Betty Neels

Infobox Writer
name = Betty Neels


imagesize =
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pseudonym =
birthname =
birthdate = birth date|1910|09|15|mf=y
birthplace = Devon, England flagicon|England
deathdate = death date and age|2001|06|07|1910|09|15|mf=y
deathplace = England flagicon|England
occupation = Novelist
nationality = British flagicon|Great Britain
period = 1969-2001
genre = Romance novel
subject =
movement =
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website =

Betty Neels (b. birth date|1910|09|15|mf=y in Devon, England - d. death date and age|2001|06|07|1910|09|15|mf=y in England) was a prolific English author of romance novels. She wrote over 134 titles (first publication entirely for Mills & Boon in England and later reprinted in the United States by Harlequin), beginning in 1969 and continuing until her death. Her work is known for being particularly chaste.

Biography

Personal life

Betty Neels was born on September 15, 1910 in Devon, England to a family with firm roots in the Civil Service. She spent her childhood and youth in Devonshire. She was sent away to boarding school, and then went on to train as a nurse, gaining her SRN and SCM, that is, State Registered Nurse and State Certificate of Midwifery.Citation| title = Mills & Boon's Biography| date =| year =| url = http://www.harlequinpresents.com/authors/jordan_bio.html| accessdate = 2007-08-31]

In 1939 she was called up to the Territorial Army Nursing Service, which later became the Queen Alexandra Reserves, and was sent to France with the Casualty Clearing Station, until the invasion of France in 1940. Later she worked in Scotland and Northern Ireland, where she met a Dutchman. They married and had a daughter.

The married couple lived in London, and later they moved to Holland for thirteen years, where she resumed her nursing career. When the family return to England, she continued her nursing. When she eventually retired, she had reached the position of Night Superintendent.

Her hobbies were reading, animals, old buildings and, of course, writing. Her writing career began almost by accident. It began when she heard a woman in her local library bemoaning the lack of good romance novels. Though she had retired from nursing, her mind had no intention of vegetating. So she got a typewriter and developed what was to become a fantastic loving relationship with her millions of readers around the world.

Betty Neels died peacefully in hospital on June 7, 2001, aged 91.

Writing career

Her first book, "Sister Peters in Amsterdam", was published in 1969. Her novels have several recurring themes. Her career with Mills & Boon or Harlequin spanned 30 years, and she continued to write into her 90th year. She wrote 134 novels.

The main male and female characters (usually "vast" or "splendidly built") are often brought together by circumstances before love flourishes. The male protagonist is often a Dutch surgeon. A character will often have an expertise in antiques. Family pets are common.

Bibliography

ingle Novels

• 1970. "Sister Peters in Amsterdam". Harlequin Romance #1361
• 1970. "Amazon in an Apron" ("Nurse in Holland") ("A Match for Sister Maggy"). Harlequin Romance #1385
• 1970. "Surgeon from Holland" ("Blow Hot, Blow Cold") ("Visiting Consultant"). Harlequin Romance #1409
• 1970. "Nurse Harriet Goes to Holland" ("Tempestuous April"). Harlequin Romance #1441
• 1971. "Damsel in Green". Harlequin Romance #1465
• 1971. "Fate is Remarkable". Harlequin Romance #1498
• 1971. "Tulips for Augusta". Harlequin Romance #1529
• 1972. "Tangled Autumn". Harlequin Romance #1569
• 1972. "Wish with the Candles". Harlequin Romance #1593
• 1972. "Victory for Victoria". Harlequin Romance #1625
• 1972. "Fifth Day of Christmas". Harlequin Romance #1641
• 1973. "Saturday's Child". Harlequin Romance #1666
• 1973. "Cassandra by Chance". Harlequin Romance #1689
• 1973. "Three for a Wedding". Harlequin Romance #1705
• 1973. "Winter of Change". Harlequin Romance #1737
• 1974. "Stars through the Mist". Harlequin Romance #1761
• 1974. "Enchanting Samantha". Harlequin Romance #1777
• 1974. "Uncertain Summer". Harlequin Romance #1801
• 1974. "The Gemel Ring". Harlequin Romance #1817
• 1975. "The Magic of Living". Harlequin Romance #1841
• 1975. "Cruise to a Wedding". Harlequin Romance #1857
• 1975. "The End of the Rainbow". Harlequin Romance #1881
• 1975. "Tabitha in Moonlight". Harlequin Romance #1905
• 1975. "Heaven is Gentle". Harlequin Romance #1921
• 1976. "Henrietta's Own Castle". Harlequin Romance #1937
• 1976. "A Star Looks Down". Harlequin Romance #1954
• 1976. "Cobweb Morning ". Harlequin Romance #1970
• 1976. "The Moon for Lavinia". Harlequin Romance #1987
• 1976. "Esmeralda". Harlequin Romance #2009
• 1976. "Roses for Christmas". Harlequin Romance #2025
• 1977. "The Edge of Winter". Harlequin Romance #2041
• 1977. "A Gem of a Girl". Harlequin Romance #2063
• 1977. "A Small Slice of Summer". Harlequin Romance #2080
• 1977. "A Matter of Chance". Harlequin Romance #2095
• 1977. "The Hasty Marriage". Harlequin Romance #2110
• 1977. "Grasp a Nettle". Harlequin Romance #2127
• 1978. "Pineapple Girl". Harlequin Romance #2137
• 1978. "The Little Dragon". Harlequin Romance #2153
• 1978. "Britannia All at Sea". Harlequin Romance #2169
• 1978. "Philomena's Miracle". Harlequin Romance #2202
• 1979. "Never While the Grass Grows". Harlequin Romance #2226
• 1979. "Ring in a Teacup". Harlequin Romance #2250
• 1979. "Sun and Candlelight". Harlequin Romance #2275
• 1979. "The Promise of Happiness". Harlequin Romance #2301
• 1980. "Midnight Sun's Magic". Harlequin Romance #2314
• 1980. "Winter Wedding". Harlequin Romance #2338
• 1980. "Last April Fair". Harlequin Romance #2367
• 1981. "The Silver Thaw". Harlequin Romance #2386
• 1981. "Caroline's Waterloo". Harlequin Romance #2393
• 1981. "Hannah". Harlequin Romance #2403
• 1981. "When May Follows". Harlequin Romance #2415
• 1981. "Not Once but Twice". Harlequin Romance #2440
• 1982. "An Apple from Eve". Harlequin Romance #2463
• 1982. "Judith". Harlequin Romance #2500
• 1982. "A Girl to Love". Harlequin Romance #2520
• 1983. "All Else Confusion". Harlequin Romance #2542
• 1983. "A Dream Come True". Harlequin Romance #2550
• 1983. "Midsummer Star". Harlequin Romance #2566
• 1984. "Roses and Champagne". Harlequin Romance #2597
• 1984. "Never Too Late". Harlequin Romance #2626
• 1984. "Polly". Harlequin Romance #2656
• 1985. "Once for All Time". Harlequin Romance #2666
• 1985. "Heidelberg Wedding". Harlequin Romance #2680
• 1985. "Year's Happy Ending". Harlequin Romance #2692
• 1985. "A Summer Idyll". Harlequin Romance #2712
• 1985. "At the End of the Day". Harlequin Romance #2729
• 1986. "Magic in Vienna". Harlequin Romance #2741
