I jumped my way into the middle of this series and that was a mistake. It says you can read it as a stand alone but there are so many side characters that it was hard for me to get a total grasp on them.


I felt the story did not flow and jumped ahead without much notice. It just seems like the fell in love in the matter of days and boom we jumped ahead.

I usually really like Rad's book but this one just missed the mark for me.

Phoned In
Dr Ben is only going to work at The Rivers for a year before she is off to bigger and better things. Things have gone off the rails for her but she’s convinced this year will help her heal and regain some of what she lost. Being new to the community doesn’t mean she isn’t accepted into the River’s household and made to feel welcome. Court Valentine is attracted to Ben from the start. She wants the woman and she doesn’t care if its no strings…But will it really be that easy? Meanwhile things are changing for the youngest member of the clan as she continues to grow into the woman she will be.

It was so great to catch up with the crew from The Rivers. I loved seeing everyone but its been awhile since I read the last book and I feel like I was a bit lost because I couldn’t remember some of the people and their relationship to the others. Also this book felt rushed compared to the others. There was not a lot of time spent on other characters of the family and community like there usually is and it was actually a bit dull…. This didn’t feel like a Radclyffe book and truthfully I was disappointed.

Radclyffe delivers another interesting instalment from the Rivers community. In a way, it feels like coming home and seeing your friends (ok, characters) from previous releases.

I really liked Ben's character and would have loved more depth to her story, particularly the WNBA part. I appreciate Radclyffe's medical knowledge and would also appreciate a bit more a stretch into other areas.

Lots of different options or conversations to have with so many familiar faces around, but in a way, it's to the detriment of a fuller story around Ben and Court which seemed rushed although completely hapy.

I love the series and this one is no exception. Both main characters are great fit for each other. I love that they read each other so well.
It did feel though as I read 3/4 of the book though. I wanted more.

Bennet or Ben is a WNBA player turned Orthopedic surgeon who has moved to a small town for a 1-year contract. Ben is not one for a relationship until she meets Courtney. The character revolves around the hospital and Blake the trans son of Bern's friends at the hospital. The plot is good and full of emotion and drama.
I like the book and the characters and I would recommend it for romance readers.
I received this book from Net galley for an unbiased review.

This is book #7 by Radclyffe's Rivers Community Romance series. Like most of her books, you can't go wrong. I won't say it's her best but it was enjoyable. Her writing, her storyline and her characters keep the pages turning. I would recommend.

Radclyffe, a master at series writing does not disappoint with Pathway to Love (Book #7, River Community Romance).
We welcome familiar characters and an interesting storyline that mixes well with new additions to Rivers Community Hospital. As aways, the writing is quick, sharp and the moves along easily as Radclyffe packs attraction, adrenaline, relationships and romance into one week. Sparks fly between a surgical resident and the new head of The Sports Medicine Department. The attraction and the chemistry is palpable but where will it lead? Radclyffe’s medical background brings hectic, emergent hospital scenarios to life and keeps the reader engaged and invested.
This is a satisfying read and very recommended with thanks to NetGalley, Radclyffe and Bold Strokes Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest book review.

Really good book. Even though this was a good read I was a little confused at the beginning., because this felt like a continuation of maybe another book in this series, and it took me a minute to figure everyone out.. There were three relationships going on at the same time, but the one I will focus on is the relationship between Courtney and Ben. These two were very different in temperament, but very similar in personality. Ben was an over thinker, and introspective at times and Courtney was more of a jump in feet first and see what shakes out . I feel these two complemented each other very well and there chemistry was of the charts. There was some drama, but not enough to bog this story down and I really liked all the emergency hospital ER scenes at the beginning that showed how quickly chaos can happen when you have multiple emergencies going on at the same time. I would definitely recommend this book and author to my friends and family, and I really look forward to what this author writes next.

I only started reading Radclyffe’s books this year and have only read maybe 3 of them so far. So, I don’t have enough of an idea whether I really enjoy her writing or not. Either way when I saw this on Netgalley, I figured it was worth a try.

I have complicated feelings about this book. There were a couple things that I really enjoyed about the book, but then there were two main things that took away from my enjoyment.

I liked both these characters. Separately they both seem to be good people with some issues that they have to work out regarding their pasts. I did wish there had been more of that for either of them, but I’ve also not read any of the other books in the Rivers Hospital series so there might be a chance that Courtney showed up in one of those. I also really enjoyed their interactions with each other. They had nice chemistry and I liked it. They meshed well together.

One thing that Radclyffe seems to do really well in her books is her medical scenes. She’s really good at making the hospitals seem like a controlled, chaotic mess. She gives enough details of procedures and injuries where I can have a general idea of what’s going on but doesn’t bury me in detail or medical terminology.

Now, unfortunately, comes what I didn’t love about the book. My first problem was that I didn’t really enjoy cutting to the other characters. This could just be because I’ve not read the other books in the Rivers Hospital series, but it kept dragging me away from what was going on. Plus, there were so many people and relationships to remember that I eventually gave up trying to remember which sister was which.

My big issue though: the timeline. It seems like the majority of the book, at least 75% of it, seems to take place over a day or two (3 max it seems). I’m a fan of an instant connection, but I usually like there to be something else going on with the characters that allow the connection to grow. This book didn’t give these characters that much time. They met, maybe a couple of days passed, and then we jump a month into the future. I, personally, want to see those moments in between. They’re necessary to make me truly connect with these characters and root for their relationship.

So, in summary, I liked this book and these characters, but it needed more time to truly allow these characters to bond and grow together. I don’t know if I’d ever read this book again, but it’s not terrible. If there had been 100 more pages (that actually took place in between those time zones), I think it could have been really good.

There are times when you can parachute into a series and it will be fine, and there are times - like this - that reading the series from the beginning is almost a requirement to understand most of what is going on, who the characters are, and what their history is. The upside to a recurring cast of characters is that they do have that history, between themselves, with the community, and do forth. The downside is that in books such as this one, there are so very many characters who get page time, that even attempting to give histories would take a lot of time and bog things down. So, no real history is given for the regular characters, only the new addition, and you're left wondering, assuming you care about all the characters.

This entry features a new addition, Bennett Anderson, an orthopedic surgeon tapped to head up the new sports medicine division at the hospital (which is populated by characters from the previous books). She has signed on for a year contract, but the book makes it sound like the job is meant to be long term. Why have a director of that department for a year if you're just going to have to start looking for another director almost immediately? That didn't make much sense to me. Neither does having a Trauma 1 designated hospital in the middle of nowhere, really. Also, this is yet another small town that seems to be overrun by women, or at leas the hospital seems to be, and most of them seem to be lesbians. That's unrealistic, but I let it go because that's what he genre needs from time to time.

Bennett "call me Ben" Anderson is also a former basketball player, who briefly had a stint in the WNBA, but (her "tragic backstory", a requirement, because no one can just live an ordinary life) is that she had to leave pro ball because her father was dying, then got better, then died for real, a result of his alcoholism. She went to med school afterwards, and was hired by the hospital.

Courtney Valentine is a resident in the general surgery department at the hospital. Apparently, she's been a member of the community forever, given her interactions with the other characters, and has a booty call buddy who also works at the hospital. Her tragic backstory: dad was out of the picture growing up. Court first meets Ben when she is walking to the hospital for her shift and finds Ben shooting hoops solo at a playground. Court. Basketball. Get it?

They meet for real at the hospital, and each thinks the other is attractive. Court winds up as Ben's resident that morning as various cases roll in. They keep evaluating one another as the day goes on. There are approximately a zillion characters introduced at the hospital, most of whom are women, and who a new reader (like myself) will probably have a hard time keeping track of and distinguishing from one another.

At some point, Court is on the Life Flight (or equivalent) helicopter, heading out to a bad car accident. Her cousin is seriously injured thanks to two idiots in their trucks, racing. They rush Val to the hospital, and Ben and Court operate to repair Val's leg.

There's another subplot about a couple of teenagers working out their first date, and one of those teens is a transman (Blake) who is trying out for the men's basketball team. There is the usual school bully getting in his face, and a bi football player who wouldn't mind a date or three with Blake.

Most of the book - about 70% on my Fire - takes place in the 24 hour-ish period that opens Court and Ben's story. There is no real middle to this book, and the requisite disagreement/issue between lovers/Major Thing/"dark night of the soul" that would inhabit the end of the middle and lead into the final act takes up about four pages - and once again, it's an issue that could easily be solved by the two characters just talking to one another. The last 30% is rushed, which for some reason seems to be a trend of many of the books I've read lately. Ben and Court get their sexytimes on, having gone from "hey, she's attractive and nice" to "take me to bed, you hunka hunka burning love" in next to no time. I suppose that's a little better than instalove/instalust meet cute thing, but it's a little jarring because all we've seen of their romance, such as it is, has basically been in the course of less than a week.

And suddenly, it is about a month later! We don't know this because we get some kind of clue to that or a chapter heading that says it from the author - we only know it because there's a surgery referenced that took place a month ago. The two mains have moved in with one another, and they're happy, as required by the genre.

What we do not get is anything more on any of the other characters, like Blake. Given the prominence of the basketball tryouts in the book, I wanted to see how things were going, since we've jumped ahead a month. How did Blake's date go? Is the hot football player still flirty? Did Blake make the team?

It may not be Cecil B. DeMille and his cast of thousands, but there are far too many characters given page time here. Maybe leaving some threads undone is common in this series, but I'm not a fan of introducing a bunch of characters and focusing on them as much as or more than the main characters and it is disappointing when toward the end, the only thing we're really seeing is the two mains and the sexytimes that go with the nectar of new love.

No sex until the end, but it is slightly graphic in each episode if one of your metrics is that point.

Only two stars of five on this one from me. Sorry, the way the story was told and the pacing just put me off. Hats off for no snapping of necks ("her head snapped up") in this one, though.

Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the reading copy.

Radclyffe books are good and this is medical romance has a nice storyline that’s a page turner, I didn’t get bored and there was an easy flow of characters and their lives, as well as interesting secondary characters. This book also included a trans son, that was great, if was brief. The characters were a bit insta love but Radclyffe books are often like that. A short read before bed, maybe 2 hours , easy flow and I liked it. 8/10

Sweet story!

Dr Ben Anderson is filling a gap year by working temporarily at a medical center and chasing some dreams. Ben doesn’t really fit in but when Courtney comes along Ben finds herself being persuaded into a no-strings relationship with her but she isn’t entirely sure that she can even commit to such short terms pleasures.

This was an interesting series and as part of a series of which I haven’t read any of the other books I was worried that I might not fully grasp the story and all that was going on with characters. There were a lot of names mentioned and characters that played a part in this story but it was still easy to follow this as a standalone installment as it focused on Ben and Courtney more than anything else.

It was fun and flirty between them, even when Ben was trying to hold back and not get roped into anything; no matter how short term it was. The medical setting put the characters in some intense moments as well as some very emotional ones. Courtney was affected by more than just her attraction to Ben and I am glad Ben was there for her when she needed her to be. They complimented each other nicely and had a great chemistry.

I hope to read more of this series as it has certainly intrigued me and hopefully future stories might include Ben and Courtney at a different stage in life. I really enjoyed the story and found it not only intriguing and emotional but filled with some fun moments and a few of contemplation too, which made for a nicely rounded romance.

This is book 7 in the Rivers Community Romances series by Radclyffe. I’ve read them all so far and I suggest that you don’t jump into the series here as you will lose too much context. One of the reasons is that this book catches up with a few of the couples established in the previous novels. Another reason is that there is an arc between a trans teenage character and his best friend Margie, the youngest of the Rivers siblings, that is developed throughout the seven books. My guess is that Radclyffe is planning at least another installment in this series as there is potential for more progress in their relationship. Kudos to the author to introduce a trans character to the series bringing much-needed visibility and diversity.

kindle
Courtney Valentine is a first-year surgical resident in the Rivers Hospital with a tight schedule and no time for a committed relationship. Bennett Anderson is a former professional basketball player, now an orthopedic surgeon, who is called to Rivers to direct the new Sports Medicine department. She plans to stay for a year in the small town and then move on to greater things. Both women aren’t interested in a relationship but their attraction and chemistry are powerful. Will they find a pathway to love?

I said this before, Radclyffe writes medical romances like no other in lesfic, her inside knowledge as a former surgeon is instrumental in the realism of the scenes. I always celebrate when she writes a medical romance especially if it presents a few of them like in this novel. There are quite a few emergency OR scenes with a lot of excitement and adrenaline. For me, this was the best part of the book.

Radclyffe says in the acknowledgments that this book was hard to write considering that 2021 was a tough year for the whole world. I guess that this book was even harder to write as many stories interconnect and are based on the previous books. I liked catching up with characters like Flann and Abby, parents of the trans teenager Blake. There is also a basketball subplot as Blake is doing the tryouts for the boys’ school team, with the complications around it as, if successful, he would be the first trans to join the team.

We know that Radclyffe not only writes the medical parts well but her romances are excellent too. One of my old-time favourites is her medical romance Fated Love so I tend to compare the chemistry she built between Honor and Quinn with each of her new books. In this case, the main romance was fine but not off the charts in terms of chemistry. I felt that the ending was a bit rushed too, the transition from casual to commitment too fast. However, this book was good to catch up with the overall arc of the series and the romance is satisfying enough to make it worth a read.

If you are looking to catch up with the Rivers Community Romances series this book is for you. 4 stars.

ARC provided by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I do enjoy the Rivers Community books and the cast of characters Radclyffe has created but I don't think this is her strongest book in the series. We reunite with all our old favourites but also get introduced to Dr Bennett Anderson, a basketball player who trained with Harper and Flann. She is instantly welcomed into the community and the family and the Rivers house and all is as it should be. Then Bennett meets Courtney Valentine.

There is the same angst and confusion and growth that Radclyffe is very good at writing and you do care about the people and the outcomes matter. But I got a bit confused on the timeline. The beginning seemed up be almost real time then suddenly we jumped and I wasn’t sure where we were. Not a big deal but it took me out of the story sometimes.

Bennett is well written and her nomadic, lost persona fits well into the plotting and her being drawn to Courtney but trying to fight it makes sense. I will be looking out for the next book and the continuation of the community I’ve come to love.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley

‘Pathway To Love’ is the latest in the Rivers Community Romance Series. I’ve enjoyed the series and I’m always keen to be back with the characters. In this book Dr. Bennett Anderson joins the hospital as the new head of the Sports Medicine Department. With no plans to extend her stay beyond a year, she doesn’t want any ties in her romantic endeavours either. Dr Courtney Valentine is intent on learning as much as she can in her chosen profession , before settling on a specialty. And she wants no-strings in her love life. Will they be able to stick to their goals, or will romance have other ideas?

The thing that stood out was just how much was packed into one day in this story. The meeting between Ben and Court was just the start of a very busy day, full of drama and intense feelings. I liked both characters, and as with every other Rivers novel, I loved getting to spend time with the Rivers family and the staff in the hospital. I loved the medical elements of the story, and it is obviously true to life and expertly written, coming from a real-life surgeon . The romance did work for me but I was surprised at the pace. I can certainly believe they would fall in love quickly, but the ending was abrupt and I would have liked another chapter or two – even an epilogue. A good story.

I was given this ARC for review.

I love the Rivers Community Romance series. I love all of the details and descriptions of country life. I love the addition of each book and how blended with the new characters we visit with our old friends from previous books. The hospital scenes are dynamic, authentic and make me feel at home after decades in the medical field. I bonded with Ben more than Court but I liked the both as main characters. I only wish this book was a bit longer, but I say that about all the books I love. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Good book..well written characters with tough jobs and little time. Interesting what these characters were willing to do to make time for love..

Pathway to Love is the 7th book in A Rivers Community Series. I have read all of the books in this series and have enjoyed each of them.

Dr. Bennett Anderson and Courtney Valentine are the two main characters in Pathway to Love. Bennett (Ben) is new to the Rivers Hospital but her friendship with Flannery and Harper Rivers goes back to medical school. Ben accepts a position at the hospital to start a sports medicine program. Courtney (Court) is in her first year of residency. Although she is interested in trauma and surgery, Court quickly finds her interest directly focused on the new doctor and the new program.

Readers will also discover many of the other characters appearing in previous books in this series. There is a continuation of the sub-story of Blake and Maggie. Their story is one that is woven throughout most of the earlier books and one can only believe that it will become a focal point in a future book in the series.

The plot that Radclyffe has written for this book is mostly centered around a day in the life at a trauma center. I say mostly because two-thirds of the book is set in a 24-hour period. It starts slowly but turns quickly into a high-paced medical drama. Under times of high stress, emotions run high, and relationships are formed quickly. This book’s plot is no different. Radclyffe writes a very tight plot. Pathway to Love can be read as a standalone, but I feel that readers will get more out of it by having the background story of the different characters previously introduced in the earlier books of the series.

The characters in all of Radclyffe’s books are always developed with excellent imagination. It does not take long for readers to find a connection with the characters and wish that the story would continue.

As always, I recommend Radclyffe’s books. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Another book from Radclyffe where we get to visit with the fine people who work at the ‘Rivers Community Hospital’ While we get to catch up with the goings on with the people we’ve met before, each new book introduces us to new characters, new romances.
Courtney Valentine is someone we’ve met before but more as a supporting cast. Now it’s her turn to have a little romance in her life. Up until now she’s been satisfied with the casual friends with benefits but is starting to feel maybe something is missing in her life. She’s training to follow her dream of becoming a surgeon and hasn’t had time to take on a real relationship.
Dr. Ben Anderson knew Harper and Flynn from medical school and was kind of, in her own way, keeping up with Harper and Flynn and what was happening with them. But she has only signed a one year contract for, just until her dream job has an opening. Falling in love wasn't in her plans. Then there was Courtney. Now what will she do?
While the story is about Courtney and Ben, I found Margie's and Blake's story more compelling. Courtney and Ben's story could have been a lot shorter. For some first time readers it's a good idea to bring them up to date in the series but you shouldn't have to read it over and over. Honestly I skipped over more than a few pages. Like all Radclyffe books this too was a good read.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books

Radclyffe is one of my favorite authors and I love the rivers series. However, I just could not connect with this one. I felt it was rushed and had too much going on. Therefore it fell short for me.
I will recommend as it might appeal to someone else.
3 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for this ARC.