RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars
A HOLIDAY BY GASLIGHT: A VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS NOVELLA by Mimi Matthews is a beautifully written Christmas historical romance. The cover is gorgeous and the novella within will warm your heart and is perfect for the season.
Sophie Appersett is ever the dutiful eldest daughter. Sophie and her mother work hard to economize to keep the household running and her younger sister happy. Both have gone to London for the season. Sophie’s father is approached by a wealthy man of business to court her and Sophie is willing to marry outside of her class for the financial benefit of her family.
Mr. Edward Sharpe is instantly taken with the beautiful Sophie and he knows he is fortunate that Sophie’s family needs funds. Ned has worked hard his whole life to improve his circumstances, so he refers to “The Gentleman’s Book of Etiquette” to court Sophie properly, but Sophie does not like the perfect gentleman and breaks with Ned.
Sophie’s father is enraged when he learns what Sophie has done. Sophie’s mother though is ever practical and has a heart to heart with her daughter. Sophie is willing to give Mr. Sharpe another chance and invites Ned to the Appersett Christmas house party with the ground rules that both shall be honest with each other and they will work to get to know their true selves.
This is a novella that had me finishing it all in one sitting. Ms. Matthews writes with a beautiful style, accuracy and knowledge of the Victorian era so that you just fall into the story and feel like you are present. Ned and Sophie are wonderful characters and the way they fall in love is sweet, romantic and era appropriate. All the secondary characters are well fleshed out and add depth to the story and settings. For a novella length story, everything I could wish for is present and I did not feel slighted at all by the shorter length.
A wonderful Christmas historical novella that I can highly recommend.
