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At Odds with Love
When Jane needed help, she was amazed that it was the charismatic surgeon Nikolaas van der Vollenhove who tore himself away from his busy schedule to come to her rescue. A renowned workaholic, it was obvious that he had no time for anything - or anyone - in his life. Which was why his marriage proposal came as such a shock. Just why did he want Jane for his wife - if not for love?
261 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1993
92 people are currently reading
165 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 46 reviews
April 14, 2021
That was fun and a little unusual in a few ways for Betty.
I'm not sure how many BN stories I've read to date. (I just finished marking a bunch as "read" because they are all so similar it gets hard to remember if I read them or not based on the similar summaries.) But it's a lot at this point. This is a fairly typical BN MoC story--the initially cold hero and our fiesty heroine start off not liking one another much, but he nonetheless helps her to overcome some real trials in England in the first half, and then, typical of many a Neels', we move to Holland for an MoC in the second (the pets and faithful family retainer come along). Our heroine sets out from the start of their MoC to make the hero fall for her, and there are some pretty funny moments. What she doesn't know is that the hero is way ahead of her by that point, even if he's slow to realize it.
An amusing outing from Betty with a few mild but fun digressions. I think it says a lot that despite having only a couple of well-used plots, Betty remains so bingeable--for me and many a reader before me--because of subtle difference in her MCs from book to book. I take breaks, but upon returning to my Betty binge, I'm always entertained and satisfied. Can't say that for all authors--usually after half a dozen books, all with different plots, I've had enough for a while.
Car porn in this one, from 1993:
Bentley Continental (which the hero tells the heroine she won't be driving--but my guess is she'll suit herself):
Bristol (which the heroine takes in an act of defiance):
Mini, which is used by the RDDs household as a general-purpose car:
I'm not sure how many BN stories I've read to date. (I just finished marking a bunch as "read" because they are all so similar it gets hard to remember if I read them or not based on the similar summaries.) But it's a lot at this point. This is a fairly typical BN MoC story--the initially cold hero and our fiesty heroine start off not liking one another much, but he nonetheless helps her to overcome some real trials in England in the first half, and then, typical of many a Neels', we move to Holland for an MoC in the second (the pets and faithful family retainer come along). Our heroine sets out from the start of their MoC to make the hero fall for her, and there are some pretty funny moments. What she doesn't know is that the hero is way ahead of her by that point, even if he's slow to realize it.
An amusing outing from Betty with a few mild but fun digressions. I think it says a lot that despite having only a couple of well-used plots, Betty remains so bingeable--for me and many a reader before me--because of subtle difference in her MCs from book to book. I take breaks, but upon returning to my Betty binge, I'm always entertained and satisfied. Can't say that for all authors--usually after half a dozen books, all with different plots, I've had enough for a while.
Car porn in this one, from 1993:
Bentley Continental (which the hero tells the heroine she won't be driving--but my guess is she'll suit herself):
Bristol (which the heroine takes in an act of defiance):
Mini, which is used by the RDDs household as a general-purpose car:
November 21, 2013
Sweet MOC story by Betty. Not one of her all time best, but still enjoyable.
What I liked:
1) The story was enjoyable and entertaining with lots of evil twists.
2) I particularly enjoyed the heroine. She had a nice tender character without being so overly self-sacrificing that she was unbelievable.
3) There were all those lovely cats and dogs.
What I didn't like:
1) Hero was a bit too cold for my taste and it took him way tooooo long to realize his feelings.
What I liked:
1) The story was enjoyable and entertaining with lots of evil twists.
2) I particularly enjoyed the heroine. She had a nice tender character without being so overly self-sacrificing that she was unbelievable.
3) There were all those lovely cats and dogs.
What I didn't like:
1) Hero was a bit too cold for my taste and it took him way tooooo long to realize his feelings.
February 17, 2017
Jane Fox is a redhaired green eyed Olivia who left her ward sister's post to care for her sick grandmother in the country. After a few months her grandmother became gravely ill and her doctor called in a specialist, Professor Nikolaas van der Vollenhove, a grizzle-haired giant. Jane dislikes him on site, and he treats her cooly.
Three days later, Jane's granny dies. Jane's cousin, Basil, inherits the house. Of course, being named Basil, he's a jerk. He gives Jane two days to leave the house along with the dog Bruno, and the two cats, Percy and Simpkins.
Jane is at a loss to know what to do. She intends to go back to nursing, but it will take time for her to find a job and a place to live. Her grandmother did leave her 500 pounds, as well as a pension for Bessy, the elderly housekeeper.
RDD to the rescue! Nikolaas shows up and Jane cries all over him. He wipes away her tears and when she tells him her predicament. He says he knows of a place for her – a temporary job as a companion to the elderly, irascible Lady Grimstone.
It isn't all peaches and cream with Lady Grimstone, but at least they all have food and a roof over their heads. When the month is up, Nikolaas says that Jane can stay with some friends of his and till she finds a job. Instead, she hurriedly accept a job at a hospital in Carlisle, which turns out to be a disaster.
She doesn't tell Nicholas where she is going, but he finds her anyway and again, when she sees him, she cries all over him. This time he does take her to the home of his friends in London, Rex and Julie, and then returns to Holland almost immediately. A few days later he shows up again and proposes – a MOC. Not only will he marry her, he will employ Bessy and adopt the furkids.
A secure future, to be sure, but what about love, Jane wonders. She soon has her DR, so she says yes. There is the obligatory car crash in front of them and Jane ruins her lovely new dress and gives away her coat.
Nik surprises Jane with a wedding in her Granny's village church, then they're immediately off to Holland. Bessy and the animals settle in right away but Jane worries that Nik isn't in love with her. Actually Nik is having his own gradual DR. Who knows how they would have managed it but As Fate Would Have It (wink at Betty Magdalen), there is an earthquake in Amsterdam one day while Jane is there.
She makes her way to the hospital and helps out in the Accident Room. Nik calls for her to be sent to him; she's nervous because he told her not to drive in Amsterdam. In her unnerved state, she spills all and tells Nik she loves him just as he gets a call.
She tries to run away but he arranges for her to be delayed. He takes the keys and calls her darling. Declaration and Kissing follow. "I'm so glad we're married, Nik." "So am I, my darling."
Pretty standard TGB - I love Jane's devotion to her animals. I also like Nik's determination to help Jane even when he doesn't know why he is doing so.
Three days later, Jane's granny dies. Jane's cousin, Basil, inherits the house. Of course, being named Basil, he's a jerk. He gives Jane two days to leave the house along with the dog Bruno, and the two cats, Percy and Simpkins.
Jane is at a loss to know what to do. She intends to go back to nursing, but it will take time for her to find a job and a place to live. Her grandmother did leave her 500 pounds, as well as a pension for Bessy, the elderly housekeeper.
RDD to the rescue! Nikolaas shows up and Jane cries all over him. He wipes away her tears and when she tells him her predicament. He says he knows of a place for her – a temporary job as a companion to the elderly, irascible Lady Grimstone.
It isn't all peaches and cream with Lady Grimstone, but at least they all have food and a roof over their heads. When the month is up, Nikolaas says that Jane can stay with some friends of his and till she finds a job. Instead, she hurriedly accept a job at a hospital in Carlisle, which turns out to be a disaster.
She doesn't tell Nicholas where she is going, but he finds her anyway and again, when she sees him, she cries all over him. This time he does take her to the home of his friends in London, Rex and Julie, and then returns to Holland almost immediately. A few days later he shows up again and proposes – a MOC. Not only will he marry her, he will employ Bessy and adopt the furkids.
A secure future, to be sure, but what about love, Jane wonders. She soon has her DR, so she says yes. There is the obligatory car crash in front of them and Jane ruins her lovely new dress and gives away her coat.
Nik surprises Jane with a wedding in her Granny's village church, then they're immediately off to Holland. Bessy and the animals settle in right away but Jane worries that Nik isn't in love with her. Actually Nik is having his own gradual DR. Who knows how they would have managed it but As Fate Would Have It (wink at Betty Magdalen), there is an earthquake in Amsterdam one day while Jane is there.
She makes her way to the hospital and helps out in the Accident Room. Nik calls for her to be sent to him; she's nervous because he told her not to drive in Amsterdam. In her unnerved state, she spills all and tells Nik she loves him just as he gets a call.
She tries to run away but he arranges for her to be delayed. He takes the keys and calls her darling. Declaration and Kissing follow. "I'm so glad we're married, Nik." "So am I, my darling."
Pretty standard TGB - I love Jane's devotion to her animals. I also like Nik's determination to help Jane even when he doesn't know why he is doing so.
February 16, 2024
Fun but not a favorite! (Very very random natural disaster at the end…why???) Though the last page was perfectly delightful.
January 8, 2015
Typical silly Betty Neels, but less enjoyable than some. I did find the image of cats on leashes hilarious. Is that even possible? Do any cats cooperate?
June 4, 2017
Another sweet Betty, replete with beloved pets, loyal family retainers who keep stately households running on "oiled wheels", and a handsome Dutch doctor. Betty never lets me down when I need literary comfort food- she's macaroni and cheese followed by chocolate cake for my brain!
I liked Jane Fox as a beautiful, strong nurse trying to get her bearings and keep her household together after losing her beloved granny - actually, her household consists of her granny's two cats and a corgi and her long-time housekeeper. Jane's rotten, selfish cousin Basil inherits granny's house and basically tells her at the funeral that she and the housekeeper have two days to get out, while he's planning to have the pets put down. Of course since this is a Betty, Nick, the RDD who consulted on granny's case at the end, shows up to save the day; but our Jane doesn't want to be a burden, so she takes off for a post at a depressingly Dickensian nursing home in Scotland...
Once again, RDD to the rescue! Of course things eventually work out for a HEA worthy of Betty, with some lusty teasers - Jane even tells Nick as he puts her in the Rolls to drive home after finally telling each other their feelings and sharing some kisses, "I'm so glad we're married, Nick!" Racy, indeed!
I liked Jane Fox as a beautiful, strong nurse trying to get her bearings and keep her household together after losing her beloved granny - actually, her household consists of her granny's two cats and a corgi and her long-time housekeeper. Jane's rotten, selfish cousin Basil inherits granny's house and basically tells her at the funeral that she and the housekeeper have two days to get out, while he's planning to have the pets put down. Of course since this is a Betty, Nick, the RDD who consulted on granny's case at the end, shows up to save the day; but our Jane doesn't want to be a burden, so she takes off for a post at a depressingly Dickensian nursing home in Scotland...
