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Never The Time and the Place
How could he be so handsome…and yet so cold?
Ward Sister Josephine Dowling was heartbroken over the end of her engagement, but how could she marry a man she didn't really love? What she didn't expect, though, was to have to cope with her tears and the arrogant attitude of the brilliant Dr. Julius van Tacx.
He seemed to make a habit of finding her just when she was feeling—and looking—her worst. And when he was at his most handsome….
Ward Sister Josephine Dowling was heartbroken over the end of her engagement, but how could she marry a man she didn't really love? What she didn't expect, though, was to have to cope with her tears and the arrogant attitude of the brilliant Dr. Julius van Tacx.
He seemed to make a habit of finding her just when she was feeling—and looking—her worst. And when he was at his most handsome….
186 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1985
About the author
Betty Neels
585 books422 followersEvelyn Jessy "Betty" Neels was born on September 15, 1910 in Devon to a family with firm roots in the civil service. She said she had a blissfully happy childhood and teenage years.(This stood her in good stead later for the tribulations to come with the Second World War). She was sent away to boarding school, and then went on to train as a nurse, gaining her SRN and SCM, that is, State Registered Nurse and State Certificate of Midwifery.
In 1939 she was called up to the Territorial Army Nursing Service, which later became the Queen Alexandra Reserves, and was sent to France with the Casualty Clearing Station. This comprised eight nursing sisters, including Betty, to 100 men! In other circumstances, she thought that might have been quite thrilling! When France was invaded in 1940, all the nursing sisters managed to escape in the charge of an army major, undertaking a lengthy and terrifying journey to Boulogne in an ambulance. They were incredibly fortunate to be put on the last hospital ship to be leaving the port of Boulogne. But Betty's war didn't end there, for she was posted to Scotland, and then on to Northern Ireland, where she met her Dutch husband. He was a seaman aboard a minesweeper, which was bombed. He survived and was sent to the south of Holland to guard the sluices. However, when they had to abandon their post, they were told to escape if they could, and along with a small number of other men, he marched into Belgium. They stole a ship and managed to get it across the Channel to Dover before being transferred to the Atlantic run on the convoys. Sadly he became ill, and that was when he was transferred to hospital in Northern Ireland, where he met Betty. They eventually married, and were blessed with a daughter. They were posted to London, but were bombed out. As with most of the population, they made the best of things.
When the war finally ended, she and her husband were repatriated to Holland. As his family had believed he had died when his ship went down, this was a very emotional homecoming. The small family lived in Holland for 13 years, and Betty resumed her nursing career there. When they decided to return to England, Betty continued her nursing and when she eventually retired she had reached the position of night superintendent.
Betty Neels began writing almost by accident. She had retired from nursing, but her inquiring mind had no intention of vegetating, and her new career was born when she heard a lady in her local library bemoaning the lack of good romance novels. There was little in Betty's background to suggest that she might eventually become a much-loved novelist.
Her first book, Sister Peters in Amsterdam, was published in 1969, and by dint of often writing four books a year, she eventually completed 134 books. She was always quite firm upon the point that the Dutch doctors who frequently appeared in her stories were *not* based upon her husband, but rather upon an amalgam of several of the doctors she met while nursing in Holland.
To her millions of fans around the world, Betty Neels epitomized romance. She was always amazed and touched that her books were so widely appreciated. She never sought plaudits and remained a very private person, but it made her very happy to know that she brought such pleasure to so many readers, while herself gaining a quiet joy from spinning her stories. It is perhaps a reflection of her upbringing in an earlier time that the men and women who peopled her stories have a kindliness and good manners, coupled to honesty and integrity, that is not always present in our modern world. Her myriad of fans found a warmth and a reassurance of a better world in her stories, along with characters who touched the heart, which is all and more than one could ask of a romance writer. She received a great deal of fan mail, and there was always a comment upon the fascinating places she visited in her stories. Quite often those of her fans fortunate enough to visit Ho
In 1939 she was called up to the Territorial Army Nursing Service, which later became the Queen Alexandra Reserves, and was sent to France with the Casualty Clearing Station. This comprised eight nursing sisters, including Betty, to 100 men! In other circumstances, she thought that might have been quite thrilling! When France was invaded in 1940, all the nursing sisters managed to escape in the charge of an army major, undertaking a lengthy and terrifying journey to Boulogne in an ambulance. They were incredibly fortunate to be put on the last hospital ship to be leaving the port of Boulogne. But Betty's war didn't end there, for she was posted to Scotland, and then on to Northern Ireland, where she met her Dutch husband. He was a seaman aboard a minesweeper, which was bombed. He survived and was sent to the south of Holland to guard the sluices. However, when they had to abandon their post, they were told to escape if they could, and along with a small number of other men, he marched into Belgium. They stole a ship and managed to get it across the Channel to Dover before being transferred to the Atlantic run on the convoys. Sadly he became ill, and that was when he was transferred to hospital in Northern Ireland, where he met Betty. They eventually married, and were blessed with a daughter. They were posted to London, but were bombed out. As with most of the population, they made the best of things.
When the war finally ended, she and her husband were repatriated to Holland. As his family had believed he had died when his ship went down, this was a very emotional homecoming. The small family lived in Holland for 13 years, and Betty resumed her nursing career there. When they decided to return to England, Betty continued her nursing and when she eventually retired she had reached the position of night superintendent.
Betty Neels began writing almost by accident. She had retired from nursing, but her inquiring mind had no intention of vegetating, and her new career was born when she heard a lady in her local library bemoaning the lack of good romance novels. There was little in Betty's background to suggest that she might eventually become a much-loved novelist.
Her first book, Sister Peters in Amsterdam, was published in 1969, and by dint of often writing four books a year, she eventually completed 134 books. She was always quite firm upon the point that the Dutch doctors who frequently appeared in her stories were *not* based upon her husband, but rather upon an amalgam of several of the doctors she met while nursing in Holland.
To her millions of fans around the world, Betty Neels epitomized romance. She was always amazed and touched that her books were so widely appreciated. She never sought plaudits and remained a very private person, but it made her very happy to know that she brought such pleasure to so many readers, while herself gaining a quiet joy from spinning her stories. It is perhaps a reflection of her upbringing in an earlier time that the men and women who peopled her stories have a kindliness and good manners, coupled to honesty and integrity, that is not always present in our modern world. Her myriad of fans found a warmth and a reassurance of a better world in her stories, along with characters who touched the heart, which is all and more than one could ask of a romance writer. She received a great deal of fan mail, and there was always a comment upon the fascinating places she visited in her stories. Quite often those of her fans fortunate enough to visit Ho
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 5, 2013
This was a cute and enjoyable read.
It's slightly different in that the heroine is tall, gorgeous and curvy instead of the typical "mousy" one that Betty uses a lot in her stories. The heroine happens to be engaged to another man and only two months away from the wedding when she meets the good RDD. (Rich Dutch Doctor) They meet quite accidentally when he is visiting friends who happen to live in the same village where she is from. They end up working together when he back-ups another surgeon that has to take an extended leave.
These two had quite the sparks between them and it was apparent to everyone (except the heroine) that the doctor had fallen hard.
Though I enjoyed this one, it wasn't one of my favorites by Betty. There wasn't any tension in the story other than the heroine's insecurities and lack of common sense when it came to Julius. I so much prefer it when there are credible outside forces jeopardizing the relationship. Even the OW, was very tame considering she was thrown in at the very last minute without any rhyme or reason.
If you are on a quest to read all of Betty's books, I don't think this will disappoint. But if you are just starting out on your Betty Neel voyage, there are other more popular ones that I would recommend: Henrietta's Own Castle, Caroline's Waterloo, Tabitha in the Moonlight, Matilda's Wedding (White Weddings), Winter Wedding
It's slightly different in that the heroine is tall, gorgeous and curvy instead of the typical "mousy" one that Betty uses a lot in her stories. The heroine happens to be engaged to another man and only two months away from the wedding when she meets the good RDD. (Rich Dutch Doctor) They meet quite accidentally when he is visiting friends who happen to live in the same village where she is from. They end up working together when he back-ups another surgeon that has to take an extended leave.
These two had quite the sparks between them and it was apparent to everyone (except the heroine) that the doctor had fallen hard.
Though I enjoyed this one, it wasn't one of my favorites by Betty. There wasn't any tension in the story other than the heroine's insecurities and lack of common sense when it came to Julius. I so much prefer it when there are credible outside forces jeopardizing the relationship. Even the OW, was very tame considering she was thrown in at the very last minute without any rhyme or reason.
If you are on a quest to read all of Betty's books, I don't think this will disappoint. But if you are just starting out on your Betty Neel voyage, there are other more popular ones that I would recommend: Henrietta's Own Castle, Caroline's Waterloo, Tabitha in the Moonlight, Matilda's Wedding (White Weddings), Winter Wedding
July 6, 2017
3 3/4 stars. Josephine Dowling is “a strapping creature with a lovely face and enormous grey eyes;” she also has bright chestnut hair and is Ward Sister on the “gyny” ward. She is engaged to marry Malcom and a date has been set in 3 month’s time; she is having last minute thoughts. She is taking a walk with Cuthbert, the family dog, in the rain near her Wiltshire village home (her father is the local GP), and discussing the matter with him when she meets a handsome man in a Bentley. She chews him out for nearly running her over (slight exaggeration); they have a short conversation; he asks if she is married and when she tells him no, he remarks (rather ungrammatically), “Something for a man to be thankful for.”
The man is staying with a local family, the Forsyths, from whom he finds out her occupation, workplace and the fact that he will be seeing her soon. And indeed he does, when he arrives to take over for the senior consultant, Mr. Bull. Naturally, all the nurses are twitterpated over Julius van Tacx, but not Josephine. She has too much on her mind, like crying off on her upcoming nuptials. Unlike both Eugenia Smith (Heidelberg Wedding) and Julia Mitchell (At the End of the Day), she wastes no time in getting rid of the unloved and unwanted Malcom. However, her pride is hurt when Malcom shrugs off the broken engagement and she mourns what might have been.
Julius urges her to take some time off, not that Josephine needs much urging. Autumn in the country is her favourite time of year. They see each other quite a lot since he is still staying with the Forsyths. He takes her to Stourton where they have tea and walk around the lake. He eats supper with the family and when he kisses her goodbye in front of her family, Mrs. Dowling immediately knows which way the wind is blowing.
Julius wastes no time in courting Josephine, even though she is unaware of his intentions. She knows that she feels comfortable with him and is vaguely unhappy when he is away. She thinks he has gone back to Holland but when she arrives at her home and finds him there, she is surprised and excited. They go for a long walk together then return home for tea when word comes of an accident at a nearby farm; Mr. Dowling, Julius and Josephine go along to help out.
After church on Sunday, Julius invites Josephine to go back to Stourton to look around the church. It is there that he proposes a MOC, telling her that he wants to be married there, to her, of course. He has told her that he was recently engaged to Magda that she left him for someone else (someone richer). He gives her the usual spiel about getting to know one another before living as man and wife. He tells her to think about it.
Of course, she decides to accept and they get married in 3 week’s time. She wears cream satin and her bridesmaids (sister Natalie and Staff Nurse Joan) were claret-colored velvet. Julius has to go to Leeds for work and she goes along, which accounts for the “honeymoon.” Josephine is left on her own a lot and does a lot of shopping (Julius gives her a wad of cash and she learns he is very rich).
On the last evening there, she has dressed (in a fabulous new old rose dress, with the fur coat he bought her) and is waiting in the hotel lounge for him to return and take her to a party. She attracts a lot of looks from men and one offers to buy her a drink but she has politely turned him down. Julius comes in and tells her, “I expected you to be in your room, not down here waiting to be picked up.” Josephine is understandably furious and when he begs her pardon, she forgives him but tells him, “Next time I shall slap your face.” He assures her there won’t be a next time. Later that evening when they return from the party, she has her DR.
The next day they go back to her parents’ home and have an early Christmas dinner, pick up and drop off presents and say goodbye before going to Holland. They are left alone for a bit and Julius starts to tell her something, but gets interrupted. Again, in the car, he begins, “Josephine, I must talk to you. . .” and then sees that she is asleep. In London at their pied-a-terre flat, for the third time he says, “We have to talk,” but the housekeeper comes in to consult with Josephine about food to stock while they are over in Holland.
They go over to Holland where she settles into his stately home and meets the staff. Julius’s family is coming over to meet Josephine. While they are waiting, Julius gives her pearl earrings (to go with his mother’s pearl necklace that she wore at their wedding) and says, “Josephine, I have wanted to say something to you and each time I was prevented; once you were asleep . . .I think that I should have said it long ago, but perhaps it is not too late, I believe not. . .” when their guests begin to arrive. Julius says, “I have a strong feeling of sympathy for your Mr. Browning; did he not complain ‘Never the time and the place and the loved one altogether’?”
Poor Julius! The fates have conspired against him. The family loves Josephine; she meets his best friend Tane and wife Euphemia (An Apple for Eve). She is introduced to the village and all is going well, except he just can’t find time to make his Declaration. Fate has another nasty trick up her sleeve – Magda shows up. There is nothing subtle about this Veronica; she makes it clear that she is going to make a play for Julius. Which makes it doubly unfortunate that Julius is delayed that evening with a medical emergency – of course Josephine thinks he is wining and dining Magda.
The next day is the school party, sponsored by Julius. He has asked Josephine to stand in for him. This is a truly delightful scene – I laughed out loud several times, especially when Jo pulls the teachers into the conga line. “The assistant was enjoying herself, Juffrouw Smit wore the resigned look of someone who has just discovered that nothing will ever be the same again.” Haha!
Julius arrives then and wraps things up quickly and takes Jo home, tells Borren to hold all calls and make sure they aren’t disturbed.
Finally! He tells her that he fell in love with her at first sight – kissing follows (but not too much because tea is coming in 30 minutes).
I have mixed feelings about this book. A lot of it is somewhat forgettable, but there are some really delightful bits, which I have mentioned – where she tells him she will slap him the next time; the scene in the church where he proposes; and of course the school party. I really, really like that he tried several times to make his Declaration. I don’t really think the appearance of Magda was necessary. Not my favorite, but certainly not the worst, either.
The man is staying with a local family, the Forsyths, from whom he finds out her occupation, workplace and the fact that he will be seeing her soon. And indeed he does, when he arrives to take over for the senior consultant, Mr. Bull. Naturally, all the nurses are twitterpated over Julius van Tacx, but not Josephine. She has too much on her mind, like crying off on her upcoming nuptials. Unlike both Eugenia Smith (Heidelberg Wedding) and Julia Mitchell (At the End of the Day), she wastes no time in getting rid of the unloved and unwanted Malcom. However, her pride is hurt when Malcom shrugs off the broken engagement and she mourns what might have been.
Julius urges her to take some time off, not that Josephine needs much urging. Autumn in the country is her favourite time of year. They see each other quite a lot since he is still staying with the Forsyths. He takes her to Stourton where they have tea and walk around the lake. He eats supper with the family and when he kisses her goodbye in front of her family, Mrs. Dowling immediately knows which way the wind is blowing.
Julius wastes no time in courting Josephine, even though she is unaware of his intentions. She knows that she feels comfortable with him and is vaguely unhappy when he is away. She thinks he has gone back to Holland but when she arrives at her home and finds him there, she is surprised and excited. They go for a long walk together then return home for tea when word comes of an accident at a nearby farm; Mr. Dowling, Julius and Josephine go along to help out.
After church on Sunday, Julius invites Josephine to go back to Stourton to look around the church. It is there that he proposes a MOC, telling her that he wants to be married there, to her, of course. He has told her that he was recently engaged to Magda that she left him for someone else (someone richer). He gives her the usual spiel about getting to know one another before living as man and wife. He tells her to think about it.
Of course, she decides to accept and they get married in 3 week’s time. She wears cream satin and her bridesmaids (sister Natalie and Staff Nurse Joan) were claret-colored velvet. Julius has to go to Leeds for work and she goes along, which accounts for the “honeymoon.” Josephine is left on her own a lot and does a lot of shopping (Julius gives her a wad of cash and she learns he is very rich).
On the last evening there, she has dressed (in a fabulous new old rose dress, with the fur coat he bought her) and is waiting in the hotel lounge for him to return and take her to a party. She attracts a lot of looks from men and one offers to buy her a drink but she has politely turned him down. Julius comes in and tells her, “I expected you to be in your room, not down here waiting to be picked up.” Josephine is understandably furious and when he begs her pardon, she forgives him but tells him, “Next time I shall slap your face.” He assures her there won’t be a next time. Later that evening when they return from the party, she has her DR.
The next day they go back to her parents’ home and have an early Christmas dinner, pick up and drop off presents and say goodbye before going to Holland. They are left alone for a bit and Julius starts to tell her something, but gets interrupted. Again, in the car, he begins, “Josephine, I must talk to you. . .” and then sees that she is asleep. In London at their pied-a-terre flat, for the third time he says, “We have to talk,” but the housekeeper comes in to consult with Josephine about food to stock while they are over in Holland.
They go over to Holland where she settles into his stately home and meets the staff. Julius’s family is coming over to meet Josephine. While they are waiting, Julius gives her pearl earrings (to go with his mother’s pearl necklace that she wore at their wedding) and says, “Josephine, I have wanted to say something to you and each time I was prevented; once you were asleep . . .I think that I should have said it long ago, but perhaps it is not too late, I believe not. . .” when their guests begin to arrive. Julius says, “I have a strong feeling of sympathy for your Mr. Browning; did he not complain ‘Never the time and the place and the loved one altogether’?”
Poor Julius! The fates have conspired against him. The family loves Josephine; she meets his best friend Tane and wife Euphemia (An Apple for Eve). She is introduced to the village and all is going well, except he just can’t find time to make his Declaration. Fate has another nasty trick up her sleeve – Magda shows up. There is nothing subtle about this Veronica; she makes it clear that she is going to make a play for Julius. Which makes it doubly unfortunate that Julius is delayed that evening with a medical emergency – of course Josephine thinks he is wining and dining Magda.
The next day is the school party, sponsored by Julius. He has asked Josephine to stand in for him. This is a truly delightful scene – I laughed out loud several times, especially when Jo pulls the teachers into the conga line. “The assistant was enjoying herself, Juffrouw Smit wore the resigned look of someone who has just discovered that nothing will ever be the same again.” Haha!
Julius arrives then and wraps things up quickly and takes Jo home, tells Borren to hold all calls and make sure they aren’t disturbed.
Finally! He tells her that he fell in love with her at first sight – kissing follows (but not too much because tea is coming in 30 minutes).
I have mixed feelings about this book. A lot of it is somewhat forgettable, but there are some really delightful bits, which I have mentioned – where she tells him she will slap him the next time; the scene in the church where he proposes; and of course the school party. I really, really like that he tried several times to make his Declaration. I don’t really think the appearance of Magda was necessary. Not my favorite, but certainly not the worst, either.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2018
3.75* upgraded to 4*
Accidentally read this 1985 book when I should have been reading Once For All Time, 1984. Unfortunately my library didn't have this book in the catalogue!
A really delightful story and Julius was a great Betty Neels hero! I like Josephine too! She's a magnificently built size 14 woohoo! Gorgeous and lovely personality to boot! And a capable ward sister! Julius was a gynaecologist though...not sure I like my man to be looking at women parts all day for a living though:p
Jo was engaged to miserly Malcolm, but she's sensible enough to end the engagement, even though it was three months away from the big day! Why did everyone think she was jilted if she's such a catch and Malcolm unlikeable? Anyway I think Josephine felt so guilty she never explained to outsiders that she had ended things, not him.
Julius was a fast worker! He met Josephine in October, and before Christmas he'd married her, FINALLY made his love at first sight declaration and HEA. Phew! A very fast paced story and thoroughly enjoyable! Loved how he wooed her relentlessly, and got into her parents' good books charming them hehe!
A huge clue he was not as cold as his first encounter with Josephine was how right after reaching his destination, he wasted no time in identifying Josephine... As luck would have it, he'd be locum at Jo's hospital in the coming month. I knew he was in love with Jo from the beginning because he gave her a big white (cream satin) wedding with the full works! A romantic and beautiful church which he loved, bridesmaids, whole family flown over from Holland, the whole village invited and a working holiday-cum-mini honeymoon! His jealous rage during the honeymoon was very telling but Jo was just not very perceptive.
Oh interestingly, Josephine had asked Julius to put the pink diamond engagement ring on her himself! Love a heroine who asked for what she wanted! Plus she got the fur coat and house tour of love!
I really hated how each time our hero or heroine wanted to have The Talk and they got interrupted. This is the basis of the book, see the title? It's derived from a quote!
‘At last—the time and the place, but only you can tell me if I have the loved one, Josephine, my darling.’
I loved that he kept trying to make his love declaration, as usually it's the heroine given the runaround!
Euphemia and Tane from An Apple from Eve make cameo appearance here. They have two children, a boy and a girl, just three months old now!
PS. We have a missing dog mystery...Julius was supposed to have two dogs, the second which his father was supposed to bring back during their dinner party. But we never saw or read about it afterwards till the end of the book!
Accidentally read this 1985 book when I should have been reading Once For All Time, 1984. Unfortunately my library didn't have this book in the catalogue!
A really delightful story and Julius was a great Betty Neels hero! I like Josephine too! She's a magnificently built size 14 woohoo! Gorgeous and lovely personality to boot! And a capable ward sister! Julius was a gynaecologist though...not sure I like my man to be looking at women parts all day for a living though:p
Jo was engaged to miserly Malcolm, but she's sensible enough to end the engagement, even though it was three months away from the big day! Why did everyone think she was jilted if she's such a catch and Malcolm unlikeable? Anyway I think Josephine felt so guilty she never explained to outsiders that she had ended things, not him.
Julius was a fast worker! He met Josephine in October, and before Christmas he'd married her, FINALLY made his love at first sight declaration and HEA. Phew! A very fast paced story and thoroughly enjoyable! Loved how he wooed her relentlessly, and got into her parents' good books charming them hehe!
A huge clue he was not as cold as his first encounter with Josephine was how right after reaching his destination, he wasted no time in identifying Josephine... As luck would have it, he'd be locum at Jo's hospital in the coming month. I knew he was in love with Jo from the beginning because he gave her a big white (cream satin) wedding with the full works! A romantic and beautiful church which he loved, bridesmaids, whole family flown over from Holland, the whole village invited and a working holiday-cum-mini honeymoon! His jealous rage during the honeymoon was very telling but Jo was just not very perceptive.
Oh interestingly, Josephine had asked Julius to put the pink diamond engagement ring on her himself! Love a heroine who asked for what she wanted! Plus she got the fur coat and house tour of love!
I really hated how each time our hero or heroine wanted to have The Talk and they got interrupted. This is the basis of the book, see the title? It's derived from a quote!
‘At last—the time and the place, but only you can tell me if I have the loved one, Josephine, my darling.’
I loved that he kept trying to make his love declaration, as usually it's the heroine given the runaround!
Euphemia and Tane from An Apple from Eve make cameo appearance here. They have two children, a boy and a girl, just three months old now!
PS. We have a missing dog mystery...Julius was supposed to have two dogs, the second which his father was supposed to bring back during their dinner party. But we never saw or read about it afterwards till the end of the book!
July 25, 2013
A good book, the usual betty neels. The only thing is, the second dog never showed up at home.
July 2, 2009
This is a small departure from Betty's usual books. For one, the heroine has a bit of a backbone and she's not poor nor is she plain. She does however fall in love with the arrogant surgeon, who is assisting at her hospital.
The become fast friends and when Josephine's engagement to another doctor ends, Julius, jumps in and offers her an unconventional proposal, even though its apparent to everyone but her that they are already in love.
Sure its cheesy but its the kind of book you read and think, "why can't this happen to me!"
The become fast friends and when Josephine's engagement to another doctor ends, Julius, jumps in and offers her an unconventional proposal, even though its apparent to everyone but her that they are already in love.
Sure its cheesy but its the kind of book you read and think, "why can't this happen to me!"
January 18, 2012
I'm quite fond of this one also. It's a little different. The hero is positively edgy for a Betty Neels hero which, admittedly, isn't saying much. I think he might sneer. But only once.
September 16, 2018
Love them all
I just love reading these books. The description of the country side, the weather, the houses,the furniture and the food are just great!
I just love reading these books. The description of the country side, the weather, the houses,the furniture and the food are just great!
March 9, 2022
Pleasant clean romance primarily set in 1980s England.
July 13, 2022
Sweet, quite typical Betty Neels story. If you read a couple of Betty Neels novels, you read all of them. On the plus side - the age gap is not as big as in some of her other stories, the main heroine is described as pretty and attractive (BN sometimes overdoes the “mousiness” and “plainness” of her heroines), the heroine is “allowed” to love clothes and frippery and is not judged for that.
Lots of food being described, lots of tea being consumed, this might make you crave tons of food. Just be warned :)
(Available on scribd at the time I read it)
Lots of food being described, lots of tea being consumed, this might make you crave tons of food. Just be warned :)
(Available on scribd at the time I read it)
January 25, 2026
Read: 21Dec25,
3.9 stars. this was a pretty decent read in terms of plot but I struggled to connect with thr characters or feel the chemistry between them. they were both a bit too snarky with each other I think without any hints of either one falling first to tone down their jarring initial dislike. I guess it was hard to see why they were drawn to each other early on except for physical attraction. usually in a betty book we see the hero do stuff for the h early on which makes her appreciate him but the plot doesn't really allow for this as Josephine is no waif and has a fairly easy life.
First time around I stopped reading at the 50% mark as I just wasn't seeing their relationship develop enough to make me connect with the story. I just didn't feel enough chemistry between them.
so anyway, big beautiful Josephine (26?) is walking her dog in the countryside one day and a flashy car pulls up behind her, surprising her, so she yells at the driver that he should be careful as he nearly ran her over. he coldly observes that he did no such thing and she has no right to complain as she was walking in the middle of a public road. ooh. sparks fly. I was hopeful about this start...
it turns out Julius (34?) is an RDD who was visiting a family friend in the area. he finds out from his hostess who Josephine is and where she works.
Josephine is the daughter of a doctor and is a ward sister at a hospital. she lives a nice lifestyle so she's no waif. pity, as I like rooting for an underdog. she's engaged to malcolm, who she is quickly realising will make her unhappy. he is stingy and stuck in his ways and expects her to live with his mom and sew her own dresses and such nonsense after they wed, even though he could afford to keep her in decent style. she's realising he doesnt love her. she is anxious about their wedding just months away.
Jo and Julius (I shall shorten her name as I can't be writing all that) next meet after she goes back to work and finds out Julius will be covering for her boss while he is away for a month. she is going to have to work closely with him. she is chilly and civil to him. he cheekily suggests that they let bygones be bygones.
shortly afterwards, Jo breaks off her engagement, leaving her fiancé miffed and rude when he parts with her. julius sees him drive off in a huff and asks Jo mockingly if they've had a spat. she tells him to sod off.
but as they continue to see each other at work and socially when he insists on taking her out for a meal and also meets her at a party in her parents neighbourhood, they become spatty frenemies. he finds all sorts of ways to talk her into spending time with him, telling her he was also jilted (his fiancee magda went off with a richer guy) and that they can keep each other company or something like that. she finds herself missing him whenever he goes back to Holland etc
SPOILERS AHEAD
eventually he proposes. she scoffs. he says something about them being over the whole falling in love thing. that he enjoys spending time with her. that liking can turn to affection and a lasting marriage etc. she agrees to marry him.
they wed and go on a road trip around England for his lecture tour or something like that. she finds herself missing him while he's working. she enjoys shopping with all the money he gives her. at one point he gets v jealous when she dresses up for him and sits in the hotel bar to wait for him, looking so gorgeous that she attracts attention and a guy tries to buy yer drinks. julius arrives and furiously says she should have waited in her room instead of waiting in bar to be picked up by other men.
she is astonished and furious, not realising he is jealous. and storms back to her room. he ends up apologising and says he won't do it again. she is a success with his colleagues and impresses them with her looks. he's proud of her.
on the drive back to her parents and then onwards to Holland her tries to tell her something several times but is interrupted by one thing or another. when they get to Holland, tobhis surprise, his ex Magda rears her ugly head. by this point Jo had finally realised she is in love with julius and tried to hide her jealousy of Madga by pretending to be chill and inviting magda to lunch. but when he drives away with Magda after lunch, going to work, magda jokes as a parting shot to jo that she plans to keep him out late that night. and indeed he doesn't come home for dinner. he comes home in the wee hours. Jo waits up for him. she can't sleep from stressing. she furiously yells at him when he gets back, and stomps off in a huff.
then they are not on talking terms for a while. but she wins him over when he sees her at the local school Xmas event dancing the conga with the kids. he is utterly charmed. he sweeps her home and confesses he has loved her from the first moment her saw her. she says she's loved him for ages now too. kisses. hea.
CONCLUSION
I think there wasn't enough depth of romance in this book. Betty's heroes usually do lots of things to watch over their heroines and make her life better, but here we see two fairly happy people just rub along and fall in love and continue to be happy. neither of them really fulfilled a deep need in each other. neither was truly heartbroken by their failed relationships because neither really liked their previous partner. neither were lonely or lost or misguided or impoverished or anything that they needed the other to help fix. it just wasn't enough. I thought I would love that he is a bit of an incommunicative icehole, which he was, but the rest of the elements just weren't there. having said that, it was still an okay read. nothing boring. nothing unlikeable. just nothing truly memorable either. and yet I did find there was enough snarky tension at the end because of the OW that the final resolution did feel emotionally satisfying. and what added to that was that it had been clear for some time that julius had fallen for her and was suffering a bit of angst of his own and trying to confess his love and suffering when she gave him the cold shoulder treatment. therefore it deserves nearly the 4 stars by the end, I reckon.
3.9 stars. this was a pretty decent read in terms of plot but I struggled to connect with thr characters or feel the chemistry between them. they were both a bit too snarky with each other I think without any hints of either one falling first to tone down their jarring initial dislike. I guess it was hard to see why they were drawn to each other early on except for physical attraction. usually in a betty book we see the hero do stuff for the h early on which makes her appreciate him but the plot doesn't really allow for this as Josephine is no waif and has a fairly easy life.
First time around I stopped reading at the 50% mark as I just wasn't seeing their relationship develop enough to make me connect with the story. I just didn't feel enough chemistry between them.
so anyway, big beautiful Josephine (26?) is walking her dog in the countryside one day and a flashy car pulls up behind her, surprising her, so she yells at the driver that he should be careful as he nearly ran her over. he coldly observes that he did no such thing and she has no right to complain as she was walking in the middle of a public road. ooh. sparks fly. I was hopeful about this start...
it turns out Julius (34?) is an RDD who was visiting a family friend in the area. he finds out from his hostess who Josephine is and where she works.
Josephine is the daughter of a doctor and is a ward sister at a hospital. she lives a nice lifestyle so she's no waif. pity, as I like rooting for an underdog. she's engaged to malcolm, who she is quickly realising will make her unhappy. he is stingy and stuck in his ways and expects her to live with his mom and sew her own dresses and such nonsense after they wed, even though he could afford to keep her in decent style. she's realising he doesnt love her. she is anxious about their wedding just months away.
Jo and Julius (I shall shorten her name as I can't be writing all that) next meet after she goes back to work and finds out Julius will be covering for her boss while he is away for a month. she is going to have to work closely with him. she is chilly and civil to him. he cheekily suggests that they let bygones be bygones.
shortly afterwards, Jo breaks off her engagement, leaving her fiancé miffed and rude when he parts with her. julius sees him drive off in a huff and asks Jo mockingly if they've had a spat. she tells him to sod off.
but as they continue to see each other at work and socially when he insists on taking her out for a meal and also meets her at a party in her parents neighbourhood, they become spatty frenemies. he finds all sorts of ways to talk her into spending time with him, telling her he was also jilted (his fiancee magda went off with a richer guy) and that they can keep each other company or something like that. she finds herself missing him whenever he goes back to Holland etc
SPOILERS AHEAD
eventually he proposes. she scoffs. he says something about them being over the whole falling in love thing. that he enjoys spending time with her. that liking can turn to affection and a lasting marriage etc. she agrees to marry him.
they wed and go on a road trip around England for his lecture tour or something like that. she finds herself missing him while he's working. she enjoys shopping with all the money he gives her. at one point he gets v jealous when she dresses up for him and sits in the hotel bar to wait for him, looking so gorgeous that she attracts attention and a guy tries to buy yer drinks. julius arrives and furiously says she should have waited in her room instead of waiting in bar to be picked up by other men.
she is astonished and furious, not realising he is jealous. and storms back to her room. he ends up apologising and says he won't do it again. she is a success with his colleagues and impresses them with her looks. he's proud of her.
on the drive back to her parents and then onwards to Holland her tries to tell her something several times but is interrupted by one thing or another. when they get to Holland, tobhis surprise, his ex Magda rears her ugly head. by this point Jo had finally realised she is in love with julius and tried to hide her jealousy of Madga by pretending to be chill and inviting magda to lunch. but when he drives away with Magda after lunch, going to work, magda jokes as a parting shot to jo that she plans to keep him out late that night. and indeed he doesn't come home for dinner. he comes home in the wee hours. Jo waits up for him. she can't sleep from stressing. she furiously yells at him when he gets back, and stomps off in a huff.
then they are not on talking terms for a while. but she wins him over when he sees her at the local school Xmas event dancing the conga with the kids. he is utterly charmed. he sweeps her home and confesses he has loved her from the first moment her saw her. she says she's loved him for ages now too. kisses. hea.
CONCLUSION
I think there wasn't enough depth of romance in this book. Betty's heroes usually do lots of things to watch over their heroines and make her life better, but here we see two fairly happy people just rub along and fall in love and continue to be happy. neither of them really fulfilled a deep need in each other. neither was truly heartbroken by their failed relationships because neither really liked their previous partner. neither were lonely or lost or misguided or impoverished or anything that they needed the other to help fix. it just wasn't enough. I thought I would love that he is a bit of an incommunicative icehole, which he was, but the rest of the elements just weren't there. having said that, it was still an okay read. nothing boring. nothing unlikeable. just nothing truly memorable either. and yet I did find there was enough snarky tension at the end because of the OW that the final resolution did feel emotionally satisfying. and what added to that was that it had been clear for some time that julius had fallen for her and was suffering a bit of angst of his own and trying to confess his love and suffering when she gave him the cold shoulder treatment. therefore it deserves nearly the 4 stars by the end, I reckon.
February 21, 2026
From 1985. This is the one where the h Josephine visits the school in the H Julius's Dutch village and has the school kiddies form a conga line and dance around the schoolroom while Betty comments the school mistress will "never be the same." A great scene in a 3-star Betty.
Never the Time and the Place features a lot of the details Betty excelled in: lots of medical stuff, delicious sounding food, interesting descriptions of clothes and home interiors, road maps of driving tours through England and Holland, long walks in the beautiful countryside, pets, working together at the scene of a road accident to rescue the victims, and even a couple of visits to Stourhead. Betty obviously liked Stourhead. It pops up in a handful of her books. It's a huge 18th century estate and parkland managed by the National Trust and open to the public. A key scene in the 2005 version of Pride & Prejudice was filmed there (the proposal scene where an outraged Elizabeth turns Darcy down). When reading Betty, I almost always end up falling down a Google rabbit hole to look up food, locations and all those mid-century British customs Betty references.
The storyline is pure Betty as well. Josephine is a ward sister, Julius is a surgeon. They meet when he nearly runs her over in his Bentley while she is walking the family dog in the middle of the road. Later they work together in her hospital while he serves as a locum for the regular surgeon in charge. Then they get married. Yep, it's one of Betty's marriage of convenience stories. In this case, the convenience part only lasts a few weeks if I'm reading the timeline correctly.
I think I'm in agreement with other reviews. This book is nice enough but lacks something. However, middling Betty is better than no Betty. But it definitely isn't as compelling as some of her other books. To me, nothing can top Saturday's Child (my absolute favorite), A Valentine for Daisy with its hot and passionate RBD, Dearest Mary Jane (I will never stop laughing at the lard throwing incident), Roses Have Thorns and a few other titles. Never the Time or the Place is fine but not one I find myself reaching for. 3 stars.
Never the Time and the Place features a lot of the details Betty excelled in: lots of medical stuff, delicious sounding food, interesting descriptions of clothes and home interiors, road maps of driving tours through England and Holland, long walks in the beautiful countryside, pets, working together at the scene of a road accident to rescue the victims, and even a couple of visits to Stourhead. Betty obviously liked Stourhead. It pops up in a handful of her books. It's a huge 18th century estate and parkland managed by the National Trust and open to the public. A key scene in the 2005 version of Pride & Prejudice was filmed there (the proposal scene where an outraged Elizabeth turns Darcy down). When reading Betty, I almost always end up falling down a Google rabbit hole to look up food, locations and all those mid-century British customs Betty references.
The storyline is pure Betty as well. Josephine is a ward sister, Julius is a surgeon. They meet when he nearly runs her over in his Bentley while she is walking the family dog in the middle of the road. Later they work together in her hospital while he serves as a locum for the regular surgeon in charge. Then they get married. Yep, it's one of Betty's marriage of convenience stories. In this case, the convenience part only lasts a few weeks if I'm reading the timeline correctly.
I think I'm in agreement with other reviews. This book is nice enough but lacks something. However, middling Betty is better than no Betty. But it definitely isn't as compelling as some of her other books. To me, nothing can top Saturday's Child (my absolute favorite), A Valentine for Daisy with its hot and passionate RBD, Dearest Mary Jane (I will never stop laughing at the lard throwing incident), Roses Have Thorns and a few other titles. Never the Time or the Place is fine but not one I find myself reaching for. 3 stars.
January 16, 2026
Never the Time and Place!!
This story is great! Josephine is beautiful and kind. Julius is handsome and sweet! You'll think I'm funny for calling him sweet, but you'll she see why when you read the book. I love it that Josephine's family is so supportive. Her fiance at the beginning of the book isn't a bad guy. He's just clueless and very cheap.... cheap enough to make you mad. If you've ever seen the show "I love a mama's boy", you will have an idea of this guy's personality. No way could Josephine have dealt with that! Anyway, Julius is already friends with people Josephine knows and he's able to use that to has advantage. I think that's all I can really say without giving away the story. I'm sure you'll love it as much as I did.
This story is great! Josephine is beautiful and kind. Julius is handsome and sweet! You'll think I'm funny for calling him sweet, but you'll she see why when you read the book. I love it that Josephine's family is so supportive. Her fiance at the beginning of the book isn't a bad guy. He's just clueless and very cheap.... cheap enough to make you mad. If you've ever seen the show "I love a mama's boy", you will have an idea of this guy's personality. No way could Josephine have dealt with that! Anyway, Julius is already friends with people Josephine knows and he's able to use that to has advantage. I think that's all I can really say without giving away the story. I'm sure you'll love it as much as I did.
May 21, 2023
Just as most of Betty books a marriage based on friendship for companionship and later falling in love with one another. Hero Julius a Dutch doctor meets Josephine an English nurse in London, and gets to know one another. Josephine has recently broken off her engagement and finds Julius a soothing company. Julius proposes marriage based on friendship and compatibility, and Josephine agrees and later falls in love and all ends well.
August 25, 2025
I like the two main characters here. Josephine is a tall, beautifully built woman of 25 with chestnut hair. Julius is in his early 30s, tall, handsome, and Dutch. They both come from somewhat large families. My only disappointment was that it ends just before Christmas, so no description of a Dutch New Year. I enjoyed that they were married in Stourton, a beautiful estate in England. I've seen photos and there was a Miss Marple episode filmed there.
August 5, 2019
Good writing. Author new to me. Will read more.
October 14, 2020
This is how I like romance books! Full of England and tea and stiff upper lip English girls and tea and handsome doctors and more tea!
July 9, 2015
In this charming romance by Betty Neels, Josephine Dowling is working as a ward sister at a London hospital and engaged to be married when she meets Julius van Tacx. But she's not really sure she loves Malcolm, her fiancé, and is having doubts about marrying him, and especially living so close to his family, so she breaks off her engagement. As if having to deal with a broken engagement wasn't enough, she has to deal with Julius who always seems to turn up at the worst possible time. When he asks her to marry him,she finds herself agreeing although she's not in love with him. But her feelings soon change to love. How can she stay married to a man who doesn't return her feelings?
I love reading Betty Neels when I need to escape from the real world. There's nothing surprising in her books, you know that the couple will meet, clash, have a misunderstanding or two, maybe be involved in a crisis where the heroine will shine (in this book it's a car accident) and eventually will live happily ever after. And, some days, that's just the kind of book I need to read!
I love reading Betty Neels when I need to escape from the real world. There's nothing surprising in her books, you know that the couple will meet, clash, have a misunderstanding or two, maybe be involved in a crisis where the heroine will shine (in this book it's a car accident) and eventually will live happily ever after. And, some days, that's just the kind of book I need to read!
September 23, 2023
This book, although following the traditional Betty Neels format and storyline, was a little bit different. Here our male protagonist was a little warmer, and a little more romantic. He actually kissed our leading lady in a romantic sense rather than just pecks on the cheek. I missed the sudden dramas that typify most Betty Neel’s books (i.e, a protest, bombing, someone lost or hurt, etc.), but all in all a satisfying read.
February 2, 2023
*Communicate!*
I'd originally given this 4*'s, but I got tired of the mis/ non communication, but that can go for most of BN's "romances".
I'd originally given this 4*'s, but I got tired of the mis/ non communication, but that can go for most of BN's "romances".
August 20, 2011
Very sweet. A wonderful tale.
July 16, 2013
3 1/2 STARS
December 1, 2019
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
December 7, 2016
Star Rating: ★★½☆☆
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