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Visiting Consultant
Learning the hard way that little white lies lead to disaster, Sophy Greenslade goes up against Dr. Max van Oosterwelde, a man who will let nothing stand in his way of getting what he wants, which happens to be Sophy. Reprint.
217 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 1970
57 people are currently reading
246 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 50 reviews
April 8, 2020
.
DNFed essentially but skimmed to the end.
I just wasn't enjoying this one, so I gave up.
I didn't really like Sophy. I wanted to and maybe I could have before the end, but there was this ridiculous side plot that sent their 'romance' off the rails.
Sophy is a very 'managing female'. She doesn't like her control being threatened, which is what having the hots for the visiting consultant, Max, will do. So it was kinda frustrating that she goes to great trouble to keep him at arms length for so long into the story. Then the OW, Tineke shows up and Sophy has every right to misconstrue because it was meant to be misleading.
I didn't like Tineke. She is written to be a 'nice' OW. But she's still a liar, taking advantage of a friends' good will, and she is unapologetic about it in the end. Like she did no harm, when she decidedly did with her self interest.
So Sophy is made out to be the 'bad guy'?
Maybe this is why there are a few pages still left after the ILYs, to help persuade us of their love?
And why is Sophy so sure that she is homely? Well it's because her family and friends keep telling her she is. What a bunch of assh*les.
So no, I didn't like this one at all. Too frustrating.
Safety is good
DNFed essentially but skimmed to the end.
I just wasn't enjoying this one, so I gave up.
I didn't really like Sophy. I wanted to and maybe I could have before the end, but there was this ridiculous side plot that sent their 'romance' off the rails.
Sophy is a very 'managing female'. She doesn't like her control being threatened, which is what having the hots for the visiting consultant, Max, will do. So it was kinda frustrating that she goes to great trouble to keep him at arms length for so long into the story. Then the OW, Tineke shows up and Sophy has every right to misconstrue because it was meant to be misleading.
I didn't like Tineke. She is written to be a 'nice' OW. But she's still a liar, taking advantage of a friends' good will, and she is unapologetic about it in the end. Like she did no harm, when she decidedly did with her self interest.
So Sophy is made out to be the 'bad guy'?
Maybe this is why there are a few pages still left after the ILYs, to help persuade us of their love?
And why is Sophy so sure that she is homely? Well it's because her family and friends keep telling her she is. What a bunch of assh*les.
So no, I didn't like this one at all. Too frustrating.
Safety is good
April 1, 2024
I discovered Betty Neels several years ago accidentally at the library - I hadn't read Harlequin romances since high school! I really liked her well-written, warm-hearted and sweet stories about strong but (usually) plain girls (sometimes nurses, sometimes not) just trying to get by and do a good job - but never doormats, mind you! They are always swept off their feet by a large, wealthy, successful (always Dutch or English!) professional hero who you know will cherish and spoil them (generally doctors, with a few interesting variations).
Yes, the stories are cookie-cutter, but they always involve lots of travel and fine meals (described in delicious detail!), fashion, beautiful homes, cooking, gardening, beloved pets (everyone's got at least a cat, usually a dog, too!) - all the things I love! These are Cinderella stories, absolute brain candy, but I find them addictive and have collected a ton of them, so I can reread at will! No sex, unfortunately, but God knows we can get that in plenty of other books . . . A real treat, especially after a long day, to soak in a hot bubble bath, sip a glass of wine and take a trip with Betty - happy ending guaranteed!
Yes, the stories are cookie-cutter, but they always involve lots of travel and fine meals (described in delicious detail!), fashion, beautiful homes, cooking, gardening, beloved pets (everyone's got at least a cat, usually a dog, too!) - all the things I love! These are Cinderella stories, absolute brain candy, but I find them addictive and have collected a ton of them, so I can reread at will! No sex, unfortunately, but God knows we can get that in plenty of other books . . . A real treat, especially after a long day, to soak in a hot bubble bath, sip a glass of wine and take a trip with Betty - happy ending guaranteed!
April 14, 2021
This was written back in 1970 and was Betty's third book. It is known by four different titles - Blow Hot, Blow Cold / Surgeon from Holland / Visiting Surgeon / Visiting Consultant. Not sure why it was renamed so many times. I do think "Blow Hot, Blow Cold" is the better title.
I agree with most reviewers that this is definitely one of Betty's better stories. Though she tends to describe the hero's wealth, she doesn't inundate the reader with massive descriptions of chairs, and floors, and food like she does in her later work. This story was much more character driven which happens to be a preference of mine.
- It's a well written, entertaining, character driven story
- The dialogue is snappy and the plot is realistic
- The misunderstanding is plausible
- The heroine is justified for reaching her conclusions
- The hero is luscious, but comes with a very nasty temper
- The ending is very satisfying
This is one book I would recommend to anyone, even non-Betty fans.
I agree with most reviewers that this is definitely one of Betty's better stories. Though she tends to describe the hero's wealth, she doesn't inundate the reader with massive descriptions of chairs, and floors, and food like she does in her later work. This story was much more character driven which happens to be a preference of mine.
- It's a well written, entertaining, character driven story
- The dialogue is snappy and the plot is realistic
- The misunderstanding is plausible
- The heroine is justified for reaching her conclusions
- The hero is luscious, but comes with a very nasty temper
- The ending is very satisfying
This is one book I would recommend to anyone, even non-Betty fans.
August 17, 2025
There is some really stellar dialogue and prose in this one.
"Well, I'd rather be run down by a Bentley than anything else," he stated. "Excepting a Rolls-Royce, of course."
"If only I'd known,"murmured the tall man, "I would have done my best to oblige you."
**************
That gloomy old proverb "be sure your sins will find you out" stalked fierily before her eyes. She gave it a metaphorical kick.
**************
Sophy Greenslade, theatre nurse, meets Professor Jonkheer Maximilian van Oosterwelde when her younger brother runs across the street in front of the Professor in his Bentley. He is in England to fill in for Sophy's godfather, a surgeon, whom she calls Uncle Giles. Uncle Giles is Max's godfather, too.
Thus Max and Sophy are thrown together for the next few weeks at work and Max becomes a family friend. Sophy falls in love with Max and despite several kisses and a few dates, she thinks he is not at all interested in her.
Sophy tries to avoid him and invents a fictional boyfriend, John Austin, a bank manager from Harrogate. Sadly, when Max deliberately misnames him as John Morris, even Sophy forgets what his name is supposed to be. (Austin - Morris - both British automobiles - TGB, I see what you did there!)
The first part of the book ends with a fire in the hospital while Max and Sophy and their team are in surgery. Max keeps operating until quite a bit after the last possible moment. When they get ready to make a run for it, Max "had an arm in a protective arc over his patient, he drew her close against him with the other one and as she felt it tighten around her, she felt quite safe." "They reached the door as the ceiling around the burning door caved in, and smoke and flames poured into the room."
Once cleanup is completed, Sophy is out of a job. Max has returned to Holland, but soon Sophy receives a letter from him. His nurse is in measles quarantine and he asks Sophy to replace her temporarily. She accepts and as soon as she arrives in Utrecht, she meets Tineke van der Wijde, who she assumes to be Max's SO.
Now, it is true that TGB's heroines are often very quick to assume relationships were none exist. However in this case, Sophy can be acquitted because Max and Tineke have deliberately conspired to behave so that the public will assume they are "engaged to be engaged."
So Sophie tries not to get too close to Max and is confused and bewildered by his kisses and his behaving in an interested fashion toward her.
He throws a surprise birthday party for her. He invites her to be his date at a dance at his home and when he is kissing her in the conservatory, Tineke bursts in, he leaves her and goes away with Tineke and another doctor, Karel von Steen.
Later he tells her he wants to explain. She becomes furious (and really, who could blame her?) and says some very nasty things to him.
He arranges for her to go back to England almost immediately and they treat each other very coldly in the interim. On the last day, Tineke comes to see Sophy and explains that she and Karel have been in love for 10 years, but he is married to a woman who is institutionalized for insanity (very Jane Eyre, no?). Max is a cover so that Karel and Tineke could spend time together without people knowing. (Karel is RC so, no divorce, you see.)
So, as she is leaving, Sophy goes to his office at the clinic and confesses her love for him and then runs out. Of course he catches her before she leaves the hospital, pulls her into an empty conference room and kisses her and proposes.
This is certainly one of TGB's best crafted books. Well-plotted, lots of lovely secondary characters, plausible plot line. 4 1/2 stars.
Re-read 9/19/17 - nothing to add, really.
"Well, I'd rather be run down by a Bentley than anything else," he stated. "Excepting a Rolls-Royce, of course."
"If only I'd known,"murmured the tall man, "I would have done my best to oblige you."
**************
That gloomy old proverb "be sure your sins will find you out" stalked fierily before her eyes. She gave it a metaphorical kick.
**************
Sophy Greenslade, theatre nurse, meets Professor Jonkheer Maximilian van Oosterwelde when her younger brother runs across the street in front of the Professor in his Bentley. He is in England to fill in for Sophy's godfather, a surgeon, whom she calls Uncle Giles. Uncle Giles is Max's godfather, too.
Thus Max and Sophy are thrown together for the next few weeks at work and Max becomes a family friend. Sophy falls in love with Max and despite several kisses and a few dates, she thinks he is not at all interested in her.
Sophy tries to avoid him and invents a fictional boyfriend, John Austin, a bank manager from Harrogate. Sadly, when Max deliberately misnames him as John Morris, even Sophy forgets what his name is supposed to be. (Austin - Morris - both British automobiles - TGB, I see what you did there!)
The first part of the book ends with a fire in the hospital while Max and Sophy and their team are in surgery. Max keeps operating until quite a bit after the last possible moment. When they get ready to make a run for it, Max "had an arm in a protective arc over his patient, he drew her close against him with the other one and as she felt it tighten around her, she felt quite safe." "They reached the door as the ceiling around the burning door caved in, and smoke and flames poured into the room."
Once cleanup is completed, Sophy is out of a job. Max has returned to Holland, but soon Sophy receives a letter from him. His nurse is in measles quarantine and he asks Sophy to replace her temporarily. She accepts and as soon as she arrives in Utrecht, she meets Tineke van der Wijde, who she assumes to be Max's SO.
Now, it is true that TGB's heroines are often very quick to assume relationships were none exist. However in this case, Sophy can be acquitted because Max and Tineke have deliberately conspired to behave so that the public will assume they are "engaged to be engaged."
So Sophie tries not to get too close to Max and is confused and bewildered by his kisses and his behaving in an interested fashion toward her.
He throws a surprise birthday party for her. He invites her to be his date at a dance at his home and when he is kissing her in the conservatory, Tineke bursts in, he leaves her and goes away with Tineke and another doctor, Karel von Steen.
Later he tells her he wants to explain. She becomes furious (and really, who could blame her?) and says some very nasty things to him.
He arranges for her to go back to England almost immediately and they treat each other very coldly in the interim. On the last day, Tineke comes to see Sophy and explains that she and Karel have been in love for 10 years, but he is married to a woman who is institutionalized for insanity (very Jane Eyre, no?). Max is a cover so that Karel and Tineke could spend time together without people knowing. (Karel is RC so, no divorce, you see.)
So, as she is leaving, Sophy goes to his office at the clinic and confesses her love for him and then runs out. Of course he catches her before she leaves the hospital, pulls her into an empty conference room and kisses her and proposes.
This is certainly one of TGB's best crafted books. Well-plotted, lots of lovely secondary characters, plausible plot line. 4 1/2 stars.
Re-read 9/19/17 - nothing to add, really.
April 7, 2024
Not a favorite. Too many medical details. 😂 There are some lovely moments in the first half with Sophia’s family and if that had been the whole book, I would have liked it much more. There is some dumb conflict in the second half.
May 7, 2013
4 Stars ~ Sophy had been 21 and newly registered as a nurse when her parents died in an auto accident leaving her responsible for her three younger siblings. With her grandmother's help she's managed to keep her small family together these past four years, but has left her little time for herself. She's now Sister in the operating theatre and highly respected. Her godfather is head of surgery and when he suffers from a heart ailment he asks another of his godchildren, Max also a surgeon, to fill in for him while he recuperates. Max has some free time while his own surgical unit in Holland is being completed. They work well together, and because of his connection with her godfather, he becomes a frequent visitor in her home. Her younger brother and sister are in awe of him and Max has charmed her grandmother. Afraid of her growing feelings for Max, Sophy pretends to have a boyfriend. A fire in the hospital totally destroys the operating theatre, which means Max is no longer needed and soon Sophy will have to go on a rotating float in other wards for the many months until the theatre is rebuilt. Receiving word that his own operating theatre in Holland is well ahead of schedule, Max heads home. A week after he leaves, Sophy receives a letter asking her to work with him as his surgical Sister has been quarantined for several weeks. By this time Sophy realizes she's in love with Max and she's reluctant to go, but her godfather asks her to accept as a favour to him to repay Max for the time he's spent in his stead. She stays in the home for the nurses and gets on remarkably well as most of the hospital staff speak english. Rumours have it that Max is soon to announce his engagement to a very pretty woman whom he spends most of his weekends with. The mixed signals that Max sends her has her very confused and when he kisses her she's both happy and angry because she feels she's betraying the other woman.
This is another charming love story by Ms. Neels. Sophy is a wonderful heroine; strong, generous, and because of her stilted social life rather shy. She's not afraid of hard work and proves herself invaluable in her job. Max admires her greatly, both for her dedication as a nurse and to her family. I could have shot Max though for keeping such a secret around the other woman, it was so unfair to Sophy, and I felt he deserved her bitter attack that nearly ended their future. Adelaide and Coenradd from Sister Peters in Amsterdam are good friends of Max's and it was lovely that they have roles in this story.
This is another charming love story by Ms. Neels. Sophy is a wonderful heroine; strong, generous, and because of her stilted social life rather shy. She's not afraid of hard work and proves herself invaluable in her job. Max admires her greatly, both for her dedication as a nurse and to her family. I could have shot Max though for keeping such a secret around the other woman, it was so unfair to Sophy, and I felt he deserved her bitter attack that nearly ended their future. Adelaide and Coenradd from Sister Peters in Amsterdam are good friends of Max's and it was lovely that they have roles in this story.
April 16, 2016
RDD-General Surgeon
This book was so sweet and perfect! And oh my, the ending! <3 The best BN ending ever written, hands down! Not at all rushed and spanned maybe about 4 pages instead of just the usual 1/2 page!
The h was amazing, quiet with just the right amount of spitfire, and the H - it was obvious he was smitten right from the start, that is, if you know BN stories!
Super cute, somewhat angst-y novel, and I loved the plot twists - how Betty manages to arrange everything all so perfectly and conveniently! The fire, the nurse coming down with measles, the godfather with the heart problem - oh, Betty.
I also loved the OW story -
This book was so sweet and perfect! And oh my, the ending! <3 The best BN ending ever written, hands down! Not at all rushed and spanned maybe about 4 pages instead of just the usual 1/2 page!
The h was amazing, quiet with just the right amount of spitfire, and the H - it was obvious he was smitten right from the start, that is, if you know BN stories!
Super cute, somewhat angst-y novel, and I loved the plot twists - how Betty manages to arrange everything all so perfectly and conveniently! The fire, the nurse coming down with measles, the godfather with the heart problem - oh, Betty.
I also loved the OW story -
February 15, 2022
This is one of those BN books where it's hard to understand why the H behaved the way he did. If he really loved her, why would he contribute to her confusion and unhappiness on almost every occasion? Even his occasional kindness was given in such a way that she suffered unnecessarily. He seemed to laugh at her more than feel affection for her. He also didn't seem to admire her, which is one of the saving graces of Betty's H's.
April 16, 2016
Sophy, an orphaned nobody, a stubborn British nurse, won't abandon her patient to save her own skin, despite rapidly advancing fire. The visiting surgeon (Max, no Dutch name??) is impressed!
Loved this book. And I think it's one of the very first Betty wrote. Since then, she has blessed the world with uncountable rich Dutch doctors with tongue-twister names, and plain-jane heroines with beautiful eyes and a soft mouth (I kid you not).
Betty was a nurse herself, and lived through Hitler's London Blitz. She began writing medical romances after she retired, in about 1967. So, she was about 60 years old when she started her new career.
Wiki says: Betty Neels (born 15 September 1909 in Leyton, England - d. 7 June 2001 in England) was a prolific British writer of over 134 romance novels (first publication entirely for Mills & Boon in United Kingdom and later reprinted in the North America by Harlequin), beginning in 1969 and continuing until her death. Her work is known for being particularly chaste.
Loved this book. And I think it's one of the very first Betty wrote. Since then, she has blessed the world with uncountable rich Dutch doctors with tongue-twister names, and plain-jane heroines with beautiful eyes and a soft mouth (I kid you not).
Betty was a nurse herself, and lived through Hitler's London Blitz. She began writing medical romances after she retired, in about 1967. So, she was about 60 years old when she started her new career.
Wiki says: Betty Neels (born 15 September 1909 in Leyton, England - d. 7 June 2001 in England) was a prolific British writer of over 134 romance novels (first publication entirely for Mills & Boon in United Kingdom and later reprinted in the North America by Harlequin), beginning in 1969 and continuing until her death. Her work is known for being particularly chaste.
February 17, 2025
Turns out the OW wasn’t the OW after all. But we shall call her so for the purpose of this spoiling review. The hero was helping OW, and his catholic friend married to a hopelessly insane wife whom he couldn’t divorce because of his reputation and religion, to meet under the guise of taking the lady in question out himself, as well as providing a safe harbour for them to meet during weekends at his home. Let’s not even open that tacky can of worms there and leave it at that. However all throughout the book, until the last three pages, the hero flaunts this beautiful, sweet natured OW, going so far as to anounce he was not available, making a point of telling the heroine while he invited her out the first time that he was only inviting her because the original lady he had bought the tickets for, had caught a cold, and holding the heroine so low in his list of priorities that he didn’t forgo even one of the infamous weekends at his home to spend it with her, knowing full well that she’d not be in Holland for more than a couple of weeks, as well, not explaining anything to the poor heroine all while ALL of his and the star-crossed lovers’ collective close friends knew the truth, AND he had the gall to get angry at her for « jumping » to conclusions when after kissing the heroine senseless the OW arrived and the heroine stepped into the hall just in time to see him embracing and holding the OW his arms and leaving with her without a backward glance.
What he did in the face of her justified outburst was to become icily enraged and arrange for her exit from his life and the hospital in the speediest way possible. On the day the heroine was to leave for the airport, OW comes and confesses everything, especially since the impediment of the insane wife had been lifted by said wife’s death that very night hero had left with her.
I have no idea how the heroine works out that if she didn’t confess her love it’d make her a coward, because as far as I’m concerned doing so made her a pathetic doormat, but she holds the taxi on her way to the airport and even when asked to leave him alone, she carries on with her confession. A most revolting hea ensues.
What he did in the face of her justified outburst was to become icily enraged and arrange for her exit from his life and the hospital in the speediest way possible. On the day the heroine was to leave for the airport, OW comes and confesses everything, especially since the impediment of the insane wife had been lifted by said wife’s death that very night hero had left with her.
I have no idea how the heroine works out that if she didn’t confess her love it’d make her a coward, because as far as I’m concerned doing so made her a pathetic doormat, but she holds the taxi on her way to the airport and even when asked to leave him alone, she carries on with her confession. A most revolting hea ensues.
June 18, 2010
One of our Betty's earliest books. She must have thought that her writing career would be short, as she packed everything but the kitchen sink into this one. What a hoot.
Hmmm, let's see--Plain, mousy British Nurse-check. Rich Dutch Doctor--check. Danger on the job--check(major fire at the hospital while they were doing an operation). Trip to Holland--check. Mysterious other woman--check (but this other woman is a really nice one). Big misunderstanding--of course.
The extras include a godfather in common between the BN and RDD. The fact that our RDD is escorting the other woman around as a cover for her affair with another doctor (!!). The backstory that has them waiting for other doc's insane wife to die(!!!)so he'll be free to marry the other woman.
Oh Betty!
Hmmm, let's see--Plain, mousy British Nurse-check. Rich Dutch Doctor--check. Danger on the job--check(major fire at the hospital while they were doing an operation). Trip to Holland--check. Mysterious other woman--check (but this other woman is a really nice one). Big misunderstanding--of course.
The extras include a godfather in common between the BN and RDD. The fact that our RDD is escorting the other woman around as a cover for her affair with another doctor (!!). The backstory that has them waiting for other doc's insane wife to die(!!!)so he'll be free to marry the other woman.
Oh Betty!
January 27, 2021
Classic Betty Neels. I'd forgotten how much I always wanted to slap her characters.
The summary on GR is very misleading. Both Sophie *and* Max are terrible about communicating. Why don't they just talk to each other?! He blames her because she doesn't realize he loves her yet he puts her down, acting cold at the drop of a hat. She, on the other hand, constantly puts herself down. How many times does her hair need to be described as "mousey" and herself as "plain"?! Uuuugggghhh! Really?! The only reason I gave it two stars and not one is because Betty Neels was one of my first Harlequin authors.
As was the time, there is no physical "hanky pankey" beyond kissing.
1/21/21- Re-read. Better on 2nd/ 3rd read.
Note: Explosion & fire near the operating room & they continue operating.
The summary on GR is very misleading. Both Sophie *and* Max are terrible about communicating. Why don't they just talk to each other?! He blames her because she doesn't realize he loves her yet he puts her down, acting cold at the drop of a hat. She, on the other hand, constantly puts herself down. How many times does her hair need to be described as "mousey" and herself as "plain"?! Uuuugggghhh! Really?! The only reason I gave it two stars and not one is because Betty Neels was one of my first Harlequin authors.
As was the time, there is no physical "hanky pankey" beyond kissing.
1/21/21- Re-read. Better on 2nd/ 3rd read.
Note: Explosion & fire near the operating room & they continue operating.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2016
A cute romance between a Theater Nurse (sister) and a visiting doctor. This is a comfort read and a was a perfect read for my Sunday mood :)
The h is very sensible, down-to-earth and a very sweet person. I really liked her nature. She is described as a Plane Jane who transforms into attractive when she smiles. She is oblivious to it and does not think she is attractive at all.
It was very obvious how much in love with her the H is and how oblivious she is to it all.
There is an OW..
I recommend this book if you want a clean, simple romance :)
The h is very sensible, down-to-earth and a very sweet person. I really liked her nature. She is described as a Plane Jane who transforms into attractive when she smiles. She is oblivious to it and does not think she is attractive at all.
It was very obvious how much in love with her the H is and how oblivious she is to it all.
There is an OW..
I recommend this book if you want a clean, simple romance :)
September 23, 2010
Well I guess it had to happen. A Neels that didn't send me craving more. OK, but no more. The "big mis" involved a wife (not the hero's) a a la Mrs. Rochester and I do not like books like that!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2013
I love Betty Neels. She wrote romance that provided a good story without all the erotica that is the current trend
What a great book!
What a great book!
February 8, 2016
Not my favorite from Betty Neels - I think the two main characters are a bit mean to each other. But still, it is Betty Neels so it automatically starts off on the right foot for me.
March 27, 2021
4.5*
This came so close to being a perfect 5* read for me, except by the end when the big secret was revealed I got soooooo angry with the pigheaded hero Max!
According to The Uncrushable Jersey Dress, this book was the 3rd published by Betty Neels. The original title was Blow Hot Blow Cold which was sooo much more appropriate than the new and current title Visiting Consultant! Max had the gall to accuse Sophy of blowing hot and cold, but HE was the guilty one! Worse, Sophy agreed with him *roll eyes*
I truly enjoyed reading every bit of this story. The various operations, and I am squeamish, are realistic yet simple enough for us laymen to visualise. Not every patient was saved, and not every operation went smoothly. The epic one took place while the hospital was burning down on them! My heart was pumping so fast during that scene! Max had nerves of steel and the three men in that operating theatre were true heroes...they knew the patient came first and brave Sophy, staying on despite her fear, was a true heroine! I really expected her and Max to kiss madly and hug the life out of each other for surviving that ordeal, but no they just went on to work some more and save more lives. It was so awesome to see them work almost in synchronised harmony. I for sure would be sad when Sophy stopped working after getting married! But she deserved a life of leisure hehe! The image of short Sophy standing on a box during surgery was too cute! Love having our couple work together so closely in harmony!
As always right from the beginning of the Great Betty's writing, we have the elements we've come to love. The heroine being attracted to, but also disliking, the hero at first sight, RDD and in this case he had a Bentley AND a Rolls Royce, funny lines so quote worthy like Ben saying he'd rather be hit by a Bentley if he were to be knocked down and Max saying if he'd known he'd have obliged, then when Sophy asked if her bro and dog damaged his car, Max replied " er" Bentleys didn't dent so easily...or when Max went to fetch her home Sophy replied she'd meant to go home on her "broomstick"! BN's later books might have a bit of wryly funny lines, but these early books really made me laugh out loud in many places! Love, love, love!
The supporting cast were interesting and nice; we never got to meet brother Luke who's still in medical school, but granny and the younger siblings at home said the darnedest things, so humorous! Love the food and fashion too.
SPOILERS
What ruined the ending for me was the so called big secret between Tineke and Max. Grrrr I'm angry thinking about it now. The scandal was Karel was married and a Catholic, so he could not divorce his insane wife to marry the love of his life, widow Tineke! To help out the ill-fated lovers, Max, a lifelong friend of both, offered to be seen as Tineke's lover, so that wherever he went socially or at home, Karel and Tineke could meet secretly in the open, if it made sense. This had been going on for ten years if I read it correctly! What a friend!
Of course people talked, for so long Max was squiring Tineke around, even Aunt Vera thought Max would marry Tineke and she's his godmother! Yet from the way Max's friends and Grandmother spoke to Sophy, Max sure told EVERYONE ALL about Sophy. That had to show them Sophy was special to him right? I really hated how Tineke would appear to muddy the waters just when it seemed Max and Sophy moved forward in their relationship.
But stupid Max would play hot and cold, like after an op she asked if he would like tea, he told her he wasn't going to "waste time drinking tea" when Tineke was waiting in the car for him! How the hell did Sophy know?! A$$hole! A simple no would have sufficed! Poor Sophy had all rights to be confused by his kisses, seeing how Tineke was always in the picture!
So now all his pretence and cover story fooled everyone and even Sophy, yet when Sophy accused him of being dishonourable, he got angry at her for believing him "an ageing playboy"! Hello!! I did wonder the couple of attempts he tried to explain to Sophy, was he going to confess all? Or be cryptic? When he finally got her alone and Sophy flung her accusations he could have come clean. Instead he got on his high horse and pettily denied a hungry Sophy the delicious tea right in front of her. Argh! I hate this trope when each time either the hero or heroine tried to explain something, s/he kept getting interrupted and the misunderstanding got worse!
He obviously did not trust Sophy to not judge or keep his confidence. It's so stupid because right from the start Tineke had offered to let Sophy in on the big secret, but pigheaded Max insisted no...gosh I really wanna bash him in the head. If Tineke had not taken the initiative to explain things JUST before Sophy left, Max would have let Sophy go back to England, broken hearted! He definitely needed to grovel more, Sophy should not have been the one to go to him to apologise and declare her love!
This is the only fly in the ointment for which I deducted 0.5*. I love that we got a house tour of not just Max's home, but also Coenraad and Addy's! Sister Peters in Amsterdam 's couple made a couple of cameo appearances and I loved it!
I now feel so in awe that the earliest works of the Great Betty already contained all the best loved elements in her books we've all come to love. Can't wait to read all of them! These early books are keepers for sure!
PS. Max had a vanity car plate! His initials and birth year!
This came so close to being a perfect 5* read for me, except by the end when the big secret was revealed I got soooooo angry with the pigheaded hero Max!
According to The Uncrushable Jersey Dress, this book was the 3rd published by Betty Neels. The original title was Blow Hot Blow Cold which was sooo much more appropriate than the new and current title Visiting Consultant! Max had the gall to accuse Sophy of blowing hot and cold, but HE was the guilty one! Worse, Sophy agreed with him *roll eyes*
I truly enjoyed reading every bit of this story. The various operations, and I am squeamish, are realistic yet simple enough for us laymen to visualise. Not every patient was saved, and not every operation went smoothly. The epic one took place while the hospital was burning down on them! My heart was pumping so fast during that scene! Max had nerves of steel and the three men in that operating theatre were true heroes...they knew the patient came first and brave Sophy, staying on despite her fear, was a true heroine! I really expected her and Max to kiss madly and hug the life out of each other for surviving that ordeal, but no they just went on to work some more and save more lives. It was so awesome to see them work almost in synchronised harmony. I for sure would be sad when Sophy stopped working after getting married! But she deserved a life of leisure hehe! The image of short Sophy standing on a box during surgery was too cute! Love having our couple work together so closely in harmony!
As always right from the beginning of the Great Betty's writing, we have the elements we've come to love. The heroine being attracted to, but also disliking, the hero at first sight, RDD and in this case he had a Bentley AND a Rolls Royce, funny lines so quote worthy like Ben saying he'd rather be hit by a Bentley if he were to be knocked down and Max saying if he'd known he'd have obliged, then when Sophy asked if her bro and dog damaged his car, Max replied " er" Bentleys didn't dent so easily...or when Max went to fetch her home Sophy replied she'd meant to go home on her "broomstick"! BN's later books might have a bit of wryly funny lines, but these early books really made me laugh out loud in many places! Love, love, love!
The supporting cast were interesting and nice; we never got to meet brother Luke who's still in medical school, but granny and the younger siblings at home said the darnedest things, so humorous! Love the food and fashion too.
SPOILERS
What ruined the ending for me was the so called big secret between Tineke and Max. Grrrr I'm angry thinking about it now. The scandal was Karel was married and a Catholic, so he could not divorce his insane wife to marry the love of his life, widow Tineke! To help out the ill-fated lovers, Max, a lifelong friend of both, offered to be seen as Tineke's lover, so that wherever he went socially or at home, Karel and Tineke could meet secretly in the open, if it made sense. This had been going on for ten years if I read it correctly! What a friend!
Of course people talked, for so long Max was squiring Tineke around, even Aunt Vera thought Max would marry Tineke and she's his godmother! Yet from the way Max's friends and Grandmother spoke to Sophy, Max sure told EVERYONE ALL about Sophy. That had to show them Sophy was special to him right? I really hated how Tineke would appear to muddy the waters just when it seemed Max and Sophy moved forward in their relationship.
But stupid Max would play hot and cold, like after an op she asked if he would like tea, he told her he wasn't going to "waste time drinking tea" when Tineke was waiting in the car for him! How the hell did Sophy know?! A$$hole! A simple no would have sufficed! Poor Sophy had all rights to be confused by his kisses, seeing how Tineke was always in the picture!
So now all his pretence and cover story fooled everyone and even Sophy, yet when Sophy accused him of being dishonourable, he got angry at her for believing him "an ageing playboy"! Hello!! I did wonder the couple of attempts he tried to explain to Sophy, was he going to confess all? Or be cryptic? When he finally got her alone and Sophy flung her accusations he could have come clean. Instead he got on his high horse and pettily denied a hungry Sophy the delicious tea right in front of her. Argh! I hate this trope when each time either the hero or heroine tried to explain something, s/he kept getting interrupted and the misunderstanding got worse!
He obviously did not trust Sophy to not judge or keep his confidence. It's so stupid because right from the start Tineke had offered to let Sophy in on the big secret, but pigheaded Max insisted no...gosh I really wanna bash him in the head. If Tineke had not taken the initiative to explain things JUST before Sophy left, Max would have let Sophy go back to England, broken hearted! He definitely needed to grovel more, Sophy should not have been the one to go to him to apologise and declare her love!
This is the only fly in the ointment for which I deducted 0.5*. I love that we got a house tour of not just Max's home, but also Coenraad and Addy's! Sister Peters in Amsterdam 's couple made a couple of cameo appearances and I loved it!
I now feel so in awe that the earliest works of the Great Betty already contained all the best loved elements in her books we've all come to love. Can't wait to read all of them! These early books are keepers for sure!
PS. Max had a vanity car plate! His initials and birth year!
May 4, 2016
Maxxxxxxxxxxx!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously RDD you need to learn to communicate. Use your words because your actions are confusing as hell. Max; our RDD surgeon, and Sophy (our PBN Theatre Sister) meet when her youngest brother almost careens into his Bentley whilst chasing the family pet across the street from their humble abode. He is flinty and she is stalwart in her defense of her sibling. He drives off and Sophy is forever altered by the encounter. What then are the chances that they share a godfather, eminent surgeon no less? Why excellent. So Sophy now must work with Max in the OR while Uncle Giles goes away to recover from his mysterious ailment. He is to her chagrin an excellent surgeon and easy to work with, but then he begins to come by to spend time with her family who are mesmerized by his charm. Flummoxed by her burgeoning feelings Sophy avoids him and goes so far as to conjure up a boyfriend as a shield against Max's charms. He obviously see through this and spends most of the book taunting her about her mythical BF going so far as to call him by different names; which she cannot keep track of. His time is England finished Max goes off without so much as a by your leave; but ensures he says goodbye to the hospital staff and Sophy's family so she is distraught and hurt. Bad Max. A week or so later he calls and tells her to come to Holland to cover for his Theatre Sister who is quarantined with measles. She, of course, goes only to meet Tineke; a beautiful and sweet girl (the anti-Veronica) who is always with Max and is his presumed fiancee. Sophy is upside down and backwards now. So in love with Max and confused by his attentions, all the while feeling disloyal to Tineke who she really likes. Rich in plot and great dialogue. Sophy is a great TGB heroine. Cooly efficient at work but unsure and shy in private. Max is a archetypical RDD; well off but not snobby, surrounding by family and FFR and a horrible communicator. I can say no more without revealing the plot twist but seriously one of the top ten TGB reads. Highly recommended.
February 19, 2017
These are just perfect when you need a sweet, old-fashioned romance.
February 8, 2014
This is number three in Betty's books so another early one. This one is very medical and the hero and heroine spend a lot of time in theatre or in the hospital. Sophie is the self-sacrificing eldest sister looking after her younger orphaned siblings with the help of her grandmother and a former batman of her father's.
Max and Sophie share a godfather and when he goes sick, Max is called into take his place in Sophie's theatre. He becomes friendly with her family and Sophie, recognising her danger, avoids him where possible and even invents a boyfriend.
When a hospital fire destroys the theatre, Max lures Sophie to Holland to work with him there and she is introduced to The Other Woman. Sophie finds herself liking her and also Max's friend Karol. This complication nearly derails everything and when we find out the truth it could be rather sordid but Betty manages to invest it with propriety as only she could.
Max and Sophie share a godfather and when he goes sick, Max is called into take his place in Sophie's theatre. He becomes friendly with her family and Sophie, recognising her danger, avoids him where possible and even invents a boyfriend.
When a hospital fire destroys the theatre, Max lures Sophie to Holland to work with him there and she is introduced to The Other Woman. Sophie finds herself liking her and also Max's friend Karol. This complication nearly derails everything and when we find out the truth it could be rather sordid but Betty manages to invest it with propriety as only she could.
Read
June 15, 2021I don’t like this story at all. A widowed pretty woman and a married man thought they were the victims and had the right to continue their affair in secret to save the man’s career. The hero helped cover up as if it was honourable. It was an insult and disloyal to the wife of the man. The heroine had inferior complex believing herself less worthy than the widow. The hero treated the heroine as if she less worthy than his widow friend. He did not even let her ate the tea when she confessed she’s hungry. BN even made the heroine to apology to the hero reflecting the superior of Professor to nurse. It was discrimination of last century. NO
September 28, 2010
The author, Betty Neels, retired as a nurse prior to her writing career. The main character in this book is a 26-year-old English surgery nurse and, without question, there is too much medical terminology in this particular novel. Only because of the mysterious relationship between Professor Jonkheer Maximillan van Oosterwelde (the Dutch surgeon) and Tineke van der Wijde did I persist in reading the complete book.
March 15, 2010
Someone who doesn't like Betty Neels books would read any of them and probably be disgusted with how "boring" they are. Those of us how love them see it as slice of life, and think the romance is sweet. This is the first time I've been bored by a Betty Neels! There is a fire in the hospital and the surgeons and nurses keep operating! How is that boring? But it is.
Read
July 27, 2011Sophy is a very dedicated nurse. When visiting consultant Max turns up at her home, and is the godson of her uncle, she finds there is no escaping from him. Falling in love with him makes it very difficult when she believes he is involved with Tineke.
A very touching story.
A very touching story.
August 10, 2014
A lovely sweet romance
I love Betty Neels. Yes her books are somewhat predictable yet just enough different details to keep them interesting. This one has proved to be one of my favorites. The world needs more simple sweet romances.
I love Betty Neels. Yes her books are somewhat predictable yet just enough different details to keep them interesting. This one has proved to be one of my favorites. The world needs more simple sweet romances.
November 12, 2013
I liked that Sophie and Max were on more equal footing than most of Betty's couples.
October 10, 2015
Interesting
Usual Betty Neels read, but mostly for the medical descriptions, which are, as usual, enjoyable reads. However, characters are a bit wooden.
Usual Betty Neels read, but mostly for the medical descriptions, which are, as usual, enjoyable reads. However, characters are a bit wooden.
July 31, 2011
One of my favorites
June 13, 2023
I'm hustle-bustle preparing for a long holiday and that always puts me in mind, and in the mood, for some Betty.
I don't remember ever reading this one before--not even a distant first read years ago. A new-to-me-Betty and one whose heroine is plain but with a nice figure and lovely eyes? What could be better.
An early Betty of the canon. This shows in how much nursing and surgical details there are, almost too many and too long spent in and out of heavy swinging doors with instruments to sanitize and dish out and coffees to pour round once back in Sophy's office.
Notes as I read:
Already lots of tangles for Sophy; both parents killed when she was young so she had to bear up and take responsibility of the family, a faithful retainer, a future that looks to be earning money in the nursing mines to send her siblings into the world without her, meet-uncute with RDD and his great socking Bentley that almost ran down her younger brother. And dear family pets.
They're dimly connected by an "Uncle Giles," an older surgeon who is ill but is both their godfathers. Unbeknownst to all until necessity had them meet and work together in hospital.
He likes her already and is silky about it. Probably annoyed with himself for it too. He knows she'll take a bit of time to thaw. But then soon enough he sees her in action, among family and then in theater, and he's set on her.
'his broad back looked annoyed' yes because Sophy gave a ninny nurse the chance to chat him up and he's NOT having it. His sights are set! and yet, it's clear she is further from him than he even first thought. He says no more of it, that he's not available; Sophy eats her heart out but of course he's talking about her.
A bomb! and a fire! while in surgery! Sophy of course keeps it together. And then after it's all past, a gentle combing of her hair and gentle kiss in the car. She's almost too tired to appreciate it.
His caring interest in her in the aftermath isn't near enough to what she needs, and she considers she's well beyond his notice. Add to it, she's probably out of a job due to the damage, and then told by the pretty nurse she's plain which she can't find in her to contradict. Poor Soph.
And now, RDD is back home to Utrecht sooner than expected. Poor Sophy!
"Sophy put down the finger of toast and clasped her hands on her lap, so that each should hold the other steady." <3
A letter--Max wants her to come fill a gap at the newly finished surgery in Utrecht.
She goes, does a good job of it, is liked and admired by all. Learns Dutch best she can. Fits in pretty well but longs for Max and her to have something different.
Enter the other woman, who has a very complicated role in Max's life. One they all should have explained and Max's "it wasn't for me to tell" is a bit too gentlemanly and full of propriety to the point of almost ruining his and Sophy's chance.
He's coldly furious and she's put out by turns as their misunderstandings and yearning puts them at odds and on the defense. Maybe one too many times, between them. She has it sorted out when the other woman at last explains; Sophy explains herself to a brokenhearted feeling far too old and hiding it Max, and he's both a changed man and himself again as he takes Sophy and her future in his besotted, masterful hand.
Kisses, more kisses. A hard kiss as he shows her into the Rolls and drives her home--to wait as little time as possible until they can quickly be wed.
A bit more ending than you get in later Bettys. Wonderful sense of longing from both of them, even though Max's is entirely restrained and hidden by silkiness or remoteness or Sophy telling herself she's imagining it. What a lovely HEA they'll have together.
"No, never that. Old maids don't climb trees." ;__;
I don't remember ever reading this one before--not even a distant first read years ago. A new-to-me-Betty and one whose heroine is plain but with a nice figure and lovely eyes? What could be better.
An early Betty of the canon. This shows in how much nursing and surgical details there are, almost too many and too long spent in and out of heavy swinging doors with instruments to sanitize and dish out and coffees to pour round once back in Sophy's office.
Notes as I read:
Already lots of tangles for Sophy; both parents killed when she was young so she had to bear up and take responsibility of the family, a faithful retainer, a future that looks to be earning money in the nursing mines to send her siblings into the world without her, meet-uncute with RDD and his great socking Bentley that almost ran down her younger brother. And dear family pets.
They're dimly connected by an "Uncle Giles," an older surgeon who is ill but is both their godfathers. Unbeknownst to all until necessity had them meet and work together in hospital.
He likes her already and is silky about it. Probably annoyed with himself for it too. He knows she'll take a bit of time to thaw. But then soon enough he sees her in action, among family and then in theater, and he's set on her.
'his broad back looked annoyed' yes because Sophy gave a ninny nurse the chance to chat him up and he's NOT having it. His sights are set! and yet, it's clear she is further from him than he even first thought. He says no more of it, that he's not available; Sophy eats her heart out but of course he's talking about her.
A bomb! and a fire! while in surgery! Sophy of course keeps it together. And then after it's all past, a gentle combing of her hair and gentle kiss in the car. She's almost too tired to appreciate it.
His caring interest in her in the aftermath isn't near enough to what she needs, and she considers she's well beyond his notice. Add to it, she's probably out of a job due to the damage, and then told by the pretty nurse she's plain which she can't find in her to contradict. Poor Soph.
And now, RDD is back home to Utrecht sooner than expected. Poor Sophy!
"Sophy put down the finger of toast and clasped her hands on her lap, so that each should hold the other steady." <3
A letter--Max wants her to come fill a gap at the newly finished surgery in Utrecht.
She goes, does a good job of it, is liked and admired by all. Learns Dutch best she can. Fits in pretty well but longs for Max and her to have something different.
Enter the other woman, who has a very complicated role in Max's life. One they all should have explained and Max's "it wasn't for me to tell" is a bit too gentlemanly and full of propriety to the point of almost ruining his and Sophy's chance.
