You did it! We figured this one out! It is a truth universally acknowledged (by me for certain) that the Bitchery pretty much knows everything, and really, it's true. Scroll down to see the solution for this HaBO - and many thanks!
This HaBO is from Annie, who wants to find this Harlequin/Mills & Boon title:
I read this medical romance as a young and sheltered teenager in the 1980s(!), but can’t for the life of me recall the title or the author. It was a Harlequin or Mills & Boon romance set in south India, which was different enough that it stuck with me over the years.
The nurse (can’t remember her name) was of Indian origin but had been adopted by a white American couple – she wanted to reclaim her roots so she comes to work in a small town in south India (the “big city” was Madras, but she didn’t work there). The new doctor (Dr. Selvam?) at her clinic is Indian, but has just returned from living in America for several years, so his big move to impress her on a date is to quote Ogden Nash, specifically “candy is dandy but liquor is quicker”.
I tried Google but no joy, so I humbly submit my request to the Great Collective Wisdom.
I know we can solve this one!
The Marriage Season
by
Sally Dubois
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Curious. Sounds good, so I hope someone can figure it out!
I found this alleged database of M&B medical romances in the 80s.
https://www.fictiondb.com/series/mills-and-boon-medical~14111.htm
Thanks for replying (I’m the original poster) — seems like this one’s a head scratcher! I tried the suggested database but it seems like you need the title or the author lol. I also plugged in the info I remembered & google ai thinks “The book you are looking for is titled “The Hospital in South India” (also published as “Nurse at India’s Door”) by Anne Vinton, first published in 1968 (Mills & Boon) and later by Harlequin in 1971 (Harlequin Romance #1483).” Unfortunately regular google doesn’t think either of those two titles exists…oh well…
I was curious and it looks like Anne Vinton wrote tons of hospital-in-a-foreign-country novels. Is it possible that the one you read took place in a different country? For example, there’s one called “Hospital in Sudan.”
Hi Carol S. – I did see that while googling but the book I read was definitely set in India (references to the city of Madras, now called Chennai) & the Tamil names. No worries, sounds like this book was really obscure :-). Thanks everyone!
The database linked above by @denise also had an advanced search feature. I searched Selvam and found The Marriage Season by Sally Dubois which was published in 1981 as Candlelight Ecstasy Romance – 13.
Here is the blurb, Julia blushed to think of the shy young brides on their dower-strewn marriage beds. It was the time for weddings, for love. But not for Julia. She must leave — leave India at once.
She had found so much: the fulfillment of work, a sense of belonging she had never known. Then Selvam had returned from America to head the clinic. His jet-black eyes compelled her. She could not resist his kiss. But her Peace Corps term was over. His marriage was arranged to another. If she didn’t flee, she would succumb to his hungry demands and her own longings. Had she come so far to find happiness, only to lose it at last?
@Annie (OP) ~ Might the above be your book?
OMG that’s absolutely it!!! Thank you Kareni & everyone who invesigated, you’re all amazing!
Yay!! I hope you’ll have fun revisiting the book, @Annie (OP).
Much credit goes to @denise for posting the link to the database.
Thanks, @Kareni.
Yay, @Annie (OP)
This is the greatest group!!