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The Magic Of Living
Arabella Birch had a less than happy introduction to Holland when she became involved in a road accident. It seemed destined that the first person on the scene should be Dr. Gideon van der Vorst, who took charge of the situation--and Arabella--in a very commanding way. When Arabella found herself involved professionally with the imposing doctor, she began to wonder if destiny had known what it was doing. Once her glamorous cousin Hilary caught sight of Gideon, it would be no use falling in love with him.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 1, 1974
54 people are currently reading
184 people want to read
About the author
Betty Neels
576 books419 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 50 reviews
December 27, 2023
5 Stars! ~ Orphaned at the age of five, Arabella went to live with her aunt and uncle, where she was continually in the shadow of her very beautiful cousin, Hilary. Now at 22, she is a nurse in training at a busy London hospital where her cousin is a Ward Sister. Hilary is a selfish woman who easily manipulates people into doing her bidding, and yet seeming to be wholly angelic. Arabella is set to go on holiday to Scotland only Hilary wants her to take her place on a bus trip to Holland with handicapped children. Just arriving in Holland yet hours away from their destination, the bus driver suddenly has an attack and loses control of the bus. Arabella's quick thinking saves the bus from going over the side of the road, but still the bus tips on it's side. To their luck, Gideon is driving in the opposite direction just as the accident happens. Gideon's a wealthy doctor and director of the local hospital. He immediately takes charge, and with Arabella's help they get the children to safety. Two of the children are more seriously injured and must stay behind in Holland longer, and as the children have taken greatly to Arabella, Gideon arranges for her to stay as well. In Holland, no longer in her cousin's shadow, Arabella shines and she rarely has trouble with her stammer that likes to take control when she's upset or angry. To help the children settle after their trauma, Gideon brings them with Arabella to his home and the help of his sister, Larissa. Never, since her parents death, had Arabella been so happy and soon she realized that she had fallen in love with Gideon and wished never to leave. But of course, her magical time had to come to an end, and Gideon returns her and the children back to London. And just as Arabella is beginning to believe he could possibly grow to love her too, Hilary, in all her angelic glory appears.
This is my favourite, to-date, from Betty Neels. Arabella is such a wonderful heroine that you just can't help relating to. I loved reading how she shined and slowly gained some assertions while no longer in her cousin's influence. Hilary is such a bitch! I wanted to yell at Gideon not to believe a word she said, and when she failed to tell Arabella about her ill Nanny, I wanted to cry for Arabella's breaking heart. Gideon is the kind of hero I think we all dream of meeting. He's very much a take-charge sort, and does kind-hearted deeds on the sly. Though we don't have his point of view, Ms. Neels does a wonderful job of showing us just how much he does love Arabella. This one has a HEA ending that is most definitely sigh worthy! I know I'll be reading this one again and again!
This is my favourite, to-date, from Betty Neels. Arabella is such a wonderful heroine that you just can't help relating to. I loved reading how she shined and slowly gained some assertions while no longer in her cousin's influence. Hilary is such a bitch! I wanted to yell at Gideon not to believe a word she said, and when she failed to tell Arabella about her ill Nanny, I wanted to cry for Arabella's breaking heart. Gideon is the kind of hero I think we all dream of meeting. He's very much a take-charge sort, and does kind-hearted deeds on the sly. Though we don't have his point of view, Ms. Neels does a wonderful job of showing us just how much he does love Arabella. This one has a HEA ending that is most definitely sigh worthy! I know I'll be reading this one again and again!
April 25, 2016
This is the very first Betty Neels that I remember reading. When I was about 8, I found a box of Harlequins in my grandmother's closet. One by one, I sneaked them home and read them, The Magic of Living amongst them.
Gideon is one of the fair-haired, placid RDDs, although we do see his temper once or twice. He and his sister live in Doesburg; presumably their parents are both dead although I don't think the book mentions them at all.
Arabella is an orphan who was raised by an aunt and uncle. While not abused or put upon like some TGB heroines, she wasn't really loved either; her cousin, Hilary, a gorgeous blue-eyed blond is spoiled and selfish and manipulates everyone to get her own way. It's because of this that Arabella meets Gideon, when Hilary maneuvers Arabella into going to Holland with a group of children with cystic fibrosis (the book uses the term "spastic," which is considered offensive today).
The bus driver has a heart attack and the bus goes off the road and tips over near to a body of water. A man in a silver-grey Bentley stops to help, telling Arabella that he is a doctor.
Arabella becomes better acquainted with him while the children are in hospital. The two most seriously injured, Billy and Sally, he invites, with Arabella to nurse them, to come to his home until they are completely ready to return to England. Arabella falls in love with both Gideon and his home, becoming quite good friends with his sister, Larissa. (NOTE: I loved the name Larissa so much that I determined to name my daughter that. Alas, I had only sons!)
Back in England, however, Gideon meets the lovely Hilary and to Arabella's eye, appears to fall in love with her. Certainly Hilary tries her best to snare him - all that lovely money, you know - and she doesn't scruple to half-truths, mistruths and downright lies. Thankfully, he is smarter than that, although for a bit he is almost deceived.
There are some lovely bits with Arabella's Nanny, to whom Arabella spills her heart. Finally, Gideon ABDUCTS Arabella, with the help of Larissa and Arabella's friends at hospital and with Nanny's knowledge and blessing. (Is it really abduction if the abductee is willing?) Gideon includes some romantic lines of Robert Browning in his D&P.
Perhaps for sentimental reasons, this has always been one of TGB's most memorable books and a special favorite! Absolutely 5 stars!
Gideon is one of the fair-haired, placid RDDs, although we do see his temper once or twice. He and his sister live in Doesburg; presumably their parents are both dead although I don't think the book mentions them at all.
Arabella is an orphan who was raised by an aunt and uncle. While not abused or put upon like some TGB heroines, she wasn't really loved either; her cousin, Hilary, a gorgeous blue-eyed blond is spoiled and selfish and manipulates everyone to get her own way. It's because of this that Arabella meets Gideon, when Hilary maneuvers Arabella into going to Holland with a group of children with cystic fibrosis (the book uses the term "spastic," which is considered offensive today).
The bus driver has a heart attack and the bus goes off the road and tips over near to a body of water. A man in a silver-grey Bentley stops to help, telling Arabella that he is a doctor.
Arabella becomes better acquainted with him while the children are in hospital. The two most seriously injured, Billy and Sally, he invites, with Arabella to nurse them, to come to his home until they are completely ready to return to England. Arabella falls in love with both Gideon and his home, becoming quite good friends with his sister, Larissa. (NOTE: I loved the name Larissa so much that I determined to name my daughter that. Alas, I had only sons!)
Back in England, however, Gideon meets the lovely Hilary and to Arabella's eye, appears to fall in love with her. Certainly Hilary tries her best to snare him - all that lovely money, you know - and she doesn't scruple to half-truths, mistruths and downright lies. Thankfully, he is smarter than that, although for a bit he is almost deceived.
There are some lovely bits with Arabella's Nanny, to whom Arabella spills her heart. Finally, Gideon ABDUCTS Arabella, with the help of Larissa and Arabella's friends at hospital and with Nanny's knowledge and blessing. (Is it really abduction if the abductee is willing?) Gideon includes some romantic lines of Robert Browning in his D&P.
Perhaps for sentimental reasons, this has always been one of TGB's most memorable books and a special favorite! Absolutely 5 stars!
September 24, 2023
This is a tough one, because the h is so very sweet and worthy and she literally does nothing to help herself because she has been so accustomed to her cousin getting every man she wants. However, everything works out nicely and it’s nice to see how many advocates she has because she is such a lovely person. The H is not mean-spirited and doesn’t try to torture her by implying interest in her cousin, which is a relief.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2025
This is a typical Neels story, with a downtrodden young nurse heroine and the RDD who falls in love with her but strings her along for exactly nine chapters before revealing is true feelings. lol I thought this one suffered from two problems. First, the RDD allowed Arabella to think he was seriously attracted to her lovely cousin when he never was, and I thought that was cruel. Second, and more bothersome to me, was that several times all Arabella needed to do was speak up for herself and tell the truth and everything would have been straightened out. I don't care for books where the tension could all be solved with one short conversation between two seemingly intelligent adults, and I really don't care for milk-toast heroines who never speak up for themselves. So this book wasn't a winner for me.
August 3, 2025
Another good Betty! The first half was a solid five stars. I love Gideon and Arabella’s early relationship. He actually laughs out loud and makes jokes. Rather unusual for an RDD. 😂 Arabella is definitely a Cinderella type with just one wicked cousin who does all she can to ruin Arabella’s happiness. It’s hard to tell how much Gideon is falling for her or not. I’ll look forward to rereading this to make my mind up about that more conclusively. Gideon and Arabella’s relationship is full of sweet moments. The end made me laugh. Unusual, but I liked it.
October 8, 2012
I just love Betty Neels. Whenever, I am in the mood for a light hearted romance, I know I only have to reach for Ms. Neel's books, and this one in particular. I absolutely loved, the heroine, Arabella. I thought she was a terrific heroine and our requisite Dutch Doctor, Gideon, was also wonderful.
What made this one such a fun read, was the deliciously evil OW....Hilary, who always got her man. Except this time, it seems this man had much better taste!
What made this one such a fun read, was the deliciously evil OW....Hilary, who always got her man. Except this time, it seems this man had much better taste!
March 27, 2024
I have found that I do not particularly care for Neels' Cinderella type stories because the h's tend to be good natured (re: weak) with regards to their poor treatment. (In fact, in general, I really detest the story of Cinderella and I could go on a long diatribe of my telling my little daughter that story along with my personal observations of what happens when a woman doesn't finish school and has no life skills and marries the first guy she meets though he's a predatory stalker... ;b). This story was a little in line with the slightly down trodden h but it wasn't too distracting. Arabella is nice and caring and I loved that she had a stammer for some reason. I think it's because it reminded me of Georgette Heyer's The Convenient Marriage which happens to be one of my favorite Heyer's. The h in that one has a stammer. When she confess to the H in the beginning that she has a stammer (:D) and whether he would be unable to stand it he responds "No" and that he rather likes it. There's an almost identical line/situation in this book. And guess what? Like Heyer's Rule in that book and Gideon in this one, I also rather like it!
Also, it's always a plus when the H isn't a tool though for a brief moment I did wonder if he was going to head in that territory.
I believe I could re-read this one easily...
Re-read: This is still easily one of my favorites. I had forgotten about the sly, conniving cousin who tries to ensnare every man that comes their way. And boy does she try with the H. It made me stress a little even though I knew it was going to be an HEA. I liked that the H was older (37 to the h's 22) and the age gap is mentioned as to whether it would be an impediment (surprise! it's not). Also that he was more experienced and I think that went a long way to why he didn't fall for the cousin's wiles.
Also, it's always a plus when the H isn't a tool though for a brief moment I did wonder if he was going to head in that territory.
I believe I could re-read this one easily...
Re-read: This is still easily one of my favorites. I had forgotten about the sly, conniving cousin who tries to ensnare every man that comes their way. And boy does she try with the H. It made me stress a little even though I knew it was going to be an HEA. I liked that the H was older (37 to the h's 22) and the age gap is mentioned as to whether it would be an impediment (surprise! it's not). Also that he was more experienced and I think that went a long way to why he didn't fall for the cousin's wiles.
August 11, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
September 2, 2020
An utterly charming and spring-fresh early (1974) Neels’, despite some terminology that has taken on offensive connotations since then (kids with multiple sclerosis are referred to as "spastics" in the book, but that was still an accepted medical term at the time --I looked it up. It did make me wince every time though.). Rich Dutch Doctor Gideon and nurse-heroine Arabella actually communicate and address misunderstandings as they arise! The chemistry and closeness between them from the start makes for some sweet romance. Lots of great summaries, so just a few points that made this a BN standout for me:
- Arabella has one of BN’s really crappy families (she was adopted by her aunt and uncle when her parents died when she was 5), but they are not cartoony—they are more more casually cruel, ranging from indifference to cruelty-masked-as-kindness, as her aunt has told her from childhood how plain she is, particularly in comparison to her selfish, beautiful cousin, and done a number on Arabella’s self-confidence. Nonetheless, Arabella has a sense of self-worth and is no pushover.
- The OW cousin is wonderfully hateable! She dates married men; she freely lies; she takes credit for noble acts that others perform; she continually tries to take Arabella’s pleasures away—a planned vacation, her Mr. Right, you name it! And she does it with such insouciance that it’s really a marvel to read.
- The hero is kind throughout the entire book. No BN hero headgames from Gideon—he makes his interest in the heroine clear from the start, sees the OW mostly for what she is (although he does briefly believe some BS she feeds him about the heroine), and engineers a sweet and romantic HEA most energetically. He’s sweet and likable and romantic and a real hero.
- The heroine is not defensive to the point of idiocy. Yes, she does try to pull away when she thinks the hero is going to fall for her cousin, like every other man in her experience has, but she doesn’t ascribe the worst behavior to him, like some BN heroines seem to, and her withdrawal makes sense given what she’s been conditioned to believe about her own attractiveness in comparison to that of her cousin. BN does a really good job of establishing why the heroine would feel as she does. And while I find stuttering heroines annoying sometimes, Arabella’s stutter only appears in times of stress and gives subtle clues as to how she is feeling about the person she is talking to or the situation.
One of my faves so far (which is saying something). Miss Bates does a great job of explaining what makes TGB so readable in book after book in her summary; I couldn’t agree more. Kindness is a world where it’s rapidly disappearing; characters doing good quietly because they are good; the implicit message that there are far more important things than physical beauty: Neels delivers these simple but true reminders in a way that leaves me believing that love really is a force for good in the world.
OK, usual car porn:
The heroine in this one is car mad and loves to drive her uncle’s Triumph when she can:
The hero has a familiar and fabulous Bentley:
- Arabella has one of BN’s really crappy families (she was adopted by her aunt and uncle when her parents died when she was 5), but they are not cartoony—they are more more casually cruel, ranging from indifference to cruelty-masked-as-kindness, as her aunt has told her from childhood how plain she is, particularly in comparison to her selfish, beautiful cousin, and done a number on Arabella’s self-confidence. Nonetheless, Arabella has a sense of self-worth and is no pushover.
- The OW cousin is wonderfully hateable! She dates married men; she freely lies; she takes credit for noble acts that others perform; she continually tries to take Arabella’s pleasures away—a planned vacation, her Mr. Right, you name it! And she does it with such insouciance that it’s really a marvel to read.
- The hero is kind throughout the entire book. No BN hero headgames from Gideon—he makes his interest in the heroine clear from the start, sees the OW mostly for what she is (although he does briefly believe some BS she feeds him about the heroine), and engineers a sweet and romantic HEA most energetically. He’s sweet and likable and romantic and a real hero.
- The heroine is not defensive to the point of idiocy. Yes, she does try to pull away when she thinks the hero is going to fall for her cousin, like every other man in her experience has, but she doesn’t ascribe the worst behavior to him, like some BN heroines seem to, and her withdrawal makes sense given what she’s been conditioned to believe about her own attractiveness in comparison to that of her cousin. BN does a really good job of establishing why the heroine would feel as she does. And while I find stuttering heroines annoying sometimes, Arabella’s stutter only appears in times of stress and gives subtle clues as to how she is feeling about the person she is talking to or the situation.
One of my faves so far (which is saying something). Miss Bates does a great job of explaining what makes TGB so readable in book after book in her summary; I couldn’t agree more. Kindness is a world where it’s rapidly disappearing; characters doing good quietly because they are good; the implicit message that there are far more important things than physical beauty: Neels delivers these simple but true reminders in a way that leaves me believing that love really is a force for good in the world.
OK, usual car porn:
The heroine in this one is car mad and loves to drive her uncle’s Triumph when she can:
The hero has a familiar and fabulous Bentley:
March 23, 2019
Having set out to read all of Betty Neels, I was nervous I'd get bored and want to quit. I discovered that with every one, I want to read the next. Who knows if I'll still feel this way come book #70?
This particular volume was most enjoyable. It has an unfortunate un-PC stammering heroine and several physically-challenged children who are referred to as "spastic" ... I cringed. Despite how dated Neels's details sometimes are, no matter how the heroine's unfeminist purpose is to marry the hero and have babies, there's something that captures me every time. I wonder what it is that makes me want to read more and more. It isn't the romance: standard fare more often than not, with aloof or mysterious hero, conniving other woman, worthy heroine. It's the kindness: Neels, no matter the sparks flying between hero and heroine, always builds a kind world. Hero and heroine care, for others, especially, as my Tante Fanny always told me, the most impt to care for, children, the elderly, and animals. This is what Gideon (such a great name!) and Arabella do: they're kind and they take care of children, etc. in a matter-of-fact way. I love that about Neels's characters: how they take their care-giving for granted and how naturally it comes to them. They soothe, comfort, feed, fluff pillows, toast and offer bread and do so with such unconscious informality, as if this is the only way to live ... as if the world's cruelty and indifference can't enter this space.
This particular volume was most enjoyable. It has an unfortunate un-PC stammering heroine and several physically-challenged children who are referred to as "spastic" ... I cringed. Despite how dated Neels's details sometimes are, no matter how the heroine's unfeminist purpose is to marry the hero and have babies, there's something that captures me every time. I wonder what it is that makes me want to read more and more. It isn't the romance: standard fare more often than not, with aloof or mysterious hero, conniving other woman, worthy heroine. It's the kindness: Neels, no matter the sparks flying between hero and heroine, always builds a kind world. Hero and heroine care, for others, especially, as my Tante Fanny always told me, the most impt to care for, children, the elderly, and animals. This is what Gideon (such a great name!) and Arabella do: they're kind and they take care of children, etc. in a matter-of-fact way. I love that about Neels's characters: how they take their care-giving for granted and how naturally it comes to them. They soothe, comfort, feed, fluff pillows, toast and offer bread and do so with such unconscious informality, as if this is the only way to live ... as if the world's cruelty and indifference can't enter this space.
April 18, 2014
Fun older Betty - loved long-suffering, plain Arabella and Rich Dutch Doctor Gideon was a real sweetheart; he was in love with our girl pretty much from the beginning, and you could tell he wasn't taken in my her manipulative, gorgeous cousin Hilary. I liked Hilary as the OW, she was delightfully trollopy (blowing off a trip with handicapped kids to canoodle with a married doctor, *gasp!*) and refreshing in her openly self-centered approach to life. Also refreshing, Arabella was no martyr and had no illusions about her cousin and called her out on her tricks and schemes - you go, girl! And I liked that Gideon wasn't taken in; he even asks Arabella at one point why she keeps trying to pair him off with Hilary - no playing along with the flirtation to punish Arabella for doubting him or pushing him away (which Betty has done in other books and I always think it's cruel to do to an insecure plain girl...)
I'm rereading the earlier Bettys in my collection and enjoying the lack of nonsense (or maybe it's because the same old plot lines were still fresh in her early books). Ah, well, always reliable for a fun, relaxing, feel-good read!
I'm rereading the earlier Bettys in my collection and enjoying the lack of nonsense (or maybe it's because the same old plot lines were still fresh in her early books). Ah, well, always reliable for a fun, relaxing, feel-good read!
August 28, 2023
Another Betty Neels that made it to five stars!
"When you look in the mirror you see your face completely without expression. Others see differently—besides, men may admire a pretty face, but prettiness isn’t another word for happiness, and that’s what a man wants in his marriage."
"..with delicate enjoyment, talking all the time, because here at last was someone who seemed to share her thoughts, laugh when she laughed, and be ready to argue without heat when they disagreed."
"It was absurd, thought Arabella, that she found it quite impossible to mention him, just because she had fallen in love with him."
"We fuss and fret to get the pattern just so, when all we need is patience until what we are looking for turns up under our hands."
"She was eager to be gone now; there was no sense in dragging out a situation which had become as painful as she could bear."
"Strong emotion, Arabella had discovered during the last few weeks, was more exhausting than a hard day’s work; "
"'You are the most beautiful girl in the world,’ he told her. ‘Get in, dear girl.’ Arabella got in, aglow with the certainty that for him at least she was indeed beautiful."
"When you look in the mirror you see your face completely without expression. Others see differently—besides, men may admire a pretty face, but prettiness isn’t another word for happiness, and that’s what a man wants in his marriage."
"..with delicate enjoyment, talking all the time, because here at last was someone who seemed to share her thoughts, laugh when she laughed, and be ready to argue without heat when they disagreed."
"It was absurd, thought Arabella, that she found it quite impossible to mention him, just because she had fallen in love with him."
"We fuss and fret to get the pattern just so, when all we need is patience until what we are looking for turns up under our hands."
"She was eager to be gone now; there was no sense in dragging out a situation which had become as painful as she could bear."
"Strong emotion, Arabella had discovered during the last few weeks, was more exhausting than a hard day’s work; "
"'You are the most beautiful girl in the world,’ he told her. ‘Get in, dear girl.’ Arabella got in, aglow with the certainty that for him at least she was indeed beautiful."
November 6, 2010
This early book from Betty Neels shows her in top form. Our heroine, student nurse Arabella Birch has been so constantly told she is plain by the aunt who grudgingly took her in as a 5 year old orphan that she totally believes it. Arabella has a stammer when she is upset or nervous. She also has an older, very beautiful (in looks, anyway)cousin-Hilary. Hilary is a right piece of work--not above taking advantage of Arabella at every turn and flat out lying to one and all when it suits her.
Our requisite Rich Dutch Doctor is a really sweetie. He meets Arabella and forms an attachment to her long before he meets Hilary--hooray! I was a bit iffy about the 16 year age difference between them. But it didn't seem to worry Arabella or Gideon...
Classic Neels.
Our requisite Rich Dutch Doctor is a really sweetie. He meets Arabella and forms an attachment to her long before he meets Hilary--hooray! I was a bit iffy about the 16 year age difference between them. But it didn't seem to worry Arabella or Gideon...
Classic Neels.
May 4, 2021
I normally wouldn't be caught dead with a Harlequin romance in hand, but became interested in this author because 1) she's British, 2) the new covers are beautiful, and 3) I read she was looked down upon for being "too chaste" in her stories.
They are ALL the same. A young, insecure nurse falls in love with a handsome, rich, gruff doctor. Still, about once a year, when I want a quick, clean, read, I'll grab a Neels novel and escape for a few hours.
This title was interesting because the children under nurse Arabella's care had physical difficulties and were called "spastics". This is a phrase I haven't heard since childhood, and even then it was derogatory.
They are ALL the same. A young, insecure nurse falls in love with a handsome, rich, gruff doctor. Still, about once a year, when I want a quick, clean, read, I'll grab a Neels novel and escape for a few hours.
This title was interesting because the children under nurse Arabella's care had physical difficulties and were called "spastics". This is a phrase I haven't heard since childhood, and even then it was derogatory.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2014
This is the story of Arabella, who is much put upon by her relatives. Her aunt and uncle aren't actively malicious, but they put her down and expect her to babysit and generally be a dogsbody when she is home from her hospital training.
Her cousin Hilary however is a nasty piece of work who is not above lying and manipulating to get her way. We know she is evil because she is dating a married man at the beginning of the book rather than go with a bus load of children with cerebral palsy to Holland as their nurse. Naturally she cons Arabella into doing it for her thus leading to her meeting our leading man.
Gideon is the rescuer when the bus crashes and he sees immediately the sterling worth of our Arabella, who shines in adversity. Thrown together when she nurses two of the children who were injured in the crash, they get to know each other and he invites her and the children to his home where he resides with his beautiful and lovely sister.
But the fly in the ointment comes when Arabella returns to England and Hilary immediately hones in on this attractive and very rich doctor. Hilary lies to everyone in her attempts to snabble the doctor.
Luckily, apart from one brief aberration, Gideon is immune from her manipulations. Even Nanny gets a happy ending.
Her cousin Hilary however is a nasty piece of work who is not above lying and manipulating to get her way. We know she is evil because she is dating a married man at the beginning of the book rather than go with a bus load of children with cerebral palsy to Holland as their nurse. Naturally she cons Arabella into doing it for her thus leading to her meeting our leading man.
Gideon is the rescuer when the bus crashes and he sees immediately the sterling worth of our Arabella, who shines in adversity. Thrown together when she nurses two of the children who were injured in the crash, they get to know each other and he invites her and the children to his home where he resides with his beautiful and lovely sister.
But the fly in the ointment comes when Arabella returns to England and Hilary immediately hones in on this attractive and very rich doctor. Hilary lies to everyone in her attempts to snabble the doctor.
Luckily, apart from one brief aberration, Gideon is immune from her manipulations. Even Nanny gets a happy ending.
December 18, 2025
I really like this story. It’s a sweet, warm, and entertaining romance. However, it would have been nice if Hillary had gotten her comeuppance. Yes, she lost the doctor, but she’ll just move on to the next man. She deserved someone telling her off and putting her in her place.
March 11, 2021
Really enjoyed this one which i read on the kindle
As all the ones i have read before this as started at book 1 & working my way through all still early 70s so dated but love the way this was written
If you have read any Mills & Boons books especially up to at least 80s they had a set format so this is no different it just how the story is done ect
A little bit of escape from all the more modern ones where they have to put sex & bad language rather than letting a good story speak for it's self
As all the ones i have read before this as started at book 1 & working my way through all still early 70s so dated but love the way this was written
If you have read any Mills & Boons books especially up to at least 80s they had a set format so this is no different it just how the story is done ect
A little bit of escape from all the more modern ones where they have to put sex & bad language rather than letting a good story speak for it's self
February 1, 2010
The "beautiful but bitchy" character in this one is particularly awful, perhaps a bit much. She doesn't tell Arabella that her beloved Nanny is practically dying, and at one point she is dating a married man. Holy cow.
April 7, 2016
Really Good Well-written Tale
This is one of those books you won't be able to put down, and will be sorry when it is finished! The writing is excellent - Neels captures even the children's personality and character so well.
This is one of those books you won't be able to put down, and will be sorry when it is finished! The writing is excellent - Neels captures even the children's personality and character so well.
December 15, 2019
One of my favourite Betty Neels because of the extended and well-elaborated ending - far longer than any of her others!
January 18, 2026
Read: Sep25, 25Nov25,
25 Nov 25 -- 5 stars. even better on the second reading and now up to 5 stars from 4.5 the first time. this book is just wonderful and so heartwarming with a middle section that is full of stomach churning angst that made me hate Arabella's cousin so so much. However the hero Gideon is just swoonworthy and wonderful and the ending was bliss.
Let me start off by saying I like a lot of angst in my Betty romances and at the start it looks like Gideon is a nice guy rather than one of Betty's iceholes or ogres so I was worried I would get a bit bored. but this book was every bit perfect and external events and uncertainty and Gideon's understandable.reaction to things certainly created exquisite and painful angst in the middle. Possibly the most angst I have ever felt in a betty book (except for the hasty marriage probably.) It was too good.
h Arabella (22) is a trainee British nurse and orphan who was taken in by her uncle and aunt after her parents died. They're nice on the surface but they make unending use of Arabella who does all the chores and runs around after their young twins and she is treated always second best to their own elder daughter, arabella's beautiful blonde cousin Hilary, who is the apple of the aunt and uncle's eye. hillary is gorgeous, blonde, blue eyed, sweet looking, but is ruthless inside and conniving, lies continuously to get what she wants, aided and abetted by her mother, and uses men for money and doesn't blink at breaking up marriages either. she is utterly disgusting but so sweet and charming and seemingly innocent and angellic and so good at laughing things off and acting like the world is her due that she gets away with it and everyone loves her, even Arabella, who is conditioned to letting Hilary have her way. the aunt and hilary have always made arabella feel and believe she is second best and plain and putbher down and make her dress plainly and whenever a man ever showed interest in arabella, hilary always swooped in to charm him, even if she never wanted him and ruin things for arabella. arabella is not permitted to get anything hilary doesn't have. hilary is also a nurse at the same hospital arabella works at.
hilary is due to go on a work trip to Holland to a camp for kids with cerebral palsy as their nurse but she would rather stay in London to carry on an affair with a married doctor so she persuades arabella to go in her place. arabella is unable to say no. she goes, the bus crashes, the H Gideon is driving by and helps Arabella rescue all the kids from the toppled bus and sends them to hospital.
arabella discovers her handsome hero is the hospital medical director. he's a RDD (38), kind, charming, capable, well respected, gorgeous and ensures Arabella and the kids are well taken care of.
two of the kids have broken legs so he arranges for arabella to stay in Holland to nurse them when everyone else goes home. After a few days he decides they will do better in the calm environment of his home so they move into his mansion with arabella.
SPOILERS AHEAD
There she meets a beautiful woman who she thinks is his wife but turns out to be his sister. the doc and his sister and all the staff are so nice to arabella and the kids. noone has ever truly looked out for her welfare and comforts before and being so cared for is a wonderful experience for her. they all eat together, go shopping together, swim in his pool together, enjoy time with the pets etc.
when things happen to upset her, he is always quick to notice and to fix it. one time a beautiful woman is visiting his house and the catty creature tells arabella that he told her she is mousy and had a dreadful stutter and laughs at arabella. afterwards, at dinner arabella is icy with him and he is swift to notice and take her aside and ask her what is wrong and to explain that he may have said she is a sweet little mouse but he likes mice and that his passing comment about her stuttering has obviously been twisted to upset arabella. he is quick to reassure her and make sure they are friends again.
by the time the kids are better and they need to leave holland, she realises she is in love with him and is sad that she will never see him again. he had been so lovely to her but he doesn't seem overly sad that she will be leaving, even though he does kiss her once or twice.
he ends up driving her and the kids back to London. now arabella dreads he might meet the beautiful hilary who will turn his head like she always does and the thought hurts like it has never hurt before.
indeed, just when arabella and the doc are having a sweet moment at the hospital and it feels like he is just about to say something about how he feels, the stunning hilary sweeps in and he looks stunned. he calls her an angel. she proceeds to do everything to grab his attention. Arabella's heart sinks.
hilary proceeds to charm him at every chance, cling to his arm, beg lifts from him, make excuses to see him and invite him to stay and tell a bunch of lies to get arabella out of the way. this section is so angsty and painful to see the nasty hilary pulling the wool over his eyes and how defeated arabella is about it all. thinking she can't compete, and as an act of self preservation, she completely backs off, not that she ever made a play for him in the first place. hilary the bitch doesn't care that arabella might like him or that the doc might like arabella. she sets out to ruthlessly catch him. she tells arabella that he is rich and she plans on marrying him and that the poor man is besotted with her. the aunt helps by sending arabella out of the way at every chance. it hurts arabella to see him take hilary for long drives and meals, and that hilary has told him arabella is engaged to a local young man, her childhood sweetheart, which is a pack of lies because the man in question is a bully who arabella loathes. its disgusting how even the aunt backs up this lie by not denying it. she is desperate for her daughter to catch the rich handsome doc. hilary just laughs it off when arabella confronts her about it.
as time goes by the doc becomes frustrated with arabella. it's obvious to us that he wasn't completely taken in by hilary at first and was creating chances to try to spend time with arabella, but arabella put him off and he couldn't push it because he thought she was engaged.
ENDING SPOILERS
eventually he gets really mad at arabella and accuses her of being selfish because hilary has made it look like arabella has abandoned their sweet old nanny when she is extremely ill with pneumonia, when really it was the opposite way around. arabella is furious with him for believing this lie and feels v hurt and doesn't correct him because why would he believe her when he's so besotted with hilary?
soon the doc realises his mistake and he takes steps to fix things. in this one we don't get the ending I love the most which is where the h runs away and the H must chase her. instead we get Arabella running away in the middle when she thinks that Gideon and Hilary are about to get engaged. she leaves her uncle and aunt's home that evening and flees back to work, frustrating Gideon who clearly wanted to spend time with her. the ending is one where Gideon is tired of arabella constantly putting up barriers and giving him a runaround. he sets about finding out the truth for himself about her so called fiance, realises with great relief the pack of lies he's been told, makes private arrangements to save arabella's beloved old nanny from being sent to a care home, then makes arrangements to sweep arabella off her feet and take her home to Holland without her knowing. there he explains how much he loves her. I loved that this wasn't the abrupt ending we sometimes get from betty. it was long enough to be sweet and delicious, with him confessing he must have loved her from first sight but only realised it when hilary said arabella was engaged and he thought he might lose her, but even then he wasn't willing to give her up without a fight. the ending, coming after all that angst, was absolute bliss. the only thing that could have made it better was to see the awful hilary and the horrid aunt find out. ha! but even then, the sweet sweet ending after all that anguish in the middle section was like a gentle beautiful healing.
also, the poetry Gideon quoted was just so sweet in this book. towards the end he says,
"Escape me? Never beloved, while I am I and you are you.."
"So long as the world contains us both," whispers Arabella.
sob. beautiful. she realises how much he has loved her all along and that he feared his love was unrequited. sob sob. what a beautiful ending.
CONCLUSION
two lovely characters, and so wonderful to see him being so loving and constantly good to her and then being hit, BAM, with all the anguish caused by her horrid cousin in the middle, and for our determined loving H to find his way out of it and pursue his HEA with his beloved arabella. it was just beautiful. and wonderful to see Arabella's man toss her scheming cousin aside and go get his girl. it left me with such a cozy feeling inside. bliss.
------- ------------------------
24 Sep 25 -- 4.5 stars.
absolutely lovely gentle romance. I adored it.
25 Nov 25 -- 5 stars. even better on the second reading and now up to 5 stars from 4.5 the first time. this book is just wonderful and so heartwarming with a middle section that is full of stomach churning angst that made me hate Arabella's cousin so so much. However the hero Gideon is just swoonworthy and wonderful and the ending was bliss.
Let me start off by saying I like a lot of angst in my Betty romances and at the start it looks like Gideon is a nice guy rather than one of Betty's iceholes or ogres so I was worried I would get a bit bored. but this book was every bit perfect and external events and uncertainty and Gideon's understandable.reaction to things certainly created exquisite and painful angst in the middle. Possibly the most angst I have ever felt in a betty book (except for the hasty marriage probably.) It was too good.
h Arabella (22) is a trainee British nurse and orphan who was taken in by her uncle and aunt after her parents died. They're nice on the surface but they make unending use of Arabella who does all the chores and runs around after their young twins and she is treated always second best to their own elder daughter, arabella's beautiful blonde cousin Hilary, who is the apple of the aunt and uncle's eye. hillary is gorgeous, blonde, blue eyed, sweet looking, but is ruthless inside and conniving, lies continuously to get what she wants, aided and abetted by her mother, and uses men for money and doesn't blink at breaking up marriages either. she is utterly disgusting but so sweet and charming and seemingly innocent and angellic and so good at laughing things off and acting like the world is her due that she gets away with it and everyone loves her, even Arabella, who is conditioned to letting Hilary have her way. the aunt and hilary have always made arabella feel and believe she is second best and plain and putbher down and make her dress plainly and whenever a man ever showed interest in arabella, hilary always swooped in to charm him, even if she never wanted him and ruin things for arabella. arabella is not permitted to get anything hilary doesn't have. hilary is also a nurse at the same hospital arabella works at.
hilary is due to go on a work trip to Holland to a camp for kids with cerebral palsy as their nurse but she would rather stay in London to carry on an affair with a married doctor so she persuades arabella to go in her place. arabella is unable to say no. she goes, the bus crashes, the H Gideon is driving by and helps Arabella rescue all the kids from the toppled bus and sends them to hospital.
arabella discovers her handsome hero is the hospital medical director. he's a RDD (38), kind, charming, capable, well respected, gorgeous and ensures Arabella and the kids are well taken care of.
two of the kids have broken legs so he arranges for arabella to stay in Holland to nurse them when everyone else goes home. After a few days he decides they will do better in the calm environment of his home so they move into his mansion with arabella.
SPOILERS AHEAD
There she meets a beautiful woman who she thinks is his wife but turns out to be his sister. the doc and his sister and all the staff are so nice to arabella and the kids. noone has ever truly looked out for her welfare and comforts before and being so cared for is a wonderful experience for her. they all eat together, go shopping together, swim in his pool together, enjoy time with the pets etc.
when things happen to upset her, he is always quick to notice and to fix it. one time a beautiful woman is visiting his house and the catty creature tells arabella that he told her she is mousy and had a dreadful stutter and laughs at arabella. afterwards, at dinner arabella is icy with him and he is swift to notice and take her aside and ask her what is wrong and to explain that he may have said she is a sweet little mouse but he likes mice and that his passing comment about her stuttering has obviously been twisted to upset arabella. he is quick to reassure her and make sure they are friends again.
by the time the kids are better and they need to leave holland, she realises she is in love with him and is sad that she will never see him again. he had been so lovely to her but he doesn't seem overly sad that she will be leaving, even though he does kiss her once or twice.
he ends up driving her and the kids back to London. now arabella dreads he might meet the beautiful hilary who will turn his head like she always does and the thought hurts like it has never hurt before.
indeed, just when arabella and the doc are having a sweet moment at the hospital and it feels like he is just about to say something about how he feels, the stunning hilary sweeps in and he looks stunned. he calls her an angel. she proceeds to do everything to grab his attention. Arabella's heart sinks.
hilary proceeds to charm him at every chance, cling to his arm, beg lifts from him, make excuses to see him and invite him to stay and tell a bunch of lies to get arabella out of the way. this section is so angsty and painful to see the nasty hilary pulling the wool over his eyes and how defeated arabella is about it all. thinking she can't compete, and as an act of self preservation, she completely backs off, not that she ever made a play for him in the first place. hilary the bitch doesn't care that arabella might like him or that the doc might like arabella. she sets out to ruthlessly catch him. she tells arabella that he is rich and she plans on marrying him and that the poor man is besotted with her. the aunt helps by sending arabella out of the way at every chance. it hurts arabella to see him take hilary for long drives and meals, and that hilary has told him arabella is engaged to a local young man, her childhood sweetheart, which is a pack of lies because the man in question is a bully who arabella loathes. its disgusting how even the aunt backs up this lie by not denying it. she is desperate for her daughter to catch the rich handsome doc. hilary just laughs it off when arabella confronts her about it.
as time goes by the doc becomes frustrated with arabella. it's obvious to us that he wasn't completely taken in by hilary at first and was creating chances to try to spend time with arabella, but arabella put him off and he couldn't push it because he thought she was engaged.
ENDING SPOILERS
eventually he gets really mad at arabella and accuses her of being selfish because hilary has made it look like arabella has abandoned their sweet old nanny when she is extremely ill with pneumonia, when really it was the opposite way around. arabella is furious with him for believing this lie and feels v hurt and doesn't correct him because why would he believe her when he's so besotted with hilary?
soon the doc realises his mistake and he takes steps to fix things. in this one we don't get the ending I love the most which is where the h runs away and the H must chase her. instead we get Arabella running away in the middle when she thinks that Gideon and Hilary are about to get engaged. she leaves her uncle and aunt's home that evening and flees back to work, frustrating Gideon who clearly wanted to spend time with her. the ending is one where Gideon is tired of arabella constantly putting up barriers and giving him a runaround. he sets about finding out the truth for himself about her so called fiance, realises with great relief the pack of lies he's been told, makes private arrangements to save arabella's beloved old nanny from being sent to a care home, then makes arrangements to sweep arabella off her feet and take her home to Holland without her knowing. there he explains how much he loves her. I loved that this wasn't the abrupt ending we sometimes get from betty. it was long enough to be sweet and delicious, with him confessing he must have loved her from first sight but only realised it when hilary said arabella was engaged and he thought he might lose her, but even then he wasn't willing to give her up without a fight. the ending, coming after all that angst, was absolute bliss. the only thing that could have made it better was to see the awful hilary and the horrid aunt find out. ha! but even then, the sweet sweet ending after all that anguish in the middle section was like a gentle beautiful healing.
also, the poetry Gideon quoted was just so sweet in this book. towards the end he says,
"Escape me? Never beloved, while I am I and you are you.."
"So long as the world contains us both," whispers Arabella.
sob. beautiful. she realises how much he has loved her all along and that he feared his love was unrequited. sob sob. what a beautiful ending.
CONCLUSION
two lovely characters, and so wonderful to see him being so loving and constantly good to her and then being hit, BAM, with all the anguish caused by her horrid cousin in the middle, and for our determined loving H to find his way out of it and pursue his HEA with his beloved arabella. it was just beautiful. and wonderful to see Arabella's man toss her scheming cousin aside and go get his girl. it left me with such a cozy feeling inside. bliss.
------- ------------------------
24 Sep 25 -- 4.5 stars.
absolutely lovely gentle romance. I adored it.
April 16, 2018
4.5*!!!
After Enchanting Samantha and The Gemel Ring which did not wow me, I did not have much expectations of this book. The title itself was also not very revealing...but surprisingly this is such a delightful read!
Arabella with an endearing stammer was not quite a Cinderella, but she was definitely the poor relation. An orphan, her aunt and uncle took her in generously and Arabella was so grateful and loyal to this family. So much so she's always done what they've wanted, suppressing her own wants. Aunt Maud was horrid, always undermining Arabella telling her she's plain and to be practical and thrifty. Unlike the Daughter of the House, Hilary, a veritable man eater! She could "get away with murder" too just because of her good looks and ability to charm people ruthlessly into giving her what she wanted, always. Hateful girl who had no qualms throwing her dear cousin under the bus! She sneers at Arabella's honourable character and principles, so I feel she's real nasty deep down. Arabella's innocence was so sweet, how could Gideon our RDD not fall in love with her?!
Gideon, an "old" 38 to Arabella's 22, was a really nice hero. That unfortunate incident where he believed the lying Hilary and laid into Arabella was pivotal in the story. He quickly found out the truth and after cleverly going to verify if nasty Bertie was Arabella's fiancé, he knew for sure not to trust Hilary ever again! He might have been dazzled by her good looks, but he was using HILARY to get to see more of Arabella! Haha! He did apologise swiftly and sincerely when he saw her train ticket and deduced the truth...and crushing Bertie's hand was precious!
I adore this scene:
‘What’s that on your face?’ he wanted to know.
‘A nourishing cream,’ she explained seriously. ‘It’s to k-keep me y-young.’
He gave a whispered bellow of laughter. ‘But you are young, dear girl.’ He paused. ‘Do you know how old I am?’
She shook her head. ‘No.’ She smiled suddenly and a dimple showed briefly in one faintly pink cheek. ‘Would you like to borrow some of my cream?’
She hadn’t noticed him move, but now he was as close as he could get.‘Impertinent girl,’ he said, and wrapped her in a vicelike grip to kiss her. ‘I’m thirty-eight,’ he told her in a perfectly ordinary voice; evidently the kiss had had no effect upon him at all. ‘Do you find that old, Arabella?’
But the kiss had had an effect upon her; she had no breath to speak of, certainly not to waste on speech. She shook her head and hoped that he couldn’t hear her heart thundering under her dressing gown.He stared down at her for a long moment. ‘Good,’ he said softly, and smiled as he bent to kiss her once more, only this time it was a gentle kiss. His good night was gentle too. She still hadn’t said a word when he went out of the room.
And HE ABDUCTED HER TO HIS HOUSE IN HOLLAND! Just for this I give more *!
So awesome how it was perfectly executed! With the help if Larissa, Anne and a consultant whom Arabella liked, Arabella was whisked to Doesburg where dear Nanny Bliss was already installed waiting to look after little Arabellas and Gideons! Aww...
No engagement ring or wedding scene but still I could feel the love and romance so strongly in this book. One of my new favourites! 4.5*!!!
After Enchanting Samantha and The Gemel Ring which did not wow me, I did not have much expectations of this book. The title itself was also not very revealing...but surprisingly this is such a delightful read!
Arabella with an endearing stammer was not quite a Cinderella, but she was definitely the poor relation. An orphan, her aunt and uncle took her in generously and Arabella was so grateful and loyal to this family. So much so she's always done what they've wanted, suppressing her own wants. Aunt Maud was horrid, always undermining Arabella telling her she's plain and to be practical and thrifty. Unlike the Daughter of the House, Hilary, a veritable man eater! She could "get away with murder" too just because of her good looks and ability to charm people ruthlessly into giving her what she wanted, always. Hateful girl who had no qualms throwing her dear cousin under the bus! She sneers at Arabella's honourable character and principles, so I feel she's real nasty deep down. Arabella's innocence was so sweet, how could Gideon our RDD not fall in love with her?!
Gideon, an "old" 38 to Arabella's 22, was a really nice hero. That unfortunate incident where he believed the lying Hilary and laid into Arabella was pivotal in the story. He quickly found out the truth and after cleverly going to verify if nasty Bertie was Arabella's fiancé, he knew for sure not to trust Hilary ever again! He might have been dazzled by her good looks, but he was using HILARY to get to see more of Arabella! Haha! He did apologise swiftly and sincerely when he saw her train ticket and deduced the truth...and crushing Bertie's hand was precious!
I adore this scene:
‘What’s that on your face?’ he wanted to know.
‘A nourishing cream,’ she explained seriously. ‘It’s to k-keep me y-young.’
He gave a whispered bellow of laughter. ‘But you are young, dear girl.’ He paused. ‘Do you know how old I am?’
She shook her head. ‘No.’ She smiled suddenly and a dimple showed briefly in one faintly pink cheek. ‘Would you like to borrow some of my cream?’
She hadn’t noticed him move, but now he was as close as he could get.‘Impertinent girl,’ he said, and wrapped her in a vicelike grip to kiss her. ‘I’m thirty-eight,’ he told her in a perfectly ordinary voice; evidently the kiss had had no effect upon him at all. ‘Do you find that old, Arabella?’
But the kiss had had an effect upon her; she had no breath to speak of, certainly not to waste on speech. She shook her head and hoped that he couldn’t hear her heart thundering under her dressing gown.He stared down at her for a long moment. ‘Good,’ he said softly, and smiled as he bent to kiss her once more, only this time it was a gentle kiss. His good night was gentle too. She still hadn’t said a word when he went out of the room.
And HE ABDUCTED HER TO HIS HOUSE IN HOLLAND! Just for this I give more *!
So awesome how it was perfectly executed! With the help if Larissa, Anne and a consultant whom Arabella liked, Arabella was whisked to Doesburg where dear Nanny Bliss was already installed waiting to look after little Arabellas and Gideons! Aww...
No engagement ring or wedding scene but still I could feel the love and romance so strongly in this book. One of my new favourites! 4.5*!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2022
Meet Arabella Birch. Bella. She not beautiful, like the heroine in Heyer’s novel, Arabella. No, she’s not striking, but she is appealing, kind, capable, and golden on the inside.
Arabella is 22 years old, a British nurse in training. Orphaned at five years old, she was brought up by Aunt Maud-the-Mendacious and Uncle Do-It-My-Way. Constantly comparing her to their gorgeous daughter Hilary HighHopes, Arabella learns early that she is plain, and must chose a plain hat for a plain face. She stammers, which is adorable, but she stands up for the children she tends, and speaks her mind when necessary. Everyone loves her, and she is prone to like and trust others, but she’s no doormat.
Dutch Doctor Gideon van der Vorst is a hospital director in the Netherlands. He rushes to the scene when a bus veers into a ditch and overturns in Holland. The bus driver died at the wheel, and Arabella managed to get the bus off the highway before it crashed into an oncoming vehicle. The bus was filled with children with cerebral palsy (published almost 50 years ago, the terms was spastic). Bella is heroic in tending them during and after the accident. When the doctor asks her to stay in Holland to tend the two children most injured, with broken legs, she agrees:
We go from there with lots of happy scenes in Holland. Swimming with Larissa and the children, the dog, the doctor! The shopping trip! LOL. It’s absolutely amazing what 80 gulden will buy. And the adorable scene with the nightly nourishing face cream — “To keep me young” says 22-going-on-16 to his 38. “Would you like some?”
After a few weeks it’s back to England, and the cold machinery of Heartless Hilary. But onside for Bella is Nanny Bliss, who approves of Gideon even though he’s from “foreign parts”.
One of the better books Neels wrote. These main characters are awesome, his sister Larissa is a darling, cousin Hilary is utterly despicable, and the two kids are sweet. Great ending. Of course, it’s totally clean. No sex, not much cussing if any.
Arabella is 22 years old, a British nurse in training. Orphaned at five years old, she was brought up by Aunt Maud-the-Mendacious and Uncle Do-It-My-Way. Constantly comparing her to their gorgeous daughter Hilary HighHopes, Arabella learns early that she is plain, and must chose a plain hat for a plain face. She stammers, which is adorable, but she stands up for the children she tends, and speaks her mind when necessary. Everyone loves her, and she is prone to like and trust others, but she’s no doormat.
Dutch Doctor Gideon van der Vorst is a hospital director in the Netherlands. He rushes to the scene when a bus veers into a ditch and overturns in Holland. The bus driver died at the wheel, and Arabella managed to get the bus off the highway before it crashed into an oncoming vehicle. The bus was filled with children with cerebral palsy (published almost 50 years ago, the terms was spastic). Bella is heroic in tending them during and after the accident. When the doctor asks her to stay in Holland to tend the two children most injured, with broken legs, she agrees:
‘Well, of c-course I’ll s-stay. I t-told you the other d-day that I liked b-being here.’ A little tardily, she added, ‘Doctor.’
‘I should like, if I may, to try a little experiment,’ he went on smoothly, just as though she hadn’t said a word, ‘with the children—for I believe that they will improve a good deal more quickly if they are not in hospital. I propose to take them to my home and see how they react to more informal surroundings. That would necessitate you coming with them, if you have no objection.’
We go from there with lots of happy scenes in Holland. Swimming with Larissa and the children, the dog, the doctor! The shopping trip! LOL. It’s absolutely amazing what 80 gulden will buy. And the adorable scene with the nightly nourishing face cream — “To keep me young” says 22-going-on-16 to his 38. “Would you like some?”
After a few weeks it’s back to England, and the cold machinery of Heartless Hilary. But onside for Bella is Nanny Bliss, who approves of Gideon even though he’s from “foreign parts”.
One of the better books Neels wrote. These main characters are awesome, his sister Larissa is a darling, cousin Hilary is utterly despicable, and the two kids are sweet. Great ending. Of course, it’s totally clean. No sex, not much cussing if any.
August 16, 2019
Just to head people off, there are some dated references here that would maybe put people off, but the context here is that this is a romance novel written in the 70s.
Arabella Birch is a young nurse who gets into a road accident with child patients she was taking care of for her cousin Hilary, who was originally assigned to the task, but left to pursue a married man. Dr. Gideon van der Vorst is the (uber wealthy) Dutch Doctor who rescues her from such a situation. When she and some patients stay with him, she develops romantic feelings for him. But here comes Hilary, who has a history of snatching every male Arabella shows an interest in. Arabella believes the hype that her beautiful cousin and the handsome doctor is a good match. Even if she's in love with Dr. Gideon, what can Arabella do?
I kind of connected with Arabella. Like her, I was insecure and felt that someone else was better. But in her case, it was harder because she owed a debt of gratitude to her uncle and aunt who took her in after her parents died. And so she just lets Hilary's "poaching" slide because not only is Hilary gorgeous and charming, but also her cousin - the beloved daughter of the aunt and uncle she owes a lot to. And there are certain scenes where they all take advantage (not unkindly done, but still) of Arabella. That is enough to sink any girl's self-worth down.
What I was kind of annoyed at was Gideon being hot and cold towards Arabella, when it's obvious that she's suffering from a severe blow to her self-esteem. He's had more experience around people, and he should know machinations and deceptions when he sees one. He believes in Hilary's lies without verifying them with someone who plays fair and has Arabella's best interests at heart - Nanny Bliss. Good old Nanny Bliss, if it wasn't for her, Arabella would still be in that quagmire through no fault of her own. I understand how hard it is to fight back against the unfairness that has been dragging you down all your life when your self-confidence is millions below zero, so I'm not hating on Arabella. I should say that Gideon really, really loves Arabella, misunderstandings aside. Gideon is a more human romantic lead, despite being blind and naive, and he has to apologize to her for thinking negative about her.
Since this is a Neels novel, I won't spoil you by saying that all's well that ends well. This has been an enjoyable read which made me giggle and my toes curl and my heart skip.
Arabella Birch is a young nurse who gets into a road accident with child patients she was taking care of for her cousin Hilary, who was originally assigned to the task, but left to pursue a married man. Dr. Gideon van der Vorst is the (uber wealthy) Dutch Doctor who rescues her from such a situation. When she and some patients stay with him, she develops romantic feelings for him. But here comes Hilary, who has a history of snatching every male Arabella shows an interest in. Arabella believes the hype that her beautiful cousin and the handsome doctor is a good match. Even if she's in love with Dr. Gideon, what can Arabella do?
I kind of connected with Arabella. Like her, I was insecure and felt that someone else was better. But in her case, it was harder because she owed a debt of gratitude to her uncle and aunt who took her in after her parents died. And so she just lets Hilary's "poaching" slide because not only is Hilary gorgeous and charming, but also her cousin - the beloved daughter of the aunt and uncle she owes a lot to. And there are certain scenes where they all take advantage (not unkindly done, but still) of Arabella. That is enough to sink any girl's self-worth down.
What I was kind of annoyed at was Gideon being hot and cold towards Arabella, when it's obvious that she's suffering from a severe blow to her self-esteem. He's had more experience around people, and he should know machinations and deceptions when he sees one. He believes in Hilary's lies without verifying them with someone who plays fair and has Arabella's best interests at heart - Nanny Bliss. Good old Nanny Bliss, if it wasn't for her, Arabella would still be in that quagmire through no fault of her own. I understand how hard it is to fight back against the unfairness that has been dragging you down all your life when your self-confidence is millions below zero, so I'm not hating on Arabella. I should say that Gideon really, really loves Arabella, misunderstandings aside. Gideon is a more human romantic lead, despite being blind and naive, and he has to apologize to her for thinking negative about her.
Since this is a Neels novel, I won't spoil you by saying that all's well that ends well. This has been an enjoyable read which made me giggle and my toes curl and my heart skip.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2025
Our young nurse is tricked by her greedy cousin to take a bunch of children on a trip. While on the drive there, an accident happens that introduces her to a wonderful rich doctor. Gideon had a wonderful sister that helped take care of several of the children that were really injured. His house was so peaceful to read about…it was a shame the second half of the book had to happen- the cousin appears and causes so much trouble, I really thought I would suffer long term emotional damage. The ending was a bit far fetched for me, but I still enjoyed it. I liked that our sweet little heroine had a stammer also, she really was so endearing.
December 2, 2017
Another handsome Dutch doctor, and another plain looking English nurse fall in love with each other. This time, the nurse has to deal with a sly cousin who is competing for the doctor's affections. The hero was a bit nicer than the one in the previous Neels' novel that I read (Pineapple Girl), so this one was easier to swallow. However, I think that I'd be a bit ticked off if my fiancé arranged for me to resign from my job without consulting with me about it first, even if I got to marry his handsomeness in the end.
April 20, 2018
Quick read and a sweet little story that only Betty Neels could pen. I started reading her books years and years ago, so it was fun revisit them.
It is a young innocent, kind, hard-working nurse who falls for the doctor she meets during some mishap on the road and he with her. This is the kind of story every girl dreams about growing up.
All so sweet.
It is a young innocent, kind, hard-working nurse who falls for the doctor she meets during some mishap on the road and he with her. This is the kind of story every girl dreams about growing up.
All so sweet.
August 3, 2018
Written in 1974, it has a lot of old school romance tropes which haven't stood the test of time. From a history of the romance genre point of view, however, it's an interesting read to see where we've come from.
Older hero falls in love with younger heroine after a bus crash. The hero basically makes all the decisions for her, and at the end, he 'kidnaps' her and marries her.
Older hero falls in love with younger heroine after a bus crash. The hero basically makes all the decisions for her, and at the end, he 'kidnaps' her and marries her.
November 13, 2022
I absolutely loved The Magic of Living! The MCs are fantastic, the FFRs are just lovely, and the family & friends are entertaining. I have less than ten titles by TGB left to read, which makes me both happy and sad, and if I had known what a great read it is I would have kept for the end! The Magic of Living is definitely on my Top 10 list!
January 23, 2024
Review mostly for my own bad memory! This one is definitely a good Betty.
* Main characters spend a lot of time together and both contribute to developing a good relationship.
*OW is delightfully evil but her influence is short-lived, thank goodness.
*RDD is not so distant that we can't tell who he's really falling for. :)
* Main characters spend a lot of time together and both contribute to developing a good relationship.
*OW is delightfully evil but her influence is short-lived, thank goodness.
*RDD is not so distant that we can't tell who he's really falling for. :)
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