Once again, RDD to the rescue! Of course things eventually work out for a HEA worthy of Betty, with some lusty teasers - Jane even tells Nick as he puts her in the Rolls to drive home after finally telling each other their feelings and sharing some kisses, "I'm so glad we're married, Nick!" Racy, indeed!
March 15, 2021
I like this book very much, but not enough for five stars. There is a lack of tension, and much as I love her animals, they took up too much of the plot. There were constant mentions of Jane's dog,Bruno, and her cats, Percy and Simpkin. I do like that both cats are gingers (and so is Jane). Jane meets Professor Nikolaas van der Vollenhove when she has a family crisis. There are many decisions about what shall become of the animals and Jane's friend and family retainer, Bessy. At the end (actually the middle of the book) Nikolaas proposes a marriage of convenience to Jane. She accepts and all that is left is for the two to fall in love. My favorite part of the book is their wedding ceremony and (on page 138) when Nik dries her long, red hair for her. So romantic.
April 1, 2013
A sweet marriage of convenience story. The marriage doesn't occur until well into the book. It has Betty's trademark large Dutch doctor, the English nurse and lots of animals and a cast of nice people to balance the ones who are not so nice.
An enjoyable and stress free read with a nice happy ending.
An enjoyable and stress free read with a nice happy ending.
June 4, 2013
As always I love Betty neels books and enjoyed this book as well. I will say however that this book was much different that her other ones. This story was the first that had a character that was truly unpleasant and a marriage that was not based on love. Of course everything worked out in the end, but I was surprised by my inability to like the lead male character in her book. I am hoping that I don't come across another character like this in her others books that I shall be reading! Either way i would recommend this book for the avid fan.
February 19, 2015
A really good read.
It's rare that I ever give a Betty Neels book, and I'm not doing it to this one either! I love the stories she tells-2 everyday people falling in love with the normal ups and downs that usually happens. But without the cruelty, or faithfulness, or horrid circumstances you can find in others romances.
It's rare that I ever give a Betty Neels book, and I'm not doing it to this one either! I love the stories she tells-2 everyday people falling in love with the normal ups and downs that usually happens. But without the cruelty, or faithfulness, or horrid circumstances you can find in others romances.
November 6, 2014
Betty Neels is always soothing.
August 4, 2013
I loved it!!! Could not put it down.
October 12, 2013
Very nice read- sweet and typical of betty neels.
March 4, 2024
Really a 3.5. I swear half the book was spent walking and airing the pets. It got more interesting at 80%, but then it ended! On the exciting side (for a Betty Neels romance), the heroine is pretty, and there is an earthquake!
August 24, 2020
Dutch Doctor: check
Nurse Heroine: check
Heroine becoming a barones: check
marriage before they even really know each other: check
Red-haired character: check
Lots of misunderstandings based on the main characters insecurities in her looks: no? wait, what?
This book was such a relaxing read and nowhere near as frustrating as the other Betty Neels books I've read. The main character was caring and kind, but, unlike in the other books I have read (by Betty Neels), she wasn't described as plain, with brown hair. No, she knew she was quite pretty. And no red-hair dissing in this book which was a yay. Seeing my own last name was a surprise, since it's not that common, but then again, most of the Dutch names in Betty Neels books aren't very common. I liked the main character and the lead as well. He was the silent, caring, but bad at showing his feelings type, but he was never rude, or mean to the main character (unlike most leads in the Betty Neels books I have read.) It was a cute story, and is was a light relaxing summer read.
Nurse Heroine: check
Heroine becoming a barones: check
marriage before they even really know each other: check
Red-haired character: check
Lots of misunderstandings based on the main characters insecurities in her looks: no? wait, what?
This book was such a relaxing read and nowhere near as frustrating as the other Betty Neels books I've read. The main character was caring and kind, but, unlike in the other books I have read (by Betty Neels), she wasn't described as plain, with brown hair. No, she knew she was quite pretty. And no red-hair dissing in this book which was a yay. Seeing my own last name was a surprise, since it's not that common, but then again, most of the Dutch names in Betty Neels books aren't very common. I liked the main character and the lead as well. He was the silent, caring, but bad at showing his feelings type, but he was never rude, or mean to the main character (unlike most leads in the Betty Neels books I have read.) It was a cute story, and is was a light relaxing summer read.
November 18, 2025
4.8 stars. sometimes a wonderful ending makes a book wonderful, and this had one of the most delightful endings in a betty book.
this is the ones where beautiful nurse Emma had given up her job to care for her sick granny, but finds herself homeless after granny dies. (why are nasty men always inheriting and the morons who leave everything to them saying "he'll take care of you" when he's only taken care of his own selfish self in his life? I could have happily strangled granny.) H is the RDD specialist doc who came to see granny shortly before granny died and had warned h that granny could die at any time. there initial meeting was full of sparks as the h was surprised at how icy thr H was with her but so nice to everyone else.
anyway, h finds herself being thrown out of her home by her awful cousin basil with just a few days notice. he's also threatened to have granny's old dog and cats put down. because h is determined to save them, she needs a job that will allow for her pets. she cannot find one.
H ends up visiting to pay his respects when h is at her lowest ebb and she so s into his shoulder. After comforting her, he is as aloof as ever but he knows of a temporary job that would allow for her pets. the job is with a friend of his mom's, but she is a very mean old lady and he warns her the job of being her companion will be tough. and indeed it is. as well as working her to the bone, the old lady practically starves her too.
