What do you think?
Rate this book
Bitter Creek #12.5
Winter Magic
From New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author JOAN JOHNSTON, read Mike’s story, continued from Sullivan’s Promise, Bitter Creek Book 12.
In the five years since Mike Sullivan had his face ripped off by a grizzly—leaving scars that make him look monstrous—he’s become a lone wolf, working on his family’s Montana ranch by day and retreating to a log cabin at night. Returning from a nighttime run to town for supplies, he discovers a woman and her four-year-old daughter huddled in a truck stalled on the side of the road. With a growing blizzard dropping temperatures to thirty below, he has no choice except to rescue them. But the closest place for safety from the storm is his isolated cabin in the woods.
Joanna Henderson has been driving with her daughter, Daisy, for days, fleeing an abusive relationship in Texas. She’s grateful when a tall, bearded stranger, only his blue eyes showing between his pulled-down Stetson and a scarf that covers the lower half of his face, stops to help. But she worries that going with him may be more perilous than staying right where she is. Joanna becomes truly frightened when she finally sees the stranger’s ruined face and realizes that, once again, she’s at the mercy of a dangerous man she doesn’t trust.
Between a woman’s need and a man’s loneliness the buds of friendship flower into true love.
In the five years since Mike Sullivan had his face ripped off by a grizzly—leaving scars that make him look monstrous—he’s become a lone wolf, working on his family’s Montana ranch by day and retreating to a log cabin at night. Returning from a nighttime run to town for supplies, he discovers a woman and her four-year-old daughter huddled in a truck stalled on the side of the road. With a growing blizzard dropping temperatures to thirty below, he has no choice except to rescue them. But the closest place for safety from the storm is his isolated cabin in the woods.
Joanna Henderson has been driving with her daughter, Daisy, for days, fleeing an abusive relationship in Texas. She’s grateful when a tall, bearded stranger, only his blue eyes showing between his pulled-down Stetson and a scarf that covers the lower half of his face, stops to help. But she worries that going with him may be more perilous than staying right where she is. Joanna becomes truly frightened when she finally sees the stranger’s ruined face and realizes that, once again, she’s at the mercy of a dangerous man she doesn’t trust.
Between a woman’s need and a man’s loneliness the buds of friendship flower into true love.
181 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 5, 2020
58 people are currently reading
101 people want to read
About the author
Joan Johnston
126 books752 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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 3, 2020
I have followed Joan Johnston’s Bitter Creek series through its entirety and have loved each and everyone.
Winter’s Magic was a perfect followup to Mike Sullivan’s vicious grizzly bear attack, which left him disfigured and living life as a recluse.
Nature’s fury left Joanna and Daisy stranded on a Montana highway during a blinding blizzard. When Mike passed their broken down truck, he knew he couldn’t ignore a stranded victim.
Little did anyone know that this chance encounter, would be each one’s saving grace.
What an incredible book.
Winter’s Magic was a perfect followup to Mike Sullivan’s vicious grizzly bear attack, which left him disfigured and living life as a recluse.
Nature’s fury left Joanna and Daisy stranded on a Montana highway during a blinding blizzard. When Mike passed their broken down truck, he knew he couldn’t ignore a stranded victim.
Little did anyone know that this chance encounter, would be each one’s saving grace.
What an incredible book.
May 12, 2020
Another great read by Joan Johnston that is a continuation of The Bitter Creek series. This story is 5 years after Mike Sullivan is mauled by a bear that left him so scared that he views himself as a Monster. He is stared at by strangers, often scaring them, especially children. Mike has become a recluse that stays on his family's ranch, alone in a remote cabin, and he usually only even goes into town late at night for supplies to limit his encounter with people.
Mike is headed home from town after a run for supplies. A blizzard is hitting and he knows he may not be able to get to town for several days so he needed to stock up. On his way home he happens upon a stuck vehicle so he slows hoping that the vehicle has been stranded and its occupants have already been rescued. To Mike's surprise he finds woman and her four-year-old daughter and neither are dressed for Montana winters so he knows they aren't from the area. With the weather worsening, it's late and the closest place to get out of the storm is Mike's remote cabin. He must rescue them but will they accept the fact that they're going to be stranded in the middle of no where with a stranger that looks like a monster.
Joanna Henderson has been on the road with her daughter, Daisy, for days, fleeing from Texas. She's on the run from an abusive relationship. When Joanna finally glimpses Mike's face, judges his large stature, she's afraid that she may have ended up with her hands in the fate of yet another dangerous man. To Joanna's surprise, when Mike's scarf falls and reveals his face, her daughter is not afraid of what she sees. Daisy touches Mike's face and says he has a boo-boo and to both Joanna and Mike's surprise she talks to Mike as if there is nothing wrong with him at all.
This is truly a heart warming love story that I'm so happy I read. This book could teach so many what true love is and should be about.
Mike is headed home from town after a run for supplies. A blizzard is hitting and he knows he may not be able to get to town for several days so he needed to stock up. On his way home he happens upon a stuck vehicle so he slows hoping that the vehicle has been stranded and its occupants have already been rescued. To Mike's surprise he finds woman and her four-year-old daughter and neither are dressed for Montana winters so he knows they aren't from the area. With the weather worsening, it's late and the closest place to get out of the storm is Mike's remote cabin. He must rescue them but will they accept the fact that they're going to be stranded in the middle of no where with a stranger that looks like a monster.
Joanna Henderson has been on the road with her daughter, Daisy, for days, fleeing from Texas. She's on the run from an abusive relationship. When Joanna finally glimpses Mike's face, judges his large stature, she's afraid that she may have ended up with her hands in the fate of yet another dangerous man. To Joanna's surprise, when Mike's scarf falls and reveals his face, her daughter is not afraid of what she sees. Daisy touches Mike's face and says he has a boo-boo and to both Joanna and Mike's surprise she talks to Mike as if there is nothing wrong with him at all.
This is truly a heart warming love story that I'm so happy I read. This book could teach so many what true love is and should be about.
September 14, 2020
A Christmas rescue for the ages...
Both Mike and Joanna have back stories to break your heart but... Mike, Joanna, and even Daisy will mend it back together and steal it from you. I really enjoyed reading how their trust and love grew. And I dare you to not fall in love with Mike.
Both Mike and Joanna have back stories to break your heart but... Mike, Joanna, and even Daisy will mend it back together and steal it from you. I really enjoyed reading how their trust and love grew. And I dare you to not fall in love with Mike.
May 13, 2020
This was a new author and series for me. Received a copy from the author. I enjoyed the two main characters and the storyline, this was a fast read for me! A short novella in a series but you don't have to read them as it stands alone. Would love to read more from this author and recommend this read!
April 6, 2020
Another good story from the King' s Brats series. I liked the characters and the plot. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
April 18, 2020
He was a loner due to the bear attach that left him disfigured. She was running from an abusive relationship. Together they heal and find trust and love.
May 8, 2020
This book has everything! A hero who must overcome a horrifying event, a heroine who is also damaged and a precocious child. Together they just work. Loved this one!!
December 10, 2024
Too bad it is the last in this series!
December 17, 2024
3.75 stars
Sweet and wholesome but no real spice. Also kind of instalovey, but I enjoyed it.
Sweet and wholesome but no real spice. Also kind of instalovey, but I enjoyed it.
August 16, 2022
I was so glad to see this story written. I wanted Mike's story told, and wanted to know how he was doing after his grizzly attack. Added to the story is a little girl and her mother. Their past life effect the present just like the past effects Mike. There was just enough drama, and love to keep me reading.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews