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The Seventh Hour
Beautiful, willful Coralie is in love at last with a wonderful man of faith, but will her turbulent past keep them apart? Grace Livingston Hill is the beloved author of more than 100 books. Read and enjoyed by millions, her wholesome stories contain adventure, romance, and the heartwarming triumphs of people faced with the problems of life and love.
263 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1939
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169 people want to read
About the author
Grace Livingston Hill
591 books569 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 - 26 of 26 reviews
August 7, 2014
I have seen some people say that Grace Livingston Hill's heroes and heroines are often priggish; I've read dozens of GLH's books and always disagreed with that. While her heroes and heroines try to achieve a high moral standard, and her heroines can be woefully naive, they're not generally judgmental of those who are not actively trying to do harm.
But the hero (or one of the two heroes) of this one seriously got on my nerves, and frankly, about halfway through the book I had him pegged as a big ol' prig, because he was always bashing his sister (in his thoughts, not directly) for everything from wearing make up to having a poor fashion sense to just plain ol' not being the sister he wanted. His best buddy and most of the other Christian characters, however, are considerably more rational, and the hero finally gets a clue and recognizes he's been "a bounder" for his past attitudes toward sister and mother, and thanks his best buddy for encouraging him to do right.
His best buddy promptly assures him he'd have done the right thing no matter what, but personally, I have my doubts. ;)
Also did not expect the big climactic scene to go as it did. Considering how many books GLH cranked out, and how many of them I have read, it's nice to know she can still surprise me. Possibly because I read her stuff when I'm too tired for any of my other reading, but OTOH I do that with Jayne Anne Krentz as well, and JAK is so predictable I don't dare read more than one or two "new to me" books by her a year, or the sameness makes me crazy.
I think that because GLH doesn't focus so tightly on her hero and heroine and their romance, the fact that a lot of heroes and heroines are interchangeable isn't as annoying as it is with many other romance authors. GLH was not the genius that Georgette Heyer was, but those are the only two romance authors I've run across whose new-to-me novels can feel new even after having read ten or more of their novels. All the other romance authors I've quite liked get to be same-old same-old pretty quick.
But the hero (or one of the two heroes) of this one seriously got on my nerves, and frankly, about halfway through the book I had him pegged as a big ol' prig, because he was always bashing his sister (in his thoughts, not directly) for everything from wearing make up to having a poor fashion sense to just plain ol' not being the sister he wanted. His best buddy and most of the other Christian characters, however, are considerably more rational, and the hero finally gets a clue and recognizes he's been "a bounder" for his past attitudes toward sister and mother, and thanks his best buddy for encouraging him to do right.
His best buddy promptly assures him he'd have done the right thing no matter what, but personally, I have my doubts. ;)
Also did not expect the big climactic scene to go as it did. Considering how many books GLH cranked out, and how many of them I have read, it's nice to know she can still surprise me. Possibly because I read her stuff when I'm too tired for any of my other reading, but OTOH I do that with Jayne Anne Krentz as well, and JAK is so predictable I don't dare read more than one or two "new to me" books by her a year, or the sameness makes me crazy.
I think that because GLH doesn't focus so tightly on her hero and heroine and their romance, the fact that a lot of heroes and heroines are interchangeable isn't as annoying as it is with many other romance authors. GLH was not the genius that Georgette Heyer was, but those are the only two romance authors I've run across whose new-to-me novels can feel new even after having read ten or more of their novels. All the other romance authors I've quite liked get to be same-old same-old pretty quick.
June 9, 2015
It's as dishy and glam as an 80s soap opera, with stormy tears, bitter recriminations and criminal shenanigans. Everyone ends up redeemed and married to a kind young man with bright hair, a good voice and strong chin (are there any other kind in a GLH book? well, there are, but you want to avoid them. Especially if they have "fleshy lips.")
I love the arc for the heroine, Corinne, who becomes Coralie the way Saul becomes Paul on the road to Damascus. It's not too preachy, as some GLH's can get. It's a perfectly cozy little book with catfights (and clothes) on the level of The Women and a beautiful message.
I love the arc for the heroine, Corinne, who becomes Coralie the way Saul becomes Paul on the road to Damascus. It's not too preachy, as some GLH's can get. It's a perfectly cozy little book with catfights (and clothes) on the level of The Women and a beautiful message.
June 30, 2022
3.5 stars, mainly for the dramatic ending and the fact that the book was completely as unlike the written description as humanly possible. (As is often the case, *ahem*Sound of the Trumpet*ahem* whoever chooses to write the descriptions of these novels tries to increase the dramatic effect by massively magnifying one single (often minor) fact or incident in the novel to epic proportions. In this case, the whole "loving a good man but having a horrible past" garbage - honestly, it was not dramatic in the book, and her past was not all that checkered, and frankly...can we say soap opera?
Anyway, as I'm winding down the last few GLH books on my list, I was pleasantly surprised by how little I disliked this book. I'm glad the description was so far from the mark because it meant that this book was more enjoyable than I ever would have imagined. Only a few left to go before I finish reading EVERYTHING!! This one is worth a read if you're a huge GLH fan, but not one of her best, if you're just wanting to pick up something to read on the weekend. Wouldn't necessarily recommend, but wouldn't burn it either (jk, I don't burn books - just Justin Bieber cds).
Anyway, as I'm winding down the last few GLH books on my list, I was pleasantly surprised by how little I disliked this book. I'm glad the description was so far from the mark because it meant that this book was more enjoyable than I ever would have imagined. Only a few left to go before I finish reading EVERYTHING!! This one is worth a read if you're a huge GLH fan, but not one of her best, if you're just wanting to pick up something to read on the weekend. Wouldn't necessarily recommend, but wouldn't burn it either (jk, I don't burn books - just Justin Bieber cds).
April 20, 2012
I was given many of Hill's novels by my Mom and Grandmother when I was a young girl. Grace Livingston Hill's books are old fashioned in their veiws of women and society. With that said the books are still very romantic and I am always a sucker for a happy ending.
I found this novel misshelved in a random book resale shop for 75 cents, I bought it for sentimental reasons. It has become one of my favourites, probably because it has a slightly different dynamic. This novel starts with a young man (Dana) searching out his sister(Coralie)and mother to tell them his father has died. Due to complicated family issues he hasn't seen them for years, since his sister was a baby. While Dana was raised simply, his sister was raised to be spoiled with very messed up priorities. Dana begins to be good influence on his sister. Coralie meets Dana's friend (Bruce), and Dana meets a lovely simple young girl named Valerie. In the background Dana and Coralie's selfish mother tries to pull the strings of her two children while the consequences of her lifestyle start to catch up with her.
I have one major problem with this book, one line, it always bothers me. At one point Bruce is talking to Dana about Coralie, how he is falling for her. Bruce wonders if he is good enough for Coralie, Dana, Coralie's brother, says he he doesn't think she's good enough for him! It always makes me mad at Dana.
Overall, through the old fashioned views and sappy sweet moments, I still read Hill's books, because they have the happy endings.
I found this novel misshelved in a random book resale shop for 75 cents, I bought it for sentimental reasons. It has become one of my favourites, probably because it has a slightly different dynamic. This novel starts with a young man (Dana) searching out his sister(Coralie)and mother to tell them his father has died. Due to complicated family issues he hasn't seen them for years, since his sister was a baby. While Dana was raised simply, his sister was raised to be spoiled with very messed up priorities. Dana begins to be good influence on his sister. Coralie meets Dana's friend (Bruce), and Dana meets a lovely simple young girl named Valerie. In the background Dana and Coralie's selfish mother tries to pull the strings of her two children while the consequences of her lifestyle start to catch up with her.
I have one major problem with this book, one line, it always bothers me. At one point Bruce is talking to Dana about Coralie, how he is falling for her. Bruce wonders if he is good enough for Coralie, Dana, Coralie's brother, says he he doesn't think she's good enough for him! It always makes me mad at Dana.
Overall, through the old fashioned views and sappy sweet moments, I still read Hill's books, because they have the happy endings.
June 26, 2016
Mostly Hokey and Shockingly Predictable
I truly, truly struggled to even finish this book! As it was, I skipped and skimmed many paragraphs and some I didn't read at all! This book was at the 5th grade reading level and was as flatly descriptive and predictable as a story could be. I would recommend it only as good reading for a Christian teen, but extremely tedious for adults. Frankly, had I not taken an inescapable personal vow to finish any book I start, I would not have struggled through the boring, unimaginative storey line featuring the beyond quintessential premise of boy meets girl and spiritual forgiveness on the deathbed. All I can say is thank goodness I reached the end and my savior set me free, Lord!
I truly, truly struggled to even finish this book! As it was, I skipped and skimmed many paragraphs and some I didn't read at all! This book was at the 5th grade reading level and was as flatly descriptive and predictable as a story could be. I would recommend it only as good reading for a Christian teen, but extremely tedious for adults. Frankly, had I not taken an inescapable personal vow to finish any book I start, I would not have struggled through the boring, unimaginative storey line featuring the beyond quintessential premise of boy meets girl and spiritual forgiveness on the deathbed. All I can say is thank goodness I reached the end and my savior set me free, Lord!
January 22, 2024
This is a wonderful story of God's love and grace on a girl who grew up knowing nothing of Him. Because of her brother's compassion and new Godly friends, Coralie is able to see her life in a whole new way, and turns to Christ to start anew.
January 21, 2016
A deathbead request from his beloved father sends Dana Barron to NYC to visit his mother who left his father when Dana was just a baby. He hopes to have an opportunity to share Christ with her and his younger sister Coralie.
June 10, 2020
Too preachy. Too much prayer. The Christians are too angelic; the non-Christians are too evil. Stereotypes. I skipped quite a few paragraphs and even some pages.
And now I can get rid of this book. It's been on our shelves forever; I don't even know where it came from.
And now I can get rid of this book. It's been on our shelves forever; I don't even know where it came from.
May 13, 2021
Rating: 4.7 / 5
This is an engaging and beautiful story even before we get some serious action near the end with the murder plot. To be honest, I was so engaged with Coralie and Dana's story just as a tale of redemption and turning to faith "in the seventh hour", that I forgot that murder and drama was even a part of a plot!
In a nutshell, the main conflict is this: Dana Barron is off to New York to meet his long-absent mother and younger sister, but only to find out that they are both modern women of the world with no religion or, as it becomes clear, any real happiness in their lives. Dana carries out his duty as best as he can, but he doesn't expect any results from this. His mother, Lisa, is indeed scornful and sends him away, but his younger sister...
Well, Coralie has more of their father in her than one would think.
The bulk of the story focuses on Coralie's shift from modernism to wholesome religion and embracing the happiness that life can offer, through which she finds both love and faith. I really loved how much the story focused more on her than Dana, because she's really the interesting character here! It's a story of redemption done right for a female character, kind of like the equivalent of Hill's The Finding of Jasper Holt.
All in all, a delightful read and addition to my shelves.
This is an engaging and beautiful story even before we get some serious action near the end with the murder plot. To be honest, I was so engaged with Coralie and Dana's story just as a tale of redemption and turning to faith "in the seventh hour", that I forgot that murder and drama was even a part of a plot!
In a nutshell, the main conflict is this: Dana Barron is off to New York to meet his long-absent mother and younger sister, but only to find out that they are both modern women of the world with no religion or, as it becomes clear, any real happiness in their lives. Dana carries out his duty as best as he can, but he doesn't expect any results from this. His mother, Lisa, is indeed scornful and sends him away, but his younger sister...
Well, Coralie has more of their father in her than one would think.
The bulk of the story focuses on Coralie's shift from modernism to wholesome religion and embracing the happiness that life can offer, through which she finds both love and faith. I really loved how much the story focused more on her than Dana, because she's really the interesting character here! It's a story of redemption done right for a female character, kind of like the equivalent of Hill's The Finding of Jasper Holt.
All in all, a delightful read and addition to my shelves.
October 24, 2022
When their parents divorce, the son goes with the father and the daughter with the mother and they are raised separately. To fulfil his father's dying wish, the adult son goes to be reunited with his mother and sister. They don't welcome him, but almost immediately his sister grows curious and begins spending time with him. They couldn't be more different, but she is attracted to his Christian walk and starts learning more.
This was a pretty good GLH story. There is a bit of romance, but this one is not as heavy on the love story and focuses more on the redemption of the worldly sister as she leaves her old life behind.
This was a pretty good GLH story. There is a bit of romance, but this one is not as heavy on the love story and focuses more on the redemption of the worldly sister as she leaves her old life behind.
September 15, 2020
A different style of story.
A far more "modern" plot than the many GLH novels I've read before. The hero and his friend may be typical GLH characters-though Bruce was a question mark for the first half.
However , Coral is USA realistic woman, battling against self-indulgent lifestyle. There was an enduring draw to find out what would happen next.
This is a "dated" book, as the customs and mores are faithful to the time it was written and represents. It maybe difficult to understand that this was the way things weee
A far more "modern" plot than the many GLH novels I've read before. The hero and his friend may be typical GLH characters-though Bruce was a question mark for the first half.
However , Coral is USA realistic woman, battling against self-indulgent lifestyle. There was an enduring draw to find out what would happen next.
This is a "dated" book, as the customs and mores are faithful to the time it was written and represents. It maybe difficult to understand that this was the way things weee
December 30, 2024
I always feel slightly embarrassed to shelve these books. GLH often has little inconsistencies in her stories, way too many exclamation marks, and never forgets to mention the Scofield Bible. However, there is something endearing about these fluffy little romances, and if you just take them as they are, you might enjoy the little mental break. I did. Thanks to my sister for this gag gift.
June 12, 2018
It wasn't a surprise.
Although you could have written the ending, the beauty of the gospel and a call to reflect Him to others is rare in a romance. So clearly told and so lovely written.
Although you could have written the ending, the beauty of the gospel and a call to reflect Him to others is rare in a romance. So clearly told and so lovely written.
October 30, 2018
I love Grace Livingston Hill, but this was not one of my favorites. It seemed to drag out at the beginning, and then it was very predictable near the end. It took me WAY to long to drag myself through the book. Overall, there are SO many better GLH books out there.
July 22, 2022
I love the heroine but both the heroes don’t click well with me. Sure, they are straight out religious and modest men but they seem to be overly judgmental against those opposite them. a religious and modest man.
May 9, 2023
The Seventh Hour!
I read this book years ago when I was younger. But to reread it ayt my age, I got a lot more out of it. I love Grace Livingston Hills books. A good book to read if you have questions about God and his place in your life. Thank you Grace.
I read this book years ago when I was younger. But to reread it ayt my age, I got a lot more out of it. I love Grace Livingston Hills books. A good book to read if you have questions about God and his place in your life. Thank you Grace.
May 20, 2024
One of her finest!
I thought I had read all of Grace Livingston Hill’s novels, but did not remember this one. A little unusual for her style as much of it is written from the unsaved person’s point of view. Very wise Biblical references. A classic read!
I thought I had read all of Grace Livingston Hill’s novels, but did not remember this one. A little unusual for her style as much of it is written from the unsaved person’s point of view. Very wise Biblical references. A classic read!
June 10, 2024
I feel like I just read a Christian soap opera 😂
This novel is further proof that GLH didn't quite know how to write male conversation. When have you EVER heard a man compliment his friend's looks? 💀
This novel is further proof that GLH didn't quite know how to write male conversation. When have you EVER heard a man compliment his friend's looks? 💀
August 3, 2024
Wow, a riveting read! I love the characters and how they overcome great problems!
This is another wonderful book by Grace Livingston Hill. She has such a gift of bringing out each character’s gifts and flaws!
This is another wonderful book by Grace Livingston Hill. She has such a gift of bringing out each character’s gifts and flaws!
June 5, 2018
Love Grace Livingston hill books
I've read her books since I could read!
Always with a spiritual word and a good story of
People getting through hard times
I've read her books since I could read!
Always with a spiritual word and a good story of
People getting through hard times
July 3, 2018
was ok.
September 7, 2023
Another one for putting me to sleep that was extra wholesome and cute this time
October 28, 2016
A lovely story of finding and building faith. The double romances seemed a little rushed.
July 6, 2022
I wrote inside the book, "This is an excellent book! :)" So, this must be one of her better ones.
March 13, 2021
Such an enjoyable read. I just found this book at a used store - in new shape - and I so enjoyed reading it. Really good definition between good and evil and the attraction of a righteous life.
October 24, 2017
I love Grace Livingston Hill's books, mainly because she writes from a different era. Though the publishers tried to update her books by putting a 70's picture on the front, her stories are still set in the classic Grace Livingston Hill time period, the 30's and 40's. This was a time in our history where life had rules, there was a distinct right and wrong, and classes of people were defined differently than today. Not that it was better, it was just different; unlike our world today where everything is relative to our feelings. The Bible played a major part in people's lives, but the sins of today were going on then too.
Grace Livingston Hill's books always have a beautiful and exciting love story, one where Christians and non-Christians lives collide. I read her books to my 97 year old mother-in-law, Anna, and she relates in a different way than me. I am awed by the way people lived in that time period, and she actually lived in the 30's. When Grace describes clothing of the day, Anna remembers having a dress made out of that material. If I don't understand an idiom of that day, Anna explains it to me. These are wonderful books to share with an older friend or relative. You can read them aloud and not worry that people listening will be shocked by any passages. Instead they will be encouraged.
Grace Livingston Hill's books always have a beautiful and exciting love story, one where Christians and non-Christians lives collide. I read her books to my 97 year old mother-in-law, Anna, and she relates in a different way than me. I am awed by the way people lived in that time period, and she actually lived in the 30's. When Grace describes clothing of the day, Anna remembers having a dress made out of that material. If I don't understand an idiom of that day, Anna explains it to me. These are wonderful books to share with an older friend or relative. You can read them aloud and not worry that people listening will be shocked by any passages. Instead they will be encouraged.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews