BOOK REVIEW/BLOG TOUR: A Holiday by Gaslight: A Victorian Christmas Novella by Mimi Matthews

Publication Date: November 13, 2018
Perfectly Proper Press
eBook & Paperback; 172 Pages
Genre: Historical Romance/Christmas/Novella

Synopsis

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.

My Thoughts

Edward Sharpe, a wealthy merchant, has no idea how to court a lady not of his class and relies on an etiquette book to help him. Sophie finds Edward cool and distant; a man difficult to get to know. After two months' courtship, Sophie decides that they will not suit and ends their relationship, but faced with her father’s anger and possible family ruin, she reconsiders and offers Edward another chance.

By spending a country Christmas together, with their families and friends, Sophie hopes that they will get to know each other better and at the end of the festivities perhaps a future together will look more promising.

A Holiday by Gaslight is a delightful Victorian Christmas romance that captivates from the start. Mimi Matthews has a gift for creating appealing characters, making it easy to accept the situation that Sophie and Edward find themselves in and Sophie's plan to put matters right between them.

Edward has no illusions about his place in society. He knows that it is only his wealth that has made him an ideal marriage prospect for Sophie, especially in the eyes of Sophie’s finanically irresponsible father who is obsessed with modernising his country estate. While Edward is conscious of the class difference between them, Sophie, unlike her younger sister, disregards it and is only interested in getting to know him.

Sophie is a sensible and dutiful daughter, trying her utmost to do right by her family. Being the eldest daughter, it is she that often makes sacrifices to placate her father and sister. Although many would view an arranged marriage to the son of shopkeepers as one of them, she does not.

Once Sophie and Edward agree to be honest about their feelings, the ease with which the romance blossoms is an emotional and heart-warming treat, helped along by the magic of a Victorian Christmas setting and the sprig of mistletoe in Edward's pocket!

I thoroughly enjoyed this novella and I'm sure other historical romance readers will too.

A Holiday by Gaslight is available from Amazon

About the Author

Mimi Matthews (A Victorian Lady’s Guide to Fashion and Beauty, The Lost Letter) writes both historical non-fiction and traditional historical romances set in Victorian England. Her articles on nineteenth century history have been published on various academic and history sites, including the Victorian Web and the Journal of Victorian Culture, and are also syndicated weekly at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes an Andalusian dressage horse, two Shelties, and two Siamese cats.

For more information, please visit Mimi Matthews’ website and blog. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, BookBub, Pinterest, Google+, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour schedule
Tuesday, November 13: Review at Confessions of an Avid Reader
Wednesday, November 14: Review at Proverbial Reads; Feature at Tea Book Blanket;
Feature at The Caffeinated Bibliophile
Friday, November 16: Review & Excerpt at The Book Junkie Reads; Feature at View from the Birdhouse
Monday, November 19: Review at Passages to the Past
Tuesday, November 20: Review at A Darn Good Read; Review & Excerpt at Clarissa Reads it All
Wednesday, November 21: Review at Amy's Booket List
Friday, November 23: Review at So Many Books, So Little Time
Monday, November 26: Review at Jennifer Tar Heel Reader
Wednesday, November 28: Review at Donna's Book Blog
Friday, November 30: Review at The Lit Bitch

Giveaway (US only)
During the Blog Tour a signed copy of A Holiday By Gaslight will be given away! Enter via the Gleam form here.

Giveaway Rules
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on November 30th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Giveaway is open to US residents only.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.