SPOILERS
when the month is over, the H reappears to check on h and finding she hasn't been able to find a job due to her pets, he offers her a place to stay with his friends in London so she can search at her leisure.
h says no thanks but he is insistent. the problem is that h knows her feelings are growing for him and he is only acting from a sense of charity and she can't bear it, so she is desperate to go before he turns up on the arranged day to pick her up to go to London. luckily she finally gets a job offer far up north, and she takes it, fleeing and leaving H a note thanking him but not saying where she is going.
H is annoyed because he feels concerned because he has a sense of fair play, he tells himself, and she hasn't had a fair shot at life. he tries to find out where she has gone.
h soon finds out her new job at a small hospital/care home for the elderly os terrible. completely understaffed and overworked, she is at risk of exhaustion. After 2 weeks of this, just when she is at another v low ebb, he finds her and rescues her from the job, whilst having firm words with the manager to ensure they sort out the staffing issue or else.
he sweeps h away to London where she is treated v nicely by his friends. he returns to Holland and she misses him. she begins her job search, but when he returns from Holland, he asks her to marry him, offering her a MOC because he needs a friendly face as a wife to be a companion and a hostess, someone who won't mind his work demands and who, as a nurse, understands stuff when he needs to talk.
she is determined to refuse but he gently cajoles her and is determined to have his way, and she suddenly realises that she loves him, so she agrees.
they marry and leave for Holland. there, he doesn't exactly abandon her in the home like some Betty heroes do, but he keeps up the mental and emotional barrier of being just friends. he encourages her to manage their social life, to shop for whatever she wants etc, taking her to shops and a few social events when he must, but bare minimum.
she realises that she is deeply unhappy as its not enough to just love him. she needs him to love her. she decides to be proactive and try to show off her beauty to him and do things to gently provoke him into noticing her, including mildly making him jealous by letting other men notice her. it works. he realises he is falling for her but is afraid to say anything because he thinks she doesn't care for him and that it would be unfair to change the terms of their MOC and that she would want a younger man anyway.
in the meantime, h continues to do things like drove around in Amsterdam after he has specifically forbidden her to do so out of concern for her safety. the first time she had done so, she neqlry caused a disaster driving up a one way road the wrong way. she does it to provide him, and he sees her and is furious, but she manages to drive away, throughly scared now that she has provided him too much.
ENDING SPOILERS
she parks up near the hospital and goes off to do her shopping. on the way back, there is an earthquake and she is very enar some collapsing buildings. she escapes covered in dust but unharmed, and is terrified for him and goes to fin him in the hospital. there is a lovely scene that paints his strong emotion when he sees she is alive. they work side by side until the crisis is over. he finally confronts her over taking the car to amsterdam and demands an explanation. she confesses she did it because she loves him and elated him to notice her enough that perhaps he might start to love her too. then the dreaded phone call interrupts and he is urgently called away. he tells her to stay in his office but she is mortified by her confession and tries to run away. he catches up to her as she is fleeing the hospital and he finally confesses his feelings and it is sweet, very sweet, yo get so much of a heartfelt explanation and declaration of love from a Betty H. not the awful brief abrupt endings she sometimes has. it was just lovely and tipped the book up to near 5 stars for me.
this tale may not have had OW drama, nor the 'meet the H's family over xmas', and the MOC might have happened later in the book (after 65% I think) but this was a lovely combination of Betty’s 'save the waif' and MOC tropes, with plenty of chances for the H to show his concern for the h and to rescue her and for the h to feel pining for the H and trying to cope with loving him from a distance. it was just lovely and the two main characters were lovely, as were some of the side characters. a fab tale.
this is the ones where beautiful nurse Emma had given up her job to care for her sick granny, but finds herself homeless after granny dies. (why are nasty men always inheriting and the morons who leave everything to them saying "he'll take care of you" when he's only taken care of his own selfish self in his life? I could have happily strangled granny.) H is the RDD specialist doc who came to see granny shortly before granny died and had warned h that granny could die at any time. there initial meeting was full of sparks as the h was surprised at how icy thr H was with her but so nice to everyone else.
anyway, h finds herself being thrown out of her home by her awful cousin basil with just a few days notice. he's also threatened to have granny's old dog and cats put down. because h is determined to save them, she needs a job that will allow for her pets. she cannot find one.
H ends up visiting to pay his respects when h is at her lowest ebb and she so s into his shoulder. After comforting her, he is as aloof as ever but he knows of a temporary job that would allow for her pets. the job is with a friend of his mom's, but she is a very mean old lady and he warns her the job of being her companion will be tough. and indeed it is. as well as working her to the bone, the old lady practically starves her too.
SPOILERS
when the month is over, the H reappears to check on h and finding she hasn't been able to find a job due to her pets, he offers her a place to stay with his friends in London so she can search at her leisure.
h says no thanks but he is insistent. the problem is that h knows her feelings are growing for him and he is only acting from a sense of charity and she can't bear it, so she is desperate to go before he turns up on the arranged day to pick her up to go to London. luckily she finally gets a job offer far up north, and she takes it, fleeing and leaving H a note thanking him but not saying where she is going.
H is annoyed because he feels concerned because he has a sense of fair play, he tells himself, and she hasn't had a fair shot at life. he tries to find out where she has gone.
h soon finds out her new job at a small hospital/care home for the elderly os terrible. completely understaffed and overworked, she is at risk of exhaustion. After 2 weeks of this, just when she is at another v low ebb, he finds her and rescues her from the job, whilst having firm words with the manager to ensure they sort out the staffing issue or else.
he sweeps h away to London where she is treated v nicely by his friends. he returns to Holland and she misses him. she begins her job search, but when he returns from Holland, he asks her to marry him, offering her a MOC because he needs a friendly face as a wife to be a companion and a hostess, someone who won't mind his work demands and who, as a nurse, understands stuff when he needs to talk.
she is determined to refuse but he gently cajoles her and is determined to have his way, and she suddenly realises that she loves him, so she agrees.
they marry and leave for Holland. there, he doesn't exactly abandon her in the home like some Betty heroes do, but he keeps up the mental and emotional barrier of being just friends. he encourages her to manage their social life, to shop for whatever she wants etc, taking her to shops and a few social events when he must, but bare minimum.
she realises that she is deeply unhappy as its not enough to just love him. she needs him to love her. she decides to be proactive and try to show off her beauty to him and do things to gently provoke him into noticing her, including mildly making him jealous by letting other men notice her. it works. he realises he is falling for her but is afraid to say anything because he thinks she doesn't care for him and that it would be unfair to change the terms of their MOC and that she would want a younger man anyway.
in the meantime, h continues to do things like drove around in Amsterdam after he has specifically forbidden her to do so out of concern for her safety. the first time she had done so, she neqlry caused a disaster driving up a one way road the wrong way. she does it to provide him, and he sees her and is furious, but she manages to drive away, throughly scared now that she has provided him too much.
ENDING SPOILERS
she parks up near the hospital and goes off to do her shopping. on the way back, there is an earthquake and she is very enar some collapsing buildings. she escapes covered in dust but unharmed, and is terrified for him and goes to fin him in the hospital. there is a lovely scene that paints his strong emotion when he sees she is alive. they work side by side until the crisis is over. he finally confronts her over taking the car to amsterdam and demands an explanation. she confesses she did it because she loves him and elated him to notice her enough that perhaps he might start to love her too. then the dreaded phone call interrupts and he is urgently called away. he tells her to stay in his office but she is mortified by her confession and tries to run away. he catches up to her as she is fleeing the hospital and he finally confesses his feelings and it is sweet, very sweet, yo get so much of a heartfelt explanation and declaration of love from a Betty H. not the awful brief abrupt endings she sometimes has. it was just lovely and tipped the book up to near 5 stars for me.
this tale may not have had OW drama, nor the 'meet the H's family over xmas', and the MOC might have happened later in the book (after 65% I think) but this was a lovely combination of Betty’s 'save the waif' and MOC tropes, with plenty of chances for the H to show his concern for the h and to rescue her and for the h to feel pining for the H and trying to cope with loving him from a distance. it was just lovely and the two main characters were lovely, as were some of the side characters. a fab tale.
November 20, 2025
4.8 stars. sometimes a wonderful ending makes a book wonderful, and this had one of the most delightful endings in a betty book. (This is the one with the earthquake at the end.)
this is the ones where beautiful nurse Emma had given up her job to care for her sick granny, but finds herself homeless after granny dies. (why are nasty men always inheriting and the morons who leave everything to them saying "he'll take care of you" when he's only taken care of his own selfish self in his life? I could have happily strangled granny.) H is the RDD specialist doc who came to see granny shortly before granny died and had warned h that granny could die at any time. there initial meeting was full of sparks as the h was surprised at how icy thr H was with her but so nice to everyone else.
anyway, h finds herself being thrown out of her home by her awful cousin basil with just a few days notice. he's also threatened to have granny's old dog and cats put down. because h is determined to save them, she needs a job that will allow for her pets. she cannot find one.
H ends up visiting to pay his respects when h is at her lowest ebb and she so s into his shoulder. After comforting her, he is as aloof as ever but he knows of a temporary job that would allow for her pets. the job is with a friend of his mom's, but she is a very mean old lady and he warns her the job of being her companion will be tough. and indeed it is. as well as working her to the bone, the old lady practically starves her too.
SPOILERS
when the month is over, the H reappears to check on h and finding she hasn't been able to find a job due to her pets, he offers her a place to stay with his friends in London so she can search at her leisure.
h says no thanks but he is insistent. the problem is that h knows her feelings are growing for him and he is only acting from a sense of charity and she can't bear it, so she is desperate to go before he turns up on the arranged day to pick her up to go to London. luckily she finally gets a job offer far up north, and she takes it, fleeing and leaving H a note thanking him but not saying where she is going.
H is annoyed because he feels concerned because he has a sense of fair play, he tells himself, and she hasn't had a fair shot at life. he tries to find out where she has gone.
h soon finds out her new job at a small hospital/care home for the elderly os terrible. completely understaffed and overworked, she is at risk of exhaustion. After 2 weeks of this, just when she is at another v low ebb, he finds her and rescues her from the job, whilst having firm words with the manager to ensure they sort out the staffing issue or else.
he sweeps h away to London where she is treated v nicely by his friends. he returns to Holland and she misses him. she begins her job search, but when he returns from Holland, he asks her to marry him, offering her a MOC because he needs a friendly face as a wife to be a companion and a hostess, someone who won't mind his work demands and who, as a nurse, understands stuff when he needs to talk.
she is determined to refuse but he gently cajoles her and is determined to have his way, and she suddenly realises that she loves him, so she agrees.
