Book picks similar to
Flight by Renee MacKenzie


lesbian-romance
lgbtq
abused
crime-murder

The Cutting Room


Louise Welsh - 2002
    In this hidden city haunted by a host of vividly drawn characters, Rilke comes face to face with the dark desires and illicit urges that lurk behind even the most respectable facades.

Educating Eve


Anna Archer - 2019
    Her purple hair and unapologetic approach to her sexuality has been the talk of the Women’s World Cup. A magical player who seemingly has it all, until one horror tackle changes everything. Going from hero to zero, Manny’s career comes to a grinding halt. Wanting to hide away from the humiliation, she returns to school to focus on her studies in the hope she can one day have another life. Twenty-three-year-old PE teacher, Eve Eden, isn’t a fan of soccer, she prefers hockey. She’s not starstruck like everyone else at Ridgecrest Academy, which makes her the perfect tutor for Manny. They couldn’t be more different, but a spark between them quickly turns into a flame. Can the two women teach each other the lessons they both need to learn before their explosive affair is exposed? With a cast of fun characters, Anna Archer, delivers a delectable lesbian romance that’s enchantingly naughty yet nice.

The Clinch


Nicole Disney - 2021
    When the master of the dojang offered to train Eden as a live-in student, he started her on a journey that would eventually lead her to become the UFC featherweight champion of the world. Eden loves competing and coaching the underprivileged kids of her community, but just as she’s getting comfortable with her champion title, a new martial artist from a legendary family comes roaring onto the scene with a dynasty on her shoulders. Brooklyn Shaw is a loud, cocky, aggressive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu genius who’s also unfortunately pretty dreamy. Brooklyn and Eden’s rivalry attracts worldwide attention, but as they spend time together, Eden sees past Brooklyn’s showmanship to who she really is. They ought to be perfect for one another, but can either really fall in love with the person standing in the way of her dreams?

Hush


Tal Bauer - 2017
    marshal running from his past.A trial that can plunge the world into war. Federal Judge Tom Brewer is finally putting the pieces of his life back together. In the closet for twenty-five long years, he’s climbing out slowly, and, with the hope of finding a special relationship with the stunning Mike Lucciano, U.S. Marshal assigned to his DC courthouse. He wants to be out and proud, but he can’t erase his own past, and the lessons he learned long ago. But a devastating terrorist attack in the heart of DC, and the subsequent capture and arrest of the terrorist, leads to a trial that threatens to expose the dark underbelly of America’s national security. As Russia beats the drums of war, intent on seeking revenge, and the United States struggles to contain the storm before it races out of control, secrets and lies, past and present, collide in Judge Tom Brewer’s courtroom. With the world’s attention fixed on Tom and this case, he suddenly discovers he may be the only person who can put everything together in time to stop the spark of a new world war.

Exquisite


Sarah Stovell - 2017
    She loves me not. Bo Luxton has it all – a loving family, a beautiful home in the Lake District, and a clutch of bestselling books to her name. Enter Alice Dark, an aspiring writer who is drifting through life, with a series of dead-end jobs and a freeloading boyfriend. When they meet at a writers’ retreat, the chemistry is instant, and a sinister relationship develops… Or does it? Breathlessly pacey, taut and terrifying, Exquisite is a startlingly original and unbalancing psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last page. ‘The characters are so untrustworthy you wont know what to believe, but you won’t put it down till you’ve found out. A superb debut’ Sunday Mirror 'Cunningly constructed and gorgeously written, this is outstanding’ Express 'It’s a remarkable debut in the crowded psychological thriller field, written with great sureness of touch and tone' Times Crime Club ‘Slickly claustrophobic, this arch story of obsessive, forbidden love taken to the extreme will have you squirming in your seat’ Sarah Pinsborough ‘Whip-smart, lushly written and truly page-turning … Sarah Stovell is a thrilling talent’ Holly Seddon ‘A moving, gripping story … twists keep coming till the very last page. I loved it’ Erin Kelly ‘Addictive, terrifying and beautifully written, Exquisite is up there with the best psychological thrillers I’ve ever read. Fucking awesome’ Chris Whittaker

Operation: Secret Santa


M.J. Duncan - 2020
    It was Christmas, after all, and if anyone deserved some extra Christmas cheer, it was Mo Davy.

In Plain Sight


Josh Lanyon - 2013
    Now he's looking for reasons, for answers, for meaning. Sometimes the truth is right in front of you the whole time.Previously released in print edition of short stories collection, In Sunshine Or in Shadow

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?

More Than Me (A Hawkin Island Romance, #1)


Sienna Waters - 2020
    A string of temp jobs, a horrible house-mate, and a broken down car all add up to a serious need to change things up. Her rich sister's week-long resort wedding on romantic Hawkin Island might be just what Jane needs. Not that she intends to get into any trouble. Jane's far too busy taking care of other people to take care of herself.As maid-of-honor, Jane's well aware that she'll be expected to dance with the best man. What she doesn't know is that there isn't a best man. There's a best woman. And when Araminta Devine strides into Jane's life, things will never be the same again...Hawkin Island is the setting for a new lesbian romance series of novels from Sienna Waters. These books can be read independently and in any order. Once you're on the island though, you may never want to leave!

The Split


Laura Kay - 2021
    It's hilariously funny, it's so uplifting, and its characters are irresistibly loveable - Beth O'Leary, author of SUNDAY TIMES bestsellers THE FLATSHARE and THE SWITCHFull of humour, kindness, cake and a cat, this is the novel to turn to in difficult times - Katie FfordeWise, wonderful and so much fun. I loved it! - Heidi Swain, bestselling author of THE WINTER GARDENIt was pure fun. Heart-warming and adorable - Julie Cohen, bestselling author of TOGETHER and LOUIS & LOUISEWounded and betrayed, after being dumped by her girlfriend, Ally makes off to her dad’s in Sheffield with the one thing that might soothe the pain and force her ex to speak to her again: Emily's cat, Malcolm.Back home and forced into a 'date' by their parents, Ally and her first ever beard, Jeremy, come up with a ridiculous plan to win their exes back... to revenge-run a half marathon. Given neither of them can run, they enlist the support of athletic, not to mention beautiful, Jo. But will she have them running for the hills... or will their ridiculous plan pay off...?

Playing For Keeps


Carla Kincaid - 2019
    Her focus, for the past fourteen years, has been on making sure her daughter Dana has everything she needs. After losing her own mother at an early age, Kate vowed never to let her daughter feel that kind of loneliness — even if that means missing out on the love Kate truly desires. Joy Sizemore has been living the dream. As one of the top professional softball players in the world, her life is filled with great times on the field, exotic travel, and more than her fair share of post-game fun. But all of that changes when she suffers what might be a career ending injury. Forced to return home to her parent’s house to recover, Joy tries to forget her sorrows in the bottom of a bottle — with nearly tragic consequences. When Kate and Joy's lives unexpectedly collide they both have to decide whether they’ll give up on the game of love or stay on the field and try Playing For Keeps.

Claire of the Moon: One Woman's Journey into Her Sexual Identity


Nicole Conn - 1993
    Every detail of the beautifully erotic, haunting tale of one woman's journey into her sexual identity.

Contract with the Billionaire 1


Jack Woolf - 2015
    But it will cost you.” Jake and Stephen grew up together. Down on his luck and needing a place to crash, Jake knows there's plenty of room in Stephen's gated mansion. Stephen gladly welcomes Jake into his home, but the young billionaire's generosity comes with strings attached—something he's wanted for a very long time. Jake is a straight man and always has been. But when Stephen hands him the blindfold, Jake has no choice but to cover his eyes and take whatever comes. No matter how forbidden, or taboo. 7,600 words. First of two books.

Fortune Favors the Dead


Stephen Spotswood - 2020
     It's 1942 and Willowjean "Will" Parker is a scrappy circus runaway whose knife-throwing skills have just saved the life of New York's best, and most unorthodox, private investigator, Lillian Pentecost. When the dapper detective summons Will a few days later, she doesn't expect to be offered a life-changing proposition: Lillian's multiple sclerosis means she can't keep up with her old case load alone, so she wants to hire Will to be her right-hand woman. In return, Will will receive a salary, room and board, and training in Lillian's very particular art of investigation.Three years later, Will and Lillian are on the Collins case: Abigail Collins was found bludgeoned to death with a crystal ball following a big, boozy Halloween party at her home--her body slumped in the same chair where her steel magnate husband shot himself the year before. With rumors flying that Abigail was bumped off by the vengeful spirit of her husband (who else could have gotten inside the locked room?), the family has tasked the detectives with finding answers where the police have failed. But that's easier said than done in a case that involves messages from the dead, a seductive spiritualist, and Becca Collins--the beautiful daughter of the deceased, who Will quickly starts falling for. When Will and Becca's relationship dances beyond the professional, Will finds herself in dangerous territory, and discovers she may have become the murderer's next target.A wildly charming and fast-paced mystery written with all the panache of 1940s New York, Fortune Favors the Dead is a fresh homage to Holmes and Watson reads like the best of Dashiell Hammett and introduces an audacious detective duo for the ages.

Feels Like Home


Jo Cox - 2020
    Jess has loved Melissa for longer than she can remember and it’s bearable when they’re a hundred miles apart, but what will happen when they’re thrown back together and there’s nowhere to hide?Jess has tried everything to put her feelings aside, but when Melissa comes home from university and becomes a permanent fixture in her office, kitchen, and sometimes even bed, she’s got no chance of making it work.Throw in a best friend who’s taken over the spare bedroom with her toddler daughter, and an extended family who’ll meddle in anything going, and life is about to get complicated.