Mary Arden

by Grace Livingston Hill

classic, family values

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian, Romance, Fiction, Christian Romance

250 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1948

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

[Myra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Always a pleasure to read Ms. Livingston Hill's novels!

[Anna Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm giving this book a 4 star review because I feel like GLH saw all the mistakes she made in writing "Patricia" and fixed them in this book (it was written 9 years after "Patricia").

As I began reading this novel, I felt an almost sickening sense of deja vu. Mary Arden could have been Patricia from that horrible other book! Oh no! Oh gasp! Am I letting myself in for another gut wrenching read? Happily, I was mistaken, and all the ugly pitfalls that Patricia fell into, Mary seemed to avoid. She firmly set boundaries with her mother and did not allow herself to be bullied by any of her acquaintances. She knew her own mind and was not to be swayed. Basically, she had backbone - which saved her from several problems which caused many an eye roll and shutter from me.

I will allow that in the 9 years between these 2 novels, many things could have changed - both in society and in GLH's life. Things that would have been seen as unacceptable for a young woman may have shifted in that time. Goodness knows a lot changes in a decade - and this decade saw WWII and the rise of a female workforce.

Anyway, all that to say, I enjoyed this book. I'm not sure if I would have enjoyed it as much had I not read...and HATED..."Patricia" first, but that is neither here nor there. I would probably re-read this book, although since it was an interlibrary loan, that probably makes it more difficult to re-read. Will I purchase it? Probably not, but I would still recommend it to others! Definitely worth reading in order to finish my GLH challenge!

[The Bookish Vixen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solidly good and cozy GLH. I did like this one a lot, and I went back and forth on the rating a bit. I think what kept this from five stars, which I wanted to give it, was how Mary let her mom and her smarmy “beau” jerk her around too much. I think GLH has some reservations about showing righteous anger. I understand being gracious and kind, and looking for opportunities to be a witness, and I think that’s what she’s going for in parts of this story, but it read like Mary being a little bit of a doormat.

Otherwise I really enjoyed the plot overall.

[Alisan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am a big Grace Livingston Hill fan and to date this is my least favorite. Truth be told I skimmed not read Mary Arden. Internal dialogue and external dialogue mirrored each other so closely and/or was so predictable that I could glance at a few sentences get the gist and move on. In addition, I felt as if Mary, Laurie, Mrs. Arden, and Brooke Haven were stock characters drawn from previous books. Maybe if this had been my first Grace Livingston Hill experience I would have enjoyed it more.

[Lydia]

Mary Arden was published in 1948. This is the story of a 21 year old heiress that inherits a country home in the town of Arden, named for her grandfather. She is the 4th Mary Arden and she flees the city and her mother's domination. In the country she reconnects with a childhood friend and veteran hero who is also now the town preacher. After trials from her mother and her mother's choice of fiancée for her, Laurie, the preacher, and Mary finally understand each other and get married. I give 4 stars because I love GLH...this is not one of my favorites of hers, but a great story.

[Joy Gerbode · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a Christian romance, with many very old-fashioned ideas and Christian principals explored. It is an average romance; the parts I find so enjoyable are the descriptions of the places, especially the old house, the countryside surrounding the home, and the pleasant people who life in this rural area.

[Lo · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was pretty good but I'm not a big fan of misunderstandings as obstacles. The couple's transition from friends to betrothal was rather sudden. Ms. Hill re-uses plot points from A Voice in the Wilderness.

[Terry Yaceyko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another lovely read. I really enjoyed this book. I hadn't read it before so it is a new favorite. There were a couple of times where I set the book down to think about what I had read and asked the Lord how it applied to my life. Very good.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mary Arden retreats to a newly inherited home and learns the difference between faith that fortifies and the whims the world would have her indulge in to excess.