Customer Reviews

The Price

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is basically the 4th in the Creed/Blackthorne family books. This is Luke's story and picks up 12 years after the last one (Summer's) story ends.

It was a fast paced and intriguing story about what lengths people will go to for greed as well as how far they will go to protect those they love. Weaved in with this is also the story about how drugs are developed and how a boy finally grows up.

The saga of the Blackthornes and Creeds continues in this highly anticipated book in the Bitter Creek series. This story focuses on Luke Creed, who has turned away from his family to pursue his career as an attorney for the prestigious firm of DeWitt and Blackthorne. He's on a hot career path, likely to make partner in the firm within the next year, but along the way has sacrificed all other things in his life, including his marriage. The one remaining bright spot is his personal life are daughters, Brynne and Midge, whom he manages to make time for on the weekends.

Luke's current assignment is to settle a wrongful death suit brought against Hyland Pharmaceutical, whom his company represents. The case involves a new miracle drug, D-Free, for Type I Juvenile Diabetes, something close to Luke's heart since daughter Brynne has this disease. Attorney for the opposition is Amy Nash, Luke's old high school sweetheart, also a divorcee raising her daughter Honor. Amy's client lost her child while taking D-Free for her diabetes, and Amy is passionate in her arguments to get this dangerous drug off the market. Amy is having a hard time accepting the fact that the once rebellious Luke is representing the corporate bad guys, along with the feelings that come back to life after not seeing Luke for many years.

As the investigation in to D-Free proceeds, Luke realizes the dangers of the drug that someone has been covering up. Luke also needs to find out for his own peace of mind what the real issues are, since Brynne is taking this drug, against Luke's wishes. Enter an interesting cast of secondary characters to help solve the mystery, a mysterious death of another attorney working on the case in Luke's firm, Luke and Amy's strong feelings for one another, and you have all the ingredients for an impressive story of danger and intrigue. Then, there's Luke's mom Ren, married to Jackson Blackthorne, trying to finagle a way for Luke and Jackson to bury the bitter feud between them, not to mention getting Luke and Amy together again. Fans of the Creed-Blackthorne saga will thoroughly enjoy this latest edition. Note to new readers, this book stands alone too. "The Price" does answer the question of what is too high a price to pay for what's really important in life.

This is my 1st book by JJ to read- the 1st of the Blackthornes and Creeds lasaga and I really enjoyed it. I am now in the process of looking for the other 3. I never was lost by not reading the other books first. The author did a great job of filling in what had taken place previously so I felt up on what was going on. There were several sub-characters and their stories but I didn't feel like they were taking away from the main characters. The story was great up to the end. I highly recommend it.

Now a little about the story itself... Luke Creed finds out during his first visit back at his mom's place that his old high school sweetheart, Amy Hazeltine Nash, is back in town. What a surprise since they have not seen each other since their break up 12 years ago. Both married others, had children, and are now back "licking wounds" from torn apart marriages. They are also both attorneys and are soon to find out that they are on opposing sides of a lawsuit. But Luke doesn't feel good about the pharmaceutical company's new drug that his firm is representing. There have been several deaths of children that have taken the drug (coincidental or cover-up?) and the fact that his oldest daughter is taking the drug complicates the matter even more. Just seeing Amy brings back all sorts of feelings and memories- Luke knows he has never gotten over his love for her and now that she is back and single during a stressful time of his life complicates things that much more but he is not going to throw-away a second chance for happiness. Now he just has to convince Amy of taking that second chance. Things get serious and even deadly for some as information is uncovered about the new drug for diabetes. A page turner for me... I hope you give it a try.

This is Luke's story. Not as much of a romance as some of the others, but it is still very good. Love that Ms. Johnston interacts with other characters that we have already met! Luke has many more sides than previously revealed and as the story went along, I found myself liking him more and more. Would have liked more in the way of talking about his & Amy's previous relationship & why it didn't work. The development of their relationship & understanding the years they spent part of the story seemed a little thin. Overall a really good read!

I liked the secondary stories and am looking forward to the next book to see how they resolve. I have to agree with someone else who said the romance is lacking, but the drama was great.

The problems I had with this book were: Luke had gotten a little on the boring side, didn't seem to have any of the "bad boy" left in him. It was also unrealistic that he would immediately feel the same about Amy after she'd dumped him so harshly. And Amy was too paranoid about getting involved in another relationship.

Although I am a big fan and avid reader of all Joan Johnston's books, this one seemed to lack the pizzaz of the previous three Blackthorne-Creed novels. However if you are as addicted to Ms. Johnston's books as I am then it is still worth the time to sit and read it. Although slow at some points it is still enjoyable.

This is the 4th Joan Johnston book that I have read--the present day creed/blackthorne stories--and once again i was not disappointed. This book was as good as the others in terms of telling the ongoing saga/story line and keeping my interest in terms of romance, mystery, murder, and family relationships. I would recommend reading the cowboy, the texan, and the loner first, but she provides enough background to give you the family history as she tells luke's story.

If you are following the saga of the Creed/Blackthorne feud in the Bittercreek series of novels by Joan Johnston, you will find this 4th in the series to be a nice change of pace. In the first three of this saga, The Cowboy,THE TEXAN, andThe Loner, the focus was on the long lasting hate between the families, and the generation of young lovers that fell for each other ala Romeo and Juliet style, that overcame great odds to be together(with some mystery and danger thrown in the mix to liven things up a bit).

Now, we have come to the story of the youngest of the siblings, Luke Creed. He has been in all the other stories, and now set 12, years after the last one, he is a young hot-shot lawyer, working for an established and prestigious law firm. He is divorced with two young daughters.He is the last of the Creeds to still be seething and bitter over the events of the past that claimed the life of his father. The fact that his mother is now married to his father's worst enemy is not helping matters.

But Luke now has more important matters on his mind. First, his high school sweetheart(finally someone who is not in the enemy camp), is back in town. Luke feels the old feelings, but wants to prove to her that he is not the flake he was back then. Also, and most importantly, his oldest daughter is a diabetic, who is taking a new medicine that is a wonder at keeping her blood sugar in check, but Luke discovers there have been several deaths during the trials.The new enemy is the corporation pushing this drug. They can be lethal and also may have deep connections at his firm. His possible promotion to partner is at stake, but more importantly, so his his daughter's life... he must prove his case, and win the girl! The big question is, can Luke finally put the feud to rest?

I really enjoyed the danger, the twists and turns and the new romance in this one. Miss Johnston makes it a page turner, and sparks new interest and a fresh take in a romance that is finally not as predictable as the others. Also, this one may stand on it's own, as it is not as vital to know the background of the families as the last couple of sequels. Enough info is given to know the score.

Highly enjoyable and recommended to romance/adventure readers and those following the Creed-Blackthorne story....Laurie

I read this as an unabridged audiobook and early on became a little frustrated. Apparently, unbeknownst to me, this is book whoknowswhich# of a long running series. This means the author throws out tons of characters and refers to past events that left me shaking my tired brain in confusion.

It began good enough. Set in Texas two ex-high school lovers, now in their 30's and divorced w/ kids, reunite at Luke's family farm, sort of. Luke desperately wants to get together with Amy who was the love of his life despite the fact that she dumped him to marry a stable doctor-type. She wants none of it, however even though he's rich, handsome and very sexy. Because he's always been a bit of a rebel she turns him down. He licks his wounds and walks away.

Conveniently enough they meet up again in the next chapter over a legal case (what are the chances, you ask?). The two are lawyers and are on opposite sides of a volatile case involving greedy corporate medicine manufacturing kid killing scum. Hmmm, imagine the odds of that, eh? Anyway, Luke is simply trying to climb the legal ladder and is biding his time working in corporate law when he's handed the case.

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

A Bitter Creek novel - Attorney Luke Creed's job is to find crooked businessmen. He conducts his job in between rides on his Harley and attempts to woo his high school sweetheart. But Amy is both independent and stubborn and although she is lonely Luke's advances are not welcomed.

Reviewed by Janet Sue Terry author of the Set Me Free Series -Possibilities and Resolutions. President of Just My Best Book Publishing Company. www.janetsueterry.com