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Bitter Creek #7
A Stranger's Game
From "New York Times" bestselling author Joan Johnston comes a dazzling new Bitter Creek novel that features all of the passion and intrigue in Texas high society that her readers know and love, mixed with an explosive, spine-tingling tale of murder, wrongful imprisonment, and a woman who counts no cost too high to see a killer brought to justice.
FBI Special Agent Breed Grayhawk has the hottest sex in his life with a stranger who calls herself Grace Smith, only to discover early the next morning that her real name is Merle Raye Finkel—and she's a convicted double murderer who broke her parole a year ago and disappeared. Now she's his prime suspect in a terrorist threat against the U.S. president.
Grace Caldwell is determined to find the killer who framed her for the murder of her father and stepmother—and make him pay. She burgles the home of her #1 suspect and nets a surprising haul: a hot-pink, silk-covered diary—the record of a sex-addicted wife's adventures—which suggests that Grace's #1 suspect is a serial killer. But her theft has been caught on tape, and the man she's been chasing becomes the hunter...with Grace as his prey.
With just five days until the president arrives in Austin, Texas, the last thing the FBI needs is a serial killer on the prowl...and a terrorist suspect who will stop at nothing to clear her name. The clock is ticking down, and Agent Grayhawk is racing time to discover the truth about his dangerous lover.
FBI Special Agent Breed Grayhawk has the hottest sex in his life with a stranger who calls herself Grace Smith, only to discover early the next morning that her real name is Merle Raye Finkel—and she's a convicted double murderer who broke her parole a year ago and disappeared. Now she's his prime suspect in a terrorist threat against the U.S. president.
Grace Caldwell is determined to find the killer who framed her for the murder of her father and stepmother—and make him pay. She burgles the home of her #1 suspect and nets a surprising haul: a hot-pink, silk-covered diary—the record of a sex-addicted wife's adventures—which suggests that Grace's #1 suspect is a serial killer. But her theft has been caught on tape, and the man she's been chasing becomes the hunter...with Grace as his prey.
With just five days until the president arrives in Austin, Texas, the last thing the FBI needs is a serial killer on the prowl...and a terrorist suspect who will stop at nothing to clear her name. The clock is ticking down, and Agent Grayhawk is racing time to discover the truth about his dangerous lover.
337 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
71 people are currently reading
633 people want to read
About the author
Joan Johnston
126 books755 followersJoan Johnston (born Little Rock, Arkansas) is a best-selling American author of over forty contemporary and historical romance novels.
Johnston was the third of seven children born to an Air Force sergeant and his music-teacher wife. She received a B.A. in theatre arts from Jacksonville University in 1970, then earning an M.A. in theatre from the University of Illinois, Urbana in 1971. She received a law degree (with honors) at the University of Texas at Austin in 1980. For the next five years, Johnston worked as an attorney, serving with the Hunton & Williams firm in Richmond, Virginia, and with Squire, Sanders, & Dempsey in Miami. She has also worked as a newspaper editor and drama critic in San Antonio, Texas, and as a college professor at Southwest Texas Junior College, Barry University, and the University of Miami.
Johnston is a member of the Authors Guild, Novelists, Inc., Romance Writers of America, and Florida Romance Writers. She has two children and one grandchild, and divides her time between two homes, in Colorado and Florida.
Awards
* Paperbook Book Club of America's Book Rak Award (twice)
* Romantic Times' Best Western Historical Series Award (twice)
* Romantic Times' Best New Western Writer
* Romantic Times' Best Historical Series Award (twice)
* The Maggie (twice)
* Romance Writers of America RITA Award finalist for The Disobedient Bride
Johnston was the third of seven children born to an Air Force sergeant and his music-teacher wife. She received a B.A. in theatre arts from Jacksonville University in 1970, then earning an M.A. in theatre from the University of Illinois, Urbana in 1971. She received a law degree (with honors) at the University of Texas at Austin in 1980. For the next five years, Johnston worked as an attorney, serving with the Hunton & Williams firm in Richmond, Virginia, and with Squire, Sanders, & Dempsey in Miami. She has also worked as a newspaper editor and drama critic in San Antonio, Texas, and as a college professor at Southwest Texas Junior College, Barry University, and the University of Miami.
Johnston is a member of the Authors Guild, Novelists, Inc., Romance Writers of America, and Florida Romance Writers. She has two children and one grandchild, and divides her time between two homes, in Colorado and Florida.
Awards
* Paperbook Book Club of America's Book Rak Award (twice)
* Romantic Times' Best Western Historical Series Award (twice)
* Romantic Times' Best New Western Writer
* Romantic Times' Best Historical Series Award (twice)
* The Maggie (twice)
* Romance Writers of America RITA Award finalist for The Disobedient Bride
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
April 29, 2008
If there was ever a time for me to like a book, but also be annoyed with it, this is it. Because on one hand, I really enjoyed this book - it was a quick, engaging read with an interesting storyline and good characters. But on the other hand, several things annoyed me.
I'm not sure I liked that she jumped ahead 9 years from the last book of the series to this one. Nine years seemed a bit much - but I think she needed to age the characters. Doesn't mean I have to like it.
I also wish she hadn't revealed who the bad guy was so early in the book. I mean, she flat out said who it was, what the person did, and why they did it. There was a slight twist at the end, but I wasn't all that surprised by it. Keeping it a surprise would have really upped the suspense angle of the book.
But what really, really annoyed me was the end. I wanted to throw the book across the room when I finished because she left something completely hanging! I finished and it was like, NO! You can't do that! Maybe if I had any expectation that another book would be soon coming, I wouldn't mind so much. But it took Johnston 2 years to write this book, and the best she can say on her website is that she hopes the next book will be out in 2009. I don't mind open endings too much when I know I won't have to wait too long for the continuation...but when there's likely to be a year and a half gap, then it really sucks. It made me wish I hadn't read the book yet and waited till next year.
But with all that said, it wasn't overall a bad book. I loved that characters from the past books made returns and Breed was a cool character. So a good read, but frustrating at the same time.
Just a note - you really should read the other books in the series before this one; at the very least have read "The Next Mrs. Blackthorne". There are a lot of character connections and mentions of previous events. They may be hard to understand without reading all the other books first.
I'm not sure I liked that she jumped ahead 9 years from the last book of the series to this one. Nine years seemed a bit much - but I think she needed to age the characters. Doesn't mean I have to like it.
I also wish she hadn't revealed who the bad guy was so early in the book. I mean, she flat out said who it was, what the person did, and why they did it. There was a slight twist at the end, but I wasn't all that surprised by it. Keeping it a surprise would have really upped the suspense angle of the book.
But what really, really annoyed me was the end. I wanted to throw the book across the room when I finished because she left something completely hanging! I finished and it was like, NO! You can't do that! Maybe if I had any expectation that another book would be soon coming, I wouldn't mind so much. But it took Johnston 2 years to write this book, and the best she can say on her website is that she hopes the next book will be out in 2009. I don't mind open endings too much when I know I won't have to wait too long for the continuation...but when there's likely to be a year and a half gap, then it really sucks. It made me wish I hadn't read the book yet and waited till next year.
But with all that said, it wasn't overall a bad book. I loved that characters from the past books made returns and Breed was a cool character. So a good read, but frustrating at the same time.
Just a note - you really should read the other books in the series before this one; at the very least have read "The Next Mrs. Blackthorne". There are a lot of character connections and mentions of previous events. They may be hard to understand without reading all the other books first.
July 28, 2009
Another novel in the Bitter Creek Series. Grace Caldwell, aka Merle Raye Finkel, went to jail for a double murder she did not committ.Now since she has been released from Juvinile prison, she is determined to make the real killer pay. Breed Greyhawk is an FBI special agent located in Austin, Texas meets up with Grace, has the best sex of his life, and then finds out she is a convicted murder. Okay!
Really good book. Grace is bound and determined to find the real murderer of her father and step-mother. Her fatehr was a cop and abused her and her stepmother to no end. She has got to get Breed to help her find the real killer. Breed has his own issues, which mainly center around his alcoholic mother and real father.
it actually shocked me who the real killer was. But I won't say who it really is. you just gotta read the book. On the keeper shelf.
Also there is a sneak preview for the next Bitter Creek book, Shattered, which releases in January 2010. Can't wait for that one.
Really good book. Grace is bound and determined to find the real murderer of her father and step-mother. Her fatehr was a cop and abused her and her stepmother to no end. She has got to get Breed to help her find the real killer. Breed has his own issues, which mainly center around his alcoholic mother and real father.
it actually shocked me who the real killer was. But I won't say who it really is. you just gotta read the book. On the keeper shelf.
Also there is a sneak preview for the next Bitter Creek book, Shattered, which releases in January 2010. Can't wait for that one.
February 25, 2018
A Stranger's Game, number seven in the Bitter Creek series by Joan Johnston,may just be my favorite in the series yet! Murders, Suspense, Drama, Love Stories, this addition to the series has it all!
Breed Grawhawk has come into his own without the help of anyone. Breed is a FBI Special Agent. Breed meets a stranger in a bar and has the best sex of his life in exchange for the promise to grant this stranger a favor. An unknown favor to an unknown woman that he knows is lying to him, hiding things. She's had too much to drink to drive so he drops her off at her college dorm. Sure enough he goes to his work computer the next day and finds her license plates do not match the car she was driving. The name she gave him is not a resident at the dorm or a UT student like she proclaimed. Her name is a fake so who is she. What will the favor end up being. What has he gotten himself into and why can't he stop thinking about her. Will he be able to find her or when will she show up to ask for that favor. He finds out her name when a tip is called in on a female that is said to be out to kill the U.S. President and he sees a fax with her picture. He decides to not tell his superiors immediately about his interlude the prior night with the suspect.
Her name is Grace Caldwell and ten years prior she was framed for murder of her father and step-mother. She was born Merle Raye Finkle, the daughter of a mean, often drunk, abusive homicide detective. There were many times she wanted to kill her father and many times she wished he was dead but she didn't kill him. She would never have killed her step-mother, she loved her step-mother. She was the only mother Grace can remember. She broke her parole by never showing up for her first parole meeting so she's been in hiding the year since. Therefore, she wanted for violation of parole and she is now the prime suspect for an anonymous tip about a terrorist threat against the president. In her hunt for her parents killer she breaks into a suspects home and finds a pink diary of the woman of the house. The diary is that of a wife that's a sex addict and it hints that the woman's husband has become a serial killer. The woman seems to believe that the deaths of men, of her prior affairs, that are murdered outside the bars where she met the men, is not a coincidence. The theft of the diary was caught on video and Grace is now being hunted by the said serial killer.
Time is ticking down and the FBI has a supposed serial killer on the loose and a possible terrorist. Will Grace clear her name. Will Breed Grayhawk discover the truth about Grace. Will he be able to clear his own name of being a crazy FBI agent that's protecting a murder and terrorist before she is killed or someone else he loves is. Is there a serial killer, and if so, who is it.
A must read that you won't want to put down!
Breed Grawhawk has come into his own without the help of anyone. Breed is a FBI Special Agent. Breed meets a stranger in a bar and has the best sex of his life in exchange for the promise to grant this stranger a favor. An unknown favor to an unknown woman that he knows is lying to him, hiding things. She's had too much to drink to drive so he drops her off at her college dorm. Sure enough he goes to his work computer the next day and finds her license plates do not match the car she was driving. The name she gave him is not a resident at the dorm or a UT student like she proclaimed. Her name is a fake so who is she. What will the favor end up being. What has he gotten himself into and why can't he stop thinking about her. Will he be able to find her or when will she show up to ask for that favor. He finds out her name when a tip is called in on a female that is said to be out to kill the U.S. President and he sees a fax with her picture. He decides to not tell his superiors immediately about his interlude the prior night with the suspect.
Her name is Grace Caldwell and ten years prior she was framed for murder of her father and step-mother. She was born Merle Raye Finkle, the daughter of a mean, often drunk, abusive homicide detective. There were many times she wanted to kill her father and many times she wished he was dead but she didn't kill him. She would never have killed her step-mother, she loved her step-mother. She was the only mother Grace can remember. She broke her parole by never showing up for her first parole meeting so she's been in hiding the year since. Therefore, she wanted for violation of parole and she is now the prime suspect for an anonymous tip about a terrorist threat against the president. In her hunt for her parents killer she breaks into a suspects home and finds a pink diary of the woman of the house. The diary is that of a wife that's a sex addict and it hints that the woman's husband has become a serial killer. The woman seems to believe that the deaths of men, of her prior affairs, that are murdered outside the bars where she met the men, is not a coincidence. The theft of the diary was caught on video and Grace is now being hunted by the said serial killer.
Time is ticking down and the FBI has a supposed serial killer on the loose and a possible terrorist. Will Grace clear her name. Will Breed Grayhawk discover the truth about Grace. Will he be able to clear his own name of being a crazy FBI agent that's protecting a murder and terrorist before she is killed or someone else he loves is. Is there a serial killer, and if so, who is it.
A must read that you won't want to put down!
November 14, 2017
Everytime I get into one of these Joan Johnston Bitter Creek books I think it can't become anymore twisted or enthralling than the last one it most certainly does. Adventure, Action and compelling mystery awaits the reader in the pages of A Strangers Game. Then only to leave with a cliffhanger. Glad I have next one in hand to start or I would be one irritated reader about now.
April 24, 2018
I'm usually not ashamed to be reading romance novels, but this book was downright embarrassing. also the cliffhanger ending was ridiculous. i do love the cliche cowboy characters though....
March 23, 2022
......
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2018
I picked this novel up at an SPCA flea market a while back and just got around to reading it. I noticed that it was "A Bitter Creek Novel" at the time but didn't really think much about it since most other romance "series" that I've read are stand-alone novels that have characters that overlap as secondary characters when it is the hero/heroine's time to shine.
I am not a huge fan of duel love stories, I find they are rarely done well. This novel is no exception, the only surprise for me was the giant cliffhanger surrounding the second romance that will no doubt be resolved in the next novel. As far as I'm concerned if the author had no intention of resolving it she shouldn't have opened it up to begin with and should have concentrated more on the development of the primary characters, Breed and Grace. They never really evolved into real, fleshed out characters to me and I know they could have, there was just so much other "noise" going on in this book they didn't get a chance to really show me who they were and as a result I had difficult time sympathising with them and rooting for their future together.
This story started out with a lot of promise but I found it unnecessarily bogged down by numerous plotlines and a very large cast of characters with complex backstories. Perhaps it would have been easier to follow had I read the previous books in the series as the cast would already have been familiar to me. As it was I did a lot of flipping back and forth early on trying to remember who the heck everyone was, maybe a family tree at the beginning of the book would have been useful.
The "mystery" component was a huge let down. I was really disappointed with the reveal early on (page 56) of the serial killer's identity, (weak) motives, etc. Even so, a lot more could have been done with the story if less time had been wasted on exposition, a storyline that deserved its own book and things that did nothing to advance the plot (a birthday party scene that dragged on for nearly 40 pages to explain the relationship between every person in the "world", most of whom are never seen again). Even the "twist" at the end was entirely too predictable and lessened my enjoyment of the story considerably.
The book was a light romp that failed to live up to its potential. I enjoyed it but probably won't read any other novels in the series or by this particular author.
I am not a huge fan of duel love stories, I find they are rarely done well. This novel is no exception, the only surprise for me was the giant cliffhanger surrounding the second romance that will no doubt be resolved in the next novel. As far as I'm concerned if the author had no intention of resolving it she shouldn't have opened it up to begin with and should have concentrated more on the development of the primary characters, Breed and Grace. They never really evolved into real, fleshed out characters to me and I know they could have, there was just so much other "noise" going on in this book they didn't get a chance to really show me who they were and as a result I had difficult time sympathising with them and rooting for their future together.
This story started out with a lot of promise but I found it unnecessarily bogged down by numerous plotlines and a very large cast of characters with complex backstories. Perhaps it would have been easier to follow had I read the previous books in the series as the cast would already have been familiar to me. As it was I did a lot of flipping back and forth early on trying to remember who the heck everyone was, maybe a family tree at the beginning of the book would have been useful.
The "mystery" component was a huge let down. I was really disappointed with the reveal early on (page 56) of the serial killer's identity, (weak) motives, etc. Even so, a lot more could have been done with the story if less time had been wasted on exposition, a storyline that deserved its own book and things that did nothing to advance the plot (a birthday party scene that dragged on for nearly 40 pages to explain the relationship between every person in the "world", most of whom are never seen again). Even the "twist" at the end was entirely too predictable and lessened my enjoyment of the story considerably.
The book was a light romp that failed to live up to its potential. I enjoyed it but probably won't read any other novels in the series or by this particular author.
March 16, 2024
As another reviewer noted, there are both good things and bad things about this book and she/he detailed what they liked and disliked. I respect what other reviewers write about a novel even if I don't feel the same way. But in this case, the reviewer hit the nail on the head with some of their dislikes.
For one, why is there nine years between the introduction of Breed's character in the previous book to this one? He was 14 in the last novel - but oh wait, in this book the author says his mother lied when she dropped him off at North's ranch because he was actually 16?? This looks like an editor caught the discrepancy after the first chapters were done and the author had to come up with a quick fix. Sometimes I wonder, does an author believe a reader will forget details between publications?
And speaking of ages, how does the author explain why some characters that have been in the series since the first book are still alive when so many years pass between each book? For example, several novels ago the author indicated Jackson Blackthorne was soon to be 70. In this book, is he close to 90? And Jackson was recovering from a heart attack in book one!
I also question a few other things. Like the tunnel between the storm cellar and the basement at Twin Magnolias. Sounds very much like the tunnel described in Ms. Johnston's "Frontier Woman" from the early 1840's at one of the plantations in that book.
And lastly, like other reviewers I was not fond of the cliffhanger ending.
Overall, it was a quick read with suspense and romance. (Would have been quicker if the author didn't spend several pages on Grace and Breed's physical intimacy.) The good news is I can count it as "read" towards my 2024 book challenge.😊
Will I read "Shattered"? Probably. If anything, to obtain closure on Kate and Jack. This is a relationship the author is apparently spreading over three books.
For one, why is there nine years between the introduction of Breed's character in the previous book to this one? He was 14 in the last novel - but oh wait, in this book the author says his mother lied when she dropped him off at North's ranch because he was actually 16?? This looks like an editor caught the discrepancy after the first chapters were done and the author had to come up with a quick fix. Sometimes I wonder, does an author believe a reader will forget details between publications?
And speaking of ages, how does the author explain why some characters that have been in the series since the first book are still alive when so many years pass between each book? For example, several novels ago the author indicated Jackson Blackthorne was soon to be 70. In this book, is he close to 90? And Jackson was recovering from a heart attack in book one!
I also question a few other things. Like the tunnel between the storm cellar and the basement at Twin Magnolias. Sounds very much like the tunnel described in Ms. Johnston's "Frontier Woman" from the early 1840's at one of the plantations in that book.
And lastly, like other reviewers I was not fond of the cliffhanger ending.
Overall, it was a quick read with suspense and romance. (Would have been quicker if the author didn't spend several pages on Grace and Breed's physical intimacy.) The good news is I can count it as "read" towards my 2024 book challenge.😊
Will I read "Shattered"? Probably. If anything, to obtain closure on Kate and Jack. This is a relationship the author is apparently spreading over three books.
August 29, 2020
This novel is definitely Breed's story but, as is the case with this author, there is always more than one story going on! it seems our problem prone, naive Kate has a bit of story in this book. The story picks up with our characters about 11 years or so in the future. Breed is now an FBI agent and Kate has married (not Jack!) and now has twin boys just turning 8 in our story! Seems the Blackthornes and Grayhawks are prone to marry people they aren't in love with then live their married lives pining for the person that they really loved but let get away for a variety of reasons. Early in the book we learn that Kate married out of spite when Jack married an old high school sweetheart to avoid his feelings for Kate! Neither of them loved the person they married because they were in love with each other! Now they are both free to love again---but are they? The twist!
Unique to this book, I do believe, is the cliff hanger at the end! WHAT???! The next installment is Shattered. Of course, while it has been ordered it isn't scheduled to arrive for 7 to ten business days! I have started Colter's Wife to wile away the time; another Joan Johnston book. I have ordered all the Bitter Creek novels, I hope, so I won't finish one and then have to interrupt the series with another book!
Unique to this book, I do believe, is the cliff hanger at the end! WHAT???! The next installment is Shattered. Of course, while it has been ordered it isn't scheduled to arrive for 7 to ten business days! I have started Colter's Wife to wile away the time; another Joan Johnston book. I have ordered all the Bitter Creek novels, I hope, so I won't finish one and then have to interrupt the series with another book!
January 3, 2018
I really did enjoy this book. All kinds of character's, all tied together through family and life. The story of Grace and Breed was amazing. The second main story of this book is Kate and Jack's story. It moved along with Grace and Breed's story. A life long love, unfulfilled. But! Coming as a big shock, the author chose not to complete Kate and Jack's story. She left it hanging, big time. So naturally I went to her web sight to find out what the next book in this series was so I could read it. Everything I read on multiple sights didn't mention anything about Kate and Jack. So I came here to Goodreads and read reviews of the next book, and found out she never put's them together! I guess she tells of Kate's life and another book about Jacks life, but doesn't complete their story. And, it looks like her fan base is not happy at all with what happened.
