Dear Tiberius

by Susan Barrie (Pseudonym), Ida Pollock

This man was as proud as a Roman Emperator - she found him utterly fascinating....

Lucy Nolan wasn't sure of her feelings. Sir John gave his invalid daughter, Miranda, all that money could buy -- but the child craved love. As her nurse, Lucy became the object of Miranda's affections -- reluctantly, because her position was only temporary. She felt concerned when Sir John brought home Lynette Harling, a temperamental ballerina uninterested in the role of stepmother. But was Lucy's concern for her patient or because of her feelings for Sir John?

191 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1956

About the author

One 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.

Reviews

[Margo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the kind of book that will drive some readers BONKERS, with good reason.

For some reason it seems to be a "thing" in old school romance novels for a wealthy man of a certain age to patronize the arts. For some reason, this always seems to translate into the H inviting an extremely talented dancer/singer into his home, doting on this woman, indulging her every whim, expecting the h to indulge these whims and be treated rudely, and for some reason he doesn't seem to understand why everyone in his household seems to think he's going to marry the witch. I mean, these guys are always ASTOUNDED. When the h timidly mentions the diamond tiara he bought the diva and the ball he threw, he's like, "But that's simply because she is very talented and that's what you do with talented people." And the thing of it is, HE MEANS EVERY WORD.

This is one of those books. Fortunately, the H is relatively low-doting compared to some of the other books I've read, and he does seem to value the h more and become more and more loving and human the more time he spends around her.

There's also the fact that the H is a terrible, terrible father who only started acting like a human being/loving parent to his disabled 12-year-old daughter when he met the h. He's basically been on ice emotionally since his wife died, and his daughter has paid for this.

So, there's a lot to dislike, and I'm not sure why I'm giving this three stars except that it never seemed remotely real to me, and it was entertaining. I also like that the OM was so awesome and worthy that the H realized that the OM was by far the better man, so that's some humility-building right there.

[Anuradha · Rating 1 out of 5]

I do feel sorry for the harsh rating. But this partly boring, partly irritating story really grated on my nerves !

There is an absolutely unlikeable hero. He ignores his daughter as though she doesn't exist. He brings home a bitchy dancer and scares the hell out of the entire household that he might be marrying that terror !

He takes the support and presence of the hapless heroine for granted. Whether it is to act as a proxy parent to his handicapped daughter. Or to run to the aid of bitchy dancer friend to massage her foot !!!

Why on earth would a young, innocent but principled nurse fall for a useless brute like this guy ? Her first kiss too, described as though he is during a big favour on the girl by considering her worthy of his love.

There is an even older doctor in the picture too. He too is interested in our angelic nurse, but gallantly makes way for the hero. He sounded more like hero material.

Why on earth should such young lovely girls be made to fall for such jaded, rude old men ?

Probably, a reflection on the author's times. He being a knighted, obscenely rich guy is probably one consideration.

The heroine is shown to be a Jane Austen fan. But Jane Austen's heroes had more to recommend them than mere wealth.

The story left me cold and bothered. 1 star.

[Barty · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars. Loved the tropes and the premise. this book is about a nurse working for a v wealthy successful baronet and looking after his disabled daughter, who falls for him, but he sees her only as staff and seems besotted with his beautiful but selfish and cruel ballerina. however, the execution left me feeling a bit empty because h and H don't actually spend much time together or do anything for each other, especially him. he recognises her good qualities quite suddenly, recognises that she give his daughter real hope that she might recover, and suddenly sees her as beautiful after seeing her out of uniform at the theatre. but he doesn't make her life more joyful and more interesting. in fact, the OM does things like teach h to ski, brings her joy, but H doesn't even come abroad while his daughter recuperates for months, just because he is hurt at belief that h has fallen for another guy.

anyway, that's the main problem with this book--that he doesn't rise to the challenge of being a romantic partner and potential spouse and father figure. and yet he gets the girl because she fell for him for... erm... whatever she thought she saw in him. appatently some hidden angst he never shows others behind his aloof mask. it simply wasn't enough, and I usually am quite happy to root for an icehole hero.

[Lynn Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally published in 1956. This is a Mills & Boon 1970s reissue. It has also been published under the title of Nurse Nolan.
I enjoyed elements of this story of Nurse Nolan and her charge and her very distant father Sir John whom she nicknamed "Tiberius". At first I was rather impatient with the hero development due to his complete distance from his daughter. He was not a sympathetic character at all. I liked the relationship between Lucy and her charge very much. Again I think it is the difference between the 21st century attitudes and the social mores of the 1950s when this novel was first published that i struggle with in regard to family and romantic relationships. I liked the premise of the story but again it loses its drive most of the way through the book until again the end when the relationship is rushed to reach the "happy ending". So a little disappointing at times, but not completely throughout and because I liked the characters, however tame the romance I have out of fairness given it 3 stars.

[More Books Than Time · Rating 1 out of 5]

Susan Barrie wrote some good books. This is not one.

[Melinda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the hero's indifference to his daughter deplorable. Of course he changes in the end because of the influence of the heroine. But that does not excuse 12 years of neglect.