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Last April Fair & The Course Of True
The job came along at the perfect time.
Phyllida was overjoyed. Her job as nurse-companion was taking her and her patient to the Canary Islands...and away from her persistent ex-boyfriend Philip.
But the trip was a disaster, and if not for the help of handsome Dr. Pieter can Siddardt, Phylly would have been in dire straits.
She soon realized she could happily spend the rest of her life with Pieter...but all he could do was urge her to marry Philip!
Phyllida was overjoyed. Her job as nurse-companion was taking her and her patient to the Canary Islands...and away from her persistent ex-boyfriend Philip.
But the trip was a disaster, and if not for the help of handsome Dr. Pieter can Siddardt, Phylly would have been in dire straits.
She soon realized she could happily spend the rest of her life with Pieter...but all he could do was urge her to marry Philip!
Paperback
First published January 11, 1980
About the author
Betty Neels
585 books422 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 - 23 of 23 reviews
July 15, 2019
4 Stars ~ In order to shake her persistent ex-boyfriend, 26 year old Phyllida leaves the job she loves as Ward Sister of a busy London hospital to nurse a terminally ill teenager while the family goes on a cruise. While at sea, Gaby's leukemia relapses and Phylly enlists the ship's doctor to convince Gaby's parents to take the relapse seriously. However, the parents are convinced Gaby will rally and so they leave the girls in a luxury hotel on Madeira and they return to the cruise. But Gaby declines quickly and another hotel guest, Pietre, a Dutch doctor on holiday, comes to their aid. When the girl dies and her parents leave Phylly to make her own way home to England, he again comes to her aid. They spend a week together with his friends and then they board the next ship back to England. Pieter insists on seeing her to her family home outside London where he is a huge success. Not wanting to part from Phylly, Pieter uses her mother's love of gardening to invite mother, Phylly and Phylly's young brother to Holland to enjoy the spring blooms. Just as Phylly realizes she's fallen in love with Pieter and he may have feelings in return, beautiful Marena comes on the scene.
I adore Betty Neels' resourceful and patient heroes who are quite content to wait for the heroine to fall in love with them. Pieter is such a hero, but he does have a few uncomfortable moments when Phillip arrives to take Phylly back to England. Of course, Phylly has no desire to marry Phillip but she doesn't make that clear to Pieter who seems to be enamored with the vibrant Marena. Of course, Ms. Neels lets the sort it all out in a lovely HEA
I adore Betty Neels' resourceful and patient heroes who are quite content to wait for the heroine to fall in love with them. Pieter is such a hero, but he does have a few uncomfortable moments when Phillip arrives to take Phylly back to England. Of course, Phylly has no desire to marry Phillip but she doesn't make that clear to Pieter who seems to be enamored with the vibrant Marena. Of course, Ms. Neels lets the sort it all out in a lovely HEA
January 17, 2014
Betty Neels is the queen of enigmatic heroes. There are times I think they would deserve it if the heroine were to up and marry someone else in despair because they never seem to get the least amount of encouragement apart from the occasional hard kiss when they least expect it. And the way the hero always fixes up their problems. And the way the heroine immediately fits in perfectly with his family and servants...and dog. We mustn't forget the prerequisite pets.
Pieter van Sittardt is one of Neels typical Professors. He comes across Phyllida in Madeira when she is stranded by an medical emergency while private nursing to get away from her boyfriend who wants to marry her. There are no sparks however, unlike with the Professor.
It's quite obvious to the reader the Professor has taken a skunner for Phylly by the way he takes over her life and makes sure she has no opportunity to get away from him. His reserve however leaves Phylly wondering, especially when the traditional gorgeous Dutch girl turns up in his life back in Holland.
But of course all is resolved and Phylly will live happily ever after with the Professor.
Pieter van Sittardt is one of Neels typical Professors. He comes across Phyllida in Madeira when she is stranded by an medical emergency while private nursing to get away from her boyfriend who wants to marry her. There are no sparks however, unlike with the Professor.
It's quite obvious to the reader the Professor has taken a skunner for Phylly by the way he takes over her life and makes sure she has no opportunity to get away from him. His reserve however leaves Phylly wondering, especially when the traditional gorgeous Dutch girl turns up in his life back in Holland.
But of course all is resolved and Phylly will live happily ever after with the Professor.
April 20, 2009
Betty Neels. What can I say about Betty Neels. The tamests of the romance writers, who's stories probably fit in with the 1940's or 1950's. But still I like reading her, she's very predictable. And she wrote over 100 books, so collecting and reading all her books, took time. I'm this close to having all her books.
November 27, 2023
Phyllida is a nurse with a boring sort-of boyfriend and a wonderful family. To get away from him she takes a job on a cruise and tragedy strikes. While in Madeira she's rescued by a RDD, who reappears in her life after she returns to England. This book follows the standard Neels formula. The heroine and her family and the doctor are all quite likable. I didn't care as much for the cruise subplot, however. The parents were quite over the top nasty.
January 1, 2026
3 stars. REVIEW FOR *LAST APRIL FAIR*
3 Stars. I skimmed most of the book and overall it didn't quite hit the mark for me.
this is the one where the beautiful h is tired of her pompous boyfriend and needs a change. she packs in her nursing job to be a private nurse to a sick girl whose parents are taking the girl on a cruise. the parents dump the nurse and girl off the ship when the girl gets too ill. the girl dies and the nurse is left stranded abroad. luckily the H sweeps in to help her in her moment of crisis, befriends her, and even accompanies her home to England.
GOOD points:
1. I liked how the H swept in to save the h when she was abandoned abroad after her patient died. he was a friend to her from the start and it was sweet to see him watch out for her.
STUFF I DIDNT LIKE:
1. it never made sense why the H kept flinging the other woman Marena in the h's face when he was hoping h would fall for him. Betty sometimes has her Hs use other women to make the h jealous but in this setup it made no sense because it seems in the end the h was arrogantly confident the h loved him so there was no need to let the OW cling to him like a limpet, was there?
2. her family going on holiday to the H's house. I like it when Betty puts the h into the H's world and she gets to meet his family. but here, taking her parents on holiday with her made her seem like some naive little girl who needed her chaperones. I just didn't enjoy that set up I prefer it when it's the h testing herself in a new world and being independent.
3. the ending where he was waiting in his car for her to come to her senses was just too smug. the ending made the h out to be some stupid creature who had been silly to 'not realise the H loved her'. how was she supposed to know that when he played so many games? it didn't work for me in this book. plus he didn't even properly confess his love and explain when he fell for her. meh
overall, this book made the heroine seem wishy washy and helpless and silly and I didn't enjoy it.
-------------‐------------------
REVIEW FOR *THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE*
I had read this book before and have put my review for it below:
3.5 stars. this was good but not the greatest.
this is the one where big and beautiful h Claribel meets the H Marc when she injured her foot in London while catching a bus. he is very high handed and bossy and drives her home and tends to her foot, telling her he is a doc. she thinks she will never see him again, gladly she tells herself, but happens to see him again soon afterwards at the hospital where she works as a physiotherapist. he is a RDD and visiting consultant.
he keeps turning up to see her and it's clear he likes her even though she resists liking him due to his high handed bossiness and his occasionally cold ways. he even told her at their first meeting that he thought she was the most beautiful girl he's seen. but she's a naive old fashioned girl so she doesn't realise he is coming to see her an awful lot and coming out of his way for her. (She doesnt realise his interest in her even when he comes all the way from Holland for a weekend just to see her and spend time with her even after having no sleep.) this guy really goes out of his way to spend time with her and unashamedly so, making all manner of excuses when he randomly turns up at her apartment.
SPOILERS
The main conflict of the story is that a young woman the H rescued from a road traffic accident starts stalking him; turning up at his house and home and following him everywhere, walking along with him, refusing to be put off. so he asks claribel to be his fake fiancee to help scare the girl off. but also so that he can take claribel to all sorts of nice dates nearly every night of the week and have an excuse to see her every evening.
he even ends up taking her to Holland using the stalker excuse because the stalker is darn persistent.
in Holland he leaves the h with his grandma and doesnt come to see her for days. she is so disappointed, thinking he really was just using her to fend off the stalker. so when he does finally come to see her, she has her dawning realisation that she loves him and he sees it on her face and is smug about it. I hate it when the men are too smug. she is horrified at falling for him because she thinks he doesn't care for her and plays it cool with him. she tells him she is going to find a new job somewhere v far away etc. he lets her go back to his grandma and doesn't come back for a few days...
ENDING SPOILERS
the climatic scene was a bit lackluster for me as it lacked the drama of a fleeing h and a frantic H chasing after her. this time, on her last day in Holland she goes to visit a tower, goaded into it because she had defiantly told him she would be busy doing stuff including seeing that tower, but really she is afraid of heights. Once she gets to the top via the lift she can't even bear to look at the view because it terrifies her. the lift breaks down and everyone else goes down the stairs but she is in a panic attack daze and doesn't notice them leave. when she realises what has happened, she is trapped up there because she can't go down the steep spiral staircase that doesn't even have a handrail.
Marc goes to his gran's house to see the h and is worried to hear she was due home hours ago. he goes looking for her and finds her in a panic at the top of the tower and singing poetry to herself to try to stay calm. he tells her he loves her and that they will be married etc and he soothes her and lovingly takes her down the stairs. the end.
CONCLUSION
this one didn't have much going on in the story and was a very average middle of the road Betty book. it was perfectly interesting and engaging and never boring at all, and I enjoyed the hero's snarkiness, but I didn't find it as satisfying as other Betty reads. I could easily have skipped it and spent my time reading something else and yet my first instinct was to give it 4 stars until I realised that it was a merely okay read.
3 Stars. I skimmed most of the book and overall it didn't quite hit the mark for me.
this is the one where the beautiful h is tired of her pompous boyfriend and needs a change. she packs in her nursing job to be a private nurse to a sick girl whose parents are taking the girl on a cruise. the parents dump the nurse and girl off the ship when the girl gets too ill. the girl dies and the nurse is left stranded abroad. luckily the H sweeps in to help her in her moment of crisis, befriends her, and even accompanies her home to England.
GOOD points:
1. I liked how the H swept in to save the h when she was abandoned abroad after her patient died. he was a friend to her from the start and it was sweet to see him watch out for her.
STUFF I DIDNT LIKE:
1. it never made sense why the H kept flinging the other woman Marena in the h's face when he was hoping h would fall for him. Betty sometimes has her Hs use other women to make the h jealous but in this setup it made no sense because it seems in the end the h was arrogantly confident the h loved him so there was no need to let the OW cling to him like a limpet, was there?
2. her family going on holiday to the H's house. I like it when Betty puts the h into the H's world and she gets to meet his family. but here, taking her parents on holiday with her made her seem like some naive little girl who needed her chaperones. I just didn't enjoy that set up I prefer it when it's the h testing herself in a new world and being independent.
3. the ending where he was waiting in his car for her to come to her senses was just too smug. the ending made the h out to be some stupid creature who had been silly to 'not realise the H loved her'. how was she supposed to know that when he played so many games? it didn't work for me in this book. plus he didn't even properly confess his love and explain when he fell for her. meh
overall, this book made the heroine seem wishy washy and helpless and silly and I didn't enjoy it.
-------------‐------------------
REVIEW FOR *THE COURSE OF TRUE LOVE*
I had read this book before and have put my review for it below:
3.5 stars. this was good but not the greatest.
this is the one where big and beautiful h Claribel meets the H Marc when she injured her foot in London while catching a bus. he is very high handed and bossy and drives her home and tends to her foot, telling her he is a doc. she thinks she will never see him again, gladly she tells herself, but happens to see him again soon afterwards at the hospital where she works as a physiotherapist. he is a RDD and visiting consultant.
he keeps turning up to see her and it's clear he likes her even though she resists liking him due to his high handed bossiness and his occasionally cold ways. he even told her at their first meeting that he thought she was the most beautiful girl he's seen. but she's a naive old fashioned girl so she doesn't realise he is coming to see her an awful lot and coming out of his way for her. (She doesnt realise his interest in her even when he comes all the way from Holland for a weekend just to see her and spend time with her even after having no sleep.) this guy really goes out of his way to spend time with her and unashamedly so, making all manner of excuses when he randomly turns up at her apartment.
SPOILERS
The main conflict of the story is that a young woman the H rescued from a road traffic accident starts stalking him; turning up at his house and home and following him everywhere, walking along with him, refusing to be put off. so he asks claribel to be his fake fiancee to help scare the girl off. but also so that he can take claribel to all sorts of nice dates nearly every night of the week and have an excuse to see her every evening.
he even ends up taking her to Holland using the stalker excuse because the stalker is darn persistent.
in Holland he leaves the h with his grandma and doesnt come to see her for days. she is so disappointed, thinking he really was just using her to fend off the stalker. so when he does finally come to see her, she has her dawning realisation that she loves him and he sees it on her face and is smug about it. I hate it when the men are too smug. she is horrified at falling for him because she thinks he doesn't care for her and plays it cool with him. she tells him she is going to find a new job somewhere v far away etc. he lets her go back to his grandma and doesn't come back for a few days...
ENDING SPOILERS
the climatic scene was a bit lackluster for me as it lacked the drama of a fleeing h and a frantic H chasing after her. this time, on her last day in Holland she goes to visit a tower, goaded into it because she had defiantly told him she would be busy doing stuff including seeing that tower, but really she is afraid of heights. Once she gets to the top via the lift she can't even bear to look at the view because it terrifies her. the lift breaks down and everyone else goes down the stairs but she is in a panic attack daze and doesn't notice them leave. when she realises what has happened, she is trapped up there because she can't go down the steep spiral staircase that doesn't even have a handrail.
Marc goes to his gran's house to see the h and is worried to hear she was due home hours ago. he goes looking for her and finds her in a panic at the top of the tower and singing poetry to herself to try to stay calm. he tells her he loves her and that they will be married etc and he soothes her and lovingly takes her down the stairs. the end.
CONCLUSION
this one didn't have much going on in the story and was a very average middle of the road Betty book. it was perfectly interesting and engaging and never boring at all, and I enjoyed the hero's snarkiness, but I didn't find it as satisfying as other Betty reads. I could easily have skipped it and spent my time reading something else and yet my first instinct was to give it 4 stars until I realised that it was a merely okay read.
October 19, 2021
I really liked this one. Phyllida takes a private nursing job for a change of pace, and to break once and for all from her clingy boyfriend. He assumes she will change her mind and marry him. She ends up in the Canary Islands on a cruise caring for a terminally ill young girl. It is a bit sad in the beginning, but Phyllida also meets Dr. Pieter van Siddardt, who helps her cope with the cruelty of her employers. Part of the plot is in England, part in Holland. Marena, an old friend of Pieter's, tries to keep his mind off the other girl she sees as competition. I thought it funny that Marena was so obsessed with Phyllida's "fringe", what we in America call "bangs". She thinks they are childish. I also found it interesting that both hero and heroine are blond with blue eyes. Overall, a fun romance with the usual happy ending.
February 5, 2014
Wow this heroine really got around.
August 4, 2018
Lovely
If you enjoy your romances light, clean, fluffy and vintage then you will enjoy the wonderful work of Betty Neels
If you enjoy your romances light, clean, fluffy and vintage then you will enjoy the wonderful work of Betty Neels
October 24, 2018
In my opinion these were just a little different than the usual situations. Still, either of these fit the Betty Neels “calms my world” kinda moments. It has been a Betty Neels summer—2018
March 16, 2018
3.5*
The story was good, until the end which was meh. Weak and contrived conflict at the end, but still HEA.
Poor Gaby, who had everything materially but no parental love.
SPOILERS
Gaby was adopted! But the de Wolffs were just terrible people! It's horrendous how they treated Gaby during her sickness and after death, and to leave Phyllida stranded?! I hope her father gave them a good telling off!
Initially I had thought Phylly's mother was keen to marry her off to dull Philip; imagine my and Phylly's surprise when mother said good that Phylly had rejected his proposal because he didn't suit her. Tgen she went on to describe a man who WOULD suit Phylly and her description. ..I like! Because it described our hero exactly!
Thank goodness Pieter was in Madeira at the right place and time; not only did he swoop in to Phyllida's rescue, he also gave her a week of holiday in and around Madeira! Pieter was a fast mover; he was grabbing Phyllida's hand and not letting go just a couple of days after meeting her hehe. And kisses of course. I loved hiw he took charge if the situation and looked after Phylly so beautifully. ..just as her mother described her udeal man!
The romance cane through in the little touches he gave her, and what's with his sleepy eyes haha! He was always napping wherever and whenever, a survival skill I guess since he could be working at all hours being a delicious Dutch doctor hehe!
In this story, family was very much involved in the romance; Pieter contrived to make Phyllida visit his home in Leiden, by plotting with her family! Her mother and youngest sibling Willy were invited along for a fishing and flowers trip, so it'd be so good if Phyllida could keep her mother company while the guys fished! It's a transparent plot but it worked! Her family was a delightful one.
Pieter bought Phyllida's mother EVERYTHING in the tulip catalogue at Keukenhof!!!
It was a fun read but really the Other Man Philip and Other Woman Marena ruined the story for me at the end. There's no explanation as to who Marena was to Pieter...he's 39 and Marena 19; how did they even meet and just why was he so indulgent with her nonsense, giving her spending money too! Obviously he's using her to make Phyllida jealous! But Philip was also there to make HIM green eyed! I found it puzzling Pieter seemed to throw Phyllida to
Philip. Poor gal could be forgiven for thinking Pieter was trying to get rid of her!
All that angst and misunderstanding (Pieter-Marena, Phyllida-Philip combo) felt de trop and dragged the story out.
Otherwise it could easily be a great 4* read for me!
The story was good, until the end which was meh. Weak and contrived conflict at the end, but still HEA.
Poor Gaby, who had everything materially but no parental love.
SPOILERS
Gaby was adopted! But the de Wolffs were just terrible people! It's horrendous how they treated Gaby during her sickness and after death, and to leave Phyllida stranded?! I hope her father gave them a good telling off!
Initially I had thought Phylly's mother was keen to marry her off to dull Philip; imagine my and Phylly's surprise when mother said good that Phylly had rejected his proposal because he didn't suit her. Tgen she went on to describe a man who WOULD suit Phylly and her description. ..I like! Because it described our hero exactly!
Thank goodness Pieter was in Madeira at the right place and time; not only did he swoop in to Phyllida's rescue, he also gave her a week of holiday in and around Madeira! Pieter was a fast mover; he was grabbing Phyllida's hand and not letting go just a couple of days after meeting her hehe. And kisses of course. I loved hiw he took charge if the situation and looked after Phylly so beautifully. ..just as her mother described her udeal man!
The romance cane through in the little touches he gave her, and what's with his sleepy eyes haha! He was always napping wherever and whenever, a survival skill I guess since he could be working at all hours being a delicious Dutch doctor hehe!
In this story, family was very much involved in the romance; Pieter contrived to make Phyllida visit his home in Leiden, by plotting with her family! Her mother and youngest sibling Willy were invited along for a fishing and flowers trip, so it'd be so good if Phyllida could keep her mother company while the guys fished! It's a transparent plot but it worked! Her family was a delightful one.
Pieter bought Phyllida's mother EVERYTHING in the tulip catalogue at Keukenhof!!!
It was a fun read but really the Other Man Philip and Other Woman Marena ruined the story for me at the end. There's no explanation as to who Marena was to Pieter...he's 39 and Marena 19; how did they even meet and just why was he so indulgent with her nonsense, giving her spending money too! Obviously he's using her to make Phyllida jealous! But Philip was also there to make HIM green eyed! I found it puzzling Pieter seemed to throw Phyllida to
Philip. Poor gal could be forgiven for thinking Pieter was trying to get rid of her!
All that angst and misunderstanding (Pieter-Marena, Phyllida-Philip combo) felt de trop and dragged the story out.
Otherwise it could easily be a great 4* read for me!
July 19, 2024
I was so pleased to find this novel in one of the little libraries on the street because it was on my 'wanted' list.
It was a good/sad story....Phyllida Cresswell has been hired to look after Gaby, a very sick daughter of the deWolff family who don't seem to realize how very sick their daughter is. They are all on a cruise when Gaby becomes very ill and is left with Phyllida in a hotel while the parents continue on their cruise.
While Phyllida is looking after Gaby, Gaby dies which was expected but a big shock to Phyllida...the deWolffs came to see their daughter, told Phyllida to look after the cremation while they continued their cruise. When Gaby dies in Maderia, Phyllida is now stranded with no return ticket looked after.
Thankfully, Dr. Pieter van Sittardt comes to her rescue and manages to get her back home by looking after the cruise affairs. He is a Dutch specialist and often works in London so he now becomes a big part of Phyllida's life....so the story ends well despite the death of Gaby on the trip.
It was a good/sad story....Phyllida Cresswell has been hired to look after Gaby, a very sick daughter of the deWolff family who don't seem to realize how very sick their daughter is. They are all on a cruise when Gaby becomes very ill and is left with Phyllida in a hotel while the parents continue on their cruise.
While Phyllida is looking after Gaby, Gaby dies which was expected but a big shock to Phyllida...the deWolffs came to see their daughter, told Phyllida to look after the cremation while they continued their cruise. When Gaby dies in Maderia, Phyllida is now stranded with no return ticket looked after.
Thankfully, Dr. Pieter van Sittardt comes to her rescue and manages to get her back home by looking after the cruise affairs. He is a Dutch specialist and often works in London so he now becomes a big part of Phyllida's life....so the story ends well despite the death of Gaby on the trip.
May 15, 2025
She had it confused!
This story starts out very interesting, with Phyllida having a boyfriend already. You will know from the synopsis these she leaves her job to get away from him and takes a private job which is how she, eventually, meets Pieter. Pieter helps her and they go on to become good friends, which is a little different from the way Betty Neels' books usually go. I love how Pieter manages to keep Phyllida near him without her realizing that he's doing it. He's pretty darned smart! There's always that one girl who's trying to get the guy for herself even though she doesn't love him. This time, it's not just a girl trying to get Pieter, but there is a man trying to get Phyllida. This is a great story right up through the end and I wholeheartedly believe you should read it!
This story starts out very interesting, with Phyllida having a boyfriend already. You will know from the synopsis these she leaves her job to get away from him and takes a private job which is how she, eventually, meets Pieter. Pieter helps her and they go on to become good friends, which is a little different from the way Betty Neels' books usually go. I love how Pieter manages to keep Phyllida near him without her realizing that he's doing it. He's pretty darned smart! There's always that one girl who's trying to get the guy for herself even though she doesn't love him. This time, it's not just a girl trying to get Pieter, but there is a man trying to get Phyllida. This is a great story right up through the end and I wholeheartedly believe you should read it!
April 13, 2021
4.5–A chance encounter with Dr. Pieter van Sittardt in Madeira, Portugal causes nurse Phyllida Cresswell to re-examine her relationship with her ex-boyfriend Philip, who persistently wants her to marry him. I loved Betty Neels’ description of the island and, later in the novel, Keukenhof Gardens, which I visited several years ago. This is one of my Betty Neels favorites!
July 15, 2023
Hey! There is a real plot with this one! Still has the strong silent Dutch doctor and the clueless nurse but things actually happen! And there is a charming piece of poetry. Happy ending on the last page.
May 21, 2019
A clean quick escape book
May 17, 2021
Very nice filler. Light, inoffensive.
September 26, 2021
Love Phyllida and Pieter. This has to be one of my top five favorite Neels. Everything in the book is in top form in her gentle style.
April 7, 2023
2.5 stars | a bit more modern feeling than most Betty novels; something just felt off.
May 1, 2023
A pleasant book. Mrs. Cresswell is perhaps the best character in the book. The ending is a bit abrupt and confusing but still an enjoyable read.
April 18, 2026
Last April Fair
A book about a cruise and a patient dying and the Doctor and nurse involved getting together and the family going on holiday to Holland.
A book about a cruise and a patient dying and the Doctor and nurse involved getting together and the family going on holiday to Holland.
January 27, 2017
The CARS! So many in this one.
Rover, Vauxhall Astra, Ford Scorpio (my dad actually had one of these in the States!), and of course, Bentley.
RDD and capable, attractive British nurse with a romantic side. This one was sad with Gaby a cancer patient and her appallingly selfish parents. There was travel and then more travel. Misunderstandings (naturally) and a sort-of OW who was only 19 and 1/2 the RDD's age. Also a boyfriend who doesn't take no for an answer and keeps popping up.
Bottom line, nothing remarkably new but Neels is Neels and this one's a solid outing and perfect for a 3-hour plane ride.
Rover, Vauxhall Astra, Ford Scorpio (my dad actually had one of these in the States!), and of course, Bentley.
RDD and capable, attractive British nurse with a romantic side. This one was sad with Gaby a cancer patient and her appallingly selfish parents. There was travel and then more travel. Misunderstandings (naturally) and a sort-of OW who was only 19 and 1/2 the RDD's age. Also a boyfriend who doesn't take no for an answer and keeps popping up.
Bottom line, nothing remarkably new but Neels is Neels and this one's a solid outing and perfect for a 3-hour plane ride.
February 20, 2024
I confess to being a fan of the clean Harlequin romance line first published back in the 70s/80s. Sweet, romantic, light and entertaining. And in this one, we get to enjoy some nice scenic spots. Although Betty Neels wasn't my favorite author back then, I've since come to enjoy her writing very much.
February 21, 2018
Great
This was a wonderful sweet story. Of course with the necessary problema and misunderstandings but it all worked out well for everybody!
This was a wonderful sweet story. Of course with the necessary problema and misunderstandings but it all worked out well for everybody!
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