Mills & Boon presents the Betty Neels collection. Timeless tales of heart-warming romance by one of the world's best-loved romance authors. An offer she couldn't refuse... A nursing job in Holland was the only way Lavinia Hawkins could ensure a home and security for herself and her young sister Peta. Yet within weeks of arriving she was married to the devastating Professor Radmer ter Bavinck! Radmer had assured Lavinia that the marriage would be on a friendly basis only – he needed a kind stepmother for his daughter and a competent housekeeper to run his home. It seemed to be the ideal arrangement – for everyone except Lavinia!

Mills & Boon presents the Betty Neels collection. Timeless tales of heart-warming romance by one of the world's best-loved romance authors. She lived in hope that he would notice her! Dr Walle van der Tacx was a very attractive man! When he offered Philomena a nursing job in Holland, she jumped at it – surely it would mean that she could see more of him? It didn't take long to realise her mistake, and to discover that there was no point in entertaining romantic thoughts about the doctor. When it was clearly just a question of time before he married his pretty vivacious cousin Tritia, it would take a miracle for him to notice plain competent Philomena, who had nothing but a kind hear to recommend her!

Mills & Boon presents the Betty Neels collection. Timeless tales of heart–warming romance by one of the world's best–loved romance authors. Her quiet life was thrown into turmoil. Calm and capable – those were the words used to sum up Francesca. Certainly, she had plenty to cope with, looking after the home she shared with three elderly aunts and working at the local hospital. Yet she dealt with it all with her usual quiet efficiency and believed her life was complete...until the arrival of Dr Litrik van Rijgen! Having taken the trouble to track her down while she was enjoying an occasional holiday in Holland, he seemed to have other plans for her. But was she really willing to let him take over her life and possibly her heart?

Facing bankruptcy, Celine's family was forced to turn their home into a guesthouse to make ends meet. Celine found her new life to be a lot of hard work but great fun, too. And she soon met a young man, Nicky, who seemed very taken with her—if only Nicky's overbearing cousin, Oliver, would stop interfering. But when Celine discovered that Nicky was married, she was only too grateful for Oliver's comforting presence. Gratitude wasn't exactly what Oliver had in mind, but it was a start.

Perhaps her dream of love was only a dream"Working nights in a London hospital is no life for a young girl!" Her mother hadn't actually said it, but Judith knew she was thinking it.In a way, Judith agreed, but what else could she do? Marry Nigel? No, she didn't love him. She had no great feeling for any man--except Charles Cresswell--and that was certainly not love. But could her feeling possibly have any bearing on her agreeing to nurse his mother in his home?

She didn't know the rules of engagementGetting engaged to Marc van Borsele was the last thing Claribel wanted. Marc was the most annoying and exasperating man she had ever met! But, as the engagement was only pretense and she did owe Marc a favor, Claribel agreed. She soon discovered that make-believe can come true, even if you don't want it to! Before she knew it, Claribel found herself head over heels in love with her pretend fiancé. The course of true love never did run smooth....

Faith, hope--and charity!Nothing exciting ever happened to Charity. Her job as a hospital secretary was hectic but routine. Even the man everyone expected her to marry was safe, reliable and dull. There surely had to be more to life.So, when professor Jake Wyllie-Lyon offered her the chance to work for him, Charity didn't hesitate to accept.The job was everything she had dreamed of--and so was Jake! But there Charity's problems really began....

When Jane needed help, she was amazed that it was the charismatic surgeon Nikolaas van der Vollenhove who tore himself away from his busy schedule to come to her rescue. A renowned workaholic, it was obvious that he had no time for anything--or anyone--in his life. Which was why his marriage proposal came as such a shock. Just why exactly did he want Jane for his wife, if it wasn't for love?

Daisy Gillard leads a quiet life working in her father's antiques shop, until the handsome pediatrician Mr. Jules der Huizma sweeps her away to Holland! It is a secret joy for Daisy that Jules seems to want to spend time with her. But Daisy knows her feelings can't lead anywhere, since Jules is promised to another woman. Still, he is so attentive and charming that Daisy is starting to hope she could become Jules's bride.

She'd do anything for the children's sakeGeorgina Rodman had been given a special nursing assignment--she was to look after the Van den Berg Eyffert children, who were recovering from an accident. Having worked in a casualty ward, Georgina felt she could cope with just about anything life threw at her.But that was before she met the children's guardian, Julius. Afterward, she realized that even common sense and a practical nature couldn't stop her from falling in love...with a man who didn't even know she existed!

"MY CHILDREN NEED A MOTHER, BUT I DO NOT NEED A WIFE."Dr. Sarre van Diederijk did a lot to restore Alethea's damaged pride when Nick Penrose badly hurt and humiliated her. So a short time later, when he asked her to marry him and go to Holland to live, she accepted. After all, Sarre was a very nice, kind man, and Alethea might actually be happier with him than she would have been with Nick, even though love wasn't part of the deal. But once in Holland, Alethea discovered that happiness and love could blossom when you least expected it.

Meeting Dr. Roele van Dyke was a blessing for Emma Dawson. He always seemed to go out of his way to make her happy, and she couldn't imagine life without him....When the time came for Roele to return to Amsterdam permanently, he knew he couldn't leave Emma behind. So he offered her a job at his surgery. Emma was in love and simply couldn't refuse. But did Roele want Emma to be his secretary or his wife?

Working for Professor Sam Gervis was difficult enough, even if you weren't falling in love with him...which Polly was. Luckily she was realistic about the situation. Sam was engaged to the lovely Deirdre. And besides, he would never look twice at anyone as quiet and mousy as Polly. So she decided, sensibly, to get away and take up a new career nursing children. But she soon discovered that Sam was not an easy man to escape!

Clotilde Collins has worked with Dr. James Thackery at busy St. Alma's Hospital in London for three years, but she's never considered their relationship as anything more than solidly professional.Then tragedy strikes and James steps in to take charge of Clotilde's shattered world, offering her his unhesitating comfort and support.How easy it would be to fall in love with him. Except he's already committed to another woman....

A CAREER HAD TO COME FIRST...DIDN'T IT?When Kate and her mother were left in financial difficulty, she had little choice but to become Lady Cowder's housekeeper. Kate's only salvation was her dream of starting her own catering business. Ideas of love and marriage would have to wait--until Lady Cowder's nephew came to visit. James instantly knew that Kate did not belong "downstairs." And he also knew he wouldn't be able to stop thinking about her....