I found this remaindered for only five bucks. I read it not as a building architect, but as someone interested in what other creative/engineering disciplines had to say about creative projects that I could apply to web projects.

The authors needed a better editor, that's for sure. There's lots of awkward writing here, and the interviews with architects are virtually unreadable, rambling, and vague.

Those involved in web or software consulting will find not a lot new here--have the issues of client relations and creative services marketing really not had this kind of treatment before?

I liked this book because there was more dialogue between the main characters. Sometimes Betty gets bogged down in all the details of explaining about meals, houses, and fashion. I have a hard time reading those books, but when I find ones like this I get hooked. Rose was not the uncommunicative, retiring, over- educated-but-not-trained-to-do-anything type of girl. She was a nurse, as most of Betty's heroines are, who met her "intended" on a vacation in Holland with her friends. She "specials" a case for the doctor-the patient is his nephew-and ends up in Holland and falling in love with him. Like most of Betty's books the "happy ending" is done in only one and a half pages but is not concluded as abruptly as her other books tend to end.

Although this book discusses some of the building techniques of northwest coastal Indian canoes, it is not a "how-to" manual. Instead, it is more of a "coffee table" book dealing with the history, construction, and modern uses of the large dug-out canoes used by the Indians of Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska. As such, I found the book to be interesting and informative. There are many excellent color photographs of traditional northwest coast canoes, native people, and native clothing. I recommend it to anyone interested in traditional wooden boats or the native cultures of the northwest coast and southeast Alaska.

Back Cover description: MARRIAGE ON HIS MIND? Kate Crosby was determined to be independent. Her dreams were of owning her own catering business, not of marriage and babies! For now, she was happy enough putting her skills into practice as a housekeeper. She certainly wasn't looking for a husband...Until Mr. James Tait-Bouverie came to visit. He was irresistibly charming and firmly believed that love couldn't wait! James challenged all Kate's plans for the future. He challenged her to love him, to marry him. What if Kate said yes?

Ok, who writes these plot descriptions? As a long time reader of Ms. Neels, I almost didn't read this book because of this description. Don't worry, this book is like all the rest, Kate is stuck in a nasty job (she is not happy) and instead of dragging animals around, in this book it's her mother. And James is like all the rest of Ms. Neels' heroes, silent and not saying much about marriage to the heroine. Enjoy

Back Cover description: 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 entirely 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?

Slightly different, Prudence is lovely, not plain; tall, not short and has a family. This is less a cinderella story and more about equals. Benedict is the one who seems unsure in this story. Worth the time-I almost didn't read it, I like the ones where the heroine is plain.

The narration of this book seemed to be very useful and well researched, however, even though a great number of her paintings where present throughout the book, I would have preferred them be in color instead of black and white illustrations. That was most disappointing.

Back Cover description: "He's something of a catch you know". Eloise was told about the handsome Dr. Timon van Zeilst. "But no one's caught him yet." Eloise felt quite sure that it wouldn't be her. Why should he look twice at a plain English nurse with the beautiful Liske around? And Liske had claimed she was destined to be his wife. It was no good telling herself not to care, because she did--even if he was the most infuriating man she'd ever met!

This was somewhat typical of Ms. Neels plots; doctor, plain nurse, female villain and misunderstandings. In this story however, there seemed to me to be a little more tension/edginess to the story than I usually get with Ms. Neels books. I liked it, just can't put my finger on what was different.

Back Cover description: Sister Tabitha was an efficient nurse, but when it came to matters of the heart she was less sure of herself. So when she fell in love, she had no idea how to deal with her feelings. Was that why the Dutch surgeon Marius van Beek called her Cinderella? If only Marius would ride up on a white horse and ask for her hand in marriage. But people lived happily ever after only in fairy tales, didn't they?

Typical but nicely done. Strong heroine, likable hero. If you read Betty Neels, you have some idea of the way the characters react. This is a pleasant, warm-hearted story. Nothing new, but that's not why we read these.

Back Cover description: At 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?

Another good Cinderella story from Betty Neels. Daisy works in a pre-school that has food poisoning, causing the school to shut down. She meets Valentine in the hospital. You know the story, and it has a happy ending. The only drawback for me was that there was so much time spent with the kids. Other than that, typical and enjoyable story.

Back Cover description: An offer she couldn't refuse...a nursing job in Holland was the only way Lavinia Hawkings could ensure a home and security for herself and her young sister Peta. Yet within weeks of arriving she was married to the devastating Professor Radmer ter Bavinck! Radmer had assured Lavinia that the marriage would be on a friendly basis only--he needed a kind stepmother for his daughter and a competent housekeeper to run his home. It seemed to be the ideal arrangement-- for everyone except Lavinia!

The plot was slow. I agree with the reveiwer from Santa Fe that this story could have been better. Do the two main characters even like one another? It's hard to tell. The ending was strange too. Are these two even happy? Not what I consider a good story from this author.

I have read a lot of Betty Neels books and out of them all I have to say that this is my least favorite. The heroine of the story spends her time wondering why she agreed to a marriage of convenience to a man who spends the entire book being remote and angry. It had a promising beginning and the ending was mediocre. I was left wondering if the ending was really a happy one or not.