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The Search
In the midst of a desperate world war, spirited Ruth Macdonald helps a lonely soldier find the love he longs for.
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.
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.
208 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1919
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About the author
Grace Livingston Hill
606 books573 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 - 30 of 42 reviews
February 26, 2019
Another book I didn’t care for.
I haven’t read my GLH books, so I couldn’t tell if this book was different than her usual style, or not, but I don’t remember the other books being quite like this.
What I liked:
–Ruth and John were characters that made me want to really get to know them, however, I was never given the opportunity since this story seemed to keep me at arm’s length. I never felt connected with them at all or like they were real.
–I did like that the Gospel was clearly presented once. And there was no scene that was inappropriate.
What I didn’t like:
Historical inaccuracies like–
– A ship taking troops across to France whose highest officers are a Captain and a Lieutenant. In all my research and studies of the first world war, this did not happen. Add to that the officers decide to lock every soldier up in the hold or someplace with the port holes covered, for a long time. Their food was terrible, but the officers ate well. When they did let them up on deck, they required them to say on deck even if it was raining, and by the time they reached France many were sick and weak. Huh? How do you expect soldiers who are sick and weak to fight a war?
– A fat and flabby Lieutenant? Double Huh!! First off, I don’t care how much money you have, you are not going to get through training and be shipping overseas still fat and flabby. Yeah, you might be able to pull off a desk job in the States and stay fat and flabby, but not otherwise. Second, if you arrived in France that way, there is no way you could stay that way! Especially not in the front lines!
– No one was allowed to ask for a transfer to a different company? Since when? And it was against the law to go above your officer’s heads to try to get someone transferred when you knew and had connections higher up?
– Yes, the Gospel was presented once, but that is not how the characters “found Christ.” One supposedly “found Him” by seeing a figure in white and then it was gone “because He had come into his heart.” And supposedly John couldn’t “find God” because he disliked someone. So . . . his salvation was dependent on his own works and not on what Christ did. That is heresy. And Ruth “found God” by helping some poor people in her city. The Bible doesn’t say “do good works and you will be saved.” It says “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” This was not clear.
– There were long, sometimes very long, paragraphs that told things but didn’t seem to move the story along. I felt as though the author was moralizing or just rambling to her audience while the curtains were down during a scene change. It felt rather dull.
Overall, while I didn’t enjoy this story, I am willing to read other books by this author.
I haven’t read my GLH books, so I couldn’t tell if this book was different than her usual style, or not, but I don’t remember the other books being quite like this.
What I liked:
–Ruth and John were characters that made me want to really get to know them, however, I was never given the opportunity since this story seemed to keep me at arm’s length. I never felt connected with them at all or like they were real.
–I did like that the Gospel was clearly presented once. And there was no scene that was inappropriate.
What I didn’t like:
Historical inaccuracies like–
– A ship taking troops across to France whose highest officers are a Captain and a Lieutenant. In all my research and studies of the first world war, this did not happen. Add to that the officers decide to lock every soldier up in the hold or someplace with the port holes covered, for a long time. Their food was terrible, but the officers ate well. When they did let them up on deck, they required them to say on deck even if it was raining, and by the time they reached France many were sick and weak. Huh? How do you expect soldiers who are sick and weak to fight a war?
– A fat and flabby Lieutenant? Double Huh!! First off, I don’t care how much money you have, you are not going to get through training and be shipping overseas still fat and flabby. Yeah, you might be able to pull off a desk job in the States and stay fat and flabby, but not otherwise. Second, if you arrived in France that way, there is no way you could stay that way! Especially not in the front lines!
– No one was allowed to ask for a transfer to a different company? Since when? And it was against the law to go above your officer’s heads to try to get someone transferred when you knew and had connections higher up?
– Yes, the Gospel was presented once, but that is not how the characters “found Christ.” One supposedly “found Him” by seeing a figure in white and then it was gone “because He had come into his heart.” And supposedly John couldn’t “find God” because he disliked someone. So . . . his salvation was dependent on his own works and not on what Christ did. That is heresy. And Ruth “found God” by helping some poor people in her city. The Bible doesn’t say “do good works and you will be saved.” It says “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.” This was not clear.
– There were long, sometimes very long, paragraphs that told things but didn’t seem to move the story along. I felt as though the author was moralizing or just rambling to her audience while the curtains were down during a scene change. It felt rather dull.
Overall, while I didn’t enjoy this story, I am willing to read other books by this author.
Read
May 22, 2014Am currently rereading this one, as I didn't remember it. Believe it or not, my copy was my grandmother's 1919 hardcover, with dust jacket! Actually published during the war, the back of the dust jacket is not a review, but an admonishment to save paper, as every bit is needed for the effort! The pages are yellowed and brittle, but this is the copy I'm reading.
After refinishing it, I see it doesn't quite fit the usual GLH in that neither main character is already a believer, but the Great War setting does naturally lead to one asking what is the point of it all anyway, so it all works out. Not necessarily her strongest work.
After refinishing it, I see it doesn't quite fit the usual GLH in that neither main character is already a believer, but the Great War setting does naturally lead to one asking what is the point of it all anyway, so it all works out. Not necessarily her strongest work.
November 14, 2022
Another overnight GLH read. This time because sleep was disturbed by tummy trouble. I know I keep using the same word, sweet, but they all are. Sweet and naïve. The reverence she has for the government was even stronger than usual in this one. So cringey that I think I'll only rate it an OK.
An actual professional recording this time (I was forced to take a trial month membership in Audible to be able to return a book—I'd already read it under another title—so I'll indulge in the freebies while I can). Reader was OK, but not great.
An actual professional recording this time (I was forced to take a trial month membership in Audible to be able to return a book—I'd already read it under another title—so I'll indulge in the freebies while I can). Reader was OK, but not great.
August 15, 2025
The search refers to a search to know God, and those parts of the book were actually quite realistic and touching. But I got really tired of the lack of communication between the characters regarding the jerk.
2025 reread: Until I looked it up here, I did not remember reading this before. I mostly agree with the previous review, but I think I liked it a little better this time. I certainly better appreciated the passages where Hill describes the actions and emotions of a nation at war, and the experiences of the soldiers seem to be almost a lived experience.
2025 reread: Until I looked it up here, I did not remember reading this before. I mostly agree with the previous review, but I think I liked it a little better this time. I certainly better appreciated the passages where Hill describes the actions and emotions of a nation at war, and the experiences of the soldiers seem to be almost a lived experience.
March 13, 2022
It’s hard to find the words, but it’s like a choir is singing inside my heart with soft sunlight flooding my eyes.
July 12, 2024
Honestly, this wasn't well-written. I did love the themes of forgiveness and seeking after God. However, I thought her gospel messages were a bit weak, which isn't normal.
I loved reading this vintage copy.
I loved reading this vintage copy.
November 4, 2021
Grace Livingston Hill's "The Search" is a World War 1, religious romance but the search is not what I thought, a missing soldier but the search for God. John Cameron has started to think about God more and wanting to find him in life, especially since he may die fighting for his country. I seek out reading Pansy and Grace's books, for their novels bring God closer to me. The wholesome religious element gives me food for thought. John has been given a Bible and told to read daily, I find this practice a way to keep God in my life everyday, busy as I maybe, I find this practice gives me strength.
This was published in 1919, the war was not far away, Grace does a good job with the way she portrayed war life, it was not easy. I have heard of the terrible overseas voyages and the suffering of the soldiers, Grace brings this and other hard conditions. It was interesting hearing that The Salvation Army and the YMCA had an active part. Once again I read an older book and the mentioning of college not enhancing faith but actually belittling one with faith and religion in general. Today's shunning of faith in life and schools is quite abundant, sometimes it is easy to blame modern generations with diminishing morality which today it seems super charged but in actually this started more then 100 years ago and it was also evident in the nineteenth century. Looking at art is another way to see how religion has become less important in society. Giotto, Raphael, Masaccio and other master artists having God in the majority of their works, where are the great artists of today, and what do they paint? I just hope and pray that God becomes more important in society as a whole.
Story in short-Ruth is a rich young girl doing her wartime duty but not until she sees a childhood friend going off to train for war, does the war really come to her.
Once again Grace Livingston Hill tells a wonderfully romantic read.
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler alert❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌
Wainwright is an unbearable pompous jerk. I loved that Ruth was able to shed her social distinction and not let that interfere with her helping and caring for others. John's ability to put pride aside and help Wainwright despite his claim on Ruth and his cruelty.
"She’s just nuts about you. What do you say? Shall I call her up?” “Well, hardly to-night, Bob,” said the first lieutenant thoughtfully, “she’s a ripping fine girl and all that, of course, but the fact is, Bob, I’ve decided to marry Ruth Macdonald and I haven’t much time left before I go over. I think I’ll have to get things fixed up between us to-night, you see. Perhaps—later——. But no. I guess that wouldn’t do."
“You’ve decided to marry Ruth Macdonald!” he ejaculated, staring. “But has Ruth Macdonald decided to marry you?” “I hardly think there’ll be any trouble on that score when I get ready to propose,” smiled the first lieutenant complacently, as he
lolled back in his seat. “You seem surprised,” he added. “Well, rather!” said the other officer dryly, still staring. “What’s there so surprising about that?” The first lieutenant was enjoying the sensation he was creating. He knew that the second lieutenant had always been “sweet” on Ruth Macdonald. “Well, you know, Harry, you’re pretty rotten!” said the second lieutenant uneasily, a flush beginning to rise in his face. “I didn’t think you’d have the nerve. She’s a mighty fine girl, you know. She’s—unusual!” “Exactly. Didn’t you suppose I would want a fine girl when I marry?” “I don’t believe you’re really going to do it!” burst forth the second lieutenant. “In fact, I don’t believe I’ll let you do it if you try!”
“But your college records, Harry, how could they get around those? Or didn’t they look you up?” “Oh, mother fixed that all up. She sent the college a good fat check to establish a new scholarship or something.”
“Oh, having some fun with his girl! At least I suppose she must have been his girl the way he carried on about it. He said he didn’t know her, but of course that was all bluff. Then, too, I called his father a name he didn’t like and he lit into me again. Good night! I thought that was the end of little Harry! I was sick for a week after he got through with me. He certainly is some brute."
“Well, but wait till you see where I’ve got him! He’s in the draft. He goes next week. And they’re sending all those men to our camp! He’ll be a private, of course, and he’ll have to salute me! Won’t that gall him?” “He won’t do it! I know him, and he won’t do it!”
“Now what in thunder is that Captain La Rue going on to Bryne Haven for? I thought, of course, he got off at Spring Heights. That’s where his mother lives. I’ll bet he is going up to see Ruth Macdonald! You know they’re related."
“All right, come on, only you must promise there won’t be any scrapes that will get me into the papers and blow back to Bryne Haven. You know there’s a lot of Bryne Haven people go to Atlantic City this time of year and I’m not going to have any stories started. I’m going to marry Ruth Macdonald!”
It is wartime and two officers, Bob Wetherill and Harry Wainwright are talking about some girls but Harry says he is going to marry Ruth Macdonald, Bob does not think his friend is right for Ruth. Harry seems to take marriage lightly. Captain La Rue is Ruth's cousin. The officers see on the train John Cameron who defended a girl's honor and beat up Harry.
"She had read about their going and heard people mention it the last week, but it had not entered much into her thoughts. She had not realized that it would be a ceremony of public interest like this. She had no friends whom it would touch. The young men of her circle had all taken warning in plenty of time and found themselves a commission somewhere, two of them having settled up matters but a few days before. She had thought of these draft men, when she had thought of them at all, only when she saw mention of them in the newspapers, and then as a lot of workingmen or farmers’ boys who were reluctant to leave their homes and had to be forced into patriotism in this way. It had not occurred to her that there were many honorable young men who would take this way of putting themselves at the disposal of their country in her time of need, without attempting to feather a nice little nest for themselves."
"As she looked closer the girl saw they were not mature men as at first glance they had seemed, but most of them mere boys. There was the boy that mowed the Macdonald lawn, and the yellow-haired grocery boy. There was the gas man and the nice young plumber who fixed the leak in the water pipes the other day, and the clerk from the post office, and the cashier from the bank! What made them look so old at first sight? Why, it was as if sorrow and responsibility had suddenly been put upon them like a garment that morning for a uniform, and they walked in the shadow of the great sadness that had come upon the world. She understood that perhaps even up to the very day before, they had most of them been merry, careless boys; but now they were men, made so in a night by the horrible sin that had brought about this thing called War."
"She liked them all, her friends, and shrank from having them in danger; although it was splendid to have them doing something real at last. In truth until this moment the danger had seemed so remote; the casualty list of which people spoke with bated breath so much a thing of vast unknown numbers, that it had scarcely come within her realization as yet. But now she suddenly read the truth in the suffering eyes of these people who were met to say good-bye, perhaps a last good-bye, to those who were dearer than life to them. How would she, Ruth Macdonald, feel, if one of those boys were her brother or lover? It was inconceivably dreadful."
"Ruth’s eyes went reluctantly back to the marching line again. Somehow it struck her that they would not have seemed so forlorn if they had worn new trig uniforms, instead of rusty varied civilian clothes. They seemed like an ill-prepared sacrifice passing in review. Then suddenly her gaze was riveted upon a single figure, the last man in the procession, marching alone, with uplifted head and a look of self-abnegation on his strong young face. All at once something sharp seemed to slash through her soul and hold her with a long quiver of pain and she sat looking straight ahead staring with a kind of wild frenzy at John Cameron walking alone at the end of the line."
"She could feel the thrill of her little childish heart now as she realized that he had given the rose to her. The next term she was sent to a private school and saw no more of him save an occasional glimpse in passing him on the street, but she never had forgotten him; and now and then she had heard little scraps of news about him. He was
working his way through college. He was on the football team and the baseball team. She knew vaguely that his father had died and their money was gone, but beyond that she had no knowledge of him."
"And she was sitting in her luxurious car with a bundle of wool at her feet, and presuming to bear her part by mere knitting! Poor little useless woman that she was! A thing to send a man forth from everything he counted dear or wanted to do, into suffering and hardship—and death—perhaps! She shuddered as she watched his face with its strong uplifted look, and its unutterable sorrow. She had not thought he could look like that!"
"The train had slipped along ten feet or more and was gaining speed when John Cameron’s eyes met those of Ruth Macdonald, and her vivid speaking face flashed its message to his soul. A pleased wonder sprang into his eyes, a question as his glance lingered, held by the tumult in her face, and the unmistakable personality of her glance. Then his face lit up with its old smile, graver, oh, much! and more deferential than it used to be, with a certain courtliness in it that spoke of maturity of spirit. He lifted his hat a little higher and waved it just a trifle in recognition of her greeting, wondering in sudden confusion if he were really not mistaken after all and had perhaps been appropriating a farewell that belonged to someone else; then amazed and pleased at the flutter of her handkerchief in reply."
Ruth Macdonald has been helping in the war effort but not until she saw the regular boys saying goodbye to their loved ones did she really feel all that war meant but she had no loved ones going. Suddenly she sees John Cameron, a boy from her past when she was seven, he gave her a rose. Her heart went out to him and she said all that when she saw him on the train. He was surprised but quite happy, he had waved goodbye.
“You don’t need to, you’ve given your son,” said Ruth flashing a glance of glorified understanding at the woman. A beautiful smile came out on the tired sorrowful face. “Yes, I’ve given him,” she said, “but I’m hoping God will give him back again some day. Do you think that’s too much to hope. He is such a good boy!” “Of course not,” said Ruth sharply with a sudden sting of apprehension in her soul. And then she remembered that she had no very intimate acquaintance with God."
“I shall come,” said Ruth brightly. “I’ve enjoyed you ever so much.” Then she started her car and whirled away into the sunshine. “She won’t come, of course,” said the woman to herself as she stood looking mournfully after the car, reluctant to go into the empty house. “I wish she would! Isn’t she just like a flower! How wonderful it would be if things had been different, and there hadn’t been any war, and my boy could have had her for a friend! Oh!”
“Well, good-bye, Ruth dear. Don’t hesitate to let me know if you’d like to have either of the other two large ones for your own ‘specials,’ you know. I shan’t mind changing the order a bit. Harry said you were to have as many as you wanted. I’ll hold the proofs for a day or two and let you think it over.” Ruth lifted her eyes to see the gaze of every woman in the room upon her, and for a moment she felt as if she almost hated poor fat doting Mamma Wainwright. Then the humorous side of the moment came to help her and her face blossomed into a smile as she jauntily replied: “Oh, no, please don’t bother, Mrs. Wainwright. I’m not going to paper the wall with them. I have other friends, you know. I think your choice was the best of them all.”
"But somehow everything was changed within the heart of Ruth Macdonald and she looked about on all the familiar places with new eyes. What right had she to be living here in all this luxury while over there men were dying every day that she might live?"
Ruth sees the older woman seeing John Cameron off and offers the mother a ride. Mrs. Cameron talks about her son and was happy that Ruth knew John when they were kids. Ruth is 19 now. Ruth tells her that she will visit her, Mrs. Cameron likes Ruth but thinks she will not see her again. Ruth goes to the Club House and helps with war knitting of socks. Dottie is Bob's sister and she tells Ruth about her brother. Mrs. Wainwright takes for granted that Ruth and her son will marry, she shows Ruth the pictures of Harry in his uniform.
"This life on earth was not all of existence. There must be something bigger beyond. It wasn’t sane and sensible to think that any God would allow such waste of humanity as to let some suffer all the way through with nothing beyond to compensate. There was a meaning to the suffering. There must be. It must be a preparation for something beyond, infinitely better and more worth while. What was it and how should he learn the meaning of his own particular bit?"
"In college he had been too much engrossed with other things to listen to the arguments, or to be influenced by the general atmosphere of unbelief."
"Sometime during the course of the afternoon it occurred to him to look at the date of the letter, and he found to his dismay that it had been written nearly four weeks before and had been travelling around through various departments in search of him, because it had not the correct address. He readily guessed that she had not wanted to ask for his company and barracks; she would not have known who to ask. She did not know his mother, and who else was there? His old companions were mostly gone to France or camp somewhere. And now, since all this time had elapsed she would think he had not cared, had scorned her letter or thought it unmaidenly! He was filled with dismay and anxiety lest he had hurt her frankness by his seeming indifference. And the knitted things, the wonderful things that she had made with her fair hands! Would she have given them to some one else by this time?"
"It was not merely pride in his own superiority. It was contempt for the nature of the man, for his low contemptible plots and tricks, and cunning ways, for his entire lack of principle, and his utter selfishness and heartlessness, that made Cameron feel justified in his attitude toward Wainwright. “He is nothing but a Hun at heart,” he told himself bitterly."
"His face under its usual control showed no sign of the tumult in his heart, which flamed with a sudden despair against a fate that had placed him in such a desperate situation. If there were a just power who controlled the affairs of men, how could it let such things happen to one who had always tried to live up upright life? It seemed for that instant as if all the unfairness and injustice of his own hard life had culminated in that one moment when he would have to do or not do and bear the consequences. Then suddenly out from the barracks close at hand with brisk step and noble bearing came Captain La Rue,"
"Lieutenant Wainwright lingered on the steps of the barracks with a growing curiosity and satisfaction. The enemy were playing right into his hands: both the enemy—for he hated Captain La Rue as sin always hates the light."
“Aw! A week more won’t make any difference,” drawled another familiar voice, “I say, Hal, she’s just crazy about you and you could get no end of information out of her if you tried. All she asks is that you tell what you know about a few little things that don’t matter anyway.” “But I tell you I can’t, man. If Ruth found out about the girl the mischief would be to pay. She wouldn’t stand for another girl—not that kind of a girl, you know, and there wouldn’t be time for me to explain and smooth things over before I go across the Pond. I tell you I’ve made up my mind about this.”
