Miranda

Miranda Trilogy #3

by Grace Livingston Hill

No one ever would have guessed that one of the richest men in town wanted to marry Miranda--or why she had turned him down. But Miranda was faithful to another. And she relied on that faithfulness for the strength to clear the name of her secret love . . . and for the endurance to survive the hardship and danger of the Oregon wilderness until the day she could be in the arms of the man who had always held her heart.

Genres: Romance, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Christian Romance, Classics, Historical Fiction

297 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1915

About the author

also 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

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, wait...not that Miranda!

Seriously, though, I enjoyed this one.

[Franny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is available on Kindle, as are many of Grace's masterpieces. This story is the third book in a trilogy, although each can stand alone. The three books are set in a time before even Grace's time, spanning from about 1831 to 1849. The first book is Marcia Schuyler, published in 1908. The second book is Phoebe Deane, published in 1909. The third book is Miranda (this book, published in 1915), but the mischievous and indominatable red-headed Miranda plays a major role in all three books.

Miranda is my all-time favorite female character in Grace's repertoire, perhaps partly because I got to know her across all three books of the Miranda Trilogy. She is witty, courageous, uncouth, and true-hearted to her long lost love. She must have grown up with a unique dialect, because some of her words and phrases are pretty funny. It sounded Scottish, almost.

All three books are set in Fundy, New York, but also in New York City. The setting for book 3 (Miranda) begins in Fundy, but also includes many scenes in NYC and in Oregon.

In the first book of the trilogy ( Marcia Schuyler), Miranda is unwanted and mistreated, living with her ill-tempered grandparents, doing all their work. At about age 17, she befriends her new neighbor, the young newlywed Marcia (Schuyler) Spafford, protecting her from an evil plot. Miranda wins the trust and affection of Marcia and David Spafford.

In the second book, Phoebe Deane, Miranda is a few years older, and working for the kind Spaffords. She befriends an overworked Cinderella type of girl named Phoebe. As with the first book, Miranda saves the day, foiling a vile plot against the poor harassed young lady, allowing Phoebe to marry her Prince Charming, Nathaniel.

At the beginning of the third book (this one), Miranda is 22 years old and still serving as housekeeper to her beloved Marcia and David Spafford (and their beautiful toddler Rose). She has just turned down an offer of marriage from the fine, upstanding, mean-spirited, wealthy man across the street, even though she does pity his seven children. Early in the book, she remembers something that happened when she was a young teenager. She had cleverly outwitted the vigilant eye of the grandparents and helped her hero Alan Whitney escape from the smokehouse, where he was being confined until the judge comes, having been charged with murder. Miranda knew he was innocent. She still loves Alan in her heart but hasn't seen him since that night some years ago when she helped him escape. This is their story. It is also the story of little Rose Spafford, growing up, and misjudged 10-year-old, Nathan Whitney, becoming a man.

There is a lot of kindness in this book, coming from Miranda and the Spafford family. It feels heartwarming. Conversations, prayers, songs, hymns and talks with God.

There is also a lot about inventions of that era (about 1830-1845), like the telegraph and Dr. Morse, the steam-powered railroad, and mesmerism. What a funny scene that was, with Miranda and the hypnotist!

There is also history in this book, the story of one of the first large-scale Westward Migrations along the Oregon Trail, and one of the worst tragedies. In about 1936, Dr. Marcus Whitman and his wife set up a mission to the Cayuse Indians at Waiilatpu in the Walla Walla Valley, in Oregon. Through the characters in this novel, we learn what happens at the mission in 1847.

The funny sayings that Miranda has, as well as the outrageous way that she helps those that she loves, all brought an outright laugh to my lips as well as a smile to my soul. If you like humor, you will surely like this one.

Sad to say, but in book 3, we never find out how married life is going for Phoebe and her husband Nathanial, the couple from book 2. They do not show up in book 3 at all.

[Lady Tea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.3 / 5

Sweet as Miranda's story was at the beginning, especially in describing her childhood history with Allan, the latter part of this book is outdated with missionary ideas and educating "Indians". And since anyone who knows me knows that I really don't like that topic, you'll understand why I'm keeping away from it.

Otherwise though, the only thing that I have to say from this is that I'd like to read Marcia Schuyler, the first book of the Miranda trilogy, as she's present both in this and in Phoebe Deane, and she and David make such a great couple that I'd love to read about how they get together.

ALSO, a quick note on the cover of this book and how it's inaccurate: Miranda has red hair, and Allan has black hair. No brunettes should be present on this cover.

[Carlymce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm such a sap for Grace Livingston Hill books, and this is one of her best; the whole trilogy is fantastic. It doesn't get overly preachy like some of her other books, it is just about really vivid characters dealing with everyday life in the 1800s. I love how she ties in current events such as the coming of the telegraph, and the annexation of Oregon.

[Anna Jackson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was perhaps one of the least religious, and most political books I've read to date from Grace Livingston Hill, and honestly, this was not a good thing. Unlike many other GLH novels, where the main characters are faced with many a trial and always come out on top because of their unswerving faith, this book barely included church attendance and the main character rarely prays. (Just to clarify, though, I don't necessarily think that is a shortcoming of the novel - it just seemed out of character for GLH.)

However, because of the extreme amount of politics included (at the expense of?) religion, this novel left a rather bad taste in my mouth. I'm not an overly political person, and this novel seemed to embody a lot of what I dislike about the divisiveness of politics. Besides all that, it seemed as if the author was almost putting politics on the same level as religion, as is evidenced by the fact that the "saving grace" of the wayward Whitney boys (Allen and Nathan) was when they got involved in politics with David Spafford and Marcus Whitman (not a religious experience - a political experience!) I know that duty to God and country was a big thing back in the day, but I believe that GLH took it a tad too far in this novel - to its detriment.

Just another side note, I also hated the ending in Oregon where Miranda (a missionary?!?) advocates for Allen to go round up a militia to kill Native Americans. Now I know she wasn't a real missionary, but what a terrible message to send! Jesus calls us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us - not kill them! But that was the political bent at the time, so this just proves my point that GLH was elevating politics over religion in this novel!

Overall, this novel was a disappointment because I've LOVED the Miranda character throughout this series. She has been the bright spot of both the previous novels, and I was excited that she got her own story. I just wish it had been worthy of her. I think I read someone else's comment that GLH just didn't know how to write a heroine who was as high spirited as Miranda, and I think that is accurate. All GLH heroines are cookie cutter molds, and Miranda breaks every mold! So if you liked Marcia and Phoebe's stories, go ahead and read Miranda's - but don't have high expectations.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I admit, is skimmed portions of this book. Hill was not very good at writing historical fiction, she got to much caught up in the people and events she was writing about. This would have been history to her of about sixty years before.

While I enjoyed the sections with Miranda, Allen, and Nathen, there were several chapters about Dr. Witman and the politics of the time which were a bit dull. I skimmed those.
This isn't one of her better works, but it is good.

[ValeReads Kyriosity · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as painful as the second book, but it's apparently been twelve or thirteen years, and those catty old aunts are still allowed to run roughshod over Marcia and now Rose. David acts counter to them, and they never show up again...we never get to see their reaction to David's confirmation of Marcia's choice in allowing Nathan to socialize with Rose. Ugh!

But aside from that, this was fun and sweet.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished Miranda the final book in the Miranda series by Grace Livingston Hill, published in 1915. I wonder if when Miss Hill wrote Marcia Schuyler she knew there would be two books after it. And I wonder if she knew Miranda would go from a minor character in the first book, a homely, unloved and lonely girl, but still loving and helpful, to having her own book and growing into a beautiful woman with a love of her own. Because by the time we reach the final book, Miranda does have someone she loves, but it isn't their neighbor Mr. Whitney.

Five separate times Miranda Griscom has rejected wealthy Mr. Whitney's proposal of marriage, she is content in her role has housekeeper and nanny for the Spaffords, Marcia and David of the first book. The town thinks her daft to refuse such a man, except for Marcia and David that is, but they don't know that her heart belongs to the town's black sheep-who, when accused of murder twelve years ago, she helped to escape. Marcia and her family play a large part in this book, so it is helpful to know them from the first book. Phoebe and her family from the second book aren't even mentioned, so hopefully her life has turned out just as wonderful as Marcia's has.

But now we have Miranda and her rejection of Mr. Whitney over and over, he finally does give up and marry the school teacher. They even get married in the school because it was unusual to get married in the church, something I thought was odd. It seems most people got married at the bride's home. At least according to this book they did. As for that murder of twelve years ago, Miranda never believed the man she loved had committed the murder (neither did I), and she sets out to find the real murderer and clear the name of the man she loves. Can she do it? It is Miranda after all. I liked the book, but of the three I think the first one was my favorite. Happy reading.

[Wendy S. Delmater · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun book. Miranda, whom we met as a secondary character in the books Marcia Schuyler and Phoebe Deane, gets her own romance.

It starts with pert, no nonsense Miranda Griscom looking across the way to the Whitney mansion. When his second wife died, the cold, emotionless owner of that mansion needed a mother for his wild uncontrolled children, especially when his sister who'd been watching them left. Miranda did not just say no--for five years!--because the children (especially the boys) were hellions. She harbored a secret love for the now-absconded oldest Whitney boy, who'd been wrongly accused of murder. When she was 12, Miranda herself let teen Allan Whitney out of his prison in her grandfather's smokehouse, and got her first kiss in the bargain. She never expects to see him again, as he is wanted for murder, yet she carries a quiet hope that he's well and maybe, just maybe, will return for her.

A series of hilarious and touching events not only clear Allan's name and allow him to return, they allow him to get her letter that he's now welcome back in town. This is a romance: of course he comes back. But the manner of his coming and her romance bind them all to the fate of Oregon country, which is about to fall to the British unless the historically important men of the day in Washington DC and Oregon history cross Miranda's and especially Allan's path.

Those who love historical romances will get a kick out of the twists and turns of history as seen through Miranda's eyes.

[Kate McMurry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical novel set between 1833-1847 that was first published in 1915

It is important to have read the first two books in this trilogy before reading this novel because there are multiple continuing characters, most especially the titular Miranda:

Marcia Schuyler (1908)
Phoebe Deane (1909)
Miranda (1915)

It is possible to purchase all three books in one volume through Amazon Kindle. They are also available together in one audiobook through Audible. None of them are available through Hoopla or Kindle Unlimited.

At the beginning of this novel, it is 1833, and Miranda Griscom is 16 years old. She is ecstatic when she is offered the opportunity to become a live-in maid, cook, and nanny for her next-door neighbor, Marcia, the FMC of Book 1, and a close friend whom Miranda adores. This novel serves as a kind of extended epilogue for Marcia and David. They have been married for two years at that point, and Marcia has just given birth to a baby girl named Rose. Miranda is an orphan who has been living with her maternal grandparents since she was a young child. She is ecstatic about this employment opportunity because it gets her out of the home of her cold-hearted grandmother, gives her the chance to serve gentle, kind Marcia, allows her to bond with baby Rose, whom she immediately falls in love with, and gives her the dignity of a salary instead of endless years of unpaid labor for her ungrateful grandparents.

There is a flashback in this novel, during the fourth and fifth chapters, when Miranda was 13 years old. At that point in her life, she had been a devoted friend-from-afar for three years to Allan Whitney, the oldest son of the family across the street from her grandparents, and who attended the same local, one-room schoolhouse with her. Allan is four years older than Miranda and was always getting into trouble due to frequently playing mischievous pranks at school and around their small town in upper New York state. Miranda felt the same protectiveness toward Allan that she demonstrates toward Marcia in Book 1 and Phoebe in Book 2 of this series. Interestingly, Allan seems to be the original prototype for the popular, modern, romance-genre trope, the Bad Boy. This flashback provides the setup and motivation for tall, handsome, well-built Allan to eventually become Miranda's love interest toward the end of this novel, which occurs in 1847 when Miranda is 30 and Allan is 34.

During the second chapter of this novel, the story jumps forward six years to 1839. At that point, Miranda is 22. We are introduced to 10-year-old Nathan Whitney Jr., who is Allan's much-younger brother. He is devastated by his widowed father's remarriage to a woman who had been a local school teacher and whom he and his siblings despise. Due to Nathan's strong family resemblance to Allan, who left town under a cloud nine years before, Miranda takes young Nathan under her wing and, through her auspices, he also becomes emotionally supported by sweet-natured Marcia. Nathan is four years older than little Rose who, at this point in time, is 6 years old. Marcia not only allows, but encourages, Nathan to become Rose's playmate. In the process, he and Rose become extremely, and totally innocently, attached to each other.

During the seventh chapter, after another five-year jump in time to 1844, when Miranda is 27 and Nathan is 15, Nathan becomes the enormously grateful protege of Marcia's husband David. The latter owns the local, small-town, temperance newspaper and has (in a manner that is never explained in any of these three novels) become a boon companion of many of the biggest movers and shakers in the state and national politics of that era. From then on, Nathan and David, as he follows on the heels of David during his many political outings to Washington DC and NYC, dominate this novel to such an extent that Miranda is shoved off to the side until much later in the novel. This gives the author a chance to dump into the story huge amounts of her research about that era. This is something she also did a lot of in the previous two novels in this series, and no more than it did in those books, this artistic choice does not promote the reader's being able to enjoy spending time with the designated FMC of the novel. Which is especially unfortunate in this novel, because Miranda is the most interesting character throughout this entire series.

The modern historical romance novel frequently includes more description about the FMC's clothing than I personally prefer. But this novel goes to the other extreme. It provides so little description of Miranda's clothing, or that of the FMCs of the previous two novels, that it is hard to picture what their apparel looks like. In particular, there is no mention of corsets. (Perhaps that would have been too risque for this highly conservative author.) We also never get a description of Miranda's bedroom in the home of Marcia and David. And there is only minimal description of the inside of their home in general.

There is a big section of this novel dedicated to events in the Oregon Territory that ultimately becomes irrelevant, because when Miranda marries Allan and goes with him to the Oregon Territory, they only stay there a year and immediately come back to the small town that has been the center of these three novels.

Similar to the other two books in this series, there are frequent continuity issues, especially around dates of events and the ages of central characters, especially Miranda's age. That kind of error is frustrating to me, because those types of details are very important in a historical novel.

Finally, this novel is marketed as Christian fiction, and there is some mention of church attendance by essentially everyone in this small town, and the fact that Marcia and David have a brief prayer meeting every night in their parlor for their whole family, including Miranda. However, Miranda herself has a very sketchy version of a prayer life, and there is no indication that her Christian faith has a huge impact on how she lives her life.

In short, by modern standards, this book fails as a romance novel and as a Christian novel. However, because I liked Miranda and I liked her love interest, Allan, and I also very much enjoyed young Nathan and Rose, those characters saved the novel from being a total loss for me.

[EuroHackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Well, Miranda gets her happily-ever-after, after all! ♥

This story opens with Miranda being approached by across-the-street neighbor Nathan Whitney, one of the wealthiest men in town (albeit a seemingly emotionless one), who solemnly asks for her hand in marriage. Miranda laughs at him, and continues to laugh for the next five years as he approaches her annually to repeat his proposal. He does not love Miranda, or even particularly like her, but he has seen what she's done as the Spaffords' housekeeper and considers that she could take over his house in the same mien, and bring up the youngest of his seven kids running about.

Whitney finally gives up and tries on with the local schoolteacher instead, who happily takes him up on his offer, much to the collective horror of his children. No one knew of Whitney's annual sojourns to Miranda's doorstep except for the Spaffords, so she alone gets to enjoy the wedding knowing what a bullet she dodged by saying no. Later that day, she finds ten-year-old Nathan Jr crying in the pieplants behind the Spafford house, and takes pity on him. Nathan Jr has a terrible reputation already as a horrible little boy; Nathan Sr has already given up on him and no one in town expects anything decent of him.

Miranda sympathizes, understanding all too well what its like to be ostracized by their village society. She herself was given to her grandmother as a baby after her mother died and her father took off. Grandmother Heath disliked her immensely and treated her coldly her entire life, obviously favoring her beautiful cousin Hannah. Miranda didn't let the lack of empathy get her down. She trudged through life and made her own way, escaping to the Spaffords in Book #1 of the trilogy and continuing to forge her own path in Book #2. The only people who know what a kind and loyal person she is is basically the Spafford family, but she could give two hoots that the rest of town thought her among the lowest of the low.

Turns out Miranda kept turning down Nathan Whitney's proposals for more than the obvious reasons - she'd once helped his eldest son, Allan, escape from jail after he was arrested for murder! This is detailed in the first couple of chapters, and it's easy to understand why a misfit like Miranda became enamored of the town Bad Boy (and why she empathized with Nathan Jr so much). Allan was one of the few who was kind to her, and they had something of a kinship as outsiders. Allan was sixteen when he was accused of murder; Grandpa Heath was the local constable and would keep prisoners in his old, unused smokehouse overnight. 13-year-old Miranda snuck out of the house and let Allan go, as she knew that he was not malicious or evil. Allan was so grateful to her that he kissed her, and memories of these events are something Miranda holds close to her heart. It was very sweet to read about this softer side of our plucky Mirandy.

Miranda keeps on believing in Allan's innocence and eventually tricks the real killer into confessing. She crosses paths with Dr. Marcus Whitman (a real life historical figure) and learns that Allan is probably living in Oregon Country. She writes a letter to him letting him know that his name has been cleared; a couple of years later, he shows up, dressed to the nines in the latest cut of fashion from New York, and tells her that he loves her and wants to marry her.

Allan reconciles with his family (sort of), but he and Miranda agree to keep their relationship a secret from most of the town, due to the way both were treated as children. When their engagement is announced in church one Sunday, it makes quite the splash around town! The two are married and travel along the Oregon Trail, only to return after the Whitman massacre. By the end of the novel, Nathan Sr is dead, Allan has inherited the big house across the street from the Spaffords, and Miranda is queen of her castle, a place she never thought she'd be after turning down Whitney Sr's proposals all those years ago.

This is a very sweet story, unfortunately bogged down by a lot of hokum-cum-history about the Oregon territory. It was so obvious to me that Marcus Whitman was either a real person or was supposed to represent a real person that I did a bit of research. Turns out that, after his death, his story became legendary, and he's credited with all of the political work that Jason Lee actually did to get the US to take over the Oregon territory (instead of the British). Turns out the Methodists of the day had a strong presence in Oregon territory with their various missions, which was an interesting intersection for me.

Of course, this also raises the specter of white settlers encroaching on Indian lands, and the author of course considers this to have been a good thing, with every white American who went West doing so out of the love of their own hearts and a desire to convert the native heathens to Christianity. According to this novel, it was their own ignorance that caused the savages to murder Whitman and his family; little credence is given to the fact that the white settlers brought deadly disease to the Indian people and wiped out most of them. Marcus Whitman is considered a martyr to his cause, and that was just completely gross to read about.

All of this nonsense was known in 1915 when this novel was first written, so it's also kinda gross that the author decided to perpetuate historical lies and set her otherwise-unrelated story among them.

All in all, though, this novel represents a great ending for the character of Miranda, who gets the happily-ever-after she scarcely dreamed was possible. The romance is pretty much plowed under by the history in the second half, but it's easily skippable if you want to concentrate on the characters. This is definitely the best book of the bunch, and if I was going to purchase one, it'd be this one. Miranda is such a great character, and so different from the author's other heroines.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace Livingston Hill is the shit and this is her best one

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the best of the Miranda trilogy. After reading the previous two books, my love for Miranda and wanting her to have love is doubled.

[Classic reverie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the Miranda Trilogy and enjoyed them all. Miranda is a character in all three but this last namesake has her as the star. Marcia and David Spafford, Grandma Heath and Hannah are in all three too. The historical part of this novel is set 1835-1847 thereabouts and deals with the discovery of the Morse code and also about the possible annexing of Oregon as well as some political happenings. All three novels have some historical element. The romantic and slight religious angle present. Always love to read her stories. Miranda has a special place in my heart!

Story in short- Miranda helps two of the Whitney brothers.



➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖��➖➖➖➖➖
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"Goodness me! Mrs. Marcia, you don't mean to tell me that Nathan Whitney wants to see me?" " He asked for you, Miranda." "Why Mrs. Marcia, you must be mistooken. What would he want of me? He must uv ast f er Mr. David."
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"Why of course not, Miranda," she said soothingly. "It's likely nothing much. Maybe he's just come to ask you to look after his baby or something. He's seen how well you cared for Rose, and his baby isn't well. I heard today that his sister has to go home next week. Her daughter is going away to teach school this fall."
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"Well, I ain't a reg'lar servant, I'll tell him that," said Miranda with a toss of her head, "an' ef I was, I wouldn't work fer him. He's got a pack of the meanest young ones ever walked this earth. They ought to be spanked, every one o' them. I'll just go down an' let him know he's wasting his time comin' after me. Say, Mrs. Marcia, you don't want me to go, do you? You ain' tired of me, be you? 'Cause I kin go away, back to Gran'ma's ef you be, but I won't be shunted off onto Nathan Whitney."

❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler alert


I was so happy that Miranda had her happy ending, she had helped others and brought justice where it was neglected. It was clear why she refused Nathan, senior, she had loved Allan and could not marry his father, plus she had no respect for him. I was glad that young Nathan was able to find someone like David Spafford to help him in a positive direction. Miranda is such a good pistol, I especially liked her plan to make Lawrence finally confess. I had thought that Miranda and Allan would stay in Oregon but it makes sense that they returned after the tragedy of the Whitman and others, but they helped before they left. Maria Bent leaving her step children after her husband died, just really sums her up. Miranda and Allan having them come back to the old house after his return was wonderful. Rose and Nathan will marry I am sure and Miranda will have some red headed little ones.

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Nathan Whitney, tall, pale, thin, blue-eyed, scantstraw-colored of hair and eyebrow, angular of lip and cheek bone, unemotional of manner, came to his point at once in a tone so cold that it seemed to be a part of the November night sighing round the house. Miranda, her freckled face gone white with excitement, her piquant,
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tip-tilted nose alert, her blue eyes under their red lashes keen as steel blades, and even her red hair waving back rampantly, sat and listened with growing animosity. She was like an angry lioness guarding her young, expecting momentarily to be torn away, yet intending to rend the hunter before he could accomplish his intention. Her love in this case was the little sleeping Rose upstairs in the cradle. Miranda did not tell him so, but she hated him for even suggesting anything that would separate her from that beloved baby. That this attempt came in the form of an offer of marriage did not blind her eyes to the real facts in the case. Therefore she listened coldly, drawing herself up with a new dignity as the brief and chilly declaration drew to its close, and her eyes flashed sparks at the calmly confident suitor. Suddenly, before her gaze, had come the vision of his second wife not dead a year, brown eyes with golden glints and twinkles in them, but filled with sadness as if the life in them were slowly being crushed
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out; thin cheeks with a dash of crimson in their whiteness that looked as if at one time they might have dimpled in charming curves, lips all drooping that had yet a hint of cupid's bow in their bending. Her oldest boy with all his mischief looked like her, only he was bold and wicked in place of her sadness and submission. Miranda bursting with romance herself, had always felt for the ghost of young Mrs. Whitney's beauty, and wondered how such a girl came to be tied as second wife to a dried-up creature like Nathan
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Whitney. Therefore, Miranda held him with her eye until his well-prepared speech was done. Then she asked dryly: "Mr. Whitney, did Mis' Whitney know you wuz cal'clatin' to git married right away agin fer a third time?"
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"Miss Griscom, we will not discuss my wife. She was as she was, and she is now departed. Time goes slowly with the bereaved heart, and I have been driven to look around for a mother to my children. If it seems sudden to you, remember that I have a family to consider and must put my own feelings aside. Suffice it to say that I have been looking about for some time and I have noticed your devotion to the child in your care in this
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household. I felt you would be thoroughly trustworthy to put in charge of my motherless children, and have therefore come to put the matter before you." "Wal, you kin gather it right up agin and take it home with you," said Miranda with a toss. "I wasn't thinkin' of takin' no famblies to raise. I'm a free an' independent young woman who can earn her own livin', an' when I want to take a fambly to raise I'll go to the poor farm an' selec' one fer myself. At present I'm perfickly confort'ble a livin' with
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people 'at wants me fer myself. I don't hev to git married to some one thet would allus be thinkin' uv my red hair an' freckles, and my father that ran away" "Miss Griscom," said Nathan Whitney severely, "I thoroughly respect you, else I should not have made you the offer of my hand in marriage. You are certainly not responsible for the sins your father has committed, and as for your personal appearance, a meek and quiet spirit is often a better adorning"

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But Miranda's spirit could bear no more. "Well, I guess you needn't go on any farther, Mr. Whitney. I ain't considerin' any sech offers at present, so I guess that ends it. Do you want I should git your ombrell? It's a rainy evenin', ain't it? That your coat? Want I should hep you on with it? Good even'n', Mr. Whitney. Mind thet
bottom step, it gits slipp'ry now an' agin." Miranda closed and bolted the front door hard, and stood with her back
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leaning against it in a relaxation of relief. Then suddenly she broke into clear merry laughter, and laughed so hard that Marcia came to the library door to see what was the matter. "Golly! Mrs. Marcia, wha' d'ye think? I got a perposal. Me, with my red hair'n all, I got a perposal! I never 'spected it in the world, but I got it. Golly, ain't it funny?"

[Sheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

The problem with Miranda is there isn’t enough Miranda. About the time I started getting annoyed because the story had stuck with the younger brother of Miranda’s love for a few chapters, we got a good dose of Miranda at her Mirandiest. So for a moment I thought that was a fluke. But the next chapter we’re introduced to Miranda’s love as an adult (we hadn’t seen him in years) –for a few pages as he tells a minister he (and we) just met that he can’t go back to civilization with him.

Then we follow said minister, a guy out of real history named Marcus Whitman, who has nothing at all to do with the story thus far. So more than halfway through the book, we suddenly go off on a tangent for an entire, loooong, chapter. I don’t think GLH’s intent was that we’d share the minister’s pain on his long journey by feeling like we were slogging through the suddenly cold and boring book.

What’s even more annoying is that this digression buys into the whole “Marcus Whitman saved Oregon” myth, which had been discredited by then (although GLH likely didn’t know it, unless she researched more thoroughly than I’ve ever suspected). Marcus Whitman was a great man, but he wasn’t a politically-motivated great man. As Finn J.D. John puts it, “Marcus Whitman, a man of God who died in an effort to share his faith with others, might not have appreciated having his legend repurposed from Christian martyr to American patriot.”

http://www.thecreswellchronicle.com/n...

There’s no evidence that Whitman lobbied in Washington or convinced people to head into Oregon; rather, on his return trip he joined a group already assembled and planning to go there, and they were happy to have him because of his medical training. It was more God’s doing than man’s that the Hudson Bay Company’s plans were thwarted on the Oregon front; there’s no solid evidence that Whitman had a clue what they were up to, and definitely no evidence that the other ministers there were opposed to his trip. On the contrary, he returned in the dead of winter to protest his missionary organization’s plans to pull their missionaries out of the region, and he was sent by the other missionaries for that very purpose.

Which would make a great story, IMHO, but it’s not the one GLH tells.

Neither, alas, is this the story of the spunky Miranda from the earlier two books. *sigh*

[Bethany Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Warning- Spoilers*

This final story truly wraps the entire trilogy together- all the pieces finally coming together to complete the story and fulfill the life of sweet Miranda. This stories features the Spafford’s and Miranda as well as their relationship to the entire town. David owning the local town newspaper, his involvement in politics as well as new scientific inventions (such as the railroad!). The mischief Miranda involves herself into such as the “Hypnotism” and proving the innocence of her true love. She also revealed her true desire in life-to own the house across the street and to be in charge of her own household.

Through trials and chance encounters-the name of her true love, Allan, was cleared and able to return home from the Oregon wilderness. From the moment he came back into her life- their future together was sealed and Miranda lived happily ever after in her house across the street.

This book left me in tears. The pure innocence and and love of the book left me speechless. Truly Miranda got everything good she put towards the world right back for her own happy ending. I wish there was more Miranda in the books but I am thrilled at the ending.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

After having finished "Miranda," the 3rd in the "Miranda" trilogy, I went back and upped my star rating for book #2 ("Phoebe Deane,") because the three novels together just round out the beauty of Miranda's character (Book #1 is "Marcia Schuyler"). I LOVE this story, because Miranda is an absolutely amazing, funny, brave, and loving young woman, in spite of being relatively unloved and the butt of many jokes much of her early life. And I adore that this story does not stop, as many novels do, at the long-awaited wedding of Miranda, but goes on to detail many more events in her life and the lead up to the long-awaited meeting of Miranda and the love of her life is beautifully drawn out.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the Miranda trilogy. It's a clean, Christian romance set in the early 1800's. The historical fiction aspects were interesting through the series. Out of the three books I felt more invested in this title learning about the origins of the Oregon Trail since I live in SW Washington and everything in the area is named after early trail blazers. I sincerely wished Miranda's character didn't have the thick accent that made her seem uneducated. It didn't make sense. None of the locals or even her relatives who raised her had that accent.

[Beka · Rating 4 out of 5]

My best friend just reminded me of this book that we read as kids. It was one of her mother's many books, and we devoured any of them that had the slightest bit of merit. This was one of the good ones, and my friend is rereading it. She says that it holds up remarkably well. Now I'm feeling nostalgic and wondering where I can find a copy for myself.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite Grace Livingston Hill books. Second only to Crimson Roses. When I was a teenager (that's when I was reading these) I had such a thing for an older boy. I identified with Miranda big time! And I just think she's a great character."

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a connector book to the Marcia Schuler story which was fun for me because I really enjoy the characters. Not quite as good as the first, but definately as many twist.

[Rebekah Walton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A girl named Miranda is waiting for her true love. But he is considered an outlaw. How can she prove his innocence?

[Deborah Meabon · Rating 5 out of 5]

another good one from GLH. Really enjoyed the spunky humor of Miranda.

[Mitzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wasn't quite as much Miranda in this as I was hoping for, but I still enjoyed it. Had me all teary eyed at one point, which is always a good thing! ;)

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miranda is the the third installment in Grace Livingston Hill's Trilogy of the same name, and I found it to be the best out of all three!

While there is a bit of character crossover from the previous two books, I wouldn't say that it is absolutely necessary to read the other's in order to follow the plot of Miranda.

At the beginning of the story we are introduced to Miranda - a plucky & hard working young woman. She doesn't think much of herself, but she has a depth of character that is endearing both to the reader, and evidently to the senior Mr. Whitney who has proposed to her a whooping 5 times! She turns him down in her characteristically sassy manner, and as we are guided through her reasons for the rejection we are granted a deeper look into Miranda's past.
Though not usually portrayed as sentimental, we learn that even the strong-willed, buxom, and independent Miranda has a softer side and even a secret love that has carried her through many years.

GLH tugs on our heart strings as she reveals the reasons why Miranda's love has been kept secret, and it is due to a growing desire to see her love vindicated, that Miranda sets out to right the wrongs that have been done.

It is along this road to vindication, that the reader is introduced to inspiring new characters & adventuresome side plots that add richness and colour to the story.

I think it's important to keep in mind that the story is set in a time when cultural/racial clashes weren't written PC, and parts of the plot (particularly the conflict between Native Americans & Settlers) could be a bit jarring. However, I felt that most of the conflict stemmed from fraudulent actions of a third party, rather than implicit racial prejudice.

All in all, I thought this was a pretty good read! Although I found it difficult at times to understand Miranda's peculiar accent, she was by far the most engaging and relatable heroine in the whole series. There is a decent amount of adventure in this story to keep you reading on, and the character development of some of the leading players was really lovely to see!

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

How can a book named for the trilogy go wrong? I'll start with not enough Miranda.

I realize the story of Nathan was supposed to harken back and ultimately connect to the Allan story back to Miranda. I get that but wow did the story give a lot of time to Nathan's story. I did love Miranda's affection for him. I loved that the story gave me more Marcia and David but there were entire section that was too long.

Then the entire missionary story was not needed. The story did not need an entire chapter of the preacher going to the east coast. What did that have to do with Miranda? Pastor meets Allan goes East meets David and friends tells about Allan. That was all that needed to happen.

I guess Grace Livingston Hill did not have a positive opinion of Native Americans. She paints them in a terrible light. They were just savages who killed the missionaries.

When Miranda is dreaming of Allan the story is 4 star. The story of them at childhood when she rescues him and he promises to come back? Oh gees 5 star. I was overjoyed. A character I had loved through two other books was getting her own.

Cough barely cough.

When Allen shows up and tells Miranda he came for her and he loves her. Oh that entire too small section made me want to forget how unhappy the other boring sections were. They were so sweet. And everyone who ever treated Mirandy bad got it in the face. Which I loved. Miranda got her love, and he was everything he ought to be.

But of course after they get married and the story should have ended, Miranda and Allen make the trip to Oregon. And now more death by the Native Americans and Miranda becomes Annie Oakley meets Dave McClane.

Skip from them leaving town to when they come back to town and you'll be a happier reader.

[Anna Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ho.Mi. GAWSH, this is a good one!!! And it's nothing like her later, more formulatic books.

Miranda is a servant in the house next door to her grandparents' place. This is because the grandparents didn't want her, but the girl next door married and was good friends with Miranda, and knew she needed to be loved/appreciated.

Miranda has always loved Allan Whitley, who was the 'bad boy' in town. He wasn't bad - he was bored and got into trouble being creative. His father was detatched and his mother dead, and nobody cared about him... so Miranda did.

Now she's older, seeing the same thing happen to Allan's half-brother Nate, and she's rebuffing Allan's FATHER (!!) whilst waiting for him to come back. Fifteen years later.

It's a *HARD* book to read, because while everyone around her speaks clear English (!?!) Miranda doesn't. Not sure why - she went to school with all of the rest of them, so it makes no sense at all. And it's REALLY annoying, to try to decipher her dialogue.

But she's spunky and cute and [I think a good deal like Gennifer Goodwin] ... When Allan hears from her? THE MOST ROMANTIC WRITING that Grace Livingston Hill has managed yet happens. He's just SOOOOO good to her. Even the people she lives with take her for granted, but Allan is far beyond that. He. Is. Amazing.

The only thing I don't get is why she's treated like a second-rate citizen in town. Her grandfather is the bloody constable, for the love of Mike! WHY do people act like she's nothing? Because her parents aren't around? That makes no sense, at all.

Still... I loved this. Now I have to go back and read the first two, as I didn't realize it was a series.

[Angieleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I had to hear one more time that Miranda/Randa/Randy was ugly/homely because she is a freckle-face redhead, I was going to scream. I know several freckle-face redheads that are very pretty, and I am a freckle-face redhead myself! All three books focused on this premise around her and I hated it.

Which is why it gets a 2.5* rating rounded up to 3 *. Well, that and the overwhelming political talk (imagine that) and the blatant racism towards American Indians. referred to as "Injuns" almost the entire book. Some say that politics overtook the normal threads of Christianity that GLH is known for, but I still saw plenty of religion throughout.

Then again, Miranda was not your average Christian girl.

She was brash and comical and smart and always went out of her way to help the underdog and make those who hurt the ones she loved pay for their crimes. It happened with Temple in Marcia Schuyler, Hyram in Phoebe Dean, and several times in her own book. I like that about her...she was always so protective of those she loved.

Besides Miranda herself, the only characters I adored in this book were Marcia, her husband David, their daughter Rose (and by extension their baby boy, David), Nathan, and Alan. Plus the missionary doctor that visited.

I wish that Phoebe would have been mentioned. I so adored her, even if her book did lead me having to talk about it at length during trauma therapy today.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars -- Let me start by saying that I absolutely love the first book in this series, Marcia Schuyler. It is such a beautiful story. I also like the second, Phoebe Deane. I was disappointed by this one, however. Miranda Griscom is one of my all-time favorite literary characters. She is smart, selfless, and incredibly positive. She rises above her own and others' shortcomings. She grows so much as a character. I was so excited to get to read her story, until I wasn't. Grace Livingston Hill was so busy giving Miranda a back story for a plausible love that she had to grow that back story, and that back story's father, and that back story's brother. And then Ms. Hill had to include some history of NYC and then of Samuel Morse and then of Oregon & Dr. Whitman. And then to beat all if she didn't add an extra year between Congress giving Morse $30K (in 1843) and when the first telegraph message was sent (in May 1844). I liked the parts with Miranda when they were squeezed in because she is absolutely brilliant, but they were bogged down and/or overshadowed by all of the other STUFF. Sad. ***No review of this story can be written without mentioning Miranda's scheme to outwit Lawrence, which is such a hoot! :D

[Raina Rausch · Rating 4 out of 5]

GLH is one of my favorite authors; however, if you are not someone who enjoys the writing styles of the late 1800s and early 1900s, then she isn't the writer for you. "Miranda" is the final book in a loose series of "Marcia Schuyler", "Phoebe Dean", and then "Miranda." The stories can be stand alone, but they share characters.

This is one of my favorite GLH books. I love Miranda's character and her deep devotion and love for her people and for justice. Though, she does sometimes use questionable methods 😂 I enjoyed being able to finally know Miranda's story and the continuing of David's and Marcia's. There is a lot of politics and history in the book, which stretches the story out. It is interesting, but not really pertaining directly to the story. I honestly skip through a lot of it. This was the style back then, so one can't be surprised. It is still worth the read and the read again (and again, lol)!