Cowboy (Mass Market Paperback)

by Joan Johnston (Author) "YOU BLACKTHORNES ARE ALL GREEDY, thieving sons-of-bit!..." (more)
Key Phrases: Three Oaks, Lou Ann, Bitter Creek (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
Setting: Present-day Texas
Sensuality Rating: 7

The Blackthornes and the Creeds had been at war for generations, and when Trace Blackthorne and Callie Creed fell in love as college students, the hostilities didn't stop. Family loyalty eventually drove the two young lovers apart; Trace disappeared from their small Texas town while Callie married her father's foreman, bore two children, and became a young widow. It isn't until Trace's father has a heart attack that he returns to Texas and comes looking for Callie, the one woman he's never been able to forget. But although Callie has never stopped loving Trace, she harbors a secret that could destroy any chance of a future with him.

Just when it seems that the two lovers may work out a solution, tragedy strikes the Creeds. Once again their family problems may be a direct result of the bitter feud with the Blackthornes that has so badly damaged the family in the past. And this time, the stunning truth may drive Trace and Callie apart forever.

With The Cowboy, Johnston has concocted a compelling story of jealousy and greed, passion and hate, combined it with an intriguing look at the world of cutting horse competition, and set the tale against the backdrop of working Texas ranches. Readers will be delighted to know that The Cowboy is only the first in a trilogy about the Blackthornes and Creeds that will soon be continued in The Lone Wolf, the story of Owen Blackthorne and Bayleigh Creed. --Lois Faye Dyer

From Publishers Weekly
In the first book of her latest contemporary romance trilogy, the Sisters of the Lone Star, Johnston connects descendents of the British Blackthorne family (of her earlier Captive Hearts series) with the present-day Texan Creed family. The two clans have been engaged in a century-long feud; caught in between are the young Callie Creed and Trace Blackthorne. The Blackthornes have prospered while the Creeds struggled. Just when the love between Callie and Trace begins to bridge the gap between the two families, another clash tests Callie's loyalties between her family and Trace, causing an 11-year rift for the lovers. What will it take to bring them back together, heal old wounds and bind them forever? Though she's no stranger to genre, here Johnston's story line feels melodramatic and overwrought in its modern setting. (Mar.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 270 pages
• Publisher: Dell (February 8, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440223806
• ISBN-13: 978-0440223801
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #64,460 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the romace genre's brightest stars, February 8, 2000

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

At home in Bitter Creek, Texas, their families have feuded since the Civil War. However, at the University of Texas in Austin, Trace Blackthorne and Callie Creed are lovers planning to marry. Their bliss ends when a tackle during a high school football practice by Trace's brother Owen leaves Callie's sibling Sam wheelchair bound. Trace and Callie are divided over the unfortunate incident that her family thinks was not an accident. He gives her an ultimatum, which she rejects. He vanishes for the next eleven years. Unknown to Trace, Callie is pregnant. She marries someone else who kindly helps her raise her son until he dies.

Eleven years have passed since Trace has last seen Callie. When they do meet, sparks still fly between them. However, their families are squabbling worse than ever. The Creeds are facing financial ruin. Trace wants Callie and offers to save her family from economic disgrace if she marries him, but there is one secret she is still keeping from him: the existence of his eleven-year-old son.

THE COWBOY is an exciting contemporary ranch romance that conveys the vast scope of talent author Joan Johnston possesses. Known for her historical romance tales, Ms. Johnston provides a warm contemporary relationship drama that takes descendants from two sets of families (the Blackthornes from the Captive Hearts Regency tales and the Creeds from the Lone Star Western romance novels) and brings them into today's ranching world. The story line is fun, but the characters make this a winning novel that needs sequels.

Harriet Klausner

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The "Bitter Creek" Series....Off To A Great Start, February 13, 2004

By	L. Shirley "Laurie's Boomer Views" (fountain valley, ca United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

This review refers to "The Cowboy" by Joan Johnston....

After being transported to another time and place by Joan Johnston in the Sisters of the Lone Star Triology(Frontier Woman,Comanche Woman and Texas Woman (Sisters of the Lone Star, #1)), I couldn't wait to read about their descendants in the Bitter Creek Series. The first of the series is "The Cowboy".

The Creeds and the Blackthornes have been feuding for well over a century. When Callie Creed and Trace Blackthorne, fell in love,they could not even share their happiness with their families. They could only hope that someday things would get better. But things couldn't have gotten any worse. A horrible accident has fueled the fire between the families and Trace and Callie must make a choice.Their love was great, but so was Callie's devotion to her family and sense of obligation to "Three Oaks", the family ranch. There were no words Trace could use to hold onto the woman he loved.

For more than a decade, Trace was not to be seen or heard from. His whereabouts were a mystery, but when another near tragedy occurs, he comes home to "Bitter Creek" and back into Callie's life once more. Things haven't changed between the families though,the hatred has built up even more,but Trace's love for Callie has never died and he will do whatever it takes to win her back, and in the process touches the lives of all those around him.Will their love be strong enough to reunite them despite all the complications?

"The Cowboy", now set in modern day Texas, still has the sense of wildness and adventure that we saw in the Lone Star series.
I was glad to see that sense of courage and conviction possessed by the original sisters has been passed down through the generations. The characters are strong and likeable, the story had many twists and turns,secrets and lies and some edge of your seat cliffhangers that made it a page turner. If you read any other books by Ms. Johnston, you know you are in for some passionate romance as well.In the end, you may even need a hankie or two.

Immerse yourself in this great romance...and enjoy....Laurie

hardcover edition:The Cowboy

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An awesome read, June 29, 2000

By	"vonny" (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

When I read some of the bad reviews about this book, I wondered if we had all read the same book. Well, I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion. Personally, I thought THE COWBOY was a great book. It was the first book I had read by Joan Johnston and frankly, I loved what I read. I can't wait to read more of her work. The hero in the book,Trace was a great character. He never gave up on the woman and family that he wanted. Even though Callie was a bit stubborn, she had a great deal of loyalty to her family. It seemed that she was willing to give up any happiness she could have had for the sake of her family. The story had a lot of depth in it in the sense that there were a lot of mysteries in it. All these revelations that were made made the story all the better. I started this book at about 3:00P.M. and finished it at 6 in the morning. I just couldn't put it down. It was definitely worth the loss of sleep. If you read it, you'll know what I'm talking about!