Robin in the Hood by Diane J. Reed

 “Is it any wonder I became a bank robber?”
But she never dreamed she’d fall in love…

Wealthy high school student Robin McArthur thinks she has it all figured out when it comes to bilking her wealthy dad for guilt money as a substitute for his genuine affection. Until one day he suffers a stroke, and she learns the brutal truth:
They’re broke.
Her stepmom has skipped the country.
And everyone from bankers to bookies has lined up in her dad's hospital room to collect on the millions he's racked up in debt.

Panicked and desperate, Robin figures she has two choices. Either surrender to the pestering caseworker and live in a skanky foster home, or take a chance and sneak her dad out of the hospital to make a run for it. Little does she know that stealing a car and hitting the road means that before the day is through, she will rob her first bank.

Now an outlaw, Robin finds a backwoods trailer park to hide her dad from authorities. There, she encounters Creek, a local bad boy who also commits crimes to provide for their motley neighbors. Realizing she could use Creek’s help, Robin proposes an ingenious plan—they should team up to rob banks together. But when their partnership leads to a romance that turns Robin’s world upside down, she soon begins to discover that people are more precious than pocketbooks, and real love means opening your heart to the kinds of treasures money can’t buy…

I found this story to be about growing up, learning who you really are and what your purpose is for life.  Robin was raised by the society she was thrown in.  She was neglected by her father and nurtured by the rich society that produced a very self-righteous young woman.  She looked down on those who had less and her attitude made her an ugly human being. 

When the truth about her life came out after her father’s stroke, she realized that she had no idea where she came from or the truth about her mother.  She found herself being harassed by bill collectors and the money she believed they had was no longer there.  Taking off with her dad to avoid the reality he had created they found themselves in a trailer part where she meets a young man named Creek. 

Creek’s history was much different than hers, he had never known the life of luxury and he spends his time helping those in the trailer park the best way he can, he steals and gives the money to those in need.  Robin is quirky and has a sarcastic sense of humor but she befriends Creek and they begin stealing as partners and she uses her part of the money to get her father out of debt. 

What I loved about this story was how the author showed the journey from who Robin thought she was to becoming the woman she should be.  She learned about love and forgiveness as well as building trust with Creek.  Of course what is a good story without some suspense and secrets.  As Robin finds out more of the truth behind her parents and fake life, she is also finding her feelings regarding her future that I hope will include Creek. 

The author gave us a wide range of characters, especially in the trailer park and she created a plot that made me almost believe stealing was legit for the correct reasons.  Creek wanted to help, he just didn’t know any other way to do it.  His inability to watch those he loved suffer and do without was heart breaking yet also inspiring.  He taught Robin how to feel and find empathy for others. 

I would recommend this book and tell you to make sure you get it now so you can go into the second book in this series, Stone of Thieves.  Book one left us with some unanswered questions that I hope we will find out about soon, but one thing was clear, Robin and Creek were not done telling their story. 

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