What do you think?
Rate this book
Once Upon a Spring
Since her teens, Diane Maxwell's devouring ambition had been to become a physician. Midway in her studies, however, Diane decided to be a surgeon and now, in her third year of residency at Edmunds Hospital, she looked forward to the day when she would work with the famed Dr. Roger Fulton.
It was a fine spring day when Hal Fulton, Dr. Roger's son, came back to town--to upset the well-ordered course Diane had plotted for herself. For Hal, eager to make Diane his bride, was also toying with the idea of forsaking medicine and following a career in the theater. This pervasive interest of Hal's was to bring Diane to the attention of a brilliant young playwright--and lead her to two important decisions.
It was a fine spring day when Hal Fulton, Dr. Roger's son, came back to town--to upset the well-ordered course Diane had plotted for herself. For Hal, eager to make Diane his bride, was also toying with the idea of forsaking medicine and following a career in the theater. This pervasive interest of Hal's was to bring Diane to the attention of a brilliant young playwright--and lead her to two important decisions.
224 pages, Unknown Binding
First published May 18, 1961
4 people want to read
About the author
Ruby Lorraine Radford
77 books3 followersRuby Lorraine Radford (1892-1971) was an American author who wrote and published over 50 books of juvenile mysteries, adventures and biographies and several hundred short stories, magazine serials and plays. Many of her books starred women as central characters, as well as several focusing on Georgia history. Radford completed a teacher's training course and taught in the Augusta public schools from 1912-1920, then completed graduate coursework at Columbia University in 1921. In January 1928, she co-founded the Augusta Authors Club with Constance Lewis and Dr. Lawton Evans. She became the group's first secretary, as well as the president of the Augusta Theosophical Society. She was named Author of the Year by the Dixie Council of Authors and Journalists in 1969.
Radford also wrote books under the pseudonyms Marcia Ford and Matilda Bailey.
Radford also wrote books under the pseudonyms Marcia Ford and Matilda Bailey.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
April 16, 2022
Dr. Diane Maxwell is in her third year of residency as an OB/GYN surgeon in Georgia. She had been seeing Dr. Hal Fulton before he went off to the Army, but now that his two-year stint is over, he’s back in town, and pressing Diane to marry him. He’s not practicing medicine, however, as his father, chief of staff Dr. Roger Fulton, would have it; he’s starring in a play for the local theater group. He has never loved medicine, but only went into it because his father bribed him with a trust fund if he went to medical school. So Diane is not the only one in this book who has a decision to make.
Diane’s choice is between Hal and the hot young playwright, Larry Ashley, who wrote the vehicle that Hal is starring in. Diane, given a copy to read, ends up staying up past midnight to finish it, even though she had performed a very demanding surgery that morning, removing 15 pounds of tumor from a woman’s abdomen. “Oh, what a thrill I get out of removing a nice big tumor!” she says.
Diane’s aunt, Dr. Sally, is a general practitioner in the country. She was the one who inspired Diane to become a doctor, and when Sally gets into a car accident, Diane takes two weeks off from her residency and subs for Dr. Sally. Then she goes on a cruise down the Georgia coast with Hal and some friends to decide whether she should accept Hal’s renewed proposal of marriage, and beyond that, there’s really not much more to say about the plot.
The most interesting part of the book is its take on women in medicine. Radical Sally declares that a woman can be a doctor and a wife: “With so many modern gadgets a home can be run with a minimum of help. With a good housekeeper and someone to look after the children, it can be done—is being done—by many women doctors.” Of course, the book does have to suggest that a woman isn’t complete unless she is married: “I’ve often wondered if I wouldn’t be a better doctor if I’d been a wife and mother too,” Aunt Sally tells Diane. Interestingly, however, the book also takes the point of view that a male doctor who devotes his life to his career is also missing out. Speaking of “one of the South’s finest surgeons,” one character says, “His preoccupation with work has never left him time to be a pal to his son. … He would be a happier and greater man if he’d taken a little more time out for his family.”
For its actual story line, the book is perfunctory and nothing special. It’s certainly not a chore to get through this book, as the writing does not make one cringe. And it does spark some interesting lines of thought, which might make it worth reading. So if that’s enough for you, then by all means, have at it.
See my blog about vintage nurse romance novels:
http://vintagenurseromancenovels.blog...
Follow me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/vintage_nur...
Diane’s choice is between Hal and the hot young playwright, Larry Ashley, who wrote the vehicle that Hal is starring in. Diane, given a copy to read, ends up staying up past midnight to finish it, even though she had performed a very demanding surgery that morning, removing 15 pounds of tumor from a woman’s abdomen. “Oh, what a thrill I get out of removing a nice big tumor!” she says.
Diane’s aunt, Dr. Sally, is a general practitioner in the country. She was the one who inspired Diane to become a doctor, and when Sally gets into a car accident, Diane takes two weeks off from her residency and subs for Dr. Sally. Then she goes on a cruise down the Georgia coast with Hal and some friends to decide whether she should accept Hal’s renewed proposal of marriage, and beyond that, there’s really not much more to say about the plot.
The most interesting part of the book is its take on women in medicine. Radical Sally declares that a woman can be a doctor and a wife: “With so many modern gadgets a home can be run with a minimum of help. With a good housekeeper and someone to look after the children, it can be done—is being done—by many women doctors.” Of course, the book does have to suggest that a woman isn’t complete unless she is married: “I’ve often wondered if I wouldn’t be a better doctor if I’d been a wife and mother too,” Aunt Sally tells Diane. Interestingly, however, the book also takes the point of view that a male doctor who devotes his life to his career is also missing out. Speaking of “one of the South’s finest surgeons,” one character says, “His preoccupation with work has never left him time to be a pal to his son. … He would be a happier and greater man if he’d taken a little more time out for his family.”
For its actual story line, the book is perfunctory and nothing special. It’s certainly not a chore to get through this book, as the writing does not make one cringe. And it does spark some interesting lines of thought, which might make it worth reading. So if that’s enough for you, then by all means, have at it.
See my blog about vintage nurse romance novels:
http://vintagenurseromancenovels.blog...
Follow me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/vintage_nur...
October 2, 2021
Although the titular Diane is a doctor, this slim volume follows the “nurse romance” paperback recipe. The heroine is a beautiful, dedicated medical professional who has little time for love but still finds herself enmeshed in a romantic triangle.
Diane, of course, must choose between her two suitors but, rather refreshingly, is forced to make a decision regarding her professional future, as well. It’s light and pleasant (it shares a few similarities with Faith Baldwin’s far superior “He Married A Doctor.”) although the ending feels a bit tacked-on and rushed.
On a geographic note, the book clearly takes place in the coastal South (complete with a few lamentable stereotypes) although a state is never specified. The author, however, is flush with accurate geographic descriptions during the book’s climatic yachting trip along the north Florida coast. As someone who was born in Jacksonville, FL. I enjoyed reading descriptions of the St. John’s River, “exclusive Ponte Vedra,” and St. Augustine.
Diane, of course, must choose between her two suitors but, rather refreshingly, is forced to make a decision regarding her professional future, as well. It’s light and pleasant (it shares a few similarities with Faith Baldwin’s far superior “He Married A Doctor.”) although the ending feels a bit tacked-on and rushed.
On a geographic note, the book clearly takes place in the coastal South (complete with a few lamentable stereotypes) although a state is never specified. The author, however, is flush with accurate geographic descriptions during the book’s climatic yachting trip along the north Florida coast. As someone who was born in Jacksonville, FL. I enjoyed reading descriptions of the St. John’s River, “exclusive Ponte Vedra,” and St. Augustine.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews