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Where Two Ways Met

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Paige Madison returns from World War II ready to get on with life and start a career to support his aging parents, but his new boss has him foreclosing on homes in ways Paige starts to believe are unscrupulous. But distancing himself from the boss is hard when the boss’s daughter, Reva, has set her cap for him and won’t be rejected.

When Paige is thrown together with the minister’s daughter, June, to help a family in need, he immediately recognizes how a gentle woman of faith is more attractive than an aggressive, worldly woman like Reva.

But which woman is the best for his future?

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1946

80 people are currently reading
222 people want to read

About the author

Grace Livingston Hill

580 books561 followers
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

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5 stars
236 (46%)
4 stars
138 (27%)
3 stars
107 (20%)
2 stars
26 (5%)
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4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Profile Image for Hannah.
2,810 reviews1,433 followers
July 13, 2018
In this story, a young man just back from the trenches of WW2 must decide if he is going to follow God’s path or the path of success. A true-hearted young woman’s matter-of-fact faith spurs him down the right track, but when she is called out of town the field is left to a designing woman—his boss’s unscrupulous and determined daughter.

I had a hard time getting through it, so I can’t rate it above “good,” but the story is overall solid. I think it was mostly the boss’s daughter that kept putting me off. I loved the very clear salvation message that she included and the lack of romantic scenes. The story is mainly a man-against-himself sort of book, though there is a romantic angle.

Content: none
1,511 reviews2 followers
May 21, 2020
I would rate this between a 3 and a 4 - enjoyable, probably not something I'd re-read (but few books are), and depending on how much it bothers someone how predictable a romance can be, between and 3 and a 4. It didn't bother me overmuch, which was why I rated it a 4, but I could imagine others complaining about it.

My favorite GLH books are still "Amorelle" and "Re-Creations," and my mom's favorite was "Lady-Bird."

About the funeral that Paige accidentally attended: I almost feel like I've done that a time or two. Of course, in my case, I haven't accidentally gone to a funeral, but I've gone to funerals of someone I didn't know very well, or at all, in support of a survivor I've cared about. There I've found myself really touched by the service, more than I had a right to be when I didn't know the person. So, I understood completely how Paige attending the stranger's funeral could so affect him. I found it sweet. It reminded me of the proverb "The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning ... " Ecclesiastes 7:4, ESV.

I loved the funeral verse, "I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live."

"It isn't courage one needs. It's belief in the saving power of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's sin that makes people afraid of death, but Jesus took the sin, and paid the death penalty with His blood, and if we believe that and accept it for ourselves, we have nothing to fear." I was so glad that this book didn't shy away from that topic.

That statement is true - very true - and yet there are other reasons to fear death as well. This current pandemic has revealed lots of reasons people might be afraid of death, not all of which have to do with judgement, although, yes, that can be a serious concern as well. They might fear the pain of dying or the effect on the loved ones left behind. It made me think of the Old Testament Joseph and the strong faith that he had regarding how God would still look after his descendants even after Joseph's death, and made them promise to take his bones with them from Egypt. That sort of faith astounds me. I can see that God helped me in the past; it is harder for me to trust that He is helping others also, even when I don't see it. It's like the line in the current "Way-Maker" song, "Even when I don't see it, You're working. Even when I don't feel it, You're working. You never stop, You never stop working..." I have known some solid Christians to have been afraid of death, and some that haven't, too.

One chief complaint I've heard over these books is that the characters are either too good or too evil. The bad characters in this book don't seem to me to be overly dramatized to me, but a fairly common variety of frustration in daily life. The good characters ... well, I can see why people would say they're too good, but it doesn't bother me. It's kind of fun to see them helping the sick family back on their feet, and I guess a reader would only "get" how soul-nourishing, and even delightful, it is to read the Bible if they themselves feel that way. That's something that can't be explained, just understood with the heart. But, yes, there are people who would rather read the Bible than go to parties. I know a few, but perhaps that's not a fair assessment, coming from an introvert. ;)

GLH frequently wrote cranky older women characters who are the bane of their family's existence. I don't know why she had so many similar characters across several books. But every time I read them, I pause to reflect and try to make sure I'm not becoming one. I don't understand why someone would want to be that way. In this book, Uncle Barnard described her as "a very self-centered woman ... [who] never realizes how hard she makes it for other people." Maybe that's the trap, that their focus is too narrow, only looking at themselves and what's right in front of them.

There do seem to be some unlikely things in this book. I found it hard to believe that Paige was so moral, even with his upbringing, when he hadn't personally committed himself, either to God or to some sort of moral code.

I also found that Mr. Brown's offer in the end was ex machina deus, but perhaps that's appropriate in a book partly about God ... after all, He does act sometimes.

Favorite quotes:
"Take a bit of fun in between the desperate situations."

"Oh, my Lord, here is something that I do not know how to deal with. Won't You take over and manage this? If there is any advice I should give, show me what it should be. If I should keep out of this entirely, then put a guard over my lips. Guide and keep my boy." Amen. I liked this prayer so much that I copied it into my journal. It just fits so many things perfectly.
1,819 reviews24 followers
September 11, 2020
June was such a powerful witness for Christ. It just goes to show that we should never give up. We never know when or how God is going to work in a person's life.
Profile Image for Bev.
3,258 reviews345 followers
December 12, 2022
When Paige Madison comes home from the battlefields of war, he knows he must find a good job. A job that will allow him to take some of the burden off his father, whom he knows is getting past the point where he can work. He thinks he's found that good job when Harris Chalmers, the president of one of the town's most prosperous real estate firms offers him a job. But from the first meeting with the board he felt uneasy--that those men were too self-satisfied, too sleek and smug. He just didn't know if their world-view and values would sit right with his own.

He soon discovers that his first fears are justified. He's confronted by situations that that challenge his faith in human nature and his own principles. Chalmers and his board are men who take no interest in the humanity of their tenants. There is no lee-way for those who have faithfully met their obligations but have an honest set-back that prevents payment. The policy is "Pay or get out" and Madison is forced to carry out orders to that effect. Meanwhile, the boss's daughter Reva, a spoiled beauty used to getting her own way, has set her sights on Paige. His reserved manner and little liking for the high life makes her determined to win his affection (for which read slavish devotion) or to ruin him if he won't come to heel. She believes that he'll be willing to do her bidding just to save his job. She may have misread her man...

Paige wrestles with his conscience over the business practices he's asked to follow and just when he feels attacked on all sides, he meets June Culbertson, the sweet, faithful daughter of a local minister. They find that they share beliefs and principles that could never appeal to Chalmers and his daughter and while helping families less fortunate than themselves they also find that they may share more. But will Reva find a way to disrupt their peace? And will a train accident put a final end to their budding relationship? You'll just have to read and find out....

Grace Livingston Hill does her usual good job of sprinkling her religious themes throughout the story without being too heavy-handed. She's straight-forward, so there's no doubt about what she and her characters believe, but she doesn't press. I am a bit in two minds about this one, though. It doesn't pull me into the story the way her best novels do (Crimson Roses, Miranda, The Honor Girl...). It's a sweet story and fairly predictable, making it a good comfort read for those who enjoy books with Christian themes. There is one unusual aspect--at least to me--this is the first Hill novel I've read that focuses so much on the man. All of the books I've read in the past have focused on the young woman and we see everything from her perspective--here we have a man of principle finding his way to the woman he can spend his life with. That does make this one stand out a bit from other books I've given three stars to, but not enough to raise the rating any higher. A good, solid read.

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
Profile Image for Nadine Keels.
Author 48 books242 followers
February 20, 2012
How pleasant! Although rather predictable with nothing especially subtle about it, it's still a lovely little tale, written in another time. There was one fairly major issue brought up in the plot that went unresolved, either abandoned or forgotten as the novel headed quickly toward its happy finish.

Hill was purposeful in the way she tied her books up, once saying, "I feel that there is enough sadness and sorrow in the world. So I try to end all my books as beautifully as possible, since that is God's way--and the best way." While it's not the kind of literature I'd like to read from a modern Christian author, I return to Hill's books when I want a pick-me-up, something old-fashioned that's sure to be clean and delightful.
Profile Image for Loraine.
3,425 reviews
August 27, 2012
Another sweet, old-fashioned romance from Grace Livingston Hill. Will the hero pass up the wealth and fast ways of the people he began working for after World War I or will he maintain and grow the values he was raised with? Two women will help him decide his future.
3 reviews
May 26, 2016
I wish I had discovered this author earlier.














All these books have just the right balance of wholesome Christian morals and romance to keep it interesting, each one a study in how to handle life's problems in an appropriate Christian way, something that we are missing today.
1 review
April 7, 2015
Refreshing

I always find this stories refreshing, especially amid the modern era of explicitly in romance. I recommend Grace Livingston Hill highly.
Profile Image for Kelly.
1,032 reviews72 followers
April 14, 2024
Quite a decent little story.
Profile Image for Anna Jackson.
404 reviews3 followers
December 8, 2021
I went into this novel expecting to have to push my way through another boring book. I thought that I had already read all the GLH books that looked interesting to me and that I was basically left with boring, probably obnoxious reads for whatever 20-30 odd GLH books are left on my list. Much to my surprise, I really enjoyed this book!

The struggles of both main characters really seemed to resonate with me just now - Paige with his confusion about whether or not he was involved in doing the right thing at work, and June with her struggle to be kind to someone who was constantly nit-picking. Both main characters were likeable and relatable, and neither of them made such massive stupid decisions throughout the book that I felt second-hand embarrassment for them (which is a major turn off for me in any book that I read).

There were definitely things that I could pick at- the train wreak at the end that seemed to come out of left field was basically unnecessary. It felt like GLH just suddenly realized that she hadn't written anything exciting into the book so she added a fiery train wreak at the end. (It reminded me of the kidnapping scene in The Enchanted Barn. Gotta have some sort of plot climax - can't just have normal life stuff happen to finally bring the love interests together!) The scheming boss and his daughter also didn't really make a lot of sense when you think about it too carefully. Why would a slightly shady businessman think that an overly conscientious and very religious young man would be a good addition to his slightly shady business? Why try so hard to keep him and change him? And why was the daughter so hell bent on getting him to change? Why not just give him up as a lost cause? Also, Paige's last minute job offer was a little too convenient...but then God does work in mysterious ways.

But honestly, those nit-picky complaints are just that - nit-picky. I really enjoyed reading this book and I raced through it extremely quickly. It's re-readability quotient is extremely high for me. In fact I'll probably re-read this one fairly soon! (Just like Brentwood, ReCreations and The Enchanted Barn, are some comfort reads that I fall back on a lot when I'm looking for some fluff to keep me occupied when I'm tired, sick, or on a long car ride.) I was easily able to suspend disbelief for the duration of the novel and I enjoyed so many parts of it! Glad I found another favorite towards the end of my GLH reading journey!
Profile Image for Kidlitter.
1,400 reviews15 followers
September 11, 2025
I like to get my hands on a period piece of middlebrow women's fiction every so often, just to count my lucky stars we're out of that era. This one will do the trick nicely - full of saintly post war sweet quiet little women saving the soul of a young soldier from the temptations of corporate American life and a hard-boiled hussy who drives fast cars and doesn't pray. The middle ground is filled with some curtain-twitchers who can't wait to judge those who spend their time baking bread or in Bible Study class or the ones who chase after men with red lipstick on. As always, my heart goes out to the women who got handed this dooladdle at the library. Little Women still has this stuff beat and it was almost a century older!

Also, aside from the feminist issues, it is full of classist tropes. Ugh!
Profile Image for Kathy.
24 reviews13 followers
July 6, 2022
This isn't one of Grace Livingston Hill's best books. I found it preachy and at times not "real" in terms of how the characters were feeling. We are told over and over again that as Christians we are not to feel certain ways and just trust the Lord. The dialogue was very well written though. I had trouble getting into it until I was about 3/4 of the way through it.
8 reviews
October 1, 2025
Nice read, but for a narrow audience. I wouldn't be able to recommend this book to many people. I enjoyed the writing, but it was a bit lackluster at moments. I think I liked it mostly because I am a Christian who is in love, so it was relatable to me. Good message, lots of heart. Overall quite good but nothing super special.
9 reviews
December 18, 2022
Charming!!

I have loved all of Grace Livingston Hill's books. This one was especially good with a great ending. My only complaint with the stories is that I want to know the rest of the story. I suppose that there is no intrigue in it, but I would still like to read it.
Profile Image for Jenny.
135 reviews1 follower
September 22, 2018
I love Grace Livingston Hill's style. Yes, it is older... But I love how she interweaves Jesus into her stories.
Profile Image for Christy.
1,053 reviews29 followers
December 17, 2021
Silly and predictable. A young man, home from the war, meets two young ladies. One is fresh and sweet and religious, and the other is loud and fast and worldly. Which one will he choose? Duh!
Profile Image for Anna Marie.
1,372 reviews2 followers
September 26, 2024
Another home run for GLH!

In this book, the hero just came home from war, but he's not *ANYTHING* like today's vets, who demand their free cuppa, free haircuts, free college, and damnit, you'd better WORSHIP them with Veteran's memorials, parades, memes on all 34 patriotic days of the year, etc. He doesn't have *VET* stickered on his truck windows, license plate, t-shirts, belt buckle, baseball cap, and tattoos.

Instead, he's humble, quiet, doesn't want to talk about what happened overseas, and wants to simply move on to another phase of his life. And the problem is that he's taken a job with a man from his church, who's a deacon and influential part of the community... but it seems the business side of him is beyond shady. And Paige doesn't know if he's just having trouble adjusting to civilian thinking, or if something is really underhanded.

To add trouble to it, the boss' daughter has set her sights on him to be her next conquest, and she's NOT his kind of girl. She's flashy, spoiled, a liar, a party-girl, and he was raised to be conscientious, upright, thoughtful, honest, and quiet.

The pastor's daughter across the street is more his speed. Except she's sent out west to care for an aunt who has broken a hip, and so the one person he really connected with is long-distance, and he really could use her advice...

Anyhow, I've got no complaints about this one. It was lovely. Very well done.
Profile Image for Melissa.
867 reviews91 followers
December 22, 2008
Paige Madison returns home from fighting in WWII and secures a job at a successful business. He dislikes having to foreclose people's homes in this new business, and suspects that they are not playing fair.

His boss's worldly daughter, Reva, is a popular beauty, and she sets her mind on winning over Paige, which is an annoyance to Paige.

The new minister's daughter, June, is the opposite of Reva (except that she's a beauty, too). Paige helps June care for a struggling family, and the two are drawn together with their similar beliefs and concerns.

When June has to leave to tend her sickly aunt, she finds herself in a trying situation.

Not as riveting as some of Grace Livingston Hill's novels, but good, nevertheless. The ending was especially good.
Profile Image for Shawn Ruth.
362 reviews9 followers
November 12, 2011
Super cute old story set in the 1940's. If you like classic World War II love stories with a happy ending then I would totally recommend this book.
Profile Image for Ruth.
313 reviews18 followers
January 18, 2018
I love her charming stories and they always make me want to go out and help someone. This book did have two very annoying characters in it, she can certainly write them well.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews

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