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Emma's Wedding
Meeting Dr. Roele van Dyke was a blessing for Emma Dawson. He always seemed to go out of his way to make her happy, and she couldn't imagine life without him.... When the time came for Roele to return to Amsterdam permanently, he knew he couldn't leave Emma behind. So he offered her a job at his surgery. Emma was in love and simply couldn't refuse. But did Roele want Emma to be his secretary or his wife?
186 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 2002
74 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Betty Neels
576 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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
February 9, 2021
One of Betty’s very last books (2001) and pretty forgettable (forBettible? Meh-tty? Groan…sorry!), following familiar patterns with rather bland characters. With only the few plots she drew from (MoC/Cinderella/OW or OM drama, combos thereof), it was always Betty’s characterizations and attention to detail with regard to food, setting, clothing, and households that made (and continue to make) her so readable. In her later books, all of those elements remain to some degree, but in certain books they seem to fall flat—mainly when the characters aren’t all that compelling. Her seething heroines and arrogant heroes carried the tales best—in some of her later books, they are too watered down and placid (for my tastes anyway).
That may be my problem with this one—don’t get me wrong: it’s still well written and enjoyable enough, but I found my interest waning at points. It’s a typical BN MoC tale, with some hero PoV that actually made me like the book less because the hero’s instalove seemed LESS believable than when there’s no hero PoV and they make the “love at first sight” claim during the Mutual Avowals at the end. Fate IS remarkable in Betty’s world but easier to swallow if there’s some mystery about it.
This falls lower third of Betty books for me, but props for the usual clean and descriptive writing and a story that is warm and pleasant if not stellar. I only hope to be as sharp and lucid in my 90s as Betty undoubtedly was—still delighting readers into a new millennium when so many of her fellow authors from the early days had long since wrapped it up. She had a formula, yes, but one that worked for 30 years, to the enduring delight of her many fans. All hail Betty!
That may be my problem with this one—don’t get me wrong: it’s still well written and enjoyable enough, but I found my interest waning at points. It’s a typical BN MoC tale, with some hero PoV that actually made me like the book less because the hero’s instalove seemed LESS believable than when there’s no hero PoV and they make the “love at first sight” claim during the Mutual Avowals at the end. Fate IS remarkable in Betty’s world but easier to swallow if there’s some mystery about it.
This falls lower third of Betty books for me, but props for the usual clean and descriptive writing and a story that is warm and pleasant if not stellar. I only hope to be as sharp and lucid in my 90s as Betty undoubtedly was—still delighting readers into a new millennium when so many of her fellow authors from the early days had long since wrapped it up. She had a formula, yes, but one that worked for 30 years, to the enduring delight of her many fans. All hail Betty!
August 19, 2023
This is my 35th Betty Neels book since December! Little did I know what I was getting in for! 😂 This one was pretty middle of the road for me. Enjoyable but nothing too special.
November 21, 2013
This is not one of Betty's better works, so I would recommend a pass. Which is a shame given it had a lot of potential.
Key issues
1) Emma is immature for her 27 years and behind the surface (all that loving kindness and self martyrdom) her character isn't well developed.
2) The hero is a real sweetie, but I never felt that I truly got to know him. Even though his POV is integral to the story and the only saving grace.
3) The threads weren't cohesive and there is a brother mentioned in the first chapter that totally disappears and is irrelevant.
4) The "Big misunderstanding" which are so integral to Betty's plots, is weak and makes the heroine appear selfish.
I lost interest in the story and was barely able to finish.
Key issues
1) Emma is immature for her 27 years and behind the surface (all that loving kindness and self martyrdom) her character isn't well developed.
2) The hero is a real sweetie, but I never felt that I truly got to know him. Even though his POV is integral to the story and the only saving grace.
3) The threads weren't cohesive and there is a brother mentioned in the first chapter that totally disappears and is irrelevant.
4) The "Big misunderstanding" which are so integral to Betty's plots, is weak and makes the heroine appear selfish.
I lost interest in the story and was barely able to finish.
May 29, 2015
Poor Emma Dawson has been saddled with outstanding debts after her father dies; he had invested heavily in computers and lost all his money. Even worse, her mother is spoiled, selfish, whiny and refuses to moderate her spending and social life. Thus it is left to Emma to arrange to sell the Richmond house along with all the valuables, including their expensive clothing!
They are allowed to keep the cottage in Salcombe so they move there, where Emma takes on the housework, cooking and shopping. She also takes two part-time jobs so that her mom can continue to be lazy and enjoy her shopping excursions, salon trips and bridge parties.
Emma has an unofficial fiancé, Derek, a banker, who of course explains that her situation would be detrimental to his career. Later he comes back to propose after reconsidering; Emma tells him to "get stuffed!" Ha! Good for her!
Emma meets a man at the bakery; he turns out to be Roele van Dyke, the RDD. He falls in love with Emma's carroty-haired self on sight, thinking that she is the most beautiful girl in the world. He always shows up just when Emma needs a shoulder to cry on, especially when Mum kicks Emma out of the cottage in favor of an old school friend.
Emma has been working temporarily at the medical clinic, so Roele offers her a job at his Amsterdam office as assistant to his secretary.
Soon afterward, Mum is killed in a car crash (poetic justice, for sure) and Roele settles up her bank overdraft and other bills. Then he proposes a MOC and Emma accepts.
The MOC follows the usual pattern while Roele waits for Emma's DR. He has a long wait. Various gossips drop hints about a Veronica - actually named Veronique! Emma jumps to the totally unjustified conclusion that Roele wishes to marry the now-divorced Veronique. She leaves him a letter (along with some badly-hidden doodles of hearts with arrows encircling Roele's name and saying "I love you," all of which Roele finds. What a relief! He can now release his iron control and he is waiting at the cottage when Emma arrives.
Roele is adorable. Mrs. Dawson is delightfully evil. Emma is both capable and sensible except about Veronique. There are some humorous scenes. Not the best of TGB's offerings, but certainly not the worst. 3 1/2 stars.
They are allowed to keep the cottage in Salcombe so they move there, where Emma takes on the housework, cooking and shopping. She also takes two part-time jobs so that her mom can continue to be lazy and enjoy her shopping excursions, salon trips and bridge parties.
Emma has an unofficial fiancé, Derek, a banker, who of course explains that her situation would be detrimental to his career. Later he comes back to propose after reconsidering; Emma tells him to "get stuffed!" Ha! Good for her!
Emma meets a man at the bakery; he turns out to be Roele van Dyke, the RDD. He falls in love with Emma's carroty-haired self on sight, thinking that she is the most beautiful girl in the world. He always shows up just when Emma needs a shoulder to cry on, especially when Mum kicks Emma out of the cottage in favor of an old school friend.
Emma has been working temporarily at the medical clinic, so Roele offers her a job at his Amsterdam office as assistant to his secretary.
Soon afterward, Mum is killed in a car crash (poetic justice, for sure) and Roele settles up her bank overdraft and other bills. Then he proposes a MOC and Emma accepts.
The MOC follows the usual pattern while Roele waits for Emma's DR. He has a long wait. Various gossips drop hints about a Veronica - actually named Veronique! Emma jumps to the totally unjustified conclusion that Roele wishes to marry the now-divorced Veronique. She leaves him a letter (along with some badly-hidden doodles of hearts with arrows encircling Roele's name and saying "I love you," all of which Roele finds. What a relief! He can now release his iron control and he is waiting at the cottage when Emma arrives.
Roele is adorable. Mrs. Dawson is delightfully evil. Emma is both capable and sensible except about Veronique. There are some humorous scenes. Not the best of TGB's offerings, but certainly not the worst. 3 1/2 stars.
August 30, 2010
Not top of the line Neels, but still pretty good. Our heroine, Emma, acts a lot younger than the 27 she is supposed to be, which makes her rather annoying at times. And the Big Misunderstanding towards the end was very thin. But our Rich Dutch Doctor (Roele)is a real sweetie.
A welcome bit is Emma's genuine grief at the death of her mother (who was killed in a car accident as a plot device!). Not often does Our Betty depict true grief (in spite of the number of times she kills off parents, guardians, elderly aunts and so on).
Too bad about the younger brother who is globe trotting when Emma's father dies at the beginning of the book. They didn't contact him then(what could he do from so far away??) and then he totally vanishes from the story. By the time Emma's mother dies, it is as if he never existed. Oops.
A welcome bit is Emma's genuine grief at the death of her mother (who was killed in a car accident as a plot device!). Not often does Our Betty depict true grief (in spite of the number of times she kills off parents, guardians, elderly aunts and so on).
Too bad about the younger brother who is globe trotting when Emma's father dies at the beginning of the book. They didn't contact him then(what could he do from so far away??) and then he totally vanishes from the story. By the time Emma's mother dies, it is as if he never existed. Oops.
April 15, 2012
Yes, light, fluffy reading at it's best.
Emma Dawson has already been through the trauma of losing her father and finding out that she and her mother are broke. Selling everything and moving to a remote town was their only option. Trying to get her selfish mother to realize the extent of their money troubles, Emma stuggled to make ends meet. Meeting Dr. Roele van Dyke turned out to be the best thing to happen to her.
Emma believed she was just going to be his secretary, but he had other plans. After the sudden death of her mother, Roele proposed marriage. Marrying him would give Emma the security she needed, and him the opportunity to get her to fall in love with him.
Emma Dawson has already been through the trauma of losing her father and finding out that she and her mother are broke. Selling everything and moving to a remote town was their only option. Trying to get her selfish mother to realize the extent of their money troubles, Emma stuggled to make ends meet. Meeting Dr. Roele van Dyke turned out to be the best thing to happen to her.
Emma believed she was just going to be his secretary, but he had other plans. After the sudden death of her mother, Roele proposed marriage. Marrying him would give Emma the security she needed, and him the opportunity to get her to fall in love with him.
September 21, 2022
4.5 Betty Stars.
This was admittedly a slower Neels romance but despite that and the fact that it is a little sad for Emma and she is a little lacking in agency at times, I really enjoyed this one and thought that Roele was one of the more likable Neels heroes in the style of those who “openly” are in love with the heroine at first sight and don’t need to kind of unwillingly discover it near the end. On Emma’s part, she’s very unaware of her feelings for Roele so there isn’t a long drawn out narrative of unrequited love though what little there is, is suitably dramatic and overreactive in the most Neelsian ways. I thought this was adorable. Perhaps not my absolute favourite from this author (that belongs to Dearest Love) but still very enjoyable and one I aim to re-read more often.
This was admittedly a slower Neels romance but despite that and the fact that it is a little sad for Emma and she is a little lacking in agency at times, I really enjoyed this one and thought that Roele was one of the more likable Neels heroes in the style of those who “openly” are in love with the heroine at first sight and don’t need to kind of unwillingly discover it near the end. On Emma’s part, she’s very unaware of her feelings for Roele so there isn’t a long drawn out narrative of unrequited love though what little there is, is suitably dramatic and overreactive in the most Neelsian ways. I thought this was adorable. Perhaps not my absolute favourite from this author (that belongs to Dearest Love) but still very enjoyable and one I aim to re-read more often.
December 1, 2022
So... this is my first Betty Neels book and I have to say that it was pretty much what I was told it would be. A clean romance that takes place in England/Holland and when all is said and done, the plain/overweight/homely girl wins the doctor's heart. I've been told that all these books are basically the same plot line.
Overall, it was a decent read but most parts were more annoying than enjoyable. I did like that it was relatively short (9 chapters). I found Emma's "it's-alright-if-you-blow-all-our-money-and-then-complain-because-we're-broke attitude toward her mom infuriating to say the least. How on earth could she put up with that?? Emma was far too nice for her own good. And if the Mr. Perfect had been a little more forthcoming about certain things, it would have saved everyone a lot of ferry rides. Just saying.
Overall, it was a decent read but most parts were more annoying than enjoyable. I did like that it was relatively short (9 chapters). I found Emma's "it's-alright-if-you-blow-all-our-money-and-then-complain-because-we're-broke attitude toward her mom infuriating to say the least. How on earth could she put up with that?? Emma was far too nice for her own good. And if the Mr. Perfect had been a little more forthcoming about certain things, it would have saved everyone a lot of ferry rides. Just saying.
December 27, 2024
Quite pleasant typical Neels story. The hero is a nice guy in this one and Emma is the spunky heroine who never lets life get her down.
NB - If you enjoy Neel's books join the conversation at the GR group Betty Neels Junkies. See you there!
NB - If you enjoy Neel's books join the conversation at the GR group Betty Neels Junkies. See you there!
October 29, 2012
Quotes like the following is one of the reasons I read Betty Neels..."They left on a chilly damp morning-a day winter had forgotten and left behind."
May 14, 2018
Un lugar a su lado( Revista Jazmín) aquí la heroína es Emma Dawson ella es sensata e independiente pero tiene una madre fatalista y desalmada absolutamente frívola y para nada maternal. Después de la muerte de su marido, madre e hija quedan despojadas de las comodidades por las malas inversiones de su padre. Sin dinero y casi abandonada por su novio Emma y su madre deben trasladarse a vivir a otra casa pequeña en un pueblo donde la joven buscará trabajo. Es durante una de sus compras diarias donde conocerá en una panadería al Dr Roele van Dyke, apenas cruzar miradas bastará para el chispazo inicial.De aquí en más Emma se volverá cercana al doctor y a él recurrirá cuando la fatalidad llegue a la vida de Emma.se harán amigos hasta que él le pida matrimonio y tendrán su final feliz.
September 18, 2021
I love Betty Neels's books. Always a pleasant read
December 31, 2025
3.5 stars. this is a middle of the road read that was nice enough but not the most memorable for me.
h Emma (27) is a good looking girl, tall, great figure, ordinary face but glorious red hair, who was the daughter of a well off man, living an affluent easy life until dad dies and it turns out he'd lost all his money on a bad investment. now h and her spoiled mom are without money and home other than a small cottage on the seaside. luckily h is a competent, responsible girl and willing to work hard. when their big house in London must be sold to cover debts, they must move to the seaside cottage, where h gets 2 part time jobs to support them both and takes on all the stresses of running the house while spoiled selfish mom overspends the money they don't have. shortly after moving, h bumps into H, a tall handsome RDD (named Roele, aged 35) at the bakery. he stares at her and she finds him attractive but he buys his stuff and immediately leaves. he makes no effort to seek her out. she finds out later that he is a doctor, covering for a local doc for a few months. she hopes to see him around but he makes no effort to seek her out.
I found this a promising start because I like a hard to get hero.
h had been seeing a guy who, for years, seemed on verge of marrying her, and who she thought she could fall in love with if only he would show his feelings more. but after her dad's investment cockup and death, he had dumped h because he is a banker and it would look bad to his colleagues to marry daughter of man who failed so publicly. a month or so passes with h working as an assistant in a library and as a lowly cleaner for some holiday cottages, and worrying about her mum who is constantly complaining that life in this little town is unbearable. h's ex turns up and takes her out to dinner and has the audacity to offer marriage whilst also insulting her late father. he says its okay for them to wed now because the piblicity about her dad wasnt so bad and has blown over and it wont affect his job. she tells him to eff off and leaves in a rage and bumps into the doc outside. she's in such a tearful rage that he lets her sit in her car and talk it out until she calms down then he takes her home. where her selfish mom is angry with her for not marrying the guy who has enough money to support them both. what a cow.
one day, while emma is on her knees scrubbing a holiday cottage, Roele walks in with his sister who has come for a visit with her kids. She's embarrassed but he greets her cordially. later, the sis brefriends Emma and asks her to show her around and they spend time at the beach with her kids. H arrives briefly to see them (between doc visits) and notes how lovely h looks in her swimsuit. but he immediately leaves.
SPOILERS AHEAD
We get some hero pov in the book and so we see that Roele finds Emma attractive but he plans to avoid her because he'd rather not be attracted aa he is going back to Holland soon.
even when he sees her on a date with another young man (son of her mom's friend), he doesn't make a move to engage Emma's affection. Emma meanwhile sees him seeing them together and feels flustered. she only went on the date because she is lonely and the guy was nice and friendly.
just when h's cleaning job gets tricky due to a nasty boss, H offers her a job at doc surgery to work for his partner temporarily while another secretary is away. the pay is also better. h jumps at it. the next couple months are better for her with the decent job and kind boss but she is sad that she hardly ever sees the H, who seems intent on avoiding her. thus she also does her best to avoid him as she knows she is thinking about him far too much. she is sad that roele is going to leave very soon and she won't see him again even though she barely knows him.
then a bunch a bad luck happens at once. the other secretary is coming back so Emma loses her nice job with the nice doc. she's upset but when roele passes her and enquires if she's okay, she refuses to confide. secondly she also loses her other job at library where they no longer need her. and then, to top off everything, her mom says she has to move out of the cottage because the mom wants her friend to move in and keep her company. utterly selfish cow move! so now the self sacrificing Emma has only a week to find a new job and home and nobody is hiring because tourist season is nearly over. she is frantic. (I wish she had told her mom what a nasty move it was.)
worse, she thinks she won't see roele again because on her last day at docs office he had been called out for a job and she never got a chance to say goodbye.
anyway, after a couple of weeks of joblessness had passed, Roele had realised that he kissed the daily glimpses of her that he used to get. and it made him realise he'd lost control of his feelings ams he is in love.
this happened at 40% in the book. for me, at this point, all the story tension slipped away. I don't like it when the only conflict in a romance is just that two people haven't confessed their feelings. I like there to be real reasons they can't be together. I read on, hoping a new drama would be introduced. it sadly was not.
so anyway, he comes knocking on her door one day and sees she's upset and persuades her to reveal everything that's happened. he thinks up an idea to try to keep his love with him so offers her an admin job at his practice in Holland. she accepts
he thinks her must pace himself and not reveal his feelings because she has shown no interest in him and he hopes her love will grow. but in Holland, she is determined not to overstep with the boss so she plays it even cooler and he must respond in kind.
other than feeling lonely and wishing she knew more of him, she likes being in Holland. but then she gets news her mom died suddenly in a car crash. in her shock, she lets roele step in and take care of everything. seeing she is frantic to return, he sacrifices his rest and even his food tobtake her home, even hiring a provate plane. he them must go immediate back for his work, and to arrange time off so he can return for the funeral and stay however long she needs him.
he basically does everything for her, including discreetly paying off the shocking debts her spendthrift mom has selfishly racked up and staying with Emma so she won't be alone in the cottage. Emma is worried about what to do next and if he will want her to return to Holland. she says she will sell the cottage to pay him back for the money he has spent. instead, he offers her a marriage of convenience, saying that they can be friends and hopefully a steady kind of love will grow in future. he gently encourages her to accept. she realises she can't bear the thought of being without him who has been her solid rock and ahe accepts, though she explains she doesn't love him.
they marry quickly. he is nice to her, gently easing her into his life in Holland, meeting his friends and family, taking her shopping and to social events etc. when he must go abroad for work for 5 days, he sees Emma is disappointed and will miss him and he is glad her feelings are growing.
then there is the mildest OW drama where someone catty mentions to the h that H used to love a beautiful OW who left him and went to marry an American, but that the OW is now free to marry again. she realises around here that she is in love with him (at 94%) and has been from the start.
ENDING SPOILERS
she tries to speak to H about the OW, and has time to learn that he married Emma before he knew the OW was single again. he sees her jealousy. he realises Emma must love him but she doesnt know it yet. then, before he can explain about the OW, an urgent phonecall takes him abroad.
when letters and a phonecard comes from America during his absence, and a woman impatiently asks for him on the phone, Emma gets a bee in her bonnet that roele must be free to marry the woman he really loves. she writes him a letter along these lines and does a flit back to England.
he comes back from his trip to find her gone and reading between the lines of the letter he sees she loves him, making him v happy. he gets a flight back to England and arrives at the seaside cottage even before she does. she is shocked to find him there when she arrives. he confesses his love. kisses. the end.
I hoped for a more dramatic ending and found this one underwhelming and too mild.
WHY THIS BOOK WASNT SO MEMORABLE FOR ME
1. Heroine had everything to easy and got everything handed to her on a platter really. there was no character striving and growing of the h in this book. no anguish, no real struggles.
