The Ranger & the Rescue [Paperback]

Lori was now named Serenity Clare. She lived in Lost Creek, New Mexico. She was a red head, single, and told fortunes during festivals. She was now the direct opposite of what she once was. Only the fear of Hank ever showing up remained from her previous life. Then a handsome stranger showed up at her door.

The man had wandered in from the desert half dead and with no memory of who he was. The only thing he could recall was the name Lori Perkins. But Serenity had never met the man before. Fearing Hank could have sent him to harm her, but somehow trusting him, she allowed him to remain with her. (Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.) She would care for his injuries and find out who he was. Until then she nicknamed him Justus, because a tarot reading stated he had "justice" on his side. Serenity did not know she was opening the door to her past AND her future!

** I cannot say enough great things about this story! Simply put, it was wonderful. A strong hero with an even stronger heroine. I found myself proud of Serenity, and when a reader can feel something for a character, then the author has done an outstanding job! Here is a book you will be unable to put down until the last page has been turned. Non-stop action with heart-stopping (but not too detailed) romance. PERFECT!

Serenity Clare is wary at finding a stranger on her doorstep -- especially a stranger who knows her name, but not his own. She brings the handsome cowboy into her home, hoping to discover how he knows her location, without giving away her secrets. Naming the man Justus, after the Justice card is revealed during his tarot card reading, Serenity slowly falls for his gentle flirting and hard body.

Justus is itching to remember his past, and how he knows this intriguing woman. Despite discovering the simple joys of yoga, organic cooking and the gentle love of a woman, Justus is determined to uncover the mystery of his past -- and the identity of the man who left him for dead in the desert.

Justus and Serenity have a hard time containing their desire for each other, but they cannot act upon their feelings while Justus' past is unknown. Added to this, Serenity's past as a battered wife has left her wary of men and, in her heart, she is struggling to differentiate between Justus and her ex-husband, Hank Perkins. Seeing Justus as a gentle, helpful man calms Serenity -- until she glimpses the bullet wounds on his back.

Not knowing which side of the law he's on, Justus resolves to put his feelings for Serenity on hold until he regains his memory. After enlisting the aid of a local doctor, Justus' boss arrives at Serenity's house with the news of his identity. A single Texas Ranger named Matt Guiterrez, he was part of a group of Rangers assigned to take down Hank Perkins for a pyramid scam. Matt's boss ropes Serenity into helping them bring down Hank, and although she knows hurting Hank will not help her heal, she agrees to aid the Rangers for the sake of Hank's other victims. Quickly marrying Serenity in order to remain by her side throughout the sting, Matt's memory returns and the lovers enjoy their wedding night.

Despite their newfound closeness, Serenity is keeping a vital secret from Matt. Can their marriage withstand the pressure of confronting Serenity's ex-husband and Matt's betrayer? Will Serenity's secret tear the couple apart? Can Matt and Serenity trust in themselves and each other enough to strengthen and salvage their marriage?

Ms. Swift keeps her readers glued to the pages as the plot slowly unfolds and the characters come to life. This is a romance that also deals with domestic violence and criminal behavior, delivering social commentary without being "preachy" and results in an emotionally moving novel.

Swift's talent with the written word shines through in her fresh dialogue. Matt's lines in the first few pages of the book are a little too "aww, shucks, ma'am" -- thankfully, this changes, and is counteracted by Swift's ability to relate the situations, thoughts and feelings in the clearest details. Serenity is a strong, capable woman who is healing herself in the best way she knows. The New Age elements added a deeper dimension to the story, as they did to the character of Serenity. Matt's skepticism over Serenity's rituals was amusing and honest, and made his choices at the novel's ending more meaningful.

I highly recommend THE RANGER AND THE RESCUE to anyone who is searching for a book with excellent writing and strong characters. Swift has combined passion, laughter and suspense into a remarkable novel that will not soon be forgotten.

-- Julie Shininger for Escape to Romance Reviews