REVIEW: Roses for Christmas by Betty Neels

JayneB- Reviews / Book Reviewsdoctor hero / family relationships / Netherlands / nurse / Scotland2 Comments

QUITE BY CHANCE?

Eleanor not only remembered the domineering Fulk van Hensum from her childhood, she recalled how much she had disliked him. Now Eleanor was grown-up and a qualified nurse, and suddenly Fulk, a renowned consultant, was back in her life. He hadn’t changed a bit he was still dictatorial and overbearing, which was a problem, since under the circumstances she couldn’t avoid him! It shouldn’t have mattered that Fulk was engaged to the lovely Imogen but somehow it did.

Review

Despite the word “Christmas” being in the title, I’ve read Neels books before with holiday names that turned out to actually have very little to do with the holiday. So I kept that in mind while reading this one. Outcome – well, we celebrate Sint Nicolaas Day, there is gift giving involved so since a lot of the book is set in Holland, I’ll take that as a win.

Eleanor MacFarlane is a lovely, tall, twenty-five year old woman with a strapping figure who is the eldest child of a Scottish vicar and his wife. Eleanor is, her father says with some pride, already a Ward Sister (of Women’s Medical) at her hospital in Edinburgh. To whom does he mention this? Why our hero Fulk who is eleven years older than Eleanor and, ages ago, apparently didn’t let Eleanor climb trees which annoyed five year old Eleanor all those years ago and she’s never forgotten it. Eleanor can hold a grudge like she’s clenching it in her fist. But despite Eleanor’s cool or snippy comments, Fulk remains suave and unruffled – or so Eleanor thinks.

The patented Neels Book Emergency is a schoolboy nature hike gone wrong when a freak blizzard sneaks up on Eleanor’s youngest brother – who appears to have had almost every childhood illness known to medicine but despite that is outgoing, enthusiastic and has a keen interest in cars – along with his classmates and teacher. Luckily Fulk just happens to arrive and, together with Eleanor, saves the day. Fulk notices that Henry is intelligent but his drive to do everything is flagging the boy’s stamina so Fulk offers a week at his house in Holland along with adopting the plainest kitten of the litter who Mrs. Trots (cat mom) just weaned. Of course the MacFarlanes are delighted – with Henry’s vacation and that Moggy will have a home.

But when yet another childhood illness finds its way to Henry, Fulk arrives to sweep nurse Eleanor and her youngest sister Margaret (who thinks Fulk is ‘groovy.’ Well the book was written in the mid 70s) off to come care for their brother. Eleanor is a little gobsmacked by Fulk’s magnificent country house. She had thought Fulk was merely “doing well” as a consultant (US=Attending doctor) but whoa, he’s loaded. Which might come into play in terms of that silly “if I had a million pounds” wish list that Eleanor had scribbled down. But what about Imogen, this “fiancé” Fulk mentions but never really talks much about?

I can easily see that Eleanor has never read a Betty Neels book or she would have realized that Fulk’s feelings for her are not the ones he usually lets her see the most. Yes, there is a “tell” among Neels’ heroes and Fulk does it not once or twice but several times. Fulk is also seemingly tireless and can do more in a day – or arrange to have some of it done along with doing a great deal of it himself – than I can get done in a week.

Henry isn’t a plot moppet but actually a (usually) delightful eight year old boy who acts like one. Eleanor burns the midnight oil helping care for Henry day and night as with rheumatic fever Henry can’t be allowed to overtire himself. Fulk meanwhile takes care of his household, the MacFarlane siblings, his consultancy, and dashes off to drive hours down to Cannes to see Imogen for a day then drive right back. That makes Eleanor furious – thinking that overtired Fulk might fall asleep at the wheel and crash. And where is that Imogen who spends her days wearing expensive clothes, riding, playing tennis, and badminton, hmmm?

It’s amusing to watch Fulk and Eleanor simmer and glower at each other Meaningfully as they try to avoid giving any hint of their true feelings. There is much stewing and seething. Fulk manages the ‘hiding his feelings’ act better than Eleanor but she can twist his feelings into a knot very easily if his reactions are anything to go by. There’s also an appearance by Imogen’s (harpy) mother that sets Eleanor’s back up and doesn’t our girl politely give it to Mevrouw with both barrels? But what about Imogen??

I enjoyed this book. I love the MacFarlane family who obviously care deeply about each other and have a cat named Mrs. Trots. For my money it’s easy to tell that Fulk has Fallen Hard but he also dishes up a lot of seeming coolness towards Eleanor that keeps her guessing. Or maybe he’s realized that if he acts cool then Eleanor will be drawn to him rather than him pursuing her and having her put off by that? I have to admit that the Other Woman does say something to Eleanor at the end that I agree with. Eleanor did stick her head in the sand for a bit too long and Fulk needed to have been a bit more open. In the end though she gets her huge bouquet of roses. B-

~Jayne

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Jayne

Another long time reader who read romance novels in her teens, then took a long break before started back again about 25 years ago. She enjoys historical romance/fiction best, likes contemporaries, action- adventure and mysteries, will read suspense if there's no TSTL characters and is currently reading more fantasy and SciFi.

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