The Loner [Mass Market Paperback]

Joan Johnston's, "The Loner" is the third in the Bitter Creek series. The stories of family feuds between the Blackthornes and Creeds, and Romeo and Juliette type romances over many years.These are the modern day ancestors of the Sisters of the Lone Star series("Frontier Woman", "Comanche Woman", and "Texas Woman"), which is a prequel to Bitter Creek. "The Loner" follows, "The Texan", and "The Cowboy".

If you have read those first two in the series, you shouldn't have too much trouble following the intricatcies of the family trees. Also there is some mention of previous characters and their roles touched upon in the story. If you haven't read the other two, I would highly recommend those first, to get a better idea of the complicated history these feudin' folks have with each other. This is the first in the Joan Johnston's books, that I felt would probably not stand on it's own.

"The Loner", is the story of "Bad" Billy Coburn", the illegitimate son of the Blackthorne patriarch("Blackjack"), and Summer Blackthorne, heiress to the Bitter Creek fortune, and daughter of "Blackjack". Okay now, don't worry, it had already been established that Summer was not really the biological daughter of Blackjack(see what I mean, it can get very complicated). There are other star-crossed love affairs going on as well. The older generation, has a serious and deadly triangle going on, and "Sam", the eldest of the Creed siblings, who you will remember from the first story is in a wheelchair due to one of the Blackthorne kids, has also fallen in love, and almost off the wagon as well! Whew!, are you with me so far?

So there are a ton of romantic complications, and there is even a homicide to be solved, although the reader will already know who is at fault, even though the characters will try to solve the case on their own. This story though, was not up to par with the others of Miss Johnston's wonderful works. The others in both the Lone Star and the Bitter Creek series, always had some other exciting, page turner, intriguing adventure going on. Miss Johnston had previously seemed to do much research to support the sub-plots. Often even a bit of a history lesson was gained from the read as well. This story had none of that.

Even without the adventure,if you have already been reading the Bitter Creek series, you will want to read this one, to catch up with the family story, before moving on the the next one, "The Price". "The Loner" wrapped up some of the story lines nicely, and was good but not great, as far as romance novels go. I personally prefer a little more of the action and adventure to go along with it.

One of these days, one of the characters will fall for someone who isn't part of the family feud, and that should make for a pretty fresh take. So a bit predictable, but worth the read for fans of the series.

Enjoy....Laurie

In Bitter Creek, the Blackthorne and Creed clans have detested each other for eternity (or at least three series that has begot double-digit novels). Billy Coburn loves his father's daughter Summer, but they do not share a blood relationship. He is the illegitimate son of Jackson Blackthorne while she is the daughter of the lover of Jackson's wife.

Billy has an affair that results in a child. He wants to raise the boy with Summer, but the biological mother sees the infant as a chance to bleed money from the wealthy Blackthornes. Billy proposes to Summer feeling he has a better chance of winning custody if he is a married man. She loves Billy and though angry that he deserted once before, she marries him. They return to his family home since he feels he needs to help his dying mother and his pregnant sister. However, Billy's female relatives loathe Summer though she is kind and sacrificed a comfortable lifestyle to marry her beloved.. The rest of the broods are in the midst of a soap opera too.

The latest tale in the Blackthorne-Creed universe, THE LONER, requires a scorecard to keep track of the players. The tale will remind readers of when Bay City and Another World were running stories at the same time. The characters are fun to watch as hatred flows stronger than love in most cases. Fans of the series will find Joan Johnston's latest entry a triumph. For newcomers develop a distribution chart to follow who does what or wants to do what to whom.

Harriet Klausner

I am a follower of this series and I have to say that this one is another winner. Billy and Summer fell in love two years ago. But things happened that made there being together impossible. Now two years later Billy needs help with his son and Summer just needs to feel wanted. Blackjack and Ren will finally be able to be together if they finally say the heck with everybody else, and Sam finally comes out of his shell and falls for the most unexpected one of all. Luke is treated to a surprise and everyone must overcomes so much to be together. I loved it. If anyone missed the first two I suggest that you read them in order and fall in love with them all. Then you can wait in suspence like the rest of us for the next installment in this most loved saga.