The Men of Bitter Creek: Two Complete Novels

Bitter Creek #.5

by Joan Johnston

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Joan Johnston comes two classic stories of the unforgettable MEN OF BITTER CREEK.

Cale LandryWhen THE MAN FROM WOLF CREEK leaves his secluded mountain refuge to seek revenge on the thief who robbed him, he never expected he'd end up taking home the wily old bandit's gorgeous and spirited daughter Raven. But Cale will never get back what he lost, until he learns to trust in love.

Conn BentonConn Benton is shocked at the suggestion he should marry a Winthrop--especially that tall, redheaded Emaline--to end the feud between their families. He might marry her and bed her, but he has no intention of loving her. It takes a Yuletide miracle, THE CHRISTMAS BABY, to heal his vengeful heart.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Westerns, Fiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published October 26, 2004

About the author

Joan 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

Reviews

[Margerm, Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two short stories: Story #1
The H is a loner embittered by his fiance cheating on him 10 years ago. He helps a man stuck in a blizzard who attracts him while he's sleeping, knocking him out and stealing the pelts from a year's worth of trapping. When the H tracks the thief down, the furs have been gambled away so the thief offers the use of his daughter for 3 months. The rest of the story is formulaic - patience in wooing and realization that marriage is the answer
Story #2 Feuding families learn to live in peace when the H from one family marries the h from the other family. The baby that is due at Christmas will belong to both families but a grieving father seeks revenge on both families and tries to undermine the truce. The H grieves the loss of his first wife 2 years ago.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

First story is a beauty and the beast retelling between a recluse mountain man and a Native American woman.
Both stories are a hate to love. They were both good but I liked the second story a little bit more.

Summer Fling Readathon Prompt: Down Home Country

[Gloria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not two complete novels: the first was a short novella, the second was a long short story, both worth reading, although neither made much of an emotional impact and I suspect will be quickly forgotten. Still, it was a pleasant, undemanding way to spend an afternoon.

[Mary23nm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished The Man from Wolf Creek. 3.5 stars
A Christmas Baby 4 stars.

[Patricia Solla · Rating 3 out of 5]

These are two interesting tales of men (and women) who find love in very odd situations. Definitely not mushy but intriguing.

[Timantha Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both books are great but the first is my fa orite one of all time. I wish i could find it in an ebook.

[Phylisha Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two good stories tied together. #1 A loner mountain man is robbed of his of his skins he has collected for the winter by a older white man who steels them and sells then. When Cale catches up to him all his furs are gone. As he is about to kill the old man, the old man offers him his daughter Raven who is half Native and half white for a year. As Cale has a cabin she agrees to live with him to honor her fathers bargain. When the two lost souls begin to work together to survive the winter, they discover that when two people work together for the good of both, both are rewarded.

[Carole Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the story about the mountain man. I have a sensitive nose, and Joan's description of his and the cabin's odor made me shudder.

Both stories portrayed prideful, stubborn men and women who tried to tame those men. Joan Johnston is now my favorite American West Historical writer.

[Irene M. Meyers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A long feud between two families is resolved in a most unusual way.

In the west men were men. And women were a second thought. Or were they? Could they subtly change the course of history? Read and find out!

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This anthology was a perfect way to try out the author's writing style.

I like the way she wrote no-nonsense men and women who were just trying to make the best of their situation and harsh life styles.

[Debbie Dodd · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading.

[R Chronis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both stories are good reads. They have good pacing and keep your attention

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

The stories were fine, but I don't need the play-by-play in the bedroom. I can get that at home.

[Mindy Cossins · Rating 3 out of 5]

enjoyed these 2 love stories

[Ea_reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars ?
bought on a whim (new to me author), I think it was on sale
just ok. the stories and characters had potential but under-delivered in the end.

[Jerry M Morello · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Inspiration

I love how sacrifices could bring people together and forgive and find love when it wasn't expected. What hate can destroy a person,family and country

[Janna Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved both stories!

My favorite was the second...I'm a sucker for a sweet Christmas!
I enjoyed both story plots. They were well written.

[Bill Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Men of Them Bitter Creek

I've numerous books by author Joan Johnston and have enjoyed reading each one.
Recommend Joan be added to your reading list.

[Phylisha Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good Bitter Creek read! Two stories The Man from Wolf Creek and The Christmas Baby. Liked both stories.

[Kimberly Westrope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two short romances. I enjoyed them both. They were predictable, but well-written. I liked the characters and the writing style. I just wish they would have been longer and more developed, but for they are, they are enjoyable reads.

[Judith Sherrod · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Men of Butter Creek

I thought that I had read these books before, but I hadn't. As usual, Joan Johnston has written a compelling account of the early settlers and their fights against the elements and greed in both of these stories. A feud between the town's leading families is being kept alive by someone that isn't even related due to an incident that killed one each of the feuding families. Grief can be a powerful motivator. Love can be just As powerful as a cure.

[Amanda Siegrist · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had a hard time connecting with the hero in the first story, but it got marginally better toward the end for me. The second book was much better. I enjoyed reading it.

[Bunga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dua cerita dalam 1 buku. Yang pertama ttg pria gunung, Cale dan Raven, gadis keturunan Indian yg terpaksa hidup satu rumah. Ayahnya Raven menipu Cale dan mencuri hasil buruan Cale yg berupa bulu binatang (yg kalau dijual katanya bisa buat biaya hidup 1 th), akhirnya utk menebusnya si Raven diminta Cale utk ikut tinggal di rumahnya selama 3 bulan sampai salju pertama turun. Cale diceritakan sbg pria yg kesepian dan meninggalkan gaya hidup ala manusia beradab, sampai akhirnya si Raven bisa memaksa dia utk berubah.

Buku kedua ttg perseteruan 2 keluarga gara-gara rebutan sumber air dan sering terjadi pertumpahan darah dari kedua pihak. Sampai akhirnya dibuat kesepakatan untuk menikahkan satu pasang pria-wanita dari kedua keluarga/klan tsb supaya bisa berdamai.

Overall lumayan buat ngisi waktu luang

[Teresa Kleeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both stories were really good. I love how Joan always tells the stories of the west. I always love her characters. To me both stories show how love can heal so many trouble past in the hero's life. I don't want to go into to much detail about the novels.
I would give spoilers away if i did. All I can say is this is a book worth reading.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was.. ok. But I'm not usually a fan of a romance book unless there's a little suspense to it. This was actually two novellas in the same book. The first one was ok, the 2nd one was better. Both of them had slightly cheesy storylines but the 2nd had a little drama to it, which made it a bit better than the first.

[Marcia Haskell · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Two treasured classic novellas by a "New York Times" bestselling author are bound into this single volume--a winning pair of heart-soaring, emotionally rich tales of two rugged, stubborn heroes who meet their matches in headstrong, extraordinary women.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed

This book was short and very sweet. I enjoyed the story and the characters were wonderful. I also enjoyed the development of the characters and the process of learning that everybody, no matter which side of the family, are individuals.

[Susan Cope · Rating 3 out of 5]

July 2012

[Hadiya_afzaal · Rating 5 out of 5]

its a good book

[Linda Kramer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two books: 1. The Man From Wolf Creek
2. The Christmas Baby