• Skip to main content
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer

Sallie Borrink

  • Blog
    • Recent Comments
    • Tags
  • About
    • Meet Sallie
    • Subscribe
    • A Quiet Simple Life on Telegram
    • Make a Donation
  • Homeschooling
    • Learn About Relaxed Homeschooling
    • Picture Book Activities
    • Unit Studies
    • Printable Poetry
    • Homeschool Planning
    • Back-to-Homeschool
    • Creative & Visual-Spatial Learners
  • Free Printables
    • All Free Homeschool Printables
    • Free Christian Printables
    • Free Homemaking Printables
    • Free Map Printables
    • Free Printable Word Searches for Kids
    • Free Counting Puzzle Printables
    • Free Printable Memory Games
  • Home & Family Life
  • Gifted & 2e
  • The Shop
    • Browse The Shop
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account Details
      • View Your Orders
      • Go To Your Downloads
      • My Account
    • Lost Password Help
    • Digital Products Terms of Use
  • Search
You are here: Home / Home & Family Life / Simple Holidays & Traditions / Cozy Christmas Books by Grace Livingston Hill

Archives

Young woman in the 1940s in choir robe singing Christmas hymns

Cozy Christmas Books by Grace Livingston Hill

Tuesday, December 13, 2022 (Updated: Saturday, August 29, 2026)
7 Comments

Post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure statement.

If you are ready for some cozy Christmas reading, here are seven books by Grace Livingston Hill that might meet your need. These are vintage books written by a prolific Christian author who sought to point people to Christ in everything she did.

These stories either take place entirely at Christmas or the Christmas season is a prominent part of the story. As I was preparing this list, I found it interesting that almost all of Grace’s Christmas-themed stories were written either during or just after The Great Depression. Many of her stories focus on choosing to trust God in the midst of a difficult situation and that is certainly true of this little group.




The books are presented in alphabetical order, but four of these are among my very favorites of all her books (April Gold, The Christmas Bride, The Prodigal Girl, and The Substitute Guest).

April Gold (1936)

A mother, son, and daughter must make drastic changes when tragedy strikes. This book takes place over several months with a prominent Christmas section that includes baking, singing, gift-giving, and decorating. April Gold is a cozy story about making difficult decisions, overcoming adversity, being a light in darkness, and pulling together as a family.

Astra (1941)

Astra ends up meeting a need that leads to meeting more needs. There’s lots of Christmas in Astra including buying roses for neighbors, dressing for the holidays, and making a homemade nativity scene for children.

Brentwood (1937)

Brentwood is one of a few books in which Grace wrote about adoption, albeit in an usual way in this case. There is lots of Christmas shopping, reconciliation, church, gifts, and a turkey dinner.

The Christmas Bride (1934)

An unexpected rescue turns a man’s life upside down – or is it right side up in this case? This book has a Vermont farmhouse, snow, coming to faith in Christ, and elderly grandparents who are put through the refining process. And, of course, a high probability of a Christmas wedding since this is The Christmas Bride.

Partners (1940)

When a baby is abandoned in the snow, things start happening for a young woman and young man who work to save it. Partners has a cozy apartment, Christmas decorating, baby things, and Christmas dinner. And finding love.

The Prodigal Girl (1929)

The more things change, the more they stay the same. A father discovers how badly his children are being led astray at their godless public schools (!) and makes some radical decisions. The Prodigal Girl is primarily a Christmastime story that features Vermont, snow storms, a New England farmhouse, winter sports, home education, good cooking, and repentance.




The Substitute Guest (1936)

This story starts on Christmas Eve morning and goes through the beginning of the new year. A lost stranger needs help on an important errand and ends up at just the right place. A blizzard, Christmas decorating, making good food, growing faith, and finding love when you least expect it feature largely in The Substitute Guest.

There you go! Seven wholesome stories about faith and Christmas to enjoy this month (and again in July when you are ready for some Christmas in the summer!).

Category: Simple Holidays & TraditionsTag: Book Lists | Grace Livingston Hill

About Sallie Borrink

Sallie Schaaf Borrink is a Christian, wife, mother, homeschooler, homebody, and autodidact. She owns a home-based graphic design and web design business with her husband (DavidandSallie.com).

You Might Also Like

5 Tips for a Great Christmas Letter

Cleaning Before Christmas Decorating

Thanksgiving Reading and Hymns

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Merrilhyn McElderry

    Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at 9:02 pm

    This is just wonderful as always…… just what I at least need to read ABOUT if not read the books…no time to read right now but surely do remember some of them….. You are so wonderful to help focus on the good, and the enduring and the true. in life..Love..and I am very thankful you are in this world to bring the LIGHT we so much need . God Bless you.. ..Love, Merrilyn Mc Elderry ie MERRI… in Minnesota

    Reply
    • Sallie Borrink

      Thursday, December 22, 2022 at 9:25 am

      Hi Merrilhyn,

      Thank you for your kind words. I truly appreciate them!

      Merry Christmas!
      Sallie

      Reply
  2. Mary Ann Sorensen

    Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at 7:48 am

    I just re-read the Substitute Guest and I’m about ready to read the Christmas Bride, but thank you for reminding me of the others! I have Astra so I’ll have to pull it from the shelf. : ) I love Grace Livingston Hill!

    Merry Christmas, Sallie!
    Mary S.

    Reply
    • Sallie Borrink

      Thursday, December 22, 2022 at 9:24 am

      Hi Mary,

      I hope you enjoy revisiting some of them. Merry Christmas!

      Sallie

      Reply
  3. Mrs. White

    Wednesday, December 14, 2022 at 7:17 pm

    Thank you for focusing on Christmas themed books by this author. I have all of them. I just took them off my library shelf and will be reading them over again. Have a wonderful day!

    Reply
    • Sallie Borrink

      Thursday, December 22, 2022 at 9:06 am

      Hi Mrs. White,

      I hope you enjoy the stories. I just started “Partners” a few nights ago which I haven’t read in years. I barely remember the story which is kind of nice. It’s like reading a new book. LOL!

      Merry Christmas!
      Sallie

      Reply
  4. Marilyn

    Tuesday, December 27, 2022 at 3:34 pm

    Thank you for the Christmas books. Will keep this list for the future.
    Joan,Marion and Marilyn

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

Thank you for your comment. I read and appreciate each one even if I am unable to respond.

Sidebar

Sallie Schaaf Borrink

I’m Sallie — Christian, wife, mother, just-retired homeschooler, homebody, and autodidact. Our little family lives a quiet and cozy life of home education, self-employment, and pithy exchanges. I’ve been writing here for 20+ years about Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. And I like to laugh. A lot. Start here. ♥ 

Categories

Popular Today

  • Great Lakes Map PrintableFree Great Lakes Map for Homeschoolers
  • Green oaks leaves and green acorns on treeRelaxed Homeschooling: What It Is & How It Works
  • Come, Little Leaves by George Cooper Printable preview“Come, Little Leaves” by George Cooper | Printable Poem
  • Farmer BoyFarmer Boy | Cozy Book Review
  • Hearty Split Pea Soup 2Hearty Split Pea Soup Recipe
  • Editable Attendance Record Black and WhiteFree Editable Homeschool Attendance Record Printable (3 Styles)
  • Georgia Map PrintableFree Georgia Map Printable for Homeschoolers
  • Black and white map of Canada with provinces outlinedFree Canada Map Printable for Homeschoolers
  • November By Alice Carey Printable“November” by Alice Carey | Printable Poem
  • He Drew Me Aside SIMPLEHe Drew Me Aside – “I Needed the Quiet” Poem by Alice Hansche Mortenson



What Can I Help You Find Today?

Home

About Sallie

Contact

Privacy Policy

Disclaimers & Disclosures

Subscribe

Make a Donation

Tags

My Telegram

My Printables Shop

My Account

Cart

Lost Password Help

Digital Products Terms of Use

Relaxed Homeschooling

Free Printables

Family Culture

Unit Studies

Copyright © 2005–2026 · Sallie Borrink · All Rights Reserved · Powered by Mai Theme

Scroll Up
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.