He's coldly furious and she's put out by turns as their misunderstandings and yearning puts them at odds and on the defense. Maybe one too many times, between them. She has it sorted out when the other woman at last explains; Sophy explains herself to a brokenhearted feeling far too old and hiding it Max, and he's both a changed man and himself again as he takes Sophy and her future in his besotted, masterful hand.
Kisses, more kisses. A hard kiss as he shows her into the Rolls and drives her home--to wait as little time as possible until they can quickly be wed.
A bit more ending than you get in later Bettys. Wonderful sense of longing from both of them, even though Max's is entirely restrained and hidden by silkiness or remoteness or Sophy telling herself she's imagining it. What a lovely HEA they'll have together.
"No, never that. Old maids don't climb trees." ;__;
October 18, 2025
4 stars. this story was good but also an exercise in frustration for me. this was because I read a spoiler on purpose -I had to know what was up with the other woman Tineke situation.
spoilers ahead.
All through the second half of the book poor Sophy, our heroine, thought that Max, our hero, was dating Tineke and rubbing it openly in Sophy's face. worse, tineke was nice. all max's friends knew and liked tineke and knew all about max's years long relationship with tineke and tineke was clearly in love with max and wanted to marry him. so how was poor Sophy supposed to feel about all the mixed signals max was giving her?? HOW!? POOR SOPHY!
I usually love angst but I wasn't in the mood for it as I knew it would ruin the book for me if the tineke thing turned out to be a great big fat fake misunderstanding. AND IT WAS! Insert angry emoji. so much emotion and angst wasted by us, the reader, and by poor poor Sophy. I knew tineke was only fake dating max but even then, the way that crappy situation was handled infuriated me at the end. gaargh. I think I would have been even more mightily peeved if I didn't know it was fake dating and only found out at the end.
I usually don't mind the big misunderstanding trope, but this one made my blood boil because of how our heroine Sophy was blamed for it. and SHE was the one who had to apologise for calling him out and hurting maxs feelings because how dare she not implicitly trust him all along! eff you max, and eff you tineke you selfish biatch. May you and karel live in misery ever after. the whole karel being a roman Catholic who couldn't divorce his insane wife for nine years and was effectively ecxited for her to die while carrying on a relationship with tineke, secretly aided and abetted by max as her pretend boyfriend, really pissed me off. max should NEVER have risked his relationship with Sophy, who he says he loved at first sight, for that nonsense. and even when tineke sees max finally kissing his Sophy she has to burst in and demand the right to take max away to sob in his arms for sheer relief that Karels poor wife is finally dead. yuck. gross. grow up and have some self restraint and respect for other people you selfish cowbag! gaargh.
and yet I have given this book 4 stars because if you love an angsty read and don't mind the big misunderstanding crapshow with tineke, then this is a very emotion filled ride and actually really lovely to see max and Sophys relationship grow as they worked side by side together and supported each other in some horribly tough situations.
the ending would have been perfect for me if Sophy had walked away from max and caught her flight back to England even after tineke (playing role of magnanimous cow) explained the truth to Sophy far too late after putting her through the ringer. max deserved every anguished word Sophy had thrown at him because he had let her believe that he really was a playboy selfish jerk. he could have told her the truth at any point. it should have been him chasing her down and apologising in the end. I guess these books are a product of their era where the female has to be all self sacrificing and sweet and the male can't be seen to grovel as it might seem beta and weak? ugh. I have so many mixed feelings because so much of this book was so great. apart from the big ick fest.
if you're a betty books lover who loves the plain jane and chilly cold RDD books, esp the ones with some pining and angst, then you should read this one anyway. so much of it gives you the feels.
spoilers ahead.
All through the second half of the book poor Sophy, our heroine, thought that Max, our hero, was dating Tineke and rubbing it openly in Sophy's face. worse, tineke was nice. all max's friends knew and liked tineke and knew all about max's years long relationship with tineke and tineke was clearly in love with max and wanted to marry him. so how was poor Sophy supposed to feel about all the mixed signals max was giving her?? HOW!? POOR SOPHY!
I usually love angst but I wasn't in the mood for it as I knew it would ruin the book for me if the tineke thing turned out to be a great big fat fake misunderstanding. AND IT WAS! Insert angry emoji. so much emotion and angst wasted by us, the reader, and by poor poor Sophy. I knew tineke was only fake dating max but even then, the way that crappy situation was handled infuriated me at the end. gaargh. I think I would have been even more mightily peeved if I didn't know it was fake dating and only found out at the end.
I usually don't mind the big misunderstanding trope, but this one made my blood boil because of how our heroine Sophy was blamed for it. and SHE was the one who had to apologise for calling him out and hurting maxs feelings because how dare she not implicitly trust him all along! eff you max, and eff you tineke you selfish biatch. May you and karel live in misery ever after. the whole karel being a roman Catholic who couldn't divorce his insane wife for nine years and was effectively ecxited for her to die while carrying on a relationship with tineke, secretly aided and abetted by max as her pretend boyfriend, really pissed me off. max should NEVER have risked his relationship with Sophy, who he says he loved at first sight, for that nonsense. and even when tineke sees max finally kissing his Sophy she has to burst in and demand the right to take max away to sob in his arms for sheer relief that Karels poor wife is finally dead. yuck. gross. grow up and have some self restraint and respect for other people you selfish cowbag! gaargh.
and yet I have given this book 4 stars because if you love an angsty read and don't mind the big misunderstanding crapshow with tineke, then this is a very emotion filled ride and actually really lovely to see max and Sophys relationship grow as they worked side by side together and supported each other in some horribly tough situations.
the ending would have been perfect for me if Sophy had walked away from max and caught her flight back to England even after tineke (playing role of magnanimous cow) explained the truth to Sophy far too late after putting her through the ringer. max deserved every anguished word Sophy had thrown at him because he had let her believe that he really was a playboy selfish jerk. he could have told her the truth at any point. it should have been him chasing her down and apologising in the end. I guess these books are a product of their era where the female has to be all self sacrificing and sweet and the male can't be seen to grovel as it might seem beta and weak? ugh. I have so many mixed feelings because so much of this book was so great. apart from the big ick fest.
if you're a betty books lover who loves the plain jane and chilly cold RDD books, esp the ones with some pining and angst, then you should read this one anyway. so much of it gives you the feels.
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