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The Fortunes Of Francesca
All problems had an answer—but marriage?
Francesca was naturally optimistic—and she needed to be. She'd cut her nursing instruction short in order to look after the elderly aunt who had so kindly opened her home to Franny and her brother. Financial difficulties led Franny to apply for a job as Lady Trumper's assistant, but Franny's outspoken manner clearly didn't please her. It was only through her godson, Marc, that Franny was able to get the job. Marc always seemed to be on hand after that.…
Francesca was naturally optimistic—and she needed to be. She'd cut her nursing instruction short in order to look after the elderly aunt who had so kindly opened her home to Franny and her brother. Financial difficulties led Franny to apply for a job as Lady Trumper's assistant, but Franny's outspoken manner clearly didn't please her. It was only through her godson, Marc, that Franny was able to get the job. Marc always seemed to be on hand after that.…
217 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1996
About the author
Betty Neels
584 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 - 30 of 38 reviews
August 16, 2013
This is one of the "desperately poor mousy girl works incredibly hard for no real reward but eventually is appreciated by an incredibly rich and successful doctor" type of Neels stories.
This one is intensified by a malevolent uncle who steps in and actively tries to destroy her and her lovely aunt. Wayyy over the top, and weirdly (without the incest aspect), brought Flowers in the Attic to mind.
With that excessive layering on of hardships on the poor heroine's head, plus the very brief resolution , this was not as satisfying as some of Neels' other titles. 2.5 stars
Edited to add this standout gem:
I love it when Betty tut tuts over our vulgar modern times!
This one is intensified by a malevolent uncle who steps in and actively tries to destroy her and her lovely aunt. Wayyy over the top, and weirdly (without the incest aspect), brought Flowers in the Attic to mind.
With that excessive layering on of hardships on the poor heroine's head, plus the very brief resolution , this was not as satisfying as some of Neels' other titles. 2.5 stars
Edited to add this standout gem:
AT EXACTLY TEN O’CLOCK on the Monday morning Franny presented herself to Lady Trumper. She looked neat and tidy in her navy skirt and white blouse topped by a navy cardigan. The garments did nothing to add to her looks, but Lady Trumper noticed and approved. At least the girl didn’t wear a skirt up to her thighs and one of those vulgar tops printed with some stupid sentence...
I love it when Betty tut tuts over our vulgar modern times!
February 14, 2010
I love Betty Neels and this is one of the better ones. Her stories are somewhat similar and that is part of the charm. These books are 'comfort' stories with happy endings. When you need a simple story with characters that resist the 'instant' gratification and 'selfish narcissism' so prevalent today, reach for a Betty Neels story.
April 18, 2025
5+⭐️ Favorite RDD of all!
September 22, 2013
3 stars. Loved Francesca and her feistiness. Loved the way she viewed the world and her ability to bounce back from every evil encounter even a wicked uncle who was out to destroy her.
The hero was okay, but not one of Betty's best.
The hero was okay, but not one of Betty's best.
June 5, 2015
First, I LOVE the title of this one. It's so like The Perils of Pauline, you know?
Anyway, Franny is applying for work as companion/secretary/lackey to Lady Trumper, who immediately decides that Franny is Not Suitable. Franny is on the point of leaving the house when the butler is informed that the kitchen maid has cut herself; Franny, having completed 2 years of nurse training, follows him to the kitchen and quietly but competently takes charge. She continues to assist after the doctor arrives; he is Marc van der Kettener, eminent cardiologist and godson of Lady Trumper.
Franny accompanies Elsie to the hospital in Mr. vdK's Rolls; then after she is abandoned in the waiting area, she takes a bus home.
Home which she shares with Auntie, who has a heart condition, and Finn, her younger brother who is studying to be a doctor. Later, Mr. vdK advises his godmother to hire Franny and she does; it is, however, a fractious relationship as Franny is quite chatty and outspoken. Mr. vdK doesn't like her chattiness either (at first).
They see quite a lot of each other even after Franny leaves Lady Thumper; Auntie has a heart attack and Mr. vdK operates.
Marc (time to stop calling him Mr. vdK) arranges things, proposes a MOC to Franny and generally takes charge.
The ending is quite nice. Whereas he once disliked her chatter, he tells her that "the day you stop talking I shall die, my darling."
This one lands somewhere in the middle of the pack.
Anyway, Franny is applying for work as companion/secretary/lackey to Lady Trumper, who immediately decides that Franny is Not Suitable. Franny is on the point of leaving the house when the butler is informed that the kitchen maid has cut herself; Franny, having completed 2 years of nurse training, follows him to the kitchen and quietly but competently takes charge. She continues to assist after the doctor arrives; he is Marc van der Kettener, eminent cardiologist and godson of Lady Trumper.
Franny accompanies Elsie to the hospital in Mr. vdK's Rolls; then after she is abandoned in the waiting area, she takes a bus home.
Home which she shares with Auntie, who has a heart condition, and Finn, her younger brother who is studying to be a doctor. Later, Mr. vdK advises his godmother to hire Franny and she does; it is, however, a fractious relationship as Franny is quite chatty and outspoken. Mr. vdK doesn't like her chattiness either (at first).
They see quite a lot of each other even after Franny leaves Lady Thumper; Auntie has a heart attack and Mr. vdK operates.
Marc (time to stop calling him Mr. vdK) arranges things, proposes a MOC to Franny and generally takes charge.
The ending is quite nice. Whereas he once disliked her chatter, he tells her that "the day you stop talking I shall die, my darling."
This one lands somewhere in the middle of the pack.
September 4, 2017
Leer a Betty es tan lindo...
Sus novelas siempre tienen algo que me identifica. En este caso ella trabaja de noche como yo y es como si me hiciera un guiño cuando cuenta cómo llega a casa de mañana y va a dormir; me gustan sus heroínas fuertes y luchadoras y Franny no es la excepción. El doctor es un poco frío, pero el final amerita esa falta de pasión.
Sus novelas siempre tienen algo que me identifica. En este caso ella trabaja de noche como yo y es como si me hiciera un guiño cuando cuenta cómo llega a casa de mañana y va a dormir; me gustan sus heroínas fuertes y luchadoras y Franny no es la excepción. El doctor es un poco frío, pero el final amerita esa falta de pasión.
July 12, 2018
One of TGB's best. Almost Dickensian at times; Francesca is optimistic and hardworking despite cruel and often heartbreaking obstacles. She lives in reduced circumstances with her loving Aunt and younger brother Finn (a medical student). 2 years into her Nursing training Franny is forced to leave to care for her Aunt who has a cardiac condition. This she does cheerfully and gladly to repay her Aunt's kindness in taking them in upon their parents' deaths. There is a backstory with a hideous Uncle and Aunt that will make you shudder. She meets our RDD at his godmother's (a frightful snob) home where she works. He is unimpressed initially but comes to respect Franny's strength and commitment to her family. What is nice about the book is that Marc (who works constantly and untiring) begins to unthaw and notice that Franny has become more and more vital to him. They embark on a MOC and Franny falls first but not hardest. The dialogue is some of her best. When Marc realizes what a treasure he has we cheer for Francesca's HEA. Great read.
April 10, 2022
For the life of me I couldn't understand why the hero decided to marry the heroine. This was one of the the most boring books of Betty where the heroine toils like anything she is all the time struggling to make ends meet just as if she is a slave. There was nothing interesting in the whole book,very poor plot and highly unbelievable scenarios especially hero deciding to marry heroine who has no looks,no education, but is sharp tongued and not a penny.
It was just waste of time reading
It was just waste of time reading
March 7, 2023
4.5 ⭐️ This is one of my favorite Bettys so far! Francesca is a splendid heroine. She is plucky, honest, cheerful, hard working, and so irrepressibly herself. I’m a huge fan of her core family too, her medical-student brother Finn and her Auntie. They are so supportive and Franny works so hard to enable Finn to stay in school and her aunt to recover from her heart trouble. Luckily she’s got Marc van der Kettener on her side, an eminent heart surgeon and all around good guy. I like that Franny does everything in her power to provide for her family so that when Marc steps in at various points it’s not to save her but to help protect her when she’s vulnerable. I love love love the Christmas basket. Plus Marc has a butler named Crisp, which is officially my favorite butler name in the Betty canon.
I took a .5 star off for Evil Uncle William but maybe that is giving him more attention than he deserves. 😂 Seriously he’s as good as Anne Shirley at holding a grudge. I like that Betty didn’t make this into too much of a Cinderella story. I like a good Cinderella story but it doesn’t fit Franny’s character as well.
Like my friend Lisa pointed out about this one, Marc is a RDD with more capacity for regret/apology than some of the others. There are several instances in which he has to own up to a mistake or oversight and he does so with humility. He’s a great hero. Plus he will not put up with criticism about Franny from others. I love that he takes Finn under his wing (fish and chips scene!) and takes Auntie’s health seriously. Though the text doesn’t say it right out, it’s obvious that Marc understands how much Franny and Finn love Auntie.
Franny gets a couple good shopping sprees in here. 😆 I’m not much into clothes myself but I do know the power of a perfectly fitting dress. So very satisfying.
I took a .5 star off for Evil Uncle William but maybe that is giving him more attention than he deserves. 😂 Seriously he’s as good as Anne Shirley at holding a grudge. I like that Betty didn’t make this into too much of a Cinderella story. I like a good Cinderella story but it doesn’t fit Franny’s character as well.
Like my friend Lisa pointed out about this one, Marc is a RDD with more capacity for regret/apology than some of the others. There are several instances in which he has to own up to a mistake or oversight and he does so with humility. He’s a great hero. Plus he will not put up with criticism about Franny from others. I love that he takes Finn under his wing (fish and chips scene!) and takes Auntie’s health seriously. Though the text doesn’t say it right out, it’s obvious that Marc understands how much Franny and Finn love Auntie.
Franny gets a couple good shopping sprees in here. 😆 I’m not much into clothes myself but I do know the power of a perfectly fitting dress. So very satisfying.
Read
September 3, 2024Even though I skimmed my way through the majority of this book the dreary part of the story is sooooo long and grey that I had no idea how Betty Neels could ever pretend to make a success of its romance aspect, until I reached the part where the RDD arrives with the heroine’s brother in tow to rescue her and her aunt from the clutches of the evil, unscrupulous uncle, at about the last 1/8 of the book. To prevent the uncle from making trouble he announces that he and Francesca are marrying and then privately warms up to the idea. From this point onwards the real slow burn starts and you can count the levels of his deepening feelings for her. Her chatter having always annoyed him, once she agrees to marry him she promises herself to do her best to repay his kindness and become as suitable as she possibly can so she stops chattering. A phenomenon so rare that startles him at tea and makes him demand her to be herself, later on in Holland she’s basically stranded in the shopping district without money, and doesn’t disturb him at the hospital because she didn’t feel it urgent enough to merit disturbing him at his work, which leaves him in awe of her character (presumably the rest of his female acquaintance would have tantrums and nervous breakdowns in similar situations) and then there’s the beautiful dress that night at Lady S’s which turns his head, several small incidents later and then her outspoken remark on the morning when he was to leave for his tour clinches the whole thing. Strangely enough all of this happens in the last last chapter of I’m not mistaken and it far outweighs the gloom and doom if the rest of the book. Or maybe it did for me or perhaps it was the underlying and hidden element of passion and love as @Leona put it in one of her reviews of BN that was present in the book to rescue it from becoming dreary.
February 25, 2020
Francesca Bowen has cut short her medical career to look after her elderly aunt and her younger brother Finn. Francesca meets Professor Marc van der Kettener by change and what started off as kindness on his part turnings into a proposes of married.
This is a perfect Cinderella story and one you couldn't help but hope for Franny to find true love and happiness after all she has come through.
This is a perfect Cinderella story and one you couldn't help but hope for Franny to find true love and happiness after all she has come through.
February 26, 2023
‘What a pity one may not say exactly what one wants to say. I mean, who cares about the weather? All the thoughts inside one’s head which may not be uttered...’ The professor put down his cup, aware at last that all his efforts not to fall in love with Franny had been in vain.
The professor looked at Franny, rosy from sleep, her hair all over the place, and knew suddenly that there was a great deal more to life than work. There was love—and unfortunately no time to tell her so. He got up, bent and kissed her hard and went away.
The professor looked at Franny, rosy from sleep, her hair all over the place, and knew suddenly that there was a great deal more to life than work. There was love—and unfortunately no time to tell her so. He got up, bent and kissed her hard and went away.
January 21, 2025
Just meh. I really liked the premise, but the MMC was just too aloof and grouchy. It seems like he was far nicer to everyone else than Franny.
January 17, 2021
I have read this one before many years ago, but I was struck on this re-read that a more accurate title might have been, "The Misfortunes of Francesca".
Franny is a stalwart kind soul who is friendly to everyone (almost everyone), I greatly enjoyed when she was finally "rescued" by our standard Betty Neels professor of Dutch descent, and lots of lovely descriptions of very expensive frocks.
Rated 5 Chiffon Gowns from Harrods Stars.
Franny is a stalwart kind soul who is friendly to everyone (almost everyone), I greatly enjoyed when she was finally "rescued" by our standard Betty Neels professor of Dutch descent, and lots of lovely descriptions of very expensive frocks.
Rated 5 Chiffon Gowns from Harrods Stars.
February 21, 2018
If you love Betty....
If you’re as big a Betty Neels fan as I am, it’s hard to rate any of her books fairly because it’s going to be 4 or 5 Stars- not because it’s the greatest thing I’ve ever read but because she’s Betty. The taciturn heroes, the saccharine but sensible heroines with a cheerful spirit and a hint of backbone, the barely detectable chemistry.... what’s not to love? Yes I know these are a little (ok a lot) ridiculous but I love Betty and so it’s all 4 and 5 stars from me.
If you’re as big a Betty Neels fan as I am, it’s hard to rate any of her books fairly because it’s going to be 4 or 5 Stars- not because it’s the greatest thing I’ve ever read but because she’s Betty. The taciturn heroes, the saccharine but sensible heroines with a cheerful spirit and a hint of backbone, the barely detectable chemistry.... what’s not to love? Yes I know these are a little (ok a lot) ridiculous but I love Betty and so it’s all 4 and 5 stars from me.
May 1, 2012
Love this novel! Really like it. I love the character of Francesca Bowen, a girl who has a positive thinking no matter what problems appeared in her life.
It also match the title. It was a fortune for Franny to have a great future husband in Marc van der Kettener. I can't imagine to have an uncle like uncle Will, thanks to Marc who has rescued Franny and her aunt from that domineering uncle Will!
It also match the title. It was a fortune for Franny to have a great future husband in Marc van der Kettener. I can't imagine to have an uncle like uncle Will, thanks to Marc who has rescued Franny and her aunt from that domineering uncle Will!
January 5, 2012
I really like this one. It is excessively cozy.
November 10, 2012
Not in the least raunchy, and written in a somewhat old-fashioned way, this is a sweet little romance for when you just want a nice, non-taxing story.
July 27, 2013
Very nice.
December 7, 2016
Star Rating: ★★½☆☆
August 18, 2016
Excellent Neels Story
Although this tale occasionally gets a bit too hard a push to make it all work, most of the story is really good!
Although this tale occasionally gets a bit too hard a push to make it all work, most of the story is really good!
June 5, 2023
This is just not one of her best. There’s the rather straightforward romance issue - this is one of Neels’s books in which we get a little too much of the hero’s perspective, so we’re very clearly told that he is not even remotely in love with the heroine for most of the book, and faintly mystified as to why he offered her a marriage of convenience in the first place, which makes reading the heroine’s attempts to please him somewhat cringe-worthy - and then there’s the fact that Neels is stuck in the 60s and this book was published in 1996. The hero gives his cell phone to the heroine’s younger brother so he has a phone to keep tabs on a relative in the hospital; there are some grim mentions of the awfulness of t-shirts; there is an entire plot point about the heroine not having any cash on her and nobody has heard of checks or credit cards (although the heroine does get a checkbook eventually). The heroine is briefly forced into domestic work and no one mentions microwaves. There is some sniping at the concept of old-age homes but no real idea that there are regulations surrounding how those are run. Whenever we’re reminded that it’s supposedly 1996, it’s in a very “oh those obnoxious kids these days” kind of way, but the hero’s in his early thirties! They ARE the obnoxious kids… unlike Betty, who was born in 1910. Really, I think her editors should have just let her keep setting her books in the nebulous past. Still three stars because, I mean, it's Betty, but not a re-read.
March 22, 2021
Francesca left her nursing training to care for the aunt who had unselfishly taken her in after the death of her parents. Her habit of plain, honest speaking makes it difficult to keep a position for long. The unexpected appearance of her estranged uncle at her lowest point seems to signal a change, but not for the better. A professor, one she has met a handful of times, proposes a marriage of convenience. But can she trust that to be true?
Sometimes, when you don't feel well, a cozy book with no surprises is just what you need. Betty Neels' books are just that for me: cozy and unsurprising. They are peaceful and easy-to-read romances. What little drama is contained in the narrative is not overly serious.
This little gem is one of the 'newest' I've read, originally published in the late 90s. It doesn't differ that much from the ones I've read that were published in the 70s. A young woman, cheerful and more plain than pretty, goes about life and love finds her unexpectedly.
And it is an unexpected romance. There are a handful of meetings between Franny and Professor van der Ketterner, and no real romantic feelings. After she accepts his announcement that they are to be married, she realizes she loves him for no real reason.
Still, I have a fondness for this author. I would recommend this to readers looking for a n easy afternoon read.
Sometimes, when you don't feel well, a cozy book with no surprises is just what you need. Betty Neels' books are just that for me: cozy and unsurprising. They are peaceful and easy-to-read romances. What little drama is contained in the narrative is not overly serious.
This little gem is one of the 'newest' I've read, originally published in the late 90s. It doesn't differ that much from the ones I've read that were published in the 70s. A young woman, cheerful and more plain than pretty, goes about life and love finds her unexpectedly.
And it is an unexpected romance. There are a handful of meetings between Franny and Professor van der Ketterner, and no real romantic feelings. After she accepts his announcement that they are to be married, she realizes she loves him for no real reason.
Still, I have a fondness for this author. I would recommend this to readers looking for a n easy afternoon read.
October 31, 2017
1/24/17-1/25/17:
Enjoyable, though not my favorite BN, because the hero and heroine didn't see much of each other at all, and when they did, he was always trying to get her to shut up and quit annoying him. And there were too many hardships which lasted a little too long. But Francesca was a hoot and quite a character, so that made it worthwhile. :) 4 stars.
October 2017: I've been going through my old updates, cleaning things up a bit, and, now, I'm catching up on my review backlog (I'm still in January of 2017!). In the past, I've always posted my reviews as updates, since they're really just a way for me to remember how I felt about the books I read (for my own benefit, rather than to inform anyone else) and because I'm a big coward, but it's annoying and inefficient having to do it that way, so I might OFFICIALLY be reviewing things from now on.
...
Maybe.
Enjoyable, though not my favorite BN, because the hero and heroine didn't see much of each other at all, and when they did, he was always trying to get her to shut up and quit annoying him. And there were too many hardships which lasted a little too long. But Francesca was a hoot and quite a character, so that made it worthwhile. :) 4 stars.
October 2017: I've been going through my old updates, cleaning things up a bit, and, now, I'm catching up on my review backlog (I'm still in January of 2017!). In the past, I've always posted my reviews as updates, since they're really just a way for me to remember how I felt about the books I read (for my own benefit, rather than to inform anyone else) and because I'm a big coward, but it's annoying and inefficient having to do it that way, so I might OFFICIALLY be reviewing things from now on.
...
Maybe.
June 16, 2022
3-1/2 stars because it's not quite a 4-star book. I like Franny - a lot. I like her upbeat personality; I like her chattiness and consideration; i like her can-do attitude; and I like her stubbornness. What I didn’t like was Marc. He discovers that he loves Franny when he sees her in an expensive dress. Of all the wonderful qualities that Franny exhibits, Marc falls in love with her because of her appearance! C’mon! Can we say shallow? Another nit about the book - Auntie. Does the woman not have any other name besides Auntie or Mrs. Blake? I get that it's an endearment and she's just a minor player in the story; but, jeez, even Auntie's own brother didn't refer to her by her name. Poor woman!
April 29, 2020
One of my favorite Betty Neels books. Francesca shares a shabby home with her widowed Aunt Emma and her brother, Finn, who is a medical student. When Professor Marc van der Kettener, enters their lives, he solves all of their problems. The catch is that he and Franny (I prefer Francesca) need to get married without delay. This story includes a nasty uncle, Sir William, and Marc's godmother, Lady Trumper, very much like Catherine de Bourgh in Pride and Prejudice. I like that Marc, a prominent heart surgeon, not only saves Aunt Emma's life, but becomes a friend to Finn with his medical studies.
March 20, 2018
Lovely Romance
Another beautiful romantic love story by Betty. I loved the Hero Marc and the Heroine Franny. Strong hero plain heroine with plenty of spunk spoke her mind and stood up for herself and others. The secondary characters are also well developed and of course there is HEA
Another beautiful romantic love story by Betty. I loved the Hero Marc and the Heroine Franny. Strong hero plain heroine with plenty of spunk spoke her mind and stood up for herself and others. The secondary characters are also well developed and of course there is HEA
April 15, 2021
I like Francesca until she married the H. She lost her spunk and bent on being a perfect wife to his dull husband. I also agree with some of the reviews. H is a bit shallow. I don't think he really loves her.
August 14, 2018
Lovely
If you enjoy your romances clean, light, fluffy and vintage then you will enjoy the wonderful work of Betty Neels
If you enjoy your romances clean, light, fluffy and vintage then you will enjoy the wonderful work of Betty Neels
January 31, 2019
I adored Francesca and Auntie and Finn, ass well as the Professor. I laughed out several times, and enjoyed quite a few specific lines. The bad guy especially annoyed me. I really liked this one!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews