REVIEW: A Christmas Wish by Betty Neels

JayneB+ Reviews / Book Reviews / Recommended Readsboarding school / doctor hero / family relationships / Netherlands / strong heroine5 Comments

For Olivia Harding, the offer of employment at a small private school came as something of a godsend. With no qualifications, she hadn’t expected to find a job so easily, let alone one that still brought her into contact with the eminent surgeon Haso van der Eisler. Olivia always looked forward to Haso’s visits, though she knew he came mainly to see his goddaughter, Nel. The idea that Haso should marry the child’s glamorous mother seemed obvious to all, but Olivia’s stubborn heart told her otherwise!

Review

After another disappointing book was abandoned, I knew straight were to go. Checking the books with “Christmas” in the title, I decided to read this one though sadly there’s actually very little Christmas in it. But there is a wonderful heroine with a splendid figure, lovely face, and magnificent tawny hair. 

Mr. Haso van der Eisler and Olivia Harding almost by chance in the records department of a hospital in London. Olivia’s flibbertigibbet co-worker must have sent up the wrong record for Haso but Olivia charmingly apologizes and gets him the one he needs. Another visit later (same record mix-up), and we know Haso is a goner. When budget cuts threaten, our girl nicely takes the axe so her less fortunate co-worker – whose father is out of a job and whose mother has only part-time work – will keep her job. That is the type of person Olivia is. 

Learning – through oh, such stealthy means – what happened and where Olivia lives with her gentle mother and ghastly grandmother, Haso realizes that Olivia’s still not found a new job – but then with her lack of qualifications that’s not really a surprise. Of course he knows who to talk to and between them, Lady Brenner and Haso get Olivia a job at a girl’s school as a general dogsbody whom the pupils adore including Haso’s goddaughter/Lady Brenner’s granddaughter Nel. It’s a good thing that Olivia loves the job and Nel as Nel’s Evil Vile Awful Witch of a mother prefers her job and visiting friends in the south of France for the month of August rather than take time to actually see her daughter. 

When the EVAW and that woman’s chosen housekeeper (she’s awful, too) treat Nel so badly that Nel runs away, Haso knows who to call on for help. 

Let’s see – we have the usual Neels cast of characters. Dutch doctor (unmarried), English heroine (unmarried), a charming child, Dutch doctor’s charming relations, Dutch doctor’s loyal and devoted old family retainers, and an EVAW – aka the other woman. Bentley (in London), Jaguar (in Holland), London flat (tasteful with nanny turned housekeeper who – along with her cat – take Olivia’s measure and approves), family house in Amsterdam, family house in Friesland, and there’s another one nearby (all with OFRs). One dog and possibly a kitten to come later (Amsterdam’s housekeeper’s cat is expecting). 

I really like this one because Olivia is no squashed cabbage. When her long time boyfriend gives her the heave-ho, Olivia snaps back that she’s seeing someone, too, and then shows up with Haso at Rodney’s wedding which knocks everyone for six. Olivia’s dress might be from a budget store but her gloves and shoes are irreproachable plus she knows how to smarten up a hat with a lovely ribbon. Haso approves. I think he also enjoyed sticking it to Rodney and rubbing it in that loser’s face.

The lovely Dutch family and OFRs also approve of Olivia and wonder why such a lovely girl isn’t married. They are all less thrilled with the EVAW but would never dream of sticking their oars into Haso’s business. Haso needs to have a fire lit under him but when he realizes that Something Was Done that he would have disapproved of, he snaps into action, gives no quarter where none should be given, and dashes off to secure his, and Olivia’s, future happiness. Mr. Patel, whom Olivia of course lends a hand to in his neighborhood store, approves of Haso “making the most of the opportunity” because he’s a sentimental man. 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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