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Enchanting Samantha
WASN’T HE SOON TO BE WED?
Staff nurse Samantha Fielding had one golden rule: never get involved. It wasn’t easy to follow, though, with the attractive Giles ter Ossel around. Samantha was determined not to let her feelings for Giles affect the way she treated Antonia, the girl she thought was his fiancée. So, she agreed to return to Holland and nurse Antonia through her recovery. But Samantha’s calm and professional exterior hid a breaking heart. Meanwhile, Giles was determined to be happily married…to the right girl!
Staff nurse Samantha Fielding had one golden rule: never get involved. It wasn’t easy to follow, though, with the attractive Giles ter Ossel around. Samantha was determined not to let her feelings for Giles affect the way she treated Antonia, the girl she thought was his fiancée. So, she agreed to return to Holland and nurse Antonia through her recovery. But Samantha’s calm and professional exterior hid a breaking heart. Meanwhile, Giles was determined to be happily married…to the right girl!
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1973
About the author
Betty Neels
585 books422 followersEvelyn Jessy "Betty" Neels was born on September 15, 1910 in Devon to a family with firm roots in the civil service. She said she had a blissfully happy childhood and teenage years.(This stood her in good stead later for the tribulations to come with the Second World War). She was sent away to boarding school, and then went on to train as a nurse, gaining her SRN and SCM, that is, State Registered Nurse and State Certificate of Midwifery.
In 1939 she was called up to the Territorial Army Nursing Service, which later became the Queen Alexandra Reserves, and was sent to France with the Casualty Clearing Station. This comprised eight nursing sisters, including Betty, to 100 men! In other circumstances, she thought that might have been quite thrilling! When France was invaded in 1940, all the nursing sisters managed to escape in the charge of an army major, undertaking a lengthy and terrifying journey to Boulogne in an ambulance. They were incredibly fortunate to be put on the last hospital ship to be leaving the port of Boulogne. But Betty's war didn't end there, for she was posted to Scotland, and then on to Northern Ireland, where she met her Dutch husband. He was a seaman aboard a minesweeper, which was bombed. He survived and was sent to the south of Holland to guard the sluices. However, when they had to abandon their post, they were told to escape if they could, and along with a small number of other men, he marched into Belgium. They stole a ship and managed to get it across the Channel to Dover before being transferred to the Atlantic run on the convoys. Sadly he became ill, and that was when he was transferred to hospital in Northern Ireland, where he met Betty. They eventually married, and were blessed with a daughter. They were posted to London, but were bombed out. As with most of the population, they made the best of things.
When the war finally ended, she and her husband were repatriated to Holland. As his family had believed he had died when his ship went down, this was a very emotional homecoming. The small family lived in Holland for 13 years, and Betty resumed her nursing career there. When they decided to return to England, Betty continued her nursing and when she eventually retired she had reached the position of night superintendent.
Betty Neels began writing almost by accident. She had retired from nursing, but her inquiring mind had no intention of vegetating, and her new career was born when she heard a lady in her local library bemoaning the lack of good romance novels. There was little in Betty's background to suggest that she might eventually become a much-loved novelist.
Her first book, Sister Peters in Amsterdam, was published in 1969, and by dint of often writing four books a year, she eventually completed 134 books. She was always quite firm upon the point that the Dutch doctors who frequently appeared in her stories were *not* based upon her husband, but rather upon an amalgam of several of the doctors she met while nursing in Holland.
To her millions of fans around the world, Betty Neels epitomized romance. She was always amazed and touched that her books were so widely appreciated. She never sought plaudits and remained a very private person, but it made her very happy to know that she brought such pleasure to so many readers, while herself gaining a quiet joy from spinning her stories. It is perhaps a reflection of her upbringing in an earlier time that the men and women who peopled her stories have a kindliness and good manners, coupled to honesty and integrity, that is not always present in our modern world. Her myriad of fans found a warmth and a reassurance of a better world in her stories, along with characters who touched the heart, which is all and more than one could ask of a romance writer. She received a great deal of fan mail, and there was always a comment upon the fascinating places she visited in her stories. Quite often those of her fans fortunate enough to visit Ho
In 1939 she was called up to the Territorial Army Nursing Service, which later became the Queen Alexandra Reserves, and was sent to France with the Casualty Clearing Station. This comprised eight nursing sisters, including Betty, to 100 men! In other circumstances, she thought that might have been quite thrilling! When France was invaded in 1940, all the nursing sisters managed to escape in the charge of an army major, undertaking a lengthy and terrifying journey to Boulogne in an ambulance. They were incredibly fortunate to be put on the last hospital ship to be leaving the port of Boulogne. But Betty's war didn't end there, for she was posted to Scotland, and then on to Northern Ireland, where she met her Dutch husband. He was a seaman aboard a minesweeper, which was bombed. He survived and was sent to the south of Holland to guard the sluices. However, when they had to abandon their post, they were told to escape if they could, and along with a small number of other men, he marched into Belgium. They stole a ship and managed to get it across the Channel to Dover before being transferred to the Atlantic run on the convoys. Sadly he became ill, and that was when he was transferred to hospital in Northern Ireland, where he met Betty. They eventually married, and were blessed with a daughter. They were posted to London, but were bombed out. As with most of the population, they made the best of things.
When the war finally ended, she and her husband were repatriated to Holland. As his family had believed he had died when his ship went down, this was a very emotional homecoming. The small family lived in Holland for 13 years, and Betty resumed her nursing career there. When they decided to return to England, Betty continued her nursing and when she eventually retired she had reached the position of night superintendent.
Betty Neels began writing almost by accident. She had retired from nursing, but her inquiring mind had no intention of vegetating, and her new career was born when she heard a lady in her local library bemoaning the lack of good romance novels. There was little in Betty's background to suggest that she might eventually become a much-loved novelist.
Her first book, Sister Peters in Amsterdam, was published in 1969, and by dint of often writing four books a year, she eventually completed 134 books. She was always quite firm upon the point that the Dutch doctors who frequently appeared in her stories were *not* based upon her husband, but rather upon an amalgam of several of the doctors she met while nursing in Holland.
To her millions of fans around the world, Betty Neels epitomized romance. She was always amazed and touched that her books were so widely appreciated. She never sought plaudits and remained a very private person, but it made her very happy to know that she brought such pleasure to so many readers, while herself gaining a quiet joy from spinning her stories. It is perhaps a reflection of her upbringing in an earlier time that the men and women who peopled her stories have a kindliness and good manners, coupled to honesty and integrity, that is not always present in our modern world. Her myriad of fans found a warmth and a reassurance of a better world in her stories, along with characters who touched the heart, which is all and more than one could ask of a romance writer. She received a great deal of fan mail, and there was always a comment upon the fascinating places she visited in her stories. Quite often those of her fans fortunate enough to visit Ho
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
January 6, 2019
Now that I have over 20 Neelses under my belt ... I can see they fall into three categories. I love this with the heat of a million suns, The Fifth Day of Christmas, Tulips For Augusta, Tabitha In Moonlight, for example. Or ugh, it kinda bored me, like Victory for Victoria. Then, there's I know what I'm getting, signature Neels, likeable, plain heroine, a modicum of rage on her part (the BEST Neels heroines seethe with temper, I love them), and a laconic hero, all charm, twinkly eyes and quirked eyebrows, mysterious, tolerant, and patiently waiting for the heroine to realize he loves her. Not too outrageous and charming and temperamental (my favourite being Benedict from Cassandra By Chance), but just enough aloof that the story is maddening. That's what we get in Enchanting Samantha, middle-of-the-road Neels, nice enough heroine, though she is a bit of a limp noodle; aloof, mysterious hero, though his reason for staying away from the heroine makes sense, annoying though it is, and an HEA that unfortunately doesn't involve kitchen gadgets, but hits the sweet-reader spot all the same.
I'll probably forget this one, but I'll never forget what Betty can do and how I want to live in her world of order, goodness, and love. I recently watched a documentary on Vermeer and the presenter argued that Vermeer depicts the Dutch ethos in his paintings: order, silence, pride in the home and domesticity. Neels's books move toward this for hero and heroine, and go a long way to elucidate why Neels makes such a point of giving you all those wonderful details of the hero's home, furniture, garden, meals, the calm, civilized order of the daily routine, and the care of pets, children, and the elderly, the sick too; the heroine's world is no different, even though she's often poor, as Samantha is here. But her visits home to her grandparents depict a loving home, one centred around caring for each other, caring for animals, cooking, cleaning, ensuring an ordered life, not for the sake of some puritanical code, but because this is what brings beauty.
I'll probably forget this one, but I'll never forget what Betty can do and how I want to live in her world of order, goodness, and love. I recently watched a documentary on Vermeer and the presenter argued that Vermeer depicts the Dutch ethos in his paintings: order, silence, pride in the home and domesticity. Neels's books move toward this for hero and heroine, and go a long way to elucidate why Neels makes such a point of giving you all those wonderful details of the hero's home, furniture, garden, meals, the calm, civilized order of the daily routine, and the care of pets, children, and the elderly, the sick too; the heroine's world is no different, even though she's often poor, as Samantha is here. But her visits home to her grandparents depict a loving home, one centred around caring for each other, caring for animals, cooking, cleaning, ensuring an ordered life, not for the sake of some puritanical code, but because this is what brings beauty.
June 1, 2021
1974 was a fun year for HR covers. They were trying out some new artists as the prolific and mysterious jh was no longer in the picture. I'm still working to pin down a few of the names—this one is simple but charming and definitely by Stewart Sherwood. One interesting detail is that as far as I can tell it's done with markers.
April 11, 2021
I don't know if it's just the mood I'm in, but I found this book really amusing. I couldn't help smiling as I read about poor Samantha, a quite likable young woman, who is convinced she'll have to learn to live without the man she loves. She keeps trying to tell herself it won't be so bad... When of course I know that he's already already interested in her and eventually they'll end up together. :)
I really liked Giles, a RDD who doesn't mind picking up a dish mop and washing dishes. And any man who irons is a winner in my mind. lol There is "another girl" but she's not nasty - just beautiful and young and rich. The plot moved along well, and if there weren't any surprises - well who reads a book like this to be surprised? It felt like a lovely visit with an old friend over their kitchen table - comfortable, friendly and fun.
NB - If you enjoy Neel's books join the conversation at the GR group Betty Neels Junkies. See you there!
I really liked Giles, a RDD who doesn't mind picking up a dish mop and washing dishes. And any man who irons is a winner in my mind. lol There is "another girl" but she's not nasty - just beautiful and young and rich. The plot moved along well, and if there weren't any surprises - well who reads a book like this to be surprised? It felt like a lovely visit with an old friend over their kitchen table - comfortable, friendly and fun.
NB - If you enjoy Neel's books join the conversation at the GR group Betty Neels Junkies. See you there!
May 30, 2021
For whatever reason, it took me forever to get through ES, and little more than a week later, I had to read other reviews to remember any details. I'm not sure why--it has the usual elements that make Betty work so well from book to book, but it just somehow missed the mark for me (and for quite a few other Betty fans as well). And that despite a hero who's willing to pitch in during an orderly (hospital worker) strike, washing dishes and so on, not to mention making breakfast for our exhausted nurse-heroine and even ironing her uniform (I would totally fall in love with someone who ironed for me). A rather forgettable one from Betty and unless you're on a mission, as I am, to read all 135 BN stories, this isn't one I'd recommend enthusiastically, although it's by no means bad.
Anyone (meaning Iris :-D) want to hazard a guess at the cover artist? There's a signature but damned if I could figure it out, even after a lot of time looking at covers from the same year (1973) and scrolling through many of the first 100 or so Harlequins wondering if it could be Don Sinclair (although it's more Bern Smith-ish--but not quite and the sig's all wrong). Here's the M&B hard cover, which is kind of fun too (no clue about that artist either); it looks so much angstier:
Cross-over characters: Sappha and Rolf from Tangled Autumn make a few appearances; the OW (she's not really--just in our jumping-to-conclusions heroine's mind) is Rolf's little sister, whom heroine Samantha is hired to nurse following a bout of hepititis. Miss Bates has a wonderful review that really nails so much of BN's appeal.
Betty car porn (gearhead alert!):
Hero drives a Rolls Royce "Merlin" (supposedly--more to that story below): ...she did her best not to look surprised, but her ingenuous face wore such an eloquent look of enquiry that her companion said carelessly, "I travel a good deal," and as though he considered that sufficient, he opened the door and bade her get in and make herself comfortable. Samantha allowed [herself] to relax against the soft leather...how could one but help be comfortable?
And not JUST a Rolls Royce--not a Rolls Royce at all, in fact. Gearhead Betty must have been inspired reading about a custom car that used the "Rolls Royce Merlin," which is NOT a model; "Merlin" was an V12 27 liter aero engine created by Rolls Royce that was adapted by English transmission specialist/gearhead John Dodd in the 70s to create "The Beast"--a Frankencar with monstrous power. Betty likely read/heard about it and was fascinated and decided to endow her hero with this one-of-a-kind car--or give it a wink and a nod, at least. It's pretty badass! It actually wasn't a Rolls Royce at all: the chassis was a combo of two Daimler chasses; the body was a custom-built fiberglass shell. The only thing Rolls about it was the Rolls emblems, Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament, and grille, added by Dodd, which got him sued by Rolls Royce and which he ended up having to remove. This page the Wikipedia link above has the full story. Beast is the perfect name for this monster:
Anyone (meaning Iris :-D) want to hazard a guess at the cover artist? There's a signature but damned if I could figure it out, even after a lot of time looking at covers from the same year (1973) and scrolling through many of the first 100 or so Harlequins wondering if it could be Don Sinclair (although it's more Bern Smith-ish--but not quite and the sig's all wrong). Here's the M&B hard cover, which is kind of fun too (no clue about that artist either); it looks so much angstier:
Cross-over characters: Sappha and Rolf from Tangled Autumn make a few appearances; the OW (she's not really--just in our jumping-to-conclusions heroine's mind) is Rolf's little sister, whom heroine Samantha is hired to nurse following a bout of hepititis. Miss Bates has a wonderful review that really nails so much of BN's appeal.
Betty car porn (gearhead alert!):
Hero drives a Rolls Royce "Merlin" (supposedly--more to that story below): ...she did her best not to look surprised, but her ingenuous face wore such an eloquent look of enquiry that her companion said carelessly, "I travel a good deal," and as though he considered that sufficient, he opened the door and bade her get in and make herself comfortable. Samantha allowed [herself] to relax against the soft leather...how could one but help be comfortable?
And not JUST a Rolls Royce--not a Rolls Royce at all, in fact. Gearhead Betty must have been inspired reading about a custom car that used the "Rolls Royce Merlin," which is NOT a model; "Merlin" was an V12 27 liter aero engine created by Rolls Royce that was adapted by English transmission specialist/gearhead John Dodd in the 70s to create "The Beast"--a Frankencar with monstrous power. Betty likely read/heard about it and was fascinated and decided to endow her hero with this one-of-a-kind car--or give it a wink and a nod, at least. It's pretty badass! It actually wasn't a Rolls Royce at all: the chassis was a combo of two Daimler chasses; the body was a custom-built fiberglass shell. The only thing Rolls about it was the Rolls emblems, Spirit of Ecstasy hood ornament, and grille, added by Dodd, which got him sued by Rolls Royce and which he ended up having to remove. This page the Wikipedia link above has the full story. Beast is the perfect name for this monster:
October 3, 2012
4½ Stars ~ Samantha's managed a remarkable bond with her elderly patient in the Women's Ward of the London hospital where she works. The dear Dutch lady speaks no english and Samantha speaks no dutch, but they understand one another brilliantly. Unfortunately, the very handsome Dutch doctor who employs the woman as his housekeeper, has somehow rubbed up the wrong side of Samantha. Giles is not part of the London hospital but as a friend of the hospital chief he's convinced the doctors to all chip in to help the nurses out when the housekeeping staff are all out on strike. He uses the strike to pay a lot of attention to her and soon, Sam has to admit that Giles is indeed charming and as it turns out very kind and considerate as well. After a few days off from the hospital, Sam returns and is surprised to find she's been transferred to the private ward and put in charge of a young dutch woman. Antonia is very beautiful and from a well to do family, and much to Sam's surprise Giles is a very good friend. When Antonia is ready to leave the hospital, the family asks for Sam to accompany her back to Holland for a few weeks while she continues to recover. Giles is very persuasive, and Sam agrees with great reluctance. Sam's fallen in love with him and knows the trip will only increase her heartache, as Antonia has hinted in many ways that she's about to be engaged.
Sam's a very generous and caring young woman but she's also very sensible. She knows she's not a beauty and though she desires to some day marry and have children, she realizes that perhaps her life will be a nursing career. Giles is very charming and at first she's sure his attentions are only his way of having fun. In fact, he does come right out and tell her that she's quite plain, but he calls her his enchanting Samantha. Of course, Giles fell in love with her at first sight, and is rather surprised that Sam doesn't seem to like him.
Another lovely story! We've met Antonia in Tangled Autumn, which is her brother Rolf and Sappha's story. It was a very nice treat to visit again with them. I'll have to make note of the characters in Betty Neel's Holland books to see if there are other connections. I adore stories with glimpses of past couples; it's like a peek into their HEA.
Sam's a very generous and caring young woman but she's also very sensible. She knows she's not a beauty and though she desires to some day marry and have children, she realizes that perhaps her life will be a nursing career. Giles is very charming and at first she's sure his attentions are only his way of having fun. In fact, he does come right out and tell her that she's quite plain, but he calls her his enchanting Samantha. Of course, Giles fell in love with her at first sight, and is rather surprised that Sam doesn't seem to like him.
Another lovely story! We've met Antonia in Tangled Autumn, which is her brother Rolf and Sappha's story. It was a very nice treat to visit again with them. I'll have to make note of the characters in Betty Neel's Holland books to see if there are other connections. I adore stories with glimpses of past couples; it's like a peek into their HEA.
June 25, 2016
3 1/2 stars. First, let me say that Giles may be the best RDD ever - he cooked and cleaned and even IRONED our PBN's uniform! You wouldn't think any girl with a lick of sense would even consider running away to Brazil with a man like this around.
But Samantha thinks, for no reason whatsoever, that Giles is engaged to Antonia (remember Rolf and Sappha in Tangled Autumn? TGB must have hated a girl named Antonia because this younger sister of Rolf's has been the cause of a misunderstanding in two of her books!)
As much as I loved Giles and his wicked sense of humor, I can't say I felt the same about Samantha. I like a feisty, sassy heroine but Sam bordered on the rude and even worse, came across as a martyr.
That said, it was lovely visiting with Rolf and Sappha and the Baroness again.
6/24/16. After some discussions amongst the Betties on the TUJD Facebook page, I decided to reread this one.
It is not as bad as I previously thought. There are some memorable bits. Giles, of course, is still just as wonderful as before. Antonia at least is blameless as to Samantha's misunderstanding. I particularly liked the description of Baby Rolf with his miniature satyr's eyebrows (ha!). And of course, the part where Sam plans to run down a Brazilian mine.
As one of the Betties put it, "Giles does everything but put up billboards and hire sky writers. Samantha stubbornly ignores it all."
At least until nearly the very end. As Giles is driving her to Schiphol, "Samantha knew now, deep in her bones, that he liked her. . ." but she thinks that he and Antonia are an item and doesn't want to infringe.
I'm glad I reread this. 3.75 stars.
But Samantha thinks, for no reason whatsoever, that Giles is engaged to Antonia (remember Rolf and Sappha in Tangled Autumn? TGB must have hated a girl named Antonia because this younger sister of Rolf's has been the cause of a misunderstanding in two of her books!)
As much as I loved Giles and his wicked sense of humor, I can't say I felt the same about Samantha. I like a feisty, sassy heroine but Sam bordered on the rude and even worse, came across as a martyr.
That said, it was lovely visiting with Rolf and Sappha and the Baroness again.
6/24/16. After some discussions amongst the Betties on the TUJD Facebook page, I decided to reread this one.
It is not as bad as I previously thought. There are some memorable bits. Giles, of course, is still just as wonderful as before. Antonia at least is blameless as to Samantha's misunderstanding. I particularly liked the description of Baby Rolf with his miniature satyr's eyebrows (ha!). And of course, the part where Sam plans to run down a Brazilian mine.
As one of the Betties put it, "Giles does everything but put up billboards and hire sky writers. Samantha stubbornly ignores it all."
At least until nearly the very end. As Giles is driving her to Schiphol, "Samantha knew now, deep in her bones, that he liked her. . ." but she thinks that he and Antonia are an item and doesn't want to infringe.
I'm glad I reread this. 3.75 stars.
November 17, 2021
All I can say is that this is the first Neels where the H comes right out of the starting block flirting, kissing and doing everything in his power to say "You! I am totally smitten with you." So it really was difficult for me to understand how she didn't realize this and thought he was interested in someone else. The only explanation I could come up with is that she had really low self esteem and being hard to think well of herself she couldn't imagine someone else doing so. The H was awesome though as boyfriend material. No cold looks, snarky comments... omg. The dude bought her groceries, did her dishes, cleaned her flat AND ironed her clothes! You know this is in the realm of fantasy right there..
July 7, 2013
Poor Giles, he has his work cut out for him.
Heroine was a bit too prickly for my taste and a bit dense when it came to people and relationships, but still an enjoyable story from Betty Neels.
3.5 stars
Heroine was a bit too prickly for my taste and a bit dense when it came to people and relationships, but still an enjoyable story from Betty Neels.
3.5 stars
February 27, 2014
Giles is rather a lovely hero and we see right from the start that he is rather taken with Samantha. He thinks she is Enchanting despite admitting she is no great beauty.
Samantha, like many Neels heroines takes against Giles at the start but he soon wins her over. So much so that she starts to think maybe he does fancy her. Despite the oh so lovely Antonia who we met in her brother Rolf and Sappha's story.
It's all about the misunderstandings in this book, though it doesn't help when Samantha's friends invent an entirely fictitious fiancé for her to chase the supposedly philandering Giles away without her knowledge.
A nice romance with a pleasant visit with some old friends.
Samantha, like many Neels heroines takes against Giles at the start but he soon wins her over. So much so that she starts to think maybe he does fancy her. Despite the oh so lovely Antonia who we met in her brother Rolf and Sappha's story.
It's all about the misunderstandings in this book, though it doesn't help when Samantha's friends invent an entirely fictitious fiancé for her to chase the supposedly philandering Giles away without her knowledge.
A nice romance with a pleasant visit with some old friends.
April 18, 2015
Not a favorite Betty but okay to read on a long car ride, came across this one on Scdbd and couldn't remember reading it before. The heroine (usual plain but kind nurse) was a bit too snippy and quick to jump and frankly got on my nerves - I wasn't sure why the hero bothered with her! Of course we're supposed to figure it's lack of experience with men but she didn't have the usual calm, common sense and humor Betty usually gives her heroines (at least the ones I like and re-read!) Still, light, fun brain candy after weeks of working my way through "Phineas Finn" and more than I ever wanted to know about passing a reform bill in the Victorian British parliament, so I enjoyed it!
July 8, 2015
A very sweet read. Nothing really special about it.
April 9, 2025
Pretty much what it says on the tin. An old lady who doesn't speak English is rushes to Clement's hospital in London with badly burned hands, because the only word the emergency services could understand was "Clement's." Samantha Fielding, the staff nurse on night duty, is assigned to the case, and everyone is curious to see who will come find this little old lady, for she was picked up at an exceedingly fashionable address. As it happens, she is an old family friend/housekeeper for the prominent Dutch physician Giles ter Ossel, who sees patients at St Clement's; hence the mixup. Giles seems mostly bemused by Samantha; he is good friends with the consulting physician at Clement's, Sir Joshua, and they keep a close eye on Juffrouw (Klara) as she is recovering.
We learn a bit about Sam's normal routine. She lives in a small flat with 3 other nurses; they are friends and share chores, as they all work different shifts. She was raised by her grandparents, whom she still returns to visit in Weymouth during all of her off days from work. She is surprised when Giles shows up in Weymouth, as the guest of the local squire; she can't quite decide if she likes him or not, as she finds him at times patronizing and mocking.
When she returns to work, the ancillary staff at Clement's have gone on strike, leaving the household duties to the nursing staff, on top of their regular duties. Sir Joshua and Giles show up one day, sleeves rolled up to pitch in, much to the nursing staff's surprise. Giles is also fairly solicitous about Sam, making sure she eats and gets home all right, with enough time to sleep between shifts. Sam decides that she likes him now, but fears their acquaintance is tenuous, as Klara has returned to health and left the hospital.
Samantha is especially assigned to her next patient (which is uncommon): a teenage girl named Antonia van Duyren, who is suffering with jaundice. Antonia is young and beautiful in spite of her sallow coloring, and she takes to Sam very quickly. Antonia is the younger sister of Baron van Duyren, from Holland, who just happens to be a close personal friend of Giles ter Ossel. Sam is disconcerted to see Giles when he visits Antonia, instantly believing that they are betrothed basically because they are friendly with each other.
Sam is asked to accompany Antonia back to Holland, the trip arranged by the Baron and Giles, and she reluctantly accepts. Her feelings for Giles means that she's constantly suffering when she's around him, as she believes he's constantly mocking her. Giles arranges for them to spend a day together exploring the country before she leaves, which Sam both enjoys and hates, because now she's sure its the end of the road for them. She returns to London and decides to quit her job and move to Brazil, where she will have slim to no chance of running into Giles, now that she's convinced he's to be married.
There is a small misunderstanding, as Sam neither outright asks Antonia OR Giles if they are getting married, and Antonia doesn't tell Sam who she *is* marrying when she announces her engagement, but once Giles gets wind of all this, he's racing back to London to correct the mistake and win Sam over for good. He calls her "enchanting" several times throughout the book, hence the title.
I seemed to have picked two frustrating female leads in a row, which is never fun. Samantha Fielding is obstinate throughout the entire book; she's so convinced that she's plain and dowdy that no one will ever look at her, and she spends a lot of time convincing herself that Giles is either (1) mocking her, or (2) being pity-nice to her for some unfathomable reason. Girl, this man rolled up his sleeves to wash dishes during an ancillary force strike at a hospital that's not even his, he takes you to breakfast, guides you home, makes you tea, irons your uniform, makes excuses to see you, kisses you a lot , whisks you off to his homeland on a fairly flimsy pretense. That is not pity - that is adoration. Why he adores you so much, I have no idea, because you are stubborn, obtuse, a bit of a martyr, and you decide that moving halfway around the world is the best way to get over your feelings. My eyes can't roll far enough back in my head for this.
Of course, we only get one scene from Giles's POV, and its at the end, so there's not much help from that quarter. These older vintage romances that are completely opaque on one half of the OTP are sometimes frustrating to read.
I can't really go higher than 2 stars for this one. Giles is actually pretty lovely, but Sam is dumb as a box of rocks for basically no reason other than Angst. Bleh!
Find more reviews at The Vintage Romance Reader
We learn a bit about Sam's normal routine. She lives in a small flat with 3 other nurses; they are friends and share chores, as they all work different shifts. She was raised by her grandparents, whom she still returns to visit in Weymouth during all of her off days from work. She is surprised when Giles shows up in Weymouth, as the guest of the local squire; she can't quite decide if she likes him or not, as she finds him at times patronizing and mocking.
When she returns to work, the ancillary staff at Clement's have gone on strike, leaving the household duties to the nursing staff, on top of their regular duties. Sir Joshua and Giles show up one day, sleeves rolled up to pitch in, much to the nursing staff's surprise. Giles is also fairly solicitous about Sam, making sure she eats and gets home all right, with enough time to sleep between shifts. Sam decides that she likes him now, but fears their acquaintance is tenuous, as Klara has returned to health and left the hospital.
Samantha is especially assigned to her next patient (which is uncommon): a teenage girl named Antonia van Duyren, who is suffering with jaundice. Antonia is young and beautiful in spite of her sallow coloring, and she takes to Sam very quickly. Antonia is the younger sister of Baron van Duyren, from Holland, who just happens to be a close personal friend of Giles ter Ossel. Sam is disconcerted to see Giles when he visits Antonia, instantly believing that they are betrothed basically because they are friendly with each other.
Sam is asked to accompany Antonia back to Holland, the trip arranged by the Baron and Giles, and she reluctantly accepts. Her feelings for Giles means that she's constantly suffering when she's around him, as she believes he's constantly mocking her. Giles arranges for them to spend a day together exploring the country before she leaves, which Sam both enjoys and hates, because now she's sure its the end of the road for them. She returns to London and decides to quit her job and move to Brazil, where she will have slim to no chance of running into Giles, now that she's convinced he's to be married.
There is a small misunderstanding, as Sam neither outright asks Antonia OR Giles if they are getting married, and Antonia doesn't tell Sam who she *is* marrying when she announces her engagement, but once Giles gets wind of all this, he's racing back to London to correct the mistake and win Sam over for good. He calls her "enchanting" several times throughout the book, hence the title.
I seemed to have picked two frustrating female leads in a row, which is never fun. Samantha Fielding is obstinate throughout the entire book; she's so convinced that she's plain and dowdy that no one will ever look at her, and she spends a lot of time convincing herself that Giles is either (1) mocking her, or (2) being pity-nice to her for some unfathomable reason. Girl, this man rolled up his sleeves to wash dishes during an ancillary force strike at a hospital that's not even his, he takes you to breakfast, guides you home, makes you tea, irons your uniform, makes excuses to see you, kisses you a lot , whisks you off to his homeland on a fairly flimsy pretense. That is not pity - that is adoration. Why he adores you so much, I have no idea, because you are stubborn, obtuse, a bit of a martyr, and you decide that moving halfway around the world is the best way to get over your feelings. My eyes can't roll far enough back in my head for this.
Of course, we only get one scene from Giles's POV, and its at the end, so there's not much help from that quarter. These older vintage romances that are completely opaque on one half of the OTP are sometimes frustrating to read.
I can't really go higher than 2 stars for this one. Giles is actually pretty lovely, but Sam is dumb as a box of rocks for basically no reason other than Angst. Bleh!
Find more reviews at The Vintage Romance Reader
January 18, 2026
Read: 23Dec25,
4.5 stars. This book had some absolutely wonderfully romantic moments that makes it a 4.5 star read for me and which i look forward to reading again in the future. And yes, for some of it I was uncertain about the plotline with the pseudo OM/OW drama, but actually Betty wrote it quite wonderfully.
Samantha (26?) is a plain jane nurse looking after an old dutch lady at a hospital who has burned her hands and doesnt seem to have any friends or relatives. Then a huge handsome man turns up asking after the old lady and Sam is peeved because it's not visiting hours and she is rushed off her feet. She is rather brusque with him and takes a dislike to him for his amused manner which she perceives as mocking and smug and high handed. He flirts with her a bit, which is quite enjoyable for us readers, but being a no-nonsense plain jane, she doesnt take him seriously or even realise he is flirting and brushes him off with great annoyance. She permits him to visit the old lady and he leaves. Later, when she finds out he is actually a well know doctor and friends with her boss, she is even more annoyed that he didnt say so in the first place.
He is Giles, a visiting RDD, and the old lady is his housekeeper. He he seems to turn up quite often when Sam is round, and even insists on taking her out for meals with one excuse or another. He even turns up in her home town in the countryside where she is visiting her kindly old grandparents and he's at a dinner party given by family friends, and she gets cajoles by everyone to taking him down to Chesil beach for a walk. As she gets to know him, she realises he is quite nice really.
Especially when there is a staff shortage at the hospital due to a strike, and this means the nurses end up hugely overworked, and Giles and the boss both pitch in to help with menial tasks to help keep the wards running. In fact, Giles is quite handy with the household chores. Several times he takes her home when she is exhausted, and one of those times, after feeding her and putting her to bed, he even irons her clothes and tidies the flat and leaves some groceries for her and her flatmates. How amazingly lovely and thoughtful is her!! SWOON. Give me several of him right now!
SPOILERS
There's also scene where he protects her from a bomb blast with his body. Yes please. Give me another several of him, thanks. It is pretty clear that he is besotted with her, to us readers at least. She came out of nowhere and blew him away. BUT THEN....
A young beautiful dutch patient, Antonia, arrives at the hospital who Sam has to nurse, and she ends up knowing Giles. And it begins to look like this beautiful and lively young creature has a prior claim on Giles, who is a friend of her brother's, and that they are very close indeed. Several things that people say to Sam lead her to believe that Antonia and Giles will be getting married. When Sam learns this she is very upset. I think she has realised by now that she is in love with Giles. She is too noble to try to steal him away from Antonia and believes she is too plain to do so, and she tires to emotionally distance herself from Giles, but its hard because Antonia has befriended her and she keeps suggesting that Sam absolutely must help Giles with this or that, like picking out decor things for Giles's London house.
In the meantime, Sam's flatmate nurse friends are worried for Sam. They think he is engaged to Antonia and that he is leading their sweet and naive friend Sam on. They dont want him breaking Sam's heart. So, one day when he calls around to see Sam, one of them lies to him and tells him to that Sam has gone out to see her fiancé Jack.
Giles is shocked and upset by this news. He goes off to holland and Sam doesnt see him for two weeks, after which she must travel to holland with Antonia to help nurse her recovery over there, which had been prearranged by Giles before he knew about the fiance Jack. Sam has no idea that he thinks she is engaged. However, because she thinks he will be coming to see Antonia, she girds her loins to be aloof with him and try to keep a distance.
To her surprise he is friendly enough when they see each other again. Which also dismays her because she needs to protect her heart. And she tries to (but is unable to) resist when he arranges to take her out sometimes and spend time showing her holland and even giving her a tour of his house, which she thinks is beautiful.
Before she is due to return to england, he asks her some questions about her future plans, and her answers make him believe she has decided to get married to her fiancé. Even as he drives her to the airport, he asks her is she is certain she wants to return to england, and she says yes, her plans have absolutely been made and that being in Holland has only made her certain of that. She is pretending her career plans have been made, wanting to save face because she thinks he is engaged. She even thinks by now that he likes her, but she believes that Antonia has the greater claim on him. He thinks she means she wants to marry Jack. He tells her he is a patient man and will wait for what he wants. And he says he will be away travelling for work for a few days, but when he returns he hopes he will find a message from her waiting for him... (How sweet, putting his heart out there and risking it all! Brave man.)
ENDING SPOILERS
When she is back in england, she gets a letter from Antonia saying that her wedding will be very soon and she wants Sam to come to the wedding. This is the last straw that breaks Sam. She cant bear to carry on as she is. She immediately hands in her notice and applies for a job nursing mine workers in Brazil. She wants to get as far from a happily wed Giles as possible. She simply cant bear it. She returns home to her grandparents in the meantime.
In holland, Giles and Antonia and other friends Sam made are worried that they havent heard from Sam. Giles finally figures out that (a) nobody else knows about this so called fiance Jack and that Antonia has only mentioned applying for a new more senior nursing job, and (b) that maybe Sam thought he was engaged to Antonia, a fact which completely shocks him. But he is ecstatic to realise that maybe he has a chance with Sam after all.
Her rushes to england, clarifies the truth about fake Jack with Sam's flatmates, and goes to get himself a special license. Then goes to see Sam in the countryside the next day. Big confessions on both sides. Utter relief on both sides. A truly wonderfully romantic speech, with Giles so so many utterly sweet things. He fell for her at first sight, he would have waited years for her and even the rest of his life even if she had married Jack, and he would have followed her to Brazil down the mines if she had gone there. It is utterly sweet. She had been making jam when he arrived. Remembering she forgot it, she cries out the jam is ruined, and he pleads for her not to ruin his life for a batch of jam. It is utterly adorable. Kisses abound. HEA. The end. How lovely! I was wondering whether this was going to be 4.4 or 4.5 stars for me, and the ending clinched the 4.5 stars. (Anything 4.5 stars or above are the truly special betty books that i adored and want to savour again in re-reads.)
CONCLUSION
Normally I want an icehole and a lot of angst, and this book had a besotted hero (which I usually find lowers the tension for me and sometimes makes things dull) and only a moderate to low amount of angst. And yet I adored it because the plot was complex enough to keep things interesting. Plus neither of them was able to take for granted that they could have the other. I thought the fact that the OW drama was going to end up not really being an OW was going to annoy me as I dont like fake drama, but it didn't play out as if it was fake. It seemed like a genuine misunderstanding which played up against Sam's own insecurities. And the way Giles pursued her and was so devoted in his goals despite his own heartache and anxieties, and kept showing her how much he wanted her actually was so touching and I loved him for it. What a guy. And her naivety in not being able to understand what his actions meant didnt annoy me like some other super naïve betty heroines sometimes have. In her case, it all seemed possible to be unable to believe this handsome, rich, charming, worldly man would want her, plain Jane serious little nurse. And yet he did! I cant wait to see what i think when I re-read this book. The ending was so emotionally satisfying. left me with big smiles.
4.5 stars. This book had some absolutely wonderfully romantic moments that makes it a 4.5 star read for me and which i look forward to reading again in the future. And yes, for some of it I was uncertain about the plotline with the pseudo OM/OW drama, but actually Betty wrote it quite wonderfully.
Samantha (26?) is a plain jane nurse looking after an old dutch lady at a hospital who has burned her hands and doesnt seem to have any friends or relatives. Then a huge handsome man turns up asking after the old lady and Sam is peeved because it's not visiting hours and she is rushed off her feet. She is rather brusque with him and takes a dislike to him for his amused manner which she perceives as mocking and smug and high handed. He flirts with her a bit, which is quite enjoyable for us readers, but being a no-nonsense plain jane, she doesnt take him seriously or even realise he is flirting and brushes him off with great annoyance. She permits him to visit the old lady and he leaves. Later, when she finds out he is actually a well know doctor and friends with her boss, she is even more annoyed that he didnt say so in the first place.
He is Giles, a visiting RDD, and the old lady is his housekeeper. He he seems to turn up quite often when Sam is round, and even insists on taking her out for meals with one excuse or another. He even turns up in her home town in the countryside where she is visiting her kindly old grandparents and he's at a dinner party given by family friends, and she gets cajoles by everyone to taking him down to Chesil beach for a walk. As she gets to know him, she realises he is quite nice really.
Especially when there is a staff shortage at the hospital due to a strike, and this means the nurses end up hugely overworked, and Giles and the boss both pitch in to help with menial tasks to help keep the wards running. In fact, Giles is quite handy with the household chores. Several times he takes her home when she is exhausted, and one of those times, after feeding her and putting her to bed, he even irons her clothes and tidies the flat and leaves some groceries for her and her flatmates. How amazingly lovely and thoughtful is her!! SWOON. Give me several of him right now!
SPOILERS
There's also scene where he protects her from a bomb blast with his body. Yes please. Give me another several of him, thanks. It is pretty clear that he is besotted with her, to us readers at least. She came out of nowhere and blew him away. BUT THEN....
A young beautiful dutch patient, Antonia, arrives at the hospital who Sam has to nurse, and she ends up knowing Giles. And it begins to look like this beautiful and lively young creature has a prior claim on Giles, who is a friend of her brother's, and that they are very close indeed. Several things that people say to Sam lead her to believe that Antonia and Giles will be getting married. When Sam learns this she is very upset. I think she has realised by now that she is in love with Giles. She is too noble to try to steal him away from Antonia and believes she is too plain to do so, and she tires to emotionally distance herself from Giles, but its hard because Antonia has befriended her and she keeps suggesting that Sam absolutely must help Giles with this or that, like picking out decor things for Giles's London house.
In the meantime, Sam's flatmate nurse friends are worried for Sam. They think he is engaged to Antonia and that he is leading their sweet and naive friend Sam on. They dont want him breaking Sam's heart. So, one day when he calls around to see Sam, one of them lies to him and tells him to that Sam has gone out to see her fiancé Jack.
Giles is shocked and upset by this news. He goes off to holland and Sam doesnt see him for two weeks, after which she must travel to holland with Antonia to help nurse her recovery over there, which had been prearranged by Giles before he knew about the fiance Jack. Sam has no idea that he thinks she is engaged. However, because she thinks he will be coming to see Antonia, she girds her loins to be aloof with him and try to keep a distance.
To her surprise he is friendly enough when they see each other again. Which also dismays her because she needs to protect her heart. And she tries to (but is unable to) resist when he arranges to take her out sometimes and spend time showing her holland and even giving her a tour of his house, which she thinks is beautiful.
Before she is due to return to england, he asks her some questions about her future plans, and her answers make him believe she has decided to get married to her fiancé. Even as he drives her to the airport, he asks her is she is certain she wants to return to england, and she says yes, her plans have absolutely been made and that being in Holland has only made her certain of that. She is pretending her career plans have been made, wanting to save face because she thinks he is engaged. She even thinks by now that he likes her, but she believes that Antonia has the greater claim on him. He thinks she means she wants to marry Jack. He tells her he is a patient man and will wait for what he wants. And he says he will be away travelling for work for a few days, but when he returns he hopes he will find a message from her waiting for him... (How sweet, putting his heart out there and risking it all! Brave man.)
ENDING SPOILERS
When she is back in england, she gets a letter from Antonia saying that her wedding will be very soon and she wants Sam to come to the wedding. This is the last straw that breaks Sam. She cant bear to carry on as she is. She immediately hands in her notice and applies for a job nursing mine workers in Brazil. She wants to get as far from a happily wed Giles as possible. She simply cant bear it. She returns home to her grandparents in the meantime.
In holland, Giles and Antonia and other friends Sam made are worried that they havent heard from Sam. Giles finally figures out that (a) nobody else knows about this so called fiance Jack and that Antonia has only mentioned applying for a new more senior nursing job, and (b) that maybe Sam thought he was engaged to Antonia, a fact which completely shocks him. But he is ecstatic to realise that maybe he has a chance with Sam after all.
Her rushes to england, clarifies the truth about fake Jack with Sam's flatmates, and goes to get himself a special license. Then goes to see Sam in the countryside the next day. Big confessions on both sides. Utter relief on both sides. A truly wonderfully romantic speech, with Giles so so many utterly sweet things. He fell for her at first sight, he would have waited years for her and even the rest of his life even if she had married Jack, and he would have followed her to Brazil down the mines if she had gone there. It is utterly sweet. She had been making jam when he arrived. Remembering she forgot it, she cries out the jam is ruined, and he pleads for her not to ruin his life for a batch of jam. It is utterly adorable. Kisses abound. HEA. The end. How lovely! I was wondering whether this was going to be 4.4 or 4.5 stars for me, and the ending clinched the 4.5 stars. (Anything 4.5 stars or above are the truly special betty books that i adored and want to savour again in re-reads.)
CONCLUSION
Normally I want an icehole and a lot of angst, and this book had a besotted hero (which I usually find lowers the tension for me and sometimes makes things dull) and only a moderate to low amount of angst. And yet I adored it because the plot was complex enough to keep things interesting. Plus neither of them was able to take for granted that they could have the other. I thought the fact that the OW drama was going to end up not really being an OW was going to annoy me as I dont like fake drama, but it didn't play out as if it was fake. It seemed like a genuine misunderstanding which played up against Sam's own insecurities. And the way Giles pursued her and was so devoted in his goals despite his own heartache and anxieties, and kept showing her how much he wanted her actually was so touching and I loved him for it. What a guy. And her naivety in not being able to understand what his actions meant didnt annoy me like some other super naïve betty heroines sometimes have. In her case, it all seemed possible to be unable to believe this handsome, rich, charming, worldly man would want her, plain Jane serious little nurse. And yet he did! I cant wait to see what i think when I re-read this book. The ending was so emotionally satisfying. left me with big smiles.
March 9, 2021
Read on the Kindle
I am working my way through Betty Neels books these are a lovely read you have to remember they are set late 60s early 70s at least these earlier books & it always the say more or less but this was the format that Mills & Boon wanted for their books
A nice easy escape book to read but do remember that while lovely to read they are dated as i very much they would be written in present day but i still enjoy these books so now i read 1-19 of 134 books
I am working my way through Betty Neels books these are a lovely read you have to remember they are set late 60s early 70s at least these earlier books & it always the say more or less but this was the format that Mills & Boon wanted for their books
A nice easy escape book to read but do remember that while lovely to read they are dated as i very much they would be written in present day but i still enjoy these books so now i read 1-19 of 134 books
January 10, 2019
One of my favorite Betty Neels books. A young English nurse meets a handsome, charming and rich Dutch doctor and falls for him completely. Of course, some misunderstanding comes between them and the inevitable end is postponed. At last, all problems are resolved, and everyone lives happily ever after. I always come back to one of my Betty Neels when I need a lift of spirits.
January 15, 2018
Sweet, gentle romance. A slight twist - the Dr. has a sense of humor.
Otherwise this fits the Neels mold perfectly.
I enjoy these romances because they are so consistently pleasant, though I admit that the lack of women's lib drive in the nurses a little disconcerting.
Otherwise this fits the Neels mold perfectly.
I enjoy these romances because they are so consistently pleasant, though I admit that the lack of women's lib drive in the nurses a little disconcerting.
March 13, 2015
One of her best. Great characters; Samantha and Giles, revisiting with old friends Sappha and Rolf. Typical misunderstandings pepper the landscape but Giles is a kind and patient man willing to wait for his HEA until Sam is brought up to speed.
February 22, 2014
My first Betty Neels. I can't believe I am only discovering her now. Can't wait to read more.
April 14, 2018
3.5*
Sappha and Rolf from Tangled Autumn reappeared in this book! So too did Sappha,s mother, and her sister-in-law and mother-in-law! Once again Antonia was made to seem the Other Woman, though it's all a big misunderstanding!
TGB obviously meant the "enchanting" here to mean charming and attractive because Giles the RDD told Sam this twice. But someone asked, could it have been a verb instead? Hell yes! Giles came across a bit sneering and mockingn the initial encounters with Sam, and poor normally friendly and pleasant girl just could not help but dislike Giles! He knew it too!
Then began the " enchanting [of] Samantha". She was so prickly and grouchy! My goodness! Giles could wash the dishes, helping out when ancillary staff went on strike and he ain't even got anything to do with her hospital, he tidied her flat and prepped meals, stocking it up with expensive tinned soups, bought her flowers, and IRONED HER UNIFORM BEAUTIFULLY!
My burning question was always how did our heroines deal with laundry. I assumed in the nurses' home it'd be taken care of but those living in bedsits and tiny rooms? Seemed like they went to the laundrette!
Anyway it was all misunderstanding and assumptions, prideful fibs that kept them apart. Sam's flatmates were TOO HELPFUL AND PROTECTIVE, it's kind of touching because they thought she'd been so innocent when it came to men...I was surprised Giles continued to be so good to her in Holland despite being told she was engaged to a Jack. He was in such a horrid temper after hearing this too...
It was overall an above average read for me. Giles really stood out...I mean where did he even learnt to do all those chores when he's got so many faithful family retainers to look after him?! It's so funny how Sir Joshua expected tea towels to be handed to him like in theatre LOL
Sappha and Rolf from Tangled Autumn reappeared in this book! So too did Sappha,s mother, and her sister-in-law and mother-in-law! Once again Antonia was made to seem the Other Woman, though it's all a big misunderstanding!
TGB obviously meant the "enchanting" here to mean charming and attractive because Giles the RDD told Sam this twice. But someone asked, could it have been a verb instead? Hell yes! Giles came across a bit sneering and mockingn the initial encounters with Sam, and poor normally friendly and pleasant girl just could not help but dislike Giles! He knew it too!
Then began the " enchanting [of] Samantha". She was so prickly and grouchy! My goodness! Giles could wash the dishes, helping out when ancillary staff went on strike and he ain't even got anything to do with her hospital, he tidied her flat and prepped meals, stocking it up with expensive tinned soups, bought her flowers, and IRONED HER UNIFORM BEAUTIFULLY!
My burning question was always how did our heroines deal with laundry. I assumed in the nurses' home it'd be taken care of but those living in bedsits and tiny rooms? Seemed like they went to the laundrette!
Anyway it was all misunderstanding and assumptions, prideful fibs that kept them apart. Sam's flatmates were TOO HELPFUL AND PROTECTIVE, it's kind of touching because they thought she'd been so innocent when it came to men...I was surprised Giles continued to be so good to her in Holland despite being told she was engaged to a Jack. He was in such a horrid temper after hearing this too...
It was overall an above average read for me. Giles really stood out...I mean where did he even learnt to do all those chores when he's got so many faithful family retainers to look after him?! It's so funny how Sir Joshua expected tea towels to be handed to him like in theatre LOL
September 1, 2024
Angst by miscommunication, or complete lack thereof if not done right can be incredibly irritating and if this reticence apparent in Betty Neal’s’ Dutch heroes is a cultural thing then the entire country must be heaving with frustrated people who through misunderstanding and lack of communication have ruined lives, partnerships, businesses and so on. Here the heroine is under the illusion that the hero is marrying her patient, he though, is told in no uncertain terms that she’s marrying someone else. During her stay -instigated by him in hopes of getting her to love him- in his country where she’s heroically nursing the girl she thinks is going to marry the man she loves, like a proper sainted martyr, they’re either blocks of ice or he’s being called away before saying what he intends to say which after a few books just gets old. It gets to the point where she returns home and then quits her job with the hospital and applies for a nursing position in rural depths of Brazil, in a mine of all places. The hero comes, of course, in the nick of time and doesn’t let her go to Brazil, ruins the jam she’s cooking and declares his love. Honestly by this point I’d lost interest. I’d have been much happier had she actually gone to Brazil. Chances were she’d meet someone exciting over there.
May 28, 2023
Full of misunderstandings
As usual, Betty Neels wrote a wonderful story. This one is a little funny, A little sad, and a lot of happy. I always love the descriptions she gives of various parts of the world and the historical landmarks she includes in her writing. If I ever get to that part of the world, I'll try to visit as many as I can. Giles and Samantha are a cute couple. She falls in love with him and can't help enjoying herself with him even though she tries to hide it. He's very determined to find ways to get her to spend time with him. She misunderstands a relationship, and he's led to believe she's in a relationship with someone else. It is a little comical but it also hurt my feelings a lot. I'm sure it was less hurt than they were feeling. Anyway, It's a romance, so it all works out in the end.... and how!!! If you love Betty Neels, you will love this book. If you're looking for hot and heavy, Betty Neels is not the author for you.
As usual, Betty Neels wrote a wonderful story. This one is a little funny, A little sad, and a lot of happy. I always love the descriptions she gives of various parts of the world and the historical landmarks she includes in her writing. If I ever get to that part of the world, I'll try to visit as many as I can. Giles and Samantha are a cute couple. She falls in love with him and can't help enjoying herself with him even though she tries to hide it. He's very determined to find ways to get her to spend time with him. She misunderstands a relationship, and he's led to believe she's in a relationship with someone else. It is a little comical but it also hurt my feelings a lot. I'm sure it was less hurt than they were feeling. Anyway, It's a romance, so it all works out in the end.... and how!!! If you love Betty Neels, you will love this book. If you're looking for hot and heavy, Betty Neels is not the author for you.
January 20, 2024
One of my favourite Neelsian genres- when the RDD from the beginning shows his interest in the English nurse “lacking in looks” and isn’t rude and from the beginning we know what’s what. There was a bit of talking at cross-purposes between Giles and Sam and it was a little annoying because a little less game-playing and a little more honest conversation would have solved everything.
I liked Sam because even though she was a little silly, she did have backbone and that’s much more than one can say for many Neelsian heroines. Really enjoyed this one- I hadn’t read it in ages but it’s definitely one of my favourites now and the ending is very awwwwww-some.
I liked Sam because even though she was a little silly, she did have backbone and that’s much more than one can say for many Neelsian heroines. Really enjoyed this one- I hadn’t read it in ages but it’s definitely one of my favourites now and the ending is very awwwwww-some.
April 28, 2022
I find that when life is a little overwhelming a Betty Neels book always makes me feel better. All her books are sweet HEA books. I love that they are simple love stories without all the abundant sex in current books. A kiss in the last chapter and a marriage that was always meant to be.
These are my comfort zone books.
These are my comfort zone books.
January 2, 2018
I liked this because the rich handsome Dutch doctor didn't chase around the bush about whether he liked our plain English nurse...except both of them had huge misunderstandings about each other's availability that kept them from their happily-ever-after ending for much of the book.
January 12, 2021
Complications gallore
Nice story. It won't be ones of my favorites though. A bit too many complications. Somewhat different from the other nurse / doctor stories.
Nice story. It won't be ones of my favorites though. A bit too many complications. Somewhat different from the other nurse / doctor stories.
August 24, 2021
Love it so much. It's sweet and beautiful story. One of the best. ❤❤❤🥰🥰🥰🥰
August 28, 2023
Another one where the professor pursued a little bit. I just wish Samantha figured that out earlier!
October 14, 2023
I quite liked Giles but Samantha, bless her heart, was dumber than a bag of hair. Just be happy that the hero is happy, I guess?
3.5 stars
3.5 stars
November 12, 2023
Major misunderstandings, oddly enough, and with friends like Samantha has its lucky she ever gets married.
April 27, 2024
Really enjoyed the writing on this one. The story was predictable but it was all very fun and cosy.
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