The Price

Bitter Creek #4

by Joan Johnston

A powerful New York Times bestseller by the queen of Texas romance, The Price is a novel of intrigue, passion, ambition, and love set amid Houston’s towering skyscrapers and the majestic plains of South Texas ranch country.

Luke Creed has sacrificed everything for his career at the prestigious law firm DeWitt & a chance to run his family’s ranching empire, his marriage, and even time with his two daughters. Defending a major client in a wrongful death case, Luke crosses paths with his high school sweetheart, Amy Hazeltine Nash, an advocate for the bereaved plaintiff. Now, Luke and Amy are divided by forces beyond themselves—and overcome by an all-consuming desire. But when the case takes a deadly twist, Luke delves into a dangerous web of corruption that may place his life in jeopardy—and may also target the one woman who loves Luke for who he really rebel, cowboy, loner, and lover.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Western Romance, Contemporary, Westerns, Romantic Suspense

336 pages, Hardcover

First published March 25, 2003

About the author

Joan Johnston (born Little Rock, Arkansas) is a best-selling American author of over forty contemporary and historical romance novels.

Johnston was the third of seven children born to an Air Force sergeant and his music-teacher wife. She received a B.A. in theatre arts from Jacksonville University in 1970, then earning an M.A. in theatre from the University of Illinois, Urbana in 1971. She received a law degree (with honors) at the University of Texas at Austin in 1980. For the next five years, Johnston worked as an attorney, serving with the Hunton & Williams firm in Richmond, Virginia, and with Squire, Sanders, & Dempsey in Miami. She has also worked as a newspaper editor and drama critic in San Antonio, Texas, and as a college professor at Southwest Texas Junior College, Barry University, and the University of Miami.

Johnston is a member of the Authors Guild, Novelists, Inc., Romance Writers of America, and Florida Romance Writers. She has two children and one grandchild, and divides her time between two homes, in Colorado and Florida.

Awards

* Paperbook Book Club of America's Book Rak Award (twice)
* Romantic Times' Best Western Historical Series Award (twice)
* Romantic Times' Best New Western Writer
* Romantic Times' Best Historical Series Award (twice)
* The Maggie (twice)
* Romance Writers of America RITA Award finalist for The Disobedient Bride

Reviews

[Miss Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Price is the 4th installment of the Bitter Creek series. The story is accelerated twelve years later than the previous novel. It didn’t really like that, but some of the previous characters do make minor appearances.

Luke Creed is now an up and coming lawyer at DeWitt and Blackthorne, a prestigious law firm in Houston. He’s divorced, and has two young daughters, 10 and 6. His dedication to his career has cost him his wife and family. Now he works 80 hour weeks and has time for hardly anything else. He has been assigned a case to defend a drug corporation against charges that the drug, D-Free is causing the deaths of children taking the drug. It is a drug that Type 1 diabetics can take to regulate the insulin so they do not have to take injections.
Under tremendous pressure to settle the case out of court, he meets with the opposing party’s lawyers. He is stunned to find out that his high school sweetheart, Amy, is the opposing counsel. She represents a mother whose daughter died while taking D-free. He is flustered, and the woman does not take the offer.
Later he learns his oldest daughter has been taking D-Free for months. His ex-wife will not agree to stop her from taking it, because the girl is so happy not having do injections. Luke learns more and more about the drug and a possible cover up of many more deaths from it.
Amy realizes she still cares for Luke, and is cautious, but determined to help him as well. In the meantime, she realizes she’s falling for him again.

It’s a nice reunion story, however is was light on romance then I would have liked, and little heavy on the drug plot line.

[Christel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another novel in the Bitter Creek Series by Johnson.


Luke Creed had always been a rebel, doing what he wanted when he wanted. Amy was his high school sweetheart.

They broke up and Amy later married a man from Virginia and moved away. Luke meanwhile, went to college got his degree in law and became a practicing lawyer at the prestigious lawfirm of DeWitt & Blackthorne. He has sacrificed everything for his career, a marriage, 2 beautiful daughters, and his families ranching empire.

In a wrongful death suit Luke and Amy are reunited as opposing lawyers. Amy being the lawyer for the suing party. This is all about a drug being sold by a company that is for mid teen-preadolescent diabetic patients, oneof whom is Luke's oldest daughter.
Murder, payoffs, and bribery all all rolled into this love story. Luke must make a decision and take a stand that could save his daughter's life plus others. And what will happen with his relationship with Amy???

I really liked this one. More intrigue and storyline. Plus the interaction of Luke's family and other make this one really enjoyable to read

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

The 4th book in the Bitter Creek series was slow paced in the beginning compared to the other books but it did not disappoint. I have a major illness so the deceit and lawsuit around the drug controversy in this book was very intriguing to me! I'm sure this kind of thing happens all the time unfortunately but I hope it doesn't go as far as it did in The Price.

Luke Creed has spent years with one goal in mind, tobr a partner at DeWitt & Blackthorne Law Firm. He's sacrificed his marriage, time with his kids and Any kind of personal life to get into the position he's in. D & B Law Firm's biggest client is the manufacturer of D-free an oral drug for type 1 diabetes. The drug appears to be a miracle drug in the fight against childhood diabetes or is it responsible for the deaths of children. Luke finds himself personally invested in the need to know the truth on a personal level when he finds out his own daughter is taking the drug. Luke also finds himself of the opposite of the court case from his high school sweetheart, Amy Hazeltine, the woman he never got over. Can Luke find out the truth about the drug when he finds he doesn't even know who to trust in his own law firm. He could lose his job, ruin his reputation in the law community and even his license to practice law if this isn't handled properly. Will his career or his morals win out and will this case bringing and Amy closer together or come new
between them. Will he find out the truth and be able to save his child and others children's lives. Great read.

[Lyndsey Bookish Nature · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book packed a punch! It’s the first book by Joan Johnston I’ve read and won’t be the last. The Price has it all: family drama, affairs, secrets, corruption, murder, and lots of scandals! It’s like a whole soap opera wrapped up nicely into a little book box. Enjoy!

[Sky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never read any of the other books in the series, but I didn’t really have to. This is one of the best books I’ve read in a while. The storyline was engaging and not solely focused on the romance. The amount of research and care the author took was commendable. Happy I picked this up.

[Laurie (barksbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I started this book I didn't realize it was #4 in a long running series. This means the author throws out tons of characters and refers to past events that left me shaking my pea brain in confusion.

Set in Texas two ex-high school lovers now in their 30's and divorced with kids reunite at Luke's family farm. Sort of. Luke desperately wants to get together with Amy. She was the love of his life despite the fact that she dumped him to marry a stable doctor-type. She wants nothing to do with him because he's always been a rebel. She breaks his little heart again when she turns him down. He licks his wounds and walks away.

Conveniently enough they meet up again in the next chapter. Imagine that? The two are lawyers, apparently, and are on opposite sides of a volatile case involving greedy corporate scum who have killed children with their medicine. Luke is simply trying to climb the legal ladder and is biding his time working in corporate law when he's handed this awful case.

The book then turns into a little courtroom/mystery blend that was just interesting enough to hold my attention but in the end everything gets too easily wrapped in a tidy little bow.

[Jaime Stricklin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I've read by Joan Johnston and I loved it as much as I did the first. I read it entirely in one day because I couldn't put it down. The only part of this book that I didn't like was when Luke's wife calls and basically "gives" her kids to him....that would never happen. The fact that they were staying close by would have been enough to make the story have a good ending or they could have settled on better visitation arrangements. Other than that....GREAT book!!!

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! I loved that it took place 12 years after the other books so you could see a little of what happens with the other couples in the family. This one had more of a mystery feel to it while Luke tries to figure out who is involved in covering up problems with D-Free and that sucked me right in. I also really liked that Luke and Jackson finally ended their fued.

[Marianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing saga of the Creeds and Blackthornes. This one was Luke Creed's story.
These frothy romances are good quick reading, albeit very unrealistic with everything coming out like a fairy tale.

But, I like to read these stories between serious books. Good diversion.

[Jenn Bradshaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lawyers, Juvenile Diabetes, and second chance romance, all bundled neatly into one steamy romance novel - The Price, by Joan Johnston, a Bitter Creek novel. I loved the story, except for one glaring omission.

Luke’s given everything he can to rise to the top at a prestigious law firm on his own merit. To wit, he’s lost his marriage, has little time to give to his young daughters, his relationship with his mother (though that might be more a case of bitterness towards his step-father and a long-standing rivalry between two families. He’s nearly made it to the recommendation board for partnership, and he counts his losses as worth striving towards his dream. Until it all falls apart in a move from one department to another, and a tort case against one of the firm’s largest clients - a pharmaceutical company manufacturing a “miracle drug” for Type 1 diabetics. Kids are dying, and Luke’s expected to close the cases quietly and settled out of court. Of course, the first client he meets with won’t go quietly, and as Luke investigates the drug, and finds out his own daughter is taking it, tensions rise.

When Amy arrives for her client’s meeting at Luke’s law firm, tension cranks up even more for the two attorneys. They were high school sweethearts, and despite their opposing sides on this case, the remaining heat between them sits unresolved. Amy’s determined to win justice for her client and for other patients at risk from the killer “miracle drug.” As the pair partner up to get to the bottom of what’s really going on behind the scenes, their relationship grows and develops, threatening their careers, their lives, and the life of Luke’s older daughter, a Type 1 diabetic taking the drug.

Despite the very technical aspects of some of the storyline (including how drug trials are run, and attorney ethics), I was gravely disappointed in one serious omission: The author sets up this fictional “miracle drug” as the only alternative for T1 Diabetics to reduce needle sticks. The Hero’s ex-wife has married a doctor, and this medication doesn’t require any blood sugar testing. As the wife of a T1 Diabetic, the step-mother of a T1 Diabetic, this raised a LOT of red flags for me. First, I may not be a doctor, but I’ve been in this game long enough to question any treatment for a T1 that doesn’t include finger sticks. The girls’ stepfather is a doctor - why would he support such a thing as safe? My second REALLY big red flag was that this drug was set up as the only alternative that allowed the patients to not use injections. Insulin pumps have been around for a good thirty years or more. One injection, every two or three days, instead of five or six needles a day, and they can be used in very young pediatric patients.

The Price is an otherwise well-developed story, with deep, multi-faceted characters and twisting plots. Several subplots are threaded through the story, pushing my limit of enjoyment due to multiple POV’s, but in the end, other than the research omission above, this was still a very good read. I’d love to give this book four stars, but with the neglect in researching Type 1 Diabetes, I have to lower it to a three (a key plot point incompletely researched).

[Donna (Currently Busy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is Bitter Creek book #4. I takes place about twelve years after the previous book ends and it's Luke Creed's story. He is now about 32 years old and divorced with two daughters. What's interesting, is that the last Creed sibling from Jesse and Lauren's marriage has the same first name as Rip Stewart's illegitimate son from Ms. Johnston's Sisters of the Lone Star series. If you read those books, then you know that Rip was the original owner of Three Oaks back in the 1840's. By the end of "Texas Woman", Luke Summers ends up owning Three Oaks after Rip dies. (I apologize for the "Texas Woman" spoiler, but it's a fact that helps to connect the Three Oaks family generations.) Luke Creed's character grew up at Three Oaks in the previous books in the Bitter Creek series.

In "The Price", Ms. Johnston details for the reader all of the personal sacrifices Luke Creed makes to become a partner in DeWitt & Blackthorne. He knows the irony in this situation is that one of the partners is a Blackthorne relative of his step-father. But Luke remains steadfast in earning the partnership on his own merit instead of using his familial connections.

Speaking of familial connections, Luke has been extremely reluctant to accept his mother's marriage to Jackson Blackthorne. He still detests the fact that Jackson's first wife was instrumental in killing his father, Jesse Creed. So when he visits Three Oaks, he tries to keep his distance from "Blackjack" and wants to spend his time there with his mother and brother Sam. However, since his mother worries about how much time her and Jackson have left because of their ages, she truly wants a reconciliation between Luke and his step-father. So she devises a match-making plan for Amy Nash and Luke to meet up at Three Oaks with the hope that Luke will spend more time visiting. (Luke and Amy were high school sweethearts and he still carries a torch for her.)

The story weaves the lives of the main and sub-characters together in a way that works well. It's a decent story that focuses on a diabetes "wonder" drug and how it obtains FDA approval. All of the main characters are connected in some way to this case. The reason I only give the novel three stars is that I felt the author rushed the conclusion in the last few chapters of the book. Luke, Amy, Eddie Mull, and Drew DeWitt, work all night in one of the last chapters that left me questioning how they were able to pull it all off. The timing just seemed a bit hard to believe.

I liked Eddie and Mary Margaret Mull's characters. Hoping to see them again in a sequel book, but I'm not getting my hopes up. This is also a book that introduces Drew DeWitt since the next book in the series focuses on his character.

Another thing I found very hard to believe is that Drew and Luke are best friends that work together at the law firm. I write this because it was Drew's Aunt Eve that was the person who arranged to have Luke's mother killed but the shooter missed and killed Luke's father instead. Would have appreciated it if the author took time to explain this "best friendship" better. Maybe in the next book??

[Teresa Kleeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book by Joan Johnston before. I forgot how great it was written. This book is filled with so much suspense and intrigue. It also is filled with so much emotion and love.

Luke Creed is as a workaholic, who has chosen his career before all other things in his life. He's put the job before his family which cost him his wife and children. Losing his marriage he puts everything he has into his law career, determined to make partner at the law firm he works at Dewit & Blackthorn.
Charged to defend his client, a big pharmaceutical company in a wrongful death case he uncovers a mystery concerning the drug that they sell.
While visiting his mother at her home that she shares with her husband and his step father Jackson Blackthorn, Luke runs into a old girlfriend Amy Hazentine Nash, she was the one that got away. He realizes that there's still a spark there for him.

Amy has come home to Texas after a failed marriage. She too is an attorney however Luke doesn't know this yet. After seeing Luke again she realizes she still has feelings for him also. However, she doesn't have time in her life for Luke at least she doesn't think so, all she wants to do is focusing raising her daughter and getting her career established.
In a meeting with one of the clients that is suing the Pharmaceutical company, Luke discovers that the attorney representing the client is Amy. Luke's daughter is also a diabetic and he also learns that his daughter is taking the drug of the company he's suppose to represent that is causing childrens death. Because of this little bit of news Luke is determined to get to the bottom of the truth about this drug and prove to Amy that it's safe. He has no choice since his daughter is on the very same drug that has been linked in so many childrens death.

With Amy now involved he's more determine to prove to her that the drug is safe and that they deserve a second chance. I love this book, it will have you on the edge of your seat with all the twist and turns.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read this series completely out of order, but that's ok, as the author provides enough back story, to catch the reader up. This is Luke Creed's story. He has never gotten over the murder of his father and his mother marrying his father's enemy, Jackson Blackthorne. With the marriage, their two ranches have been joined and while his siblings have reconciled with the situation, Luke has wanted nothing to do with his step father. He left Bitter Creek, got his law degree, married and subsequently divorced his wife, who he shares custody of their two daughters. He is on the cusp of being offered partnership in the largest Texas law firm, DeWitt & Blackthorne. His high school girlfriend, Amy Hazeltine, has also divorced her husband, become a lawyer and has moved to Houston with her little girl. She hurt Luke when she broke up with him, but he is still in love with her. They find themselves on opposite sides of a wrongful death case, but as Luke works on the case, he gets more and more suspicious that he is on the wrong side, especially after someone tries to kill him. As with the rest of the series, fascinating characters a compelling plot and skillfully written narrative.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I totally enjoyed this book and this author. The story line was Rey interesting, and very well written. The characters in this story were very much alive and fitting for this story. So many levels in the life of one person are shared in this story which reflects how we live in the real world. I discovered this book while seRching for additional works by this author. I totally recommend this book as a great companion for the road trip in audio/e-book form. Hoping to get the opinion of other readers on this book

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Price is a fast-moving story with likable characters and a solid story. I did not realize it was part of a series before I started, but I don’t think one needs to have read the previous books. It works as a stand-alone book. What I did not like about the book was that it seemed way too familiar. The story appeared to be a rehash of other, better written, books. There was little originality with the story. Characters were predictable because they were not original. Not a bad book, just not very original.

[Lizenbyl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Luke Creed a wild and independent teenager falls in love with Amy Hazeltine Nash. Amy and Luke break up, and Amy marries Carl Nash. Amy ultimately divorces Carl, and comes back into contact with Luke who is trying to become a partner at D & B lawfirm. Luke has given his all to be a partner including losing his wife and 2 daughters through divorce. Luke and Amy meet over a law suit regarding a diabetic drug for Type 1 diabetics. No more or a spoiler alert.

[Glenda Kinard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just when I think this series can't get anymore of a roller coaster ride with who did what or why or who did what with or to who it does as with this book Luke Creed's story oh my was this one ever a page turner. I can't hardly wait to get into the next book. Joan Johnston really has a wonderful way with keeping her readers on the very tip edge of ones seat

[Richard Guerrero · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed it, did not care for the part when Nikki Maldanado was murdered. Knowing that he wanted to killer and gave him more of the ammunition to follow through. The storyline was was good and I did like how Jackson helped Luke and now they will be more cordial with each other.

[Pj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big drug company, big lawyer, big scheme to hide the deaths caused by a miracle drug targeted for diabetics. Courage is needed for one lawyer, hoping to be made partner, to do the right thing even though he must go against the whole firm. Will he win or lose everything?

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book, I glad that that Luke and Amy found love again, and Luke prove that a drug is harmful to his daughter and other children. I was surprised by Luke turning down the partnership.

[Mary Shreffler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Luke Creed has been working with D&B law firm. He's been give the D-Free pharmaceutical case. Luke's daughter has been using D-Free for 3 months and Luke is worried about her as there have been 40 some deaths but it's been covered up. Now Luke is investigating

[Tonya Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one fantastic book!!! Deceit, murder, revenge, nail-biting drama, so set back and enjoy what's about to unravel.

[HiDee Ekstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't want to put this book down!

[sandy forguson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book and characters like creed and Amy would highly recommend 👍

[LHC Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continually Great

I like the way she brings all the extended family into the picture. On to the next in the series.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs. Johnston did not fail to please! It was about time the Creed family holdout in the Blackthorne-Creed feud give it up but what a way to do it! I love it when an author gets so involved in the story that they move ahead forgetting what just happened! There is a section in the book where Luke reunites with his high school flame and, of course, there is a spark and flames. The scene was early in the story, page 106 of my edition. "He had the gown off her in two seconds flat,...". The fourth sentence later: "He eased the straps off her shoulders and the nightgown slid down her body and pooled at her feet." When did she put her gown back on? LOL!

All in all, the story was very good and the bad guys naturally get what's coming to them. I love the little twists the author uses in her stories. I didn't see the twist coming in this one! I'm eager to start the Rivals, the next book in the Bitter Creek series that was nicely set up in this story. Poor Drew! Not a Creed or a Blackthorne but a DeWitt! If you have read any of the first three novels, you should recognize that name and its significance!

I need to order "The Next Mrs. Blackthorne" and "A Stranger's Game" very soon in order to avoid a break in the series! But right now, I'm ready to continue the intriguing Bitter Creek series with "The Rivals"! On to Jackson Hole, Wyoming!!!

[Sherry S]

I did not read the last 4 books of this series.

[Angela]

5

[Mykenzie · Rating 1 out of 5]

My brother bet me actual human money I wouldn’t read this 400-page cowboy erotica.

[Vikki Andrews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!!! A must read!