John receives Ruth's letter and is on cloud 9 but it has been four weeks since she sent it. He is off to the YMCA to write her when Wainwright the superior officer looks to cause trouble, John refuses to salute him and he is not sure what will happen, Captain La Rue comes to speak to John which diffuses the situation. Wainwright hears about a transfer of John to La Rue's company which Wainwright looks to make John look like getting pull not allowed and tells his superior. John writes to Ruth and hopes she will have it soon but after hearing Wainwright in the mess hall talking about marrying Ruth, his heart sinks.
This was published in 1919, the war was not far away, Grace does a good job with the way she portrayed war life, it was not easy. I have heard of the terrible overseas voyages and the suffering of the soldiers, Grace brings this and other hard conditions. It was interesting hearing that The Salvation Army and the YMCA had an active part. Once again I read an older book and the mentioning of college not enhancing faith but actually belittling one with faith and religion in general. Today's shunning of faith in life and schools is quite abundant, sometimes it is easy to blame modern generations with diminishing morality which today it seems super charged but in actually this started more then 100 years ago and it was also evident in the nineteenth century. Looking at art is another way to see how religion has become less important in society. Giotto, Raphael, Masaccio and other master artists having God in the majority of their works, where are the great artists of today, and what do they paint? I just hope and pray that God becomes more important in society as a whole.
Story in short-Ruth is a rich young girl doing her wartime duty but not until she sees a childhood friend going off to train for war, does the war really come to her.
Once again Grace Livingston Hill tells a wonderfully romantic read.
❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler alert❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌
Wainwright is an unbearable pompous jerk. I loved that Ruth was able to shed her social distinction and not let that interfere with her helping and caring for others. John's ability to put pride aside and help Wainwright despite his claim on Ruth and his cruelty.
"She’s just nuts about you. What do you say? Shall I call her up?” “Well, hardly to-night, Bob,” said the first lieutenant thoughtfully, “she’s a ripping fine girl and all that, of course, but the fact is, Bob, I’ve decided to marry Ruth Macdonald and I haven’t much time left before I go over. I think I’ll have to get things fixed up between us to-night, you see. Perhaps—later——. But no. I guess that wouldn’t do."
“You’ve decided to marry Ruth Macdonald!” he ejaculated, staring. “But has Ruth Macdonald decided to marry you?” “I hardly think there’ll be any trouble on that score when I get ready to propose,” smiled the first lieutenant complacently, as he
lolled back in his seat. “You seem surprised,” he added. “Well, rather!” said the other officer dryly, still staring. “What’s there so surprising about that?” The first lieutenant was enjoying the sensation he was creating. He knew that the second lieutenant had always been “sweet” on Ruth Macdonald. “Well, you know, Harry, you’re pretty rotten!” said the second lieutenant uneasily, a flush beginning to rise in his face. “I didn’t think you’d have the nerve. She’s a mighty fine girl, you know. She’s—unusual!” “Exactly. Didn’t you suppose I would want a fine girl when I marry?” “I don’t believe you’re really going to do it!” burst forth the second lieutenant. “In fact, I don’t believe I’ll let you do it if you try!”
“But your college records, Harry, how could they get around those? Or didn’t they look you up?” “Oh, mother fixed that all up. She sent the college a good fat check to establish a new scholarship or something.”
“Oh, having some fun with his girl! At least I suppose she must have been his girl the way he carried on about it. He said he didn’t know her, but of course that was all bluff. Then, too, I called his father a name he didn’t like and he lit into me again. Good night! I thought that was the end of little Harry! I was sick for a week after he got through with me. He certainly is some brute."
“Well, but wait till you see where I’ve got him! He’s in the draft. He goes next week. And they’re sending all those men to our camp! He’ll be a private, of course, and he’ll have to salute me! Won’t that gall him?” “He won’t do it! I know him, and he won’t do it!”
“Now what in thunder is that Captain La Rue going on to Bryne Haven for? I thought, of course, he got off at Spring Heights. That’s where his mother lives. I’ll bet he is going up to see Ruth Macdonald! You know they’re related."
“All right, come on, only you must promise there won’t be any scrapes that will get me into the papers and blow back to Bryne Haven. You know there’s a lot of Bryne Haven people go to Atlantic City this time of year and I’m not going to have any stories started. I’m going to marry Ruth Macdonald!”
It is wartime and two officers, Bob Wetherill and Harry Wainwright are talking about some girls but Harry says he is going to marry Ruth Macdonald, Bob does not think his friend is right for Ruth. Harry seems to take marriage lightly. Captain La Rue is Ruth's cousin. The officers see on the train John Cameron who defended a girl's honor and beat up Harry.
"She had read about their going and heard people mention it the last week, but it had not entered much into her thoughts. She had not realized that it would be a ceremony of public interest like this. She had no friends whom it would touch. The young men of her circle had all taken warning in plenty of time and found themselves a commission somewhere, two of them having settled up matters but a few days before. She had thought of these draft men, when she had thought of them at all, only when she saw mention of them in the newspapers, and then as a lot of workingmen or farmers’ boys who were reluctant to leave their homes and had to be forced into patriotism in this way. It had not occurred to her that there were many honorable young men who would take this way of putting themselves at the disposal of their country in her time of need, without attempting to feather a nice little nest for themselves."
"As she looked closer the girl saw they were not mature men as at first glance they had seemed, but most of them mere boys. There was the boy that mowed the Macdonald lawn, and the yellow-haired grocery boy. There was the gas man and the nice young plumber who fixed the leak in the water pipes the other day, and the clerk from the post office, and the cashier from the bank! What made them look so old at first sight? Why, it was as if sorrow and responsibility had suddenly been put upon them like a garment that morning for a uniform, and they walked in the shadow of the great sadness that had come upon the world. She understood that perhaps even up to the very day before, they had most of them been merry, careless boys; but now they were men, made so in a night by the horrible sin that had brought about this thing called War."
"She liked them all, her friends, and shrank from having them in danger; although it was splendid to have them doing something real at last. In truth until this moment the danger had seemed so remote; the casualty list of which people spoke with bated breath so much a thing of vast unknown numbers, that it had scarcely come within her realization as yet. But now she suddenly read the truth in the suffering eyes of these people who were met to say good-bye, perhaps a last good-bye, to those who were dearer than life to them. How would she, Ruth Macdonald, feel, if one of those boys were her brother or lover? It was inconceivably dreadful."
"Ruth’s eyes went reluctantly back to the marching line again. Somehow it struck her that they would not have seemed so forlorn if they had worn new trig uniforms, instead of rusty varied civilian clothes. They seemed like an ill-prepared sacrifice passing in review. Then suddenly her gaze was riveted upon a single figure, the last man in the procession, marching alone, with uplifted head and a look of self-abnegation on his strong young face. All at once something sharp seemed to slash through her soul and hold her with a long quiver of pain and she sat looking straight ahead staring with a kind of wild frenzy at John Cameron walking alone at the end of the line."
"She could feel the thrill of her little childish heart now as she realized that he had given the rose to her. The next term she was sent to a private school and saw no more of him save an occasional glimpse in passing him on the street, but she never had forgotten him; and now and then she had heard little scraps of news about him. He was
working his way through college. He was on the football team and the baseball team. She knew vaguely that his father had died and their money was gone, but beyond that she had no knowledge of him."
"And she was sitting in her luxurious car with a bundle of wool at her feet, and presuming to bear her part by mere knitting! Poor little useless woman that she was! A thing to send a man forth from everything he counted dear or wanted to do, into suffering and hardship—and death—perhaps! She shuddered as she watched his face with its strong uplifted look, and its unutterable sorrow. She had not thought he could look like that!"
"The train had slipped along ten feet or more and was gaining speed when John Cameron’s eyes met those of Ruth Macdonald, and her vivid speaking face flashed its message to his soul. A pleased wonder sprang into his eyes, a question as his glance lingered, held by the tumult in her face, and the unmistakable personality of her glance. Then his face lit up with its old smile, graver, oh, much! and more deferential than it used to be, with a certain courtliness in it that spoke of maturity of spirit. He lifted his hat a little higher and waved it just a trifle in recognition of her greeting, wondering in sudden confusion if he were really not mistaken after all and had perhaps been appropriating a farewell that belonged to someone else; then amazed and pleased at the flutter of her handkerchief in reply."
Ruth Macdonald has been helping in the war effort but not until she saw the regular boys saying goodbye to their loved ones did she really feel all that war meant but she had no loved ones going. Suddenly she sees John Cameron, a boy from her past when she was seven, he gave her a rose. Her heart went out to him and she said all that when she saw him on the train. He was surprised but quite happy, he had waved goodbye.
“You don’t need to, you’ve given your son,” said Ruth flashing a glance of glorified understanding at the woman. A beautiful smile came out on the tired sorrowful face. “Yes, I’ve given him,” she said, “but I’m hoping God will give him back again some day. Do you think that’s too much to hope. He is such a good boy!” “Of course not,” said Ruth sharply with a sudden sting of apprehension in her soul. And then she remembered that she had no very intimate acquaintance with God."
“I shall come,” said Ruth brightly. “I’ve enjoyed you ever so much.” Then she started her car and whirled away into the sunshine. “She won’t come, of course,” said the woman to herself as she stood looking mournfully after the car, reluctant to go into the empty house. “I wish she would! Isn’t she just like a flower! How wonderful it would be if things had been different, and there hadn’t been any war, and my boy could have had her for a friend! Oh!”
“Well, good-bye, Ruth dear. Don’t hesitate to let me know if you’d like to have either of the other two large ones for your own ‘specials,’ you know. I shan’t mind changing the order a bit. Harry said you were to have as many as you wanted. I’ll hold the proofs for a day or two and let you think it over.” Ruth lifted her eyes to see the gaze of every woman in the room upon her, and for a moment she felt as if she almost hated poor fat doting Mamma Wainwright. Then the humorous side of the moment came to help her and her face blossomed into a smile as she jauntily replied: “Oh, no, please don’t bother, Mrs. Wainwright. I’m not going to paper the wall with them. I have other friends, you know. I think your choice was the best of them all.”
"But somehow everything was changed within the heart of Ruth Macdonald and she looked about on all the familiar places with new eyes. What right had she to be living here in all this luxury while over there men were dying every day that she might live?"
Ruth sees the older woman seeing John Cameron off and offers the mother a ride. Mrs. Cameron talks about her son and was happy that Ruth knew John when they were kids. Ruth is 19 now. Ruth tells her that she will visit her, Mrs. Cameron likes Ruth but thinks she will not see her again. Ruth goes to the Club House and helps with war knitting of socks. Dottie is Bob's sister and she tells Ruth about her brother. Mrs. Wainwright takes for granted that Ruth and her son will marry, she shows Ruth the pictures of Harry in his uniform.
"This life on earth was not all of existence. There must be something bigger beyond. It wasn’t sane and sensible to think that any God would allow such waste of humanity as to let some suffer all the way through with nothing beyond to compensate. There was a meaning to the suffering. There must be. It must be a preparation for something beyond, infinitely better and more worth while. What was it and how should he learn the meaning of his own particular bit?"
"In college he had been too much engrossed with other things to listen to the arguments, or to be influenced by the general atmosphere of unbelief."
"Sometime during the course of the afternoon it occurred to him to look at the date of the letter, and he found to his dismay that it had been written nearly four weeks before and had been travelling around through various departments in search of him, because it had not the correct address. He readily guessed that she had not wanted to ask for his company and barracks; she would not have known who to ask. She did not know his mother, and who else was there? His old companions were mostly gone to France or camp somewhere. And now, since all this time had elapsed she would think he had not cared, had scorned her letter or thought it unmaidenly! He was filled with dismay and anxiety lest he had hurt her frankness by his seeming indifference. And the knitted things, the wonderful things that she had made with her fair hands! Would she have given them to some one else by this time?"
"It was not merely pride in his own superiority. It was contempt for the nature of the man, for his low contemptible plots and tricks, and cunning ways, for his entire lack of principle, and his utter selfishness and heartlessness, that made Cameron feel justified in his attitude toward Wainwright. “He is nothing but a Hun at heart,” he told himself bitterly."
"His face under its usual control showed no sign of the tumult in his heart, which flamed with a sudden despair against a fate that had placed him in such a desperate situation. If there were a just power who controlled the affairs of men, how could it let such things happen to one who had always tried to live up upright life? It seemed for that instant as if all the unfairness and injustice of his own hard life had culminated in that one moment when he would have to do or not do and bear the consequences. Then suddenly out from the barracks close at hand with brisk step and noble bearing came Captain La Rue,"
"Lieutenant Wainwright lingered on the steps of the barracks with a growing curiosity and satisfaction. The enemy were playing right into his hands: both the enemy—for he hated Captain La Rue as sin always hates the light."
“Aw! A week more won’t make any difference,” drawled another familiar voice, “I say, Hal, she’s just crazy about you and you could get no end of information out of her if you tried. All she asks is that you tell what you know about a few little things that don’t matter anyway.” “But I tell you I can’t, man. If Ruth found out about the girl the mischief would be to pay. She wouldn’t stand for another girl—not that kind of a girl, you know, and there wouldn’t be time for me to explain and smooth things over before I go across the Pond. I tell you I’ve made up my mind about this.”
John receives Ruth's letter and is on cloud 9 but it has been four weeks since she sent it. He is off to the YMCA to write her when Wainwright the superior officer looks to cause trouble, John refuses to salute him and he is not sure what will happen, Captain La Rue comes to speak to John which diffuses the situation. Wainwright hears about a transfer of John to La Rue's company which Wainwright looks to make John look like getting pull not allowed and tells his superior. John writes to Ruth and hopes she will have it soon but after hearing Wainwright in the mess hall talking about marrying Ruth, his heart sinks.
January 7, 2022
I've been trying to read every Grace Livingston Hill book and I finally got around to this one. Honestly, I've been putting it off for a year or better because it just didn't look interesting to me. I have not, historically, been a fan of some of her WWII novels and for whatever reason, this one just looked so horrible that I expected that I would read it last. However, I just finished a compendium of her other WWII novels (some of which weren't too bad, actually), so I decided to pick this one up hoping that I could ride the flow of WWII novels and that this one wouldn't be as bad as I expected.
Well, I am pleasantly surprised to announce that I LOVED this book! It is definitely getting a 5 star review from me! The romance wasn't instant, there were some exciting parts, and the title actually made sense (I know, not a huge deal breaker, but still). It is definitely heavy on the religion themes, so if you are looking for one of GLH's more watered down romance novels, this isn't the one to pick up. In fact, the very title is depictive of the main character's "search" for God throughout the novel. As I sometimes like the more religiously themed novels by GLH, this was not a bad thing to me. (Although if you want a less preachy GLH WWII novel, maybe try Crimson Mountain? Or Through These Fires? Maybe Sound of the Trumpet? I mean, it IS GLH, though, so they'll all be at least a little preachy.) There were some parts where I was frustrated by the main characters' lack of communication, but where would a novel be without some foible to frustrate the main plot line.
Overall, I would definitely re-read this. In fact, my reading pendulum is actually swinging back and this book is making me WANT to read more of GLH's WWII novels! (I picked up Silver Wings next hoping it was about a WWII flyer - sadly, it does not appear to be. Maybe I'll re-read Crimson Mountain here soon...) I honestly don't know that it will be a frequent re-read even though I'm rating it 5 stars just because the war themes are a little heavy and sometimes I really don't want to be reading about death and killing...heck, this is why I read old fashioned authors - I want fluff people! But yes, this is definitely worth the read, and definitely worth the low low price of free on the amazon kindle app!
Well, I am pleasantly surprised to announce that I LOVED this book! It is definitely getting a 5 star review from me! The romance wasn't instant, there were some exciting parts, and the title actually made sense (I know, not a huge deal breaker, but still). It is definitely heavy on the religion themes, so if you are looking for one of GLH's more watered down romance novels, this isn't the one to pick up. In fact, the very title is depictive of the main character's "search" for God throughout the novel. As I sometimes like the more religiously themed novels by GLH, this was not a bad thing to me. (Although if you want a less preachy GLH WWII novel, maybe try Crimson Mountain? Or Through These Fires? Maybe Sound of the Trumpet? I mean, it IS GLH, though, so they'll all be at least a little preachy.) There were some parts where I was frustrated by the main characters' lack of communication, but where would a novel be without some foible to frustrate the main plot line.
Overall, I would definitely re-read this. In fact, my reading pendulum is actually swinging back and this book is making me WANT to read more of GLH's WWII novels! (I picked up Silver Wings next hoping it was about a WWII flyer - sadly, it does not appear to be. Maybe I'll re-read Crimson Mountain here soon...) I honestly don't know that it will be a frequent re-read even though I'm rating it 5 stars just because the war themes are a little heavy and sometimes I really don't want to be reading about death and killing...heck, this is why I read old fashioned authors - I want fluff people! But yes, this is definitely worth the read, and definitely worth the low low price of free on the amazon kindle app!
May 12, 2020
Rating: 4 / 5
In reading Ms. Hill's works, I've come across them in equal measure wherein some prioritize the romance, whereas others prioritize the faith. What the war-related books have to in common though is that they almost uniquely prioritize teaching and adopting faith in hard times, which I think is suitable given the situation. (A possible exception may be Crimson Mountain, which did take place during wartime, but was far detached from the war effort as a whole, if that makes sense.)
Anyway, between these two, with either prioritizing faith or romance, I have no particular preference, as all of Ms. Hill's works are just wonderful. I know that they are comfortable, familiar, and at their heart simple and caring, something that I can return to even in old age. As such, by now I've established quite a collection with her work.
The Search, my newest addition, is definitely something that balances out the faith and romance aspects wonderfully, with both the hero and heroine questioning what faith is and what they believe in. Since the stories I've come across usually have at least one of the lovers already aware of faith to a large degree, it was an unusual yet interesting change to have both Ruth MacDonald and John Cameron be unsure. War, however, changes many things, and Ms. Hill acknowledges this as both the breaking down of social barriers and introduction into new modes of faith. As such, it's really a masterful combination into her genre, and a marvelous example of her work if one is looking to "get" what Ms. Hill is really about.
Myself, I only had to downsize it one star because...well, perhaps I'm more of a sentimentalist than I thought, in that I found myself depressed with the war-related details, feeling a more vulnerable emotional state now than that which I usually have. As such, I literally don't have the heart to award this five stars just yet, though I'm convinced that in a future re-read, five stars will be upcoming to this work.
In reading Ms. Hill's works, I've come across them in equal measure wherein some prioritize the romance, whereas others prioritize the faith. What the war-related books have to in common though is that they almost uniquely prioritize teaching and adopting faith in hard times, which I think is suitable given the situation. (A possible exception may be Crimson Mountain, which did take place during wartime, but was far detached from the war effort as a whole, if that makes sense.)
Anyway, between these two, with either prioritizing faith or romance, I have no particular preference, as all of Ms. Hill's works are just wonderful. I know that they are comfortable, familiar, and at their heart simple and caring, something that I can return to even in old age. As such, by now I've established quite a collection with her work.
The Search, my newest addition, is definitely something that balances out the faith and romance aspects wonderfully, with both the hero and heroine questioning what faith is and what they believe in. Since the stories I've come across usually have at least one of the lovers already aware of faith to a large degree, it was an unusual yet interesting change to have both Ruth MacDonald and John Cameron be unsure. War, however, changes many things, and Ms. Hill acknowledges this as both the breaking down of social barriers and introduction into new modes of faith. As such, it's really a masterful combination into her genre, and a marvelous example of her work if one is looking to "get" what Ms. Hill is really about.
Myself, I only had to downsize it one star because...well, perhaps I'm more of a sentimentalist than I thought, in that I found myself depressed with the war-related details, feeling a more vulnerable emotional state now than that which I usually have. As such, I literally don't have the heart to award this five stars just yet, though I'm convinced that in a future re-read, five stars will be upcoming to this work.
March 23, 2012
Early on in the book, our heroine is irritated by someone saying that “you couldn’t get anywhere [in the Army] without a “pull”,” meaning you couldn’t get a commission without it. The heroine thinks her friend “was mistaken about “pull.” There was no such thing. It was all imagination. She knew, for her cousin, Captain La Rue, was very close to the Government and he had told her so. He said that real worth was always recognized, and that it didn’t make any difference where it was found or who your friends were. It mattered what you were.”
My first thought was, “Oh, yeah? Tell it to the black guys in the Army back then.” Then a few chapters later the heroine’s thinking about sending her knitting to “some needy man” amongst the “colored troops,” which to me just made the first statement all the more annoying.
But it turns out that our Hero spends a fair percentage of the book being abused by a Lieutenant, aided by a completely incompetent Captain, and the Lieutenant is able to torment our hero so thoroughly in part because he has “pull” – pull enough to block the hero’s transfer, for starts.
So while the heroine’s thoughts seem to be something the author believes, in terms of the entire plot they become quite ironic, in that it’s clear some people *do* get their positions through “pull”. It’s also true that “real worth” is recognized, and I have my doubts that GLH meant the original passage to sound as ironic as it does in light of the book as a whole. It's the first time I've seen her "seat of the pants" plotting change the meaning of an earlier passage this way.
My first thought was, “Oh, yeah? Tell it to the black guys in the Army back then.” Then a few chapters later the heroine’s thinking about sending her knitting to “some needy man” amongst the “colored troops,” which to me just made the first statement all the more annoying.
But it turns out that our Hero spends a fair percentage of the book being abused by a Lieutenant, aided by a completely incompetent Captain, and the Lieutenant is able to torment our hero so thoroughly in part because he has “pull” – pull enough to block the hero’s transfer, for starts.
So while the heroine’s thoughts seem to be something the author believes, in terms of the entire plot they become quite ironic, in that it’s clear some people *do* get their positions through “pull”. It’s also true that “real worth” is recognized, and I have my doubts that GLH meant the original passage to sound as ironic as it does in light of the book as a whole. It's the first time I've seen her "seat of the pants" plotting change the meaning of an earlier passage this way.
July 23, 2014
One of my favorite authors, but not one of my favorites of hers. It was nice to read something of hers I had never read, but it was so slow and not so satisfying as many of her others. Even the character development was slow and predictable. (Read the free public domain Kindle copy available on Amazon.)
May 31, 2015
Once again another riveting book by Mrs. Hill to be enjoyed.
I enjoy reading this author. She has a way of providing timeless traits of human nature and emotions that can be related to in any time period. I also like to see how people have lived and coped with the world they were given.
I enjoy reading this author. She has a way of providing timeless traits of human nature and emotions that can be related to in any time period. I also like to see how people have lived and coped with the world they were given.
April 12, 2016
The setting wasn't clear for the first few chapters, but then the story grabbed me and I enjoyed it thoroughly. With only two major characters, minor actors were easy to keep track of, and the perspective of the story was easy to follow. An uplifting read with a great moral lesson of forgiveness.
May 28, 2016
Good war story
I've loved Grace Livingston Hill books for many years. This one is not one of her best, but is still worth reading. I gave it 4 stars instead of five for the contrived, simplistic ending.
I've loved Grace Livingston Hill books for many years. This one is not one of her best, but is still worth reading. I gave it 4 stars instead of five for the contrived, simplistic ending.
February 8, 2017
Great story, but a bit simplistic. As always, I love her themes.
April 15, 2016
Good sweet Christian book. Wholesome. No objectionable elements in GLH. I enjoyed reading this book.
October 25, 2022
Somehow I never read Grace Livingston Hill, even though her books were very popular with young women when I was in my teens and twenties. I thought of them as clean, sweet romance novels. Though most fiction will include romance, no matter the genre, I prefer novels with more to them.
But recently I scrolled through Audible’s selections that are included free with membership. I found a couple of Hill’s books there, so decided to give them a try.
The first was titled The Search. Ruth Macdonald is a society girl whose life consists of parties and outings with friends. When WWI starts, Ruth helps in ways that ladies of her class did: making bandages, knitting socks and sweaters for soldiers. etc. Some of her male friends became officers. But the magnitude and meaning of the war didn’t really sink in until she accidentally came upon a group of people seeing draftees off. There Ruth saw an old classmate, John Cameron, who was not of her “set,” but who had done her a kindness when they were children. Ruth is struck by his tender good-bye to his weeping mother and his brave, resolute face. Their eyes met for a brief moment.
Ruth decides to write to John as a friend to tell him she still remembered what he did for her so long ago and to express her appreciation for his part as a soldier. She writes that she hadn’t really thought of the sacrifice young men were making until she saw him.
John is touched by Ruth’s letter, and they begin corresponding regularly. When John gets leave to come home, he asks to visit Ruth.
But then he learns that an old enemy plans to marry Ruth. Could Ruth really love someone like that?
Then this old enemy becomes an officer in John’s company and makes his life miserable.
As John knows he must be prepared for death when his company leaves for France, he tries to search for God. His home minister is not much help. But someone he meets on base gives him a New Testament, and various contacts along the way shed light. But somehow he still doesn’t comprehend.
He tells Ruth about his search, and she realizes that, even though she has been in church all her life and been a “good” girl, she doesn’t really know God either. She embarks on a search of her own.
Hill’s style and tone seemed very similar to Louisa May Alcott and D. E. Stevenson, though Hill is more overtly Christian. Hill’s lifetime was between the other two ladies, overlapping them each by a few decades.
I enjoyed the story quite a lot and wished I had read them in my younger years.
But recently I scrolled through Audible’s selections that are included free with membership. I found a couple of Hill’s books there, so decided to give them a try.
The first was titled The Search. Ruth Macdonald is a society girl whose life consists of parties and outings with friends. When WWI starts, Ruth helps in ways that ladies of her class did: making bandages, knitting socks and sweaters for soldiers. etc. Some of her male friends became officers. But the magnitude and meaning of the war didn’t really sink in until she accidentally came upon a group of people seeing draftees off. There Ruth saw an old classmate, John Cameron, who was not of her “set,” but who had done her a kindness when they were children. Ruth is struck by his tender good-bye to his weeping mother and his brave, resolute face. Their eyes met for a brief moment.
Ruth decides to write to John as a friend to tell him she still remembered what he did for her so long ago and to express her appreciation for his part as a soldier. She writes that she hadn’t really thought of the sacrifice young men were making until she saw him.
John is touched by Ruth’s letter, and they begin corresponding regularly. When John gets leave to come home, he asks to visit Ruth.
But then he learns that an old enemy plans to marry Ruth. Could Ruth really love someone like that?
Then this old enemy becomes an officer in John’s company and makes his life miserable.
As John knows he must be prepared for death when his company leaves for France, he tries to search for God. His home minister is not much help. But someone he meets on base gives him a New Testament, and various contacts along the way shed light. But somehow he still doesn’t comprehend.
He tells Ruth about his search, and she realizes that, even though she has been in church all her life and been a “good” girl, she doesn’t really know God either. She embarks on a search of her own.
Hill’s style and tone seemed very similar to Louisa May Alcott and D. E. Stevenson, though Hill is more overtly Christian. Hill’s lifetime was between the other two ladies, overlapping them each by a few decades.
I enjoyed the story quite a lot and wished I had read them in my younger years.
July 7, 2021
A young man goes off to fight in World War I, and for the first time in his life he wonders about the existence of God. As he makes his way through training, and then onto the battlefield, his search for God intensifies, but meanwhile he cherishes a hatred for a churlish officer who persecutes him. Over what? It seems they both like the same girl, a society chick back home. And the girl herself is also looking for life’s meaning, but she doesn’t find it among her socialite friends, who knit socks and sweaters for their favorite soldiers. It’s only when she cuts herself loose from high society and volunteers to help at a Sunday school in the slums that she starts to understand the love of God. The young man, meanwhile, isn’t making any spiritual progress because he can’t give up his hatred for the officer. It’s only when he risks his own life to rescue the officer, who’s been wounded on the battlefield, that he starts to understand God. Then he slips behind enemy lines and sends back messages that help his comrades win the day, although, by this time, he’s been wounded himself. And what beautiful volunteer shows up at his bedside to confess her love and give him the will to live? It isn’t hard to guess. Although the plot sounds trite, the author, Grace Livingston Hill, is still able to bring her Christian message to life. Somehow she can always warm my heart without insulting my sensibilities.
October 4, 2024
Grace Livingston Hill is well known for her books of Christian fiction, but although her sentiments are devout, her didacticism puts off modern readers. Also, what was acceptable in a blaze of patriotism in 1919 seems less so to a more cynical readership. Many ideas are poorly researched and presented - the idea of a US Army troopship treating enlisted or drafted soldiers as slave-ship cargo blows the mind away, while the idea of a society debutante, herself struggling to believe the teaching of her Church, preaching to an Italian (presumably, if not probably, Roman Catholic) congregation from the poorer section of town about baby Jesus, calls for a real stretch of the imagination.
While ‘The Search' has, within its limitations, a fairly well constructed plot, its reliance on other-worldly phenomena and contrived, conventional World War I romantic ending are the reasons why a good author is so often left forgotten.
While ‘The Search' has, within its limitations, a fairly well constructed plot, its reliance on other-worldly phenomena and contrived, conventional World War I romantic ending are the reasons why a good author is so often left forgotten.
October 8, 2019
Grace Livingston Hill wrote Christian romances a hundred years ago. Although times have changed and some of her comments seem old fashioned or even insensitive, others have stood the test of time. The main theme in this book is forgiving your enemy, as God has forgiven you. That was true in 1919 when this book was written, and it's true now. The Search is about a young man who is thrust into World War I and his cruel, lying lieutenant, who he has to deal with constantly. The role Salvation Army played in World War I is described too. Not only did they witness to soldiers, but they provided camps with food and a place to sleep, as well as nursing care for the young soldiers. I had no idea of the complexity of their role. If you enjoy Christian romances with a message, as well as a historical viewpoint from someone who lived during that time, you will enjoy this book.
May 24, 2020
Grace Livingston Hill is responsible for the origins of Christian Romance fiction. This story illustrates the effects of the war on the “mores” of society. I’d like to encourage you to read this novel published in 1919, seeing two young people from different societal structures seek God after a fashion and find HIM in unlikely (or so it seems) circumstances (battlefield for him, immigrant slum for her. This is one of the free Kindle books
February 5, 2019
' Just search for Him with all your heart'
This is another great book by Grace Livingston Hill. Again it gives the wonderful save message.
Yes it was written nearly a century ago, but it is as true today as it was then.
We still have young men fighting for our freedom!
God offers his free gift now as He has for over 2000 years.
This is another great book by Grace Livingston Hill. Again it gives the wonderful save message.
Yes it was written nearly a century ago, but it is as true today as it was then.
We still have young men fighting for our freedom!
God offers his free gift now as He has for over 2000 years.
March 9, 2021
Good story but there was an issue
The story was one of GLH's war stories and had some tense moments and an enjoyable plot. However, scattered throughout the text were these wretched numbers that had no connection with the story and were just a major annoyance. There needs to be better editing on some of these e-books.
The story was one of GLH's war stories and had some tense moments and an enjoyable plot. However, scattered throughout the text were these wretched numbers that had no connection with the story and were just a major annoyance. There needs to be better editing on some of these e-books.
April 1, 2022
Very good
At first I thought this would be one of those stories in which each person thought there was no way forward for their love, but in spite of separation and the trauma of war, they came together at last. Wonderful victory in coming to the Savior and overcoming anger, unforgiveness, and cultural differences.
At first I thought this would be one of those stories in which each person thought there was no way forward for their love, but in spite of separation and the trauma of war, they came together at last. Wonderful victory in coming to the Savior and overcoming anger, unforgiveness, and cultural differences.
January 8, 2022
GHL is great!
I spent a half hour writing a review on this book/author. I would like to know what happened to it and where it went when I returned to finish it up. You need to fix your website so this does not continue to happen.
I spent a half hour writing a review on this book/author. I would like to know what happened to it and where it went when I returned to finish it up. You need to fix your website so this does not continue to happen.
December 12, 2016
Fantastic and wholesome book.
Excellent and inspiring book for all who are interested in helping other
S and practicing Christian principles to in their care.
Excellent and inspiring book for all who are interested in helping other
S and practicing Christian principles to in their care.
March 2, 2019
Ok story. Not as good as others.
January 5, 2020
Listened to this on LibriVox read by Like Many Waters. Excellent edition and read. Good war time story of Faith.
February 13, 2022
Sweet
Sweet simple love story. With the soul searching for God in war time. Love of God and hate for others cannot exist in your heart.
Sweet simple love story. With the soul searching for God in war time. Love of God and hate for others cannot exist in your heart.
May 11, 2023
This was a really good story, it is also a good example of mercy and grace. I really loved it.
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