Positive: Slow burn. I love a good slow burn romance. Something about it that just makes me happy. The build up the "love story" through the progression of the story.

Positive: Puppies. I mean, come on! What is not to love about puppies? The fact this was how the main characters reconnected was super cute.

No so positive: Super slow burn. Again, I love a slow burn, but not that much of a slow burn. I don't think they got together/ did anything until near the end of the story. Pretty sure it was around 80%? That is a super slow burn that put me off their story a bit because I did not like that it took so long for them to come together. I want the romance factor.

No so positive: Forced conflict that was not much of a conflict yet it somehow managed to become the contributing factor for why the main characters took so long to actually get together. I found that frustrating and frankly confusing. It seemed completely blown out of proportion, and I genuinely did not understand it.

Overall: I liked the story and the writing. It's not my first Radclyffe book, but it has been some time since I read one from the author. I enjoyed certain aspects of the story, but ultimately, I felt like I did not enjoy it as much as I have the other books.

ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley, and I have given my honest and voluntary review.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and publishers for the opportunity to read and review “Finders’ Keepers.” So this is a slow burn, romance between Tally, a vet and Roman (Rome), a hospital pa, brought together via a sack of discovered newborn puppies. That was already ticking several boxes for me, and a good addition to the Rivers series, with familiar characters weaving throughout the storyline.
The care of the puppies was enjoyable and very well done, and I enjoyed the additional teenage characters and their involvement and own stories.
This storyline is interesting for its inclusivity, which on the whole is very well done. However there didn’t appear to be many straight characters, which did feel a bit odd, as most were lesbian couples.
I did struggle with the names, and was so focused that I must have missed where the “history” between the two main characters was explained. I didn’t understand what the issue was, and the characters themselves seemed to be puzzled. The connection between Roman and Tally I felt could have gone either way, as it took a long time to translate and was very near the ending.
However, this was a book I enjoyed reading, was spurred on to keep reading, and couldn’t wait to read on, hoping for the happy ending. 4*

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this brilliant book

tally dewilde and roman ashcroft have known each other for years as well as their families but an incident that happened during their teen years was to see for one of them lose everything and move away

now years later they are in the same town and working near each other

tally as a vet and roman in a hospital

but their first meeting was over some puppies dumped by the roadside that roman found and took to the vets

can roman and tally overcome the incident that happened in their past and work together with the puppies

an entertaining read with some great characters will be keeping an eye out for more of this authors works

the slowest second chance, slow burn to ever exist. they kissed once 75% into the book but i truly didn't mind because of the puppies!!

the time jumps weren't well defined and it was just hard to comprehend what time we were at. i had a lot of struggle to remember the names and imagine the faces of the characters – it made it harder to follow the story. 

I wanted more of Roman's story, including the military and her friendship with Brody. it felt rushed in some part and really slow going in others. there are some part I wanted to skip but since there were time jumps all the time, I couldn't in case I missed something important. 

the ending was super cliché and the their second chance was barely existent. they made up and the book was finished.

I’ve been excited for this one! I did have to go back to a few previous books in the series to remember who was who.

This was a second chance type book and kept you wondering what the “conflict” was until the end.

I wish this community actually existed!

Radclyffe never disappoints and this is no exception.

Puppies! Young folks pitch in to help with puppy care. Cute story surrounded by a sort of interesting romance. Rome Ascroft, physician assistant, looking for a fresh start. Talia Dewilde, veterinarian, looking for a break from family and to find a sense of self. Tally and Rome knew each other previously and hoped never to see each other again. Puppies brought them back together. The read is sweet, light with not much angst. I enjoyed this slow burn romance, but I was not captivated. It was nice to read about some of my favorite and interesting characters from previous stories in the series.

I have read tons of Radclyffe books through the years, I can't believe I'm saying this, but this is not my favourite, it left me feeling very meh. I have actually finished the book about two weeks ago and really didn't know how to write a review for it. I have gotten an advance copy through Netgalley (thank you, by the way). Maybe it's because I haven't read all of the other books in the series leading up to this? But I kind of doubt that would make any difference to my satisfaction level once I finish the book.

The premise was a bit trope-y but interesting enough. Second chances, ran into each other at a (very) small town far away from home unexpectedly... found a bag of puppies on her way to work (first day at new job?), so had to do a detour to the closes vet clinic that's open and have the dogs checked, etc.... And BAM! Who is there but someone that Rome (Roman) had history with ages ago, where it had resulted into her running away from town, family, friends and into the embrace of the army...

To call this a slow burn is... what is the opposite of exaggeration....uh... an understatement! I physically LOOKED to check 'percentage complete' on when this 'burn' finally happen - it was 82-3%!! I am flabbergasted at the scenic route/detour/path not taken ... to get there at 82%!

And I am not going to spoil it, the 'big conflict' was all about this mysterious 'old news' that happened between them, that seems to be getting in the way of them getting together and concern about buy-ins from family if they were to get together (which they're like...not close with, see above, both ran away from home for one reason or another)... I think this was not fully disclosed until... PASS 85%? Perhaps nearly at the end? And of all the conflicts I've seen in books, this one is ... wow... how was that even a thing?! It made me think that perhaps I've misinterpreted/didn't pay attention at the important parts?/just plain didn't grasp the potential IMPACT of 'the bad thing'... But I just can't make myself go back and find the bits and pieces when 'the event' was mentioned and sort of figure out why it was such a big deal. Something about drugs? But like, nothing happened really... I think?

Anyways, sorry to say it but it's a thumbs down from me. And I'm pretty indiscriminate when it comes to WLW stuff.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️
🐕🎖️🩺🍺🏀

This is the 8th (?) book in the Rivers Community Romances series by Radclyffe, but it can be read as a standalone. You have characters from the other books in this one, with already established relationships so it makes you want to go back to read those ones, if you haven't read them.

Finders Keepers is a cute romance story about enemies-to-lovers/second-chance (not love)/ and realising what it means to assume the worst in people but not actually knowing the whole story.

Ex-Military, Rome finds a bag of dumped puppies on the road on the way to her first day at work as a PA (Physician Assistant), where she takes them immediately to the vet clinic where she meets the Vet, and someone from her past, Tally. The book alludes to something that Tally thinks Rome did to her sister when they were younger, so we get one-sided hate, but totally confusing other feelings from Tally, and admiration and guilt from Rome.

Because Rome really didn't want to leave the puppies and wanted everything to do with them, the women had more interactions together and of course feelings grow, and they have a lot more sexual tension than they can handle. These moments were cute, funny and sometimes a little frustrating because you really just want to find out what Tally thinks Rome did all those years ago. It isn't until nearer the end of the book you find out, and you just want to scream and ask why it took so long for them to talk about it.

The community was queer and great. Found family all around. The teenagers and their willingness to help out with the puppies were fantastic, and I LOVED the way that Rome bonded with Bravo and treated her like she was part of the army.

This was my first Radclyffe book, but certainly not my last.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bold Strokes books for the copy of the eArc. This review is left voluntarily.

Another story from the Rivers Community where apparently all the women or should I say most find themselves to be members of the LGBTQIA+ community, or so the story goes.
Rome Ashcroft, recently retired from the Armed Forces, finds a job at the local hospital where she meets up with her good friend Brody. As you probably remember Brody was good friends with the whole Rivers family. So when she hears from Rome she quickly finds a job for her, as a PA.
Tally Dewilde went against her family by becoming a Veterinarian and now she’s moved to the Rivers Community to become an associate of Val, you know she married Brody. Same characters, a slightly different storyline dealing with pet and farm animals.
While I do enjoy reading these stories, following the timeline is a little hard. The characters have just met but when reading all that has happened it takes at least a week or two only to find out it was indeed just the other day all these things happened. From getting the jobs and quickly becoming an important character where everyone in the whole community looks out for them. Because they are all River’s.
It seems I’m tired of reading these books. They all work hard, love hard and other than slightly different story lines, nothing is new. Radclyffe usually does a better job of bringing these storylines along. Honor, Justice, First Responders, etc had a lot more thought going into another book in all of these series. A pretty good story.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books

I wanted to like this book so much more than I did. It had so much potential- rural lesbians! puppies! Second chance romance! An author that is a trailblazer in Sapphic romance! Unfortunately, it ultimately fell short.

One of the best parts of a romance novel is watching the characters fall in love and see how they come together as a couple, and in this book we are told that the characters are getting to know each other and spending time together, but we don't see that. Multiple times we are told a period of weeks passed and they saw each other frequently, but don't see any of those conversations.

The backstory that leads to the conflict is something that is so vague, and the resolution does not make sense and is brushed over. It's literally a conversation that is summed up as "hey I was wrong about what happened, sorry I spread a rumor that ruined your life." "Oh that's okay, you did what you thought was right. Anyway I love you." "I love you too."

Also, this may be getting into semantics, but one of the characters is a veteran army medic that some how now has her PA degree and certification, and is teaching PA students. That's not how that career path works. You need six years of education that it is mentioned that she does not have.

In summation, the best part of this book was the puppies.

This was another good addition to the series. Radclyfe as usual doesn't disappoint. The characters were well developed and likeable and had great chemistry. I recommend, 4 stars.


I received an ARC copy from the publisher Bold Stroked Books via NetGalley.

a pretty unoffensively sweet novel -- maybe i'd feel more connection to this if i'd read any other books in the series? struck me as relatively boring but fine!

Finders Keepers, ‘A Rivers Community Romance’ Book 8 by Radclyffe is a delightful slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance; one that I’m glad I had the chance to read. It also has puppies…six adorable, bright eyed, floppy eared, soft and cuddly puppies. I admit it. I’m an absolute sucker for sweet, furry baby animals. Add them to a romantic couple in a story, and I’m hooked.

I’ve enjoyed reading all of the Rivers Community novels and grab any new ones I see when they come out. I know that with each story I’ll get to see all of the folks I’ve come to know and love from the past books. Each novel is set in the same village, as well as the Rivers Community Hospital, and of course connected in some way to the Rivers family. This tale begins when Roman Ashcroft finds six abandoned puppies on her way to her first day as a PA at the Rivers hospital. When she takes them to a vet hospital on the way to work, she is suddenly faced with a past she thought she had left behind in the form of Dr. Tally Dewilde, the new veterinarian in town.

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing all my favorite characters and places from the past stories. Tally and Rome make a great addition to the population of Rivers. They have an obvious connection even with their painful past. Theirs is an extremely slow-burn romance, almost too slow for me, but the chemistry between them is definitely hot. Then of course there are the puppies. No one can resist these babies.

This is a great summertime (or any time) read for those of you who enjoy their love stories slow and sweet.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

Radclyffe knows how to write a strong, character-driven novel, and everyone knows that throwing in some cute puppies will draw in the readers. Who can resist? Finders Keepers, the latest in the Rivers Community Romance series, introduces us to two new arrivals in the small rural town, Roman and Tally.
Roman had me from the start. She comes across as confidant and sexy with a background full of baggage but still has the confidence to know that she is a catch. And then there is Tally. The hot vet. Oh, did I mention the bag full of abandoned puppies? Of course, Roman, the tough ex-military PA, is determined to take them under her wing, adding to her sex appeal. Roman and Tally have a past that involves Tally’s older sister and is only alluded to, keeping the reader in the dark.
Long story short, Tally hates Roman, and Roman doesn’t hold it against her. Roman is, however, falling hard for Tally, and vice versa, which means they need to discuss what really happened between Roman and Tally’s sister all those years ago.
I haven’t read all of the Rivers Community Romance books, but I have read a few, and each story is about finding the one person who will ground you and bring you home. That, and found family, and this is what gives them their feel-good vibes. The HEA is guaranteed, and the angsty MC (one or both) will realize they are exactly where they need to be.

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

I don’t have a lot to say about this.

It was a cute sapphic romance but I probably wouldn’t reach for it as a reread.

Thank you to netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC.

Another typical entry in the Rivers Community series (but, in a good way).

In this one there are two newbies in town, Rome and Tally. Rome is a new PA at the hospital, Tally a new Vet. But, while they may be new to town, they're not new to each other, they have quite a past together, a pretty horrible one actually.

But, when Tally meets Rome again, the person she seems to be now is totally different than what Tally thought she was before. There's lots of drama, and a bunch more with Blake and his friends as well.

Ooh, ooh, and the puppies. They were so cute to read about. This was a really nice sort of comfort read.

Finders Keepers is an interesting love trails of Tally & Rome. Overall, this book wasn't my cup of tea but was well written for sure. I did like watching the characters growing into themselves as the story went on; I just didn't love either main character. Thank you to Bold Strokes Books & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review of content.

Tally Dewilde, a veterinarian, chose to work in an animal hospital in the country instead of a city pet boutique. Roman Ashcroft is one of River’s community Hospital’s newest PA. Both originally from the Upper east side, meets again by chance in the country when Rome found a bag of abandoned puppies and brought them to the animal hospital where Tally works. Both shares a mysterious past that has caused a riff between them. And now both have to come to terms with their path now crossing once again, with possible feelings between them.

This book was a pleasant read…but predictable. The conflict that kept them apart was kept hush for most of the book and I did not really feel the impact from it. I like both MCs but thought that the declaration of feelings between them came on quick. Love the puppies in this book.

This is the first time I am reading a book from this series..and it can be a standalone. But because you see other side characters in this book who were the feature of precious books, so I am keen to read the rest.

I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is just...bland. It's not a bad book, but it's so okay, I couldn't really connect with the characters and consequently I didn't care for the romance. I don't think there's anything terribly wrong with it, it's just not a great read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review!

This is the 8th book in Radclyffe’s “Rivers Romance Community” series. Each book introduces us to another new member of the community. In this book we meet Tally Dewilde, the new veterinarian at the Upland Veterinary Hospital. She comes from a wealthy family whose members are always concerned about what people think. They feel that Tally should have been working at a boutique veterinary clinic instead of this country clinic. So, she moves to this community to find a safe and accepting home. On her first day of work, she is confronted with the last person she ever again wishes to see, Roman Ashcroft.

Roman Ashcroft has just retired from the Army after serving two tours overseas in a war zone as a medic. She accepts a position as a PA at the Rivers Hospital and looks forward to being very busy so she won’t think of her personal and military past. However, when she finds a bag of six abandoned puppies and brings them to the clinic her past slams into the present when she sees Tally.

I have read all the books in this series and found this one to fall a little short. The story is good but lacks the intense medical drama which Radclyffe often has in her series. Unlike Radclyffe’s other books, the romance between the two main characters seems to be rushed.

I really enjoyed the interaction between Roman and the puppies. This is where the emotional side of Roman shines. I also liked the military names she gives to the puppies and the group of teenagers who volunteer to help care for them.

This is a good, light read. It can be read as a standalone book. I recommend Finders Keepers and give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

I received this ARC from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.