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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Magdalene Nox by Milena McKay
Magdalene Nox doesn't cast wishes upon stars. .. She simply makes them happen. But for this particular wish, she had waited for thirty years. Her retribution against those who discarded her three decades ago should be swift and simple. Except a chance encounter and an unforgettable night turn her entire life upside down... -
![The Love Lie by Monica McCallan]()
The Love Lie by Monica McCallan
A year ago, Sydney King was a successful pro tennis player with a long-term boyfriend, a plan for the future, and a shot at fulfilling all her dreams. Now, she has a cheating ex-boyfriend and a career-ending injury, and—quite frankly—things could not be going worse for her...Categorized as:
queer sports bisexual found-family competent heroine independent heroine heroine athlete f-f -
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![The Last to Leave by Erica Lee]()
The Last to Leave by Erica Lee
Courtney Fields and Nicole Dawson were high school rivals who thought they would never have to deal with each other again. Eight years after graduating, the two are thrown back together on a trip to Cabo with their two best friends. Throughout the trip, they quickly learn they get under each other’s skin in more ways than one... -
![Crossed Over by Santana Knox]()
Crossed Over by Santana Knox
Rated: 4.53 of 5 stars · 16 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. Nia da Silva is dead…... -
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![The Forever and The Now by K.J .]()
The Forever and The Now by K.J .
Rated: 4.68 of 5 stars · 11 ratingsBron McIntyre, forty-two, has it all together. Terrific job. Loving family. No desperate need for a girlfriend but would be interested if one came along. Bron McIntyre is Teflon. Kate Agostino, forty-eight, is not Teflon. Yes, she has a terrific job. But a loving family? Not really. And her personal life is rapidly disintegrating and turning into dust... -
![Hoops & Heartstrings by Eliza Lentzski]()
Hoops & Heartstrings by Eliza Lentzski
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 14 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 -
![The Scent of Rome by Lise Gold]()
The Scent of Rome by Lise Gold
In a last-ditch attempt to secure an investor for an app she’s developed, Rome Foster travels to her namesake city hoping her luck is going to change. Just as she’s about to pitch her life’s work, she meets the charming and captivating Nadine; a high-end escort who shocks Rome by flirting with her...Categorized as:
queer found-family competent heroine f-f length-medium audiobook explicit-open-door contemporary -
![Half-Court Heat by Eliza Lentzski]()
Half-Court Heat by Eliza Lentzski
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsThe spotlight’s never been hotter, and neither has their love. Lex Bennet didn’t plan on falling for Eva Montgomery—her fiercest collegiate basketball rival, turned teammate, turned secret girlfriend. Now, with the cameras off and the season over, they finally have a shot at something real. For once, Lex isn’t chasing wins. She’s chasing a future... -
![Play You For It by Samantha Saldivar]()
Play You For It by Samantha Saldivar
In this sizzling sapphic romance, sparks fly between a sports journalist and her latest source—the first woman to be named head coach of a Division 1 men’s basketball team—but are they willing to risk their careers for a shot at love? When Jordan D’Amato becomes the first woman named head coach of a top-level men’s college basketball team, journalist Caroline Beck is determined to get the story... -
![Spin Serve by Nicole Pyland]()
Spin Serve by Nicole Pyland
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsSports Series Book #8. This series is related by a sports theme, not by characters. Aspen Ashley had been a beach volleyball star on the court for years now, but due to an issue with a previous partner, this was her first real shot to represent the US at the Olympics... -
![July by Nicole Pyland]()
July by Nicole Pyland
Rated: 4.63 of 5 stars · 8 ratingsJill Solomon has watched her friends fall in love over the past year and a half, and she feels like she’s the only single lesbian left in New Orleans. When her mother runs off unexpectedly, leaving Jill to take care of her ten-year-old sister, Jill worries that her entire life is about to change, and not for the better... -
![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... -
![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 -
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![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 -
![Something New by Jacqueline Ramsden]()
Something New by Jacqueline Ramsden
The “something new” at your sister’s wedding is supposed to be your sexuality, right? Thea Cooper is heading to her sister’s wedding in Montana for Christmas. The problem is that her ex is going to be there, and her mother is hoping they’ll rekindle their romance. All Thea wants is to enjoy the lodge, the holiday, and celebrate her sister... -
![The Princess Match by Clare Lydon]()
The Princess Match by Clare Lydon
One football goddess. One future Queen. One love that could change the game. Princess Victoria has perfected the royal calculated smile, convenient boyfriend, impeccable press. But behind the tiara ticks a heart that's tired of playing by the rules. Enter Ashleigh England's football captain, media darling, and living proof that authenticity scores every time... -
![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... -
![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... -
![A Song in Her Heart by T.B. Markinson]()
A Song in Her Heart by T.B. Markinson
Rated: 4.44 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsIn the heart of Nashville, where dreams and secrets collide, two women find themselves entangled in a love story that could shatter their worlds or make them whole. Hannah Taylor, a rising country music sensation, stands on the brink of superstardom. But beneath the glitz and glamour, she harbors a secret, one that could shatter her carefully crafted image and jeopardize her career... -
![Making It Count by Nicole Pyland]()
Making It Count by Nicole Pyland
Sports Series Book #5. This series is related by a sports theme, not by characters. NOTE: The characters of this book are living during the first year of the pandemic. Shay Amos chose Dunbar University because she wanted to play basketball at a smaller school and be the best player on the team... -
![All the Little Moments by G. Benson]()
All the Little Moments by G. Benson
A successful anaesthetist, Anna is focused on herself, her career, and her girlfriend. Everything changes abruptly when her brother’s and sister-in-law’s deaths devastate her and her family. Left responsible for her young niece and nephew, Anna finds herself dumped and alone in Melbourne, a city she doesn’t even like...Categorized as:
queer found-family sweet heroine independent heroine single-mother f-f contemporary office -
![Thrust by Rachel Spangler]()
Thrust by Rachel Spangler
Fencing 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...Categorized as:
sports queer competent heroine independent heroine heroine athlete teacher-heroine contemporary f-f -
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![Something in the Water by MJ Duncan]()
Something in the Water by MJ Duncan
Professor Kate Walker is a tenured, world-renowned engineer. She has a job she loves, a daughter she adores, and friends who've been with her through thick and thin. It's a fulfilling life that doesn’t really need anything—or anyone—else. Especially not a charming, downright amazing woman who happens to be twenty years her junior...Categorized as:
queer bisexual found-family single-mother heroine athlete teacher-heroine f-f length-long -
![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... -
![Whipped by J.J. Arias]()
Whipped by J.J. Arias
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 15 ratingsIf she can’t get through to her in the office, she’ll smash into her on skates. . . Newly minted lawyer Cheyenne Flores-Moore is excited to start her career at one of the most prestigious law firms in Miami. That is, until she meets her mentor Erica. It seems that no matter what she does, she can’t win her over - something the perennially sunny Cheyenne has not experienced before... -
![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... -
![Try Hard by Jacqueline Ramsden]()
Try Hard by Jacqueline Ramsden
A second shot to score your sapphic awakening. Twenty years ago, Eve Archer was the star of her secondary school—funny, popular, and incredible at rugby. She was Ophelia Pendrick’s bisexual awakening, but studious, standoffish Ophelia thought she never stood a chance with Eve... -
![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 -
![Moments in Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan]()
Moments in Ink by Carrie Ann Ryan
The Montgomery Ink saga continues with a bonus romance between two strangers on a path of healing that leads to something far more. Zia Clarkson thought she found her happily ever after, not once, but twice. Her first love is now engaged, and her second love broke more than her heart. Heart and soul bruised; she’s not looking for a relationship. Ever... -
![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... -
![Unadulterated Something by M.J. Duncan]()
Unadulterated Something by M.J. Duncan
Emma 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... -
![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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![A Game Of Two Hearts by Iona Kane]()
A Game Of Two Hearts by Iona Kane
Rated: 4.33 of 5 stars · 9 ratingsTess Kennedy isn’t where she thought she’d be at forty-six. She’s focusing on keeping things together as a single parent as she returns to a town that holds mixed memories. As she tries to build a new life for her family, she’s relieved that she’s finally in control of her own destiny. The last thing she’s looking for is a relationship. Rowan Russell is living her regular, predictable life... -
![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... -
![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... -
![Side by Side by Nicole Pyland]()
Side by Side by Nicole Pyland
Rated: 4.43 of 5 stars · 7 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... -
![Quiver by Rachel Spangler]()
Quiver by Rachel Spangler
Rated: 4.50 of 5 stars · 6 ratingsKye Manchester is no stranger to ambition. She sacrificed more than she cares to admit to become a highly acclaimed actress. Now more than a decade after her big break, her prospects are waning, and in a moment of desperation, she tells a lie that sends her spiraling back to where she started, and to the one woman she swore she’d never let herself need again... -
![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... -
![Second Chances by A.E. Radley]()
Second Chances by A.E. Radley
Rated: 4.22 of 5 stars · 13 ratingsProtective parent bonds with an attractive older teacher. Bad childhood memories start to resurface when Hannah Hall’s daughter Rosie begins school. To make matters more complicated, Hannah has been steadfastly ignoring the obvious truth that Rosie is intellectually gifted and wise beyond her years... -
![Over the Moon with You by Jaime Clevenger]()
Over the Moon with You by Jaime Clevenger
Paige Dannenberg has never taken a water aerobics class. As a busy farm vet, she's never even given a second thought to water aerobics. But when she gets roped into teaching her mom's class, it's time to learn a new skillset--and fast. Lately the unexpected is the new norm for Seren Winters...Categorized as:
queer sweet heroine independent heroine single-mother teacher-heroine f-f contemporary pregnancy -
![Crossroads by Radclyffe]()
Crossroads by Radclyffe
Dr. 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... -
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![Racing Hearts by Erica Lee]()
Racing Hearts by Erica Lee
Ellie Finch has a plan for her senior year of college. She's going to lead her track and field team to an indoor and outdoor conference championship and qualify for nationals with her 4x400 meter relay team. That way, she and her best friend, Juniper, can have a free trip to California...Categorized as:
sports queer bisexual secret-relationship found-family heroine athlete competent heroine f-f -
![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... -
![Popcorn Love by K.L. Hughes]()
Popcorn Love by K.L. Hughes
Rated: 4.07 of 5 stars · 27 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 -
![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... -
![Arbor Vitae by Susan X. Meagher]()
Arbor Vitae by Susan X. Meagher
Abby Graham is uncommonly lovely, happy and content with her life, but when she finds herself a widow just a week before her 40th birthday, the secure world that she thought was permanent is suddenly on very shaky ground. Struggling to work through her grief, she always puts her children’s needs first, leaving little time for herself... -
![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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