Book picks similar to
After Raya by Michelle Arnold


lesbian-romance
lgbt
reading-list
female-protagonist

Blood Runs Through The Heart


L.L. Shelton - 2019
    Within hours of reporting for her first day, Brandy Lee’s world is turned upside down when she learns she is the reason for an uprising.Vampire Raven lives a comfortable, quiet life as the assistant for the leader of the vampires, Queen Lana. At least until temptation strolls into the RedBlood Estate—by the name of Brandy Lee. Soon, Raven has no choice; she must follow her heart. But will it lead her into love or danger? Runs Through The Heart from authors L.L. Shelton, and T.A. Williams is set in the modern world, except in this version, humans, she-wolves, and vampires live together in peace. Or until the rumor of an uprising spreads.

The Chosen One


T.B. Markinson - 2016
    Her powerful political family sees her as the Chosen One who will someday be president. Upholding a carefully crafted veneer is second nature until the first day of class when Maya's mysterious gray eyes hold her in thrall. Ainsley may be out publicly regarding her sexual orientation, but she lives under the shadow of the Carmichael's ancient but shrewd matriarch in this contemporary lesbian romance. The girls pair up for a history project, and it soon becomes clear Maya is hiding something when she cuts their first kiss short by pointing out they come from different worlds. The privileged world of the Carmichael clan stands in stark contrast to Maya's limited means. Ainsley's sexually fluid, quirky, and carefree cousin helps her investigate, only to discover details of Maya's past are sketchy at best as the suspense builds in this work of LGBT fiction. Family scandal erupts, making the inevitable truth come out about Maya the Gray. Will Ainsley’s love for the enigmatic girl enable her to break her Carmichael shackles?

Coming Home To Holly: A Lesbian Christmas Romance


Emily Hayes - 2020
    After one magical night when they were eighteen, Jess is left heartbroken by Holly.Jess runs away to the city and does everything she can to forget Holly.Fourteen years have passed since she last saw or spoke to Holly. When everything falls apart with Jess's life in the city, she finds herself coming home.Coming home to her small town. Coming home to her Mom. Coming home to herself.

The Practitioner


Ronica Black - 2017
    An anxiety disorder, loss of her business, and homelessness have been difficult to overcome. But Johnnie has come through the other side to find success as an artist. Now, however, she’s lost her creative drive and she’s struggling to produce.Elaine Taylor has an interesting job. She’s a “creative practitioner,” known to awaken her client’s creative side by using many different approaches, including a sensual or sexual approach. Most of her clients are male and she likes it that way. Women are the last thing she wants in her life, having lost the most important woman she’s ever known, her wife.Fearing she’ll lose all she’s worked so hard for, Johnnie takes her friend’s advice and calls a lone number on a business card, steps into Elaine’s office, and shakes up both their worlds forever.

Lady In Waiting


Jea Hawkins - 2017
    We don’t belong together, but I want her anyway. Ah, the ren faire. A time to discard the trappings of everyday life and be someone completely different... with a fancy dress, to boot. For goth Annabelle, it's an opportunity to feel like there's more to her life than just cashiering at a major chain, tending to people who are rude, stuck-up, and all-around jerks. Instead, she gets to be a lady-in-waiting to the Queen of the faire, a prized position. At the fair, she gets to tend to someone who is rude, stuck-up, and an all-around... Oh. Elizabeth is different, though. It isn't just that she's jaw-dropping gorgeous. Or the way she presents herself regally, even when she transitions back to real life. Annabelle loved her Queen while helping serve her during the faire, but when the silk and corsets come off, she finds her attraction remains. After losing the backdrop of the faire, though, Annabelle wonders if a tattooed, nerdy cashier can ever have enough in common with the educated, composed, and successful Elizabeth to act on the attraction that she thinks they both share.

No Expectations


Morgan Thomas - 2014
    With long hours at the hospital and a six year old always in tow, Tess barely has time to take a deep breath. When Courtney Anderson finds herself with some time off work and agrees to take on some appointments for her brother's computer repair business, she doesn't expect to become intrigued by a single mother who perpetually looks as if she is about to unravel. Neither woman is looking for a relationship, and neither is interested in the mess of emotions that come with one. Will they be able to handle a no strings attached friendship... or will they both end up with more expectations than they bargained for?

Love for Auction


Karen Klyne - 2019
    But when the glitter fades, she relocates to the little village of Cauthwell to start over. Relationships are off the table, but she manages to find plenty of temporary company in her area. Until, that is, she takes on an auction for a very special client. Kim Besson is lost. After her father dies she gives up her life in Manchester and heads to Cauthwell to sell the family home. With no family or friends, she has no idea what to do with the next stage of her life. When enigmatic, charming, older woman, Philippa, comes into her life, she starts to realise just what it is she might have been missing. But surely someone like Philippa wouldn’t be interested in a country girl like her… When big city meets small town, home is what you find.

Desert Sky


Ellie Green - 2021
    The only downside? When the nearest neighbour is hundreds of kilometres away, it’s hard to date.Newly qualified teacher, Grace, can’t wait to start a life away the town where she’s only known for one thing. Travelling across the country to take a job as a governess is about as far as she can get.Grace and Ari are easy friends, spending their time riding horses, swimming in waterholes and watching their favourite movies late into the night.But Ari’s feelings begin to extend beyond friendship. Ari has a crush, no matter how much she tries to talk herself out of it. What she doesn’t know is Grace is harbouring feelings of her own. And in close confines, the attraction is becoming difficult to ignore.Their connection is strong, but if they want to build a relationship, they will need to move beyond the shadows of the past.Can they find a way to each other’s hearts?

Life Begins With You


Erica Lee - 2017
    By the time they reached high school, Rebecca became interested in soccer and running with the preppy crowd, while Cassie was more interested in skipping class and shoplifting. Their lives cross paths again when Rebecca ends up teaching Cassie's little sister. Aside from their sexuality and distaste toward their small town, it seems the two have nothing in common. But as the two begin getting closer, it becomes obvious that there is much more to people than what meets the eye. Is Rebecca willing to possibly risk her career to pursue a relationship with a student's relative? Will Cassie be able to let go of the past to move into the future with Rebecca? Life would be simple if these were the only problems they had to face, but it turns out Rebecca and Cassie have much bigger mountains to climb if they want to reach their happy ending.

Going Up


A.E. Radley - 2019
    A destitute woman. Both on the way up. Selina Hale is on her way to the top. She's been working towards a boardroom position on the thirteenth floor for her entire career. And no one is going to get in her way. Not her clueless boss, her soon to be ex-wife, and most certainly not the homeless person who has moved into the car park at work. Kate Morgan fell through the cracks in a broken support system and found herself destitute. Determined and strong-willed, she's not about to accept help from a mean business woman who can't even remember the names of her own nephews. As their lives continue to intertwine, they have no choice but to work together and follow each other on their journey up.62,000 words

One Way Ticket


Emma Collins - 2017
    ASIN B075N7XLDV moved to the most recent edition hereWhen Abbey's best friend and business partner, Melissa, suggests that Abbey take a year long vacation, Abbey thinks she's crazy.How could she drop everything, leave New York and their law firm behind, to go sit on a beach for a year?But the more Abbey thinks about it, the nicer it starts to sound.She takes her friend's advice and decides to spend the next year in Tampa, renting a house beside the beach.The last thing Abbey wanted is to fall for someone.Payton isn't Abbey's type and there's so many reasons why they shouldn't get together.Even if it did work, does Abbey care enough about Payton to leave her life in NYC behind?

The Marriage Contract


Kim Hartfield - 2018
    After losing touch, the unlikely pair reconnects just in time to meet the deadline. A lot has happened in the meantime... like both of them coming out of the closet. Now the popular girl marrying the science geek is an actual possibility. The contract was only a joke, though - wasn't it?44,000 words

Necessary Sacrifice


Noelle Winters - 2017
     Running a domestic violence shelter keeps Emma Stevens on her toes, and serves as a living reminder of her mother’s legacy that falling in love can hurt you in more ways than one. But when one of her clients is murdered, Emma comes face to face with a detective who makes her question her resolve to remain safely unattached. Reeling from her wife’s death, Nick Tanner fled her life as a homicide detective in the big city. But when a brutal murder rocks the police department in sleepy Battle Creek, she isn’t prepared for the haunting memories, or complications, it brings - especially stubborn therapist Emma, who is determined to solve the case all by herself if she has to. But when Emma becomes the target for a killer, both their lives - and the love building between them - are put in danger. Is it better to love with the risk of losing, or not love at all?

The Treasure Huntress Archaeological Action Adventure Series: Books 1-3


Ryan Mullaney - 2018
    Book 1 - THE SERPENT'S FANGAn ancient Aztec dagger used in ritual human sacrifice - a simple relic, or a weapon of unfathomable power that must not fall into the wrong hands? Joining forces with the shady Clark Bannicheck, Simone digs into the mystery of The Serpent's Fang while working to uncover the mysteries of her past.Book 2 - THE TOMB OF SOULSSimone is tasked to locate The Fallen Star, a fabled relic with impossible healing abilities. With an unscrupulous Saudi prince, a ruthless weapons dealer, and a vengeful assassin all closing in, Simone finds herself in the most perilous quest of her life.Book 3 - FOLLOWERS OF THE STORMA fanatical religious cult has seized a mysterious Viking runestone, putting the life of one of Simone's closest friends in jeopardy. Vowing to return the runestone, Simone sets off on a journey that blurs the lines between ally and enemy, right and wrong, good and evil. THE TREASURE HUNTRESS SERIESThe Serpent's Fang The Tomb of Souls Followers of the Storm (Winter 2018) For more information, visit sunbirdbooks.org.

Red Hot, Stone Cold


Trin Denise - 2013
    She loves her anonymity and the peace it affords her high up in the mountains of West Virginia.Danica’s utopia comes to a screeching halt when she rescues a car accident victim named Heather Jansen who suffers from retro grade amnesia in one of the worst blizzard storms in West Virginia history while on her journey into the mountains to confront her cheating lover.Can Danica put her fears aside to pursue a love that has always eluded her and will Heather’s worst nightmares result in the ultimate love she has always longed for? Only time has the answers to all of these unanswered questions.