Honey

by Mary Burchell

Honey Milward agreed to act as fiancee to the formidable plastic surgeon John Anston- a man she'd always regarded as a monster. The arragement was only for the benefit of John's visiting sister, an incorrigible matchmaker. Unfortunately, his sister's visit looked like it might be permanent. And to complicate matters even further, Honey found herself falling in love with him!

Genres: Romance, Harlequin, Harlequin Romance, Clean Romance, Workplace, Contemporary

164 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1959

About the author

Ida Cook was born on 1904 at 37 Croft Avenue, Sunderland, England. With her eldest sister Mary Louise Cook (1901), she attending the Duchess' School in Alnwick. Later the sisters took civil service jobs in London, and developed a passionate interest in opera. The sisters helped 29 jews to escape from the Nazis, funded mainly by Ida's writing. In 1965, the Cook sisters were honored as Righteous Gentiles by the Yad Vashem Martyrs and Heroes Remembrance Authority in Israel.

As Mary Burchell, she published more than 125 romance novels by Mills & Boon since 1936. She also wrote some western novels as James Keene in collaboration with the author Will Cook (aka Frank Peace). In 1950, Ida Cook wrote her autobiography: "We followed our stars". She helped to found the Romantic Novelists' Association, and was its president from 1966 to her death on December 22, 1986.

Reviews

[Leona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about an engagement of convenience ......Though, not told from the hero's point of view, the reader is left in no doubt that he is absolutely smitten and has orchestrated this mock engagement as a way to get closer to her.

Very well done. I liked this one better than most of her work. Unlike her other heroes, I though this hero was quite lovable!

[Naksed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminiscent of Betty Neels doctor-nurse, chaste, small town romances except in this case the heroine is beautiful, not homely, and she is too stylish to shop at Laura Ashley.

[LLC · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is nothing earth shattering about this book. It is just a very nice, sweet romance. The heroine, Honey, is a third year nursing student and John, the hero, is a much renowned plastic surgeon. Honey in Mary Burchell's usual way is truly a honey. She's sweet, kind, smart and has a very pleasing personality. She has a couple of run ins with John because in his surgeon mode he is often a bit arrogant, rude and impatient. Then they meet up in her home village and thru some somewhat implausible events half the village think they are about to be engaged. John decides that this suits him as his matchmaking sister is coming back to England for a visit and has another potential wife for him in tow. He decides they should pretend to be engaged while she is there so she will desist in match making. Honey agrees because he had done her a big favor that day and figured she might get a chance to take a few shots at his arrogance along the way. Of course really John is interested in her and she very quickly starts developing feelings for him.
Like I said no major angst, problems or delemnas just a typical MB old fashioned sweet romance.

[Jacqueline J · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet charming romance. Originally published in 1958. There was a lot of old fashioned hospital stuff. I liked the sweet heroine and the hero who fell for her early and who you could see was trying to string her along until it was too late for her to get out of the engagement because he loved her. I find Mary Burchell very readable even though the stories are 50 years old.

[bookjunkie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice, pretty nurse heroine agrees to pretend engagement with lofty bigshot surgeon. Sweet but exactly zero excitement. I'd call it a pleasantly forgettable read.

[sbf20112011 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one, so charming and sweet and old-fashioned. I gave it 5 stars, but that's keeping in mind the genre -- I do generally prefer a little more romantic action in my romances, but I did love this one for what it was. The hero was enigmatic and distinguished; the heroine was sweet, earnest, and silly. But the love and affection felt real (if dated), and the story was well-paced and satisfying. A nice read if you're in the mood for something sweet and old-fashioned.

[Aarathi Burki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I read written by this author. This is a doctor nurse romance,having read nearly 30+novels of betty neels which mostly features doctor nurse romance, I was curious to read a similar novel by a different author. This book was my answer, I found it witty,pleasing, pleasant , charming and much more romantic but still clean like betty novels with a well described love confession between the leads something which is usually missing in a betty neels novel. I am looking forward reading more novels by this author and highly recommend this book to all romance readers. Best part of the book was there were not many hospital,operations scenes.

[Megzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Likable characters with a plot that has been used a lot but the book still remained fresh and enjoyable. I could recall the book and the characters even though I have read more than 30 others book between reading this book and reviewing.. That says a lot!

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 Stars! ~ This is a charming love story of a young nurse who finds herself swept up into a fake engagement with a surgeon she'd always found a bit of a brute. Outside of the hospital, Honey realizes her characterization of John is mistaken, and that there is much to him to admire. Honey doesn't like the deception, but when she announces that the engagement is off, she regrets it.

[Linda (NOT RECEIVING NOTIFICATIONS) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Shades of Betty Neels.*

[Anuradha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely old world charm throughout the book. These simple endearing tales reinforce one fact.

You dont need steamy and graphic sex scenes to hold a readers attention. Just a strong involvement of the reader in the lives of the lead characters. Not that I dont enjoy the steamy stuff , far from it ;)

The quirky humour in the tone of narration, several characters showing charming vanity and self-importance. I loved this aspect as well.

As for the leads, Honey truly personifies her name - charming , naive , impulsive, truly adorable.

And Dr John Anston - we don't really hear his view of things much. But the author makes sure the reader realises one thing - he is smitten by honey , royally smitten :)

Super heart warming read. Go for it !

[RomLibrary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honey Milward agreed to act as fiancee to the formidable plastic surgeon John Anston- a man she'd always regarded as a monster. The arragement was only for the benefit of John's visiting sister, an incorrigible matchmaker. Unfortunately, his sister's visit looked like it might be permanent. And to complicate matters even further, Honey found herself falling in love with him!

[Reading with Cats · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Ignore that hideous cover, this is a decent story of two kind hearted people trying to do the right thing. Plus, the hero isn’t an asshole, so bonus points!

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cotton-candy book, so improbably sweet and perky that you're either going to love it or hate it. And if you love it, you still might roll your eyes at it.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two stars for the trope-y plotting - there is nothing here that will remotely surprise you - but five stars for the fantastic prose, which will surprise you: it’s clever and cutting and funny.

“Quite impossible, darling. Case of Jones v. Jones,” declared her husband firmly… And off he went to what he mistakenly supposed were more pressing problems.

And:

Miss Emms smiled pityingly. “It’s a question of organization… I remember just before the war, when I happened to be chairman, there was a giant rally at Duneldon. We served 500 teas in something like a quarter of an hour - all from teapots.”

Mrs. Milward smiled politely, while obviously struggling with one word, “Liar.”

I kept laughing. And there are pages of this!

Available to borrow from archive.org.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, I enjoyed the plot and the characters very much. Honey and John have a fake engagement, which, of course, has a lovely ending. I especially like John's clever line when Honey is surprised about who his aunt is. When I told my (adult) daughter about this exchange, she said, "Ooh, burrrn!" Also, when he greets her after a surgery. Read twice since November 2024.

[Ellyn (Mrs. Darcy in my Dreams) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️this was so sweet and old fashioned. I felt like I has walked Into the 1950's! This was a Betty Neels without the downtrodden heroine. Just a smitten H and a naive h who finally figures things out in the last couple of pages. 🥰

[More Books Than Time · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy, pleasant read. I like the heroine; Mary Burchell's ladies have minds of their own and Honey is no different.

[Mikaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars. A thoroughly enjoyable frothy little bit of nothing. A perfect bite for someone hungry for a less sexist, more romantic Betty Neels.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. A cute, fluffy, and fast read.

[Cecilia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet

[Lila · Rating 2 out of 5]

another insipid heroine of Burchell's, with a misleading nickname Honey, who is supposed to be righteous and ethical, but in fact is capable of great insincerity and deceit of a number of people she supposedly cares about; while clinging to a man with money and status (whom she pretends to deeply dislike), being driven by primitive instincts of jealousy and selfishness (although the author would have you see it as cute signs of affection).
unconvincing writing and many blatant parallels from her other books

[Toni-Lea Chin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet without much conflict. Lots of interaction between the Hero and heroine and everyone was an all around good character. This was a definite diversion from what I usually read. I don't particularly find much interest in the doctor/nurse romance.

Now time to go back to my usual domineering Heroes with their bruising grabs and punishing kisses.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty typical romance from Mary Burchell - sweet young beautiful girl, bossy older professional man, accidentally engaged and later in love. Not one of her best but a sweet genre romance. Very much a book of 1959.

[Xandri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vintage romance, beautiful humour, loved it.

[Raluca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Mary Burchell and this book is a favorite. Fake engagement, really sweet main character.