Wish with the Candles

 Wish with the Candles by Betty Neels, 1972 Harlequin

     Emma Hastings is on vacation with her mother in Holland when she bumps (literally) into Professor Justin Teylingen's Rolls Royce. His disdain for the family's questionably reliable little car sets the association between Emma and the professor on its side, but he takes the opportunity to do the English ladies a good turn. Professor Teylingen suggests a garage in their next overnight to "change a plug" and a concert to Emma and her mother to while away the time - where he arranges to make tickets close to his party coincidentally affordable. The vacation is a success and Emma is attracted to the well-heeled man despite the fender-bender. 

     The Hastings women return to England--Mrs. Hastings to her little home in the country and Emma to her nursing position in a Southampton hospital. Acting as Theatre Sister she enjoys her work and has reasonable prospects, but she is surprised when the visiting surgeon is the handsome Dutch professor. Emma's budding hopes of some kind of relationship are trampled when he seems to show more interest in her prettier younger sister. 

     Between her friendly relationship with the men of the hospital and the interest in her vibrant younger sister Emma is blindsided by her feelings for the professor and frets that he is interested in something more significant with the younger girl. The professor is invited to join the Hastings women in the country: an invitation from Mrs. Hastings presented by her younger daughter. 

     In the country Emma is at the center of the local happenings when she finds one of her elderly neighbors has fallen into a disused well on her property. The rescue paints Emma favorably and helps the professor in his attempts at a romantic gesture. However, when given a chance at an actual date with the man of her dreams Emma cries off: she doesn't feel well. The professor mocks her but is startled when she nearly collapses during surgery the next day. 

     After an appendectomy the professor is apologetic and offers, practically insists that Emma recover at his home in Holland. Emma agrees and is escorted by her younger sister as nursemaid and companion. Justin's aunt Wilhelmina and gorgeous cousin Saskia live at the family home and he leaves the Hastings girls in their care as he continues his work. Wilhelmina does not appreciate that her nephew has invited eligible young women into their home and strongly suggests to Emma that he and his cousin have strong feelings for each other. 

     Emma flees. She has realized she loves Justin and cannot stand the thought of being a charity case or being let down easily. Justin realizes what has happened and, after clearly setting boundaries with his aunt, follows Emma home. In true Neels fashion the conflict is resolved and love conquers all. 

     

Bewitching

Bewitching by Alex Flinn, 2012 Harper Teen

     After encouraging Kyle and Lindy to find internal attraction rather than superficial beauty Kendra moves to Florida where she meets Emma. Emma's mother remarried and his daughter is coming to stay. Emma's mother doesn't believe her new daughter could possibly try to ruin Emma's life and steal away her daddy.
     Kendra befriends kind Emma at this new school. Throughout telling Emma's story and helping her deal with the step-sister drama, Kendra tells part of her story: all four-hundred plus years of it.
     Though she wants to use her magic to help Emma, Kendra has experience with magic gone wrong and is afraid of helping her new friend with the same results. Emma and Kendra bond as normal teen girls over Emma's new boyfriend and her new step-sister trying to steal him.
     As Kendra and Emma become closer friends Kendra tells the story of her failed attempts to help other friends in other lifetimes. Her past stories mirror Hansel & Gretel, The Little Mermaid, and The Princess and the Pea. Emma's story mirrors Cinderella as the two navigate high school and friendship in an ever-changing world.
     Flinn retells the traditional fairytales wrapped in new settings. Romance and difficult families drive the plot while the friendships Kendra builds over and over give purpose to her continued existence and immortality. Teen readers will understand and enjoy Kendra's somewhat irreverent attitude balanced against Emma's more straitlaced tendencies.

Forever Doon

Forever Doon by Carey Corp & Lorie Langdon, 2016 Blink

     After fighting their way back to Doon after Addie sent them home Veronica and McKenna are again separated by the Portal. Vee is helping her people survive through Doon's bleak winter - brought on by the weak position Emily-cum-Addie's betrayal has put her in and Jamie's apparent execution.
     Kenna and Duncan have taken nearly a third of Doon's population into the modern world where they've camped in Alloway. The Witch of Doon destroyed the Bridge between worlds and Duncan has made it his mission to restore the Brig o' Doon to return home. The pair is struggling as Duncan fights the feeling of leaving his brother to an unknown fate and Kenna feels like she's his second choice, even after she's given up her whole world.
     In Doon, Veronica leads the remainder of her people as they hide from the witch and search for a way to bring those who have escaped home. The witch eats away at Doon and her people to create an undead army to hold the small kingdom against Vee and the rightful citizens.
     With a third of her people to trapped in the modern world, her best friend and oldest confidant separated from her by the veil protecting Doon, and Jamie, the love of her life, presumably dead Veronica battles her own misgivings. When they discover Jamie is alive Vee and her advisors plan his rescue. Jamie has his own concerns with his release and the abuse he suffered at the hands of Abigail, the witch of Doon.
     The pair work to create a team and guide their people despite the loss of over half of their supporters. When it appears all has been lost Veronica discovers the friendship she shares with McKenna is a calling - just as the relationships the girls have with the McCrae brothers - and she and McKenna can speak across the veil.
     Veronica's faith in her people, in herself, and the Protector grow as she goes through the challenges Addie throws at her and her followers. When it appears Doon may be lost forever Vee calls on her friend and those called to Doon to solve their problems.
     Developing her leadership skills and learning to trust the people around her, Veronica has changed form the insecure young woman into a queen worthy of her kingdom. Readers who enjoyed the first installments of the Doon Series will like this completion of Veronica and McKenna's story. With adventure, conflict and a touch of romance Forever Doon is aimed at teen readers.

Odin's Ravens

Odin's Ravens by K.L. Armstrong & M.A. Marr, 2014 Little, Brown & Company

     Laurie, Matt, and Fen are traumatized by the loss of Baldwin - much like Baldur he was friendly and loved by all the young teens replacing long-dead gods, and seemingly everyone. The three friends travel into Hel's realm to rescue Baldwin.
     Their quest is hampered by Viking zombies, Hel the Goddess of the Dead, and various other monsters and creatures. The friends manage to escape Hel and continue on their quest to prevent Ragnarok.
     Laurie finds their quest begins to take a turn as she is gifted and her cousin Fen ignored. Again, Laurie meets Odin's representative, Owen. Owen has Odin's ability to see the future he isn't involved in and has avoided the main quest so he can help Matt, Laurie, Fen, and the rest of the descendants to stop Ragnarok.
     But Owen has been captured by the wulfenkind - Loki's wolf-descendants who are battling to cause the end of the world. Owen sends his tow ravens: Thought & Memory to be his eyes and ears in the world. To unite the descendants Laurie insists Matt and Fen help locate and rescue Owen.
     As Laurie's role appears to grow, despite his friendship with Matt, Fen begins to feel more and more left out. The young man distances himself from his closest friends.
     Saving Baldwin could change the scope of the battle, but it doesn't appear to have stopped the end of the world. As they stumble onward, the trio faces more difficulties and challenges building toward betrayal.
     Sequel to Loki's Wolves, Odin's Ravens picks up just after Baldwin's death. The story is swamped in Norse mythology and follows the thirteen-year-olds as they fight battles greater than they ever could have imagined. Readers who enjoyed Rick Riordan's Magnus Chase series will enjoy another take on the myths of Scandinavia; The Blackwell Pages trio is aimed at a similar reader-base.

A Star Looks Down

A Star Looks Down by Betty Neels, 1975 Harlequin Romance

     Elizabeth Partridge works as Staff Nurse at a busy London hospital preparing patients for surgery and releasing them to Recovery. Beth is a plain girl with a younger brother to support and is intent on giving her brother his best chance.
     When William introduces her to a visiting professor Beth is amused by the reverence her brother treats him to. Professor Alexander Van Zeust is a kind man in his later thirties to Beth's fresh-faced twenties but a handsome man, nonetheless. When the professor's sister is hospitalized for appendicitis he seeks out Beth to care for his four nieces and nephews.
     Beth and the children get on, but when one week turns to three, turns to five Beth finds herself falling for the kind doctor and his family. The professor, his sister, and her children invite Beth to his country home, near where she grew up; and later to their home in Holland.
     When disaster strikes and the professor discovers Beth, as unsuitable as she believes, has fallen in love Beth decides there's nothing to be done and returns to England. Whether the professor follows her or not, Beth has made up her mind and is waiting for Alexander to change it.
     Betty Neels wrote simple love stories with predictable plots, A Star Looks Down is a refreshingly unique installment full of old-fashioned romance. Suitable for readers of romance of all ages Beth's story is a new variation of the same, favorite melody.