Andi Saddles Up (Circle C Stepping Stones #1) by Susan K. Marlow -- Review

About the Book

​Andi Carter has just turned nine--which means she and her palomino, Taffy, are old enough to be a real horse-and-rider pair at last! With a beautiful new saddle as a birthday present, Andi's sure she's ready to learn to trick ride like her friend Riley, even if her older brother Chad doesn't agree.
Riding to a secret spot her brother doesn't know about to practice, Andi finds a new friend to play with. But her fun friendship with Sadie is put to the test when they discover that their families are caught in a boundary dispute. Both Sadie's pa and Chad are stubborn as mules and each is convinced he's right. Can Andi and Sadie hang on to their friendship in the midst of this adult fight?

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About the Author

I started writing stories when I was about ten years old. I never intended to become a published author. I just liked writing stories for myself and for my younger sister, Julie. Once I began sharing my stories outside my family, enough people encouraged me to submit to publishers. They wouldn't let me give up! With the publication of the first book in my Circle C Adventures, Andrea Carter and the Long Ride Home, I  discovered that is really is more fun to share my stories with others then to keep them to myself. Besides the Circle C Adventures, I've gone on to write the Circle C Beginnings (a young Andi Carter), the new Circle C Milestones (a teen Andrea Carter), Tales from the Circle C Ranch (a collection of short stories from Andi's point of view), and the Goldtown Adventures, gold-rush adventures geared more toward boys.

I have a degree in elementary education and love to teach. I taught in Christian schools before I began home schooling. After twenty years, I've finished home schooling but find myself "back in the saddle" as I help other homeschooling families, including my grandchildren. I teach writing workshops for kids, speak at public and Christian schools about the writing process, am a freelance editor, enjoy my ten grandkids, and . . . write stories, of course.

I've had a lot of fun writing about Andi Carter's adventures in the 1800s. In this picture I'm enjoying some time with Star ("Taffy"). I wish Star were mine, but he belongs to my friend Vicki, who generously let me hang out at her stables and take pictures of "Taffy" and "Dixie" (the pinto horse, Patches, in Andrea Carter and the Family Secret). 

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Review

The first book in the Circle C Beginning Series, Andi Saddles Up is a cute historical fiction story about a girl and her horse that beginning readers will love.  This story has a huge family focus, as well as human animal relationships.  It is well-written, entertaining, and engaging.  With a bit of adventure and drama added into the mix.  Children will immediately fall in love with the happy main character, Andi Carter and her adventures.  These young reader chapter books are an excellent read for children that enjoy historical fiction.
 
Series: Circle C Stepping Stones
Genre: animals, horses, history, family, children’s
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Publication date: March 28, 2017
Number of pages: 112
Category: Middle Grade
Content Rating: G
Book Rating: 5 stars

Other books in the series:
2-Andi Under the Big Top
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A review copy of this book was provided by Kregel Publications.  A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.