I have read many if not all of the Betty Neels books. When her birthday arrived on September 15th, I thought blogging about her would be a perfect tribute to this amazing writer. Although most of Betty’s novels sound the same, what never ceases to amaze me is that each one is unique and wonderful on its own. From her first book, “Sister Peters in Amsterdam,” to her latest, “Emma’s Wedding,” all 134 books are classic reads. With a writing career that spanned from 1969 to 2001, Neels has captivated readers with her sweet and sensitive love stories.
With a tall, handsome, very wealthy, often titled gentleman as the main character and a simple, responsible lady, not as well off as her counterpart, Betty Neel’s novels seem to be quite predictable. He, usually a Dutch doctor, stern, placid, and tempered, and she, with carrot-red hair and a fiery temper to go with it. The main characters often have pets and I guess their novels are probably the only place where cats and dogs stay in a room together without fighting. The key characters meet by chance and in most cases he helps her when she has a problem. She slowly falls in love with him, and her love for her is expressed only at the end of the story. And everything is fine after that!! Reading Betty Neels always makes me feel good and happy! Soft and subtle, realistic and romantic, pragmatic and passionate: Betty Neels novels are truly irresistible for those who love to read romance novels.
Every time I go to the library or a bookstore, my eyes always wander to the section that houses Betty’s novels.