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Swept Away
When ER physician Sloane Marshall is called in as a last-minute replacement for a federal outreach mission in the remote mountain town of Coulter’s Gap, she views the temporary assignment as an unwelcome interruption in her “real” work in a level one trauma center where she is actually saving lives.
Jax Kincaid, a sharp-edged helicopter pilot and former Army flight medic tasked with medical evacuations and disaster logistics, is none too happy about a lead physician who's never been to battle. And the increasingly worsening storm predictions might turn out to be just that.
In the month leading up to a catastrophic natural disaster, Sloane and Jax forge an uneasy partnership that begins as mutual respect and turns into something neither expected.
Swept Away is a high-stakes romance about survival, second chances, and the unexpected power of revealing our most secret desires.
Jax Kincaid, a sharp-edged helicopter pilot and former Army flight medic tasked with medical evacuations and disaster logistics, is none too happy about a lead physician who's never been to battle. And the increasingly worsening storm predictions might turn out to be just that.
In the month leading up to a catastrophic natural disaster, Sloane and Jax forge an uneasy partnership that begins as mutual respect and turns into something neither expected.
Swept Away is a high-stakes romance about survival, second chances, and the unexpected power of revealing our most secret desires.
300 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 10, 2026
About the author
Radclyffe
166 books1,697 followersRadclyffe has written over forty-five romance and romantic intrigue novels, dozens of short stories, and, writing as L.L. Raand, has authored a paranormal romance series, The Midnight Hunters. She has also edited Best Lesbian Romance 2009 through 2015 as well as multiple other anthologies. She is an eight-time Lambda Literary Award finalist in romance, mystery, and erotica—winning in both romance and erotica. A member of the Saints and Sinners Literary Hall of Fame, she is also an RWA Prism, Lories, Beanpot, Aspen Gold, and Laurel Wreath winner in multiple mainstream romance categories. In 2014, she received the Dr. James Duggins Outstanding Mid-Career Novelist award from the Lambda Literary Foundation. In 2004, she founded Bold Strokes Books, an independent LGBTQ publishing company, and in 2013, she founded the Flax Mill Creek Writers Retreat offering writing workshops to authors in all stages of their careers.
She states, “I began reading lesbian fiction at the age of twelve when I found a copy of Ann Bannon’s Beebo Brinker. That book and others like it convinced me that I was not alone, that there were other women who felt like I did. Our literature provides support and validation and very often, a lifeline, for members of our community throughout the world. I am proud and honored to be able to publish the many fine authors at Bold Strokes Books and to contribute in some small way to the words that celebrate the LGBTQ experience.”
Radclyffe lives with her partner, Lee, in New York state.
She states, “I began reading lesbian fiction at the age of twelve when I found a copy of Ann Bannon’s Beebo Brinker. That book and others like it convinced me that I was not alone, that there were other women who felt like I did. Our literature provides support and validation and very often, a lifeline, for members of our community throughout the world. I am proud and honored to be able to publish the many fine authors at Bold Strokes Books and to contribute in some small way to the words that celebrate the LGBTQ experience.”
Radclyffe lives with her partner, Lee, in New York state.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
February 24, 2026
Oh man, did I struggle this one. Most of Radclyffe’s books get a 3-4 star from me, they tend to be nice solid books to read, but this one was hard to get through.
There was nothing objectively wrong with the characters and the storyline. I always find reading natural disaster books interesting (and kind of terrifying) because they tend to be very realistic, and the fact that these natural disasters actually happen.
I didn’t feel a real connection between the two MCs, and I didn’t necessarily love any of them. It was definitely a typical lesbian uhaul relationship where the timeline is quite short and they move fast so it just didn’t feel deep.
I think what was the most difficult to get through was the writing itself. It felt overly descriptive during every scene, and explaining more than necessary. By the time I was getting close to the end I was kinda over it.
Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes for the ARC.
There was nothing objectively wrong with the characters and the storyline. I always find reading natural disaster books interesting (and kind of terrifying) because they tend to be very realistic, and the fact that these natural disasters actually happen.
I didn’t feel a real connection between the two MCs, and I didn’t necessarily love any of them. It was definitely a typical lesbian uhaul relationship where the timeline is quite short and they move fast so it just didn’t feel deep.
I think what was the most difficult to get through was the writing itself. It felt overly descriptive during every scene, and explaining more than necessary. By the time I was getting close to the end I was kinda over it.
Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes for the ARC.
March 14, 2026
4⭐️
Sloane Marshall loves her job as an ER doctor at Mercy Hospital in Boston. Despite all the emergencies, she’s able to work in an organized manner here and has everything under control. When hospital management assigns her to a search and rescue mission, she feels like a fish out of water. In an unfamiliar mountainous region of North Carolina, she has to work with strangers, which quickly pushes her to her limits. But “no” is not an option, and she has to accept her fate.
Jax Kincaid is a helicopter pilot, a former member of the military, and works for AERIS, which conducts rescue and relief missions everywhere. She is a highly experienced pilot and knows exactly what the crew has to expect on the mission. What she can’t stand are doctors with no field experience.
In Coulter’s Gap, the small town where they are stationed, some greet them with skepticism, but even the last skeptics are quickly convinced that it’s a good thing to have medical personnel on hand, even if only for a few weeks.
During their first missions together, the two learn to respect and appreciate each other. Jax realizes that Sloane is up to the task of handling difficult situations and works calmly and confidently, even without field experience. And Sloane learns to rely on Jax and her flying skills.
What I liked best was the whole setting surrounding the storm and the extent of the destruction, and what this search and rescue team does to help and care for as many people in need as possible.
The romance felt almost secondary to me this time. I really enjoyed the first few days of getting to know each other and the unexpected attraction under these harsh conditions, but the happy ending felt a bit too rushed to me. I would have liked to know more about the two women and their backgrounds. But in any case, both are interesting women with their hearts in the right place.
But as always, Radclyffe has once again told a story that flows smoothly, and the rescue missions and medical challenges are once more at the heart of the story.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing an ARC for an honest review.
Sloane Marshall loves her job as an ER doctor at Mercy Hospital in Boston. Despite all the emergencies, she’s able to work in an organized manner here and has everything under control. When hospital management assigns her to a search and rescue mission, she feels like a fish out of water. In an unfamiliar mountainous region of North Carolina, she has to work with strangers, which quickly pushes her to her limits. But “no” is not an option, and she has to accept her fate.
Jax Kincaid is a helicopter pilot, a former member of the military, and works for AERIS, which conducts rescue and relief missions everywhere. She is a highly experienced pilot and knows exactly what the crew has to expect on the mission. What she can’t stand are doctors with no field experience.
In Coulter’s Gap, the small town where they are stationed, some greet them with skepticism, but even the last skeptics are quickly convinced that it’s a good thing to have medical personnel on hand, even if only for a few weeks.
During their first missions together, the two learn to respect and appreciate each other. Jax realizes that Sloane is up to the task of handling difficult situations and works calmly and confidently, even without field experience. And Sloane learns to rely on Jax and her flying skills.
What I liked best was the whole setting surrounding the storm and the extent of the destruction, and what this search and rescue team does to help and care for as many people in need as possible.
The romance felt almost secondary to me this time. I really enjoyed the first few days of getting to know each other and the unexpected attraction under these harsh conditions, but the happy ending felt a bit too rushed to me. I would have liked to know more about the two women and their backgrounds. But in any case, both are interesting women with their hearts in the right place.
But as always, Radclyffe has once again told a story that flows smoothly, and the rescue missions and medical challenges are once more at the heart of the story.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing an ARC for an honest review.
February 26, 2026
⭐️⭐️1/2 (2.5 stars)
It’s kind of hard to begin this because I found it rather refreshing (and scary too) to read a book about natural disasters and a medical storyline. Especially since this book really did use medical knowledge very well and made the story more realistic in my opinion.
However, I didn’t really feel a connection between the two main characters Sloane and Jax. Everything felt rather fast paced and though I liked the backstories of both (my heart goes out to Sloane, I wanted to hug her so bad at times), and really liked reading about their character arcs. I felt like there wasn’t any chemistry or real connection between the two characters themselves (though they had their cute moments not gonna lie). Instead, it all felt too fast in my opinion. Like Sloane and Jax started to bond and the next thing I knew was that they’re calling each other baby. Sure, for some people this might be totally okay to read about and I don’t think there’s objectively anything wrong with it, but it’s not really my preferred style. To add to that, I also didn’t really bond/connect with the characters much myself. I cared about their stories (as I’ve mentioned) but it all just felt somewhat shallow in my opinion.
I want to highlight though, that the writing was really good! And I found it easy to read. Besides that, I also liked the setting and as I’ve mentioned the medical knowledge. As someone who’s somewhat familiar with the subject, it was rather refreshing to read about. And to add to that, I also really liked that the book itself gives attention to people working in the healthcare setting.
All in all, I am pretty conflicted about this one. There are surely a couple of aspects which I really liked and enjoyed while reading but in the grand scheme of things, I just didn’t really like this particular story nor the relationship between the two main characters too much. So I can only give it 2,5 stars.
It’s kind of hard to begin this because I found it rather refreshing (and scary too) to read a book about natural disasters and a medical storyline. Especially since this book really did use medical knowledge very well and made the story more realistic in my opinion.
However, I didn’t really feel a connection between the two main characters Sloane and Jax. Everything felt rather fast paced and though I liked the backstories of both (my heart goes out to Sloane, I wanted to hug her so bad at times), and really liked reading about their character arcs. I felt like there wasn’t any chemistry or real connection between the two characters themselves (though they had their cute moments not gonna lie). Instead, it all felt too fast in my opinion. Like Sloane and Jax started to bond and the next thing I knew was that they’re calling each other baby. Sure, for some people this might be totally okay to read about and I don’t think there’s objectively anything wrong with it, but it’s not really my preferred style. To add to that, I also didn’t really bond/connect with the characters much myself. I cared about their stories (as I’ve mentioned) but it all just felt somewhat shallow in my opinion.
I want to highlight though, that the writing was really good! And I found it easy to read. Besides that, I also liked the setting and as I’ve mentioned the medical knowledge. As someone who’s somewhat familiar with the subject, it was rather refreshing to read about. And to add to that, I also really liked that the book itself gives attention to people working in the healthcare setting.
All in all, I am pretty conflicted about this one. There are surely a couple of aspects which I really liked and enjoyed while reading but in the grand scheme of things, I just didn’t really like this particular story nor the relationship between the two main characters too much. So I can only give it 2,5 stars.
April 17, 2026
This was a truly immersive book. The technical vocabulary felt realistic, but as a non native English speaker, I had to use Google sometimes for the acronyms. I really felt the 'bubble' and the limited means this team had to save lives . I was immediately invested.
Jax and Sloane are both layered characters, and Radclyffe effortlessly built connection and chemistry from the start, deepening it through their mutual scars. They just made sense. The book is a perfect balance of first-responder scenes and romance, without the latter taking over. The slowly building intimacy provided moments of calm, like snapshots between storms.
The resolution of the conflict felt rushed and too easy in the end. I also would have liked to see Sloane volunteering for other missions with Jax at the end, because I had the feeling she found a new sense of purpose in her profession while on a mission. Overall, I had a good time reading this book
Jax and Sloane are both layered characters, and Radclyffe effortlessly built connection and chemistry from the start, deepening it through their mutual scars. They just made sense. The book is a perfect balance of first-responder scenes and romance, without the latter taking over. The slowly building intimacy provided moments of calm, like snapshots between storms.
The resolution of the conflict felt rushed and too easy in the end. I also would have liked to see Sloane volunteering for other missions with Jax at the end, because I had the feeling she found a new sense of purpose in her profession while on a mission. Overall, I had a good time reading this book
March 21, 2026
Good story had it not been Radclyffe might have been 5*s but it was too formulaic, too predicable to be 5*s. Both characters touched by tragedy but no real depth. Disappointing.
