When I requested this I had no idea it was the last book in the series. It works okay as a standalone, but it did affect my enjoyment a bit.

Ryan "Rye" Sullivan and Victoria "Vick" Greyhawk had one amazing night of passion together, but Vick fled before Rye could wake up and try to pursue her properly. When she returns 9 months later wanting to give up their baby for adoption, Ryan keeps their son and never expects to see her again. Having realized she's made a huge mistake, Vick returns to be apart of their son's life, but Rye isn't willing to forgive or forget. When a family crisis throws them together, Rye's resolve to freeze her out is tested, since he's never really gotten over her at all.

This was cute, and sweet, but because it was the last book in a series, the author spent quite a bit of time away from our main couple trying to tie up a bunch of loose ends. There were at least three other romances (featuring previously introduced characters) trying to play out quickly on the sidelines. I just wasn't invested in those, and I got tired of the info dumps explaining what had happened in previous books. But for those who've read the other books it's probably a completely different experience!

I will say that I'm definitely looking forward to reading Mike's book, which HAD BETTER HAPPEN FOR MY POOR SCARED BABY.

This was my first book by Joan Johnston. It was also the 12th book in the Bitter Creek series. Could this stand alone if you haven't read any of the prior books? Well, yeah, but if you're like me you'll enjoy it more if you've read some of the others first. I feel like needed to know more about the other characters in order to fully enjoy it. That being said, it was still an engaging story.

Rye Sullivan and Vick Grayhawk had a one night stand years ago that resulted in pregnancy. Vick didn't want the baby, so Rye had sole custody of their little boy. Later Vick realized how much she loved the baby, but was given very little time to spend with their child; she wanted that to change. Vick rented a cabin close to Rye's family's ranch so she could participate more in Cody's life. When Rye's brother was seriously mauled by a bear and was near death, Rye decided to have Vick move into his home since his mother was at the hospital and couldn't be home to watch Cody. Could their long-ago attraction overcome their issues and bring them back together?

I enjoyed the romance between Rye and Vick. They both were not always likeable, being bitter about the past and worried about their futures. That just made everything seem more real. They had to learn to get over what previously happened and learn to trust again. I would have enjoyed the story more if they were the lone couple; however, the three (four?) other couples took away too much focus from the leads. The pacing of their romance faltered a bit because the storyline was often interrupted by the others' stories. Still, I liked the book and was really rooting for Rye, Vick and Cody to have a much-deserved happy ending.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

This was my first Joan Johnston book. Though I didn't feel jumping in twelve books into this series was a deterrent to enjoying this story, I do think to know the backstories might have helped.

I was torn on this book. The writing is excellent. The characters were very well written and compelling. I didn't love Ryan and Vick but I was engaged in their lives and interested in finding out what happened. I liked Vick's complexity when it came to dealing with the bear that nearly killed Ryan's brother. What I didn't like was all the lies. Every person in this story was keeping secrets and creating highly dysfunctional relationships. Grown adults with tons of responsibility who can't be honest with those closest to them was frustrating.

There were also a lot of side stories that didn't really add to this book. I would have liked the appearances of Leah and the rest of Vick's family more if I'd read the entire series but for this book, I'd rather have stayed with Vick and Ryan.

Johnston is a good writer and fans of romance, westerns and the Bitter Creek series will no enjoy this book.

Reviewed by Jem

This my first book by Joan Johnston so I had not read any of the other books in her series, which I think might had helped me understand some backstory a little bit more. Maybe for those people that have been hard core fans and have read the series, this might be a great book. Unfortunately, I had a hard time connecting with Vick and Rye from the beginning, then the middle of the book started going off into a completely unrelated story, which made me confused and even more disconnected than before. This ended up being a DNF for me.

I received a free, advance copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. All opinions are my own. Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

Finally, we get to Vick’s story, the whys and whos of those missing times, why she moved, why life seemed to be so hard for her. A son! Previous books let you in just enough to tantalize that there is a huge secret she is withholding from the family.

Sullivan’s Promise might be my favorite in the Bitter Creek series; and that is saying a lot because I have enjoyed this series from the beginning. Vick/sometimes Lexie had a one night stand that scared the life out of her due to the connection/feelings she had for Rye Sullivan. Even though she was on the pill, she became pregnant. That scared the life out of her, too. Through turmoil, she gave up her rights to Cody, her son. Thank goodness her lawyer had the foresight to insist on monthly visitation.

Knowing from the beginning she made a mistake, she moves to be close to her son so she can have those weekends with him. It takes a long time for his father to come to grips with her even wanting to see Cody. Then, the bear attack on Mike causes Rye to need a caregiver for Cody. His mother suggests Vick. Of course, Vick wants to spend as much time with Cody as possible even though that puts her in close proximity with Rye.

It is obvious neither Rye or Vick have let go of the connection between them. This time together strengthens it. All the while, there is so much of life going on around them with other family members. Only one of the reasons I like this series – we get to stay connected with extended family members and get surprised by unexpected connections.

Sullivan’s Promise is the most recent in the series and can be read as a stand alone, but I would suggest starting at the very beginning! It may take the summer to get through all of them, but yo will feel as though you are part of an amazing family. They are not ‘painted’ to appear unnatural characters. In fact, just the opposite, Ms. Johnston embeds typical, human flaws in her characters that make them all the more read and adorable.

One cool night in Montana, Rye Sullivan met a beautiful lady, Lexie, and ended up in bed with her. When Rye woke up the next morning, he was alone and bewildered! He thought he had met his soulmate! Time went by and he found out that one night of passion had turned into a baby! Unfortunately, Lexie didn’t want a child and she was willing to give up her rights and her child to Rye. Six months later, Lexie was back, full of remorse and sadness as she tried to explain to Rye that she had made a mistake and wanted to be part of her child’s life again. Rye is reluctant to take her into his son's life as he worried what danger he would chance with his own heart. I enjoyed this sweet story that shows a strong dad and a "flighty" mom and their fight to make the best life for their son and their family. Four strong stars for this contemporary romance.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for allowing me to read and review this book.

I enjoyed this book and the main characters. It must be part of a series which took a little bit of time figuring out all the names and characters.
There was a great deal going on with several side stories. 3 stars.

I enjoyed this story. There are really several romances going on through the story with the main one between Rye and Vick. Rye and Vick had shared one night of passion and then Vick disappeared. She shows up later to tell Rye that she is pregnant and that she will give up all rights to their child. But, Vick changes her mind and Rye doesn't like it. He has to give her visitation, but he doesn't have to like it. Over the last 5 years, Vick has demonstrated that she can be a good mother, but Rye isn't giving her more visitation. After his brother is mauled by a bear, he needs Vick's help and she is so happy to spend more time with Cody. As she also spends more time with Rye, he is thinking he might have been wrong about her. Rye's mother has been harboring a secret for years and it is pretty devastating to Rye. Too much is happening and he needs Vick's support. Can Vick trust his about face or will he turn on her again?

As always Joan Johnston does an awesome job of telling a story. Rye and Vick have a complicated relationship but need to raise a child together. She weaves a tale that intertwines two families together closer than they knew they were before. There are many secrets to be revealed and family members to catch up with. The family drama is ever present as everyone tries to figure out their place in the dynamic. You will love the wide mix of people and places she takes you on this trip that ends happily.

There are 3 stories in this book, due to this I don’t think any got the length it deserved . I would have liked Matt to have gotten his own book as that would make such a complicated and redemption story.
For the main story in this book of Vick and Ryan. I found the use of multiple names very confusing. I was also disappointed on how quickly the issue between them got resolved after it had been building up in the last couple of books. I would have preferred Ryan forgive her because he loved her and not due to the change in his circumstances which opened his eyes to the fact that the world is not black and white .
I love the conclusion to Lea’s and Aiden’s story.

THIS is a story – totally unexpected storyline and you aren’t sure who you like and who you despise. The author completely had my attention when the story began because she presented an opposite view of an unexpected pregnancy. A strong woman who had plans for her life, Victoria Grayhawk never planned that a one night stand would result in a baby. The best solution was to give it up for adoption so she did the right thing and contacted the father to sign the papers. She never expected him to want the baby and only months later, she realized that she wanted to be a part of her child’s life if even only for a few days a month.

Ryan Sullivan would never allow a child of his to be raised by anyone who doesn’t want the child. He won’t budge on the visitation until a family emergency forces him to ask for her help.

A compelling story with an intriguing storyline not always considered in the world of romance writing. The HEA will happen but it will keep you reading past your bedtime!

I was provided an ARC by the publisher for an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was promised or received for the review.

When Vic Grayhawk made the decision to give up the child she had with Ryan Sullivan she came to regret it. Ryan has raised their son on his own. So when Vic shows up on his door step saying she made a mistake and wants to be in her son's life Ryan doesn't want to hear it. But visitations that were set up and a tragic family emergency will change everything. There will be surprises for the Grayhawks, the Flynns as well as the Sullivans that will change all the families in remarkable ways.

Awesome contemporary western style romance. The blurb gives readers a gist of what the book is about but it's so much more. Vick and Rye have a young son that brings them both joy and heartache. The characters have major issues and conflicts to try to resolve. Both the characters and storyline are were so well developed. There is a strong theme of family conflicts and strife throughout this book. I received a complementary copy of this book via Net Galley and chose to write a review. I look forward to reading future books by Ms. Johnston.

I'm so glad I saw this book listed on Netgalley. I am a new fan of Joan Johnston and look forward to reading more of her books; this is the first, but it won't be the last.

This is one of those books that will take hold and drag you into the lives of the characters and make you feel totally invested in their happiness. There was no doubt in my mind that these are “real” people. The feelings that the characters experience are described in such an authentic manner that I could feel the emotions in my own body. I had to swipe tears from my eyes a few times during my reading. The most intense example of this author's ability to bring the story to life was the bear attack. I found myself shaking by the end of it, much as I might expect to be if I'd witnessed something similar in a movie. In real life, I'm sure I would have crapped my pants! No lie. It was an intense scene.

One of the things I liked about the book was that the were a number of subplots surrounding the main story of Rye and Vick. Why not include a bit of romance for Rye's mom and Vick’s brother (no, not together), and even the drama with the extended families of both of them? The author was able to move effortlessly between stories, weaving them together in a way that was both uncertain and inevitable. What a pleasure to allow myself to be carried along on for ride, a ride that had been meticulously orchestrated by a masterful storyteller. I loved it!

Well we’ve reached the end of the road or should we say the start of a whole brand new life for the crazy characters brought to life by Joan Johnston in her Kings Brats Series which is actually a branch off from her Bitter Creek novels. Joan Johnston has captured my interest for quite a while now writing about stuff I love – cowboys, cowgirls and ranching. I’ve never stepped onto a ranch myself but her novels take me to a place that lives in my imagination. In SULLIVAN’S PROMISE Joan Johnston actually ties together a few storylines that have been left behind in the three previous Kings Brat books. But the main storyline centers on Ryan Sullivan and Victoria Grayhawk.
We finally get to know the woman Rye had a one night stand with five years before and had basically left with no word. But from this one night stand Rye was left with an infant son Cody who he has raised with the help of his family. Victoria had finally shown up after six months claiming that she regretted abandoning her baby but Rye had no intention of letting her have custody of this baby. So they agreed on a one weekend a month visit and that is how they proceeded for the last several years.
Neither Rye nor Vick have moved on with their own personal lives it seems. Both equally devoted to Cody in their own way. But life has a way of intruding on even the best plans and that is what happens when Rye’s brother Mike is mauled by a grizzly bear.
Rye has few options. His mother needs to be at Mike’s bedside. His sister is away at school. And the ranch needs his undivided attention. So the only option Rye sees is asking help from Cody’s mother Vick. And that means spending more time than he would like with this woman who so easily walked away from both him and his son.
Vick is delighted to spend more time with Cody. But equally at odds with the idea of living – albeit for a short time – at the ranch with Rye and Cody. There is no choice and she will not turn her back on this opportunity to prove her worthiness at being a more full time mother for Cody.
Of course there are bound to be issues. And one of the biggest hurdles will be with their families that candidly are not aware of the co-parenting agreement. And in SULLIVAN’S PROMISE Joan Johnston reveals quite a few relationships that have managed to remain secret for several years. All of these secrets will finally come to light and in SULLIVAN’S PROMISE the stories of the awful Flynn boys and the King brats come to a very satisfying conclusion.

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

I'm a Joan Johnston fan but haven't read any of the books in this series. It was hard at some points to keep characters straight, since she kept making reference to past story lines but it was still a satisfying read. Kept my attention while on a road trip.

#SullivansPromise #NetGalley

This one evidently had a lot going on in the background, which comes to the foreground, and since I had not read any books prior to this one, I got a bit lost for a while. But easily enough caught up with the mains in this one being Vick(Lexie) and Ryan.
I kind of felt Murphy's Law applied to all the characters in here, but Ryan was awesome, even if he was stubborn, he had Cody's best interests at heart. Vick needed work as I didn't get the warm fuzzies for her, but she did redeem herself somewhat and that was some tense reading (no spoilers--but whew).
I think you would be better to start earlier in the series, even tho this is a stand alone with it's own HEA. I did enjoy the read because it was interesting, twisty, and had more drama that just kept me reading.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily giving my own view and opinions.

This is the twelfth book in the Bitter Creek Series. Ryan and Vick will capture your attention in this heartbreaking and heartwarming story. One night of passion between two strangers left them with a special surprise. When Vick confronts Ryan asking for permission to put the baby up for adoption he chooses to keep the baby and raise it as a single Dad. The plot has many twists and involves several families and some characters from previous books. But this book can be read as a standalone. Lots of drama and no shortage of emotion. Things get interesting months later when she realizes that she made a mistake giving up her rights to the baby. Lots of family dynamics and plenty of twists will have you page turning. I had not read any of the other books in the series and was able to keep up. But I would recommend reading the other books so you'll be up to date on all the interconnecting characters. I read an arc and voluntarily chose to review this book.

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 **