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Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: As a Texan, I enjoy reading about the early days of the Republic, but Joan Johnston makes some historical mistakes that jarred me out of the novel several times, and Cricket's father Rip just isn't a sympathetic character at all. Johnston tries to convince us he's a loving father, but the man is frankly a child abuser and no motivation justifies his treatment of his daughters. She also made some errors with Comanche culture, especially the Numu language. This series is entertaining if you simply want to read a romance, but fans who select historical fiction tend to be quite knowledgeable about their favorite time periods, and WILL catch glitches. I think this talented author could have been a bit more careful with her research and the novel would have been MUCH more entertaining. For that reason, only two stars.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderfully done!
Review: Creighton "Cricket" Stewart is a woman of many means, a woman of strength, a woman who would rather live as a man, until Jarrett Creed. Jarrett Creed, a Texas Ranger, who also, like Cricket, is a loner, until he meets Cricket Stewart. The two meet during a time of Comanche raids and the Wild West, before it was won. Their story takes them across Texas and into New Orleans and back again, all to save Cricket's sister, Sloan and the Texas frontier. The last thing the two expect is to fall in love... *****Another five stars from me. This book I approached apprehensively, (I'm not really into these types of novels) but I found that I could not put it down! This novel was wonderful, full of character and humor. I was reading it on my breaks and people were staring at me because I was laughing so hard. This is definitely a good read, and now I'm looking forward the rest of this series called Bitter Creek. ***** Reviewed by Kim Blair
Rating: 
Summary: This book delivers one poor opinion of women!!!
Review: I realize that this book was first published some twenty years ago but that does not excuse its stone-age take on women (or men, for that matter). The author takes great pains to explain that the 3 daughters in the book, were raised to be as men (read a woman of the modern day), then goes on to describe them in a most unflattering light. The youngest (and the main character, here) is completely selfish, stupid, unreasonable and woefully ignorant. The hero, at least, is unfailingly perfect (strong, intellegent and brave). Repeatedly we are confronted with ridiculus sollutions to non-problems, the lovely idea that "no" means "yes"...and women REALLY DO want to be treated as possessions! The constant clap-trap about "being a REAL woman" was embarassing. I had hoped that this book would have at least had some authentic frontier background to it, but beyond the author placing the date at the beginning of the book and one or two names (pulled from history books) thrown in, there was little to suggest that it was anything but a contemporary setting.
I suffer from an unreasonable need to finish any book that I start but this one presented one of the greatest challenges of my 50+ years. The writing was amateurish, the story was pure drek and the sentiments were insulting to all people everywhere.
Rating:
Summary: A really great story!
Review: I thought this was a well written story. It is filled with lots of history and some frontier realities. It has the makings of a wonderful story with strained feelings of love, old enemies and betrayal. The main characters are Creed and Cricket but the story is also very full of Crickets two sisters, her father and Creeds brother Tom and his wife Amy. It's a book that, once started, is very hard to put down. I highly recommend this book. It's a keeper! I am looking forward to reading about the other two sisters in Commanche Woman and Texas Woman.
Rating:
Summary: Texas romance....western style!
Review: Take "Cricket" Stewart, the feisty, hard-headed, independent daughter of Rip Stewart, a Texas rancher and pair her with Jarrett Creed, a feisty, hard-headed, independent Texas Ranger and this book crackles with fireworks on almost every page! Initially I didn't think I was going to care for the rebellious Cricket as a romantic interest for the handsome Ranger because she seemed spoiled in a childlike way, talked rough and even turned into a once a month drunk to quell the pains her monthly cycle brought on. Somehow I didn't see how she'd ever turn into a woman that Creed would be interested in. But, as the story progressed and her interest in the Ranger increased, a gentle, less abrasive heroine begins to take form. Before long she's a perfect match in this tender yet still explosive romance with the dynamic Texas Ranger. I understand that this is the first in the BITTERCREEK series that will include Crickets sisters Sloan and Bay. FRONTIER WOMAN gives enough information about both these women in the storyline to give strong clues that these two women are also going to make for interesting reading. I'm looking forward to their stories as well.
Rating:
Summary: Page Turner
Review: Take "Cricket" Stewart, the feisty, hard-headed, independent daughter of Rip Stewart, a Texas rancher and pair her with Jarrett Creed, a feisty, hard-headed, independent Texas Ranger and this book crackles with fireworks on almost every page! Initially I didn't think I was going to care for the rebellious Cricket as a romantic interest for the handsome Ranger because she seemed spoiled in a childlike way, talked rough and even turned into a once a month drunk to quell the pains her monthly cycle brought on. Somehow I didn't see how she'd ever turn into a woman that Creed would be interested in. But, as the story progressed and her interest in the Ranger increased, a gentle, less abrasive heroine begins to take form. Before long she's a perfect match in this tender yet still explosive romance with the dynamic Texas Ranger. I understand that this is the first in the BITTERCREEK series that will include Crickets sisters Sloan and Bay. FRONTIER WOMAN gives enough information about both these women in the storyline to give strong clues that these two women are also going to make for interesting reading. I'm looking forward to their stories as well.
Rating:
Summary: What an awesome series!!!
Review: This is book 1 in an awesome series about the Texas frontier. Word of warning, if you aren't into romances, this probably isn't for you. I love that the woman of this novel is strong willed and doesn't take any crap from men. Is good to see these aren't wimpering bimbos. When you have finish this book, be prepared to read the other two in the 'Woman' series.
Rating:
Summary: disturbing
Review: This is the first book I have read by Joan Johnston, and I will read more! I love Westerns, be it books or movies and not since Calamity Jane have I seen such heroism in a woman depicted in this genre.
Creighton "Cricket" Stewart,a free spirit, at 17 is the youngest of Rip Stewart's three daughters. Rip is a wealthy cotton plantation owner in Texas at the time it was still a young Republic. Rip taught his daughter's all special skills of survival. In Cricket's case thanks to her father, she was so self reliant that she thought she didn't need any man, ever!She could handle whatever came along, Hostile Indians, Mexican Bandidos, she even had wolves for pets.
Enter Jarrett Creed, a handsome Texas Ranger on a secret goverment mission, to expose traitors to Texas, during this time that the republic was under siege from both Mexiacan armies, and Indians alike. Jarrett, who has lived with an Indian tribe is able to save Cricket from a fix she manages to get herself into with the Comanches ... They both infuriate each other as they travel together to uncover a conspiracy, that also unwittingly has Cricket's sister involved. Together they face danger, adventures, and unexpected romantic situations, which get pretty steamy at times.
And just when you think the story is over, Ms. Johnston gives us a sneak preview of "Texas Woman" and "Commanche Woman" (The stories of her sisters) leaving us wanting more.
I read this book while sitting in hospital waiting rooms, thank you Joan Johnston for taking my mind to another time and place. Laurie
Rating:
Summary: disturbing
Review: This was a difficult book to read. While it's nice to read about a strong heroine, it's another to read about an unreasonable brat, which is what Cricket was. This woman was like a plague leaving destruction and mayhem in her wake. It was unrealistic that she could be the reason for her sister-in-law's tragedy and not only did she not face any consequences, but she did not learn a lesson and she continued on as before. I am happy that this wasn't the first book I read from JJ... it would have been my last.
Rating:
Summary: One star is for the decent writing
Review: While the writing was good, the story was somewhat slow moving & disappointing and the characters left a lot to be desired, particularly the female lead "Cricket." How the hero falls in love w/such a spoiled, immature & utterly selfish person is beyond me. Thoroughout the book, Cricket makes choices simply to be obstinate & winds up hurting others, one in particular, terribly. She causes her sister in law to be brutally raped & beaten & this is glossed over in the book as not being her fault, beacause after all, Cricket didn't mean for it to happen? I've read other Johnston books in the past & like them better, but this one took an effort to get through. Really disappointing.
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