2. I'm not quite fan of hero falls first. I like angst for the h and there wasn't much.
3. Plot didn't have much depth either in the save the waif part or in the MOC part. usually Betty's MOC stories show the h finding challenges to overcome.e in her moc, fighting loneliness etc but here there was nothing.
4. no strong conflict point in the novel. no hero fighting his feelings due to a bad past. no OW. nothing. it was all too easy.
5. H was nice but not one of the most memorable heroes of Betty's. nothing truly standout in terms of his character. plus he doesn't really go through any angst himself on page. the fact she will eventually also love him seems pretty inevitable.
6. underwhelming ending with no drama.
CONCLUSION
a nice gentle read but nothing special or memorable. nothing wrong with it either. not boring at all. thus 3.t stars. I probably won't reread this one.
h Emma (27) is a good looking girl, tall, great figure, ordinary face but glorious red hair, who was the daughter of a well off man, living an affluent easy life until dad dies and it turns out he'd lost all his money on a bad investment. now h and her spoiled mom are without money and home other than a small cottage on the seaside. luckily h is a competent, responsible girl and willing to work hard. when their big house in London must be sold to cover debts, they must move to the seaside cottage, where h gets 2 part time jobs to support them both and takes on all the stresses of running the house while spoiled selfish mom overspends the money they don't have. shortly after moving, h bumps into H, a tall handsome RDD (named Roele, aged 35) at the bakery. he stares at her and she finds him attractive but he buys his stuff and immediately leaves. he makes no effort to seek her out. she finds out later that he is a doctor, covering for a local doc for a few months. she hopes to see him around but he makes no effort to seek her out.
I found this a promising start because I like a hard to get hero.
h had been seeing a guy who, for years, seemed on verge of marrying her, and who she thought she could fall in love with if only he would show his feelings more. but after her dad's investment cockup and death, he had dumped h because he is a banker and it would look bad to his colleagues to marry daughter of man who failed so publicly. a month or so passes with h working as an assistant in a library and as a lowly cleaner for some holiday cottages, and worrying about her mum who is constantly complaining that life in this little town is unbearable. h's ex turns up and takes her out to dinner and has the audacity to offer marriage whilst also insulting her late father. he says its okay for them to wed now because the piblicity about her dad wasnt so bad and has blown over and it wont affect his job. she tells him to eff off and leaves in a rage and bumps into the doc outside. she's in such a tearful rage that he lets her sit in her car and talk it out until she calms down then he takes her home. where her selfish mom is angry with her for not marrying the guy who has enough money to support them both. what a cow.
one day, while emma is on her knees scrubbing a holiday cottage, Roele walks in with his sister who has come for a visit with her kids. She's embarrassed but he greets her cordially. later, the sis brefriends Emma and asks her to show her around and they spend time at the beach with her kids. H arrives briefly to see them (between doc visits) and notes how lovely h looks in her swimsuit. but he immediately leaves.
SPOILERS AHEAD
We get some hero pov in the book and so we see that Roele finds Emma attractive but he plans to avoid her because he'd rather not be attracted aa he is going back to Holland soon.
even when he sees her on a date with another young man (son of her mom's friend), he doesn't make a move to engage Emma's affection. Emma meanwhile sees him seeing them together and feels flustered. she only went on the date because she is lonely and the guy was nice and friendly.
just when h's cleaning job gets tricky due to a nasty boss, H offers her a job at doc surgery to work for his partner temporarily while another secretary is away. the pay is also better. h jumps at it. the next couple months are better for her with the decent job and kind boss but she is sad that she hardly ever sees the H, who seems intent on avoiding her. thus she also does her best to avoid him as she knows she is thinking about him far too much. she is sad that roele is going to leave very soon and she won't see him again even though she barely knows him.
then a bunch a bad luck happens at once. the other secretary is coming back so Emma loses her nice job with the nice doc. she's upset but when roele passes her and enquires if she's okay, she refuses to confide. secondly she also loses her other job at library where they no longer need her. and then, to top off everything, her mom says she has to move out of the cottage because the mom wants her friend to move in and keep her company. utterly selfish cow move! so now the self sacrificing Emma has only a week to find a new job and home and nobody is hiring because tourist season is nearly over. she is frantic. (I wish she had told her mom what a nasty move it was.)
worse, she thinks she won't see roele again because on her last day at docs office he had been called out for a job and she never got a chance to say goodbye.
anyway, after a couple of weeks of joblessness had passed, Roele had realised that he kissed the daily glimpses of her that he used to get. and it made him realise he'd lost control of his feelings ams he is in love.
this happened at 40% in the book. for me, at this point, all the story tension slipped away. I don't like it when the only conflict in a romance is just that two people haven't confessed their feelings. I like there to be real reasons they can't be together. I read on, hoping a new drama would be introduced. it sadly was not.
so anyway, he comes knocking on her door one day and sees she's upset and persuades her to reveal everything that's happened. he thinks up an idea to try to keep his love with him so offers her an admin job at his practice in Holland. she accepts
he thinks her must pace himself and not reveal his feelings because she has shown no interest in him and he hopes her love will grow. but in Holland, she is determined not to overstep with the boss so she plays it even cooler and he must respond in kind.
other than feeling lonely and wishing she knew more of him, she likes being in Holland. but then she gets news her mom died suddenly in a car crash. in her shock, she lets roele step in and take care of everything. seeing she is frantic to return, he sacrifices his rest and even his food tobtake her home, even hiring a provate plane. he them must go immediate back for his work, and to arrange time off so he can return for the funeral and stay however long she needs him.
he basically does everything for her, including discreetly paying off the shocking debts her spendthrift mom has selfishly racked up and staying with Emma so she won't be alone in the cottage. Emma is worried about what to do next and if he will want her to return to Holland. she says she will sell the cottage to pay him back for the money he has spent. instead, he offers her a marriage of convenience, saying that they can be friends and hopefully a steady kind of love will grow in future. he gently encourages her to accept. she realises she can't bear the thought of being without him who has been her solid rock and ahe accepts, though she explains she doesn't love him.
they marry quickly. he is nice to her, gently easing her into his life in Holland, meeting his friends and family, taking her shopping and to social events etc. when he must go abroad for work for 5 days, he sees Emma is disappointed and will miss him and he is glad her feelings are growing.
then there is the mildest OW drama where someone catty mentions to the h that H used to love a beautiful OW who left him and went to marry an American, but that the OW is now free to marry again. she realises around here that she is in love with him (at 94%) and has been from the start.
ENDING SPOILERS
she tries to speak to H about the OW, and has time to learn that he married Emma before he knew the OW was single again. he sees her jealousy. he realises Emma must love him but she doesnt know it yet. then, before he can explain about the OW, an urgent phonecall takes him abroad.
when letters and a phonecard comes from America during his absence, and a woman impatiently asks for him on the phone, Emma gets a bee in her bonnet that roele must be free to marry the woman he really loves. she writes him a letter along these lines and does a flit back to England.
he comes back from his trip to find her gone and reading between the lines of the letter he sees she loves him, making him v happy. he gets a flight back to England and arrives at the seaside cottage even before she does. she is shocked to find him there when she arrives. he confesses his love. kisses. the end.
I hoped for a more dramatic ending and found this one underwhelming and too mild.
WHY THIS BOOK WASNT SO MEMORABLE FOR ME
1. Heroine had everything to easy and got everything handed to her on a platter really. there was no character striving and growing of the h in this book. no anguish, no real struggles.
2. I'm not quite fan of hero falls first. I like angst for the h and there wasn't much.
3. Plot didn't have much depth either in the save the waif part or in the MOC part. usually Betty's MOC stories show the h finding challenges to overcome.e in her moc, fighting loneliness etc but here there was nothing.
4. no strong conflict point in the novel. no hero fighting his feelings due to a bad past. no OW. nothing. it was all too easy.
5. H was nice but not one of the most memorable heroes of Betty's. nothing truly standout in terms of his character. plus he doesn't really go through any angst himself on page. the fact she will eventually also love him seems pretty inevitable.
6. underwhelming ending with no drama.
CONCLUSION
a nice gentle read but nothing special or memorable. nothing wrong with it either. not boring at all. thus 3.t stars. I probably won't reread this one.
February 16, 2016
i kept waiting for a bust up, with h's mother spending all of her hard earned money. but before that could happen, she was killed off :|. and the h can't go being angry at her (and her overdrafts). funny how the brother wasn't mentioned later on. i just realized reading the comments that there was supposed to be one, early on. only he's backpacking through australia and can't be bothered to contact them (or sth.).
still, typical betty neels. rather sweet.
oh, there's a shadowy ow, who the H was in love with years before -- veronique. everybody knows about her, but the h. and she thinks she's divorced now (the ow), so it's not fair to H, and runs away. H follows ... rather romantic (and stupid and silly). oh well..., still good :)
still, typical betty neels. rather sweet.
oh, there's a shadowy ow, who the H was in love with years before -- veronique. everybody knows about her, but the h. and she thinks she's divorced now (the ow), so it's not fair to H, and runs away. H follows ... rather romantic (and stupid and silly). oh well..., still good :)
March 18, 2011
Gorgeously oldfashioned but still soothing and sweet. The perfect antidote to a stressy day in the modern world.
August 4, 2014
Another marriage of convenience plot. Brian asked what the appeal was to female readers. It's hard to explain.
November 14, 2012
Good read, easy and light hearted.
August 16, 2015
Fun story. would recommend for summer reading at the beach
January 12, 2018
3.5*
I do like the trope of a marriage of convenience in which the hero Already fell in love with the heroine, and had hoped to woo her during their marriage and gain her love. There's usually the purpose to protect the heroine in whatever circumstances she's found herself in. But these heroes are usually so good at playing it cool that the poor heroine ended up feeling like a child/sister/niece! Haha!
I really wish our Betty Neels heroes would just TALK. They are always called away by patients when it's crucial to talk. I mean the woman you love just declared she loved you, and you just coolly leave to attend to your patient?!
In Emma's Wedding, poor Emma lost her father suddenly and her whole way of life because he died heavily in debt, a bankrupt due to a bad investment. Not only that but she lost her boyfriend and assumed future husband! The WORST was being saddled with a nasty and burdensome mother who only moaned about not being able to throw money left and right.
Interestingly, I suspect the author forgot she's given Emma a brother. A spoilt young man, he had already inherited a modest sum from a distant relative and after graduating had left on his world tour and basically incommunicado!
SPOILERS SPOILERS
When Emma's mother died, she assumed she's inherited whatever was left. And here I was worried this brother would come back and insist on his half, especially the cottage! So Emma would really be homeless! But by then Roele had taken her under his wing so she's safe.
The way the mother had basically booted Emma out of the cottage and made it seem like she was abandoning her old mother was despicable. Was I evil to feel glad she died? If I had any pity, they'd be gone after finding out how much more debt she's piled up in the short weeks Emma was in Holland. The bank was stupid to extend her an overdraft without security!
Emma was the stoic and practical heroine. She was brought up a rich miss but when needed, she's willing to do anything to earn a living. So admirable!
Her first meetings with Roele were powerful. Both got "electrocuted" by love! Love at first sight aww...
I loved reading the hero's point of view and he knew his heart and mind early on. It was good to see how he manoeuvred things to protect her. The day he brought her back to England, poor him was tired and hungry but impatient Emma was resentful of him even being offered sandwiches and coffee by Smitty! Not one of Emma's best moments but those were extenuating circumstances...
Love the settings of both Salcombe and Amsterdam Roele's home.
I do like the trope of a marriage of convenience in which the hero Already fell in love with the heroine, and had hoped to woo her during their marriage and gain her love. There's usually the purpose to protect the heroine in whatever circumstances she's found herself in. But these heroes are usually so good at playing it cool that the poor heroine ended up feeling like a child/sister/niece! Haha!
I really wish our Betty Neels heroes would just TALK. They are always called away by patients when it's crucial to talk. I mean the woman you love just declared she loved you, and you just coolly leave to attend to your patient?!
In Emma's Wedding, poor Emma lost her father suddenly and her whole way of life because he died heavily in debt, a bankrupt due to a bad investment. Not only that but she lost her boyfriend and assumed future husband! The WORST was being saddled with a nasty and burdensome mother who only moaned about not being able to throw money left and right.
Interestingly, I suspect the author forgot she's given Emma a brother. A spoilt young man, he had already inherited a modest sum from a distant relative and after graduating had left on his world tour and basically incommunicado!
SPOILERS SPOILERS
When Emma's mother died, she assumed she's inherited whatever was left. And here I was worried this brother would come back and insist on his half, especially the cottage! So Emma would really be homeless! But by then Roele had taken her under his wing so she's safe.
The way the mother had basically booted Emma out of the cottage and made it seem like she was abandoning her old mother was despicable. Was I evil to feel glad she died? If I had any pity, they'd be gone after finding out how much more debt she's piled up in the short weeks Emma was in Holland. The bank was stupid to extend her an overdraft without security!
Emma was the stoic and practical heroine. She was brought up a rich miss but when needed, she's willing to do anything to earn a living. So admirable!
Her first meetings with Roele were powerful. Both got "electrocuted" by love! Love at first sight aww...
I loved reading the hero's point of view and he knew his heart and mind early on. It was good to see how he manoeuvred things to protect her. The day he brought her back to England, poor him was tired and hungry but impatient Emma was resentful of him even being offered sandwiches and coffee by Smitty! Not one of Emma's best moments but those were extenuating circumstances...
Love the settings of both Salcombe and Amsterdam Roele's home.
February 1, 2018
Rich Dutch doctor? Check.
English nurse? Nope. But we have a redheaded English spinster (at 27!) who can work as a medical secretary, for part of the time in this story. She's a girl who comes from a wealthy background, but because of the death of her father, has been thrust into financially dire straits. She's no snob when it comes to finding work to support herself and her family.
This time, the heroine has a rather unhelpful and selfish mother who is out of touch with their new lifestyle of economy.
Marriage of convenience? Well, erm...kinda,...sorta....
We have a one sided love on the part of the doctor, who decides to woo his wife after they marry.
Too bad that she's a little clueless.
I liked the story, because I liked that the doc didn't really try to mess around with the heroine's feelings too much. However, he could have talked a little bit more to quell the heroine's jealousy and questions about the woman from his past, but Betty Neel's heroes really don't talk much until Chapter 9.
English nurse? Nope. But we have a redheaded English spinster (at 27!) who can work as a medical secretary, for part of the time in this story. She's a girl who comes from a wealthy background, but because of the death of her father, has been thrust into financially dire straits. She's no snob when it comes to finding work to support herself and her family.
This time, the heroine has a rather unhelpful and selfish mother who is out of touch with their new lifestyle of economy.
Marriage of convenience? Well, erm...kinda,...sorta....
We have a one sided love on the part of the doctor, who decides to woo his wife after they marry.
Too bad that she's a little clueless.
I liked the story, because I liked that the doc didn't really try to mess around with the heroine's feelings too much. However, he could have talked a little bit more to quell the heroine's jealousy and questions about the woman from his past, but Betty Neel's heroes really don't talk much until Chapter 9.
March 25, 2024
My real rating is more of a 2.5/5
Let me start this off by saying I did not actually know what to expect with this book. And that I solely got it/read it as a joke. The main female character and I share a first name and by crazy coincidence her maiden name, ‘Dawson’, is also my significant other’s first name.
While the writing style was a bit… wonky(?), I was actually pretty entertained by about 60% of the book. I really sympathized with and liked the main character and was rooting for her.
Chapter 6 is when it started going down hill… fast. And the last 2 or 3 chapters were kinda painful to read for me personally. The writing got even wonkier, I was starting to get frustrated with how Roele was treating Emma, and overall it felt incredibly rushed (so much so that I think I got readers whiplash). Also, her brother was mentioned once then never again, huh??
Personally, I felt like she deserved better than to just be a “stay at home wife”… I think she was actually happier working with Smitty. But I mean as long as she is actually happy that’s all that matters.
Let me start this off by saying I did not actually know what to expect with this book. And that I solely got it/read it as a joke. The main female character and I share a first name and by crazy coincidence her maiden name, ‘Dawson’, is also my significant other’s first name.
While the writing style was a bit… wonky(?), I was actually pretty entertained by about 60% of the book. I really sympathized with and liked the main character and was rooting for her.
Chapter 6 is when it started going down hill… fast. And the last 2 or 3 chapters were kinda painful to read for me personally. The writing got even wonkier, I was starting to get frustrated with how Roele was treating Emma, and overall it felt incredibly rushed (so much so that I think I got readers whiplash). Also, her brother was mentioned once then never again, huh??
Personally, I felt like she deserved better than to just be a “stay at home wife”… I think she was actually happier working with Smitty. But I mean as long as she is actually happy that’s all that matters.
May 12, 2021
I really liked the spirit of the heroine Emma in this book. When her father dies leaving her and her mother with very less money and lots of debt they are forced to sell their house and move to a country house. Emma having had no job experience or any particular skills takes up mere jobs like maid and library assistant to keep her house running.
She meets the hero in her village of salcombe he being out Dutch doctor and they get on good terms and Emma gets a temporary job in his clinic as a receptionist,
When the doctor heads back to holland he offers the same job to Emma and her mother having found a friend as her company urges Emma to take up the job.
As she gets to settle in her job her mother does and Emma comes home to find more dents and forced to sell her house that’s when the good doctor proposes marriage to her all the while hiding his feelings for her as he had fallen in love with Emma at first sight.
He meticulously plans everything so that Emma is his wife and now hopes for her to fall in love with her which she soon realises to be her feeling too and it ends on a happy note
She meets the hero in her village of salcombe he being out Dutch doctor and they get on good terms and Emma gets a temporary job in his clinic as a receptionist,
When the doctor heads back to holland he offers the same job to Emma and her mother having found a friend as her company urges Emma to take up the job.
As she gets to settle in her job her mother does and Emma comes home to find more dents and forced to sell her house that’s when the good doctor proposes marriage to her all the while hiding his feelings for her as he had fallen in love with Emma at first sight.
He meticulously plans everything so that Emma is his wife and now hopes for her to fall in love with her which she soon realises to be her feeling too and it ends on a happy note
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 9, 2021
Emma is a young woman dealing with a lot of heartbreak, losing her father was hard but the chain reaction this causes, changes Emma’s world, but she won’t have to face it alone, from stage left enters Roele Van Dyke a strong shoulder to lean on.
Another beautiful story from Betty Neels which leaves a warm fuzzy feeling inside.
Another beautiful story from Betty Neels which leaves a warm fuzzy feeling inside.
October 9, 2023
I was genuinely wondering if this book was ghostwritten. There were odd continuity issues (a brother mentioned in the beginning then never again..even though he should have been) the wierd jobs Emma had.. and finally a mention of orgies which is very odd for an author that usually just has a few kisses.
July 8, 2021
Too many narcissistic people.
The mother was entirely too selfish, and Emma was a bit too over-reactive. This created too much unnecessary drama. One or Two instances would have sufficed.
The mother was entirely too selfish, and Emma was a bit too over-reactive. This created too much unnecessary drama. One or Two instances would have sufficed.
December 12, 2023
Another BN book where the hero (Dr Van Dyke) falls first. Although I liked Emma, she wasn't as feisty and independent as some of Betty's other characters. It was a sweet story with a marriage of convenience and the some witty dialogue.
August 16, 2025
Another Betty Neels romance about a damsel
In distress and the Doctor in shining armor who loves her. Emma and her doctor’s marriage of convenience runs into a jealous patch before she realizes love.
In distress and the Doctor in shining armor who loves her. Emma and her doctor’s marriage of convenience runs into a jealous patch before she realizes love.
January 6, 2018
Sweet Romance
Betty Neels never disappoints. Whenever I need a happily ever after, these old fashion- doctor romance is perfect for cold snowy days.
Betty Neels never disappoints. Whenever I need a happily ever after, these old fashion- doctor romance is perfect for cold snowy days.
July 24, 2018
Lovely
If you enjoy your romances clean, light, fluffy and vintage then you will enjoy the wonderful work of Betty Neels
If you enjoy your romances clean, light, fluffy and vintage then you will enjoy the wonderful work of Betty Neels
November 22, 2018
Great writing.
Wonderful story. Miss this author s talented writing. Each story painted a picture with words. Betty Neels was a master of story telling
Wonderful story. Miss this author s talented writing. Each story painted a picture with words. Betty Neels was a master of story telling
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