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White Weddings #4
An Innocent Bride
Aunt Thirza had been a lifeline to Katrina Gibbs, but her death left Katrina with little money and no marketable skills. She had inherited her aunt's small cottage in Dorset. She also had Simon Glenville, the wonderful doctor who had cared for Aunt Thirza. Simon loved Katrina, and he thought Katrina loved him, but so much had happened to her he wasn't at all sure this innocent girl was aware of it. When the time was right, he would propose,they'd plan a white wedding, and he would cherish her all their days...
184 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 1999
65 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
About the author
Betty Neels
564 books417 followersEvelyn Jessy "Betty" Neels was born on September 15, 1910 in Devon to a family with firm roots in the civil service. She said she had a blissfully happy childhood and teenage years.(This stood her in good stead later for the tribulations to come with the Second World War). She was sent away to boarding school, and then went on to train as a nurse, gaining her SRN and SCM, that is, State Registered Nurse and State Certificate of Midwifery.
In 1939 she was called up to the Territorial Army Nursing Service, which later became the Queen Alexandra Reserves, and was sent to France with the Casualty Clearing Station. This comprised eight nursing sisters, including Betty, to 100 men! In other circumstances, she thought that might have been quite thrilling! When France was invaded in 1940, all the nursing sisters managed to escape in the charge of an army major, undertaking a lengthy and terrifying journey to Boulogne in an ambulance. They were incredibly fortunate to be put on the last hospital ship to be leaving the port of Boulogne. But Betty's war didn't end there, for she was posted to Scotland, and then on to Northern Ireland, where she met her Dutch husband. He was a seaman aboard a minesweeper, which was bombed. He survived and was sent to the south of Holland to guard the sluices. However, when they had to abandon their post, they were told to escape if they could, and along with a small number of other men, he marched into Belgium. They stole a ship and managed to get it across the Channel to Dover before being transferred to the Atlantic run on the convoys. Sadly he became ill, and that was when he was transferred to hospital in Northern Ireland, where he met Betty. They eventually married, and were blessed with a daughter. They were posted to London, but were bombed out. As with most of the population, they made the best of things.
When the war finally ended, she and her husband were repatriated to Holland. As his family had believed he had died when his ship went down, this was a very emotional homecoming. The small family lived in Holland for 13 years, and Betty resumed her nursing career there. When they decided to return to England, Betty continued her nursing and when she eventually retired she had reached the position of night superintendent.
Betty Neels began writing almost by accident. She had retired from nursing, but her inquiring mind had no intention of vegetating, and her new career was born when she heard a lady in her local library bemoaning the lack of good romance novels. There was little in Betty's background to suggest that she might eventually become a much-loved novelist.
Her first book, Sister Peters in Amsterdam, was published in 1969, and by dint of often writing four books a year, she eventually completed 134 books. She was always quite firm upon the point that the Dutch doctors who frequently appeared in her stories were *not* based upon her husband, but rather upon an amalgam of several of the doctors she met while nursing in Holland.
To her millions of fans around the world, Betty Neels epitomized romance. She was always amazed and touched that her books were so widely appreciated. She never sought plaudits and remained a very private person, but it made her very happy to know that she brought such pleasure to so many readers, while herself gaining a quiet joy from spinning her stories. It is perhaps a reflection of her upbringing in an earlier time that the men and women who peopled her stories have a kindliness and good manners, coupled to honesty and integrity, that is not always present in our modern world. Her myriad of fans found a warmth and a reassurance of a better world in her stories, along with characters who touched the heart, which is all and more than one could ask of a romance writer. She received a great deal of fan mail, and there was always a comment upon the fascinating places she visited in her stories. Quite often those of her fans fortunate enough to visit Ho
In 1939 she was called up to the Territorial Army Nursing Service, which later became the Queen Alexandra Reserves, and was sent to France with the Casualty Clearing Station. This comprised eight nursing sisters, including Betty, to 100 men! In other circumstances, she thought that might have been quite thrilling! When France was invaded in 1940, all the nursing sisters managed to escape in the charge of an army major, undertaking a lengthy and terrifying journey to Boulogne in an ambulance. They were incredibly fortunate to be put on the last hospital ship to be leaving the port of Boulogne. But Betty's war didn't end there, for she was posted to Scotland, and then on to Northern Ireland, where she met her Dutch husband. He was a seaman aboard a minesweeper, which was bombed. He survived and was sent to the south of Holland to guard the sluices. However, when they had to abandon their post, they were told to escape if they could, and along with a small number of other men, he marched into Belgium. They stole a ship and managed to get it across the Channel to Dover before being transferred to the Atlantic run on the convoys. Sadly he became ill, and that was when he was transferred to hospital in Northern Ireland, where he met Betty. They eventually married, and were blessed with a daughter. They were posted to London, but were bombed out. As with most of the population, they made the best of things.
When the war finally ended, she and her husband were repatriated to Holland. As his family had believed he had died when his ship went down, this was a very emotional homecoming. The small family lived in Holland for 13 years, and Betty resumed her nursing career there. When they decided to return to England, Betty continued her nursing and when she eventually retired she had reached the position of night superintendent.
Betty Neels began writing almost by accident. She had retired from nursing, but her inquiring mind had no intention of vegetating, and her new career was born when she heard a lady in her local library bemoaning the lack of good romance novels. There was little in Betty's background to suggest that she might eventually become a much-loved novelist.
Her first book, Sister Peters in Amsterdam, was published in 1969, and by dint of often writing four books a year, she eventually completed 134 books. She was always quite firm upon the point that the Dutch doctors who frequently appeared in her stories were *not* based upon her husband, but rather upon an amalgam of several of the doctors she met while nursing in Holland.
To her millions of fans around the world, Betty Neels epitomized romance. She was always amazed and touched that her books were so widely appreciated. She never sought plaudits and remained a very private person, but it made her very happy to know that she brought such pleasure to so many readers, while herself gaining a quiet joy from spinning her stories. It is perhaps a reflection of her upbringing in an earlier time that the men and women who peopled her stories have a kindliness and good manners, coupled to honesty and integrity, that is not always present in our modern world. Her myriad of fans found a warmth and a reassurance of a better world in her stories, along with characters who touched the heart, which is all and more than one could ask of a romance writer. She received a great deal of fan mail, and there was always a comment upon the fascinating places she visited in her stories. Quite often those of her fans fortunate enough to visit Ho
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
September 23, 2021
Ignore the lame title, which has nothing to do with the story--AIB is a sweet and gentle later-day (1999) Neels book, fairly typical of her later-in-life offerings (but enjoyable for all that). Ordinarily, I'd classify this as one of Betty's "rescue the waif" tales, but it's hard to see big, beautiful, self-possessed heroine Katrina Gibbs in that light, despite the bones of the story. Similar to other (in particular, later) BN tales, we have a Rich British Doctor, Simon Glenville, falling for our Poor British Not-Nurse, heroine, Katrina Gibbs, who has missed out on higher education (despite a handful of A levels) and career training to stay home and take care of the elderly aunt who raised her. They live in a temporal wormhole Edwardian English Village, where the heroine rides her bike to and fro her various genteel pursuits. Auntie dies soon after our hematologist hero diagnoses her with leukemia, and while Katrina inherits the Quaint Cottage, auntie has only left a few hundred pounds in the bank, so our plucky heroine turns to manual farm labor on the sly (to avoid the pity of her neighbors) to make ends meet.
Our white-knight doc rides the the rescue, arranging for a sick little girl--one of his leukemia patients--and her widowed mother to stay with Katrina, claiming that National Health is covering the cost of their lodging and expenses, but secretly paying for their room and board from his own pocket, killing two birds with one stone: giving his patient a quiet and beautiful place to recuperate and getting some money into our broke heroine's pocket. Lots of lovely pastoral scenes, gardening, visits to nearby beauty spots, old-fashioned (did I mention the temporal wormhole?) village entertainments...
Our hero and heroine initially are not sure they like one another much, but as usual, it's our Neels' heroine protecting herself from an unwanted and--she is sure--unrequited attraction to a Personage she thinks is out of her league. Simon falls in love almost immediately and begins his stately but determined pursuit of our cagey heroine--even confessing that he's fallen in love with her and is just waiting for her to catch up! Katrina is equally besotted--and is so inexperienced with men that her defenses are pretty weak and her attraction obvious--but a determined OW complicates matters, so she doesn't reveal her feelings right away.
