The Price: A Novel (Bitter Creek, No. 4)

the book was great as it continues the Blackthorne/Creed Saga. i loved it , couldn't put it down.

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.

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 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.

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.