and elegant romance which I can put on the same shelf as my collection of novels written by Jane Austen or Bronte sisters, and author's job here was even more difficult, considering that Mimi hasn't lived in XIX century. Every detail, every little sentence had its purpose and you can see the hard work put in in every single word. It was a delightful reading feast that I am going to taste for a very long time. Perfect read to open the Christmas season.

Even though the main plot circles around Sophie and Edward, there are a lot of other characters that bring dimension to this story. Strict and reckless with money Sir Apperset, loving and noble mother or selfish and careless sister makes Sophie's family a surprising mix of personalities but every single one of them builds the sweet nature of our heroine. I loved discovering the different mind sets and connections between high and low class, noticing once again that life most of the time wasn't fair back in time.


A Holiday by Gaslight was a read that showed me that having a relationship doesn't mean giving each other away, loosing oneself. This very sophisticated yet sweet novel taught me of love in different light, where time is a key, where second chances are worth their price and where free will could surprise anyone. It's a book that needs to be read not be left on the shelf especially in upcoming season.

Honestly cannot wait to read more books written by Mimi.

ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.