What do you think?
Rate this book
A Summer Idyll
When Dr. George Pritchard asked Phoebe to marry him, she hadn't needed much persuading. The recent death of her aunt had left her penniless and without a job. Besides, she did like him. So what if he'd made it plain that he wasn't in love with her-at least she knew where she stood. It wasn't until after the wedding that she began to wonder if liking was going to be enough….
188 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2011
62 people are currently reading
129 people want to read
About the author
Betty Neels
564 books418 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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
May 31, 2015
Sweet Betty story. I particularly liked the hero. It was obvious from the beginning that he was taken with the heroine. I just had one teensy problem that made me give this one only three stars.
June 24, 2024
Way way way too much Corina and Kasper. And I so loved Phoebe and George! Such a shame that C&K kept them at odds for so much of the book. Mrs Thirsk is great too. I wish we had gotten Mrs Pritchard’s visit to England. That would have been way more fun.
August 6, 2019
4 1/2 stars. Phoebe Cresswell is training as a nurse. She is currently being pursued by Basil, whom we know to be a Handsy Houseman. He takes her to a "swinging" party where she feels distinctly out-of-place; he leaves her and goes with friends to a disco. The man of the house gives her a ride back to the hospital and the advice to dump him.
Phoebe has just made up her mind to continue her training at a different hospital when her Aunt Kate calls her PNO and demands Phoebe come care for her. Although Phoebe doesn't much care for Aunt Kate (said feeling is decidedly mutual), she recognizes it as her opportunity to get away.
It's also her destiny calling. Aunt Kate is an old grouch and makes it clear that Phoebe shouldn't expect to inherit any of her money, but she is very ill. Her doctor visits daily. George Pritchard is tall, blond, handsome and very kind. Phoebe feels very comfortable with him.
Very soon, the end comes for Aunt Kate. George sits with Kate at the end, then makes all the arrangements. After the funeral, the solicitor tells Phoebe that all the money has been left to charity; the house is to be sold and the proceeds distributed likewise. He tells Phoebe she can stay on until then.
George has a different idea. He proposes marriage to Phoebe, telling her that he has known dozens of girls, but never met one that really suited him or his lifestyle. Phoebe, after some deliberation, accepts.
He takes her shopping for clothes, which she desperately needs. They plan a very quiet wedding; touchingly, the entire village shows up. Clearly, the village approves of Phoebe for their doctor.
A few days later, George takes Phoebe to meet his family (he's half Dutch). Among the family and friends are Kaspel, the Evil Cousin (although he seems rather innocuous for the title) and Corrina, a former, wishes-she-still-was girlfriend. They go shopping for more clothes. They attend several parties.
Phoebe and Mrs. Pritchard hit it off instantly. Mrs. Pritchard gives a final, grand party before they go back home. Phoebe wears a apricot silk dropped bodice dress with silver embroidery that George chose. There is quite a lovely moment between them where they look into each other's eyes and George kisses her hand. When Phoebe asks why, he says he'll tell her one day.
They return back home to their busy village lives. Phoebe helps George in his practice and helps Mrs. Thirsk around the house. Days off are spent relaxing in the garden. George and Phoebe give a dinner party for friends and when Mrs. Thirsk gets the flu, cooks dinner herself (understandably, she is a little vexed that George takes her for granted.) everything is wonderful. Until Kasper and Corina show up unexpectedly.
Corina makes no secret of trying to attract George's attention and makes catty comments to Phoebe when George isn't around. Phoebe refuses to kowtow to her and will not let Mrs. Thirsk take her breakfast in bed. After a short while (although it doesn't seem short to Phoebe), Corina and Kasper take themselves off to London. George and Phoebe drive up to London and dine and dance with them at the Savoy. Phoebe enjoys dancing with George, but considers the rest of the evening a waste.
Back at home, George starts to tell Phoebe something while she is up on a ladder cleaning the chandelier. He has his arms around her when the French door opens and there is Corina. She says that she has gotten tired of Casper and is back to stay with George and Phoebe. She spends a few days trying to entice George away from his work, which goes about as well as we would expect. She finally gets him to agree to go to Oxford Cambridge on a Saturday and of course George insists that Phoebe go as well. On their way they get a call that four village children have eaten some poisonous flower seeds.
Of course that puts the kibosh on the outing. George rushes back to the village where he and Phoebe have their hands full for a while. Corina sits in the car and yells for George to pay attention to her. To no avail, of course. At the end of the day, Corina has a massive tantrum, having packed her bags, and declares that she is leaving and will never come back. Good riddance!
George wastes no time. He makes his declaration to Phoebe. It's quite a lovely scene. First, Phoebe blurts out that she wishes George were in love with her. George says that he had began to think they were destined to only be good friends and that he couldn't have kept up there pretense much longer. He says he has been in love with her since they met and that he never said so because she would've turned tail and run away.
Lots of hugging and kissing and references to future children.
This book is just delightful. I love George, probably the sweetest, kindest RDD. Phoebe was actually able to continue nursing after her marriage -yay!! I particularly love the descriptions of village life. It's just the kind of life that I prefer myself, although I can quite see that a young woman accustomed to city life would find it a bit dull.
***********
Reread November 26/27, 2016
How Do I Love George? Let me [re]count the
ways:
". . .his chin came in contact with a huge fist and he slithered to the floor, Aunt Kate’s silver falling and tumbling around him in a silvery shower. The doctor stepped over him and plucked Phoebe from the windowsill she had been clinging to, and held her close. ‘My poor girl—I came as fast as I could, but I had to go round the back and through the kitchen window. Has he hurt you?’"
"She began to cry in earnest. ‘Oh, George, suppose you hadn’t come…’ ‘But I did come,’ he said in a comforting voice, ‘and I shall always come when you want me, Phoebe—don’t forget that.’ He bent and kissed her gently."
"‘Get all you want and I’ll come in and pay when you’re ready. At least three of everything,’ he told her gravely with twinkling eyes, ‘and no cheeseparing!’"
"The doctor walked back to his own house, his shoulders shaking with laughter. He had enjoyed his afternoon, he felt sure he was going to enjoy the rest of his life. Patience would be required, of course, but he had plenty of that."
He loves Phoebe just as she is. "‘Your hair is exactly right,’ he told her, ‘and it suits you. Have it washed and so on if you like, but don’t dare have it curled and waved.’"
". . .he had stopped to look at a silvery-grey dress, cast negligently over a gilt chair in a boutique window. ‘Now that,’ he had told her, ‘is just made for you. Let’s get it.’"
"George, she had quickly discovered, was very firm about going to church on a Sunday...the sound of George’s deep voice booming away at the hymns and the way he sat, listening to every word of John Matthews’ sermon."
Turning down the Veronica. "‘I’ll come with you when you do your visits.’ Corina was smiling again. ‘No.’ He looked at Phoebe. ‘Will you pour the coffee, my dear?’"
Scaring off the Veronica. "‘I’ve not had measles. Is it spots? Is it dangerous George?’ ‘Well, hardly fatal, but the rash is nasty and one is liable to get chest infections and bad eyes, hair falling out and so on.’"
Smacking down a drunken Veronica. "‘You’ve had too much champagne,’ said George levelly. ‘You’ve no idea what you’re saying—and a good thing too, because you’re being offensive. I’ve no intention of taking you anywhere; I’m going to dance with my wife and then we shall drive back to “that village of ours’."
And Phoebe might have been a penniless orphan, but she's no meek little doormat!
When facing down a thug with a flick knife.
"Phoebe could feel her knees wobbling, but rage sent her into her bedroom to slam the door in his face and put her head out of the window and screech ‘George!’ at the top of her voice...It gave her an opportunity to kick his shins, something she did with a kind of desperate satisfaction. The slap he gave her sent her head swinging sideways and the tears starting up to her eyes, but she got in another kick before he caught her roughly by the arm and pushed her on to the landing. ‘You asked for it,’ he called her a vile name and she said in a choking voice: ‘Don’t use that kind of language to me. Get out of the house before someone comes!’ Her eyes fell on his loaded pockets. ‘And put everything back on the bed.’ . . . At last she said in a whisper: ‘You’re like something nasty under a stone…’"
She's Got Rhythm. "...although she had never had much chance to dance, instinctively good at it, and when the music changed to pop, she fell to twisting and twirling as though she had done it all her life."
She can cook and run a house and can think fast on her feet. "Phoebe heard the lies tripping off her tongue and she, a truthful girl, felt no shame. ‘Sorry, but the plumbing needs attention—it’s not in use for the moment.’"
Dealing with Veronica's spoiled ways. "...someone can bring me a cup of tea at about four o’clock.’ ‘I’ll let you know when it’s teatime,’ said Phoebe. ‘We have it in the sitting room.’"
She evokes sympathy from long-dead ancestors. "Phoebe, looking at a portrait of one of George’s ancestors, said softly: ‘I’m behaving in the most shocking manner, and I’m not a bit sorry.’ The ancestor gazed back at her from eyes as blue as George’s, and for one bemused moment Phoebe could have sworn that he winked at her."
Phoebe has just made up her mind to continue her training at a different hospital when her Aunt Kate calls her PNO and demands Phoebe come care for her. Although Phoebe doesn't much care for Aunt Kate (said feeling is decidedly mutual), she recognizes it as her opportunity to get away.
