Victoria Grayhawk had made the biggest mistake of her life when she gave almost complete custody of her son to his father, Ryan Sullivan. She regretted that mistake within six months and was glad that her lawyer had insisted on some limited visitation. Her son is now five years old and even though she has purchased a cabin near Rye’s ranch, the visitations are no longer enough for her. Vick works diligently with resources to protect bears and when Rye’s brother is attacked, she knows that the bear must be found and killed. Rye also wants the bear eliminated before someone else is attacked. His family situation has become so involved that Rye has asked Vick to move in to his home to care for their son. Can he ever completely forgive Vick and give them a chance to heal and become a family? Victoria’s sibling has become more involved in the ongoing feud between her father and her husband’s father. The entire Grayhawk and Flynn family have issues that need solving. Will the two families be able to finally put the feud to rest? This was a wonderful “mini wrap up” and update in some ways to the continuing characters of Ms. Johnston’s “Bitter Creek” series, but I have no doubt that we will be hearing more about these characters that we have grown to love. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

This is the first book in this series I've read, however I do believe that it can be read as a stand alone.

This is an odd review, because on one hand I absolutely loved the book. I loved reading about how Ryan took charge when Lexie didn't want the child they conceived during a one night stand. I loved watching Lexie try to redeem herself and watching Ryan finally come along. Loved the twist with Ryan's backstory and who he really was.

So now you're asking why the 3 star review.

It felt like the author added an entire second book into this book. Things were great for the first quarter and then suddenly several other characters are added that initially you think has nothing to do with Ryan and Lexie. I skipped over those chapters completely and still finished the book without missing anything. So this is what brought my review down to three stars. What could have happened in two chapters happened over at least 7-8 chapters which made me feel disconnected from the actual story.

Also...the ending just felt out of place.

** ARC received from Netgalley **

This is a very emotion packed story about Vick,, who gave their son to Rye as soon as he was born and, didn't have anything to do with him for six months. She returned then to beg Rye for visitation rights but, he fights her tooth and nail to keep her from spending to much time with "his" son. When Rye's brother is critically injured by a bear and, while giving blood, Rye finds out that his father was not his biological father, He asks Vick to move into the farmhouse to care for their son until Rye's brother comes home and his mother returns home. There are three separate families intertwined in this story and, it is a fascinating take on interpersonal relationships and, how difficult it can be to see past your own pain and, embrace someone else's.
I did not want this one to end!

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

The final book with those awful Flynn boys and King's Brats! New secrets come out and affect Ryan Sullivan, who is not known for being forgiving.

There were times that I just wanted to give Ryan a kick in the behind because he was just so hateful and nasty to Vick. Yes, she gave her son up, but then she realized that she made a terrible mistake but Ryan could never let her forget and kept punishing her by not allowing her any additional time with her son.

While most of the book is about Ryan and Vick, there is quite a bit with Matt and Jennie, Aiden and Leah, and also Darcie, Ryan's mom.

What a great wrap up and so glad that Matt and Leah could actually reach a compromise, and I loved that at the end, Leah said that she realized that her relationship with her husband was more important than the land. I did feel sad for poor Mike that now feels like he must be a loner due to his scars, and it would be great if he got his own book! But what were they thinking not preparing a year old before seeing a victim of a bear mauling?!

The final chapter was the perfect wrap up to this series as we see them celebrating together as a family!

**I received a copy of Sullivan's Promise from Random House-Ballantine and Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review. My opinions expressed below are not solicited in any way.**

Sullivan's Promise by Joan Johnson encompasses several of the authors series of books and this is Ryan Sullivan and Victoria Grayhawk's story. I have not read any of the previous books so I am at a bit of a disadvantage not knowing the background of the blended families. For me there were several distracting moments but the book is very good and very good.

Ryan Sullivan had a one night stand with Vic Grayhawk that gave both of them a surprise with little Cody. With Victoria head to college and not wanting to raise a child Ryan manned up to become the dad he's always wanted to be. When Victoria completes her studies her once a month visitations with her son aren't enough. When an accident happens with Mike Ryan's brother he's faced with needing her assistance to care for Cody. Is there a possibly of both Ryan and Victoria discovering that they can fall in love and become a couple?

Victoria Grayhawk works tirelessly protecting the bears and wolves in the surrounding area. Even though she loves her time with her son she wants more. But when Ryan's brother is attacked and wounded by a Grizzly he asks her to help with taking care of Cody and the house while his mother stays with Mike. She starts to wonder if Ryan could be the person she's always loved is there a possibility of a forever after?

There are several stories being wrapped up with all of the families in the series but not having read those stories I don't want to ruin the story lines by being wrong.

I loved this book! At first, I had a hard time keeping track of characters, there are a lot of them. But all in all a great easy read.

Sullivan's Promise was a very enjoyable read. I loved the story and the characters. I also really enjoyed a few familiar characters. I am sad this is the last book in the series but with so much going on and so many emotions, I think this was a fantastic way to to end it.
Received an advanced copy

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion. Joan never disappoints and Sullivan’s Promise is another amazing book.

I enjoyed how all the characters stories were entertwined and the HEA ending.

He was taught every thing was black and white. She shows him that there are other choices. A one night stand leads to a unforgettable night of passion with consequences. Can he forgive her for what she did? Will her guilt & abandonment issues keep her having the love of her life?

Ryan “Rye” Sullivan runs the Rafter S ranch along with his brother. A one night of overwhelming passion has him thinking he's found his soul mate. Waking up alone and not able to find her he's hurt. A few months later when she shows up pregnant and wanting to give the baby up for adoption they make a deal. Rye takes his son to raise and she goes back to her life. Only six months later, when Lexie aka Vick Grayhawk shows up and wants to have a relationship with her son. Rye keeps her to the agreement that her lawyer insisted on. Five years later when a bear attack leaves Rye's brother Mike fighting for his life he needs help. Vick agrees to move in temporarily but vows to change the visitation rights even if she has to take him to court. The big problem is that neither of them can forget that night so long ago. Desire is always there so they avoid each other which they now can't do. It gives them a chance to really get to know each other. Vick is thrilled to be able to spend more time with their son. A Sullivan family secret is revealed when Rye and Vick give blood. Rye starts to realize that maybe things are always black and white like his father taught him it was supposed be. They get to know each and the desire for each other grows. A date with a deputy sheriff has Rye butting into the date. An accident cuts short the date and Rye takes her home. His sister is home and Vick leaves. They'd just made plans to get together and date. At home to pick up more things she gets a visit from Rye along with the deputy sheriff who she ends up breaking off with. They have a passionate moment and go beck to the ranch house. Vick's past has her wondering if she can trust Rye to stay around. They go on a bear hunt looking for the bear who attacked his brother and killed a woman. Rye's brother begins the long road to recovery. He confronts his mother about the secret. Vick is surprised by his revelation of the secret and his feelings about it. A meeting is set up, a wedding held and he wonders about the ranch. The brother comes home and just wants to be left alone. Vick's twin goes into labor and she goes home to be with her taking their son and Rye along. Secrets are revealed and they meet family. Rye makes plans to relive their first night together but Vick has other plans. A trip to pick up their son has Vick worried when Rye is gone. She needs a babysitter but can't get a hold of anyone. Her brother shows up and she takes off after him. A few years later at a fourth of July family get together has Vick and her female relatives either pregnant or just had a baby. Vick reveals a secret she's been keeping. Rye's brother keeps to himself because of his injuries but Vick is determined to find him a woman who will love him.

Joan Johnston write a riveting story of love, passion and forgiveness. And over coming the fear that the person who love so desperately won't leave you like in your past. That there is always another way to look at things. It's not always black and white. If you let go of your dreams and hurt that you can find the love you thought you lost and have your true love. It doesn't matter whether your blood or not family is what you make it. I'd love to have the brother's story told in the future or maybe onto the next generation of Bitter Creek ranchers from the Sullivan, Flynn and Grayhawk kids.

I liked the story it was a good read but at times it was confusing who the main characters of the story are since it flips from one couple to others. Overall I liked this book and the journey of Rye & Victoria's HEA.
Victoria Grayhawk does what she believes is the right thing after a one night stand that results in pregnancy. She leaves her child behind with his father Rye Sullivan but years later she has a change of heart so she comes back but Rye is unforgiving. After a tragedy Rye needs her help and they are forced together so feelings develop further. They finally work through the hurt and put the past behind them to find their HEA.

Ryan "Rye" Sullivan is now a single father to a six month old son.
He had a one night stand with Lexie.
Lexie is Victoria Grayhawk "Vick"
She was twenty two and didn't to be a single mother.
Six months later, she's back in Rye's life wanting to use her parental visitations and buys a cabin next door.
Rye had dreams and a hot hook up with Lexie.
Can these two find a way to be co-parents and maybe more?
Recommend.

Closure. That's just one of the things this book offers. With each of the other books in this series, I've felt as if I had more questions than answers, but this book answers all of those questions. Relationships are reignited and the drama lessens. Now all we need to see is Mike's happy ending. Hopefully that will be coming soon!

After a hookup with a man she met at a Jackson Hole bar, Victoria Grayhawk leaves with a souvenir, a pregnancy. A baby doesn’t fit into her life plan, as she is committed to her job of protecting endangered species. She reaches out to the baby daddy, rancher Ryan Sullivan, hoping that he will agree that adoption is their best option.

Rancher Ryan does not believe adoption is the answer and takes the baby to raise by himself. Vick has regrets and wants a second chance, but Ryan is not willing to give one. Then life happens and hearts change and the strongest of people need help and time to heal wounds.

This book is the 12th installment in the Bitter Creek series by Joan Johnston. I have not read the other novels, but I enjoyed this one enough to check out the rest of the series and maybe all of my questions about character connections will be answered. I can see myself reading this book again, mostly so I get some reader clarity. I liked the book, but it didn’t really stand alone for me. I encourage new readers to The Bitter Creek series to start from the beginning...

The 4th book in a series about two rival ranching families and their satellite relations. In this one, Lexie, a woman who walked away from her baby after a one night stand, decides she wants access to the child ... and maybe his hunky dad too.
The story weaves it's way through several relationships and a lot of secrets ... almost too many to make it a good stand-alone story, but there's plenty of romance, a bit of hot sex and a whole lot of happily ever afters in a well written tale with sympathetic characters, adorable kids and even a bear.
A must for Bitter Creek fans, and worth the read for those of us who are just discovering the very talented Joan Johnston.

It's been a year since I was introduced to these characters. I was eager to find out their history. I was definitely not disappointed. I am so excited I got to go along this journey with them. Thank You.

I have only read a couple of the books in this series, and though this one is considered a stand alone, I felt at times I was at a disadvantage.
That said, once I decided not to let the secondary characters interfere with my reading, I was able to enjoy the book.
The story centers around Victoria Greyhawk, who gave up custody of her child to the father, her one night hook up and Ryan Sullivan, the cowboy whose life the son he loves. When Victoria returns wanting her child back, Ryan is adamant that that will not happen.
The attraction is there, but it isn’t until an unfortunate incident that Ryan takes a different stand.
This is a story about hope, trust and second chances.
I was entrusted a copy of this book by Netgalley. The opinions expressed are solely my own.

I enjoyed this book and I love the chemistry between Victoria and Ryan. This story is about Victoria meeting a cowboy named Ryan and how they spend one night together. of course there is an unexpected consequence. Victoria makes they decision to find the Ryan and do the right thing and give up their baby for adoption. Ryan does not want to give up the baby. Then Victoria changes her mind but Ryan does not trust. It was a good story and I enjoyed it very much.

There’s a lot goin’ on in this book! Sullivan’s Promise is a standalone however characters from previous books (like the families of the hero and heroine) show up and I always like to know who they are. There is always room for more about them but this story is about Victoria Grayhawk (Vick) and Ryan Sullivan.

I won’t even try to talk about the plot because it is finely woven around three families. (You’ll meet the third family when you start to read.) It did sorta make me chuckle because who could think up the interactions of all of these people? Ms. Johnston did a great job laying out the story and it answered some questions that I had from previous books. Again, not a deal breaker if you haven’t read the previous books in the series.

I didn’t ever think that Vick got the short end of the stick with Ryan and their son. I was firmly in Ryan’s camp, although it seemed that no one else was. Vick certainly changed a lot over the course of the story (and before) but still, I’m not one to automatically give a break to the heroine just because. IMHO, she needed to work for it. And she does.

Ryan’s family also has some blows dealt to them and Ryan is left to work things out by himself…until Victoria helps guide him. They make a good team, if both can get past their own hurts, dreams, and trauma.

I enjoyed this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy from NetGalley. The opinions expressed, above, are honest and my own.

It is easy to get confused while reading, Sullivan's Promise. First Rye keeps calling Vick, Lexie. Second, there is more than their relationship going on in the book. Vick's sister and brother's story is going on at the same time. Back and forth. I thought that the sister already had her own book, hince the confusion.

Ryan and Victoria (Vick) had a wild one night stand, which resulted in a little baby boy Cody. Vick wants to give the baby up for adoption, but Ryan wants his son. After 6 months, Vick realizes her mistake, and begs Ryan to let her have time to get to know her son. Five years later is where the majority of the story takes place, so you see the slowly tearing down of walls between them, and adorable Cody. When Ryan's younger brother Mike gets attacked by a bear, it throws the family out of kilter, and Vick moves in to help take care of Cody, which helps the relationship bond. The story also branches off a bit and touches on the siblings of both characters, and their stories are expanded on from previous books. I liked this, but I had also read the other books so knew the characters. Those who had not read the previous may not find this useful, so just a heads up. I would give this a 4.5 and highly recommend this book and series and author. This is suppose to be the last in this series, but I really hope that Mike gets a story.