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Victory for Victoria
Mills & Boon presents the complete Betty Neels collection. Timeless tales of heart-warming romance by one of the world’s best-loved romance authors.
She needed to believe in herself! Victoria was a very pretty girl, but with three sisters even prettier than she, Victoria had developed a bit of a complex about her looks. So when attractive Alexander van Schuylen made it clear he liked her, she really didn’t expect much more from him.
How could she, when he was so impressed with her sisters’ beauty? But if his feelings for Victoria actually did run deep, she could be in danger of losing him – entirely through her own fault!
187 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 1972
50 people are currently reading
116 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 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 29, 2013
I finally met a Betty Neels story I didn't like. I would rate this barely two stars, and an almost DNF.
Our heroine is nothing to write home about. She is an attractive, dedicated nurse with a lovely family and three other beautiful sisters. The problem is she has absolutely no common sense or self confidence. Which seriously is kind of ridiculous considering she was brought up in a loving family, has a great career and has stunningly beautiful looks. (She supposedly can stop traffic)
The hero is open about his attraction to her and shows up out of the blue to take her out to lovely dinners and dancing. BUT he never shows any emotions or feelings and he never tells her when he is coming or going. Given our poor girl has no confidence, she ends up not really knowing how he feels about her. Frankly, even his marriage proposal was kind of lame.
They end up in Holland after becoming engaged (for the life of me I can't figure out how these two emotionally stunted people got to that point, but they did). All of a sudden OW comes (literally out of nowhere) and stirs up all kinds of trouble.
Silly heroine goes back to England never really confronting the poor man with the issue. A few weeks later, OW shows up in London and says "oh, darling I was just kidding. None of what I said is really true. I hope you aren't too upset, but I am off to marry some really great wealthy guy. So, oh well, too bad for you". Of course heroine sees the error of her ways and writes, not one, but two letters to hero asking for forgiveness. The only problem is she hands the letters over to OM to mail. OM, who despises her and has vowed to do whatever it takes to hurt her. Getting my drift about no common sense?
She goes to Holland, sits on hero's doorstep where he kindly has her removed to a hotel. Seems hero is a bit peeved that she didn't trust him. Not sure I can say I blame him, but at this point, I am so emotionally divested out of this story I could care less how it finished. But of course, somehow they do end up with their HEA, and I am happy because the story is over!
Honestly, for those of you that love a train wreck, this is for you. However, I can't recommend it since in-between the train wrecked scenes, it was snoozeville for the most part.
Betty - what were you thinking?
Our heroine is nothing to write home about. She is an attractive, dedicated nurse with a lovely family and three other beautiful sisters. The problem is she has absolutely no common sense or self confidence. Which seriously is kind of ridiculous considering she was brought up in a loving family, has a great career and has stunningly beautiful looks. (She supposedly can stop traffic)
The hero is open about his attraction to her and shows up out of the blue to take her out to lovely dinners and dancing. BUT he never shows any emotions or feelings and he never tells her when he is coming or going. Given our poor girl has no confidence, she ends up not really knowing how he feels about her. Frankly, even his marriage proposal was kind of lame.
They end up in Holland after becoming engaged (for the life of me I can't figure out how these two emotionally stunted people got to that point, but they did). All of a sudden OW comes (literally out of nowhere) and stirs up all kinds of trouble.
Silly heroine goes back to England never really confronting the poor man with the issue. A few weeks later, OW shows up in London and says "oh, darling I was just kidding. None of what I said is really true. I hope you aren't too upset, but I am off to marry some really great wealthy guy. So, oh well, too bad for you". Of course heroine sees the error of her ways and writes, not one, but two letters to hero asking for forgiveness. The only problem is she hands the letters over to OM to mail. OM, who despises her and has vowed to do whatever it takes to hurt her. Getting my drift about no common sense?
She goes to Holland, sits on hero's doorstep where he kindly has her removed to a hotel. Seems hero is a bit peeved that she didn't trust him. Not sure I can say I blame him, but at this point, I am so emotionally divested out of this story I could care less how it finished. But of course, somehow they do end up with their HEA, and I am happy because the story is over!
Honestly, for those of you that love a train wreck, this is for you. However, I can't recommend it since in-between the train wrecked scenes, it was snoozeville for the most part.
Betty - what were you thinking?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2013
4 Stars ~ Victoria is a staff nurse at a busy London hospital. On her holidays she travels to her family home on the English coast, and there she meets Alexander, who is also on holiday staying with friends. Victoria is quite taken with Alexander but assumes he's married and a father when he sees him with a beautiful woman with children. Back in London, she's surprised to meet him again. Alexander is a lung specialist and he often travels to lecture and consult.. Of course he asks her out and Victoria is pleased to learn that he's never been married. Alexander courts her but because his busy practice is in Holland, their meetings are infrequent. But over the next few months their relationship blossoms and Alexander invites her to Holland to meet his family and in about a month's time they plan to get married. Victoria's so happy, until she meets Nina, a beautiful young woman who appears to have a history with Alexander. Running into Nina in the city, they share a coffee, and Nina tells Victoria that just before Alexander had taken his holiday in England they had broken up their engagement, and that he'd promised her that the first beautiful woman he met he'd marry her. This shakes Victoria up terribly, and when she asks Alexander about this, he doesn't have the chance to explain as he's called away on an emergency at the hospital. Nina calls the house to tell her that it was all a joke but decides to carry on, and leads Victoria to believe that there was no emergency that Alexander was meeting her. Victoria packs her bags and returns to London.
Until the big misunderstanding I was thoroughly enjoying this romance. Alexander and Victoria were so very happy and I hated Nina for playing her games. Victoria was normally a smart woman, but when it came to her jealousy she was rather stupid. All could have been sorted if only she'd stayed put. Alexander admits early in the book that he'd gone out of his way to find which hospital she worked at, and he was rather persistent in his pursuit of her, though she was far from complaining. There's quite a bit of kissing in this one and Alexander always has that gleam in his eye. This charming love story made me smile
Until the big misunderstanding I was thoroughly enjoying this romance. Alexander and Victoria were so very happy and I hated Nina for playing her games. Victoria was normally a smart woman, but when it came to her jealousy she was rather stupid. All could have been sorted if only she'd stayed put. Alexander admits early in the book that he'd gone out of his way to find which hospital she worked at, and he was rather persistent in his pursuit of her, though she was far from complaining. There's quite a bit of kissing in this one and Alexander always has that gleam in his eye. This charming love story made me smile
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2018
Frankly, this Neels bored me. It read more like a travelogue, albeit one I'd love to visit, and I'm not talking the usual Dutch wonderfulness, but the heroine's home-island of Guernsey. Ranty mild spoilers head. The heroine was annoying: peevish and pathetic, knew she was beautiful but felt inferior to her MORE beautiful sisters. And the hero was of that 70s variety who always claimed to be on the verge of wringing the heroine's neck. To add, right after they make up (even though he was an ASS and their argument was puerile and the heroine was a moron), he said he'd have returned to England to drag her back by the hair. Suffice to say, in my GREAT BETTY READ (yes, I'm still determined to read them ALL), this will be promptly forgotten and NOT revisited. Onwards to Saturday's Child.
April 9, 2018
I don't quite know what to make of this book. Right from the start we have the meet cute-I knew this would be a cheeky story when Victoria was almost going to remove her soaked top...without realising there was someone else in the shelter. Alexander the RDD was not very friendly, even at the subsequent chance meetings on Guernsey, where our heroine Victoria lived when not working in London. A delightful setting!
THEN he appeared one day out of the blue as her hospital 's honourary consultant! Right after the round, he "asked" her out on a dinner date, and she found out he's been hunting for her and would have gone to every hospital in London to do so, because some how he overheard her family at the pier. He even knew her age! 24 to his 35! If he were not handsome, rich and a doctor, it'd be CREEPY like a Christian Gray thingy LOL!
From then on he was telling her she's beautiful and outright courting her. How well he did it, but you could see him controlling and toning down his natural instinct by playing it cool at times, probably not to frighten her off...but even people around could see they were both smitten.
Just weeks later at Alexander 's suggestion they went back to Guernsey to visit her family! Which sane man would want to subject himself to a girl's family especially parents' scrutiny unless he's dead serious about her?! But insecure Victoria always couldn't quite believe Alexander could really love her, out of so many other beautiful women around. Her three sisters were gorgeous tall and curvy blondes and she's nothing like them. I love how her own sister described it:
"You’re so much smaller and there’s your hair and you’re almost thin. And look at us, great creatures, all curves and lamppost high—no wonder when we’re talked about you’re always called the other one.’"
But Victoria had been told that SHE was the striking one, for her vibrant copper hair and beautiful face, but yes I can believe why she might not believe it. It was highlighted enough that Victoria did not set much store in skin deep beauty so a pretty face to her was not the end-all. We never did find out what her father did, to be able for all his four daughters to never work until they married! Her parents hated for her to work in London, hoping she'd stay home and sketch while she found the right husband! For real! Her next younger sister Amabel was living such a life...
Anyway Alexander spent 90% of the book wooing and loving Victoria. I was kept on tenterhooks because I knew our Betty would not let them have such a smooth sailing romance, otherwise it would be really boring and bland! But I was really worried because I kept waiting for the axe to fall!
We read all about their dates - there were LOTS. Whenever he could, Alexander would go to London to take Victoria out. Dinner, country drives and picnics, and their time in Guernsey I felt wet right along with them...they were always drenched by rain it seemed! Lots of kisses too and Alexander with cheeky remarks...oh and the naughtiest house tour of love! The master bedroom and nursery...*sniggers*
Then ALWAYS, Alexander would appear magically when she got manhandled or harassed by Jeremy Snake/Blake...the slimey new doctor in the hospital. I knew he'd be the baddie just from his name Jeremy, likewise for Nina! That episode with the violent overdosed druggie was traumatic! Poor Victoria! But it meant Alexander could play hero and shower her with love and concern. I liked how she teased him for his "so newsy" letters...when usually it's scrawled lines...LOL oh and he sent her flowers when he's away!
Honestly I don't know how much more he needed to do to show his love. It only took a few lines and vindictive mischief and naive Victoria was all ready to flee. Deep down she felt it's all too good to believe...
I hated how the Other Woman always got off scott free with their mischief...I didn't think Alexander even got the chance to rip into Nina for her insinuations/manipulation of Victoria. And he could have nipped it all in the bud if he told her who Nina was...a nobody who maybe threw herself at him making her a nuisance even his parents knew.
Jeremy Snake got his "revenge" and further worsened things between the lovers. I thought it was mean of Alexander to make Victoria sit in his office for TWO days...but I kind of understand his hurt feelings, that she would run off returning his ring, all without confronting him or giving him a chance to explain. And those letters they sent each other but were burnt by the Snake...stupid Victoria. Her main fault was she's too naive but it shows how sheltered an upbringing she's had that she could not see the bad side of people!
THEN he appeared one day out of the blue as her hospital 's honourary consultant! Right after the round, he "asked" her out on a dinner date, and she found out he's been hunting for her and would have gone to every hospital in London to do so, because some how he overheard her family at the pier. He even knew her age! 24 to his 35! If he were not handsome, rich and a doctor, it'd be CREEPY like a Christian Gray thingy LOL!
From then on he was telling her she's beautiful and outright courting her. How well he did it, but you could see him controlling and toning down his natural instinct by playing it cool at times, probably not to frighten her off...but even people around could see they were both smitten.
Just weeks later at Alexander 's suggestion they went back to Guernsey to visit her family! Which sane man would want to subject himself to a girl's family especially parents' scrutiny unless he's dead serious about her?! But insecure Victoria always couldn't quite believe Alexander could really love her, out of so many other beautiful women around. Her three sisters were gorgeous tall and curvy blondes and she's nothing like them. I love how her own sister described it:
"You’re so much smaller and there’s your hair and you’re almost thin. And look at us, great creatures, all curves and lamppost high—no wonder when we’re talked about you’re always called the other one.’"
But Victoria had been told that SHE was the striking one, for her vibrant copper hair and beautiful face, but yes I can believe why she might not believe it. It was highlighted enough that Victoria did not set much store in skin deep beauty so a pretty face to her was not the end-all. We never did find out what her father did, to be able for all his four daughters to never work until they married! Her parents hated for her to work in London, hoping she'd stay home and sketch while she found the right husband! For real! Her next younger sister Amabel was living such a life...
Anyway Alexander spent 90% of the book wooing and loving Victoria. I was kept on tenterhooks because I knew our Betty would not let them have such a smooth sailing romance, otherwise it would be really boring and bland! But I was really worried because I kept waiting for the axe to fall!
We read all about their dates - there were LOTS. Whenever he could, Alexander would go to London to take Victoria out. Dinner, country drives and picnics, and their time in Guernsey I felt wet right along with them...they were always drenched by rain it seemed! Lots of kisses too and Alexander with cheeky remarks...oh and the naughtiest house tour of love! The master bedroom and nursery...*sniggers*
Then ALWAYS, Alexander would appear magically when she got manhandled or harassed by Jeremy Snake/Blake...the slimey new doctor in the hospital. I knew he'd be the baddie just from his name Jeremy, likewise for Nina! That episode with the violent overdosed druggie was traumatic! Poor Victoria! But it meant Alexander could play hero and shower her with love and concern. I liked how she teased him for his "so newsy" letters...when usually it's scrawled lines...LOL oh and he sent her flowers when he's away!
Honestly I don't know how much more he needed to do to show his love. It only took a few lines and vindictive mischief and naive Victoria was all ready to flee. Deep down she felt it's all too good to believe...
I hated how the Other Woman always got off scott free with their mischief...I didn't think Alexander even got the chance to rip into Nina for her insinuations/manipulation of Victoria. And he could have nipped it all in the bud if he told her who Nina was...a nobody who maybe threw herself at him making her a nuisance even his parents knew.
Jeremy Snake got his "revenge" and further worsened things between the lovers. I thought it was mean of Alexander to make Victoria sit in his office for TWO days...but I kind of understand his hurt feelings, that she would run off returning his ring, all without confronting him or giving him a chance to explain. And those letters they sent each other but were burnt by the Snake...stupid Victoria. Her main fault was she's too naive but it shows how sheltered an upbringing she's had that she could not see the bad side of people!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2014
3 1/2 stars. I would have given it four up until the Other Woman turned up. The OW is a standard device in a Betty Neels romance so I'm used to them, but this one was just so futile and we had the added complication of an equally futile Other Man back in London. So the ending dropped down to three for a while and then picked up on the finale which I rather liked.
For once, Victoria gets a man who is pretty up front with the fact he likes her and the romance goes swimmingly right up until the time the OW turns up quite late in the book. This makes a nice change from the usual angsty heroine pining after hero for most of the book.
Only trouble is that Victoria can't quite believe her good fortune. Her blonde beautiful sisters rather dominate her local scene and she has always felt inadequate in comparison despite being a lovely redhead. So when OW turns up she is immediately insecure and a willing victim to the practical joke the nasty blonde plays on her.
The hero is a bit stubborn and hot tempered so the reunion is a bit angsty but ends up rather sweet.
For once, Victoria gets a man who is pretty up front with the fact he likes her and the romance goes swimmingly right up until the time the OW turns up quite late in the book. This makes a nice change from the usual angsty heroine pining after hero for most of the book.
Only trouble is that Victoria can't quite believe her good fortune. Her blonde beautiful sisters rather dominate her local scene and she has always felt inadequate in comparison despite being a lovely redhead. So when OW turns up she is immediately insecure and a willing victim to the practical joke the nasty blonde plays on her.
The hero is a bit stubborn and hot tempered so the reunion is a bit angsty but ends up rather sweet.
December 26, 2013
Victoria Parsons might be a bright, beautiful nurse, but she tends to feel her sisters are the true beauties of the family. Finding herself the center of attraction for Alexander van Schuylen is a little hard to believe. Dr van Schuylen makes several trips to see Vicky, both at the hospital, and her family home. Finally able to convince her to marry him, the trip to his family home in Holland starts off well, until Nina appears and throws a kink in the works.
As always, you get a great sense of the scenery and habits of the people. A little close to form for her writings, a simple, uncomplicated story is refreshing break from some very bad writing.
As always, you get a great sense of the scenery and habits of the people. A little close to form for her writings, a simple, uncomplicated story is refreshing break from some very bad writing.
September 26, 2024
I read the ending and the reviews and realised it’d be a very irritating read for me.
July 19, 2023
Be warned, I *couldn't stand this book*, so if you are a huge fan of it, you might not enjoy my review! I've since read another Neels I was pretty okay with (Visiting Consultant) so ... it's just this one.
Victoria is from Guernsey and has three loving, affectionate, supportive sisters, each more gorgeous than the last, so she's convinced that she's 'plain' despite being utterly beautiful. She is also a trained nurse with sufficient experience that she's likely to make Ward Sister soon -- so one would expect her to be a competent adult person, yes? BUT NO. Victoria is the waifiest of waifs -- she is so insecure that it wraps around into a sort of arrogance where she is 100% sure she always knows exactly what people are thinking about her, and it is always something she can be aggrieved about. If Matron thinks Victoria cares about a nursing career, she's suggesting Victoria will never be married! If an older woman wants to talk about her life, she's being rude to Victoria who wants to go off and sulk about stuff! If the doctor thinks she might have a fracture, he's insulting her by suggesting she's weak enough to have a broken bone! Victoria is, of course, too polite to say any of this out loud, but she has a constant monologue going on in her head about how terrible people are and how badly they treat her and how unfair it all is, and it gets old REALLY fast.
All of this is bad enough with the side characters, but it is at its worst with her love interest, the handsome, wealthy Alexander, who is a much-older Dutch doctor. From the beginning he's interested in Victoria, and from the beginning she is completely incapable of understanding his interest or assuming that he is acting in good faith. If he compliments her, it's because he's taunting her; if he asks her out it's because he can't find anyone better; if he *talks about meeting her family* it's because he has no interest in her or a possible future together -- it really borders on delusional, and the way Alexander reacts to it makes it even worse, because he talks to her like she's a small child -- I'm not sure he ever says 'You'll understand when you're older' but that is completely the tone of it, which makes it VERY weird as a romance. If the girl you're courting is so emotionally immature that she can't understand your very clear words about wanting a future with her, maybe you shouldn't be courting her, sir!
Are all Neels heroines like this? (Spoiler: No, Sophy of Visiting Consultant has some similar traits, but she is a competent nurse who likes her job and while she's insecure, she's not delusional about it.) Why does Neels think that Victoria is an attractive person I want to spend time with? Why does she think a mature man would want to date & marry Victoria unless he had an obsession with that old-fashioned kind of 'innocence' which manifests as not just ignorance but actual inability to understand romance & sex? Alexander kisses Victoria and she likes it a lot while also thinking that it is totally meaningless and he doesn't like her at all... so why is she kissing him back?
Despite being from 1972, this is definitely the most old-fashioned Harlequin of all the ones I've read, way more so than the ones actually from the 50s, and I find it very odd -- Neels was born in 1909, but Mary Burchell was born in 1904 & Susan Barrie was born in 1908, and neither of them write heroines who are so 'innocent' that they have no idea they're being flirted with. I wonder if the rest of hers are more like this or more like Visiting Consultant?
Victoria is from Guernsey and has three loving, affectionate, supportive sisters, each more gorgeous than the last, so she's convinced that she's 'plain' despite being utterly beautiful. She is also a trained nurse with sufficient experience that she's likely to make Ward Sister soon -- so one would expect her to be a competent adult person, yes? BUT NO. Victoria is the waifiest of waifs -- she is so insecure that it wraps around into a sort of arrogance where she is 100% sure she always knows exactly what people are thinking about her, and it is always something she can be aggrieved about. If Matron thinks Victoria cares about a nursing career, she's suggesting Victoria will never be married! If an older woman wants to talk about her life, she's being rude to Victoria who wants to go off and sulk about stuff! If the doctor thinks she might have a fracture, he's insulting her by suggesting she's weak enough to have a broken bone! Victoria is, of course, too polite to say any of this out loud, but she has a constant monologue going on in her head about how terrible people are and how badly they treat her and how unfair it all is, and it gets old REALLY fast.
All of this is bad enough with the side characters, but it is at its worst with her love interest, the handsome, wealthy Alexander, who is a much-older Dutch doctor. From the beginning he's interested in Victoria, and from the beginning she is completely incapable of understanding his interest or assuming that he is acting in good faith. If he compliments her, it's because he's taunting her; if he asks her out it's because he can't find anyone better; if he *talks about meeting her family* it's because he has no interest in her or a possible future together -- it really borders on delusional, and the way Alexander reacts to it makes it even worse, because he talks to her like she's a small child -- I'm not sure he ever says 'You'll understand when you're older' but that is completely the tone of it, which makes it VERY weird as a romance. If the girl you're courting is so emotionally immature that she can't understand your very clear words about wanting a future with her, maybe you shouldn't be courting her, sir!
Are all Neels heroines like this? (Spoiler: No, Sophy of Visiting Consultant has some similar traits, but she is a competent nurse who likes her job and while she's insecure, she's not delusional about it.) Why does Neels think that Victoria is an attractive person I want to spend time with? Why does she think a mature man would want to date & marry Victoria unless he had an obsession with that old-fashioned kind of 'innocence' which manifests as not just ignorance but actual inability to understand romance & sex? Alexander kisses Victoria and she likes it a lot while also thinking that it is totally meaningless and he doesn't like her at all... so why is she kissing him back?
Despite being from 1972, this is definitely the most old-fashioned Harlequin of all the ones I've read, way more so than the ones actually from the 50s, and I find it very odd -- Neels was born in 1909, but Mary Burchell was born in 1904 & Susan Barrie was born in 1908, and neither of them write heroines who are so 'innocent' that they have no idea they're being flirted with. I wonder if the rest of hers are more like this or more like Visiting Consultant?
June 25, 2011
With more than 120 of her books not counting the omnibuses, keeping tabs of what happened where is difficult. So, if I remembered bits of the story even after 35 years, the author must have done something right because I ain’t got no photographic memory.
Three things about this book:
1) I found the girl/nurse very insecure about her beauty and
2) the guy/doctor doesn’t follow for a Betty Neels’ archetype because he’s hot-headed instead of stoic and he’s a bit forward the way he declares his attraction for her early on.
3) when the heroine went all the way to Hague thinking they’d have a reconciliation and instead he installed her in an impersonal hotel like she had a plague. The slight was intentional but her outrage was so over-the-top it was comical.
But I’m afraid this book is outmoded so current readers won’t probably get this.
Settings: Guernsey Island, one of the English Channel islands off the coast of Normandy, France and the Hague, Netherlands
Three things about this book:
1) I found the girl/nurse very insecure about her beauty and
2) the guy/doctor doesn’t follow for a Betty Neels’ archetype because he’s hot-headed instead of stoic and he’s a bit forward the way he declares his attraction for her early on.
3) when the heroine went all the way to Hague thinking they’d have a reconciliation and instead he installed her in an impersonal hotel like she had a plague. The slight was intentional but her outrage was so over-the-top it was comical.
But I’m afraid this book is outmoded so current readers won’t probably get this.
Settings: Guernsey Island, one of the English Channel islands off the coast of Normandy, France and the Hague, Netherlands
April 19, 2014
This book is the second book by Meeks that I've read. The other was A Good Wife. Right away I noticed strong similarities between the 2 books: both feature an English female in her mid twenties and a Danish doctor in his mid thirties. They also seem to be set in the same time period. However, I found that I didn't enjoy this book nearly as much as I enjoyed A Good Wife. I didn't like that Victoria seemed unsure about Alexander's feeling the WHOLE time. It seemed to me that he would reassure himself of her feelings but didn't ever reassure her of his. Also I felt like there was some hints of him knowing about her before they met that were never adressed later. Overall, the book was . . . ok.
December 6, 2022
Another delightful heroine who sabotages her own happiness. Finally a man who makes his intentions clear but the heroine keeps second guessing what she is seeing. In the end she is braver than most ...she comes back to confront and is bold and determined to apologize and explain. Most just run and wait for the man to follow...interesting change.
October 4, 2017
Harlequin Romance #1625 (1972)
May 31, 2015
One of my favorites of Betty Neels
August 7, 2012
Good book. It follows the usual Betty Neels pattern.
August 29, 2022
5 Betty Stars (which I’ve established several times are a star category in a class of their own)
This was a re-read and I must admit, I did not remember liking this so much the first time. I think this is one of the few BN romances where the hero is overtly intentional about the heroine from the jump and it’s also probably the raciest BN romance I’ve ever read- closed door make out sessions galore… which if you know Betty, you know for her it’s pretty much straight up raunch. The premise is that Victoria is very pretty and fairly well-off from a supportive family (rare for BN) from Guernsey meets RDD, Alexander, and sparks fly and the attraction is instant and obvious. But coming from a family of incredibly pretty girls and being somewhat shy herself, Vicky is a little hesitant to believe that love at first sight could happen and be real for her.
This is obviously problematic in the most Neelsian ways- there’s a hyper-focus on Vicky’s looks, there are some sexual and verbal harassment in the workplace issues that go unpunished, Vicky is perhaps a little too trusting in a way that barely makes sense… But otherwise this has all THE BEST Neels drama- injured heroine, hero throwing punches, heroine going after what she wants, hero expressing deep emotion and making extensive proclamations of love, all the making out…. it’s probably up there amongst my favourites from this author like Dearest Love. I really enjoyed this and will put it high on my roster of frequent Betty re-reads.
This was a re-read and I must admit, I did not remember liking this so much the first time. I think this is one of the few BN romances where the hero is overtly intentional about the heroine from the jump and it’s also probably the raciest BN romance I’ve ever read- closed door make out sessions galore… which if you know Betty, you know for her it’s pretty much straight up raunch. The premise is that Victoria is very pretty and fairly well-off from a supportive family (rare for BN) from Guernsey meets RDD, Alexander, and sparks fly and the attraction is instant and obvious. But coming from a family of incredibly pretty girls and being somewhat shy herself, Vicky is a little hesitant to believe that love at first sight could happen and be real for her.
This is obviously problematic in the most Neelsian ways- there’s a hyper-focus on Vicky’s looks, there are some sexual and verbal harassment in the workplace issues that go unpunished, Vicky is perhaps a little too trusting in a way that barely makes sense… But otherwise this has all THE BEST Neels drama- injured heroine, hero throwing punches, heroine going after what she wants, hero expressing deep emotion and making extensive proclamations of love, all the making out…. it’s probably up there amongst my favourites from this author like Dearest Love. I really enjoyed this and will put it high on my roster of frequent Betty re-reads.
May 29, 2023
Emotional
Vicky and Alexander's story starts out pretty mild, but ends up with the usual misunderstandings. There is some stuff in this book that kind of makes me angry and, as it wasn't relevant to the end of the story, it wasn't completely dealt with. It was part of the story because it causes some situations, but I'd have liked to see that part of the story resolved. I guess I don't normally care what happens to side characters, but in this case, I actually do wish there was some fitting end to that part of the story. Vicky and Alexander are in love pretty much from the beginning. It's the problems caused by these nasty side characters that make their journey to happiness a hard one. In the end, you'll love the overall story.
Vicky and Alexander's story starts out pretty mild, but ends up with the usual misunderstandings. There is some stuff in this book that kind of makes me angry and, as it wasn't relevant to the end of the story, it wasn't completely dealt with. It was part of the story because it causes some situations, but I'd have liked to see that part of the story resolved. I guess I don't normally care what happens to side characters, but in this case, I actually do wish there was some fitting end to that part of the story. Vicky and Alexander are in love pretty much from the beginning. It's the problems caused by these nasty side characters that make their journey to happiness a hard one. In the end, you'll love the overall story.
December 8, 2020
This was rare Betty. Vicky was pretty and NOT an amazon lol usually the small gals are plain, and the beauties are giants. She had a good family, didn't need help. Our RDD didn't hide that he was into her. They did normal dates and made out...WHAT'S GOING ON?! And zero mentioned of lashings of cream at tea!
January 31, 2018
Too contrived
I didn't like this one much. A bit over the top compared to most of Betty Neels other stories. I was disappointed over the last 2 chapters, Nina's and Jeremy's actions in the story were a bit too much for my enjoyment.
I didn't like this one much. A bit over the top compared to most of Betty Neels other stories. I was disappointed over the last 2 chapters, Nina's and Jeremy's actions in the story were a bit too much for my enjoyment.
January 26, 2019
Not my favorite biscuit on the tea tray. I liked most of it, as I like all BN's books. I like the quaint lifestyle they portray. This one had a few too may coincidences and misunderstandings. But it had a nice HEA, and that's the point anyway.
October 27, 2019
Oh, Nina
This was one of the sappiest, longest, drawn out novel by Betty Neels that I have ever written! SO disappointing! Worldliness and naivety made an awful combination this time. It was so hard to read this to the end that I’ll let some other poor reader explain!
This was one of the sappiest, longest, drawn out novel by Betty Neels that I have ever written! SO disappointing! Worldliness and naivety made an awful combination this time. It was so hard to read this to the end that I’ll let some other poor reader explain!
June 3, 2018
Not my favorite.
July 23, 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
March 18, 2022
Victoria is a twit and Alexander isn't much better. One of my least favorites by Betty Neels.
March 15, 2023
A typical over-dramatic, expert at jumping to (false) conclusions BN h.
December 14, 2024
Not Neels’ best work. Read many years ago. Many problems could have been solved by the main characters just being honest with each other
January 2, 2016
Boring Read
Yes, it's Betty Neels, but rather uninteresting! Too bad. Nothing else can be said to support a better opinion, eithet
Yes, it's Betty Neels, but rather uninteresting! Too bad. Nothing else can be said to support a better opinion, eithet
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