It's also her destiny calling. Aunt Kate is an old grouch and makes it clear that Phoebe shouldn't expect to inherit any of her money, but she is very ill. Her doctor visits daily. George Pritchard is tall, blond, handsome and very kind. Phoebe feels very comfortable with him.
Very soon, the end comes for Aunt Kate. George sits with Kate at the end, then makes all the arrangements. After the funeral, the solicitor tells Phoebe that all the money has been left to charity; the house is to be sold and the proceeds distributed likewise. He tells Phoebe she can stay on until then.
George has a different idea. He proposes marriage to Phoebe, telling her that he has known dozens of girls, but never met one that really suited him or his lifestyle. Phoebe, after some deliberation, accepts.
He takes her shopping for clothes, which she desperately needs. They plan a very quiet wedding; touchingly, the entire village shows up. Clearly, the village approves of Phoebe for their doctor.
A few days later, George takes Phoebe to meet his family (he's half Dutch). Among the family and friends are Kaspel, the Evil Cousin (although he seems rather innocuous for the title) and Corrina, a former, wishes-she-still-was girlfriend. They go shopping for more clothes. They attend several parties.
Phoebe and Mrs. Pritchard hit it off instantly. Mrs. Pritchard gives a final, grand party before they go back home. Phoebe wears a apricot silk dropped bodice dress with silver embroidery that George chose. There is quite a lovely moment between them where they look into each other's eyes and George kisses her hand. When Phoebe asks why, he says he'll tell her one day.
They return back home to their busy village lives. Phoebe helps George in his practice and helps Mrs. Thirsk around the house. Days off are spent relaxing in the garden. George and Phoebe give a dinner party for friends and when Mrs. Thirsk gets the flu, cooks dinner herself (understandably, she is a little vexed that George takes her for granted.) everything is wonderful. Until Kasper and Corina show up unexpectedly.
Corina makes no secret of trying to attract George's attention and makes catty comments to Phoebe when George isn't around. Phoebe refuses to kowtow to her and will not let Mrs. Thirsk take her breakfast in bed. After a short while (although it doesn't seem short to Phoebe), Corina and Kasper take themselves off to London. George and Phoebe drive up to London and dine and dance with them at the Savoy. Phoebe enjoys dancing with George, but considers the rest of the evening a waste.
Back at home, George starts to tell Phoebe something while she is up on a ladder cleaning the chandelier. He has his arms around her when the French door opens and there is Corina. She says that she has gotten tired of Casper and is back to stay with George and Phoebe. She spends a few days trying to entice George away from his work, which goes about as well as we would expect. She finally gets him to agree to go to Oxford Cambridge on a Saturday and of course George insists that Phoebe go as well. On their way they get a call that four village children have eaten some poisonous flower seeds.
Of course that puts the kibosh on the outing. George rushes back to the village where he and Phoebe have their hands full for a while. Corina sits in the car and yells for George to pay attention to her. To no avail, of course. At the end of the day, Corina has a massive tantrum, having packed her bags, and declares that she is leaving and will never come back. Good riddance!
George wastes no time. He makes his declaration to Phoebe. It's quite a lovely scene. First, Phoebe blurts out that she wishes George were in love with her. George says that he had began to think they were destined to only be good friends and that he couldn't have kept up there pretense much longer. He says he has been in love with her since they met and that he never said so because she would've turned tail and run away.
Lots of hugging and kissing and references to future children.
This book is just delightful. I love George, probably the sweetest, kindest RDD. Phoebe was actually able to continue nursing after her marriage -yay!! I particularly love the descriptions of village life. It's just the kind of life that I prefer myself, although I can quite see that a young woman accustomed to city life would find it a bit dull.
***********
Reread November 26/27, 2016
How Do I Love George? Let me [re]count the
ways:
". . .his chin came in contact with a huge fist and he slithered to the floor, Aunt Kate’s silver falling and tumbling around him in a silvery shower. The doctor stepped over him and plucked Phoebe from the windowsill she had been clinging to, and held her close. ‘My poor girl—I came as fast as I could, but I had to go round the back and through the kitchen window. Has he hurt you?’"
"She began to cry in earnest. ‘Oh, George, suppose you hadn’t come…’ ‘But I did come,’ he said in a comforting voice, ‘and I shall always come when you want me, Phoebe—don’t forget that.’ He bent and kissed her gently."
"‘Get all you want and I’ll come in and pay when you’re ready. At least three of everything,’ he told her gravely with twinkling eyes, ‘and no cheeseparing!’"
"The doctor walked back to his own house, his shoulders shaking with laughter. He had enjoyed his afternoon, he felt sure he was going to enjoy the rest of his life. Patience would be required, of course, but he had plenty of that."
He loves Phoebe just as she is. "‘Your hair is exactly right,’ he told her, ‘and it suits you. Have it washed and so on if you like, but don’t dare have it curled and waved.’"