they marry and leave for Holland. there, he doesn't exactly abandon her in the home like some Betty heroes do, but he keeps up the mental and emotional barrier of being just friends. he encourages her to manage their social life, to shop for whatever she wants etc, taking her to shops and a few social events when he must, but bare minimum.
she realises that she is deeply unhappy as its not enough to just love him. she needs him to love her. she decides to be proactive and try to show off her beauty to him and do things to gently provoke him into noticing her, including mildly making him jealous by letting other men notice her. it works. he realises he is falling for her but is afraid to say anything because he thinks she doesn't care for him and that it would be unfair to change the terms of their MOC and that she would want a younger man anyway.
in the meantime, h continues to do thinks like drove around in Amsterdam after he has specifically forbidden her to do so out of concern for her safety. the first time she had done so, she neqlry caused a disaster driving up a one way road the wrong way. she does it to provide him, and he sees her and is furious, but she manages to drive away, throughly scared now that she has provided him too much.
ENDING SPOILERS
she parks up near the hospital and goes off to do her shopping. on the way back, there is an earthquake and she is very enar some collapsing buildings. she escapes covered in dust but unharmed, and is terrified for him and goes to fin him in the hospital. there is a lovely scene that paints his strong emotion when he sees she is alive. they work side by side until the crisis is over. he finally confronts her over taking the car to amsterdam and demands an explanation. she confesses she did it because she loves him and elated him to notice her enough that perhaps he might start to love her too. then the dreaded phone call interrupts and he is urgently called away. he tells her to stay in his office but she is mortified by her confession and tries to run away. he catches up to her as she is fleeing the hospital and he finally confesses his feelings and it is sweet, very sweet, yo get so much of a heartfelt explanation and declaration of love from a Betty H. not the awful brief abrupt endings she sometimes has. it was just lovely and tipped the book up to near 5 stars for me.
this tale may not have had OW drama, nor the 'meet the H's family over xmas', and the MOC might have happened later in the book (after 65% I think) but this was a lovely combination of Betty’s 'save the waif' and MOC tropes, with plenty of chances for the H to show his concern for the h and to rescue her and for the h to feel pining for the H and trying to cope with loving him from a distance. it was just lovely and the two main characters were lovely, as were some of the side characters. a fab tale.
this is the ones where beautiful nurse Emma had given up her job to care for her sick granny, but finds herself homeless after granny dies. (why are nasty men always inheriting and the morons who leave everything to them saying "he'll take care of you" when he's only taken care of his own selfish self in his life? I could have happily strangled granny.) H is the RDD specialist doc who came to see granny shortly before granny died and had warned h that granny could die at any time. there initial meeting was full of sparks as the h was surprised at how icy thr H was with her but so nice to everyone else.
anyway, h finds herself being thrown out of her home by her awful cousin basil with just a few days notice. he's also threatened to have granny's old dog and cats put down. because h is determined to save them, she needs a job that will allow for her pets. she cannot find one.
H ends up visiting to pay his respects when h is at her lowest ebb and she so s into his shoulder. After comforting her, he is as aloof as ever but he knows of a temporary job that would allow for her pets. the job is with a friend of his mom's, but she is a very mean old lady and he warns her the job of being her companion will be tough. and indeed it is. as well as working her to the bone, the old lady practically starves her too.
SPOILERS
when the month is over, the H reappears to check on h and finding she hasn't been able to find a job due to her pets, he offers her a place to stay with his friends in London so she can search at her leisure.
h says no thanks but he is insistent. the problem is that h knows her feelings are growing for him and he is only acting from a sense of charity and she can't bear it, so she is desperate to go before he turns up on the arranged day to pick her up to go to London. luckily she finally gets a job offer far up north, and she takes it, fleeing and leaving H a note thanking him but not saying where she is going.
H is annoyed because he feels concerned because he has a sense of fair play, he tells himself, and she hasn't had a fair shot at life. he tries to find out where she has gone.
h soon finds out her new job at a small hospital/care home for the elderly os terrible. completely understaffed and overworked, she is at risk of exhaustion. After 2 weeks of this, just when she is at another v low ebb, he finds her and rescues her from the job, whilst having firm words with the manager to ensure they sort out the staffing issue or else.
he sweeps h away to London where she is treated v nicely by his friends. he returns to Holland and she misses him. she begins her job search, but when he returns from Holland, he asks her to marry him, offering her a MOC because he needs a friendly face as a wife to be a companion and a hostess, someone who won't mind his work demands and who, as a nurse, understands stuff when he needs to talk.
she is determined to refuse but he gently cajoles her and is determined to have his way, and she suddenly realises that she loves him, so she agrees.
they marry and leave for Holland. there, he doesn't exactly abandon her in the home like some Betty heroes do, but he keeps up the mental and emotional barrier of being just friends. he encourages her to manage their social life, to shop for whatever she wants etc, taking her to shops and a few social events when he must, but bare minimum.
she realises that she is deeply unhappy as its not enough to just love him. she needs him to love her. she decides to be proactive and try to show off her beauty to him and do things to gently provoke him into noticing her, including mildly making him jealous by letting other men notice her. it works. he realises he is falling for her but is afraid to say anything because he thinks she doesn't care for him and that it would be unfair to change the terms of their MOC and that she would want a younger man anyway.
in the meantime, h continues to do thinks like drove around in Amsterdam after he has specifically forbidden her to do so out of concern for her safety. the first time she had done so, she neqlry caused a disaster driving up a one way road the wrong way. she does it to provide him, and he sees her and is furious, but she manages to drive away, throughly scared now that she has provided him too much.
