The Angel of Second Street — Barbara Tifft Blakey

How Can Compassion be Considered Wrong?  Collect a new series of six historical romances. When life seems weighed down by challenges, there are always pillars of enduring hope and love to be discovered. Ida Dempsey has grown up in a life of privilege and luxury thanks to her aunt and uncle. But when she learns her mother is a woman of ill repute, she can’t stay away from the women down on Second Street as she seeks to find her mother. Ida has also befriended Qui Shau, a Chinese woman who keeps house for her family, but such friendships between the whites and Chinese are considered taboo in Eureka. Ida tries to keep secret her compassionate efforts, but someone is watching and will use it against her.   When Blaine Prescott meets Ida at a church picnic, his parents warn him away from any relationship with the young lady who has been seen on Second Street in the company of a Chinese woman. But how could such a kindhearted, lovely young woman be anything but good? And when riots break out in Chinatown and Ida’s uncle sends her away, Blaine will do anything to find out where and why she has gone.