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Bayview Heights #4
Between Two Worlds
From gang kid, to famous heart surgeon…John Battaglia is back with his own book. So is the love of his life, Meg Mancini, who he abandoned in his quest for the brass ring. Delve into the world of heart surgery and, once again, into the brutal society of gang life.
John is proud of his rise in the ranks of the medical field. At only thirty-six, he’s performed more surgeries and had more success than most doctors in the middle of their careers. He hasn’t forgotten his roots, though. The Lansing family is still near and dear to him. He’s happy and content with his life. But his outlook changes when he sees Meg again at a shelter where they both volunteer. Old feelings deluge him as their past together resurfaces.
Meg wants nothing to do with hotshot Johnny Battaglia. She was crazy about him years ago, but he broke her heart when he chose a different path from the one they’d planned together. Though she’s satisfied with her life, she’s never found anyone to fill the hole Johnny left in her. But she knows better than to let him get close again.
However, when gang member Dash Bodine, who resembles Johnny in looks and circumstances, brings John and Meg together, they can’t avoid each other. And when they’re together, passion flares. Is that enough? Or will past mistakes preclude any kind of happily-ever-after?
Also, look for appearances by the beloved O’Neils, who are also involved in gang prevention.
John is proud of his rise in the ranks of the medical field. At only thirty-six, he’s performed more surgeries and had more success than most doctors in the middle of their careers. He hasn’t forgotten his roots, though. The Lansing family is still near and dear to him. He’s happy and content with his life. But his outlook changes when he sees Meg again at a shelter where they both volunteer. Old feelings deluge him as their past together resurfaces.
Meg wants nothing to do with hotshot Johnny Battaglia. She was crazy about him years ago, but he broke her heart when he chose a different path from the one they’d planned together. Though she’s satisfied with her life, she’s never found anyone to fill the hole Johnny left in her. But she knows better than to let him get close again.
However, when gang member Dash Bodine, who resembles Johnny in looks and circumstances, brings John and Meg together, they can’t avoid each other. And when they’re together, passion flares. Is that enough? Or will past mistakes preclude any kind of happily-ever-after?
Also, look for appearances by the beloved O’Neils, who are also involved in gang prevention.
190 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2015
513 people are currently reading
283 people want to read
About the author
Kathryn Shay
174 books501 followersKathryn Shay is a lifelong writer. At fifteen, she penned her first 'romance,' a short story about a female newspaper reporter in New York City and her fight to make a name for herself in a world of male journalists - and with one hardheaded editor in particular. Looking back, Kathryn says she should have known then that writing was in her future. But as so often happens, fate sent her detouring down another path.
Fully intending to pursue her dream of big city lights and success in the literary world, Kathryn took every creative writing class available at the small private women's college she attended in upstate New York. Instead, other dreams took precedence. She met and subsequently married a wonderful guy who'd attended a neighboring school, then completed her practice teaching, a requirement for the education degree she never intended to use. But says Kathryn, "I fell in love with teaching the first day I was up in front of a class, and knew I was meant to do that."
Kathryn went on to build a successful career in the New York state school system, thoroughly enjoying her work with adolescents. But by the early 1990s, she'd again made room in her life for writing. It was then that she submitted her first manuscript to publishers and agents. Despite enduring two years of rejections, she persevered. And on a snowy December afternoon in 1994, Kathryn Shay sold her first book to Harlequin Superromance.
Since that first sale, Kathryn has written twenty-one books for Harlequin, nine mainstream contemporary romances for the Berkley Publishing Group, and two online novellas, which Berkley then published in traditional print format.
Kathryn has become known for her powerful characterizations - readers say they feel they know the people in her books - and her heart-wrenching, emotional writing (her favorite comments are that fans cried while reading her books or stayed up late to finish them). In testament to her skill, the author has won five RT BookClub Magazine Reviewers Choice Awards, three Holt Medallions, two Desert Quill Awards, the Golden Leaf Award, and several online accolades.
Even in light of her writing success, that initial love of teaching never wavered for Kathryn. She finished out her teaching career in 2004, retiring from the same school where her career began. These days, she lives in upstate New York with her husband and two children. "My life is very full," she reports, "but very happy. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to pursue and achieve my dreams."
Fully intending to pursue her dream of big city lights and success in the literary world, Kathryn took every creative writing class available at the small private women's college she attended in upstate New York. Instead, other dreams took precedence. She met and subsequently married a wonderful guy who'd attended a neighboring school, then completed her practice teaching, a requirement for the education degree she never intended to use. But says Kathryn, "I fell in love with teaching the first day I was up in front of a class, and knew I was meant to do that."
Kathryn went on to build a successful career in the New York state school system, thoroughly enjoying her work with adolescents. But by the early 1990s, she'd again made room in her life for writing. It was then that she submitted her first manuscript to publishers and agents. Despite enduring two years of rejections, she persevered. And on a snowy December afternoon in 1994, Kathryn Shay sold her first book to Harlequin Superromance.
Since that first sale, Kathryn has written twenty-one books for Harlequin, nine mainstream contemporary romances for the Berkley Publishing Group, and two online novellas, which Berkley then published in traditional print format.
Kathryn has become known for her powerful characterizations - readers say they feel they know the people in her books - and her heart-wrenching, emotional writing (her favorite comments are that fans cried while reading her books or stayed up late to finish them). In testament to her skill, the author has won five RT BookClub Magazine Reviewers Choice Awards, three Holt Medallions, two Desert Quill Awards, the Golden Leaf Award, and several online accolades.
Even in light of her writing success, that initial love of teaching never wavered for Kathryn. She finished out her teaching career in 2004, retiring from the same school where her career began. These days, she lives in upstate New York with her husband and two children. "My life is very full," she reports, "but very happy. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to pursue and achieve my dreams."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 24, 2019
Heart surgeon John Batagglia is one of the best in his field. At thirty-six, he is known for his successful surgeries and upscale lifestyle. He is close to his adopted family, keeping up with their lives. When he volunteers at a teen shelter, he sees Dr. Meg Mancini. John and Meg were together for years...going through high school, college, medical school, and even living together for a while. They had planned to open a clinic together until John was accepted into an accelerated program for heart surgeons. When they parted ways they were both devastated. Now Meg sees John and wants to keep her distance. But when they meet a teenager who is trying to leave a gang, both John and Meg volunteer to help him.
This is the fourth book in Shay's Bayview Heights series. The character of John Battaglia was introduced in the first book as an abused teenager who was thinking about joining a gang. Now he is a rich doctor who able to help others by volunteering his services at the local shelter. I liked his character in the previous books and I still liked him in this one. Meg is a different story. She came across as whiny. She complained that John didn't follow their expectations. She even complained about his wealth and how much time he spent on his chosen profession. That really shocked me since she is a doctor too. It took a while for her to see that he had a talent that would be wasted in a clinic. I thought this story was just OK. I know there is another book in the series and I plan to give it a try. My rating: 3 Stars.
This is the fourth book in Shay's Bayview Heights series. The character of John Battaglia was introduced in the first book as an abused teenager who was thinking about joining a gang. Now he is a rich doctor who able to help others by volunteering his services at the local shelter. I liked his character in the previous books and I still liked him in this one. Meg is a different story. She came across as whiny. She complained that John didn't follow their expectations. She even complained about his wealth and how much time he spent on his chosen profession. That really shocked me since she is a doctor too. It took a while for her to see that he had a talent that would be wasted in a clinic. I thought this story was just OK. I know there is another book in the series and I plan to give it a try. My rating: 3 Stars.
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July 26, 2019🎁 FREE on iBooks today (7/26/2019)! 🎁
October 20, 2019
This book didn't make me feel anything. Mild annoyance maybe, but not much else.
The characters weren't that engaging. I never became invested enough to root for them or care where their story took them. I never felt like I knew them. They never felt like friends.
Just thinking about gangs brings to mind tough kids and gritty life on the streets, right? I never felt that in this story. Troubled maybe, but brutal gang members, not so much. And when someone is assaulted or stabbed, I expect to feel the fear and trauma... didn't happen. It just felt so sanitized and surface written.
Is this what they call a second chances trope? Not sure if I'm just not a fan of that trope or this book in particular. The flashbacks make the relationship seem distant, not like a living and vibrant thing. If I didn't feel like they should be together, why should they.
As far as Meg and Johnny go... Meg was the bigger problem than Johnny's decision to change career paths. She was insufferable, hence the mild annoyance.
The characters weren't that engaging. I never became invested enough to root for them or care where their story took them. I never felt like I knew them. They never felt like friends.
Just thinking about gangs brings to mind tough kids and gritty life on the streets, right? I never felt that in this story. Troubled maybe, but brutal gang members, not so much. And when someone is assaulted or stabbed, I expect to feel the fear and trauma... didn't happen. It just felt so sanitized and surface written.
Is this what they call a second chances trope? Not sure if I'm just not a fan of that trope or this book in particular. The flashbacks make the relationship seem distant, not like a living and vibrant thing. If I didn't feel like they should be together, why should they.
As far as Meg and Johnny go... Meg was the bigger problem than Johnny's decision to change career paths. She was insufferable, hence the mild annoyance.
August 28, 2019
Annoying heroine
I’ve never been a big fan of Lifetime romance movies. Most often I find them overly melodramatic and silly with shallow or cliched characterization and overblown misunderstandings and complications. There was fair amount of all that in Between Two Worlds.
I didn’t much care for the heroine, Meg, as I found her whiny, needy and a bit spoiled. She’s a doctor so you’d think she would understand the demands on a doctor’s time and the rigor of the work schedule. Instead she complains against Johnnie’s (the hero) work schedule, his choice to become a heart surgeon and the fact that he is both professionally and financially successful at it. She has chose a different path of working in inner city gang neighborhoods and eschews his wealth and perceived glamor. For about 2/3 of the novel she both vocalizes and mentally stews on her dislike of his choice. This from a woman who was madly in love with him for something like 8 years.
Bottom line: I found myself getting impatient with Meg and as a consequence found this book mostly annoying.
I’ve never been a big fan of Lifetime romance movies. Most often I find them overly melodramatic and silly with shallow or cliched characterization and overblown misunderstandings and complications. There was fair amount of all that in Between Two Worlds.
I didn’t much care for the heroine, Meg, as I found her whiny, needy and a bit spoiled. She’s a doctor so you’d think she would understand the demands on a doctor’s time and the rigor of the work schedule. Instead she complains against Johnnie’s (the hero) work schedule, his choice to become a heart surgeon and the fact that he is both professionally and financially successful at it. She has chose a different path of working in inner city gang neighborhoods and eschews his wealth and perceived glamor. For about 2/3 of the novel she both vocalizes and mentally stews on her dislike of his choice. This from a woman who was madly in love with him for something like 8 years.
Bottom line: I found myself getting impatient with Meg and as a consequence found this book mostly annoying.
April 8, 2023
Xan you learn to compromise of the important stuff?
What happens when compromise doesn’t seem possible, but anything else is unacceptable? That’s the dilemma facing the central characters in this story. Their plans fell apart when he has the option to become a cardiologist with enormous potential and she wants them to run a clinic to support children who will otherwise get pulled into gangs. They separated over the conflicts between their planned jobs. When they meet again, they must decide if they can find balance and come together.
What happens when compromise doesn’t seem possible, but anything else is unacceptable? That’s the dilemma facing the central characters in this story. Their plans fell apart when he has the option to become a cardiologist with enormous potential and she wants them to run a clinic to support children who will otherwise get pulled into gangs. They separated over the conflicts between their planned jobs. When they meet again, they must decide if they can find balance and come together.
July 27, 2019
Two loving, accomplished doctors wanting different lifestyles..
John, a noted cardiac surgeon misses his one love, Meg. Meg, a family physician who runs a clinic in a rough part of Manhattan, misses John, but can't put aside distaste for the lifestyle his profession affords him. Two lonely people working through life, helping others. Can they both come to realize their lives can work together? This story touched my heart.
John, a noted cardiac surgeon misses his one love, Meg. Meg, a family physician who runs a clinic in a rough part of Manhattan, misses John, but can't put aside distaste for the lifestyle his profession affords him. Two lonely people working through life, helping others. Can they both come to realize their lives can work together? This story touched my heart.
July 30, 2019
I recommend Between Two Worlds by Kathryn Shay.
It's a multi level story which gives insight into the worlds of medicine, gangs and the high cost of these in relationships.
Meg and Johnny were young lovers torn apart by the cost. Years later, they are brought back together because of their need to help others.
The story deals with trust, forgiveness, and whether two people can overcome, not only who they were, but who they've become.
It's a multi level story which gives insight into the worlds of medicine, gangs and the high cost of these in relationships.
Meg and Johnny were young lovers torn apart by the cost. Years later, they are brought back together because of their need to help others.
The story deals with trust, forgiveness, and whether two people can overcome, not only who they were, but who they've become.
August 3, 2019
Healing compromise and a love so deep
Ms Shay provided a story rich with love, forgiveness and love. The characters were well developed and believed in their love. I'm impressed with their ability to get passed the differences celebrating their compromises. The gang history added to the complete story. I have loved every book I have purchased by Kathryn Shay. I think her talent for telling a great story is amazing. Thank you
Ms Shay provided a story rich with love, forgiveness and love. The characters were well developed and believed in their love. I'm impressed with their ability to get passed the differences celebrating their compromises. The gang history added to the complete story. I have loved every book I have purchased by Kathryn Shay. I think her talent for telling a great story is amazing. Thank you
August 14, 2019
Slow Going
For me, reading this was like slogging through knee-deep snow. Beautiful, sparkling snow, crisp, clean air--but hard to navigate. The construction of present and flashback bothered me, and I think there was not enough identification of the characters for someone not familiar with the series. On the other hand, for someone who likes medical themes and issues books, the things that distracted me would probably not be issues.
For me, reading this was like slogging through knee-deep snow. Beautiful, sparkling snow, crisp, clean air--but hard to navigate. The construction of present and flashback bothered me, and I think there was not enough identification of the characters for someone not familiar with the series. On the other hand, for someone who likes medical themes and issues books, the things that distracted me would probably not be issues.
September 7, 2019
Interesting
I enjoyed the storyline of hope out of difficult situations with support from the outside. Most of the characters were paying it forward and working in several different fields to make a positive difference. On the other hand, even though Meg was altruistic in her clinic she seemed quite shallow and immature in her lack of acceptance with John's career.
I enjoyed the storyline of hope out of difficult situations with support from the outside. Most of the characters were paying it forward and working in several different fields to make a positive difference. On the other hand, even though Meg was altruistic in her clinic she seemed quite shallow and immature in her lack of acceptance with John's career.
July 30, 2019
Two doctors
He was from gangs;she had a normal life. They had one thing in common- to help reform gang members. He live d in a luxury condo, she lived above a clinic in the bad side of town
He was from gangs;she had a normal life. They had one thing in common- to help reform gang members. He live d in a luxury condo, she lived above a clinic in the bad side of town
August 1, 2019
Dream Big
Kathryn Shay always writes family oriented, gut wrenching, emotionally packed stories. She has done it again in “Between Two Worlds”. Two people in love torn apart, gangs, doctors, and excruciating schedules combine to make a heartbreakingly, wondrous story.
Kathryn Shay always writes family oriented, gut wrenching, emotionally packed stories. She has done it again in “Between Two Worlds”. Two people in love torn apart, gangs, doctors, and excruciating schedules combine to make a heartbreakingly, wondrous story.
August 2, 2019
Great Seeing
That Johnny was doing something he wanted becoming a doctor, even though things were tough at times. He loved Met forever, but when he decided to become a heart doctor it strained there relationship. Now years later can they fix it.
That Johnny was doing something he wanted becoming a doctor, even though things were tough at times. He loved Met forever, but when he decided to become a heart doctor it strained there relationship. Now years later can they fix it.
August 10, 2019
Okayish
Short story about two doctors who had a relationship, but split. He’s a well known successful surgeon who was previously a gang member. It was short and good semblance of a storyline but didn’t really do it for me.
Short story about two doctors who had a relationship, but split. He’s a well known successful surgeon who was previously a gang member. It was short and good semblance of a storyline but didn’t really do it for me.
September 26, 2019
Another great book!
This book was a little hard for me to get into because I started on book 4 of the series and there were so many characters to sort out. However, once I got through figuring them out I really enjoyed this story of second chances and love!
This book was a little hard for me to get into because I started on book 4 of the series and there were so many characters to sort out. However, once I got through figuring them out I really enjoyed this story of second chances and love!
November 25, 2019
Good Read
First read by this author and I enjoyed it very much. Often people who start out rough end helping those like their old selves and it is so nice to see. Sweet love story with real struggles that are realistic. Enjoy!
First read by this author and I enjoyed it very much. Often people who start out rough end helping those like their old selves and it is so nice to see. Sweet love story with real struggles that are realistic. Enjoy!
January 5, 2018
Old friends....
I love revisiting old friends. I also enjoyed the author’s note at the end on how and why she chose to write John’s story.
I love revisiting old friends. I also enjoyed the author’s note at the end on how and why she chose to write John’s story.
August 6, 2019
Romance between two doctors, one from a gang background. They struggle to find common ground while trying to save another gangmember in NYC. Nice read.
April 26, 2021
It was okay
December 27, 2022
Kathryn Shay does such a good job of describing expectations, the fair and unfair, and the damage they can do but doesn’t white wash the challenges but capacity to overcome them
July 18, 2023
Book not loaded correctly
The book was loaded as a previous book that was before it in the sequence.. the correct book needs to be loaded.
The book was loaded as a previous book that was before it in the sequence.. the correct book needs to be loaded.
June 9, 2025
Dnf because I just didn’t care.
May 18, 2021
Love this book! Characters and relationships well developed. Johnny’s and Meg’s love story kept me riveted. Read Cop of the Year first, then this one and now joe’s story!
November 13, 2015
A story of life showing that through struggles accomplishments can be achieved if you want it. This is book 4 in the Bayview Heights series by Kathryn Shay. This is the story of Johnny, a now great heart surgeon, and Meg, a GP physician. Young ages, gangs, danger and the feeling of being without help they found each other and were once upon a time were in love. But they split up after neither would give on the direction they were going; so with much heartache and doubts the headed their own way. Years later, they find themselves working together to help others while finding that they possibly are meant for each other. I love that this book has a real touch of reality and the dangers of gangs for everyone and that there truly are those that raise above and then give back and work to help the same type of people they use to be.
Well done Kathryn Shay. I love all her books and recommend this book, because it touched my heart. I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
Well done Kathryn Shay. I love all her books and recommend this book, because it touched my heart. I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
November 9, 2015
So much more than a romance, loved it. The story of Meg and Johnny, whom we met in their younger years in the story of Cop of the Year. They now both physicians and reconnect. They had an on and off relationship, that ended when neither would give. Now they both found out they still love each other and will try to bring their worlds into one and to believe in each other.
Love the gang aspect of the story, to see how Johnny made it out of the gang and is a successful cardiac surgeon. Now he wants to give back what he was given to Dash. Meg has always helped the under privileged in her career.
I have been a nurse for thirty plus years and Kathryn did a wonderful job her story telling of the medical aspect of it.
I highly recommend this book to all readers. It will touch your heart. I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
Love the gang aspect of the story, to see how Johnny made it out of the gang and is a successful cardiac surgeon. Now he wants to give back what he was given to Dash. Meg has always helped the under privileged in her career.
I have been a nurse for thirty plus years and Kathryn did a wonderful job her story telling of the medical aspect of it.
I highly recommend this book to all readers. It will touch your heart. I received a copy of this book from the author for an honest review.
November 1, 2015
This is another winner by Ms. Shay. Though it's part of the Bayside Heights series, it's a standalone. The author gives you enough information of the secondary characters that you will not be lost.
The story centers around Johnny Batagglia, a heart surgeon, and Meg , a GP physician. They were together for many years but split up after a great deal of heartaches,doubts and insecurities. Now due to unexpected circumstances they renew their relation. But the real theme of the book is the danger of gangs, not only to society, but to the kids that get into them. Many would really want to get out, but they are trapped, have no support, many are abused, and feel they are in an endless merry go round. But if helped and given love and a support system, they can be successful and they can thrive. Johnny is an example of that. So pick up the book, you will not regret it.
The story centers around Johnny Batagglia, a heart surgeon, and Meg , a GP physician. They were together for many years but split up after a great deal of heartaches,doubts and insecurities. Now due to unexpected circumstances they renew their relation. But the real theme of the book is the danger of gangs, not only to society, but to the kids that get into them. Many would really want to get out, but they are trapped, have no support, many are abused, and feel they are in an endless merry go round. But if helped and given love and a support system, they can be successful and they can thrive. Johnny is an example of that. So pick up the book, you will not regret it.
November 2, 2015
An advance review copy was provided by the author for an honest review.
This book in the Bayview Heights series provides the follow up to young Johnny and Meg’s romance introduced in Cop of the Year. Their romance had ended many years before as this book begins. Ms. Shay gives us the background of their many break ups and their past separate lives while developing the current story. Now successful doctors, Meg and Johnny both contributed to their problems in the past with their stubborn pride and their differing goals in life. I felt their grief and rebuilding love throughout the book as they helped others. I highly recommend this book and the entire Bayview Heights series.
This book in the Bayview Heights series provides the follow up to young Johnny and Meg’s romance introduced in Cop of the Year. Their romance had ended many years before as this book begins. Ms. Shay gives us the background of their many break ups and their past separate lives while developing the current story. Now successful doctors, Meg and Johnny both contributed to their problems in the past with their stubborn pride and their differing goals in life. I felt their grief and rebuilding love throughout the book as they helped others. I highly recommend this book and the entire Bayview Heights series.
March 11, 2016
This book continues the Bayview Heights series with the return on former gang member, now famous heart surgeon Johnny Battaglia and Meg Mancini, the girl he left behind. It is well written, and it was like old home week catching up on the characters in the previous books that I enjoyed so much. John and Megan had a wonderful romance before he left her behind for his career and broke her heart. Can they get past their differences and learn to make each other a priority in their lives? If you love Kathryn Shay's writing, and this series, you will enjoy this trip back to Bayview Heights as much as I did.
November 2, 2015
Really good book - Highly recommended
I loved the whole series but I have to say I couldn't wait for Johnny's story to come out. The book was really good, the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because it had no epilogue. I believe every book should have one to give the reader the full story about getting married and the kids they have. That's the best part to me. Congrats anyway on another good book. Gina
I loved the whole series but I have to say I couldn't wait for Johnny's story to come out. The book was really good, the only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because it had no epilogue. I believe every book should have one to give the reader the full story about getting married and the kids they have. That's the best part to me. Congrats anyway on another good book. Gina
November 1, 2015
A very intense book about a young man who grew up to be a famous doctor. He relives his younger years when he meets his former girlfriend/lover. The mixed emotions he feels for Meg and his current life style play havoc with his bid to reconcile his life with Meg.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews