What a delightful quick, Christmas-y read! **insert heart eyes** I’m slowly working my way through Mimi Matthew’s backlist of clean, Victorian era romances and I thought this Christmas novella would be the perfect book of hers to read next. It totally helped me get in the Christmas spirit and gave me all the warm, holiday feels!
Check out the gorgeous cover! This is one of my favorite of Mimi’s covers yet–the red dress, the snow falling, the holly leaves and berries along the edge. So pretty!
“A graceful love story…and an authentic presentation of the 1860s that reads with the simplicity and visual gusto of a period movie.” -Readers’ Favorite
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.
I actually listened to this one on Audible instead of reading it, and while I had trouble getting into Alex Wyndham as the narrator in the last book of hers that I read (A Modest Independence)–yes, I can hear all the Alex Wyndham fans gasping in outrage–I did enjoy him as the narrator in this book. I don’t know if it’s because I was more used to the sound of a male voice reading the story this time, or if it was just because of the story itself. Either way, I thought his voice perfectly fit the mood of the book and truly brought the story to life.
And good golly, Mimi sure knows how to write a swoon-worthy kissing scene!! Whew! I was listening to this in my headphones while working and it was all I could do to contain my squeals of delight at my desk. Haha!
For being such a short book, this Victorian romance packs a punch and is well worth the read or listen. It is the ideal choice for snuggling in with your favorite blanket under the light of your Christmas tree and is sure to get you in the holiday spirit in no time! 5/5 Stars!
