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Three Complete Novels - Aunte Crete's Emancipation; The Girl From Montana; The Story Of A Whim
Grace Livingston Hill 3 Vols in 1
Paperback
First published April 1, 1989
41 people want to read
About the author
Grace Livingston Hill
603 books572 followersalso wrote under the pseudonym Marcia MacDonald
also published under the name Grace Livingston Hill Lutz
A popular author of her day, she wrote over 100 novels and numerous short stories of religious and Christian fiction. Her characters were most often young female ingénues, frequently strong Christian women or those who become so within the confines of the story.
niece to Isabella MacDonald Alden
also published under the name Grace Livingston Hill Lutz
A popular author of her day, she wrote over 100 novels and numerous short stories of religious and Christian fiction. Her characters were most often young female ingénues, frequently strong Christian women or those who become so within the confines of the story.
niece to Isabella MacDonald Alden
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 28, 2022
Story of a Whim is about a girl who wants to get rid of her old organ. When she sees some furniture at the train station being shipped to Florida, she thinks it will be fun to add her organ to the shipping and surprise someone with a free organ. The organ arrives at an orange orchard in Florida much to the surprise of the farmer.
I liked this story and thought it was really hilarious and sweet. But there are a few plot holes about the Sunday School that is started, and a little bit of insta-love in the romance. I also didn't like that one of the main characters puts a lot of faith in a portrait painting of Jesus. It almost seemed like idolatry to be praying to a painting. The theology there is definitely suspicious.
Overall, I enjoyed this short little romance, and I thought it was interesting. I love the writing style that draws you into the story and into the hearts of the characters!
I liked this story and thought it was really hilarious and sweet. But there are a few plot holes about the Sunday School that is started, and a little bit of insta-love in the romance. I also didn't like that one of the main characters puts a lot of faith in a portrait painting of Jesus. It almost seemed like idolatry to be praying to a painting. The theology there is definitely suspicious.
Overall, I enjoyed this short little romance, and I thought it was interesting. I love the writing style that draws you into the story and into the hearts of the characters!
July 25, 2019
Two 5-star ratings and a 4, so I'm averaging and rounding to a 5 for the set.
AUNT CRETE'S EMANCIPATION: 5
Although I think of Grace Livingston Hill as a romance writer, this is the second book in a row I've read of hers that was not a romance. (The other was "The War Romance of the Salvation Army," which although it had the word romance in the title did not mean the usual meaning of the word, but romanticized or idealistic.)
However, I thoroughly enjoyed this little whimsical piece, maybe because I've run across an Aunt Crete or two in my own life, who has worked hard making a home for someone, with never a vacation or a rest. Although she's not an aunt of mine, my real life "Aunt Crete" did get her beach vacation, too, to visit when a relative moved to the beach... and she came back glowing with happiness. I enjoyed this book because I enjoyed seeing my real-life friend so happy. And because I know while her nephew Donald's attentions may have been over-the-top, good things really do happen to good people sometimes.
The only downside to this book was the old hymn that GLH took out of context to mean exactly the opposite of what it meant! I could hardly believe it of her, since she seemed so careful in so many of her writings. If I hadn't already known the hymn or the context, I wouldn't have known.
It was Isaac Watts' "Am I a Soldier of the Cross?" and the "On flowery beds of ease" was not meant as a good thing, but a shame in contrast to those who were working, serving, and suffering for Jesus. In fact, the lyrics (not included in this book) continue in asking the Lord to increase his courage for the struggles ahead.
"Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?
"Sure I must fight if I would reign,
Increase my courage, Lord;
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word."
I don't have any problem with Aunt Crete's well-earned rest, but it seemed like GLH could've chosen a more apt hymn to explain it. And perhaps she could find a small way to continue to bless others while resting? Like Abraham, we are blessed in order to be a blessing to someone else.
One of the other reviewers thought this book was an analogy of how Jesus cares for His people. Maybe so, and maybe in heaven. But here we've got work to do.
The hymn itself is a somewhat dated one in that we are less likely today to think of our daily struggles and service as a form of warfare, but there is scriptural backing for it, "For we do not wrestle with flesh and blood [not people], but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." - Ephesians 6:12
Issac Watts' hymn almost made it sound like he thought he had to earn his way to heaven, but I think (?) that he knew better than that.
