Betty Neels Collection - Book 49

A reread of one of my favorite Neels romances. It's a bit unusual because the heroine is attractive, has a good job, and is comfortably well off, and the (Dutch) doctor's career is mostly offpage. They meet when Amelia, her father, and her fiance Tom go on a fishing holiday in Norway. Tom is rather selfish and oblivious; they've been engaged for five years and he won't marry until he's financially secure, even though Amelia's money could help with that. The meeting between Amelia and Gideon van der Tolck is prickly and of course she's sure he doesn't like her.

When Tom tells Amelia he's taking a good job in Australia and she should wait for him, she finally wises up and breaks off the engagement. She keeps running into Gideon at family parties (wonderful descriptions of holiday parties, aged relatives, and a chance dinner at Le Gavroche, for those who remember the 80s), and they banter and bicker, but she refuses to acknowledge, even to herself, that she's falling in love with him.

Of course Gideon is in love with her and he asks her to marry him, but Amelia can't believe he's serious. She's an interesting Neels heroine because here it's Amelia who can't see what is in front of her face. The thaw is about Amelia letting down her defenses and admitting her feelings. When it finally happens, right at the end of course, it's a very satisfying scene. ( )