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Sister Peters in Amsterdam
SHOULD SHE GUARD AGAINST LOVE?
Sister Adelaide Peters was surprised, but also very proud and excited, to have been chosen to represent her hospital in a new exchange scheme. It meant she'd be spending a year in Holland. Adelaide was determined to do her best, and she more than succeeded! She adored Holland, liked her colleagues and even mastered some of the language. She also unexpectedly—and disastrously—fell in love with her new boss. But Professor Coenraad van Essen was clearly out of her league.
Sister Adelaide Peters was surprised, but also very proud and excited, to have been chosen to represent her hospital in a new exchange scheme. It meant she'd be spending a year in Holland. Adelaide was determined to do her best, and she more than succeeded! She adored Holland, liked her colleagues and even mastered some of the language. She also unexpectedly—and disastrously—fell in love with her new boss. But Professor Coenraad van Essen was clearly out of her league.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1969
103 people are currently reading
269 people want to read
About the author
Betty Neels
564 books418 followersEvelyn Jessy "Betty" Neels was born on September 15, 1910 in Devon to a family with firm roots in the civil service. She said she had a blissfully happy childhood and teenage years.(This stood her in good stead later for the tribulations to come with the Second World War). She was sent away to boarding school, and then went on to train as a nurse, gaining her SRN and SCM, that is, State Registered Nurse and State Certificate of Midwifery.
In 1939 she was called up to the Territorial Army Nursing Service, which later became the Queen Alexandra Reserves, and was sent to France with the Casualty Clearing Station. This comprised eight nursing sisters, including Betty, to 100 men! In other circumstances, she thought that might have been quite thrilling! When France was invaded in 1940, all the nursing sisters managed to escape in the charge of an army major, undertaking a lengthy and terrifying journey to Boulogne in an ambulance. They were incredibly fortunate to be put on the last hospital ship to be leaving the port of Boulogne. But Betty's war didn't end there, for she was posted to Scotland, and then on to Northern Ireland, where she met her Dutch husband. He was a seaman aboard a minesweeper, which was bombed. He survived and was sent to the south of Holland to guard the sluices. However, when they had to abandon their post, they were told to escape if they could, and along with a small number of other men, he marched into Belgium. They stole a ship and managed to get it across the Channel to Dover before being transferred to the Atlantic run on the convoys. Sadly he became ill, and that was when he was transferred to hospital in Northern Ireland, where he met Betty. They eventually married, and were blessed with a daughter. They were posted to London, but were bombed out. As with most of the population, they made the best of things.
When the war finally ended, she and her husband were repatriated to Holland. As his family had believed he had died when his ship went down, this was a very emotional homecoming. The small family lived in Holland for 13 years, and Betty resumed her nursing career there. When they decided to return to England, Betty continued her nursing and when she eventually retired she had reached the position of night superintendent.
Betty Neels began writing almost by accident. She had retired from nursing, but her inquiring mind had no intention of vegetating, and her new career was born when she heard a lady in her local library bemoaning the lack of good romance novels. There was little in Betty's background to suggest that she might eventually become a much-loved novelist.
Her first book, Sister Peters in Amsterdam, was published in 1969, and by dint of often writing four books a year, she eventually completed 134 books. She was always quite firm upon the point that the Dutch doctors who frequently appeared in her stories were *not* based upon her husband, but rather upon an amalgam of several of the doctors she met while nursing in Holland.
To her millions of fans around the world, Betty Neels epitomized romance. She was always amazed and touched that her books were so widely appreciated. She never sought plaudits and remained a very private person, but it made her very happy to know that she brought such pleasure to so many readers, while herself gaining a quiet joy from spinning her stories. It is perhaps a reflection of her upbringing in an earlier time that the men and women who peopled her stories have a kindliness and good manners, coupled to honesty and integrity, that is not always present in our modern world. Her myriad of fans found a warmth and a reassurance of a better world in her stories, along with characters who touched the heart, which is all and more than one could ask of a romance writer. She received a great deal of fan mail, and there was always a comment upon the fascinating places she visited in her stories. Quite often those of her fans fortunate enough to visit Ho
In 1939 she was called up to the Territorial Army Nursing Service, which later became the Queen Alexandra Reserves, and was sent to France with the Casualty Clearing Station. This comprised eight nursing sisters, including Betty, to 100 men! In other circumstances, she thought that might have been quite thrilling! When France was invaded in 1940, all the nursing sisters managed to escape in the charge of an army major, undertaking a lengthy and terrifying journey to Boulogne in an ambulance. They were incredibly fortunate to be put on the last hospital ship to be leaving the port of Boulogne. But Betty's war didn't end there, for she was posted to Scotland, and then on to Northern Ireland, where she met her Dutch husband. He was a seaman aboard a minesweeper, which was bombed. He survived and was sent to the south of Holland to guard the sluices. However, when they had to abandon their post, they were told to escape if they could, and along with a small number of other men, he marched into Belgium. They stole a ship and managed to get it across the Channel to Dover before being transferred to the Atlantic run on the convoys. Sadly he became ill, and that was when he was transferred to hospital in Northern Ireland, where he met Betty. They eventually married, and were blessed with a daughter. They were posted to London, but were bombed out. As with most of the population, they made the best of things.
When the war finally ended, she and her husband were repatriated to Holland. As his family had believed he had died when his ship went down, this was a very emotional homecoming. The small family lived in Holland for 13 years, and Betty resumed her nursing career there. When they decided to return to England, Betty continued her nursing and when she eventually retired she had reached the position of night superintendent.
Betty Neels began writing almost by accident. She had retired from nursing, but her inquiring mind had no intention of vegetating, and her new career was born when she heard a lady in her local library bemoaning the lack of good romance novels. There was little in Betty's background to suggest that she might eventually become a much-loved novelist.
Her first book, Sister Peters in Amsterdam, was published in 1969, and by dint of often writing four books a year, she eventually completed 134 books. She was always quite firm upon the point that the Dutch doctors who frequently appeared in her stories were *not* based upon her husband, but rather upon an amalgam of several of the doctors she met while nursing in Holland.
To her millions of fans around the world, Betty Neels epitomized romance. She was always amazed and touched that her books were so widely appreciated. She never sought plaudits and remained a very private person, but it made her very happy to know that she brought such pleasure to so many readers, while herself gaining a quiet joy from spinning her stories. It is perhaps a reflection of her upbringing in an earlier time that the men and women who peopled her stories have a kindliness and good manners, coupled to honesty and integrity, that is not always present in our modern world. Her myriad of fans found a warmth and a reassurance of a better world in her stories, along with characters who touched the heart, which is all and more than one could ask of a romance writer. She received a great deal of fan mail, and there was always a comment upon the fascinating places she visited in her stories. Quite often those of her fans fortunate enough to visit Ho
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
March 31, 2025
"If you don't leave me alone, I shall plant you a facer!"
Adelaide Peters, nurse and daughter of a country rector, may be slightly shy, but with her red hair, she is no one's doormat! She is invited to Holland in a work exchange program between that country and England.
Professor Baron Coenraad van Essen has dark hair, blue eyes and a beaky nose; he is a paediatrician in Amsterdam; he owns an old house in the Herengracht. His father, who was also a doctor, was shot by the Nazis in 1940 for helping his Jewish patients escape. His mother was arrested and died in a concentration camp. During the arrest and search of their home, a soldier struck him in the eye with a rifle butt and he is functionally blind in that eye.
(I love when actual historical events pop up in works of fiction!)
Addy goes to Amsterdam and works with Professor van Essen for a year and of course, falls in love with him. Halfway through the year, Coenraad offers to drive her to her home so she can have a two-week holiday. He meets - and likes - her parents and her younger twin brothers, and they like him.
Margriet Keizer has every intention of marrying Coenraad, not because she loves him, but because he is wealthy, suitable and well-known. When she begins to suspect that Coenraad has feelings for Addy, she tells Addy several half-truths and even more bald-face lies. Addy, being a minister's daughter and a nice girl, takes Margriet's word. She invents a toothache to keep from attending the ball with the Professor and makes arrangements to leave the hospital and Amsterdam immediately.
Before she can escape, however, Coenraad takes her for a quiet walk, declares his love and proposes marriage.
This the TGB's very first work - at least the first one published. It's a little slow, being plotted out over an entire year. We celebrate St. Nicholas, Christmas and the New Year with Addy and see the changing seasons. All the comforting, familiar elements are present. Her beautifully descriptive prose, the immaculate background details - food, fashion, and setting - are what make her otherwise formulaic books so special.
Not in my top 10, but a good solid read.
Reread Sept. 26-28, 2016, completed Pinterest board.
Reread Sept. 8-15, 2017. What is it with September and this book??? Lol! Over the past couple of years, this very first book of TGB has impressed me more and more, until it IS in my Top 10. There are others that have better secondary characters, and more angst, but this one is just perfect in its simplicity.
Adelaide Peters, nurse and daughter of a country rector, may be slightly shy, but with her red hair, she is no one's doormat! She is invited to Holland in a work exchange program between that country and England.
Professor Baron Coenraad van Essen has dark hair, blue eyes and a beaky nose; he is a paediatrician in Amsterdam; he owns an old house in the Herengracht. His father, who was also a doctor, was shot by the Nazis in 1940 for helping his Jewish patients escape. His mother was arrested and died in a concentration camp. During the arrest and search of their home, a soldier struck him in the eye with a rifle butt and he is functionally blind in that eye.
(I love when actual historical events pop up in works of fiction!)
Addy goes to Amsterdam and works with Professor van Essen for a year and of course, falls in love with him. Halfway through the year, Coenraad offers to drive her to her home so she can have a two-week holiday. He meets - and likes - her parents and her younger twin brothers, and they like him.
Margriet Keizer has every intention of marrying Coenraad, not because she loves him, but because he is wealthy, suitable and well-known. When she begins to suspect that Coenraad has feelings for Addy, she tells Addy several half-truths and even more bald-face lies. Addy, being a minister's daughter and a nice girl, takes Margriet's word. She invents a toothache to keep from attending the ball with the Professor and makes arrangements to leave the hospital and Amsterdam immediately.
Before she can escape, however, Coenraad takes her for a quiet walk, declares his love and proposes marriage.
This the TGB's very first work - at least the first one published. It's a little slow, being plotted out over an entire year. We celebrate St. Nicholas, Christmas and the New Year with Addy and see the changing seasons. All the comforting, familiar elements are present. Her beautifully descriptive prose, the immaculate background details - food, fashion, and setting - are what make her otherwise formulaic books so special.
Not in my top 10, but a good solid read.
Reread Sept. 26-28, 2016, completed Pinterest board.
Reread Sept. 8-15, 2017. What is it with September and this book??? Lol! Over the past couple of years, this very first book of TGB has impressed me more and more, until it IS in my Top 10. There are others that have better secondary characters, and more angst, but this one is just perfect in its simplicity.
September 9, 2023
What a delightful first book! It’s got so many Betty tropes and yet the two main characters are delightfully themselves. The romance is really sweet. Interesting that this was written so much closer to WWII so the hero has a tragic back story. (Don’t worry though, not too sad because it’s been 25 years or so!) The heroine in this puts an impressive amount of time into learning Dutch since she’s a nurse and on a year-long exchange with a hospital in Amsterdam. I thought Adelaide was lovely. She is so competent at her nursing too, and there is a line about how well she and the RDD* work together as they’re caring for children who come into the hospital. There is a misunderstanding and an OW interference towards the end but it’s over speedily and the HEA is delightful.
*Rich Dutch Doctor
*Rich Dutch Doctor
October 4, 2012
Wow..this was my first romance by this author, and I absolutely loved it. Such a sweet story.....so very different from the Harlequin's of today.
Content is very light on passion and chemistry given this was written in 1967..but it is still a wonderful romance.
Content is very light on passion and chemistry given this was written in 1967..but it is still a wonderful romance.
March 22, 2023
3/2023 - Betty is still the ultimate comfort read for me, a few pages before bed at night, better than a cup of Sleepytime tea to calm my mind, warm my heart! Don’t know how many times I’ve read this, but I enjoyed reading my other books during the evening, then diving into Betty’s long-vanished world for a little refresh before bed!
I hadn’t read her books in a few years (I’ve got a stash I shared with my dear mother, they were a great comfort to her during the last years of her life), but a GR friend has posted a few reviews lately, made me want to dig out her books. I’m reminded why, in times of stress, Betty to the rescue! Books have always been my refuge, Betty is a worthy addition to my go-to authors when I just want to forget the real world for a bit…;)
I hadn’t read her books in a few years (I’ve got a stash I shared with my dear mother, they were a great comfort to her during the last years of her life), but a GR friend has posted a few reviews lately, made me want to dig out her books. I’m reminded why, in times of stress, Betty to the rescue! Books have always been my refuge, Betty is a worthy addition to my go-to authors when I just want to forget the real world for a bit…;)
September 15, 2023
I wanted to like this one so much more than I did. 😞 I did not appreciate the lies or such coy interactions on both sides. Just speak honestly to one another! I did like the main characters a lot but just got frustrated with all the missteps.
September 28, 2012
4 Stars ~ Adelaide is a highly skilled pediatric nurse in a very busy London children's hospital. She's been offered a one year position to a hospital in Holland as part of a nurse exchange. It's a wonderful opportunity and working with the handsome Dutch pediatrician, Coenradd is very appealing. Adelaide fits in well in the Dutch hospital and the routes are very similar. Language is somewhat of a problem but she is taking lessons and is learning very quickly. It's not long before she realizes that she's fallen in love with Coenradd, but she knows she must maintain her professionalism as she's just a poor Parson's daughter and Coenradd is a wealthy Dutch Baron. Coenradd is quite taken with the red-headed nurse, but every attempt he makes to get to know her, she rebuffs. When her year is almost over, Adelaide accepts his invitation to accompany him to the fall dance, deciding she will take some happy memories home with her to England. The day before the dance, she runs into the very attractive Margriet who tells her the Baron only asked her to the dance because she would be leaving England soon, and that very soon the Baron and she would be announcing their wedding plans.
This is the very first Betty Neels romance. In later stories, Ms. Neels often follows the story line of the hard working English nurse and the handsome hard working Dutch doctor. I very much enjoyed reading her very first
This is the very first Betty Neels romance. In later stories, Ms. Neels often follows the story line of the hard working English nurse and the handsome hard working Dutch doctor. I very much enjoyed reading her very first
August 11, 2012
After 20+ years of Betty reading, I finally have been able to read the very first. It's very moving to know this was the book that began it all. Alright, emotional for me and not you, but I take my Betty Neels' books seriously. They are always a comfort to me no matter how many times I read them or how familiar the tale is.
Anyway, this is the first of her English nurse goes to Holland and meets very handsome (albeit beaky nosed) titled Dutch medical professional. There isn't anything new or surprising if you've read any of the others with similar plots except that Margriet is simply horrid, someday I really do want to know why the Dutch don't like red hair, and there is a surprising amount of snarky humor in the last two chapters that had me laughing aloud. I even cried a bit, but then I usually do cry a bit when I read Betty's books.
Anyway, this is the first of her English nurse goes to Holland and meets very handsome (albeit beaky nosed) titled Dutch medical professional. There isn't anything new or surprising if you've read any of the others with similar plots except that Margriet is simply horrid, someday I really do want to know why the Dutch don't like red hair, and there is a surprising amount of snarky humor in the last two chapters that had me laughing aloud. I even cried a bit, but then I usually do cry a bit when I read Betty's books.
January 22, 2024
Can't believe I have never read this one by Betty. Hilarious moment... "her beguiling little bosom heaved like a temperamental film star's." Oh Betty, you are such a delight.
January 27, 2014
This is the very first of Betty Neels romances and it has all the ingredients we have come to know and love. Sister Adelaide Peters is an excellent paediatric nurse at a London hospital so it isn't surprising she is chosen to represent her hospital in an exchange scheme with a Dutch hospital in Holland.
She is supervised by Professor Coenraad van Essen, your classic doctor of mature years and impassive disposition. He is very kind to her of course, in her year away from home, even organising a birthday party for her at his home. Such a pity he is going to marry the evil other woman. Yes indeed, here we have the first instance of one of Neel's standard obstacles. IN this case she is evil and deliberately sets out to ruin our heroine's romance.
I enjoyed reading this story very much. Written in 1967 we get to see the hospitals of the time and also a very nice glimpse of Holland. These stories are sweet in the old fashioned sense of the word. Only kisses and them few and far between. The heroine's are not "Permissive" and the heroes might flirt with numerous women but there is never a whisper of scandal.
She is supervised by Professor Coenraad van Essen, your classic doctor of mature years and impassive disposition. He is very kind to her of course, in her year away from home, even organising a birthday party for her at his home. Such a pity he is going to marry the evil other woman. Yes indeed, here we have the first instance of one of Neel's standard obstacles. IN this case she is evil and deliberately sets out to ruin our heroine's romance.
I enjoyed reading this story very much. Written in 1967 we get to see the hospitals of the time and also a very nice glimpse of Holland. These stories are sweet in the old fashioned sense of the word. Only kisses and them few and far between. The heroine's are not "Permissive" and the heroes might flirt with numerous women but there is never a whisper of scandal.
March 22, 2013
I am a lover of old fashioned Mills and Boon novels. Betty Neels' specific doctor-nurse formula is not my favourite (though she certainly does represent the Medical set of M&B very well). However I love her, as I do all the old (pre 1985) M&B. What I love the most about this is how much more they seemed to be able to fit into a story in the older ones. This story spans a full year - so many barely last a few days.
Most of all though I love that you can still get this story! So many M&B just get lost for ever - sentenced to the like of the second hand book store if you can find them. If you've never read the old-timeys I think you should try it.
Most of all though I love that you can still get this story! So many M&B just get lost for ever - sentenced to the like of the second hand book store if you can find them. If you've never read the old-timeys I think you should try it.
January 18, 2013
Good book. Betty Neels style sure didn't change from her first book through to her last. Thankfully they are all charming stories. I like how this character wasn't as helpless as some of hers are.
June 15, 2013
I found this book to be slow and rather dull.
June 7, 2016
What can I say I just love reading Betty Neels love stories , you have the lovers and also the mean girl :-)
June 6, 2012
Written in 1969, this is a classic read. A simple story well told - lovely escapist stuff.
January 2, 2021
I'm a huge Betty Neels fan. I've probably read this classic 20 times, but I decided to do a reread in order of publication this year, just for fun.
This is the first Neels and certainly sets the pattern for most of her 134 to follow. I enjoyed the book, but it isn't in my top 10 Neels mostly because we don't yet see the trademark Neels wit. Betty was obviously working out her style and while we see hints of the things we all love about TGB, the description of food, clothes, architecture, the heartfelt conversations between our hero/heroines, they are not yet honed to the perfection that we see in later Betty books. It is a solid first book and a great introduction to the world of Betty though and it should not be missed.
This is the first Neels and certainly sets the pattern for most of her 134 to follow. I enjoyed the book, but it isn't in my top 10 Neels mostly because we don't yet see the trademark Neels wit. Betty was obviously working out her style and while we see hints of the things we all love about TGB, the description of food, clothes, architecture, the heartfelt conversations between our hero/heroines, they are not yet honed to the perfection that we see in later Betty books. It is a solid first book and a great introduction to the world of Betty though and it should not be missed.
May 5, 2025
Rather sweet and chaste if sometimes somewhat annoying. All that jumping to wrong conclusions, the perfect little woman, the strong silent older hero ...
I spent this Easter weekend in Amsterdam and so craved a little more local colour. This was clearly not the best choice. :/
I spent this Easter weekend in Amsterdam and so craved a little more local colour. This was clearly not the best choice. :/
May 2, 2019
I'm reading some Betty Neels for deep nostalgia and enjoying it very much. This one had a super slow burn with a very quick resolution.
December 16, 2016
One of the first Harlequin authors I remember reading. I was completely enthralled by the exotic locales in her books when I was 14. Now reading these books are more of a way of remembering the aunt who got me started on them. I'll probably always love them due to the nostalgia factor. her books will always be some of my favorites to re-read.
June 12, 2012
Sister Peters participates in a nurse exchange program and goes to Amsterdam for a year. She falls in love with Coenraad - the doctor who asked her to be part of the program.
Formulaic but I still like almost everything Betty Neels wrote.
Formulaic but I still like almost everything Betty Neels wrote.
September 6, 2016
Neels' first book. Have read most of the others.
February 20, 2013
I really like her stories they keep you engaged the entire story. Great read and enjoyable characters
January 3, 2015
Betty Neels first. fun to read it after reading her others.
December 30, 2015
Fun, but obviously dated - though no less enjoyable for that. Very Betty Neels - young nurse heroine with an incurable sense of honesty, and of course, a Dutch doctor!
Read
March 26, 2013like
March 20, 2018
THE FIRST Betty Neels book*squeeeeee*
I have read like 20-30 of her books the past couple of months since I rediscovered her books. My library Overdrive has a pretty large selection of her books; not all but easily about 130 out of the 134/8 she had published. I had sorted the books by release date but unfortunately they are nowhere near the original publication dates! Most of the books were rereleased under the " Best of" series so armed with the list on the blog The Uncrushable Jersey Dress, I did a title search and boy was I thrilled to find this book! The book that launched The Great Betty's writing career which spanned more than 30 years!
Honestly I conscientiously lowered my expectations before reading this first book; because it's a debut novel I had expected it to be "raw" and would not quite be like the later books we have come to love.
Am I glad I was WRONG! This is a solid 5* read for me! It made me laugh in so many places and TGB's sense of humour shone through. I felt happy, sad and angsty at all the right places. This book has almost all the elements that made her books classics: the English nurse and RDD rich Dutch doctor, settings in and around the hospital, taking in the sights in Holland, the English countryside, cozy teas and picnics, dinner parties, meeting the family, the evil Other Woman, some medical dramas/emergencies, dawning realisation/ love at first sight, reveal and love declaration, kisses and proposal, HEA. Aww...not forgetting the food, fashion and settings beautifully described. So comforting!
I adore the way Adelaide had with the difficult child patients; she's just so loving I hope she'd have many babies of her own! Coenraad was virtually blind in one eye; I respect him for not making a big fuss of it and still be a successful specialist/ professor. It's absolutely gorgeous reading about the two of them working so well together!
SPOILERS
The evil Other Woman Margriet really did a number on Adelaide. My heart broke to read she missed out going to the ball afterall. I wish Coenraad had caught on to what's happening; he already suspected Adelaide's toothache so I thought he'd insist she go to the ball with him and not waste the turquoise dress...but no! Then his coolness since and especially the final few days killed me. Poor Addy and the angst...kudos to her for being so professional and competent still!
Honestly the only missing element in this book is the house tour; Coenraad only brought her to the front of his house in Amsterdam; neither did he bring her to the English manor he inherited from his English grandmother in Dorset, near Addy's home. I really love the summer interlude and him in her house! He got on so well with her family, and vice versa.
The book spanned a year; the best of slow burn! I NEED my very own copy of this book ❤️
PS. 20/3/2018 we get to see the inside of Coenraad and Adelaide 's house! They have a son! In The Visiting Consultant, book three of the Canon!
I have read like 20-30 of her books the past couple of months since I rediscovered her books. My library Overdrive has a pretty large selection of her books; not all but easily about 130 out of the 134/8 she had published. I had sorted the books by release date but unfortunately they are nowhere near the original publication dates! Most of the books were rereleased under the " Best of" series so armed with the list on the blog The Uncrushable Jersey Dress, I did a title search and boy was I thrilled to find this book! The book that launched The Great Betty's writing career which spanned more than 30 years!
Honestly I conscientiously lowered my expectations before reading this first book; because it's a debut novel I had expected it to be "raw" and would not quite be like the later books we have come to love.
Am I glad I was WRONG! This is a solid 5* read for me! It made me laugh in so many places and TGB's sense of humour shone through. I felt happy, sad and angsty at all the right places. This book has almost all the elements that made her books classics: the English nurse and RDD rich Dutch doctor, settings in and around the hospital, taking in the sights in Holland, the English countryside, cozy teas and picnics, dinner parties, meeting the family, the evil Other Woman, some medical dramas/emergencies, dawning realisation/ love at first sight, reveal and love declaration, kisses and proposal, HEA. Aww...not forgetting the food, fashion and settings beautifully described. So comforting!
I adore the way Adelaide had with the difficult child patients; she's just so loving I hope she'd have many babies of her own! Coenraad was virtually blind in one eye; I respect him for not making a big fuss of it and still be a successful specialist/ professor. It's absolutely gorgeous reading about the two of them working so well together!
SPOILERS
The evil Other Woman Margriet really did a number on Adelaide. My heart broke to read she missed out going to the ball afterall. I wish Coenraad had caught on to what's happening; he already suspected Adelaide's toothache so I thought he'd insist she go to the ball with him and not waste the turquoise dress...but no! Then his coolness since and especially the final few days killed me. Poor Addy and the angst...kudos to her for being so professional and competent still!
Honestly the only missing element in this book is the house tour; Coenraad only brought her to the front of his house in Amsterdam; neither did he bring her to the English manor he inherited from his English grandmother in Dorset, near Addy's home. I really love the summer interlude and him in her house! He got on so well with her family, and vice versa.
The book spanned a year; the best of slow burn! I NEED my very own copy of this book ❤️
PS. 20/3/2018 we get to see the inside of Coenraad and Adelaide 's house! They have a son! In The Visiting Consultant, book three of the Canon!
June 29, 2020
This is Betty Neels' first book and it was a winner, which set the stage for years of happy reading for all BN fans. After years of never finding this book, thanks to the Kindle edition, I was able to enjoy this book.
It followed a tried-and-true pattern. English nurse, Adelaide Peters is hard working, efficient, already at the top of her game as a pediatric nurse. She is chosen for a nurse exchange program in Amsterdam. Addy is the daughter of an English country parson & wife. From her salary, she helps to subsidize her two twin brother’s education. Dutch doctor, Dr. Coenraad van Essen oversees the selection of the exchange nurse (Sister Peters), who will work under him, and whom is wealthy, older, handsome with a beaky nose. Nurse Adelaide will survive her experience because she is good, well-liked, and has an elderly language tutor arranged for by the good doctor. Sister Peters is able to visit many of the tourist sites in the Netherlands because of helpful Dutch friends and Dr. van Essen. This first book shows the BN pattern of the well-placed socially, beautiful, and totally snarky older other woman (Margriet), who wants to marry the doctor, not for love, but because he is wealthy and will conveniently maintain her life. And as usually, she spreads lies or half-truths to shake the confidence of our English nurse concerning true love with the Dutch doctor.
I loved the book, for me it rates 5 stars. Her books are like beautiful, landscape paintings, which while you are reading refresh and relax. I will shortly reread “Visiting Consultant” and “Stars Through the Mist,” where Addy and Dr van Essen make an appearance.
It followed a tried-and-true pattern. English nurse, Adelaide Peters is hard working, efficient, already at the top of her game as a pediatric nurse. She is chosen for a nurse exchange program in Amsterdam. Addy is the daughter of an English country parson & wife. From her salary, she helps to subsidize her two twin brother’s education. Dutch doctor, Dr. Coenraad van Essen oversees the selection of the exchange nurse (Sister Peters), who will work under him, and whom is wealthy, older, handsome with a beaky nose. Nurse Adelaide will survive her experience because she is good, well-liked, and has an elderly language tutor arranged for by the good doctor. Sister Peters is able to visit many of the tourist sites in the Netherlands because of helpful Dutch friends and Dr. van Essen. This first book shows the BN pattern of the well-placed socially, beautiful, and totally snarky older other woman (Margriet), who wants to marry the doctor, not for love, but because he is wealthy and will conveniently maintain her life. And as usually, she spreads lies or half-truths to shake the confidence of our English nurse concerning true love with the Dutch doctor.
I loved the book, for me it rates 5 stars. Her books are like beautiful, landscape paintings, which while you are reading refresh and relax. I will shortly reread “Visiting Consultant” and “Stars Through the Mist,” where Addy and Dr van Essen make an appearance.
December 10, 2025
3.5 stars. This was Betty Neels’ first book, published in 1969. (She apparently went on to write over 100 more).
A warm, gentle, completely clean romance with only a few non-explicit kisses. The book does have some dated aspects, but was still an enjoyable read. The MMC Conrad is a Dutch paediatric professor, presumably quite a bit older than the 25-year-old MFC (and he smokes a pipe! LOL). He is also an actual baron, a rich man with servants, who drives a Rolls Royce (as one of his cars LOL). But he doesn't flaunt his position or wealth.
Addy is a competent and respected paediatric nurse who is seconded from her English hospital for 12 months, to Conrad’s hospital in Amsterdam. As they work closely together, they gradually fall in love. It’s very understated though, with the reader having to infer Conrad’s growing feelings. There is minimal angst. Like the other Neels book I read recently, it does end very abruptly and kind of leaves you hanging. I guess you're expected to just imagine/daydream about their lovely future together. Overall, a short, light, pleasant read in an understated, low-key style.
A warm, gentle, completely clean romance with only a few non-explicit kisses. The book does have some dated aspects, but was still an enjoyable read. The MMC Conrad is a Dutch paediatric professor, presumably quite a bit older than the 25-year-old MFC (and he smokes a pipe! LOL). He is also an actual baron, a rich man with servants, who drives a Rolls Royce (as one of his cars LOL). But he doesn't flaunt his position or wealth.
Addy is a competent and respected paediatric nurse who is seconded from her English hospital for 12 months, to Conrad’s hospital in Amsterdam. As they work closely together, they gradually fall in love. It’s very understated though, with the reader having to infer Conrad’s growing feelings. There is minimal angst. Like the other Neels book I read recently, it does end very abruptly and kind of leaves you hanging. I guess you're expected to just imagine/daydream about their lovely future together. Overall, a short, light, pleasant read in an understated, low-key style.
March 30, 2022
Wow! Betty's first novel! The one that started a career which spanned 30+ years of wholesome, gentle and charming romance stories. Say what you will about Betty Neels, but you always know what to expect when you pick up one of her books. Her novels were, and still are, comfort food to her fans. New and current romance readers would probably find her style of writing tame and sophomoric. But that writing is also a perfect example of great nostalgia - when times were happier, sunnier and simpler. Sometimes that's exactly what each and every one of us needs - a little bit of wistful affection, tender loving care and a nice warm blanket. Betty Neels still provides that for us.
December 29, 2022
Adelaide is a nurse in England but has a chance to be an exchange nurse in Holland.
The man in charge of the children's clinic and hospital is very rich, very handsome and a sought-after doctor...and of course Adelaide falls in love with him but thinks he has a long-time girl friend so tries to be just a very good nurse doing everything the professor asks.
Naturally there is an upset when the other lady tells Adelaide that she and the professor were being married....Adelaide is overcome with love and guilt and becomes so distraught....but all ends well as these romances do.
Adelaide was another redhead with unruly hair.
The man in charge of the children's clinic and hospital is very rich, very handsome and a sought-after doctor...and of course Adelaide falls in love with him but thinks he has a long-time girl friend so tries to be just a very good nurse doing everything the professor asks.
Naturally there is an upset when the other lady tells Adelaide that she and the professor were being married....Adelaide is overcome with love and guilt and becomes so distraught....but all ends well as these romances do.
Adelaide was another redhead with unruly hair.
October 1, 2025
I did enjoy this book for the most part. It's sweet, it's fun, and it has a good slow burn. Sister Peters is so funny. I loved her enjoying her work and working so hard to learn Dutch, and I loved her romance with the professor. My one complaint is the end. The slow burn burned sooo good and then came time for it to pay off at the end of the book... and I got maybe a page. I was so excited and ready for that moment and then things were abruptly solved and ended. I wish it had been dragged out a little more. I deserved a better payoff for the delicious slowburn! Otherwise, no complaints.
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