I know that my mom doesn't like when GLH's characters are too good or too evil, but in this case, I thought they were just funny.
The book is a good reminder to cherish those around us.
I am rating this a 5-star because I thoroughly enjoyed it, I'd recommend it, and I'd even re-read it.
Favorite quote:
"I suppose she's gone to reading again. I do wish I'd remembered to lock up the bookcase. She's crazy for novels."
THE GIRL FROM MONTANA: 5
I thoroughly enjoyed this short Grace Livingston Hill romance, a light read. Part of it felt like a western, except that it was the woman who knew how to live off the land, and hunt, and how to protect herself with guns. The man was a tenderfoot that didn't know anything about living in the west. It was fun to see GLH break the stereotypes, because she so seldom did, and during some of the later parts of the book vestiges of old stereotypes remained. Not that I minded all that much, because that was more true to the times.
I loved the way that GLH kept focusing Elizabeth's hope with the verses "Let not your hearts be troubled" and "In the time of trouble, He shall hide me in His pavilion." It was a good reminder that God really is our protection - not a falsely optimistic hope, however, because the realities of various grave sites also intertwined in the story. God's hope and protection are real, and they will be with us until the end.
I had to think about the reception and help that Elizabeth's maternal grandmother, Mrs. Brady, gave her. I would like to think that I would've helped some, but I also would've been more skeptical of a stranger's story coming onto my doorstep that way. Although Mrs. Brady's reaction was contrasted with her other grandmother, Mrs. Bailey's reaction, I think it was fair for Mrs. Brady to expect Elizabeth to find a job and help support herself. It was generous of her to give Elizabeth a place to stay, and clothes to wear.
Of course, Mrs. Brady's comments and advice on Elizabeth's sexual harassment were horrendous. If I had come to believe Elizabeth's back story, and believe her truthfulness in general, I couldn't imagine reacting like that, even at the loss of a job.
Reading this so soon after "Aunt Crete's Emancipation," I've discovered that GLH liked to write descriptions of clothes. Not in a distracting sort of way, but GLH liked clothes, and that seemed funny to me, because of the more serious focus of so many of her books. She also drew some of her characters to be frivolous, and yet I suspect that GLH liked clothes just as much as they did. And yes, some of the clothes sound lovely - elegant - and makes me rue the more casual clothes of today, although they are more comfortable.
My main objection to this romance is the same for so many other romances. The main characters didn't really know each other when they got married. They had seen each other through some hard times, but they hadn't yet seen whether they had other common interests and whether their relationship could adjust to a more ordinary pace of life.
I also wanted to know whatever happened to Elizabeth's brother's murderer.
I was glad that they could help some of the people who had helped them.
My mom's main complaint of GLH as an author is that her characters are too good or too bad. I thought that Mrs. Brady was an appropriate mix of both, and that some real life people can be very goodhearted when they are trying their best, either to please another person or to seek God.
Favorite quotes:
"... was one of those rare men who lived with God, and talked with Him daily... but the majority were being led to see that there is such a thing as a close and intimate walk with God upon this earth." Yes, yes, there are people like this. People who can really pray, not just say words, and they have beautiful spirits.
THE STORY OF A WHIM: 4
I would have rated this somewhere between a 3 and a 4, depending on how frustrated you get with the lack of believe-ability of the conclusion.
I did love the part of the story having to do with how much a simple gift meant to the recipient, and how it completely changed his life for the better. Sometimes, a gift is just a gift and nothing more, but other times, God does manage to do amazing and unexpected things with it, "immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine." (Ephesians 3:20)
I thought I knew which picture of Jesus, Hofmann's "Head of Christ" was, but I was wrong, when I looked it up. I had been thinking of a different rendition of Jesus that my grandmother had in her home, because it had so engrossed me, as a child, looking at His tenderness. I can envision such a picture making a difference in someone's life.
I enjoyed Uncle Moses' faith.
The rest of the story, and Christie's deceit through snail mail, reminded me of the present-day online personas that people have, deceiving each other. Be wary of meeting those you only know online.
I found it a little hard to buy that Hazel, who had so dedicated herself to Jesus, wouldn't even let Christie explain himself. And even harder to believe that - SPOILER - having refused him, their resolution - and marriage - came so quickly. They didn't even really know each other, just pieces of each other, through their correspondence, and part of that was misleading. Judge Winship seemed even more gullible to me, especially considering all he must've seen over his career as a judge.
This book had a truly offensive word now, but there was an era when it wasn't, necessarily. It could've been used that way, but it could also have been just descriptive. I think, given the context, it was not originally written as a slur, but I could understand if some readers avoided this book because of it.
So, yes, beautiful story, beautifully told, but I couldn't take the ending very seriously.
My mom's main issue with GLH books is how extremely good or extremely bad the characters were. But I think that in this book, both Christie and Hazel had a mix of good and bad traits.
Favorite quote:
"I hope she'll settle down now and do as other people do."
"She won't. She'll keep on having a perfectly lovely time all her life."
AUNT CRETE'S EMANCIPATION: 5
Although I think of Grace Livingston Hill as a romance writer, this is the second book in a row I've read of hers that was not a romance. (The other was "The War Romance of the Salvation Army," which although it had the word romance in the title did not mean the usual meaning of the word, but romanticized or idealistic.)
However, I thoroughly enjoyed this little whimsical piece, maybe because I've run across an Aunt Crete or two in my own life, who has worked hard making a home for someone, with never a vacation or a rest. Although she's not an aunt of mine, my real life "Aunt Crete" did get her beach vacation, too, to visit when a relative moved to the beach... and she came back glowing with happiness. I enjoyed this book because I enjoyed seeing my real-life friend so happy. And because I know while her nephew Donald's attentions may have been over-the-top, good things really do happen to good people sometimes.
The only downside to this book was the old hymn that GLH took out of context to mean exactly the opposite of what it meant! I could hardly believe it of her, since she seemed so careful in so many of her writings. If I hadn't already known the hymn or the context, I wouldn't have known.
It was Isaac Watts' "Am I a Soldier of the Cross?" and the "On flowery beds of ease" was not meant as a good thing, but a shame in contrast to those who were working, serving, and suffering for Jesus. In fact, the lyrics (not included in this book) continue in asking the Lord to increase his courage for the struggles ahead.
"Must I be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize,
And sailed through bloody seas?
"Sure I must fight if I would reign,
Increase my courage, Lord;
I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,
Supported by Thy Word."
I don't have any problem with Aunt Crete's well-earned rest, but it seemed like GLH could've chosen a more apt hymn to explain it. And perhaps she could find a small way to continue to bless others while resting? Like Abraham, we are blessed in order to be a blessing to someone else.
One of the other reviewers thought this book was an analogy of how Jesus cares for His people. Maybe so, and maybe in heaven. But here we've got work to do.
The hymn itself is a somewhat dated one in that we are less likely today to think of our daily struggles and service as a form of warfare, but there is scriptural backing for it, "For we do not wrestle with flesh and blood [not people], but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." - Ephesians 6:12
Issac Watts' hymn almost made it sound like he thought he had to earn his way to heaven, but I think (?) that he knew better than that.
I know that my mom doesn't like when GLH's characters are too good or too evil, but in this case, I thought they were just funny.
The book is a good reminder to cherish those around us.
I am rating this a 5-star because I thoroughly enjoyed it, I'd recommend it, and I'd even re-read it.
Favorite quote:
"I suppose she's gone to reading again. I do wish I'd remembered to lock up the bookcase. She's crazy for novels."
THE GIRL FROM MONTANA: 5
I thoroughly enjoyed this short Grace Livingston Hill romance, a light read. Part of it felt like a western, except that it was the woman who knew how to live off the land, and hunt, and how to protect herself with guns. The man was a tenderfoot that didn't know anything about living in the west. It was fun to see GLH break the stereotypes, because she so seldom did, and during some of the later parts of the book vestiges of old stereotypes remained. Not that I minded all that much, because that was more true to the times.
I loved the way that GLH kept focusing Elizabeth's hope with the verses "Let not your hearts be troubled" and "In the time of trouble, He shall hide me in His pavilion." It was a good reminder that God really is our protection - not a falsely optimistic hope, however, because the realities of various grave sites also intertwined in the story. God's hope and protection are real, and they will be with us until the end.
I had to think about the reception and help that Elizabeth's maternal grandmother, Mrs. Brady, gave her. I would like to think that I would've helped some, but I also would've been more skeptical of a stranger's story coming onto my doorstep that way. Although Mrs. Brady's reaction was contrasted with her other grandmother, Mrs. Bailey's reaction, I think it was fair for Mrs. Brady to expect Elizabeth to find a job and help support herself. It was generous of her to give Elizabeth a place to stay, and clothes to wear.
Of course, Mrs. Brady's comments and advice on Elizabeth's sexual harassment were horrendous. If I had come to believe Elizabeth's back story, and believe her truthfulness in general, I couldn't imagine reacting like that, even at the loss of a job.
Reading this so soon after "Aunt Crete's Emancipation," I've discovered that GLH liked to write descriptions of clothes. Not in a distracting sort of way, but GLH liked clothes, and that seemed funny to me, because of the more serious focus of so many of her books. She also drew some of her characters to be frivolous, and yet I suspect that GLH liked clothes just as much as they did. And yes, some of the clothes sound lovely - elegant - and makes me rue the more casual clothes of today, although they are more comfortable.
My main objection to this romance is the same for so many other romances. The main characters didn't really know each other when they got married. They had seen each other through some hard times, but they hadn't yet seen whether they had other common interests and whether their relationship could adjust to a more ordinary pace of life.
I also wanted to know whatever happened to Elizabeth's brother's murderer.
I was glad that they could help some of the people who had helped them.
My mom's main complaint of GLH as an author is that her characters are too good or too bad. I thought that Mrs. Brady was an appropriate mix of both, and that some real life people can be very goodhearted when they are trying their best, either to please another person or to seek God.
Favorite quotes:
"... was one of those rare men who lived with God, and talked with Him daily... but the majority were being led to see that there is such a thing as a close and intimate walk with God upon this earth." Yes, yes, there are people like this. People who can really pray, not just say words, and they have beautiful spirits.
THE STORY OF A WHIM: 4
I would have rated this somewhere between a 3 and a 4, depending on how frustrated you get with the lack of believe-ability of the conclusion.
I did love the part of the story having to do with how much a simple gift meant to the recipient, and how it completely changed his life for the better. Sometimes, a gift is just a gift and nothing more, but other times, God does manage to do amazing and unexpected things with it, "immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine." (Ephesians 3:20)
I thought I knew which picture of Jesus, Hofmann's "Head of Christ" was, but I was wrong, when I looked it up. I had been thinking of a different rendition of Jesus that my grandmother had in her home, because it had so engrossed me, as a child, looking at His tenderness. I can envision such a picture making a difference in someone's life.
I enjoyed Uncle Moses' faith.
The rest of the story, and Christie's deceit through snail mail, reminded me of the present-day online personas that people have, deceiving each other. Be wary of meeting those you only know online.
I found it a little hard to buy that Hazel, who had so dedicated herself to Jesus, wouldn't even let Christie explain himself. And even harder to believe that - SPOILER - having refused him, their resolution - and marriage - came so quickly. They didn't even really know each other, just pieces of each other, through their correspondence, and part of that was misleading. Judge Winship seemed even more gullible to me, especially considering all he must've seen over his career as a judge.
This book had a truly offensive word now, but there was an era when it wasn't, necessarily. It could've been used that way, but it could also have been just descriptive. I think, given the context, it was not originally written as a slur, but I could understand if some readers avoided this book because of it.
So, yes, beautiful story, beautifully told, but I couldn't take the ending very seriously.
My mom's main issue with GLH books is how extremely good or extremely bad the characters were. But I think that in this book, both Christie and Hazel had a mix of good and bad traits.
Favorite quote:
"I hope she'll settle down now and do as other people do."
"She won't. She'll keep on having a perfectly lovely time all her life."
January 18, 2019
I've read Aunt Crete's Emancipation twice, it's such a sweet story. For once, it's not all about romance. Aunt Crete is kind and selfless and has been taken advantage of too many times. Her big-hearted nephew has come to see if he can pass on some of his good luck and there is not a more deserving creature than Aunt Crete. It is super fun to see her pampered. I can't help it, but it is also very satisfying to see those who took advantage of her receive their dues as well. :)
February 29, 2024
Wonderful work, full of wisdom and redemption. Highly recommended for all.
February 5, 2011
I thought the Emancipation of Aunt Crete was delightful.
July 10, 2014
These are great stories.
Read
January 26, 2016I loved it. Read all her books and they inspired me to write Christian romance.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews