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 has 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.

Book Summary

Two unforgiving lovers reunite for the sake of their child in this fiery contemporary romance from the New York Times bestselling author of Surrender.

Facing the unexpected consequences of a life-altering night of passion with a cowboy she met in a Jackson Hole bar, and with her life committed to protecting endangered species, Victoria Grayhawk does what she believes is the right thing. She hunts down the cowboy, seeking his agreement that their baby should be adopted by a loving family.

Montana rancher Ryan Sullivan has no intention of giving away his own flesh and blood, and takes their son to raise himself. When Vick realizes what a horrible mistake she’s made, and wants back into their child’s life, Rye remains inflexible—because once trust is lost there are no second chances—until an attack by one of the grizzlies Vick has spent her life protecting changes everything and Rye learns that sometimes love can heal all wounds.

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