April 1, 2026
*Thank you to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
If you are a fan of Radclyffe, then you will like this book. Jax is a rescue pilot and Sloane is an ER doctor who was forced to join in a mission servicing remote rural towns. They find out about each other through the mission. Then they have to deal with heavy rainfall and flooding. The team becomes the lifeline for these communities while waiting for government help. I like the chemistry between the MC's. I also like the setting and the many challenges of the mission. It does surprise me though that there are such out of the way places in the US, where medical resources are scarce. Not something that comes to mind when thinking of a 1st world country.
If you are a fan of Radclyffe, then you will like this book. Jax is a rescue pilot and Sloane is an ER doctor who was forced to join in a mission servicing remote rural towns. They find out about each other through the mission. Then they have to deal with heavy rainfall and flooding. The team becomes the lifeline for these communities while waiting for government help. I like the chemistry between the MC's. I also like the setting and the many challenges of the mission. It does surprise me though that there are such out of the way places in the US, where medical resources are scarce. Not something that comes to mind when thinking of a 1st world country.
March 10, 2026
Nothing subtle about the character of each main. However the situation they were in was fascinating. I was learning but not being lectured.
For reasons that escape me, it’s been a number of years since I read a Radclyffe novel. I must remedy that. The writing is tight, but descriptive. The romance is not rushed but you see it develop. 4.5.
For reasons that escape me, it’s been a number of years since I read a Radclyffe novel. I must remedy that. The writing is tight, but descriptive. The romance is not rushed but you see it develop. 4.5.
April 3, 2026
Reliable as ever, Radclyffe shows us why she is one of the better lesbian writers around, especially with stories of first responders. In Swept Away, we have emergency medicine specialist Sloane, called on her first ever mission, to provide medical care for people in a remote mountain town, as a storm moves in. There to help is Jax the dashing helicopter pilot, who is sceptical at first that Sloane has what it takes but is soon swept away (pun intended) by her skills and determination. Tension builds as each is recovering from personal loss and the storm threatens flooding in its wake. A gripping story wonderfully written.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
With Swept Away Radclyffe has delivered an absolute masterpiece of storytelling full of tension and excitement with a beautiful story of breaking down the long held walls of self defence to allow the opportunity to find real happiness. I absolutely fell in love with Sloane and Jax from the very start and felt every bump in their journey in my soul.
I particularly loved the way Radclyffe weaves the symbolism of the condition of the river (from calm through to raging torrent) parallel to the emotions being experienced by the two women, particularly Sloane given her need to keep everything in her life orderly and controlled and her fear of letting anyone in so that she doesn't risk the pain of loss again. When she is thrown way out of the comfort zone of her ER department and sent into the wilds of North Carolina as part of an emergency medicine/rural outreach program her ordered world is turned upside down and her sense of control is in for quite a pummeling.
Meanwhile Jax, a helicopter pilot and flight paramedic has been living a life of temporary connections providing connection without commitment ever since leaving the army. She just goes where she is needed and has no sense of home..... apart from when she is in the sky where everything falls away apart from the aircraft, the sky and the mission. Her main concern about this new posting is how the first-timer doctor will handle the unpredictable nature of their assignment.
I loved the connection between the two women and the push and pull between them, particularly from Sloane's side as she finds herself increasingly looking for Jax and listening for the whump whump of the helicopter's rotors returning while at the same time trying to keep her walls up to protect herself and her heart from experiencing any further loss.
I can't recomnend this book highly enough. It is absolutely my favourite of Radclyffe's First Responder series. I am very grateful to the author, Books Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I particularly loved the way Radclyffe weaves the symbolism of the condition of the river (from calm through to raging torrent) parallel to the emotions being experienced by the two women, particularly Sloane given her need to keep everything in her life orderly and controlled and her fear of letting anyone in so that she doesn't risk the pain of loss again. When she is thrown way out of the comfort zone of her ER department and sent into the wilds of North Carolina as part of an emergency medicine/rural outreach program her ordered world is turned upside down and her sense of control is in for quite a pummeling.
Meanwhile Jax, a helicopter pilot and flight paramedic has been living a life of temporary connections providing connection without commitment ever since leaving the army. She just goes where she is needed and has no sense of home..... apart from when she is in the sky where everything falls away apart from the aircraft, the sky and the mission. Her main concern about this new posting is how the first-timer doctor will handle the unpredictable nature of their assignment.
I loved the connection between the two women and the push and pull between them, particularly from Sloane's side as she finds herself increasingly looking for Jax and listening for the whump whump of the helicopter's rotors returning while at the same time trying to keep her walls up to protect herself and her heart from experiencing any further loss.
I can't recomnend this book highly enough. It is absolutely my favourite of Radclyffe's First Responder series. I am very grateful to the author, Books Strokes Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy and am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 7, 2026
Thanks a ton to NetGalley, Bold Strokes Books and author Radclyffe for this exciting ARC opportunity. I am happily sharing my honest review.
I was thrilled to get my hands on an early release by Radclyffe and was not disappointed. This was a gripping sapphic love story that blends together medical drama, wilderness rescue and a sweet slow burn romance. I was hooked right away and found myself thoroughly entertained throughout the book. This story was a rewarding opposites attract romance that throws together two very different women who couldn’t be more perfect for each other.
We meet Sloan, a successful ER doctor who is as rigid as she is brilliant. She is reluctantly pulled away from her fast paced trauma doctor position and thrust into a wilderness rescue situation working alongside hot helicopter pilot, Jax. I was hooked on this story from when Sloan and Jax met. I found both of their characters to be fascinating and they both sort of made me smile in their own ways. These women were successful badasses with wildly different approaches to medicine and butted heads immediately. But I could see the immediate attraction there and the chemistry that seemed to be ever present between them. Sloan is definitely out of her element which gives the story a whimsical fish out of water element that really endeared me to it. Watching Sloan adapt and excel in a place she was reluctant to be in made me have even more respect for her. Jax kind of made me swoon…she is just exactly who I'd want to come and rescue me. A bit stoic and definitely guarded but all heart. Jax and Sloan together…a little bumpy but ultimately so great!
The dynamic between Sloan and Jax was so fun to read. They are both so guarded that I worried that they wouldn't be able to truly let each other in, I am glad to be wrong about that. They eventually earned each other's trust and the slow progression from butting heads to finding common ground to respecting each other and eventually to a romantic connection was very rewarding. As the two are forced to rely on each other during crises they begin to bond even more. After Sloan's injury is when I feel that things really changed and the relationship finally crosses into something undevial=ble…swoon! I loved Sloan and Jax together and could see how much they added to one another's lives. They were so good together and I found myself rooting for them very early on.
The writing is great! Radclyffe delivers clean, crisp, clear and efficient prose. I feel like the writing is deliberate but imaginative and it really speaks to me. I found the pacing of the book to work well and offers an organic love story that will dance around in my mind for a while yet. The action sequences are riveting and add such excitement to the story. I loved the detail in describing the wilderness setting as well as the logistical stuff with regard to medical rescue. I felt like I was there. But even though I enjoyed the action aspect of this book, I appreciated the love story was at the forefront. I appreciated that despite the fascinating setting and crazy catastrophic natural disasters, the story was very character driven. Radclyffe is a master of blending action with romance and Swept Away highlights this perfectly. The romance feels earned through shared experience, traumatic rescues and a commonality of spirit. Sloan and Jax find their way together in an organic and really sweet way that made me so grateful to read this book.
Overall, this was a very entertaining read that I couldn't put down. Swept Away was a gripping and deliciously rewarding sapphic romance. The slow burn element was on point and I found this story to be equal parts emotional and exciting. If you love a character driven sapphic romance with crazy exciting disaster and survival elements then this is for you!
I was thrilled to get my hands on an early release by Radclyffe and was not disappointed. This was a gripping sapphic love story that blends together medical drama, wilderness rescue and a sweet slow burn romance. I was hooked right away and found myself thoroughly entertained throughout the book. This story was a rewarding opposites attract romance that throws together two very different women who couldn’t be more perfect for each other.
We meet Sloan, a successful ER doctor who is as rigid as she is brilliant. She is reluctantly pulled away from her fast paced trauma doctor position and thrust into a wilderness rescue situation working alongside hot helicopter pilot, Jax. I was hooked on this story from when Sloan and Jax met. I found both of their characters to be fascinating and they both sort of made me smile in their own ways. These women were successful badasses with wildly different approaches to medicine and butted heads immediately. But I could see the immediate attraction there and the chemistry that seemed to be ever present between them. Sloan is definitely out of her element which gives the story a whimsical fish out of water element that really endeared me to it. Watching Sloan adapt and excel in a place she was reluctant to be in made me have even more respect for her. Jax kind of made me swoon…she is just exactly who I'd want to come and rescue me. A bit stoic and definitely guarded but all heart. Jax and Sloan together…a little bumpy but ultimately so great!
The dynamic between Sloan and Jax was so fun to read. They are both so guarded that I worried that they wouldn't be able to truly let each other in, I am glad to be wrong about that. They eventually earned each other's trust and the slow progression from butting heads to finding common ground to respecting each other and eventually to a romantic connection was very rewarding. As the two are forced to rely on each other during crises they begin to bond even more. After Sloan's injury is when I feel that things really changed and the relationship finally crosses into something undevial=ble…swoon! I loved Sloan and Jax together and could see how much they added to one another's lives. They were so good together and I found myself rooting for them very early on.
The writing is great! Radclyffe delivers clean, crisp, clear and efficient prose. I feel like the writing is deliberate but imaginative and it really speaks to me. I found the pacing of the book to work well and offers an organic love story that will dance around in my mind for a while yet. The action sequences are riveting and add such excitement to the story. I loved the detail in describing the wilderness setting as well as the logistical stuff with regard to medical rescue. I felt like I was there. But even though I enjoyed the action aspect of this book, I appreciated the love story was at the forefront. I appreciated that despite the fascinating setting and crazy catastrophic natural disasters, the story was very character driven. Radclyffe is a master of blending action with romance and Swept Away highlights this perfectly. The romance feels earned through shared experience, traumatic rescues and a commonality of spirit. Sloan and Jax find their way together in an organic and really sweet way that made me so grateful to read this book.
Overall, this was a very entertaining read that I couldn't put down. Swept Away was a gripping and deliciously rewarding sapphic romance. The slow burn element was on point and I found this story to be equal parts emotional and exciting. If you love a character driven sapphic romance with crazy exciting disaster and survival elements then this is for you!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ER physician Sloan Marshall is used to providing orderly and life-saving medical care to her patients at Mercy Hospital in Boston. When the doctor meant to go on an AERIS mission (similar to FEMA providing medical services and natural disaster training and relief) to the rural mountain town of Coulter's Gap, North Carolina cancels, Sloan is forced into going as the representative for her hospital. During the pre-mission briefing, she meets Jax Kincaid who is best described as a daring and risk-taking helicopter pilot and flight medic who was formerly in the army.
When Sloan, Jax, and the rest of their team arrive in Coutler's Gap, the are met with skepticism by the locals. They spend their time doing disaster training and running a walk-in medical clinic. As their time in Coulter's Gap wears on, the foggy weather turns rainy and disaster strikes. Sloan is thrust into saving lives with minimal resources and no way to evacuate patients while Jax spends her time flying in terrible weather, saving people, and making supply runs.
I have read some of Radclyffe's other books, including several in the first responders series, and enjoyed them. While I enjoyed this read, it wasn't my favorite of hers. I enjoyed the setting and drama but felt like the characters didn't have a lot of depth, personality, or connections to other people. Sloan and Jax really don't spend that much time together and haven't known each other very long before they jump into a relationship so that part of the book felt like a typical lesbian u-haul. I would recommend this book to readers who like watching procedural dramas on TV as the pacing and medical/helicopter details felt similar to Grey's Anatomy or Station 19.
Thank you to Radclyffe and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC.
When Sloan, Jax, and the rest of their team arrive in Coutler's Gap, the are met with skepticism by the locals. They spend their time doing disaster training and running a walk-in medical clinic. As their time in Coulter's Gap wears on, the foggy weather turns rainy and disaster strikes. Sloan is thrust into saving lives with minimal resources and no way to evacuate patients while Jax spends her time flying in terrible weather, saving people, and making supply runs.
I have read some of Radclyffe's other books, including several in the first responders series, and enjoyed them. While I enjoyed this read, it wasn't my favorite of hers. I enjoyed the setting and drama but felt like the characters didn't have a lot of depth, personality, or connections to other people. Sloan and Jax really don't spend that much time together and haven't known each other very long before they jump into a relationship so that part of the book felt like a typical lesbian u-haul. I would recommend this book to readers who like watching procedural dramas on TV as the pacing and medical/helicopter details felt similar to Grey's Anatomy or Station 19.
Thank you to Radclyffe and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC.
March 20, 2026
(3.5 Stars) Dr. Sloane Marshall, an ER physician from Boston is sent to the remote town of Coulter’s Gap, North Carolina for a rural outreach mission. They will set up a temporary health clinic or field hospital and treat patients, vaccinate etc. Jax Kincaid is former a former Army helicopter pilot and now flies for AERIS. They provide medical services and disaster relief, evacuation and recovery. It comes under the Public Health Service much like FEMA. Jax is flying the helicopter for supplies, and support for mission. She is also a trained medic.
The medical part of this of course is excellent. Radclyffe knows her stuff. I wasn’t aware that the organization existed and set up proactively before disasters strike. Several medical situations occur keeping me engaged while waiting for the latest episode of “The Pitt” to be released. Both Sloane and Jax love their work. They also don’t do relationships. Jax likes casual, Sloane has a hard time opening up to someone else at all.
For the medical and work part I’d give this 4 or more stars. The romance is weaker. They do talk and connect but it jumps very quickly to endearments and a U-Haul stereotype. This is part of the First Responders series, which are stand alone novels that feature romances among first responders. It is a well written story and hard to put down but the romance could have been more developed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the digital copy and I am leaving an honest review.
The medical part of this of course is excellent. Radclyffe knows her stuff. I wasn’t aware that the organization existed and set up proactively before disasters strike. Several medical situations occur keeping me engaged while waiting for the latest episode of “The Pitt” to be released. Both Sloane and Jax love their work. They also don’t do relationships. Jax likes casual, Sloane has a hard time opening up to someone else at all.
For the medical and work part I’d give this 4 or more stars. The romance is weaker. They do talk and connect but it jumps very quickly to endearments and a U-Haul stereotype. This is part of the First Responders series, which are stand alone novels that feature romances among first responders. It is a well written story and hard to put down but the romance could have been more developed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the digital copy and I am leaving an honest review.
March 16, 2026
It’s my first time reading a Radclyffe novel and this was fairly enjoyable.
We have Sloane a Boston ER doctor who has been an unwilling volunteer to support a federal outreach mission to a remote mountain town add in Jax a helicopter pilot ex army but fully tasked to support with medical evacuations and general disasters! Obviously at first they are prickly with each other and then a natural disaster happens and setting the scene for romance and I guess survival!
I have to say it felt a bit like reading a few episodes of Greys Anatomy, a lot of medical jargon and when disaster happens you can feel the tension and pace but leading up to this I found slow. There is a lot of tension between the two but at times their shared trauma is a bit much! I would say trauma bond is a defo thing here!
It’s good when there is action but outside of this is was sort of flat and predictable plus things happen at quite a quick pace I felt to wrap things up but it didn’t really flow well once real life returned outside of the disaster zone for me! Plus I’m not really sure that there was much romance here either, it goes on about second chances and living for the moment so much it actually felt super forced.
It’s enjoyable enough and I read this really quick, it’s out now if you’re a lover of this author you will most likely enjoy but for me it focused too much on the trauma than the actual plot.
We have Sloane a Boston ER doctor who has been an unwilling volunteer to support a federal outreach mission to a remote mountain town add in Jax a helicopter pilot ex army but fully tasked to support with medical evacuations and general disasters! Obviously at first they are prickly with each other and then a natural disaster happens and setting the scene for romance and I guess survival!
I have to say it felt a bit like reading a few episodes of Greys Anatomy, a lot of medical jargon and when disaster happens you can feel the tension and pace but leading up to this I found slow. There is a lot of tension between the two but at times their shared trauma is a bit much! I would say trauma bond is a defo thing here!
It’s good when there is action but outside of this is was sort of flat and predictable plus things happen at quite a quick pace I felt to wrap things up but it didn’t really flow well once real life returned outside of the disaster zone for me! Plus I’m not really sure that there was much romance here either, it goes on about second chances and living for the moment so much it actually felt super forced.
It’s enjoyable enough and I read this really quick, it’s out now if you’re a lover of this author you will most likely enjoy but for me it focused too much on the trauma than the actual plot.
April 20, 2026
I love Radclyffe's First Responder series and was excited to see a new one released. This one centers around an ER doctor, Sloane, who reluctantly is assigned to work with a team of remote rural doctors for a month, and Jax, the helicopter pilot who shuttles everyone around. And when I say remote rural, I really mean remote - as someone who lives in a city its kinda hard for me to even comprehend how isolated some people live.
Jax and Sloane, both being alphas, don't exactly hit it off at first, but as they start to work together the respect they have for how they do their jobs breaks through the distrust and, well, it's a Radclyffe story so the heat grows pretty fast. And as a giant storm arrives, breaches a damn and floods all the roads. the danger and work grow and so do the fears of both women. They need to figure out if they can work past that, or go back to their regular lives once the assignment is over.
This book did leave me a bit wanting. I am a huge Radclyffe fan and having read about 80% of her books I know the predictable cadence and vibe, and even then I am usually hooked within the first chapter. The writing wasn't as tight, the plot didn't flow as smoothly and there were a few palces where I was wondering if maybe i mis-read something earlier. It was an okay book, but not as enjoyable as others in the series.
I received am ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jax and Sloane, both being alphas, don't exactly hit it off at first, but as they start to work together the respect they have for how they do their jobs breaks through the distrust and, well, it's a Radclyffe story so the heat grows pretty fast. And as a giant storm arrives, breaches a damn and floods all the roads. the danger and work grow and so do the fears of both women. They need to figure out if they can work past that, or go back to their regular lives once the assignment is over.
This book did leave me a bit wanting. I am a huge Radclyffe fan and having read about 80% of her books I know the predictable cadence and vibe, and even then I am usually hooked within the first chapter. The writing wasn't as tight, the plot didn't flow as smoothly and there were a few palces where I was wondering if maybe i mis-read something earlier. It was an okay book, but not as enjoyable as others in the series.
I received am ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
🌟 Third person, dual POV
🌟 50/50 Romance/Medical Drama
🌟 Soft and gentle falling in love
🌟 Competent professional characters
What did I love:
- The way that Jax and her calm steady presence was able to slowly soften the walls Sloane has built to protect herself.
- The details put into the medical side of things, the author is a retired surgeon, and the medical elements felt realistic.
- Slow and gentle falling, it felt like they formed a connection and steady companionship and built a home in each other.
Things to consider:
- If you’re in the right headspace for this, it deals with grief after loss, trauma, and natural disasters.
- I would have liked to read more from Jax's POV and about her background.
This was an enjoyable book, I have read many books by Radclyffe over the years, and this is the fifth in this series I have read. These days I lean towards books with a lot of banter and humour with a heavy dose of spicy tension, this book does not fit into that category, however Radclyffe always writes a solid book and I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a sapphic romance with a backdrop of medical emergency support for a rural community.
Thank you to Radclyffe, Bold Strokes Books, and #NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
🌟 50/50 Romance/Medical Drama
🌟 Soft and gentle falling in love
🌟 Competent professional characters
What did I love:
- The way that Jax and her calm steady presence was able to slowly soften the walls Sloane has built to protect herself.
- The details put into the medical side of things, the author is a retired surgeon, and the medical elements felt realistic.
- Slow and gentle falling, it felt like they formed a connection and steady companionship and built a home in each other.
Things to consider:
- If you’re in the right headspace for this, it deals with grief after loss, trauma, and natural disasters.
- I would have liked to read more from Jax's POV and about her background.
This was an enjoyable book, I have read many books by Radclyffe over the years, and this is the fifth in this series I have read. These days I lean towards books with a lot of banter and humour with a heavy dose of spicy tension, this book does not fit into that category, however Radclyffe always writes a solid book and I definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a sapphic romance with a backdrop of medical emergency support for a rural community.
Thank you to Radclyffe, Bold Strokes Books, and #NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wow, this book has received a lot of very different reviews. Before I read it, I had the chance to read the truly varied opinions and, of course, wanted to form my own opinion.
All of Radclyffe's First Responder novels are very different, in my opinion, but they all feature characters whose past and present have been shaped by very difficult, sometimes traumatic, experiences.
This one is no exception, so it seemed only natural to me that Jax and Sloane would clash at the beginning, and they did. The connection had to be established and discovered, and this was done very well.
They circled each other like two alphas sniffing each other out, perhaps about to fight. But this was a different kind of battle—a battle against their own fears and against memories.
But it was worth it.
When intimacy develops amidst all the events and emergencies, it's intense and passionate on many levels. I really enjoyed this story, and everything about it captivated me.
I read it in two days and can recommend it, especially if you're into the strong, broody MCs that Radclyffe creates so masterfully!
Many thanks to BSB, Radclyffe, and NetGalley for the ARC.
All of Radclyffe's First Responder novels are very different, in my opinion, but they all feature characters whose past and present have been shaped by very difficult, sometimes traumatic, experiences.
This one is no exception, so it seemed only natural to me that Jax and Sloane would clash at the beginning, and they did. The connection had to be established and discovered, and this was done very well.
They circled each other like two alphas sniffing each other out, perhaps about to fight. But this was a different kind of battle—a battle against their own fears and against memories.
But it was worth it.
When intimacy develops amidst all the events and emergencies, it's intense and passionate on many levels. I really enjoyed this story, and everything about it captivated me.
I read it in two days and can recommend it, especially if you're into the strong, broody MCs that Radclyffe creates so masterfully!
Many thanks to BSB, Radclyffe, and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this amazing book
omg this is what medical books should be all be like with the added bonus of really bad weather man this book was not one to be put down... you just have to keep going as more shocks kept coming...
when sloane found out she was to be part of a first response team in a remote part of a mountainous town...she was not best pleased.... her life was centred around her trauma centre where everything was orderly and meticulous....
jax an helicopter pilot wasnt best pleased when she heard about the new doc joining them.... she didnt need some newbie who had never been on first response it wasnt going to end well.....
what nobody saw coming was the event that was to take place and put everyones lives in difficulty and danger....
ohh man this book i could not put down..i was gripped by all of it the excitement the danger and how as a unit they all pulled together and it was great to see how sloane and jax gelled...
cant wait to read the next book by this author man can she write
omg this is what medical books should be all be like with the added bonus of really bad weather man this book was not one to be put down... you just have to keep going as more shocks kept coming...
when sloane found out she was to be part of a first response team in a remote part of a mountainous town...she was not best pleased.... her life was centred around her trauma centre where everything was orderly and meticulous....
jax an helicopter pilot wasnt best pleased when she heard about the new doc joining them.... she didnt need some newbie who had never been on first response it wasnt going to end well.....
what nobody saw coming was the event that was to take place and put everyones lives in difficulty and danger....
ohh man this book i could not put down..i was gripped by all of it the excitement the danger and how as a unit they all pulled together and it was great to see how sloane and jax gelled...
cant wait to read the next book by this author man can she write
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Quite a stereotypical story from Radclyffe. If you have already read some of her previous books, you almost know what you are going to find. For my personal taste, these stories give me what I like: strong women, action, and romance in a mix that works for me. There are not many surprises or much originality, and maybe the speed at which the main characters usually go from indifference to love is what can feel unbelievable, even more than the adventures they go through.
Here, an ER doctor has to take charge of a rescue team in a rural area that is hard for medical services to reach. In the team there is a helicopter pilot who at first does not interest her much; the feeling is mutual, by the way. But through everyday situations and an extreme weather event, they end up connecting on a more personal level.
An entertaining story, with moments of tension and a bit of romance, but intense.
Bold Strokes Books was kind enough to send me a copy via Netgalley for an honest review
Here, an ER doctor has to take charge of a rescue team in a rural area that is hard for medical services to reach. In the team there is a helicopter pilot who at first does not interest her much; the feeling is mutual, by the way. But through everyday situations and an extreme weather event, they end up connecting on a more personal level.
An entertaining story, with moments of tension and a bit of romance, but intense.
Bold Strokes Books was kind enough to send me a copy via Netgalley for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Swept Away is the perfect title for this book, as it captures both the emotions of the main characters and everything they experience during the rainy season in remote areas.
Both protagonists have a deeper layer to them. They’ve each been through a lot in life and have learned to move forward despite it. During the expedition, they gradually get to know themselves and each other better. At times it feels a little unrealistic, as if they never sleep or completely collapse from exhaustion—but in the end it’s still a novel, and adrenaline can take you a long way.
The connection between the characters is present from the very first page when they meet. They learn that a first impression doesn’t say everything, and that being inexperienced doesn’t necessarily mean being incapable. This book is a wonderful combination of an adventurous journey of discovery and a story about surviving in the middle of nowhere.
I received a free copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Both protagonists have a deeper layer to them. They’ve each been through a lot in life and have learned to move forward despite it. During the expedition, they gradually get to know themselves and each other better. At times it feels a little unrealistic, as if they never sleep or completely collapse from exhaustion—but in the end it’s still a novel, and adrenaline can take you a long way.
The connection between the characters is present from the very first page when they meet. They learn that a first impression doesn’t say everything, and that being inexperienced doesn’t necessarily mean being incapable. This book is a wonderful combination of an adventurous journey of discovery and a story about surviving in the middle of nowhere.
I received a free copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
From the First Responder's series, Swept Away by Radclyffe, was a tension and action filled book that paralleled the developing relationship between ER physician Sloane Marshall and helicopter pilot/medic Jax Kincaid. From their first meeting where they learn they would be serving four to six weeks of emergency response duty in Coulter's Gap, North Carolina, their banter and chemistry was palpable. Their immediate connection in the initial briefing meeting lead them to look for each other across the triage staged hospital setup, to listen for the sound of the helicopter rotors returning to the landing zone, or listen for the sound of the other person sleeping in the bunkhouse beds in their joint room. I loved how they pushed each other to strive for each rescue and the live saving endeavor that their group made on a routine basis.
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Great characters, slow burn, high stakes
Once I started this first responder novel I couldn‘t put it down. Radclyffe gives us again to distinct main characters: bend, not broken, determined, likeable, mutual attraction and a character driven slow burn. The writing was top notch: people, the landscape, small town vibe, the emergency scenes - absolutely enthralling.
I loved Sloane whose sole focus is on medicine. Dropped unexpectedly into the mountains of North Carolina to train and build medical support she rises to the challenge esp. when storms and floods reminding of recent disasters threaten local folks. There is steel hidden in Sloane and there is softness as well. The heli pilot Jax is a great main character as well: driven as well with unexpected depth and extraordinary courage.
The slow dance of romance, the high tension of disaster and all those great folks and good people made this an excellent read.
I received an ARC via netgalley. The review is left voluntarily.
Once I started this first responder novel I couldn‘t put it down. Radclyffe gives us again to distinct main characters: bend, not broken, determined, likeable, mutual attraction and a character driven slow burn. The writing was top notch: people, the landscape, small town vibe, the emergency scenes - absolutely enthralling.
I loved Sloane whose sole focus is on medicine. Dropped unexpectedly into the mountains of North Carolina to train and build medical support she rises to the challenge esp. when storms and floods reminding of recent disasters threaten local folks. There is steel hidden in Sloane and there is softness as well. The heli pilot Jax is a great main character as well: driven as well with unexpected depth and extraordinary courage.
The slow dance of romance, the high tension of disaster and all those great folks and good people made this an excellent read.
I received an ARC via netgalley. The review is left voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Sloane and Jax have so much in common, both have lost someone they loved in very traumatic events and after that decided not worth the risk to get attached to someone else of fear to lose someone they love again. This type of setup was unique to me, that both MCs being so closed off from feeling something real and it really worked for me. Will they be willing to risk loving again and thus risk losing someone and get hurt again, is their love strong enough for that?
To follow Sloane, an ER doctor, and Jax, ex-military now a rescue pilot, during their rural outreach mission where they must do everything to save people after a storm is also exciting to put it mildly. The combination of following their growing attraction and the mission action never makes the read boring. This is a great read overall.
I received an ARC via NetGalley and leave an honest review voluntarily.
To follow Sloane, an ER doctor, and Jax, ex-military now a rescue pilot, during their rural outreach mission where they must do everything to save people after a storm is also exciting to put it mildly. The combination of following their growing attraction and the mission action never makes the read boring. This is a great read overall.
I received an ARC via NetGalley and leave an honest review voluntarily.
March 10, 2026
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
Sloan is a ER physician who isn’t exactly happy that she is force as replacement for a federal outreach mission in a remote town. Jax is army medic and pilot who is tasked in evacuation and disasters who isn’t please to have some on this mission who haven’t been into battle. As they settle down in Coulter’s Gap the town people are bit skeptical as they spends days teaching and running the medic clinic. When disasters strikes they forge a bond it’s wasn’t easy since both have a lot of baggage but when lives on the line sometimes it’s great to have the support you need. I love this author and her writing the characters were great love how everyone pull it together the tension were on point.
Sloan is a ER physician who isn’t exactly happy that she is force as replacement for a federal outreach mission in a remote town. Jax is army medic and pilot who is tasked in evacuation and disasters who isn’t please to have some on this mission who haven’t been into battle. As they settle down in Coulter’s Gap the town people are bit skeptical as they spends days teaching and running the medic clinic. When disasters strikes they forge a bond it’s wasn’t easy since both have a lot of baggage but when lives on the line sometimes it’s great to have the support you need. I love this author and her writing the characters were great love how everyone pull it together the tension were on point.
March 27, 2026
This read was to some extent what I was expecting. I knew there would be lessons in trauma, triage and emergency care. I continue to learn whenever I read a Radclyffe medical story. Dr. Sloan Marshall, ER physician, in a cocoon due to personal loss not looking for a relationship or is she. Jax Kincaid, helicopter pilot, not looking for a steady relationship. Jax's career is dangerous due to the places she travels to rescue people/animals. Sloan's career has the life of others in her hands knowing that there are some she can save and others no matter the measures she puts forth will not make survive. Two people working in professions that make a difference but alone and to some extent lonely. There was a lot of medical detail, rescue detail and at various points maybe too much and I thought enough is enough.
ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley
ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley
April 17, 2026
This was such a solid sapphic romance with the perfect mix of action and heart.
Swept Away blends medical drama with wilderness rescue, following an ER doctor thrown out of her element and a guarded helicopter pilot who absolutely stole the show. The opposites-attract dynamic between Sloan and Jax made this so engaging from the start.
I loved the slow-burn progression—the tension, the initial clashes, and then the gradual trust-building felt really natural and earned. Watching them go from butting heads to fully showing up for each other was so satisfying.
The rescue scenes added just enough intensity, but the relationship stayed at the center, which I really appreciated.
A strong, character-driven sapphic romance with a rewarding emotional payoff.
I was gifted an ARC and this is my honest opinion
#SweptAway #SapphicRomance #SlowBurnRomance #OppositesAttract
Swept Away blends medical drama with wilderness rescue, following an ER doctor thrown out of her element and a guarded helicopter pilot who absolutely stole the show. The opposites-attract dynamic between Sloan and Jax made this so engaging from the start.
I loved the slow-burn progression—the tension, the initial clashes, and then the gradual trust-building felt really natural and earned. Watching them go from butting heads to fully showing up for each other was so satisfying.
The rescue scenes added just enough intensity, but the relationship stayed at the center, which I really appreciated.
A strong, character-driven sapphic romance with a rewarding emotional payoff.
I was gifted an ARC and this is my honest opinion
#SweptAway #SapphicRomance #SlowBurnRomance #OppositesAttract
March 10, 2026
Jax Kincaud pilots a medical helicopter for a fed agency, and is not thrilled to be working with a ER doc who hasn't done this sort of field work.
Sloane Marshall is also not thrilled to be pulled away from her ER to to spend two months in a remote mountain town. She's also drawn to Jax, but tries to ignore it.
Over the first two weeks the team comes together, and Jax rather suddenly develops feelings. They bond over trauma, Jax having lost a medical in Afghanistan, Sloane over her sister's drowning.
Then heavy storms hit, the dam goes, and all heck breaks loose.
Book feels a lot like her book Night Call. Not hugely the sane, but similar. And while it's well written, felt kind of rushed.
3 out of 5 stars.
Sloane Marshall is also not thrilled to be pulled away from her ER to to spend two months in a remote mountain town. She's also drawn to Jax, but tries to ignore it.
Over the first two weeks the team comes together, and Jax rather suddenly develops feelings. They bond over trauma, Jax having lost a medical in Afghanistan, Sloane over her sister's drowning.
Then heavy storms hit, the dam goes, and all heck breaks loose.
Book feels a lot like her book Night Call. Not hugely the sane, but similar. And while it's well written, felt kind of rushed.
3 out of 5 stars.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a tumultuous story of the breaking walls and dams literally and figuratively as Sloane and Jax meet under stressful and then dangerous conditions.
Jax flies to save lives and Sloane uses her medical skills to save lives together while storms rage around them.
Both have build up their walls of protection as a result of past events but now those walls are being tested.
This is a really enjoyable story that you can get engrossed in - a romance blooming in the wildest of weather and the most challenging of circumstances.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I was happy to write this review.
Jax flies to save lives and Sloane uses her medical skills to save lives together while storms rage around them.
Both have build up their walls of protection as a result of past events but now those walls are being tested.
This is a really enjoyable story that you can get engrossed in - a romance blooming in the wildest of weather and the most challenging of circumstances.
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I was happy to write this review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Another winner from Radclyffe. I’ve loved all of Radclyffe’s medical/first responder-themed novels, and this was no exception. We follow Sloan, an experienced ER physician who is required to join a team providing disaster training and relief in a small, remote mountain town, and Jax, an ex-Army medic helicopter pilot who wants nothing to do with having newbies on her team as they connect with each other and with the locals in the town. This is a great read for people who like Grey’s Anatomy, The Pitt, and similar medical/rescue dramas full of emotion, vulnerability and strength, medical drama and romantic tension.
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley.
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley.
March 14, 2026
The way I will read anything that Radclyffe writes.
I devoured this book in .5 a day because not only was the storyline so interesting but the writing drew me in and didn't let me go until it was 12am and I had finished the book. The romance was 10/10 but I also loved learning about emergency and disaster medical work in rural areas. I hope that Radclyffe writes more stories that take place in this field and if she doesn't then I'm just going to have to look for other authors that write on this topic because now I am hooked!
Great book and highly recommend everyone read it now that it's out!
I devoured this book in .5 a day because not only was the storyline so interesting but the writing drew me in and didn't let me go until it was 12am and I had finished the book. The romance was 10/10 but I also loved learning about emergency and disaster medical work in rural areas. I hope that Radclyffe writes more stories that take place in this field and if she doesn't then I'm just going to have to look for other authors that write on this topic because now I am hooked!
Great book and highly recommend everyone read it now that it's out!
March 26, 2026
This book is like the ad line “it does what it says on the tin”. It’s a romance wrapped up in responder scenario. The author is of course very skilled at writing these books so the plot works well. The responder parts are always realistic and well written. The disaster part and the helicopter rescues are dramatic and evocative. The standard word length, as is often the case in these stand alone books, prohibitive for a properly drawn out relationship. The romance is always a fast meet, connect, together forever thing. Nothing wrong with that as it makes for a nice cosy read, but sometimes I prefer more substance.
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