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. ------ -- Winner of the 2019 Readers' Favorite Gold Medal for Holiday Fiction -- "Matthews (The Matrimonial Advertisement) pays homage to Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South with her admirable portrayal of the Victorian era's historic advancements in addition to courtship struggles arising from societal castes. Revealed incrementally throughout are family circumstances molding the characters of both Sophie and Ned, allowing their genuine identities to evolve naturally, just like their sincere and sweet romance...Readers will easily fall for Sophie and Ned in their gaslit surroundings." -Library Journal, starred review "Matthews' novella is full of comfort and joy--a sweet treat for romance readers that's just in time for Christmas." -Kirkus Reviews "A warm and captivating Christmas romance which showcases how people from two different worlds can find common ground and genuine love." -The Romance Reviews, top pick "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
