#1: Thick as Thieves

A love for horses is the first reason to enjoy Thick as Thieves. Add adventure and mystery and you have a great plot to introduce readers to teenager Andrea (Andi) Carter and the Circle C Milestones Series. Author Susan K. Marlow has set her story in 1882 as she shows Andi's love and devotion for her family. She also includes forgiveness, friendship and faith as integral parts of this book that is perfect for tween and teen readers but certainly enjoyable for older readers also.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through TBCN/BookFun in exchange for my honest review.

Thick as Thieves is the first book in the Circle C Milestones series. It is the story of a teenager growing up on a farm with horses. It includes family, faith, and love along with suspense,cattle-rustling, and birthing. Overall, it is an entertaining book, no matter the age of the reader.

I received the book from the Book CLub Network in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thick as Thieves is the first book in the Circle C Milestones series and I found it to be a well written adventure and as a grandmother I thought it was an interesting story that I certainly would buy for my grandchildren. I found it had some great lessons on faith, trust and the importance and love of family. There was action, mystery, humor and there was drama in and out of the schoolroom. And horses! One of my favorite animals to read about. I liked this Western story for middle school girls and boys. I definitely would have read this series as a youngster..

I received this book free of charge from Book Club Network in exchange for my honest review.

Saddle up partner.we are adventuring to the Circle C Ranch

In the San Joaquin Valley of California. The time period is in

the 1880s.

We are going to visit Andrea Carter called Andi by all her family

and friends. Andi is a typical teenager who would rather skip

school to ride her horse, Taffy and help run the ranch. But even

after her horse births twin foals, Andis mother is very strict that

she must attend school. What could be worse???

How about when Maci Walker comes to town and school

Maci is assigned as Andis seatmate.

This new girl is a big bully plus she is dirty and smelly. What is

Andi to do? How can Andi overcome her dislike of the new girl?

The author address social issues such as bullying, dysfunctional

family life, living with fear, rejection and deceit. It shows how

one can learn to break free of the past and live with faith,

friendship, trust and love.

The story is fast paced, suspenseful with well developed

characters.

Thank you to book fun.org and Kregel Publications for this Book.

My opinion is my own.

"Thick As Thieves" is the first book in the Circle C Milestones series. The Circle C Milestones series follows two previously published Andrea Carter series - the Circle C Beginnings series and the Circle C Adventure series - and follows the life of Andrea from ages 14-18. This is the first book I've read by Susan K. Marlow, and even though I haven't read the previous book series about Andrea Carter, I was able to follow this story just fine.

The book starts with Andrea's horse Taffy about to give birth, but a rare occurance during the birth has Andrea worried about Taffy. After Taffy gives birth, all Andrea wants to do is spend all of her free time training the new colts on the ranch. She definitely doesn't want to return to school for the winter school term, especially since it would mean she wouldn't have much time to spend with the colts. But her mother insists that she must go back to school.

As if it wasn't hard enough for Andrea to concentrate on finishing the school year with good grades rather than think about the horses she could be spending her time with, Macy - a new bully with crude manners - arrives at the school and causes difficulties for everyone in the school, but most of all for Andrea who has been assigned as Macy's seatmate. When Andrea goes to others for advice about what to do about Macy, they tell her to try to be a friend to Macy; however, that's the last thing Andrea wants to do. But an unexpected event causes Andrea to see why Macy acts the way she does.

Meanwhile, cattle rustlers are stealing cattle and horses from several ranches including the Carter ranch. When Andrea's beloved colts are stolen, there is only one person who can help her find them - Macy. Can Andrea forgive Macy for the way she has treated her and find a way to befriend her? And can Andrea and Macy learn to trust each other and find a way to work together to rescue the colts?

I really enjoyed "Thick As Thieves"! I started reading it right before I went to bed one night which was a mistake because once I started reading it I did not want to put it down (even though I had to after a few chapters)! I picked it up again the next day as soon as I could and did not stop reading until I had finished it. I thought it was a great story with action, mystery, and good themes of friendship, faith, trust, forgiveness, and loving others. I thought Andrea was a realistic character with struggles that teens could relate to. I really liked this book and would recommend it to teens. I definitely want to read the other Andrea Carter books now!

Things to be aware of: There is some violence in the story. Also, Macy's brothers are very mean and crude and there are mentions that Macy has been thrashed/beaten by her brothers.

*I received this book for free from Kregel through Book Fun in exchange for my honest review.