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Heaven is Gentle
Professor Christian van Duyl was a forbidable character, but it didn't take Sister Eliza Proudfoot long to fall in love with him.
And a great waste of time that was going to be, since the Professor was shortly to marry the so-suitable Estelle. Or was she so suitable?
And a great waste of time that was going to be, since the Professor was shortly to marry the so-suitable Estelle. Or was she so suitable?
187 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1975
66 people are currently reading
163 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 39 reviews
May 17, 2014
This one was fun. Definitely a different twist to what I am used to from Betty. The heroine had tons of spirit and refused to allow the good doctor to get away with too much. Betty didn't weigh her down with all the usual tropes. There were wonderful descriptions of the Highlands and the fierce vitality of the land. I loved the old conniving professor who was a matchmaker in disguise. Our hero falls like a ton of a bricks from the very beginning and I enjoyed watching him eventually cave into his feelings. The wicked OW was a little watered down per Betty's style, but still entertaining.
February 3, 2019
One of my favorites of Betty Neels, in particular for this line when the h is insulted by his fiancee:
There are a lot of cute scenes, and the H shows his attraction in many ways, including a surprising number of spontaneous kisses.
Safety info:
There are a lot of cute scenes, and the H shows his attraction in many ways, including a surprising number of spontaneous kisses.
Safety info:
March 24, 2022
4 Stars ~ The two Professors, one an elderly Englishman and the other a younger handsome Dutchman, were busy planning their trial clinic for asthmatic patients and the last on their list was the nurse they would need. As the clinic was to take place in rural Scotland, and all others would be men, they pondered the thought of hiring a male nurse. Looking at the list, none were available, and then there was Eliza's name, and to the younger professor it sounded to describe the no-nonsense tall and buxom matron they needed. Eliza's puzzled with the invitation to leave her position as Ward Sister of the men's medical ward for the short term clinic in Scotland. Eliza supposed both Professors would be elderly scholarly sorts, and looked forward to a break from the busy city. Much to Eliza's surprise one of the Professors is far from elderly, and it seems he's as surprised to see her too. Christian is instantly drawn to this rather beautiful and petite woman, and this annoys him. Eliza in her gentle motherly way, charms all the clinical patients and even has the hired help ready to please her. Christian, it seems, dislikes her very much and tries hard to avoid her. When Eliza sees a picture of Christian's fiancee, she's quite sure that that is not the woman for him, and she is. Now all she has to do is make Christian see that too.
This was a refreshing love story; not Betty Neels normal English nurse and Dutch doctor, in that Christian fights his attraction to Eliza all the way. She gets under his skin and shakes up his planned out future. Eliza is full of life and down to earth charm. While she jumps impulsively into situations often to her own detriment, she's also level headed and take charge in a crisis. I chuckled out loud at some of her daydreams, and how she plotted a way to get the fiancee out of the picture. I really enjoyed Eliza and Christian's journey to HEA.
This was a refreshing love story; not Betty Neels normal English nurse and Dutch doctor, in that Christian fights his attraction to Eliza all the way. She gets under his skin and shakes up his planned out future. Eliza is full of life and down to earth charm. While she jumps impulsively into situations often to her own detriment, she's also level headed and take charge in a crisis. I chuckled out loud at some of her daydreams, and how she plotted a way to get the fiancee out of the picture. I really enjoyed Eliza and Christian's journey to HEA.
April 26, 2021
Betty Neels was old school, for me she started this journey that I call romance.
Her stories have no heat so if that's what your looking for you won't find it here. Her characters were superb, they were dignified, had manners and an old world charm that is seriously lacking in todays society.
It's a yes from me.
Her stories have no heat so if that's what your looking for you won't find it here. Her characters were superb, they were dignified, had manners and an old world charm that is seriously lacking in todays society.
It's a yes from me.
September 9, 2020
I had skipped over BN’s Heaven is Gentle a number of times because the title just didn’t appeal to me. It sounded twee and a little dull and there were more intriguing titles (Cassandra by Chance! Caroline’s Waterloo!) calling for attention.
How wrong I was in my assumptions! HiG is a true delight: a furiously smitten RDD hero encumbered by a snooty stick-insect of a fiancée; a beautiful blond (fairly unusual for TGB!) nurse-heroine who is feisty and outspoken and one of my favorites to date; gorgeous descriptions of the Scottish Highland setting (with a change in locale to Holland of course); a lot of fun verbal sparring between the hero and heroine; and some of the funniest lines I think Betty’s ever written. And there's no "Big Misunderstanding" in this one--all of the conflict is based on the circumstances and characters!
The heroine, Eliza Proudfoot, may look like a beautiful sugar-spun fairy, but she’s smart, independent, kind, and a top-notch nurse, heading up her medical unit with skill and panache. She’s chosen (mainly on the basis of her "spinsterish" name--haha, reminded me of the "trashy names" scene from Ted) to join a team of medical researchers for a study on the effects of environment on asthma in the Scottish Highlands. They are hugely surprised when the little blond beauty shows up, but she soon proves her worth tenfold with her skill, smarts, and kind but effective way with the patients. Despite that, she immediately clashes with handsome, arrogant RDD Christian van Duyl, who takes one look at her and tries his best to keep her at a fairly (and mutually) hostile arm’s length. Christian is instantly attracted to the beautiful, lively Eliza, but he’s engaged and quite determined to stay the course with regard to his marriage to the eminently suitable and coldly conventional Estelle.
Eliza initially dislikes him right back but soon finds herself wishing he were unencumbered, because she recognizes that he’s the man she’s been waiting for and for whom she’s turned down quite a few prior offers of marriage. She’s certain that he’s not in love with his cold fiancée and that she will not make him happy, however suitable, but Eliza resists her urge to get him interested enough in herself to break his engagement (she’s no OW, even if HE keeps breaking down and kissing her). She does her best to keep out of his way and try to put him out of her mind. But fate (and a certain matchmaking elderly doctor) keeps bringing them together, and she ends up at Christian’s fabulous manor house in Holland as nurse to the elderly asthmatic doctor while he and Christian write an article on their study.
Her visit convinces that she is entirely right that fiancée Estelle is entirely wrong for him. But his intimidating old-money background leads to doubts about whether she herself is right for him. Of course she is--she suits him to a T, and everyone, from his sweet mother to the faithful family retainers and pets, can see it. Christian knows it as well, and, fortunately, it's becoming increasingly clear to fiance Estelle how unsuited she and Christian are for one another. Betty neatly wraps this one up without Christian losing any honor and all of the characters finding love with the right partners. Nicely done!
I liked cranky Christian a lot—he is less enigmatic and aloof than many of Betty’s RDDs, not unwilling to turn his hand to a bit of cleaning when called for, and he is more passionate (in ardor and temper) than many of her more placid-seeming RDDs, who are almost too effective in masking their emotions from the heroines. He was hot, too, with his “dark Crusader’s face” and piercing eyes and his tendency to lose his reserve around Eliza.
I absolutely loved Eliza—she is kind and hardworking and unspoiled, as are all of BN’s heroines, but she also has a firm but unconceited sense of her own attractiveness and value (even if she is intimidated when Christian turns out to be fabulously wealthy). She also has a firm moral code that will not allow her to blatantly try to steal someone’s fiancé even though she has a pretty good shot if she were to go for it. Fortunately, her effect on Christian has changed him and Estelle, wealthy in her own right, soon realizes that she is far more attracted to another man who shares her need for upright, correct behavior and rambling around Roman ruins. So in catching Estelle in a clinch with that other man, Christian is able to agree with her on the mutual end to their engagement, thus preserving his own moral code, and profess his love to Eliza.
The passionate declaration/ HEA in this one is wonderfully satisfying. This one rocketed up my BN charts and is definitely one for my keeper shelf! Ah Betty, you really were one of the best at your best.
Some amusing moments:
Eliza dealt with him firmly. “Lunch first . . . then you may get up for half an hour exactly. The telephoning can wait until Dr. Trent has seen you.”
“Monster!” her patient declared. “No one would think, looking at you….”
“It’s a great asset, and the secret of my success,” she told him lightly, and went downstairs to get his lunch tray.
And this hilarious gem of an observation by the heroine of the skinny, snooty fiancée (catty, yes, but fair turnabout since Estelle has let no opportunity pass by to make digs at Eliza):
Eliza was glad, when she saw Estelle, that she had got back into uniform again, for the little gray wool dress would have been entirely eclipsed by that young lady’s long crepe gown, an expensive garment, thought Eliza…beautifully cut but far too low in the neck for those regrettable salt cellars.
Bwahahaha—that’s quite naughty for Betty!
Betty's love of motoring is on the usual display: The hero has a Bentley convertible (fun fact: Elton John had this car in his collection):
He also mentions he has a Porsche 911 (racy and reflective of an unusually hot-natured RDD):
The heroine drives a scrappy little Fiat 500
How wrong I was in my assumptions! HiG is a true delight: a furiously smitten RDD hero encumbered by a snooty stick-insect of a fiancée; a beautiful blond (fairly unusual for TGB!) nurse-heroine who is feisty and outspoken and one of my favorites to date; gorgeous descriptions of the Scottish Highland setting (with a change in locale to Holland of course); a lot of fun verbal sparring between the hero and heroine; and some of the funniest lines I think Betty’s ever written. And there's no "Big Misunderstanding" in this one--all of the conflict is based on the circumstances and characters!
The heroine, Eliza Proudfoot, may look like a beautiful sugar-spun fairy, but she’s smart, independent, kind, and a top-notch nurse, heading up her medical unit with skill and panache. She’s chosen (mainly on the basis of her "spinsterish" name--haha, reminded me of the "trashy names" scene from Ted) to join a team of medical researchers for a study on the effects of environment on asthma in the Scottish Highlands. They are hugely surprised when the little blond beauty shows up, but she soon proves her worth tenfold with her skill, smarts, and kind but effective way with the patients. Despite that, she immediately clashes with handsome, arrogant RDD Christian van Duyl, who takes one look at her and tries his best to keep her at a fairly (and mutually) hostile arm’s length. Christian is instantly attracted to the beautiful, lively Eliza, but he’s engaged and quite determined to stay the course with regard to his marriage to the eminently suitable and coldly conventional Estelle.
Eliza initially dislikes him right back but soon finds herself wishing he were unencumbered, because she recognizes that he’s the man she’s been waiting for and for whom she’s turned down quite a few prior offers of marriage. She’s certain that he’s not in love with his cold fiancée and that she will not make him happy, however suitable, but Eliza resists her urge to get him interested enough in herself to break his engagement (she’s no OW, even if HE keeps breaking down and kissing her). She does her best to keep out of his way and try to put him out of her mind. But fate (and a certain matchmaking elderly doctor) keeps bringing them together, and she ends up at Christian’s fabulous manor house in Holland as nurse to the elderly asthmatic doctor while he and Christian write an article on their study.
Her visit convinces that she is entirely right that fiancée Estelle is entirely wrong for him. But his intimidating old-money background leads to doubts about whether she herself is right for him. Of course she is--she suits him to a T, and everyone, from his sweet mother to the faithful family retainers and pets, can see it. Christian knows it as well, and, fortunately, it's becoming increasingly clear to fiance Estelle how unsuited she and Christian are for one another. Betty neatly wraps this one up without Christian losing any honor and all of the characters finding love with the right partners. Nicely done!
I liked cranky Christian a lot—he is less enigmatic and aloof than many of Betty’s RDDs, not unwilling to turn his hand to a bit of cleaning when called for, and he is more passionate (in ardor and temper) than many of her more placid-seeming RDDs, who are almost too effective in masking their emotions from the heroines. He was hot, too, with his “dark Crusader’s face” and piercing eyes and his tendency to lose his reserve around Eliza.
I absolutely loved Eliza—she is kind and hardworking and unspoiled, as are all of BN’s heroines, but she also has a firm but unconceited sense of her own attractiveness and value (even if she is intimidated when Christian turns out to be fabulously wealthy). She also has a firm moral code that will not allow her to blatantly try to steal someone’s fiancé even though she has a pretty good shot if she were to go for it. Fortunately, her effect on Christian has changed him and Estelle, wealthy in her own right, soon realizes that she is far more attracted to another man who shares her need for upright, correct behavior and rambling around Roman ruins. So in catching Estelle in a clinch with that other man, Christian is able to agree with her on the mutual end to their engagement, thus preserving his own moral code, and profess his love to Eliza.
The passionate declaration/ HEA in this one is wonderfully satisfying. This one rocketed up my BN charts and is definitely one for my keeper shelf! Ah Betty, you really were one of the best at your best.
Some amusing moments:
Eliza dealt with him firmly. “Lunch first . . . then you may get up for half an hour exactly. The telephoning can wait until Dr. Trent has seen you.”
“Monster!” her patient declared. “No one would think, looking at you….”
“It’s a great asset, and the secret of my success,” she told him lightly, and went downstairs to get his lunch tray.
And this hilarious gem of an observation by the heroine of the skinny, snooty fiancée (catty, yes, but fair turnabout since Estelle has let no opportunity pass by to make digs at Eliza):
Eliza was glad, when she saw Estelle, that she had got back into uniform again, for the little gray wool dress would have been entirely eclipsed by that young lady’s long crepe gown, an expensive garment, thought Eliza…beautifully cut but far too low in the neck for those regrettable salt cellars.
Bwahahaha—that’s quite naughty for Betty!
Betty's love of motoring is on the usual display: The hero has a Bentley convertible (fun fact: Elton John had this car in his collection):
He also mentions he has a Porsche 911 (racy and reflective of an unusually hot-natured RDD):
The heroine drives a scrappy little Fiat 500
October 11, 2013
3.5 stars
*sigh* Reading Betty is such a pleasure. It's like floating in a big blue pool of water, with the sun shining on you, sipping a cool glass of lemonade. She was exactly the break I needed after reading two asshole, physically abusive heroes, with the gentleness of her h's and their chivalry and politeness. GOD I love Betty.
I'm very conflicted about this book. I didn't like the first part all that much, but I loved loved loved the ending!! One of the most beautiful and satisfying HEAs in Neelsland. *sigh* That's why I'm setting for a 3.5 star rating.
Let me talk about the heroine first. She had spirit, I'll give her that. I found myself giggling quite a bit at the tongue-lashings she gave the hero, when he acted all high-and-mighty and had the audacity to 'look at her down his nose'. I generally don't like feisty heroines, but I liked this one very much. Although I wouldn't describe her as feisty, per se, just high-spirited. She wasn't a doormat, she didn't allow the hero to treat her like crap. She stood up for herself, all the while not coming off as bitchy. Now this is the kind of heroine I like.
I also liked the way she wanted to steal him away from his fiancée (who was very unsuitable for him). And I respected that she never did anything about it.
What was very surprising was even though she perversely went out for walking right before a storm just because Christian (the hero) had told her not to, I didn't dislike her at all. I was actually kind of cheering her on.
She was very admirable; being kind, independent, brave, soft, warm-hearted, witty and feminine all together. She was a unique BN heroine, one I won't forget easily.
Now I'll move onto the hero. I quite liked him in the beginning, where he was amused at her appearance, helped out with mopping the cottage (imagine that! This is why I love Betty!), so gently takes care of her when he rescues her from the storm; no angry words or lectures, and rescues her from Rat-Faced Rapist and takes her for lunch. Or was it tea? I forget. Anyways, it's the way he behaved that counts.
And then he turns into an utter asshole whenever Estelle, his fiancée, is mentioned. I abhorred some of the taunts he struck poor Eliza with. And then when he so rudely tells her that he is attracted to her and doesn't want to be and all that shit (my mind has blocked out most of that conversation), I hated him.
And then the Eliza goes to Holland with her patient. And *swoon* Christian is perfect then. The perfect besotted BN hero.
I loved how he defended Eliza against his fiancée, I love how angry he was when she refused to go out to dinner with them all, I loved how he spoke to her and took her for a walk and took her for lunch. But most of all I loved how he declares his love in the end. But I won't go there just yet.
The OW first. She wasn't at all as vicious as BN's OW usually are. She was actually quite nice (if a trifle 'boring') and she had no hidden motives or an inner agenda. She was pretty straightforward and not as spoilt as your regular OW. It was quite convenient that BN miraculously makes her and Other Research Doctor fall for each other, and even more so when she makes Eliza (and Christian too) hear their declaration of love. It's let's-break-engagements time!
NOW we move onto the ending.
Can I just say how much I love Betty Neels? This was one of the sweetest endings I've read by her, with Christian leaning so adorably against the wall, with his hands inside his pockets, declaring his love, and Eliza so bravely telling him that she loved him. *sigh* This one's a keeper.
As for the writing, I really don't need to say anything, do I? I mean, it's Betty Neels after all. She's fabulous.
I love the details in her writing. And I forgive her for making the Highlands look like a dreary place, because she more than made up for it with the ending.
*sigh* Reading Betty is such a pleasure. It's like floating in a big blue pool of water, with the sun shining on you, sipping a cool glass of lemonade. She was exactly the break I needed after reading two asshole, physically abusive heroes, with the gentleness of her h's and their chivalry and politeness. GOD I love Betty.
I'm very conflicted about this book. I didn't like the first part all that much, but I loved loved loved the ending!! One of the most beautiful and satisfying HEAs in Neelsland. *sigh* That's why I'm setting for a 3.5 star rating.
Let me talk about the heroine first. She had spirit, I'll give her that. I found myself giggling quite a bit at the tongue-lashings she gave the hero, when he acted all high-and-mighty and had the audacity to 'look at her down his nose'. I generally don't like feisty heroines, but I liked this one very much. Although I wouldn't describe her as feisty, per se, just high-spirited. She wasn't a doormat, she didn't allow the hero to treat her like crap. She stood up for herself, all the while not coming off as bitchy. Now this is the kind of heroine I like.
I also liked the way she wanted to steal him away from his fiancée (who was very unsuitable for him). And I respected that she never did anything about it.
What was very surprising was even though she perversely went out for walking right before a storm just because Christian (the hero) had told her not to, I didn't dislike her at all. I was actually kind of cheering her on.
She was very admirable; being kind, independent, brave, soft, warm-hearted, witty and feminine all together. She was a unique BN heroine, one I won't forget easily.
Now I'll move onto the hero. I quite liked him in the beginning, where he was amused at her appearance, helped out with mopping the cottage (imagine that! This is why I love Betty!), so gently takes care of her when he rescues her from the storm; no angry words or lectures, and rescues her from Rat-Faced Rapist and takes her for lunch. Or was it tea? I forget. Anyways, it's the way he behaved that counts.
And then he turns into an utter asshole whenever Estelle, his fiancée, is mentioned. I abhorred some of the taunts he struck poor Eliza with. And then when he so rudely tells her that he is attracted to her and doesn't want to be and all that shit (my mind has blocked out most of that conversation), I hated him.
And then the Eliza goes to Holland with her patient. And *swoon* Christian is perfect then. The perfect besotted BN hero.
I loved how he defended Eliza against his fiancée, I love how angry he was when she refused to go out to dinner with them all, I loved how he spoke to her and took her for a walk and took her for lunch. But most of all I loved how he declares his love in the end. But I won't go there just yet.
The OW first. She wasn't at all as vicious as BN's OW usually are. She was actually quite nice (if a trifle 'boring') and she had no hidden motives or an inner agenda. She was pretty straightforward and not as spoilt as your regular OW. It was quite convenient that BN miraculously makes her and Other Research Doctor fall for each other, and even more so when she makes Eliza (and Christian too) hear their declaration of love. It's let's-break-engagements time!
NOW we move onto the ending.
Can I just say how much I love Betty Neels? This was one of the sweetest endings I've read by her, with Christian leaning so adorably against the wall, with his hands inside his pockets, declaring his love, and Eliza so bravely telling him that she loved him. *sigh* This one's a keeper.
As for the writing, I really don't need to say anything, do I? I mean, it's Betty Neels after all. She's fabulous.
I love the details in her writing. And I forgive her for making the Highlands look like a dreary place, because she more than made up for it with the ending.
May 25, 2014
I like a nice bowl of Betty Neels porridge as much as any romance reader, but this one was not one of her best. The heroine (Eliza) goes to work for the hero, in a nursing capacity (of course) and he's a Dutch doctor/professor who spends a great deal of time in the UK (of course). At some point, on a thin pretext, she has to go spend time in the Netherlands so we can all see his extreme wealth (of course). There is much suspense (LOL) over whether his engagement to a snooty Dutch woman will lead to poor Eliza being left with a broken heart (of course). There is a meal in a fabulous Dutch restaurant, where the heroine eats a bunch of French things, and the hero has cheese and crackers for dessert (of course).
So, pretty much just what you'd expect.
Bonus elements:
- This heroine is beautiful, not one of the ones who's always being ignored or insulted for being plain
- The heroine is not afraid to speak her mind
- The heroine has a nice family, although they are almost entirely off-stage
- The hero shows signs of being smitten at more or less regular intervals - this is not one of those "wow, I never noticed I loved you until I realized you're even more comfortable than my favourite slippers" Neels books
Penalty deductions:
The hero is rather stupid.
- He picks Eliza for the job based on her battle-ax name and is mean to her when he sees she is pretty.
- He is smitten, but dumb about it. He kisses her while he's still engaged, and then lectures her on how perfect his fiancee is.
- He talks all the time about his unshaken intention to marry the snooty Dutch woman.
All in all, disappointing.
So, pretty much just what you'd expect.
Bonus elements:
- This heroine is beautiful, not one of the ones who's always being ignored or insulted for being plain
- The heroine is not afraid to speak her mind
- The heroine has a nice family, although they are almost entirely off-stage
- The hero shows signs of being smitten at more or less regular intervals - this is not one of those "wow, I never noticed I loved you until I realized you're even more comfortable than my favourite slippers" Neels books
Penalty deductions:
The hero is rather stupid.
- He picks Eliza for the job based on her battle-ax name and is mean to her when he sees she is pretty.
- He is smitten, but dumb about it. He kisses her while he's still engaged, and then lectures her on how perfect his fiancee is.
- He talks all the time about his unshaken intention to marry the snooty Dutch woman.
All in all, disappointing.
June 14, 2019
My Great Betty Neels read continued with #28, Heaven Is Gentle. I didn’t have too many expectations for this one. There wasn’t much buzz about it as a favourite Betty and consequently, I approached it cavalierly. It surprised me how much I loved it. It opened with a beautifully droll ironic scene. Dr. Christian van Duyl and Professor Wyllie are deciding on hiring a nurse. She must be plain, motherly, large, and eminently spinsterish. Dr. van Duyl is running a special asthma clinic in the Scottish Highlands, of which Professor Wyllie is both patient and participant and said nurse will be on board to aid with patients. Christian and the Prof settle on Miss Eliza Proudfoot, who, when she appears in the Wester Ross clinic, turns out to be beautiful, young, snappy, tiny, and anything but a plain-Jane spinster. At 28, she’s a spinster, but not for lack of offers. What follows holds many Betty delights: Christian and Eliza verbally spar and snap at each other. The more they dislike each other, the greater their attraction. They rescue a cat and kittens, withstand a flood, and Christian rescues Eliza when she’s caught in a dangerous thunder-lightning-torrent storm.
If you'd like to read the rest:
https://missbatesreadsromance.com/201...
If you'd like to read the rest:
https://missbatesreadsromance.com/201...
May 8, 2023
For the hundredth time I am going to remind myself to take a Betty Neels break. Because I'm getting impatient around the same issues, and I just need to get over them.
This one began promisingly, and I was excited to see I'd found one of the 10% of Betty Neels books where the heroine isn't plain and mousy, with beautiful eyes and a nice figure. Betty does love her mousy heroines and her beautiful mean gals, so this was a refreshing change. It's the usual hero of course: successful older Dutch surgeon with broad shoulders and a brusque manner and superior smiles because he sees things the heroine doesn't. I do wish Betty occasionally wrote a different hero, but I guess that would be a bridge too far. And there's the usual visit to the Netherlands to his usual giant home, populated by the usual older female relative. Yawn.
It was fine. If it had been my first Betty Neels it would have been a robust 4 stars. As it is, I'm rounding up.
This one began promisingly, and I was excited to see I'd found one of the 10% of Betty Neels books where the heroine isn't plain and mousy, with beautiful eyes and a nice figure. Betty does love her mousy heroines and her beautiful mean gals, so this was a refreshing change. It's the usual hero of course: successful older Dutch surgeon with broad shoulders and a brusque manner and superior smiles because he sees things the heroine doesn't. I do wish Betty occasionally wrote a different hero, but I guess that would be a bridge too far. And there's the usual visit to the Netherlands to his usual giant home, populated by the usual older female relative. Yawn.
It was fine. If it had been my first Betty Neels it would have been a robust 4 stars. As it is, I'm rounding up.
July 19, 2015
You'd think a sweet, 1950's-style, old-fashioned romance wouldn't be a guilty pleasure, but I don't often confess how much I love many of Betty Neels' books.
But there are times when stock characters and familiar plots are extremely comforting.
When I'm sick of being competent, tired of being wholly responsible for fixing everything and keeping my world afloat, and I want a Cinderella story, I turn to Betty Neels. When I don't want to get depressed over what an awful wimp I am at the moment, I reach for Heaven is Gentle, Henrietta's Own Castle, Cassandra by Chance and Victory for Victoria, and watch these women bring their men to heel!
When I'm in the mood for a Betty Neels, and I want one which isn't the absolutely standard Neels plot line, I reach for this one. The location, secondary characters, sense of atmosphere, and day-to-day activities of all the characters are very interesting.
However, of all Neels' arrogant, self-absorbed heroes who badly need their comeuppance, this one's my favorite, and I enjoyed watching Ms. Proudfoot join him in their shared growth experience.
Really, I DO love this story! The hero is a bit scratchier, less polished and more rugged; the heroine reminds me of another favorite, the heroine of Henrietta's Own Castle. She's smart, extremely competent, and an excellent nurse for both forlorn, elderly men and soggy, forlorn kittens ... with the hero's help, of course.
But there are times when stock characters and familiar plots are extremely comforting.
When I'm sick of being competent, tired of being wholly responsible for fixing everything and keeping my world afloat, and I want a Cinderella story, I turn to Betty Neels. When I don't want to get depressed over what an awful wimp I am at the moment, I reach for Heaven is Gentle, Henrietta's Own Castle, Cassandra by Chance and Victory for Victoria, and watch these women bring their men to heel!
When I'm in the mood for a Betty Neels, and I want one which isn't the absolutely standard Neels plot line, I reach for this one. The location, secondary characters, sense of atmosphere, and day-to-day activities of all the characters are very interesting.
However, of all Neels' arrogant, self-absorbed heroes who badly need their comeuppance, this one's my favorite, and I enjoyed watching Ms. Proudfoot join him in their shared growth experience.
Really, I DO love this story! The hero is a bit scratchier, less polished and more rugged; the heroine reminds me of another favorite, the heroine of Henrietta's Own Castle. She's smart, extremely competent, and an excellent nurse for both forlorn, elderly men and soggy, forlorn kittens ... with the hero's help, of course.
April 27, 2023
A solid Betty with good leading characters and an interesting angle on the medical profession. Hub is a gem.
October 31, 2015
Professor Christian van Duyl and Professor Wyllie need a nurse for their asthma research project. Because he is engaged to a very correct young woman, Christian wants to hire an older, motherly sort of nurse, but all they have to choose from are names. They select Eliza Proudfoot and send a letter to her hospital, inviting her to come to Scotland where the research will take place.
Eliza is 29, blonde, blue-eyed, petite and beautiful. She finds Christian very handsome, but he treats her rather coldly. At first. Soon he is kissing her even against his will.
Through the weeks spent in the remote Scottish Highlands - amid floods and pregnant stray cats and snowstorms - Christian and Eliza get to know each other. But Eliza knows he will go back to Holland and his fiancée.
This has always been one of my favorite offerings from The Great Betty. I love the scenery descriptions; the cat rescue; the heroine rescue. I like that the hero was open about his feelings - his head warring against his heart. Good job, Betty!
Eliza is 29, blonde, blue-eyed, petite and beautiful. She finds Christian very handsome, but he treats her rather coldly. At first. Soon he is kissing her even against his will.
Through the weeks spent in the remote Scottish Highlands - amid floods and pregnant stray cats and snowstorms - Christian and Eliza get to know each other. But Eliza knows he will go back to Holland and his fiancée.
This has always been one of my favorite offerings from The Great Betty. I love the scenery descriptions; the cat rescue; the heroine rescue. I like that the hero was open about his feelings - his head warring against his heart. Good job, Betty!
April 11, 2021
This book has all the usual Neels elements, but with a bit of a twist. Nurse Eliza meets RDD Christian when she goes to work with him in the Scottish Highlands. She recognizes that he doesn't really love his fiance and decides, for everyone's happiness, to try and show him this. Of course she falls for him herself. However a visit to Holland shows her how rich he is and Eliza realizes she wouldn't fit into his world. Can he change her mind?
A sweet story where everyone ends up with what they wanted all along.
NB - If you enjoy Neel's books join the conversation at the GR group Betty Neels Junkies. See you there!
A sweet story where everyone ends up with what they wanted all along.
NB - If you enjoy Neel's books join the conversation at the GR group Betty Neels Junkies. See you there!
May 12, 2014
Cute, tame romance -- Ward Sister, Eliza Proudfoot, goes to work for two Professors (Doctors) in a special medical clinic. One of the Professors, Dr. Christian van Duyl is a somewhat intimidating character and somehow Eliza keeps getting on his bad side, which doesn't stop her from falling in love with him. Unfortunately, the esteemable professor is already engaged to the very suitable Estelle van der Daal. Eliza finds Estelle to be somewhat of a bore and not at all suitable for Christian, but if Estelle is who he wants who is she to get in their way!
February 23, 2010
I'm not the biggest fan of the ones where the Hero and heroine are antagonistic to each other, I much prefer the ones where they are friends. I also thought this would be a slightly different book, it SEEMED like there was a confession of love on both sides, halfway through the book, only to be entangled by his damn engagement. That would have been an interesting read, different from the average Neels plot, but it went back to the usual almost immediately.
September 3, 2014
I know I read this years ago but didn't really remember it - 3.5-4 stars really, the heroine was a little too annoyingly spunky for me in the beginning but she calmed down admirably. I loved the descriptions of the Scottish highlands and the hero was attractive, and the older doctor and minor characters were fun; points to Betty also for sparing us the tropes of "big misunderstanding" or evil Other Woman, which I appreciate!
May 27, 2008
the mixture as before....
June 13, 2012
In general - classic Betty Neels.
I was pleasantly surprised at the slight twist on her usual 'formula', but it was a really nice change.
I was pleasantly surprised at the slight twist on her usual 'formula', but it was a really nice change.
August 22, 2013
Very nice and a more equal pairing- finally a girl who can speak up.
November 21, 2020
3+
As a TGB devotee, it was exciting to find this at the library book sale. Even better--this is a rare TGB I have yet to read. Also, it's the last of the library book sale books I'll read this year; I kept it in reserve to end on, and that was a most excellent choice.
I'd say Eliza is an Outlier. Too pretty to be an Araminta, but too determined in her nursing to be an Olivia. I'll have to check with TUJD to see what they categorized her.
Calling this one a Better Betty. Not among the Greater Betty books I treasure most, but more than a Lesser Betty. In the opening chapters I'd wondered if it would be a Lesser, but the ending few chapters lift it quite admirably.
Sparks fly between Eliza and Christian immediately, and he's quite grumped about it, because she in all her petite (yet plump--that means curvy for TGB) loveliness doesn't suit his preconceived notions & decisions of what kind of nurse she would appear to be, nor how his the whole rest of his life should go. She quite bowls him over.
Then he has to rethink everything, and why he made such a poor choice; one that would make him and those who share his home unhappy the whole rest of his life as well.
But she's darn capable as a nurse, knocks back the fusty professors' preconceived notions, gamely trudges the Highlands; challenges him, makes him laugh and makes him take notice. She becomes quite indispensable and he's onto why, although he doesn't want to admit it. Later, when she's in his home for a spot of specialized nursing of his colleague and friend, Eliza is such a contrast to the 'suitable' woman his preconceived life plan had decided would make a 'suitable' wife, that he at last admits the mistake and extricates himself, upending things to have Eliza. And she deserves to have his upending and love and devotion.
There's a pregnant cat rescue and two wee kittens the leads bond over. A dog who loves his master and Eliza and scorned by the 'suitable' woman (an enormous tell irl and for TBG).
They go round-and-round one another a few too many times. She's not kind with her immediate presumption about his fiancee and schemes to break them up--until she sees he's quite wealthy and decides somehow she must be out of the running. But she also means well with it and knows they are MTB and wanted that for both of them. He is icy and too mean with disdain at times, but it's all defensive maneuvers, and then endearingly disappointed when she won't come with him to dinner.
They'll have a merry and interesting and full HEA.
Almost all Bettys end with a warm feeling and a deep, replete happy sigh. This one is no different. They're cozy, comfort food reads and I adore them.
[[ salt cellars mention! :D ]]
As a TGB devotee, it was exciting to find this at the library book sale. Even better--this is a rare TGB I have yet to read. Also, it's the last of the library book sale books I'll read this year; I kept it in reserve to end on, and that was a most excellent choice.
I'd say Eliza is an Outlier. Too pretty to be an Araminta, but too determined in her nursing to be an Olivia. I'll have to check with TUJD to see what they categorized her.
Calling this one a Better Betty. Not among the Greater Betty books I treasure most, but more than a Lesser Betty. In the opening chapters I'd wondered if it would be a Lesser, but the ending few chapters lift it quite admirably.
Sparks fly between Eliza and Christian immediately, and he's quite grumped about it, because she in all her petite (yet plump--that means curvy for TGB) loveliness doesn't suit his preconceived notions & decisions of what kind of nurse she would appear to be, nor how his the whole rest of his life should go. She quite bowls him over.
Then he has to rethink everything, and why he made such a poor choice; one that would make him and those who share his home unhappy the whole rest of his life as well.
But she's darn capable as a nurse, knocks back the fusty professors' preconceived notions, gamely trudges the Highlands; challenges him, makes him laugh and makes him take notice. She becomes quite indispensable and he's onto why, although he doesn't want to admit it. Later, when she's in his home for a spot of specialized nursing of his colleague and friend, Eliza is such a contrast to the 'suitable' woman his preconceived life plan had decided would make a 'suitable' wife, that he at last admits the mistake and extricates himself, upending things to have Eliza. And she deserves to have his upending and love and devotion.
There's a pregnant cat rescue and two wee kittens the leads bond over. A dog who loves his master and Eliza and scorned by the 'suitable' woman (an enormous tell irl and for TBG).
They go round-and-round one another a few too many times. She's not kind with her immediate presumption about his fiancee and schemes to break them up--until she sees he's quite wealthy and decides somehow she must be out of the running. But she also means well with it and knows they are MTB and wanted that for both of them. He is icy and too mean with disdain at times, but it's all defensive maneuvers, and then endearingly disappointed when she won't come with him to dinner.
They'll have a merry and interesting and full HEA.
Almost all Bettys end with a warm feeling and a deep, replete happy sigh. This one is no different. They're cozy, comfort food reads and I adore them.
[[ salt cellars mention! :D ]]
January 28, 2018
"When a man finds his way, Heaven is Gentle." The title is derived from this quote by the hero, Christian van Duyl during his profession of love for Eliza.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story; the weeks in the Scottish Highlands as the doctors run their research and test in the camp of sorts, and then the weeks in Professor Wyllie's home and then Christian's gorgeous home in the Netherlands! The settings are always beautifully described but especially so for Christian's house and surroundings.
It was really hilarious how Eliza got selected; her supposedly staid name (Eliza Proudfoot) as opposed to some chorus girls' names and they wanted a tall, buxom and motherly nurse but what they got was a petite and beautiful but extremely capable and competent nurse!
Estelle was hateful but the way she was dealt with was too easy it seems! The part where she engineered the dinner outing to the posh hotel was mean, because she knew Eliza would have nothing suitable to wear. I wonder why Christian's mother did not step in like a fairy godmother, but then that would not have the same effect of us feeling sympathy for Eliza, and Christian would not have seen Estelle's true colours!
It was funny how Eliza hoped Christian would lose his wealth or house so that Estelle would leave him, but in the end couldn't really wish ill upon him because he loved the house and staff it supported. Plus it would be " unchristian to wish Estelle would drop dead." Haha...
SPOILERS
DARN IT, I really wanted to read just how Christian's going to propose! Argh! For this abrupt and disappointing ending I deducted half *! And what did Christian plan to do with Inverpolly his property in the Scottish Highlands where they met and sort of fell in love?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story; the weeks in the Scottish Highlands as the doctors run their research and test in the camp of sorts, and then the weeks in Professor Wyllie's home and then Christian's gorgeous home in the Netherlands! The settings are always beautifully described but especially so for Christian's house and surroundings.
It was really hilarious how Eliza got selected; her supposedly staid name (Eliza Proudfoot) as opposed to some chorus girls' names and they wanted a tall, buxom and motherly nurse but what they got was a petite and beautiful but extremely capable and competent nurse!
Estelle was hateful but the way she was dealt with was too easy it seems! The part where she engineered the dinner outing to the posh hotel was mean, because she knew Eliza would have nothing suitable to wear. I wonder why Christian's mother did not step in like a fairy godmother, but then that would not have the same effect of us feeling sympathy for Eliza, and Christian would not have seen Estelle's true colours!
It was funny how Eliza hoped Christian would lose his wealth or house so that Estelle would leave him, but in the end couldn't really wish ill upon him because he loved the house and staff it supported. Plus it would be " unchristian to wish Estelle would drop dead." Haha...
SPOILERS
DARN IT, I really wanted to read just how Christian's going to propose! Argh! For this abrupt and disappointing ending I deducted half *! And what did Christian plan to do with Inverpolly his property in the Scottish Highlands where they met and sort of fell in love?
December 26, 2020
Different Yet The Same
While this is recognizable as a Neels romance, it departs in certain fashions so as to make it different. The first part of the action takes place in the wintery Scottish Highlands at a small research facility. There's the obligatory "Oh no, I, a small, independent yet also frail woman, have become lost in this terrible winter storm and now must be saved by the Rugged, Strapping man." There is a Very Pregnant mama cat rescued. The heroine making the hero clean the floor. Vague doctors, perfect man servants, excellent food, lots of tea. Our heroine is done with the research center and Done with the hero. Except for when she's just arrived back at her hospital and he needs her to come look after his elderly doctor friend who made it through the entire month in the Highlands with no asthma attacks only to succumb as soon as he arrives back at his own home. Gets back to her hospital and what's this? A trip to Holland (seriously why do these hospital matrons always blandly wave their hands and let the Nurse, Staff Nurse, or Sister go off on any old pretext just because a crusty-ass doctor asked for her specifically?). Okay so I've just RAMBLED here. Suffice it to say this was a good Neels pick and I enjoyed it. And for once the heroine was not only spirited but pretty and yet petite (usually if they're pretty in a Neels book, they're also Junoesque/statuesque, or have "a splendid figure")...and she was a blonde, too boot! Say whaaaaaat?
While this is recognizable as a Neels romance, it departs in certain fashions so as to make it different. The first part of the action takes place in the wintery Scottish Highlands at a small research facility. There's the obligatory "Oh no, I, a small, independent yet also frail woman, have become lost in this terrible winter storm and now must be saved by the Rugged, Strapping man." There is a Very Pregnant mama cat rescued. The heroine making the hero clean the floor. Vague doctors, perfect man servants, excellent food, lots of tea. Our heroine is done with the research center and Done with the hero. Except for when she's just arrived back at her hospital and he needs her to come look after his elderly doctor friend who made it through the entire month in the Highlands with no asthma attacks only to succumb as soon as he arrives back at his own home. Gets back to her hospital and what's this? A trip to Holland (seriously why do these hospital matrons always blandly wave their hands and let the Nurse, Staff Nurse, or Sister go off on any old pretext just because a crusty-ass doctor asked for her specifically?). Okay so I've just RAMBLED here. Suffice it to say this was a good Neels pick and I enjoyed it. And for once the heroine was not only spirited but pretty and yet petite (usually if they're pretty in a Neels book, they're also Junoesque/statuesque, or have "a splendid figure")...and she was a blonde, too boot! Say whaaaaaat?
September 11, 2017
Aspects of this book's structure reminded me of Cassandra by Chance, but without the second-half unevenness of that book. From a narrative standpoint, the plot's better than some and involves both a novel medical premise and setting (at least for the first half or so). Perhaps due to the strength of this, the Scotland section moves along pretty briskly.
On the character front, though, I'm less sure what to make of the doctor's romantic entanglement and how he handles it. I kept thinking of The Fifth Day of Christmas, in which Ivo takes such pains to resolve things honorably, even though he's essentially been entrapped. Of course, Neels writes Heaven Is Gentle in such a way that you root for Eliza and Christian to get together; I just wish that the journey to reach that end didn't involve him somewhat breaking promises along the way.
On the character front, though, I'm less sure what to make of the doctor's romantic entanglement and how he handles it. I kept thinking of The Fifth Day of Christmas, in which Ivo takes such pains to resolve things honorably, even though he's essentially been entrapped. Of course, Neels writes Heaven Is Gentle in such a way that you root for Eliza and Christian to get together; I just wish that the journey to reach that end didn't involve him somewhat breaking promises along the way.
October 16, 2023
"Heaven is Gentle" is the story of Eliza and Christian.
So Im not the biggest fan of medical romances but this was so well done.
A gorgeous older nurse falls for her cold but caring doctor boss in this one. But he's engaged to a rich OW. There's an asthma trial, some sweet cats and lots of romance in the air.
What I enjoyed about this one was that the heroine was bold and strong. She didnt pander to the hero, and though they did behave like lovesick fools I was just delighted at the climax!
Safe
4/5
So Im not the biggest fan of medical romances but this was so well done.
A gorgeous older nurse falls for her cold but caring doctor boss in this one. But he's engaged to a rich OW. There's an asthma trial, some sweet cats and lots of romance in the air.
What I enjoyed about this one was that the heroine was bold and strong. She didnt pander to the hero, and though they did behave like lovesick fools I was just delighted at the climax!
Safe
4/5
Read
August 15, 2020This book made my feel unfair to the fiancé of the hero. She was a bore but it was not her fault. The hero chose her. The only really bad thing she did to the heroine was not lending a dress to her so she could join the dinner. But it was true that her clothes probably would not fit the heroine. I found the heroine repeatedly badmouth te fiancé was petty and tiresome. The fiance was made to be had a change of heart while hero and heroine had been kissing all alone. The time in the mountain was warm though.
March 15, 2024
Eliza for the win!!
I loved Eliza from the beginning! So did Christian, did he but know it! She proves to be so much more than she seems with every page turn. She's wonderful, smart, nice, AND she's pretty! She's not a plain girl with pretty eyes, or a "plump" girl, or anything like what the normal Betty Neels heroines are like. I appreciated this story more because of the main character. I think you'll like it too.
I loved Eliza from the beginning! So did Christian, did he but know it! She proves to be so much more than she seems with every page turn. She's wonderful, smart, nice, AND she's pretty! She's not a plain girl with pretty eyes, or a "plump" girl, or anything like what the normal Betty Neels heroines are like. I appreciated this story more because of the main character. I think you'll like it too.
September 27, 2025
4 stars. this is one of the ones with a pretty heroine. well written and enjoyable, but I prefer the BN books with plain heroines as their source of tension in those stories is far more appealing as a personal preference. here, the pretty heroine plotting to break up the hero and his fiance "for his own good" just felt a tad arrogant to me. having said that the heroine was very likable and the hero was enjoyably starchy
November 3, 2024
I think if I had set my mind to read it I’d have eventually gotten into it and liked it more, as it is, I attempted twice to read it and never managed to more than skim it. I think it’s the second Betty Neels book I’ve come across that the heroine purposefully tries to break up the hero’s engagement to other woman as she doesn’t deem her suitable for him.
September 23, 2025
Another delightful read by Betty Neels. Eliza and Christian meet - are not sure of one another- he is engaged to another woman Eliza Deems unsuitable - they fall in love. Tried and true Betty Neels formula.
February 7, 2018
Enjoyed it
This is one of Betty Neels early stories, very nice, sweet and clean. I could not ask for more. Oh and Holland of course
This is one of Betty Neels early stories, very nice, sweet and clean. I could not ask for more. Oh and Holland of course
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