Cloudy Jewel Paperback – June 10, 2014

I just discovered Grace Livingston Hill recently, and this is her second book that I have read. I love her writing. She has great insight into the human soul and it's motivations, and into the true meanings of Christianity, and she beautifully incorporates her understandings into her writing. Her books make me want to be a better person when I read them, in addition to being entertaining and enjoyable to read, and what more could I ever ask from a book?This story, written in 1920, involves a middle aged woman who has unselfishly taken care of her sickly mother and others her entire life, without being able to pursue any of her own hopes and dreams, and her orphaned niece & nephew who are just starting college. Their lives blend together as they each become a great blessing to each others' lives and discover the joy of turning their lives over to the Lord. A beautiful, uplifting story.

Was a good read. It was a clean book,no cussing,no sex,just a very good book. It also shows how much our country has wonder off the path of clean living and away from living for God. I have gotten many a book for my kindle and have had to delete them as they have so much foul language most of all using Gods name in vain,sex at ever turn with no consequences, nothing about how this life style will bring you down.This book is about a women who gave all her life & wanted some to love her for just her. Its about how God granted her long desire,how 2 young people needed someone to love them & show them the way to live a clean life with no regrets over the choice they have made when young. We need so much more of this in our country. No I am not a prude however I have lived long enough to see what happens to the young people who have been left to wonder alone & the results of it. How so many regrets they have & can never go back & change the past,How no 1 has taught them how to make a good choice about God,money,& treating our fellow man. All we have to do is listen to the news to see what this lack of moral teaching has done for our nation. I will be getting more from this author. If you like her style you might like Gene Stratton Porter. Some of you might know her work from "Girl of the Limberlost" .

This story rests my soul. I enjoy the old-fashioned values, like courtesy, respect, honesty, and simplicity. Cloudy Jewel's faith inspires me to be more outspoken about my own. I reread this story when I am discouraged by today's world and am encouraged.

Although the central story of this book is not a romance, it is one of Grace Livingston-Hill's best. I had tears in my eyes as I read the beginning - middle-aged Julia Cloud, after the death of her mother, is sitting at a gray window, facing that her life appears to be destined to be a dreary life of bleak, un-loved service to others who take her and her labor for granted, until her death.Thank heavens Grace L-H had a better ending in mind. An orphaned nephew and niece show up who really want her to "be a mother" as they head off to college. They literally sweep her off her feet, give her the strength to say no to her domineering sister (who has plans to utilize her as a free, dependent "servant"), and haul her off to a much more fulfilling life. It is fun to read how the wealthy nephew and niece treat their aunt to a whole new standard of living and comfort after her life of deprivation, both of comforts and of love.Her greatest fear is that they will reject her Christian values. The book has several different sub-plots, and one is how the beloved children agree to "try it on" for their aunt's sake, and accidentally wind up leading the local Christian youth group. Meanwhile, they also learn how to recognize true friendships, and fall in love with people who are worthy of it.I could have kept on reading it forever and wished I could have been part of the family and home so well described.

How differently writing used to be, filled with flowery phrases and simplified characters. I grew up reading Grace Livingston Hill, so stepping away from the stark realities of Grisham, Patterson or King into Hill’s simple Christian characters, is refreshing sometimes, like eating cotton candy after a hearty meal.

This is a story about two young people who find their Aunt Julia and lavish her with love, affection, material goods, and a new life of purpose. Julia has lived a life of dreary servitude, but has trusted God for the strength to love others well through it. She undergoes a major lifestyle change when she "adopts" her wealthy niece and nephew. The story is sweet, and somewhat sentimental. However, it's a pleasant break from the heaviness of the times in which we live, giving hope in the goodness and decency of a Christ-figure, in the person of saintly "Cloudy Jewel."

Such a wonderful story full of life lessons. Because of this book I determined to make Sunday a day of rest with the focus on spending it with the Great Companion rather than spending it on myself.This book makes me feel good...I’ve read it at least 10 times and I never get tired of it!

I give this book 5 stars, because it shows that every soul ever created has worth in the Creator's eyes. I always love Ms. Hill's characters! She has an amusing way of painting the picture just so. This is my second time reading Cloudy Jewel, because I love it so much!

Refreshing read gentle reminder of a loving God. Good read great summer nights story. I enjoyed it quite allot, thank you for a quality product.

Grace Livingstone Hill manages to weave a very subtle plot and romance into her stories. A good read when you want to relax and don't want to think too much!

Enjoyed the storyline and appreciated the good morals it set as its basis. Old fashioned to today's world but very enjoyable reading.