The Price: A Novel (Bitter Creek, No. 4) [Mass Market Paperback]

Joan Johnston (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 27, 2004

Joan Johnston presents the thrilling saga of two dynastic families, the Blackthornes and the Creeds, with this powerful New York Times bestseller -- a novel of intrigue, passion, ambition, and love set amid Houston's towering skyscrapers and the majestic plains of South Texas ranch country.

Luke Creed has sacrificed everything for his career at the prestigious law firm DeWitt & Blackthorne: a chance to run his family's ranching empire, his marriage, even time with his two daughters. Defending a major client in a wrongful death case, Luke crosses paths with his high school sweetheart, Amy Hazeltine Nash, an advocate for the bereaved plaintiff. Now, Luke and Amy are divided by forces beyond themselves -- and overcome by an all-consuming desire. But when the case takes a deadly twist, Luke delves into a dangerous web of corruption that may place his life in jeopardy -- and may also target the one woman who loves Luke for who he really is: rebel, cowboy, loner, and lover.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Romance veteran Johnston makes her hardcover debut with another Bitter Creek novel (The Loner, etc.), in which Houston lawyer Luke Creed tracks down unethical businessmen in between joy rides on his Harley and attempts to woo his old high school sweetheart. Is the wonder drug D-Free a lifesaver for young diabetics or a dangerous cash cow for Hyland Pharmaceuticals? The mother of a child who died while using D-Free is suing Hyland, and Luke is part of the company's defense team. But he has an even greater stake in the case: one of his two daughters, eight-year-old Brynne, is diabetic and takes D-Free. To complicate matters further, his love interest, Amy, is representing the plaintiff. The hale Texan (who has a ranch and still calls his women "baby") is not afraid to face corporate bullies, even when they include his workaholic female boss. On the romantic front, Luke has his work cut out for him when the lonely yet stubbornly independent Amy rebuffs him. Johnston's characters brim with humanity as they navigate law firm politics and drug approval procedures, child-raising and custody battles. The recycled subplots and soap opera dramatics are predictable, but Luke's position as Hyland's defense attorney adds moral complexity. Readers will find themselves turning the pages, if only for more glimpses of a modern cowboy as captivating in the courtroom as he is on his hog.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Back after The Loner, obsessive lawyer Luke Creed is about to pay The Price for serving corporate interests.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Star (January 27, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743454375
• ISBN-13: 978-0743454377
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #214,452 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #11 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Romance > Authors, A-Z > ( J ) > Johnston, Joan

More About the Author

Joan Johnston, the New York Times bestselling author of the Bitter Creek novels A STRANGER'S GAME, THE NEXT MRS. BLACKTHORNE, THE RIVALS, THE PRICE, THE LONER, THE TEXAN, THE COWBOY, and the historicals NO LONGER A STRANGER and COLTER'S WIFE, has written more than forty award-winning historical and contemporary romance novels. She received a master of arts degree in theater from the University of Illinois and graduated with honors from the University of Texas School of Law at Austin. Joan Johnston lives in Colorado and South Florida.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Luke Finally Grows Up!, August 24, 2003

By 

Tanya L. Schaub "TSchlaack" (Livermore, Maine USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Price: A Novel (Audio Cassette)

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.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Another winner for the Blackthorne-Creed clan, March 28, 2003

By 

Teri L. Perez "Avid reader" (Rochester, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Price: A Novel (Hardcover)

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.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What is too high a PRICE to pay!, July 10, 2003

By 

janlouise (Ruston, LA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Price: A Novel (Hardcover)

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.