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Ariel Custer

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Virginia-bred Ariel Custer is in serious trouble. She came to the small town of Glenside, hoping to find a home and friends. Instead, she found disappointment and indifference. Until she met handsome young Judson Granniss, who brought her true friendship--and love. Finally it seemed Ariel would have the happiness she deserved.
Then a woman mysteriously disappears. And when an unidentified body is discovered, evidence of a murder begins to pile up--evidence that points to Ariel and Judson as the primary suspects! Can the lovers find the truth before it is too late, before their happiness is shattered and their future is destroyed?

237 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1925

33 people are currently reading
199 people want to read

About the author

Grace Livingston Hill

591 books569 followers
also wrote under the pseudonym Marcia MacDonald
also published under the name Grace Livingston Hill Lutz

A popular author of her day, she wrote over 100 novels and numerous short stories of religious and Christian fiction. Her characters were most often young female ingénues, frequently strong Christian women or those who become so within the confines of the story.

niece to Isabella MacDonald Alden

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5 stars
187 (44%)
4 stars
120 (28%)
3 stars
85 (20%)
2 stars
19 (4%)
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5 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
Profile Image for Lady Tea.
1,801 reviews126 followers
April 7, 2021
Rating: 3.6 / 5

Despite the promise of adventure in this one, and what I was anticipating as a murder mystery Grace Livingston Hill-style, this one was actually quite a slow-moving story. It was sweet in its own way, of course, only I felt that not enough time was really given in dedication to Ariel and Jud's development. Instead, we get a lot of background on Jud's mother, Harriet, and the sweet lady living with them, Emily Dillon. They're both characters that are done really well, with Emily as a quiet and unobtrusive lady who is religious and doesn't much look out for her own happiness, whereas Harriet, while also religious, is more a "fear of God" kind of person than a "love of God" kind of person. Hill directly identifies Harriet as misguided but well-intentioned, though in reality it's hard to read of her like that. Instead, I'd sooner say that she's a closed-minded tyrant who doesn't represent religion in any way, and her sole role in the story seems to be to make Jud miserable and disapprove of Ariel without good reason. So....not the story I was expecting by a long shot, in other words.

However, that's not to say that it wasn't sweet, well-written, and contain a lot of good things. Myself, for my first read through it, maybe I just didn't have the patience to get through all those things, and so I'll reserve final judgement until another reading in the future.
Profile Image for Katt Hansen.
3,856 reviews109 followers
January 21, 2018
This book is something of an oddity in that while it's named for Ariel, she really barely figures in the story at all.

What we have here is a community where Ariel comes to live - and a whole lot of people who are in her world, who interact with her, and tell her story through their eyes. First and foremost is Judson, the young man who comes to the poor girl's rescue. But then we find a boy and his dog, who sometimes tell the story. And Judson's mother - and there's a great deal to understand there as well. And poor Emily whose story this really is by the end.

While it's an unusual method for telling the story, there's plenty of thrill, lots of moments where you become so frustrated with the evil of the gossipy and harsh person of Judson's mother. Still good triumphs in the end, making this a beautiful story, and one to enjoy more than once.
Profile Image for Hannah Beth (Hannah's Book Cafe).
611 reviews53 followers
May 1, 2023
I enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would. The way Grace Livingston Hill writes though is very interesting. Sometimes I had to read back over a sentence to see if it really was that long. 😅 However, the reading was easy, and the storyline was engaging. I loved the redemption storyline for Emily and it was nice to see her happy. However, she really did make a bunch of problems for her friends that could have been avoided with just a bit of communication. 😅

Not quite everything was wrapped up in the end of the book, so it was a little sad to see that. Otherwise, I did really enjoy the story and I read it in a day!
Profile Image for Sara.
1,170 reviews
May 26, 2012
I was on a Grace Livingston Hill kick a while back and read several of her novels. They are always quaint and old-fashioned, sometimes a little preachy, but almost always a nice relaxing read.
Profile Image for Sarah.
Author 46 books459 followers
November 30, 2024
Another GLH to enjoy. Not my favorite of hers as the coming to salvation wasn't quite what it should be, but I still enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Franny.
38 reviews4 followers
February 3, 2013
This romance begins in a small town in Virginia in the 1920s. Ariel has just lost her home and her last living relative. She takes a train to Philadelphia, where she has been promised a job, only to find out that possibility is gone. In her horror of being alone in a large city, she accidentally steps out in front of a passing bicycle, and is rescued by a young man named Jud Granniss. The story is full of all kinds of sorrow for these two young people, as well as for their friend, Emily. The story ends well, and sure teaches you the practice of trusting God no matter what happens. There is some humor in it from Buddy, the little boy next door with the dog named Stubby, and some pathos in the person of Harriett Granniss, Jud's mother. The alternate title is Love Endures, which is a very good characterization of what this book was really all about. Good story, with some historic facts thrown in regarding the Travelers' Aid Society. Enjoy!
103 reviews2 followers
June 4, 2010
Sweet book by Mrs. Hill. This one is supposed to be based on a real happening, but I do not know the story it was based on. If I had not heard it was based on a true story, I would have said that this book was not very believable.

It is mostly about a little woman whose father died and left her everything, except that he wants her to share a home with a widow as a sort of companion for her. The widow is not a good companion for her, as she is bossy and mean to the woman, but the widow's son shows some sympathy for her, and finally they become friends.

Suddenly, the little woman does something completely out of character, and it makes life very difficult for a while for the widow and her son.
Profile Image for Sara.
2,099 reviews14 followers
January 23, 2025
What a wonderful and surprising story. I loved every moment of it. It’s funny, because I didn’t care too much for the love story between Ariel and Jud. It was fun, but kind of flat. The story that captivated me was the story of Emily. I would read this over and over just for Emily’s storyline. Highly recommend!
Profile Image for Mary Baker.
2,150 reviews55 followers
February 24, 2016
Grace Livingston Hill wrote many books before her death in 1947. Her books are good, clean, and safe. This book is an easy read. The author manipulated the plot way too much, but all in all it was an okay read.
Profile Image for Anna-Marie.
207 reviews2 followers
June 8, 2018
Despite the title, this book is really about two women - Ariel Custer and Emily Dillon. The second almost playing a larger part than the first. That being said, it’s a great storyline fraught with much intrigue, close encounters, and a surprise ending. Enjoy!
Profile Image for Rachel.
29 reviews2 followers
October 25, 2018
Wow! I thoroughly enjoyed this book. So pleasant and clean and filled with lessons we could all learn from in day to day life. Definitely a classic and very well written. I wanted to take my time with this book but I also wanted to find out what happened in the end. So sad it's over!
Profile Image for Classic reverie.
1,859 reviews
August 26, 2022
This is my first Grace Livingston Hill novel that has a mysterious death and quick to judgement scenario which was quite interesting, even at the end certain things are left hanging but overall satisfaction. "Ariel Custer" is a romantic story with a religious message which I especially enjoyed. The so called "Christian" and the Christian who walks the walk with Christ.


Story in short - Ariel must find her way in a new city and runs into many obstacles but keeps her faith in God which gives her peace but what happens when things get really tough?



➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖
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Suddenly the tears blurred into her eyes, and her white throat stirred hysterically. It seemed as if she could not bear it. All that was left of the dear old home, every memento of her precious father and mother and frail little grandmother who had lingered longest with her on the earth, was packed into the rickety wagon and going down the
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road to storage. Ariel caught her breath and turned quickly inside the door.
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Ariel was one of those rare girls somehow left over from what the world whimsically calls with a smile and a sneer “the Victorian Age,” though it is to be doubted if even the Victorian Age saw many like her.
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Then she hoped to escape to the station without more difficulty. There had been invitations to breakfast in plenty, and also to stay overnight, but Ariel had declined them all on the ground that there were things to do at the house and she would not have time in the morning to stop for a formal breakfast. She had not let anyone know that her last night was to be spent alone in the old house. They had thought that Dinah, the old faithful servant, was to be with her, or there would have been protests too strenuous
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to resist; but Dinah had had opportunity to ride to her new home with a farmer who was driving that way the afternoon before, and the girl had insisted upon her going. In fact, she had been glad to be alone for those last hours. Somehow they seemed too sacred for even Dinah to intrude upon. And so she had spent the night alone in the old country home, empty of all furniture save the few things she had saved for her own, which had gone down the road that very morning to be

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stored indefinitely at Ezra Brownleigh’s house for her.

❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌❌spoiler alert


I was so happy that this had a happy ending but what about Rebecca whose ending was so tragic, if that was her body found. It seemed she had wanted to cool down where Emily had a day before but she was not able to move while in the water. I don't think it was suicide but either an accident or murder. Who would have murdered her? It seemed her face was bruised? Unanswered questions! I was glad that Emily finally was able to marry Nate. That was so romantic and sweet. She is in her forties and a baby could be possible. I was glad Ariel and Judson were able to marry and he was touched with Christ. It seemed that Harriet might soften up a bit but I think it is impossible for her to ever be a sweet mother. What a mother she was having her lawyers look to accuse her son and Ariel of murder!


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The minister had written to a cousin of his in the North who was librarian in a big city library, and she had promised to take Ariel in and teach her to be a librarian. The minister had felt that the many years spent in her father’s library reading to him and browsing among his fine collection of literary gems had well fitted her for such a position, and she was looking forward with a sad anticipation to the joy of handling books once more. Her father’s books had been sold three years before to provide
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the necessities of life for herself and her grandmother during her grandmother’s last lingering illness. Even the money from the books was every cent gone now. Ariel longed for books, and she felt that a life spent among them would not be like a life exactly among utter strangers. There were sure to be some old friends among the volumes.
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But she was not let to leave her hometown absolutely uncheered. Miss Sallie Gibbons was standing on the platform anxiously looking up the road for her as she crossed the tracks, with a little box of hot beaten biscuits, cold chicken, and pound cake for her lunch. She had sat up half the night preparing it. Ezra Brownleigh, too, hobbled down five minutes before the northbound train to wish her Godspeed.

*** Ariel Custard has to leave her home because she has no funds and must work. A position in a library is found for her in another town, after her grandmother's death.

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Judson Granniss had always been a lonely boy. From his birth his mother had tried to dominate him, as she had always dominated his father. She spent her time in shooing him away from almost everything he wanted to do or think or be. And much of the time she succeeded, because he had inherited from his father a gentle, kindly, unselfish nature. But because he was also her child and
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had as strong a will as hers, there were times when he became like adamant, and then there was war between them. Strangely enough, at such times Judson reminded her of her dead husband, whose gentle, kindly nature had yielded to her will except on rare occasions when the matter at issue concerned someone else, and then he too became adamant. Judson’s father was a dreamer, by nature an inventor, who had by stern integrity and patient perseverance added to a small inheritance until in the small country town where they lived when Judson was a child, he had become a power. Then one day he loaned a large sum of money to an old schoolmate, Jake Dillon by name, who came to him with a tale of a fortune in jeopardy and a motherless child. For the sake of the motherless child, Joe Granniss loaned him enough money to set him upon his feet. Jake Dillon became a rich man, and Joe Granniss died a very poor one, because he had trusted his old friend and had loaned the money without security.
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Joe Granniss closed his kindly thin lips and lived the remainder of his chastened days with very few words, and a wearied look on his prematurely aging face. He didn’t fall sick but he failed from day to
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day, and one morning he didn’t get up.
Profile Image for Anna.
844 reviews48 followers
June 23, 2022
A murder mystery from Grace Livingston Hill? Orphaned Ariel Custer leaves her home in Virginia to take a job in an eastern city, but when she arrives she finds the job is no longer available. Friendless and alone, unused to the bustle of city streets, she is hit by a bicycle at a busy crossing. Although unhurt, she is stunned, and grateful to a young man who picks her up and takes her to a quiet place to catch her breath. When Judson finds out that she has nowhere to go, no friends, and no job, he takes it upon himself to help her.

Judson lives with his widowed mother in a home that actually belongs to a middle-aged spinster named Emily Dillon. Mrs. Graniss and Emily have been thrown together in an odd way too complicated to explain here. Jud's mother, while she only "wants the best" for him, is sure she knows what "the best" is; while Jud completely disagrees with her. Their home is not a happy one, and Emily does her quiet utmost just to stay out of the way.

Judson is very taken with quiet Ariel. He helps her find a job and a room to rent not far from his own. They become fast friends, and Ariel shares her faith with this desperately unhappy young man.

But one day Emily Dillon disappears, and circumstances point to Judson and Ariel as having plotted to do away with her, especially when a body is found that fits her description, and the provisions of her will come to light.
171 reviews1 follower
April 20, 2023
This Grace Livingston Hill book had several great qualities in it. I was a little upset as a few questions were left unanswered but you could pretty well fill in the blanks in your imagination.
The book seems to start off like most of the others with young girl loses all and then young man befriends her. Then you get into mystery, misidentification of dead bodies,suspense, faith, romance, and much more.
Profile Image for Melissa.
870 reviews91 followers
September 14, 2011
I remember this book fondly, though I don't remember it well.
944 reviews42 followers
June 13, 2022
She's clearly winging it but gives one of her sweet old ladies a beau for once so I'm good with it.
Profile Image for Jodi.
577 reviews49 followers
November 20, 2014
Sappiest and silliest GLH I have read. And that is saying a lot!
449 reviews4 followers
April 4, 2019
This was another sweet romance with a nice Christian girl and gentleman. This had a murder mystery also that gave the plot a wrist beside the usual romance.
Profile Image for Kelly.
1,036 reviews72 followers
June 16, 2019
Kind of an odd one. Not really sure that all the details actually hang together.
Profile Image for Kathryn.
892 reviews23 followers
June 30, 2021
“Besides, was not God in His heaven? Was He not watching over her tenderly, even though for the time it seemed as if He had withdrawn His tender care? The faith of her grandmother was in her strongly. Somewhere ahead there was brightness, or if there was not, there was the brightness of eternity when her way of this pilgrimage was over. She had no thought of blaming God for the trials, or the darkness, or the hardship of the way she had to go to meet Him. That she was on her way Home was a settled fact in her mind that no philosophical reasoning could disturb. She might have to suffer through a century more or less, but the loyalty of her heart belonged to God, and she was one of those in whom faithfulness is written large. God couldn’t forsake. That was the keynote of her life. Whatever came was under His overruling hand and could never overwhelm because His grace was sufficient. Therefore she was safe wherever and however she might find herself.” (Chapter 1)
Profile Image for Bethany.
287 reviews
August 11, 2022
I started this and thought it was a bit rough; the writing felt cheesy with overly wordy sentences that kept making me giggle. It took a while to get into it, but it was fast reading with fairly distinctive characters so I ended up enjoying the read despite myself.

It's called Ariel Custer (although the cover I read had the authors name much bigger and in the title spot so you really couldn't tell who was the author and who wasn't) and she somehow didn't feel like as much of a main character as she should have been with a book named after her. But they had a lot of focus on other characters, and so storywise it rounded out well, I just think it was marketed wrong.

I'm not super likely to read much else by Grace Livingston Hill, but for the "pioneer" of Christian romance (as apparently this author is known as) it was sweet with lots of heart and theology that wasn't too pushy. I just didn't love the writing style.
57 reviews
October 3, 2022
This is a sweet and almost tragic story about a young, sweet girl who is trying to make it on her own after all her family has died, but is mistrusted by the self-important, virtuous-in-her-own-eyes mother of the young man who has taken an interest in her. While the resolution of the story turns on an almost impossible event, the situation that leads to it is one that could easily happen and probably has happened many times, that of assumptions, misunderstandings, false accusations, rumors, and speculations, that condemn a person. Thankfully, the truth comes out, and all ends well, and on a redemptive note, as is typical of Grace Livingston Hill. If you want a wholesome story from an earlier time, this is a good one to read.
Profile Image for Rebecca.
Author 12 books10 followers
July 11, 2024
Pretty typical for Grace Livingston Hill, but this one starts out slower than usual. The author peppers the narrative with a Christian message amongst the budding romance between Ariel and Judson. The antagonist in this instance is a mother who can't stop controlling her son's life, even to the point that it drives him away. In typical Grace Livingston Hill fashion, she can make you want to claw out the eyes of the "bad guy." I like reading these nowadays because they weren't historical fiction back when they were written, but it's great to read them now to see how life was back in the early 1900s.
Profile Image for Anna.
1,534 reviews31 followers
November 13, 2024
I think the book should actually have been called Emily Dillon because she is really the center of the story. So many things about this plot don't make much sense, but I liked it anyway. Ariel is a lovely brave heroine and I'm not sure that Judson deserves her, particularly in his treatment of some of the other women in his life. However, he seemed to be changing for the better so perhaps he will be a better man by and by. Dick is great and shows great promise.
Profile Image for Anna Jackson.
404 reviews3 followers
July 13, 2021
I was hoping for more librarian stuff...sadly that ended in like the 2nd chapter...

This book was fine, but honestly, didn't actually involve the title character all that much. Not one that I will probably re-read, but it was a nice story. I wish Jud would have been the main character though, I feel like he had quite a lot of back story to tell.
Profile Image for Tunes.
28 reviews
Read
February 24, 2023
I liked it. It was a typical Grace Livingston Hill book at first, but then about three quarters of the way through, the mood shifted and it got really funny and then the mystery began to unfold and it became very interesting.
9 reviews
April 25, 2023
I love reading books by Grace Livingston Hill. Her writings are timeless, and the gospel message is always clearly presented. This one is a bit of a mystery. 📖 I won’t spoil for you. 😊
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews

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