• 1986. "Never the Time & the Place". Harlequin Romance #2752
• 1986. "A Girl Named Rose". Harlequin Romance #2787
• 1986. "Two Weeks to Remember". Harlequin Romance #2808
• 1987. "The Secret Pool". Harlequin Romance #2824
• 1987. "Stormy Springtime". Harlequin Romance #2855
• 1987. "Off With the Old Love". Harlequin Romance #2874
• 1988. "The Doubtful Marriage". Harlequin Romance #2891
• 1988. "A Gentle Awakening". Harlequin Romance #2914
• 1988. "The Course of True Love". Harlequin Romance #2933
• 1989. "When Two Paths Meet". Harlequin Romance #2956
• 1989. "Paradise for Two". Harlequin Romance #3004
• 1989. "The Fateful Bargain". Harlequin Romance #3024
• 1990. "No Need to Say Good-Bye". Harlequin Romance #3036
• 1990. "The Chain of Destiny". Harlequin Romance #3053
• 1990. "Hilltop Tryst". Harlequin Romance #3071
• 1990. "The Convenient Wife". Harlequin Romance #3084
• 1991. "The Girl with Green Eyes". Harlequin Romance #3105
• 1991. "A Suitable Match". Harlequin Romance #3131
• 1991. "Roses Have Thorns". Harlequin Romance #3149
• 1991. "A Little Moonlight". Harlequin Romance #3161
• 1992. "The Most Marvelous Summer". Harlequin Romance #3185
• 1992. "The Final Touch". Harlequin Romance #3197
• 1992. "A Kind of Magic". Harlequin Romance #3208
• 1992. "An Unlikely Romance". Harlequin Romance #3222
• 1993. "Romantic Encounter". Harlequin Romance #3249
• 1993. "A Happy Meeting". Harlequin Romance #3267
• 1993. "The Quiet Professor". Harlequin Romance #3279
• 1993. "An Old Fashioned Girl". Harlequin Romance #3287
• 1994. "Two for the Heart". Harlequin Romance #3299
• 1994. "A Girl in a Million". Harlequin Romance #3315
• 1994. "At Odds With Love". Harlequin Romance #3323
• 1994. "The Awakened Heart". Harlequin Romance #3339
• 1995. "A Valentine for Daisy". Harlequin Romance #3347
• 1995. "Dearest Love". Harlequin Romance #3355
• 1995. "A Secret Infatuation". Harlequin Romance #3363
• 1995. "Wedding Bells for Beatrice". Harlequin Romance #3371
• 1995. "A Christmas Wish". Harlequin Romance #3389
• 1996. "Waiting for Deborah". Harlequin Romance #3400
• 1996. "The Bachelor's Wedding". Harlequin Romance #3415
• 1996. "Dearest Mary Jane". Harlequin Romance #3435
• 1997. "Fate Takes a Hand". Harlequin Romance #3454
• 1997. "Right Kind of Girl". Harlequin Romance #3467
• 1997. "Mistletoe Kiss". Harlequin Romance #3483
• 1997. "Fortunes of Francesca". Harlequin Romance #3730
• 1998. "Nanny By Chance". Harlequin Romance #3738
• 1998. "Marrying Mary". Harlequin Romance #3492
• 1998. "A Kiss for Julie". Harlequin Romance #3512
• 1998. "Vicar's Daughter". Harlequin Romance #3527
• 1999. "Only by Chance". Harlequin Romance #3537
• 1999. "Making Sure of Sara / Love & Marriage". Harlequin Romance #3554
• 1999. "An Innocent Bride". Harlequin Romance #3577
• 1999. "Never Say Goodbye". Harlequin Romance #63112
• 1999. "Heaven Round the Corner". Harlequin Romance #63108
• 2000. "Daughter of the Manor". Harlequin Romance #3583
• 2000. "Matilda's Wedding". Harlequin Romance #3601
• 2000. "A Winter Love Story". Harlequin Romance #3626
• 2000. "Mistletoe Magic". Neels/A Christmas Romance, Way/Outback Christmas, Winters/Sarah's First Christmas.
• 2001. "Love Can Wait". Harlequin Romance #3636
• 2001. "Ideal Wife". Harlequin Romance #3647
• 2001. "Marrying a Doctor". Harlequin Romance #3674
• 2001. "Always and Forever". Harlequin Romance #3675
• 2002. "An Independent Woman". Harlequin Romance #3685
• 2002. "The Engagement Effect". Harlequin Romance #3689
• 2002. "Emma's Wedding". Harlequin Romance #3699
• 2002. "A Betty Neels Christmas". A Christmas Proposal, Winter Wedding.
• 2003. "Discovering Daisy". Harlequin Romance #3746
• 2003. "A Good Wife". Harlequin Romance #3758

Collections

*Best of Betty Neels: Britannia All at Sea, The Little Dragon (1985)
*Sister Peters in Amsterdam / Nurse in Holland / Blow Hot, Blow Cold (1989)
*Christmas Gift Set (1998)
*The Proposal / Making Sure of Sarah (2001)
*Not Once But Twice / A Girl Named Rose (2002)
*The Christmas Proposal / A Christmas Romance (2001)
*Christmas Gift Pack (2001)
*The Most Marvellous Summer / A Summer Idyll (2002)
*Only by Chance / A Happy Meeting (2002)
*Tangled Autumn / The Edge of Winter (2002)
*The Secret Pool / The Girl with Green Eyes (2002)
*Winter of Change / A Winter Love Story (2002)
*A Betty Neels Christmas (2002)
*Sun and Candlelight / A Star Looks Down (2003)
*Matilda's Wedding / An Innocent Bride (2003)
*Dearest Mary Jane / Romantic Encounter (2003)
*Last April Fair / The Course of True Love (2003)
*The Promise of Happiness / Caroline's Waterloo (2003)
*Sister Peters in Amsterdam / Emma's Wedding (2003)
*The Christmas Collection (2003)
*Christmas Wishes (2003)
*Betty Neels Bridal Collection (2007)

Omnibus in Collaboration

*A Wife for Andrew / Bitter Masquerade / Fate Is Remarkable (1971) (with Lucy Gillen and Margery Hilton)
*Avenging Angel / Sown in the Wind / Cruise to a Wedding (1985) (with Helen Bianchin and Jean S. MacLeod)
*The House in the Foothills / The Short Engagement / Henrietta's Own Castle (1986) (with Mons Daveson and Marjorie Lewty)
*The Little Dragon / Adair of Starlight Peaks / The Dark Warrior (1987) (with Essie Summers and Mary Wibberley)
*Two for the Heart: The Proposal / The Engagement (1994) (with Ellen James)
*Christmas Miracles (1996) (with Carole Mortimer and Rebecca Winters)
*Nearly Weds! (1999) (with Penny Jordan and Carole Mortimer)
*Mistletoe Magic (1999) (with Margaret Way and Rebecca Winters)
*Mistletoe Miracles: Dearest Eulalia/the Extra-special Gift/the Doorstep Baby (2000) (with Catherine George and Marion Lennox)
*Marrying a Doctor (2001) (with Caroline Anderson)
*The Engagement Effect: An Ordinary Girl / a Perfect Proposal (2001) (with Liz Fielding)
*A Christmas To Remember (2004) (with Debbie Macomber and Jessica Steele)
*The Doubtful Marriage / Secret Wedding (2005) (with Liz Fielding)
*All I Want for Christmas... (2005) (with Jessica Steele and Margaret Way)
*Christmas Treasures (2006) (with Caroline Anderson and Helen Brooks)
*Valentine Love Affairs (2006) (with Catherine George)

References and sources

External links

* [http://www.millsandboon.co.uk/cgi-bin/millsandboon.filereader?46d86f31001ca366274058d0dc9e06d9+EN/products/AUTH&2D000409 Betty Neels in Mills & Boon]
* [http://www.eharlequin.com/author.html?authorid=160 Harlequin Editorial's web-page about Betty Neels]
* [http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/n/betty-neels/ Betty Neels in Fantastic Fiction]
*Amazon.com, eBay, original books and a list by D Hoffa [http://people.westminstercollege.edu/faculty/dhoffa/Betty%20Neels%20Books.htm]