Cover Image: Love on the Night Shift

Love on the Night Shift

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

This book delivers everything one has come to expect from a romance written by Radcliffe. I was unaware that it was part of. a series, but I was able to enjoy it regardless.

Was this review helpful?

As is any Radclyffe book, it is very well written. I have read many, though not all of Radclyffe‘s books and have never felt let down. Some are simple romantic guilty pleasures, and some move me to tears. But I am never disappointed with the captivating romance and the credible emotional and sexual slow burn.
The novel has all the hallmarks a reader has come to expect from Radclyffe’s work. That’s what always makes the reader return to her work. The characters are so believable, the background characters are just as real and not just window dressing for the scene.
The plot is believable as well, not something you would roll your eyes when you read it. The erotic scenes are exceptional and, as any long-time Radcylffe reader knows, that’s a high bar, to begin with. Highly recommended.
Thanks to @Netgalley, Bold Stroke Books, and Radclyffe

Was this review helpful?

What's not to love. Great story, the main characters are always well developed and the reader is drawn in to enjoy every page of the journey. Can highly recommend.

Was this review helpful?

Being part of a series, this book is a great addition to the Rivers Family Series. The new characters added to the series add for some more drama and great stories. With that being said, it can also be read as a standalone and allows for you to still understand the other characters and storylines.
Wanting to start fresh, Grady joins a new community and meets the secretive Blaise. Intrigued and captivated, they find them selves drawn to each other.
I couldn't put this book down and only stopped for basic needs of food and sleep. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone who likes Radclyffe or series novels or hospital setting novels.

Was this review helpful?

Good ....But the underlying story was unrealistic and a bit far fetched. And as talented as Radclyffe is I really wish she wouldn’t insist on portraying confident, intelligent, strong women as testosterone laced ill-bred men. I don’t believe most women’s first thought when meeting another woman (lesbian or not) is what they would like like under them.

Was this review helpful?

When a young attendant joins the ER at The Rivers, Blaise Richelieu isn’t interested. Sure Grady is charming, and hot, but Blaise has enough on her plate between her job and raising a teenage daughter. Besides, Blaise would rather keep the past buried, and Grady might drudge it up unknowingly. The harder Blaise tries to resist Grady (and keep the past hidden), the more Grady wants to pursue her.

This is the 6th book in the Rivers Community Romance series. The thing I love about Radlyffe’s books, among other things, is I can always jump right in and enjoy the story. Whether it’s a standalone work or part of a series, I never feel like I have to have read others to enjoy the one in my hands. Sure, it enhances the experience if you have some context, but it’s not totally necessary, and this isn’t the first time I’ve started one out of order. Instead of detracting from the story, it often makes me want to read more, knowing I’ll have a broader understanding of the world and see some familiar faces in other books.

I loved the main characters, sure, but I was also deeply endeared to Blaise’s BFF, her wife, and their son, as well as all of the kids in the book. I love that these kids aren’t nearly as concerned about sex as their parents think they are. They are content to just hang out, have a good time, and explore their feelings before they jump into anything serious. Plus, trans rep for the win! More of that in all fiction, please and thank you.

As I’m still catching up on the backlog, this one is out now. I definitely need to go back and read the others in this series, too.

Was this review helpful?

Radclyffe added another great installment to the series that I have come to love for several books now. I always love returning to the same world for books.

Was this review helpful?

I love every one of the books in the Rivers Series and it is so great to read about how everyone is doing. I really enjoyed this story because Grady fits right in with the rest of the women. I hope there is another book soon.

Was this review helpful?

Radclyffe delivers an easy and enjoyable Rivers romance. Usually, I'm not a of sequels and trilogies, let alone #6 and beyond, but I didn't mind this. Characters from previous novels made it feel easier and more comforting to read. In the world of COVID, that's a good thing.

Blaise has her daughter Taylor in her life and that's pretty much all she needs, but Grady gives a somewhat unwanted glimmer of hope that more could be possible. But there's a BIG, "it's complicated" moment.

I'm also not usually a fan of love in two seconds, preferring the slow burn, but again Radclyffe gives you just the right amount of throttle.

Was this review helpful?

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. When I requested this book I wasn’t aware it was part of a series, so I was a little concerned I would have trouble following it but I didn’t at all. The two main characters are both employed by the local hospital, the setting for each book within the series. Grady is the new surgeon in town in pursuit of Blaise, a charge nurse she encounters her first night on the job. Although the chemistry is palpable, Blaise fights the attraction. When a surprise revelation comes about, their relationship is put in jeopardy and how everyone involved responds will determine their fate. I really enjoyed the characters and how their feelings for each other played with the rest of the story. It was well written and the other characters were described enough that not knowing their back stories did not affect my enjoyment of this one.

Was this review helpful?

This one was too insta-lovey for me. I'm down for two people feeling a pull towards each other the moment they meet, but it seemed like Grady was just obsessed with Blaise the moment their eyes meet. The romance itself was okay. Blaise was reluctant to start a relationship with Grady almost the entire first half of the book, but it didn't really go into why that was. I feel like if there was that much set-up and reluctance there should've been an actual plot there.

There was another part that put me off. One of the other character's son is dating her sister??? I feel like maybe I'm missing something because I didn't read the first 5 books, but... it's still... your child... dating your sister... I understand they're the same/similar age, but... it's still familial and that's called incest...

In my opinion, there wasn't too much substance to this story. It really just just Grady chasing after Blaise until one day Blaise was just like fuck it I'll give in. It wasn't a bad read, just pretty predictable.

Was this review helpful?

A cheesy predictable read - but nonetheless a super easy story to read. You don’t have to think too hard. The characters are likeable and the story makes you fee good.

Was this review helpful?

I love this author's works and rarely have a single critique. This sequel in the Rivers Community Romance series is another winner. I am an absolute sucker for the butch femme dynamic and Radclyffe's books always deliver. My only comment for this author and many others who've started using more gender neutral names is: stop, lol. I have trouble keeping track of who is who unless a description of them is included with their name. But that could just be me who feels the way and it is my 1 percent negative criticism. I've loved the Rivers series from the first book. The scenery is beautifully described, the medical scenes are well written and often keeps you on the edge. The characters are inclusive, which as the parent of a trans son, I appreciate. I will always highly recommend works from this author, this one included. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

And so we have arrived at Radclyffe’s 6th installment of the River Community Romance Series, Love on the Night Shift. It pretty much follows the theme of the other 5 books. Dark haired, blue eyed, handsome butch meets unattainable femme and falls for her like a brick.

Grady McClure is the new surgeon at Rivers. Invited by buddy Flannery Rivers (see book 2), Grady was happy to escape Baltimore and her prestigious surgeon family to spread her wings and shine on her own. Grady works hard and keeps her love life casual. Until she lays her eyes on Blaise.

Head nurse Blaise Richeilieu is a single mom with a big ‘no entry’ sign on her heart. She trusted in the past and ended up pregnant and heartbroken so she is adamant not to fall for the charms of this new hot shot surgeon. She tries to keep her focus solely on her daughter Taylor, but Grady proves to be a relentless flirt.

Radclyffe weaves a predictable plot but she does it so well that I really don’t care. A lovely blend of medical and romance with a great cast. Flannery Rivers and Abby Remy (see book 2) are in the supporting role as friends of Grady and Blaise. I still love the Rivers Community Series and it’s very gay hospital. It’s safe and entertaining.

f/f explicit

Themes: small rural community, the Rivers Clan, the 80% drama felt very contrived, Radclyffe’s femmes are always topping from the bottom, they hold all the cards.

4 Stars

* A free copy was provided by Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Radclyffe never fails in writing a great story. Love the family atmosphere you feel just like you are part of the family. Read this book you won't be disapponted.

Was this review helpful?

I simply love the Rivers stories It's so nice to go back and see old friend again. Grady is a new surgeon to the ER . Young , dashing and very smooth. She meets ER nurse Blaise Richeillieu on her 1st nightshift. Blaise has a daughter she is very protective of and doesn’t let people in. Grady pursued her until she couldn't resist. Blaise's boss Abby encouraged her to see what the relationship could bring. There are a few twists and turns in this one but very enjoyable.

Was this review helpful?

ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 6th book in the Rivers series. The mains here are Blaise, a nurse at the Rivers hospital and Grady a new surgeon who happens to be an old friend of Flann’s. Blaise also has a teenage daughter, Taylor, who is friends with Margie and Blake. Blaise is Abby’s best friend, so she and Flann show up a fair bit. There’s also a bit of time spent on Courtney who also popped up in Love to the Rescue, which featured her sister Val. I’m assuming if there’s a book 7, it will be about her.

This wasn’t my favourite of the series, as has happened before, the book takes place over a ridiculously quick time period. The first 70% of the book takes place over three days (a large portion of that taken up with talking about a party and then at the party), and in that short time the leads meet, fall for each other, and have sex. Then a bit of (very convenient) melodrama pops up to advance the story another week or so. This seems to be the formula for these books, but for the life of me I can’t work out why Rad can’t have these take place over longer time frames and have the characters actually get to know each other instead of all this instalove. The reader also has to overlook the incredibly unlikely high LGBTQIA population in such a small town.

If you’ve read the others, you’ll want to read this. I wish it had had more substance and the relationship had been fleshed out. At this point the ‘b’ storyline that runs through these that feature the teens is the most interesting point. I also wish Rad would focus on that more in the next one. 3 stars

Was this review helpful?

I'm always excited when I see a new Radclyffe novel, she is the queen of lesbian drama after all. I enjoyed the story even if it did stick to the normal Radclyffe formula. An easy, entertaining read. I do wish that Radclyffe would return to a bit of crime and suspense or rethink her romance formula just a bit. Altogether one of the stronger books in the Rivers series. I loved the characters but, as with most books in this series, I thought it was too short.

Was this review helpful?

This is the 6th book in Radclyffe’s Rivers Community series. In this series we find the stories centering around the Rivers Hospital and the people who work there. What I find nice is that you get to welcome back the characters you have read about in earlier books. I so enjoy this element of a series because the characters have already been established and Radclyffe does character development so well.

Blaise Richeilieu is the head night shift nurse who runs the ER at Rivers. She has been there for a few years and has been welcomed into the Rivers’ community—a community that centers not only the Rivers’ family but all the extended family members. Blaise has a daughter, Taylor, and Blaise feel that working and raising her daughter consumes all of her time.

The other main romantic character in this book is Grady McClure. She is the new surgeon at Rivers Hospital. Grady met Flannery Rivers while they were both working on their medical training in Baltimore. This is where she learns of the Rivers Hospital. Grady comes from a medical family, too, but wants to work somewhere away from her family. When a position opens at the Rivers Hospital, she feels that this will allow her to have a fresh start away from her demanding family.

Although Blaise and Grady are attracted to each other, Blaise feels that Grady is a “player”. Also, she does not have any time to invest in a relationship. Grady immediately feels the draw to be a part of the “Rivers” family. It is through this setting that Blaise and Grady learn more about each other.

Blaise’s daughter, Taylor, is an interesting character and I hope we will see more of her and her close friends (Margie, Dave, Blake, and Tim). The plot is always solid and has good tempo. When a reader finishes a book in this series, she knows that it is not the end of these special characters. Instead, Radclyffe will probably give us another book about this family. However, readers could pick up this book and read it as a standalone.

I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

This is the sixth instalment in the Rivers Community series. We are introduced to new characters who are the central story but the joy of any Radclyffe series is catching up with old friends. Never mind the proportion of lesbians in a small place... if a safe, supportive environment like this existed, we would all be drawn to it. There might be one coincidence too many (no spoilers) but I didn’t actually mind as this is pure escapist storytelling - of which Radclyffe is a genius.

Blaise is happily running the night shift and concentrating on bringing up her daughter. She has no time for commitment. Grady is running as well but it takes us a while to figure out what from and why. She’s happy to be at The Rivers and pursuing Blaise. Add in the usual crew and the softball league and we have an excellent diversion.

You don’t have to have read the previous books but chances are when you’ve read this one, you’ll want to go back and catch up. So treat yourself and enjoy the series.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review

Was this review helpful?