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Sisters of the Lone Star #1
Frontier Woman
The prequel to the New York Times bestseller The Cowboy
Sprawling 1840s Texas comes alive in the hands of Joan Johnston, New York Times bestselling author of The Cowboy and The Texan. Introducing the unforgettable Creed dynasty, transporting us back to a wild, lawless frontier, Frontier Woman brings us a stirring, passionate story of Texas Ranger Jarrett Creed and the free-spirited beauty who captures his heart ... a woman sworn to love no man....
Captured by Comanches as a boy, Jarrett Creed grew to manhood torn between two worlds. But with the young republic under siege from ravaging Mexican armies and marauding Indian tribes alike, he made his choice. Now, as a secret government mission brings the Texas Ranger to lovely Cricket Stewart’s door, he must choose again.
The youngest daughter of a wealthy gentleman planter, Cricket lives life as she pleases and vows never to be a wife to any man. Until the day Jarrett Creed saves her from avenging Comanches ... by claiming her as his bride.
The last thing either expects is to fall in love. But as a traitorous conspiracy and a secret tragedy test their newfound union, a wild-spirited beauty and a Texas lawman will discover just how far they will go for their precious homeland ... and for a love that could free them from the sorrows of the past....
Sprawling 1840s Texas comes alive in the hands of Joan Johnston, New York Times bestselling author of The Cowboy and The Texan. Introducing the unforgettable Creed dynasty, transporting us back to a wild, lawless frontier, Frontier Woman brings us a stirring, passionate story of Texas Ranger Jarrett Creed and the free-spirited beauty who captures his heart ... a woman sworn to love no man....
Captured by Comanches as a boy, Jarrett Creed grew to manhood torn between two worlds. But with the young republic under siege from ravaging Mexican armies and marauding Indian tribes alike, he made his choice. Now, as a secret government mission brings the Texas Ranger to lovely Cricket Stewart’s door, he must choose again.
The youngest daughter of a wealthy gentleman planter, Cricket lives life as she pleases and vows never to be a wife to any man. Until the day Jarrett Creed saves her from avenging Comanches ... by claiming her as his bride.
The last thing either expects is to fall in love. But as a traitorous conspiracy and a secret tragedy test their newfound union, a wild-spirited beauty and a Texas lawman will discover just how far they will go for their precious homeland ... and for a love that could free them from the sorrows of the past....
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
159 people are currently reading
917 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
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
May 6, 2024
DNF - The heroine ruined this book for me!
She was an obnoxious brat that was constantly trying to cuss (??) by saying stupid made-up shit like lobcock. Every other sentence she was faux cussing and looking like a huge fool. But miraculously, the hero found that attractive.
Some of the 2-star rated reviews listoff some pretty good complaints, so I won't repeat it all... but yeah, not a likeable heroine at all.
She was an obnoxious brat that was constantly trying to cuss (??) by saying stupid made-up shit like lobcock. Every other sentence she was faux cussing and looking like a huge fool. But miraculously, the hero found that attractive.
Some of the 2-star rated reviews listoff some pretty good complaints, so I won't repeat it all... but yeah, not a likeable heroine at all.
September 12, 2018
Found this historical western to be such a pleasant surprise! Great plotline involving two of the most stubborn characters I think I've ever met and that's saying a lot! I'm looking forward to continuing the series. A Must Read!
August 21, 2016
FRONTIER WOMAN by Joan Johnston captured my reader's soul with enthralling characters full of life, crushed it with the reality of history, and mended it with the sweetness of love that endures it all. I forgot how much I missed western historical romance written in the 1980s until Wendy’s TBR Challenge 2016 for “Kicking it Old School” in August brought this wonderful book from the depths of my shelves.
Why was it in Dorine’s TBR? I was introduced to the main character, Cricket, in the first book I read by Joan Johnston, Texas Bride. I knew then that I needed the SISTERS OF THE LONE STAR trilogy and immediately bought all three. After four years of the trilogy sitting on my shelves, while I hunted for historical western romances I crave among current releases, I now realize I had the perfect book squirreled away, waiting to be found.
Creighton “Cricket” Stewart is very much her father’s brat and isn’t afraid to act on her gut instincts. Rip Stewart wanted sons but he had daughters instead, so he raised them to be as tough and obedient as his sons were in his dreams. It will take a tough man to tame a woman who has wolves as her protectors and can fight like a man.
Texas Ranger Jarrett Creed was taken by the Comanche when he was young. Raised as a Comanche warrior, he never forgot the wife and child he left behind when his father forced him to return to the white man’s world. Now his Comanche knowledge is needed at Rip Stewart’s Texas cotton plantation where Jarrett has a secret secondary assignment.
At the very beginning, I found it easy to guess that the only man capable of handling Cricket is Jarrett. It does take some time for Jarrett to acknowledge his love for Cricket, but their mutual sparring and Cricket’s resistance is half the fun. Cricket is an unusual female lead who is always doing the unexpected, so her antics are pure entertainment.
On the other hand, Cricket’s character transformation is one of the most heart wrenching and believable characterizations I’ve ever read. At first, I wasn’t sure if she was all bravado and no backbone, but I never guessed she would rip my heart out on her journey. It’s not hard to guess why Cricket’s descendants carry on in Joan Johnston’s books. I want to know what happens in her future.
I loved that Cricket and Jarrett’s relationship is complicated and evolves reasonably, based on what they face together. It’s far from easy, which may make the reader squirm right along with them.
As with most historical romance books written in the 1980s, purple prose is used in the love scenes but it’s not overdone. I found it rather comforting to be without explicit detail, and to be back in the style that introduced me to romance books. There are some blatant one sentence head hops that aren’t done in romance today, but they weren’t frequent enough to stall my reading.
As a forewarning, this novel does contain a gang rape scene of ghastly proportions. This scene is crucial to the plot and character development, so even though it will make readers uncomfortable for many reasons, it’s pivotal and necessary. Don’t let that stop you from reading this book full of hope and healing.
FRONTIER WOMAN is written so that every detail is nurtured with care. This novel is not overly descriptive like many I remember during this publishing time period. It’s richly written, with nothing left out, but it reads smoothly with anticipation. With a complicated plot, adventure, anger, sorrow, and a love that can endure and enrich it all, FRONTIER WOMAN is the perfect story for “Kicking it Old School”. That’s because Joan Johnston writes a historical story that easily stands the test of time.
I can’t wait to read Cricket’s sisters’ stories - COMANCHE WOMAN and TEXAS WOMAN are in my print pile waiting for me. One of the best examples of historical western romance as it should be written, FRONTIER WOMAN is highly recommended as one of my favorites.
Reviewed by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest. Book purchased.
Why was it in Dorine’s TBR? I was introduced to the main character, Cricket, in the first book I read by Joan Johnston, Texas Bride. I knew then that I needed the SISTERS OF THE LONE STAR trilogy and immediately bought all three. After four years of the trilogy sitting on my shelves, while I hunted for historical western romances I crave among current releases, I now realize I had the perfect book squirreled away, waiting to be found.
Creighton “Cricket” Stewart is very much her father’s brat and isn’t afraid to act on her gut instincts. Rip Stewart wanted sons but he had daughters instead, so he raised them to be as tough and obedient as his sons were in his dreams. It will take a tough man to tame a woman who has wolves as her protectors and can fight like a man.
Texas Ranger Jarrett Creed was taken by the Comanche when he was young. Raised as a Comanche warrior, he never forgot the wife and child he left behind when his father forced him to return to the white man’s world. Now his Comanche knowledge is needed at Rip Stewart’s Texas cotton plantation where Jarrett has a secret secondary assignment.
At the very beginning, I found it easy to guess that the only man capable of handling Cricket is Jarrett. It does take some time for Jarrett to acknowledge his love for Cricket, but their mutual sparring and Cricket’s resistance is half the fun. Cricket is an unusual female lead who is always doing the unexpected, so her antics are pure entertainment.
On the other hand, Cricket’s character transformation is one of the most heart wrenching and believable characterizations I’ve ever read. At first, I wasn’t sure if she was all bravado and no backbone, but I never guessed she would rip my heart out on her journey. It’s not hard to guess why Cricket’s descendants carry on in Joan Johnston’s books. I want to know what happens in her future.
I loved that Cricket and Jarrett’s relationship is complicated and evolves reasonably, based on what they face together. It’s far from easy, which may make the reader squirm right along with them.
As with most historical romance books written in the 1980s, purple prose is used in the love scenes but it’s not overdone. I found it rather comforting to be without explicit detail, and to be back in the style that introduced me to romance books. There are some blatant one sentence head hops that aren’t done in romance today, but they weren’t frequent enough to stall my reading.
As a forewarning, this novel does contain a gang rape scene of ghastly proportions. This scene is crucial to the plot and character development, so even though it will make readers uncomfortable for many reasons, it’s pivotal and necessary. Don’t let that stop you from reading this book full of hope and healing.
FRONTIER WOMAN is written so that every detail is nurtured with care. This novel is not overly descriptive like many I remember during this publishing time period. It’s richly written, with nothing left out, but it reads smoothly with anticipation. With a complicated plot, adventure, anger, sorrow, and a love that can endure and enrich it all, FRONTIER WOMAN is the perfect story for “Kicking it Old School”. That’s because Joan Johnston writes a historical story that easily stands the test of time.
I can’t wait to read Cricket’s sisters’ stories - COMANCHE WOMAN and TEXAS WOMAN are in my print pile waiting for me. One of the best examples of historical western romance as it should be written, FRONTIER WOMAN is highly recommended as one of my favorites.
Reviewed by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest. Book purchased.
December 16, 2014
Cricket annoyed the fuck out of me. If I were Creed I'd have let her punk ass die in the desert, or whatever.
June 8, 2020
4.5 BUCKSKINNED STARS!
I’ve been in a pretty bad book slump lately, and so the past few books have been a bust. Not so with this lively historical western romance!
First of all, this book was written in the 80s, so if you’re one of those people with no patience for old school authors then this won’t be the book for you. If you can have an open mind though, it really is worth it. I really liked cricket and her feisty personality and I loved her growth throughout the book. She was able to grow up without losing who she was in the name of becoming creeds wife and that was important. Creed definitely annoyed me at times, (as did cricket) but again, this is an old school book with even older mindsets from a different era. He grew too though and came to appreciate his Brava as a true equal. That’s all I could ask for in the end.
I can’t wait to read the next two in this trilogy! I bought the others and am looking forward to reading about Bay and Long Quiet. If it’s anything like this one it should be quite a ride. My one issue was that it probably could have been a bit shorter- it did start to drag for a second there. BUT the important thing is it picked right back up and I was hooked the whole way through!
PS- I wish we had learned how old creed was! He seemed to have so much more life experience and had done so much and yet she was 17 going on 18.... again, different time, but I would’ve liked to know. Didn’t effect my enjoyment of the story though.
I’ve been in a pretty bad book slump lately, and so the past few books have been a bust. Not so with this lively historical western romance!
First of all, this book was written in the 80s, so if you’re one of those people with no patience for old school authors then this won’t be the book for you. If you can have an open mind though, it really is worth it. I really liked cricket and her feisty personality and I loved her growth throughout the book. She was able to grow up without losing who she was in the name of becoming creeds wife and that was important. Creed definitely annoyed me at times, (as did cricket) but again, this is an old school book with even older mindsets from a different era. He grew too though and came to appreciate his Brava as a true equal. That’s all I could ask for in the end.
I can’t wait to read the next two in this trilogy! I bought the others and am looking forward to reading about Bay and Long Quiet. If it’s anything like this one it should be quite a ride. My one issue was that it probably could have been a bit shorter- it did start to drag for a second there. BUT the important thing is it picked right back up and I was hooked the whole way through!
PS- I wish we had learned how old creed was! He seemed to have so much more life experience and had done so much and yet she was 17 going on 18.... again, different time, but I would’ve liked to know. Didn’t effect my enjoyment of the story though.
Read
June 26, 2023DNF at 10% - immediately no.
I have zero interest in one, reading about benevolent slave owners (this was written in 2001, come on y’all) and 2, a one dimensional 17 yr old as the MC whose entire personality is that “she’s not like other girls” and is “entirely un feminine”. And let me guess, further on the hero is going to make her feel feminine or some nonsense like that. Life is too short.
I’m still marking this is as read to meet my reading goal, damn it!
I have zero interest in one, reading about benevolent slave owners (this was written in 2001, come on y’all) and 2, a one dimensional 17 yr old as the MC whose entire personality is that “she’s not like other girls” and is “entirely un feminine”. And let me guess, further on the hero is going to make her feel feminine or some nonsense like that. Life is too short.
I’m still marking this is as read to meet my reading goal, damn it!
November 25, 2013
this book actually started out pretty good. i was interested in the story.it didn't last long.in fact,it went to crap towards the end.
Who says stag instead of deer. And why are her dogs called wolves?
Why do you call your dad by name?
I hate insults that we’ve never heard of &that sound stupid. like lobcock.
Why would you call your dad a bunch of insults?
‘I intend 2stay the capable stud I am.’
I get that their dad wanted them raised as boys, but it was so stupid how he wouldn’t let cricket wear a dress to that party. &the girls at the party sounded so much older than they are.
The ‘brava’ is getting old.
He loves his daughters??i wasn’t getting that at all.
‘hair raised in hackles.’ Huh?
Stupid how she named the breakfast foods. A simple ‘come eat breakfast’ would do.
If her name is Creighton, how do you get the nickname ‘cricket’?
It was weird how she said she waited for something to happen in the barn and didn’t feel anything. That was just a weird part, and slightly confusing.
I understand where you’re coming from, but the drinking thing is a little much.
I don’t like how he coldly plans to take down the horse thieves.
This book is reminding me of Song of the Willow. How they start out name calling when they meet each other, and beating each other up. &then he’s investigating her family.
“pin a label on him.” modern!
what kind of bullcrap is this? he’s been married? Wth! He did it to spite tall bear, and you wonder why he doesn’t like you. You didn’t love her, found that she loved you, and suddenly you loved her. Cause that makes sense. When does that happen, ever? How do you fall in love with someone just because they love you? And I didn’t know you stole the ponies for a brideprice.
When he said his dad wasn’t one to leave a white boy with the comanches, I thought he would take Long Quiet in, not shoot him.
The GD’s are too much.
Couldn’t you tell he wasn’t being harmed by the Indians?
It’s kinda cool but a little unrealistic to have a war horse that fights for you.
‘four knuckles and a toe.’ How weird.
Its so stupid that she got drunk and then couldn’t properly defend herself. And Enrique turned out bad.
It was stupid how he didn’t just carry cricket into the house. It’s the smart and logical thing to do.
She said in the morning ‘all hell broke loose’ and I expected rip to come tearing in there, or someone else to find them. all hell really didn’t break loose.
She just decides to walk naked in front of him.
Does she seriously think he’s hungry when he looks like that?
I thought creed was going to tell cricket they hadn’t really gotten together in her dad’s study. Not that she might be pregnant. how cruel!
How can you just decide which kid is going to be your favorite?
“I wont! I wont! I wont! I wont!” way to sound like a kid!
I get your sad, but the scene where shes breaking down crying and trembling is so dramatic. &then creed mourning at the sound of the wolf.
I don’t understand how you walked straight into the bandidos. Were you walking with your eyes on the ground? &where did your dog go?
You leave creed to fight the bandidos alone. You get off your horse and send it away. You decide to sit down and fall asleep.
Who the freak is Angelique?
It wasn’t necessary 4 them2 pretend they were married, and it certainly wouldn’t be necessary for them to actually get married.
“so you are to my thoughts as food to life, or as sweet-season’d showers are to the ground.” That was dumb.
Its so dumb how she thinks creeds brother and his wife will snub her and they turn out to do the exact opposite. It works out too perfectly. &its so annoying when characters are just magically around the same size, so she can wear her clothes.
I think its dumb how he actually let his dad keep him from his family. He could have left and found a way to protect his family.
Oh, that’s great. She has to come face to face with a girl from creed’s past. It wasn’t bad enough he’s already been married &had a kid. Or was with some girl at the cantina. &idk what all happened there. But you gotta put another girl in the picture.
Why is he saying ‘you are my wife. I will kiss you and touch you as I please, and you will do nothing to stop me.” you arent actually married.
