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When May Follows
The future Baroness van Tellerinck isn't exactly sure why she has agreed to get married. Perhaps it's because the tall and broad-shouldered Raf doesn't make her feel like a giant. It certainly isn't a love match. She doesn't love Raf, and he seems indifferent toward her.
Everything changes, though, when Raf's ex-girlfriend, Beyke, returns and shakes up this marriage of convenience. Suddenly Katrina's emotions are in turmoil. She couldn't be jealous, could she?
229 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1980
49 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Betty Neels
567 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 49 reviews
June 24, 2019
4 Stars ~ Marriage of convenience is a common theme for Ms. Neels, and she writes them so wonderfully. While this one is written more leisurely and even seems to lag at times, it is none less charming with characters that I found to be endearing.
Katrina is the usual efficient nurse, though she's older at 27 than many other BN heroines, holding the position of ward sister. She's also a very pretty woman with marvelous curves yet she's quite tall at 5'8". So when she meets Raf, our rich dutch Professor, she's pleased to meet a man she can look up to. At this meeting, Raf stares at Katrina and she mistakes the stare as surprise that she's such a giant in comparison to her petite mother and sisters. We later learn that this is the moment when Raf has fallen in love with her.
Raf is an unusual BN hero in that he has absolutely no family. While previously published books by Ms Neels, she does mention the war, the book prior to this one was the first that I recall where there were dire consequences. In that book, Hannah, the hero's father was interned in a concentration camp for a year. In this book, Raf's parents were both shot by the Germans for aiding someone to escape. Raf had been just four and was then raised by his grandparents. This is also the first BN hero to admit to being a millionaire, due both to inherited wealth and to his earnings.
The story is a steady one, where Raf takes advantage of Katrina's silly lie to a house doctor that she'd resigned her hospital job to take one in the Gulf. The doctor had been taking it for granted that he and Katrina had an understanding and she knew that if she just rebuffed him, he'd continue to pester her, thus the lie that forces her to actually resign. Raf earns her confidence and hears her tale, and promises her to come up with something, which Katrina thinks is a job abroad, perhaps in Holland. She's surprised when he proposes marriage ….
Their story goes on at a comfortable pace with Katrina making every effort to fit into Raf's routine. When enjoying an afternoon near the sea, they come across a boat in distress, both swim out to discover the man unconscious with a knock on his head and a broken leg and a toddler crying as loudly as his lungs would allow. It's at this moment that Katrina realizes she's fallen in love with her husband. She's petrified that he'll discover her feelings, thinking strangely that he only wanted a comfortable marriage.
And then comes the beautiful Beyke who makes sure Katrina believes that she regretted staying away so long that Raf found someone else to marry. Raf had thought to make Katrina jealous in the hopes of shaking up her feelings, only for it all to backfire. Katrina becomes convinced that Raf loves Beyke.
There's a moment when it all seems hopeless, for when Raf point blank asks Katrina if she loves him, she denies it. As readers, Ms. Neels lets us see how this effects Raf and how he becomes disheartened that his marriage is lost. For all his patience and for Ms. Neels gentle telling of their story, she gives them a glorious shake up for their HEA. I found the last chapter to be one of Ms. Neels most satisfying.
Katrina is the usual efficient nurse, though she's older at 27 than many other BN heroines, holding the position of ward sister. She's also a very pretty woman with marvelous curves yet she's quite tall at 5'8". So when she meets Raf, our rich dutch Professor, she's pleased to meet a man she can look up to. At this meeting, Raf stares at Katrina and she mistakes the stare as surprise that she's such a giant in comparison to her petite mother and sisters. We later learn that this is the moment when Raf has fallen in love with her.
Raf is an unusual BN hero in that he has absolutely no family. While previously published books by Ms Neels, she does mention the war, the book prior to this one was the first that I recall where there were dire consequences. In that book, Hannah, the hero's father was interned in a concentration camp for a year. In this book, Raf's parents were both shot by the Germans for aiding someone to escape. Raf had been just four and was then raised by his grandparents. This is also the first BN hero to admit to being a millionaire, due both to inherited wealth and to his earnings.
The story is a steady one, where Raf takes advantage of Katrina's silly lie to a house doctor that she'd resigned her hospital job to take one in the Gulf. The doctor had been taking it for granted that he and Katrina had an understanding and she knew that if she just rebuffed him, he'd continue to pester her, thus the lie that forces her to actually resign. Raf earns her confidence and hears her tale, and promises her to come up with something, which Katrina thinks is a job abroad, perhaps in Holland. She's surprised when he proposes marriage ….
'You are twenty-seven, Kate, and I am more than ten years older than you. Have we not reached an age where the first fine rapture of love is a little unlikely? It seems to me that a liking for the same things and a mutual regard for each other is more likely to make for a happy marriage. … And I’m sure you will agree with me that we should take our time in getting to know each other so that we may make sure of our feelings before we assume a deeper relationship. I have no wish to rush you into anything.’
Their story goes on at a comfortable pace with Katrina making every effort to fit into Raf's routine. When enjoying an afternoon near the sea, they come across a boat in distress, both swim out to discover the man unconscious with a knock on his head and a broken leg and a toddler crying as loudly as his lungs would allow. It's at this moment that Katrina realizes she's fallen in love with her husband. She's petrified that he'll discover her feelings, thinking strangely that he only wanted a comfortable marriage.
And then comes the beautiful Beyke who makes sure Katrina believes that she regretted staying away so long that Raf found someone else to marry. Raf had thought to make Katrina jealous in the hopes of shaking up her feelings, only for it all to backfire. Katrina becomes convinced that Raf loves Beyke.
‘I don’t know why…that is, I expect if you’d known Beyke wasn’t married any more you wouldn’t have married me. You told me that you wanted a wife—well, a companion really, and I thought that you were lonely and—and just wanted—well, a companion, like I said, but of course you wanted to forget Beyke, and then she turned up and you could have married her after all.’ She added in a very small voice indeed: ‘I don’t know if you want a divorce.’
Raf didn’t answer; he was driving very fast now, tearing down the road, passing everything ahead of him. Presently Katrina said admonishingly: ‘You’re not frightening me, going fast.’
His harsh laugh made her jump ‘Frightened? Which of us is supposed to be frightened?’
Which left her wondering what he had to be frightened about.
There's a moment when it all seems hopeless, for when Raf point blank asks Katrina if she loves him, she denies it. As readers, Ms. Neels lets us see how this effects Raf and how he becomes disheartened that his marriage is lost. For all his patience and for Ms. Neels gentle telling of their story, she gives them a glorious shake up for their HEA. I found the last chapter to be one of Ms. Neels most satisfying.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2013
I would say average at best. It didn't "rock" my boat like some of her other books.
The heroine was disappointing in her thoughts, actions and delivery. The hero was just okay. Nothing about him really stood out. He was just kind of bland.
This has the all the Betty Neel requisite Tropes, but somehow failed to deliver that compelling "punch" I have come to enjoy by her.
√ MOC - Marriage of Convenience
√ RDD - Rich Dutch Doctor
√ BN - British Nurse...(not to be confused with Betty Neels)
√ OW - Other Woman
√ Big misunderstanding
On a positive note, I actually visited one of the places she mentions! That is a very first for me. (I know her books read like a British/Dutch travelogue, but they are fun.) I have been to the Isle of Eriska and actually stayed at the very same place. It is quite lovely. Though, I can't recommend this book, I do recommend the vacation spot!
The heroine was disappointing in her thoughts, actions and delivery. The hero was just okay. Nothing about him really stood out. He was just kind of bland.
This has the all the Betty Neel requisite Tropes, but somehow failed to deliver that compelling "punch" I have come to enjoy by her.
√ MOC - Marriage of Convenience
√ RDD - Rich Dutch Doctor
√ BN - British Nurse...(not to be confused with Betty Neels)
√ OW - Other Woman
√ Big misunderstanding
On a positive note, I actually visited one of the places she mentions! That is a very first for me. (I know her books read like a British/Dutch travelogue, but they are fun.) I have been to the Isle of Eriska and actually stayed at the very same place. It is quite lovely. Though, I can't recommend this book, I do recommend the vacation spot!
August 3, 2018
So is it just me or have I been hangin' out in HPlandia for too long and can't appreciate the supposedly nicer HRtopia outings?
This guy was a cheating slime slurper who basically manipulates the poor h until she is totally gaslighted into accepting whatever tarty bimbo he brings home to flaunt and have his wife wait on.
I must have read this years ago and totally missed just how much of a coprophagic sub sewer pustule this H was. Who Does That and How on Earth is Parading his Tart Around the prelude to romancing his h?
Or I got the wrong book, but then again, this is seems to be a standard trope with BN and I just don't have the patience for it any more.
I see no HEA here, just years of the poor h belittling herself to have just a crumb of affection from a snot scarfer who needs a domestic slave and broodmare, while he entertains himself with his preferred exotic lady buffet sample afternoon delight and then brings them home to have his h wait on them for dinner.
This guy was a cheating slime slurper who basically manipulates the poor h until she is totally gaslighted into accepting whatever tarty bimbo he brings home to flaunt and have his wife wait on.
I must have read this years ago and totally missed just how much of a coprophagic sub sewer pustule this H was. Who Does That and How on Earth is Parading his Tart Around the prelude to romancing his h?
Or I got the wrong book, but then again, this is seems to be a standard trope with BN and I just don't have the patience for it any more.
I see no HEA here, just years of the poor h belittling herself to have just a crumb of affection from a snot scarfer who needs a domestic slave and broodmare, while he entertains himself with his preferred exotic lady buffet sample afternoon delight and then brings them home to have his h wait on them for dinner.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 3, 2018
So is it just me or have I been hangin' out in HPlandia for too long and can't appreciate the supposedly nicer HRtopia outings?
This guy was a cheating slime slurper who basically manipulates the poor h until she is totally gaslighted into accepting whatever tarty bimbo he brings home to flaunt and have his wife wait on.
I must have read this years ago and totally missed just how much of a coprophagic sub sewer pustule this H was. Who Does That and How on Earth is Parading his Tart Around the prelude to romancing his h?
Or I got the wrong book, but then again, this is seems to be a standard trope with BN and I just don't have the patience for it any more.
I see no HEA here, just years of the poor h belittling herself to have just a crumb of affection from a snot scarfer who needs a domestic slave and broodmare, while he entertains himself with his preferred exotic lady buffet sample afternoon delight and then brings them home to have his h wait on them for dinner.
This guy was a cheating slime slurper who basically manipulates the poor h until she is totally gaslighted into accepting whatever tarty bimbo he brings home to flaunt and have his wife wait on.
I must have read this years ago and totally missed just how much of a coprophagic sub sewer pustule this H was. Who Does That and How on Earth is Parading his Tart Around the prelude to romancing his h?
Or I got the wrong book, but then again, this is seems to be a standard trope with BN and I just don't have the patience for it any more.
I see no HEA here, just years of the poor h belittling herself to have just a crumb of affection from a snot scarfer who needs a domestic slave and broodmare, while he entertains himself with his preferred exotic lady buffet sample afternoon delight and then brings them home to have his h wait on them for dinner.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 20, 2025
Not her best, bless her heart.
August 29, 2020
Another MoC story from Betty, with one of her beautiful, tall, and "splendidly built" heroines, Kate Bennett (a shout-out to Austen's Bennets?), getting swept in a marriage of mutual companionship and convenience (with the possibility of a closer relationship later) by the baronial Rich Dutch Doctor, Raf van Tellerinck. Familiar and comfortable as an old boot. ;-) I have to pretend to myself that all BN books are set in some vague Victorian or earlier era because the attitudes and behaviors of the hero and heroine only work in that context. The heroes in BN's books may be gentlemanly and (mostly) kind but they are also quietly very dominant and set on having their own way, and her heroines, from the meekest to the most lippy, are equally submissive as they work to fit themselves into the heroes' lives and meet their quiet but implacable demands for a comfortable and accommodating homelife in which their work comes first.
In that sense, this is a typical BN MoC, with all the familiar elements: an impenetrable hero who gives very few signs that he has fallen for the heroine from the start; a heroine who is a terrific nurse but more than a little at sea when she becomes a stay-at-home wife whose only responsibilities seem to be menu- and party- planning; loyal and long-time family retainers; and an upper class life that bears more resemblance to that of past centuries than the 20th. It's always startling when Betty introduces some discordant element of modern life--a bombing, an overdose, the casualties of modern society that the doctor heroes and nurse heroines deal with--but outside of those brief glimpses of a modern traumas, her books give the impression of the manners and mores of a much earlier time, with old fashioned heroines and heroes who usually suit one another very well once the plot-driving misunderstandings that come between them are overcome.
Anyway, all generalities aside: there are some very silly events in this story, While Kate is a little dense when it comes to Raf's feelings for her, it's not surprising given that he does such a good job of keeping her in the dark. In an interesting departure, Raf has a tragic backstory -unusual for a BN hero, who is usually surrounded by a large and loving family. I actually liked Kate and Raf--she at least takes him to task a few times about his unavailability and his refusal to reveal much about himself, and he actually shows emotion a few times, even outside the usual hard kisses (I am really curious about those, since the heroines often think that they've never been kissed like that before. Do they mean intensity? Or do the RDDs slip in a little tongue? OK, let's move on....)
There's the usual daring rescue that involves the hero and heroine working together to save people (and the heroine's usual frustration when the hero just takes her heroic actions in stride); some familiar OW drama (which seems to enrage some readers of this one, for some reason, but is pretty standard BN fare, with the hero allowing the heroine to think more is going on that actually is to try to anger her into revealing her feelings); and the final event (usually the heroine running away but a bit different in this one, that leads to the Big Declaration.
I would say that this is not one of Betty's standouts, but still a pretty enjoyable BN MoC story. Nothing particularly new here, but I prefer her MoCs to her more purely Cinderella tales, since the MoC heroines are usually from more stable and self-supporting backgrounds and aren't so much being saved themselves as they are saving the hero from his self-imposed lonely workaholic bubble. No surprises here, but isn't that partly why we read TGB?
1981 car porn in this one:
A Bentley Corniche
The heroine drives the usual Mini:
In that sense, this is a typical BN MoC, with all the familiar elements: an impenetrable hero who gives very few signs that he has fallen for the heroine from the start; a heroine who is a terrific nurse but more than a little at sea when she becomes a stay-at-home wife whose only responsibilities seem to be menu- and party- planning; loyal and long-time family retainers; and an upper class life that bears more resemblance to that of past centuries than the 20th. It's always startling when Betty introduces some discordant element of modern life--a bombing, an overdose, the casualties of modern society that the doctor heroes and nurse heroines deal with--but outside of those brief glimpses of a modern traumas, her books give the impression of the manners and mores of a much earlier time, with old fashioned heroines and heroes who usually suit one another very well once the plot-driving misunderstandings that come between them are overcome.
Anyway, all generalities aside: there are some very silly events in this story, While Kate is a little dense when it comes to Raf's feelings for her, it's not surprising given that he does such a good job of keeping her in the dark. In an interesting departure, Raf has a tragic backstory -unusual for a BN hero, who is usually surrounded by a large and loving family. I actually liked Kate and Raf--she at least takes him to task a few times about his unavailability and his refusal to reveal much about himself, and he actually shows emotion a few times, even outside the usual hard kisses (I am really curious about those, since the heroines often think that they've never been kissed like that before. Do they mean intensity? Or do the RDDs slip in a little tongue? OK, let's move on....)
There's the usual daring rescue that involves the hero and heroine working together to save people (and the heroine's usual frustration when the hero just takes her heroic actions in stride); some familiar OW drama (which seems to enrage some readers of this one, for some reason, but is pretty standard BN fare, with the hero allowing the heroine to think more is going on that actually is to try to anger her into revealing her feelings); and the final event (usually the heroine running away but a bit different in this one, that leads to the Big Declaration.
I would say that this is not one of Betty's standouts, but still a pretty enjoyable BN MoC story. Nothing particularly new here, but I prefer her MoCs to her more purely Cinderella tales, since the MoC heroines are usually from more stable and self-supporting backgrounds and aren't so much being saved themselves as they are saving the hero from his self-imposed lonely workaholic bubble. No surprises here, but isn't that partly why we read TGB?
1981 car porn in this one:
A Bentley Corniche
The heroine drives the usual Mini:
September 28, 2016
3 1/2 stars.
Katrina is tall and lovely with "rich brown hair" and is introduced by her honorary Uncle Ben (also surgical consultant at the hospital where Kate is the Sister of Men's Surgical) to RDD Professor Baron Raf van Tellerinck. Upon being introduced, they talk about the weather and she decides she doesn't like him.
Raf has been named an honorary consultant, so Kate sees him at the hospital fairly often. They go out a few times and she changes her mind about him.
There is a Nick who has been pestering Katrina to go out with him. She accepts just to get him to shut up. During their meal he proposes a trip to Brighton. Katrina rather stupidly tells him that she is leaving the hospital and taking a job in the Persian Gulf area.
This is the opportunity Raf has been waiting for; he offers her a way out of the fictional job and proposes a marriage of convenience.
After some thought, she accepts, and they are soon married. The best man at the wedding is Jake from Brittania All at Sea and Brittania is there as well. Brittania asks Kate how does she like being a baroness. Katrina didn't know she was a baroness and mumbled something about she didn't think about it. Katrina likes Brittania and looks forward to seeing more of her once she settles into her new home.
As well as the Baron-status omission, Raf has been cagey about his financial status. Katrina asks a few pointed questions, and Raf dances around the topic. Eventually he fesses up that he is, as Kate put it "stinking rich."
He has a lecture trip in Scotland so she goes with him for their "honeymoon." Raf is busy most of the time and she is left to entertain herself most of the time. This continues even after they get home to Holland.
*Aside: Raf was greatly affected by World War II. His parents were both shot for helping someone to escape when Raf was four years old. Caspel and Berthe, Raf's butler and housekeeper, took him to his grandparents in Friesland. His old nanny also lives at his home. He has no family except a distant cousin who works Raf's farm in Friesland.*
Tired of being on her own so much, Katrina asks Raf if he ever comes home for lunch. He gives a secret smile (which is really the first indication we've ever had that he is in love with her) and agrees. She hasn't had her DR yet but…
On Raf's first day off after they get back home, he takes her to Noordwijk to see the sea. There is a yacht sailing erratically on a choppy sea; Raf, then Katrina, swim out to help. It is while a dripping-wet Kate watches Raf treat the injured man that she discovers she loves him.
There is a dinner party at Jake and Britannia's where we get to meet their twins (are an awful lot of twins in Neelsdom). The next evening, Raf brings home a woman, a "slim willowy creature," Beyke, who makes it clear to Katrina that she and Raf had been a thing before she went to the US. (Raf has a scheme to shake Kate up . . .) She says, "It is a pity that he is a man who takes marriage seriously, otherwise I might prise him loose." Kate is understandably furious, but doesn't show it. Later, she makes a snippy comment to Raf about Beyke (his plan is working. . . )
Later, Raf tries to explain to Katrina about Beyke but she cuts him off. A cycle of Kate-is-jealous and Raf-tries-to-get-Kate-to-admit-her-feelings goes on for some time.
There is a delightful scene involving some rare and expensive Weesp china. Katrina decides to use it at her first dinner party but is nervous of it being damaged, so she insists on washing up afterward (she also has 2 whiskies before the party, which Raf teases her about). Raf, after driving Beyke home (why don't Veronicas learn to drive ?), finds Kate in the kitchen with Caspel. Raf tells Caspel that he will help Katrina wash up, sending Caspel nearly into a conniption. Barons don't wash up!!! This one does, which Katrina should have immediately recognized as true love!
They go to the family farm - such a charming place it is, too - and on the way back, Katrina mentions Beyke and tells Raf he can have a divorce if he wishes. She tells him exactly what Beyke has told her. Raf point-blank asks Kate if she loves him - twice. She says no both times, because, she thinks, "If she said yes, he would turn his back on Beyke and spend the rest of his life being a good husband."
Raf is to fly to Vienna the next day. Katrina hears in the radio that tge plane has crashed in Austria and immediately leaves for the airport. On the way, Raf meets her, turns around and "deliberately crowded" her off the road. Declarations issue from both, his plot to make her jealous is explained, and they return home where all the FFR are shop to see Raf alive and well. Raf and Katrina "take a stroll through the gardens" (nudge nudge wink wink) while Berthe and Nanny talk about seeing magpies - "four magpies for a boy".
Katrina is tall and lovely with "rich brown hair" and is introduced by her honorary Uncle Ben (also surgical consultant at the hospital where Kate is the Sister of Men's Surgical) to RDD Professor Baron Raf van Tellerinck. Upon being introduced, they talk about the weather and she decides she doesn't like him.
Raf has been named an honorary consultant, so Kate sees him at the hospital fairly often. They go out a few times and she changes her mind about him.
There is a Nick who has been pestering Katrina to go out with him. She accepts just to get him to shut up. During their meal he proposes a trip to Brighton. Katrina rather stupidly tells him that she is leaving the hospital and taking a job in the Persian Gulf area.
This is the opportunity Raf has been waiting for; he offers her a way out of the fictional job and proposes a marriage of convenience.
After some thought, she accepts, and they are soon married. The best man at the wedding is Jake from Brittania All at Sea and Brittania is there as well. Brittania asks Kate how does she like being a baroness. Katrina didn't know she was a baroness and mumbled something about she didn't think about it. Katrina likes Brittania and looks forward to seeing more of her once she settles into her new home.
As well as the Baron-status omission, Raf has been cagey about his financial status. Katrina asks a few pointed questions, and Raf dances around the topic. Eventually he fesses up that he is, as Kate put it "stinking rich."
He has a lecture trip in Scotland so she goes with him for their "honeymoon." Raf is busy most of the time and she is left to entertain herself most of the time. This continues even after they get home to Holland.
*Aside: Raf was greatly affected by World War II. His parents were both shot for helping someone to escape when Raf was four years old. Caspel and Berthe, Raf's butler and housekeeper, took him to his grandparents in Friesland. His old nanny also lives at his home. He has no family except a distant cousin who works Raf's farm in Friesland.*
Tired of being on her own so much, Katrina asks Raf if he ever comes home for lunch. He gives a secret smile (which is really the first indication we've ever had that he is in love with her) and agrees. She hasn't had her DR yet but…
On Raf's first day off after they get back home, he takes her to Noordwijk to see the sea. There is a yacht sailing erratically on a choppy sea; Raf, then Katrina, swim out to help. It is while a dripping-wet Kate watches Raf treat the injured man that she discovers she loves him.
There is a dinner party at Jake and Britannia's where we get to meet their twins (are an awful lot of twins in Neelsdom). The next evening, Raf brings home a woman, a "slim willowy creature," Beyke, who makes it clear to Katrina that she and Raf had been a thing before she went to the US. (Raf has a scheme to shake Kate up . . .) She says, "It is a pity that he is a man who takes marriage seriously, otherwise I might prise him loose." Kate is understandably furious, but doesn't show it. Later, she makes a snippy comment to Raf about Beyke (his plan is working. . . )
Later, Raf tries to explain to Katrina about Beyke but she cuts him off. A cycle of Kate-is-jealous and Raf-tries-to-get-Kate-to-admit-her-feelings goes on for some time.
There is a delightful scene involving some rare and expensive Weesp china. Katrina decides to use it at her first dinner party but is nervous of it being damaged, so she insists on washing up afterward (she also has 2 whiskies before the party, which Raf teases her about). Raf, after driving Beyke home (why don't Veronicas learn to drive ?), finds Kate in the kitchen with Caspel. Raf tells Caspel that he will help Katrina wash up, sending Caspel nearly into a conniption. Barons don't wash up!!! This one does, which Katrina should have immediately recognized as true love!
They go to the family farm - such a charming place it is, too - and on the way back, Katrina mentions Beyke and tells Raf he can have a divorce if he wishes. She tells him exactly what Beyke has told her. Raf point-blank asks Kate if she loves him - twice. She says no both times, because, she thinks, "If she said yes, he would turn his back on Beyke and spend the rest of his life being a good husband."
Raf is to fly to Vienna the next day. Katrina hears in the radio that tge plane has crashed in Austria and immediately leaves for the airport. On the way, Raf meets her, turns around and "deliberately crowded" her off the road. Declarations issue from both, his plot to make her jealous is explained, and they return home where all the FFR are shop to see Raf alive and well. Raf and Katrina "take a stroll through the gardens" (nudge nudge wink wink) while Berthe and Nanny talk about seeing magpies - "four magpies for a boy".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2013
This is one of the Betty Neels books that I read as a youngster and remembered distinctly (as opposed to all the ones that kind of blend into each other). However, it was not as enjoyable this time around, sadly.
This is one of the type in which the heroine is attractive and is not poor (yay), and the hero is of the slightly obnoxious type who says things "silkily" all the time. Generally, this is one of my favourite combinations, I'll admit. However, the hero in this one does something that just makes him seem really juvenile: So, it was fairly unsatisfying.
I suspect the handsome gent on the original cover had much to do with my liking this book more in my teens! :)
This is one of the type in which the heroine is attractive and is not poor (yay), and the hero is of the slightly obnoxious type who says things "silkily" all the time. Generally, this is one of my favourite combinations, I'll admit. However, the hero in this one does something that just makes him seem really juvenile: So, it was fairly unsatisfying.
I suspect the handsome gent on the original cover had much to do with my liking this book more in my teens! :)
November 27, 2017
Fairly typical Betty Neels, although our heroine is tall and attractive rather than small and mousy. I thought it strange that such a competent professional as this young woman was expected to just give up work because she got married, it seemed a strange double standard as she was not really needed to run the home, he already had plenty of servants to do that. As usual in a Neels book the two really need to learn to communicate more effectively; particularly the hero could be less secretive then fewer misunderstandings would result. All in all though this is still an enjoyable bit of romantic fluff.
Popsugar challenge 2017: a book with a month or day of the week in the title.
Popsugar challenge 2017: a book with a month or day of the week in the title.
November 7, 2013
I know most of Betty Neels stories are cardboard cutouts following a well worn path. Some think this is a bad thing but for me this is perfect for a Prozac read. I don't want any nasty surprises. I don't want the unexpected when I pick up a Prozac read.
Katrina is a girl with a splendid figure. Yes, Betty is forever the champion of the girl who doesn't quite meet societal expectations of pretty. Yes she has written classically pretty heroine's but she also writes attractive Amazons, mousy dumplings and so on.
As a nurse, Katrina has the opportunity to see Professor Raf van Tellerinck more often than you might expect. The fact that he is a friend of her honorary uncle, also a surgeon makes for a few more opportunities.
She is confused by her feelings for Raf but accepts when he offers a Marriage of Convenience. It's not until later she discovers exactly how she feels about her polite and ominously calm husband. Just in time for "The woman from his past" to appear and throw her feelings into chaos.
This was an easy and enjoyable read with a visit from Britannia and Jake from an early book to keep in touch.
Katrina is a girl with a splendid figure. Yes, Betty is forever the champion of the girl who doesn't quite meet societal expectations of pretty. Yes she has written classically pretty heroine's but she also writes attractive Amazons, mousy dumplings and so on.
As a nurse, Katrina has the opportunity to see Professor Raf van Tellerinck more often than you might expect. The fact that he is a friend of her honorary uncle, also a surgeon makes for a few more opportunities.
She is confused by her feelings for Raf but accepts when he offers a Marriage of Convenience. It's not until later she discovers exactly how she feels about her polite and ominously calm husband. Just in time for "The woman from his past" to appear and throw her feelings into chaos.
This was an easy and enjoyable read with a visit from Britannia and Jake from an early book to keep in touch.
March 25, 2025
I love Betty Neels' books. The plots are familiar and make for a good comfort read.
However, just ONCE, I'd love for the "wife of convenience" to pimp slap the "beautiful ex gf". Cause those women are just RUDE.
However, just ONCE, I'd love for the "wife of convenience" to pimp slap the "beautiful ex gf". Cause those women are just RUDE.
May 20, 2018
1980 book. 4*
Surprisingly I like this book very much! I even ugly cried at the end, but it's all HEA.
RDD Professor Baron Raf was "stinking rich"; he was careful to be vague about his total net worth, not because he thought Katrina was a gold digger but because he's afraid she'd d be frightened off. How well he knew her!
Thanks to the horrid short doctor Jack, Katrina had to quit. It was really silly of her to do so, but hey it gave RDD the perfect chance to swoop in with his MOC proposal! There were many, many small signs that betrayed he felt more, much more for Kate than just liking and friendship. Look at how he liked her to wear her hair down (until now I thought like in historical eras it's not socially acceptable for a female to wear her hair down unless one had very short hair!) How when she asked about his girlfriends, she got upset without knowing why, and yanked her hair comb out and he replaced it perfectly for her. The way he gave her her Sapphire engagement ring and his reaction to her kiss, ordered her flowers for the wedding, all pointed to tender feelings for her!
I think Raf was somewhat aware of when Katrina had her dawning realisation, but it was all mixed up with her hurt feelings that he had not acknowledged her bravery in swimming to the yacht to render help. All he said was she looked great sopping wet! I dunno to laugh or cry haha!
Anyway after the appearance of the supposed Other Woman Beyke (Beyoncé's Becky with the good hair?), things got worse between Raf and Katrina.She wanted to make a go at the marriage, but it seemed Raf had thrown up a determined and solid barrier...gone was the easy friendship between them!
What I disliked was how Raf purposely made Kate jealous with Beyke, when he succeeded, and Kate was too upset to listen to him explain, he threw up this cold wall. He left her vulnerable to Beyke's mischief!
The plane crash news hit them hard. I actually cried with Katrina when she saw Raf in his Bentley on the road. It was a gruesome tragedy, but we had no time to dwell on it because all we could focus on was our couple!
The last scene was so funny! The cook and nanny mentally knitting, brewing raspberry leaf tea (a fertility boosting drink! ) and airing the christening gown for the baby boy as predicted by the four magpies nany saw that morning LOL! So cheeky!
I cannot exactly say what I love so much about the story; the same old elements, but somehow it's the little things done right! I like Katrina and her family very much. Thank goodness her mother was a lovely and sensible widow, her sisters sweet, and honorary uncle and aunt nice! We even saw Jake and Britannia at the wedding and back in Holland! They had twins!
Raf had a tragic childhood and his parents were heroes during WWII. Luckily he still had his grandparents and nanny but only nanny was left now. Other than how he handled making Katrina jealous, I liked him very much on the whole. He and Katrina had great chemistry especially whenshe dared to smart mouth him. Talking about "finding a man for Beyke" to partner her during the dinner party, Katrina sarcastically suggested finding HER a man, then Beyke could have Raf all to himself! Raf's upset was very telling, as was his fright when Katrina brought up the divorce word!
If only Katrina had been less self sacrificing and more honest, she'd have confessed her love earlier then our book could have ended without the plane crash...
Lovely read!
Surprisingly I like this book very much! I even ugly cried at the end, but it's all HEA.
RDD Professor Baron Raf was "stinking rich"; he was careful to be vague about his total net worth, not because he thought Katrina was a gold digger but because he's afraid she'd d be frightened off. How well he knew her!
Thanks to the horrid short doctor Jack, Katrina had to quit. It was really silly of her to do so, but hey it gave RDD the perfect chance to swoop in with his MOC proposal! There were many, many small signs that betrayed he felt more, much more for Kate than just liking and friendship. Look at how he liked her to wear her hair down (until now I thought like in historical eras it's not socially acceptable for a female to wear her hair down unless one had very short hair!) How when she asked about his girlfriends, she got upset without knowing why, and yanked her hair comb out and he replaced it perfectly for her. The way he gave her her Sapphire engagement ring and his reaction to her kiss, ordered her flowers for the wedding, all pointed to tender feelings for her!
I think Raf was somewhat aware of when Katrina had her dawning realisation, but it was all mixed up with her hurt feelings that he had not acknowledged her bravery in swimming to the yacht to render help. All he said was she looked great sopping wet! I dunno to laugh or cry haha!
Anyway after the appearance of the supposed Other Woman Beyke (Beyoncé's Becky with the good hair?), things got worse between Raf and Katrina.She wanted to make a go at the marriage, but it seemed Raf had thrown up a determined and solid barrier...gone was the easy friendship between them!
What I disliked was how Raf purposely made Kate jealous with Beyke, when he succeeded, and Kate was too upset to listen to him explain, he threw up this cold wall. He left her vulnerable to Beyke's mischief!
The plane crash news hit them hard. I actually cried with Katrina when she saw Raf in his Bentley on the road. It was a gruesome tragedy, but we had no time to dwell on it because all we could focus on was our couple!
The last scene was so funny! The cook and nanny mentally knitting, brewing raspberry leaf tea (a fertility boosting drink! ) and airing the christening gown for the baby boy as predicted by the four magpies nany saw that morning LOL! So cheeky!
I cannot exactly say what I love so much about the story; the same old elements, but somehow it's the little things done right! I like Katrina and her family very much. Thank goodness her mother was a lovely and sensible widow, her sisters sweet, and honorary uncle and aunt nice! We even saw Jake and Britannia at the wedding and back in Holland! They had twins!
Raf had a tragic childhood and his parents were heroes during WWII. Luckily he still had his grandparents and nanny but only nanny was left now. Other than how he handled making Katrina jealous, I liked him very much on the whole. He and Katrina had great chemistry especially whenshe dared to smart mouth him. Talking about "finding a man for Beyke" to partner her during the dinner party, Katrina sarcastically suggested finding HER a man, then Beyke could have Raf all to himself! Raf's upset was very telling, as was his fright when Katrina brought up the divorce word!
If only Katrina had been less self sacrificing and more honest, she'd have confessed her love earlier then our book could have ended without the plane crash...
Lovely read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2015
The heroine had NO backbone. I didn't enjoy this one at all. It made little sense - the marriage of convenience was odd, the writing tone was distant and overly formal, and there was ZIP in the romance department. First, there was the heroine, who seemed quite ridiculous.
Examples:
1. She's one of three sisters and she keeps commenting how she is too "large". Large meaning tall. She states that men are interested in her because of her appearance and her personality, but her tallness stops serious prospects of marriage. What?
2. Then there's the fact that she's a lead nurse at the local hospital and works many hours supervising others. A man she has no interest in that works there invites her to dinner, and too tired to keep resisting, she agrees. Once there he mentions wanting to see her again, and the only way she can think to get out of it is by saying she can't because she's quitting her job and going to visit Holland or wherever. She instantly regrets it as she doesn't want to quit her job. What? This has to be the most awkward reason I've ever heard for being forced to quit a job I've ever seen.
3. She has no backbone at all and won't speak up. When she does slightly she lives in fear she's not being the perfect wife. She doesn't think for herself, has no wants for her own life and feelings.
4. Where is any kind of sex? I understand some Harlequins aren't steamy but it's like they never have it until the end of the book (last page), and the only reason you suppose they may end up having it is the housekeeper talking about seeing four mincepies (whatever this is), which indicates a baby boy. The characters are "going for a walk" so I guess we're assuming they'll finally sleep together, even though they have been married for weeks and sleep in separate bedrooms. There is a total of like 3 kisses in the entire book and they are distant without any feeling.
This books dry writing tone wasn't helped by the story itself being a little dull. There's not much going on. The hero doesn't seem attractive or to hold much personality. There's no signs of this romance toward her or vice versa. Very unusual Harlequin that's a definitive FAIL.
Examples:
1. She's one of three sisters and she keeps commenting how she is too "large". Large meaning tall. She states that men are interested in her because of her appearance and her personality, but her tallness stops serious prospects of marriage. What?
2. Then there's the fact that she's a lead nurse at the local hospital and works many hours supervising others. A man she has no interest in that works there invites her to dinner, and too tired to keep resisting, she agrees. Once there he mentions wanting to see her again, and the only way she can think to get out of it is by saying she can't because she's quitting her job and going to visit Holland or wherever. She instantly regrets it as she doesn't want to quit her job. What? This has to be the most awkward reason I've ever heard for being forced to quit a job I've ever seen.
3. She has no backbone at all and won't speak up. When she does slightly she lives in fear she's not being the perfect wife. She doesn't think for herself, has no wants for her own life and feelings.
4. Where is any kind of sex? I understand some Harlequins aren't steamy but it's like they never have it until the end of the book (last page), and the only reason you suppose they may end up having it is the housekeeper talking about seeing four mincepies (whatever this is), which indicates a baby boy. The characters are "going for a walk" so I guess we're assuming they'll finally sleep together, even though they have been married for weeks and sleep in separate bedrooms. There is a total of like 3 kisses in the entire book and they are distant without any feeling.
This books dry writing tone wasn't helped by the story itself being a little dull. There's not much going on. The hero doesn't seem attractive or to hold much personality. There's no signs of this romance toward her or vice versa. Very unusual Harlequin that's a definitive FAIL.
February 4, 2021
Not one of her better books. The h, Katrina, was really annoying & even the H, Raf, made me want to "take a skillet" to him sometimes. *Why* won't BN let her characters communicate?!
July 16, 2020
Sweet and understated. I couldnt rate it any higher because it was just a bit TOO understated that i didnt feel any chemistry between the main couple.
December 4, 2025
4.5 stars. this was wonderful and I was grinning all over my face by the time it finished. Full of that delicious angst too. I would definitely reread.
h is 27yrs old, a nurse and one of Betty's big beauties. H is a an RDD, 38 yrs old. they meet at a party in her home and he says something snarky/snide to her about her being a typical brit who is always talking about the weather, and she takes a dislike to him. immediate sparks is always positive!
they meet again at hospital and he says he's surprised she is a nurse because she struck him as a useless vapid airhead type when they met! boy, this guy really knows what to say to the ladies, lol. he asks her out and she keeps saying yes to a couple of dates even while telling herself she doesn't like him. he's quite managing about it and she ends up somehow going along with it.
then there's this stupid bit where she has to go on a date with some other hospital doc, an arrogant tosser who is full of himself and fancies her and wont take no for an answer, and she had been tired when he asked and somehow ended up saying yes. she tells herself this is the last date she will ever go on with him. he takes her for Chinese food which she hates and then propositions her and tries to talk her into being his lover/mistress, where she is a preacher's daughter and is horrified. but oh, how can a girl say no when the man had already bought her dinner? gasp, what is a girl to do to put off such a nasty skeezy windbag? in panic she tells him she can't because she's leaving the hospital to take up a job in the Gulf. I thought she was joking, but no, the next day she really hands in her notice because if she doesn't, he will know she lied.
excuse you, girlie? you mad? sacrificing your career and income with no other job in sight just because of that stupid piece of dirt? anyway, that was a vapid airhead move and made me roll my eyes. and she's 27, not 20. meh. luckily this didn't put me right off her because she was so competent and nice and likeable in every other way.
but anyway, our RDD finds out she's handed in her notice and gets the truth out of her on why. then he proposes that instead of finding a new job, perhaps she would like to be his wife. a marriage of convenience of course. because love is stupid and they're both past the age of such silly daydreams etc, and he wants a companion and they should treat the first six months of marriage as a trial period to see if to make it a real marriage etc
SPOILERS AHEAD
in the meantime, she is liking him more and more as he treats her well. she thinks about it and decides to do it. but one time when she kisses him he is stiff and doesn't kiss her back and she feels insecure and confused. she tells herself she better play it cool or she will give him a disgust of her...
He wants to marry quickly before his conference in Scotland. which ends up being like their honeymoon, with him spending time with her in the evenings only
afterwards they return to holland..unlike in other Betty MOCs, he doesn't abandon her to a lonely marriage. he enjoys coming home to her in evenings. when she asks if he will come home at lunchtime too, he is pleased and readily agrees. they form a friendship.
while saving a guy on a yacht together, our h realises she's fallen in love with H.
anyway, at one point he brings home a "friend" who turns out to be a v attractive woman who confesses to our h that she wanted to marry him herself and would have done if she hadn't had to go to America etc. our girl is angry and upset
h and H end up having words and suddenly there is bad feeling between them and a new distance that h regrets. she is left not knowing what to say to him, how to fix the situation, especially as he withdraws, starts working more, become incommunicative...
MORE SPOILERS
the ow drama continues a bit. there is some real ansgt for the h. eventually she cant bear it and tells him she is willing to give him a divorce so that he can be with the ow. H is cold and asks her if she loves him and h denies it. H says he needs to go abroad for work for a few days and they can talk about divorce afterwards.
ENDING SPOILERS
He leaves early in the morning. she wakes late and hears on radio his plane crashed and there may be a few survivors. frantic, she drives to aitport but he is driving back and he sees her. he stopa her car. she sobs into his arms and confesses she loves him and wants to stay with him. he is relieved and happy and confesses he's loved her from the start and was beginning to despair that she would never love him. he says he couldn't get on the plane and leave her like that. he was coming home to try to save their marriage. aaaw! Happy ending.
I quite enjoyed their ending and his confessions about his feelings. it turns out he fell for her that first day and hard, and was afraid of losing her ever since, to the point he plotted to rush her into marriage as it was the fastest way to get her. (we had got an inkling of this during the divorce discussion when he lets slip he is scared of losing her. the way he phrases it is just adorable. ah, how lovely to feel his angst. she of course didn't know what he was talking about.)
my two fave poignant moments were:
(1) when he was terrified she wouldn't turn up to the wedding and hadn't been able to eat his brekkie because of it
(2) when they were driving in the car and she was saying that maybe he should have married the OW and it wasn't too late and that she could give him a divorce. he starts driving really fast and she defiantly says that she's not frightened. and he angrily says "which one of us should be frightened?" omg. the poor man was terrified of losing her.
so anyway, nonstop drama and an absorbing read which got better and better as the story progressed. a fab Betty book. I adored it.
h is 27yrs old, a nurse and one of Betty's big beauties. H is a an RDD, 38 yrs old. they meet at a party in her home and he says something snarky/snide to her about her being a typical brit who is always talking about the weather, and she takes a dislike to him. immediate sparks is always positive!
they meet again at hospital and he says he's surprised she is a nurse because she struck him as a useless vapid airhead type when they met! boy, this guy really knows what to say to the ladies, lol. he asks her out and she keeps saying yes to a couple of dates even while telling herself she doesn't like him. he's quite managing about it and she ends up somehow going along with it.
then there's this stupid bit where she has to go on a date with some other hospital doc, an arrogant tosser who is full of himself and fancies her and wont take no for an answer, and she had been tired when he asked and somehow ended up saying yes. she tells herself this is the last date she will ever go on with him. he takes her for Chinese food which she hates and then propositions her and tries to talk her into being his lover/mistress, where she is a preacher's daughter and is horrified. but oh, how can a girl say no when the man had already bought her dinner? gasp, what is a girl to do to put off such a nasty skeezy windbag? in panic she tells him she can't because she's leaving the hospital to take up a job in the Gulf. I thought she was joking, but no, the next day she really hands in her notice because if she doesn't, he will know she lied.
excuse you, girlie? you mad? sacrificing your career and income with no other job in sight just because of that stupid piece of dirt? anyway, that was a vapid airhead move and made me roll my eyes. and she's 27, not 20. meh. luckily this didn't put me right off her because she was so competent and nice and likeable in every other way.
but anyway, our RDD finds out she's handed in her notice and gets the truth out of her on why. then he proposes that instead of finding a new job, perhaps she would like to be his wife. a marriage of convenience of course. because love is stupid and they're both past the age of such silly daydreams etc, and he wants a companion and they should treat the first six months of marriage as a trial period to see if to make it a real marriage etc
SPOILERS AHEAD
in the meantime, she is liking him more and more as he treats her well. she thinks about it and decides to do it. but one time when she kisses him he is stiff and doesn't kiss her back and she feels insecure and confused. she tells herself she better play it cool or she will give him a disgust of her...
He wants to marry quickly before his conference in Scotland. which ends up being like their honeymoon, with him spending time with her in the evenings only
afterwards they return to holland..unlike in other Betty MOCs, he doesn't abandon her to a lonely marriage. he enjoys coming home to her in evenings. when she asks if he will come home at lunchtime too, he is pleased and readily agrees. they form a friendship.
while saving a guy on a yacht together, our h realises she's fallen in love with H.
anyway, at one point he brings home a "friend" who turns out to be a v attractive woman who confesses to our h that she wanted to marry him herself and would have done if she hadn't had to go to America etc. our girl is angry and upset
h and H end up having words and suddenly there is bad feeling between them and a new distance that h regrets. she is left not knowing what to say to him, how to fix the situation, especially as he withdraws, starts working more, become incommunicative...
MORE SPOILERS
the ow drama continues a bit. there is some real ansgt for the h. eventually she cant bear it and tells him she is willing to give him a divorce so that he can be with the ow. H is cold and asks her if she loves him and h denies it. H says he needs to go abroad for work for a few days and they can talk about divorce afterwards.
ENDING SPOILERS
He leaves early in the morning. she wakes late and hears on radio his plane crashed and there may be a few survivors. frantic, she drives to aitport but he is driving back and he sees her. he stopa her car. she sobs into his arms and confesses she loves him and wants to stay with him. he is relieved and happy and confesses he's loved her from the start and was beginning to despair that she would never love him. he says he couldn't get on the plane and leave her like that. he was coming home to try to save their marriage. aaaw! Happy ending.
I quite enjoyed their ending and his confessions about his feelings. it turns out he fell for her that first day and hard, and was afraid of losing her ever since, to the point he plotted to rush her into marriage as it was the fastest way to get her. (we had got an inkling of this during the divorce discussion when he lets slip he is scared of losing her. the way he phrases it is just adorable. ah, how lovely to feel his angst. she of course didn't know what he was talking about.)
my two fave poignant moments were:
(1) when he was terrified she wouldn't turn up to the wedding and hadn't been able to eat his brekkie because of it
(2) when they were driving in the car and she was saying that maybe he should have married the OW and it wasn't too late and that she could give him a divorce. he starts driving really fast and she defiantly says that she's not frightened. and he angrily says "which one of us should be frightened?" omg. the poor man was terrified of losing her.
so anyway, nonstop drama and an absorbing read which got better and better as the story progressed. a fab Betty book. I adored it.
October 2, 2024
I skimmed this, he hero falls in love with the heroine realising she isn’t in love with him, but she’s “getting on in years” and is in despair of finding someone taller than her and so she agrees with his suggestion of getting married for the sake of companion ship. Just when they were getting along and their feelings were deepening for each other th hero instead of putting more effort into wooing her, brings his ex and pretends he’s having an affair and sort of gives the impression of being disappointed that he’s married while his ex is a free woman again.
This is where I lost all interest in reading the book, not because of the idiot hero but because the heroine quite pathetically says that she knows something is wrong and that he loves his ex and their arrangement was for him to have his “own friends” but now his ex is back she understands he’d want to get back with her and suggests that she’d divorce him if he so wishes and she lies to him when asked outright if she loves him even if a little bit, thinking if she confessed he’d feel obliged to stay married to her. But all her good intentions run out of the window when she realises that he’s not, after all, dead in a plane crash and throws herself at him asking him to allow her to stay with him. I never expected that BN could produce such a disappointing heroine
This is where I lost all interest in reading the book, not because of the idiot hero but because the heroine quite pathetically says that she knows something is wrong and that he loves his ex and their arrangement was for him to have his “own friends” but now his ex is back she understands he’d want to get back with her and suggests that she’d divorce him if he so wishes and she lies to him when asked outright if she loves him even if a little bit, thinking if she confessed he’d feel obliged to stay married to her. But all her good intentions run out of the window when she realises that he’s not, after all, dead in a plane crash and throws herself at him asking him to allow her to stay with him. I never expected that BN could produce such a disappointing heroine
November 11, 2021
I have actually been reading this book for a few months. I call it my bathroom read…sorry tmi, but I read a little bit here and there. It was hard for me to get into. I appreciate BN’s writing style, I’m just trying to figure out if she is for me or not. However, I have acquired dozens of her books and I just think it would be a pity not to read them. My biggest problem with the book was the hero was so very dry. I have read some of her other books and yes the hero is hard to read, but this one was really hard for me to understand. It picked up in the last 2-3 chapters, especially after the ow was introduced. Before that, I was really just biding my time. I want to be fair to BN, so if you have not checked out Grrrrace’s review, I highly suggest clicking on this link and checking it out. She took time to write a thoughtful review. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
August 8, 2018
Lame stuff, the same old Betty Neels premise. Super calm, super rich Dutch doctor. Poor but sprightly and likeable English nurse. Doctor falls in love at first sight. The girl takes the length of the book to reach the same conclusion.
Although the setting is identical to almost her books, in some of them, the leads characters turn out to be more endearing and relatable. In this one, they were just unremarkable.
There is also an irrelevant OW thrown in. Except the low IQ heroine, nobody could have mistaken the heroes' affections towards herself !
Comfort read, nothing splendid, just routine.
Although the setting is identical to almost her books, in some of them, the leads characters turn out to be more endearing and relatable. In this one, they were just unremarkable.
There is also an irrelevant OW thrown in. Except the low IQ heroine, nobody could have mistaken the heroes' affections towards herself !
Comfort read, nothing splendid, just routine.
August 14, 2025
No. I don't love you!!
This is Katrina and Raf's story and it is a great one! It follows along mostly the same lines as Neels' other stories, but it's still unique enough to be interesting. When Raf asks Katrina to marry him, he makes it seem like he's just looking for a companion. He fails to mention that he has a lot of money. He also fails to mention that he's in love with her. You get the hint throughout the story that he loves her although she is so busy trying to be friends that she is blind to it. It takes, what she believes is, A traumatic event to get her to admit that she loves him. I believe you'll love this story just as much as I did.
This is Katrina and Raf's story and it is a great one! It follows along mostly the same lines as Neels' other stories, but it's still unique enough to be interesting. When Raf asks Katrina to marry him, he makes it seem like he's just looking for a companion. He fails to mention that he has a lot of money. He also fails to mention that he's in love with her. You get the hint throughout the story that he loves her although she is so busy trying to be friends that she is blind to it. It takes, what she believes is, A traumatic event to get her to admit that she loves him. I believe you'll love this story just as much as I did.
September 22, 2017
One of Her Best!
Typical Betty Neels. Heroine is a ward sister (nurse). Hero is a wealthy and professionally very successful doctor. Hero proposes a marriage of convenience. Old girl friend shows up. Several extended medical scenes--very well done.
Typical Betty Neels. Heroine is a ward sister (nurse). Hero is a wealthy and professionally very successful doctor. Hero proposes a marriage of convenience. Old girl friend shows up. Several extended medical scenes--very well done.
January 3, 2023
If you ignore the fact that the h quit her job in order to avoid a persistently annoying lusty coworker, then the story wasn't too bad. I liked Raf and I wish Betty had spent a little more time on his backstory. Also the story behind the engagement ring was never revealed.
August 4, 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
July 26, 2019
Delightful
Betty Neels always comes through with a wonderful love story, somewhat predictable but always enjoyable. I can’t wait to read another.
Betty Neels always comes through with a wonderful love story, somewhat predictable but always enjoyable. I can’t wait to read another.
August 29, 2019
Meh. Nothing spectacular. The ending is quite different from all the other BN books I’ve read so far, so that at least was interesting.
October 22, 2019
Re-issued Harlequin romance from the 1980's. I read three of hers, one after the other, and found they all were set in England, and all involved the medical profession.
December 19, 2019
I love the first half of the book but when the hero started do such cruel thing such as brought the ow into the scenes i loathe him. How could he do that if he loves her so much?
March 28, 2020
Delightful
I really got a kick out of this book, no poor slaving nurse, but a healthy woman with us head on straight most of the time.
I really got a kick out of this book, no poor slaving nurse, but a healthy woman with us head on straight most of the time.
April 25, 2020
One of the Betty Neels where I was anywhere from mildly to very anxious the entire time. Not my favorite.
April 18, 2021
Very nice one. Really like the central characters and loved the cross-reference with main characters from prior book: 'Brittania all at sea'.
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