Ah yes, our OW. Betty loved her OW/OM conflicts but she definitely dials it back in this one. Our OW is an on-the-make female doc (a breed TGB seemed to have no love for) who has Simon in her sights. But Betty makes it very clear from the start that Simon has zero interest in Dr. Maureen Soames--she of the sly secret smile and the rumor-fostering that she and Our Hero are "a thing"--and Simon, abrupt and uninterested, makes it pretty clear to the OW that she has no shot. He's intent on his pursuit of our big, beautiful heroine (despite such annoying utterances as "we big people tend to put on weight," to tweak her, hee) and there's no ambiguity (except in our yo-yo heroine's mind) about the object of his affections.
All conflicts are resolved before the final chapter, which acts more like an epilogue, with the wannabe OW fading out of the picture and the hero and heroine traipsing to the altar, surrounded by loving family (his) and village friends (hers). Low conflict, low angst, but warm and witty in that uniquely Betty way.
Aunt Thirza was great--sharp, no-nonsense, hard-edged but soft-hearted. One sees where Katrina gets her good common sense and occasional snappishness from!
Cover is by Will Davies. The Mills & Boon version flips the image, which is odd and weirdly intriguing (is it a Brit vs Yank thing--drive on left or drive on right?).
Betty car porn:
Hero drives a Bentley. I'm going with the rare (only 56 produced) and powerful 1998 Bentley Turbo RT Mulliner, perfect for the discriminating and speed/power-loving RBD!
His Faithful Family Retainer, Peach, shows up in a Rover (the heroine wonders: could the doctor have TWO cars? Hee): [image error] I'm sure our good RBD turned this in for the V8 version that came out a few years later!
Our white-knight doc rides the the rescue, arranging for a sick little girl--one of his leukemia patients--and her widowed mother to stay with Katrina, claiming that National Health is covering the cost of their lodging and expenses, but secretly paying for their room and board from his own pocket, killing two birds with one stone: giving his patient a quiet and beautiful place to recuperate and getting some money into our broke heroine's pocket. Lots of lovely pastoral scenes, gardening, visits to nearby beauty spots, old-fashioned (did I mention the temporal wormhole?) village entertainments...
Our hero and heroine initially are not sure they like one another much, but as usual, it's our Neels' heroine protecting herself from an unwanted and--she is sure--unrequited attraction to a Personage she thinks is out of her league. Simon falls in love almost immediately and begins his stately but determined pursuit of our cagey heroine--even confessing that he's fallen in love with her and is just waiting for her to catch up! Katrina is equally besotted--and is so inexperienced with men that her defenses are pretty weak and her attraction obvious--but a determined OW complicates matters, so she doesn't reveal her feelings right away.
Ah yes, our OW. Betty loved her OW/OM conflicts but she definitely dials it back in this one. Our OW is an on-the-make female doc (a breed TGB seemed to have no love for) who has Simon in her sights. But Betty makes it very clear from the start that Simon has zero interest in Dr. Maureen Soames--she of the sly secret smile and the rumor-fostering that she and Our Hero are "a thing"--and Simon, abrupt and uninterested, makes it pretty clear to the OW that she has no shot. He's intent on his pursuit of our big, beautiful heroine (despite such annoying utterances as "we big people tend to put on weight," to tweak her, hee) and there's no ambiguity (except in our yo-yo heroine's mind) about the object of his affections.
All conflicts are resolved before the final chapter, which acts more like an epilogue, with the wannabe OW fading out of the picture and the hero and heroine traipsing to the altar, surrounded by loving family (his) and village friends (hers). Low conflict, low angst, but warm and witty in that uniquely Betty way.
Aunt Thirza was great--sharp, no-nonsense, hard-edged but soft-hearted. One sees where Katrina gets her good common sense and occasional snappishness from!
Cover is by Will Davies. The Mills & Boon version flips the image, which is odd and weirdly intriguing (is it a Brit vs Yank thing--drive on left or drive on right?).
Betty car porn:
Hero drives a Bentley. I'm going with the rare (only 56 produced) and powerful 1998 Bentley Turbo RT Mulliner, perfect for the discriminating and speed/power-loving RBD!
His Faithful Family Retainer, Peach, shows up in a Rover (the heroine wonders: could the doctor have TWO cars? Hee): [image error] I'm sure our good RBD turned this in for the V8 version that came out a few years later!
