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Amorelle
George Horton was handsome and wealthy, and he had all but swept lovely Amorelle Dean off her feet with his unexpected marriage proposal. Amorelle accepted, but as time passed she became more and more doubtful. Could they really be happy when George, for all his words of love, didn't seem to know or care about Amorelle's thoughts, beliefs, or innermost feelings?
Then, as if in answer to her prayers for guidance, Amorelle unexpectedly found herself sharing a wonderful day with another man. A man who seemed to speak the language of her heart. Now she knew what true love could be--and what she must do. But was it too late to change her mind?
Then, as if in answer to her prayers for guidance, Amorelle unexpectedly found herself sharing a wonderful day with another man. A man who seemed to speak the language of her heart. Now she knew what true love could be--and what she must do. But was it too late to change her mind?
268 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1934
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About the author
Grace Livingston Hill
594 books572 followersalso wrote under the pseudonym Marcia MacDonald
also published under the name Grace Livingston Hill Lutz
A popular author of her day, she wrote over 100 novels and numerous short stories of religious and Christian fiction. Her characters were most often young female ingénues, frequently strong Christian women or those who become so within the confines of the story.
niece to Isabella MacDonald Alden
also published under the name Grace Livingston Hill Lutz
A popular author of her day, she wrote over 100 novels and numerous short stories of religious and Christian fiction. Her characters were most often young female ingénues, frequently strong Christian women or those who become so within the confines of the story.
niece to Isabella MacDonald Alden
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May 21, 2022"Cracked me up" is not usually the way I'd describe GLH books, but this is an exception. I really think she intended to have some fun with this one, and it's pretty successful. It's a fairy tale, a combination of Cinderella and Thumbelina, with all the conventions: after rejecting a string of unsuitable suitors, Amorelle believes her only option is to accept an invitation to live with relatives, who expect her to do almost everything short of cleaning the ashes. (You know they're wicked because they go to the country club and have magazines lying around.) But she still has to kiss a toad (George, who views her as an economical investment), before the real Prince Charming shows up.
June 30, 2022
I counted at least six marriage proposals (I could have missed one)—I think that's a GLH record! The beginning with all the marriage proposals is comical in spite of the tragedy Amorelle suffers. The rest of the book is a commentary on love and marriage mashed up with a Cinderella story. I read this years ago and it wasn't my favorite GLH, but I found it more interesting this time around knowing that GLH wrote this after her failed second marriage (written in 1934, about 20 years after they parted ways). Was she perhaps trying to teach her young readers a lesson she wished she could have learned an easier way?
July 29, 2013
Amorelle Dean is a minister’s daughter. She is capable, lovely and strong with a strong faith and a good Christian upbringing. However, she is quite naive about the ways of the world. With the death of her father, she now has to face the world on her own.
This book is not so much a romance as a women's fiction. The title of the book is quite fitting. It is all about Amorelle and her life once her father died, her growth personally and spiritually, mistakes she made and the happiness only God can provide in granting her a happily ever after.
It is a story of great characters and a plot filled with mild intrigue. Most times Grace Livingston Hill doesn't just write a cute romance about boy and girl. There is something else going on in the external plot that drives the story just as much as the falling in love part.
From the moment her father dies, Amorelle is at the mercy of other people whether they are
trying to match her up for marriage or turning her into a servant or forcing her into a horrid engagement. Then enters Russell Garrison and finally she has a protector, someone who understands her and appreciates her. Of course, this merely increases the conflict in other areas of Amorelle's life.
It's almost like a Cinderella story. She is the poor orphan girl who comes to live in her uncle’s house with his new wife and her grown daughter. They don't appreciate her and turn her into a servant and later allow an imprudent engagement that Amorelle does not want. When wealthy Garrison arrives, he is like the prince come to rescue her from her trials.
There are parts of the book which were slow and at times it was agonizing to read how terribly Amorelle was put upon and preyed upon. Once Garrison came into the picture, the story flowed and it became much more interesting. It was a well written book and as always GLH presents the gospel and God's affirming love. A good book not to be missed.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is not so much a romance as a women's fiction. The title of the book is quite fitting. It is all about Amorelle and her life once her father died, her growth personally and spiritually, mistakes she made and the happiness only God can provide in granting her a happily ever after.
It is a story of great characters and a plot filled with mild intrigue. Most times Grace Livingston Hill doesn't just write a cute romance about boy and girl. There is something else going on in the external plot that drives the story just as much as the falling in love part.
From the moment her father dies, Amorelle is at the mercy of other people whether they are
trying to match her up for marriage or turning her into a servant or forcing her into a horrid engagement. Then enters Russell Garrison and finally she has a protector, someone who understands her and appreciates her. Of course, this merely increases the conflict in other areas of Amorelle's life.
It's almost like a Cinderella story. She is the poor orphan girl who comes to live in her uncle’s house with his new wife and her grown daughter. They don't appreciate her and turn her into a servant and later allow an imprudent engagement that Amorelle does not want. When wealthy Garrison arrives, he is like the prince come to rescue her from her trials.
There are parts of the book which were slow and at times it was agonizing to read how terribly Amorelle was put upon and preyed upon. Once Garrison came into the picture, the story flowed and it became much more interesting. It was a well written book and as always GLH presents the gospel and God's affirming love. A good book not to be missed.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 13, 2013
Amorelle
I love how Grace pays back to the characters that deserve it. Poor George and Mr Pike fell victims to her righteousness. I really liked the Job and Cinderella and kindred-spirits twists in this book. She made them more original of course but it was sweet to have it all bundled up together in one persons life and see God work His miracle and turn it all into His perfect plan for happyly-ever-after.
Amorelle's sincerity her meekness her love for the Lord brought her uncle to love her and to find that tangible and precious relationship with the Lord. Lavinia's advises made me miss my grandma who always knew how to give a good advise and lovingly stir me on the right path with our Lord.
Again she made amazing work of the deep spirituality and inner battles that make you really think through life. I strongly recommend this book to the girls on the verge of marriage. Are you marrying for love and to your kindered-spirit? Or are marrying a man like George and all those other men that only thought of Amorelle as convenient efficient and beautiful to have for themselves and to boast about??
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
I love how Grace pays back to the characters that deserve it. Poor George and Mr Pike fell victims to her righteousness. I really liked the Job and Cinderella and kindred-spirits twists in this book. She made them more original of course but it was sweet to have it all bundled up together in one persons life and see God work His miracle and turn it all into His perfect plan for happyly-ever-after.
Amorelle's sincerity her meekness her love for the Lord brought her uncle to love her and to find that tangible and precious relationship with the Lord. Lavinia's advises made me miss my grandma who always knew how to give a good advise and lovingly stir me on the right path with our Lord.
Again she made amazing work of the deep spirituality and inner battles that make you really think through life. I strongly recommend this book to the girls on the verge of marriage. Are you marrying for love and to your kindered-spirit? Or are marrying a man like George and all those other men that only thought of Amorelle as convenient efficient and beautiful to have for themselves and to boast about??
Disclaimer: I got a free copy of this book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 17, 2017
Usually, GLH doesn't get very theological, and, when she does, it doesn't go well. Not so here! She spoke a lot about how we can receive wisdom and guidance from God because of the work of Christ. There was a much greater emphasis on the Gospel than on God-fearing morality. This book also had much to say about choosing a spouse. There was still a bit of a rescue happening, but our heroine actually put thought into it.
September 2, 2016
Good...but I've come to expect better from this author.
August 3, 2024
One of GLH's more cohesive novels. Her stories are so refreshing in this modern world. They don't take much brain power to read, but I do enjoy reading about people who strive to live righteously.
June 18, 2022
So many of GLH's stories involve orphans - although most of the orphans are nearly of age. But because they have been living at home and being supported by a parent or parents, they must now find a job and another place to live. This is the situation for Amorelle. Her mother died many years ago, and she has been living with her father, who is the minister of the parish. He is in poor health, and following a late-night visit from a man who Amorelle thinks is a criminal, he passes away suddenly, leaving her in a difficult situation. Almost immediately, someone tries to break into the house, and Amorelle thinks it may be the same man. She quickly goes about making plans to go west and visit her uncle's family - this was her father's wish. Emptying the manse of her possessions, she makes arrangements to store her most precious belongings with a favorite friend of her mother's, who lives a few miles away.
When she arrives at her uncle's home, some surprises await her. Her aunt intends her to be a sort of servant, and her cousin is spoiled and wild, and only tolerates Amorelle because she is willing to be useful in meeting Louise's demands. The uncle is cowed and barely speaks to her at all.
Louise's "fast" set ignores Amorelle, making fun of her and treating her shamefully, except for one young man who decides that she is beautiful and begins to flirt with her. In her loneliness, Amorelle falls under George's spell, although his possessiveness concerns her.
But God has not forgotten Amorelle, although she has not paused to wait for His leading. And one day, God shows her the contrast between what George is offering her, and what God wants for her life.
When she arrives at her uncle's home, some surprises await her. Her aunt intends her to be a sort of servant, and her cousin is spoiled and wild, and only tolerates Amorelle because she is willing to be useful in meeting Louise's demands. The uncle is cowed and barely speaks to her at all.
Louise's "fast" set ignores Amorelle, making fun of her and treating her shamefully, except for one young man who decides that she is beautiful and begins to flirt with her. In her loneliness, Amorelle falls under George's spell, although his possessiveness concerns her.
But God has not forgotten Amorelle, although she has not paused to wait for His leading. And one day, God shows her the contrast between what George is offering her, and what God wants for her life.
January 5, 2012
Many of GLH's heroines are plagued by unwanted suitor, but, partially due to the actions of a "friend," Amorelle is pursued by a whole pack of them. Most of her dealings with them are amusing, but one of them is a Bad Man, who was somehow involved with her recently deceased father.
If anyone who reads GLH worries about spoilers, you should skip the rest of this.
Amorelle ends up engaged to the wrong guy, which isn't as common in Hill's books as unwanted suitors but happens fairly often, however this blighted romance starts out much more realistically than most, then ends up complete farce. GLH is clearly a "seat of the pants" kind of writer, who sometimes changes direction halfway through or loses track of what she said before and pretends "that never happened," but this time the transition was smooth enough I just sat back and enjoyed the ride.
If anyone who reads GLH worries about spoilers, you should skip the rest of this.
Amorelle ends up engaged to the wrong guy, which isn't as common in Hill's books as unwanted suitors but happens fairly often, however this blighted romance starts out much more realistically than most, then ends up complete farce. GLH is clearly a "seat of the pants" kind of writer, who sometimes changes direction halfway through or loses track of what she said before and pretends "that never happened," but this time the transition was smooth enough I just sat back and enjoyed the ride.
May 28, 2014
One of the books I read whilst living abroad on the very quiet island of Dominica. It was a pleasure to read. One of the stories I will never forget.
This book holds personal memories for me and became a guide in a sense.
Amorelle is such a wonderful story about love, lost and faith. There is a part of her in all of us that believes the world can be beautiful place.
This book holds personal memories for me and became a guide in a sense.
Amorelle is such a wonderful story about love, lost and faith. There is a part of her in all of us that believes the world can be beautiful place.
June 25, 2021
I've read this over 2 or 3 times, which is an automatic 5-star rating for me. It's one of my favorite Grace Livingston Hill books, but beyond that, my own story was written around it. The summer my husband proposed, I was too unprepared and frightened to give him an answer right away, and thought it over the rest of the summer. I happened to read this book in the meantime, with all its discussion on good and bad reasons for marriage and what the truly important things in marriage are. I guess it's obvious that I gave him an eventual yes - and that it turned out to be a wonderful decision for me. This year, we have celebrated 30 years.
I had wanted to read this to my own kids when they were each old enough, but only the youngest stuck with me in reading books together until the ripe old age of her mid-teen years and showed any interest in it.
My thoughts on re-reading it:
I had forgotten all the silly suitors that Amorelle had gotten in the beginning of the book, but only remembered George Horton and Russell Garrison and the differences between them. I did remember the character of Amorelle's father, and that of Lemuel Pike and the role he played in this, but not that he was one of the ridiculous suitors, too.
One thing that I didn't remember and that I disliked about the book was how Amorelle didn't stand up for herself and became a doormat in her uncle's home after her father's death. I know she meant it out of kindness for them, and because of her father's hopes, but I found that it really frustrated me in Martha Finley's "Elsie Dinsmore" series, and it frustrated me here. Why wouldn't she at least say something? I could hardly tolerate watching Elsie be berated, etc, without defense, and I never read past the first book of that series. If I were reading this for the first time today, I might not have rated this quite so highly because of that, but I do still love the book.
Maybe I've just gotten more used to standing up for myself over the years. That's probably not true. I could pretty well stand up for myself verbally in my teen years, too - I can remember some loud arguments - but maybe I've learned to do it better, calmly, with clear boundaries, but hopefully with more kindness than I had in my teen years, and little-to-no regret. I generally find that there is no loss of friendship or detriment when I calmly state my boundaries, "I can't do ..." "I need ..." whatever, or just "I need my space" or "some time." Or "I have other obligations ..." Or "I need to think about ..." It really is okay. No need to be loud about them or make a big deal out of it, and I still connect and show others kindness as I can. I think of boundaries as necessary to protect the good, but also nothing to be exalted in and not misused to cut people off sharply. They can be done without hurting others.
Amorelle did face the true to life consequences of refusing to stand up for herself, in that people had grown so used to taking advantage of her that it became harder for them to respect her wishes when she did. One of the characters refused to respect her boundaries enough that he'd probably be classified as a manipulative stalker today, although he wasn't out to physically harm her. Amorelle met that character's persistence with persistence of her own, rather than turning ugly or loud or sharp about it.
I was afraid that the author would characterize the man Amorelle ended up choosing somewhat overbearing as well, since that seemed to be more common in that time, but thankfully, she didn't.
I was glad of the change in the uncle's character.
As in many of Grace Livingston Hill's books, she had a unkind older lady character, but she also had a kinder, older friend.
As in most romance books, Christian or otherwise, decisions for marriage came too quickly, before the characters really got to know each other much.
The book did talk about Christianity more than most of today's "Christian" books do.
My mom's chief complaint of Grace Livingston Hill books is that the good characters can seem too good, and the bad characters can seem too bad. I don't think that it's completely true in this book. The bad characters aren't completely evil, just self-centered and thoughtless and annoying. Likewise, the good character, Amorelle, isn't completely perfect in that she has to develop the ability to stand up for herself. But she didn't know the suitor that she chose long enough to know his faults, so maybe he came across as "too good."
My 16 year old said she loved the book and that she was "invested" in the characters.
Favorite quotes:
"I don't know what I should do without it [the Bible]. Everything, everyone else seems so disappointing!"
"... would it perhaps not be better to walk her way alone than to throw her life in with one who could not understand her innermost thoughts?"
"Don't take up with the first thing that comes along just to keep from being lonely. There are worse things than loneliness in this world."
"Isn't that for all the world like we do with our Heavenly Father's letter? He has filled it with instructions, advice, sympathy, comfort, love, everything we need, including promises to supply all our need, and we just get so busy trying to work out all our little problems that we don't take time to read it."
I had wanted to read this to my own kids when they were each old enough, but only the youngest stuck with me in reading books together until the ripe old age of her mid-teen years and showed any interest in it.
My thoughts on re-reading it:
I had forgotten all the silly suitors that Amorelle had gotten in the beginning of the book, but only remembered George Horton and Russell Garrison and the differences between them. I did remember the character of Amorelle's father, and that of Lemuel Pike and the role he played in this, but not that he was one of the ridiculous suitors, too.
One thing that I didn't remember and that I disliked about the book was how Amorelle didn't stand up for herself and became a doormat in her uncle's home after her father's death. I know she meant it out of kindness for them, and because of her father's hopes, but I found that it really frustrated me in Martha Finley's "Elsie Dinsmore" series, and it frustrated me here. Why wouldn't she at least say something? I could hardly tolerate watching Elsie be berated, etc, without defense, and I never read past the first book of that series. If I were reading this for the first time today, I might not have rated this quite so highly because of that, but I do still love the book.
Maybe I've just gotten more used to standing up for myself over the years. That's probably not true. I could pretty well stand up for myself verbally in my teen years, too - I can remember some loud arguments - but maybe I've learned to do it better, calmly, with clear boundaries, but hopefully with more kindness than I had in my teen years, and little-to-no regret. I generally find that there is no loss of friendship or detriment when I calmly state my boundaries, "I can't do ..." "I need ..." whatever, or just "I need my space" or "some time." Or "I have other obligations ..." Or "I need to think about ..." It really is okay. No need to be loud about them or make a big deal out of it, and I still connect and show others kindness as I can. I think of boundaries as necessary to protect the good, but also nothing to be exalted in and not misused to cut people off sharply. They can be done without hurting others.
Amorelle did face the true to life consequences of refusing to stand up for herself, in that people had grown so used to taking advantage of her that it became harder for them to respect her wishes when she did. One of the characters refused to respect her boundaries enough that he'd probably be classified as a manipulative stalker today, although he wasn't out to physically harm her. Amorelle met that character's persistence with persistence of her own, rather than turning ugly or loud or sharp about it.
I was afraid that the author would characterize the man Amorelle ended up choosing somewhat overbearing as well, since that seemed to be more common in that time, but thankfully, she didn't.
I was glad of the change in the uncle's character.
As in many of Grace Livingston Hill's books, she had a unkind older lady character, but she also had a kinder, older friend.
As in most romance books, Christian or otherwise, decisions for marriage came too quickly, before the characters really got to know each other much.
The book did talk about Christianity more than most of today's "Christian" books do.
My mom's chief complaint of Grace Livingston Hill books is that the good characters can seem too good, and the bad characters can seem too bad. I don't think that it's completely true in this book. The bad characters aren't completely evil, just self-centered and thoughtless and annoying. Likewise, the good character, Amorelle, isn't completely perfect in that she has to develop the ability to stand up for herself. But she didn't know the suitor that she chose long enough to know his faults, so maybe he came across as "too good."
My 16 year old said she loved the book and that she was "invested" in the characters.
Favorite quotes:
"I don't know what I should do without it [the Bible]. Everything, everyone else seems so disappointing!"
"... would it perhaps not be better to walk her way alone than to throw her life in with one who could not understand her innermost thoughts?"
"Don't take up with the first thing that comes along just to keep from being lonely. There are worse things than loneliness in this world."
"Isn't that for all the world like we do with our Heavenly Father's letter? He has filled it with instructions, advice, sympathy, comfort, love, everything we need, including promises to supply all our need, and we just get so busy trying to work out all our little problems that we don't take time to read it."
September 15, 2007
easy reading, love them all
August 24, 2012
Very good read. Mrs. Hill never fails to satisfy
February 3, 2013
One of my Favorites of Grace Livingston Hill :-)
April 11, 2020
Rating: 3.6 / 5
Like Crimson Roses, we very much have a Cinderella plot going on here, but this time with a lot more parallels and less of a presence for romance.
At the heart of the story is Amorelle Dean, who's father has just died and who, almost immediately after the funeral, is faced with a whole lot of busybodies...er "well-wishers" who are "ready to help her" get settled into her new life. This includes but is not restricted to putting her out of her own house, selling off her furniture at prices to convenience them and not Amorelle, and also throwing a flurry of suitors at her so that she can hurry up and get married.
Out of the frying pan and into the fire, Amorelle decides to go live with her uncle and her step-aunt and step-cousin. The step- family is more or less the Cinderella setup in which we have Amorelle doing all the work and being so good as to not stand up for herself...er..."do the work without complaint because she's meek in God's name, yada yada yada".
So, to be honest, I'm not at all a fan of the Cinderella storyline, since to me Cinderella = pushover, and is thus someone that I can't support because she won't even support herself. As such, Amorelle is a heroine that, in many ways, I couldn't understand, especially as she lets herself get pushed into an engagement with a man she doesn't love and then only stiffens up once she experiences true friendship. It's the kind of story where all the hesitations/politeness/not standing up for yourself makes the story longer than it should be, and in this case I think the story should've been a bit shorter. I was not bored at any point of this one, of course, but at the same time I was ready to throw a punch every now and then for the step-family and unwelcome suitor.
A so-so read by Ms. Hill, all in all.
Like Crimson Roses, we very much have a Cinderella plot going on here, but this time with a lot more parallels and less of a presence for romance.
At the heart of the story is Amorelle Dean, who's father has just died and who, almost immediately after the funeral, is faced with a whole lot of busybodies...er "well-wishers" who are "ready to help her" get settled into her new life. This includes but is not restricted to putting her out of her own house, selling off her furniture at prices to convenience them and not Amorelle, and also throwing a flurry of suitors at her so that she can hurry up and get married.
Out of the frying pan and into the fire, Amorelle decides to go live with her uncle and her step-aunt and step-cousin. The step- family is more or less the Cinderella setup in which we have Amorelle doing all the work and being so good as to not stand up for herself...er..."do the work without complaint because she's meek in God's name, yada yada yada".
So, to be honest, I'm not at all a fan of the Cinderella storyline, since to me Cinderella = pushover, and is thus someone that I can't support because she won't even support herself. As such, Amorelle is a heroine that, in many ways, I couldn't understand, especially as she lets herself get pushed into an engagement with a man she doesn't love and then only stiffens up once she experiences true friendship. It's the kind of story where all the hesitations/politeness/not standing up for yourself makes the story longer than it should be, and in this case I think the story should've been a bit shorter. I was not bored at any point of this one, of course, but at the same time I was ready to throw a punch every now and then for the step-family and unwelcome suitor.
