Snuggle Up with A Good Book with Andrea Carter

I very much enjoyed reading these books. I got the first two of the series about Andrea Carter. Before I get to my review, I'll tell you a little about the author.

Susan Marlow is the homeschool mom to four grown children - Kristal, Chad, Andrew and Ryan. Mrs. Marlow resides in the state of Washington. Mrs. Marlow started writing stories when she was just 10 years old. She loves to teach and does writing class at homeschool co-ops for kids. She also likes bike-riding, gardening, blogging and reading. And she told me she also likes to work on her treadmill.

Now that you know a little about the author, I'll get on with my review. :)

I was sent the first two books of the Circle "C" series - The Long Ride Home and The Dangerous Decision. The first one kind of introduces Andi's character and what is going on in her life, and also about her first 'adventure'. The books are set in the 1880's in Fresno, California. Andrea "Andi" Carter is a 12-year-old girl who lives with her family on the range. Her older brothers are Chad, Justin, and Mitch. She also has an older sister, Melinda.

In The Long Ride Home, Andi seems to always be in trouble. She tries to solve her problems by running away from home. A drifter comes along and takes Taffy, her beautiful palmino horse, away. (Taffy is her best friend.) In an attempt to get her back, she embarks on a journey that will make her realize that she really does need her family and yearns to be home again. *Star as a colt, the horse that plays"Taffy.*

I was horrified at the way the immigrant Mexicans are treated. I had known that they were treated poorly, but never expected the way it was in the books. It's so sad that people think they are better than someone just because they have more money than someone else. There is a verse in the Bible that has something to say about this I think. It's in 1 Timothy 6:10 "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." I am so glad that the main characters were not that type of people.

In the end of the book, I was glad to see that Andi finally finds her home again and she realizes that her family does love her and wants her home.

*At left is the grown "Taffy", IRL Star*

In the second book, The Dangerous Decision, Andi finds herself battling with the Golden Rule of the Bible - do unto others as you would have them do unto you. After almost trampling her new school teacher the very first day he gets to town, the new school term doesn't start out very well. The teacher's daughter who is in Andi's class, Virgina, tries to make trouble for Andi any time she can. With a foul ball that smashes the schoolhouse window, and Virgina finding a snake in her desk the first day of school, and Virgina getting flipped off a horse when Andi is watching her, Mr. Foster doesn't really like his new pupil.

I really liked the part where the adventure really gets going - an outlaw coming into the school to hide from the law. The outlaw tries to take Virgina with him when his plan to hide in the schoolhouse doesn't work out, and then Andi steps in and says to take her instead. I admire Andi's courage to come to her fellow classmate's rescue. Justin, Andi's brother, is the outlaw's lawyer, but he loses the trial for him. The outlaw was sentenced to prison but got away. Andi tries to run and gets shot. I'm not going to tell you anymore about the book other than I really enjoyed the ending.

I think that the age-group for these books would be around 7-13. I know I enjoyed them. I actually think anyone would enjoy them. They can also be read to little kids, or moms' could read them with their daughters. It's an easy to understand book that is full of adventure, wit, faith and courage. Both of them are. For more adventures and how to get the books, go to Andi and Taffy's blog. At Andi's blog, you can find updates about new books to be, and other fun things like giveaways and contests. You can get there by following this icon -

I am so glad that I got these two books to review. I had so much fun reading them. I am sure you would too. You can also check out my interview with Mrs. Marlow next month. Thank you for reading!

For now, if YOU want to enter a chance to win one of these books mentioned above, please announce it on your blog and add the icon to your sidebar! There will be two winners, so enter before November 17th.

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