Customer Reviews

The Cowboy

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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

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

Welcome to a century-old feud between the Blackthornes and the Creeds. And a couple caught up in the feud and having to choose sides. Callie Creed and Trace Blackthorne are the couple caught up in the feud. They want to put their differences behind them and plan on marrying until Callie receives a phone call while attending the University of Texas in Austin that will shatter their dreams. Callie's brother Sam has been permanently disabled while practicing football and the one that caused the disabling injury is none other than Trace's brother Owen. Callie knew the family was going to have a hard time adjusting to her and Trace's relationship and then this happens which would make it impossible to marry. Callie refuses to marry Trace and he swears he'll never forgive her for turning her back on him. But little does Trace know that Callie is carrying their unborn child. Callie is desperate and marries another.

Fast-forward eleven years....... Callie's husband has passed away and the Creed's are close to going broke and she is desperate to save them. Callie tries to save the ranch by breeding and training cutting horses for competition. Winning the large amount of prize money in the competition is her goal. Trace's father dies and Trace must come home to Bitter Creek, Texas and take control of the ranch. Trace is no longer the man he was and is bitter but he can't hold back the feelings he has for Callie and he offers to marry her and save her family from ruin. There is an intense mutual desire that continues to draw them both to each other but the secret that Callie keeps threatens to destroy their happiness.

Joan Johnston has once again masterfully created very real characters, a captivating story and interesting sub-plots. Ms. Johnston who is known for her historical romances has successfully reached a new level in THE COWBOY stretching her talents into the contemporary romance genre. THE COWBOY just screams sequel and I for one will be the first in line to read it!

Reviewed by Paula Palmer 2/11/2000

I'm not a fan of western set romances, preferring Regency London, but I do like Joan Johnston so when I saw this at the library I picked it up anyway thinking what the hell. Lets just say that I will now be purchasing this for my own collection and eagarly awaiting the next book in the trilogy. This was a very "real" romance and I found it very refreshing after reading a lot of adult fairytales recently! I found this book difficult to put down and I know that these characters will stay in my mind for a long time. Thanks for such a beautiful story Joan.

THE COWBOY was the first book I have read from Joan Johnston and I have to admit, I was a bit apprehensive at first when I first picked this book up.

But after reading the first few chapters, I was definitely hooked! This book is very sensual and the chemistry between Trace and Callie were so great they were crackling. It was funny how Trace could not keep his hands to himself whenever he's close to Callie. And I especially lurve the part where Trace told Callie he loved her; I almost cried, but not before thinking that Callie is such a mule for being so stubborn. It is rare to read that a guy actually told the girl "I love you" first.

The secondary characters in the book are also very well-written. Also the horses and cutting were described in a lot of detail, maybe a bit too much, but overall, this is not a bad romance novel. I will definitely be looking out for other books by Joan Johnston, no doubt about it!

After reading The Texan I just knew I had to read this book. It was a wonderful read although Callie got on my last nerve she finally came to her senses before it was to late.

i normally don't like to read but my friend told me about THE COWBOY.So I read it ,it the best book I've ever read.It has the best details,I couldn't put it down.I've also bought THE TEXAN,it's even better yet.I don't know how she will top these two with the third of the triology.great work Joan!!!!

What a nice first book for what promises to be a series! JJ gives the Romeo and Juliet theme a contemporary Texas twist, with two families at odds and two lovers caught in the middle. The amount of hard luck sustained by the heroine's family almost broke my heart - and the relentless meanness of the hero's father was both believable and scary. I liked the amount of information woven into the narrative, about the "horse trade," because it gives the story depth and roots. I liked this book and look for more to the story!

I couldn't put the book down. I was up until 5 AM reading this because I just had to finish. "The Cowboy" made me laugh, it made me cry. I was always in suspense. I couldn't wait to know what happened next. I felt as though I was there. I was feeling their emotions. I wanted what they wanted. I was so captivated.

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!