A so-so read by Ms. Hill, all in all.
September 18, 2014
Hott Synopsis:
Left to fend for herself upon her father’s sudden death, Amorelle is distraught to learn that some the presumptuous but well-meaning members of his congregation have decided to take over by marrying her off to the first bidder and selling her treasures. With little choice Amorelle does what she must. She packs up her house and goes to her uncle’s. But not all roads lead to a happy ending.
Will these tumultuous time give Amorelle the faith she desires to lean on the God she so desperately needs?
Hott Review:
Amorelle is a bit of an odd story. It has all of the elements, but it just wasn’t amazing. Her thoughts and actions, along with the other characters, were very naive. The book, however, has a few very wonderful passages about marriage that I believe will help teens know what not to accept.
More…
Author: Grace Livingston Hill
Source: Barbour Books via Netgalley
Grade: B
Ages: 16+
Steam: YA
Setting: New England
Series: Grace Livingston Hill #4
Left to fend for herself upon her father’s sudden death, Amorelle is distraught to learn that some the presumptuous but well-meaning members of his congregation have decided to take over by marrying her off to the first bidder and selling her treasures. With little choice Amorelle does what she must. She packs up her house and goes to her uncle’s. But not all roads lead to a happy ending.
Will these tumultuous time give Amorelle the faith she desires to lean on the God she so desperately needs?
Hott Review:
Amorelle is a bit of an odd story. It has all of the elements, but it just wasn’t amazing. Her thoughts and actions, along with the other characters, were very naive. The book, however, has a few very wonderful passages about marriage that I believe will help teens know what not to accept.
More…
Author: Grace Livingston Hill
Source: Barbour Books via Netgalley
Grade: B
Ages: 16+
Steam: YA
Setting: New England
Series: Grace Livingston Hill #4
December 14, 2008
This book offers an interesting, easy read. My heart went out to Amorelle because it reflected similar experiences I have endured as a pastor's daughter. The story reveals how having patience and enduring in difficult circumstances leads to rewards. Lots of heartache but love comes in the end. A good read.
May 26, 2018
What a wonderful portrayal of the difference between God’s perfect plans for us, and our foolish attempts at making our dreams come true. Our hearts are fickle and so often selfish. Once we know our worth in Christ, and submit to His wisdom, great joy is ours to have. Above all else, salvation in Christ is our greatest treasure. These truths, and many more, are richly evidenced in this book.
March 12, 2020
While I do not like romance novels, I love books by Grace Livingston Hill because they are all clean, Christian novels. I prefer books where it doesn't matter if a kid wants to read them. There is always something to learn from anything we read or hear--learning of bad or good. So, try to surround yourself with good. :)
February 12, 2008
This book is pretty easy to read and it has some funny parts. I'm only hundred pages into it. I do really like how they respect God, they have some good sayings regaurding faith as well, and the love of God.
November 30, 2021
YUCK! Honestly, I'm not sure if I can scrounge up enough redeeming qualities in this book to even give it a 1.5 star rating. (Unless you find humor in George's incredible vanity about his eyelashes...which I did! Actually that almost bumps it up .5 stars...maybe .49 stars...which would still round down to 1.) This book was NOT good and definitely deserves a 1 star rating.
The book started out fairly promising - Amorelle's father dies, but despite her grief, she plucks up her courage to stand up to the town busybodies and move in with her uncle instead of marrying some local boy. Unfortunately, that is where the positive aspects of this book end.
Upon entering her uncle's house, Amorelle apparently becomes a completely different person! The daughter of a minister, she somehow forgets that she can pray and ask God for wisdom! That plucky courage she showed to the town busybodies? Gone - along with all Amorelle's self respect too. Her aunt and cousin were terrible to her, but honestly, she just withered under their mean remarks. Instead of standing up for herself, or going back home to live with her adopted aunt (who had invited her!) she instead stayed in a place she was miserable and mistreated...doing their work like the Cinderella character she was fast becoming.
