Love on Call (A Rivers Community Romance, 3)

I have always considered Radclyffe the gold standard for Lesbian Romance. This series does not have the depth of characters or plot of the Honor, Justice, and Provincetown books. In the other series you have two characters who are central while other characters are introduced in additional books. Cameron and Blair, Rebecca and Catherine, Tory and Reese. You know these characters and watch their internal and external struggles play out on the page. The sex is hot.

The Rivers Community novels have great characters that never get fully developed. In Love On Call you are given hints of Glenn's war experiences and Mari's family and illness but no details are provided. The facts are simply used as the initial excuses for why the women can't become involved and then in a cliche ending why they do. While most of the previous characters are reintroduced, they just seem to show up to fill in the blanks. The sex is standard lesbian romance fare.

I would recommend the book because Radclyffe is the author but you might want to wait until you can pick up a used copy or just purchase it for your Kindle.

All of my reviews can found at The Romantic Reader Blog. My blog is 100% dedicated to the reviews of lesbian romance novels.

Love on Call is the third edition of the Rivers Community romances by Radclyffe. If you haven’t read the first two, this is a standalone, but you will be a bit in the dark on some of the periphery character’s backstories. If you are like me, Radclyffe is one of your go-to writers. While not always knockouts, Radclyffe is known for a quality story with interesting characters and engaging storylines. Love on Call will not let you down in this aspect.

Love on Call brings in a new character Mari Mateo, a physician’s assistant who has moved across the country for a chance to start over. Rivers offers Mari a chance at a career and life on her terms. Hailing from an intolerant family, Mari leaves her Los Angeles home to begin again. You find out pretty early on that Mari has had a rough go of it lately, harboring a secret that weighs heavily on her heart and mind.
The other main character is Glenn Archer, a recurring character from the last two books in this series. Glenn is a former Army medic who is now taking her new role as PA program director at Rivers hospital. Glenn is your brooding, heartthrob how is instantly likable but is more comfortable in the background than center stage.

Mari and Glenn hit it off right from the beginning. The work well together and become fast friends as well as colleagues. You can tell these two feel attraction towards the other, but both are skittish about taking it to the next level. Two very easily likable characters, that as the reader, you can’t help but root for them to overcome their self-imposed obstacles, and take the chance on love.

While their chemistry isn’t overwhelming and palatable, it is there. The romance is well thought out and interesting. These two characters have personal baggage, and it was delightful to see how they helped the other carry the weight, and see new perspectives on life. The compliment each other very well, and it was an overall good romance.
The only downfall in my opinion, to this story, is that you don’t get enough time with Glenn and Mari. Carrie plays a dominant role, and you are drawn to her story and what will most likely e the next romance in the series. Also, Blake and Margie, take a chunk of the story as well. As much as I loved the two mains of this book, my mind kept wondering what Carrie’s story will be, how will Blake and Marie’s romance unfold. I never was fully engrossed in this book, more wondering what the set-up for book four will be.

If you are a Radclyffe fan, you won’t be disappointed in this one. While not her best, this certainly will keep you entertained for the duration of the book. Definitely worth the price of admission!

It's a lot like the first one in story but worse. One of the lady loves the small town the other is from a big city and never thought she'd find herself leaving it. You have all the same players and nothing is new. Not unexpected and rather predictable, an emergency happens right at the beginning to get everyone impressed with the new person.

The story continues with the loner thinking she might take a chance while the other one isn't sure, so what happens well like most of her books one is hurt. Of course this makes the other one realize how short life is. I'm not sure if she can write a book where one of the parties isn't hurt or injured in some way.

I enjoy Radclyffe the books and her writing style. Would I reread it like ive done many of her other books, no it's not that interesting of a story. Even the characters, I didn't really like them or care about them. I found them predicable and boring.

If your tired of her books and hope she has written something a little different or really good, you will not like this book.

This is a good story with good characters, but I still want more about everyone. Forecasting the cousin connection in the synopsis but not bringing it up in the story until chapter 12 was annoying. It was really a minor plot point and didn't need to be in the synopsis at all. I kept waiting for the cousin connection to be brought up, and then to be focused on, and it really wasn't (and didn't need to be).

All the Rivers books are good, but you almost can't read one without the others. That's both a good and bad thing. It makes you keep following the series, but when the main characters in the book you're reading at the moment aren't really fleshed out, it's kind of annoying. I learned more about the minor characters in this book than I learned about them when they were major characters in a previous book. I just hope I get to know these characters better in subsequent books.

I received a free ebook from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in return for an honest review.

thank you

I love Radclyffe

Finally back to Radclyffe's great style of writing. I have read most of Radclyffe's books and loved them. However, those published in the last 12 to 24 months have been mediocre at best. My only complaint about this book is that it ended too soon.

I always enjoy a Radclyffee romance -- this was no exception.

Typical Rad book. Very enjoyable.

Always a good storyteller