Instead of the expected hanging, Leonard decrees that Johnny spends the next two years of his life in Paradise, California under the guardianship of Judge McMann. Though pleased with the reprieve and fully understanding the second chance, Johnny remains upset that his sentencing delays his efforts to attain vengeance on Dirk Bledsoe and his gang who killed his family. Ragan Ramsey works as a housekeeper for the wheelchair bound Judge. On first contact with Johnny, she finds him alluring but dangerous.
Subsequent contacts seem to have the duo struggling with an attraction by arguing with each other.
Johnny soon becomes embroiled with the town s trouble with gangs. As he falls in love with Ragan, he and the townsfolk face a moral dilemma involving a beloved hostage. Faster than a speeding bullet or Superman changing his wardrobe, Lori Copeland has risen towards the top of the western romance sub-genre. The story line emphasizes the war between love and a wonderful future Vs revenge and a horrid past. Readers easily comprehend the motivations of the lead characters and that provides tension and propels the plot to its bang-bang climax.