The Girl Between

by Sheila Douglas

There was no point in loving him.

That was what Lucy told her sister when Caroline made it so obvious that she was in love with Mark Franklin. Because Mark was engaged to Camilla Fielding, a doctor like himself and eminently well suited to him.

But Lucy learned that one didn't decide not to love somebody.

She'd fallen in love with Mark herself, and there was no more hop for her than there had been for Caroline....

Genres: Harlequin Romance, Harlequin

191 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1980

Reviews

[Naksed · Rating 2 out of 5]

The title refers to the fact that the "heroine" comes between the hero and his longtime fiance :( I hate when the heroine is the other woman and it was a typhoon of tackiness that they got engaged immediately after hero and his fiancee broke up (due to all the nasty rumors surrounding hero and heroine who made it very obvious they were into each other)

[Margo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was quite entertaining, and had an interesting twist. The H was engaged to the OW when he met the h. He's clearly falling for her, but since he and and the OW are having sex, he can't simply break it off because that would be dishonorable. He is very judgmental when he thinks the h is having casual sex with someone, and when she reproaches him with his hypocrisy, he says that he and the OW are engaged to be married, so it's different. He's also a bit of a pouter, but probably the HEA will learn to read his moods and shut some of that down.

[StMargarets · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just remembered I had read this book when I saw it mentioned on the Amazon romance forum. This is a sweet, unrequited/ longing for love trope that was popular back in the late '70s. The heroine, Lucy, decides to open their house up as a B&B for tourists on their way to the beauty spots in Wales. Her mother had died a few years back, their father fell apart and started drinking and lost his job so money is tight. Lucy has an older sister Caroline, who is a doctor at the local hospital (and practically engaged to Henry, another doctor). There's also a younger brother, William, and sister, Susan. Lucy has put her own musical hopes on hold to help out the family and doesn't want to lose the house. The hero is Mark, a consultant at the hospital who has just moved into the district. He needs a place to live while his house is being renovated/built? (Can't remember) He is engaged to a surgeon named Camellia. (OW)

Got it? It's a big cast.

At first Mark is insulting to Lucy about the household amenities, but eventually warms up. Both Caroline and Lucy promptly fall for him, but Lucy thinks Caroline has the advantage because she is a doctor and Lucy just keeps house. Caroline is not kind to Lucy, but she has no idea Lucy has a crush on Mark. Camellia is a career woman and keeps putting off visits to Mark.

Lucy and Mark get to know each other through William and visits to the house site. Caroline dutifully reports gossip from the hospital. Then Mark moves out to live in his almost-complete house and Kevin moves in. Mark is jealous that they went out for the day together and finds Lucy in the orchard to warn her off. Lucy gets mad and implies she's sleeping with OM. Mark stalks off. Lucy falls out of the plum tree and breaks her leg and ruptures her spleen. William finds her and calls the ambulance, but Mark is the first on the scene. He refuses to operate on her because she's a "friend." Lucy keeps trying to tell him it wasn't true about the OM, but he brushes her off. When it comes time for her leg to be operated on, it's Camellia who is the operating room. Lucy is afraid Camellia will kill her off. (LOL - that was a good scene)

Lucy has a slow recovery. Mark is not patient with her. Mark's mother spends a lot of time with her and Mark assumes they are gossiping about him and Camellia - which makes him angry. The hospital gossips start to notice their tempestuous conversations, and Camellia is given a chance to show some dignity about her fiancé’s interests moving on.

Once Lucy is discharged, she doesn’t see Mark at all. Caroline and Henry abruptly decide to marry and Mark is not there for the wedding. Lucy sees him the next day when he finds her in the orchard and tells her he is no longer engaged to Camellia. HEA

This reminded me a lot of a Betty Neels novel, except it is a little grittier – there are discussions about the morality of sex with your fiancé and living together. (I grew up during this era and this rings true). I liked some of the grace notes, like not making the OW a horrible person and the repetition of the orchard in their relationship.

[QueenT · Rating 1 out of 5]

The writing was good but the H was engaged and in love with his fiancée for 98% of the book.. That's a big no for me, thank you very much.

[Myrna · Rating 2 out of 5]

1,5 stars
Not impressed.
No wonder Mark chooses Lucy as his bride. She’s level-headed and efficient. A perfect doctor’s wife who’ll easily put up with his work commitments. You won’t hear her complaining and nagging.
I’m really disappointed with the hero. He is engaged and doesn’t break up with his brilliant GF on his own accord. He silently goes on with wedding plans while being in love with OW.

[Aarathi Burki · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story revolves around caroline 24 a doctor and her sister Lucy 22 who gives up her study in music to take care of their house after her mother's death.They have a father who has become a drunkard after losing his job and wife ,a younger sister Susan and a young brother William. Stephen the hero is a surgeon who has come to barnslow a small town in England where Lucy and her family stay. Caroline is in love with Stephen whom she had met briefly during her stint in a London hospital. Lucy starts to run bed and breakfast as her house is big and they have shortage of money. Stephen comes to reside in their house ashe is new to the place. Very soon it's revealed that Stephen's already engaged to Camila a rich spoilt doctor. Caroline is disappointed but moves forward and finds new love whereas Lucy finds herself deeply in love with Stephen. Camila is not happy with Stephen and Lucy's friendship.when Lucy falls of a tree and fractures her leg Stephen realises he loves her and not Camila. Stephen is also jealous as Lucy has lot of friends in the hospital and many male admirers. Finally he breaks off from Camila and confesses his love to Lucy.

This story was good in parts and at some places was a drag. Ireally couldn't understand why Stephen falls for Lucy she was just an ordinary simple girl whereas he was very ambitious and successful surgeon.

[Prac Agrl · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started well but then in middle it downgraded.
The h initially to me appeared to me level headed and sensible but later as she fell in love with the H i found her slightly manipulative with her remarks and comments.
I don't buy their HEA, the hero was in love with the OW and suddenly you are not, the conclusion is not good, the H was tired it seems of the OW's career preferences and the h being non career person and thoroughly domesticated would be better suited for the busy H .

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great old style Harlequin.

Will be a re-read for sure!