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22nd out of 100 books
—
7 voters
The Cowboy (Bitter Creek #1)
by
Joan Johnston (Goodreads Author)
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, ve...more
Paperback, 400 pages
Published
February 8th 2000
by Dell
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Nov 14, 2008
Miss Kim
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
suckers for romance series
Recommended to Miss Kim by:
Cristel Combs
Shelves:
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...more
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...more
6 likes · like · see review
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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 fo...more
The cowboy by joan johnstone
2 families have a feud, The main from one hooks up with a girl from the other.
11 yrs later they are brought back together again.
Lot of things that happened in the past are brought to the forefront and the ones involved now
find out the truth of what really transpired and why things happened the way they did.
A lot of misunderstandings along with her and he finding out about their parents misgivings takes its toll.
She packs a picnic lunch and sends her parents out to the...more
2 families have a feud, The main from one hooks up with a girl from the other.
11 yrs later they are brought back together again.
Lot of things that happened in the past are brought to the forefront and the ones involved now
find out the truth of what really transpired and why things happened the way they did.
A lot of misunderstandings along with her and he finding out about their parents misgivings takes its toll.
She packs a picnic lunch and sends her parents out to the...more
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 i...more
The second biggest problem with this book: Heroine doesn't tell hero she's pregnant with his child. Ugh! I almost put i...more
Jul 03, 2012
Jenn
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Jenn by:
Read along with Bethany
Shelves:
cowboysranchlovestory
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 ot...more
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 ot...more
1 like · like · see review
I picked up this book because of the positive reviews and the fact that it was on the NYT bestseller list. It is a well-written story, though I think the plot is a tad bit melodramatic. I did like the overall storyline of Trace and Callie coming from feuding families, yet managing to fall in love -- and attempt to overcome obstacles. I liked Trace's character better than Callie's. He seemed more mature and ready to forgive. I tried to put myself in Callie's place and see the family and intimate...more
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...more
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...more
This is book one of a series, the cowboy, the Texan, and the Loner. The story of the Blackthorne's and Creed Family's and of a love that is almost impossible for Trace Blackthorne and Callie Creed which started in High School.Two Ranching Family's with a long standing feud.
On the Creed and Coburn family side, its_Lone Star trilogy,_Frontier Woman,Comanche Woman and Texas Woman.
Its a style of writing that moves along and makes you want to know more of the ranching and people in the story and wha...more
On the Creed and Coburn family side, its_Lone Star trilogy,_Frontier Woman,Comanche Woman and Texas Woman.
Its a style of writing that moves along and makes you want to know more of the ranching and people in the story and wha...more
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...more
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...more
I don't recall why I bought this book back in 2007. The only thing I can think is that I may have FOUND it somewhere. It was in like new condition and, looking for some reeeeeally light reading, of the "I only need a distraction" type, I pulled it out of the bottom of my "to read" box. It's fiction and about a couple of college-age Texas kids who give in to their hormones and end up furthering a decades-old hatred between their families.
The bulk of the story takes place in present day and they m...more
The bulk of the story takes place in present day and they m...more
I was wrapped up in this book and the Characters.. I do love the story.. I grew up in a farm area and it takes hard work and dedication. I can relate to Callie and her family but Love prevails overall. I can't wait to read #2.
This was the first book of Joan's that I read only because it was the only book I had left to read from the books my Aunt gave me. And I was hooked!!!!!!!
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.
I read the second book first in this series ... and just had to read the first (The Cowboy). Gotta love a good western themed love story!
This is the second time I've read this series and I'm reading them in order!! Love it! A great read!!!
The family feud between the two families seemed just a little over the top. Other than that I enjoyed it
This is one of my favorite author's and most defiently one of my most favorite series!
This was a good book. Kind of slow in parts, but a good read.
It could easily have been a 4 star because the story was good but the hero was such an asshole sometimes that I can't give it more than 3.
Same plot, different circumstances. Just ok.
This is a great romance series!
Excellent overnight read
sensation and wonderful.
no. just no.
3.5
love it
A dramatic, romantic novel.. My favorite genres! I loved this book and read it in a few days during the summer. It was on the New York Times Bestseller list, so I guess that's why I picked it up in the first place. This book kind of reminds me of The Notebook. Anyhoo, it was a real page-turner and a worthwhile book.
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.
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.
I liked this book. I found the characters intrigueing and their family situation a little too true to life. But strong men attract me and Trace is one of those strong men. His love for Calli is wonderful and they over come trials with family and the past that would kill the rest of us.
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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...more
More about Joan Johnston...
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...more
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“I never got to take you to the prom. You went with Henry Featherstone. And you wore a peach-colored dress.”
“How could you possibly know that?” Callie asked.
“Because I saw you walk in with him.”
“You didn’t know I was alive in high school,” Callie scoffed.
“You had algebra first period, across the hall from my trig class. You ate a sack lunch with the same three girls every day, Lou Ann, Becky and Robbie Sue. You spent your free period in the library reading Hemingway and Steinbeck. And you went straight home after school without doing any extracurricular activities, except on Thursdays. For some reason, on Thursdays you showed up at football practice. Why was that, Callie?”
Callie was confused. How could Trace possibly know so much about her activities in high school? They hadn’t even met until she showed up at the University of Texas campus. “I don’t understand,” she said.
“You haven’t answered my question. Why did you come to football practice on Thursdays?”
“Because that was the day I did the grocery shopping, and I didn’t have to be home until later.”
“Why were you there, Calllie?”
Callie stared into his eyes, afraid to admit the truth. But what difference could it possibly make now? She swallowed hard and said, “I was there to see you.”
He gave a sigh of satisfaction. “I hoped that was it. But I never knew for sure.”
Callie’s brow furrowed. “You wanted me to notice you?”
“I noticed you. Couldn’t you feel my eyes on you? Didn’t you ever sense the force of my boyish lust? I had it bad for you my senior year. I couldn’t walk past you in the hall without needing to hold my books in my lap when I saw down in the next class.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
Trace chuckled. “I wish I were.”
“Then it wasn’t an accident, our meeting like that at UT?”
“That’s the miracle of it,” Trace said. “It was entirely by accident. Fate. Kisma. Karma. Whatever you want to call it.”
—
3 people liked it
“How could you possibly know that?” Callie asked.
“Because I saw you walk in with him.”
“You didn’t know I was alive in high school,” Callie scoffed.
“You had algebra first period, across the hall from my trig class. You ate a sack lunch with the same three girls every day, Lou Ann, Becky and Robbie Sue. You spent your free period in the library reading Hemingway and Steinbeck. And you went straight home after school without doing any extracurricular activities, except on Thursdays. For some reason, on Thursdays you showed up at football practice. Why was that, Callie?”
Callie was confused. How could Trace possibly know so much about her activities in high school? They hadn’t even met until she showed up at the University of Texas campus. “I don’t understand,” she said.
“You haven’t answered my question. Why did you come to football practice on Thursdays?”
“Because that was the day I did the grocery shopping, and I didn’t have to be home until later.”
“Why were you there, Calllie?”
Callie stared into his eyes, afraid to admit the truth. But what difference could it possibly make now? She swallowed hard and said, “I was there to see you.”
He gave a sigh of satisfaction. “I hoped that was it. But I never knew for sure.”
Callie’s brow furrowed. “You wanted me to notice you?”
“I noticed you. Couldn’t you feel my eyes on you? Didn’t you ever sense the force of my boyish lust? I had it bad for you my senior year. I couldn’t walk past you in the hall without needing to hold my books in my lap when I saw down in the next class.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
Trace chuckled. “I wish I were.”
“Then it wasn’t an accident, our meeting like that at UT?”
“That’s the miracle of it,” Trace said. “It was entirely by accident. Fate. Kisma. Karma. Whatever you want to call it.”
“Owen took a step forward, blocking Blackjack’s path. For the first time, Trace noticed Owen was wearing his badge above his heart. “You don’t want to make yourself any more of a suspect than you already are,” Owen said.
Blackjack made a dismissive sound. “Don’t pull that Texas Ranger bullshit with me, son. I diapered your bottom.”
“You’ve never touched a diaper in your life,” Owen countered.”
—
1 person liked it
More quotes…
Blackjack made a dismissive sound. “Don’t pull that Texas Ranger bullshit with me, son. I diapered your bottom.”
“You’ve never touched a diaper in your life,” Owen countered.”
