A MUST READ!! I LOVED this novel! Sullivan's Promise is the last book in the King's Brat series. I recommend starting with the first King's Brat book, to thoroughly enjoy this series, but it can be read standalone. The Bitter Creek series is my all time favorite series of Joan Johnston's novels. In this last installment of King's Brats, we get Victoria Grayhawk and Ryan Sullivan's story. A one night stand that led to an unexpected pregnancy is what starts all the emotional turmoil. Vick wants the baby to be adopted by a loving family and Rye will have none of it. He is raising his son and to hell with Victoria Grayhawk. These 2 characters are the epitome of opposites attract, and second chance love. This novel takes you on an emotional journey of forgiveness and love. The push and pull between Vick and Rye gave me all the feelings you crave in a great romance novel. I absolutely loved the Epilogue and I hope Rye's brother Mike Sullivan will eventually get his own novel and Happily Ever After. Read the Bitter Creek Series! You won't be disappointed. No other author captures the authentic Western Romance like Joan Johnston!

*I voluntarily reviewed an ARC*

It was great to read Vick and Rye’s story. Book 12 in her Bitter Creek Series ties almost everything up. While I have read the previous books in the series, I was sometimes not sure who from the other books was with whom and why. I wish she had gone into a little more detail of who and how the others had become a couple instead of jumping to their stories for a quick update.

I have read almost all of Ms. Johnston's Bitter Creek books and this one had to be one of my favorites. Although I am sad to see the end of the King's Brats, I hope that they might reappear later. I read this book in one day, because once I started I didn't want to stop. This book made me cry, laugh, drop my jaw in shock, cringe, cheer and I loved every minute of it. This was mainly the story of Rye and Vic(Lexie) and their son, Cody, but the other King's Brats and those Flynn Boys showed up, too. This book contained struggles, HEAs, and a bombshell or two. I highly recommend this book and all the other Bitter Creek books. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my freely given review.

In this final entry in the King's Brats series, we finally get Vick and Ryan's story. Well actually you get their story plus a few other romances as well. This book is best read as part of the series simply because there are so many characters who are interwoven into this story that readers have become invested in their lives over the years. So this final book was a good wrap up/catch up for everyone in the family. However, even though Joan Johnston did a great job wrapping up this series, she also set up a perfect lead in, hopefully, for Ryan's brother Mike to get his own story.

I truly enjoyed this story even though it built off of others it was easy to follow.

I loved the strength and independence Vick showed but was very upset that she did not fight harder for her son. As a mother, I could no even think to not fight for my kid. But I did however like that she did eventually take control and spend more time with her son.

As for Rye our hero I was also upset with him for cutting Vick out of Cody's life except for a small portion that said I did like seeing him evolve.

overall a really lovely read and I truly enjoyed the romance and friendship that was built between these two characters.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

I've read other books in the series and enjoy this author but found this book a bit choppy. For that reason I would say 3.5 stars. It bounced around between Rye and Vick's story and the stories of their families: both have or discover they have step sibling's. Although it might have been intended to backfill the story so the novel can stand alone, I found it muddied the story. I didn't care about all the feuds and deception between their family members and found it highly unlikely that so many affairs, unknown parents, and deception could occur in two families. .

Don't get me wrong the first half of the book or so (about 12 chapters) was all about Rye, Vick and the son Cody she gave up for adoption. It gave the background of Rye's family farm where the story takes place as his brother (or step-brother as he discovers early on) has been mauled by a grizzly bear, the species of which Vick defends and protects through her job with endangered animals. After only seeing her son 1 weekend a month for 4+ years she ends up moving in to Rye's house to watch their son full-time while his mother is at the hospital tending his brother. They decide to explore where the relationship might go in the future.

Since they're both so dedicated to their families I found it a dichotomy that the only person Vick told about her pregnancy and subsuquent adoption of the child by the birth father was her twin sister. It just didn't fit to me that she wouldn't turn to her sister's for support during the difficult years and that they never suspected. They never visited her when she bought a cabin in Montana to be near Cody. All in all I enjoyed the book and would hope the author continues the series with Mike's story.

This is one of the best books I have read in a while, read it in a day couldn’t put it down.
It is a fitting end to Kings Brats, a culmination of endings which brings conclusion to the all books which normally you’re left wondering about I do hope that Joan writes Mikes story I think that would be great. As you can tell I thoroughly recommend this book but then again I haven’t read one of Joan’s books I didn’t enjoy.

Sullivan's Promise was the last book in Joan Johnston's Brat Series. Even though it is a stand alone I would highly recommend reading the other books in the series to get the full back story. Rye and Vick are the main characters in this book even though her sisters are featured. Vick gave up custody of their baby Cody to Rye and six months later regretted that decision and came back to start her monthly visists with him. That is the prologue. Fast forward six years and she has moved to Montana to be closer to Cody. Though Rye still insists she can only see him once a month. His brother is attacked and almost killed by a bear and while he is in the hospital Rye asks Vick to move into his house and help with Cody because his mother has decided to stay at the hospital to watch over his brother. Rye realizes his feelings for Vick have never changed but the two have a lot to overcome in the trust department. I like how Joan was able to weave the other sisters into the book and finish up their stories without taking anything away from the main characters. Sometimes when too many characters are in a book it is hard to follow all the stories. That wasn't the case with this book. I really enjoyed reading the epilogue but I won't give any of that away. If you have already ready read the other stories in this series you will be happy how and surprised how this book ended.

What a wonderful read! I simple love Joan Johnston. She not only grabs your attention from the very first page, she keeps it until the end.
This is the final book in the King’s brats series . It’s the story of Victoria Grayhawk and Ryan Sullivan. The obstacles they have to overcome are complex and very exciting, with a few twists and turns thrown in. I don’t want to give to much away but there’s one part of the book that took me by surprise. It was awesome! There’s lots of tension and heartfelt emotion. I thoughly enjoyed it! Can’t wait to see what Ms. Johnston comes up with next!

Having come into this series with this book, and though the author did an excellent job of providing the backstory, it took me much of the first half of the book to understand each player and their part in the overall story...especially when the story unexpectedly changed gears with the focus of a different character. Rye and Vick’s story was fraught with misunderstandings, thoughtlessness, misconceptions, and overall shortsightedness...they were a couple though that I found myself rooting for them to overcome all the pitfalls of their journey to their HEA.

Each of the characters in the story had unique and defined personalities...their presences would shine through, above the others, when their story was at the forefront. It was easy to become invested in each character’s successes...and feel their heartbreak at their disappointments. All in all a nicely wrapped up story/series.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

Sullivan's Promise is an outstanding western romance by Joan Johnston. Ms. Johnston has provided readers with a book that is well-written and populated it with a stellar cast of characters. Vick gave up her baby to his father. Six months later she was at Sullivan's door, admitting her mistake and wanting to see her son. Vick and Sullivan's story is packed with drama, bits of humor, action and spice. Sullivan's Promise hooked me from page one and kept me glued to my e-reader way past bedtime. I enjoyed every page. This story does have little glimpses of what's going on in other family members lives that may confuse new to this series readers, but for those that have been reading the series, it's a great visit with past characters. Sullivan's Promise is book 12 of the Bitter Creek Series, but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger. I just hope the next book is Mike's story.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the latest book in the Bitter Creek series and features Victoria and Ryan's story. They meet, have a red hot one night stand and end up conceiving a child. Victoria panics and leaves the boy with Ryan for the first 6 months due to things that happened in her past. Ryan is bitter and when Vic tries to come back it takes a long time for him to forgive her. There are a lot of other couples in the book that have been in previous Bitter Creek stories so I would start with the first in the series. Enjoyable second chance romance.

Vick and Ryan had a one night stand that resulted in a child. At the time, Vick didn’t think that she was prepared to be a mother, so she gave Ryan full custody with minimal visitation rights for herself. Six months later, she realized that she had made a mistake. Five years later, she made a permanent move to a property adjacent to Ryan’s family’s ranch. For a long time, Ryan thought that all ha felt for Vick was hate, but there is a fine line between love and hate. As expected, they eventually admit that they love each other and get their HEA. The book provides a goos deal of follow-up on the couples from the three earlier books in the series, so it may not function well as a stand-alone book. However, for those who read the earlier books, it brought welcomed closure.

Sullivan’s Promise, a second chance contemporary romance tells the story of Victoria “Vick” Grayhawk, the youngest of the King’s Brats. Years ago, she made a huge mistake giving up her son Cody. Now, she wants him back. First, she must persuade Ryan Sullivan, who is determined to keep Vick at arm’s length, that leaving their son behind was something she regrets.

In the foregone conclusion to the Bitter Creek series written by Joan Johnston. Just wasn’t what I hoped for. The story dragged, and the chemistry between Ryan and Vick just wasn’t there. I was more interested in the wrapping up of Matt and Jennie storyline than the two main characters. Being a mother myself, I just couldn’t see how Vick could give birth and then hand her child over. Then five years later, after the baby can almost take care of himself, she regrets giving up that child. I just didn’t by it. I think this may be the reason I find this story rates only 3/5 stars.

I thought this book was really well written. I enjoyed the level of detail and the interactions among the main and secondary characters. I think this is just a personal reaction but I had such a hard time warming up to Victoria. As a mother, I couldn't relate to her just walking away from her baby. Then she shows up six months later and she's all pushy about visitation and wanting to be in Cody's life. The book then jumps five years to the opening chapter where it is mentioned that she's voluntarily lived out-of-state for five years and only seen Cody one weekend per month. I had a really hard time getting past all that. If that sort of thing doesn't bother you, I think you'll really enjoy this book.

I was lucky to receive an ARC from one of my favorite romance authors through Netgalley. I have been a huge fan of the Bitter Creek novels. Sullivan’s Promise is high up on my favorites as the story of the family and those around them continue. Victoria Grayhawk and Ryan Sullivan share a son from a one-night stand. Victoria, scared, made a bad choice and has had to suffer the consequences of not being able to see her son as much as she’d like. Rye has not let her forget her bad choice either. Due to unforeseen circumstances they are thrown together, really close. Is Rye who he thought he was ‘it’s a small world’ is all I can say. I love Joan’s characters. Even when they make stupid decisions, somehow, I still like them, that is a gift that Joan has. There is so much going on in this book. I don’t think any of Joan’s books have just one love story…it’s like getting a bonus. You can read this as a stand alone but give yourself a gift and get the whole shebang…you won’t regret it! I hate to tell you how many times I have re-read some of these books, I might start over until the next book comes out! Mike Sullivan has GOT to have his story! PLEASE JOAN!

Too little, too late. Where has she been for six months?

In five years, they apparently have never changed the custody arrangements. Sad.

Holy crapper. What a time to find this stuff out!

Buh-bye, Sherry.

Heck, staying over at his mom's house must be like going to a day spa for Cody. But it's nice that their parenting styles complement each other.

Where did you go, Matt?

Grow some balls, Leah.

Dying in the tub would be tragic. But isn't she dirty now, since she hugged him?

Aw come on, man!

Sorry, Pete.

I don't know why he should tell her every little thing he does for Cody. Shouldn't she ask?

Nate is still wonderful.

Poor Robin.

I'm sorry you had to do that, Lexie.

Leah needs therapy.

I'm glad she was finally able to get Ryan's trust. But she's not psychic, man!

It's Mike's turn.

I have been waiting a long time for this book, and it was worth it. Sullivan's Promise wraps up a long time series by Joan Johnston. This book answers a long of questions I had from reading previous books in the series. It is one again well researched, and gives some background on the behaviors of grizzly bears and humans. This book was set in Montana, Wyoming, and Texas. Family, love, love lost are all through this book and at the end it all comes together in a way that makes the reader very happy. Throughout this book, I laughed, cried, was angry, and ended being very very happy. I will miss the families in this series, but will be reading it again.

SULLIVAN'S PROMISE by Joan Johnston was a sweet read on a second chance romance! Joan Johnston is a wonderful storyteller and she makes you feel as though you're right there with the families she writes about! I really felt for Mike and want a happy ending for him (hint).