". . .he had stopped to look at a silvery-grey dress, cast negligently over a gilt chair in a boutique window. ‘Now that,’ he had told her, ‘is just made for you. Let’s get it.’"
"George, she had quickly discovered, was very firm about going to church on a Sunday...the sound of George’s deep voice booming away at the hymns and the way he sat, listening to every word of John Matthews’ sermon."
Turning down the Veronica. "‘I’ll come with you when you do your visits.’ Corina was smiling again. ‘No.’ He looked at Phoebe. ‘Will you pour the coffee, my dear?’"
Scaring off the Veronica. "‘I’ve not had measles. Is it spots? Is it dangerous George?’ ‘Well, hardly fatal, but the rash is nasty and one is liable to get chest infections and bad eyes, hair falling out and so on.’"
Smacking down a drunken Veronica. "‘You’ve had too much champagne,’ said George levelly. ‘You’ve no idea what you’re saying—and a good thing too, because you’re being offensive. I’ve no intention of taking you anywhere; I’m going to dance with my wife and then we shall drive back to “that village of ours’."
And Phoebe might have been a penniless orphan, but she's no meek little doormat!
When facing down a thug with a flick knife.
"Phoebe could feel her knees wobbling, but rage sent her into her bedroom to slam the door in his face and put her head out of the window and screech ‘George!’ at the top of her voice...It gave her an opportunity to kick his shins, something she did with a kind of desperate satisfaction. The slap he gave her sent her head swinging sideways and the tears starting up to her eyes, but she got in another kick before he caught her roughly by the arm and pushed her on to the landing. ‘You asked for it,’ he called her a vile name and she said in a choking voice: ‘Don’t use that kind of language to me. Get out of the house before someone comes!’ Her eyes fell on his loaded pockets. ‘And put everything back on the bed.’ . . . At last she said in a whisper: ‘You’re like something nasty under a stone…’"
She's Got Rhythm. "...although she had never had much chance to dance, instinctively good at it, and when the music changed to pop, she fell to twisting and twirling as though she had done it all her life."
She can cook and run a house and can think fast on her feet. "Phoebe heard the lies tripping off her tongue and she, a truthful girl, felt no shame. ‘Sorry, but the plumbing needs attention—it’s not in use for the moment.’"
Dealing with Veronica's spoiled ways. "...someone can bring me a cup of tea at about four o’clock.’ ‘I’ll let you know when it’s teatime,’ said Phoebe. ‘We have it in the sitting room.’"
She evokes sympathy from long-dead ancestors. "Phoebe, looking at a portrait of one of George’s ancestors, said softly: ‘I’m behaving in the most shocking manner, and I’m not a bit sorry.’ The ancestor gazed back at her from eyes as blue as George’s, and for one bemused moment Phoebe could have sworn that he winked at her."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2015
I am re-reading my Betty books and I have found that I enjoy some of them more the second or third go round, but this is not one of them. I found I liked this one less this reading.
I can think of better ways than stirring up jealousy to make a woman fall in love with a man. Furthermore I don't think too much of a man who would let said woman continually make snide insulting remarks to his wife and then have his wife apologize to her for being rude when she simply stated that she didn't recall inviting the other woman.
October 14, 2025
3.5 stars! Definitely a future re-read.
June 11, 2022
This was a ok type of story for me, I really liked the main characters phoebe and George but I couldn't understand why George proposes marriage to phoebe when he hardly knows her.But that's how most of the betty neels novel goes about. The couple marry very early in the novel and what happens next is an endless description of their routine life. As usual there is a lot of shopping where the heroine phoebe is showered with expensive clothes by George and they travel to Holland as George is half Dutch and his family lives there. There were 2 irritating characters Corina who shamelessly tries to woo George in front of his own wife and Kasper a cousin of George who tries to flirt with phoebe.
Finally George and phoebe confedd their love for each other and Corina and Kasper are shown the door.
Overall it was a bit of a drag and most of the book was occupied by George attending various patients in his country practice
Finally George and phoebe confedd their love for each other and Corina and Kasper are shown the door.
Overall it was a bit of a drag and most of the book was occupied by George attending various patients in his country practice
October 22, 2016
Me encanta esta autora vintage de Harlequin, aunque este no es de los mejores que he leído. El héroe fue demasiado frío para mi gusto y no hubo gatos -_-, pero es de esas historias simples donde no sólo importa el romance sino toda la historia alrededor de los personajes principales.
Me gustan muchísimo sus heroínas, son comunes con problemas de gente común y despojadas del glamour y las pretensiones de las últimas HP, donde, creo, se perdió la esencia.
Me gustan muchísimo sus heroínas, son comunes con problemas de gente común y despojadas del glamour y las pretensiones de las últimas HP, donde, creo, se perdió la esencia.