Its so annoying how characters say I can tell she loves you when she looks at you. It’s a sham marriage &she doesn’t like him, so what exactly are they seeing?
He spanks you, and you..a) smack him. b) yell at him. c) let him kiss you. C is the winner!
She all of a sudden wants to touch him. too random for her.
I thought it was cute how he threw her into the water because I wasn’t expecting that.
Of course, amy does outside things, just to show cricket that women can still be outside and do “manly” things.
Amy tells her that what cricket feels for creed is love. Its 90% lust.
‘her stomach was doing somersaults. Great. Now he was making her sick.’ She never knows her own emotions!
He all of a sudden says she cares what ppl thought of her. Had to deal with criticism..like himself.
The “bucks” thing is getting old.
Tom called her amazon woman! Wth! I think tom rlly hates Indians.
“double-dam.” Uh..
U like being married to him &ur rlly srry u weren’t havin his baby. Whoa, whiplash!
Touching her is not the only thing that will help she just had laudanum, creed!
All this is weird-“its golden velvet. Jarret’s a lucky man.” Becuz of her skin color??
“anything I add2 this face will be icing on the cake. But ive always liked icing myself.”
“you have the most marvelous sense of humor, cricket…&the most mysterious eyes.” “they’re plain gray. Like a barn cat.” “oh, no. a man could lose himself in those eyes. &see how they change color when you’re angry? From light gray to a much darker, more smoky color…def.mysterious.”
“add some rouge 2ur lips.” “your wasting your time.” “if polishing an apple 2make it pretty b4 u eat it is wasting time, then perhaps I am. But oh cricket, how delicious you look. Jarrett will gobble u down in one bite.”
Uh, amy…you sound like you want cricket.
2further along the creepiness, she lets cricket wear a sheer chemise that tom got for her.
It was so annoying &pathetic that 1 night she stopped because she didn’t know if she could please him. &then if she was woman enough for him.
“look@ that woman, cricket. isnt she a picture? tiny waist, lush, full breasts, womanly hips.”
‘surprised to see a pretty…no, beautiful…young woman looking back@her. Why, a woman like that could seduce Jarrett creed w/both hands tied behind her back.” Way to be humble.
“find out what it meant2 be creed’s woman.” Gag!
Ive never read another western or any 1800s book where the character wears rouge &kohl.
Why would she put perfume behind her knees or in her naval?
I get crickets clueless, but to blatantly smile at a guy when you’re married can only be seen as one way. &she actually thinks she did the right thing when he winks.
Its annoying how he gets possessive and stares the guys down that are salivating over cricket.
Why would she close her eyes during a dance?
“I feel great pleasure from your touch” doesn’t sound like cricket at all.
Let me get this straight. He basically rapes her.
‘unassailable command 2 procreate the species.’
I cant believe we’ve waited this long. It could have happened romantically, but no, it had to happen when creed was mad &then he drags her outside. &cant take no for an answer. &then feels guilty. Well, yeah you should!
&then he considers taking her again, “pain be damned!” oh, put your trousers on and cool off, you sex-crazed oaf.
Instead of hitting him, she says, “oh, creed, you hurt me.”
Idk why you’d need to lean against him, but she actually does to get to dress. But “she didn’t thank him.” oh boy, what a stand you’re taking! Im sure hes getting the message.
After taking her like a wild thing, you actually have the cahonies to ask her2 sleep there &demand to touch her, because she’s yours.
“how about if I sleep here bcuz its what I want2do, &u sleep here becuz its wut u want2do. We’ll be sleeping close not becuz it brings either of us pleasure, but becuz otherwise we’ll be cold.” &she says he made sense. Who made sense from that?
Just.sneak.back.into.the.house.or.sleep.in.the.barn.
“he’d given a part of himself 2her last nite he hadn’t thought to ever give again.” if you think that’s a gift, ur an idiot.
Ok, so I think something happened to the author 60% of the way into this book. Because it went to hell. Cricket-the idiot-decides to ride out, despite Comanche attacks. Amy-the idiot-decides2 follow her, because you can offer some kind of protection. (scoff). So, of course, right after the men warned them of comanches, the comanches finally decide 2come. Amy is taken. Cricket is taken. Amy is raped &finally dies. i knew she would be raped, just so tom would have to put himself in his dads place.
What tom said shocked me more. “it should be u lying there instead of my amy. But I guess the comanches didn’t want2waste their time fucking just half a woman like u.”
I would have smacked tom and said you’re stupid wife didn’t have to follow me. amy’s a nuisance, not any kind of help. &like tom wants her back like that, anyway.
&cricket is actually hurt that the Indians didn’t rape her because she might not have been woman enough for them.
Who the HELL couldn’t tell she was alive? You don’t pronounce someone dead for certain if you don’t know.
This is annoying. Tom’s a beep! And cricket is sittin there worrying that creed isn’t touching her because she’s half a woman. Is this the time to worry about yourself? &so we wouldn’t think creed was horrible for more than a second, the next line is that creed wants to hold her, make love to her, blah blah blah, but he doesn’t want to remind her of what she had seen. Aww, creed!
The book should have ended long ago. None of this should have happened. Why even go to your brothers house? The only thing you’ve done is help your brothers farm. You’re supposed to be at the comodores.
He asks “whats luke summers got that I haven’t?” well he didn’t rape her cricket, for one.
Idk why cricket said “it was just-luke was different.” U’ve been around him twice. For a very limited time.
“mound of venus.” Dumbbb!
Shes given no indication that shes scared of lovemaking because of amy’s attack. Then all of a sudden is.
She switches her tune very quickly.
2say every guy is lusting after cricket is a tad ridiculous.
He doesn’t act like a grieving husband at all.they nvr even talked about it!
She says Angelique can have him &he says careful what you wish her. Would u seriously do that?
You were w/Angelique. &when u were married 2 her indian wife? U dirtbag!
She kisses u. u pick her up-becuz “that’s the only way she’d stop.” How, exactly? But u don’t like it, as if that makes it better. who writes this utter filth?
“in fact, we part of cricket u chose 2look upon seemed made 4a man’s hands.” why is that italicized?
Idw read in tom’s or anqeliques perspective.
When did cricket shoot a chandelier?
So she’s backed n2 marrying creed 4real. Why wud u let that happen? Mrs Quick-fire Insult suddenly goes quiet &meek. Who lets 2 old men talk them n2 that?
If ur worried-especially on ur weddin day-that if u lock ur husband out, hes gunna get w/ sum1 else, than u shudnt be with him. end of story.
He raped u. he let this girl kiss him. &u love him. &r gunna show him that so he wont get with ange. This is primtime romance right here.
I lost what respect I had 4luke when he wanted ange.
Why wud u mention a girls name when your doing it with cricket? Is that the time for that conversation?
Great. Sloan is pregnant. Big surprise. Tonys dead. Shes stuck w/his baby.
Hes happy his daughter is having a baby out of wedlock. To a guy who used her, who didn’t love her@all, who’s now dead.
It was funny when Tall Bear said he’d leave the Laughign Woman behind.
Rogue hurts ange. Crickets sister shoots rogue.
Luke’s rips son? WTH! Ange.is alive. Im sick of these impossible near death experiences. They shouldn’t have made it.
Bay is taken.
This is like a bad play.
I hate how they’re taking over tom&amys house.
I didn’t even like amy&tom.
The author had a psychotic break.
The book should have ended long ago.
I find it funny that a book so long and dragged out would leave things unresolved. We dk if sloan will get with cruz. Or bay will be found.
Terrible book. The sad thing was, I actually liked it in the beginning.
I don’t like rape. I don’t like guys like creed &luke.
This book was pointless.
Who says stag instead of deer. And why are her dogs called wolves?
Why do you call your dad by name?
I hate insults that we’ve never heard of &that sound stupid. like lobcock.
Why would you call your dad a bunch of insults?
‘I intend 2stay the capable stud I am.’
I get that their dad wanted them raised as boys, but it was so stupid how he wouldn’t let cricket wear a dress to that party. &the girls at the party sounded so much older than they are.
The ‘brava’ is getting old.
He loves his daughters??i wasn’t getting that at all.
‘hair raised in hackles.’ Huh?
Stupid how she named the breakfast foods. A simple ‘come eat breakfast’ would do.
If her name is Creighton, how do you get the nickname ‘cricket’?
It was weird how she said she waited for something to happen in the barn and didn’t feel anything. That was just a weird part, and slightly confusing.
I understand where you’re coming from, but the drinking thing is a little much.
I don’t like how he coldly plans to take down the horse thieves.
This book is reminding me of Song of the Willow. How they start out name calling when they meet each other, and beating each other up. &then he’s investigating her family.
“pin a label on him.” modern!
what kind of bullcrap is this? he’s been married? Wth! He did it to spite tall bear, and you wonder why he doesn’t like you. You didn’t love her, found that she loved you, and suddenly you loved her. Cause that makes sense. When does that happen, ever? How do you fall in love with someone just because they love you? And I didn’t know you stole the ponies for a brideprice.
When he said his dad wasn’t one to leave a white boy with the comanches, I thought he would take Long Quiet in, not shoot him.
The GD’s are too much.
Couldn’t you tell he wasn’t being harmed by the Indians?
It’s kinda cool but a little unrealistic to have a war horse that fights for you.
‘four knuckles and a toe.’ How weird.
Its so stupid that she got drunk and then couldn’t properly defend herself. And Enrique turned out bad.
It was stupid how he didn’t just carry cricket into the house. It’s the smart and logical thing to do.
She said in the morning ‘all hell broke loose’ and I expected rip to come tearing in there, or someone else to find them. all hell really didn’t break loose.
She just decides to walk naked in front of him.
Does she seriously think he’s hungry when he looks like that?
I thought creed was going to tell cricket they hadn’t really gotten together in her dad’s study. Not that she might be pregnant. how cruel!
How can you just decide which kid is going to be your favorite?
“I wont! I wont! I wont! I wont!” way to sound like a kid!
I get your sad, but the scene where shes breaking down crying and trembling is so dramatic. &then creed mourning at the sound of the wolf.
I don’t understand how you walked straight into the bandidos. Were you walking with your eyes on the ground? &where did your dog go?
You leave creed to fight the bandidos alone. You get off your horse and send it away. You decide to sit down and fall asleep.
Who the freak is Angelique?
It wasn’t necessary 4 them2 pretend they were married, and it certainly wouldn’t be necessary for them to actually get married.
“so you are to my thoughts as food to life, or as sweet-season’d showers are to the ground.” That was dumb.
Its so dumb how she thinks creeds brother and his wife will snub her and they turn out to do the exact opposite. It works out too perfectly. &its so annoying when characters are just magically around the same size, so she can wear her clothes.
I think its dumb how he actually let his dad keep him from his family. He could have left and found a way to protect his family.
Oh, that’s great. She has to come face to face with a girl from creed’s past. It wasn’t bad enough he’s already been married &had a kid. Or was with some girl at the cantina. &idk what all happened there. But you gotta put another girl in the picture.
Why is he saying ‘you are my wife. I will kiss you and touch you as I please, and you will do nothing to stop me.” you arent actually married.
Its so annoying how characters say I can tell she loves you when she looks at you. It’s a sham marriage &she doesn’t like him, so what exactly are they seeing?
He spanks you, and you..a) smack him. b) yell at him. c) let him kiss you. C is the winner!
She all of a sudden wants to touch him. too random for her.
I thought it was cute how he threw her into the water because I wasn’t expecting that.
Of course, amy does outside things, just to show cricket that women can still be outside and do “manly” things.
Amy tells her that what cricket feels for creed is love. Its 90% lust.
‘her stomach was doing somersaults. Great. Now he was making her sick.’ She never knows her own emotions!
He all of a sudden says she cares what ppl thought of her. Had to deal with criticism..like himself.
The “bucks” thing is getting old.
Tom called her amazon woman! Wth! I think tom rlly hates Indians.
“double-dam.” Uh..
U like being married to him &ur rlly srry u weren’t havin his baby. Whoa, whiplash!
Touching her is not the only thing that will help she just had laudanum, creed!
All this is weird-“its golden velvet. Jarret’s a lucky man.” Becuz of her skin color??
“anything I add2 this face will be icing on the cake. But ive always liked icing myself.”
“you have the most marvelous sense of humor, cricket…&the most mysterious eyes.” “they’re plain gray. Like a barn cat.” “oh, no. a man could lose himself in those eyes. &see how they change color when you’re angry? From light gray to a much darker, more smoky color…def.mysterious.”
“add some rouge 2ur lips.” “your wasting your time.” “if polishing an apple 2make it pretty b4 u eat it is wasting time, then perhaps I am. But oh cricket, how delicious you look. Jarrett will gobble u down in one bite.”
Uh, amy…you sound like you want cricket.
2further along the creepiness, she lets cricket wear a sheer chemise that tom got for her.
It was so annoying &pathetic that 1 night she stopped because she didn’t know if she could please him. &then if she was woman enough for him.
“look@ that woman, cricket. isnt she a picture? tiny waist, lush, full breasts, womanly hips.”
‘surprised to see a pretty…no, beautiful…young woman looking back@her. Why, a woman like that could seduce Jarrett creed w/both hands tied behind her back.” Way to be humble.
“find out what it meant2 be creed’s woman.” Gag!
Ive never read another western or any 1800s book where the character wears rouge &kohl.
Why would she put perfume behind her knees or in her naval?
I get crickets clueless, but to blatantly smile at a guy when you’re married can only be seen as one way. &she actually thinks she did the right thing when he winks.
Its annoying how he gets possessive and stares the guys down that are salivating over cricket.
Why would she close her eyes during a dance?
“I feel great pleasure from your touch” doesn’t sound like cricket at all.
Let me get this straight. He basically rapes her.
‘unassailable command 2 procreate the species.’
I cant believe we’ve waited this long. It could have happened romantically, but no, it had to happen when creed was mad &then he drags her outside. &cant take no for an answer. &then feels guilty. Well, yeah you should!
&then he considers taking her again, “pain be damned!” oh, put your trousers on and cool off, you sex-crazed oaf.
Instead of hitting him, she says, “oh, creed, you hurt me.”
Idk why you’d need to lean against him, but she actually does to get to dress. But “she didn’t thank him.” oh boy, what a stand you’re taking! Im sure hes getting the message.
After taking her like a wild thing, you actually have the cahonies to ask her2 sleep there &demand to touch her, because she’s yours.
“how about if I sleep here bcuz its what I want2do, &u sleep here becuz its wut u want2do. We’ll be sleeping close not becuz it brings either of us pleasure, but becuz otherwise we’ll be cold.” &she says he made sense. Who made sense from that?
Just.sneak.back.into.the.house.or.sleep.in.the.barn.
“he’d given a part of himself 2her last nite he hadn’t thought to ever give again.” if you think that’s a gift, ur an idiot.
Ok, so I think something happened to the author 60% of the way into this book. Because it went to hell. Cricket-the idiot-decides to ride out, despite Comanche attacks. Amy-the idiot-decides2 follow her, because you can offer some kind of protection. (scoff). So, of course, right after the men warned them of comanches, the comanches finally decide 2come. Amy is taken. Cricket is taken. Amy is raped &finally dies. i knew she would be raped, just so tom would have to put himself in his dads place.
What tom said shocked me more. “it should be u lying there instead of my amy. But I guess the comanches didn’t want2waste their time fucking just half a woman like u.”
I would have smacked tom and said you’re stupid wife didn’t have to follow me. amy’s a nuisance, not any kind of help. &like tom wants her back like that, anyway.
&cricket is actually hurt that the Indians didn’t rape her because she might not have been woman enough for them.
Who the HELL couldn’t tell she was alive? You don’t pronounce someone dead for certain if you don’t know.
This is annoying. Tom’s a beep! And cricket is sittin there worrying that creed isn’t touching her because she’s half a woman. Is this the time to worry about yourself? &so we wouldn’t think creed was horrible for more than a second, the next line is that creed wants to hold her, make love to her, blah blah blah, but he doesn’t want to remind her of what she had seen. Aww, creed!
The book should have ended long ago. None of this should have happened. Why even go to your brothers house? The only thing you’ve done is help your brothers farm. You’re supposed to be at the comodores.
He asks “whats luke summers got that I haven’t?” well he didn’t rape her cricket, for one.
Idk why cricket said “it was just-luke was different.” U’ve been around him twice. For a very limited time.
“mound of venus.” Dumbbb!
Shes given no indication that shes scared of lovemaking because of amy’s attack. Then all of a sudden is.
She switches her tune very quickly.
2say every guy is lusting after cricket is a tad ridiculous.
He doesn’t act like a grieving husband at all.they nvr even talked about it!
She says Angelique can have him &he says careful what you wish her. Would u seriously do that?
You were w/Angelique. &when u were married 2 her indian wife? U dirtbag!
She kisses u. u pick her up-becuz “that’s the only way she’d stop.” How, exactly? But u don’t like it, as if that makes it better. who writes this utter filth?
“in fact, we part of cricket u chose 2look upon seemed made 4a man’s hands.” why is that italicized?
Idw read in tom’s or anqeliques perspective.
When did cricket shoot a chandelier?
So she’s backed n2 marrying creed 4real. Why wud u let that happen? Mrs Quick-fire Insult suddenly goes quiet &meek. Who lets 2 old men talk them n2 that?
If ur worried-especially on ur weddin day-that if u lock ur husband out, hes gunna get w/ sum1 else, than u shudnt be with him. end of story.
He raped u. he let this girl kiss him. &u love him. &r gunna show him that so he wont get with ange. This is primtime romance right here.
I lost what respect I had 4luke when he wanted ange.
Why wud u mention a girls name when your doing it with cricket? Is that the time for that conversation?
Great. Sloan is pregnant. Big surprise. Tonys dead. Shes stuck w/his baby.
Hes happy his daughter is having a baby out of wedlock. To a guy who used her, who didn’t love her@all, who’s now dead.
It was funny when Tall Bear said he’d leave the Laughign Woman behind.
Rogue hurts ange. Crickets sister shoots rogue.
Luke’s rips son? WTH! Ange.is alive. Im sick of these impossible near death experiences. They shouldn’t have made it.
Bay is taken.
This is like a bad play.
I hate how they’re taking over tom&amys house.
I didn’t even like amy&tom.
The author had a psychotic break.
The book should have ended long ago.
I find it funny that a book so long and dragged out would leave things unresolved. We dk if sloan will get with cruz. Or bay will be found.
Terrible book. The sad thing was, I actually liked it in the beginning.
I don’t like rape. I don’t like guys like creed &luke.
This book was pointless.
March 16, 2013
It has been years since I read this series, but I has always stayed with me as a personal favorite. MEGA SPOILERS AHEAD.
In Frontier Woman, you meet headstrong Cricket. A bold, feisty, and sometimes irritating tomboy, who wishes she was the son her father never had. You also meet her soft and delicate and feminine sister Bay, and her older sister, the powerful business woman Sloan. All were raised to run their father's ranch/station and take the reins when he passes.
These women have been raised by a single father, who is not the most intuitive when it comes to raising children of the feminine persuasion, and he has pretty much raised them as the sons he never had. I felt a little bad that Sloan and Cricket weren't really friendly with the other local girls their age. They are seen as strange and a bit outsider-ish. Luckily they had each other growing up. Those local snobs be Crazy.
Cricket is out hanging with Bay when they run across a strange man in the woods. Lucky her pet wolves don't appear to be hungry. That's right. Cricket is wolf girl. And I love it. So she captures this strange man, and drags him home, and tosses him in the barn till her father can figure out what to do with him. Where is that southern hospitality when you need it? Turns out tall, dark, and handsome is a Texas Ranger nicknamed The Texas Devil. Rawwr.
He thinks Cricket is an irritating little piece of baggage who can't seem to stay out of trouble, and surprise! She is. She doesn't listen, constantly runs off when told to stay put for her safety, gets liquored up when her period cramps are more than she can handle, and is generally rude and presumptuous to everyone she meets.
After they have a run in with some local natives, she has a whole change of attitude and realizes that the time has come to grow up, and start using her head for more than a whiskey depository. The Texas devil has seen all along that she was going to be a hell of a woman, and hangs in there for the wild ride she takes him on. The ending is bittersweet and leads smoothly into the next novel which is all about Bay and her travails.
I 100% endorse this book as a good read. Hold on and brave through those moments when you want to throttle the poop out of Cricket. It is a great read!
In Frontier Woman, you meet headstrong Cricket. A bold, feisty, and sometimes irritating tomboy, who wishes she was the son her father never had. You also meet her soft and delicate and feminine sister Bay, and her older sister, the powerful business woman Sloan. All were raised to run their father's ranch/station and take the reins when he passes.
These women have been raised by a single father, who is not the most intuitive when it comes to raising children of the feminine persuasion, and he has pretty much raised them as the sons he never had. I felt a little bad that Sloan and Cricket weren't really friendly with the other local girls their age. They are seen as strange and a bit outsider-ish. Luckily they had each other growing up. Those local snobs be Crazy.
Cricket is out hanging with Bay when they run across a strange man in the woods. Lucky her pet wolves don't appear to be hungry. That's right. Cricket is wolf girl. And I love it. So she captures this strange man, and drags him home, and tosses him in the barn till her father can figure out what to do with him. Where is that southern hospitality when you need it? Turns out tall, dark, and handsome is a Texas Ranger nicknamed The Texas Devil. Rawwr.
He thinks Cricket is an irritating little piece of baggage who can't seem to stay out of trouble, and surprise! She is. She doesn't listen, constantly runs off when told to stay put for her safety, gets liquored up when her period cramps are more than she can handle, and is generally rude and presumptuous to everyone she meets.
After they have a run in with some local natives, she has a whole change of attitude and realizes that the time has come to grow up, and start using her head for more than a whiskey depository. The Texas devil has seen all along that she was going to be a hell of a woman, and hangs in there for the wild ride she takes him on. The ending is bittersweet and leads smoothly into the next novel which is all about Bay and her travails.
I 100% endorse this book as a good read. Hold on and brave through those moments when you want to throttle the poop out of Cricket. It is a great read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 14, 2018
Aside from the toxic, patriarchal romantic values portrayed in this? Too many characters for the POV the writer used. Too many sub plots. Scenes felt disconnected and poorly set up. Could have been a really great story if Johnson hadn't tried to do so many things in that short of a book. Overall, the writing I give 3/5. But there was just too much going on in the book to follow the main characters to a depth that I find necessary to actually love a book.
Horrible, HORRIBLE ideas about male-female romantic relationships. I understand 1840s Texas was a different, less egalitarian time for love but... Golly goodness, did there have to be such blatant odes to notions of male ownership over women? Barf.
I may read her other two books about Bay and Sloan out of curiosity for the story, but my expectations are rather low if they're anything like this one. I can't believe people rated this as highly as they have.
Horrible, HORRIBLE ideas about male-female romantic relationships. I understand 1840s Texas was a different, less egalitarian time for love but... Golly goodness, did there have to be such blatant odes to notions of male ownership over women? Barf.
I may read her other two books about Bay and Sloan out of curiosity for the story, but my expectations are rather low if they're anything like this one. I can't believe people rated this as highly as they have.
June 4, 2019
Joan Johnston is a master at writing gripping series with twists that keep a reader on their toes. After reading her BitterCreek Series I was so enthralled to backtrack to this book to see where it all began.
How Ms. Johnston does it, amazes me.
Cricket wound herself into my heart, I loved her tomboyish demeanor and her take no slack from anyone. She was truly the matriarch for the modern day Blackthorn’s.
And the ending!!! Well let’s just say it has me looking for Comanche Woman!! Excellent, excellent book!
How Ms. Johnston does it, amazes me.
Cricket wound herself into my heart, I loved her tomboyish demeanor and her take no slack from anyone. She was truly the matriarch for the modern day Blackthorn’s.
And the ending!!! Well let’s just say it has me looking for Comanche Woman!! Excellent, excellent book!
October 16, 2019
Cannot read this! Way too outdated and the cheesy swearing is too much for me. Sounds like a brat. DNF
April 21, 2024
This is branded as a love story. To me it seemed more like a horror. This was a story of Cricket quite literally having her personality beaten out of her by the supposed hero. As the pages go on, we see Creed try to forcefully mould Cricket into the submissive, helpless wife (and sex slave) he wants. He forces her to dress differently, to talk differently and to speak only when spoken to. It was a story of Cricket being lied to, harassed, coerced, betrayed and eventually raped by Creed. The “sex scene” read as rape. The way it was described, and the fact Creed just rutted into her even as she cried and tried to push him away but he refused to stop until he, and he alone, came…I was almost sick. Truly a disgusting attempt at framing abuse as love.
December 23, 2019
Once upon a time, a long long time ago, I read this book. In fact, I read the entire three-book series in a matter of days and sort of enjoyed it.
However, upon re-reading it for my romance podcast I discovered that it was not the sort of book I should have read. Perhaps life experience has changed my views, or perhaps age has just taught me things. But this book is NOT good.
If you have experienced trauma, if you like healthy relationships with happy endings, if you like to LIKE the characters you're reading about...then do not pick this book up and read it.
Cricket is unlikeable. She's selfish and her selfish acts are so bad she actually gets someone raped and killed. Her husband is no better. They are a couple who are so self-absorbed and hateful that the fact I once thought this book was good makes me question past me and her taste in everything (but then I started doing that a long time ago).
Joan Johnston has written a large number of westerns, books based both in the past and present and this is one to avoid. None of the characters who actually survive until the end of the book deserves to be there. Their survival has come at the cost of others who deserved much better treatment.
Ultimately, my recommendation is that if you find this book on a shelf somewhere and think that the summary and the cover are good, step away slowly, do not pick it up and put it in your bag/basket/whatever. Go and find a book by someone else (Julie Garwood, Jill Mansell, Jojo Moyes, Nalini Singh). Just don't read this.
Sorry, Joan Johnson, I loved your sagas in Harlequin, but this is not a book that translates well into this century.
To listen to the full episode: https://romanceisntdead.podbean.com/e...
However, upon re-reading it for my romance podcast I discovered that it was not the sort of book I should have read. Perhaps life experience has changed my views, or perhaps age has just taught me things. But this book is NOT good.
If you have experienced trauma, if you like healthy relationships with happy endings, if you like to LIKE the characters you're reading about...then do not pick this book up and read it.
Cricket is unlikeable. She's selfish and her selfish acts are so bad she actually gets someone raped and killed. Her husband is no better. They are a couple who are so self-absorbed and hateful that the fact I once thought this book was good makes me question past me and her taste in everything (but then I started doing that a long time ago).
Joan Johnston has written a large number of westerns, books based both in the past and present and this is one to avoid. None of the characters who actually survive until the end of the book deserves to be there. Their survival has come at the cost of others who deserved much better treatment.
Ultimately, my recommendation is that if you find this book on a shelf somewhere and think that the summary and the cover are good, step away slowly, do not pick it up and put it in your bag/basket/whatever. Go and find a book by someone else (Julie Garwood, Jill Mansell, Jojo Moyes, Nalini Singh). Just don't read this.
Sorry, Joan Johnson, I loved your sagas in Harlequin, but this is not a book that translates well into this century.
To listen to the full episode: https://romanceisntdead.podbean.com/e...
November 9, 2010
I think I like her modern day books better but this was a hard book to put down too. There was a lot of intense drama with the Indian attacks taking place in 1840 Texas. It was also really interesting to learn some things about Texas history that I didn't know. I had no idea they first tried to become a soveriegn nation. There were some really graphic parts during the Comanche attacks, especially when Amy was brutally raped by many of them. Part of me wanted to just shake Cricket throughout the book and call her a brat but she really grew on me and I came to admire her strength and sense of adventure.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2010
Absolutely loved it! Cricket is a really intriguing heroine who starts out brash and ends up likable.
January 23, 2024
I spent the holiday weekend reading the three books in Sisters of the Lone Star series. It's the first time I've read anything by Joan Johnston. After "Frontier Woman", I had to decide if I wanted to finish the series and my curiosity about Bay's situation (book 2) won out.
The setting of all three books is the Republic of Texas in the early 1840's and the political upheaval being wrought by Mexico, Texas, and native American participants.
Every book explains in the beginning how Rip Stewart (Three Oaks plantation patriarch) wanted sons and already had their names picked out. Instead, he had three daughters and gave them the exact same names he would have given his sons. After their mother dies giving birth to Creighton (Cricket), Rip proceeds to raise his daughters the same way he would have raised his sons. Cricket is the youngest daughter and the most masculine acting (tomboy) of the three. This book focuses on Cricket and Texas Ranger Jarret Creed's relationship. The author also introduces characters relevant to the book's sequels and sets the stage for those parties as well.
The reviews of this book are all over the place. One fact that was shared by several readers is how much they disliked Cricket's immaturity. I have to agree with them. Her spoiled and defiant attitude throughout the first half of the book was frustrating. It took being captured with Amy (Jarret Creed's sister-in-law) by a group of Comanches and the resulting consequences to waken Cricket's sense of responsibility and feel how her selfish actions truly affected others.
The story has a lot of drama, excitement, and some romance. But best of all, the author includes in her notes after the story ends the historical facts that were used as the background for the book. This information impressed me and inspired me to read the remaining two books in the series.
The setting of all three books is the Republic of Texas in the early 1840's and the political upheaval being wrought by Mexico, Texas, and native American participants.
Every book explains in the beginning how Rip Stewart (Three Oaks plantation patriarch) wanted sons and already had their names picked out. Instead, he had three daughters and gave them the exact same names he would have given his sons. After their mother dies giving birth to Creighton (Cricket), Rip proceeds to raise his daughters the same way he would have raised his sons. Cricket is the youngest daughter and the most masculine acting (tomboy) of the three. This book focuses on Cricket and Texas Ranger Jarret Creed's relationship. The author also introduces characters relevant to the book's sequels and sets the stage for those parties as well.
The reviews of this book are all over the place. One fact that was shared by several readers is how much they disliked Cricket's immaturity. I have to agree with them. Her spoiled and defiant attitude throughout the first half of the book was frustrating. It took being captured with Amy (Jarret Creed's sister-in-law) by a group of Comanches and the resulting consequences to waken Cricket's sense of responsibility and feel how her selfish actions truly affected others.
The story has a lot of drama, excitement, and some romance. But best of all, the author includes in her notes after the story ends the historical facts that were used as the background for the book. This information impressed me and inspired me to read the remaining two books in the series.
October 28, 2013
Frontier Woman by Joan Johnston is set in a fascinating period of United States history. Texas is its own country and is struggling to hold its own against the United States on one side and Mexico on the other. Having little defense, Texas turns to a fairly wild bunch of "Texas Rangers" to patrol its borders and keep its citizens safe from attack. Don't forget the threat of Comanches, too, who are less than pleased with these newcomers staking claim to their homelands.
In this wild territory is a father, Rip, and his three daughters. Sloan, Bay, and Cricket are 19, 18, and 17, and this first story is about Cricket. The other older sisters get their own stories told in subsequent books. It's pretty interesting that it's the youngest sister that we hear about first. Often in these types of trilogies we start with the eldest and work down. Here we go with the wild, impetuous one first, and that's a nice change.
Rip was a take-no-prisoners man, and he equally raised his daughters to be wild. In an era when parents routinely beat children as a normal course of discipline, and children were considered "free farm labor", Rip was fairly average. Modern readers might be upset that he belt-whips his grown women - but remember this was a time period where even wives were routinely whipped by husbands for disobedience. So his behavior, while inappropriate in modern times, *is* period appropriate. As is Cricket's desperate desire to earn his respect.
Now, I say this because Rip is an "instigator" in the story - someone Cricket has to learn to rebel against. However, I do NOT feel as accepting about heroes who are abusive. Yes, certainly, one could make the same argument that abusive men existed in the 1800s. Heck, abusive men exist NOW. However, I am not eager to invest my precious leisure time in extolling the traits of an abusive man as a hero. I want to read about an ACTUAL hero with traits I would want to have in my own life.
So my key issue with Frontier Woman is that I simply am not that fond of Jarrett Creed. He thinks it's delightfully fine to SPANK Cricket to discipline her. Literally every time he has sex with her up until the very end, she's fighting him first. He ignores her refusals and takes her anyway because "he knows best". It makes me extremely upset to think women are OK with the idea that a man can ignore their NO messages because "he knows best" for her. But the scene which makes me most upset is the scene where he literally rapes her while she's a virgin. She says no - just like she does throughout the rest of the book. And what we get is that he ignores her because (trimming to keep this kid-safe):
" ... he was no longer man, but animal, responding to the dictates of his barbarian nature and its unassailable command to procreate the species. When he finally emerged from the red well of pleasure into which he'd descended ..."
So the clear statement here is that men - during sex - are completely out of control and whatever they do is just nature taking its course. What??? So if a woman says NO, it doesn't matter because he's simply "responding to the dictates of his barbarian nature"? How incredibly disrespectful of men, and what an insidiously awful message to even suggest to any woman! Absolutely men CAN hear no, and they CAN STOP. I'm having difficulty even expressing how much this whole scene bothers me.
It is especially disappointing because I had such high hopes for this book. The scenario was great. I love women who can stand up for themselves and protect themselves. I loved the rugged terrain and descriptions of the interesting political situation. I loved that Comanche were going to be involved. However, it devolved into stereotypes. The Texans simply hated the Comanches. The Comanches simply were rape-enthused maniacs (with a tiny few exceptions). The hero loyally rescues his damsel from one situation after another had abandoned his previous beloved wife and child for a fairly inane reason. Cricket puts people into danger time and time again and seems not to care much at all.
The writing style had been great. Compared with so many other poorly written books I've had to slog through recently, I was thrilled at how smooth the writing was, how clearly the scenes were presented, how the visuals were always extremely well laid out. But those technical details all get lost when the plot itself suffers serious issues.
It seems almost minor compared with what I've just covered, but I did want to mention one last point. Cricket is only 17 years old. Yes, I realize absolutely that some women married young in the 1800s. However our stereotypes about all girls marrying at 17 seems to be misguided. The average age of marriage was about 25 years old meaning that half married OLDER than this. This was because children / young adults were needed as farm help and they would only go start their own household when they had stored up the money and means to do that. So all of that being said, the period expectation was that women would be mature and fairly independent before they married. They would often have built up a status in the community - maybe as a schoolteacher, maybe as a seamstress. They would have "broken their parents' guidance" for the most part.
But not Cricket. Cricket is still a rebellious teenager, the age of a high school junior. She is still firmly under her father's thumb and is obsessed with pleasing him and rebelling against him. She has not in any way begun to think of herself as an independent woman. And then along comes Creed and now she is "transferred" from one man to another. In fact at the end of the book she's back under both thumbs! So she has double men telling her what to do! I found that very unappealing. I want to read about what a woman chooses to do and the impact her choices have in life. I'm less interested in reading about what a child complains about while first fighting with her daddy and then fighting against her daddy-surrogate who spanks her when she's bad. There must be a word stronger than unappealing. I can enjoy stories about 17 year olds when they clearly are on their own two feet and acting as an adult woman. Cricket is not that person.
So despite my high hopes and the good quality writing style, there are too many issues with the plot and characters, and especially with the repeated rapes, to make this book one I'd enjoy. Which is a shame, because I was intrigued about the other two sisters. However, if it's going to be more of the same of this, I don't want to read that.
In this wild territory is a father, Rip, and his three daughters. Sloan, Bay, and Cricket are 19, 18, and 17, and this first story is about Cricket. The other older sisters get their own stories told in subsequent books. It's pretty interesting that it's the youngest sister that we hear about first. Often in these types of trilogies we start with the eldest and work down. Here we go with the wild, impetuous one first, and that's a nice change.
Rip was a take-no-prisoners man, and he equally raised his daughters to be wild. In an era when parents routinely beat children as a normal course of discipline, and children were considered "free farm labor", Rip was fairly average. Modern readers might be upset that he belt-whips his grown women - but remember this was a time period where even wives were routinely whipped by husbands for disobedience. So his behavior, while inappropriate in modern times, *is* period appropriate. As is Cricket's desperate desire to earn his respect.
Now, I say this because Rip is an "instigator" in the story - someone Cricket has to learn to rebel against. However, I do NOT feel as accepting about heroes who are abusive. Yes, certainly, one could make the same argument that abusive men existed in the 1800s. Heck, abusive men exist NOW. However, I am not eager to invest my precious leisure time in extolling the traits of an abusive man as a hero. I want to read about an ACTUAL hero with traits I would want to have in my own life.
So my key issue with Frontier Woman is that I simply am not that fond of Jarrett Creed. He thinks it's delightfully fine to SPANK Cricket to discipline her. Literally every time he has sex with her up until the very end, she's fighting him first. He ignores her refusals and takes her anyway because "he knows best". It makes me extremely upset to think women are OK with the idea that a man can ignore their NO messages because "he knows best" for her. But the scene which makes me most upset is the scene where he literally rapes her while she's a virgin. She says no - just like she does throughout the rest of the book. And what we get is that he ignores her because (trimming to keep this kid-safe):
" ... he was no longer man, but animal, responding to the dictates of his barbarian nature and its unassailable command to procreate the species. When he finally emerged from the red well of pleasure into which he'd descended ..."
So the clear statement here is that men - during sex - are completely out of control and whatever they do is just nature taking its course. What??? So if a woman says NO, it doesn't matter because he's simply "responding to the dictates of his barbarian nature"? How incredibly disrespectful of men, and what an insidiously awful message to even suggest to any woman! Absolutely men CAN hear no, and they CAN STOP. I'm having difficulty even expressing how much this whole scene bothers me.
It is especially disappointing because I had such high hopes for this book. The scenario was great. I love women who can stand up for themselves and protect themselves. I loved the rugged terrain and descriptions of the interesting political situation. I loved that Comanche were going to be involved. However, it devolved into stereotypes. The Texans simply hated the Comanches. The Comanches simply were rape-enthused maniacs (with a tiny few exceptions). The hero loyally rescues his damsel from one situation after another had abandoned his previous beloved wife and child for a fairly inane reason. Cricket puts people into danger time and time again and seems not to care much at all.
The writing style had been great. Compared with so many other poorly written books I've had to slog through recently, I was thrilled at how smooth the writing was, how clearly the scenes were presented, how the visuals were always extremely well laid out. But those technical details all get lost when the plot itself suffers serious issues.
It seems almost minor compared with what I've just covered, but I did want to mention one last point. Cricket is only 17 years old. Yes, I realize absolutely that some women married young in the 1800s. However our stereotypes about all girls marrying at 17 seems to be misguided. The average age of marriage was about 25 years old meaning that half married OLDER than this. This was because children / young adults were needed as farm help and they would only go start their own household when they had stored up the money and means to do that. So all of that being said, the period expectation was that women would be mature and fairly independent before they married. They would often have built up a status in the community - maybe as a schoolteacher, maybe as a seamstress. They would have "broken their parents' guidance" for the most part.
But not Cricket. Cricket is still a rebellious teenager, the age of a high school junior. She is still firmly under her father's thumb and is obsessed with pleasing him and rebelling against him. She has not in any way begun to think of herself as an independent woman. And then along comes Creed and now she is "transferred" from one man to another. In fact at the end of the book she's back under both thumbs! So she has double men telling her what to do! I found that very unappealing. I want to read about what a woman chooses to do and the impact her choices have in life. I'm less interested in reading about what a child complains about while first fighting with her daddy and then fighting against her daddy-surrogate who spanks her when she's bad. There must be a word stronger than unappealing. I can enjoy stories about 17 year olds when they clearly are on their own two feet and acting as an adult woman. Cricket is not that person.
So despite my high hopes and the good quality writing style, there are too many issues with the plot and characters, and especially with the repeated rapes, to make this book one I'd enjoy. Which is a shame, because I was intrigued about the other two sisters. However, if it's going to be more of the same of this, I don't want to read that.
October 12, 2020
What happened to them later?To cricket and jarret?
Well,just ended up reading "Texas bride" and found answers.Together,cricket and jarret had three grown up sons with whom jarret went to the war.There jarret is fatally injured but survived only to lose almost everything he had.Worse,a gold digger Englishman named blackthorne appears with the news of jarret's mistaken death.He marries cricket and gets strong hold over the properties of his wife.When cricket's sons return and find cricket in such a situation,two of them leave for somewhere else with no other means.Jacob creed stays though having inherited three oaks from his uncle which,greedy blackthorne,supposed to get hold on through cricket unless there was a will of uncle that blackthorne claims to be fake.Blackthorne makes several efforts to get hold of three oaks and make jacob out of the area like his brothers.This greedy filthy blackthorne just couldn't stop at grasping things that lawfully the creeds should inherit.Rather he had twins with cricket as to make the marriage a sustainable one which he later used as a weapon against jarret creed who returned and found out from blackthorne that he lost everything.That wrethed man,losing everything,went away without meeting his beloved wife who was now somebody else's.That's how such a love story had it's way.
Devastating is the consequences of so called love.
Probably,the worst for it's outcomes.
Well,just ended up reading "Texas bride" and found answers.Together,cricket and jarret had three grown up sons with whom jarret went to the war.There jarret is fatally injured but survived only to lose almost everything he had.Worse,a gold digger Englishman named blackthorne appears with the news of jarret's mistaken death.He marries cricket and gets strong hold over the properties of his wife.When cricket's sons return and find cricket in such a situation,two of them leave for somewhere else with no other means.Jacob creed stays though having inherited three oaks from his uncle which,greedy blackthorne,supposed to get hold on through cricket unless there was a will of uncle that blackthorne claims to be fake.Blackthorne makes several efforts to get hold of three oaks and make jacob out of the area like his brothers.This greedy filthy blackthorne just couldn't stop at grasping things that lawfully the creeds should inherit.Rather he had twins with cricket as to make the marriage a sustainable one which he later used as a weapon against jarret creed who returned and found out from blackthorne that he lost everything.That wrethed man,losing everything,went away without meeting his beloved wife who was now somebody else's.That's how such a love story had it's way.
Devastating is the consequences of so called love.
Probably,the worst for it's outcomes.
October 8, 2017
Frontier Woman was really good and told the story of real life in Texas before it became a state. Warning: There is a really horrible multi rape scene that is not treated with the dignity it deserves.
Jarrett Creed and Crickett Stewart meet with a misunderstanding as their introduction. Cricket and her two sisters have been taught by her father to take care of themselves. Cricket has raised three wolves from pups to protect her if she whistles. She also fights and rides bucking broncos. Cricket has no need for a man in her life.
Jarrett Creed is a Texas Ranger. He spent half his life raised with Indians. Crickets dad Rip asks the Rangers to send a ranger to help capture the Commanches that are stealing his horses. Creed is the ranger they send. But more is going on. someone in Rip Stewart's household is helping the Mexicans take back Texas. Creed needs to find out who. Creed convinces Cricket to leave with him to keep from being given in marriage to a man of her fathers choice. Their travels and adventures together make for a story.
Jarrett Creed and Crickett Stewart meet with a misunderstanding as their introduction. Cricket and her two sisters have been taught by her father to take care of themselves. Cricket has raised three wolves from pups to protect her if she whistles. She also fights and rides bucking broncos. Cricket has no need for a man in her life.
Jarrett Creed is a Texas Ranger. He spent half his life raised with Indians. Crickets dad Rip asks the Rangers to send a ranger to help capture the Commanches that are stealing his horses. Creed is the ranger they send. But more is going on. someone in Rip Stewart's household is helping the Mexicans take back Texas. Creed needs to find out who. Creed convinces Cricket to leave with him to keep from being given in marriage to a man of her fathers choice. Their travels and adventures together make for a story.
April 13, 2018
I found that Cricket was the most immature woman that I have seen in a long time. Rather than take hints that would allow her to not get in trouble, she purposely went against that and acted out with a bang! It was nice to see her finally grow up, but for the first half of the book, nope. She was raised to be a son as her father only had 3 daughters, but her character was such a brat, and at 17, in that time period, that would have been unheard of. She lashed out an everyone for it as well.
Trigger warning though, there is a huge gang rape scene in this, at it is brutal. The aftermath with attitudes and feelings was a bit unrealistic though.
Trigger warning though, there is a huge gang rape scene in this, at it is brutal. The aftermath with attitudes and feelings was a bit unrealistic though.
May 26, 2024
This book was drawn out and dragged on despite the acts of violence sprinkled throughout, trying to keep the reader's attention. The main character was overwritten and not very likable.
I checked the publication date, and certain things made sense when I saw it was published in 1988. There was an obnoxious era in romance writing when the main hero was considered manly because he spanked the love interest, like a child. This happens in this book, and unbelievably, the heroine was ready to jump into bed with him. Pair this with a gruesome rape scene, and I really couldn't wait for the book to be over. I will not be reading the rest of the series.
I checked the publication date, and certain things made sense when I saw it was published in 1988. There was an obnoxious era in romance writing when the main hero was considered manly because he spanked the love interest, like a child. This happens in this book, and unbelievably, the heroine was ready to jump into bed with him. Pair this with a gruesome rape scene, and I really couldn't wait for the book to be over. I will not be reading the rest of the series.
January 3, 2020
Well written.
Joan, as expected, gives us vivid characters and a well developed story. I just couldn’t like them enough to give this a full five stars. If an author can create characters so well written that they irritate you - then the author deserves a good review. This story with its assorted villains and damsels just didn’t suit me. I hope the other books in this series do. I totally enjoy Joan’s style and imagination - this is the first time I’ve skipped much of the book to get it finished.
Joan, as expected, gives us vivid characters and a well developed story. I just couldn’t like them enough to give this a full five stars. If an author can create characters so well written that they irritate you - then the author deserves a good review. This story with its assorted villains and damsels just didn’t suit me. I hope the other books in this series do. I totally enjoy Joan’s style and imagination - this is the first time I’ve skipped much of the book to get it finished.
September 7, 2022
This author always frustrates me when she writes her characters, it's like she can't make up her mind whether to write them likeable or not. I was rooting for Cricket, the main gal, in this story, and then all the sudden Creed, the male lead, would treat her awful and Cricket would take him back without any explanation. There were so many frustrating times that I wish she wouldn't take his word as law and make him grovel and apologize for once. I hate how weak this author makes her main characters.
October 8, 2025
DNF. This was the first book in my LIFE that I can recall just not finishing. I didn't even just not finish - I tossed it about 20 pages in. Cricket was so cringy, there was no way I was going to be able to put up with an entire book of her made up toddler level swear words. I would have been fine if she was dropping a bunch of F bombs, but one "noodleheaded lumpkin" was 1 too many - and that was in the SECOND PARAGRAPH of the book, it just went down down down hill from there.
July 5, 2017
So this book... THIS BOOK! Let me just get this straight : This book is a ROMANCE. And what is the ONLYfreaking rule in a romance novel? The H/h get to live happily ever after. That's it. That's the only rule. Maybe nobody informed the author because in the sequel about Jarrett and Cricket's son guess what happens? 😤Yeah.... Talk about a bummer 😟
September 16, 2018
This was a hard one to read because in the beginning Cricket was a spoiled brat. She stayed that way for a long time. I was a brutal time in Texas and the US's history. I still loved it and have put next 2 in series on my TBR list. It tells Cricket's story and leaves us wanting to know what happens to Bay and Sloan.
February 19, 2020
I liked this book and I liked the characters, and the author did a good job of making the heroine of this book both appealing and annoying. But there was too much trying to be arousing, but just not succeeding, gratuitous sex scenes for me. While being interested in what happens to all the sisters, I probably won’t read any more of the books in the series.
January 17, 2025
It really was hard to finish this book. I'm all for a spunky and headstrong heroine, but Cricket was just so annoying, frustrating, and immature. What was worst is that all the sudden she realizes she's in love with the H...there was no build up and readers are just suppose to accept that the two are so in love.
Had high expectations but was greatly dissappointed.
Had high expectations but was greatly dissappointed.
March 22, 2017
I was looking over the reviews to Frontier Woman, by Joan Johnston, and I'm wondering if some people read a different book! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It's 450 pages of action, adventure, danger, family dynamics, historical references, deception, attraction to the opposite sex, and the Comanche's way of life. In this story, I feel like I really got to know Jarrett Creed and Cricket Stewart. I am happy to know that there are also books about Cricket's sisters: Bay and Sloan in Johnston's other Sisters of the Lone Star Series books!
June 23, 2017
Wish I could have not given a star to this one. So sorry I wasted my time reading 400 pages of bull. I thought it would be about a woman's struggle living on the frontier. It turned out to be a "to f or not to f" book. Needless to say, I would not recommend it.
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