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A Good Wife
A Good Wife by Betty Neels released on Jun 24, 2003 is available now for purchase.
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
103 people are currently reading
275 people want to read
About the author
Betty Neels
564 books418 followersEvelyn Jessy "Betty" Neels was born on September 15, 1910 in Devon to a family with firm roots in the civil service. She said she had a blissfully happy childhood and teenage years.(This stood her in good stead later for the tribulations to come with the Second World War). She was sent away to boarding school, and then went on to train as a nurse, gaining her SRN and SCM, that is, State Registered Nurse and State Certificate of Midwifery.
In 1939 she was called up to the Territorial Army Nursing Service, which later became the Queen Alexandra Reserves, and was sent to France with the Casualty Clearing Station. This comprised eight nursing sisters, including Betty, to 100 men! In other circumstances, she thought that might have been quite thrilling! When France was invaded in 1940, all the nursing sisters managed to escape in the charge of an army major, undertaking a lengthy and terrifying journey to Boulogne in an ambulance. They were incredibly fortunate to be put on the last hospital ship to be leaving the port of Boulogne. But Betty's war didn't end there, for she was posted to Scotland, and then on to Northern Ireland, where she met her Dutch husband. He was a seaman aboard a minesweeper, which was bombed. He survived and was sent to the south of Holland to guard the sluices. However, when they had to abandon their post, they were told to escape if they could, and along with a small number of other men, he marched into Belgium. They stole a ship and managed to get it across the Channel to Dover before being transferred to the Atlantic run on the convoys. Sadly he became ill, and that was when he was transferred to hospital in Northern Ireland, where he met Betty. They eventually married, and were blessed with a daughter. They were posted to London, but were bombed out. As with most of the population, they made the best of things.
When the war finally ended, she and her husband were repatriated to Holland. As his family had believed he had died when his ship went down, this was a very emotional homecoming. The small family lived in Holland for 13 years, and Betty resumed her nursing career there. When they decided to return to England, Betty continued her nursing and when she eventually retired she had reached the position of night superintendent.
Betty Neels began writing almost by accident. She had retired from nursing, but her inquiring mind had no intention of vegetating, and her new career was born when she heard a lady in her local library bemoaning the lack of good romance novels. There was little in Betty's background to suggest that she might eventually become a much-loved novelist.
Her first book, Sister Peters in Amsterdam, was published in 1969, and by dint of often writing four books a year, she eventually completed 134 books. She was always quite firm upon the point that the Dutch doctors who frequently appeared in her stories were *not* based upon her husband, but rather upon an amalgam of several of the doctors she met while nursing in Holland.
To her millions of fans around the world, Betty Neels epitomized romance. She was always amazed and touched that her books were so widely appreciated. She never sought plaudits and remained a very private person, but it made her very happy to know that she brought such pleasure to so many readers, while herself gaining a quiet joy from spinning her stories. It is perhaps a reflection of her upbringing in an earlier time that the men and women who peopled her stories have a kindliness and good manners, coupled to honesty and integrity, that is not always present in our modern world. Her myriad of fans found a warmth and a reassurance of a better world in her stories, along with characters who touched the heart, which is all and more than one could ask of a romance writer. She received a great deal of fan mail, and there was always a comment upon the fascinating places she visited in her stories. Quite often those of her fans fortunate enough to visit Ho
In 1939 she was called up to the Territorial Army Nursing Service, which later became the Queen Alexandra Reserves, and was sent to France with the Casualty Clearing Station. This comprised eight nursing sisters, including Betty, to 100 men! In other circumstances, she thought that might have been quite thrilling! When France was invaded in 1940, all the nursing sisters managed to escape in the charge of an army major, undertaking a lengthy and terrifying journey to Boulogne in an ambulance. They were incredibly fortunate to be put on the last hospital ship to be leaving the port of Boulogne. But Betty's war didn't end there, for she was posted to Scotland, and then on to Northern Ireland, where she met her Dutch husband. He was a seaman aboard a minesweeper, which was bombed. He survived and was sent to the south of Holland to guard the sluices. However, when they had to abandon their post, they were told to escape if they could, and along with a small number of other men, he marched into Belgium. They stole a ship and managed to get it across the Channel to Dover before being transferred to the Atlantic run on the convoys. Sadly he became ill, and that was when he was transferred to hospital in Northern Ireland, where he met Betty. They eventually married, and were blessed with a daughter. They were posted to London, but were bombed out. As with most of the population, they made the best of things.
When the war finally ended, she and her husband were repatriated to Holland. As his family had believed he had died when his ship went down, this was a very emotional homecoming. The small family lived in Holland for 13 years, and Betty resumed her nursing career there. When they decided to return to England, Betty continued her nursing and when she eventually retired she had reached the position of night superintendent.
Betty Neels began writing almost by accident. She had retired from nursing, but her inquiring mind had no intention of vegetating, and her new career was born when she heard a lady in her local library bemoaning the lack of good romance novels. There was little in Betty's background to suggest that she might eventually become a much-loved novelist.
Her first book, Sister Peters in Amsterdam, was published in 1969, and by dint of often writing four books a year, she eventually completed 134 books. She was always quite firm upon the point that the Dutch doctors who frequently appeared in her stories were *not* based upon her husband, but rather upon an amalgam of several of the doctors she met while nursing in Holland.
To her millions of fans around the world, Betty Neels epitomized romance. She was always amazed and touched that her books were so widely appreciated. She never sought plaudits and remained a very private person, but it made her very happy to know that she brought such pleasure to so many readers, while herself gaining a quiet joy from spinning her stories. It is perhaps a reflection of her upbringing in an earlier time that the men and women who peopled her stories have a kindliness and good manners, coupled to honesty and integrity, that is not always present in our modern world. Her myriad of fans found a warmth and a reassurance of a better world in her stories, along with characters who touched the heart, which is all and more than one could ask of a romance writer. She received a great deal of fan mail, and there was always a comment upon the fascinating places she visited in her stories. Quite often those of her fans fortunate enough to visit Ho
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
May 26, 2018
This romance is very different from the one's that Betty generally writes.
First of all our heroine- Serena is not a nurse (which is not that unusual in Betty's romances as she has written some where the heroine is not in medical profession) and secondly our hero- Ivo is in love with Serena from very early on and we as a reader are aware of this!
I love all the heroines from Betty's books. Serena is no exception here. She is clear-headed, sensible, kind, generous and hard-working. It is always a delight to read a main protagonist with all these qualities.
Ivo likes her and Serena is undergoing a difficult phase in her life. Ivo comes to the rescue (without Serena's knowledge) and helps her out of a tight spot. Ivo suggests a marriage of convenience and gently woos Serena into falling in love with him.
This is not an earth shattering romance but more of a slow, easy and clean romance and I enjoyed reading it.
**A Note about Betty Neels books**
Unlike many other older romances the heroines in Betty's books are not ditzy idiots who make stupid decisions.
The hero's in Betty's novels are never ever cruel. They may have been rude to our heroine a time or two but never are violent or pig-headed. In short her hero's are generally Beta and make for a soothing romance.
First of all our heroine- Serena is not a nurse (which is not that unusual in Betty's romances as she has written some where the heroine is not in medical profession) and secondly our hero- Ivo is in love with Serena from very early on and we as a reader are aware of this!
I love all the heroines from Betty's books. Serena is no exception here. She is clear-headed, sensible, kind, generous and hard-working. It is always a delight to read a main protagonist with all these qualities.
Ivo likes her and Serena is undergoing a difficult phase in her life. Ivo comes to the rescue (without Serena's knowledge) and helps her out of a tight spot. Ivo suggests a marriage of convenience and gently woos Serena into falling in love with him.
This is not an earth shattering romance but more of a slow, easy and clean romance and I enjoyed reading it.
**A Note about Betty Neels books**
Unlike many other older romances the heroines in Betty's books are not ditzy idiots who make stupid decisions.
The hero's in Betty's novels are never ever cruel. They may have been rude to our heroine a time or two but never are violent or pig-headed. In short her hero's are generally Beta and make for a soothing romance.
February 17, 2017
Poor Serena Lightfoot! Saddled with a mean, selfish, lazy, hypochondriac father and two brothers cut from the same cloth, a fair-weather would-have-been-fiancé, and short, plump and plain to boot!
Just because Serena asked for a holiday from caring for her father and the household, he disinherited her except for £500, which truth be told, Serena considered to be quite a bargain along with her freedom after her father dies of a sudden stroke.
She had met a handsome Dutch doctor, Ivo van Doelen, an old friend of the local GP, and when Serena had difficulty finding a job, he recommends her as temporary companion/nanny to a teenage girl. When that job ended, he took her to his London home that he shares with his old Nanny, with the intention of marrying her. Ivo had fallen in love at first sight, you see.
Serena had no intention of being a burden so she gets a job stocking shelves at a supermarket. Ivo tracks her down and proposes a MOC, which she accepts.
The MOC progresses, or rather doesn't progress, in a typical manner: shopping, charitable and social events with other doctors' wives, taking the dogs for walks and learning to run the RDD's home. This book is rather special in that we see quite a lot of Christina ter Brandt, now seventeen years after her marriage to Duert (Not Once But Twice). It is my belief that was Betty's favorite book, because we visit the ter Brandts more than any other couple.
In the end of this book, Ivo declares his love and Serena declares hers, then asks, "Shall we be happy ever after now?"
A good solid read. Not top 10, but somewhere in the middle.
******
Reread Dec. 1, 2016 and upgraded to 4 stars. There isn't much drama in this one - no nasty OW, no airplane crashes or hospital fires or bombs or earthquakes. Just a quiet love story with some special Neels touches.
Nanny. To a young woman like Serena, Nanny and her cottage was a haven after living with and waiting on a selfish hypochondriac father. I love that she shows Serena photo albums of Ivo as a child!
Pets. One thing we pet lovers have in common is the tendency to anthropomorphize our furbabies. Look at this paragraph:
"Puss got into her basket and waited patiently. She had been moved around quite a lot lately, and this basement room had been worse than the house at Yeovil. Her whiskers twitched at the memory of the dainty morsels Nanny had provided in her warm, comfortable kitchen. She hoped that she would be going back there."
The Usual Suspects. Food and fashion.
Ivo. He is a lovely, lovely man! Encouraging Serena to shop for a new wardrobe! And there are numerous hints that show he is in love and is barely able to, ahem, restrain himself.
Serena herself. Never wastes time feeling sorry for herself. Not a doormat.
Just because Serena asked for a holiday from caring for her father and the household, he disinherited her except for £500, which truth be told, Serena considered to be quite a bargain along with her freedom after her father dies of a sudden stroke.
She had met a handsome Dutch doctor, Ivo van Doelen, an old friend of the local GP, and when Serena had difficulty finding a job, he recommends her as temporary companion/nanny to a teenage girl. When that job ended, he took her to his London home that he shares with his old Nanny, with the intention of marrying her. Ivo had fallen in love at first sight, you see.
Serena had no intention of being a burden so she gets a job stocking shelves at a supermarket. Ivo tracks her down and proposes a MOC, which she accepts.
The MOC progresses, or rather doesn't progress, in a typical manner: shopping, charitable and social events with other doctors' wives, taking the dogs for walks and learning to run the RDD's home. This book is rather special in that we see quite a lot of Christina ter Brandt, now seventeen years after her marriage to Duert (Not Once But Twice). It is my belief that was Betty's favorite book, because we visit the ter Brandts more than any other couple.
In the end of this book, Ivo declares his love and Serena declares hers, then asks, "Shall we be happy ever after now?"
A good solid read. Not top 10, but somewhere in the middle.
******
Reread Dec. 1, 2016 and upgraded to 4 stars. There isn't much drama in this one - no nasty OW, no airplane crashes or hospital fires or bombs or earthquakes. Just a quiet love story with some special Neels touches.
Nanny. To a young woman like Serena, Nanny and her cottage was a haven after living with and waiting on a selfish hypochondriac father. I love that she shows Serena photo albums of Ivo as a child!
Pets. One thing we pet lovers have in common is the tendency to anthropomorphize our furbabies. Look at this paragraph:
"Puss got into her basket and waited patiently. She had been moved around quite a lot lately, and this basement room had been worse than the house at Yeovil. Her whiskers twitched at the memory of the dainty morsels Nanny had provided in her warm, comfortable kitchen. She hoped that she would be going back there."
The Usual Suspects. Food and fashion.
Ivo. He is a lovely, lovely man! Encouraging Serena to shop for a new wardrobe! And there are numerous hints that show he is in love and is barely able to, ahem, restrain himself.
Serena herself. Never wastes time feeling sorry for herself. Not a doormat.
October 22, 2020
I struggled to come up with something memorable about AGW: "the one where the heroine works in a supermarket." Not so hot.
I wonder sometimes if Betty had a ghostwriter for some of her later efforts (hey, it's just a thought--no pitchforks and torches, BN fans ;-)). I suppose it's just as likely that she was just still cranking books out into her early 90s and possibly by then had a sort of short-hand approach--the Cinderella heroine; the paternal hero; shopping; food; pets; family retainers. But in the half-dozen or so post-1990 BN stories I've read to date, her later efforts often seem to have lost the details and the charm that make her earlier books such fun to read. To be fair, I haven't read enough of her post-1990 catalog yet to make that a broad statement, but upon reading AGW and a few other later releases (e.g., Nanny by Chance (1998); Waiting for Deborah (1994)), the stories seem drawn with broader, sketchier strokes, with stock characters in place of the more idiosyncratic and memorable MCs of some of her earlier stories. Or it may be that once she stopped writing about doctors and nurses, her stories became that much less rich.
Whatever it is, AGW is a good example of Betty-lite, where all the steps are followed scrupulously--meet/save/MoC/misunderstanding/quick resolution HEA--but the unique and humorous touches seem to be missing. This hero, Ivo, is so bland--and not the carefully bland façade her earlier heroes cultivated to hide their feelings and make the heroines a little crazy. Just bland. And a very paternalistic daddy-figure in a way that her earlier heroes--whether the "rage and roar" ogres or the coldly devastating RDD/RBDs--were not. I wasn't crazy about the heroine in this one either--she was kind of bratty, prone to tears and door slamming. Even the OW disappeared almost immediately, to reemerge as a family friend and "nice." There was zero conflict in this other than the hero thinking his insta-love was one sided, ditto the heroine, rinse, repeat.
All a very wordy way of saying that I didn't really like AGW much. It lacked true character, in every sense. It's as if someone else set out to write a Betty Neels book and followed a script and completely missed the charm of her stubborn heroines and coolly deliberate (until they're not) heroes, and the bucolic, idyllic locations in which they propagate their kind. It will be interesting to see how the remaining 30 or so post-1990 BN books play out.
I wonder sometimes if Betty had a ghostwriter for some of her later efforts (hey, it's just a thought--no pitchforks and torches, BN fans ;-)). I suppose it's just as likely that she was just still cranking books out into her early 90s and possibly by then had a sort of short-hand approach--the Cinderella heroine; the paternal hero; shopping; food; pets; family retainers. But in the half-dozen or so post-1990 BN stories I've read to date, her later efforts often seem to have lost the details and the charm that make her earlier books such fun to read. To be fair, I haven't read enough of her post-1990 catalog yet to make that a broad statement, but upon reading AGW and a few other later releases (e.g., Nanny by Chance (1998); Waiting for Deborah (1994)), the stories seem drawn with broader, sketchier strokes, with stock characters in place of the more idiosyncratic and memorable MCs of some of her earlier stories. Or it may be that once she stopped writing about doctors and nurses, her stories became that much less rich.