So I won't be reading the next book in the series and I guess that's that for reading Joan Johnston books.
So I won't be reading the next book in the series and I guess that's that for reading Joan Johnston books.
April 5, 2019
Not bad, I will continue with the Siri’s. Cannot believe how they have Kate willing to pay off her used to be dead husband when she could just tell the truth. Typical like a soap opera. Gets my mind off other things. Enjoy the end where the families are starting to get along. Also, at the end was thrown off a little wet clay told Kate that they’re having a baby and Kate will have a little brother or sister. There getting up there in age with grandchildren already. Good thing they own a lot of property, going to need it with all the additions to their families.
June 9, 2018
I’ve never read any of the other books in this series, but I didn’t have a problem following it. I just felt like there were a lot of characters and too many coinciding plots and some which weren’t needed that took away from the experience, but maybe that has to do with the other books in the series. I really wasn’t a fan of how the killer was revealed super early, it took a lot of the excitement out of the book
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March 1, 2022Breed dont know the trouble he gets into when he meets grace. Grace knows what she is doing and why, she wants to clear her name of murdering her father and step-mother. Breed is a man of his word he is ready to help clear Grace with clearing her name, but not reading for the feeling that comes with helping her.
July 13, 2017
Talk about a book chalked full of twist, turns, and suspense. This one has it all. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. One of Joan Johnston's best. A Strangers Game really packs the punch!!!! Get ready for the ride of a lifetime!!
September 18, 2019
A Stranger's Game
The Grayhawk family has many branches. Father's, Morhers, half siblings, step siblings and so forth. Breed was ignored by his father until Breed reached out to him for help in bringing a serial killer to justice...
The Grayhawk family has many branches. Father's, Morhers, half siblings, step siblings and so forth. Breed was ignored by his father until Breed reached out to him for help in bringing a serial killer to justice...
February 8, 2020
WOW
I always try to not get into the specifics of the book but I was so glad to see Breed fall in love and make up with his father. Love the way Joan never let's the secondary story get lost.
I always try to not get into the specifics of the book but I was so glad to see Breed fall in love and make up with his father. Love the way Joan never let's the secondary story get lost.
August 6, 2019
fantastic! very suspenseful and leaves you with a cliffhanger ending - looking forward to reading the next book!
June 4, 2021
Sexy, EXCITING good characters... but the ending was not an ending... there MUST be more! I WANT MORE
library
July 30, 20215
October 1, 2022
Entertaining I guess. Idk. Idk what this was.
February 25, 2023
Good Book!
This book kept me on the edge of my seat . Really like the chemistry between Breed and Grace. Can’t wait to read the next book.
This book kept me on the edge of my seat . Really like the chemistry between Breed and Grace. Can’t wait to read the next book.
May 4, 2024
Read this book in 2 days!! Kept me wondering what was going to happen next!
October 26, 2024
Excellent story. I look forward to reading the sequel.
January 8, 2025
Good read from Joan Johnston. Don't know how I missed this book in this series. I liked these characters and the suspense filled plot. It unfortunate she's not writing anymore. Hope she's okay.
June 12, 2025
3.5 it was good. Not edge of your seat but it was a good story. Romance/thriller
October 16, 2025
Terrible book Such a waste of time!!
January 4, 2015
Overall Rating: 4.95
Action: 4.0 / Emotion: 4.5 / Romance: 4.5 / Sensuous: 2.0 / Suspense: 4.0 // Laughter: 2 / Giggle: 2 // Tears: 1 / Teary: 2
A Stranger's Game: 4.95:
This is the kind of Romantic Suspense book that is such a joy to read. This un-put-down-able book was filled with plenty of action, suspense, and romance and a hero and heroine that melted your heart.
Hero: 4.5:
Breed Grayhawk: Love his self-reliance. His appearance. His confidence. His intelligence. The way he responded to Grace on page 279.
Heroine: 4.5:
Grace Elizabeth Caldwell / Merle Raye Finkel: Love her strength. Her intelligence. Her willingness to correct a grievous wrong. The way her heart softened towards Breed.
Secondary Hero: 4.5:
Jack McKinley: Jack won my heart in The Next Mrs. Blackthorne and won't let it go. Love his belief in right and wrong. The way he treats Kate and her twin sons. That he still takes his mother's call in spite of washing his hands of his father.
Secondary Heroine: 4.5:
Kate Grayhawk Pendleton: Kate has finally matured. She is no longer a happy-go-lucky teen who jumps in with both feet without worrying about the consequences. Love the way she loves her family, particularly her twin sons.
Story Line: 4.5:
Johnston did a great job of weaving a lot of different colored threads in the tapestry of this story. A convicted double murderer pairing up with a FBI agent to prove she was wrongly blamed. A Texas Ranger and the same FBI agent helping to protect the president and state governors due to a security threat. A growing romance between Breed and Grace and details about the continuing roadblocks to the romance between Jack and Kate.
Action: 4.0:
Johnston kept this story moving at a quick pace because it seemed something exciting was always going on. Grace trying to clear her name. Breed looking for Grace. The killer trying to stop them both. A threat to the politicians at LBJ Auditiorium.
Emotion: 4.5:
Johnston did a great job of grabbing the reader's emotions, starting with the prologue. It was impossible not to feel great compassion for little Merle Raye . . . and later Grace. Breed had already won hearts when he appeared in the previous book of the series. Johnston's story brought forth laughter and tears.
Romance: 4.5:
The attraction and awareness between the two couples in this book was always obvious and not overshadowed by the plot.
Sensuous: 2.0:
Johnston has a way of writing understated love scenes that are very sensual, without being graphically explicit.
Suspense: 4.0:
The suspense was top-notch, leaving the reader tightly wound, wondering what twist and turn the story was going to take next.
Secondary Characters: 4.5:
Johnston always inserts interesting and well-developed supporting characters in her books. In this book the supporting characters that drew great interest (some more than others) included: {1} Vincent "Vince" Harkness; {2} Stephanie Harkness; {3} Craig Westwood; {4} King Grayhawk; {5} Ann Wade Pendleton; {6} J.D. Pendleton; {7} Troy McMahon; {8} Harry Gunderson; {9} Frank McKinley; {10} Steve; {11} Lucky Pendleton; and {12} Chance Pendleton. Cameo appearances were made by: {1} Jackson "Blackjack" Blackthorne; {2} Lauren "Ren" Creed Blackthorne; {3} Clay Blackthorne; and {4} Libby Blackthorne.
A more in-depth, detailed, spoiler-ridden review of A Stranger's Game appears at Wolf Bear Does Books.
Action: 4.0 / Emotion: 4.5 / Romance: 4.5 / Sensuous: 2.0 / Suspense: 4.0 // Laughter: 2 / Giggle: 2 // Tears: 1 / Teary: 2
A Stranger's Game: 4.95:
This is the kind of Romantic Suspense book that is such a joy to read. This un-put-down-able book was filled with plenty of action, suspense, and romance and a hero and heroine that melted your heart.
Hero: 4.5:
Breed Grayhawk: Love his self-reliance. His appearance. His confidence. His intelligence. The way he responded to Grace on page 279.
Heroine: 4.5:
Grace Elizabeth Caldwell / Merle Raye Finkel: Love her strength. Her intelligence. Her willingness to correct a grievous wrong. The way her heart softened towards Breed.
Secondary Hero: 4.5:
Jack McKinley: Jack won my heart in The Next Mrs. Blackthorne and won't let it go. Love his belief in right and wrong. The way he treats Kate and her twin sons. That he still takes his mother's call in spite of washing his hands of his father.
Secondary Heroine: 4.5:
Kate Grayhawk Pendleton: Kate has finally matured. She is no longer a happy-go-lucky teen who jumps in with both feet without worrying about the consequences. Love the way she loves her family, particularly her twin sons.
Story Line: 4.5:
Johnston did a great job of weaving a lot of different colored threads in the tapestry of this story. A convicted double murderer pairing up with a FBI agent to prove she was wrongly blamed. A Texas Ranger and the same FBI agent helping to protect the president and state governors due to a security threat. A growing romance between Breed and Grace and details about the continuing roadblocks to the romance between Jack and Kate.
Action: 4.0:
Johnston kept this story moving at a quick pace because it seemed something exciting was always going on. Grace trying to clear her name. Breed looking for Grace. The killer trying to stop them both. A threat to the politicians at LBJ Auditiorium.
Emotion: 4.5:
Johnston did a great job of grabbing the reader's emotions, starting with the prologue. It was impossible not to feel great compassion for little Merle Raye . . . and later Grace. Breed had already won hearts when he appeared in the previous book of the series. Johnston's story brought forth laughter and tears.
Romance: 4.5:
The attraction and awareness between the two couples in this book was always obvious and not overshadowed by the plot.
Sensuous: 2.0:
Johnston has a way of writing understated love scenes that are very sensual, without being graphically explicit.
Suspense: 4.0:
The suspense was top-notch, leaving the reader tightly wound, wondering what twist and turn the story was going to take next.
Secondary Characters: 4.5:
Johnston always inserts interesting and well-developed supporting characters in her books. In this book the supporting characters that drew great interest (some more than others) included: {1} Vincent "Vince" Harkness; {2} Stephanie Harkness; {3} Craig Westwood; {4} King Grayhawk; {5} Ann Wade Pendleton; {6} J.D. Pendleton; {7} Troy McMahon; {8} Harry Gunderson; {9} Frank McKinley; {10} Steve; {11} Lucky Pendleton; and {12} Chance Pendleton. Cameo appearances were made by: {1} Jackson "Blackjack" Blackthorne; {2} Lauren "Ren" Creed Blackthorne; {3} Clay Blackthorne; and {4} Libby Blackthorne.
A more in-depth, detailed, spoiler-ridden review of A Stranger's Game appears at Wolf Bear Does Books.
April 2, 2015
I love Joan Johnston. I have read most of her books and rarely found one that I didn't like.
This is a first:
FBI Special Agent Breed Grayhawk has the hottest sex in his life with a stranger who calls herself Grace Smith, only to discover early the next morning that she’s a convicted double murderer who broke her parole a year ago and disappeared. Now she’s his prime suspect in an assassination plot against the US president.
Grace Caldwell—a.k.a. Grace Smith—is determined to find the killer who framed her for the murder of her father and stepmother—and make him pay. She burgles the home of her #1 suspect and nets a surprising haul: a hot-pink, silk-covered diary—the record of a sex-addicted wife’s adventures—which suggests that Grace’s top suspect is a serial killer. But her theft has been caught on tape, and the man she’s been chasing becomes the hunter…with Grace as his prey.
I was disappointed to read "A Stranger's Game" I felt like alot of details were left out, the relationship between the two main characters was rushed and I didn't feel any chemistry between them from the beginning. There was no "big ending" for their relationship - the ending was more about the beginning of the next book...and there was a lot of drivel in between the start and the end UGH
This is a first:
FBI Special Agent Breed Grayhawk has the hottest sex in his life with a stranger who calls herself Grace Smith, only to discover early the next morning that she’s a convicted double murderer who broke her parole a year ago and disappeared. Now she’s his prime suspect in an assassination plot against the US president.
Grace Caldwell—a.k.a. Grace Smith—is determined to find the killer who framed her for the murder of her father and stepmother—and make him pay. She burgles the home of her #1 suspect and nets a surprising haul: a hot-pink, silk-covered diary—the record of a sex-addicted wife’s adventures—which suggests that Grace’s top suspect is a serial killer. But her theft has been caught on tape, and the man she’s been chasing becomes the hunter…with Grace as his prey.
I was disappointed to read "A Stranger's Game" I felt like alot of details were left out, the relationship between the two main characters was rushed and I didn't feel any chemistry between them from the beginning. There was no "big ending" for their relationship - the ending was more about the beginning of the next book...and there was a lot of drivel in between the start and the end UGH
June 29, 2015
Had to stop for a while there, overflowing with characters. but it's good.
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Blown away. I'm always wary about reading suspense-thriller books because I have the habit of anticipating police jargon which, at all times, would be too technical for me. Contemplating now, surely I indeed got along with the storyline smoothly, it's a bit unbelievable. I should say, I really liked the novel and couldn't almost put it down after I decided to give it a rest first because I was being overwhelmed with the characters - there were a lot.
Once I continued reading again I got the hang of it and find the rest of the characters, the plot, the movement all interesting. There's a good combination of romance and suspense, not putting too much effort on that area. Though this is so far the only book I've read from the Bitter Creek series, I'm thinking now on how I can get a copy of the 8th installment which will cater Jack and Kate's story.
†††Pokwita☠†††
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