July 2, 2013
...I know the reviews are a bit middle of the road on this one, but I really enjoyed it. It had all my favorite trops.
Rich and kind doctor √
Conniving and beautiful other woman √
Innocent, kind and loving heroine √
Heroine not afraid of hard work and getting her hands dirty √
Small town setting √
But there were some differences that made this one so much fun!
Hero is smitten right from the start and you know it.
Hero is onto other woman and doesn't fall for her plans.
Hero constantly plots and manipulates to put himself in the path of the heroine.
Heroine is described as lovely, instead of the dull mice (her words, not mine) that BN usually writes.
Heroine is not a nurse, but a librarian. (Betty what were you thinking?)
I have a habit of reaching for BN whenever I come off a particularly bad patch of asshating HP heroes. I find her storytelling, heroes and heroines help to get me back on track. If you are looking for great drama and angst, she won't be your cup of tea, but there isn't anyone quite like her in the industry. She is a great storyteller.
4.5 stars for me!
Rich and kind doctor √
Conniving and beautiful other woman √
Innocent, kind and loving heroine √
Heroine not afraid of hard work and getting her hands dirty √
Small town setting √
But there were some differences that made this one so much fun!
Hero is smitten right from the start and you know it.
Hero is onto other woman and doesn't fall for her plans.
Hero constantly plots and manipulates to put himself in the path of the heroine.
Heroine is described as lovely, instead of the dull mice (her words, not mine) that BN usually writes.
Heroine is not a nurse, but a librarian. (Betty what were you thinking?)
I have a habit of reaching for BN whenever I come off a particularly bad patch of asshating HP heroes. I find her storytelling, heroes and heroines help to get me back on track. If you are looking for great drama and angst, she won't be your cup of tea, but there isn't anyone quite like her in the industry. She is a great storyteller.
4.5 stars for me!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2024
I so enjoyed this! Thank you to my friend Amy for bringing it to my attention! The hero, Simon, is refreshingly open and as soon as he finds out about Katrina’s misapprehensions, he corrects them. The OW is catty but takes up a small amount of room in the overall story. I loved Mrs Ward and Tracey! So very heartwarming and lovely to think how Simon and Katrina will stay in touch with them in the future. The villagers are so sweet too. We get a longer happy ending in this as well, which I loved! And Katrina is a gardener so I loved the little details here and there about what she plants and harvests. Oh! And Simon has a butler named Peach!
May 18, 2015
Dr. Simon Glenville, a consultant haematologist, is driving his Bentley through the English countryside when a speeding motorcycle barely misses him. He finds a girl, Katrina Gibbs, sitting in the road whose bicycle has been mangled by said motorcycle and she is cut and bruised. Dr. Glenville helps her up and takes her home to Rose Cottage where she lives with her Aunt Thirza.
That would be the end of that, except that a short time later Aunt Thirza is rather ill and when her doctor finds that she is anemic, sends her for a consultation with Dr. Glenville. She has lymphatic leukaemia. Sadly, she continues to fade and one day quietly dies in her garden while talking to Katrina. Aunt Thirza left her cottage and everything she owned to Katrina; unfortunately, it isn’t enough for Katrina to live on. However, she doesn’t want the village to know of her circumstances, so she secretly works on surrounding farms while carrying on her usual village activities.
Simon finds out, of course, that she needs money. He arranges for a young patient and her mother to stay with Katrina; the allowance is just enough for their food, but allows Katrina to keep her pride. The little girl and her mother are dears and Katrina enjoys looking after them.
After the little girl is well enough to return to London, Katrina is planning to train as a librarian. Simon asks her not to because he wants to see her as often as possible. He says he is in love with her and basically, wants to court her. She has been under the impression that he was more or less engaged to Maureen Soames, a doctor on his team. She is momentarily dumbfounded and he believes that she is not in love with him yet.
Stuff happens and they are thrown together a lot. She meets his parents. He takes her for a walk and proposes and of course she says yes. She takes all her money and buys a wedding dress. They get married in the village church.
This one is really delightful. 4 stars.
That would be the end of that, except that a short time later Aunt Thirza is rather ill and when her doctor finds that she is anemic, sends her for a consultation with Dr. Glenville. She has lymphatic leukaemia. Sadly, she continues to fade and one day quietly dies in her garden while talking to Katrina. Aunt Thirza left her cottage and everything she owned to Katrina; unfortunately, it isn’t enough for Katrina to live on. However, she doesn’t want the village to know of her circumstances, so she secretly works on surrounding farms while carrying on her usual village activities.
Simon finds out, of course, that she needs money. He arranges for a young patient and her mother to stay with Katrina; the allowance is just enough for their food, but allows Katrina to keep her pride. The little girl and her mother are dears and Katrina enjoys looking after them.
After the little girl is well enough to return to London, Katrina is planning to train as a librarian. Simon asks her not to because he wants to see her as often as possible. He says he is in love with her and basically, wants to court her. She has been under the impression that he was more or less engaged to Maureen Soames, a doctor on his team. She is momentarily dumbfounded and he believes that she is not in love with him yet.
Stuff happens and they are thrown together a lot. She meets his parents. He takes her for a walk and proposes and of course she says yes. She takes all her money and buys a wedding dress. They get married in the village church.
This one is really delightful. 4 stars.
September 13, 2018
Oh this is such a sweet story! The heroine Katrina, is a beautiful kind and loving lady. She seems to live a boring life in a little village, looking after her aunt and not meeting anybody suitable despite her attractions. It is indeed fortuitous that the Hero meets her.
The reader knows he is attracted to the heroine since he does all these kind and thoughtful things for her. At first she is resentful but gradually comes to appreciate him. When her aunt passes away, the Hero tries to find a solution to her financial hardship, that would allow him to go on seeing her.
There is a scornful OW and her snobbish aunt who is lady of the manor. She throws a bit of a spanner in the works. The heroine has no conceit at all, so it’s easy for her to believe the ruses of the other woman, who together with her aunt, contrive to spread rumours around the village to give weight to their claims that the Hero is practically engaged to the OW.
I liked that the Hero did not fall for the schemes of the other woman, but since the heroine never brought up her concerns, he had no chance to address them.
This is one of the few Betty Neels with a heartwarming epilogue. \^o^/
P.s. re-issue since it was published in 1953, but there is mention of a computer, and the H implies that he will leave a cellphone w the heroine so he can contact her.
The reader knows he is attracted to the heroine since he does all these kind and thoughtful things for her. At first she is resentful but gradually comes to appreciate him. When her aunt passes away, the Hero tries to find a solution to her financial hardship, that would allow him to go on seeing her.
There is a scornful OW and her snobbish aunt who is lady of the manor. She throws a bit of a spanner in the works. The heroine has no conceit at all, so it’s easy for her to believe the ruses of the other woman, who together with her aunt, contrive to spread rumours around the village to give weight to their claims that the Hero is practically engaged to the OW.
I liked that the Hero did not fall for the schemes of the other woman, but since the heroine never brought up her concerns, he had no chance to address them.
This is one of the few Betty Neels with a heartwarming epilogue. \^o^/
P.s. re-issue since it was published in 1953, but there is mention of a computer, and the H implies that he will leave a cellphone w the heroine so he can contact her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 16, 2014
This is one of Betty Neels later books. She gave up writing nurses for the most part. I suspect this is because as time went by she lost touch with current nursing practice. Katrina is living with her aunt who took her in at twelve after the death of her parents. With no money to speak of, she doesn't have an opportunity to train for a job or go to university so she remains in the village helping out her aunt more and more as time goes by.
She meets Doctor Simon Glenville by chance when a motorcyclist knocks her off her bike and thinks she will never see him again. Unfortunately her aunts health means she meets him again as he is a specialist in blood diseases like leukaemia.
From a bad beginning their friendship grows after the death of her aunt and Simon is quite obviously taken with Katrina. What he doesn't know is that the Other Woman, a doctor working on his team, is telling everyone that she and the doctor are 'close' so Katrina is not confident that he means what he says.
This was a sweet story and I particularly loved that we got to see the heroes interactions with the Other Woman and it was obvious to us that he was quite indifferent to her.
She meets Doctor Simon Glenville by chance when a motorcyclist knocks her off her bike and thinks she will never see him again. Unfortunately her aunts health means she meets him again as he is a specialist in blood diseases like leukaemia.
From a bad beginning their friendship grows after the death of her aunt and Simon is quite obviously taken with Katrina. What he doesn't know is that the Other Woman, a doctor working on his team, is telling everyone that she and the doctor are 'close' so Katrina is not confident that he means what he says.
This was a sweet story and I particularly loved that we got to see the heroes interactions with the Other Woman and it was obvious to us that he was quite indifferent to her.
April 18, 2015
A fun vacation re-read; I remembered liking this one first time I read it but didn't remember much, so thought I'd give it another go. The nice features about this sweet, gentle little Neels, as other reviewers familiar with Betty's favorite plot devices have noted: beautiful, kind-hearted, hard-working heroine, the usual handsome, rich doctor hero, the usual conniving attractive other woman - but the pleasant surprise here is the hero makes his interest plain early on AND doesn't fall for the OW's tricks - kudos, Betty, I can't remember that ever happening! Also, this one doesn't have the usual hurried resolution and ending, it ends with the wedding after the snotty OW has been handily dispatched with no drama or fuss - nice touch! One small personal pet peeve - our heroine lives with her elderly aunt in a remote cottage with no phone and no refrigerator, but has a washing machine?!? I always find that jarring when Betty pulls the old no phone in the house plot device - WTF?!?! Is this 1899 or 1999?!? - but no FRIDGE?!? Still, I really enjoyed this sweet, old-fashioned story, perfect for a vacation quick read!
Read
April 30, 2022DNF. I gave up somewhere at page 100, so I won’t rate it.
It was boring. The H was away on a business trip when her aunt died, so he never comforted her through her loss. Even after he comes back from his trip, he still isn’t much of a support to her. He sees her crying, but he does nothing.
I want a H to be so smitten that he comes to visit her every evening or finds excuses to see her. But this H didn’t. They only see each other every now and then in the first half of the book that I’ve read.
Other reviews here say that he is smitten from the moment he sees her. I don’t agree. He thinks she is beautiful, yes, but he is not smitten from the start.
It was boring. The H was away on a business trip when her aunt died, so he never comforted her through her loss. Even after he comes back from his trip, he still isn’t much of a support to her. He sees her crying, but he does nothing.
I want a H to be so smitten that he comes to visit her every evening or finds excuses to see her. But this H didn’t. They only see each other every now and then in the first half of the book that I’ve read.
Other reviews here say that he is smitten from the moment he sees her. I don’t agree. He thinks she is beautiful, yes, but he is not smitten from the start.
Read
September 28, 2015I rather like that this one is different for a Betty Neels. The hero tells the heroine he loves her with several chapters left to go, and although the heroine wonders a bit whether she might have misunderstood him, there's no big drama between them after that. It was rather sweet. We also see a few (slightly dry) pages of wedding planning and the wedding, which was more fun than the usual 'kiss and one more line, now it's the end of the book'.
February 26, 2024
This was a sweet story, very well told with such a perfect ending. Who would not like to have Simon as a boyfriend/ husband. He was like every woman's dream, and Katrina is one lucky girl to have him. A happy read.
July 31, 2023
They don’t get much more innocent than this!
October 8, 2010
I would've given this book 5 stars except for the fact that I felt it was rushed a bit through the ending. I suspect that she was trying to fit this particular title into the Harlequin "Wedding" series and had to add pages about the wedding which most of her other books don't contain. Most of her books end at the proposal, unless it is a marriage of convenience. I feel that Neels has written many more detailed and more satisfying stories than this one. I did like the way that even though the story is very much like her other plots, she made it slightly different by making the "other" woman a smart doctor and making sure that our heroine wasn't completely destitute and not as needy of the hero. He came to see her because he loved her - simple as that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2010
A very gentle little Neels book. We have our spunky, beautiful, good-hearted heroine (Katrina) who is, alas, not trained for anything(through no real fault of her own) who finds herself way down on her luck after her Aunt Thirza dies. A nice, Rich British Doctor (Simon) falls for her and a very subtle courtship ensues. With the requisite fly in the ointment of a scheming young woman doctor (Maureen).
Not great Neels, but not awful. A nice read, enjoyable but not memorable.
Not great Neels, but not awful. A nice read, enjoyable but not memorable.
January 27, 2014
Dr. Simon Glenville comes to the rescue of Katrina Gibbs, in more ways than one. Drawn to the gentle beauty of this sweet country girl, Simon finds himself in love, but unable find if his feelings are returned.
Katrina finds Dr. Simon Glenville to be a little daunting. The rough treatment she and her aunt have given him would have run off an lesser man, but Simon keeps reappearing, especially when Katrina is at her lowest.
A very sweet tale.
Katrina finds Dr. Simon Glenville to be a little daunting. The rough treatment she and her aunt have given him would have run off an lesser man, but Simon keeps reappearing, especially when Katrina is at her lowest.
A very sweet tale.
February 24, 2021
Betty Neels always pulls the heart strings! Sweet romance that’s eloquently beautiful and satisfying.
Don’t expect raging passions that’s what your imagination is for. It’s kind of refreshing to be honest, to lose yourself in these books. There’s no artificial women, the leads are strong and always find the unassuming girl to fall apart in love with.
That’s swoon worthy right there.
It’s a yes from me.
Don’t expect raging passions that’s what your imagination is for. It’s kind of refreshing to be honest, to lose yourself in these books. There’s no artificial women, the leads are strong and always find the unassuming girl to fall apart in love with.
That’s swoon worthy right there.
It’s a yes from me.
December 3, 2010
Okay, so this book is a perfect example of why you shouldn't judge a book by its cover! The title is so lame and the picture is even cornier BUT I loved the story! It was absolutely delightful! I enjoyed every minute of it!
March 17, 2016
I liked how the hero knew he loved the heroine from the start and how he didn't get fooled by the scheming woman.
I also liked how this book went right through the wedding! It didn't seem as abrupt an ending as most Neels books.
I also liked how this book went right through the wedding! It didn't seem as abrupt an ending as most Neels books.
October 3, 2010
Another Betty Neels: young woman of limited funds, no family, and limited future befriended by a doctor of that certain age and guided to True Love.
November 4, 2013
Typical Betty Needs, but a decent read.
July 13, 2009
Good times.
September 23, 2025
This is one of Betty's last books, written in 1999 but set in her typical nebulous timewarp that feels like the 1930s/1940s/1950s. Before I get into it: the heroine Katrina is one of Betty's Olivias, being tall and beautiful. Betty describes her as "big," something she did often with her Olivias. I think big just means tall but would dearly love to know if it was common usage in Betty's heyday to describe tall ladies this way? The RDDs/RBDs are often described as "large" and "vast" so was it normal to use such language? Or was Betty a tiny person to whom even moderately tall people looked like giants?
I digress.
Katrina is living in an English village with her Aunt Thirza, who took her in as a 12-year-old orphan and raised her. Katrina is now 24 and has stayed on out of love and loyalty to care for her aunt and help shore up the household's depleted finances. Sadly, Aunt Thirza has leukemia and passes on early in the story. Aunt Thirza's doctor Simon Glenville is intrigued by Katrina and while not instantaneously in love, he falls for her quickly enough. Waters are muddied by the presence of an Other Woman, a doctor on Simon's team.
This story is adorable, and her aunt’s illness aside, fairly low angst. Katrina works as a farm laborer to make ends meet after her aunt passes. Simon finds ways to help that allow her to keep her pride (hosting a mother and daughter while the daughter is treated for leukemia). He takes her on dates (Stourhead concert, meals at his country home). He tells her long before the story concludes that he loves her... but each time he says he loves her, he won't allow her to respond because he thinks she doesn't love him yet and needs time to think it over. And Katrina, not really sure if he means it and confused by the interfering OW's hints and innuendos that she and the doctor are an item, never assures him she's loved him for half of the book. But despite his declarations, things never get awkward. But eventually everything gets straightened out, and unusually for Betty, we get the lead up to the white wedding and a cute little ending.
So it's a sweet little book, full of the delightful details that make Betty so enjoyable. There is a fantastic scene where Katrina naughtily puts the OW in her place. All in all, not Betty's very best, but pretty good. 4 stars.
I digress.
Katrina is living in an English village with her Aunt Thirza, who took her in as a 12-year-old orphan and raised her. Katrina is now 24 and has stayed on out of love and loyalty to care for her aunt and help shore up the household's depleted finances. Sadly, Aunt Thirza has leukemia and passes on early in the story. Aunt Thirza's doctor Simon Glenville is intrigued by Katrina and while not instantaneously in love, he falls for her quickly enough. Waters are muddied by the presence of an Other Woman, a doctor on Simon's team.
This story is adorable, and her aunt’s illness aside, fairly low angst. Katrina works as a farm laborer to make ends meet after her aunt passes. Simon finds ways to help that allow her to keep her pride (hosting a mother and daughter while the daughter is treated for leukemia). He takes her on dates (Stourhead concert, meals at his country home). He tells her long before the story concludes that he loves her... but each time he says he loves her, he won't allow her to respond because he thinks she doesn't love him yet and needs time to think it over. And Katrina, not really sure if he means it and confused by the interfering OW's hints and innuendos that she and the doctor are an item, never assures him she's loved him for half of the book. But despite his declarations, things never get awkward. But eventually everything gets straightened out, and unusually for Betty, we get the lead up to the white wedding and a cute little ending.
So it's a sweet little book, full of the delightful details that make Betty so enjoyable. There is a fantastic scene where Katrina naughtily puts the OW in her place. All in all, not Betty's very best, but pretty good. 4 stars.
June 15, 2020
3.8* 1999
I read the opening scene too fast and thought HE had knocked her down in his great big Bentley haha! But no our Rich British Dr Simon was the hero coming to the rescue of our Olivia, gorgeous big girl Katrina.
For a change from the earlier Betty books we got to see the hero's feelings and innermost thoughts quite early on. In fact he realised he loved Katrina way before she did!
The evil Woman was just up to her scheming and mischief but she's irritating rather than dangerous here. The dr swatted her off like a fly-- all the way to India no less and I was stunned Lady T so generously offered her manor for the wedding reception!
All in a very pleasant and sweet read about country life but rather bland. We do get a big white wedding in details which could be a first for a BN book!
I read the opening scene too fast and thought HE had knocked her down in his great big Bentley haha! But no our Rich British Dr Simon was the hero coming to the rescue of our Olivia, gorgeous big girl Katrina.
For a change from the earlier Betty books we got to see the hero's feelings and innermost thoughts quite early on. In fact he realised he loved Katrina way before she did!
The evil Woman was just up to her scheming and mischief but she's irritating rather than dangerous here. The dr swatted her off like a fly-- all the way to India no less and I was stunned Lady T so generously offered her manor for the wedding reception!
All in a very pleasant and sweet read about country life but rather bland. We do get a big white wedding in details which could be a first for a BN book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2023
The cozy, predictable, bland romance I needed after a stressful, anxiety-laden week.
A pretty, down-on-her luck heroine who keeps getting rescued by a rich, handsome doctor hero. Outdated, but somehow comforting.
You're either a Betty Neels fan or not. There's no in-between. A solid read for fans.
A pretty, down-on-her luck heroine who keeps getting rescued by a rich, handsome doctor hero. Outdated, but somehow comforting.
You're either a Betty Neels fan or not. There's no in-between. A solid read for fans.
April 12, 2023
Such a very lovely book. I especially love that the Great Betty Neels included a chapter that wraps everything up so beautifully.
The heroine is independent and capable but also human and gentle. The hero is kind and smart but also able "to cherish a wife in the proper manner" by knowing how to make tea, do the washing up and provide a shoulder to cry on.
It's lovely and worth the time.
The heroine is independent and capable but also human and gentle. The hero is kind and smart but also able "to cherish a wife in the proper manner" by knowing how to make tea, do the washing up and provide a shoulder to cry on.
It's lovely and worth the time.
November 20, 2017
Typical betty neel s that why it is so enjoyable!
I am a long time betty fan and her writing is as warm as toast ! Love all of her books this one the heroine is not a nurse but the story is sweet and satisfying!
I am a long time betty fan and her writing is as warm as toast ! Love all of her books this one the heroine is not a nurse but the story is sweet and satisfying!
Read
September 4, 2024I strongly suspect that had there not been an insidious other woman who in terms of education, looks and social standing was so much higher up than the heroine, the story would bore us to tears as it were it was just about okay.
January 24, 2018
Very nice
I like all Betty Neels stories, they are feel good romances and always have a happy ending for the good guys.
I like all Betty Neels stories, they are feel good romances and always have a happy ending for the good guys.
March 5, 2018
you mis Neels always will be one of my favourite author. I love your books
March 22, 2018
3.50 stars
April 10, 2018
This was an OK read and a really sweet book. I just had a hard time suspending my disbelief that a doctor wouldn’t tell a patient that she was dying!
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