Whatever it is, AGW is a good example of Betty-lite, where all the steps are followed scrupulously--meet/save/MoC/misunderstanding/quick resolution HEA--but the unique and humorous touches seem to be missing. This hero, Ivo, is so bland--and not the carefully bland façade her earlier heroes cultivated to hide their feelings and make the heroines a little crazy. Just bland. And a very paternalistic daddy-figure in a way that her earlier heroes--whether the "rage and roar" ogres or the coldly devastating RDD/RBDs--were not. I wasn't crazy about the heroine in this one either--she was kind of bratty, prone to tears and door slamming. Even the OW disappeared almost immediately, to reemerge as a family friend and "nice." There was zero conflict in this other than the hero thinking his insta-love was one sided, ditto the heroine, rinse, repeat.
All a very wordy way of saying that I didn't really like AGW much. It lacked true character, in every sense. It's as if someone else set out to write a Betty Neels book and followed a script and completely missed the charm of her stubborn heroines and coolly deliberate (until they're not) heroes, and the bucolic, idyllic locations in which they propagate their kind. It will be interesting to see how the remaining 30 or so post-1990 BN books play out.
March 5, 2018
Betty did it again :).
Serena Lightfoot es una heroína típica de Betty: pobrecita, cargando con una familia insensata y desagradecida, un gato en su haber y muchas desventuras. Llora por el amor no correspondido y después se siente mejor... Es increíble cómo con pocas palabras esta autora narra cosas tan cotidianas y ciertas con las que puedo identificarme aunque fue escrito hace tanto tiempo.
Ivo es un doctor con sus esporádicos pensamientos, que nos hacen querer leer más sobre él, pero lo que siente queda demostrado a las primeras páginas. Sin duda, una lectura entretenida y linda, sin desperdicios.
Serena Lightfoot es una heroína típica de Betty: pobrecita, cargando con una familia insensata y desagradecida, un gato en su haber y muchas desventuras. Llora por el amor no correspondido y después se siente mejor... Es increíble cómo con pocas palabras esta autora narra cosas tan cotidianas y ciertas con las que puedo identificarme aunque fue escrito hace tanto tiempo.
Ivo es un doctor con sus esporádicos pensamientos, que nos hacen querer leer más sobre él, pero lo que siente queda demostrado a las primeras páginas. Sin duda, una lectura entretenida y linda, sin desperdicios.
July 31, 2010
Not one of our Betty's best efforts. But enjoyable enough. All the standard Betty themes are present: Rich Dutch Doctor--check, marriage of convenience--check, cat our heroine can't part from--check, heroine, variation #2(no marketable skills)--check. Throw in nasty family life for heroine, mysterious other woman, malicious gossip re: RDD and other woman, stir twice, bake at 350 for one hour, serve with tea.
Fans of Ms Neels will enjoy it. For those not familiar with Neels' work, this is not the place to start.
Fans of Ms Neels will enjoy it. For those not familiar with Neels' work, this is not the place to start.
August 8, 2018
When Serena Lightfoot is throwing to the wolves by her own family, Dr. Ivo Van Doelen takes one look at this plan girl and fell head over heels.
Only time will tell if Serena will feel the same.
Only time will tell if Serena will feel the same.
June 5, 2021
Re-read.. Ehh. zzzzzz
Original review below ; D
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Original review below ; D
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March 16, 2021
This was okish kind of story wherein I failed to understand how the hero Ivo fell in love with heroine Serena without even knowing her name or whereabouts. Serena appeared to be a sensible and practical girl who knew her plus and minus and was totally baffled when Ivo proposes to her as she is practical and knows they have nothing common and hardly know one another to marry but Ivo somehow convinced her and then marries her with the hope that soon she will fall in love with him.
Serena initially treta it as an arrangement a good friendship between them but eventually falls in love with him and it ends Ona happy note.
A one time read 3/5
Serena initially treta it as an arrangement a good friendship between them but eventually falls in love with him and it ends Ona happy note.
A one time read 3/5
July 8, 2023
Very nice comfort read.
Just what I wanted right now.
Just what I wanted right now.
August 22, 2025
3.5 stars. The MCs only had some mild misunderstandings which were all quickly resolved. So good I bought my own copy to read again.
April 19, 2014
The first book that I read from this author. It was cute, enjoyable to read, and clean. Although I appreciated that it was clean, I was disappointed that the book ended right after
August 21, 2013
I love Betty Neels' genteel books with their Dutch doctor heroes and no-nonsense heroines - they're like a comfort blanket! This was was no exception - would recommend to all who like sweet, clean romance with a humorous turn of phrase!
June 17, 2023
A fun way to spend a Friday night but just so-so. I enjoyed the beginning more because I could hate Serena’s family very comfortably. 😂 I enjoyed her interlude with Heather. I like hero Ivo. He’s gentle and kind. But the MoC section in the second half felt a little bland.
July 16, 2018
Una historia bastante inocente.
Ella muy casta e ingenua y él todo un caballero paciente y mesurado.
No había leído nada de esta autora y es una historia muy a la antigua, con una propuesta de matrimonio por parte de Ivo para sacar de apuros a Serena, un matrimonio de papel. Serena acepta.
A Ivo ella le ha gustado desde que la vio. Ella esta en sus veintitantos y él por los treintitantos. Ella no tiene profesión y se ha dedicado a cuidar a un padre dominante y tirano, quien al morir la deja sin su herencia (algo de dinero y la casa) su novio la deja ya que solo tenía interés en la herencia de ella, poco pierde en todo caso porque el tipo era un pastelazo.
Una vez casados empieza una vida en común sin sexo, donde ella se va a vivir a Holanda, él tiene una mansión y un grupo de amistades que reciben con cariño a Serena en su círculo social porque él es un connotado médico. La vida transcurre entre hechos cotidianos (compras, paseos, reuniones, fiestas, trabajo, viajes, etc.) y en ese día a día ella descubre que lo ama.
Entre un pequeño malentendido y la reconciliación se nos termina la historia, descubren que se aman y eso sería todo, suponemos que viven felices para siempre rodeados de hijos.
Una historia muy rosa, dulce y bastante casta. Los caracteres de ambos son bastantes tranquilos, no hay rabietas ni discusiones o peleas verbales, no son personalidades explosivas, esta es una tranquila y pausada historia de amor que nace con el día a día.
Parece que estas son las características de Betty Neels por los comentarios que he leído. Quizás en esta época resulte algo sosa entre tanto relato romántico erótico, pero debo decir que a mi me gustó porque tiene su encanto, aún cuando creo que se debió desarrollar un poquito mas el personajes de Ivo.
Es una novela corta, sencilla que me leí en menos de 2 horas y con todos los clichés posibles: ella es bonita, ingenua y de buenos sentimientos, él es un hombre guapo y adinerado, culto y de mundo, pero sensible y paciente, un matrimonio por conveniencia donde el galán salva de un gran apuro a la damisela, hay una mujer misteriosa, glamorosa y sexy que al parecer tuvo algo con él, también hay chismes mal intencionados y mal entendidos entre ellos, todo lo obvio en este género.
Recomendable para el espíritu netamente romántico porque no hay tintes eróticos.
3.5/5
https://perezosa69.blogspot.cl/2018/0...
Ella muy casta e ingenua y él todo un caballero paciente y mesurado.
No había leído nada de esta autora y es una historia muy a la antigua, con una propuesta de matrimonio por parte de Ivo para sacar de apuros a Serena, un matrimonio de papel. Serena acepta.
A Ivo ella le ha gustado desde que la vio. Ella esta en sus veintitantos y él por los treintitantos. Ella no tiene profesión y se ha dedicado a cuidar a un padre dominante y tirano, quien al morir la deja sin su herencia (algo de dinero y la casa) su novio la deja ya que solo tenía interés en la herencia de ella, poco pierde en todo caso porque el tipo era un pastelazo.
Una vez casados empieza una vida en común sin sexo, donde ella se va a vivir a Holanda, él tiene una mansión y un grupo de amistades que reciben con cariño a Serena en su círculo social porque él es un connotado médico. La vida transcurre entre hechos cotidianos (compras, paseos, reuniones, fiestas, trabajo, viajes, etc.) y en ese día a día ella descubre que lo ama.
Entre un pequeño malentendido y la reconciliación se nos termina la historia, descubren que se aman y eso sería todo, suponemos que viven felices para siempre rodeados de hijos.
Una historia muy rosa, dulce y bastante casta. Los caracteres de ambos son bastantes tranquilos, no hay rabietas ni discusiones o peleas verbales, no son personalidades explosivas, esta es una tranquila y pausada historia de amor que nace con el día a día.
Parece que estas son las características de Betty Neels por los comentarios que he leído. Quizás en esta época resulte algo sosa entre tanto relato romántico erótico, pero debo decir que a mi me gustó porque tiene su encanto, aún cuando creo que se debió desarrollar un poquito mas el personajes de Ivo.
Es una novela corta, sencilla que me leí en menos de 2 horas y con todos los clichés posibles: ella es bonita, ingenua y de buenos sentimientos, él es un hombre guapo y adinerado, culto y de mundo, pero sensible y paciente, un matrimonio por conveniencia donde el galán salva de un gran apuro a la damisela, hay una mujer misteriosa, glamorosa y sexy que al parecer tuvo algo con él, también hay chismes mal intencionados y mal entendidos entre ellos, todo lo obvio en este género.
Recomendable para el espíritu netamente romántico porque no hay tintes eróticos.
3.5/5
https://perezosa69.blogspot.cl/2018/0...
May 25, 2020
I was not extremely satisfied with this book. I am a huge Betty Neels fan, but this one seems to be a patchwork affair. To be fair, this was the last book she published in 2003. She was almost 90 years old then. There doesn't seem to be a clear plot. Serena marries Ivo because he asks her out of the blue. She has been left out of her father's will. He was a quite nasty person. Her brothers aren't very nice either, so she is desperate. Of course, Ivo is already in love with her and waiting for Serena to fall for him, but it is a thin plot. There are a couple of people thrown in to spark jealousy, but there is no real tension there. I enjoyed the read, but there are other Betty Neels that I can return to with more joy.
February 8, 2020
This is one of Betty Neels' most Cinderella-like novels. Serena's father, two brothers and purported suitor have all demeaned her by being rude, uncaring, spiteful, demanding. Serena's father gets angry, more-or-less disowns her, and has a heart attack, leading her erstwhile boyfriend to dump her without finesse or kindness.
RDD (Rich Dutch Doctor) Ivo sets her up with a job, and when that ends, offers her a place to stay in London with his old nanny. Serena has plenty of spirit, says thanks and good-bye and finds herself an icky job and bedsitter. Ivo finds her, talks her into marriage, wafts her off to his gorgeous Holland home to a happy ever after.
The conflicts are mild. Serena realizes she loves Ivo pretty early and is instantly jealous of Rachel, a long time friend. Apparently Serena didn't ask any questions or notice Rachel's wedding ring, but she quickly realizes Rachel is no threat to her happiness with Ivo. Ladies man Dirk tries to charm her but Serena is no fool and sees through his facile charm.
Serena volunteers at a center helping Bosnian refugees where she stays behind with a forgotten child; Ivo comes to get her and we have the usual kisses and I love yous.
RDD (Rich Dutch Doctor) Ivo sets her up with a job, and when that ends, offers her a place to stay in London with his old nanny. Serena has plenty of spirit, says thanks and good-bye and finds herself an icky job and bedsitter. Ivo finds her, talks her into marriage, wafts her off to his gorgeous Holland home to a happy ever after.
The conflicts are mild. Serena realizes she loves Ivo pretty early and is instantly jealous of Rachel, a long time friend. Apparently Serena didn't ask any questions or notice Rachel's wedding ring, but she quickly realizes Rachel is no threat to her happiness with Ivo. Ladies man Dirk tries to charm her but Serena is no fool and sees through his facile charm.
Serena volunteers at a center helping Bosnian refugees where she stays behind with a forgotten child; Ivo comes to get her and we have the usual kisses and I love yous.
July 14, 2011
What I never realized about BN -- until this year and my Georgette Heyer binge -- is that BN clearly read Georgette Heyer. She must have. Turns of phrase, character types -- it all sounds familiar. And I think it's kind of sweet. Like a literary family tree. Georgette Heyer begot Betty Neels who begot.... hmmm... The dust on Betty is kind of thick. I'm not sure who would be using her as their literary model.
January 18, 2012
This was a so so short historical romance for me. I've gotten a cople of these from a friend and decided to read them. I'd like to know though for anyone reading this who likes her books is Lightfoot a common last name for her or did she right a series on these names. I ask this because I read two of her books this one and The Chain of Destiny and she used Lightfoot for both of he female leads and it was a very similar book.
June 18, 2016
Just Okay
Kind of boring, actually. Both main characters lack much depth, and the situations appear to be rather contrived. Still, a story by Betty is an easy read - very relaxing in a stressed-out world.
Kind of boring, actually. Both main characters lack much depth, and the situations appear to be rather contrived. Still, a story by Betty is an easy read - very relaxing in a stressed-out world.
December 7, 2016
Star Rating: ★★½☆☆
Read
May 21, 2012Easy read.
October 7, 2013
Classic betty
June 14, 2020
3.5 stars. Hits the spot.
It took me the better part of 5 hours to decide upon reading this book. It’s my first Betty Neels and I wanted something that was contemporary to the author, romance as the main plot line, well-written, low angst, and charming. This book succeeds in all those things.
The emotional kinship I felt with the heroine in the first part of the book was immense. Her father and brothers (and their wives) are absolute rotters. They really set me up breathlessly waiting for the heroine to be finally adored! Only, and this is where we lose a point, that didn’t really happen.
Now before I list what I didn’t like, this book already has 3.5 stars so that means it’s at 70% which is a high credit/almost distinction where I come from. So I liked it more than the things that bothered me, but I’ll list the botherations in case they are yours too. Forewarned is forearmed and all that.
1. We never actually see this ‘fabulous, comfortable chemistry’ the author tells us is there. Every time the MCs have a ‘pleasant conversation like the oldest and best of friends’ we are just told that that happens - the only conversations we actually get the dialogue for are fraught, awkward and uncertain. So I was never really convinced of their attraction.
2. The hero never, not once, acts like he is in love with the heroine. Sure, he tells himself he is, but he doesn’t make time for her, doesn’t act affectionately with her and, in fact, whenever she makes overtures of affection towards him, like a kiss or waiting up late for him to come home, he visibly recoils, leaving her hurt and confused. Not cool. The only nice thing he does is ‘rescue’ her from a life or drudgery and buy her clothes. Now I really understand that this is probably a product of the time... but if Jane Austen can make Mr Darcy look really in love in a more mercenary century than this one, so can Betty Neels (yes, that’s a heinously unfair comparison but I’m running with it).
3. The hero deliberately allows the heroine to believe he is with another woman. The only thing that saved this action has that the heroine - when she realised that he had done this - got flaming mad. I enjoy a woman whose anger is valid and unapologetic. And while she did get the equivalent of (and possibly even an actual) pat on the head in response to her unfashionable display of emotion, it made me feel better.
I think the hero and heroine have really the absolute best chance of a happy marriage within the narrow, tepid walls they have built for themselves. This book makes me realise that you really can’t have a powerful, vibrant love with someone you don’t consider or treat as your equal. The veiled sexism was just everywhere and I believe the hero’s mildly paternalistic attitude had the effect of infantalising the heroine to the point that he didn’t treat her like a woman. He didn’t confide his problems in her, or take solace in her, or evince any desire to spend genuine time with her. Which is a shame because she’s a damn fine heroine. She is forgiving and generous and compassionate and above all, common sensical. I believe we can chalk this one down to another fatal case of hero recognizing the excellent qualities of the heroine but being totally ill-equipped (by a society that raises men to be emotionally illiterate) to property care for the sentiments of another human being.
To be very old fashioned and metaphorical, he gave her bread, but not roses. Women (and people in general) require both.
It took me the better part of 5 hours to decide upon reading this book. It’s my first Betty Neels and I wanted something that was contemporary to the author, romance as the main plot line, well-written, low angst, and charming. This book succeeds in all those things.
The emotional kinship I felt with the heroine in the first part of the book was immense. Her father and brothers (and their wives) are absolute rotters. They really set me up breathlessly waiting for the heroine to be finally adored! Only, and this is where we lose a point, that didn’t really happen.
Now before I list what I didn’t like, this book already has 3.5 stars so that means it’s at 70% which is a high credit/almost distinction where I come from. So I liked it more than the things that bothered me, but I’ll list the botherations in case they are yours too. Forewarned is forearmed and all that.
1. We never actually see this ‘fabulous, comfortable chemistry’ the author tells us is there. Every time the MCs have a ‘pleasant conversation like the oldest and best of friends’ we are just told that that happens - the only conversations we actually get the dialogue for are fraught, awkward and uncertain. So I was never really convinced of their attraction.
2. The hero never, not once, acts like he is in love with the heroine. Sure, he tells himself he is, but he doesn’t make time for her, doesn’t act affectionately with her and, in fact, whenever she makes overtures of affection towards him, like a kiss or waiting up late for him to come home, he visibly recoils, leaving her hurt and confused. Not cool. The only nice thing he does is ‘rescue’ her from a life or drudgery and buy her clothes. Now I really understand that this is probably a product of the time... but if Jane Austen can make Mr Darcy look really in love in a more mercenary century than this one, so can Betty Neels (yes, that’s a heinously unfair comparison but I’m running with it).
3. The hero deliberately allows the heroine to believe he is with another woman. The only thing that saved this action has that the heroine - when she realised that he had done this - got flaming mad. I enjoy a woman whose anger is valid and unapologetic. And while she did get the equivalent of (and possibly even an actual) pat on the head in response to her unfashionable display of emotion, it made me feel better.
I think the hero and heroine have really the absolute best chance of a happy marriage within the narrow, tepid walls they have built for themselves. This book makes me realise that you really can’t have a powerful, vibrant love with someone you don’t consider or treat as your equal. The veiled sexism was just everywhere and I believe the hero’s mildly paternalistic attitude had the effect of infantalising the heroine to the point that he didn’t treat her like a woman. He didn’t confide his problems in her, or take solace in her, or evince any desire to spend genuine time with her. Which is a shame because she’s a damn fine heroine. She is forgiving and generous and compassionate and above all, common sensical. I believe we can chalk this one down to another fatal case of hero recognizing the excellent qualities of the heroine but being totally ill-equipped (by a society that raises men to be emotionally illiterate) to property care for the sentiments of another human being.
To be very old fashioned and metaphorical, he gave her bread, but not roses. Women (and people in general) require both.
December 6, 2025
A Good Wife was published in 1999, just two years before Betty left us at age 91. Serena Lightfoot is 26 and has been living at home taking care of her crotchety and mean-spirited father. She is a real Cinderella. Instead of the wicked stepsisters, she has two vile brothers who have no grace or gratitude towards her, despite her having given up her independence to take care of an old man who despises her and uses her. She has a sort-of boyfriend who is only there because he thinks she's an heiress. He dumps her after her father dies when it becomes known she has been disinherited because she had the temerity to ask for a holiday. Oh the humanity.
Prince Charming is Ivo van Doelen, a visiting Dutch surgeon. He meets Serena before her father dies. I feel like he's written a little inconsistently. At first he seems interested but in an impersonal way. But after her father dies and she has to find her own way and fend for herself, suddenly he is deeply smitten and intends to marry her after she has time to learn to love him too. He doesn't want to scare her off. He arranges for her and her cat Puss to get a job caring for a young girl while her mother is away for several weeks, while he remains at a distance. But when the job is over, he takes Serena and Puss to stay with his former nanny at his London home. She skips out while he's away and gets a BN-standard issue grotty one-room flat and a job stocking shelves in a grocery store. She doesn't leave a forwarding address but he tracks her down and talks her into a marriage of convenience. Serena finds it odd but he is a nice man and she agrees. The rest of the book is devoted to Serena and Ivo learning to live together as a married couple, Serena navigating her new social scene, an OW who turns out to not be an OW, charity work and finally, HEA.
This is a hard one for me to rate. I really enjoy sections of it. Serena's sojourn taking care of the troubled young girl was especially touching because Serena helps the girl find some peace and happiness through caring for Puss and ultimately talking the mother into letting the girl have a kitty of her own. Pets can be so important and this section was an awesome example of how the right pet can bring so much joy into a person's life. I give this section 5 stars.
I liked how at the beginning Serena may be Cinderella personified, but she's got some bite and spark to her. She's no doormat even if she's prepared to do her distasteful duty. I liked her reasonable, measured responses to all the nasty people in her life. 5 stars.
But unfortunately, I couldn't feel the love for the rest, which maybe deserves 2 stars. Ivo is a little inconsistently written. He's bland. The insta-love, especially after the initial disinterest, is hard to believe. The discussion of Serena getting acclimated to her new life, fending off a so-called admirer who is only courting her to make trouble, the OW who isn't an OW... it's Betty redux. I'm not sure that's fair since Betty is infamous but quite rightly forgiven for recycling plots. But sadly, this felt a little like Betty by the numbers. Are we sure someone else didn't ghostwrite it? But I really did love the section where the girl gets a kitty. So, we'll say 3 stars overall.
Prince Charming is Ivo van Doelen, a visiting Dutch surgeon. He meets Serena before her father dies. I feel like he's written a little inconsistently. At first he seems interested but in an impersonal way. But after her father dies and she has to find her own way and fend for herself, suddenly he is deeply smitten and intends to marry her after she has time to learn to love him too. He doesn't want to scare her off. He arranges for her and her cat Puss to get a job caring for a young girl while her mother is away for several weeks, while he remains at a distance. But when the job is over, he takes Serena and Puss to stay with his former nanny at his London home. She skips out while he's away and gets a BN-standard issue grotty one-room flat and a job stocking shelves in a grocery store. She doesn't leave a forwarding address but he tracks her down and talks her into a marriage of convenience. Serena finds it odd but he is a nice man and she agrees. The rest of the book is devoted to Serena and Ivo learning to live together as a married couple, Serena navigating her new social scene, an OW who turns out to not be an OW, charity work and finally, HEA.
This is a hard one for me to rate. I really enjoy sections of it. Serena's sojourn taking care of the troubled young girl was especially touching because Serena helps the girl find some peace and happiness through caring for Puss and ultimately talking the mother into letting the girl have a kitty of her own. Pets can be so important and this section was an awesome example of how the right pet can bring so much joy into a person's life. I give this section 5 stars.
I liked how at the beginning Serena may be Cinderella personified, but she's got some bite and spark to her. She's no doormat even if she's prepared to do her distasteful duty. I liked her reasonable, measured responses to all the nasty people in her life. 5 stars.
But unfortunately, I couldn't feel the love for the rest, which maybe deserves 2 stars. Ivo is a little inconsistently written. He's bland. The insta-love, especially after the initial disinterest, is hard to believe. The discussion of Serena getting acclimated to her new life, fending off a so-called admirer who is only courting her to make trouble, the OW who isn't an OW... it's Betty redux. I'm not sure that's fair since Betty is infamous but quite rightly forgiven for recycling plots. But sadly, this felt a little like Betty by the numbers. Are we sure someone else didn't ghostwrite it? But I really did love the section where the girl gets a kitty. So, we'll say 3 stars overall.
February 12, 2021
1999 book
4.5* I started this book months ago and with a toddler and new job I forgot even where I left off...last night I read almost the whole book and it was delightful!
I hated how badly Serena's family treated her, but it makes her being cherished by our RDD even more special. I like this trope in which the RDD Ivo almost fell in love at first sight with Serena...his panic when he thought he'd lost Serena in the vast London made him offer marriage immediately was so sweet.
Not much angst or drama which makes this at most a 4.5* book to me.
4.5* I started this book months ago and with a toddler and new job I forgot even where I left off...last night I read almost the whole book and it was delightful!
I hated how badly Serena's family treated her, but it makes her being cherished by our RDD even more special. I like this trope in which the RDD Ivo almost fell in love at first sight with Serena...his panic when he thought he'd lost Serena in the vast London made him offer marriage immediately was so sweet.
Not much angst or drama which makes this at most a 4.5* book to me.
October 16, 2023
"A Good Wife" is the story of Serena and Ivo.
A very sweet feel-good romance, between a kind heroine and a silent, smitten hero. She grows up serving her ungrateful family, and soon finds herself broke and homeless when her father passes away. The hero finds her an employment, then a home, and then proposes a marriage of convenience. What he fails to mention is that he has been in love with her since the moment her saw her..
I love how nice just everyone was. The confession came at the very end and they both circled around each other a lot, still I enjoyed it.
Safe
4/5
A very sweet feel-good romance, between a kind heroine and a silent, smitten hero. She grows up serving her ungrateful family, and soon finds herself broke and homeless when her father passes away. The hero finds her an employment, then a home, and then proposes a marriage of convenience. What he fails to mention is that he has been in love with her since the moment her saw her..
I love how nice just everyone was. The confession came at the very end and they both circled around each other a lot, still I enjoyed it.
Safe
4/5
October 16, 2023
This was a weird one for me. There have been Betty heroines with mean families, but this one takes the cake- removing her from the will because she wanted...a vacation? What the? But it did pave the way for the marriage of convenience plot, which is my favorite of Betty's romance plots.
I did enjoy most of the story but there was a bit of nastiness near the end about "immigrants taking over Europe" which felt out of place both in this story and when compared to other Neels books.
I did enjoy most of the story but there was a bit of nastiness near the end about "immigrants taking over Europe" which felt out of place both in this story and when compared to other Neels books.
July 5, 2018
I have been reading books by Betty Neels for many years. I have always found them to present a good, safe read. A Good Wife is a pleasant escape from the murder mysteries I usually read. Indeed, it is a recognizable spin on the ageless Cinderella story.
November 30, 2023
It was refreshing to have a Betty Neels heroine who is not a nurse, and I do love it when the hero falls first. Although there were some elements that were a departure from her usual tropes, it was still a slow burn with miscommunication etc. Not my favorite Betty Neels book, but still a good read.
September 16, 2017
Love this book!
I am a Hugh Betty Heels fan. I enjoyed this book very much. It is a typical Betty book but with a twist.
I am a Hugh Betty Heels fan. I enjoyed this book very much. It is a typical Betty book but with a twist.
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