ENDING SPOILERS
she parks up near the hospital and goes off to do her shopping. on the way back, there is an earthquake and she is very enar some collapsing buildings. she escapes covered in dust but unharmed, and is terrified for him and goes to fin him in the hospital. there is a lovely scene that paints his strong emotion when he sees she is alive. they work side by side until the crisis is over. he finally confronts her over taking the car to amsterdam and demands an explanation. she confesses she did it because she loves him and elated him to notice her enough that perhaps he might start to love her too. then the dreaded phone call interrupts and he is urgently called away. he tells her to stay in his office but she is mortified by her confession and tries to run away. he catches up to her as she is fleeing the hospital and he finally confesses his feelings and it is sweet, very sweet, yo get so much of a heartfelt explanation and declaration of love from a Betty H. not the awful brief abrupt endings she sometimes has. it was just lovely and tipped the book up to near 5 stars for me.
this tale may not have had OW drama, nor the 'meet the H's family over xmas', and the MOC might have happened later in the book (after 65% I think) but this was a lovely combination of Betty’s 'save the waif' and MOC tropes, with plenty of chances for the H to show his concern for the h and to rescue her and for the h to feel pining for the H and trying to cope with loving him from a distance. it was just lovely and the two main characters were lovely, as were some of the side characters. a fab tale.
January 5, 2022
Finally got an opportunity to write a review of this. Unbelievably, this is not a Betty that I have read previously. I thought I had, but I totally would have remembered
It's always cool to enjoy a brand new Betty even at my advanced age. She included all her typical ingredients to this charming romance.
Rated Two Cats and A Dog Five Stars
It's always cool to enjoy a brand new Betty even at my advanced age. She included all her typical ingredients to this charming romance.
Rated Two Cats and A Dog Five Stars
September 9, 2016
Great MOC story. Nik and Jane strike sparks off of each other yet Nik unrelentingly comes to Jane's aid time and time again. He maneuvers her into marriage and she, by now in love with him, tries to get him to notice her. Much to Jane's amazement he has noticed her and much to his surprise he has fallen deeply in love with his beautiful wife.
April 11, 2021
In this marriage of convenience story I enjoyed the first half most. Everything seemed to rush towards the end. Also the motivation for the heroine's actions after her marriage didn't make sense to me. Still it was a nice enough story. 2.5 stars
NB - If you enjoy Neel's books join the conversation at the GR group Betty Neels Junkies. See you there!
NB - If you enjoy Neel's books join the conversation at the GR group Betty Neels Junkies. See you there!
April 11, 2018
Lovely Old Fashioned Romance
Betty Neels always writes a lovely story Jane is a lovely Heroine who is independent but goes from one unfortunate situation to another and the Hero Nickolas is always there when she needs help and the rest is marriage and a HEA.
Betty Neels always writes a lovely story Jane is a lovely Heroine who is independent but goes from one unfortunate situation to another and the Hero Nickolas is always there when she needs help and the rest is marriage and a HEA.
October 4, 2017
Harlequin Romance #3323 (1994)
March 2, 2015
very nice one! really sweet! nikolaas was kind and compassionate. he helped jane in her moment of need and only realised he loved her in the end.
November 13, 2014
enjoyed it and it had a twist or 2 on the typical Betty Neels.
August 1, 2016
Did not finish.
January 7, 2018
Another sweet tale with marriage of convenience. It took a while for the hero Nik to realise he's fallen for his wife, but he was so scared and confused, and not quite know how to tell Jane, that he just kept quiet and avoided her. Tsk tsk...
Poor Jane had a series of unfortunate events happen to her in succession: losing her beloved grandmother, her home and no job with 3 pets and a housekeeper friend to look after so to speak. Her developing crush on the Professor Nik made her accept the first job offer in order to get far away from him, and boy did she suffer for it!
She should wonder why the Professor,who had only seen her a couple of times, be so helpful and always looking out for her! Even he did not know he had feelings for her right then haha. Jane fell in love with Nik while in London which firmed her resolve to marry him. He was so confident too, telling Julie even before Jane accepted his proposal! I love the sense of humour he had when it came to Jan, the affectionate laughter she engendered in him.
After they settled in Holland Jane decided it wasn't enough for her to love Nik silently. She then schemed to make Nik jealous and fall for her, and it was amusing to see her antics. Her trip into Amsterdam was so funny! She actually asked the traffic police if he was there to fine her, not knowing Nik had seen her very well from the hospital and asked the TP for assistance!
Glad that there's no Other Woman, though there were almost Other Men for once!
A slight twist to the often used tropes hehe.
For once I love the last few pages of this story. Nik asking the recep to delay Jane until he could reach her. Their lovey dovey antics witnessed by the hospital staff LOL so sweet!
PS. I found it odd that in this story, afternoon tea and dinner/supper happened almost like one right after the other! Really?!
Poor Jane had a series of unfortunate events happen to her in succession: losing her beloved grandmother, her home and no job with 3 pets and a housekeeper friend to look after so to speak. Her developing crush on the Professor Nik made her accept the first job offer in order to get far away from him, and boy did she suffer for it!
She should wonder why the Professor,who had only seen her a couple of times, be so helpful and always looking out for her! Even he did not know he had feelings for her right then haha. Jane fell in love with Nik while in London which firmed her resolve to marry him. He was so confident too, telling Julie even before Jane accepted his proposal! I love the sense of humour he had when it came to Jan, the affectionate laughter she engendered in him.
After they settled in Holland Jane decided it wasn't enough for her to love Nik silently. She then schemed to make Nik jealous and fall for her, and it was amusing to see her antics. Her trip into Amsterdam was so funny! She actually asked the traffic police if he was there to fine her, not knowing Nik had seen her very well from the hospital and asked the TP for assistance!
Glad that there's no Other Woman, though there were almost Other Men for once!
A slight twist to the often used tropes hehe.
For once I love the last few pages of this story. Nik asking the recep to delay Jane until he could reach her. Their lovey dovey antics witnessed by the hospital staff LOL so sweet!
PS. I found it odd that in this story, afternoon tea and dinner/supper happened almost like one right after the other! Really?!
August 12, 2021
A solid 3.5 Betty Stars!
My ratings for Betty Neels’ books are in a category of their own because these are my ultimate comfort reads. I can’t compare them to anything other than their siblings and this was solid and I liked it, but it was also not one of my favourites. This is one of the Betty books with the RDD and a gorgeous but kind of “in trouble” nurse. The premise is that Jane left the large hospital where she was a Sister to look after her ailing grandmother and when she loses her, she’s out of luck as her awful cousin kicks her out. Coming to her rescue is visiting Rich Dutch Doctor™️, Nik, who reluctantly can’t seem to stop trying to put her back on her feet despite his self-assessed limited interest.
This is one of the lower angst, lower drama books by this author and it was perfect for my mood. Still a mega fan and still find this these books, the ultimate comfort reads.
My ratings for Betty Neels’ books are in a category of their own because these are my ultimate comfort reads. I can’t compare them to anything other than their siblings and this was solid and I liked it, but it was also not one of my favourites. This is one of the Betty books with the RDD and a gorgeous but kind of “in trouble” nurse. The premise is that Jane left the large hospital where she was a Sister to look after her ailing grandmother and when she loses her, she’s out of luck as her awful cousin kicks her out. Coming to her rescue is visiting Rich Dutch Doctor™️, Nik, who reluctantly can’t seem to stop trying to put her back on her feet despite his self-assessed limited interest.
This is one of the lower angst, lower drama books by this author and it was perfect for my mood. Still a mega fan and still find this these books, the ultimate comfort reads.
May 29, 2023
A very sweet story!
This is a very sweet story. It starts out with a big impact. My heart was so broken that I couldn't help but cry. Luckily, the situation in the beginning is the worst of the hurt. The rest of the story is romantic and funny at the same time. Of course there are misunderstandings. These misunderstandings are what makes this book funny. Of course, as always, I love Betty Neels. You'll love this book if you're not looking for a hot and heavy romance. The only thing it lacked, that I could have wished for, was some kind of comeuppance for the situation at the beginning of the book. Phooey. I was really hoping they'd come to some kind of grief but Betty Neels was a very nice lady.
This is a very sweet story. It starts out with a big impact. My heart was so broken that I couldn't help but cry. Luckily, the situation in the beginning is the worst of the hurt. The rest of the story is romantic and funny at the same time. Of course there are misunderstandings. These misunderstandings are what makes this book funny. Of course, as always, I love Betty Neels. You'll love this book if you're not looking for a hot and heavy romance. The only thing it lacked, that I could have wished for, was some kind of comeuppance for the situation at the beginning of the book. Phooey. I was really hoping they'd come to some kind of grief but Betty Neels was a very nice lady.
July 16, 2025
"At Odds with Love" is the story of Jane and Nik.
A very pleasant slow burn romance.
Our heroine is a nurse who lives with her dog, cats and housekeeper, and takes care of her ailing grandmother. When the latter passes away, she is unceremoniously thrown out of her house with her pets thanks to her evil cousin. The hero, who was her grandma's surgeon towards the end comes to her rescue.
Throughout the book we see a slow courtship where the heroine refuses to take the hero's help, suffers and the hero then comes and makes things feasible. The heroine is strong, independent but hesitant- the hero cold, brooding but caring, lots of animal love, feelings develop and the book ends in a sweet love confession and fade to black.
Enjoyed it
Safe
3/5
A very pleasant slow burn romance.
Our heroine is a nurse who lives with her dog, cats and housekeeper, and takes care of her ailing grandmother. When the latter passes away, she is unceremoniously thrown out of her house with her pets thanks to her evil cousin. The hero, who was her grandma's surgeon towards the end comes to her rescue.
Throughout the book we see a slow courtship where the heroine refuses to take the hero's help, suffers and the hero then comes and makes things feasible. The heroine is strong, independent but hesitant- the hero cold, brooding but caring, lots of animal love, feelings develop and the book ends in a sweet love confession and fade to black.
Enjoyed it
Safe
3/5
May 14, 2023
My second Betty Neels. This one annoyed me more than Fate Is Remarkable, which I actually mostly enjoyed. THE FOLLOWING IS SPOILER-ISH: Instead of him taking her away I would have liked a story of them taking over the last place she works before he comes to get her. I also thought we'd see more of Mrs. Grimstone. That could have made an interesting story too. I also just wasn't a fan of this doctor. Mostly I didn't like that they didn't know each other for very long (compared with the first one I read) so everything seemed more rushed and forced. I'm still glad I read it though and it was a fairly quick read as her books all seem to be on the shorter side.
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