For a book containing some short love stories this book was good but I would have preferred two books with longer stories especially Betty Neels story The Doctor's Girl, I liked the story and I liked the heroine Loveday West and the hero Andrew Fforde but I felt that since it was a short story that too much time was wasted on Loveday's silly infatuation with Andrew's snooty, bad mannered, phony baloney cousin Charles! I definitely would have preferred less of Charles and more of Andrew!

The okapi was discovered in 1901 and is sometimes called the forest giraffe. Little was known about it until recently; it lives in the rainforest of the Democratic Republic of Congo (previously known as Zaire). The okapi is very unique and only about 200 are found in captivity; wild populations are threatened. This is the first book in English about this endangered species. The book brings together all that is known about the okapi in a very readable format and is illustrated with lovely drawings by one of the authors. The book is introduced by renowned scientist Dr. Jane Goodall; ALL royalties are used in the country of Congo-Zaire to preserve the rainforest, the okapi and all the other plants and animals which call this place home.

Betty Neels fans will enjoy this charming, gentle romance about a sweet, ladylike girl who meets her Prince Charming whille struggling to take care of herself and her 2 cats. If you enjoy escape with a happy ending, you won't be disappointed.

Back Cover description: She knew it was time to leave! Determined to break the stranglehold of a selfish stepmother and stepbrother, Becky left home. She'd begin nursing again; make a home for herself and Pooch and Bertie, the pets she'd brought with her. Then at dawn on a rainy highway, fate took a hand--fate in the form of Baron Raukema van den Eck. His mother needed a nurse and Becky filled the bill. Only one thing marred her new life. Poor plain Becky fell desperately, hopelessy in love...

Becky is a nurse, the Baron is a doctor. This is the second story of Ms. Neels's that takes place in Norway. For the first part of the book, Becky and the Baron's mother go to Norway, then Holland/Netherlands. The descriptions of Norway, Holland and the country travelled through are good. You feel as though you've gone on the trip too. The story moves along, nothing feels rushed, and love wins in the end, what more could you ask for.

Back Cover description: How could she fall asleep during his lecture? It wasn't the best way for Nurse Lucy Prendergast to attract the attention of distinguished consultant Fraam der Linssen, especially when the attractive Dutch doctor kept appearing in her life--at the hospital, at her home and in Holland when she went on holiday. If only he were equally aware of her! But that wasn't likely, for far prettier girls were obviously his for the asking!

Better than average Betty Neels story. Yes, she's a nurse in training and he's a surgeon and the story is familiar--clueless heroine and silent hero, but a good, comforting read.

While traveling in India and Nepal I spent an extended time in researching the folklore around Gesar Ling through interviews with his direct descendents and his reincarnation (Namkha Rinpoche) in Kathmandu. Alexandra David-Neel's book "The Super Human Life of Gesar of Ling" proved to be extremely valuable, and fairly accurate with respect to the information I gathered.

Despite David-Neel's association with Madame Bolovsky's "Theosophical Society" this book still retains a great deal of credibility. The introduction details an encounter she had with an emissary of Gesar Ling which seems to be derived directly from his reputation as the regional protector deity of the Dege region of Tibet.

Her easy writing style makes this book accessible to the academic and the casual reader. I enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone interested in the more obscure writings on Tibet.

Judith Delves and Selina Marsh-Hayden co-manage two exclusive but popular London based restaurants. Their Cafe de la Paix becomes so successful, the prestigious Gemini Group want to buy them to add to their growing chain. The two women refuse to sell, but their silent partners disagree. Selina's spouse Richard wants the money while Judith's lover Michael wants her to manage his country home.

However, the tie becomes irrelevant when someone murders Selina. The police lean towards Judith as the prime suspect. Only Fransesca Wilson, wife to one of the police officers, thinks the restaurateur is innocent. When Richard apparently commits suicide, the police close the case. Fransesca and Judith still believe a killer is free.

TO DIE FOR is an interesting British police procedural that fans of the sub-genre will find very entertaining. The story line moves forward at a rapid pace even though the motive behind the criminal activity is not revealed until late into the novel. Though the prime plot involving the investigation seems relatively light and scanty, the various subplots add much depth and expeditiously tie back into the main tale. Janet Neels continues to provide intriguing and complex relationship who-done-its.

Harriet Klausner

This book is very easy reading while imparting a great deal of information on how to care for and prevent an aching neck. Covers whiplash care, and referred nerve pain.

This was the first Betty Neels book I ever read and I rather enjoyed it. The plot revolves around a kind-hearted and lovely young nurse (Jane Fox) and her "rescue" by Dr. Nikolaas van der Vollenhove, a Dutch surgeon. After Ms. Fox's grandmother, to whom she has been devoted, dies, Dr. Van der Vollenhove saves Ms. Fox from penury and substandard jobs by proposing marriage. The characters were likable and the writing style pleasant. Dr. Van der Vollenhove seemed a bit cold and paternal rather than adoring of Jane Fox, but otherwise, it was a pleasant enough story. Not your typical hero and heroine carried away on waves of sentiment and/or passion, but there is true affection by the end of it all.

The reviewer from Georgia has the plot description. The story starts with Jane's grandmother dying. Nikolaas is the doctor on the case. He helps her out, and we all know how the story goes; she drags her animals around looking for work, and trying to avoid Nikolaas. The only part I didn't like was the private hospital she goes to for awhile. I wanted Nikolaas to make more of a fuss to get the patients the care needed. Other than that, typical fairy tale ending.

COVER: A damsel in distress ...
Jane Fox was alone and desperately in need of a friend. Not that she expected Nikolaas van der Vollenhove to apply for the position. After all, he'd said he was no knight in shining armor.
So when he rode to her rescue, she had to wonder if he was actually interested in her. Until he asked her to marry him - then she realized Nikolaas was definitely not a man in love.
Jane said yes, anyway. But only because she thought a determined woman could change him ....
This is another one of Betty Neels' strong, courageous young heroines with a heart as big as all outdoors. The hero is a wealthy doctor who needs Jane more than he knows. She fits seamlessly into his life, makes a life for her devoted lifelong servant, and gradually wins the heart of the hero and his dogs. :)
This is another fine example of Betty Neels' warmth and happily ever after artform.

Back Cover description: "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 mad it clear that he wanted a down-to-earth partner to help him care for his brother's orphaned children--not a dreamy 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...

The reviewer from Ottawa, Canada has some valid points, but you don't read Betty Neels for reality. However, she makes you understand why the A-levels are useless in the first three pages. Nicely done story, strong characters, and happy ending. I always love the descriptions in Ms. Neels' books--food, clothing, places and homes. And I love the cars these guys drive; they cost more than my house.

I brought this one by mistake, set in London and the country in the 1980s, not my preferred time period, the book is well written but definitely on the fantasy side.

Heroine with 4 'A' levels decides not to go to University, this puts her in roughly the top 1% of the population, decides to take a job washing bottles because it pays well. Hero, 'Sir Colin Crichton' runs a Rolls Royce that never gets stuck in traffic, has at least two homes one in London, one in the country, both fully staffed, private income. Has reached the level of medical consultant / surgeon whilst in his 30s.

The author looks to be a popular one, and one of the nice things about books is you can make the world perfect, many of the characters are comfortable ones so you may enjoy this one.

This book has been reprinted in 2000 and may be available on the Amazon UK web site....

WOW!! What a fantastic book, I loved it so much I couldn't put it down! I just loved the characters, Eustacia and Colin and enjoyed reading their story! I just love the clean wholesome books that are a trademark of Betty Neels! The book is a KEEPER!!