Audio Review: A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi Matthews

Posted December 11, 2019 by Amanda in Reviews / 2 Comments

Audio Review: A Holiday by Gaslight by Mimi MatthewsA Holiday By Gaslight by Mimi Matthews
Narrator: Alex Wyndham
Published by Perfectly Proper Press on 2018-12-19
Length: 4hr and 4min
Reviewing Audiobook from Audible
Rating:

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.

What first drew Lillian and I to this book was the gorgeous cover. I saw it on an add for Audible and I *had* to read it, or listen to it, rather. I knew that if the cover looked that good, the story should be great, too. And it was. I adore this story and these characters. I immediately liked the practical Sophie and totally fell for Ned. Because ya’ll. YA’LL. He’s a broody man! SO BROODY. And I might be in love. 

Sophie is the daughter of a gentleman, who is a Lord in name and a despot in fortune, having spent both his daughters’ dowries in improvements to the family home. One of which was having gas lighting (and a gas plant!)  installed. With more improvements pending. She is willing to be the family’s sacrificial lamb in order to preserve her family’s home. She also wants to preserve her sister’s happiness, by allowing her to marry for love rather than out of desperation. But is her intended a good match for her?…

Ned is the son of a merchant, and has earned his considerable fortune with shrewd investments and hard work. He is of a different class than the woman he is courting. And he is deliberate, calculated even, with his words – so as not to offend or misstep around Sophie. He wants to be a man worthy of her. But are his scrupulous manners hiding his true self? 

When the Yuletide season rolls around and Sophie and Ned are more thrown together, they make a vow to be transparent with one another and magic begins to unfurl – and not just for them! 

I love how this story harkens to Austen with a few of it’s phrases and imagery – and the gravitasse of Elizabeth Gaskins’ North and South. Victorian Christmases sound dreamy, and I intend to try some British Christmas classic dishes for our Christmas Eve Dinner. 

About Mimi Matthews

Author Mimi Matthews

USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning proper 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 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.

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