Book picks similar to
Before It Stains by R.E. Bradshaw


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Give Me a Reason


Lyn Gardner - 2013
    Four years later, Toni’s judgment is overturned, but the damage is already done. She walks from the prison a free woman, but she’s hardly free. Actually, she’s hardly alive. A prison without rules can do that to a person. She was raised amidst garden parties, stables and tennis courts, but now a dingy flat in a decrepit building is what Toni calls home. It’s cold, dark and barren just like her heart, but it suits her. She doesn’t want to leave much behind when she’s gone, but the simplicity of her sheltered existence begins to unravel when a beautiful stranger comes into her life. How does anyone survive in a world that terrifies them? How do you learn to trust again when everyone is your enemy? How do you take your next breath and not wish it were your last? And if your past returned...what would you do? Author’s Note: Give Me A Reason contains elements of angst, and while it may be found under several genres, its primary listing is lesbian fiction.

Fated Love


Radclyffe - 2004
    While the two declare an uneasy truce in an effort to work together, both struggle with mutual, and unexpected, attraction. Honor, however, has more than one reason to resist her growing feelings for the attractive newcomer—not the least of which is that her heart belongs to the woman whose wedding ring she wears. Amidst the chaos and drama of a busy emergency room, Quinn and Honor must contend not only with the fragile nature of life, but also with the mysteries of the heart and the irresistible forces of fate.

Sanctuary


I. Beacham - 2009
    The only obstacle is her attraction to the woman she has vowed to destroy.Young Cate Canton dreams of becoming a designer and running Seraphim, the Boston fashion house her late mother started. Born into a loving family, and with everything to live for, she loses it all when misfortune and tragedy strike. In the aftermath of betrayal, Cate vows to reclaim her destiny. Fueled by revenge, she becomes a ruthless businesswoman with her own successful fashion empire, plotting to one day take over her mother’s business by any means necessary.But one person stands in her way—Dita Newton, the beautiful, gifted designer who now runs Seraphim. Cate will need to crush her lifelong adversary to succeed, but Dita strikes back in the most unexpected way—by stirring Cate’s fragile, hidden heart. A contemporary high-stakes drama between two driven, passionate women.

Hearts Aflame


Ronica Black - 2007
    Real estate guru Krista Wyler is soon at the mercy of the Arizona desert when she learns she has inherited her family's business, Wyler Ranch. Her aunt is dying and her uncle is no longer capable of making decisions. Krista reluctantly moves in, but her plan is to sell the ranch as soon as possible. Rae Jarrett, the strong, stubborn vet who has cared for the ranch as well as the horses, objects to her selling and offers her aid. Krista resists the help as well as her attraction to the mysterious vet, but decides instead to turn the ranch into a dude ranch. Soon city folk are knocking at the door ready to pay good money to get a chance to herd the Wyler cattle across Arizona. The plan seems full proof until Krista herself, along with Rae, has to set out on the trail with them. The journey leads to a life changing adventure neither woman could have foreseen and will never forget.

Denial


Jackie Kennedy - 2013
    Coming back home to America, Celeste is glad to see the end of the peril she has been in—or so she thinks. Danger seems to follow Celeste and she finds it in the shape of Amy. What Celeste feels for Amy scares her more than anything she has faced in war zones. Amy has the same feelings, but is in denial and vows to marry Josh, Celeste’s twin brother, no matter what. When fate brings them together again, will they give in to their mutual attraction or will they once again deny what they feel.

A Call Away


K.C. Richardson - 2018
    She has questions about her grandparents that she hopes to find the answers to while preparing the farm to sell. Abigail Price, a neighbor of Syd’s grandmother, has lived on her grandmother’s farm in Iowa for most of her life, leaving only to promote her latest novel. In helping Syd find the answers she’s looking for, they develop a mutual attraction and deeper feelings for each other.Syd has to return to her life in Chicago, but will Abby stay in Iowa, or will she give the big city, and love, a chance?Cover Artist: Sheri HalalGenres: Contemporary / Romance

Echo Point


Virginia Hale - 2017
    Wracked with guilt over her sister Libby’s death, she’s spent three months trying to handle her grief while taking care of Libby’s young daughter, Annie.Libby’s best friend Ally never had a chance to say good-bye to her dear friend. When she finally returns home, Ally finds Libby’s family open and welcoming…everyone, that is, except Libby’s sister Bron.For her part, Bron can’t fathom why her family is so enamored with Ally—even offering her a job and a place to live—but grudgingly admires the way Ally and Annie get along.While Bron contemplates moving Annie to Boston and away from the only home the little girl has ever known, bushfires begin to rage in the nearby mountains, and Bron begins to see that she’s sorely underestimated her sister’s friend.Soon Ally’s past and Bron’s future collide—with a heat and wonder that neither of them expected.Words: 58,940

A Dark Horse


Blayne Cooper - 2015
    It happened so slowly she barely noticed... Then it was too late. On the cusp of landing her dream job, Natalie is forced to New Orleans in search of her runaway teenaged brother Joshua. Desperately short of clues, she's grateful that NOPD Detective Adele Lejeune seems to genuinely care. Detective Lejeune's interest in Joshua's disappearance dangerously shifts from professional to intensely personal, as do her feelings for Natalie. The women doggedly navigate the depths of the city's seething underbelly as they work to solve the tangled mystery that is poised to crush Natalie's heart and leave Adele's life in ruins. Best-selling, award-winning author Blayne Cooper exposes the intrigue of the Big Easy in this epic story of dedication, risk and passion.

Clean Slate


Andrea Bramhall - 2013
    John Major isn’t the prime minister anymore, the Millennium has been and gone, and it’s been a very long time since she was in college.When Erin’s worst fears become reality and her world crumbles around her, she has to pick up the pieces and start all over again.Can losing everything actually be the best thing that ever happened to Morgan? Can Erin learn to forgive the sins of the past and let her heart lead her head for a change?Or is happiness beyond their reach?

Blurred Lines


K.D. Williamson - 2016
    Only a select few know her as a loyal, loving friend. To a fault, she is committed to her family, friends and her job.As a surgeon, Nora Whitmore is used to being in control. The hospital is her life. There is little else. Respected by her colleagues but ridiculed by the residents, Nora takes what she needs and keeps everyone else at arm’s length, creating unexpected enemies.Tragedy brings them together in a clash of personalities. As the chaos around them continues, they find the lines between them blurring. A friendship forms, understanding grows, and attraction soon follows. Together, they may conquer their own misgivings, but will the outside forces keep them apart?Themes: lesbian · medical · police

Friends Without Benefits


Dena Blake - 2018
    Grace is smart, beautiful, and most unfortunately, straight. Life would’ve been perfect if Grace had only loved her back, but when Grace gets married, Dex knows it’s time to move on. Then Dex meets Emma Lawson, and her life takes a whole new direction. Only trouble is, she never expected to have to choose between her best friend and her new love.Emma Lawson is successful and happy except when it comes to love. She’s been alone for a year and has no intention of giving love another chance, until falling for Dex changes everything. When Grace comes between them, Emma refuses to be second best. Can Emma show Dex what true love really looks like?

The Fifth Stage


Margaret A. Helms - 2003
    She muddles through daily routines, her only respite coming in the form of a harmless crush on Rebecca Greenway. Claire believes that the sexy restaurant manager is safely unavailable. But when Rebecca shows signs of interest, Claire's past unravels, revealing an immeasurable love and a dark secret. .an outstanding contribution to lesbian fiction. Author Margaret A. Helms deftly alternates past and present events in the life of Claire Blevins to build an enthralling and intriguing story. Her rich prose, compelling plot, lively pace, and strongly-drawn characters make The Fifth Stage an outstanding contribution to lesbian fiction. -- Nann Dunne, editor and publisher of Just About Write (www.justaboutwrite.com), author of The War Between the Hearts, and other stories.

The Grass Widow


Nanci Little - 1996
    A moving novel of support, friendship and love, set in the tiny frontier community of Washburn Station, Kansas in the year 1876.

Mistress on Her Knees


Anastasia Vitsky - 2015
    When a Domme loves a Domme who is her former submissive and cheated with her best friend, all of the usual fun with handcuffs turns into something darker. Graciela struggles to control her attraction to the headstrong, beautiful woman who broke her heart ten years ago. She offers temporary shelter to a fellow human in crisis, nothing more. But when Trinity buckles under Graciela’s righteous anger and begs for forgiveness, Graciela’s resolve wavers. Can she ever trust again? Does Trinity deserve a second chance, or is this yet another manipulation? ------------------ The Lesbian Review's Top Ten winner for cover art and best book beginnings! "Mistress on her Knees by AnastasiaVitsky begins with a delightful list of Top 10 Reasons Why Dommes Shouldn’t Date Each Other. It is told from the perspective of both main characters, Trinity and Graciela. This is an amusing and unusual beginning to a book about spanking and dom/submissive relationships. It had me so intrigued that I happily kept reading and discovered, in this book, an unusually well done study of the delicate balance and relationships that are involved in the S&M world." --The Lesbian Review "Mistress on Her Knees is an intense experience. The writing is tight and masterful--the author has absolute command of her craft and the storytelling is impeccable." --Jeanne D "Fast paced and back and forth between past and present, Ms. Vitsky creates characters that are strong and resilient with a powerful sense of emotion and in that, she develops a BDSM relationship focused on the healing experience of submission." --Little's Books "The characters are so very easy to love and care about. There are times you just wanted to scream in frustration at Trinity and times I was ready to cry for both Trinity and Graciela… The love Graciela still holds for Trinity is so strong and yet fragile… Trinity’s need for Graciela runs soul deep… These people are so real in their imperfections,thoughts and actions. They will take you on an emotional roller coaster ride and leave you feeling winded and eventually content." --Prism Book Alliance -------------------- Look also for Mistress, Please (Mistress Series, #2) and Mistress's Release (Mistress Series, Book 3)!

Jenna's Awakening


Missy Redstone - 2014
    Jenna Harper arrived in a small town in New England, she only had one thing on her mind. She wanted a new start for herself. She wanted a place to settle down and start her career. Dr. Harper was soft-spoken, but she had a hard shell around her heart. She had completely closed herself off from love and threw herself 100% into her work. She believed that was one of the things that had gotten her to the top of her field so quickly. Little did she know, the fortress she had built around her love life was about to be crushed by someone she would have least expected, another woman. Kristen Fletcher awakens thoughts and desires within Dr. Harper that she had never known existed. Unfortunately, Dr. Harper has no idea how long she will be in town. She has to battle the conflict of pursuing her newfound love or staying grounded in the reality that she may have to leave soon.