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The Secret Pool
While vacationing in Holland with her three elderly aunts, Francesca unexectedly encounters her boss, Dr. Litrick van Rijgen, who opens her heart to possibilities of true love. Reprint.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 1987
48 people are currently reading
255 people want to read
About the author
Betty Neels
564 books417 followersEvelyn Jessy "Betty" Neels was born on September 15, 1910 in Devon to a family with firm roots in the civil service. She said she had a blissfully happy childhood and teenage years.(This stood her in good stead later for the tribulations to come with the Second World War). She was sent away to boarding school, and then went on to train as a nurse, gaining her SRN and SCM, that is, State Registered Nurse and State Certificate of Midwifery.
In 1939 she was called up to the Territorial Army Nursing Service, which later became the Queen Alexandra Reserves, and was sent to France with the Casualty Clearing Station. This comprised eight nursing sisters, including Betty, to 100 men! In other circumstances, she thought that might have been quite thrilling! When France was invaded in 1940, all the nursing sisters managed to escape in the charge of an army major, undertaking a lengthy and terrifying journey to Boulogne in an ambulance. They were incredibly fortunate to be put on the last hospital ship to be leaving the port of Boulogne. But Betty's war didn't end there, for she was posted to Scotland, and then on to Northern Ireland, where she met her Dutch husband. He was a seaman aboard a minesweeper, which was bombed. He survived and was sent to the south of Holland to guard the sluices. However, when they had to abandon their post, they were told to escape if they could, and along with a small number of other men, he marched into Belgium. They stole a ship and managed to get it across the Channel to Dover before being transferred to the Atlantic run on the convoys. Sadly he became ill, and that was when he was transferred to hospital in Northern Ireland, where he met Betty. They eventually married, and were blessed with a daughter. They were posted to London, but were bombed out. As with most of the population, they made the best of things.
When the war finally ended, she and her husband were repatriated to Holland. As his family had believed he had died when his ship went down, this was a very emotional homecoming. The small family lived in Holland for 13 years, and Betty resumed her nursing career there. When they decided to return to England, Betty continued her nursing and when she eventually retired she had reached the position of night superintendent.
Betty Neels began writing almost by accident. She had retired from nursing, but her inquiring mind had no intention of vegetating, and her new career was born when she heard a lady in her local library bemoaning the lack of good romance novels. There was little in Betty's background to suggest that she might eventually become a much-loved novelist.
Her first book, Sister Peters in Amsterdam, was published in 1969, and by dint of often writing four books a year, she eventually completed 134 books. She was always quite firm upon the point that the Dutch doctors who frequently appeared in her stories were *not* based upon her husband, but rather upon an amalgam of several of the doctors she met while nursing in Holland.
To her millions of fans around the world, Betty Neels epitomized romance. She was always amazed and touched that her books were so widely appreciated. She never sought plaudits and remained a very private person, but it made her very happy to know that she brought such pleasure to so many readers, while herself gaining a quiet joy from spinning her stories. It is perhaps a reflection of her upbringing in an earlier time that the men and women who peopled her stories have a kindliness and good manners, coupled to honesty and integrity, that is not always present in our modern world. Her myriad of fans found a warmth and a reassurance of a better world in her stories, along with characters who touched the heart, which is all and more than one could ask of a romance writer. She received a great deal of fan mail, and there was always a comment upon the fascinating places she visited in her stories. Quite often those of her fans fortunate enough to visit Ho
In 1939 she was called up to the Territorial Army Nursing Service, which later became the Queen Alexandra Reserves, and was sent to France with the Casualty Clearing Station. This comprised eight nursing sisters, including Betty, to 100 men! In other circumstances, she thought that might have been quite thrilling! When France was invaded in 1940, all the nursing sisters managed to escape in the charge of an army major, undertaking a lengthy and terrifying journey to Boulogne in an ambulance. They were incredibly fortunate to be put on the last hospital ship to be leaving the port of Boulogne. But Betty's war didn't end there, for she was posted to Scotland, and then on to Northern Ireland, where she met her Dutch husband. He was a seaman aboard a minesweeper, which was bombed. He survived and was sent to the south of Holland to guard the sluices. However, when they had to abandon their post, they were told to escape if they could, and along with a small number of other men, he marched into Belgium. They stole a ship and managed to get it across the Channel to Dover before being transferred to the Atlantic run on the convoys. Sadly he became ill, and that was when he was transferred to hospital in Northern Ireland, where he met Betty. They eventually married, and were blessed with a daughter. They were posted to London, but were bombed out. As with most of the population, they made the best of things.
When the war finally ended, she and her husband were repatriated to Holland. As his family had believed he had died when his ship went down, this was a very emotional homecoming. The small family lived in Holland for 13 years, and Betty resumed her nursing career there. When they decided to return to England, Betty continued her nursing and when she eventually retired she had reached the position of night superintendent.
Betty Neels began writing almost by accident. She had retired from nursing, but her inquiring mind had no intention of vegetating, and her new career was born when she heard a lady in her local library bemoaning the lack of good romance novels. There was little in Betty's background to suggest that she might eventually become a much-loved novelist.
Her first book, Sister Peters in Amsterdam, was published in 1969, and by dint of often writing four books a year, she eventually completed 134 books. She was always quite firm upon the point that the Dutch doctors who frequently appeared in her stories were *not* based upon her husband, but rather upon an amalgam of several of the doctors she met while nursing in Holland.
To her millions of fans around the world, Betty Neels epitomized romance. She was always amazed and touched that her books were so widely appreciated. She never sought plaudits and remained a very private person, but it made her very happy to know that she brought such pleasure to so many readers, while herself gaining a quiet joy from spinning her stories. It is perhaps a reflection of her upbringing in an earlier time that the men and women who peopled her stories have a kindliness and good manners, coupled to honesty and integrity, that is not always present in our modern world. Her myriad of fans found a warmth and a reassurance of a better world in her stories, along with characters who touched the heart, which is all and more than one could ask of a romance writer. She received a great deal of fan mail, and there was always a comment upon the fascinating places she visited in her stories. Quite often those of her fans fortunate enough to visit Ho
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 30, 2021
A tearjerker from BN that is one of her best tales, IMO, although I don’t know that I’d really call it a romance. This one always makes me break out the hankies, and it’s not just the heartbreaking linchpin event, , it’s the suffering that the heroine endures at the hands of the hero, who even for Betty is particularly cold and remote, outside of his loving relationship with his daughter. it's a hard-won HEA for sure. I do actually love this book and think it’s one of BN's real standouts, particularly if you like heavy angst (and have lots of hankies at hand). But the actual romance is thin on the ground, although we come to a HEA that I’d like to believe in.
September 23, 2025
This is a gorgeous book - and so different from any other Betty Neels. I love it, but many readers may find it hard to take. There is a death in the novel and it's front and center.
The romance takes second place to other drama happening in the story, but it's well worth a read for the descriptions of the countryside and the healing that takes place after grief.
The romance takes second place to other drama happening in the story, but it's well worth a read for the descriptions of the countryside and the healing that takes place after grief.
January 23, 2018
I rated this 4 stars, but I'm not sure if I really loved it or hated it.
The marriage of convenience trope is a familiar one to readers of romance in general and in particular to readers of Betty Neels. TGB apparently never met a MOC she didn’t like and some of her efforts in this regard are quite successful. I’m torn on The Secret Pool, however.
First of all, the reason for this MOC is probably the best in the Canon. Secondly, both H/h come into the marriage with plenty of baggage. However, this RDD REALLY has a lot of baggage, which we learn at the same time as the PBN.
Litrik van Rijgen is a widower with a six year old disabled daughter, and not only disabled, but terminally ill. She wants above all things to have a mother that resembles the Mrs. Mouse in her favorite picture book.
Francesca Manning is an orphan who was brought up by three very old-fashioned, duty-driven maiden aunts. They are from the mold in which family is all and one’s duty to one’s family comes above one’s personal inclination. They have traded on that to keep Fran tied to them, working as a Sister in the local Cottage Hospital rather than a large metropolitan hospital. Fran is aware of their selfishness but doesn’t buck the status quo.
Litrik asks Fran to marry him so that Lisa will have the mother of her dreams (Fran is small with hazel eyes and mousy-brown hair) for the last few months of her life. Fran is hardly flattered (and who can blame her!) and she rather dislikes Litrik besides, stemming back to an incident in her student days when he ticked her off when she fell asleep during his lecture when she had been on night duty (shades of Lucy in Ring in a Teacup, but not nearly as charming and humorous). Besides, there are the aunts; and what about after, you know, when Lisa is gone? Litrik assures her he will arrange for an annulment, that the local dominee knows all about it and approves of the scheme.
Fran is persuaded to agree after she meets Lisa, who in spite of her condition, is an adorable little girl who enjoys life. Litrik gives Fran the picture book and asks her to find a wedding dress as much like the one worn by Mrs. Mouse as possible, which she does. All goes well – Litrik soothes the aunts; his family takes to Fran; the dominee assures Fran that the marriage is for a good cause and an annulment will not be a problem. And Lisa is thrilled. She and Fran become very close with Fran taking her on outings as much and for as long as is possible. Their favorite place is a small pond behind the house of Mevrouw Honig and they go there often where Fran holds Lisa and tells her a neverending story. However, the inevitable occurs – actually, both of the inevitable events occur: Fran falls in love with Litrik and Lisa dies.
Litrik reacts very badly – VERY BADLY – to Lisa’s death. He treats poor Fran, who is herself truly grieving, with unconscionable coldness, although he behaves correctly in public view. After the funeral, Litrik is away for a few days; when he comes back he apologizes to Fran for how he has treated her and tells her that Lisa was not his biological daughter. His former wife was pregnant by another man when he married her and she had tried to have the baby aborted; the abortion failed and Lisa was born with the defect that eventually takes her life. His wife left them shortly after Lisa’s birth and was killed (honestly, I don’t remember how, but it’s usually a car crash or plane crash).
Fran is sympathetic but she herself is hurting so badly from both Lisa’s death and her unrequited love that she just wants to get away. She mentions the annulment to him several times and he tells her he will arrange things. Once he says something about dreams don’t have to end, but she doesn’t hear him.
An elderly great aunt of Litrik’s has an 80th birthday party and all the family attend. At the end of the evening, the aunt asks Fran if she loves Litrik and if she wants to have his babies. She says yes, more than anything in the world, then looks up and sees Litrik standing there. She is afraid he overheard, but he never says anything so she thinks he didn’t.
Litrik brings home her ticket to England booked for the following day. She is peeved that she only has a day to say goodbye to everyone. She packs only the clothes she brought with her before the wedding and Litrik says he is going to drive her to the boat. Instead, he stops on the road, tells her he loves her and yes, he eavesdropped on her and his aunt, and that they are going to a cottage for a week. She asks what if she insisted on going to England and he says he would have kidnapped her.
Wow. The FEELS. This book is a real tearjerker. TGB did a great job dealing with all the issues surrounding Lisa and Fran and Lisa’s death. I do have one problem with this book and it’s kinda a biggie. Litrik tells Fran he has loved her a long time - that he knew he loved her when he asked her to marry him. If that is true, then he really was an ass after Lisa died. I know that men have difficulty in showing grief or tears or weakness, but he was really mean to Fran. I agree with the TUJD blog that it would make a lot more sense if he fell in love with Fran after Lisa’s death, otherwise, why/how could he be so vicious to her?
I do love that he anticipated (perhaps set up?) the scene between Fran and his aunt and that he shamelessly eavesdropped to find out if Fran really loved him. Regardless, this is not one of LaNeels’ forgettable books. Litrik goes into the same category with Reilof from The Hasty Marriage – inexplicable, but not boring.
The marriage of convenience trope is a familiar one to readers of romance in general and in particular to readers of Betty Neels. TGB apparently never met a MOC she didn’t like and some of her efforts in this regard are quite successful. I’m torn on The Secret Pool, however.
First of all, the reason for this MOC is probably the best in the Canon. Secondly, both H/h come into the marriage with plenty of baggage. However, this RDD REALLY has a lot of baggage, which we learn at the same time as the PBN.
Litrik van Rijgen is a widower with a six year old disabled daughter, and not only disabled, but terminally ill. She wants above all things to have a mother that resembles the Mrs. Mouse in her favorite picture book.
Francesca Manning is an orphan who was brought up by three very old-fashioned, duty-driven maiden aunts. They are from the mold in which family is all and one’s duty to one’s family comes above one’s personal inclination. They have traded on that to keep Fran tied to them, working as a Sister in the local Cottage Hospital rather than a large metropolitan hospital. Fran is aware of their selfishness but doesn’t buck the status quo.
Litrik asks Fran to marry him so that Lisa will have the mother of her dreams (Fran is small with hazel eyes and mousy-brown hair) for the last few months of her life. Fran is hardly flattered (and who can blame her!) and she rather dislikes Litrik besides, stemming back to an incident in her student days when he ticked her off when she fell asleep during his lecture when she had been on night duty (shades of Lucy in Ring in a Teacup, but not nearly as charming and humorous). Besides, there are the aunts; and what about after, you know, when Lisa is gone? Litrik assures her he will arrange for an annulment, that the local dominee knows all about it and approves of the scheme.
Fran is persuaded to agree after she meets Lisa, who in spite of her condition, is an adorable little girl who enjoys life. Litrik gives Fran the picture book and asks her to find a wedding dress as much like the one worn by Mrs. Mouse as possible, which she does. All goes well – Litrik soothes the aunts; his family takes to Fran; the dominee assures Fran that the marriage is for a good cause and an annulment will not be a problem. And Lisa is thrilled. She and Fran become very close with Fran taking her on outings as much and for as long as is possible. Their favorite place is a small pond behind the house of Mevrouw Honig and they go there often where Fran holds Lisa and tells her a neverending story. However, the inevitable occurs – actually, both of the inevitable events occur: Fran falls in love with Litrik and Lisa dies.
Litrik reacts very badly – VERY BADLY – to Lisa’s death. He treats poor Fran, who is herself truly grieving, with unconscionable coldness, although he behaves correctly in public view. After the funeral, Litrik is away for a few days; when he comes back he apologizes to Fran for how he has treated her and tells her that Lisa was not his biological daughter. His former wife was pregnant by another man when he married her and she had tried to have the baby aborted; the abortion failed and Lisa was born with the defect that eventually takes her life. His wife left them shortly after Lisa’s birth and was killed (honestly, I don’t remember how, but it’s usually a car crash or plane crash).
Fran is sympathetic but she herself is hurting so badly from both Lisa’s death and her unrequited love that she just wants to get away. She mentions the annulment to him several times and he tells her he will arrange things. Once he says something about dreams don’t have to end, but she doesn’t hear him.
An elderly great aunt of Litrik’s has an 80th birthday party and all the family attend. At the end of the evening, the aunt asks Fran if she loves Litrik and if she wants to have his babies. She says yes, more than anything in the world, then looks up and sees Litrik standing there. She is afraid he overheard, but he never says anything so she thinks he didn’t.
Litrik brings home her ticket to England booked for the following day. She is peeved that she only has a day to say goodbye to everyone. She packs only the clothes she brought with her before the wedding and Litrik says he is going to drive her to the boat. Instead, he stops on the road, tells her he loves her and yes, he eavesdropped on her and his aunt, and that they are going to a cottage for a week. She asks what if she insisted on going to England and he says he would have kidnapped her.
Wow. The FEELS. This book is a real tearjerker. TGB did a great job dealing with all the issues surrounding Lisa and Fran and Lisa’s death. I do have one problem with this book and it’s kinda a biggie. Litrik tells Fran he has loved her a long time - that he knew he loved her when he asked her to marry him. If that is true, then he really was an ass after Lisa died. I know that men have difficulty in showing grief or tears or weakness, but he was really mean to Fran. I agree with the TUJD blog that it would make a lot more sense if he fell in love with Fran after Lisa’s death, otherwise, why/how could he be so vicious to her?
I do love that he anticipated (perhaps set up?) the scene between Fran and his aunt and that he shamelessly eavesdropped to find out if Fran really loved him. Regardless, this is not one of LaNeels’ forgettable books. Litrik goes into the same category with Reilof from The Hasty Marriage – inexplicable, but not boring.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2014
This is a book that might be difficult for some people. The heroine Francesca is sought out by Dr Litrik van Rijgen because she would be a perfect mother for his little daughter. Lisa is dying and her one wish is to have a mother like the mouse heroine in her story book.
The story centres mostly around the relationship with Lisa once Francesca marries Litrik but they spend family time together and she gets to know Litrik who was embittered by his marriage to Lisa's mother. The agreement is for Lisa's lifespan and she is only expected to live a few more months so when Francesca discovers she has feelings for Litrik she struggles.
This was an emotional read at times but the disability and final illness of Lisa was handled sensitively. The end was very sweet and while some people have criticised Litrik's reactions I thought they were consistent. I loved the story even though it was sad at times and was so pleased both Litrik and Francesca got their happy ending.
The story centres mostly around the relationship with Lisa once Francesca marries Litrik but they spend family time together and she gets to know Litrik who was embittered by his marriage to Lisa's mother. The agreement is for Lisa's lifespan and she is only expected to live a few more months so when Francesca discovers she has feelings for Litrik she struggles.
This was an emotional read at times but the disability and final illness of Lisa was handled sensitively. The end was very sweet and while some people have criticised Litrik's reactions I thought they were consistent. I loved the story even though it was sad at times and was so pleased both Litrik and Francesca got their happy ending.
April 18, 2024
A bit more serious than the typical Neels book. This marriage of convenience takes place because the RDD has a young daughter who is dying. Her greatest wish is for a mother - and she knows exactly how this mother will look and act. Nurse Fran fits the description perfectly and of course agrees to marry to make the little girl's last few months happy. Who wouldn't? lol
I could quite see these two kind people falling in love and I enjoyed reading their story. This is an especially sweet and tender tale perfect for when you're wishing for a bit of sentiment with your romance.
NB - If you enjoy Neel's books join the conversation at the GR group Betty Neels Fanatics See you there!
I could quite see these two kind people falling in love and I enjoyed reading their story. This is an especially sweet and tender tale perfect for when you're wishing for a bit of sentiment with your romance.
NB - If you enjoy Neel's books join the conversation at the GR group Betty Neels Fanatics See you there!
July 4, 2014
Oh dear. I think I have to re-arrange my top five favorite Betty Neels novels. This is a tear festival. Heaven help us.
June 19, 2022
I simply can't rate this story as high as other readers. The Betty yanked my chain once too often.
The H and h started out angry with each other. That isn't, in itself, unusual in Mrs. Neels' romances, but it made it difficult for me to warm up to either character. Cross, rage, snubbed and beastly are a few of the words Francesca thought of Litrik. We find out some of the reasons for Litrik's behavior, but it's not until the very end of the story.
Because of his terminally ill daughter, Litrik proposed marriage to Francesca. Fran and six-year-old Lisa were taken with each other, and for only this reason, she accepted his proposal. She would be her mama and provide her with unending love at all times. Litrik and Francesca intend to annul the marriage at a later date.
Of the two adults I liked Litrik better than Francesca. She was just too moody. It didn't help that neither of them were honest and upfront about how they felt after Lisa died (and no, this is not a spoiler because it is revealed from the get-go, it is just a matter of when). The Secret Pool was an emotional story up until the last three pages.
The H and h started out angry with each other. That isn't, in itself, unusual in Mrs. Neels' romances, but it made it difficult for me to warm up to either character. Cross, rage, snubbed and beastly are a few of the words Francesca thought of Litrik. We find out some of the reasons for Litrik's behavior, but it's not until the very end of the story.
Because of his terminally ill daughter, Litrik proposed marriage to Francesca. Fran and six-year-old Lisa were taken with each other, and for only this reason, she accepted his proposal. She would be her mama and provide her with unending love at all times. Litrik and Francesca intend to annul the marriage at a later date.
Of the two adults I liked Litrik better than Francesca. She was just too moody. It didn't help that neither of them were honest and upfront about how they felt after Lisa died (and no, this is not a spoiler because it is revealed from the get-go, it is just a matter of when). The Secret Pool was an emotional story up until the last three pages.
February 12, 2018
This may be my favorite Betty Neels so far. The formula starts out the same with the cantankerous but gorgeous Dutch doctor and the Mousy nurse with beautiful eyes, but the small tragedy within is so well written that it elevates the story beyond most. There is better communication between the parties and our doctor even occasionally apologizes which is a definite plus.
Popsugar 2018:
Popsugar 2018:
November 6, 2018
Reseña #57
El mismo plot de siempre con poca variación. Chica en apuros sin mayor atractivo, solitaria y con poca base para desarrollarse profesionalmente. Èl es un doctor mayor, guapo y con muchísima solvencia económica que conoce a la protagonista y decide ayudarla. Empieza con sentimientos caritativos hacia ella, pero cuando se da cuenta de las habilidades y cualidades emocionales de ella es que se enamora, pero considera que es demasiado mayor para ella, quien debería estar con gente joven. Aquí sabemos lo que él siente por la protagonista y sus sentimientos encontrados por esto mismo. Me gustaron estos protagonistas.
En esta novela (como en todas las de BN) no esperemos feminismo ni mujeres apasionadas y fuertes de carácter, tampoco hombres machistas, llevados de su idea. Es
Novela muy vintage, dulce, fácil de leer y muy, muy Neels... y así me gusta, quien la ha leído y disfrutado, me entiende.
4/5
El mismo plot de siempre con poca variación. Chica en apuros sin mayor atractivo, solitaria y con poca base para desarrollarse profesionalmente. Èl es un doctor mayor, guapo y con muchísima solvencia económica que conoce a la protagonista y decide ayudarla. Empieza con sentimientos caritativos hacia ella, pero cuando se da cuenta de las habilidades y cualidades emocionales de ella es que se enamora, pero considera que es demasiado mayor para ella, quien debería estar con gente joven. Aquí sabemos lo que él siente por la protagonista y sus sentimientos encontrados por esto mismo. Me gustaron estos protagonistas.
En esta novela (como en todas las de BN) no esperemos feminismo ni mujeres apasionadas y fuertes de carácter, tampoco hombres machistas, llevados de su idea. Es
Novela muy vintage, dulce, fácil de leer y muy, muy Neels... y así me gusta, quien la ha leído y disfrutado, me entiende.
4/5
May 19, 2017
Very sweet and heartfelt. A love story first between a terminally ill little girl and the PBN who is handpicked by her RDD papa to be her "mousy mama". Lisa is very sweet and Litrick's devotion to her is amazing esp. when we learn she is not his daughter but his wife's lover's child whom he raised after her desertion and death. Fran is quiet and gentle and loving; all the attributes Lisa seeks for her mama. Tender and lovely.
June 17, 2024
Loved it, as I do all of BN's books. Knocked off a star because I wish she had taken the angst a step further by making the h actually leave at the end and the H run after her.
There are plenty of reviews on this one so I wont go into detail. Just know that this book packs a punch mainly because of of the death of the ML's sick little girl and subsequent emotions it triggers. Betty handled it beautifully. I literaly moaned/sobbed from the angst at one point and there are not a lot of authors who can do that to me.
Anyway, I highly recommend this one and if you know of any books with similar plots, please share. I'm ready to cry my eyes out.
There are plenty of reviews on this one so I wont go into detail. Just know that this book packs a punch mainly because of of the death of the ML's sick little girl and subsequent emotions it triggers. Betty handled it beautifully. I literaly moaned/sobbed from the angst at one point and there are not a lot of authors who can do that to me.
Anyway, I highly recommend this one and if you know of any books with similar plots, please share. I'm ready to cry my eyes out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2011
This book is so bad I am embarrassed to have read it! 1987. Perhaps Neels's writing steadily declined with her age. [She was really old when she wrote this one.:]
All the characters are intelligent, well-educated conversationalists, but we are repeatedly told that the women always clustered together to talk about the latest fashions and what they were going to wear to the next social event.
Her stereotyped plot is again the same old story.
All the characters are intelligent, well-educated conversationalists, but we are repeatedly told that the women always clustered together to talk about the latest fashions and what they were going to wear to the next social event.
Her stereotyped plot is again the same old story.
April 20, 2021
I think this has to be my favorite BN story. My emotions were grabbed from the start with little Lisa's plight, and how much Francesca came to love her- and her MOC husband, Litrik.
Still a good HEA that I believed.
Still a good HEA that I believed.
Want to read
August 6, 2016I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13134678
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/13134678
February 6, 2021
I think the plot was good, but, boy, the MC's chemistry was so lacking I got bored quickly. The author's heroes were always so cold. The abrupt ending is also so annoying.
October 3, 2023
2.5 rounded up to 3...because the hero is kind of a dickhead. However, it's nice that the heroine has some backbone and a serrated tongue occasionally. And definitely La Neels should be saluted for her delicate, tragic handling of a sensitive topic.
June 22, 2018
4.5* 1986
Wow. This has got to be one of the most memorable Betty Neels books in my opinion! It was so intense, angsty and saaaaaad! Of course we have a HEA, but getting there was a heart wrenching journey.
Fran was this steadfast heroine. She rose to the occasion beautifully each time doing what was needed. Her selfish aunts might have given her a home when she was orphaned, but they sure got her at their beck and call like a hired help! Emotional blackmails...
I still do not know how I feel about Litrik. I wondered what Fran saw in him because he was not very nice, and sometimes downright nasty! Their backstory was kind of cute, she fell asleep in his lecture, he made her cry by humiliating her! I believe it could be one major factor spurring her on to work so hard she was the gold medalist of her class! She had gumption our heroine Francesca! Look at her epic shopping spree! I think it's the first time an RDD had to concede defeat to our heroine haha!
Initially I couldn't understand what's with his sudden cold stares, mocking and sneering. Fran had absolutely no obligation to help him by marrying him and becoming the dream "mousy" mama Lisa wanted. It was pure emotional blackmail Litrik used to get Fran to marry him...and later he confessed he already loved her at the point, so was he then making use of poor ill Lisa's condition to make Fran marry him? However when reading this, I already had a hunch he already fell in love with her when he saw her again at her award ceremony. Other readers have said they didn't buy it because he was so horrid to Fran after Lisa died, but in his defence I'd say he was grief stricken, and probably panicking over Fran's wish to get her annulment fast! Because thanks to both their perfect bland/serene masks, he thought the ONLY reason she'd stay on was Lisa!
As his mother explained the effect of his first disastrous marriage and Lisa's birth right, I began to see why Fran loved Litrik. She saw the REAL Litrik when he was with Lisa, the carefree, caring and loving man he really was. It was when Lisa wasn't around that his mask slipped on and he kept hurting Fran. I felt so bad for her each time he made Fran cry...But I could also see why he was such a b@$tard!
There had been other deaths in a BN book, but little Lisa's was particularly poignant and sad. The depth of emotions this story brought out in me will make me remember this book well. I cannot say I love it, but the powerful writing makes me give this one of the highest ratings ever. This book makes the rest feel so fluffy! I actually had to pause by beginning of chapter nine to take a breath!
4.5* indeed.
We meet Fran and Litrik in No Need to Say Goodbye. Litrik was such a loving husband and they had a baby boy!
Wow. This has got to be one of the most memorable Betty Neels books in my opinion! It was so intense, angsty and saaaaaad! Of course we have a HEA, but getting there was a heart wrenching journey.
Fran was this steadfast heroine. She rose to the occasion beautifully each time doing what was needed. Her selfish aunts might have given her a home when she was orphaned, but they sure got her at their beck and call like a hired help! Emotional blackmails...
I still do not know how I feel about Litrik. I wondered what Fran saw in him because he was not very nice, and sometimes downright nasty! Their backstory was kind of cute, she fell asleep in his lecture, he made her cry by humiliating her! I believe it could be one major factor spurring her on to work so hard she was the gold medalist of her class! She had gumption our heroine Francesca! Look at her epic shopping spree! I think it's the first time an RDD had to concede defeat to our heroine haha!
Initially I couldn't understand what's with his sudden cold stares, mocking and sneering. Fran had absolutely no obligation to help him by marrying him and becoming the dream "mousy" mama Lisa wanted. It was pure emotional blackmail Litrik used to get Fran to marry him...and later he confessed he already loved her at the point, so was he then making use of poor ill Lisa's condition to make Fran marry him? However when reading this, I already had a hunch he already fell in love with her when he saw her again at her award ceremony. Other readers have said they didn't buy it because he was so horrid to Fran after Lisa died, but in his defence I'd say he was grief stricken, and probably panicking over Fran's wish to get her annulment fast! Because thanks to both their perfect bland/serene masks, he thought the ONLY reason she'd stay on was Lisa!
As his mother explained the effect of his first disastrous marriage and Lisa's birth right, I began to see why Fran loved Litrik. She saw the REAL Litrik when he was with Lisa, the carefree, caring and loving man he really was. It was when Lisa wasn't around that his mask slipped on and he kept hurting Fran. I felt so bad for her each time he made Fran cry...But I could also see why he was such a b@$tard!
There had been other deaths in a BN book, but little Lisa's was particularly poignant and sad. The depth of emotions this story brought out in me will make me remember this book well. I cannot say I love it, but the powerful writing makes me give this one of the highest ratings ever. This book makes the rest feel so fluffy! I actually had to pause by beginning of chapter nine to take a breath!
4.5* indeed.
We meet Fran and Litrik in No Need to Say Goodbye. Litrik was such a loving husband and they had a baby boy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2014
Her quiet life was thrown into turmoil.
Calm and capable those were the words used to sum up Francesca. Certainly she had plenty to cope with, looking after the home she shared with three elderly aunts and working at the local hospital. Yet she dealt with it all with her usual quiet efficiency and believed her life was complete until Dr. Litrik van Rijgen arrived.
Having taken the trouble to track her down while she was enjoying a holiday in Holland, he seemed to have other plans for her. But was she really willing to let him take over her life and possibly her heart?
My Thoughts...
This book has been on my TBR list for a few years, so decided to read it today. It is a vintage book not sure what the copyright date for this book. However, it was written before cell phones, computers, etc. So reader beware if you are choosing this book to read thinking it is a contemporary romance novel, it isn't. It is a nice "G" rated story with not much romance until the end of the story, with a few kisses. It made a nice quick afternoon story to read.
This is a part of my Nook Library and I enjoyed it enough to award it 3 stars.
Calm and capable those were the words used to sum up Francesca. Certainly she had plenty to cope with, looking after the home she shared with three elderly aunts and working at the local hospital. Yet she dealt with it all with her usual quiet efficiency and believed her life was complete until Dr. Litrik van Rijgen arrived.
Having taken the trouble to track her down while she was enjoying a holiday in Holland, he seemed to have other plans for her. But was she really willing to let him take over her life and possibly her heart?
My Thoughts...
This book has been on my TBR list for a few years, so decided to read it today. It is a vintage book not sure what the copyright date for this book. However, it was written before cell phones, computers, etc. So reader beware if you are choosing this book to read thinking it is a contemporary romance novel, it isn't. It is a nice "G" rated story with not much romance until the end of the story, with a few kisses. It made a nice quick afternoon story to read.
This is a part of my Nook Library and I enjoyed it enough to award it 3 stars.
October 16, 2015
The Secret Pool by Betty Neels
Harlequin audio book about Francesca who is a nurse in a small town where there are many wards as other nurses train for the bigger city hospital.
She lives with the aunts and cousins til one day a doctor has noticed her and takes her for a ride to meet his daughter Lisa. She is a very sick child and her one wish is for her daddy to wed.
He talks Fran into marrying him, he's very rich and money is no object for her to take a sabbatical. His daughter has only a short time left so she agrees to marry him and get the marriage annulled after she's passed away.
She didn't expect to fall in love with the child and with him.. Set in Holland there is not much about the country.
Too predictable, no twists or turns.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Harlequin audio book about Francesca who is a nurse in a small town where there are many wards as other nurses train for the bigger city hospital.
She lives with the aunts and cousins til one day a doctor has noticed her and takes her for a ride to meet his daughter Lisa. She is a very sick child and her one wish is for her daddy to wed.
He talks Fran into marrying him, he's very rich and money is no object for her to take a sabbatical. His daughter has only a short time left so she agrees to marry him and get the marriage annulled after she's passed away.
She didn't expect to fall in love with the child and with him.. Set in Holland there is not much about the country.
Too predictable, no twists or turns.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
April 4, 2021
I read this on the kindle
This has been the best Betty Neels book so far i am working my way through them all starting with 1 so this book 72 has been great
You may need a tissue for this one i am one who gets watery eyed anyway lol
It about Dr Litrik van Rijgen asking Francesca to marry him so his dying daughter will have a mother as she wants Francesca who agrees they say they will annual the marriage after Lisa dies
There a few surprises & the ending is typical Betty Neels but getting to that point is well written & not all about some other woman wanting the many i didn't want to put this down if you only read one of her books choose this one as it worth it
This has been the best Betty Neels book so far i am working my way through them all starting with 1 so this book 72 has been great
You may need a tissue for this one i am one who gets watery eyed anyway lol
It about Dr Litrik van Rijgen asking Francesca to marry him so his dying daughter will have a mother as she wants Francesca who agrees they say they will annual the marriage after Lisa dies
There a few surprises & the ending is typical Betty Neels but getting to that point is well written & not all about some other woman wanting the many i didn't want to put this down if you only read one of her books choose this one as it worth it
June 17, 2015
OK, I didn't read this one in only a day - it took me about a week, but I forgot to add it! This is one of the best Betty Neels I have read so far. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but suffice it to say that, unusually for Betty, whose books are usually the literary equivalent of an extremely comfy old pair of slippers, she really springs a surprise on the reader. Just have a box of tissues handy as it's a bit of a heart-wrencher...
December 27, 2022
The cold alpha men in Neels stories are a bit much, but the secondary story of caring for his dying daughter was very sweet and heartwarming. Francesca was a strong, kindhearted, resilient character (as opposed to many silly Neels women).
June 26, 2015
Review to come.
November 10, 2013
It was fine, but I really thought the secret pool was going to feature on the ending.
July 9, 2016
Lovely Title For a Lovely Story
Well told story with Betty Neels as usual drawing quite real characters. An enjoyable read with just enough romance, too.
Well told story with Betty Neels as usual drawing quite real characters. An enjoyable read with just enough romance, too.
December 24, 2022
Oh my god. I honestly did not expect the little girl to die. The whole time I kept naively thinking 'the love she found in her new mother will bring her a new lease of life and she'll get better!'. This is Mills and Boon after all, where I expect these silly yet magical twists to happen.
But no - life is not like that. When that little girl died in her sleep I cried in shock as well as sadness - and what a mirror to grief that was. In my own life when I've been told a loved one is dying I still didn't *really* expect it to happen, I always hoped for that reprieve.
Betty Neels is an author who had lived and experienced so much as a nurse, and here and there in her books she'll touch upon the cruel hardships of reality. I remember one book of hers in which a 12 year old patient dies from stab wounds inflicted by a man in a rage - and the h who treated her was quietly yet pragmatically sad about it. Rare content indeed for Mills & Boon, but damn, worthy, hard hitting and deeply affecting.
What can I say - this book really touched my heart; the romance that blossoms in this dark, mournful setting was so deeply moving, and long after reading it I'm hoping that these fictional people have a long and happy marriage filled with noisy children and laughter.
But no - life is not like that. When that little girl died in her sleep I cried in shock as well as sadness - and what a mirror to grief that was. In my own life when I've been told a loved one is dying I still didn't *really* expect it to happen, I always hoped for that reprieve.
Betty Neels is an author who had lived and experienced so much as a nurse, and here and there in her books she'll touch upon the cruel hardships of reality. I remember one book of hers in which a 12 year old patient dies from stab wounds inflicted by a man in a rage - and the h who treated her was quietly yet pragmatically sad about it. Rare content indeed for Mills & Boon, but damn, worthy, hard hitting and deeply affecting.
What can I say - this book really touched my heart; the romance that blossoms in this dark, mournful setting was so deeply moving, and long after reading it I'm hoping that these fictional people have a long and happy marriage filled with noisy children and laughter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2020
Don't read The Secret Pool if you don't like books with plenty of emotion. Dr. Litrik van Rijgen of Holland asks Francesca to marry him in order to provide his dying daughter with the mother she longs to have. Lisa is 6 and wants her new mom to wear the exact dress that Miss Mouse wears in her favorite book. Francesca agrees. The marriage is to be strictly for Lisa, to be annulled immediately once Lisa dies. But Litrik will give Francesa a good reference! (I kept wondering what such a reference would say. "Excellent with small dying daughters. Pleasant manner and pretty smile."?
Litrik is happy with Francesca in her role of mom, not so happy that he had to marry her and he's miserable, heartbroken when Lisa dies a few months after the wedding. Litrik pushes Francesca away and rejects her sympathy and loving friendship.
Eventually Litrik wakes up and realizes he wants Francesca to stay and we have the usual love-you kiss kiss ending.
This book has a great deal of warmth and tender feelings. I rated it a 4 mostly because the ending feels a bit rushed and to be clear, it's a romance, not a great English novel.
Litrik is happy with Francesca in her role of mom, not so happy that he had to marry her and he's miserable, heartbroken when Lisa dies a few months after the wedding. Litrik pushes Francesca away and rejects her sympathy and loving friendship.
Eventually Litrik wakes up and realizes he wants Francesca to stay and we have the usual love-you kiss kiss ending.
This book has a great deal of warmth and tender feelings. I rated it a 4 mostly because the ending feels a bit rushed and to be clear, it's a romance, not a great English novel.
April 30, 2022
"Alianza secreta" con ese título empecé mi lectura de una de las novelas más raras dentro del canon Betty.
La protagonista Francesca es una enfermera huérfana a cargo de sus tres tías bastante egoístas que esperan todo de ella. Ella trabaja en un hospital donde cada tanto se cruza con un médico imponente que solía asustarla en sus épocas de estudiante el Dr. Litrik van Rijgen.Comienzan a frecuentarse y hacerse cercanos y él le propone casarse con ella por una válida razón:tiene una hija de 6 años con múltiples enfermedades a la que le quedan meses de vida.y ella es su opción más sensata para que se convierta en su madre ,todo lo qué la niña sueña.
Hasta aquí el relato,y ahora mis razones para decir que no me gustó esta novela y se me hizo difícil leerla: por momentos la protagonista me molestó,era egoísta, algo que no suele pasar con las heroínas Betty.Ella bien sabe las razones por las que le piden que se casen ,él tiene una hija muriendo y efectivamente esa tragedia sucede. Y sin embargo ella tiene ciertos comportamientos que no encajan con lo que debería estar sintiendo la heroína.Por otra parte el médico es un hombro frío que bromea llamandola ratoncita a la protagonista,lo hace burlonamente? cariñosamente? No me queda muy claro.los dos protagonistas son algo ambiguos y no terminan de gustarme.La novela tenia cierto potencial que la autora desaprovecha lo que fue más una sorpresa que una pena.
La protagonista Francesca es una enfermera huérfana a cargo de sus tres tías bastante egoístas que esperan todo de ella. Ella trabaja en un hospital donde cada tanto se cruza con un médico imponente que solía asustarla en sus épocas de estudiante el Dr. Litrik van Rijgen.Comienzan a frecuentarse y hacerse cercanos y él le propone casarse con ella por una válida razón:tiene una hija de 6 años con múltiples enfermedades a la que le quedan meses de vida.y ella es su opción más sensata para que se convierta en su madre ,todo lo qué la niña sueña.
Hasta aquí el relato,y ahora mis razones para decir que no me gustó esta novela y se me hizo difícil leerla: por momentos la protagonista me molestó,era egoísta, algo que no suele pasar con las heroínas Betty.Ella bien sabe las razones por las que le piden que se casen ,él tiene una hija muriendo y efectivamente esa tragedia sucede. Y sin embargo ella tiene ciertos comportamientos que no encajan con lo que debería estar sintiendo la heroína.Por otra parte el médico es un hombro frío que bromea llamandola ratoncita a la protagonista,lo hace burlonamente? cariñosamente? No me queda muy claro.los dos protagonistas son algo ambiguos y no terminan de gustarme.La novela tenia cierto potencial que la autora desaprovecha lo que fue más una sorpresa que una pena.
October 11, 2025
5 stars. painfully exquisite. I put off reading this book because the central event is the death of the mmc's daughter and I worried I would find it too painful, however it was sensitively handled and did not overwhelm the romance storyline. the romance was beautiful wrought, full of emotion and, in the end, a healing process for the long suffering mmc. our plain jane fmc eventually falls for him and it pains her that he is as icy as ever towards her, only wanting her as mother to his dying daughter. delish angst. I love an icy remote mmc and this one had good reason to be the way he was. the ending was gorgeous. the last line sublime. I was frustrated at him still being a tad cruel towards the very end but he explained why in such a charming way that I forgave him. aha. I could reread the ending lines over and over. a beautiful story. dont be afraid to read it. the greif is gently told.
April 22, 2021
This was my 2nd Betty Neels book, and it was very much just like the first. The characters were eerily similar. The much older, stoic doctor who is incapable of showing feelings of any kind; and the young, plain, wet noodle-y nurse, who is secretly full of rage.
I know this is an older book and times back then were different, but men (even from the 1970s) are capable of having feelings This book does not give you even a tiny glimpse into those feelings. It's literally the last page when he admits his feelings - stoically, of course - and then the book ends. It was a clean book, at least, but we'll see if I read anymore Neels. If they are all like this, I'm over it.
I know this is an older book and times back then were different, but men (even from the 1970s) are capable of having feelings This book does not give you even a tiny glimpse into those feelings. It's literally the last page when he admits his feelings - stoically, of course - and then the book ends. It was a clean book, at least, but we'll see if I read anymore Neels. If they are all like this, I'm over it.
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