The Side of the Angels

Five years ago public relations expert Nicky Malone and union organizer Tony Boltanski ended their torrid relationship when he failed to arrive at her relative's wedding having been tied up by an urgent union matter that could not wait for a couple of hours. Though she rebounded with the philandering Jeremy for three years, Nicky knows that she never got over Tony, the one that got away. Meanwhile, Nicky's widowed practicing Catholic mother prays that her daughter get married. The nurses of St. Francis Hospital in Winsack, Rhode Island are on strike over working conditions and patient safety. Coventry, Inc sees the bottom line as money not care; they demand changes such as nurse-patient ratio going from 1:3 to 1:8. The hospital administration has made the nurses look like the bad guys to the public; Nicky begins a PR campaign to counteract that impression. However, she works with Tony, who believes in inside fastballs that would knock his grandmother down while Nicky thinks a soft sell is needed. Adding to the charged atmosphere is the unfinished business between two driven people who still love one another. This entertaining contemporary romance focuses on a serious social issue yet contains amusing sarcastic asides. The story line provides a deep look at media spinning in which both sides spend time painting a negative position of their opponents (sounds familiar). That is where Nicky and Tony differ as she believes their side can sell the nurses' argument of deteriorating patient care while he believes you foster the image that management are scrooges. Though the strike resolution seems hasty, fans will enjoy this labor dispute romance. Harriet Klausner

This was a fun read. I loved the innovative and intricate plot, the engaging cast of characters, and the evocative setting (an old RI mill town). I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to root for the underdog. It was especially fun to root for Nicky Malone, the novel's smart, sexy, feisty, and fearless heroine. I'm looking forward to Bartolomeo's next novel, "Snowed In," which is due out this fall.

I really enjoyed Bartolomeo's second novel, "The Side of the Angels." Yeah, there was a fair amount of romance (for the ladies), but the strike plot was very interesting, and Bartolomeo makes a lot of funny and interesting observations. Honestly, I never understood what Nicky (the female lead) sees in Tony (her lughead love interest), but as I said, I wasn't reading the book for the romance as much as for the plot. I did like the Louise character though, maybe because I once dated a gal like that. Anyway, I never would have read this book if my girlfriend hadn't recommended it, but I'm not sorry I did. It was a fun read, and I'd highly recommend it.

Christina Bartolomeo's books are funny, engaging, and well-written. I read all of The Side of the Angels in one sitting, and I definitely recommend it. However, if you are from DC or you know the area well, the typos and inaccuracies will drive you NUTS...Loudoun is misspelled Loudon, (Upper) Marlboro becomes Marlborough, and so forth.

A refreshing departure from the stale "Sex and the City" genre, "The Side of the Angels" offers a warm, witty look into modern day romance. Author Bartolomeo displays yet again that she has an unrivaled gift for storytelling that will keep the reader turning the page; personally, I found myself absorbed by the book's engaging story (set against the backdrop of a nurse's strike in Rhode Island) and lovable, scrappy cast of characters. This is a plucky novel with heart, even better than Bartolomeo's award-winning "Cupid and Diana." I strongly recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun, intelligent, and memorable read.