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Bayview Heights #1
Cop of the Year
He’s a cop who dreads working with teenagers. She’s a high school teacher of at-risk students and cops are her worst nightmare.
The last thing by-the-book Captain Mitch Lansing wants to do is work in a high school classroom to improve relationships between at-risk kids and the police department. Life’s been cruel to him, and his past still haunts him.
Unorthodox teacher Cassie Smith, herself an at-risk student in high school, has fought hard for her success as a teacher. She escaped a dysfunctional mother and worked her way through college and is happy with her job and cadre of friends.
Until Mitch crashes into her life and starts to work with her kids. Though she’s not looking for romance, her world goes off kilter. So does Mitch’s. It’s the kids who begin this healing process.
When a gang goes after Mitch, Cassie realizes she’s in love with a cop. But can he accept her and the students into his life?
Winner of Best Superromance of the Year, the Golden Leaf Award and the Desert Quill Award.
The last thing by-the-book Captain Mitch Lansing wants to do is work in a high school classroom to improve relationships between at-risk kids and the police department. Life’s been cruel to him, and his past still haunts him.
Unorthodox teacher Cassie Smith, herself an at-risk student in high school, has fought hard for her success as a teacher. She escaped a dysfunctional mother and worked her way through college and is happy with her job and cadre of friends.
Until Mitch crashes into her life and starts to work with her kids. Though she’s not looking for romance, her world goes off kilter. So does Mitch’s. It’s the kids who begin this healing process.
When a gang goes after Mitch, Cassie realizes she’s in love with a cop. But can he accept her and the students into his life?
Winner of Best Superromance of the Year, the Golden Leaf Award and the Desert Quill Award.
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1998
923 people are currently reading
1037 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 162 reviews
June 16, 2020
Oh I needed this after the disappointment of Barefoot in White. There's just something about authors who write about older, physically fit men. Yes, yes, sue me, but I'm a red-blooded woman, I won't deny it!
Anyway, Mitch, a captain in the police department, is a Vietnam War veteran (there's a note at the beginning of the book that even though it was republished, the story remained the same as when it came out originally) who is assigned to work with Cassie at the town's high school with delinquent teens, to teach them and help them. Initially wary, he slowly warms up to the lot of them and especially to the teacher (hot for teacher anyone? Anyone?), although these two do take a whole while to get to the point. Yeesh.
There were three distinct storylines in the book: one was Cassie and Mitch, and this one was fraught with tension and chemistry until I felt like a bottle of champagne, shaken out, and ready to go KABOOM. Plus, I love Mitch. Cassie was okay, and I loved her when she didn't freak out or do something silly, like heroines notmally do.
EDIT 2020: I just re-read the book and while I agree with the rest of my initial review, I have to add that Cassie needed a firmer hand from Seth. As principal, he was actually doing her a favour when he let her know beforehand what new policies he was going to implement, and she acted like it was the end of the world because she disagreed with them. I feel like she needed to be put in her place, it wasn't her decision to make even though she worked with the one class of at-risk students. There were other students and teachers to consider as well, not just her, but she acted like her opinion was the only one that mattered - not, say, the opinion of a veteran police officer who actually had hands-on experience with this stuff. END EDIT
The second storyline is abouth Johnny, one of the teens, and the problem of gangs, which gets resolved by the end through a lot of adult involvement; Johnny grew on me even though he could be so silly sometimes, but it was heartwarming how he finally opened up to Mitch and let him close, and how he seemed to accept that Mitch and Cassie were his family now and wouldn't just let him go.
The third was about the Vietnam War and Mitch's own experiences - and coming to terms with them - in it. This part made me cry, I will not lie. I didn't mean for it to rhyme, but it did. (It also resulted in the two main characters finally getting their act together, but I digress) It gave Mitch a depth and clarity that you don't normally get with characters nowadays. Also, the fact that he knew what he wanted and went for it has major points, too.
I'll absolutely be reading the other books in this series, and looking forward to them!
Anyway, Mitch, a captain in the police department, is a Vietnam War veteran (there's a note at the beginning of the book that even though it was republished, the story remained the same as when it came out originally) who is assigned to work with Cassie at the town's high school with delinquent teens, to teach them and help them. Initially wary, he slowly warms up to the lot of them and especially to the teacher (hot for teacher anyone? Anyone?), although these two do take a whole while to get to the point. Yeesh.
There were three distinct storylines in the book: one was Cassie and Mitch, and this one was fraught with tension and chemistry until I felt like a bottle of champagne, shaken out, and ready to go KABOOM. Plus, I love Mitch. Cassie was okay, and I loved her when she didn't freak out or do something silly, like heroines notmally do.
EDIT 2020: I just re-read the book and while I agree with the rest of my initial review, I have to add that Cassie needed a firmer hand from Seth. As principal, he was actually doing her a favour when he let her know beforehand what new policies he was going to implement, and she acted like it was the end of the world because she disagreed with them. I feel like she needed to be put in her place, it wasn't her decision to make even though she worked with the one class of at-risk students. There were other students and teachers to consider as well, not just her, but she acted like her opinion was the only one that mattered - not, say, the opinion of a veteran police officer who actually had hands-on experience with this stuff. END EDIT
The second storyline is abouth Johnny, one of the teens, and the problem of gangs, which gets resolved by the end through a lot of adult involvement; Johnny grew on me even though he could be so silly sometimes, but it was heartwarming how he finally opened up to Mitch and let him close, and how he seemed to accept that Mitch and Cassie were his family now and wouldn't just let him go.
The third was about the Vietnam War and Mitch's own experiences - and coming to terms with them - in it. This part made me cry, I will not lie. I didn't mean for it to rhyme, but it did. (It also resulted in the two main characters finally getting their act together, but I digress) It gave Mitch a depth and clarity that you don't normally get with characters nowadays. Also, the fact that he knew what he wanted and went for it has major points, too.
I'll absolutely be reading the other books in this series, and looking forward to them!
March 2, 2013
Liked this one. One about an English teacher and a cop. Kids from the classroom thrown in also - gang membership part of it also. Have read some other books by this author. Think she was in the education system herself so she knows the goings on in the school/classroom.
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March 7, 2022Al 22 % lo dejé. Escogí esta novela porque vi que estaba gratis y que había ganado el Premio RT 1998 en la categoría Mejor Harlequin Superromance. Merece la pena intentar un buen harlequín. Este, sin embargo, no me enganchó. Tenemos a Cassie, una profesora que trabaja con muchachos difíciles, porque ella misma fue una chica algo descarriada. El instituto tiene un programa de colaboración con la policía, y ahí entra Mitch, a dar clase, algo que no se le da muy allá, inicialmente, porque lo suyo es otra cosa. No le vi química a los protagonistas. Tampoco me llamó mucho el asunto este de cómo ayudar a jóvenes delincuentes gracias a la educación. No me gustan las «novelas con niño». Y con adolescentes huraños tampoco. De Kathryn Shay tengo otras dos en mi biblioteca de Play Libros, a ver cómo salen.
November 30, 2016
Cop of the Year brings Police Captain Mitch Lansing and VietNam vet into Cassie Smith's at-risk Language Arts class in a program to bring the community into the school and help give support to the kids that do not get support at home.
Mitch has a problem relating to kids and finds this assignment difficult and Cassie has a problem based on past experiences with cops, which sets up an interesting situation with the twelve at-risk kids in her class.
Mitch gets involved, Cassie learns to accept Mitch and the kids bring gangs into the school from New York City to thicken the plot in a very interesting story about the school and a good romance too.
I purchased this book as part of an anthology.
Mitch has a problem relating to kids and finds this assignment difficult and Cassie has a problem based on past experiences with cops, which sets up an interesting situation with the twelve at-risk kids in her class.
Mitch gets involved, Cassie learns to accept Mitch and the kids bring gangs into the school from New York City to thicken the plot in a very interesting story about the school and a good romance too.
I purchased this book as part of an anthology.
January 6, 2021
I thought this was fairly interesting. It's obviously a romance novel, but there's high school issues and gang membership thrown in. I thought the plot thickened well enough, although I expected the ending. It's a good quick read if that is what you're looking for.
May 18, 2019
You could tell this book was dated but the more I read the more I was sucked into the story. I was hoping along with the main characters that they could make a difference and change the path of the troubled teenagers. Police captain Mitch is assigned to work with Cassie's English class of at-risk students to build a bond between the kids and the police.
May 7, 2016
A romance but so much more
I've read several of Shay's books lately and am never disappointed. Her plots are meaty and characters never let you go. In the intro to this small town series, a cop recently transferred from a large city and intensely stressful position, is asked to become a temporary liason to the local high school, to work with a teacher in a program for troubled teens. For reasons having to do with his experience in Viet Nam many years before, he has difficulties relating to this age group. A strong attraction develops between him and the teacher, although they seem to get on each other's last nerve and both have decided to maintain a single lifestyle. He is a "by the book" guy in her eyes, while she is a very strongly independent, free spirited individual who plays things by ear. As they work together to intervene and support the students, they also get to know one another, despite the walls they've erected to keep them functional. Not only are the main characters fully developed but the supporting cast all significantly contribute in a believable fashion to create a moving story about people with plenty of baggage, moving beyond their own pain to reach out to others in need. Even though this book takes place mostly in a highschool, there are "R-rated scenes and I would recommend parental preview at a minimum even for teens. A very satisfying read.
I've read several of Shay's books lately and am never disappointed. Her plots are meaty and characters never let you go. In the intro to this small town series, a cop recently transferred from a large city and intensely stressful position, is asked to become a temporary liason to the local high school, to work with a teacher in a program for troubled teens. For reasons having to do with his experience in Viet Nam many years before, he has difficulties relating to this age group. A strong attraction develops between him and the teacher, although they seem to get on each other's last nerve and both have decided to maintain a single lifestyle. He is a "by the book" guy in her eyes, while she is a very strongly independent, free spirited individual who plays things by ear. As they work together to intervene and support the students, they also get to know one another, despite the walls they've erected to keep them functional. Not only are the main characters fully developed but the supporting cast all significantly contribute in a believable fashion to create a moving story about people with plenty of baggage, moving beyond their own pain to reach out to others in need. Even though this book takes place mostly in a highschool, there are "R-rated scenes and I would recommend parental preview at a minimum even for teens. A very satisfying read.
September 18, 2016
Please forgive the shout ~ but I can't help myself. I LOVE KATHRYN SHAY'S books! In a nutshell: Her writing just stirs my emotions in a cauldron of happiness.
Cop of the Year hooked me from page one and didn't let up until the end. The angst, tensions and passions between the characters never stops and with Ms. Shay's enormous talent, you feel like you're a part of the story, rooting for this unlikely family of misfits.
Captain Mitch Lansing is a stressed out cop with dark secrets about his Vietnam experience and Cassandra (Cassie) Smith is a high school teacher working in a special program for At Risk Students. When she learns that Mitch will be involved with them as a way to bridge the gap between police and the growing gang problem sweeping their school, she is against it.
While their personalities clash, little by little, Mitch finds himself caring about Cassie and the students, where initially he felt emotionally removed from them. Both have disturbing backgrounds which leave them vulnerable and learning to trust is the hardest thing of all.
Although the span of time reflects Mitch serving in Vietnam, along with a few other technological details identifying an earlier period, in no way did it detract from the story. In fact, considering the situation in schools across the nation in the 21st century, I'd say this book is timeless.
Kudos Ms. Shay for a heartwarming book filled with hope and happy endings!
Cop of the Year hooked me from page one and didn't let up until the end. The angst, tensions and passions between the characters never stops and with Ms. Shay's enormous talent, you feel like you're a part of the story, rooting for this unlikely family of misfits.
Captain Mitch Lansing is a stressed out cop with dark secrets about his Vietnam experience and Cassandra (Cassie) Smith is a high school teacher working in a special program for At Risk Students. When she learns that Mitch will be involved with them as a way to bridge the gap between police and the growing gang problem sweeping their school, she is against it.
While their personalities clash, little by little, Mitch finds himself caring about Cassie and the students, where initially he felt emotionally removed from them. Both have disturbing backgrounds which leave them vulnerable and learning to trust is the hardest thing of all.
Although the span of time reflects Mitch serving in Vietnam, along with a few other technological details identifying an earlier period, in no way did it detract from the story. In fact, considering the situation in schools across the nation in the 21st century, I'd say this book is timeless.
Kudos Ms. Shay for a heartwarming book filled with hope and happy endings!
January 24, 2016
Kathryn Shay is slowly becoming one of my favourite authors, her books tend to touch on taboo topics and yet don't make them so heartbreaking that it hurts to read.
This particular book is very similar. Troubled teens, being taught by a former troubled teen. I loved the concept, but something with the story seamed to forced to me. I felt that Shay tried too hard for the perfect ending. Overall still a great read, but it seamed a little too cliché for one of Shay's novels.
This particular book is very similar. Troubled teens, being taught by a former troubled teen. I loved the concept, but something with the story seamed to forced to me. I felt that Shay tried too hard for the perfect ending. Overall still a great read, but it seamed a little too cliché for one of Shay's novels.
September 13, 2016
When a story makes you feel something, it's a hell of a story. But it also means the writer knows the subject matter and better yet, knows how to bring that subject home to the reader. The characters in this story came alive. The plot flows from one traumatic incident to the next in a seamless manner that flows smoothly and keeps the reader hooked. As a reader, I would have preferred more graphic detail in the bedroom and on the street. But even so, this is a 5 star read! Kudos to Shay.
February 21, 2015
There's a decent plot idea here (a cop assigned to a classroom of at-risk students to teach an anti-gangs unit, who finds that the sharing and journaling in the class triggers war-related PTSD), but the characterizations are thin and the romance is ridiculous and feels tacked on to the rest of the story.
September 9, 2016
Get a cup of coffee and settle in your favorite chair..
The people of Bayview Heights will pull you into their story and keep you reading through the last page. Then, you'll be finding the next in the series to read because the main characters are not the only interesting ones. Ms. Shay has a new fan.
The people of Bayview Heights will pull you into their story and keep you reading through the last page. Then, you'll be finding the next in the series to read because the main characters are not the only interesting ones. Ms. Shay has a new fan.
September 10, 2016
This is such a good book! It's ostensibly a romance, but actually reads more like a version of Up the Down Staircase set in the 90s and revolving around gang culture. I suspect that if I'd read it in my younger days before I realized I don't actually like 95% of children, that it would have made me want to be a teacher.
September 22, 2016
Love Sparkles Through the Air
This book includes some great twists, I loved them, and a lot of love blossoming through town. I recommend anyone to read this great book because your in for a treat and surprise.
This book includes some great twists, I loved them, and a lot of love blossoming through town. I recommend anyone to read this great book because your in for a treat and surprise.
September 26, 2018
Actual rating: 4.5
This book really surprised me. It had complex characters, danger, love, and a great plot. I'd never read this author before, but I'm looking forward to reading more of her novels.
This book really surprised me. It had complex characters, danger, love, and a great plot. I'd never read this author before, but I'm looking forward to reading more of her novels.
September 19, 2016
Loved this book. It moved slower than my most recent books but it was filled with so much.
October 20, 2016
Wonderful read
Loved the characters and how the life experiences made each who they are today. Great information on war and gangs. Really added to the story.
Loved the characters and how the life experiences made each who they are today. Great information on war and gangs. Really added to the story.
