Ned is a son of merchants who did very well financially as an adult. Sophie is the daughter of a spendthrift baron. After Ned met Sophie at a garden party, he went to her father and asked for permission to court her. Thinking that she wanted a formal, aristocratic courtship, he was very distant, making Sophie believe that he was indifferent towards her.

The romance is pretty sweet. Sophie and Ned had some issues connecting early on, but their issues were pretty believable. I couldn't stand Sophie's sister though. What a complete brat. Her father was awful too.

This novella is set in 1861. It has a heavy focus on books and technology of the time. Charles Darwin, Charles Dickens, William Shakespeare, railways, gas lights, and interior plumbing. Maybe too many references for my taste, but not ridiculously overdone.

This was the first book that I've read by Mimi Matthews, and I'm excited to try something else by her. ( )

It's been a while since I've read anything and this was the perfect way to ease back in. Sophie and Ned were both adorably awkward but they muddled through to genuinely find they liked each other. After a false start they both made an effort to be honest and straightforward and share with each other their pasts, desires, dreams, wants, etc and in the process found they were a great team. I really liked the emphasis Ned put on find himself an equal, a partner who would stand by him and help him to achieve their dreams. And I really liked both characters and their story. It was sweet. ( )

Re-read November 2021: Enjoyed this novella more the second time through.
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Original review:
If your fangirl heart desires something that is slightly inspired by North and South (Elizabeth Gaskell), you might like this.
Sophie has been courted by the silent manufacturer Ned Sharpe for about two months, but she's tired of being the one to do all the talking. She hasn't learned a single thing about him in these two months, and can barely tell whether he likes her. She tells him that their courtship must end, since they have nothing in common.
At home that day, she's confronted by the reality of her family's situation...with no money to speak of, and a father and sister who like to spend, Sophie's best hope of a stable future is to marry well. But she will not do this unless she feels at least friendship for the gentleman. Admitting that she may have been too hasty about Mr. Sharpe, she seeks him out and suggests that they continue their courtship, but only if they can be perfectly candid with each other and get to know each other's true personalities. To that end, she invites him to spend the holidays at her family's estate.
This was a sweet story, with more than one nod to North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell: the strong, silent suitor with an intense mother and a background of poverty, and some mistaken assumptions on the part of the heroine.
Since it's a novella, it's a very fast read. ( )

This feels kind of classic, but I hadn't read quite this scenario before, so it's not just a rehashing of some worn trope. There were lots of moments that were especially sweet or made me smile. ( )

Christmas Season, 1861, Victorian England.

Sir William and Lady Appersett of Appersett House in Derbyshire have 2 daughters, Sophie and Emily. Having no sons, Sir William's mindset is that he has no heirs. Appersett House is his legacy. As the eldest, Sophie has long been aware of her family's financial situation and the expectation for her to marry for money. After all, her younger sister Emily is the beauty, and Sophie and her mother have always protected Emily. Sophie has been walking out with Mr. Ned Sharpe, a wealthy tradesman, for 2 months, but with nothing in common, Sophie decides to speak up. There is an explosion when her father learns of Sophie's actions, but the shock is when her mother is dismayed too. Sophie must repair the damage and invite Mr. Sharpe for Christmas. Oh my! Will Sophie choose duty or love?

The author captures the essence of the period with atmospheric writing and well-developed characters. Known for her meticulous historical research, she delights readers with this sweet Christmas novella by blending seasonal joy, social attitudes, women's fashions, technological advances, scientific thinking, and the era's history.

I recommend spending a few extra reading moments to enjoy the Author's Note. ( )