"Fine contemporary romance"

Bailey "the Street Angel" O'Neil has dedicated her life to rescue youngsters from gang violence. She does right on the mean streets risking her life every time she tries to save a child, but that does not stop her from being convicted as an accessory for hiding a teen in her home. The case serves as a springboard for then DA Clayton Wainwright to become a senator.

Clay feels change is needed in the neighborhoods to lesson the influence of gangs on youngsters. He disagrees with what he feels is Bailey's ardent caring but insane efforts. They have a public dispute going on as to what is best to save the next generation as each argues in the media and whenever they meet. However, one night their war changes to passionate kisses. Each realizes the attraction they have for the other, but is that enough when fundamentally they disagree on how to deal with gangs?

This contemporary romance is built off a real social issue involving how to best deal with the influence of gangs. The lead couple is a wonderful pairing of seemingly opposites though when love intercedes they begin to realize how much in common they truly have, which is the typical case in societal problems. Clay and Bailey are superb characters, who want to help people, but disagree on method making their love for one another so much more fun to follow.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted August 30, 2005

Read an Excerpt

"A master at her craft," award-winning author Kathryn Shay delighted readers with her firefighter trilogy. Now she continues to light up the pages with the story of a man and a woman on opposite sides of the political fence, but the same side of desire.

Summary

She has the face of an angel. But Bailey O'Neil goes where other angels fear to tread: the roughest neighborhoods of New York City. With a heart as big as the city itself, Bailey—known to some as the Street Angel—works to keep teens away from drugs and gang violence. Because she knows what it is to lose a loved one to senseless violence—and because her half-sister would have wanted her to...

It is people like Senator Clay Wainwright who really push Bailey's buttons—so she signs up to help his opponent's campaign. Although Bailey and Clay work for the same cause, their approaches are as different as uptown and downtown. But when the governor assigns both to a gang violence task force, heated discussion soon turns to fiery passion. Now, the two will have to challenge their own beliefs—but the Senator and the Street Angel are always up for a fight...