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A Christmas Wish
For Olivia Harding, the offer of employment at an exclusive private girl's school had come as something of a godsend. With little experience, she hadn't expected to find a job so easily, let alone one that still bought her into contact with her former boss, the eminent Dutch surgeon, Haso van der Eisler.
Of course, his frequent visits to the school had more to do with his goddaughter, Nel, than her own limited attractions. Nel was a lonely fatherless girl and that Haso should marry her glamorous mother seemed obvious to all but Olivia's stubborn heart.
Of course, his frequent visits to the school had more to do with his goddaughter, Nel, than her own limited attractions. Nel was a lonely fatherless girl and that Haso should marry her glamorous mother seemed obvious to all but Olivia's stubborn heart.
187 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
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 34 reviews
June 7, 2021
I've never seen A Christmas Wish on any "top ten" lists of favorite Betty books, but it's nonetheless a solid entry in the canon. Betty populates this 1994 novel with two very likable MCs; an entertaining plot moppet who transcends her plot device existence; a wonderfully odious "Mommy Dearest" of an OW; and the heroine's mean granny, who ably joins the ranks of Betty's heroines' horrible family members (at least the heroine's mom is nice, even if she's typically helpless).
Typical of Betty's later books, our heroine is not a nurse, although she does work in a hospital (as a filing clerk) at the beginning of the story. Our hero is a Rich Dutch Doctor who meets her there and is immediately intrigued by the heroine and makes a point of chasing her down when she resigns during layoffs (so that the other clerk, who needs the job more, won't get the axe). ACW falls roughly into Betty's "save the waif" / Cinderella trope, but it's not as blatant as perhaps some of Betty's later stories are in that regard, despite a heroine who is untrained for any kind of career. Our hero is typically inscrutable at times, but he's not one of Betty's ogres or cold-eyed arrogant types, and his kindnesses toward the heroine don't fall into "pity" territory.
The M&B/Harlequin marketing department must have been behind that title (guessing), because this is no more a Christmas story than most of Betty's other books (which often include scenes set over the holidays). Overall, an enjoyable read from Betty that may not have made my keeper shelf but that has the usual charms.
Typical of Betty's later books, our heroine is not a nurse, although she does work in a hospital (as a filing clerk) at the beginning of the story. Our hero is a Rich Dutch Doctor who meets her there and is immediately intrigued by the heroine and makes a point of chasing her down when she resigns during layoffs (so that the other clerk, who needs the job more, won't get the axe). ACW falls roughly into Betty's "save the waif" / Cinderella trope, but it's not as blatant as perhaps some of Betty's later stories are in that regard, despite a heroine who is untrained for any kind of career. Our hero is typically inscrutable at times, but he's not one of Betty's ogres or cold-eyed arrogant types, and his kindnesses toward the heroine don't fall into "pity" territory.
The M&B/Harlequin marketing department must have been behind that title (guessing), because this is no more a Christmas story than most of Betty's other books (which often include scenes set over the holidays). Overall, an enjoyable read from Betty that may not have made my keeper shelf but that has the usual charms.
December 4, 2022
Okay, I kinda loved this! It’s a good, old fashioned love story with some great characters and a horrid, love-to-hate villain (actually two, now that I’m thinking about it). The ending was rather delightful too, and I loved the bits of the story at the girls’ school and in Holland with the snow. 😍 Definitely has some Cinderella vibes too. Mr van der Eisler, swoon!
October 26, 2016
Olivia Harding works as a hospital file clerk. She has an incompetent coworker, which leads to her meeting the RDD, Haso van der Eisler, when he comes to pick up the correct file. When he enters, she is singing "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning." (From "Oklahoma!")
He is handsome, very tall, vast, seventeen stones (238 lbs.) with fair hair going grey "at the edges." Olivia is tall, "with a splendid shape," beautiful and tawny haired.
He thinks about her more than he'd like. She thinks about him. She gets laid off in a downsizing.
He finds out where she lives and "just happens" to run into her. "Mr. van der Eisler, and upright and God-fearing man, could on occasion lie like a trooper when it was necessary, and he considered that this was necessary."
Haso has a goddaughter, Nel, whose grandmother, Lady Brennon, lives in Wiltshire where Olivia grew up. Haso gets her to help him find Olivia a job at a girl's school - the very school his goddaughter attends.
Olivia loves the job there and becomes very fond of Nel, whose mother, Rita, is a horrible, selfish, neglectful mother. (Rita's late husband was Haso's best friend.) She is a PA to an oil company executive and is a true Veronica.
As the book progresses, Haso actually drops several helpful clues that he is falling/has fallen in love with Olivia, but she thinks he's going to marry Rita.
Which is why Rita is able to spin a web of lies and succeeds in getting Olivia to flee back to England (oh, yeah, they were in Holland because Nel was unhappy and ran away from home and is staying with Haso's mother with Olivia to care for her.)
Haso sets Rita straight, in a satisfyingly harsh manner and hightails it to England, where he finds Olivia working in the corner shop for Mr. Patel. A lovely D&P.
Mr. Patel is mentioned several times, and in fact, is a very fun secondary character.
I noticed something this reread, perhaps because I was specifically looking for a Christmas-related quote for my Betty Cards. The book doesn't really contain anything relevant to title, A Christmas Wish. The book is still delightful, though.
Quotes:
"The pleasure of sitting in one's own small home, drinking a last cup of tea before getting into bed, was by no means overrated."
"Mr. van der Eisler, being the man he was, would have escorted her dressed in a sack and a man's cloth cap without a tremor, but he was glad for her sake that she had contrived to look so stunning."
3 1/2 stars, rounded up to 4.
He is handsome, very tall, vast, seventeen stones (238 lbs.) with fair hair going grey "at the edges." Olivia is tall, "with a splendid shape," beautiful and tawny haired.
He thinks about her more than he'd like. She thinks about him. She gets laid off in a downsizing.
He finds out where she lives and "just happens" to run into her. "Mr. van der Eisler, and upright and God-fearing man, could on occasion lie like a trooper when it was necessary, and he considered that this was necessary."
Haso has a goddaughter, Nel, whose grandmother, Lady Brennon, lives in Wiltshire where Olivia grew up. Haso gets her to help him find Olivia a job at a girl's school - the very school his goddaughter attends.
Olivia loves the job there and becomes very fond of Nel, whose mother, Rita, is a horrible, selfish, neglectful mother. (Rita's late husband was Haso's best friend.) She is a PA to an oil company executive and is a true Veronica.
As the book progresses, Haso actually drops several helpful clues that he is falling/has fallen in love with Olivia, but she thinks he's going to marry Rita.
Which is why Rita is able to spin a web of lies and succeeds in getting Olivia to flee back to England (oh, yeah, they were in Holland because Nel was unhappy and ran away from home and is staying with Haso's mother with Olivia to care for her.)
Haso sets Rita straight, in a satisfyingly harsh manner and hightails it to England, where he finds Olivia working in the corner shop for Mr. Patel. A lovely D&P.
Mr. Patel is mentioned several times, and in fact, is a very fun secondary character.
I noticed something this reread, perhaps because I was specifically looking for a Christmas-related quote for my Betty Cards. The book doesn't really contain anything relevant to title, A Christmas Wish. The book is still delightful, though.
Quotes:
"The pleasure of sitting in one's own small home, drinking a last cup of tea before getting into bed, was by no means overrated."
"Mr. van der Eisler, being the man he was, would have escorted her dressed in a sack and a man's cloth cap without a tremor, but he was glad for her sake that she had contrived to look so stunning."
3 1/2 stars, rounded up to 4.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2014
I hadn't read this Christmas Betty in awhile and stumbled across it on Scribd and zipped through it fondly - good old Betty! Olivia is one of my favorite heroines, beautiful, no-nonsense, kind, hard-working, not a doormat; the Rich Dutch Doctor, Haso, is a good one in this outing, handsome, kind, caring, sees through the Other Woman's nonsense but because she is also his dead best friend's widow, he has to put on an impassive face and deal with her. The OW, Rita, is delightfully witchy and a rotten mother on top of it, so fun to hate! When Haso finally let's his temper fly over Rita's machinations to get Olivia out of the picture it's good to see her get her comeuppance - even if she just shrugs it off as, "oh, well, I had to give it a try!" Rita was a great OW, and her daughter Nel was a cute little girl, unhappy with her career-minded mother, warty nanny and always being put on the back burner for another trip to France or important meeting. I think Betty made the emotions in this one more realistic and closer to the surface than in many of her books, and it makes for a very satisfying, if rushed ending. I always enjoy a quick reread.
September 20, 2025
This is a solid, enjoyable non-nurse Neels Christmas novel. It has the spirited young woman (with an inept mother and nasty grandmother) who can't find a decent job, the RDD with a lovely home and family, the cute young child, conniving almost-fiancé, a dog and snow. I liked the main characters and enjoyed reading it but in the end I couldn't give it more than 3 stars because there was absolutely nothing new about it. It goes over the old Neels ground nicely. But even in a predictable comfort read I want something fresh, and this book felt stale to me.
September 28, 2018
Love the book! So delightful and though the ending was short, it was for once satisfying. Haso made the most beautiful declaration of love and proposal, with Mr Patel watching the romantic scene in the most unromantic location, which goes to show it's the thought and sentiments that count!
Wretched Rita wickedly caused mischief and trouble, and I was so glad smart Haso figured her out so quickly, and showed her his anger!
Though I wished Haso and Olivia, The Olivia of BN novels, had had more romantic alone times, but it's just delightful watching Haso fall for Olivia despite himself. Those kisses he could not resist giving her aww...
Such a delightful book but the title is misleading... Christmas was hardly mentioned in the story!
Wretched Rita wickedly caused mischief and trouble, and I was so glad smart Haso figured her out so quickly, and showed her his anger!
Though I wished Haso and Olivia, The Olivia of BN novels, had had more romantic alone times, but it's just delightful watching Haso fall for Olivia despite himself. Those kisses he could not resist giving her aww...
Such a delightful book but the title is misleading... Christmas was hardly mentioned in the story!
December 16, 2016
One of the first Harlequin authors I remember reading. I was completely enthralled by the exotic locales in her books when I was 14. Now reading these books are more of a way of remembering the aunt who got me started on them. I'll probably always love them due to the nostalgia factor. her books will always be some of my favorites to re-read.
October 2, 2010
Typical Betty Neels. Not one of her best, as the heroine was just not quite believable, but hero was not obnoxious, so it all balanced out.
ETA: The above was the sum total of my 2 star review of Nov 2009.
However,it is now Oct 2010 and I've just re-read it and I've changed my mind. I've bumped it up to 3 stars and decided that I quite like Olivia, our heroine. She is charming and has a way of saying what first comes to mind and then apologizing nicely almost immediately if needed. The unbelievable remark above stemmed from the fact that 27 year old Olivia had no marketable skills and hadn't gone about taking any courses to remedy that situation. However, on re-read, it is apparent that she wants to do something, but the home situation, especially nasty Granny, have prevented her from doing so. I still think that with a bit of initiative she could have taken night courses or something. But-that was Neels decision.
Haso, the Rich Dutch Doctor remains charming and Rita (the other woman) is wonderfully vile to Olivia and a Bad Mother to boot. Little Nel is a pretty good kid and realistically done.
Still not top of the line Neels, but more than adequate.
ETA: The above was the sum total of my 2 star review of Nov 2009.
However,it is now Oct 2010 and I've just re-read it and I've changed my mind. I've bumped it up to 3 stars and decided that I quite like Olivia, our heroine. She is charming and has a way of saying what first comes to mind and then apologizing nicely almost immediately if needed. The unbelievable remark above stemmed from the fact that 27 year old Olivia had no marketable skills and hadn't gone about taking any courses to remedy that situation. However, on re-read, it is apparent that she wants to do something, but the home situation, especially nasty Granny, have prevented her from doing so. I still think that with a bit of initiative she could have taken night courses or something. But-that was Neels decision.
Haso, the Rich Dutch Doctor remains charming and Rita (the other woman) is wonderfully vile to Olivia and a Bad Mother to boot. Little Nel is a pretty good kid and realistically done.
Still not top of the line Neels, but more than adequate.
February 21, 2011
Cool! An new chaste romance author! Viva la fluff!
March 1, 2015
Cute, but I don't get the title. Can someone explain?
December 1, 2023
Very enjoyable with some typical characters, mean granny, cute child, rich large (238 pounds!) DD, and smart but seriously under educated, big but beautiful heroine. ♥️
January 19, 2026
Read: 13Dec25,
4.2 Stars. I really liked it. It was a heart-warming romance, perhaps not with the richness of depth of some of Betty's other books, but I enjoyed it a lot. It would have got a 4.5 or more if the hero had been an icehole, because I do love Betty's iceholes. He was just uncommunicative though, and yet constantly rescuing the waif in a good way.
Olivia (27), a big beautiful girl, is a records clerk at a hospital when she meets RDD Haso, who is visiting. She helps him sort out an issue with some mixed up patient files. He notices her because she is pretty but other than that he just returns to holland. When he does return to England some time later it is to discover that Olivia has been made redundant by the hospital.
He had liked her as a person and thought she was a nice girl and doesn't like the idea she might be struggling. He goes out of his way to find out that she lives with her widowed mom and her mean granny and they're not so well off and they cant really afford for her to be without a job. He ends up 'accidentally' on purpose bumping into her outside her home and taking her for coffee, where he learns she's recently been dumped by her long time almost-fiancé, who found himself a rich man's daughter to marry instead and had been stringing her along. She isn't that heartbroken as she was more clinging to her past rather than in love with the boyfriend. But when the ex comes to find Olivia, Haso happens to be there and happily pretends to be her fiancé so that Olivia can save her pride.
Haso then does some manoeuvring behind the scenes to get her a job at a girls boarding school as a girl friday type. His goddaughter, child of his now dead best friend, goes to that school. Olivia is unaware he has helped her and she sometimes thinks of him and is sad she will never see him again.
SPOILERS AHEAD
When Haso goes to visit his goddaughter at the school, he sees Olivia again, and she finds that she is very pleased to see him. And he is pleased to see her, even though he doesn't really know why he takes an interest in her and he thinks his own role in helping her out is done. And yet, when he sees she has an invitation to her ex's wedding, he insists she mustn't go alone and that he will go as her plus-one and pretend fiancé so that she doesn't have to be embarrassed.
A few weeks later, even though she hasn't heard from him until the last minute and had made her own travel plans, he calls at the last min to confirm plans. he arrives to pick her up on the wedding day and goes as her date, looking very handsome in black tie, he very nicely and charmingly helps her stand up to snide gossips at the wedding who try to embarrass her. He takes her back to the school, and again neither of them plans on seeing each other again.
At school, his goddaughter, who is a lonely child with a neglectful mum, makes friends with Olivia. Thus whenever Haso ends up coming to the school, picking her up at ends of terms and half-terms instead of the child's neglectful mother, then he makes sure to seek out Olivia and see what she is doing and even help her with whatever job she is doing like carving meats for lunches or making teas. It's all rather sweet really.
In the meantime we find out that the girl's mother wants to marry Haso because he is rich. She is a career woman who thinks only about herself and her nice clothes and her social life and her highflying career and wants a rich man who will let her do whatever she likes. she has no interest in her daughter aside from using the daughter to manipulate Haso.
Olivia's job at the school is temporary but she hopes that it will become permanent. She is very disappointed when they let her go at the xmas holidays because she as no pertinent qualifications. she doesn't know what she will do for her future. Haso sees she is upset when he comes to pick up the child for the xmas holidays and asks her if she will get get married, but she says she will probably find a job as she doesnt want to marry just anyone. She hides how worried she is about her money and job situation from him. Her bully granny always makes her feel like a burden if she isnt working.
Haso takes the girl back to holland to spend the xmas holidays with her mother, but the girl runs away from her mothers house to find haso. The child is miserable and hates the awful bully of a nanny that the mother has hired and the mother has been neglectful and never at home. So haso calls olivia and asks her if she will come to holland to help care for the child until a solution can be found, since the girl refuses to go back to her mom.
By this point Olivia has realised that she's in love with Haso and she had thought she would never see him again now that she lost her job at the school ,which was her only connection with him. Plus she cares about the little girl. So when Haso calls to asks for her help, she agrees to go to holland. His manservant comes to fetch her. When Haso comes back to his house from work in the evening, he finds the girl curled up on Olivia's lap in his lounge, both sleeping, and I think this is when he starts to fall in love with her, but he is not acknowledging his feeling yet and maybe even fighting them.
The mother of the child is too busy to bother discussing her kid's welfare just now, so he ends up taking Olivia and the girl to a rural part of holland to stay with his mom in his country house because the kid will enjoy it more than amsterdam. Olivia is disappointed that he leaves immediately to go back to the city for work. But Haso's 24 year old brother arrives and they all have lots of fun with him, and when haso returns some days later he finds the three of them building a snowman and having a snow fight and laughing. Seeing Olivia getting along so well with his brother makes Haso jealous and I think this is when he realises that he has fallen for her.
But he still needs to prioritise sorting out the child's future. Everyone has always been telling him that maybe he ought to marry the kid's mom to give the kid a stable home, esp as the father was his best mate. But his family also know that the kids mom isnt so great so they dont necessarily want him to do that either...
Haso goes to fetch the mom and bring her to his country home to discuss what needs to be done. He has told olivia that he wants to talk to her too, but that he cant do so until he settles the child's future. But in the meantime he has kissed olivia a couple of times, which has only left her confused.
ENDING SPOILERS
so anyway, when the mom arrives, they are all just about to have the big talk, when haso gets an urgent call asking him to go to the hospital. The evil mother uses this chance to tell Olivia that she and haso have agreed to marry soon and that poor Haso is dreading telling Olivia the news because he has realised olivia has fallen for him and he feels pity for her. The woman encourages olivia to make the excuse that her mom has taken ill and to leave and return to england. She even steals the letter than olivia has left for Haso.
When haso returns, he is quietly angry to find olivia gone and doesnt buy the evil woman's story about olivia's mom being ill, plus his mom said olivia left him a letter and the letter is missing. He makes the OW tell the truth, and she confesses that she made olivia leave. she says it was too good a chance to miss because she was determined to marry haso herself. He coldy says she should pack her bags and go away.
He goes chasing after olivia and finds her in england and confesses his love, claiming it was love at first sight but it took him ages to realise it. The ending was nice but the whole book overall felt a bit too mild with no major internal or external drama for the characters.
I enjoyed the book a lot and read it through all in one sitting, and when i ended it i did have a nice cozy feeling that i always want from betty's book, and yet it wasn't a top read for me. I liked the characters and enjoyed the plot, so i guess it was a depth and insufficient conflict problem?
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY THIS WASNT AMONG MY FAVE BETTY READS:
The reason why this isnt a top Betty read for me is that I found the heroine a bit too passive and, while she was a nice girl, not as admirable as Betty's nurses tend to be. She's not so downtrodden in life as most of Betty's waifs and yet she hasnt done much with her life or trained for anything at the grand old age of 27 so she felt a bit limp as a heroine. Also, she was very passive in the development of the relationship and just let things be even in terms of squashing any feelings and letting the ball be entirely in his court. I suppose a lot of Bettys waifs are that way, but this time it felt like she did nothing at all either in our out of the relationship for herself.
Plus also, i like a true icehole and while this guy was great in that he didnt really know his feelings for olivia yet and yet he helped her out a lot, but he was still fighting his feelings, which i liked, and yet he fought it in a neglectful kind of way. hmm. i dont know if that makes any sense. i guess the book just sort of ambles along without any major conflicts so it all felt a tad too wishy washy to me.
Ah, okay, i think the crux of the matter for me is neither felt strong emotions or expressed strong emotions for the entirety of the book. When she realised she was in love with him she didnt pine much, didnt react much, didnt act out by doing anything active even to avoid him e.g for a fear of rejection etc -- her life remained on same trajectory. Same for him - he wasnt aware of his feelings for a long time, and even when he was, his hands were too tied by the need to sort out the kids future and therefore he also seemed a bit passive.
Also, the story being set outside of a hospital meant that it couldn't showcase the hero enough as godlike doctor, so we didn't get that extra hit of him being totally wow. No super amazing surgeries or rescues here.
4.2 Stars. I really liked it. It was a heart-warming romance, perhaps not with the richness of depth of some of Betty's other books, but I enjoyed it a lot. It would have got a 4.5 or more if the hero had been an icehole, because I do love Betty's iceholes. He was just uncommunicative though, and yet constantly rescuing the waif in a good way.
Olivia (27), a big beautiful girl, is a records clerk at a hospital when she meets RDD Haso, who is visiting. She helps him sort out an issue with some mixed up patient files. He notices her because she is pretty but other than that he just returns to holland. When he does return to England some time later it is to discover that Olivia has been made redundant by the hospital.
He had liked her as a person and thought she was a nice girl and doesn't like the idea she might be struggling. He goes out of his way to find out that she lives with her widowed mom and her mean granny and they're not so well off and they cant really afford for her to be without a job. He ends up 'accidentally' on purpose bumping into her outside her home and taking her for coffee, where he learns she's recently been dumped by her long time almost-fiancé, who found himself a rich man's daughter to marry instead and had been stringing her along. She isn't that heartbroken as she was more clinging to her past rather than in love with the boyfriend. But when the ex comes to find Olivia, Haso happens to be there and happily pretends to be her fiancé so that Olivia can save her pride.
Haso then does some manoeuvring behind the scenes to get her a job at a girls boarding school as a girl friday type. His goddaughter, child of his now dead best friend, goes to that school. Olivia is unaware he has helped her and she sometimes thinks of him and is sad she will never see him again.
SPOILERS AHEAD
When Haso goes to visit his goddaughter at the school, he sees Olivia again, and she finds that she is very pleased to see him. And he is pleased to see her, even though he doesn't really know why he takes an interest in her and he thinks his own role in helping her out is done. And yet, when he sees she has an invitation to her ex's wedding, he insists she mustn't go alone and that he will go as her plus-one and pretend fiancé so that she doesn't have to be embarrassed.
A few weeks later, even though she hasn't heard from him until the last minute and had made her own travel plans, he calls at the last min to confirm plans. he arrives to pick her up on the wedding day and goes as her date, looking very handsome in black tie, he very nicely and charmingly helps her stand up to snide gossips at the wedding who try to embarrass her. He takes her back to the school, and again neither of them plans on seeing each other again.
At school, his goddaughter, who is a lonely child with a neglectful mum, makes friends with Olivia. Thus whenever Haso ends up coming to the school, picking her up at ends of terms and half-terms instead of the child's neglectful mother, then he makes sure to seek out Olivia and see what she is doing and even help her with whatever job she is doing like carving meats for lunches or making teas. It's all rather sweet really.
In the meantime we find out that the girl's mother wants to marry Haso because he is rich. She is a career woman who thinks only about herself and her nice clothes and her social life and her highflying career and wants a rich man who will let her do whatever she likes. she has no interest in her daughter aside from using the daughter to manipulate Haso.
Olivia's job at the school is temporary but she hopes that it will become permanent. She is very disappointed when they let her go at the xmas holidays because she as no pertinent qualifications. she doesn't know what she will do for her future. Haso sees she is upset when he comes to pick up the child for the xmas holidays and asks her if she will get get married, but she says she will probably find a job as she doesnt want to marry just anyone. She hides how worried she is about her money and job situation from him. Her bully granny always makes her feel like a burden if she isnt working.
Haso takes the girl back to holland to spend the xmas holidays with her mother, but the girl runs away from her mothers house to find haso. The child is miserable and hates the awful bully of a nanny that the mother has hired and the mother has been neglectful and never at home. So haso calls olivia and asks her if she will come to holland to help care for the child until a solution can be found, since the girl refuses to go back to her mom.
By this point Olivia has realised that she's in love with Haso and she had thought she would never see him again now that she lost her job at the school ,which was her only connection with him. Plus she cares about the little girl. So when Haso calls to asks for her help, she agrees to go to holland. His manservant comes to fetch her. When Haso comes back to his house from work in the evening, he finds the girl curled up on Olivia's lap in his lounge, both sleeping, and I think this is when he starts to fall in love with her, but he is not acknowledging his feeling yet and maybe even fighting them.
The mother of the child is too busy to bother discussing her kid's welfare just now, so he ends up taking Olivia and the girl to a rural part of holland to stay with his mom in his country house because the kid will enjoy it more than amsterdam. Olivia is disappointed that he leaves immediately to go back to the city for work. But Haso's 24 year old brother arrives and they all have lots of fun with him, and when haso returns some days later he finds the three of them building a snowman and having a snow fight and laughing. Seeing Olivia getting along so well with his brother makes Haso jealous and I think this is when he realises that he has fallen for her.
But he still needs to prioritise sorting out the child's future. Everyone has always been telling him that maybe he ought to marry the kid's mom to give the kid a stable home, esp as the father was his best mate. But his family also know that the kids mom isnt so great so they dont necessarily want him to do that either...
Haso goes to fetch the mom and bring her to his country home to discuss what needs to be done. He has told olivia that he wants to talk to her too, but that he cant do so until he settles the child's future. But in the meantime he has kissed olivia a couple of times, which has only left her confused.
ENDING SPOILERS
so anyway, when the mom arrives, they are all just about to have the big talk, when haso gets an urgent call asking him to go to the hospital. The evil mother uses this chance to tell Olivia that she and haso have agreed to marry soon and that poor Haso is dreading telling Olivia the news because he has realised olivia has fallen for him and he feels pity for her. The woman encourages olivia to make the excuse that her mom has taken ill and to leave and return to england. She even steals the letter than olivia has left for Haso.
When haso returns, he is quietly angry to find olivia gone and doesnt buy the evil woman's story about olivia's mom being ill, plus his mom said olivia left him a letter and the letter is missing. He makes the OW tell the truth, and she confesses that she made olivia leave. she says it was too good a chance to miss because she was determined to marry haso herself. He coldy says she should pack her bags and go away.
He goes chasing after olivia and finds her in england and confesses his love, claiming it was love at first sight but it took him ages to realise it. The ending was nice but the whole book overall felt a bit too mild with no major internal or external drama for the characters.
I enjoyed the book a lot and read it through all in one sitting, and when i ended it i did have a nice cozy feeling that i always want from betty's book, and yet it wasn't a top read for me. I liked the characters and enjoyed the plot, so i guess it was a depth and insufficient conflict problem?
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY THIS WASNT AMONG MY FAVE BETTY READS:
The reason why this isnt a top Betty read for me is that I found the heroine a bit too passive and, while she was a nice girl, not as admirable as Betty's nurses tend to be. She's not so downtrodden in life as most of Betty's waifs and yet she hasnt done much with her life or trained for anything at the grand old age of 27 so she felt a bit limp as a heroine. Also, she was very passive in the development of the relationship and just let things be even in terms of squashing any feelings and letting the ball be entirely in his court. I suppose a lot of Bettys waifs are that way, but this time it felt like she did nothing at all either in our out of the relationship for herself.
Plus also, i like a true icehole and while this guy was great in that he didnt really know his feelings for olivia yet and yet he helped her out a lot, but he was still fighting his feelings, which i liked, and yet he fought it in a neglectful kind of way. hmm. i dont know if that makes any sense. i guess the book just sort of ambles along without any major conflicts so it all felt a tad too wishy washy to me.
Ah, okay, i think the crux of the matter for me is neither felt strong emotions or expressed strong emotions for the entirety of the book. When she realised she was in love with him she didnt pine much, didnt react much, didnt act out by doing anything active even to avoid him e.g for a fear of rejection etc -- her life remained on same trajectory. Same for him - he wasnt aware of his feelings for a long time, and even when he was, his hands were too tied by the need to sort out the kids future and therefore he also seemed a bit passive.
Also, the story being set outside of a hospital meant that it couldn't showcase the hero enough as godlike doctor, so we didn't get that extra hit of him being totally wow. No super amazing surgeries or rescues here.
Read
July 27, 2011Mistletoe magic!
For Olivia Harding, the offer of employment at an exclusive private girl's school had come as something of a godsend. With little experience, she hadn't expected to find a job so easily, let alone one that still bought her into contact with her former boss, the eminent Dutch surgeon Haso van der Eisler
Of course, his frequent visits to the school had more to do with his goddaughter, Nel, than her own limited attractions. Nel was a lonely fatherless girl and that Haso should marry her glamorous mother seemed obvious to all but Olivia's stubborn heart.
For Olivia Harding, the offer of employment at an exclusive private girl's school had come as something of a godsend. With little experience, she hadn't expected to find a job so easily, let alone one that still bought her into contact with her former boss, the eminent Dutch surgeon Haso van der Eisler
Of course, his frequent visits to the school had more to do with his goddaughter, Nel, than her own limited attractions. Nel was a lonely fatherless girl and that Haso should marry her glamorous mother seemed obvious to all but Olivia's stubborn heart.
March 14, 2013
Of course the characters had to talk later. And if course the opposing female got rid of the heroine. I'm going to have to read something different or ill be able to write a Betty Neels book pretty soon.
January 21, 2014
I'm not sure why but her books are some of my favorites to re-read. My aunt got me hooked on them when I was about 13, and I still love them.
July 17, 2013
3 1/2 STARS
January 2, 2015
Another keeper from the estimable Mrs. Neels.
June 16, 2021
Every time I've written a review of a Betty Neels romance, I end up repeating a lot of things as her writing tends to be formulaic.
I'm tempted to write this review using a template that appears as such:
Protagonists:
Heroine: Olivia Harding: Jill-of-All Trades, extremely capable twenty-seven year old woman with a "splendid shape," who lives with an overbearing grandmother and a meek mother. She has no special training or skills, making it difficult to find work after she is let go from her job as a hospital records clerk, even though she is a hard working, and superior employee.
Hero: Haso van der Eisler: Older, rich, handsome, blond, Dutch, 36 year old medical specialist, whose eye is caught by Olivia. In the shocker of shockers...he actually remembers her from their first meeting, unlike many other Betty Neels' heroes. God-father to Nel, the daughter of his best friend, Rob, who is no longer alive. Does not show emotions clearly, and is sufficiently vague enough so that the heroine doesn't know that she is the object of his affections.
Plot:
The good doctor tries to find Olivia a position when her hospital clerical job becomes redundant, eventually finding her a job at a girl's school where Nel attends. Olivia falls in love with said doctor, wondering if she has a chance with him, as it seems that everyone else is expecting for the doctor and Nel's mother to marry.
Antagonist of note:
Rita: Nel's mother who is not much of a mother. Gold-digger who is looking for a second husband who will support the lifestyle that she is accustomed to.
Secondary character of note:
Nel: The god-daughter who brings Olivia and Haso together...like, about 95% of the time.
Stuff that this novel also has:
Loser ex-boyfriend who tosses heroine over for a less attractive woman who has better connections. The heroine even attends his wedding!
Evil, social climbing maternal grandmother who constantly puts Olivia down for absolutely everything, because Olivia is a reminder of the son-in-law that Grams never wanted.
Heroine gets soundly kissed, but still thinks that she's not in a relationship with the hero, and that he's not interested in her romantically.
Heroine's hair gets unpinned and tumbles down!
So...did I like this novel?
Yes...I did. Really. And it's because this time around in Betty Neels-land, I actually respected the hero, Haso. Yeah, he did respond "silkily" to the heroine once when she snarked at him about being a know-it-all over what she should do about her ex's invitation to his wedding. (I hate it when BN's heroes say things silkily, because I hate The Condescension! I despise The Impudence! I abhor The Nastiness! I hate it when the hero Cuts-the-Heroine-Down-to-Put-Her-in-Her-Place in this way. Yup. My hackles go up when I see the hero say something silkily.)
But I'm getting off topic.
Haso won me over. He seems to be a genuinely nice man, polite, and wants to hide the fact that he's Olivia benefactor in landing her new job at Nel's school. He's observant, shows how much he cares about people, and takes his job as Nel's god-father very seriously.
I also felt that he tried to communicate his interest to Olivia, and to clarify his feelings for her when he noticed that she didn't understand. This time, I think the blame lies with Olivia for not being able to read Haso and his intentions clearly.
I liked Haso...even though he still was a bit bossy.
So, yeah...there are a lot of static characters...dare I say... caricatures and stereotypes in this novel...but because I liked the hero more than usual, I enjoyed this book.
This review also appears on my blog at:
https://whatiscbreading.blogspot.ca
I'm tempted to write this review using a template that appears as such:
Protagonists:
Heroine: Olivia Harding: Jill-of-All Trades, extremely capable twenty-seven year old woman with a "splendid shape," who lives with an overbearing grandmother and a meek mother. She has no special training or skills, making it difficult to find work after she is let go from her job as a hospital records clerk, even though she is a hard working, and superior employee.
Hero: Haso van der Eisler: Older, rich, handsome, blond, Dutch, 36 year old medical specialist, whose eye is caught by Olivia. In the shocker of shockers...he actually remembers her from their first meeting, unlike many other Betty Neels' heroes. God-father to Nel, the daughter of his best friend, Rob, who is no longer alive. Does not show emotions clearly, and is sufficiently vague enough so that the heroine doesn't know that she is the object of his affections.
Plot:
The good doctor tries to find Olivia a position when her hospital clerical job becomes redundant, eventually finding her a job at a girl's school where Nel attends. Olivia falls in love with said doctor, wondering if she has a chance with him, as it seems that everyone else is expecting for the doctor and Nel's mother to marry.
Antagonist of note:
Rita: Nel's mother who is not much of a mother. Gold-digger who is looking for a second husband who will support the lifestyle that she is accustomed to.
Secondary character of note:
Nel: The god-daughter who brings Olivia and Haso together...like, about 95% of the time.
Stuff that this novel also has:
Loser ex-boyfriend who tosses heroine over for a less attractive woman who has better connections. The heroine even attends his wedding!
Evil, social climbing maternal grandmother who constantly puts Olivia down for absolutely everything, because Olivia is a reminder of the son-in-law that Grams never wanted.
Heroine gets soundly kissed, but still thinks that she's not in a relationship with the hero, and that he's not interested in her romantically.
Heroine's hair gets unpinned and tumbles down!
So...did I like this novel?
Yes...I did. Really. And it's because this time around in Betty Neels-land, I actually respected the hero, Haso. Yeah, he did respond "silkily" to the heroine once when she snarked at him about being a know-it-all over what she should do about her ex's invitation to his wedding. (I hate it when BN's heroes say things silkily, because I hate The Condescension! I despise The Impudence! I abhor The Nastiness! I hate it when the hero Cuts-the-Heroine-Down-to-Put-Her-in-Her-Place in this way. Yup. My hackles go up when I see the hero say something silkily.)
But I'm getting off topic.
Haso won me over. He seems to be a genuinely nice man, polite, and wants to hide the fact that he's Olivia benefactor in landing her new job at Nel's school. He's observant, shows how much he cares about people, and takes his job as Nel's god-father very seriously.
I also felt that he tried to communicate his interest to Olivia, and to clarify his feelings for her when he noticed that she didn't understand. This time, I think the blame lies with Olivia for not being able to read Haso and his intentions clearly.
I liked Haso...even though he still was a bit bossy.
So, yeah...there are a lot of static characters...dare I say... caricatures and stereotypes in this novel...but because I liked the hero more than usual, I enjoyed this book.
This review also appears on my blog at:
https://whatiscbreading.blogspot.ca
February 4, 2026
3.5 stars. Another sweet, clean and enjoyable read from Neels. A 1994 offering, and yes it does feel pretty old-fashioned. But that's part of the charm of these books. You have to get into the zone of that imaginary time and place, when true love wins out for the deserving MCs, and the nasty, designing other woman misses out, and runs away gnashing her teeth in frustration.
Haso the likeable MMC is a typical Neels hero, tall, mature, a capable and highly regarded doctor, Dutch but often works in London, with a rich old family back in Holland. He has popped up (under different names) in several Neels books I've read recently, but I'm not sick of him yet LOL. Olivia works as a kind of aide/general factotum at a school where Haso's fatherless goddaughter attends.
I enjoyed the read. It was a pleasant escape to a kind of fantasy world where you know the MCs will end up with a happy future together. Minimal angst that was suitably resolved. Not the kind of book I usually read actually, but I'm in the mood for some warm, satisfying escapism, and Betty Neels seems to be filling the bill.
Haso the likeable MMC is a typical Neels hero, tall, mature, a capable and highly regarded doctor, Dutch but often works in London, with a rich old family back in Holland. He has popped up (under different names) in several Neels books I've read recently, but I'm not sick of him yet LOL. Olivia works as a kind of aide/general factotum at a school where Haso's fatherless goddaughter attends.
I enjoyed the read. It was a pleasant escape to a kind of fantasy world where you know the MCs will end up with a happy future together. Minimal angst that was suitably resolved. Not the kind of book I usually read actually, but I'm in the mood for some warm, satisfying escapism, and Betty Neels seems to be filling the bill.
December 28, 2020
I decided to revisit some of my Christmas Betty Neels books. I really love this gentle romance with the usual Dutch doctor and a pretty English girl (no nurse this time). Olivia meets Haso when he comes down to the medical records department to return a missent file. Finding out that she will be soon be made redundant, he arranges for her to get a position at a private school where his goddaughter is a student. Olivia falls for the doctor, even though she knows that Nel's mother has her sights on him. Her husband (now deceased) was Haso's best friend. My only disappointment was that we didn't get to enjoy any of the special Dutch Christmas customs that Betty covered in some of her other books. The ending was very sweet and little Nel is happy at last.
January 27, 2024
This is one of the few Betty Neels novels that I actually hadn’t read before and it’s a new favourite. Although Olivia was a typical Neelsian heroine lacking in agency and employable skills, she was brave and plucky and forthright and nobody’s fool. She’s probably one of my favourites in the world of Neels. Moreover, in a Neelsian world of toxic, rude heroes, Haso stands out as a beacon of manners and just being a lovely human being. If anything, he was more feminist in outlook than Olivia. To me, the only thing that was a bit messy was the Nel storyline- the central conflict of Haso kind of being emotionally blackmailed to marry someone was a bit unbelievable and for me a non-starter that felt a little forced. But otherwise I enjoyed Olivia and Haso’s relationship and found the villains (Olivia’s grandmother and Nel’s mother) suitably villainous. A new fave.
January 4, 2023
Maybe I'm getting overly picky, but why is it called A Christmas Wish? The story didn't dwell overly much on Christmas - unlike some of BN's other Christmas stories. That holiday seemed to be incidental to the rest of the story. If there was a Christmas wish, I must have overlooked it or was it simply implied. Aside from that aspect, I found the book enjoyable in that Olivia, having no marketable skills, managed to always land on her feet, albeit with a little assistance from afar, and was able to eke out a living for herself. This book was different in that there were dual despicable characters instead of one: Granny and the glamorous mother of his Godchild - a double treat.
September 27, 2019
You will love it.
I love Betty Neels. Her romances are so genuine her characters believable but not frivolous. She wrote 138 I believe so we are gifted with a few weeks of romantic bliss. Happy reading.
I love Betty Neels. Her romances are so genuine her characters believable but not frivolous. She wrote 138 I believe so we are gifted with a few weeks of romantic bliss. Happy reading.
July 30, 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 2, 2019
Classic Betty Neels
Always love her books. Have looked since I was teenager. What a great way to idle way a few hours.
Always love her books. Have looked since I was teenager. What a great way to idle way a few hours.
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November 28, 2020I like this story. She’s beautiful and charming. Her granny was so similar to those I read in some old Chinese stories. He’s caring and charming. A sweet story!
December 16, 2023
Amongst Betty Neels romance, this one is a gem!! Sometimes our Betty Neels hero is a bit too mysterious and silent, I always love it when Betty gave us more access into his thoughts and life
February 24, 2026
I have always loved Betty Neels.
November 12, 2022
cw: awful family member
This was just so swoony! I loved the hero in this one so much! He was this mature, gentlemanly, and reserved type of man who was so obviously in love with the heroine. I liked the heroine too and I loved every single interaction with them. I loved how he was so caring towards her and did so much for her when she needed it. He definitely made the book better and I think he’s one of my favorite politically correct heroes. I would recommend this to anyone who’s looking for a vintage book that does not have much of the problematic or too dated issues in them.
This was just so swoony! I loved the hero in this one so much! He was this mature, gentlemanly, and reserved type of man who was so obviously in love with the heroine. I liked the heroine too and I loved every single interaction with them. I loved how he was so caring towards her and did so much for her when she needed it. He definitely made the book better and I think he’s one of my favorite politically correct heroes. I would recommend this to anyone who’s looking for a vintage book that does not have much of the problematic or too dated issues in them.
May 24, 2025
After reading “heavy” plot lines, which include domestic violence, murder, and serial killers, Betty Neels books are the perfect pallet cleanser. They are a the perfect afternoon chased read.
Our heroine, Olivia lives with her mother and her maternal grandmother‘s flat. After her father‘s death, they were no longer able to reside in the country and forced to live with the miserable opinionated grandmother. Working as a hospital filing clerk Olivia, meets a surgeon, and there is an immediate attraction. Hearing of a redundancy list, she begs to be let go over her colleague who needed the job more. Hearing of her selflessness the doctor already smitten manages to secure her position at a girls school. There she becomes friendly with a young girl who is the doctor‘s godchild. Unfortunately, the girls, mother, Rita, has designs on the Dr. Feeling inadequate and outclassed . Olivia sees there is no future with the doctor and attempts to keep in the background. Things change, situations change, and there is a.HEA.
I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more of Neel’s books. I wonder how long it’ll take to read 134 books.
Our heroine, Olivia lives with her mother and her maternal grandmother‘s flat. After her father‘s death, they were no longer able to reside in the country and forced to live with the miserable opinionated grandmother. Working as a hospital filing clerk Olivia, meets a surgeon, and there is an immediate attraction. Hearing of a redundancy list, she begs to be let go over her colleague who needed the job more. Hearing of her selflessness the doctor already smitten manages to secure her position at a girls school. There she becomes friendly with a young girl who is the doctor‘s godchild. Unfortunately, the girls, mother, Rita, has designs on the Dr. Feeling inadequate and outclassed . Olivia sees there is no future with the doctor and attempts to keep in the background. Things change, situations change, and there is a.HEA.
I enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more of Neel’s books. I wonder how long it’ll take to read 134 books.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews