Betty Neels
Personal Information
Description
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, which stood her in good stead 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 Holland did use her information as an itinerary for their travels! Betty Neels died peacefully in hospital on June 7, 2001, aged 91. Her career with Mills & Boon and Harlequin spanned 30 years, and she continued to write into her 90th year.
Books
Stormy Springtime (Best of Betty Neels)
"He needs a wife-someone like me!" Meg Collins was an old-fashioned country girl facing an uncertain future. Now that the family house was being sold, Meg had to find a job. But where? Her skills were in cooking and gardening-not shorthand and typing. Professor Ralph Culver offered a solution. The eminent doctor needed a "sensible, domestic person" to work in his London office. Someone like Meg. But it wasn't very sensible to fall in love with the professor. Or to hope that he would fall in love with her, too...
Enchanting Samantha
Samantha sympathized with the problems of the elderly Dutch woman who was admitted to the hospital where she worked. But she didn't realize that her encounter with Juffrouw Boot's employer, the striking Giles ter Ossel, would bring her so much heart-searching. Perhaps one shouldn't get involved with one's patients? Yet .. .
Heidelberg Wedding
Getting engaged had seemed like a good idea. But now Sister Eugenia Smith wasn't so sure. She was fond of Humphrey, but did she love him? When surgeon Gerard Grenfell offered her the chance to work in Europe, she gladly accepted. Perhaps a break would help her think things through. But Eugenia hadn't expected to fall in love with Gerard. It all seemed pretty hopeless, though, since he was already engaged to the glamorous Miriam. Fortunately, wedding plans could be changed!
Nanny by Chance
Araminta Pomfrey is finally about to pursue her dream to train as a nurse when she finds herself looking after the twin nephews of Dr. Marcus van der Breugh! Marcus is so handsome and kind that Mintie knows she's fallen in love. But does Marcus want a wife?
A Happy Meeting (Betty Neels Large Print Collection)
Life could be worse But Cressida wasn't really sure how. Things had been bad ever since obligations had forced her to stay at home with her demanding stepmother. She'd even sprained her ankle while trying to help a mistreated dog, which left her stranded in the middle of nowhere. Then she was rescued by Aldrik van der Linus. The handsome doctor took an interest in her affairs and everything began to improve... until she realized that although she loved Aldrik, he only saw her as a patient, not as a woman.
Never Too Late
She thought she'd finished with romance. After the breakup of her engagement, Prudence eagerly accepted Dr. Benedict van Vinke's offer of a job in Holland. It seemed the perfect opportunity to begin an entire new life. What she wasn't prepared for was the effect Benedict and his young daughter, Sibella, would have on her emotions. When was she going to stop acting like a fool, she asked herself angrily, and remember she was just his employee?
A Suitable Match
"Don't worry," Colin said. "It will work out perfectly." Eustacia wasn't sure whether he meant the wedding arrangements or their future life together. She didn't know him well enough to even guess. It was a marriage of convenience, after all, not a love match. Colin had made it clear that he wanted a down-to-earth partner to help him care for his brother's orphaned children - not a dream girl with her head full of romance. Even so, Eustacia found herself hoping against hope that one day, he might grow to love her as much as she loved him... .
Sun and Candlelight
From back cover: "MY CHILDREN NEED A MOTHER, BUT I DO NOT NEED A WIFE." Dr. Sarre van Diederik did a lot to restore Alethea's damaged pride when Nick Penrose badly hurt and humiliated her. So a short time later, when he asked her to marry him and go to Holland to live, she accepted. After all, Sarre was a very nice, kind man, and Alethea might actually be happier with him than she would have been with Nick, even though love wasn't part of the deal. But once in Holland, Alethea discovered that happiness and love could blossom when you least expected it.
Dearest Mary Jane
"WOULD YOU LIKE ME FOR A BROTHER-IN-LAW, MARY JANE?" She wouldn't like him for a brother-in-law - she would like him for a husband! But why should she suddenly discover this now of all times, sitting opposite him, being cross-examined as though she were in a witness-box…and fighting an urge to fling her arms around his neck and tell him that she loved him? "Yes, oh yes, that would be delightful."
An Ideal Wife
Louisa Howarth enjoyed her job as a doctor's receptionist -- until Dr. Thomas Gifford appeared on the scene. She found Thomas aloof and demanding, but incredibly attractive. So when Louisa discovered he was engaged to the totally unsuitable Helena, she decided it was her duty to stop Thomas from making a terrible mistake. Only, Louisa hadn't counted on her growing feelings for Thomas, or on the possibility that it wasn't Helena he wanted to marry after all!
A Matter of Chance
Was she in the right place at the wrong time? Cressida had lost her parents and badly needed a new focus. So going to Holland to help an elderly Dutch doctor with a book he was writing, giving up her own nursing job for a while, seemed ideal. Her new employer had two partners. One was elderly and friendly, like himself, while the other was younger and...not quite so friendly. Giles van der Tiele always seemed to be snubbing Cressida, putting her in her place. But when he wanted to, he could be extremely charming—too much so for her peace of mind!
A Valentine for Daisy
strong textAt least the kids liked him! Dictatorial, overbearing and downright rude! Dr. Valentine Seymour might be an excellent pediatrician, but however good he was with his small patients, he needed to develop more of a bedside manner with adults. Daisy disliked him the first time they met and he certainly didn't improve on further acquaintance. But somehow fate - not to mention his twin nephew and niece, Josh and Katie - meant that she had to keep meeting the man. Of course, she had a lot to thank him for - her new job with the twins among other things. Had she misjudged him after all?
Heaven Is Gentle
Sister Eliza Proudfoot took a job at the special clinic run by Professor Christian van Duyl. She found him a somewhat intimidating character - large in build and large in personality! And somehow Eliza kept getting on his wrong side, which didn't stop her from falling in love with him even though he was engaged to the very suitable Estelle van der Daal. Eliza found Estelle a bit of a bore, but if that was what Christian wanted, who was she to quibble!
A Little Moonlight
The giddy social whirl was not for Serena She'd long ago resigned herself to looking after her invalid mother instead. Quiet, hardworking Serena was only too glad to be of service. Dutch consultant Marc ter Feulen changed all that when he became Serena's new employer. Arrogant, demanding and apparently blind to the interests of anyone but himself, he was not the sort of person Serena had ever before encountered. She was quite equal to the challenge, however. Her only problem was that in spite of all her efforts, she was falling in love...
Fate Is Remarkable
Sarah had worked with Hugo van Elven for a long time, and she was astounded when he suddenly proposed to her. Sarah Dunn and Hugo van Elven were married for the wrong reasons. Even if it was just a marriage of convenience. They were both recovering from unhappy love affairs. Sarah was looking for comfort and companionship; for Hugo marriage was a social necessity. Serious complications set in when fate swept unexpectedly through their lives!
Wedding Bells for Beatrice
You should marry again." Beatrice sympathized with Gijs van der Eekerk. A widower with a small child and a busy medical career needed someone to make sure his domestic life ran smoothly. What she hadn't counted on was his decision to offer her the position. As his wife, she would have a comfortable lifestyle and everything that money could buy. But what was that, if Gijs couldn't offer her what she truly wanted—love?
Only by Chance
Falling for Adam Life had not been easy for Henrietta Cowper, but she hoped to improve her lot. Then, shortly after she first met consultant neurosurgeon Mr. Adam Ross-Pitt, her small world changed irrevocably. She had Mr. Ross-Pitt to thank for her new job at the manor house near his home, but she was sensible enough to realize that he was beyond her reach. If her gratitude tipped into love, there was no need for him to know--even if he did continue to come to her rescue....
Three for a Wedding
emphasized textPhoebe Brook hadn't planned to take a nursing job in Holland, still less under false pretenses. But when her sister Sybil decided to get married instead of going to work for Dr. Lucius van Someren, Sybil persuaded Phoebe to take her place. With Lucius's son Paul so hostile, and Paul's governess signaling Lucius as her property, Phoebe really didn't need to compound her problems by falling in love -- but she did.
The End of the Rainbow
strong textOlympia's overbearing aunt used her as her personal servant, until attractive Dutchman Waldo van der Graaf quite literally rescued her. He suggested that she exchange her life of drudgery for the role of his wife. Waldo needed someone to look after his small daughter and run his home--a marriage of convenience. Olympia was thankful and accepted his proposal, but soon realized she had only exchanged one set of problems for another when she found herself falling in love with her own husband!