When one of her cousin's spurned lovers randomly decides to marry Amorelle, she just...says yes? And then lies to herself that she actually likes him? But then meets another man (who is a Christian!) one afternoon at a picnic and then realizes that she doesn't really love her fiancée because he wouldn't buy her a new sink for the house they were buying...he wasn't willing to sacrifice for her, apparently. And then breaks off her engagement, only to then get engaged a few weeks later to said man from the picnic? After literally knowing each other for 1 day tops? Maybe not even 24 hours? And even then, had so much self-reproach for her former engagement that she thought she wasn't "worthy" of her new fiancée? I mean, the emotional dumpster is just ready for a fire...and I'm pretty sure it will start soon!
I cannot tell you how much I hated this book. Maybe if I compared it to Dawn of the Morning (still, by far, the WORST GLH book in existence) you could understand my intense loathing for this novel. TBH I almost dnf'd this one at around 50%, but I just couldn't bring myself to let my mother beat me in the GLH reading challenge...so I persevered!
If you are looking for a GLH novel to pick up, this would definitely not be my first choice. However, if you only have 2 choices, and they are Amorelle or Dawn of the Morning, I'd choose...neither! Just go for a walk or watch TV. Honestly these are both terrible books with very few redeeming qualities (but ok, I would probably re-read this one over Dawn of the Morning if I was under extreme torture...at least this one had a happy-ish ending.)
The book started out fairly promising - Amorelle's father dies, but despite her grief, she plucks up her courage to stand up to the town busybodies and move in with her uncle instead of marrying some local boy. Unfortunately, that is where the positive aspects of this book end.
Upon entering her uncle's house, Amorelle apparently becomes a completely different person! The daughter of a minister, she somehow forgets that she can pray and ask God for wisdom! That plucky courage she showed to the town busybodies? Gone - along with all Amorelle's self respect too. Her aunt and cousin were terrible to her, but honestly, she just withered under their mean remarks. Instead of standing up for herself, or going back home to live with her adopted aunt (who had invited her!) she instead stayed in a place she was miserable and mistreated...doing their work like the Cinderella character she was fast becoming.
When one of her cousin's spurned lovers randomly decides to marry Amorelle, she just...says yes? And then lies to herself that she actually likes him? But then meets another man (who is a Christian!) one afternoon at a picnic and then realizes that she doesn't really love her fiancée because he wouldn't buy her a new sink for the house they were buying...he wasn't willing to sacrifice for her, apparently. And then breaks off her engagement, only to then get engaged a few weeks later to said man from the picnic? After literally knowing each other for 1 day tops? Maybe not even 24 hours? And even then, had so much self-reproach for her former engagement that she thought she wasn't "worthy" of her new fiancée? I mean, the emotional dumpster is just ready for a fire...and I'm pretty sure it will start soon!
I cannot tell you how much I hated this book. Maybe if I compared it to Dawn of the Morning (still, by far, the WORST GLH book in existence) you could understand my intense loathing for this novel. TBH I almost dnf'd this one at around 50%, but I just couldn't bring myself to let my mother beat me in the GLH reading challenge...so I persevered!
If you are looking for a GLH novel to pick up, this would definitely not be my first choice. However, if you only have 2 choices, and they are Amorelle or Dawn of the Morning, I'd choose...neither! Just go for a walk or watch TV. Honestly these are both terrible books with very few redeeming qualities (but ok, I would probably re-read this one over Dawn of the Morning if I was under extreme torture...at least this one had a happy-ish ending.)
January 8, 2022
Not my favorite GLH book, to be honest.
Amorelle's father passes away, and although she claims to cling to the Lord and has a promised letter from her father to help her see to things, she's so self-absorbed that she locks the letter away FOR A YEAR without even seeing if there was life insurance or bank dealings or loans or *ANYTHING* she should take care of...
... and she doesn't *remember* God until Russell comes along. Instead, she plays victimized Cinderella in a household where no one would tolerate such treatment.
Russell's part in the book is minimal, as well - it's hard to believe after only three visits, he's declaring undying love to her.
HAVING SAID... I connected with this book in a number of ways. I was engaged to a 'George', and knew it was the wrong thing. Spent weeks and months in tears over it, and when presented with a ring, cried so hard I had to go out in sunglasses (it was long-distanced to me from Korea, so breaking up wasn't as easy as you think). So I did feel her pain, and know how confusing feelings can be for a very young girl sheltered away.
There are also some amazing lines in the book. My favorite was:
"That is what's the matter with half the marriages in the word - people were just in love with getting married, and never calculated on the long, hard pull together through life. Marriage is the most intolerable thing on earth if there is no love or not enough, and I guess it's nearest to Heaven if the love is true and pure and unselfish."
The other is "a bad promise is better broken than kept".
It was definitely well written and from the heart, but this girl I did not care for.
Amorelle's father passes away, and although she claims to cling to the Lord and has a promised letter from her father to help her see to things, she's so self-absorbed that she locks the letter away FOR A YEAR without even seeing if there was life insurance or bank dealings or loans or *ANYTHING* she should take care of...
... and she doesn't *remember* God until Russell comes along. Instead, she plays victimized Cinderella in a household where no one would tolerate such treatment.
Russell's part in the book is minimal, as well - it's hard to believe after only three visits, he's declaring undying love to her.
HAVING SAID... I connected with this book in a number of ways. I was engaged to a 'George', and knew it was the wrong thing. Spent weeks and months in tears over it, and when presented with a ring, cried so hard I had to go out in sunglasses (it was long-distanced to me from Korea, so breaking up wasn't as easy as you think). So I did feel her pain, and know how confusing feelings can be for a very young girl sheltered away.
There are also some amazing lines in the book. My favorite was:
"That is what's the matter with half the marriages in the word - people were just in love with getting married, and never calculated on the long, hard pull together through life. Marriage is the most intolerable thing on earth if there is no love or not enough, and I guess it's nearest to Heaven if the love is true and pure and unselfish."
The other is "a bad promise is better broken than kept".
It was definitely well written and from the heart, but this girl I did not care for.
March 7, 2021
This was another sweet story by one of my favorite authors.
Amorelle is a pastor's daughter. Her father dies, leaving her world turned upside-down. She travels west to spend time with her uncle, although she doesn't really know him, but she finds herself in a totally different world. She's treated like a regular servant instead of a family member by everyone except her uncle, who seems to be a shriveled man, bulldozed by his wife and stepdaughter.
Amorelle's faith keeps her strong through whatever they can dish out at her, until she meets George. He makes her feel things that confuse her, and when she thinks she's trusting God to show her the way, she's really floundering around, trying to find her own way.
Then there's the chance picnic she goes on with her cousin and there friends, where she meets Russell. He's actually supposed to be her cousin's guest of honor, but circumstances separate Amorelle from the rest of the party and Russell can't see her being left alone, so Amorelle becomes even more confused about her feelings for George and men in general.
Grace Livingston Hill always takes interesting situations and unravels them somehow, and it was fun reading the end of this one.
Amorelle is a pastor's daughter. Her father dies, leaving her world turned upside-down. She travels west to spend time with her uncle, although she doesn't really know him, but she finds herself in a totally different world. She's treated like a regular servant instead of a family member by everyone except her uncle, who seems to be a shriveled man, bulldozed by his wife and stepdaughter.
Amorelle's faith keeps her strong through whatever they can dish out at her, until she meets George. He makes her feel things that confuse her, and when she thinks she's trusting God to show her the way, she's really floundering around, trying to find her own way.
Then there's the chance picnic she goes on with her cousin and there friends, where she meets Russell. He's actually supposed to be her cousin's guest of honor, but circumstances separate Amorelle from the rest of the party and Russell can't see her being left alone, so Amorelle becomes even more confused about her feelings for George and men in general.
Grace Livingston Hill always takes interesting situations and unravels them somehow, and it was fun reading the end of this one.
June 25, 2021
A friend I met in college got me started reading GLH's books. I can't remember if this is one of the titles she gave me. I know I did eventually get a list of GLH's books and managed to read all of them and at one point owned most of them. I only recently found out that this is one of that friend's favorites.
I think it had some good points to make on choosing the person you're going to marry.
I think it had some good points to make on choosing the person you're going to marry.
January 12, 2020
Grace, you've done it again.
What another delightful story. This book was interesting, and so what aggravating through it all. I love Grace's stories. Wish I could have met her back in the day.
What another delightful story. This book was interesting, and so what aggravating through it all. I love Grace's stories. Wish I could have met her back in the day.
April 12, 2019
This is my 2nd favorite now from Grace. Her books are always good, but this one had some good funny parts also.
June 24, 2021
Great book
February 17, 2024
Amorelle
This is another sweet romance where the author has woven the plan of salvation into the story, with the main players showing strength of character. I recommend this book.
This is another sweet romance where the author has woven the plan of salvation into the story, with the main players showing strength of character. I recommend this book.
February 24, 2024
Classic Grace Livingston Hill !!!
December 17, 2025
A sweet and dramatic romance with a satisfying conclusion.
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