July 5, 2021
Updated: I forgot I reviewed this previously! Oh well--I enjoyed it more on a re-read--there's a sweetness to it, with two well-matched MCs and a lovely rendition of small village life in bucolic, vaguely Edwardian-seeming Britain. Our Rich British/Dutch Doctor is no high-flying consultant for once; he's one of Betty's occasional small-town GPs, and heroine Phoebe is the perfect doctor's wife. Nothing particularly unusual here, outside of a very direct (for Betty) assumption on the heroine's part that they'll share a bedroom once they have grown to know one another better (after a very short initial acquaintance and quick march to the altar). As the hero puts it, it'll be like an engagement, only they'll marry right away for convenience's sake, since our Poor British Nurse (in training) heroine is at a loose end once her selfish "leaving-it-all-to-charity" aunt dies. But its overall charm and sweetness elevated this quiet, typically (for BN) old-fashioned story.
Original review: A bit of a sleeper from TGB, despite not one but TWO potential Other Persons. Rich Dutch/Brit Doctor George falls for student nurse Phoebe when she comes to care for her dying auntie (who is an old witch and leaves Phoebe nothing in her will). George is smitten from the start but offers the standard BN MoC for friendship and companionship (although he suggests they might deepen the relationship after a month or so--pretty quick for a BN hero! Gotta start on those babies, I guess). They go to Holland to visit his family, where Phoebe meets wannabe-OW Corina, who latches onto George like a leech, and wannabe-OM Kasper, George's smiles-too-much cousin, who has a tacky ultramodern apartment and macks on Phoebe. Phoebe doesn't much like either of them, but she loves George's family and the regard is mutual because she is just right for George. In Holland, she has her Dawning Realization that she is in love with George.
They go back to England, where she slots neatly into George's life, helping him with his village medical practice and being the perfect doctor's wife. They are well matched and enjoy their simple, busy life, and all is going great until Corina and Kasper show up unannounced, intending to stay as guests for an undetermined amount of time. Most of the story revolves around Phoebe's unhappiness about her awful and uninvited guests--Corina in particular, who shows up AGAIN after Phoebe finally thinks they've gotten rid of them. (Kasper just kind of disappears from the story--I guess two was too much.) Finally, they manage to bore Corina enough that she leaves, but the Big Misunderstanding is a little silly and goes on too long, and the rules of hospitality and what's due a guest, however unwanted, are stretched beyond what's reasonable (IMO). At long last, George and Phoebe confess their mutual love, and we know they'll go on to have the half dozen or so children to fill their house on the village square as well as the Dutch mansions that George will one day inherit from his fabulously rich mama and grandmama.
Some amusing 80s-era references interrupt the flow of anachronistic and idealized English village life--an angry Phoebe thinks to herself at one point that she should tint her hair red and have it done up in spikes (a la 80s punk rockers), and a leather-clad biker tries to steal the family silver. Hee.
Slow and kind of sweet but not one of Betty's best--no real angst and a little thin overall.
Original review: A bit of a sleeper from TGB, despite not one but TWO potential Other Persons. Rich Dutch/Brit Doctor George falls for student nurse Phoebe when she comes to care for her dying auntie (who is an old witch and leaves Phoebe nothing in her will). George is smitten from the start but offers the standard BN MoC for friendship and companionship (although he suggests they might deepen the relationship after a month or so--pretty quick for a BN hero! Gotta start on those babies, I guess). They go to Holland to visit his family, where Phoebe meets wannabe-OW Corina, who latches onto George like a leech, and wannabe-OM Kasper, George's smiles-too-much cousin, who has a tacky ultramodern apartment and macks on Phoebe. Phoebe doesn't much like either of them, but she loves George's family and the regard is mutual because she is just right for George. In Holland, she has her Dawning Realization that she is in love with George.
They go back to England, where she slots neatly into George's life, helping him with his village medical practice and being the perfect doctor's wife. They are well matched and enjoy their simple, busy life, and all is going great until Corina and Kasper show up unannounced, intending to stay as guests for an undetermined amount of time. Most of the story revolves around Phoebe's unhappiness about her awful and uninvited guests--Corina in particular, who shows up AGAIN after Phoebe finally thinks they've gotten rid of them. (Kasper just kind of disappears from the story--I guess two was too much.) Finally, they manage to bore Corina enough that she leaves, but the Big Misunderstanding is a little silly and goes on too long, and the rules of hospitality and what's due a guest, however unwanted, are stretched beyond what's reasonable (IMO). At long last, George and Phoebe confess their mutual love, and we know they'll go on to have the half dozen or so children to fill their house on the village square as well as the Dutch mansions that George will one day inherit from his fabulously rich mama and grandmama.
Some amusing 80s-era references interrupt the flow of anachronistic and idealized English village life--an angry Phoebe thinks to herself at one point that she should tint her hair red and have it done up in spikes (a la 80s punk rockers), and a leather-clad biker tries to steal the family silver. Hee.
Slow and kind of sweet but not one of Betty's best--no real angst and a little thin overall.
August 15, 2014
In my opinion...not her best work. I almost feel the heroine was more a puppet to the hero. Especially when he said he wanted to make her jealous then was angry when it worked all too well. Eh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2024
I wasn't sure about this book at first. I really liked the MCs, but the plot isn't a favorite of mine - the couple marries quickly and then not one but two people try to cause trouble between them. At first it looked like Phoebe was going to fall for it and George was clueless. However, there were times when Phoebe stood up for herself in ways that made me smile. So I'll give it 3 stars, for a plot I don't care for but some delightful moments from our heroine.
September 21, 2023
3.5 Betty Stars.
This is an Rich English Doctor (with Dutch heritage) and “plain” nurse trainee variety of Betty. The premise is that Phoebe enters into a marriage of convenience with Dr George after her wicked aunt dies and leaves her nothing. It’s not clear quite what’s in it for George but he’s insistent on marrying Phoebe. What follows is a lot of external actors from George’s side trying to come between them in a love triangle sort of way (Corinna and Kasper), and though they spend most of the book a conversation away from sorting out their feelings, they have to figure out whether they will allow themselves to be turn apart by external actors.
A surprising amount of things happen in the plot of this book. Thinking of where it ends up, it’s hard to believe that this book started off with Phoebe working in a hospital and in a toxic relationship with a narcissistic junior doctor. I wish more had been done with that storyline and I half assumed that we would see him again. This is gentle in the way of Betty books but Phoebe for being so young, inexperienced and generally meek, stood up for herself and showed some backbone and sharpness in this. I didn’t like that George at a point made her apologize to the villain to amuse himself… AND I could have done with a few more clues as to his feelings, but overall, I liked this. It’s not at all my favourite Betty but it was an enjoyable read.
This is an Rich English Doctor (with Dutch heritage) and “plain” nurse trainee variety of Betty. The premise is that Phoebe enters into a marriage of convenience with Dr George after her wicked aunt dies and leaves her nothing. It’s not clear quite what’s in it for George but he’s insistent on marrying Phoebe. What follows is a lot of external actors from George’s side trying to come between them in a love triangle sort of way (Corinna and Kasper), and though they spend most of the book a conversation away from sorting out their feelings, they have to figure out whether they will allow themselves to be turn apart by external actors.
A surprising amount of things happen in the plot of this book. Thinking of where it ends up, it’s hard to believe that this book started off with Phoebe working in a hospital and in a toxic relationship with a narcissistic junior doctor. I wish more had been done with that storyline and I half assumed that we would see him again. This is gentle in the way of Betty books but Phoebe for being so young, inexperienced and generally meek, stood up for herself and showed some backbone and sharpness in this. I didn’t like that George at a point made her apologize to the villain to amuse himself… AND I could have done with a few more clues as to his feelings, but overall, I liked this. It’s not at all my favourite Betty but it was an enjoyable read.
March 21, 2012
Betty Neels, as much as I love her, can be rather hit and miss. Some of her books frustrate me with overly "cold" male leads and silly heroines.
This, however, is one of her better ones. It still fits the basic Neels formula, but is better executed than most of hers. A nice, light romance for those who want an old-fashioned read.
This, however, is one of her better ones. It still fits the basic Neels formula, but is better executed than most of hers. A nice, light romance for those who want an old-fashioned read.
September 6, 2016
One of TGB's best. Phoebe and George make a great couple. His family is large, loving, welcoming and accepting of Phoebe who has no family of her own. The Veronica of the piece is Corina; beautiful, cruel and spitefully certain that she can wrest George away from Phoebe. Nice details about George's country practice and Phoebe's immersion into his busy life. Solid read.
Read
January 29, 2016Another classic from Betty Neels
I've always been a fan of Betty's books and this is no exception. Its a great pity that Betty is no longer with us but we shall always have her books.
I've always been a fan of Betty's books and this is no exception. Its a great pity that Betty is no longer with us but we shall always have her books.
April 23, 2012
Another easy, nice read.
December 7, 2016
Star Rating: ★★½☆☆
Read
November 26, 2008LP Nee
May 3, 2012
These books are such a hoot. I feel like I'm stepping into a Hepburn movie!
May 28, 2018
1984, solid 4*
George was an RBD and RDD rolled into one! His mother was a Dutch baroness and we only got to see that side of his family, numerous and kind though they were. Except the playboy Kasper. It's never explained why George disliked him, but I suspect it wouldn't be the first time he's tried to steal, and succeeded in stealing girlfriends from George...
Corina the Cow. From George's gleaming eyes and little actions like watching her from his surgery window, looking at her during dinners etc. , it's to be suspected that he's more smitten in Phoebe than he let on. Corina was conveniently used to make Phoebe jealous but he let it carry on a tad TOO far! I suspect HE was jealous of Kasper's attention to Phoebe! Poor girl may not have liked Kasper much, but like she said it's just so nice to be flattered just that bit...which dumb George claimed he's not good at.
I really hate this being hospitable and courteous at all cost thing...because George was always so nice to Corina but like Phoebe said he was away from the house mostly, leaving Phoebe to Corina's needling and poisons. Argh! The only time Phoebe blew the Cow went running to George to complain.
And he made her apologise to the Cow! Dammit!! Phoebe gave as good as she got, her "apology" highlighted the (unwelcome) "guest" and her bad behaviour...so much so George was laughing behind his bland mask. Oh what frustration to be so well brought up one could never give the offenders a piece of one's mind! If not for this, George would have been a pretty perfect hero. He rescued Phoebe in more than one way, and was generally loving. He brought her shopping! In Cambridge and in Hilversum; loved how he told her to buy "three of everything " and no "cheese paring " when buying undies LOL.
George had wanted to explain about Corina but Phoebe had not been ready to listen, and times he wanted to make his love declaration but was thwarted...so frustrating! I hated it when she agreed to invite Kasper for a visit, and joining Kasperina in London to spite George. Argh!
Phoebe was really poor thing, being orphaned and her aunt had not left her a cent. This served to bring the whole village firmly on her side and when George married her, everyone was rooting for her!
But being orphaned meant she'd had nowhere to run, that a very sad feeling and the unbalanced power can be scary. Phoebe didn't even think about this but I did! She did think of running away to escape from Corina the Cow though! But generally our heroine had spunk. She had been willing to take on a "dozen Corinas" to stay married to George! If we ever forgot it, remember how she slapped Basil the Bastard HARD? And refused to let him into the house when he came to the village? You go girl!
My absolute favourite scene took place early on, when she troubledly asked George for advice...on whether she should marry him! It's funny and sweet, just like two of them. Aww...
A delightful story!
PS. We never knew who bought Aunt Kate's house next door...
George was an RBD and RDD rolled into one! His mother was a Dutch baroness and we only got to see that side of his family, numerous and kind though they were. Except the playboy Kasper. It's never explained why George disliked him, but I suspect it wouldn't be the first time he's tried to steal, and succeeded in stealing girlfriends from George...
Corina the Cow. From George's gleaming eyes and little actions like watching her from his surgery window, looking at her during dinners etc. , it's to be suspected that he's more smitten in Phoebe than he let on. Corina was conveniently used to make Phoebe jealous but he let it carry on a tad TOO far! I suspect HE was jealous of Kasper's attention to Phoebe! Poor girl may not have liked Kasper much, but like she said it's just so nice to be flattered just that bit...which dumb George claimed he's not good at.
I really hate this being hospitable and courteous at all cost thing...because George was always so nice to Corina but like Phoebe said he was away from the house mostly, leaving Phoebe to Corina's needling and poisons. Argh! The only time Phoebe blew the Cow went running to George to complain.
And he made her apologise to the Cow! Dammit!! Phoebe gave as good as she got, her "apology" highlighted the (unwelcome) "guest" and her bad behaviour...so much so George was laughing behind his bland mask. Oh what frustration to be so well brought up one could never give the offenders a piece of one's mind! If not for this, George would have been a pretty perfect hero. He rescued Phoebe in more than one way, and was generally loving. He brought her shopping! In Cambridge and in Hilversum; loved how he told her to buy "three of everything " and no "cheese paring " when buying undies LOL.
George had wanted to explain about Corina but Phoebe had not been ready to listen, and times he wanted to make his love declaration but was thwarted...so frustrating! I hated it when she agreed to invite Kasper for a visit, and joining Kasperina in London to spite George. Argh!
Phoebe was really poor thing, being orphaned and her aunt had not left her a cent. This served to bring the whole village firmly on her side and when George married her, everyone was rooting for her!
But being orphaned meant she'd had nowhere to run, that a very sad feeling and the unbalanced power can be scary. Phoebe didn't even think about this but I did! She did think of running away to escape from Corina the Cow though! But generally our heroine had spunk. She had been willing to take on a "dozen Corinas" to stay married to George! If we ever forgot it, remember how she slapped Basil the Bastard HARD? And refused to let him into the house when he came to the village? You go girl!
My absolute favourite scene took place early on, when she troubledly asked George for advice...on whether she should marry him! It's funny and sweet, just like two of them. Aww...
A delightful story!
PS. We never knew who bought Aunt Kate's house next door...
March 1, 2024
One more good story from Betty Neels....
Phoebe is a nurse at the hospital when she gets a call to come look after an aunt who wanted nothing to do with the family but insisted that Phoebe come asap to look after her.
Phoebe left the hospital to look after the aunt who was a miserable patient...hardly any food in the house, hated to give out money for food. The doctor who lived across the square, Dr. George Pitchard came often to check on the aunt who finally died leaving not one cent to Phoebe...all her money went to charities...even her home and belongings so now Phoebe finds herself penniless.
Since she and the doctor were such good friends and understood the medical life, he asked her to marry him....a convenient set up for both of them. Things went along nicely until they went to Holland so Phoebe could meet his Dutch family....he had a rogue cousin, Kasper who decided he cared about Phoebe and always held her hand, wanted the first dance, etc. But he had a girl, Corina with him who wanted George and she did everything she could to get him back.
What a nuisance Corina was right up until the last few pages of the novel....finally they got rid of her, he declared that he loved Phoebe from the beginning so all went well. A good story.
Phoebe is a nurse at the hospital when she gets a call to come look after an aunt who wanted nothing to do with the family but insisted that Phoebe come asap to look after her.
Phoebe left the hospital to look after the aunt who was a miserable patient...hardly any food in the house, hated to give out money for food. The doctor who lived across the square, Dr. George Pitchard came often to check on the aunt who finally died leaving not one cent to Phoebe...all her money went to charities...even her home and belongings so now Phoebe finds herself penniless.
Since she and the doctor were such good friends and understood the medical life, he asked her to marry him....a convenient set up for both of them. Things went along nicely until they went to Holland so Phoebe could meet his Dutch family....he had a rogue cousin, Kasper who decided he cared about Phoebe and always held her hand, wanted the first dance, etc. But he had a girl, Corina with him who wanted George and she did everything she could to get him back.
What a nuisance Corina was right up until the last few pages of the novel....finally they got rid of her, he declared that he loved Phoebe from the beginning so all went well. A good story.
March 7, 2018
Idilio de verano. Phoebe Creswell es la heroína de esta novelita de Betty que encuentro floja. El doctor en cuestión será George Pritchard quien apenas de conocer a la joven le pide matrimonio,en el transcurso de la novela aparece la mala y frívola amiga de George y no mucho más del relato q lo haga especial.
November 18, 2021
I liked this one. It was a bit drawn out, but I liked it. By the end of the book when George professes his love and tells Phoebe he's been in love with her from the minute they met, I had to take some time to think about how/when they first met and reread the beginning. As I said, it was a bit drawn out, but I liked it.
February 27, 2022
This one was very pleasant - set in the UK mostly. Nice chars: I could wish some of her heroine's had a little more backbone; which even if they have one initially - they seem to lose as soon as they fall in love.
Do we really? What is she trying to say? that all men really want, is a wimp to care for and look after? That's a bit sad. Where does that leave the strong woman?... on her own!
Do we really? What is she trying to say? that all men really want, is a wimp to care for and look after? That's a bit sad. Where does that leave the strong woman?... on her own!
September 30, 2019
I like the heroine because she has a backbone to counter the OW not acted as a doormat. The hero was nice and i knew from the very first time that he loves heroine. But one thing that disturbed me was he made the heroine apologize to OW but let it go when the OW said nasty things to heroine.
January 29, 2018
Such a joy to read
I just can't get enough of Betty Neels stories. They are so much fun to read. Sweet for the most part with a villain who is nicely put in her place, yum 😋
I just can't get enough of Betty Neels stories. They are so much fun to read. Sweet for the most part with a villain who is nicely put in her place, yum 😋
August 5, 2018
Lovely
If you enjoy your romances light, clean, fluffy and vintage then you will enjoy the wonderful work of Betty Neels
If you enjoy your romances light, clean, fluffy and vintage then you will enjoy the wonderful work of Betty Neels
August 14, 2020
3.5–Another sweet Betty Neels romance but rather predictable.
December 4, 2022
A sweet read as always from Betty Neels!
January 26, 2023
George is quite the stick and Phoebe is a little slow, otherwise the story continues.
July 11, 2025
I have read (and own) all the books that Betty Neels wrote, so this is, of course, a reread. I really liked this book. Being married to a village doctor sounds like a wonderful life, if a bit busy. Phoebe marries George for a home after she is left penniless but soon develops deep feelings for him. The only problem is Corina, an old friend of George's who won't leave him alone. How long can Phoebe put up with the beautiful, but shallow woman, before she does something drastic? I don't normally like when the hero uses another woman to make his wife jealous, but I found Corina to be quite entertaining. George's cousin Kaspar, however, is extremely annoying. I love Mrs. Thirsk and Susan. English servants are often so sweet and loyal, at least in Betty Neels books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews