12th Annual VNRN Awards

Welcome back to the 12^th annual vintage nurse romance novel awards! But in the spirit of my grandmother, who was known to say, “Have some chicken—it’s kind of tough,” I have to state that I don’t think this year’s offerings were particularly outstanding, earning an average grade of C+. Perhaps that was because I fell off a bit in terms of my reading, only getting through 24 books by 18 different authors, but even the Best Quotes, which usually have me snorting with laughter, seemed lackluster. It seems like every five years I lose some steam, and that was the case in 2024. Hopefully I’ll get it back next year!

Someone who never seems to lose it is one of my favorite authors, Bill Neubauer (a really remarkable person; please do read his biography through the link), who authored two of the seven Best Books this year. He wears the biggest tiara of all, having now chalked up the most wins—nine—in this category. Betty Neels, a grande dame of the genre, debuted shockingly late in this blog just last year, but this is her second year in a row winning top honors, and I expect we’ll be seeing more of her in the future. Marguerite Mooers Marshall and Olive Norton, numbers 4 and 5 respectively on 2022’s Best Authors list, again snag a couple berths on the Best Books list for themselves this year. And looking over to the doghouse, there aren’t many surprises on the Worst Books list, as we find Arlene Fitzgerald, Arlene Hale and William Daniel Ross reliably popping up like dandelions in the lawn.

If 2024 is not the most exciting year I’ve had, there are still enough gems to keep the faithful happy, books and authors to enjoy (and dis, which can be just as much fun!). Enjoy, and we’ll meet back here next year for more excitement! 

Best Books

1. Damsel in Green by Betty Neels

2. Arms and the Girl by Marguerite Mooers Marshall

3. Tangled Autumn by Betty Neels

4. Nurse March by William Neubauer

5. Dedication Jones by Kate Norway (pseud. Olive Norton)

6. Nurse Rivers’ Secret by Anne Durham

7. Million Dollar Nurse by Rebecca Marsh (pseud. William Neubauer) 

Worst Books

1. Hurricane Nurse by Joan Sargent (pseud. Sara Jenkins Cunningham)

2. Log Camp Nurse by Arlene J. Fitzgerald

3. A Nurse’s Strange Romance by Arlene Hale

4. Beauty Doctor’s Nurse by W.E.D Ross

5. Navy Nurse by Adelaide Humphries

6. Nurse Jane and Cousin Paul by Valerie K. Nelson 

Best Quotes

“‘Your bosom is heaving too—so many girls don’t have bosoms these days. I supposed it’s the fashion.’ He sighed.” Damsel in Green, Betty Neels

“She wished Walt would stop referring to Norman as a man who had committed manslaughter.” Cynthia Doyle, Nurse in Love; Adelaide Humphries

“In the back of her mind she was constantly thinking of Dick.” Navy Nurse, Virginia McCall

 “I do believe you would feel compelled to offer any burglar foolish enough to enter a cup of tea before you laid him out with a poker.” Tangled Autumn, Betty Neels

“The hospital frowns upon interns and nurses smooching in the hallways.” A Nurse’s Strange Romance, Arlene Hale

 “There’s more to conversation than attractive legs.”  Million Dollar Nurse, Rebecca Marsh (pseud. William Neubauer)

“The way to a man’s heart isn’t through his stomach anymore. It’s through his twin carburetors or his new putter, old dear. You’re not with it.” Dedication Jones, Kate Norway (pseud. Olive Norton)

“What a tasty looking neck!” A Nurse’s Strange Romance, Arlene Hale

“New lipstick had made the menace of the storm seem less imminent.” Hurricane Nurse, Joan Sargent (pseud. Sara Jenkins Cunningham)

“She always liked to start a new case feeling as fresh and crisp as the pert, white cap perched on top of her shining head which looked like a spread winged dove ready to take flight.” Log Camp Nurse, Arlene J. Fitzgerald

Best Covers

Million Dollar Nurse, illustration by Darrell Greene

Navy Nurse

Cynthia Doyle, Nurse in Love; illustration by Tom Miller

Log Camp Nurse, illustration by Mort Engel

Nurse in Jeopardy