January 25, 2018
I’ve read this book a few times now and love it. The story is based around a policeman (Mitch) being placed in a school for a set period of time as a student with the purpose of breaking down the walls between kids and cops. He’s placed in the worst classroom which is full of wayward delinquent kids so he can build a relationship with them and they can learn to trust authority and avoid the pitfalls of teenage life. It is a lovely story which tells of the growing trust between them all and the relationships which develop. Mitch learns to open up and let people into his closed lonely world, whilst giving the kids a strong authority figure they can look up to, rely on and call a friend. The concept around this story is lovely. Would it work in reality and in Australian schools? I don’t know, but it would be something worth trying.
Admission:: this story had me crying my eyes out during some classroom moments when they covered the Vietnam War. The descriptive memories of Mitch and the portrayal of certain horrific incidents he experienced were so real and well done by the author that you just wanted to reach in and save Mitch from his inner torture. This book gives a good insight into the turmoil experienced by veterans and what they all endured both in battle and afterwards. I now want to read the classroom novel called ‘Fallen Angels’ which they read together and which was the catalyst to breaking down the walls between all the characters. Anyone got a copy??
Admission:: this story had me crying my eyes out during some classroom moments when they covered the Vietnam War. The descriptive memories of Mitch and the portrayal of certain horrific incidents he experienced were so real and well done by the author that you just wanted to reach in and save Mitch from his inner torture. This book gives a good insight into the turmoil experienced by veterans and what they all endured both in battle and afterwards. I now want to read the classroom novel called ‘Fallen Angels’ which they read together and which was the catalyst to breaking down the walls between all the characters. Anyone got a copy??
December 2, 2018
3.5 Stars, bumped to 4. This is the first book in the Bayview Heights series. It’s set in the 90s in the small NY town of Bayview Heights and centers around the high school there. While the story features a Vietnam vet, it isn’t “old.” It could just as easily insert an Iraqi war vet. It is interesting to get some history of Nam and the cultural struggles that went along with that war.
Mitch has been assigned to a PR stint with At-Risk Kids program from Bayview Heights HS. In particular to Cassie Smith’s class. Cassie herself was once one of those at-risk kids that pretty much everyone had given up on. Everyone except Seth Taylor who is now the principal at BVHHS. He’s the one who implemented the At-Risk program. There is much opposition to it by members of the faculty and some of the parents. Hence, the need for the PR program with local law enforcement. Mitch and Cassie don’t hit it off at first and that’s an understatement. Mitch is nothing if not a rule follower; Cassie pretty much feels rules are meant to be flaunted.
Cop of the Year is well written with a timeless plot. You become invested in some of the kids in Cassie’s class. You’ll cheer them on, want to shout at them, and sometimes become just as frustrated as she does. Anyone who has worked with at-risk kids will completely understand. For anyone who hasn’t, it will give you insights into what motivates them and how delicate these kids can be beneath all the bluster and BS. It’s worth checking out!
Mitch has been assigned to a PR stint with At-Risk Kids program from Bayview Heights HS. In particular to Cassie Smith’s class. Cassie herself was once one of those at-risk kids that pretty much everyone had given up on. Everyone except Seth Taylor who is now the principal at BVHHS. He’s the one who implemented the At-Risk program. There is much opposition to it by members of the faculty and some of the parents. Hence, the need for the PR program with local law enforcement. Mitch and Cassie don’t hit it off at first and that’s an understatement. Mitch is nothing if not a rule follower; Cassie pretty much feels rules are meant to be flaunted.
Cop of the Year is well written with a timeless plot. You become invested in some of the kids in Cassie’s class. You’ll cheer them on, want to shout at them, and sometimes become just as frustrated as she does. Anyone who has worked with at-risk kids will completely understand. For anyone who hasn’t, it will give you insights into what motivates them and how delicate these kids can be beneath all the bluster and BS. It’s worth checking out!
May 17, 2021
I loved this book in its entirety! All the characters messed so well together.
The teenagers with their teacher. The cop & his rules, to open up about his time in Vietnam. Mitch Landing started to open up & realize that each kid has a different story as to why they are in the risk program.
Johnny torn between wanting to get out & make some real dreams. Keeps getting suckered into his brother's gang. When in a gang they do everything to keep you. Including phycological nonsense to have you doubt the real people who are watching out for you. With those doubts when we are young we also seem to pick what is familiar, safe & comfortable.
I have to tell you the sections where Johnny gives up & goes back to his old ways briefly really ticked me off. But that shows good writing if I can get so wrapped up in the characters.
Now let's not forget the main characters, Ms. Cassandra Smith & Captain Mitchell Landing. OMG, I loved their chemistry & the building up to the relationship. With stumbling blocks down the way.
I would have liked just one more romantic scene maybe at the honeymoon.
But I just glad it turned out with a HEA.
The book basically shows, how people's past can be resolved when the right people in their life are willing to show some love and compassion.
The teenagers with their teacher. The cop & his rules, to open up about his time in Vietnam. Mitch Landing started to open up & realize that each kid has a different story as to why they are in the risk program.
Johnny torn between wanting to get out & make some real dreams. Keeps getting suckered into his brother's gang. When in a gang they do everything to keep you. Including phycological nonsense to have you doubt the real people who are watching out for you. With those doubts when we are young we also seem to pick what is familiar, safe & comfortable.
I have to tell you the sections where Johnny gives up & goes back to his old ways briefly really ticked me off. But that shows good writing if I can get so wrapped up in the characters.
Now let's not forget the main characters, Ms. Cassandra Smith & Captain Mitchell Landing. OMG, I loved their chemistry & the building up to the relationship. With stumbling blocks down the way.
I would have liked just one more romantic scene maybe at the honeymoon.
But I just glad it turned out with a HEA.
The book basically shows, how people's past can be resolved when the right people in their life are willing to show some love and compassion.
December 21, 2018
Vietnam veteran Mitch, now a Captain in the Bayview Heights Police Force, is tasked with joining a programme of the local school, teaching at risk kids together with Cassie, teacher at that school. Mitch is very reluctant, due to events from the Vietnam War that still haunt him, and Cassie, herself a former at-risk kid, does not trust cops at all.
When gang member threaten to recruit kids from her school, the cop and the teacher have to work together and find a way to help the kids, especially Johnny, an ex-member of this gang.
I found it very very difficult to put this book down. The story of the three main protagonists gripped me from the start, and I was laughing with them, crying with them, cheering them and fearing for them - so definitely storytelling at its best, and very likeable and realistic characters and scenarios.
To witness Mitch unwillingly thawing towards the class he has to teach, to see Cassie and Johnny as unwillingly starting to trust and actually like a cop played on every emotional scale.
Absolutely loved this book, and cannot wait to get my hands on more of this series.
When gang member threaten to recruit kids from her school, the cop and the teacher have to work together and find a way to help the kids, especially Johnny, an ex-member of this gang.
I found it very very difficult to put this book down. The story of the three main protagonists gripped me from the start, and I was laughing with them, crying with them, cheering them and fearing for them - so definitely storytelling at its best, and very likeable and realistic characters and scenarios.
To witness Mitch unwillingly thawing towards the class he has to teach, to see Cassie and Johnny as unwillingly starting to trust and actually like a cop played on every emotional scale.
Absolutely loved this book, and cannot wait to get my hands on more of this series.
August 1, 2025
Just a heads up, this story takes place in the 90s. It threw me off for awhile. I kept wandering why they were talking about the Vietnam war at a time when they had cell phones.
I liked the mmc. Mitch was a man struggling to maintain control so he doesn't get lost to his demons and guilt. Despite his fears, he was open to change and opening up.
The fmc did not do it for me and that made it difficult to enjoy the story as much as I should have. She was self righteous, pushy, stubborn and invasive. She didn't want to tell her secrets, which turned out not to be world shaking, but wanted others to reveal theirs.
I liked that we got more than just the mmcs pov. In fact, maybe too much focus was on the student Johnny. It made it less of a romance for me. The writing got a little confusing because it would jump around between povs mid-page. It was not like each chapter started a different pov.
Overall it was an okay story, although I don't know why you would have high schoolers reading about violent war stories and handling war memorabilia. What does that ha e to do with an English class.
I liked the mmc. Mitch was a man struggling to maintain control so he doesn't get lost to his demons and guilt. Despite his fears, he was open to change and opening up.
The fmc did not do it for me and that made it difficult to enjoy the story as much as I should have. She was self righteous, pushy, stubborn and invasive. She didn't want to tell her secrets, which turned out not to be world shaking, but wanted others to reveal theirs.
I liked that we got more than just the mmcs pov. In fact, maybe too much focus was on the student Johnny. It made it less of a romance for me. The writing got a little confusing because it would jump around between povs mid-page. It was not like each chapter started a different pov.
Overall it was an okay story, although I don't know why you would have high schoolers reading about violent war stories and handling war memorabilia. What does that ha e to do with an English class.
September 30, 2018
COP OF THE YEAR
KATHRYN SHAY
Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author
Set in a High School environment and a community without a gang, Ms. Shay places a police captain in Cassie's classroom as an unlikely experiment in the real world. Out of that, she presents a moving stream of real-world events and relationships that will fare well in a series alone.
The characters are interesting, with the current era development, and plausible situations. The plot rings true with today's youth experiences.
The story flows well in the plot and has a few surprises. There is a love relationship in the making that may influence the outcome of the underlying background of a gang from the city infiltrating Bayview Heights High School.
I am confident that in book two the lovers will join together to stop other crimes. The novel is exciting and emotional but obvious. For a FREE read, it was good enough that I may buy another book of Ms. Shay.
KATHRYN SHAY
Reviewed by Roy Murry, Author
Set in a High School environment and a community without a gang, Ms. Shay places a police captain in Cassie's classroom as an unlikely experiment in the real world. Out of that, she presents a moving stream of real-world events and relationships that will fare well in a series alone.
The characters are interesting, with the current era development, and plausible situations. The plot rings true with today's youth experiences.
The story flows well in the plot and has a few surprises. There is a love relationship in the making that may influence the outcome of the underlying background of a gang from the city infiltrating Bayview Heights High School.
I am confident that in book two the lovers will join together to stop other crimes. The novel is exciting and emotional but obvious. For a FREE read, it was good enough that I may buy another book of Ms. Shay.
May 10, 2021
Outstanding!
I've never read Kathryn Shay before, but this was an excellent romantic suspense story! As an educator with experience with grades K-12, I am deeply concerned about trafficking, drugs, gangs, abuse and trauma! Children, teens and young adults struggle with self-esteem, alienation and acceptance! These issues were addressed in the book and I enjoyed the wide array of characters!
The book is quite emotional throughout! The Vietnam stories based on true stories, were deeply disturbing!
The protagonist Mitch was apprehensive about interacting with teens in a school setting! Clearly he benefitted from his interactions as much as the students! Outreach programs can be lifechanging for many! It's tough being a kid! Role models and support resources are critical to all age groups!
The romance between Cassie and Mitch was heartwarming, moving and sweet! Cop of the Year was a wonderful novel and I look forward to reading many more books by this author!
I've never read Kathryn Shay before, but this was an excellent romantic suspense story! As an educator with experience with grades K-12, I am deeply concerned about trafficking, drugs, gangs, abuse and trauma! Children, teens and young adults struggle with self-esteem, alienation and acceptance! These issues were addressed in the book and I enjoyed the wide array of characters!
The book is quite emotional throughout! The Vietnam stories based on true stories, were deeply disturbing!
The protagonist Mitch was apprehensive about interacting with teens in a school setting! Clearly he benefitted from his interactions as much as the students! Outreach programs can be lifechanging for many! It's tough being a kid! Role models and support resources are critical to all age groups!
The romance between Cassie and Mitch was heartwarming, moving and sweet! Cop of the Year was a wonderful novel and I look forward to reading many more books by this author!
May 24, 2021
Good Read
Mitch and Cassie’s story is beautiful. Cassie was just the person Mitch needed in his life. And Mitch was good for Cassie. I really felt their pain and was brought to tears at times. Sad that, after so many years, Mitch had to still cope with guilt and all he witnessed in war.
Cassie had much the same things to cope with, being on the streets making bad decisions. She had help in the end and now teaches at-risk high school students. Who better to teach than someone who’s “been there, done that”?
Johnny is an interesting character. As he struggled to find his way, I found myself rooting for him and worrying about him as much as Cassie and Mitch did. Can’t wait to read about him.
I realize this book is dated but it applies to all military men and women regardless of wherever there is a war.
Mitch and Cassie’s story is beautiful. Cassie was just the person Mitch needed in his life. And Mitch was good for Cassie. I really felt their pain and was brought to tears at times. Sad that, after so many years, Mitch had to still cope with guilt and all he witnessed in war.
Cassie had much the same things to cope with, being on the streets making bad decisions. She had help in the end and now teaches at-risk high school students. Who better to teach than someone who’s “been there, done that”?
Johnny is an interesting character. As he struggled to find his way, I found myself rooting for him and worrying about him as much as Cassie and Mitch did. Can’t wait to read about him.
I realize this book is dated but it applies to all military men and women regardless of wherever there is a war.
February 2, 2019
This one was just OK for me. I got this as a freebie, and I guess it's been around for a while, because this is set in the 90s -- no cell phones, no internet. Kinda weird, lol. There were also a lot of references to Vietnam, which threw me a bit because I didn't realize Mitch was so old. Not that he was "old" old, but I think in his 40s, and I originally presumed he was early 30s. Anyway, the story is sort of about Cassie, who teaches at-risk kids, learning to trust law enforcement again and Mitch learning to deal with his demons from war. There's gang activity and former gang members trying to do the right thing. Interesting story, but I found myself bored a bit of the time. This is the first in a series, but I'm not interested enough to continue with it.
June 8, 2017
Loved this story. The characters are gritty and real, the setting is well done and the story arc is well paced. As a 34 year high school teacher it is nice to read a book set in a high school that is realistic and accurately portrays struggles of students and teachers. I find it interesting that some of the programs described in this book, written in 1997, are just now being tried in many high schools in my area.
I really liked these imperfect characters and the way that Shay details their traumas and the impact it has on their life decisions. She does a great job of sucking you in and making you invest in these characters. Strongly recommend.
I really liked these imperfect characters and the way that Shay details their traumas and the impact it has on their life decisions. She does a great job of sucking you in and making you invest in these characters. Strongly recommend.
October 14, 2020
This Book is Outstanding!
When Police Captain Mitch Lansing is assigned to the high school class of at-risk teens, he is not happy. The teacher, Cassandra Smith isn't happy about it either. The kids are not just unhappy, but distrustful as well. They all have to make the best of th situation because it is happening. I must tell readers, without giving a lot away, that there is a part of the story that talks about the Vietnam War. Having been a teen in the 60's, that was pretty emotional for me. I cried as lot as I read. The book is a fantastic read, though. I couldn't put it down.
When Police Captain Mitch Lansing is assigned to the high school class of at-risk teens, he is not happy. The teacher, Cassandra Smith isn't happy about it either. The kids are not just unhappy, but distrustful as well. They all have to make the best of th situation because it is happening. I must tell readers, without giving a lot away, that there is a part of the story that talks about the Vietnam War. Having been a teen in the 60's, that was pretty emotional for me. I cried as lot as I read. The book is a fantastic read, though. I couldn't put it down.
July 13, 2022
I would have given this book a 4 ⭐ but I give it a 5⭐ because this is the first American book I ever read where they acknowledged that the war is not okay and what the US military did in Vietnam wasn't right. Who the hell told the USA that they can tell other countries what political systems they will have? You don't like communism? Great don't have communism in your country but let other countries be. It is not your job to fix any country and the reality is the US military never fixed anything by intervening they just made it worst.
Also I love Cassie and Mitch so much and they are such a great couple❤ I will for sure be checking out the rest of the series.
Also I love Cassie and Mitch so much and they are such a great couple❤ I will for sure be checking out the rest of the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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