Website of award winning novelist Sue Swift Workout Room, Authors' Mansion Category:  Mystery/Suspense Publisher: Silhouette Romance ISBN-10:  0373195745 Type: Fiction Pages: 185 Copyright: Feb 1 2002 Lori Perkins has escaped her abusive husband, changed her name and her appearance, and hidden herself in a tiny town in southern New Mexico.Now, as Serenity Clare, she uses New Age techniques such as crystal meditations and visionquests to heal from the abuse. All is well until a no-name, sexy cowboy appears at her door... ...the stranger doesn't know his name, but he knows "Lori Perkins" and, apparently, how to find her. Though frightened by the possibility that he was sent by her criminal ex-husband, Serenity takes in the stranger using the logic, "Keep your friends close but your enemies closer." She doesn't nurse the amnesiac cowboy to health but hopes he'll remain nameless and aimless. He adapts quickly to her New Age, vegetarian lifestyle, helping her with her small tarot reading business, stringing crystal necklaces, bringing her withered backyard back to life. In the process, her shattered heart begins to heal...she becomes open to loving the mysterious stranger. But he's not free to claim a future loving Serenity until he discovers his past. Excerpt The Ranger and the Rescue Chapter one The most beautiful man Serenity Clare had ever seen stood at her door. Tall, lean, and utterly virile, his appearance was as unexpected as the proverbial snowball in you-know-where. A slender ribbon of desire unfurled deep in Serenity's body, tingly and warm. She blinked, surprised. She'd thought Hank had destroyed her passion for any man. What was different about this guy? He removed his Stetson, revealing short, sable hair. The pressure of his hat in the searing heat of the New Mexico summer afternoon had stuck his hair to his skull. Rubbing his scalp, he asked, "Lori Perkins?" Serenity took the question like a punch to the gut. Pleasure fled, blown away like dust in the desert wind. She shrank back, craving the solidity of the doorpost behind her. She hadn't used that name in close to a year and didn't want to hear it now. She gazed at him while breathing deeply to recapture a calm state of mind. "I'm afraid you've made a mistake. Excuse me." She tried to close the door, but he stuck his booted toe in the way. "You're Lori Perkins. I've seen a picture of you." Resignation filled her chest, a frightful, leaden weight. "Who are you?" she managed to whisper. He hesitated. His Adam's apple bobbed. Bambi-brown eyes looked too gentle for his craggy face. He shifted from side to side; his heels crunched on the gravelly stoop. "I don't rightly know, ma'am." His twang reminded her of home. A tremor ran through her body. Texas was the past, something she wanted to forget. This was getting worse and worse. "You don't know what?" "My name. I was hoping you could help me." He swayed slightly. "I…I woke up in the desert, and I remembered your name and address." The icy fingers of fear clawed at her wits. Serenity sucked in a deep breath, commanding her body to quit trembling and her mind to begin functioning. She had to discover who this man was and how he found her. "Do you have an I.D.?" "Huh?" He stared, glassy-eyed. "Turn around." He did. Hmm, she thought. The left back quarter of his jeans showed a lean, shapely buttock. A faded square marked the place in the back pocket where ninety-five out of one hundred men kept their wallets. Vanished, it would provide no answers, reveal no secrets. "Why do you know my name, but not your own?" Turning to face her, he opened his hands in a helpless gesture. "Bend down. Maybe you took a whack to the head." "I do have a headache."He obliged, leaning over from the waist. Serenity gingerly ran her fingers through his thick, dark hair, catching his male, musky scent while she parted the locks. He jerked as she contacted sticky wetness. "Oh, my." At his temple, a lump the size of a half-dollar oozed blood. It looked bad. She released him, then regarded him thoughtfully as he swayed, obviously ill, on her doorstep. If she sent him away, he could die. In his current weakened condition, without remembering the reason he'd been sent to find her, she was sure she could keep him under control. "Hmm. You know me, but I don't know you...and you don't know you. Well, you've come to the right place." Serenity opened the door wider, inviting him inside. "How's that? Do you know me?" Her mind raced. What could she tell him? "Umm, no, but I'm a psychic. Don't worry about a thing--the cards see all, know all, and have all the answers. And if the cards don't tell us what we want to know, we can always try the crystal ball or the Ouija board. Don't worry--something will work." He gulped. That Adam's apple again. He was positively edible, this amnesiac cowboy who'd turned up on her doorstep like a tumbleweed. Serenity reminded herself that he couldn't be the only person who knew the location of Lori Perkins. Feeling exposed while standing outside, she retreated into her home. Her stomach clenched and twisted. How had this stranger found her? She bet he'd been sent to check her out and report back to--back to-- Her mind flinched away from the thought of Hank. Until she figured out what to do, she'd keep him close. In his befuddled condition, she was sure she'd remain safe...at least for a while. * * * He remembered to duck as he entered Lori Perkins' house, but that was about all he remembered. That, and the woman…

Huntress Book Reviews
5 STARS! > > Her name used to be Lori Perkins. She had been blond and married to a > man named Hank Perkins. Hank had not only been an abusive husband, but > also a con man. But she had left that all behind when she ran away > from her abused life and divorced Hank. > > 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! ***** > > > > HUNTRESS BOOK REVIEWS > > (Reviewed by Detra Fitch) > > Posted: http://www.huntressreviews.com/rom.htm >

Wordweaving review of Ranger and the Rescue
Fantastic New Age charm! Highly recommended The black and white photograph bears little resemblance to the flame-haired sprite before him, but the cowboy knows her true identity. Serenity Clare does not recognize the sexy cowboy on her doorstep, but he somehow recognizes her, calling her by the name she left behind a year ago. Hearing her former name frightens Serenity, making her wonder if her horrifically abusive former husband has sent this amnesiac cowboy to report her location. With no other memory than Serenity's true name, this man nicknamed Justus willingly accepts her aid. A leopard printed thong and two healed bullet wounds to his back don't reveal much about this stranger living in her home. Yet Serenity can't help but wonder if instead a threat of danger he brings a promise of new beginnings and healing. Author Sue Swift brings her love for the unusual to THE RANGER & THE RESCUE. Her deep understanding of new age philosophies and tools becomes apparent with heroine's love of natural foods, morning yoga meditations, and crystals. As the reader discovers the reasons that Serenity Clare has turned to new age solutions to her troubled past, one's sympathy and compassion can't help but deepen the reading experience. Further, tarot card reading and aura photographs prove to be unusual yet delightfully fresh methods for establishing an identity for this amnesiac hero. Quirkily, gently erotic, and wonderfully entertaining, THE RANGER & THE RESCUE comes very highly recommended. Cindy Penn editor@wordweaving.com Senior Editor, http://wordweaving.com Amazon top 50 reviewer eBook Specialist, Midwest Book Reviews

The Word on Romance
Lori Perkins, AKA Serenity Clare, opens her door to an injured, amnesiac cowboy. Thankful he can remember nothing, Serenity is sure he's come at the behest of her ex-abusive husband, Hank, to uncover her hiding place. Serenity has made a new life for herself as a tarot reader in the quiet town of Lost Creek. Slowly Serenity begins to trust "Justus", and begins to think there may be a future after all. "Justus" remembers nothing of his past. Serenity rescued him, gave him a home, and most importantly her trust and love. His nightmares conjure memories of someone trying to kill him...or is he that is doing the killing? But the fog simply won't part. Has he truly been sent to return Serenity to her ex-husband or is there another reason he's come to Lost Creek? THE RANGER & THE RESCUE is the second offering from author Sue Swift. I was privileged to read and review her first book, HIS BABY, HER HEART and I'm thrilled to be able to say that THE RANGER & THE RESCUE is even better! Ms. Swift joins together two sometimes overused plot themes, cowboys and amnesia, in an interesting and unique fashion. I've purposely left the book summary very vague, for to do otherwise would give entirely too much away, readers should be able to savor this wonderful book without any spoilers. Wonderful characterizations, clever plot pacing, and a very interesting outcome make THE RANGER & THE RESCUE another winner for author Sue Swift. I look forward to many more books from the pen of this very talented lady. Judith Rippelmeyer