Wordless Wednesday: Vintage Romance Novel

 

Betty Neels

It was a couple of years ago when I went to the library,
I saw a romance book that I seen before. I never picked it
up. This time, I decided to read it. It was
Dearest Mary Jane by Betty Neels.

What I loved about the story is that the romance
between Mary Jane and Sir Thomas Latimer is only
part of the story. It is the details, that Betty Neels
creates this world where a plain Jane finally gets
seen. Her inner beauty shines and attracts the hero.
The details on the food that is made, the clothes she makes
or how Jane spends her days that enchanted me.

Here is a beautiful passage for me about the
dinner party they both attend.






There is real life problems for Mary Jane. She runs a small
tea shop in the house she lives in. She has to deal with
making enough money to survive, an annoying cousin who keeps
wanting her to do errands for him,and a glamorous model
sister who is too self absorbed to help her. Also
awakening to her love for Thomas.


It is a clean romance. Which means there is no sex. There is
a chaste kiss thrown in and one big kiss at the end when
the romance is resolved. I have read about thirty
of her novels. Betty wrote I believe 156. My favorite is the
mousy plain girls who are sometimes thin or plump. They have
spunk and get through life with a cheerful attitude
that reminds me of me! They are resourceful: they cook, sew,
garden. There is always a sweet kitten and dog that are the heroine's friends.



Here are my favorite Betty Neels books so far:


Only By Chance
A Girl To Love
A Betty Neels Christmas
An Old-Fashioned Girl
A Valentine For Daisy
Cassandra By Chance
Stormy Springtime
Dearest Mary Jane
Making Sure of Sarah
Waiting for Deborah


If you want more info,go to this blog which is dedicated
to Betty Neels. It is full of Betty goodness. There are
other titles of Betty that I need to purchase. Her books
are like old friends that are there whenever I need an
escape from the world. These romances are not for everyone.
I like that the kind, resourceful and plain girl wins.


These are the ones I reread the most:



If you like sweet romances, then give Betty Neels
a try. Happy Friday, my friends.

Wordless Wednesday: Seduced in San Diego

Wordless Wednesday : Betty Neels

Wordless Wednesday : Betty Neels

It's December!

Happy December, my friends. We are down to the final stretch of 2016. I have not been active on here as much as I wanted to. Jake is in kindergarten now. Getting use to the rhythms of a new school and homework with him. School seems a lot more intense since I went. My husband is still in college. It falls down to Mom to keep everything running smooth and ship shape.




It's December finally. Time for Christmas, Winter Solstice, New Year's and Eggnog. I adore Eggnog. I wish someone had a 365 day a year Eggnog place. I surely be there. Eggnog in Spring, Summer and Fall!! It's all good to me. Have you ever tried to make Eggnog? I've seen recipes for it; I have decided one year I'll make it when I have an afternoon to myself. Have anyone of you made homemade Eggnog? Please let me know.


I have a not so secret love for Romance Regency books. One of my old friends use to make fun of me for reading them. I love them. I especially love the Christmas and Valentine's Day theme books. I have a penchant for sweet, old fashioned love stories. This book I got years ago at a half price bookstore. I have been recently been looking on Amazon and eBay to repurchase old Regency books again. They warm my romantic heart. I'll share of couple of these books with all of you. Also, my love of Betty Neels. That's a whole another post.

Have a wonderful Thursday, my friends. Start on your Christmas decorations and shopping. Get it done early, so you can enjoy the holiday season.

New Loves

Hello, my friends. I hope this post finds all of you well and healthy. I know the holiday season can make people feel sometimes forced cheerfulness or living up to a fantasy version of what the holidays should be. Celebrate the holiday season in what feels authentic to you. Remember giving and receiving are both beautiful ways to enjoy this time of year.

 

I have a tendency to fall in love with books, TV series, actors, clothes. Once I fall in love, I am hooked.

Some loves last a lifetime: Star Wars and Mark Hamill. Others flit in and out. Long time loves for TV: Supernatural, Criminal Minds, Scandal, Sleepy Hollow. ( I am behind in some episodes, I can spend the Christmas Holiday catching up.) I have new loves to share with you.

1) Harry O (1974  -1976) starring David Janssen is on Warner Archive.

I always liked David Janssen, who is best known for The Fugitive TV series. I remember watching Harry O as a little girl. It is great to see the series as an adult. David Janssen plays Harry with the right amount of gruff, charm and heart. He is a retired cop who works as a private eye. No matter how bad things get, Harry still cares. I'm half way through Season 1.

2) Betty Neels.

Betty was a nurse who became a romance writer. She wrote over 130 books. I got hooked reading Dearest Mary Jane that I got from my local library. Her books are sweet, filled with warmth, great descriptions of homes, family and food.  Seriously, the dishes eaten are mouthwatering. The plots are usually similar. The heroine is plain, plucky and resourceful; or, pretty, plucky and resourceful. The hero is always a big man, Dutch, annoying at times , a doctor and drive a Rolls Royce. The settings are a lot of times set in hospitals. There is only tender kisses exchanged. No hot and heavy scenes. They are great gentle reads.  If you are a Betty Neels fan, let me know in the comments.

Well, my friends I have rambled on enough. Have a great day.  See you right back here in a day or two.