Books for Christian Girls: "Courageous Love" by Susan K. Marlow

About this book:

“Andrea Carter is finally pulling her own weight on the Circle C Ranch she loves. The only thing she loves more than helping to run the ranch is spending time racing and stunt-riding on her horse Shasta, with the help of wrangler Riley Prescott. Little does she know that when she and Riley stumble onto a mysterious cut in the fence around her brother's prize calves, life is about to get far more exciting--and dangerous.
A cryptic warning tied around a brick crashes through the window at a family party. Then cattle begin to die. When the horse barn catches fire, Andi knows this is more than just coincidence. But who is trying to hurt her family--and why? Evidence begins to point to criminals from her brother Justin's past who want revenge. But that discovery may be too late to keep Andi and her brother's family out of danger.
Now Riley is her only hope of rescue. Can he find her before she disappears from the Circle C forever? Can she keep everyone else safe until then?

The fourth volume in the Circle C Milestones quartet, Courageous Love is high on action, danger, and drama, and full of appealing characters readers love. Andi's final adventure, sparked with a little romance, is sure to please Marlow's legions of loyal readers who want a happy ending for this frontier heroine.”

Series: Book #4 in the “Circle C Milestones” series. (Review of #1 Here! #2 Here! and #3 Here!) {This series is a continuation of this author’s other series “Circle C Beginnings” (for ages 6-8) and the original, “Circle C Adventures” (for ages 8-14). {More about this new series: “Picking up the story line of Andrea Carter and the Price of Truth, Thick as Thieves sees Andi growing up just in time for her loyal readers to grow alongside her. The Circle C Milestones series will follow Andi from age 14 to 17, as she begins to tackle the more serious issues facing an older audience and--eventually--discovers love.”} }

Spiritual Content- Joshua 1:9 at the beginning; Scriptures are mentioned, quoted & remembered; Many prayers & thanking God; Talks about God; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of church going & services; Mentions of angels; A mention of a blessing; A mention of the book Pilgrim’s Promise;

*Note: A mention of a belief that skipping a church service is a step away from slipping into the devil’s clutches.

Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘biddy’, a ‘dad-blasted’, a ‘how in blazes’, a ‘how in tarnation’, two ‘dumb’s and three ‘shut up’s; Mentions of curses (said, not written); A bit of eye rolling; A fire, smoke, coughing hard & thinking you’re a goner (semi-detailed); Being held hostage, a gun is aimed, shooting someone, being choked, slapped and shook & fighting back (up to semi-detailed); Pain, injuries, glass shards & blood (up to semi-detailed); Dead cattle, poison & what happens when they bloat from alkali poisoning (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of pain, blood, glass shards, a fire, bruises, injuries & accidents (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of being shot, held hostage & a murder (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of weapons, gunfire, shooting at someone & the possibility of being shot or dead; Mentions of near death experiences & another death (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of people hurt or killed; Mentions of raids, families being burned out & possibly killed; Mentions of a being slapped, being hit, slapping & blood (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a horse that had to be put down (Book #3); Mentions of injured horses & a dead horse (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of dead cattle & poison; Mentions of criminals/outlaws, jail, prison & convicts who died/were killed; Mentions of bandits/outlaws, hold-ups, gangs, thieves & cattle rustlers; Mentions of robbers, a robbery & assault; Mentions of threats; Mentions of throwing up & vomit; Mentions of lies, lying & a liar; A few mentions of slitting someone’s throat & blood (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of nightmares; A few mentions of tobacco; A few mentions of smoking, cigarettes & cigarette butts; A few mentions of gossip; A couple mentions of a man mistreating a little boy (no details); A couple mentions of drinking & tequila; A mention of an abused child slave; A mention of a child being smacked; A mention of crass jokes.

Sexual Content- a barely-above-not-detailed kiss; Touches, Dancing & Nearness (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Mentions of crude and coarse suggestions (hinted sexual, nothing written); Mention of men leering & whistling/catcalling at Andi; Mentions of blushes & winks; Mentions of crushes & boys liking Andi; A few mentions of a young man who tried to corner & kiss Andi (Book #2); A couple mentions of barring a woman’s door so drunk men won’t bother her; A couple mentions of a guy giving a girl the creeps; A couple mentions of a kiss; A couple mentions of married & engaged couples kissing (barely-above-not-detailed); A mention of a man wanting to tame Andi; A mention of young men making sheep’s eyes are the girls they’re courting; Realizing she’s in love & the emotions.

-Andrea “Andi” Carter, age 16-17/18
P.O.V. of Andi

Set in 1885-1886
186 pages

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Pre Teens-

New Teens-

Early High School Teens-

Older High School Teens-

My personal Rating-

{Add ½ for those who love this series.}

Oh, my goodness. That ending. Oh, my goodness.

I may have not grown up on the original Andi series, but I sure have come to really enjoy reading about Andi (& Riley…). That said, the ending really got to me, so I know those who love this series might just be sobbing happy tears.

Sure, there were some parts I wasn’t thrilled with (some mentions of suggestive comments make this series for girls older than the original series’ target market), I did loved all the prayers & Spiritual Content, however.

I’m having a hard time, though, thinking this is the last book! I would so love a spin-off this spin-off series and to see what will happen to this family next. ;)

See y’all on Wednesday with a new review!