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Roses and Champagne
Katrina has known Lucius Massey all her life, and her childish hero worship has grown into a comfortable, warm friendship.
They're so at ease in their friendship that a pretend engagement to each other to teach Katrina's selfish sister Virginia a lesson strikes both as a worthwhile but harmless idea.
Yet as more and more people congratulate Katrina on her match, a mysterious sadness begins to creep into her heart….
They're so at ease in their friendship that a pretend engagement to each other to teach Katrina's selfish sister Virginia a lesson strikes both as a worthwhile but harmless idea.
Yet as more and more people congratulate Katrina on her match, a mysterious sadness begins to creep into her heart….
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 29, 1983
108 people are currently reading
172 people want to read
About the author
Betty Neels
584 books421 followersEvelyn Jessy "Betty" Neels was born on September 15, 1910 in Devon to a family with firm roots in the civil service. She said she had a blissfully happy childhood and teenage years.(This stood her in good stead later for the tribulations to come with the Second World War). She was sent away to boarding school, and then went on to train as a nurse, gaining her SRN and SCM, that is, State Registered Nurse and State Certificate of Midwifery.
In 1939 she was called up to the Territorial Army Nursing Service, which later became the Queen Alexandra Reserves, and was sent to France with the Casualty Clearing Station. This comprised eight nursing sisters, including Betty, to 100 men! In other circumstances, she thought that might have been quite thrilling! When France was invaded in 1940, all the nursing sisters managed to escape in the charge of an army major, undertaking a lengthy and terrifying journey to Boulogne in an ambulance. They were incredibly fortunate to be put on the last hospital ship to be leaving the port of Boulogne. But Betty's war didn't end there, for she was posted to Scotland, and then on to Northern Ireland, where she met her Dutch husband. He was a seaman aboard a minesweeper, which was bombed. He survived and was sent to the south of Holland to guard the sluices. However, when they had to abandon their post, they were told to escape if they could, and along with a small number of other men, he marched into Belgium. They stole a ship and managed to get it across the Channel to Dover before being transferred to the Atlantic run on the convoys. Sadly he became ill, and that was when he was transferred to hospital in Northern Ireland, where he met Betty. They eventually married, and were blessed with a daughter. They were posted to London, but were bombed out. As with most of the population, they made the best of things.
When the war finally ended, she and her husband were repatriated to Holland. As his family had believed he had died when his ship went down, this was a very emotional homecoming. The small family lived in Holland for 13 years, and Betty resumed her nursing career there. When they decided to return to England, Betty continued her nursing and when she eventually retired she had reached the position of night superintendent.
Betty Neels began writing almost by accident. She had retired from nursing, but her inquiring mind had no intention of vegetating, and her new career was born when she heard a lady in her local library bemoaning the lack of good romance novels. There was little in Betty's background to suggest that she might eventually become a much-loved novelist.
Her first book, Sister Peters in Amsterdam, was published in 1969, and by dint of often writing four books a year, she eventually completed 134 books. She was always quite firm upon the point that the Dutch doctors who frequently appeared in her stories were *not* based upon her husband, but rather upon an amalgam of several of the doctors she met while nursing in Holland.
To her millions of fans around the world, Betty Neels epitomized romance. She was always amazed and touched that her books were so widely appreciated. She never sought plaudits and remained a very private person, but it made her very happy to know that she brought such pleasure to so many readers, while herself gaining a quiet joy from spinning her stories. It is perhaps a reflection of her upbringing in an earlier time that the men and women who peopled her stories have a kindliness and good manners, coupled to honesty and integrity, that is not always present in our modern world. Her myriad of fans found a warmth and a reassurance of a better world in her stories, along with characters who touched the heart, which is all and more than one could ask of a romance writer. She received a great deal of fan mail, and there was always a comment upon the fascinating places she visited in her stories. Quite often those of her fans fortunate enough to visit Ho
In 1939 she was called up to the Territorial Army Nursing Service, which later became the Queen Alexandra Reserves, and was sent to France with the Casualty Clearing Station. This comprised eight nursing sisters, including Betty, to 100 men! In other circumstances, she thought that might have been quite thrilling! When France was invaded in 1940, all the nursing sisters managed to escape in the charge of an army major, undertaking a lengthy and terrifying journey to Boulogne in an ambulance. They were incredibly fortunate to be put on the last hospital ship to be leaving the port of Boulogne. But Betty's war didn't end there, for she was posted to Scotland, and then on to Northern Ireland, where she met her Dutch husband. He was a seaman aboard a minesweeper, which was bombed. He survived and was sent to the south of Holland to guard the sluices. However, when they had to abandon their post, they were told to escape if they could, and along with a small number of other men, he marched into Belgium. They stole a ship and managed to get it across the Channel to Dover before being transferred to the Atlantic run on the convoys. Sadly he became ill, and that was when he was transferred to hospital in Northern Ireland, where he met Betty. They eventually married, and were blessed with a daughter. They were posted to London, but were bombed out. As with most of the population, they made the best of things.
When the war finally ended, she and her husband were repatriated to Holland. As his family had believed he had died when his ship went down, this was a very emotional homecoming. The small family lived in Holland for 13 years, and Betty resumed her nursing career there. When they decided to return to England, Betty continued her nursing and when she eventually retired she had reached the position of night superintendent.
Betty Neels began writing almost by accident. She had retired from nursing, but her inquiring mind had no intention of vegetating, and her new career was born when she heard a lady in her local library bemoaning the lack of good romance novels. There was little in Betty's background to suggest that she might eventually become a much-loved novelist.
Her first book, Sister Peters in Amsterdam, was published in 1969, and by dint of often writing four books a year, she eventually completed 134 books. She was always quite firm upon the point that the Dutch doctors who frequently appeared in her stories were *not* based upon her husband, but rather upon an amalgam of several of the doctors she met while nursing in Holland.
To her millions of fans around the world, Betty Neels epitomized romance. She was always amazed and touched that her books were so widely appreciated. She never sought plaudits and remained a very private person, but it made her very happy to know that she brought such pleasure to so many readers, while herself gaining a quiet joy from spinning her stories. It is perhaps a reflection of her upbringing in an earlier time that the men and women who peopled her stories have a kindliness and good manners, coupled to honesty and integrity, that is not always present in our modern world. Her myriad of fans found a warmth and a reassurance of a better world in her stories, along with characters who touched the heart, which is all and more than one could ask of a romance writer. She received a great deal of fan mail, and there was always a comment upon the fascinating places she visited in her stories. Quite often those of her fans fortunate enough to visit Ho
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 7, 2016
This book was, along with The Promise of Happiness, my shot at seeing if Betty Neels romances are my cuppa tea. The answer was ... no, not so much. They're very old-fashioned and rather stodgy. This one was written in 1983 but its style and sensibilities belong in the 1950s.
Katrina, a 27 year old British woman who's starting to dress and act like a spinster, has a younger, beautiful but very spoiled sister, Virginia, who's been dating Katrina's lifelong friend Lucius. The relationship between Virginia and Lucius blows up for reasons that are initially not entirely clear. Virginia, in a snit, decides to spread rumors that Lucius dumped her for Katrina. Why she thinks that is a good idea is difficult to grasp, but you need to just roll with it. Anyway, Lucius decides to call her bluff and asks Katrina to pretend to be in a relationship with him. But he keeps acting like it's a real relationship, and gradually Katrina's heart starts to get involved.
It sounded pretty good to me -- you know, in a fluffy romance kind of way -- but it's rather slow and Neels' rather placid writing style started to bore me after a while. It has its moments, though, and Neels still has a lot of fans, so if you like the really old-fashioned sweet romances, you might want to give Betty Neels a shot. I think I'm done here, though.
Katrina, a 27 year old British woman who's starting to dress and act like a spinster, has a younger, beautiful but very spoiled sister, Virginia, who's been dating Katrina's lifelong friend Lucius. The relationship between Virginia and Lucius blows up for reasons that are initially not entirely clear. Virginia, in a snit, decides to spread rumors that Lucius dumped her for Katrina. Why she thinks that is a good idea is difficult to grasp, but you need to just roll with it. Anyway, Lucius decides to call her bluff and asks Katrina to pretend to be in a relationship with him. But he keeps acting like it's a real relationship, and gradually Katrina's heart starts to get involved.
It sounded pretty good to me -- you know, in a fluffy romance kind of way -- but it's rather slow and Neels' rather placid writing style started to bore me after a while. It has its moments, though, and Neels still has a lot of fans, so if you like the really old-fashioned sweet romances, you might want to give Betty Neels a shot. I think I'm done here, though.
December 29, 2021
I think the Doctor part in other books excuses a multitude of sins. This guy was a real game-player, with a nasty streak.
April 4, 2021
I read this one before and for some reason I never rated it. Maybe because it was just okay and I forgot about it. It still falls in the "okay" category, but definitely not one I would recommend.
This started out strong, but then quickly became repetitive. I missed Betty's signature Cinderella story along with the "RDD" with the hooded lids. Betty must have gotten pressure from her editor to go somewhere other than Holland, but it didn't work. What do they say - write what you know. Betty definitely knew the Netherlands and her love for it came through in her writing. The Greece trip wasn't necessary except to give me a couple more places to add to my "bucket list". I would have much preferred to stay in the village (with all those quirky neighbors) eating my way through "Christmas cakes" and drinking champagne. Betty was definitely a lover of food. She could have been a food editor!
This started out strong, but then quickly became repetitive. I missed Betty's signature Cinderella story along with the "RDD" with the hooded lids. Betty must have gotten pressure from her editor to go somewhere other than Holland, but it didn't work. What do they say - write what you know. Betty definitely knew the Netherlands and her love for it came through in her writing. The Greece trip wasn't necessary except to give me a couple more places to add to my "bucket list". I would have much preferred to stay in the village (with all those quirky neighbors) eating my way through "Christmas cakes" and drinking champagne. Betty was definitely a lover of food. She could have been a food editor!
December 2, 2015
Katrina Gibson and her sister, Virginia are well-to-do orphans who live in an English country village. Lucius Massey is the boy next door who happens to be the local lord-of-the-manor. Some time before the story opens, Katrina had asked Lucius to take Virginia out to get her away from the other, less suitable young men she was dating. Virginia is, to put it bluntly, a spoiled brat, so when Lucius makes it clear to her that he has no intention of marrying her, she starts a rumor that Lucius is going to marry Katrina. Katrina is a nice, quiet girl, not beautiful, who dresses older than her years.
Lucius, who later tells Katrina that he has loved her for years, takes the opportunity to “court” Katrina in order to prevent hurtful gossip. The book is set in the autumn to January timeframe, so there are a lot of Christmas scenes. During this time, Lucius takes Katrina out a lot and takes her shopping, encouraging her to buy more exciting, pretty clothes; then he invites her on a 2-week trip to Greece.
In the meantime, Katrina has her DR, but she thinks their engagement is just a sham. While they are in Greece, Lucius is about to make his Declaration when there is an earthquake. Obviously the Declaration will have to wait.
In the meantime, Katrina is pretty miserable, what with being really in love with Lucius and never being able to tell him. Finally, back home in England and completely fed up with keeping her love a secret Katrina tells Lucius she loves him and suggests going to Scotland. Cue the answering Declaration and proposal.
I don’t recall having read this book before. Parts of it were really lovely, particularly the scenes of village life. Virginia is not the worst sister/OW by any means. Lucius is a sweetie, although his story that he has loved Katrina for years is a little hard to believe, what with him being described as a “man about town” with lots of girlfriends.
Lucius, who later tells Katrina that he has loved her for years, takes the opportunity to “court” Katrina in order to prevent hurtful gossip. The book is set in the autumn to January timeframe, so there are a lot of Christmas scenes. During this time, Lucius takes Katrina out a lot and takes her shopping, encouraging her to buy more exciting, pretty clothes; then he invites her on a 2-week trip to Greece.
In the meantime, Katrina has her DR, but she thinks their engagement is just a sham. While they are in Greece, Lucius is about to make his Declaration when there is an earthquake. Obviously the Declaration will have to wait.
In the meantime, Katrina is pretty miserable, what with being really in love with Lucius and never being able to tell him. Finally, back home in England and completely fed up with keeping her love a secret Katrina tells Lucius she loves him and suggests going to Scotland. Cue the answering Declaration and proposal.
I don’t recall having read this book before. Parts of it were really lovely, particularly the scenes of village life. Virginia is not the worst sister/OW by any means. Lucius is a sweetie, although his story that he has loved Katrina for years is a little hard to believe, what with him being described as a “man about town” with lots of girlfriends.
September 22, 2010
Alas, my reaction to this one is merely 'meh'. It just seemed flat, flat, flat. For starters--there are NO Rich Dutch Doctors. In fact, there is no medical anything in this book. Was Betty feeling okay or did her publisher want her to try her hand at a non-medical story. Whatever...
Katrina (who has no last name) is 27, dresses like 40; a painter who illustrates books and paints dust jacket designs. She also has a spoiled rotten, beautiful, younger sister.
Katrina also has no spine and is blind to her sister's faults.
Her bickering (cannot call it witty repartee) with the handsome, rich, neighbor (who does something with accounting) gets old real fast and just made her seem shrewish.
Lucius is a real nice guy, mostly. Used to getting his way, of course. He has been in love with Katie for years(so he says at the end) but has never made a push at engaging her affections until now. What a slow top! And it takes her halfway thru the book to realize that she has fallen in love with him (another slow top!).
The 'other woman' part of the plot was very thin. There's a vague attempt to have an 'other guy', but nothing comes of that either.
I don't believe I'll be re-reading this one.
Katrina (who has no last name) is 27, dresses like 40; a painter who illustrates books and paints dust jacket designs. She also has a spoiled rotten, beautiful, younger sister.
Katrina also has no spine and is blind to her sister's faults.
Her bickering (cannot call it witty repartee) with the handsome, rich, neighbor (who does something with accounting) gets old real fast and just made her seem shrewish.
Lucius is a real nice guy, mostly. Used to getting his way, of course. He has been in love with Katie for years(so he says at the end) but has never made a push at engaging her affections until now. What a slow top! And it takes her halfway thru the book to realize that she has fallen in love with him (another slow top!).
The 'other woman' part of the plot was very thin. There's a vague attempt to have an 'other guy', but nothing comes of that either.
I don't believe I'll be re-reading this one.
April 6, 2015
I love this book! Betty Neels moved outside the formula a bit. The hero is not a doctor. The heroine is not a nurse and not destitute. She is an illustrator and while she is an orphan looking out for a younger spoiled sister, she is fairly well off financially. She does carefully watch the budget with a sister who spends freely.
Katrina and Lucius have been friends since childhood. Her earliest memory is when she is 3 years old mounted on her pony and he is 10, mounted on his horse and patiently holding her reins. His memory is of swimming at age 12 and she, age 5, is swimming with him sans clothing. They each were severely lectured, him "painfully so" by his father.
He is well aware that Katrina's younger sister doesn't love her, takes advantage of her love and abuses the relationship. The story takes off when he informs Katrina that she is the one who needs taking care of, not her younger sister. And he proceeds to do so masterfully. Romantic! Oh yes!
Katrina and Lucius have been friends since childhood. Her earliest memory is when she is 3 years old mounted on her pony and he is 10, mounted on his horse and patiently holding her reins. His memory is of swimming at age 12 and she, age 5, is swimming with him sans clothing. They each were severely lectured, him "painfully so" by his father.
He is well aware that Katrina's younger sister doesn't love her, takes advantage of her love and abuses the relationship. The story takes off when he informs Katrina that she is the one who needs taking care of, not her younger sister. And he proceeds to do so masterfully. Romantic! Oh yes!
December 8, 2019
Una novelita diferente (mucho, muy) de mi autora de clean romance favorita, pero todavía disfrutable. Aunque, sinceramente, prefiero a las ratoncitas pobretonas con chaquetas raídas de Salvation Army (no me recupero de esa lil poor thing) :33
April 22, 2012
This I felt was one of Betty Neels's different books. Sure, I can't get enough of the Rich Dutch Doctors or any Doctors for that matter, but it was a refreshing change.
Lucius Massey ( An Accountant.yay!) has just dumped Katrina's sister Virginia or so it seems. Virginia gets her back on Lucius by saying it was because he fancied Katrina the whole time. So, he calls her bluff and starts courting Katrina and asks her to marry him. (Such heights just to protect his best friend, but surely the readers know what is going on after all.)
Katrina Gibson (Katie) has always played herself down in front of her sister and has always cherished Lucius's friendship. But when he does an about turn on her, she can't help feeling rushed. So, they play along, he takes her out to dinner, they spend Christmas and voila she realises she's in love with him.
After a holiday in Greece (which was not needed in my opinion) and a few misunderstandings, Lucius tells Katie that she was loved the whole time and he knew what he was doing.
I enjoyed the book. It was sweet and different and I loved that the best boy childhood friend was the one who knew he was in love the first time rather than it always being the other way around. A next- door neighbour love story with a twist.
Lucius Massey ( An Accountant.yay!) has just dumped Katrina's sister Virginia or so it seems. Virginia gets her back on Lucius by saying it was because he fancied Katrina the whole time. So, he calls her bluff and starts courting Katrina and asks her to marry him. (Such heights just to protect his best friend, but surely the readers know what is going on after all.)
Katrina Gibson (Katie) has always played herself down in front of her sister and has always cherished Lucius's friendship. But when he does an about turn on her, she can't help feeling rushed. So, they play along, he takes her out to dinner, they spend Christmas and voila she realises she's in love with him.
After a holiday in Greece (which was not needed in my opinion) and a few misunderstandings, Lucius tells Katie that she was loved the whole time and he knew what he was doing.
I enjoyed the book. It was sweet and different and I loved that the best boy childhood friend was the one who knew he was in love the first time rather than it always being the other way around. A next- door neighbour love story with a twist.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2016
TGB hits it out of the park with this one IMO. Lucius and Katrina have grown up together along with her beautiful, spoilt sister. Virginia (the Veronica of the tale) starts a rumor about them to deflect from Lucius' rejection of her. Lucius who views this as an opportunity to get the girl he wants proposes a mock engagement to take the winds out of Virginia's haughty sails. Katie is stalwart, dependable and generous and views herself unfavorably next to Virginia's cookie cutter beauty. I loved Lucius' tender care and gentle guidance while he waits for Katie to figure it out. Lots of humor in this one and some of her most fluid and best writing. In my top ten TGB books.
April 11, 2017
Cute story. Very interesting at the beginning, but gets boring in the middle. So it makes it hard to get to the interesting ending.
December 15, 2020
Mmm una de las más flojas novelas de Betty ...me resultó insufrible leerla,muy extensa innecesariamente y sin la dinámica que ofrecen otros clásicos de esta autora.una verdadera pena.Los personajes centrales son dos amigos de la infancia que se llevan unos buenos años de diferencia y que pertenecen al mismo estrato social.La novedad es esa y que ninguno es médico ni enfermera.una novelita para el olvido .
November 14, 2022
Well, the man is not what I expect from Betty! There was a lot of tea and coffee and lovely meals. But travel to Greece?! I miss Holland!
December 28, 2020
A Hose of a Different Color
There's so much about this particular Neels book which differs from the rest. They're both British for starts. Neither is medicine. They're both well to do and of good families, with big homes and devoted (natch) servants. Naturally our heroine, Katrina, is plain "with fine eyes" because she can't be rich, talented, happy, from a good family with great personal circumstances AND good looking. Come now. Foolish child. Of course there is a horrible sister, because there always is. No animal rescue though! While there IS a disaster (an earthquake while they're on vacation in Greece), they aren't the sole means of saving a shepherd trapped beneath the remains of his hit or anything. There is a misunderstanding, all of which could have been avoided if ol' Lucius had been like, "Yo, Katrina old buddy, I love you." Of course, if he'd done that there would have literally been no book...
There's so much about this particular Neels book which differs from the rest. They're both British for starts. Neither is medicine. They're both well to do and of good families, with big homes and devoted (natch) servants. Naturally our heroine, Katrina, is plain "with fine eyes" because she can't be rich, talented, happy, from a good family with great personal circumstances AND good looking. Come now. Foolish child. Of course there is a horrible sister, because there always is. No animal rescue though! While there IS a disaster (an earthquake while they're on vacation in Greece), they aren't the sole means of saving a shepherd trapped beneath the remains of his hit or anything. There is a misunderstanding, all of which could have been avoided if ol' Lucius had been like, "Yo, Katrina old buddy, I love you." Of course, if he'd done that there would have literally been no book...
January 7, 2019
Wow, that was different! I had to check to make sure it was really written by Neels. This one is completely outside my Neels experience as it has absolutely no rich Dutch doctors OR downtrodden poor English girls. Instead we have two wealthy and established English 'gentry' raised together from childhood on adjoining estates.
I don't know what got into Neels with this one as this has none of her usual tropes. I enjoyed it for its novelty along with the relative lack of drama.
I don't know what got into Neels with this one as this has none of her usual tropes. I enjoyed it for its novelty along with the relative lack of drama.
December 16, 2016
One of the first Harlequin authors I remember reading. I was completely enthralled by the exotic locales in her books when I was 14. Now reading these books are more of a way of remembering the aunt who got me started on them. I'll probably always love them due to the nostalgia factor. her books will always be some of my favorites to re-read.
November 8, 2020
Usually Betty is my go-to for a romance that doesn't require a whole lot from me but that will still keep me engaged. This was not one of my favorites. Even when he was doting Lucius seemed detached and as if their romance was a foregone conclusion.
March 29, 2021
In this one not a doctor or a nurse in sight
a nice easy read
a nice easy read
February 21, 2020
Different
This story was very different from all Betty Neels other stories that I have read. No nurses or doctors in this one. Lovely description of Greece and a very nice story.
This story was very different from all Betty Neels other stories that I have read. No nurses or doctors in this one. Lovely description of Greece and a very nice story.
June 20, 2020
Didn't like
Too weak a plot. Too much drinking.Too much detailed coming and going . I've liked most if all Betty Neels books so far but not this one
Too weak a plot. Too much drinking.Too much detailed coming and going . I've liked most if all Betty Neels books so far but not this one
May 25, 2018
I shall remember this as the story in which our Betty Neels hero and heroine went skinny dipping! YES they did! Only he was 12 and she, five years old then 😂 LOL
This book is as different from a typical BN story as it can get. No Doctor, no Nurse, no hospital and no The Netherlands! Instead our couple went on a pre-wedding honeymoon in exotic GREECE - experiencing an earthquake to boot! And it has a best friends to lovers trope--I love it!
Set in the lovely English countryside, with jaunts to London for shopping and wine and dine, it was full of cozy and festive Christmas and New Year celebrations, with a wedding thrown in! A very warm and cosy romance. I adore how well matched Lucius and Katrina are. He knew her so well, and she him, though when she had her dawning realisation she became an idiot but it's their friendship she treasured so she behaved cautiously. I simply love reading about them going on about their lives in the country, them going riding and she going along to visit the people on his estate and she'd make a perfect lady of the manor! The way they were soooo comfortable in each other's houses, was so nice to read.
The almost Other Man and Other Woman were jokes...nothing to be concerned about. What I really hate the most is Virginia...so very spoilt and having a mean streak. Thankfully she's married and hopefully Lucius would protect naive Katrina from the evil sister! He's awesome protecting Katie from the worst of Virginia!
Love the chemistry between Lucius and Katrina, their banter and comfortable silences. When he said they could keep her house for their second son, I would have spewed water if I were drinking, then go aww...haha!
ALL the faithful family retainers were precious!
Oh Lucius was a chartered accountant with his private practice, so I could be biased! And Katrina has the interesting job of being a fairytale illustrator! Dreamy!
One niggling fact that bothered me was though Lucius had loved Katrina since they were kids, he still had a reputation as a man about town. But we all knew how easily a reputation can be had, whether real or not. But I could see his devotion to Katrina so I can accept he wasn't really a playboy!
PS. There was once she spied on him with fieldglasses, and he called right after to explain the woman he was with was his partner 's secretary here to deliver important papers for him. Haha!
This book is as different from a typical BN story as it can get. No Doctor, no Nurse, no hospital and no The Netherlands! Instead our couple went on a pre-wedding honeymoon in exotic GREECE - experiencing an earthquake to boot! And it has a best friends to lovers trope--I love it!
Set in the lovely English countryside, with jaunts to London for shopping and wine and dine, it was full of cozy and festive Christmas and New Year celebrations, with a wedding thrown in! A very warm and cosy romance. I adore how well matched Lucius and Katrina are. He knew her so well, and she him, though when she had her dawning realisation she became an idiot but it's their friendship she treasured so she behaved cautiously. I simply love reading about them going on about their lives in the country, them going riding and she going along to visit the people on his estate and she'd make a perfect lady of the manor! The way they were soooo comfortable in each other's houses, was so nice to read.
The almost Other Man and Other Woman were jokes...nothing to be concerned about. What I really hate the most is Virginia...so very spoilt and having a mean streak. Thankfully she's married and hopefully Lucius would protect naive Katrina from the evil sister! He's awesome protecting Katie from the worst of Virginia!
Love the chemistry between Lucius and Katrina, their banter and comfortable silences. When he said they could keep her house for their second son, I would have spewed water if I were drinking, then go aww...haha!
ALL the faithful family retainers were precious!
Oh Lucius was a chartered accountant with his private practice, so I could be biased! And Katrina has the interesting job of being a fairytale illustrator! Dreamy!
One niggling fact that bothered me was though Lucius had loved Katrina since they were kids, he still had a reputation as a man about town. But we all knew how easily a reputation can be had, whether real or not. But I could see his devotion to Katrina so I can accept he wasn't really a playboy!
PS. There was once she spied on him with fieldglasses, and he called right after to explain the woman he was with was his partner 's secretary here to deliver important papers for him. Haha!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2022
In all the Neels romances I've read - which is all but 3 or 4 - the hero in this one sticks out like a sore thumb ... as one of the worst. He's mocking and manipulative, repeatedly insults the heroine's appearance ("You know, Katie, given the right clothes, you'd be a pretty girl." Wow, what flattery!), and I lost track of how many times I read the phrase "nasty little smile". He claims to have been in love with her for years - so why didn't he act sooner instead of keeping her dangling, taking her for granted, and waiting until she's 27 and mentally entrenched in spinsterhood? The heroine is a naive doormat utterly blind to how poisonous her viper of a sister is, and long conditioned to his high-handedness. "When you were a little girl, you never questioned anything I suggested. Don't do it now." The few times she feebly tries to assert herself, he turns cold and arrogant. I didn't find him gentle, likeable or charming at all, and the premise behind their fake engagement is ridiculous ... so needless to say, this was a one-time-only read for me.
November 20, 2022
Well, it had to happen. I've finally had to give a Betty Neels book less than five stars. I love this author and specifically read her for the slow pacing and calm characters. But sadly this one moved a little too slowly even for me. So much of this book is focused on the h and H eating or drinking coffee. It got so much that every time we had a breakfast/lunch/supper/afternoon tea/cake/coffee scene I read it out loud to my husband and at one point (Greece) he was laughing his arse off because there was a separate dining scene after every 10-15 lines in the book. That's way too much filler for me.
Honestly, as a huge Betty Neels fan, I feel like her heart wasn't in this one at all, like she was reluctantly writing this for contractual reasons rather than she actually wanted to? Now I'll be interested to go see wat other reviewers thought, or if its just me on this one.
Honestly, as a huge Betty Neels fan, I feel like her heart wasn't in this one at all, like she was reluctantly writing this for contractual reasons rather than she actually wanted to? Now I'll be interested to go see wat other reviewers thought, or if its just me on this one.
January 19, 2026
Read: 20nov25
4.3 stars. a decent read. never a dull moment. this was a bit different for Betty neels because neither the h nor H is a nurse or doc or a hardworking waif who needs help. h is 27, a plain jane, and is an illustrator for books, fairly well off even if most of the family money was lost when her parents died. she lives in a lovely regency house in the country and has been raising a spoiled younger sister, a beauty and 20 years old. H is a partner in a law firm and the lord of the neighboring manor, 34, and a lifelong friend of the h since she was a baby.
at the start, h accuses H of having jilted her younger sister who he has been dating for 3 years and who the entire village thought he would marry. the spoiled sister is furious and feels humiliated. h is angry with H for hurting her little sis and says she doesn't want to be friends any more. he is mocking and cynical about the whole thing and tells her she needs to come out from under the spoiled brat's thumb.
anyway, to salvage her pride and not look like a spoiled cat, the sister tells everyone the H ditched her for her older sister as he wanted someone sensible etc. this is her ploy to get sympathy.
meanwhile the H says that to teach little sister a lesson, he is damn well going to court the H and get engaged to her and marry her. h is boggled by his mad plan but finds herself having to go along with his highhanded ways for one reason or another.
he ends up making sure she buys nice clothes and making sure no-one gossips about her or says mean things behind her back etc and spending loads of time with her publicly and in private during the festive xmas season. he even plans for them to go on holiday together to Greece in the new year.
meanwhile the sister is busy wrapping the next guy around her finger immediately and proceeding to get engaged to him and marrying him swiftly. all while telling the h how pathetic and old spinsterish she is etc. and refusing to plan her own wedding, leaving all the work and expenses to her sister. ugh.
SPOILERS
Before the hol, h has realised she is in love with him. she even managed to make him jealous once with a passing other man. but mostly she felt she had to hide her feelings from him because he would be horrified and she would be embarrassed. she thinks the engagement is a big fake even if he is acting like it is real to everyone they know.
anyway, both characters are likeable and it is lovely to see them spend time together and do nice things for each other. I'm not usually big on the friends to lovers trope but it was v sweet to see it play out here. even so, i am not certain if I found his ending explanations of being in love with her nearly all their lives to be convincing. if so, why did he never try to romance her before? why spend so many years dating other women? why date her own sister? and his lame excuse of doing it because he wanted to spend more time with the h is utter bs. he was her best friend who came around to her house all the time-- he had every excuse to spend all the time he wanted with her even before dating her sister.
ENDING SPOILERS
I found the ending a bit limp too sadly. there was a misunderstanding where the h saw H with a beautiful woman right after they returned from their lovely Greek holiday where they became v close. she is gutted and tells him she saw him and goves him back his ring. he is icy and atirms out after telling her he has no interest in remaining friends. only, it turns out the other woman was his cousin from Canada and he was helping her search for a house. thus it is the h who has to grovel to the H (I much prefer it the other way around) and she confesses she loves him and he sweeps her into his arms and says he has always loved her and makes his stupid explanation for why he dated her sister. meh. not the best ending but also very abrupt.
STUFF THAT MADE NO SENSE TO ME (INC SPOILERS)
I found it a struggle to deal with the fact that he supposedly only took the younger sister out to dinner and dancing and theatre and riding most days as a way to spend more time with the older sister, so he says. really? dated a pretty teen nonstop for 3 years and let everyone think you were going to marry her because you were in love with her older sister? wtf dude? and he would have been 31 to the selfish brats 17 when it began. yeah, the h started it by asking him to help give the sister some sensible guidance but he took it too far. only At 63% he say to the h that there had been a particular girl he's liked for a very long time, implying it is her, but this is said right after he's been in london taking other girls out on dates. or so he says. Wtf is that about anyway? I love the angst don't get me wrong, but what is the logic of going out with these other girls for years if he is in love with the h? is it a sop to his pride because h onky think ofnhim as a friend. and then when he does it again in the book, is it a reaction because she snubbed him on their early morning ride and has been avoiding him? And why was he always dating the sister even if he explains it as doing the h the favour by keeping the sister out of trouble for years? If that was so, why would he let the entire village think for years he was going to marry the sister? I really struggled to undertsand the logic of it all but boy did I enjoy the angst.
IN CONCLUSION
I liked the book a lot more than I thought I would after reading other people's reviews. heck, my review probably sounds negative, but the book was very readable, I love a playboy type H and it was fun to see the resulting angst play out. and even for non Doctor tale, this played out well and for a non waif tale, the h was still an underdog character that i was rooting for. the book was good. not a betty masterpiece but good enough. never a dull moment.
4.3 stars. a decent read. never a dull moment. this was a bit different for Betty neels because neither the h nor H is a nurse or doc or a hardworking waif who needs help. h is 27, a plain jane, and is an illustrator for books, fairly well off even if most of the family money was lost when her parents died. she lives in a lovely regency house in the country and has been raising a spoiled younger sister, a beauty and 20 years old. H is a partner in a law firm and the lord of the neighboring manor, 34, and a lifelong friend of the h since she was a baby.
at the start, h accuses H of having jilted her younger sister who he has been dating for 3 years and who the entire village thought he would marry. the spoiled sister is furious and feels humiliated. h is angry with H for hurting her little sis and says she doesn't want to be friends any more. he is mocking and cynical about the whole thing and tells her she needs to come out from under the spoiled brat's thumb.
anyway, to salvage her pride and not look like a spoiled cat, the sister tells everyone the H ditched her for her older sister as he wanted someone sensible etc. this is her ploy to get sympathy.
meanwhile the H says that to teach little sister a lesson, he is damn well going to court the H and get engaged to her and marry her. h is boggled by his mad plan but finds herself having to go along with his highhanded ways for one reason or another.
he ends up making sure she buys nice clothes and making sure no-one gossips about her or says mean things behind her back etc and spending loads of time with her publicly and in private during the festive xmas season. he even plans for them to go on holiday together to Greece in the new year.
meanwhile the sister is busy wrapping the next guy around her finger immediately and proceeding to get engaged to him and marrying him swiftly. all while telling the h how pathetic and old spinsterish she is etc. and refusing to plan her own wedding, leaving all the work and expenses to her sister. ugh.
SPOILERS
Before the hol, h has realised she is in love with him. she even managed to make him jealous once with a passing other man. but mostly she felt she had to hide her feelings from him because he would be horrified and she would be embarrassed. she thinks the engagement is a big fake even if he is acting like it is real to everyone they know.
anyway, both characters are likeable and it is lovely to see them spend time together and do nice things for each other. I'm not usually big on the friends to lovers trope but it was v sweet to see it play out here. even so, i am not certain if I found his ending explanations of being in love with her nearly all their lives to be convincing. if so, why did he never try to romance her before? why spend so many years dating other women? why date her own sister? and his lame excuse of doing it because he wanted to spend more time with the h is utter bs. he was her best friend who came around to her house all the time-- he had every excuse to spend all the time he wanted with her even before dating her sister.
ENDING SPOILERS
I found the ending a bit limp too sadly. there was a misunderstanding where the h saw H with a beautiful woman right after they returned from their lovely Greek holiday where they became v close. she is gutted and tells him she saw him and goves him back his ring. he is icy and atirms out after telling her he has no interest in remaining friends. only, it turns out the other woman was his cousin from Canada and he was helping her search for a house. thus it is the h who has to grovel to the H (I much prefer it the other way around) and she confesses she loves him and he sweeps her into his arms and says he has always loved her and makes his stupid explanation for why he dated her sister. meh. not the best ending but also very abrupt.
STUFF THAT MADE NO SENSE TO ME (INC SPOILERS)
I found it a struggle to deal with the fact that he supposedly only took the younger sister out to dinner and dancing and theatre and riding most days as a way to spend more time with the older sister, so he says. really? dated a pretty teen nonstop for 3 years and let everyone think you were going to marry her because you were in love with her older sister? wtf dude? and he would have been 31 to the selfish brats 17 when it began. yeah, the h started it by asking him to help give the sister some sensible guidance but he took it too far. only At 63% he say to the h that there had been a particular girl he's liked for a very long time, implying it is her, but this is said right after he's been in london taking other girls out on dates. or so he says. Wtf is that about anyway? I love the angst don't get me wrong, but what is the logic of going out with these other girls for years if he is in love with the h? is it a sop to his pride because h onky think ofnhim as a friend. and then when he does it again in the book, is it a reaction because she snubbed him on their early morning ride and has been avoiding him? And why was he always dating the sister even if he explains it as doing the h the favour by keeping the sister out of trouble for years? If that was so, why would he let the entire village think for years he was going to marry the sister? I really struggled to undertsand the logic of it all but boy did I enjoy the angst.
IN CONCLUSION
I liked the book a lot more than I thought I would after reading other people's reviews. heck, my review probably sounds negative, but the book was very readable, I love a playboy type H and it was fun to see the resulting angst play out. and even for non Doctor tale, this played out well and for a non waif tale, the h was still an underdog character that i was rooting for. the book was good. not a betty masterpiece but good enough. never a dull moment.
October 23, 2024
I don't think this is Betty Neels' best book because with a little honesty much of the conflict in the story could have been avoided. Instead of becoming angry with Katrina, Lucius could have told her he was meeting his beautiful cousin in London to help her look for a place to live. He expects Katrina to trust him, but he hasn't told her he's meeting his cousin, not once, but twice!! Katrina lets Lucius control her too much. Nevertheless, this is a quick, safe read.
July 10, 2019
Without the doctor / nurse / medical scenes, it was at times difficult to remember this was a Betty book...until they had a meal or went on a trip or a shopping spree. I liked parts, but was annoyed, as usual, that he would take out he sister “as a way to get closer to” the girls he’s supposedly loved for sometime. Hmm.
March 10, 2026
This is the first Betty book where I’ve disliked both the hero and heroine. Katrina was naïve and kinda stupid. Lucius spent too much time laughing at her instead of being honest with her. They get their HEA because she’s honest with him, so he’s finally honest with her.
And there’s no such thing as earthquake weather, ffs.
And there’s no such thing as earthquake weather, ffs.
November 30, 2017
This was actually an audio book on 5 c.d's. I thought it was very clever. I am now going to hunt down the paper back version so I can hear the voices of the characters in my own head as I read it. First ever audio book for me.
July 17, 2018
Lovely
If you enjoy your romances clean, light, fluffy and vintage then you will enjoy the wonderful work of Betty Neels
If you enjoy your romances clean, light, fluffy and vintage then you will enjoy the wonderful work of Betty Neels
December 31, 2018
Betty Neels is always comfort reading
January 4, 2022
Do read this one
A twist on Eliza Doolittle. Lovely plot and perfect characters. A delightful love story. I adore Betty Neels and her romance novels. So happy she wrote so many.
A twist on Eliza Doolittle. Lovely plot and perfect characters. A delightful love story. I adore Betty Neels and her romance novels. So happy she wrote so many.
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