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Victoria and the Nightingale
"It's not your problem," Victoria told Sir Peter. She knew they couldn't continue to take advantage of his hospitality.
When Victoria had suddenly found herself jobless and responsible for a small orphaned boy, Sir Peter had gererously provided them with a temporary home. But she couldn't accept his plan to adopt Johnny. How could she stay and take care of the boy, knowing that Sir Peter's fiancee wanted her to leave? Yet she had to think of Johnny, too. She couldn't take her own feelings for Sir Peter into account...
When Victoria had suddenly found herself jobless and responsible for a small orphaned boy, Sir Peter had gererously provided them with a temporary home. But she couldn't accept his plan to adopt Johnny. How could she stay and take care of the boy, knowing that Sir Peter's fiancee wanted her to leave? Yet she had to think of Johnny, too. She couldn't take her own feelings for Sir Peter into account...
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1967
About the author
Susan Barrie
51 books7 followersOne of many pseudonyms used by Ida Julia Pollock, née Crowe.
Mrs. Pollack was a British writer of several short-stories and 125 romance novels that were published under her married name and under a number of different pseudonyms: Joan M. Allen; Susan Barrie, Pamela Kent, Averil Ives, Anita Charles, Barbara Rowan, Jane Beaufort, Rose Burghley, Mary Whistler and Marguerite Bell. She has sold millions of copies over her 90-year career. She has been referred to as the "world's oldest novelist" who was still active at 105 and continued writing until her death.
Ida and her husband, Lt Colonel Hugh Alexander Pollock, DSO (1888–1971), a veteran of war and Winston Churchill's collaborator and editor, had a daughter, Rosemary Pollock, who is also a romance writer.
Mrs. Pollack was a British writer of several short-stories and 125 romance novels that were published under her married name and under a number of different pseudonyms: Joan M. Allen; Susan Barrie, Pamela Kent, Averil Ives, Anita Charles, Barbara Rowan, Jane Beaufort, Rose Burghley, Mary Whistler and Marguerite Bell. She has sold millions of copies over her 90-year career. She has been referred to as the "world's oldest novelist" who was still active at 105 and continued writing until her death.
Ida and her husband, Lt Colonel Hugh Alexander Pollock, DSO (1888–1971), a veteran of war and Winston Churchill's collaborator and editor, had a daughter, Rosemary Pollock, who is also a romance writer.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 22, 2022
I am pleased to see the influx of of vintage romances to Kindle Unlimited (Mary Burchell, Lucy Walker, Lucilla Andrews, Kerry Alleyne, and Susan Barrie are the ones that come to mind); however, it seems that in the case of Susan Barrie I am destined to be reminded that her heroines are extremely weak and lacking in self-esteem, so much so that they will sacrifice not only their own happiness but the happiness of the children in their care, as is the case in this book.
This goes against the grain of most vintage romances, where the h is more likely to sacrifice everything on behalf of a child they barely know, so fortunately I don't encounter it often. However, it is a deal-breaker* for me, which is why I need to be wary when reading these new releases.
*A deal-breaker for me is something that is non-egregious but that will automatically make me reject the premise that a character is worthy of romantic happiness. Most of my deal-breakers relate to H's, but I have a few for h's. For example, another h deal-breaker is when the h agrees to pretend to be involved with someone to make another woman jealous.
This goes against the grain of most vintage romances, where the h is more likely to sacrifice everything on behalf of a child they barely know, so fortunately I don't encounter it often. However, it is a deal-breaker* for me, which is why I need to be wary when reading these new releases.
*A deal-breaker for me is something that is non-egregious but that will automatically make me reject the premise that a character is worthy of romantic happiness. Most of my deal-breakers relate to H's, but I have a few for h's. For example, another h deal-breaker is when the h agrees to pretend to be involved with someone to make another woman jealous.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2024
This is a weird story with hardly 5 to 6 characters in the entire story and it completely takes place in wycherley park belonging to hero Sir Peter a Baron. What his profession or source of income is not shown, Victoria the heroine and her ward Johnny met with an accident near wycherley park and Peter gives them place in his house to recover. He is engaged to Georgina a neighbor. She dislikes Victoria being in the house and Peter offers them a guest house to stay and plans to adopt Johny.
Peter breaks off with Georgina and confesses his love to Victoria. It was a weird confession and unbelievable. The whole story was weird and when and where h and H fall in love is not stated properly.
Peter breaks off with Georgina and confesses his love to Victoria. It was a weird confession and unbelievable. The whole story was weird and when and where h and H fall in love is not stated properly.
May 27, 2020
Originally published in 1967. This is a 1979 Harlequin publication. A tender story and nicely told.
SYNOPSIS:
When Victoria had suddenly found herself jobless and responsible for a small orphaned boy, Sir Peter had gererously provided them with a temporary home. But she couldn't accept his plan to adopt Johnny. How could she stay and take care of the boy, knowing that Sir Peter's fiancee wanted her to leave? Yet she had to think of Johnny, too. She couldn't take her own feelings for Sir Peter into account...
SYNOPSIS:
When Victoria had suddenly found herself jobless and responsible for a small orphaned boy, Sir Peter had gererously provided them with a temporary home. But she couldn't accept his plan to adopt Johnny. How could she stay and take care of the boy, knowing that Sir Peter's fiancee wanted her to leave? Yet she had to think of Johnny, too. She couldn't take her own feelings for Sir Peter into account...
January 4, 2023
I’m glad that Archive.org offers more books by vintage authors like Susan Barrie. I like her books although this one left some disappointing points behind.
1. No one seems grieved by Johnny’s dad dying. Our h was not interested in him, but she gave up a good job to help him out and she loved the little boy Johnny.
2. Sir Peter the H never accounts for not seeing her the day before as he had promised. We infer he went to buy her ring and that’s why he missed his visit, but he could have stopped by to tell her he was going to be out. Blowing her off left h wide open for nasty OW.
3. H was angry h was leaving based solely on OW’s lies, and yes, h should have stayed until H told her goodbye or apologized, vs. sneaking off at the OW’s bidding. But he knew OW promised to wreck havoc on h/H romance, he knew h was vulnerable and had no expectations, and he had not kept his promise to see her. H courted h perfunctorily, two picnics and evening chats. It’s on him, not h.
These little points brought the story from 3 or even 4 stars to 2.
1. No one seems grieved by Johnny’s dad dying. Our h was not interested in him, but she gave up a good job to help him out and she loved the little boy Johnny.
2. Sir Peter the H never accounts for not seeing her the day before as he had promised. We infer he went to buy her ring and that’s why he missed his visit, but he could have stopped by to tell her he was going to be out. Blowing her off left h wide open for nasty OW.
3. H was angry h was leaving based solely on OW’s lies, and yes, h should have stayed until H told her goodbye or apologized, vs. sneaking off at the OW’s bidding. But he knew OW promised to wreck havoc on h/H romance, he knew h was vulnerable and had no expectations, and he had not kept his promise to see her. H courted h perfunctorily, two picnics and evening chats. It’s on him, not h.
These little points brought the story from 3 or even 4 stars to 2.
February 2, 2024
Cute story, not very romantic but understandable given how old the book is.
March 7, 2012
Victoria, her employer and her employers son Johnny who she took care of were in a horrible car accident. Johnny and Victoria were survivors but Johnny's father died, so when Sir Peter took over to help them both out, they were relieved. However Peter's fiancee was a conniving and vindictive woman, so she tried stirring up trouble. Peter broke off his engagement to her and got engaged to Victoria but Peter's ex fiance was still meddling!
I found the book "lameish", like why are these women in the book so gullible to believe anything the villain has to say. It seriously gets me every single time. There was barely any plot, the villain was just a pathetic liar. Gah!
I found the book "lameish", like why are these women in the book so gullible to believe anything the villain has to say. It seriously gets me every single time. There was barely any plot, the villain was just a pathetic liar. Gah!
June 28, 2012
No plot, no story development, superficial story omitting any natural grief or bereavement. Characters are vacuous and only the villain has any personality at all though even her efforts seem half hearted
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews