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Bitter Creek #1
The Cowboy
Joan Johnston transports us to rugged present-day Texas - a place of wide-open prairies and unbridled ambitions - where two ranching families, the Blackthornes and the Creeds, are locked in a bitter century-old feud. Here, Johnston brings to life a breathtaking love story - between the Blackthornes' oldest son and the Creeds' beautiful daughter - a magnificent novel of passion, vengeance, and star-crossed love.
Trace Blackthorne was taught from the cradle to take what he wanted. And he wanted Callie Creed. Eleven years ago, the feud between their families had torn them apart. But now Trace has come home, a ruthless hard-eyed stranger, making her an offer she couldn't refuse: marry him and save her struggling family from financial ruin. But the secrets of the past return to haunt them. And Callie is once again compelled to make an impossible choice - between the family who desperately needs her and the only man she has ever loved.
389 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 1, 2000
202 people are currently reading
2184 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 117 reviews
November 14, 2008
This is my first Joan Johnston book, and I am pleased. I felt I knew and understood the feelings of each player in the story.
The Creeds and Blackthornes are the modern day Hatfield’s and McCoy’s. The families have been feuding for years over land, love, money… you name it. The Blackthornes are very wealthy, while the Creeds struggle on a daily basis just to survive.
Callie Creed and Trace Blackthorne fell in love while in college and kept their relationship secret. Then a tragic accident happened which tore them apart. Callie’s brother was paralyzed by a tackle playing high school football. The tackler was Trace’s brother. Callie cuts off all ties to Trace and heads home to take care of her family and run their ranch. Trace is heartbroken, and leaves the country.
Eleven years later, Trace comes home to help his ailing father run their ranch. He meets up with Callie again and is surprised at how much he still loves her. She is now a widow with two children. He is determined to win her back.
There is love, mystery, murder, and strong families in this story. I am certainly going to continue with this series.
The Creeds and Blackthornes are the modern day Hatfield’s and McCoy’s. The families have been feuding for years over land, love, money… you name it. The Blackthornes are very wealthy, while the Creeds struggle on a daily basis just to survive.
Callie Creed and Trace Blackthorne fell in love while in college and kept their relationship secret. Then a tragic accident happened which tore them apart. Callie’s brother was paralyzed by a tackle playing high school football. The tackler was Trace’s brother. Callie cuts off all ties to Trace and heads home to take care of her family and run their ranch. Trace is heartbroken, and leaves the country.
Eleven years later, Trace comes home to help his ailing father run their ranch. He meets up with Callie again and is surprised at how much he still loves her. She is now a widow with two children. He is determined to win her back.
There is love, mystery, murder, and strong families in this story. I am certainly going to continue with this series.
February 28, 2015
Summary
Trace Blackthorne grew up being taught to go after what you want. In college he fell in love with Callie Creed, a daughter of a man who is his father’s enemy. Their families have been in a century old feud. One that has festered over the years. But when an accident from his brother harms Callie’s brother, their relationship takes a turn for the worst. Callie knows her family needs her, but Trace wants to leave his family and make his own way. Callie chose her family over Trace and he left. What Callie never did was tell Trace the truth, that she was pregnant. Now eleven years later, Callie’s family is struggling to keep their ranch, a piece of land their family has held for generations. And Callie refuses to let it go. When Trace returns home, after his father receives a heart attack, she knows that her heart is going to be put in danger once again. Because Trace being back in her life, is torture. Despite the events that have separated them, Trace is still determined to win Callie, and make her realize that their love for each other is worth any risk…
The Hero
Trace Blackthorne, has never felt at home in Texas. He is the oldest son, and does stand to inherit Blackthorne ranch and all that goes with it. But that is the last thing that Trace wants. So when Callie refuses to leave with him, he leaves for Australia, and now is owner of a cattle ranch twice as large as his father’s spread. When he hears that his family needs him, he comes home for a visit. And seeing Callie again, widowed and her family in need, he is more than willing to use whatever is at his disposal to prove to her of his feelings and what she has sacrificed for her family. Trace is proud and commanding, he is driven and successful, he has compassion and knows how to please a woman in bed. His character was quite stimulating, and he totally had the alpha male commanding presence, but he also had some other traits that made him a fully balanced character that you fall for.
The Heroine
Callie Creed, has no wish to leave her family. She adores them and wears herself out trying to keep them afloat. The last thing she wants is to give their land to the Blackthornes. She has kept a secret from everyone except herself, that she has a son and the man that she married was never his father. Now widowed, she knows with Trace returned, that she is vulnerable to the feelings he could provoke in her. She knows that he will be furious when he learns that her son is his son and she fears he will take him away from her. Callie has quite the spirit, and she is fiercely protective of her family. I did have one issue, and I realize that it was part of the story, but I felt like she could have been a bit more backbone when it came to Trace. You see how much her family needs her, but she also lets them walk all over her, letting their bitterness take over what needs to be done. And the whole being pregnant and not being honest about everything, that bothered me a bit. But other than those aspects, her character was very likable and you see her evolve and grow in the story.
Plot and Story Line
The Cowboy is the first book in the series. I have read this series, but quite a long time ago, about ten years. So one of my goals this year, is to do a couple re reads every month and do a review. It was so fun to get back into this series, and as I started reading this, I came to the conclusion that there is a reason i adore this set up of feuding familes. And in all the feuding family series…this is my favorite of all time. It was also one of the first contemporary series I ever read, so that is also another plus. Its thanks to this series that I started reading Contemporary romance in the first place. This book starts off pretty well, and gives a bit of background information. We see other plots develop for other characters that will become future installments. The Cowboy is Trace and Callie’s story. And boy did I love them as a couple. In the beginning of the story, they are both hurting, still in love with each other, but there are so many other factors that keep them apart. The main reason you see is pride. Pride keeps them from accepting how much they care for each other and just letting their heart lead instead of loyalty to their families. There are some traumatic events that take place, and really adds a deep emotional rhythm to the story that keeps you engaged on every page. I tell you, this is the type of book that will keep you up at night, because the vivid detail and the beautiful work that Joan Johnston Creates is touching in its detail. The flow is pretty smooth, and the writing is so compelling, you feel as if you along side them feeling every emotion, and seeing every color and detail.
Cover
Now there are two different covers to this book. The first cover, the older one, is of a Texan sunset with a horse galloping across a field. The second and most latest, is the one I decided to put up. I don’t know about you all, but a bare man’s back with those strong shoulders, and sculpted muscles…and those jeans….(football pants have no contest with those jeans), his booty…so sexy I could squeeze it. :) What do you think of it? Can you resist a sexy cowboy on a cover?
Overall View
A riveting romantic tale of passion, personal discovery, and the test of true love…sensitive and powerful!!
Trace Blackthorne grew up being taught to go after what you want. In college he fell in love with Callie Creed, a daughter of a man who is his father’s enemy. Their families have been in a century old feud. One that has festered over the years. But when an accident from his brother harms Callie’s brother, their relationship takes a turn for the worst. Callie knows her family needs her, but Trace wants to leave his family and make his own way. Callie chose her family over Trace and he left. What Callie never did was tell Trace the truth, that she was pregnant. Now eleven years later, Callie’s family is struggling to keep their ranch, a piece of land their family has held for generations. And Callie refuses to let it go. When Trace returns home, after his father receives a heart attack, she knows that her heart is going to be put in danger once again. Because Trace being back in her life, is torture. Despite the events that have separated them, Trace is still determined to win Callie, and make her realize that their love for each other is worth any risk…
The Hero
Trace Blackthorne, has never felt at home in Texas. He is the oldest son, and does stand to inherit Blackthorne ranch and all that goes with it. But that is the last thing that Trace wants. So when Callie refuses to leave with him, he leaves for Australia, and now is owner of a cattle ranch twice as large as his father’s spread. When he hears that his family needs him, he comes home for a visit. And seeing Callie again, widowed and her family in need, he is more than willing to use whatever is at his disposal to prove to her of his feelings and what she has sacrificed for her family. Trace is proud and commanding, he is driven and successful, he has compassion and knows how to please a woman in bed. His character was quite stimulating, and he totally had the alpha male commanding presence, but he also had some other traits that made him a fully balanced character that you fall for.
The Heroine
Callie Creed, has no wish to leave her family. She adores them and wears herself out trying to keep them afloat. The last thing she wants is to give their land to the Blackthornes. She has kept a secret from everyone except herself, that she has a son and the man that she married was never his father. Now widowed, she knows with Trace returned, that she is vulnerable to the feelings he could provoke in her. She knows that he will be furious when he learns that her son is his son and she fears he will take him away from her. Callie has quite the spirit, and she is fiercely protective of her family. I did have one issue, and I realize that it was part of the story, but I felt like she could have been a bit more backbone when it came to Trace. You see how much her family needs her, but she also lets them walk all over her, letting their bitterness take over what needs to be done. And the whole being pregnant and not being honest about everything, that bothered me a bit. But other than those aspects, her character was very likable and you see her evolve and grow in the story.
Plot and Story Line
The Cowboy is the first book in the series. I have read this series, but quite a long time ago, about ten years. So one of my goals this year, is to do a couple re reads every month and do a review. It was so fun to get back into this series, and as I started reading this, I came to the conclusion that there is a reason i adore this set up of feuding familes. And in all the feuding family series…this is my favorite of all time. It was also one of the first contemporary series I ever read, so that is also another plus. Its thanks to this series that I started reading Contemporary romance in the first place. This book starts off pretty well, and gives a bit of background information. We see other plots develop for other characters that will become future installments. The Cowboy is Trace and Callie’s story. And boy did I love them as a couple. In the beginning of the story, they are both hurting, still in love with each other, but there are so many other factors that keep them apart. The main reason you see is pride. Pride keeps them from accepting how much they care for each other and just letting their heart lead instead of loyalty to their families. There are some traumatic events that take place, and really adds a deep emotional rhythm to the story that keeps you engaged on every page. I tell you, this is the type of book that will keep you up at night, because the vivid detail and the beautiful work that Joan Johnston Creates is touching in its detail. The flow is pretty smooth, and the writing is so compelling, you feel as if you along side them feeling every emotion, and seeing every color and detail.
Cover
Now there are two different covers to this book. The first cover, the older one, is of a Texan sunset with a horse galloping across a field. The second and most latest, is the one I decided to put up. I don’t know about you all, but a bare man’s back with those strong shoulders, and sculpted muscles…and those jeans….(football pants have no contest with those jeans), his booty…so sexy I could squeeze it. :) What do you think of it? Can you resist a sexy cowboy on a cover?
Overall View
A riveting romantic tale of passion, personal discovery, and the test of true love…sensitive and powerful!!
April 26, 2016
Wow, this book was absolutely fucking terrible! It had everything I loath and detest in romance novels: whiny, rude kids who never shut up, an idiotic, judgmental and unsympathetic heroine who runs hot and cold and has zero common sense, One dimensional secondary characters with predictable villains, One sided romance where the hero acts like a pathetic dog groveling and begging for the heroine's love and affection while she constantly rebuffs him, speaks badly of his family and runs away from him at every opportunity. Oh, and to top it all off don't even get me started on the ridiculous and completely unbelievable story line.
And in the end there was no reprieve. The heroine rebuffed the hero until the very bitter end. It wasn't until 97% into the book that she FINALLY tells the hero she loves him (while he is unconscious might I add) and admits to herself that she wants to be with him!!!!! Totally ridiculous. Thank God there was no epilogue after the abrupt and ridiculous ending, I don't think I could have stomached to reading it.
And in the end there was no reprieve. The heroine rebuffed the hero until the very bitter end. It wasn't until 97% into the book that she FINALLY tells the hero she loves him (while he is unconscious might I add) and admits to herself that she wants to be with him!!!!! Totally ridiculous. Thank God there was no epilogue after the abrupt and ridiculous ending, I don't think I could have stomached to reading it.
November 26, 2012
Callie got on my nerves. She kept making bad choices, insisting she was being responsible while not taking responsibility for anything. And forced sex isn't romantic.
July 13, 2018
Loved this second-chance romance! Great characters, realistic plotline, sizzling chemistry, & a perfect setting = A Must Read! I couldn't put it down until I reached the end.
December 23, 2024
yeeeeehaw! now that's what i call some goddamn romance! 🤠😌🐎🛻
(4.5 rounded to 5, would def read again)
(4.5 rounded to 5, would def read again)
July 4, 2012
Blackthornes and Creeds have a long standing family feud. Although at one point, generations in the past, they were related through a marriage of a Creed to a Blackthorne. However this doesn't matter as the feud is long standing and very strong with the current generation.
Trace and Callie, who are 4 years apart, have liked each other from a distance. Once they get to college they date and fall in love. A tragedy strikes and it tears them apart leaving one of them with a major secret that the other doesn't know about. They each do their best and what they have to, to move forward with their lives. Eleven years after being gone from his home in Texas, Trace reappears. Callie has been married and widowed with two children at this point. They both have never gotten over each other but Callie feels so tied to her ranch Tree Oak's that it will be hard to convince her to let her family take care of life on the Ranch and move forward with Trace, as of course he will do anything to win her back.
This book takes us through young love, tragedy more than once, secrets, a murder mystery, ranch sabotaging, lots of hate from one family to the other, finding love again, broken hearts, anger, jealousy, learning to trust your heart again, learning to trust others, and learning to finally get what you want and learning to let others take control of their own lives as they should have many moons ago.
What I LOVED about this book:
1. The ENDING
2. Hannah (so adorable)
3. What Trace does for Callie's family
4. The Love Trace has for Callie AND her children
5. Figuring out the big mystery way early on in the book. :)
Trace and Callie, who are 4 years apart, have liked each other from a distance. Once they get to college they date and fall in love. A tragedy strikes and it tears them apart leaving one of them with a major secret that the other doesn't know about. They each do their best and what they have to, to move forward with their lives. Eleven years after being gone from his home in Texas, Trace reappears. Callie has been married and widowed with two children at this point. They both have never gotten over each other but Callie feels so tied to her ranch Tree Oak's that it will be hard to convince her to let her family take care of life on the Ranch and move forward with Trace, as of course he will do anything to win her back.
This book takes us through young love, tragedy more than once, secrets, a murder mystery, ranch sabotaging, lots of hate from one family to the other, finding love again, broken hearts, anger, jealousy, learning to trust your heart again, learning to trust others, and learning to finally get what you want and learning to let others take control of their own lives as they should have many moons ago.
What I LOVED about this book:
1. The ENDING
2. Hannah (so adorable)
3. What Trace does for Callie's family
4. The Love Trace has for Callie AND her children
5. Figuring out the big mystery way early on in the book. :)
May 23, 2012
Okay, let me just say if you don't have time to read, don't even open up this book. Why, because you won't be able to put it down!!!
I love Joan Johnston's books, and this one was no exception. Right from the very first page I was hooked, and every page after, right to the very last.
I zipped though this book in only a few short days, and I'm not a fast reader, have three young kids, work part time, etc., otherwise I probably would have read it in one sitting. I had a very hard time doing anything after I started it, and could not stop thinking about the heart gripping characters long after I'd finished it.
Now I have to run out and buy the others from this series. I can't wait to read about the other characters in the stories.
I love Joan Johnston's books, and this one was no exception. Right from the very first page I was hooked, and every page after, right to the very last.
I zipped though this book in only a few short days, and I'm not a fast reader, have three young kids, work part time, etc., otherwise I probably would have read it in one sitting. I had a very hard time doing anything after I started it, and could not stop thinking about the heart gripping characters long after I'd finished it.
Now I have to run out and buy the others from this series. I can't wait to read about the other characters in the stories.
February 5, 2013
We jump straight in2 fam. probs. Her brother might not mak it&she was a blubbering baby&he seemed like a jerk.
Case in point: “Wut the hell is wrong, Callie?”
Is that wut u say wen sum1s shaken up? &she’s all, “There’s b-been an accident.” “He b-broke his neck.”
It’s annoying&pathetic. Callie proceeds 2 stutter&sob her way thru it.
“ur brother Owen was the 1 who tackled Sam. ur brother Owen is the 1 who broke his nek.”
Idt u had 2 specify that Owen is his brother. He nos who his brother is. &saying it twice in a row is annoying.
This wasn’t a good feud. She was letting the accident,&that was all it was, get in the wa. Ther wasn’t a concrete reason 2 leave Trace bhind. Ther he was wanting 2 b ther 4 her&finally hav ther luv out in the open&she duznt let him cum
He says he needs her&wants 2 spend the rest of his life w/her&she says “I can’t. I’m sry. It’s over.”
The reason was so flimsy. She just dint want 2 try.
We find out rite after she’s pregnant&it was stupid that she dint tell him.
Callie marries sum1 just wks after Trace left, sum1 who’s 20 yrs older than her. Ew. This ain’t the 1800s wher u gotta marry sum1 2 cover up a pregnancy.
“If ur so interested in breeding sumthin, how about mrrying the eldest Creed girl&breeding me a few grandsons,” Blackjack retorted. “She’s ben a widow dam near a yr. Cant bleve u havnt rushed her 2 the altar.”
We’re in the 21st century, not the 17th.
I knew it was gonna be a boy. This story has ben dun plenty of times b4&4 sum reason all authors mak the boy lanky.
Callie had a 4 yr old girl w/Nolan? WTH is up with that?! I almost slammed the dang book down in disgust.
The kids were so annoying. Little “defiant” Eli&annoying Hannah who repeated everything everybody sed.
Wen Trace c’s her w/them he feels pain&says she shud hav ben his wife&they shud hav ben his kids. It wudve made it better had they both been his. it ruined it that she had a kid w/sum1 else.
It was so confusing rmbrng every1s names. I had 2 think hard 2 rmbr every1 2 keep straight who was doing wut. She threw out names like garbage&I had 2 struggle 2 keep up. It was tragic how Callie’s mom Ren&Trace’s dad Jackson had luvd each other b4 they each married sum1 else&still luvd each other.
Trace had abandoned her. He had refused 2 wait, even a little while, 2 c if they cud work things out.
No, she was the 1 that had broken it off. Wen I read the next thing tho, I thought she was a little justified in marrying sum1 else:
&he made sure she knew how easily she cud b replaced. She had herd stories in Bitter Creek about the women who had cum&gone from his bed. The first she had ben told w/in 3 wks of ther separation.
“&he gav u a son,” Trace accused, “that shud hav ben mine. Mine, Callie. Not his.”
y did he say it like that? Y did he mention only the boy¬ the girl? She has 2 kids, not 1. So y wud the author hav him say it like that? Oh, that’s right. It’s convenient.
It was so disgusting wen he asked w/hevy lidded eyes if Nolan was good in bed.
It made Trace look bad that he imm. started pursuing her. &it made her look bad cuz she went along w/it.
She danced w/him after he bought up the horses he new she wanted. He new her family needed those horses 2 replace the 1s that were stolen&he bought them neway. A hole!
He says 2 sav her a dance at the party&of course she dances w/him. He makes it clear he wants her, she says she duznt luv him, agin, he says who sed nething about luv, agin&they’re kissing rite after it. Who gets w/sum1 after they just sed it isn’t about luv?
A fight breaks up the kiss&Trace stops it&Callie’s like how can I thank u? &he says she can go out w/him 2 the art museum&she just smiles&goes rite along w/it, the only hesitation being she duznt hav an outfit 2 wear 2 it. She says won’t stay in his parent’s penthouse w/him, but agrees 2 it neway, bcuz “it was foolish 2 spend $ 4 a room wen she had the offer of a place 2 stay 4 free.”
I luv how authors mak ther characters contradict themselves just 2 throw them 2gether. Don’t make the characters say they’re not gonna do sumthing&then a split sec later do it.
The whole buying a dress&shoes, sending a hair stylist&a manicurist 4 her just seemed insulting, like he thought she wasn’t goin 2 look good on her own. It was supposed 2 b romantic, but it wasn’t.
Callie goes&feeds him a strawberry after everything. Wth is goin on here?
It was SO annoying how she went along w/the whol date&sed they had no future. That’s wut she sed b4 she danced w/him, that’s what she sed agin b4 she kissed him&it’s what she sed agin b4 feeding him, nibbling his earlobe&tuching his crotch. Either quit saying it or stick 2 ur guns.
Her parents r missing&whil her&Trace r looking 4 them she’s worried&they just hav sex. Just like that. Ther in the front seat of the jeep wen they’re searching 4 her parents&she imm. regrets it. She’s talking like nothing happ, like she dint use him 4 comfort, commenting on the sunrise. Okayy. Was that rly the best time 2 hav sex? &after all those yrs that isn’t the way ther supposed 2 hav sex.
Trace sed that if he just had sex w/her he wud get it out of his system, but, predictably, after he has sex w/her it didn’t get her out of his system&he wants her agin. How many times has that line ben used by romance authors?
Her dad gets shot&killed. I thought the author wud kill off Ren’s husband&Jackson’s wife, or at least hav them divorce, so the 2 luv birds cud get 2gether.
Callie was a little bitchy, saying she wudnt b w/him, but letting him buy her things&letting him help in the serch. The guy used his jeep, called all his cowhands 2 go out looking&had his helicopter out scanning the area&she tells him it isn’t a good idea 2 drive her hom.
Callie wanted 2 refuse him, but on the spur of the moment, she culdnt think of ne other way 2 get hom. There was no such thing as cab service in Bitter Creek. She cud call Luke&hav him cum get her, but then he’d hav 2 no wher she was. She cud call Lou Ann Simpson, but she dint want 2 deal w/Lou Ann’s concern or her ?s rite now.
Ther we go agin. Another run-thru of a list of flimsy excuses y the characters hav 2 b 2gether. &she says “all right. u can take me home. But Idw u coming inside.”
How nice. Use him 4 a ride after he helped u. Then 2 top it all off, she says he won’t b invited 2 the funeral. Wut a bitch!
she’s such a bad mom. She lets her kids cuss, disrespect people&even let Eli punch&kick Jackson. She shudve took him aside&at least given him a stern talkin 2, if not a slap w/a hickory switch. She wud hear them cussing, badmouthing the Blackthornes&wud barely say nething&these r 10 &4 yr old. Teach ur kids sum manners 4 the luv of god. &for gods sake, tell Hannah 2 quit echoing everything Eli says.
The cussing in front of the kids was ridiculous. Callie’s dad had a runaway mouth&Sam, who was drunk, said gd in front of the kids. &Callie says noting, like maybe “hey, I’d appreciate it if u dint cuss in front of my kids” wudnt hav helped.
I dint think Blackjack was evil, but wen Trace had 2 ask if he’d shot Jesse or had sum1 else 2 do it I was shocked. Wen Trace told him Jesse had ben shot Jackson smiles. Wtf?
“Wher wud u get that kind of $—that didn’t cum out of ur father’s pocket?”
“I hav $ of my own,” he sed quietly.
Her laughter stopped abruptly. “Ur serious.”
He nodded.
“I don’t understand. What do u get out of this?”
“U.”
She shud hav known ther wud b a fly in the ointment. She dint ask wut he ment. She cud ges wut he had in mind. “That maks me a pretty expensive whor.”
“If that’s the way u want to look at it.”
“Ther isn’t ne other way of looking at it,” Callie sed bluntly. “Ur asking me 2 hav sex w/u 4 $.”
His expression hardened as he waited 4 her answer.
“How much will I b paid 4 my services? How many times—”
“Till I’m tired of u,” he sed brusquely.
Wut a charming man. Offer $ 4 sex&treat her like a whor. I hav ab. no respect 4 this man&I hav even less respect 4 her bcuz she’ll take him up on it.
Having the whol relationship b filled w/$ probs&2 sav her from financial ruin . . . yeah, not so romantic.
“I’m not saying I’d evr agree 2 such an outrageous proposal, but if I did, wher wud these interludes take place?”
“My father has a huntin cabin. We can go ther.”
“Oh, god,” Callie laughed. “This is absurd. I can’t bleve I’m even discussing this w/u.”
“It’s a fer trade,” Trace sed.
Callie stopped&stared at him. “I ges Idk u as well as I thought. The Trace I new wud’t hav tried 2 buy love w/$.”
“I’m not interested in luv. Just sex.”
Suddenly, Callie realized how she cud tak Trace’s $ &stil keep her self-respect. If he wanted sex, that’s wut he wud get, w/o the warmth&affection that normally accompanied such an intimate joining.
Yeah…let him treat u like a whore, just don’t cuddle w/him. That’ll teach him. &she won’t do that. She’ll still hav feelings 4 him.
“My father’s wanted me 2 marry u 4 a long time. It’ll please him 2 think he’ll b getting 3 Oaks w/o having 2 do mor than pay inheritance taxes.”
“I c.” He’d hinted as much 3 her on the plane, then told her they’d met at UT entirely by accident. Wut if they hadn’t? It wud b punishment enuf 2 open her body 2 a man who no longer wanted her luv. It wud b another 2 mak luv 2 sum1 who’d nvr seen her as nething other than a means 2 an end.
“2morrow,” she sed. “I’ll c u 2morrow.” She forced herself 2 walk awy. u nvr ran from a predator. It only made him hungrier 4 the kill.
Don’t run tho. Make it easy 4 him 2 hav his way w/u.
&who has sex w/sum1 they suspect mite hav only ben w/them 4 a secret agenda?
Eli duznt like Trace at the farm&wen Callie asks him 2 get the gate 4 Trace wen he’s letting in a horse, he lets it slam shut on the horse’s rear just 2 spite Trace. &this is wut happens:
Callie met Trace’s furious gaze&sed in a voice she mite use 2 calm an excitable horse, “I can handle my own. U can let him go now.”
Yeah, we’ve seen how well u can handle him.
&her big “handling” involves this: “Eli, I think u’d better tak sum time out 2 think about wut u’ve dun. u can go help Henry finish mucking out stalls.”
That’s her big punishment?
“uve got 2 set some limits, Callie, or the kid’s going 2 turn in2 a bully.”
Callie was stung by Trace’s criticism. She mite agree w/him, but he had no rites wher Eli was concerned.
I’m so sick of that jaded opinion.
Hannah gets up in the loft&is hanging out the door, so 3 pgs of that ensues, wher Trace rushes 2 help&both of them climb the ladder, insted of 1 staying on the ground in case she fell. Cassie knew that was a possibility bcuz she told Trace “Don’t frighten her. She mite fall.”
Well . . . wudnt u want 2 b ther 2 catch her in case she duznt fall? Wen Trace gets her Hannah wraps her arms around his neck&snuggles into him. Of course.
Eli leaves from shoveling crap&insted of going 2 get him&making him do it, she just says “he’ll be bak soon.” WTH is wrong w/her?
Had Sam perhaps taken his own life? They hadn’t herd ne gunshots, but that didn’t mean Sam hadn’t slit his wrists or taken sum pills, even if that wasn’t the way most men wud hav chosen 2 kill themselves.
Those compassionate words r from Trace. Like, is that a good time 2 insinuate that taking pills or slitting ur wrists is cowardly?
It turns out Sam drank 2 much&is on the verge of deth, just 1 mor disaster in this book.
&Hannah chatters all the way 2 the hospital, aggravating me further. &she dint even sound like a 4 yr old. She sed “I had 2 wer my black velvet Sunday school dress w/the white collar&mommy bought me a brand-new pair of white socks w/lace on them. &I got a brand-new per of black patent leather shoes w/buckles.
do u expect me 2 bleve that a 4 yr old is using words like patent?
At the hospital Callie finds out they owe $20,000, 1 mor outrageous debt&she passes out bcuz she’s overworked. Just wen I thought the author cudnt cram ne mor crap in2 this book, she duz.
The kids go missing, bcuz they left the truck aginst orders. Callie’s all panicked&Trace is in protective mode&I am at my wit’s end w/this monstrosity of a romance novel.
As Callie’s taking a bath at his cabin, she stands up 2 get soap&everything, realizing she’s 4gotten it&that’s wen Trace opens the dor. &all of a sudden she’s self-conscious of her body, cuz she’s had kids &has stretch marks, except this isn’t the 1st time he’s seen her naked since then&ther was no mention of ne of this.
&rmbrd the deal she had w/Trace. Sex 4 $. Trace dint rly want her. Well, he did. But only 4 1 purpose&it had nothing 2 do w/luv.
After coming 2 that realization, she says she can wash herself. He insists he wants 2&she says “give me 1 good reason y I shud let u,” &he says “Bcuz I nvr got 2 do it 11 yrs ago,” just like that, she’s like: “All rite. Go ahed.”
Y hav her show ne signs of resistance if she’s gonna cav the 1st thing &wen she thinks he only wants her 4 sex but goes ther neway it makes her look like a whor.
They have sex&the author completely brushes over it. It’s a romance book, we want details!
Trace invites her back 2 his parent’s house; she sed she isn’t going 2 go&cam up w/the excuse of goin back 2 Hannah so she cud stay ther¬ go. &then, RIGHT AFTER SAYING THAT, she says I’ll be glad 2 cum w/u. WHAT THE HELL IS UP W/THIS DUMB BROAD? She says she’s not gonna do sumthin&then a split sec later just duz the exact opp. u can’t hav a character w/no willpower&who changes ther mind like the wether.
It was the last quarter of the book, pg. 263&Trace still dint no Eli was his&he still wudnt say wher he had ben living. Is that rly this big mystery that u hav 2 keep dragging out 4 almost 300 pgs?
On pg. 269 we find out he’s ben in Australia. He’s planning on leaving&wants 2 tak Callie ther.
They’re arguing about it&he’s got her up aginst the wall. She says it’s 2 late 4 them&he’s like “the hell it is!” &then he just has sex w/her, rite ther in the middle of a fight they needed 2 finish. They shudve spoken about the past&gotten over it.
He finds out Eli is on pg. 300. thats about 200+ pgs 2 long 2 drag that out. It mite hav ben worth it if the big reveal had ben good. But it was so totally disappointing. He’s havin a short convo w/Eli&just duz the math in a split sec. It went like this: “Every yr on my bday he’d tell me the story of how he drov like a bat out of hell&ran 4 stoplights 2 get my mom 2 the hospital, ‘cuz I cam 3 whol wks erly.”
“I only weighed 5 lbs&12 oz,” Eli sed. “&look at me now!” He held his arms out like Arnold Schwarzenegger&waited 4 Trace 2 feel his muscles. “Pretty strong, all rite,” Trace sed, dutifully testing each bicep.
Mentally, Trace was doin the math, trying 2 fig. out wen Callie shud hav delivered. If 2day was Oct 22, that ment Callie shudnt hav delivered until mid-Nov. Which ment Callie had conceived on or about . . . Valentine’s Day. On Valentine’s Day 11 yrs ago, he&Callie had left the dance at the UT Student Union&driven up in2 the hill country, wher they’d found a spot in the cool grass along the banks of the Colorado&made luv the rest of the nite.
&created a child 2gether.
He put that 2gether in like half a sec. It maks me wonder y the author didn’t hav him fig it out sooner.
This dumb broad keeps throwing out the fact that he left her, which is hypocritical&just plain wrong, bcuz she sed it was over&that she wasn’t goin 2 mary him. It’s her fault, so she can’t keep saying things like “if y’d rly cared about me u wud nvr hav left in the 1st place! How do u think I felt! Alone&pregnant.”
“&u cudnt hav missed me 2 much. I herd about all the women, Trace.”
“Wut women?”
“The women u took up w/the min I was gon.”
“I was trying 2 mak u jelous, Callie. I wanted u 2 care.”
That was completely disgusting. I’d held out the hope that he hadn’t rly slept w/all those women.
“Think about it, Callie. All the power of Bitter Creek aimed at the destruction of 3 Oaks.”
“u’d nvr sink that low.”
“I’d hand my father the sledgehammer.”
He says that, which is horrible&then: “I’ll fight u 4 him in court. &wen I get custody—& in this part of Texas, that’s a 4gon conclusion, u’ll nvr c him agin.”
Which was un4givable. &Callie’s like “All rite. I’ll marry u. But I want sumthing in return.”
Wth is wrong w/her? She asks him 2 pay the inheritance taxes on 3 Oaks, but agrees 2 marry him&he says “Done. Now get the hell out of my sight.”
what a bastard. &she’s no mor than a whore, bartering 4 things 2 get&having him pay off all her debts. Wut a classless lowlife.
“I think we shud giv it 2 ur mother,” Trace sed, taking it from Hannah& holding it out 2 Callie. “As I recall, she likes 2 suck off all the pickle juice b4 she eats it.”
Callie cudnt look at the pickle. Or at Trace 4 that matter.
“Hey, mom, y’s ur face so red?” Eli asked.
Callie shot 1 mortified look at Trace, grabbed the pickle&took a large bite, chewing furiously&nearly choking wen she swallowed 2 fast.
“That’s not how I rmbrou eating a pickle,” Trace sed in a husky voice.
Callie met his eyes 4 an instant&saw the passion lurking ther, just as it had wen she’d teased him by sucking salaciously on a pickle in the college caf. a lifetime ago. Unfortunately, he’d had a test rite after lunch&cudnt skip class. Wen they’d finally gotten 2gether in her room, the sex had been frenzied&wild.
While normally that wud hav sum effect on me, it didn’t. I was sick of the flashbacks 2 college days &the brushing over the sex.
He tells her he’s always luvd her&wants her 2 cum 2 Australia w/him&bring the kids. &she’s still holding fast 2 her responsibility 2 her family. Gee, we’re only 320 pgs in. U think she wudv gotten over that by now…
&after that he says “I just realized we nvr had a wedding nite. Wudnt want the wedding annulled 4 failure 2 consummate,” he sed. “Expect me after the children r tucked in.”
this bastard just reached new heights of bastardness.
I am SO sick of them having sex w/each other wen they’re mad &shud stay away. y wud he force sex w/her? He says he’s gonna take wut he wants so it’ll last him while he’s gon, like that makes it rite. I don’t c how ther’s gonna be a satisfying ending 4 these 2.
We find out that Russel Handy, Jackson’s right-hand man, was hired 2 steal ther horses&that he had ben with Jacson’s wife. So she’s the 1 that hired him 2 hav Ren killed, except Jesse was killed by accident.
It was almost 2 pg. 370 &Callie still wudnt budge in her decision not 2 go 2 Australia. Eli overhears the truth&leaves on horseback, &Hannah follows him. &the pasture they rode in is being burned. If u can’t cum up w/a plot just string 2gether a bunch of random accidents. Readers luv that stuff.
Thers a chance that Hannah mite b burning in the fire, &Callie patiently answers Eli’s ?’s about her&Trace like she hasn’t a care in the world. Ur kid cud be dying&ur gonna play 20 ?s? Tell him u’ll talk later help Trace in the serch. I mean, jeeze.
Trace is unconscious. Another trip 2 the hospital is in order. &just like that, Callie realizes she luvs him&needs him&can’t live w/o him. I wondered how the author wud pull it off, considering she’s ben having Callie hold stedfast 2 her beliefs the entire book. This sudden realization of she felt was unbelievable.
&Eli was just gung-ho about moving 2 Australia, bcuz of the “kangaroos&platypuses&crocodles&neat stuff like that.”
I’m finding myself doubting that he is so accepting of leaving his home&family 2 muv 2 a new continent.
It was the pg b4 the last, &she was still having reservations about leaving. She didn’t mak up her mind until the last page. WTF?! She’s all gushing like “ok, let’s go 2 Australia!” wen the page b4 she was moaning about her family.
She went along w/everything Trace had planned 4 her. If he wudve told her 2 drive out to a secluded place bcuz he was going 2 shoot her, she’d go over ther&b waiting 4 him.
Case in point: “Wut the hell is wrong, Callie?”
Is that wut u say wen sum1s shaken up? &she’s all, “There’s b-been an accident.” “He b-broke his neck.”
It’s annoying&pathetic. Callie proceeds 2 stutter&sob her way thru it.
“ur brother Owen was the 1 who tackled Sam. ur brother Owen is the 1 who broke his nek.”
Idt u had 2 specify that Owen is his brother. He nos who his brother is. &saying it twice in a row is annoying.
This wasn’t a good feud. She was letting the accident,&that was all it was, get in the wa. Ther wasn’t a concrete reason 2 leave Trace bhind. Ther he was wanting 2 b ther 4 her&finally hav ther luv out in the open&she duznt let him cum
He says he needs her&wants 2 spend the rest of his life w/her&she says “I can’t. I’m sry. It’s over.”
The reason was so flimsy. She just dint want 2 try.
We find out rite after she’s pregnant&it was stupid that she dint tell him.
Callie marries sum1 just wks after Trace left, sum1 who’s 20 yrs older than her. Ew. This ain’t the 1800s wher u gotta marry sum1 2 cover up a pregnancy.
“If ur so interested in breeding sumthin, how about mrrying the eldest Creed girl&breeding me a few grandsons,” Blackjack retorted. “She’s ben a widow dam near a yr. Cant bleve u havnt rushed her 2 the altar.”
We’re in the 21st century, not the 17th.
I knew it was gonna be a boy. This story has ben dun plenty of times b4&4 sum reason all authors mak the boy lanky.
Callie had a 4 yr old girl w/Nolan? WTH is up with that?! I almost slammed the dang book down in disgust.
The kids were so annoying. Little “defiant” Eli&annoying Hannah who repeated everything everybody sed.
Wen Trace c’s her w/them he feels pain&says she shud hav ben his wife&they shud hav ben his kids. It wudve made it better had they both been his. it ruined it that she had a kid w/sum1 else.
It was so confusing rmbrng every1s names. I had 2 think hard 2 rmbr every1 2 keep straight who was doing wut. She threw out names like garbage&I had 2 struggle 2 keep up. It was tragic how Callie’s mom Ren&Trace’s dad Jackson had luvd each other b4 they each married sum1 else&still luvd each other.
Trace had abandoned her. He had refused 2 wait, even a little while, 2 c if they cud work things out.
No, she was the 1 that had broken it off. Wen I read the next thing tho, I thought she was a little justified in marrying sum1 else:
&he made sure she knew how easily she cud b replaced. She had herd stories in Bitter Creek about the women who had cum&gone from his bed. The first she had ben told w/in 3 wks of ther separation.
“&he gav u a son,” Trace accused, “that shud hav ben mine. Mine, Callie. Not his.”
y did he say it like that? Y did he mention only the boy¬ the girl? She has 2 kids, not 1. So y wud the author hav him say it like that? Oh, that’s right. It’s convenient.
It was so disgusting wen he asked w/hevy lidded eyes if Nolan was good in bed.
It made Trace look bad that he imm. started pursuing her. &it made her look bad cuz she went along w/it.
She danced w/him after he bought up the horses he new she wanted. He new her family needed those horses 2 replace the 1s that were stolen&he bought them neway. A hole!
He says 2 sav her a dance at the party&of course she dances w/him. He makes it clear he wants her, she says she duznt luv him, agin, he says who sed nething about luv, agin&they’re kissing rite after it. Who gets w/sum1 after they just sed it isn’t about luv?
A fight breaks up the kiss&Trace stops it&Callie’s like how can I thank u? &he says she can go out w/him 2 the art museum&she just smiles&goes rite along w/it, the only hesitation being she duznt hav an outfit 2 wear 2 it. She says won’t stay in his parent’s penthouse w/him, but agrees 2 it neway, bcuz “it was foolish 2 spend $ 4 a room wen she had the offer of a place 2 stay 4 free.”
I luv how authors mak ther characters contradict themselves just 2 throw them 2gether. Don’t make the characters say they’re not gonna do sumthing&then a split sec later do it.
The whole buying a dress&shoes, sending a hair stylist&a manicurist 4 her just seemed insulting, like he thought she wasn’t goin 2 look good on her own. It was supposed 2 b romantic, but it wasn’t.
Callie goes&feeds him a strawberry after everything. Wth is goin on here?
It was SO annoying how she went along w/the whol date&sed they had no future. That’s wut she sed b4 she danced w/him, that’s what she sed agin b4 she kissed him&it’s what she sed agin b4 feeding him, nibbling his earlobe&tuching his crotch. Either quit saying it or stick 2 ur guns.
Her parents r missing&whil her&Trace r looking 4 them she’s worried&they just hav sex. Just like that. Ther in the front seat of the jeep wen they’re searching 4 her parents&she imm. regrets it. She’s talking like nothing happ, like she dint use him 4 comfort, commenting on the sunrise. Okayy. Was that rly the best time 2 hav sex? &after all those yrs that isn’t the way ther supposed 2 hav sex.
Trace sed that if he just had sex w/her he wud get it out of his system, but, predictably, after he has sex w/her it didn’t get her out of his system&he wants her agin. How many times has that line ben used by romance authors?
Her dad gets shot&killed. I thought the author wud kill off Ren’s husband&Jackson’s wife, or at least hav them divorce, so the 2 luv birds cud get 2gether.
Callie was a little bitchy, saying she wudnt b w/him, but letting him buy her things&letting him help in the serch. The guy used his jeep, called all his cowhands 2 go out looking&had his helicopter out scanning the area&she tells him it isn’t a good idea 2 drive her hom.
Callie wanted 2 refuse him, but on the spur of the moment, she culdnt think of ne other way 2 get hom. There was no such thing as cab service in Bitter Creek. She cud call Luke&hav him cum get her, but then he’d hav 2 no wher she was. She cud call Lou Ann Simpson, but she dint want 2 deal w/Lou Ann’s concern or her ?s rite now.
Ther we go agin. Another run-thru of a list of flimsy excuses y the characters hav 2 b 2gether. &she says “all right. u can take me home. But Idw u coming inside.”
How nice. Use him 4 a ride after he helped u. Then 2 top it all off, she says he won’t b invited 2 the funeral. Wut a bitch!
she’s such a bad mom. She lets her kids cuss, disrespect people&even let Eli punch&kick Jackson. She shudve took him aside&at least given him a stern talkin 2, if not a slap w/a hickory switch. She wud hear them cussing, badmouthing the Blackthornes&wud barely say nething&these r 10 &4 yr old. Teach ur kids sum manners 4 the luv of god. &for gods sake, tell Hannah 2 quit echoing everything Eli says.
The cussing in front of the kids was ridiculous. Callie’s dad had a runaway mouth&Sam, who was drunk, said gd in front of the kids. &Callie says noting, like maybe “hey, I’d appreciate it if u dint cuss in front of my kids” wudnt hav helped.
I dint think Blackjack was evil, but wen Trace had 2 ask if he’d shot Jesse or had sum1 else 2 do it I was shocked. Wen Trace told him Jesse had ben shot Jackson smiles. Wtf?
“Wher wud u get that kind of $—that didn’t cum out of ur father’s pocket?”
“I hav $ of my own,” he sed quietly.
Her laughter stopped abruptly. “Ur serious.”
He nodded.
“I don’t understand. What do u get out of this?”
“U.”
She shud hav known ther wud b a fly in the ointment. She dint ask wut he ment. She cud ges wut he had in mind. “That maks me a pretty expensive whor.”
“If that’s the way u want to look at it.”
“Ther isn’t ne other way of looking at it,” Callie sed bluntly. “Ur asking me 2 hav sex w/u 4 $.”
His expression hardened as he waited 4 her answer.
“How much will I b paid 4 my services? How many times—”
“Till I’m tired of u,” he sed brusquely.
Wut a charming man. Offer $ 4 sex&treat her like a whor. I hav ab. no respect 4 this man&I hav even less respect 4 her bcuz she’ll take him up on it.
Having the whol relationship b filled w/$ probs&2 sav her from financial ruin . . . yeah, not so romantic.
“I’m not saying I’d evr agree 2 such an outrageous proposal, but if I did, wher wud these interludes take place?”
“My father has a huntin cabin. We can go ther.”
“Oh, god,” Callie laughed. “This is absurd. I can’t bleve I’m even discussing this w/u.”
“It’s a fer trade,” Trace sed.
Callie stopped&stared at him. “I ges Idk u as well as I thought. The Trace I new wud’t hav tried 2 buy love w/$.”
“I’m not interested in luv. Just sex.”
Suddenly, Callie realized how she cud tak Trace’s $ &stil keep her self-respect. If he wanted sex, that’s wut he wud get, w/o the warmth&affection that normally accompanied such an intimate joining.
Yeah…let him treat u like a whore, just don’t cuddle w/him. That’ll teach him. &she won’t do that. She’ll still hav feelings 4 him.
“My father’s wanted me 2 marry u 4 a long time. It’ll please him 2 think he’ll b getting 3 Oaks w/o having 2 do mor than pay inheritance taxes.”
“I c.” He’d hinted as much 3 her on the plane, then told her they’d met at UT entirely by accident. Wut if they hadn’t? It wud b punishment enuf 2 open her body 2 a man who no longer wanted her luv. It wud b another 2 mak luv 2 sum1 who’d nvr seen her as nething other than a means 2 an end.
“2morrow,” she sed. “I’ll c u 2morrow.” She forced herself 2 walk awy. u nvr ran from a predator. It only made him hungrier 4 the kill.
Don’t run tho. Make it easy 4 him 2 hav his way w/u.
&who has sex w/sum1 they suspect mite hav only ben w/them 4 a secret agenda?
Eli duznt like Trace at the farm&wen Callie asks him 2 get the gate 4 Trace wen he’s letting in a horse, he lets it slam shut on the horse’s rear just 2 spite Trace. &this is wut happens:
Callie met Trace’s furious gaze&sed in a voice she mite use 2 calm an excitable horse, “I can handle my own. U can let him go now.”
Yeah, we’ve seen how well u can handle him.
&her big “handling” involves this: “Eli, I think u’d better tak sum time out 2 think about wut u’ve dun. u can go help Henry finish mucking out stalls.”
That’s her big punishment?
“uve got 2 set some limits, Callie, or the kid’s going 2 turn in2 a bully.”
Callie was stung by Trace’s criticism. She mite agree w/him, but he had no rites wher Eli was concerned.
I’m so sick of that jaded opinion.
Hannah gets up in the loft&is hanging out the door, so 3 pgs of that ensues, wher Trace rushes 2 help&both of them climb the ladder, insted of 1 staying on the ground in case she fell. Cassie knew that was a possibility bcuz she told Trace “Don’t frighten her. She mite fall.”
Well . . . wudnt u want 2 b ther 2 catch her in case she duznt fall? Wen Trace gets her Hannah wraps her arms around his neck&snuggles into him. Of course.
Eli leaves from shoveling crap&insted of going 2 get him&making him do it, she just says “he’ll be bak soon.” WTH is wrong w/her?
Had Sam perhaps taken his own life? They hadn’t herd ne gunshots, but that didn’t mean Sam hadn’t slit his wrists or taken sum pills, even if that wasn’t the way most men wud hav chosen 2 kill themselves.
Those compassionate words r from Trace. Like, is that a good time 2 insinuate that taking pills or slitting ur wrists is cowardly?
It turns out Sam drank 2 much&is on the verge of deth, just 1 mor disaster in this book.
&Hannah chatters all the way 2 the hospital, aggravating me further. &she dint even sound like a 4 yr old. She sed “I had 2 wer my black velvet Sunday school dress w/the white collar&mommy bought me a brand-new pair of white socks w/lace on them. &I got a brand-new per of black patent leather shoes w/buckles.
do u expect me 2 bleve that a 4 yr old is using words like patent?
At the hospital Callie finds out they owe $20,000, 1 mor outrageous debt&she passes out bcuz she’s overworked. Just wen I thought the author cudnt cram ne mor crap in2 this book, she duz.
The kids go missing, bcuz they left the truck aginst orders. Callie’s all panicked&Trace is in protective mode&I am at my wit’s end w/this monstrosity of a romance novel.
As Callie’s taking a bath at his cabin, she stands up 2 get soap&everything, realizing she’s 4gotten it&that’s wen Trace opens the dor. &all of a sudden she’s self-conscious of her body, cuz she’s had kids &has stretch marks, except this isn’t the 1st time he’s seen her naked since then&ther was no mention of ne of this.
&rmbrd the deal she had w/Trace. Sex 4 $. Trace dint rly want her. Well, he did. But only 4 1 purpose&it had nothing 2 do w/luv.
After coming 2 that realization, she says she can wash herself. He insists he wants 2&she says “give me 1 good reason y I shud let u,” &he says “Bcuz I nvr got 2 do it 11 yrs ago,” just like that, she’s like: “All rite. Go ahed.”
Y hav her show ne signs of resistance if she’s gonna cav the 1st thing &wen she thinks he only wants her 4 sex but goes ther neway it makes her look like a whor.
They have sex&the author completely brushes over it. It’s a romance book, we want details!
Trace invites her back 2 his parent’s house; she sed she isn’t going 2 go&cam up w/the excuse of goin back 2 Hannah so she cud stay ther¬ go. &then, RIGHT AFTER SAYING THAT, she says I’ll be glad 2 cum w/u. WHAT THE HELL IS UP W/THIS DUMB BROAD? She says she’s not gonna do sumthin&then a split sec later just duz the exact opp. u can’t hav a character w/no willpower&who changes ther mind like the wether.
It was the last quarter of the book, pg. 263&Trace still dint no Eli was his&he still wudnt say wher he had ben living. Is that rly this big mystery that u hav 2 keep dragging out 4 almost 300 pgs?
On pg. 269 we find out he’s ben in Australia. He’s planning on leaving&wants 2 tak Callie ther.
They’re arguing about it&he’s got her up aginst the wall. She says it’s 2 late 4 them&he’s like “the hell it is!” &then he just has sex w/her, rite ther in the middle of a fight they needed 2 finish. They shudve spoken about the past&gotten over it.
He finds out Eli is on pg. 300. thats about 200+ pgs 2 long 2 drag that out. It mite hav ben worth it if the big reveal had ben good. But it was so totally disappointing. He’s havin a short convo w/Eli&just duz the math in a split sec. It went like this: “Every yr on my bday he’d tell me the story of how he drov like a bat out of hell&ran 4 stoplights 2 get my mom 2 the hospital, ‘cuz I cam 3 whol wks erly.”
“I only weighed 5 lbs&12 oz,” Eli sed. “&look at me now!” He held his arms out like Arnold Schwarzenegger&waited 4 Trace 2 feel his muscles. “Pretty strong, all rite,” Trace sed, dutifully testing each bicep.
Mentally, Trace was doin the math, trying 2 fig. out wen Callie shud hav delivered. If 2day was Oct 22, that ment Callie shudnt hav delivered until mid-Nov. Which ment Callie had conceived on or about . . . Valentine’s Day. On Valentine’s Day 11 yrs ago, he&Callie had left the dance at the UT Student Union&driven up in2 the hill country, wher they’d found a spot in the cool grass along the banks of the Colorado&made luv the rest of the nite.
&created a child 2gether.
He put that 2gether in like half a sec. It maks me wonder y the author didn’t hav him fig it out sooner.
This dumb broad keeps throwing out the fact that he left her, which is hypocritical&just plain wrong, bcuz she sed it was over&that she wasn’t goin 2 mary him. It’s her fault, so she can’t keep saying things like “if y’d rly cared about me u wud nvr hav left in the 1st place! How do u think I felt! Alone&pregnant.”
“&u cudnt hav missed me 2 much. I herd about all the women, Trace.”
“Wut women?”
“The women u took up w/the min I was gon.”
“I was trying 2 mak u jelous, Callie. I wanted u 2 care.”
That was completely disgusting. I’d held out the hope that he hadn’t rly slept w/all those women.
“Think about it, Callie. All the power of Bitter Creek aimed at the destruction of 3 Oaks.”
“u’d nvr sink that low.”
“I’d hand my father the sledgehammer.”
He says that, which is horrible&then: “I’ll fight u 4 him in court. &wen I get custody—& in this part of Texas, that’s a 4gon conclusion, u’ll nvr c him agin.”
Which was un4givable. &Callie’s like “All rite. I’ll marry u. But I want sumthing in return.”
Wth is wrong w/her? She asks him 2 pay the inheritance taxes on 3 Oaks, but agrees 2 marry him&he says “Done. Now get the hell out of my sight.”
what a bastard. &she’s no mor than a whore, bartering 4 things 2 get&having him pay off all her debts. Wut a classless lowlife.
“I think we shud giv it 2 ur mother,” Trace sed, taking it from Hannah& holding it out 2 Callie. “As I recall, she likes 2 suck off all the pickle juice b4 she eats it.”
Callie cudnt look at the pickle. Or at Trace 4 that matter.
“Hey, mom, y’s ur face so red?” Eli asked.
Callie shot 1 mortified look at Trace, grabbed the pickle&took a large bite, chewing furiously&nearly choking wen she swallowed 2 fast.
“That’s not how I rmbrou eating a pickle,” Trace sed in a husky voice.
Callie met his eyes 4 an instant&saw the passion lurking ther, just as it had wen she’d teased him by sucking salaciously on a pickle in the college caf. a lifetime ago. Unfortunately, he’d had a test rite after lunch&cudnt skip class. Wen they’d finally gotten 2gether in her room, the sex had been frenzied&wild.
While normally that wud hav sum effect on me, it didn’t. I was sick of the flashbacks 2 college days &the brushing over the sex.
He tells her he’s always luvd her&wants her 2 cum 2 Australia w/him&bring the kids. &she’s still holding fast 2 her responsibility 2 her family. Gee, we’re only 320 pgs in. U think she wudv gotten over that by now…
&after that he says “I just realized we nvr had a wedding nite. Wudnt want the wedding annulled 4 failure 2 consummate,” he sed. “Expect me after the children r tucked in.”
this bastard just reached new heights of bastardness.
I am SO sick of them having sex w/each other wen they’re mad &shud stay away. y wud he force sex w/her? He says he’s gonna take wut he wants so it’ll last him while he’s gon, like that makes it rite. I don’t c how ther’s gonna be a satisfying ending 4 these 2.
We find out that Russel Handy, Jackson’s right-hand man, was hired 2 steal ther horses&that he had ben with Jacson’s wife. So she’s the 1 that hired him 2 hav Ren killed, except Jesse was killed by accident.
It was almost 2 pg. 370 &Callie still wudnt budge in her decision not 2 go 2 Australia. Eli overhears the truth&leaves on horseback, &Hannah follows him. &the pasture they rode in is being burned. If u can’t cum up w/a plot just string 2gether a bunch of random accidents. Readers luv that stuff.
Thers a chance that Hannah mite b burning in the fire, &Callie patiently answers Eli’s ?’s about her&Trace like she hasn’t a care in the world. Ur kid cud be dying&ur gonna play 20 ?s? Tell him u’ll talk later help Trace in the serch. I mean, jeeze.
Trace is unconscious. Another trip 2 the hospital is in order. &just like that, Callie realizes she luvs him&needs him&can’t live w/o him. I wondered how the author wud pull it off, considering she’s ben having Callie hold stedfast 2 her beliefs the entire book. This sudden realization of she felt was unbelievable.
&Eli was just gung-ho about moving 2 Australia, bcuz of the “kangaroos&platypuses&crocodles&neat stuff like that.”
I’m finding myself doubting that he is so accepting of leaving his home&family 2 muv 2 a new continent.
It was the pg b4 the last, &she was still having reservations about leaving. She didn’t mak up her mind until the last page. WTF?! She’s all gushing like “ok, let’s go 2 Australia!” wen the page b4 she was moaning about her family.
She went along w/everything Trace had planned 4 her. If he wudve told her 2 drive out to a secluded place bcuz he was going 2 shoot her, she’d go over ther&b waiting 4 him.
January 4, 2018
An excellent read about two Texas families that have hated each other since the Civil War, the wealthy Blackthornes and the struggling Creeds. Trace Blackthorne and Callie Creed had dated each other and fallen in love 11 years prior when in college. Callie had known she was pregnant but hadn't told Trace yet when she received a phone call that her brother, Sam, has been paralyzed by a blow by none other than one of Trace's brothers during a football game. They had spent all this time hiding the fact that they were dating from their families. Callie is needed back home and she knows that what has happened only makes it even more impossible for the two of them to have a future together. She dumps Trace immediately and returns home to help with the care of her brother and to help on the family farm. Trace had never been home in the 11 years since college. He has now returned to run his father's cattle business and ranch after his father has had a heart attack. Trace wants Callie back and he's determined to get her back because he never stopped loving her. A series of events leads,Trace to make Callie an offer that will help her save her family from financial ruin. Callie once again finds herself having to face the same choice as when she was in college. An impossible choice between the family that desperately needs her and the only man she has ever loved. Great read and I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
July 16, 2017
Excellent story line that's as Old as Texas itself. The feud over land. Is a Blackthorn really going as far as murder to get the land that has been coveted from the Creeds for hundreds of years? Can a beautiful Creed lady Callie turn her back on the land and family she loves more than life itself to love Trace a damn Blackthorn? Will her greatest secret she has hidden for years come to the open? I could go on and on asking questions and even give the answers but I wouldn't want to take a great pleasure of a wonderful read away from a reader. One simply has to read this book which is the start of Joan Johnston Bitter Creek series I am literally chomping at the bits to get into the next book to see what lies in store for the two rival families. I simply could not stop reading this book it grabs ones attention on first page and doesn't let go on the last page no it makes you hunger to start the next book!
July 7, 2017
Love love this book, can't wait to read more @ Bitter Creek! Joan Johnston knows how to weave a tale of tribulation, greed, deception, & love Into a masterful and intriguing story. This
Is the 2nd time I've read this book and if you haven't read it, you need to grab a copy enjoy her exceptional story. 5 Stars and it will leave you with a book hangover.
Is the 2nd time I've read this book and if you haven't read it, you need to grab a copy enjoy her exceptional story. 5 Stars and it will leave you with a book hangover.
February 8, 2012
Callie and Trace are two of the most frustrating characters I've come across for a while.
She blames him for a choice SHE made long ago and he bullies her into getting his way.
And the hate that was fostered in Callie's home was gross.
~huh~
I doubt I'll finish the series.
Not my style.
She blames him for a choice SHE made long ago and he bullies her into getting his way.
And the hate that was fostered in Callie's home was gross.
~huh~
I doubt I'll finish the series.
Not my style.
March 6, 2025
"That's not how I remember you eating a pickle." WHAT DA FAWK. In front of the kids??? Bruh.
For the 1st romance novel I've read, I expected, well, romance. I didn't get much of that or any... shall I say sensuality? And it's not like the plot was anything greater than a hallmark movie with a slightly darker motive (I'll give you the money you need for bedroom favors [favors done very YA closed door style]).
For the 1st romance novel I've read, I expected, well, romance. I didn't get much of that or any... shall I say sensuality? And it's not like the plot was anything greater than a hallmark movie with a slightly darker motive (I'll give you the money you need for bedroom favors [favors done very YA closed door style]).
July 24, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
September 30, 2011
The biggest problem with this book: NOTHING CHANGED. The problem in the prologue is the exact same problem they have in the last chapter, but suddenly, after a bunch of random stuff happens, they can live HEA now. The characters themselves made no moves towards greater self understanding, they didn't compromise, they didn't even fall in love...they were IN LOVE in the prologue!
The second biggest problem with this book: Heroine doesn't tell hero she's pregnant with his child. Ugh! I almost put it down when I read about this in the prologue. "I love you, and I'm going to have your baby, but I'm not going to tell you because our families hate one another, which we knew perfectly well when we started our relationship and when I accepted your marriage proposal, but now that my brother is injured and your brother accidentally did it, the whole thing is over, and I'm going to lie to you by hiding the fact that you're going to be a father!" I've got huge problems with women not telling men they're going to have their babies. There is almost never a good reason for it, and this wasn't even close to reasonable.
The third biggest problem with this book is that I didn't like Callie. It started when she refused to tell Trace about the baby, but continued through all her stubborn refusals to see reason. And somehow, she blamed Trace for their breakup in the prologue??? She told him to go, but he didn't even try to stick around and see if they could work things out (which she had pretty much told them they couldn't do). Oh, and she got married to someone else like a month later, so of course, he had plenty of opportunity to try to work things out.
The fourth biggest problem with this book was that I couldn't believe Eli's easy acceptance that Trace was his father.
Aside from that, it was pretty good. It was a quick read, and well-written. I just had serious plot and character issues.
The second biggest problem with this book: Heroine doesn't tell hero she's pregnant with his child. Ugh! I almost put it down when I read about this in the prologue. "I love you, and I'm going to have your baby, but I'm not going to tell you because our families hate one another, which we knew perfectly well when we started our relationship and when I accepted your marriage proposal, but now that my brother is injured and your brother accidentally did it, the whole thing is over, and I'm going to lie to you by hiding the fact that you're going to be a father!" I've got huge problems with women not telling men they're going to have their babies. There is almost never a good reason for it, and this wasn't even close to reasonable.
The third biggest problem with this book is that I didn't like Callie. It started when she refused to tell Trace about the baby, but continued through all her stubborn refusals to see reason. And somehow, she blamed Trace for their breakup in the prologue??? She told him to go, but he didn't even try to stick around and see if they could work things out (which she had pretty much told them they couldn't do). Oh, and she got married to someone else like a month later, so of course, he had plenty of opportunity to try to work things out.
The fourth biggest problem with this book was that I couldn't believe Eli's easy acceptance that Trace was his father.
Aside from that, it was pretty good. It was a quick read, and well-written. I just had serious plot and character issues.
January 7, 2012
I was pretty much stunned and engthralled when I read Comanche Woman, the very first novel I had ever read by Joan Johnston. You could even say wowed. But then, I also happen to be a sucker for historical romance, so I'm sure that played a part in my being enamored of it. The Cowboy bummed me out. It was a minor build-up with a belly-flop ending. Not to mention that the main character is SO frustrating that I think I sighed in exasperation throughout the story. She can't decide what she wants for -the- longest time, but not in that sort of agonizing way that caused me to feel sympathy for her. The romantic bits of it were also shruggers, sort of rushed trysts that the main character handled casually. I suppose I don't share anyone's opinion who would call this a good novel. To her credit, however, Joan Johnston can thread drama together well. The dramatic parts of the story describing relationships did capture me. But overall, this book just didn't cut it for me. I give it two stars for "it was ok".
November 10, 2013
Trace, I loved him, even in the prologue, "Trace rose, letting the sheet drop. "So? You can come live with me." He gets possessive and the feelings that were there years ago are still there, "and he gave you a son," Trace accused, "that should have been mine. Mine, Callie, not his." He's really good with kids and that's when I fell in love with him more, "Trace held out his arms, and the little girl came running to him. He gathered her up and felt her soft breath against his throat as he patted her on the back. "Don't worry, Hannah. Eli and Luke will take care of cleaning up everything."
March 28, 2009
Trace Blackthornes and Callie Creed Monroe's story. THis starts the 4 book Bitter Creek Series. Excellent beginning. The characters are well developed and the story is enthralling. You just have to keep the substories seperated from one another. The author really knows how to weave a tale and keep everything in perspective.
February 15, 2015
Love love this book, can't wait to read more @ Bitter Creek! Joan Johnston knows how to weave a tale of tribulation, greed, deception, & love Into a masterful and intriguing story. This
Is the 2nd time I've read this book and if you haven't read it, you need to grab a copy enjoy her exceptional story. 5 Stars and it will leave you with a book hangover.
Is the 2nd time I've read this book and if you haven't read it, you need to grab a copy enjoy her exceptional story. 5 Stars and it will leave you with a book hangover.
April 26, 2018
All of the characters in The Cowboy are selfish morons. Trace is a man-slut and Callie is a liar and a coward. The Blackthornes (Trace's family) and the Creeds (Callie's family) have been involved in a ridiculous feud for generations. It's never really clear how the feud started, but it might have been about stolen horses or a land grab. It would make sense if the setting of this story was 100+ years before. In the Old West, losing a horse or a few acres of land could mean the difference between surviving and starving to death. This is contemporary fiction though, and the feud is still alive and well.
Trace's family is rich and Callie's family is poor, but the Creeds' property is sitting in the middle of Blackthorne land and Trace's dad would like nothing more than to get his hands on it. He advises Trace to marry Callie so the Blackthornes can gain ownership of the Creed ranch. To his credit, Trace does his best to avoid Callie but when they meet face-to-face at university, sparks fly. They start dating and it soon becomes something more. Their plans for the future are suddenly derailed when the feud flares up again. Callie is forced to choose between her family and the man she loves. She asks Trace to wait, just for a year or two. His response is to install a revolving door (figuratively speaking) for the women he bangs and leaves, starting two weeks later.
Eleven years after that, Trace finally returns to town. Will the lovers be reunited? Or will the feud bring a bitter end to their hope of happiness? *cue ominous music*
It's worse than Romeo and Juliet: at least they had the excuse of being young and dumb. Callie was eighteen and Trace was at least the same age when their relationship began. Both of them make horrible decisions from that point on. [SPOILER ALERT]
Trace's family is rich and Callie's family is poor, but the Creeds' property is sitting in the middle of Blackthorne land and Trace's dad would like nothing more than to get his hands on it. He advises Trace to marry Callie so the Blackthornes can gain ownership of the Creed ranch. To his credit, Trace does his best to avoid Callie but when they meet face-to-face at university, sparks fly. They start dating and it soon becomes something more. Their plans for the future are suddenly derailed when the feud flares up again. Callie is forced to choose between her family and the man she loves. She asks Trace to wait, just for a year or two. His response is to install a revolving door (figuratively speaking) for the women he bangs and leaves, starting two weeks later.
Eleven years after that, Trace finally returns to town. Will the lovers be reunited? Or will the feud bring a bitter end to their hope of happiness? *cue ominous music*
It's worse than Romeo and Juliet: at least they had the excuse of being young and dumb. Callie was eighteen and Trace was at least the same age when their relationship began. Both of them make horrible decisions from that point on. [SPOILER ALERT]
February 9, 2024
Checked this out from the library right after finishing the fourth book in Ms. Johnston's Mail Order Bride series "Blackthorne's Bride". This book has a lot going on in it. As is the case with the first book in a series, the author spends time laying the groundwork for the story and introducing characters who will play major roles in the sequels.
As usual, there's massive miscommunication between the main characters throughout the book. A tragic event occurs to widen the existing void between the feuding families and the main character's relationship. This is a second chance story where the main characters are college students before they break up and are then separated for 11 years before circumstances bring them geographically back together.
The hero, Trace Blackthorne tries to buy the heroine's (Callie Creed Munroe) love with money. Trace offers to pay the inheritance taxes on Three Oaks if Callie agrees to "be with him" until he has to return to Australia. He is hoping that Callie will fall in love with him throughout the time he spends with her. So yes, she reluctantly whores herself out for the benefit of her family's land.
The biggest disappointment for me though, is that there was no detailed information provided about the origin of the feud between both families. The author only states that it goes back to the Civil War era. Trace tells Callie that a diary exists written by Cricket. If you've read Ms. Johnston's "Frontier Woman" novel, then you know that Cricket is one of the original characters from Ms. Johnston's Sisters of the Lone Star series.
I rated it two stars for personal reasons.
As usual, there's massive miscommunication between the main characters throughout the book. A tragic event occurs to widen the existing void between the feuding families and the main character's relationship. This is a second chance story where the main characters are college students before they break up and are then separated for 11 years before circumstances bring them geographically back together.
The hero, Trace Blackthorne tries to buy the heroine's (Callie Creed Munroe) love with money. Trace offers to pay the inheritance taxes on Three Oaks if Callie agrees to "be with him" until he has to return to Australia. He is hoping that Callie will fall in love with him throughout the time he spends with her. So yes, she reluctantly whores herself out for the benefit of her family's land.
The biggest disappointment for me though, is that there was no detailed information provided about the origin of the feud between both families. The author only states that it goes back to the Civil War era. Trace tells Callie that a diary exists written by Cricket. If you've read Ms. Johnston's "Frontier Woman" novel, then you know that Cricket is one of the original characters from Ms. Johnston's Sisters of the Lone Star series.
I rated it two stars for personal reasons.
December 13, 2019
This book was very good. I laughed and shed a few tears with the characters. It was chaotic with all the members of this one family being attracted with their enemy. Like all the characters were connected somehow. There were also a lot of humor in scenes between Eli and Trance. When Trance spent the night and had Bay's room, it was also very funny how she had lots of stuffed animals. I love the chemistry between Trance and Callie. The only thing that I wished for was a better ending. Of course it ended happily, but it was too easy. If Callie would just let go of her property, then the story would have ended in the middle, but this issue was dragged on and on until Trance was hurt and Callie finally realized to follow her heart. I wished there was a better solution than for Callie to leave the property off to her family to take care of. I wish there was also a better conclusion between the relationship between the feuding neighbors. Other than that, this book was perfect. There was not one character that I felt was unnecessary. They all added depth to the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 24, 2022I am not leaving stars because I did not finish the book.
The book started out really good, and I caught myself thinking about it when I wasn't reading (a good sign). Early on, at the barn scene, the relationship between Trace and Callie seemed FFF (forced, fake, and flat). I read on because I really wanted to hold out for the story, but by the time they got on a plane to fly to (Houston?) together, everything about the book plummeted for me, and the FFF continued to maintain. Tension dropped, and the focus of the story felt unestablished and misplaced. Trace was in love with Callie, so I suppose the reason why I felt it all FFF was because Trace never established in the beginning WHY he loved Callie, and why he wanted her over anyone else. Why was she so special? Just because he liked having sex with her? FFF. Every relationship has the WHY. My own has the WHY. Trace and Callie's did not. So I DNF'd this book due to the FFF.
The book started out really good, and I caught myself thinking about it when I wasn't reading (a good sign). Early on, at the barn scene, the relationship between Trace and Callie seemed FFF (forced, fake, and flat). I read on because I really wanted to hold out for the story, but by the time they got on a plane to fly to (Houston?) together, everything about the book plummeted for me, and the FFF continued to maintain. Tension dropped, and the focus of the story felt unestablished and misplaced. Trace was in love with Callie, so I suppose the reason why I felt it all FFF was because Trace never established in the beginning WHY he loved Callie, and why he wanted her over anyone else. Why was she so special? Just because he liked having sex with her? FFF. Every relationship has the WHY. My own has the WHY. Trace and Callie's did not. So I DNF'd this book due to the FFF.
November 7, 2018
And interesting start the series. So far I’m really enjoying it and have appreciated getting to know the various characters. I kind of get a little bit confuse the traveling back and forth in time with the black Florence and the creeds but it sure has been interesting. In a lot of ways I felt that I could relate to Callie creative because she spends so much time trying to make things work out that she kind of doesn’t have time to enjoy herself. I’ve gotten better about that over the years. But I can totally sympathize. On the other hand I have to say that her keeping her sons parentage secret was certainly not the right thing to do. As for the tragedy that happened, I was pretty sure I knew who the perpetrator was and I’m not really sure what clued me in. But I appreciated being right… I always do :-)
July 29, 2020
I really enjoy Joan Johnston's books. Her romances do not detract from the story by becoming the main focus or even overly descriptive. While I am a big fan of Christine Feehan, she is an author whose 'romances' overshadow the story with their explicit nature. Joan's stories also seem to vary. In other words, it isn't the same story with different names and locations as can be true in many paperback romance novels. The Cowboy is the first novel in a trilogy about the Blackthorne and Creed families set in Bitter Creek, TX. As is the case in so many trilogies like this, the books spotlight different members of the two families involved to tell the stories of their lives. The second book in this trilogy is The Texan, the third is The Loner. An interesting aside, I do believe that this trilogy has been expanded to include another two books? Time (and reading) will tell!
April 26, 2018
I simply could not with these characters. Every single one of these is developmentally stunted. I don't even want to go into particulars other than to say every adult in the book acts like a child. So it's no wonder that Callie's son is blatantly rude and insolent without any regard to a reprimand bscause there never is one. I remember reading this book as a young adult and enjoying it. As an actual adult, it's trash. These people are literally going around just making their lives difficult out of sheer obstinacy and intolerance. Callie says in THE PROLOUGE that she knows that Trace is basically her soulmate and she'll never want anyone like him yet proceeds to push him away the entirety of the time I read which was almost 200 pgs. DNF, annoyed the hell out of me.
May 17, 2021
This book is one that took me for a roller coaster ride in the best possible way! Highly recommend! From murder to love and even hate, there was definitely something to keep you on your toes throughout the book and keep you wanting more.
Callie had put up such a fight in regards to admitting her feelings for Trace, and that was a shock to me. The way their love was described back in their college days... let's just say she's a stronger woman that I would be in that situation to ignore the love they have for one another. Then there was the bitter shocking news that Trace had discovered after 11 years, and the way he was to Callie when he found out the news was not what I expected. Granted, I knew he would not be super happy to find out the secret was being held for 11 years, but I think it could have been handled better on his end. Never-the-less, he came around.
Cannot wait for book 2!
Callie had put up such a fight in regards to admitting her feelings for Trace, and that was a shock to me. The way their love was described back in their college days... let's just say she's a stronger woman that I would be in that situation to ignore the love they have for one another. Then there was the bitter shocking news that Trace had discovered after 11 years, and the way he was to Callie when he found out the news was not what I expected. Granted, I knew he would not be super happy to find out the secret was being held for 11 years, but I think it could have been handled better on his end. Never-the-less, he came around.
Cannot wait for book 2!
April 5, 2022
This book was tedious. The heroine was tedious, the plotline was tedious, and the supporting characters were tedious. It didn’t help that the dialogs were stilted and felt artificial. The heroine is irresponsible, makes bad choices, and is close-minded. She also blows hot, blows cold, and behaves irrationally with the hero. The poor hero is strung along for pretty much all the of book. Not that he is a paragon of any kind- he pretty much coerces her into an intimate relationship in exchange for bailing out her ranch.
Anyway, the whole book was tiring. Sunk cost fallacy and all, I didn’t want to DNF it, and was relieved when it was finally done.
Giving it 2 stars.
Anyway, the whole book was tiring. Sunk cost fallacy and all, I didn’t want to DNF it, and was relieved when it was finally done.
Giving it 2 stars.
November 11, 2024
I was anxious to finish this book. There was so much angst and turmoil and trauma that I just wanted it to end. Way over the top and not at all realistic. And Callie was an irritating fool who did not deserve Trace. I'll try the 2nd book in this series, hoping the plot is better. But not really expecting that.
I just read the blurb on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th books in this series. I'm done. The plots rely very heavily on the Hatfield/McCoy feud theme, and it gets really tiresome. I can't believe this series got many great ratings. I almost hated this book. Overblown...excessive...redundant...just very weak in every respect. I thought I'd found a new author to love. Very disappointing.
I just read the blurb on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th books in this series. I'm done. The plots rely very heavily on the Hatfield/McCoy feud theme, and it gets really tiresome. I can't believe this series got many great ratings. I almost hated this book. Overblown...excessive...redundant...just very weak in every respect. I thought I'd found a new author to love. Very disappointing.
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