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The Doubtful Marriage
"I shall not insult your intelligence by saying that I love you!"
When Rauwerd van Kempler proposed to Tilly, he made it clear that their marriage was to be a union of convenience, nothing more. It would bring him a wife to run his home and partner him on social occasions. And Tilly would get the security of a roof over her head and a man who could be depended upon for all things practical. But suddenly Tilly finds herself wanting more from her new husband—something that wasn't part of their sensible agreement….
When Rauwerd van Kempler proposed to Tilly, he made it clear that their marriage was to be a union of convenience, nothing more. It would bring him a wife to run his home and partner him on social occasions. And Tilly would get the security of a roof over her head and a man who could be depended upon for all things practical. But suddenly Tilly finds herself wanting more from her new husband—something that wasn't part of their sensible agreement….
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published November 24, 2004
113 people are currently reading
183 people want to read
About the author
Betty Neels
589 books423 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 41 reviews
April 11, 2021
I’ve slowed my Betty roll a little bit by revisiting books I’ve read but not reviewed. It probably says something that I keep forgetting what the title of this one is even though I still have it in front of me.
TDM is a typical MoC story from Betty that was okay but not outstanding in a crowded field of similar BN tales. Since I recently re-read The Hasty Marriage (one of my BN all-time faves), it was impossible not to compare TDM to THM and see where it fell short. In general, THM works so well because it has a strong central conflict: That central conflict makes THM very angsty, since the heroine really has a huge hurdle to overcome to get to an HEA.
TDM is far less compelling without that kind of lynchpin. The conflicts are familiar to any Betty fan: once the heroine falls in love with the hero, a loveless MoC is no longer enough, and the added conflict introduced via an OW/Big Misunderstanding—well, it just ain’t enough to make this more than a middling read. The hero, Rauwerd, and the heroine, Matilda, too, were kind of a dime a dozen characters—there’s nothing really memorable about either of them to make them stand out from the crowd of Poor British Nurses and Rich Dutch Doctors in other BN books (unlike, say, a Caroline or even an Esmeralda (“the one with the foot.”)
Sure, we have all the usual elements—the giant, handsome doctor; the plucky, hitherto-independent nurse-heroine; the faithful family retainers; the catastrophe (2 in this one!) to show their selflessness and courage, working side by side; shopping, flowers; sumptous food; fabulous cars; the ancestral luxious home. We even get a few scenes with Rose and Sybren from A Girl Named Rose! And don’t get me wrong—TDM whiles away a couple of hours nicely enough.
But there’s nothing special about this one—no laugh out loud moments; no sparky dialogue, no real angst. If I had to come up with a way to remember this, it would probably be But even that probably wouldn’t be enough of a nudge. At best, a pleasant, familiar, unremarkable one from TGB.
Betty car porn:
The hero drives a Rolls (we’ll assume a publication-year 1988 Silver Spur):
He’s also got a sweet Daimler (we’ll assume 1988 Double Six):
The heroine’s promised car doesn’t get delivered during the course of the novel, but I’d guess a Fiat or a Mini. 😉
TDM is a typical MoC story from Betty that was okay but not outstanding in a crowded field of similar BN tales. Since I recently re-read The Hasty Marriage (one of my BN all-time faves), it was impossible not to compare TDM to THM and see where it fell short. In general, THM works so well because it has a strong central conflict: That central conflict makes THM very angsty, since the heroine really has a huge hurdle to overcome to get to an HEA.
TDM is far less compelling without that kind of lynchpin. The conflicts are familiar to any Betty fan: once the heroine falls in love with the hero, a loveless MoC is no longer enough, and the added conflict introduced via an OW/Big Misunderstanding—well, it just ain’t enough to make this more than a middling read. The hero, Rauwerd, and the heroine, Matilda, too, were kind of a dime a dozen characters—there’s nothing really memorable about either of them to make them stand out from the crowd of Poor British Nurses and Rich Dutch Doctors in other BN books (unlike, say, a Caroline or even an Esmeralda (“the one with the foot.”)
Sure, we have all the usual elements—the giant, handsome doctor; the plucky, hitherto-independent nurse-heroine; the faithful family retainers; the catastrophe (2 in this one!) to show their selflessness and courage, working side by side; shopping, flowers; sumptous food; fabulous cars; the ancestral luxious home. We even get a few scenes with Rose and Sybren from A Girl Named Rose! And don’t get me wrong—TDM whiles away a couple of hours nicely enough.
But there’s nothing special about this one—no laugh out loud moments; no sparky dialogue, no real angst. If I had to come up with a way to remember this, it would probably be But even that probably wouldn’t be enough of a nudge. At best, a pleasant, familiar, unremarkable one from TGB.
Betty car porn:
The hero drives a Rolls (we’ll assume a publication-year 1988 Silver Spur):
He’s also got a sweet Daimler (we’ll assume 1988 Double Six):
The heroine’s promised car doesn’t get delivered during the course of the novel, but I’d guess a Fiat or a Mini. 😉
July 22, 2011
It was a good read,Matilda/Tilly was a nurse who met Dr.Rauwerd van Kempler,these two like each other and Rauwerd proposes marriage of convenience,he says he wants a wife who would run his home and partner him on social occasions and in return Tilly would get roof over her head and financial security and a man who could be depended upon not to make passionate love to her
they both get married,they spend time with each other and Tilly starts liking her husband and falls in love with him but he has never indicated he wanted more so Tilly keeps her feelings to herself and decides to make her hubby fall in love with her but there's this Nicky who makes it obvious that she wants Rauwerd and always makes excuses and asks Rauwerd for help in business and constantly calls him at her house at odd hours,Tilly gets jealous but still she keeps quiet but for not long time,Tilly hints what she thinks and there is a minor misunderstanding but all is talked and cleared out and we have HEA
Good read
they both get married,they spend time with each other and Tilly starts liking her husband and falls in love with him but he has never indicated he wanted more so Tilly keeps her feelings to herself and decides to make her hubby fall in love with her but there's this Nicky who makes it obvious that she wants Rauwerd and always makes excuses and asks Rauwerd for help in business and constantly calls him at her house at odd hours,Tilly gets jealous but still she keeps quiet but for not long time,Tilly hints what she thinks and there is a minor misunderstanding but all is talked and cleared out and we have HEA
Good read
February 13, 2015
3 1/2 stars. Matilda is a tall, shapely, chestnut-haired nurse who assists her uncle in his country practice. She and the local squire’s son have been courting for about a year. Uncle Thomas, I really thought you loved Tilly – why, oh why, did you not provide for her in your will? She could have been nursing at a big London hospital and making a career for herself instead of helping you out. Also, Leslie Waring is a mum’s boy and can’t get out of the non-engagement quickly enough now that Tilly isn’t an heiress. Now she’s forced to take a job in a horrendously-run geriatric ward after your death. At least you had the sense to have a RDD as a friend . . .
Said RDD, Rauwerd van Kempler, (who had been to visit Uncle Thomas shortly before his death) finally hears the sad news and comes to check on Matilda and instead finds Pompous Herbert. FFR Emma pours out all of Tilly’s woes to him. Rauwerd finds Tilly about to collapse from flu and overwork and carries her, literally, to his home to recuperate; Emma is already installed there.
Tilly recovers from flu and begins planning to find a new job. Rauwerd wants to have a talk with her – perhaps he has a job in mind for her. Yes, he does, actually – as his wife of convenience. She has a great many questions for him: (I actually love her list of questions.) “Where would we live? What is to happen to Emma? Are you C of E? Do you have a family? Would you wish me to go on working after we are married?” Answers: Leiden; She can come with us; Dutch equivalent; Yes – mother, father, 3 sisters, 2 brothers; Absolutely not.
She should have asked if there was a Veronica hanging around in the wings. Answer: Yes, Nikky van Wijk, a lying, trouble-making so-and-so.
Being in blissful ignorance, she accepts, they are quickly married and she settles into the house near Leiden. She meets his good friend, Sybren Werdmer ter Sane and English wife, Rose. Rose gets a lot of air time, along with cameos by little Sybren, which is delightful. I love Rose and her matter-of-factness; also, she kicks Nikky out.
Rauwerd has to go to Las Palmas for a conference and he invites Tilly to come along. While driving around and exploring, they come upon a car crash on a mountain road. This is memorable as the site of Tilly's DR. Car crash aside, Las Palmas sounds lovely.
After they return home, it seems as though Nikky is always there. Matilda is outwardly friendly while she rages inside. After the hospital Ball, Rauwerd takes Nikky home to Amsterdam when her escort had to leave early. Tilly cries herself to sleep. Rauwerd doesn't get home until 5 am. At breakfast, he observes and comments about her crying. He says they need to talk. "If Rauwerd was going to quarrel with her, she would feel sick; she chose a meal which made that prospect less likely . . . "
So she goes food shopping, and a bomb explodes in the supermarket. Tilly is herself injured (mildly), but she dons her superhero cape and gives first aid to the wounded until help arrives. Rauwerd is leading rescue the team and sends Tilly to hospital. “Oh, my dear Tilly, thank God you are safe.”
Tilly has some cuts and bruises and a black eye and has to take things easy for a few days. Nikky comes over and spouts a lot of nonsense; Rose overhears and tells Nikky to leave. Tilly confronts Rauwerd, but of course, he is evasive. He also tells Tilly he is going to London and asks her to go, but she is angry and refuses.
After he is gone, she goes to see Nikky and insists that she tell the truth. Yes, Nikky wanted to marry Rauwerd; no, she doesn't love him, nor he her. Matilda makes immediate plans to fly to London. She finds Rauwerd at the hospital and he is delighted to see her. They go home together; Declaration (him – love at first sight; her – didn’t like him very much then) and much kissing ensue.
NOTES:
• This is the one where the RDD says he would have thought that trousers were invented for legs like hers.
• Contemplating the trip to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, Matilda observes "there was a limit to the amount of sunbathing and swimming in the hotel pool she could enjoy." Really??? I should like to experiment until I find my limit.
Said RDD, Rauwerd van Kempler, (who had been to visit Uncle Thomas shortly before his death) finally hears the sad news and comes to check on Matilda and instead finds Pompous Herbert. FFR Emma pours out all of Tilly’s woes to him. Rauwerd finds Tilly about to collapse from flu and overwork and carries her, literally, to his home to recuperate; Emma is already installed there.
Tilly recovers from flu and begins planning to find a new job. Rauwerd wants to have a talk with her – perhaps he has a job in mind for her. Yes, he does, actually – as his wife of convenience. She has a great many questions for him: (I actually love her list of questions.) “Where would we live? What is to happen to Emma? Are you C of E? Do you have a family? Would you wish me to go on working after we are married?” Answers: Leiden; She can come with us; Dutch equivalent; Yes – mother, father, 3 sisters, 2 brothers; Absolutely not.
She should have asked if there was a Veronica hanging around in the wings. Answer: Yes, Nikky van Wijk, a lying, trouble-making so-and-so.
Being in blissful ignorance, she accepts, they are quickly married and she settles into the house near Leiden. She meets his good friend, Sybren Werdmer ter Sane and English wife, Rose. Rose gets a lot of air time, along with cameos by little Sybren, which is delightful. I love Rose and her matter-of-factness; also, she kicks Nikky out.
Rauwerd has to go to Las Palmas for a conference and he invites Tilly to come along. While driving around and exploring, they come upon a car crash on a mountain road. This is memorable as the site of Tilly's DR. Car crash aside, Las Palmas sounds lovely.
After they return home, it seems as though Nikky is always there. Matilda is outwardly friendly while she rages inside. After the hospital Ball, Rauwerd takes Nikky home to Amsterdam when her escort had to leave early. Tilly cries herself to sleep. Rauwerd doesn't get home until 5 am. At breakfast, he observes and comments about her crying. He says they need to talk. "If Rauwerd was going to quarrel with her, she would feel sick; she chose a meal which made that prospect less likely . . . "
So she goes food shopping, and a bomb explodes in the supermarket. Tilly is herself injured (mildly), but she dons her superhero cape and gives first aid to the wounded until help arrives. Rauwerd is leading rescue the team and sends Tilly to hospital. “Oh, my dear Tilly, thank God you are safe.”
Tilly has some cuts and bruises and a black eye and has to take things easy for a few days. Nikky comes over and spouts a lot of nonsense; Rose overhears and tells Nikky to leave. Tilly confronts Rauwerd, but of course, he is evasive. He also tells Tilly he is going to London and asks her to go, but she is angry and refuses.
After he is gone, she goes to see Nikky and insists that she tell the truth. Yes, Nikky wanted to marry Rauwerd; no, she doesn't love him, nor he her. Matilda makes immediate plans to fly to London. She finds Rauwerd at the hospital and he is delighted to see her. They go home together; Declaration (him – love at first sight; her – didn’t like him very much then) and much kissing ensue.
NOTES:
• This is the one where the RDD says he would have thought that trousers were invented for legs like hers.
• Contemplating the trip to Las Palmas in the Canary Islands, Matilda observes "there was a limit to the amount of sunbathing and swimming in the hotel pool she could enjoy." Really??? I should like to experiment until I find my limit.
December 10, 2023
This one was boring in the first quarter and then more and more frustrating.
The Dutch doctor who sees her once and neither of them seems at all impressed with the other. Yet somehow she can't forgot him.
She was living and working as a nurse for her uncle the country doctor when Rauwerd, the Dutch doctor comes to stay for a weekend.
Then her life spirals down the toilet after her uncle passes away with no warning.
A few months later Rauwerd shows up in the nick of time to rescue her with a marriage of convenience. She buys his lame reasons for an MoC and takes him at his word, but he gets frustrated at her for believing what he specifically told her. And he gets frustrated with her that she can't see that he lurves her soo soo much that he never tells her his true feelings or even behaves like he loves her.
He works late and stays away. He goes to the OW's place but refuses to tell Tilly where he's going. He brings the skank over for dinner with NO warning that he's about to bring a back stabbing selfish tw*t waffle over.
So basically he refuses to tell her anything hoping that she will ask and I wanted her to ask... 'Like, WTF Rauwerd? Do you really expect me to like your skanky friend and do you love me even though you've made no effort to get to know me better?" Instead he ghosts her and gets mad when she can't read his damn mind!
Nikky the OW, was a real piece of work, but strangely enough, she was more honest than Rauwerd.
Rose and Sybren from A Girl Named Rose show up several times and Rose helps with the whole 'Nikky' situation.
I still gave 3 stars because Tilly had some gumption even if Rauwerd never apologizes for pretty much ignoring her and playing head games with her, after they married. And also
Safety is good.
The Dutch doctor who sees her once and neither of them seems at all impressed with the other. Yet somehow she can't forgot him.
She was living and working as a nurse for her uncle the country doctor when Rauwerd, the Dutch doctor comes to stay for a weekend.
Then her life spirals down the toilet after her uncle passes away with no warning.
A few months later Rauwerd shows up in the nick of time to rescue her with a marriage of convenience. She buys his lame reasons for an MoC and takes him at his word, but he gets frustrated at her for believing what he specifically told her. And he gets frustrated with her that she can't see that he lurves her soo soo much that he never tells her his true feelings or even behaves like he loves her.
He works late and stays away. He goes to the OW's place but refuses to tell Tilly where he's going. He brings the skank over for dinner with NO warning that he's about to bring a back stabbing selfish tw*t waffle over.
So basically he refuses to tell her anything hoping that she will ask and I wanted her to ask... 'Like, WTF Rauwerd? Do you really expect me to like your skanky friend and do you love me even though you've made no effort to get to know me better?" Instead he ghosts her and gets mad when she can't read his damn mind!
Nikky the OW, was a real piece of work, but strangely enough, she was more honest than Rauwerd.
Rose and Sybren from A Girl Named Rose show up several times and Rose helps with the whole 'Nikky' situation.
I still gave 3 stars because Tilly had some gumption even if Rauwerd never apologizes for pretty much ignoring her and playing head games with her, after they married. And also
Safety is good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2022
Soothing as always…
I love Betty Neels old-fashioned and admittedly somewhat problematic style of romances. They’re my go-tos in times of emotional turmoil and so I read this for the umpteenth time when I needed something gentle. The premise is that Tilly worked as her uncle/guardian’s GP practice nurse till he dies suddenly, and leaves his home to a distant unkind relative. Needing to leave urgently, Tilly finds it difficult to get fully on her feet despite her best efforts until she meets her uncle’s former protégé, Rich Dutch Doctor (RDD iykyk), Rauwerd, who comes up with a mutually-beneficial marriage of convenience plan.
I don’t think this author is for everyone, but I’m a massive fan and I always come back when I need to. CW: minor body shaming/fatphobia, death of a parent and/or parental figure, elderly neglect.
I love Betty Neels old-fashioned and admittedly somewhat problematic style of romances. They’re my go-tos in times of emotional turmoil and so I read this for the umpteenth time when I needed something gentle. The premise is that Tilly worked as her uncle/guardian’s GP practice nurse till he dies suddenly, and leaves his home to a distant unkind relative. Needing to leave urgently, Tilly finds it difficult to get fully on her feet despite her best efforts until she meets her uncle’s former protégé, Rich Dutch Doctor (RDD iykyk), Rauwerd, who comes up with a mutually-beneficial marriage of convenience plan.
I don’t think this author is for everyone, but I’m a massive fan and I always come back when I need to. CW: minor body shaming/fatphobia, death of a parent and/or parental figure, elderly neglect.
January 1, 2018
Another one of Betty's reliable marriage of convenience stories with a delicious dutch doctor and and English Nurse. This is a very pleasant visit to Betty Neels territory with Tilly not realising she was falling in love with the enigmatic doctor until much later in the piece.
The other woman makes an appearance to complicate things and we join Rauward and Tilly on an excursion to Tenerife where we do the tourist thing with them.
A relaxing read and a nice ending.
The other woman makes an appearance to complicate things and we join Rauward and Tilly on an excursion to Tenerife where we do the tourist thing with them.
A relaxing read and a nice ending.
July 15, 2025
After a few attempts at reading Betty Neels, I just don’t understand the fanfare.
Here, the h and H enter into a marriage of convenience for the flimsiest of reasons. After her uncle’s death, the h, an able-bodied nurse of 26, is working a crummy job and living in crummy quarters. Does she enter into the MOC to save a spoiled sibling from jail time, to ensure an ailing relative receives costly medical treatment, because she secretly loves the H, or even to satisfy some absurd clause in a will? Nope. There’s no noble motive or pretence thereof (silly as it may be). She just doesn’t like her prospects, and agrees to marry the H, whom she barely knows and doesn’t particularly like, because she prefers being a rich, kept woman to actually working for her living. If she were the OW and not the h, she would have been labeled ‘grasping’. She never really bothers to question what’s in it for the H, or the wiseness of their haste. After all, why worry about a lifetime commitment to an almost stranger who moves you to another country, determines your quarterly allowance and does the decision-making for you, so long as it means you can shop pretty clothes, organize occasional dinners and take care of the household flower arrangements? Ugh.
As to the H, as readers we’re supposed to buy that he is secretly besotted with the h from the first (even though he doesn’t remotely act it). Yet that hardly accounts for why he needs to jump into a MOC instead of first trying to win the h’s affections, like any normal person. My take, it wasn’t love, it was sheer laziness. He didn’t want to interrupt his busy schedule, and instead purchases himself a pretty wife (hey, her references were good and she pliantly agrees to his terms).
Dubious premise aside, the plot unfolds predictably if boringly. I could never, however, quite park my distaste for the MOC or the h’s doormat acceptance of her role as a virtual stepford wife. Reading this, I wasn’t beset by a warm nostalgia, I was shaking my head in frustration.
Here, the h and H enter into a marriage of convenience for the flimsiest of reasons. After her uncle’s death, the h, an able-bodied nurse of 26, is working a crummy job and living in crummy quarters. Does she enter into the MOC to save a spoiled sibling from jail time, to ensure an ailing relative receives costly medical treatment, because she secretly loves the H, or even to satisfy some absurd clause in a will? Nope. There’s no noble motive or pretence thereof (silly as it may be). She just doesn’t like her prospects, and agrees to marry the H, whom she barely knows and doesn’t particularly like, because she prefers being a rich, kept woman to actually working for her living. If she were the OW and not the h, she would have been labeled ‘grasping’. She never really bothers to question what’s in it for the H, or the wiseness of their haste. After all, why worry about a lifetime commitment to an almost stranger who moves you to another country, determines your quarterly allowance and does the decision-making for you, so long as it means you can shop pretty clothes, organize occasional dinners and take care of the household flower arrangements? Ugh.
As to the H, as readers we’re supposed to buy that he is secretly besotted with the h from the first (even though he doesn’t remotely act it). Yet that hardly accounts for why he needs to jump into a MOC instead of first trying to win the h’s affections, like any normal person. My take, it wasn’t love, it was sheer laziness. He didn’t want to interrupt his busy schedule, and instead purchases himself a pretty wife (hey, her references were good and she pliantly agrees to his terms).
Dubious premise aside, the plot unfolds predictably if boringly. I could never, however, quite park my distaste for the MOC or the h’s doormat acceptance of her role as a virtual stepford wife. Reading this, I wasn’t beset by a warm nostalgia, I was shaking my head in frustration.
June 5, 2018
3.5* Spoilery review
Why the hell did Uncle Thomas not leave more for Tilly officially in his will, but instead leaving her to the mercy of his nephew Horrible Herbert?! Did Tilly not give up her hospital nursing career to support his clinic and look after him?! Tilly guessed he had wanted to "keep the cottage in the family", but wasn't Horrible Herbert his sister's son, and therefore did not even share the same surname as Uncle Thomas? Matilda was a Groves, so if she had married and the cottage would go to her husband's family, how is that different from going to his sister's son? Gosh...MAYBE he had not liked the Warings much? Lousy Leslie was a wimp and mummy's boy! Good riddance!
But it is because of such a situation that our delicious Dutch doc could swoop in to our heroine's rescue! Most dramatically and I love sick scenes where the hero took care of our heroine.
If Rauwerd had not dragged out the issue of Nikky, he'd have been a great hero and I'd give this a full 4*! Instead this erm attempt to get back at Matilda/Tilly to make her jealous? I didn't know why he did it, but he did and it caused unnecessary angst.
He was rather arrogant too saying he thought Tilly might confront Nikky because she was his wife and in love with him. And him not bringing her to London, knowing she had said no in a fit of pique! As though he's punishing a misbehaving child.
Though his delight at seeing her and kisses/love declaration kind of made it up. Ooh and the most risque talk of grandchildren! Tilly pointed out they hadn't any children and Rauwerd's immediate reply, " Easily remedied, my darling." *fan fan* That's blush inducing in BN land LOL
As always we had the lovely faithful family retainers especially Emma, and great parents and friends like Sybren and Rose. Loved Rose for kicking Nasty Nikky out of the house! Why couldn't Rauwerd explain the truth right then?
Oh and for once our couple had a sort of honeymoon after a MOC! They went to the Canary Islands, an extended work trip/honeymoon. Some drama on the road and our hero and heroine got to demo their medical skills. Of course the supermarket bomb. Tilly really was hero material! Till then I had not known what type of doctor was Rauwerd because he never talked about his work with Tilly. That minus points for him! Tilly was a nurse so he might have shared something! But he heads disaster rescue teams, maybe his work was too gruesome to share? Hmm...
This book could have been better because it has my favourite trope of a MOC in which the hero was already in love with the heroine when he proposed. On their first meeting, when Tilly admired Rauwerd's dark blue Rolls, he "admired her." Aww...I KNEW IT THEN. But unfortunately his behaviour during the marriage did not quite gel...he could act the indulgent husband but when it came to his comings and goings, he still behaved like he was unmarried. And how did Rose and Nikky know he was going to Brussels but not Tilly? Kind of unforgivable...And how he rarely spend quality time with Tilly at home, making her feel like she's a nuisance to him.
PS. Did he buy her a dozen more Gucci scarves to make up for the one sacrificed as an emergency sling on Tenerife? Loved all the shopping!
Why the hell did Uncle Thomas not leave more for Tilly officially in his will, but instead leaving her to the mercy of his nephew Horrible Herbert?! Did Tilly not give up her hospital nursing career to support his clinic and look after him?! Tilly guessed he had wanted to "keep the cottage in the family", but wasn't Horrible Herbert his sister's son, and therefore did not even share the same surname as Uncle Thomas? Matilda was a Groves, so if she had married and the cottage would go to her husband's family, how is that different from going to his sister's son? Gosh...MAYBE he had not liked the Warings much? Lousy Leslie was a wimp and mummy's boy! Good riddance!
But it is because of such a situation that our delicious Dutch doc could swoop in to our heroine's rescue! Most dramatically and I love sick scenes where the hero took care of our heroine.
If Rauwerd had not dragged out the issue of Nikky, he'd have been a great hero and I'd give this a full 4*! Instead this erm attempt to get back at Matilda/Tilly to make her jealous? I didn't know why he did it, but he did and it caused unnecessary angst.
He was rather arrogant too saying he thought Tilly might confront Nikky because she was his wife and in love with him. And him not bringing her to London, knowing she had said no in a fit of pique! As though he's punishing a misbehaving child.
Though his delight at seeing her and kisses/love declaration kind of made it up. Ooh and the most risque talk of grandchildren! Tilly pointed out they hadn't any children and Rauwerd's immediate reply, " Easily remedied, my darling." *fan fan* That's blush inducing in BN land LOL
As always we had the lovely faithful family retainers especially Emma, and great parents and friends like Sybren and Rose. Loved Rose for kicking Nasty Nikky out of the house! Why couldn't Rauwerd explain the truth right then?
Oh and for once our couple had a sort of honeymoon after a MOC! They went to the Canary Islands, an extended work trip/honeymoon. Some drama on the road and our hero and heroine got to demo their medical skills. Of course the supermarket bomb. Tilly really was hero material! Till then I had not known what type of doctor was Rauwerd because he never talked about his work with Tilly. That minus points for him! Tilly was a nurse so he might have shared something! But he heads disaster rescue teams, maybe his work was too gruesome to share? Hmm...
This book could have been better because it has my favourite trope of a MOC in which the hero was already in love with the heroine when he proposed. On their first meeting, when Tilly admired Rauwerd's dark blue Rolls, he "admired her." Aww...I KNEW IT THEN. But unfortunately his behaviour during the marriage did not quite gel...he could act the indulgent husband but when it came to his comings and goings, he still behaved like he was unmarried. And how did Rose and Nikky know he was going to Brussels but not Tilly? Kind of unforgivable...And how he rarely spend quality time with Tilly at home, making her feel like she's a nuisance to him.
PS. Did he buy her a dozen more Gucci scarves to make up for the one sacrificed as an emergency sling on Tenerife? Loved all the shopping!
Read
June 18, 2022This was a bit of a disappointment in that I actually liked it at first. Then the hero showed up to be all of the things that annoy me in a romantic hero and it went downhill fast. I mostly like the lead, who mostly seems like a person, but I always get the feeling that Betty Neels is utterly oblivious to how some of her writing, and especially the things the heroes say, can come across because she likes them so she just doesn't think any more about it.
In conclusion: elstaffe torments me once again.
In conclusion: elstaffe torments me once again.
February 6, 2019
Review to come
August 20, 2011
He was the answer to all her prayers
Matilda worked as a nurse in her uncle's busy small-town medical practice. Though she found caring for her patients satisfying, Tilly was well aware of her need for something greater.
Little did she suspect that her chance meeting with Dr. Rauwerd van Kempler would change her life. She had sensibly agreed to his proposal, only to find herself becoming far from sensibly involved.
Reality intruded just when she needed Rauwerd's great strength, and she was forced to discover her own. The doctor might be out saving lives--but Tilly was fast losing her patience!
Another great read!
Matilda worked as a nurse in her uncle's busy small-town medical practice. Though she found caring for her patients satisfying, Tilly was well aware of her need for something greater.
Little did she suspect that her chance meeting with Dr. Rauwerd van Kempler would change her life. She had sensibly agreed to his proposal, only to find herself becoming far from sensibly involved.
Reality intruded just when she needed Rauwerd's great strength, and she was forced to discover her own. The doctor might be out saving lives--but Tilly was fast losing her patience!
Another great read!
December 19, 2014
As always, a gentle entertaining story by Betty Neels. I love how the hero rescues her and also there's some excitement in the last third of the book that really shows how heroic the heroine is. The only thing I didn't care for was that the hero didn't really pursue the heroine all that much, he rescued her and then sat back and waited for her to fall in love with him. But the ending where they get together was really nice.
January 29, 2014
It is my opinion that Betty Neels had a formula that she faithfully followed in her books. This book however, is a bit of a departure from the norm. It is told from the viewpoint of the female protagonist instead of from shared or split his/hers viewpoints. A nice clean gentle read.
July 22, 2010
hmmm.........cn go thru once....
April 16, 2012
A reliable and relaxing Betty Neels - set on Tenerife which was nice to read about the island as I remembered it rather than the present day.
March 17, 2013
Good book.
July 31, 2013
A pleasant read for passing the time when you can't be bothered with anything more taxing. One of the usual Betty Neels formulae - the marriage of convenience.
Read
February 19, 2015Still trying to figure out my rating for this one. It seemed so normal, and then there was ...other stuff too.
October 19, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this book.
Read
February 15, 2016Lovely book
Always a pleasure to read any of Betty Neels' books, and this is no exception. Pity she is no longer with us.
Always a pleasure to read any of Betty Neels' books, and this is no exception. Pity she is no longer with us.
March 26, 2026
Such a delightful love story! BN is just what I was in the mood for today. A sweet, cozy formula romance.
February 17, 2026
The Doubtful Marriage (1987) is another of Betty’s marriage of convenience plots. Matilda aka Tilly (26) is a nurse and has given up her hospital to work in her doctor uncle’s private practice, keep house for him along with her FFR Emma and be less than half-heartedly wooed for her inheritance by the son of the local gentry. Not that she knows that is the ulterior motive. One day, her uncle’s former houseman, now a consultant, comes to spend the weekend. Rauwerd is your typical RDD: Dutch, tall, vast, rich, very handsome, renowned in his field, reserved. He also flips his lid over Matilda at first sight, although he keeps this fact well-hidden because except in rare instances, RDDs do not wear their hearts on their sleeves. During the weekend, he takes her out to spend the day in Oxford and they have a nice time. He’s not so bad, she thinks. But within days, uncle dies. It is discovered that he hasn’t left the house and the money to Matilda but to a horrid nephew. The half-hearted suitor and his mum dump Matilda like yesterday’s cold potatoes. Her heart is decidedly not broken.
Matilda then hightails it out of town and gets a job in a London hospital on the geriatric ward where spinach-green and margarine-yellow are the colors of despair and hopelessness. Her job is staff nurse taking care of elderly ladies. She’s upset that Rauwerd did not acknowledge her uncle’s death, but very shortly he turns up at her hospital. He did not learn of the death because he was out of town, but as soon as he finds out, he races to find Matilda. He takes her out for a meal and listens to her tale of woe about the mistreatment of the ladies in her ward. The next time they meet (and this is my favorite part of the book), he brings a posse of hospital administrators to right the wrongs in the ward. Matilda has the flu and just about passes out in the meeting where the posse apologizes to her for her travails. Rauwerd scoops her up, carries her out to his car, instructs the porter to have her things packed, takes her to his London home, puts her to bed and magically produces Emma to take care of her and serve as chaperone. I just love a take-charge RDD, don’t you?
Once Matilda has recovered from the flu, Rauwerd proposes. Wait- what? Yep, that’s right, on the strength of two sort-of dates and one hospital rescue, he proposes a marriage of convenience. He’s 34 (that’s YOUNG for an RDD) and it is time he took a wife and he thinks they can deal together tolerably without bringing love or romance into it. Unless they decide later on that’s what they want. Oh Rauwerd. I can see right through you. Matilda is understandably taken aback and intends to say no, but he talks her into it tout de suite. Before she can blink, they are married and headed to his mansion in Holland, where her FFR and his FFRs meet and become best buds. Then they go to Las Palmas (Canary Islands). Matilda is one of Betty’s Olivias: tall, beautiful, built like a brick house. There is a funny scene where she is poolside in her bikini and all the vacationers are staring at her with their tongues hanging out. Rauwerd tells her it is understandable because she is a babe. In Las Palmas, they sightsee and have dinners and coming across a scary car accident on a cliff, they stop to render aid. Matilda also has her dawning realization that she loves Rauwerd. But as with all BN heroines, she knows he does not love her (is she ever wrong about that) so she must hide her love away.
Back in Holland, Matilda gets used to being an RDD’s wife. Unfortunately, a relic from Rauwerd’s past named Nikky who would have liked to be Mrs. RDD muddies the waters and arouses Matilda’s anger. That part is very tiresome, but how things get sorted out makes for a delightful ending.
The marriage of convenience plot is not my favorite. Betty's OW plot device is almost always unpleasant to read, at least in my opinion (stop pitting women against each other!). But this story is a lot more enjoyable if you read with the understanding that Rauwerd fell for Matilda like a ton of bricks from the moment he saw her and that everything he does in the story is part of his plan to not lose her before she falls in love with him. The MOC is sort of necessary since they live in different countries (except for his London pad, of course). I’m also less enthused about many of the Olivias when compared to the Aramintas, I think because the Aramintas just have to work harder for their HEAs. But Matilda is a great character. I really enjoy the first part of the story, less enthused about the second part, ending is wonderful. How to rate? 4 stars for Matilda and Rauwerd, 4 stars for the hospital rescue, 3 stars for Las Palmas, 1 star for Nikky the would-be homewrecker and Rauwerd’s failure to explain, 5 stars for the ending. That averages out to 3.4. I guess we will round down to 3. I wish we could award half stars.
Matilda then hightails it out of town and gets a job in a London hospital on the geriatric ward where spinach-green and margarine-yellow are the colors of despair and hopelessness. Her job is staff nurse taking care of elderly ladies. She’s upset that Rauwerd did not acknowledge her uncle’s death, but very shortly he turns up at her hospital. He did not learn of the death because he was out of town, but as soon as he finds out, he races to find Matilda. He takes her out for a meal and listens to her tale of woe about the mistreatment of the ladies in her ward. The next time they meet (and this is my favorite part of the book), he brings a posse of hospital administrators to right the wrongs in the ward. Matilda has the flu and just about passes out in the meeting where the posse apologizes to her for her travails. Rauwerd scoops her up, carries her out to his car, instructs the porter to have her things packed, takes her to his London home, puts her to bed and magically produces Emma to take care of her and serve as chaperone. I just love a take-charge RDD, don’t you?
Once Matilda has recovered from the flu, Rauwerd proposes. Wait- what? Yep, that’s right, on the strength of two sort-of dates and one hospital rescue, he proposes a marriage of convenience. He’s 34 (that’s YOUNG for an RDD) and it is time he took a wife and he thinks they can deal together tolerably without bringing love or romance into it. Unless they decide later on that’s what they want. Oh Rauwerd. I can see right through you. Matilda is understandably taken aback and intends to say no, but he talks her into it tout de suite. Before she can blink, they are married and headed to his mansion in Holland, where her FFR and his FFRs meet and become best buds. Then they go to Las Palmas (Canary Islands). Matilda is one of Betty’s Olivias: tall, beautiful, built like a brick house. There is a funny scene where she is poolside in her bikini and all the vacationers are staring at her with their tongues hanging out. Rauwerd tells her it is understandable because she is a babe. In Las Palmas, they sightsee and have dinners and coming across a scary car accident on a cliff, they stop to render aid. Matilda also has her dawning realization that she loves Rauwerd. But as with all BN heroines, she knows he does not love her (is she ever wrong about that) so she must hide her love away.
Back in Holland, Matilda gets used to being an RDD’s wife. Unfortunately, a relic from Rauwerd’s past named Nikky who would have liked to be Mrs. RDD muddies the waters and arouses Matilda’s anger. That part is very tiresome, but how things get sorted out makes for a delightful ending.
The marriage of convenience plot is not my favorite. Betty's OW plot device is almost always unpleasant to read, at least in my opinion (stop pitting women against each other!). But this story is a lot more enjoyable if you read with the understanding that Rauwerd fell for Matilda like a ton of bricks from the moment he saw her and that everything he does in the story is part of his plan to not lose her before she falls in love with him. The MOC is sort of necessary since they live in different countries (except for his London pad, of course). I’m also less enthused about many of the Olivias when compared to the Aramintas, I think because the Aramintas just have to work harder for their HEAs. But Matilda is a great character. I really enjoy the first part of the story, less enthused about the second part, ending is wonderful. How to rate? 4 stars for Matilda and Rauwerd, 4 stars for the hospital rescue, 3 stars for Las Palmas, 1 star for Nikky the would-be homewrecker and Rauwerd’s failure to explain, 5 stars for the ending. That averages out to 3.4. I guess we will round down to 3. I wish we could award half stars.
January 12, 2022
2+?
A middlin' Betty, a middlin' Betty MoC. Which was my expectation as I pulled this one from my "Lesser Betty" box, stored there years ago after the first and only time I read it. The reread didn't change my mind on that account; I only reread it now to close the loop on having just read 'A Girl Named Rose' and knowing Rose & Sybren cameo in it. And after a run of five Bettys--making a good start on my reading challenge plus yay Betty--enough of them for the moment lest I get in a rut and enjoy them less from that alone.
Reading this one with the Olivia heroine after four Araminta-types, I noticed outright that Betty believes pretty girls are allowed to be pricklier, more demanding, and get away with both. Especially in comparison with her plain & plump heroines who make their journey to a HEA with their caring, mild, kind, supportive, etc, ways. I can't really disagree! But--quite the insight.
Not to say the Olivias--Matilda here, specifically--are odious. But they are different with different expectations and often get the benefit of the RDD falling for them in an instant due to their various physical charms who then wait to win their love. An interesting but subtle contrast.
Anyway, onto the book itself.
Which I found rather tepid and not a standout in any particular sense. No bits of prose that made me laugh, the RDD and Tilly are middle of the pack Betty characters, the usual Betty Trappings and tropes are all there--sapphire and diamond engagement ring, placid RDD simmering with longing underneath, the House Tour Of Love, lavish meals and clothing and house interiors--but they glide by rather unremarkably.
That Tilly's uncle botches things with his will (leaving her out on her bum when her nasty cousin glides right in to snatch up the inheritance) leaves a question mark hanging as to why uncle would do such a thing when Matilda has been ever-faithful for years. But one, Betty contrivances to a MoC are a must and two, people do actually pull stuff like this all the time, separating 'the will' from 'real life.'
The trip to Las Palmas is a bit different. Other books have travels, but only Olivias (that I remember) are treated to long, delightful days sightseeing without self-conscious moments thinking he's bored of it and has only done his duty.
I think the parts I liked best were when Rose was on scene, being her wonderful sparky unassuming but take-notice-of self, and Sybren besotted with her every move and moment. Rose has the best lines too, like when she crashes in on Tilly and the 'conflict' Nikky--a bore of a Veronica who doesn't even work to drive a wedge between Matilda and Rauwerd--baby carrier in hand and dismissing Nikky from the room after unapologetically eavesdropping on Nikky being nasty to Tilly. And then taking Rauwerd to mild task over the woman.
I don't like the spike of Nikky being the conflict at all. Not Nikky as conflict or Rauwerd's careless use of her as a "but can my wife be made to be jealous?" device. I fault them both for allowing Nikky to cast much too long a shadow in their lives.
There's two, TWO, catastrophes the leads must face together. A car smash on a perilous mountain road to attend, and then a bomb (or gas main) that explodes and Tilly in the midst of it. I'd forgotten about the bomb entirely lol. Tilly acquits herself ably, offering first aid and triage in her nurse guise even though she herself is injured, and the whole community swoons.
Rauwerd gets tired of waiting around for Tilly to realize she loves him. Or he's also oblivious. Or he's oblivious and mad at himself for loving her thinking she'd soon come around to love him? Not fully clear. He's fine but again, bland.
Tilly is the one to get a dawning realization. (Again, often the Olivia takes it from the RDD while the RDD is who experiences it after the Araminta earns it.) She's also fine and acquits herself in various ways, but same as Rauwerd, bland.
I did like that Matilda up and goes after Rauwerd to England to declare herself. The ending is tidy and away to their HEA they go. Fine, but bland.
Now and then I itch with the discomfort of the class divisions and old fashioned keeping to them in Betty books. Olivia-centric ones like this seem to make me itch a bit more than the Aramintas. But what are you gonna do--it's a fairy tale.
A middlin' Betty, a middlin' Betty MoC. Which was my expectation as I pulled this one from my "Lesser Betty" box, stored there years ago after the first and only time I read it. The reread didn't change my mind on that account; I only reread it now to close the loop on having just read 'A Girl Named Rose' and knowing Rose & Sybren cameo in it. And after a run of five Bettys--making a good start on my reading challenge plus yay Betty--enough of them for the moment lest I get in a rut and enjoy them less from that alone.
Reading this one with the Olivia heroine after four Araminta-types, I noticed outright that Betty believes pretty girls are allowed to be pricklier, more demanding, and get away with both. Especially in comparison with her plain & plump heroines who make their journey to a HEA with their caring, mild, kind, supportive, etc, ways. I can't really disagree! But--quite the insight.
Not to say the Olivias--Matilda here, specifically--are odious. But they are different with different expectations and often get the benefit of the RDD falling for them in an instant due to their various physical charms who then wait to win their love. An interesting but subtle contrast.
Anyway, onto the book itself.
Which I found rather tepid and not a standout in any particular sense. No bits of prose that made me laugh, the RDD and Tilly are middle of the pack Betty characters, the usual Betty Trappings and tropes are all there--sapphire and diamond engagement ring, placid RDD simmering with longing underneath, the House Tour Of Love, lavish meals and clothing and house interiors--but they glide by rather unremarkably.
That Tilly's uncle botches things with his will (leaving her out on her bum when her nasty cousin glides right in to snatch up the inheritance) leaves a question mark hanging as to why uncle would do such a thing when Matilda has been ever-faithful for years. But one, Betty contrivances to a MoC are a must and two, people do actually pull stuff like this all the time, separating 'the will' from 'real life.'
The trip to Las Palmas is a bit different. Other books have travels, but only Olivias (that I remember) are treated to long, delightful days sightseeing without self-conscious moments thinking he's bored of it and has only done his duty.
I think the parts I liked best were when Rose was on scene, being her wonderful sparky unassuming but take-notice-of self, and Sybren besotted with her every move and moment. Rose has the best lines too, like when she crashes in on Tilly and the 'conflict' Nikky--a bore of a Veronica who doesn't even work to drive a wedge between Matilda and Rauwerd--baby carrier in hand and dismissing Nikky from the room after unapologetically eavesdropping on Nikky being nasty to Tilly. And then taking Rauwerd to mild task over the woman.
I don't like the spike of Nikky being the conflict at all. Not Nikky as conflict or Rauwerd's careless use of her as a "but can my wife be made to be jealous?" device. I fault them both for allowing Nikky to cast much too long a shadow in their lives.
There's two, TWO, catastrophes the leads must face together. A car smash on a perilous mountain road to attend, and then a bomb (or gas main) that explodes and Tilly in the midst of it. I'd forgotten about the bomb entirely lol. Tilly acquits herself ably, offering first aid and triage in her nurse guise even though she herself is injured, and the whole community swoons.
Rauwerd gets tired of waiting around for Tilly to realize she loves him. Or he's also oblivious. Or he's oblivious and mad at himself for loving her thinking she'd soon come around to love him? Not fully clear. He's fine but again, bland.
Tilly is the one to get a dawning realization. (Again, often the Olivia takes it from the RDD while the RDD is who experiences it after the Araminta earns it.) She's also fine and acquits herself in various ways, but same as Rauwerd, bland.
I did like that Matilda up and goes after Rauwerd to England to declare herself. The ending is tidy and away to their HEA they go. Fine, but bland.
Now and then I itch with the discomfort of the class divisions and old fashioned keeping to them in Betty books. Olivia-centric ones like this seem to make me itch a bit more than the Aramintas. But what are you gonna do--it's a fairy tale.
June 2, 2017
At one time I owned the better part of Betty Neels' extensive ouvre, but sometime in the late 90s or early aughts, I thinned my library to just five novels that struck my late-teen or early 20s self as Neels' best work. I did not include The Doubtful Marriage in this best-of set, for reasons I realized after I'd finished this book, rather than while reading it (like most Betty Neels books, I binge-read this one).
The story has all the typical Neels elements -- tall, heavy-lidded Dutch doctor, junoesque English nurse -- but some sections dragged for me. (One extended travel sequence, while it provided a relatively unusual setting for her characters, both in geography and the interaction possible, provided several day-by-day summaries that barely advanced the action.) And while I always enjoy a good marriage-of-convenience setup, I still found the doctor's sudden proposal a bit implausible, even for a romance novel, even for a Betty Neels book.
On the upside, this book does reach resolution largely through the heroine's agency, rather than circumstances merely falling into place a certain way. And it gave a very satisfying follow-up on the characters from Neels' earlier book A Girl Named Rose .
Having recently reread several Neels books, I still can't figure out why the post-book life I imagine for this pair seems less satisfying than those of the other books. The best explanation I can think of is that, though Leiden hardly counts as rural, their circle of contacts seems much smaller and life less lively. In A Kind of Magic , the couple does settle in a more rural setting, but somehow the Highlands seem full of potential to explore and build an active, interesting life -- not least because of all the people Rosie already knows there. Similarly, the bustle of Matilda's family and James' goddaughter in A Most Marvelous Summer suggest an active, vibrant life ahead, embedded in the rich, ordinary rhythms of community. Even in The Daughter of the Manor , though Leonara has a similar lack of relatives to this book's, she enjoys a rich network of relationships in the town. Perhaps the difference for The Doubtful Marriage is that we never see its heroine develop new and meaningful relationships apart from her husband's introduction.
The story has all the typical Neels elements -- tall, heavy-lidded Dutch doctor, junoesque English nurse -- but some sections dragged for me. (One extended travel sequence, while it provided a relatively unusual setting for her characters, both in geography and the interaction possible, provided several day-by-day summaries that barely advanced the action.) And while I always enjoy a good marriage-of-convenience setup, I still found the doctor's sudden proposal a bit implausible, even for a romance novel, even for a Betty Neels book.
On the upside, this book does reach resolution largely through the heroine's agency, rather than circumstances merely falling into place a certain way. And it gave a very satisfying follow-up on the characters from Neels' earlier book A Girl Named Rose .
Having recently reread several Neels books, I still can't figure out why the post-book life I imagine for this pair seems less satisfying than those of the other books. The best explanation I can think of is that, though Leiden hardly counts as rural, their circle of contacts seems much smaller and life less lively. In A Kind of Magic , the couple does settle in a more rural setting, but somehow the Highlands seem full of potential to explore and build an active, interesting life -- not least because of all the people Rosie already knows there. Similarly, the bustle of Matilda's family and James' goddaughter in A Most Marvelous Summer suggest an active, vibrant life ahead, embedded in the rich, ordinary rhythms of community. Even in The Daughter of the Manor , though Leonara has a similar lack of relatives to this book's, she enjoys a rich network of relationships in the town. Perhaps the difference for The Doubtful Marriage is that we never see its heroine develop new and meaningful relationships apart from her husband's introduction.
January 19, 2026
Read: 13Dec25,
4 stars. this one took me a while to get into and I even put it away for a while and went to read other books. when I picked it up again, I enjoyed the last half much better than I had enjoyed the first part. I think maybe at the start of the book I was struggling to feel the chemistry for the couple...
This one has Tilly (26), a tall beautiful nurse who gave up her hospital career to work for her elderly uncle at his medical practice and look after him at home. when her uncles friend and colleague comes to visit, she expects an old man, but instead is surprised by a handsome youngish (34) Dutch doctor, Rauwerd. she was unprepared to meet him and felt rather shabby and windblown and took a dislike to him and his calm ways. Tilly is also almost engaged to a local solicitor. They have known each other a long time but she's underwhelmed by him and they both have been putting off setting a date. Rauward is nice to her and goes out of his way to spend time with her during his visit, but she remains aloof.
some days after Rauwerd leaves, her uncle dies v suddenly in his sleep. after the funeral she is disappointed that rauwerd didnt attend or even call. and she finds out the uncle left his house to an unpleasant cousin and expected the cousin to look after Tilly, but the cousin wants her gone ASAP.
learning that Tilly isn't going to inherit her uncle's house, the boyfriend breaks off their relationship, saying "sorry old girl, but I need to marry money to be able to build my career. but I'm very fond of you and all that." ugh.
SPOILERS AHEAD
so now she has nowhere to go. she hoists herself out of her greif and applies for jobs and eventually finds a less than ideal job as a nurse at an elderly people's home where the conditions are terrible and she is horribly overworked. a couple of weeks later, when she complains about the dangerous conditions, she is given the sack.
she works out a weeks notice, by which point she has caught the flu. and to her shock Rauwerd turns up on her last day. he sorts things out at the nursing home, and he carries her off to his own home to be cared for while she recovers. he had not heard her uncle had died and came the same day he heard. he asks her if she wants to talk and she explains everything. afterwards he proposes a marriage of convenience, saying he would like a friend and a hostess and someone to care for his home. she agrees as she likes him better now, plus he's already given a job to her loyal old housekeeper friend who was miserable working for the nasty cousin.
they marry and move to Holland, where his family and friends welcome her with open arms. she feels happy enough at his home where he treats her like a friend even if he is a bit distant. but then she meets his friend Nicky, a skinny attractive blond who clearly wants to steal Rauwerd away and is always inviting him over late in the evening to her house to help her with "business things"... Tilly feels miffed but tells herself she has no business being jealous because Rauwerd made it clear he wanted a businesslike arrangement in his marriage.
she tries to remain aloof and contents herself with being a pleasant wife and homemaker. then she goes away for a week or so at a conference with rauwerd and they bond during dealing with a nasty road traffic accident on a mountain road and injured people, and she realises she has fallen in love with him. (70% into the book.)
she wants him to fall for her too, but when they return to Holland, things go back to their clinical arrangement, with him still spending time with Nicky, which now makes Tilly v jealous, though she tries to hide it. eventually though, after a hospital ball, when Nicky insists Rauwerd give her a lift home late at night, Tilly is so angry that she ends up bitterly pushing rauwerd at Tilly and snapping at him to enjoy the rest of his night. he is shocked and displeased.
the next day she regrets what she said but he is icy and cold with her so she cant bring herself to apologise, and then he leaves for work. she goes to the supermarket and a bomb explodes. she is a bit injured but starts helping people who are far worse off than her. rauwerd arrives on scene and makes her go to the hospital but he doesn't come with her and she feels upset. I do love a good disaster scene in Betty's books!
ENDING SPOILERS
before they can speak properly, Nicky throws another spanner in the works by arriving to the house and telling Tilly that Rauwerd is bored with her and that Nicky means more to him than Tilly.
After that is another confrontation between h and H about Nicky again and when he asks Tilly to come with him when he goes on a work trip to England, Tilly angrily refuses and tells him to take Nicky. He goes to see Nicky.
After he leaves for england, she decides she has to know the truth so she confronts Nicky who admits that there is jothjng between her and Rauward. (clearly Rauwerd has had some firm words with Nicky. but he definitely played the let's make my wife jealous game which he doesn't admit to, silly man.) So anyway, Tilly decides to go to England to see Rauward. he is over the moon to see her and confesses he loves her and has done since he first saw her, and that he married her hoping she would grow to love him. I was a bit annoyed that he said he knew she had loved him for some time now but that she just hadn't realised it yet. Betty's heroes are too often too smug for their own good.
anyway, I enjoyed the book overall and the last half was more enjoyable for me than the slow first half so I have given it 4 stars.
plus we got to see a little peek of Sybren and Rose from A Girl Named Rose, which was lovely as they were some of my absolute faves.
4 stars. this one took me a while to get into and I even put it away for a while and went to read other books. when I picked it up again, I enjoyed the last half much better than I had enjoyed the first part. I think maybe at the start of the book I was struggling to feel the chemistry for the couple...
This one has Tilly (26), a tall beautiful nurse who gave up her hospital career to work for her elderly uncle at his medical practice and look after him at home. when her uncles friend and colleague comes to visit, she expects an old man, but instead is surprised by a handsome youngish (34) Dutch doctor, Rauwerd. she was unprepared to meet him and felt rather shabby and windblown and took a dislike to him and his calm ways. Tilly is also almost engaged to a local solicitor. They have known each other a long time but she's underwhelmed by him and they both have been putting off setting a date. Rauward is nice to her and goes out of his way to spend time with her during his visit, but she remains aloof.
some days after Rauwerd leaves, her uncle dies v suddenly in his sleep. after the funeral she is disappointed that rauwerd didnt attend or even call. and she finds out the uncle left his house to an unpleasant cousin and expected the cousin to look after Tilly, but the cousin wants her gone ASAP.
learning that Tilly isn't going to inherit her uncle's house, the boyfriend breaks off their relationship, saying "sorry old girl, but I need to marry money to be able to build my career. but I'm very fond of you and all that." ugh.
SPOILERS AHEAD
so now she has nowhere to go. she hoists herself out of her greif and applies for jobs and eventually finds a less than ideal job as a nurse at an elderly people's home where the conditions are terrible and she is horribly overworked. a couple of weeks later, when she complains about the dangerous conditions, she is given the sack.
she works out a weeks notice, by which point she has caught the flu. and to her shock Rauwerd turns up on her last day. he sorts things out at the nursing home, and he carries her off to his own home to be cared for while she recovers. he had not heard her uncle had died and came the same day he heard. he asks her if she wants to talk and she explains everything. afterwards he proposes a marriage of convenience, saying he would like a friend and a hostess and someone to care for his home. she agrees as she likes him better now, plus he's already given a job to her loyal old housekeeper friend who was miserable working for the nasty cousin.
they marry and move to Holland, where his family and friends welcome her with open arms. she feels happy enough at his home where he treats her like a friend even if he is a bit distant. but then she meets his friend Nicky, a skinny attractive blond who clearly wants to steal Rauwerd away and is always inviting him over late in the evening to her house to help her with "business things"... Tilly feels miffed but tells herself she has no business being jealous because Rauwerd made it clear he wanted a businesslike arrangement in his marriage.
she tries to remain aloof and contents herself with being a pleasant wife and homemaker. then she goes away for a week or so at a conference with rauwerd and they bond during dealing with a nasty road traffic accident on a mountain road and injured people, and she realises she has fallen in love with him. (70% into the book.)
she wants him to fall for her too, but when they return to Holland, things go back to their clinical arrangement, with him still spending time with Nicky, which now makes Tilly v jealous, though she tries to hide it. eventually though, after a hospital ball, when Nicky insists Rauwerd give her a lift home late at night, Tilly is so angry that she ends up bitterly pushing rauwerd at Tilly and snapping at him to enjoy the rest of his night. he is shocked and displeased.
the next day she regrets what she said but he is icy and cold with her so she cant bring herself to apologise, and then he leaves for work. she goes to the supermarket and a bomb explodes. she is a bit injured but starts helping people who are far worse off than her. rauwerd arrives on scene and makes her go to the hospital but he doesn't come with her and she feels upset. I do love a good disaster scene in Betty's books!
ENDING SPOILERS
before they can speak properly, Nicky throws another spanner in the works by arriving to the house and telling Tilly that Rauwerd is bored with her and that Nicky means more to him than Tilly.
After that is another confrontation between h and H about Nicky again and when he asks Tilly to come with him when he goes on a work trip to England, Tilly angrily refuses and tells him to take Nicky. He goes to see Nicky.
After he leaves for england, she decides she has to know the truth so she confronts Nicky who admits that there is jothjng between her and Rauward. (clearly Rauwerd has had some firm words with Nicky. but he definitely played the let's make my wife jealous game which he doesn't admit to, silly man.) So anyway, Tilly decides to go to England to see Rauward. he is over the moon to see her and confesses he loves her and has done since he first saw her, and that he married her hoping she would grow to love him. I was a bit annoyed that he said he knew she had loved him for some time now but that she just hadn't realised it yet. Betty's heroes are too often too smug for their own good.
anyway, I enjoyed the book overall and the last half was more enjoyable for me than the slow first half so I have given it 4 stars.
plus we got to see a little peek of Sybren and Rose from A Girl Named Rose, which was lovely as they were some of my absolute faves.
February 27, 2022
"Triángulo imaginario"
Matilda o Tilly es una joven enfermera huérfana de padres que vive con su tío médico hasta que él muere. Luego de este acontecimiento debe abandonar la casa donde paso gran parte de su vida y buscar su bienestar en otro lado.Asi llega a un asilo de ancianos ,muy deteriorado y en malas condiciones,donde trabaja un tiempo hasta que es despedida mientras contrae una fuerte gripe.En estás circunstancias se reencuentra con un antiguo discípulo de su tío (a quien conocio brevemente en una oportunidad) un eminente médico cirujano Rauwerd van Kempler quien inesperadamente le ofrece ayuda y refugio hasta que se recupere de su enfermedad.
Es así como la bella pero siempre sensata y "tranquila" Tilly se encuentra en la casa de este médico tan importante con una propuesta de casamiento la que aceptará porque es lo mejor que puede hacer en estas circunstancias.No será un matrimonio por amor pero si tendrá su ventaja para ambos. Poco a poco y conforme avanzamos en la lectura la joven ya enamorada perdidamente del doctor se irá adentrando en la vida social de su marido y también se enfrentará a la "Verónica" de turno quien hara que ponga a prueba su status de casada.Los celos y confusiones harán que la heroína sufra un poco hasta la aclaración final dónde el matrimonio se confesara por primera vez y abiertamente sus sentimientos uno por el otro.
Matilda o Tilly es una joven enfermera huérfana de padres que vive con su tío médico hasta que él muere. Luego de este acontecimiento debe abandonar la casa donde paso gran parte de su vida y buscar su bienestar en otro lado.Asi llega a un asilo de ancianos ,muy deteriorado y en malas condiciones,donde trabaja un tiempo hasta que es despedida mientras contrae una fuerte gripe.En estás circunstancias se reencuentra con un antiguo discípulo de su tío (a quien conocio brevemente en una oportunidad) un eminente médico cirujano Rauwerd van Kempler quien inesperadamente le ofrece ayuda y refugio hasta que se recupere de su enfermedad.
Es así como la bella pero siempre sensata y "tranquila" Tilly se encuentra en la casa de este médico tan importante con una propuesta de casamiento la que aceptará porque es lo mejor que puede hacer en estas circunstancias.No será un matrimonio por amor pero si tendrá su ventaja para ambos. Poco a poco y conforme avanzamos en la lectura la joven ya enamorada perdidamente del doctor se irá adentrando en la vida social de su marido y también se enfrentará a la "Verónica" de turno quien hara que ponga a prueba su status de casada.Los celos y confusiones harán que la heroína sufra un poco hasta la aclaración final dónde el matrimonio se confesara por primera vez y abiertamente sus sentimientos uno por el otro.
December 30, 2023
Such a good read....love Betty Neels' books...especially when the doctor is from Holland and is rich, caring, generous, etc.
Mathilda (Tilly) lived with her uncle most of her life after her parents were killed in a car accident....she was a Sister in the hospital but when her uncle needed her help, she quit her job and looked after him and became his secretary. He became ill and died peacefully in his chair and much to Tilly's surprise, her uncle left the house and belongings to her cousin who was a very cruel, vain man who said Tilly could live there until she found a job and had a place of her own.
His mother and wife would both unkind to Tilly and she finally found a job in a poorly looked after home for seniors who had a miserable existence due to lack of staff. Tilly worked very hard and when Rauwerd came back into her life, he suggested that they marry because they liked each other and were good friends...since he was rich and kind, she accepted so that she could have her cook/housekeeper, Emma with her...they both would be secure then....but she soon discovered that she loved him.
It appeared that he loved her also but felt she didn't really love him....but the story ends perfectly....
Mathilda (Tilly) lived with her uncle most of her life after her parents were killed in a car accident....she was a Sister in the hospital but when her uncle needed her help, she quit her job and looked after him and became his secretary. He became ill and died peacefully in his chair and much to Tilly's surprise, her uncle left the house and belongings to her cousin who was a very cruel, vain man who said Tilly could live there until she found a job and had a place of her own.
His mother and wife would both unkind to Tilly and she finally found a job in a poorly looked after home for seniors who had a miserable existence due to lack of staff. Tilly worked very hard and when Rauwerd came back into her life, he suggested that they marry because they liked each other and were good friends...since he was rich and kind, she accepted so that she could have her cook/housekeeper, Emma with her...they both would be secure then....but she soon discovered that she loved him.
It appeared that he loved her also but felt she didn't really love him....but the story ends perfectly....
March 1, 2026
A fitting end
Tilly and Rauwerd are a pretty great couple. There's always that "other woman" in Betty Neels' books and this one isn't much different. However, you can tell early on that this "other woman" is just an annoyance to Rauwerd. The beginning of this book is kind of sad, and maybe I was just a little angry. Tilly isn't some silly helpless girl though. None of Betty Neels' heroines are. Tilly just makes the best of the circumstances she's stuck in. Rauwerd, of course, rescues her from the situation. A little way into the book, we get to meet a couple from one of the previous books. I always love it when that happens because you get to see the continuation of a love story. With that said, I'm sure you will love this book. 🙂
Tilly and Rauwerd are a pretty great couple. There's always that "other woman" in Betty Neels' books and this one isn't much different. However, you can tell early on that this "other woman" is just an annoyance to Rauwerd. The beginning of this book is kind of sad, and maybe I was just a little angry. Tilly isn't some silly helpless girl though. None of Betty Neels' heroines are. Tilly just makes the best of the circumstances she's stuck in. Rauwerd, of course, rescues her from the situation. A little way into the book, we get to meet a couple from one of the previous books. I always love it when that happens because you get to see the continuation of a love story. With that said, I'm sure you will love this book. 🙂
December 29, 2022
The casual, matter of fact ILY of the H at the end of the book annoyed me! He could have disclosed that info much earlier than he did and shown more emotion. Same plot points as her other MOC books.
August 5, 2018
Lovely
If you enjoy your romances light, clean, fluffy and vintage then you will enjoy the wonderful work of Betty Neels
If you enjoy your romances light, clean, fluffy and vintage then you will enjoy the wonderful work of Betty Neels
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