The Texan

Bitter Creek #2

by Joan Johnston

In this breathtaking novel, New York Times bestselling author Joan Johnston weaves a beguiling tale of two feuding families—the Blackthornes and the Creeds—and of two extraordinary loner Owen Blackthorne and beautiful, headstrong Bayleigh Creed, irresistibly drawn to each other despite the desperate odds against their love.
 
Owen Blackthorne is a lone wolf, a man who doesn’t need anyone. Then Bayleigh Creed appears on his doorstep, demanding his help in locating her missing brother. Together they head into the desolate West Texas wilderness, a Blackthorne and a Creed, mortal enemies obliged to join forces to survive. Neither counts on the unwanted attraction that draws them together, or the bitter truths that will force them apart—until the ruthless wilderness compels them to make life-and-death choices between family and duty and love.

Genres: Romance, Westerns, Contemporary Romance, Western Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Adult

368 pages, Paperback

First published March 6, 2001

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

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating clarification: 4.5 stars

Wow. This book had a lot going on.

Luke Creed believes Clay Blackthorne is up to no good, because no Blackthorne can ever be up to anything good in a Creed's eye, and he's set out to prove it at all costs. Owen Blackthorne gets thrown in to the mix when Luke's older sister Bayleigh, aka Bay, asks him to help her find her brother. The only catch, he has to take her with him. Little does Bayleigh know that they are playing with the big dogs on this one. Owen and Bayleigh have a good relaxing and even good banter with funny humor relationship, that is, when they don't remember to keep their guard up or remember that their families hate each other. The story line with Owen and Bay is pretty sweet and humorous at times. The rest of the story is divided up with other side stories and secrets by other family members.

The side stories that take place are with:
1. Owen's dad and Bayleigh's mom which causes more issues with Owen's mom/dad
2. "Bad" Billy Coburn and Summer Blackthorne (Owen's sister)& those who are involved

This story is told in 6 different POV's:
1. Owen Blackthorne
2. Bayleigh Creed ("Bay")
3. Lauren "Ren" Creed (Bay's mom)
4. "Bad" Billy Coburn
5. Jackson "Blackjack" Blackthorne (Owen's dad)
6. Dora Coburn (Billy's mom)

What I loved about this book:
1. Owen's nickname of "Red" for Bay
2. The banter between Owen and Bay
3. How easy their relationship could be when guards/walls were let down
4. Billy's feelings for Summer and what he would do or go through for her
5. How Owen was with Bay in the last Chapter
6. The epilogue (LOVED IT! I read it twice)
7. OWEN-major nice guy and sweetheart and ever caring

I would have loved to give this book a 5 however I couldn't. I felt like I got jipped on Owen and Bay's storyline. It was a good building of friendship and falling for one another and we didn't get to spend as much time with them as we should have for this being their book. The book focused on a bunch of other side drama that, yes, we needed to know to make the next book work. I just thought that maybe certain characters info could have been shortened or put in to their own book. Maybe all this extra info would have been fine if the book was longer and we had more of Owen and Bay's relationship. I personally felt like maybe this book should have focused on the issues at hand which were:
1. Owen and Bay's relationship
2. Clay and his inovlvement in the VX mines, maybe his POV
3. Luke and what he was up to in his POV
4. Paul Ridgeway and his involvement in the VX mines and maybe his POV

I felt like too much was trying to happen in this book and normally I'm okay with that but this time i felt like it took away from the most important part for me which was Owen and Bay because they were super awesome. I loved them more then the couple from book one.

[Stephanie Jenkins Ortiz Cerrillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read by Joan Johnston and great addition to the series about the fued between the Blackthorne and Creed families in modern day Texas.
Owen Blackthorne is a Texas Ranger and is on a mission to find out who killed his best friend and stole the VX mines. He knows his brother Clay is involved but only can hope that Clay is involved on the right side of the law.

Bayleigh Creed is a vet but she's determined to go with Owen into the cruel West Texas forest to find her brother that is also somehow involved in the VX mine mystery.

Bayleigh and Owen find themselves in very deadly situations over and over therefore they have to rely on each other in order to get out alive. Creeds relying on Blackthorne's and vice versa is not something that ever happens and Bayleigh and Owen find theirselves as much more than allies.

More family secrets are found out in this addition to the series. Secrets, lies and an over one hundred year family feud may be more conflicts of interest than Owen and Bayleigh can over come in order to have a future together.
You never know what is going to happen next or what secret will be revealed. Great read.

[Glenda Kinard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Wonderful, Intriguing, suspenseful, Powerful book I can't say enough good things about this book. Each book in this series only gets more enjoyable to read and makes the reader hunger for the next in the series.

[Tonya Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love this series!!Love love love this series!!
OMG this series just keeps getting better. Many many revelations are revealed in this exceptional book. Owen & Bay are up against many gut wrenching obstacles and dangerous elements. This series pulled at my heart 6 years ago and is a definitely great series to not be missed. 5 stars and deserves more.

[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥.5
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖
Narration:🎧🎧🎧
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨

First Impressions
The Texan is the second installment in the "Bitter Creek" series and this digs much deeper into the feud between the two families and this was one of the books I originally hadn't read the first time I read this series so it was a delight to finally get to Owen and Bayleigh's book. This book has multiple timelines that are happening. We have the primary timeline with Owne/Bayleigh and then we have the drama happening with Jackson Blackthrone (The Patriarch) and the love of his heart Ren and his wife Eve causing drama and then Shannon Blackthorne and Billy Coburn.

First Line
Owen Blackthorne stepped into the armadillo bar and found trouble waiting for him.

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Owen Blackthorne
The Heroine: Bayleigh Creed

Summary
Owen is a Blackthorne but is also a twin with his brother Clay and they have a special bond despite their lives becoming more loners in the wilds of Texas. Owen is used to doing things on his own, but there is something he is drawn to with Bayleigh Creed even though she hates him for what he did to her brother. But while working together to find Bay's younger brother, they end up caught up in a sinister plot dealing with VX mines and a dangerous gas that can kill you in seconds. But while on the hunt for the missing brother and finding out all involved in this plot, both Owen and Bay will discover a love that is worth fighting for despite the hate that their families are caught up in.

What I Loved
The plot line dealing with the bad law enforcement officers and the VX gas mines. I found that so fascinating and the author really handles the suspense elements so well here. I really was intrigued by seeing the forced proximity that our characters have to deal with. Owen is such a solid hero, he is strong and protective and a bit more reserved in some ways personally. He has this quiet strength that you imagine many of those in law enforcement have. I love his loyalty to his family and being a soldier for justice and truth. Then we have Bayleigh, she has suffered a lot in her young life but contains many of the bitter feelings for the Blackthornes. We see how she has to overcome that hatred to embrace the love for Owen. There is such honesty in seeing the character development for the heroine especially. She literally hates the hero but we see her o through some personal reflection, and some honesty about the feud and learning to overcome the hate and it showcased some powerful human elements that I found so admirable.

What I Struggled With
The multiple plot lines were a distraction from the actual romance involving Owen and Bayleigh. I do wish that there had been a bit more focus on their romance and less with the side plots which I do think probably could have been minimized a bit. While I am loving the actual serial plot involving the families....its like reading a western soap opera come alive, I still wanted more from the romance and other plot lines had you a bit invested a bit more at times. Especially with what is happening between the father Jackson and the mother Ren.

Narration
It was pretty decent. Not my favorite narration for this author, but not the worst either. It was really just average and not as compelling as how the first book was handled narration wise.

Overall View
The Texan was a riveting romance that digs deep into some heartfelt emotion, portrays some powerful suspense to keep you guessing and a inter family drama that stuns you into fascination and making you yearn for more...

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Contemporary Suspense
Character Types: Law Enforcement, Animal Vet
Themes: Heart/Emotionally Touching, Delicious Kissing/Touches, Danger/Suspense
Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Family Feud, Soap Opera, Forced Proximity

Book Perspective
3rd POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Both

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
J.R. Ward
Jennifer Ryan
A.L. Jackson

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes---there is a serial plot line

Steam/Spice Explanations

Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.

Narrators:
Author

[Tonya Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love this series!!Love love love this series!!
OMG this series just keeps getting better. Many many revelations are revealed in this exceptional book. Owen & Bay are up against many gut wrenching obstacles and dangerous elements. This series pulled at my heart 6 years ago and is a definitely great series to not be missed. 5 stars and deserves more.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though I gave the first book in this series 2 stars, I decided to keep going. I'm not sure I can pinpoint why, except that I sometimes have this feeling when I'm reading a book I don't like that the author needs another chance....like I just grabbed the wrong book first, and if I had read them in a different order, I would have reviewed it as "that one book every author writes sooner or later, no matter how good they are..."

I'm glad I did. I've now read books 2 and 3 back to back (review of book 3 coming) and am truly drawn into this small Texas town and these two mixed up families. It's almost more like a soap opera than a traditional romance series, because I couldn't imagine reading it out of order, even if I didn't care for the first book. Each book focuses on one couple, but there's always more going on in and around them. I saw that after book 3, this series is categorized as "westerns" instead of "romance" in the library for the blind catalog I use, and I can see why.

The odd thing is, I don't normally like this kind of thing. I've tried to read a couple of other authors with similar dynamics -- sort of a wider community or family group with more going on in each book than a single love story -- but this is the first time I took to it.

My only complaint is this, and I can't complain too loudly because so many romance novels do it that I sometimes feel like I'm the one who just doesn't get it: The distinction between loving and being "in love." I just don't see how you can spent your entire life with a person, live for them, bear their children, but somehow consider your feelings for them less than some guy you had an intense sexual experience with 30+ years ago.

Overall, I recommend the series to anyone looking for a series romance they can stick with for a while.

[Duy Nguyen]

I've read the first 3 chapters of this book was very interesting about the story in this book. Comparing with 2 other books I'm reading: I,Robot, and The MoonStone, this book was written in simple words and easy to read.

It is too short to talk about the review of this book...

#11
When I was reading this book today, I was surprised because the setting of this book is so familiar with what I knew about Texas. I thought it was about the old day of Texas; however, the settings was about the modern life of people in Texas. I thought only in the old day of Texas, the author could have idea to write about cowboys, gun shooting, and desert. I thought the modern life today has nothing for any author to write about. Nevertheless, the story came close with my life here. Dallas, San Antonio, The Big Ben,... all of them are very familiar with me. It also came with sheriffs, mineral miners, murders, family troubles, cellphones, cars ... made me think as if it truly happened around here.

#8
I was looking for what will happen to Sam, Luke's sister, who was seeking younger brother. Since Luke wanted to reveal the truth of his close friend's death. He come alone to Rio Grande Village. Then he made a call to his sister, Sam with unclear message. Sam went to the police station where her brother in law worked. Sam convinced her brother in law to help her find Luke but her bother in law refused. She tried to convinced him and she succeeded at the end. I like the way Sam debated for the reason why her bother in law should help her: very strong and reasonable. It just like the native characteristic of American whom I have seen in some movies before. In our culture, we don't mention the problem very directly like American.

[Miss Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this one! This continues the Blackthorne/Creed story. Bayliegh Creed needs Owen Blackthorne's help finding her missing brother, Luke. It turns out Luke is mixed up in some stolen nerve gas mines in Big Ben. Owen, a Texas Ranger, is already involved in the case because his best friend, Hank, was murdered while involved with the case. Also, his brother Clay, is the Attorney General, is somehow wrapped up in it. Sooo, Owen is reluctant to take Bayleigh with him, but does it anyway...

They are attracted to each other, and have to live through a life and death situation in the desert.

Lots of suspense, murder suspects, romance, etc. There a three different couples in this book. The evil Eve Blackthorne is setting herself up to be a fine villan. I recommend the series!

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Texan topped The Cowboy. It had so much action adventure, feuding, passion, hot sexy cowboys and of course Bitter Creek drama! I’ve got to say Owen might be my favorite Blackthorne son. He was just as much of a cowboy as his brothers but had a sweet, funny side to him that I fell for. I’m so hooked on this series.

[W.E. Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just wish the love scenes were hotter

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just as in the first one we immediately jump into problems. The author can’t even ease us into the new characters before the old feud between the Blackthornes and Creeds comes up. Luke thinks Clay stole the VX nerve gas mines, whatever that is. And they’re duking it out in the bar. Bayleigh comes, and says “why don’t you pick on someone your own size” which was ridiculous because her brother started it and Luke refused to fight. He said one provoking sentence and then Luke charged him.
He looked pointedly down at her, then looked her up and down. Slowly. Thoroughly.
Must the men be so crude and rude? Do they have any class or honor?
&she’s sticking up for Luke even though she saw he was the one that kept going after them. “He’s just a kid,” she said. “If you Blackthornes would leave him alone—”
They didn’t even start that. Tell Luke to leave them alone.

Bay sits there in the stall with the horse that’s having trouble giving birth and asks Summer why she didn’t call this person, or that person, instead of shutting up and helping the horse. Is that what they taught u at vet school, question the owner about why they called you until the animal dies?
“I can’t believe you couldn’t find one person who’d be willing to leave that wake to help out a poor dumb beast,” Bay said, unable to keep the edge from her voice.
Ok, this woman is supposed to be a vet, someone who cares about animals, yet u have her say that. Wth?
&it takes Summer to remind her to help the horse.

“What if Ruby can’t get up?” Summer asked fearfully.
“Then you figure out a way to get her up! And if you can’t you have only yourself to blame.”
Wth kind of thing is that to say?

I liked Owen and Bayleigh much better than Trace and Callie.

The little bit about how Ren and Blackjack first met was completely disgusting and made me think less of her. She cheated on Jesse not once, but 3 times that day. &she knew she was pregnant with his kid. What a slut!

Bay was so annoying, asking questions and persisting about why they didn’t keep searching through the night. There’s absolutely nothing more annoying than someone who can’t shut up. A talkative person who talks a mile a minute is not funny or charming. It’s annoying and unlikable.

It was really messed up when Owen accused his dad of having Jesse murdered when in the first book that had just been cleared up. He was the one that had accused his mother of the murder, so why is he now pointing his finger to his dad after his mom’s already been committed? And then he starts to wonder if his twin brother Clay could have stolen the nerve gas mines. What’s up with the causality of murder accusations and the lack of faith for family members?

It was so rushed how they had sex. There was no reason for it, they just did it. They had a smidgen of attraction and sensual tension between them, but it wasn’t enough for them to have sex. Authors don’t realize that love, or something close to it, should come before they have sex. It makes it more special if they wait a while, not rush to the finish line and then regret it afterwards. I thought Bayleigh was shaping up to be different, but right afterwards she regretted it and brought up the family feud, just like Callie did. Not cool. It doesn’t make them likable that they use someone for comfort, or in this case curiosity, and the immediately regret it and say it can’t happen. And Owen, in a very Trace-like fashion, just forces himself on her in an intimate way after she says it was just a lapse in judgment and was satisfying her curiosity.
“That’s all that happened.”
“The hell it was.”
He yanked her onto her feet and had his mouth open over hers in two seconds flat. He shoved her legs apart, unzipped her jeans and thrust two fingers deep inside her. She moaned and bucked and shook her head in denial, but it was too late.
Wow, go from mild to domineering in 1.5. It isn’t likable that the men, instead of talking it out, jump on them when they’re trying to make a point. They say it isn’t gonna work and the men just pounce on them crudely.

Bay was the typical woman faced with danger. She shook with nervousness; she watched in terror; she cries out in alarm; she’s anxious and fearful and scared. Though she jumps down from the cave and grabs the guy’s gun, she was a complete baby. That action did nothing to redeem her in my eyes. I want a heroine, not someone who’s gonna be a little baby on the sidelines.
Bay, like the typical dumb broad, rushes ahead when she hears a helicopter, and trips a wire. Leave it to a woman. And I don’t even care how that sounds. She’s done one dumb thing after another that was klutzy, but this takes the cake. I don’t like when the women do something as stupid and wrong as this.
As they’re running out of the cave to avoid the blast of whatever she set off, he notices another tripwire and tells her to jump, and even lifts her arm up to urge her to jump, but the toe catches on it and the bomb goes off. Way to go!
It was sweet when Owen made the decision to use the injector on Bay instead of himself, because he could only find one. He knew it meant he would die, but he let her have it anyway.

It was absolutely disgusting the way Blackjack was remembering his good sex with Eve. And he was looking at her because she didn’t have a bra on. I admit I was surprised when he turned down her offer for sex.

It was sweet to know that Owen funded a camp for kids with disabilities and named it Sam’s Place, after Bay’s brother Sam, who he accidently hurt. Bayleigh finally forgives him, which I expected her to be touched by it, but it figures that only with something big like this would she forgive him.

WTH?! Is all I have to say. I never guessed Jackson would cheat on his wife, especially with Dora, Billy’s mother. I was so disgusted I felt like throwing up. He got her pregnant, and Billy is the kid. Which means that Billy and Summer are half-siblings. Jackson cheated on his wife, which was bad enough, but it would have been better had it been with Ren. But no, it was with Dora, the women with the same poor status as Billy, who isn’t good enough for Summer because of it, yet I guess the same rules didn’t apply for Jackson. And this was after he “loved” Ren, which was absolutely, completely, 100% unforgivable. What disgusting kind of crap is this? Just when I think the author isn’t all bad she has to ruin it with this. The book would’ve been good if the other side characters weren’t in here. I don’t know why she decided to change perspectives in this one when she didn’t do it in the first book.

Blackjack is the devil, and his wife is no different. Blackjack goes and ties Billy up and has 2 men stretch him until he cracks a rib, and then has him knocked unconscious, all to get him away from Summer. It turns out that Summer isn’t his kid, which was what I was hoping for. This story is just spiraling out of control and it’s ruining Bayleigh’s and Owen’s story. The side characters shouldn’t have this much time in someone else’s story.
The stories are so messed up. Everybody treats murder like they’re talking about the weather. They don’t mind accusing someone else, or their own families, of cold-blooded murder. Nobody minds cheating on their spouse, committing adultery with someone they don’t know; they don’t mind having sex with someone they’ve known for only a short time, and they don’t mind marrying someone when they love someone else. Everybody’s getting pregnant with their husband’s children and Bob down the street in a one-night stand. I know this kinda stuff happens, but I don’t want to read about it. It’s disgusting. And the behavior is deplorable. I want characters with standards and morals. Not cheating men and lying, conniving women who sleep with married men and get pregnant after a one night stand because they’re too ignorant or uncaring to use some form of birth control, and don’t know that, yes, sex can result in pregnancy. I feel like they all skipped out on sex-ed in elementary school and didn’t know that you have to use protection.

These women sure do have the problem of saying they can’t be with the man and telling them they have to stop, yet letting him kiss them because they “need it.”
Owen tells her he loves her, and she says she doesn’t love him, so he’s hurt. She tries to kiss him, and he moves away, and she’s all: So. That was it. He hadn’t really loved her. He’d only been saying the words. She’d been right not to trust him with her heart.
You just told him you didn’t love him. What did you expect? Dumb broad. And the whole she’s-been-raped, used, lied to thing…not good.

I found it quite convenient that Bayleigh just happened to do a research paper for every predicament they got into. Nerve gas, so she knew the effects it would have on them. Medicinal plants, so she could nurse Owen back to health. Hydraulics, and the best 1 yet: airplane crashes, so she could advise Owen to soar when the plane’s engine broke down. Now, I’m not pursuing a degree in the veterinary field, so Idk for sure, but why would a veterinary student do research papers on medicinal plants, nerve gas, hydraulics and air planes? Very convenient.

It was so crappy how Jackson let Eve get her way just because she blackmailed him about Summer’s real father. He didn’t want Summer to know he wasn’t her father, so he stayed married to Eve. And when he told Ren about Billy, I expected her to feel hurt and betrayed, but all she said was “poor boy,” about Billy. Idiot. And she needed to know the truth about Jackson’s true nature, what he did to Billy, but he didn’t tell her. I wanted her to find out so she’d finally rethink of her unconditional love for him.

Typical for a romance book, the ending was predictably and nauseously perfect. They get married, and it turns out Bayleigh is pregnant . . . which is surprising because she was supposed to be barren. I didn’t see that one coming, making a barren woman pregnant. And guess what? She’s having twins! I’m so sick of that. I’m a twin myself, but I really get sick of the run of the mill conclusion that ends with a wedding and twins.

I must say that this book was 10 times better than the 1st. I love a story where they’re out in the wilderness, and this didn’t disappoint. Owen and Bayleigh out on the trail was enjoyable and there were a lot of sweet and funny moments between them. The book went downhill when the drama of the other characters came into play. It would have been better without that crap. Idk if I’ll continue with the series. There are certain patterns I’m noticing, like the women clinging to their family responsibilities and insisting they can’t be together because of the feud. And I have a feeling that everyone else’s story will drive me insane, because they probably won’t be anywhere near as good as this one.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This book, for me, was a page turner. I really enjoyed the twists and turns, the suspense, and that there were several stories going on at the same time. There was the main story of Owen and Bayleigh then the side stories of Billy and Summer and the triangular conflict between Lauren Creed, Jackson Blackthorne and Eve Blackthorne. Some real surprising revelations in this book!

Not too many people probably read books back to back like I do, so for many there probably won't be difficulty with the storyline. For me there was difficulty reconciling the start of this novel with the end of The Cowboy. This book doesn't give a clear timeline of how much time has passed between the end of The Cowboy and the start of The Texan. At the end of The Cowboy Bayleigh had not finished college. Right off the bat in The Texan she is an experienced and practicing veterinarian. While everyone seemed fine at the end of The Cowboy with the marriage of Trace Blackthorne and Callie Creed, The Loner starts off with some serious hostility and animosity by Luke Creed against the Blackthorne clan! Yet Luke is benefitting from the money brought in by the work his mom is doing training cutters for Jackson Blackthorne and his handicapped brother, Sam, is benefitting from all the assistance and faith from Trace Blackthorne. Luke continues to live in the home he was born in and grew up in because of the goodness and generosity of a Blackthorne. Yet he is very hostile towards and viciously "biting the hand that feeds" him! I do understand how a catalyst is needed to kickstart the story, and the story is very good, it was just difficult for me to reconcile the end of novel one with the start of novel 2.

I have already started the third novel in the trilogy, The Loner, and that reconciliation difficulty isn't there.

[Donna the Slacker · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the hopes of solving the Jarrett Creed mystery, I decided to move forward with the Bitter Creek series. This is Owen Blackthorne and Bayleigh Creed's story. If you've read Ms. Johnston's "Comanche Woman" novel from the Sisters of the Lone Star series (published 1989), then you know Bayleigh was possibly named for her ancestor Bayleigh Stewart (later Coburn). Bayleigh Stewart was the main female character in "Comanche Woman" and Cricket's older sister.

History aside, this story was more exciting than "The Cowboy". If you've read the first book, then you're aware that it was Owen who was responsible for putting Sam Creed in a wheelchair when they were in high school. This story though, paints a far better picture of Owen. Everything he did in this book made me like his character a lot.

Bayleigh Creed didn't have much of a presence in "The Cowboy" because she was finishing up her veterinary doctorate degree. This novel takes place about two years later and Bayleigh has returned to Three Oaks to practice - and find her brother Luke who has gone missing.

It was a good book and since certain characters have returned (Eve Blackthorne), it's made me want to read the next book in the series. There's lots of action, family drama, and some romance. Just wish there had been more humor.

Rated it three stars because some portions of the desert scenes were a bit unbelievable for me. And of course, I'm still searching for the book that explains the missing Jarrett Creed from the Civil War period. It's like I've become a dog with a bone trying to find out what happened to this character. Jarrett was supposed to have died in the Civil War but actually lived and returned to what is now Bitter Creek without ever getting the chance to speak to Cricket. It's explained in "Texas Bride", the first Bitter Creek prequel book.

I just have to keep reading.

[Kendy Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the read, but gave it only 3 stars because honestly, the characters were hard to like and a little annoying. Sam was the worst, but Luke at least got better by the end. Bay was fine at first, but despite constantly saying she wasn't a quitter, she just seemed to always be throwing herself a pity party when it came to loving Owen and not just giving him a chance. I know she had some really bad experiences with guys in her past, but Owen showed time and time again how he was different, especially after she finally told him her big secret and he said that didn't matter to him. And Owen was a nice enough character, but seemed a little nieve to me for a cop, especially a Texas Ranger. Like, I figured the bad guy out pretty early on and he just couldn't grasp it. The little side story with Summer and Billy was cute. I just wish they could've gone their separate ways with less animosity. And I'm not going to go into detail on the parents, because they were just annoying as all heck, especially the Blackthornes. All-in-all, not a bad read, but I probably won't be reading the other books in the series.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another tale of the Blackthorne and Creed family. Owen Blackthorne is a Texas Ranger and Bayleigh Creed at veterinarian. Their families have been feuding for years- with occasionally romancing and marriages interspersed. Bay's father was murdered by someone hired by Owen's mother, though it isn't clear whether the target was Bay's father or mother. Lots of intrigue going on here and that isn't even the main part of the story. Bay's brother,Luke, is convinced that Owen's twin, Cole, Texas State Attorney General, is behind the disappearance of some VX nerve gas canisters and the murder of Owen's best friend, Texas Ranger Hank Richardson. When Luke goes missing, Bay insists that Owen help her find him. They head into the west Texas desert together and their attraction to each other heats up as much as the desert. They meet danger and must count on each other to survive.

[Curiousgem · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was better than the previous one for sure. Does a better job of enemies to lovers trope and also features a very protective hero. This heroine was better than book-1 too.
But the dialogs continue to be stilted and the pacing feels a bit off. Some scenes (such as the ones about cattle ranching) drag on forever while others (such as the intimacy scenes) are done in a paragraph.
The plotline was more well developed than book-1 and you can see the backstories for future books being set.
In all, I would give it 3.5 stars but will round up to 4 stars since Goodreads doesn’t have half stars.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a bad read. Of course you knew there was going to be quite a few secrets revealed. The series kind of reminds me of Dynasty… but I’m not really sure why because I’ve never actually watched dynasty. But I guess it has a lot of secret soap opera type things going on so that’s probably where I get it. Anyway Bailey and Owen sure make an interesting team. I felt like I was reading part Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman and part... actually I’m not sure. But trust me it works.

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fine. I think it might've been better if I had read the first book because I didn't realize this was a series before I logged on today to rate this book. Either way, I thought some of the writing was sloppy and some of the dialogue or character choices didn't make sense. But, overall, I thought the romance was pretty good and actually really cute.

[Terri Hebert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is fantastic !!!! I truly fell in love with this book. The characters and storyline made this book hard to put down. Can't wait to read the other two. A great book for all the romance book lovers out there. Gets a vote for five star read from me.

[Vickie Ransbottom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Managed to pluck this book out of a box that a friend gave me and did not realize until the end that I was reading the second book in a series!! Now I need to find the others!!! I'm in a light reading, let me relax mode and this fit in well. Good plane ride reading.

[Richard Guerrero · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was just OK to me. Had some good moments but it was doing a little too much. There were certain scenes where I started thinking of a soap opera. I’m hoping the next book gets a little better.

[Amanda Raye Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book for the most part; however towards the end a character describes a desire to blow up “wetbacks.” I was really bothered by this. The denigration of immigrants that served as a backdrop was not something I could ignore and stole from my enjoyment of a cheap beach read.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trigger alert- it made me so angry to have the h say she was sterile, only to become pregnant after being with the H. I hate it when authors do that! "you won't be barren when you find the right man" ugh. Other than that, it was an enjoyable book.

[Abby Peterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much going on. I wish they’d focus on the main characters more and gave them more time to develop together rather than jump straight into the plot and jump around focusing on everyone else at the same time.

[Mary Shreffler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second in the series of Bitter Creek...Owen, the Texas ranger, and Baleigh wecre trying to find the murderer of Owen's best friend and Bay's brother Luke was sure Owen's brother Clay was involved in the VX mines. Again the Blackthorn's and Creed's families were involved

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a member of a rivalry family goes missing, Owen Blackthoren goes looking for the missing man. Along with the victim's sister Bayliegh. The two eventually find Bay's missing brother. But there so much more going on in this story. Read it all for yourself, this book is great

[Arlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and can't wait to read the next book.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

yes.