Books like 'The Unexpected Dream'
Readers who enjoyed The Unexpected Dream by Nicole Pyland also liked the following books featuring the same tropes, story themes, relationship dynamics and character types.
lesbian romance sports queer baseball found-family bisexual secret-relationship heroine athlete single-mother teacher-heroine
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Better Than Expected by Haley Cass
Hannah Dalton had a lot of expectations in her life. Growing up watching her mother struggle for everything they had, she resolved to make sure she did everything she could to make those hardships worthwhile... -
![Crossed Over by Santana Knox]()
Crossed Over by Santana Knox
Rated: 4.61 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsFrom international best-selling author Santana Knox, comes an LGBTQ, women’s fiction, coming out story like nothing you’ve ever read before. A tale that grips the hearts of those who failed to see eye-to-eye with a parent, and anyone who’s ever denied the truth about themselves... -
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![Hoops & Heartstrings by Eliza Lentzski]()
Hoops & Heartstrings by Eliza Lentzski
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 12 ratingsWhen a devastating injury threatens Lex Bennet’s dream of playing in the women’s professional basketball league, her world is turned upside down. Despite the setback, Lex is unexpectedly drafted by the new expansion team in Boston... -
![Love Next Door by Rachael Sommers]()
Love Next Door by Rachael Sommers
A sweet toaster-oven lesbian romance that asks whether the one we’re meant to be with might be right under our nose.Reserved tattoo artist Riley Foster has just moved apartments and can’t take her eyes off the single mom who lives next door...Categorized as:
queer competent heroine single-mother bisexual friends to lovers f-f contemporary queer-awakening -
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![Crashing into Love by Nicole Pyland]()
Crashing into Love by Nicole Pyland
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSports Series Book #7. This series is related by a sports theme, not by characters.Drew Oakes had her first chance to take home an Olympic gold medal taken away from her when another rider crashed into her in the first race of the competition.Four years later, she is determined to get on that podium, and preferably, at the top of it... -
![Reality In Check by Emily Banting]()
Reality In Check by Emily Banting
From the multi-award-winning, best-selling author of Broken Beyond Repair comes a new sapphic celebrity ice queen romance — read as a standalone or as the second book in the South Downs Romance series.Sculptor Arte Tremaine is thrown into the hospitality industry when her beloved late grandmother bequeaths her and her sister a charming yet rundown country hotel with zero guests...Categorized as:
bisexual queer found-family independent heroine sweet heroine competent heroine teacher-heroine f-f -
![Marking Time by Sherryl D. Hancock]()
Marking Time by Sherryl D. Hancock
Rated: 4.46 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsRaine Mason has never been in a relationship with a woman… or anyone for that matter. Then she meets Natalia, the feisty Latina dance teacher. A dancerturned cop, Raine captivates the eyes of the dance teacher and with a little push from their friend, they embark on a whirlwind romance... -
![Two of a Kind by T.B. Markinson, Miranda MacLeod]()
Two of a Kind by T.B. Markinson, Miranda MacLeod
Could something you can’t remember be the best decision of your life?Maisie Sullivan is a hard-working marketing assistant from Milwaukee who wants nothing more than to earn a promotion and finally finish her college degree. But when she’s swept off her feet by a charming cowgirl while on a business trip to Las Vegas, she decides there’s no harm in having a little fun... -
![Thrust by Rachel Spangler]()
Thrust by Rachel Spangler
Rated: 4.39 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsFencing prodigy Jess Kidman has always been ahead of her peers. At the age of thirteen she made the varsity team, won a state championship, came out, and fell head over heels in love with her team captain, Lauren Standish... -
![Open Tab by J.A. Armstrong]()
Open Tab by J.A. Armstrong
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 18 ratingsFallon Foster serves up more than the most potent drinks at Murphy’s Law, the local pub in Whiskey Springs, Vermont. Fallon is the keeper of the town’s secrets. She’s heard tales of broken hearts, torrid affairs, closet cases, and the dreams of hopeful romantics. With a sensitive ear and a warm bed, Fallon is a legend in her small town. One thing still eludes her—love... -
![Sparks Like Ours by Melissa Brayden]()
Sparks Like Ours by Melissa Brayden
Gia Malone wants one thing and one thing only: to be the best surfer in the world. Her biggest obstacle is the annoyingly perky Elle Britton. Not only is Elle number one in the rankings, she’s also a fan favorite. But there’s a lot about Elle that Gia never noticed, like her surprising sense of humor and picture-perfect mouth. Elle Britton is tired...Categorized as:
sports heroine athlete queer contemporary forced proximity f-f from hate to love cheerful heroine -
![Unadulterated Something by M.J. Duncan]()
Unadulterated Something by M.J. Duncan
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsEmma Beauchamp and Campbell Jordan’s rivalry on the ice was legendary. Retirement should have closed that chapter of their lives, but when Campbell joins the faculty at Stonebridge—the prestigious Berkshires boarding school where Emma now teaches—it takes on a brand new life... -
![L.A. Metro by R.J. Nolan]()
L.A. Metro by R.J. Nolan
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 14 ratingsDr. Kimberly Donovan’s life is in shambles. After her medical ethics are questioned, first her family, then her closeted lover, the Chief of the ER, betray her. Determined to make a fresh start, she flees to California and L.A. Metropolitan Hospital. Dr. Jess McKenna, L.A. Metro’s Chief of the ER, gives new meaning to the phrase emotionally guarded, but she has her reasons...Categorized as:
queer competent heroine f-f cold heroine length-medium hurt-comfort past-sexual-abuse -
![Side by Side by Nicole Pyland]()
Side by Side by Nicole Pyland
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsSports Series Book #6. This series is related by a sports theme, not by characters.As teenagers, Belle Elrod and Chandler Wolfe had been chosen to be part of Team USA figure skating’s elite training program. But when something happened, and Belle left the program, they were both left wondering what might have been... -
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![Party Animal by Ali K. Mulford]()
Party Animal by Ali K. Mulford
Rated: 4.67 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsShe’s never done love long-term. But will faking it lead to forever?Finch Lachlan works hard and parties harder. But tired of her siblings judging her fun-loving ways, the head veterinarian at her family’s zoo vows to prove she can make it past the third date. And maybe she can begin with the hottie who just seized her attention with a sizzling kiss.Chef, Frankie Benedetti, craves a fresh start... -
![Last Chance by Claire Highton-Stevenson]()
Last Chance by Claire Highton-Stevenson
An injured athlete desperate for a comeback. A career-driven team owner. Passion ignites when they meet, but will victory cost them true love?Nora Brady has one last shot at the career she adores. After a devastating injury knocks her off the women’s football A-list, the tenacious midfielder accepts an offer to play for a struggling young team longing to compete in the big time...Categorized as:
sports queer heroine athlete contemporary f-f length-long explicit-open-door boss & employee -
![The Misperception by Nicole Pyland]()
The Misperception by Nicole Pyland
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsThis is book #5 in the Holiday Series.Paisley Hill cared about one thing – she was building her company from the ground up without accepting any money from her wealthy family to do it. That was important to Paisley, and she took her job as a consultant seriously, wanting to help companies grow and get more efficient because of her ideas... -
![Paradise Pride by Lise Gold]()
Paradise Pride by Lise Gold
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsLondon-based casino manager Meghan has no expectations of her two-week holiday in Spain; she’s just tagging along with her friend who’s visiting her love interest. When they arrive at a deserted hotel due to a booking fault and her friend leaves to see her boyfriend, she’s left with the bartender who stays on for the night... -
![Three Reasons to Say Yes by Jaime Clevenger]()
Three Reasons to Say Yes by Jaime Clevenger
When a little rest and relaxation turns into something more… Julia Maguire can’t wait to spend two weeks in Hawaii with her best friends. She’s been dreaming about this trip for years and all she wants is to lay on a sandy beach with an icy cocktail in her hand. But those vacation goals change the moment she meets Reed Baxter. Reed is a busy doctor with family demands... -
![Popcorn Love by K.L. Hughes]()
Popcorn Love by K.L. Hughes
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 26 ratingsA prominent figure amongst New York City’s fashion elite, Elena Vega is a successful businesswoman and single mother to an adorable three-year-old son, Lucas. Her love life, however, is lacking, as those closest to her keep pointing out.At the persistent urging of her closest friend, Elena reluctantly agrees to a string of blind dates if she can find a suitable babysitter for Lucas...Categorized as:
bisexual single-mother queer f-f contemporary age difference boss & employee length-medium -
![Tricky Wisdom: Year I by Camryn Eyde]()
Tricky Wisdom: Year I by Camryn Eyde
Rated: 4.29 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsDarcy Wright is a closeted lesbian who has been infatuated with her best friend, Taylor, since junior high. Leaving her small northeast Minnesota town for Harvard in a quest to become a doctor, she moves in with med-student Olivia Boyd, a neurotic, anal, gigantic pain in the backside. The first year of juggling medical school is gruelling, but it’s nothing compared to living with Olivia... -
![In Development by Rachel Spangler]()
In Development by Rachel Spangler
From a young age, Cobie Galloway made a career of playing the girl-next-door on the silver screen. Only, she's not a teenager anymore. Ready to challenge herself artistically and earn the part she's always dreamed of, she's forced to face the realization that in order to win the roles afforded to edgier actresses, she might first have to audition by playing someone edgier in her day-to-day life... -
![The Secret Pond by Gerri Hill]()
The Secret Pond by Gerri Hill
Rated: 4.30 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsGrieving over the loss of her family and feeling like her life is unraveling, Lindsey McDermott quits her job, gets a puppy and retreats to her grandparents’ home in the Texas Hill Country. She spends her solitary days walking childhood trails and reminiscing, trying to reconcile the conflict within her as she struggles with survivor’s guilt... -
![Break in the Storm by Sherryl D. Hancock]()
Break in the Storm by Sherryl D. Hancock
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsEx-Special Forces bodyguard Quinn Kavanaugh disdains everything “industry” when it comes to Hollywood. Despite this, she takes a job protecting up-and-coming singer, Xandy Blue. Little does she know the diminutive lavender-eyed singer is far from the drama queen type that Quinn can’t stand. Xandy has had a tragic life and is haunted by the past events that turned her life upside down... -
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![Two is a Pattern by Emily Waters]()
Two is a Pattern by Emily Waters
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsA charged lesbian romantic suspense set in the early nineties, with gripping twists, turns, and surprising secrets.A mission gone wrong leads to rising-star CIA operative Annie Weaver quitting her job and reinventing herself as a college student. But the CIA, desperate for her skills, refuses to let her go without a price... -
![Kick Back by K J]()
Kick Back by K J
Rated: 4.38 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSophia Lindstrom plays football for South Melbourne. She’s tall, focused, intense, and has some major trust issues, which she’s currently ignoring. Sophia just wants her life to stay exactly the same, which means playing AFL, running the boutique fine foods and wine store with her brother, and volunteering at the homeless shelter. The same... -
![Just Jorie by Robin Alexander]()
Just Jorie by Robin Alexander
Rated: 4.19 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsSome believe that special someone is out there just waiting to be found. Jorie Andolini is one of those people and has spent a lot of time envisioning that moment. She bumps into a woman at a grocery store, the woman drops a can of peas, Jorie picks it up, their eyes meet, and two souls connect... -
![Blue by Lise Gold]()
Blue by Lise Gold
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsWhen Celia Krügerner visits her Uncle Dieter’s castle in Switzerland for his annual summer ball, she’s excited to learn that Erin, who she shared an unforgettable dance with the year before, will once again be attending. Although their exchange was brief, Celia’s been unable to stop thinking about the dark and mysterious woman, and she’s determined to make a lasting impression on her this time... -
![Doghouse by Erik Schubach]()
Doghouse by Erik Schubach
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsEliza Montrose lives an unorthodox life. backpacking through Europe with a string bass, Audrey, on her back. She plays her doghouse bass in jazz clubs in every port in her wanderings, she doesn't need anyone but herself and her Audrey... -
![Sunstone: Mercy Book Three by Stjepan Šejić]()
Sunstone: Mercy Book Three by Stjepan Šejić
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsTwo women deal with modern themes of sex, relationships, and fetishism in this erotic romantic comedy."MERCY," Part Three. Loving someone means building a shrine within your heart dedicated to them. A shrine made of good memories and treasured moments. As the mercy arc reaches its third volume Anne is about to find the shrine of her heart ransacked by none other than the person it was devoted to... -
![Crossroads by Radclyffe]()
Crossroads by Radclyffe
Rated: 4.16 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsDr. Hollis Monroe specializes in short-terms relationships, typically eight months or less. As an obstetrician dealing with high-risk pregnancies, she spends all her time and energy in caring for women at a nice, comfortable professional distance until she delivers their babies and can walk away. They're happy, she's satisfied, and no one gets hurt. The perfect relationship... -
![Romancing the Girl by Camryn Eyde]()
Romancing the Girl by Camryn Eyde
Rated: 4.18 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsAimee Turner is a country girl, living and working on her family's sheep station in rural Australia. Life is easy and full of hard, dusty work, but when her brother Joseph decides to become a contestant in a reality TV dating show, Romancing the Farmer, everything goes to hell.The station gets overrun by city women and stuck-up producers right in the middle of shearing season... -
![Freeing Her by Anna Stone]()
Freeing Her by Anna Stone
Faith is thrilled to land a job as a nanny for a wealthy, recently divorced mother of two. The pay is great, and the kids are angels. The only problem is their mother, Eve. She’s uptight, controlling, and impossible to please. The worst part? Faith can’t stop thinking about her... -
![Not Like Before by Lily Seabrooke, Jacqueline Ramsden]()
Not Like Before by Lily Seabrooke, Jacqueline Ramsden
Lola never wanted to be on camera alongside an A-list star—but maybe Mackenzie is everything she needs.History professor Lola Barnes never cared about celebrities, and filming alongside superstar actress Mackenzie Vale isn’t exactly on her bucket list...Categorized as:
queer sweet heroine bisexual f-f grumpy sunshine length-medium contemporary trans-heroine -
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![Whitewater Rendezvous by Kim Baldwin]()
Whitewater Rendezvous by Kim Baldwin
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsDanger, destiny, and romance on the river.A wilderness kayak adventure brings together two very different women—Chaz Herrick, a laid-back outdoorswoman, and Megan Maxwell, a workaholic news executive. As they battle the challenges of nature for survival, they discover that true love may be nothing at all like they imagined... -
![Grounded by A.E. Radley]()
Grounded by A.E. Radley
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsCity professional Olivia Lewis is coming to terms with her latest romantic failure by attempting to throw herself into her work. But with clients suddenly leaving Applewood Financial in their droves it becomes clear that old enemies have decided to strike and Olivia realises that she is losing everything... -
![Endgame by Zoe Reed]()
Endgame by Zoe Reed
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsAudrey Caplan knew what she wanted. It was simple, really: get the spot as captain of her college soccer team, and focus on school. That was it, and with her aptitude for structure and discipline, it'd be easy to ignore distractions. At least it would've been if Morgan Bailey hadn't shown up... -
![Forevermore by Lynn Galli]()
Forevermore by Lynn Galli
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsFor M Desiderius, finding someone to love who loves her back was all she could have asked for in life. After marrying Briony and settling in, she begins to hope for even more. Her secret wish is to provide a home for an orphaned girl like she'd been at the age of nine. She owes it to the woman who took her in to pass along that kind act... -
![The Wife App by Erinne Bates]()
The Wife App by Erinne Bates
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsWhen Rachel accepts that she isn't going to fall in love the way others appear to, she decides she is at least going to have a fulfilling career. While her friends spend an afternoon complaining about the lack of help they receive from their husbands, one of them announces she needs her own wife to help her get her tasks done... -
![Take a Chance by Claire Highton-Stevenson]()
Take a Chance by Claire Highton-Stevenson
Rated: 4.25 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsA December romance sparkles between two strangers. Is it holiday infatuation or Christmas magic?Daisy Rose Foster is desperate to sort out her life. After dumping her cheating girlfriend, she flees her apartment and the job she detests to return to her family home and regroup over the holidays... -
![On the Rocks by Georgia Beers]()
On the Rocks by Georgia Beers
No straight women. No parents of students. Nobody under thirty-five. Vanessa Martini makes no apologies for her dating checklist. She’s been up close to enough messy breakups to know what havoc they wreak in life. Just because people see her as fun and happy, and just because she loves her life in general, that doesn’t mean she can’t be careful. Or discerning. Or, okay, fine, super picky...Categorized as:
queer bisexual single-mother teacher-heroine contemporary f-f third-person-pov dual-pov -
![Not Asking for More by Lindsey Pennington]()
Not Asking for More by Lindsey Pennington
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsIt was only supposed to be one night.Until their different worlds collided.Lauren Almquist gave up every dream she had to help her brother raise his kids; a degree, a girlfriend, a life of her own. Now she’s in her thirties and doesn’t know how to get any of it back. Or if she even wants to. After all, she’s settled... -
![The Light in You by Lisa Elliot]()
The Light in You by Lisa Elliot
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsASIN moved from less recent editionYoga teacher Angela Forbes has fulfilled her dream of opening her very own studio, Heart Yoga, on the outskirts of Edinburgh, Scotland. Passionate and principled, she believes in yoga and wants to make a difference. Unfortunately, her studio is hanging by a thread after a slow start... -
![Under the Christmas Tree by Jacqueline Ramsden]()
Under the Christmas Tree by Jacqueline Ramsden
Rated: 4.40 of 5 stars · 5 ratingsWhat if the only present you want this year is a person?Katie’s position as an obstetrics doctor has her busy on Christmas Day yet again. Her mother isn’t happy about it—she wants Katie moving home and settling down with someone, but Katie never has time for home or for anyone.Almost anyone.Maggie is the one person Katie has time for... -
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![Special Delivery by J.A. Armstrong]()
Special Delivery by J.A. Armstrong
Rated: 4.10 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsObstetrician Brooke Campbell helps families grow every day. She delights in the anticipation of her patients and finds satisfaction in watching new families be born, and families she's helped for years continue to grow. Still, something is missing in the doctor's life. Busy with her work, Brooke is determined to avoid romantic attachments... -
![Presidential by Lola Keeley]()
Presidential by Lola Keeley
Rated: 4.06 of 5 stars · 20 ratingsHow can you find love when the whole world is watching? High-flying environmental lobbyist Emily Lawrence wants to save the world—literally. Her disastrous first day in her new job puts her on a collision course with the most powerful woman in America, President Calvin... -
![Nochebuena: a holiday novella by Stephanie Shea]()
Nochebuena: a holiday novella by Stephanie Shea
Rated: 4.15 of 5 stars · 10 ratingsCamila Morales is a hopeless romantic. Not that she thinks every couple is meant to be—she is a divorce lawyer, after all. But when her happy, married-thirty-years parents announce their own separation three weeks before Christmas, Cami’s world is turned upside down, especially since she’s been trying to feel her way through her own marital slump for months.Sutton Davies is an imposter... -
![The Wrong Date Deal by Jacqueline Ramsden]()
The Wrong Date Deal by Jacqueline Ramsden
Can the wrong date lead you to the right woman?Piper Sutton is looking for love and it’s not going well. After a string of dates, all she’s left with are odd stories to tell her friends, family, and strangers at the doctor’s office. But, when an unfortunately timed message leads her to August Carmicheal, she wonders if her luck is changing...Categorized as:
queer bisexual found-family independent heroine sweet heroine friends to lovers f-f length-medium -
![When Dreams Change by Violet Morley]()
When Dreams Change by Violet Morley
Rated: 4.21 of 5 stars · 7 ratingsAs another softball season begins, Coach Lennox Clementine is juggling many balls in the air. With so many upperclassmen returning, she feels confident about Sitka High School’s chances, but only if she can manage to keep the girls in one piece. Outside of the softball field, Lennox has to keep up with the challenges of her job at the hospital... -
![Dare to Love by A.L. Brooks]()
Dare to Love by A.L. Brooks
Rated: 4.09 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsInvestment banker Ash Taylor left her cut-throat world to set up a cool, cutting-edge tattoo studio. Her love life’s been a lot bumpier, though. Ever since a heart-breaking affair with a straight colleague, she’s vowed to steer clear of women unsure of their sexuality...Categorized as:
bisexual competent heroine queer f-f friends to lovers contemporary slow burn dual-pov
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