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Books › The Secret Pool / The Girl with Green Eyes

Cover of The Secret Pool / The Girl with Green Eyes

The Secret Pool / The Girl with Green Eyes

Betty Neels

First published 1986 · 331 pages

A soothing, low-stakes vintage romance that wraps you in the quiet comfort of sensible tweeds, hearty meals, and steadfast love.

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What it feels like

Reading this vintage medical romance is like settling into a comfortable armchair with a cup of hot tea and a plate of buttery biscuits. The narrative unfolds at a wonderfully leisurely pace, entirely devoid of modern angst or high-stakes drama. Instead, it offers a deeply soothing atmosphere built on quiet competence, domestic warmth, and polite courtship. The prose is straightforward and charmingly old-fashioned, paying loving attention to the details of hearty Dutch meals, sensible clothing, and cozy interiors. It is a story about the gentle disruption of a dutiful life by a steadfast, protective presence. Readers who delight in clean, traditional romances where capable, unassuming heroines are ultimately cherished and swept away to a life of secure comfort will find this an absolute balm to read.

Mood
  • cozy
  • tranquil
  • comforting
  • domestic
Tone
  • gentle
  • earnest
  • polite
  • traditional
Pace
leisurely
Themes
quiet competence · unexpected romance · domestic comfort · finding security · dutiful caretaking
The writing
Unfussy and pleasantly old-fashioned, lingering affectionately on descriptions of hearty meals, sensible tweeds, and cozy interiors.
The arc
A gentle shift from a life of quiet, dutiful routine to the warm security of being cherished and protected.
Who it's for
Readers who crave a deeply comforting, low-angst vintage romance where a sensible heroine is swept away by a steadfast, authoritative hero.
Content notes
  • outdated gender roles

About the book

"Special release"--P. [4] of cover "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?"--P. [4] of cover

Description from Open Library.

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