Jae

Sapphic Slow-burn romances

Second book in a sapphic series (Sapphic Book Bingo 2023 #19)

This week’s Sapphic Book Bingo category features sapphic books that are the second book in a sapphic series.

Book 2 can feature the same main characters as book 1, or it could be book 2 in a series in which every book has new main characters.

 

15 books that are book 2 in a sapphic series

Below, you’ll find 15 recommended sapphic books that are the second book of a series.

 

Damage Control by Jae

An actress practically since birth, Grace Durand has finally made it in Hollywood. When a photo of her in a seeming compromising situation with another woman is plastered all over the tabloids, she fears for her career as a lead in romantic movies.

Desperate for a publicist who’ll convince America that she’s straight, Grace hires Lauren Pearce, one of Hollywood’s leading PR agents, not knowing that she’s a lesbian.

Lauren has dealt with PR nightmares for years, so doing damage control for one more rich, spoiled client shouldn’t be a problem—or so she thinks. But the more time she spends with Grace, the more she realizes how different she is from her television persona.

Getting involved with her client is not in her game plan, especially since it would confirm the rumors and ruin Grace’s career, but the attraction between them is growing as they run the gauntlet of the paparazzi together.

Available at:

Amazon

Apple Books

Audible

Ylva Publishing

 

In a Heartbeat by RJ Nolan

Veteran police officer Sam McKenna has no trouble facing down criminals on a daily basis but breaks out in a sweat at the mere mention of commitment. A recent failed relationship strengthens her resolve to stick with her trademark no-strings-attached affairs.

Dr. Riley Connolly, a successful trauma surgeon, has spent her whole life trying to measure up to her family’s expectations. And that includes hiding her sexuality from them.

When a routine call sends Sam to the hospital where Riley works, the two women are hurtled into a life-and-death situation. The incident binds them together. But can there be any future for a commitment-phobic cop and a closeted, workaholic doctor?

Available at:

Ylva Publishing

Amazon

Apple Books

Audible

 

A Woman Ignored by TB Markinson

Historian Lizzie Petrie remains nothing more than a lesbian in her bitter mother’s eyes. The suppressed hurt of that superficial assessment means she still catches herself off guard when thinking of Sarah as her wife. The couple has endured the fallout of Lizzie’s insecurities and set-up house in Fort Collins, Colorado. Now their relationship is about to be tested again.

When her wife announces she wants to have a baby, Lizzie panics. A baby? The thought of sucking an egg from her ovary and implanting the resulting embryo into Sarah’s womb terrifies her. Lizzie constantly worries if she’ll make a good mother.

Just when she starts to make peace with the idea, Lizzie’s estranged family enters her life again. The news is anything but good, and she finds herself wondering how to make amends with her aloof mother, stranger of a father, and self-centered brother.

Deep down, Lizzie is more loving and caring than she ever gives herself credit. Sometimes it takes a tragedy to open a woman’s eyes to her full potential. But at what price?

Available at:

Amazon

Audible

 

A Game of Romance and Ruin by Ruby Roe    

In a game of power, can love be the deadliest weapon?

Stirling Grey, legendary negotiator, is on a mission: to mend her broken heart and avenge its ruin.

Morrigan Lee, hidden princess and heir to the throne, is harbouring a dark secret.

For years, Stirling and Morrigan navigated the perilous games of power and politics, shared clandestine moments, and ultimately… fell in love…

Until a deal with fate forced them apart.

When the Queen sets a formidable challenge, Stirling and Morrigan are thrust into a treacherous labyrinth of danger.

The task?

Protect the kingdom from a terrifying threat or lose the crown forever.

But this is not a simple mission.

With the clock ticking, they’re going to have to trust each other…

And that’s not easy when their past is filled with betrayal.

It’s even harder when their hearts are entangled amidst the chaos.

Now, neither woman is sure if it’s the throne they want to rescue or a love they want to rekindle.

Two hearts, one kingdom, and a romance that could lead to their ruin… or just maybe their redemption.

Available at:

Amazon

 

New Year Revelations by Zoey Lennox

Lana Williams is a player. Everyone says so, and Lana is fine with that. She’d rather everyone believe she’s lucky with the ladies than discover the truth: that she’s scared of letting anyone in and getting hurt again.

She’s looking forward to her annual Christmas bash to take her mind off her ex.

When business owner and florist Becca Lincoln accepts an invitation to a Christmas party, she’s looking for some good conversation and maybe a Christmas snog. What she doesn’t expect is to become quite so enamoured with the party’s co-host, Lana. The handsome butch might act cocky and self-assured but during some unguarded moments, Becca catches a glimpse of the real woman behind the mask. After Becca’s curiosity gets the best of her and she asks one too many personal questions, Lana clams up and takes off.

Neither woman believes they’ll see each other again, but after Christmas, fate steps in and they bump into each other at Lana’s work.

Slowly, they grow closer. Will Lana finally realise that her ex isn’t “the one” after all and love might be much closer than she thought?

Available at:

Amazon

 

Reality in Check by Emily Banting

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. Arte is determined to make a success of the business, despite her sister snapping at her heels to sell it and painful memories confronting her inside.

Charlotte Beaufort, heiress to a hotel empire, television celebrity, and self-confessed city woman, hits the countryside to film an episode of her reality television show, Hotel SOS, where she immediately clashes with the overwhelmed Arte and her inquisitive Labrador, Rodin.

Arte doesn’t take kindly to Charlotte’s attitude and frank opinions about her hotel, but when they are thrown together, she begins to realise not everything is as it seems with her attractive nemesis. As Arte begins to chip away at Charlotte’s icy exterior, both women begin to realise dreams and reality rarely entwine and that, sometimes, our dreams are not even our own.

Can the artsy dreamer and ambitious heiress face the reality of their situations and discover their true paths? And if so, can those paths lead them toward true love?

Available at:

Amazon

 

Sappho’s Overhead Projector by Bonnie J. Morris         

Feminist scholar Hannah Stern finds herself working at the Library of Congress, assigned to catalogue a donation of rare lesbian books. But it’s more than a one-year job in Washington: it’s a mission handed to her by Sappho, The Overhead Herself.

When a series of desperate, haunted phone calls from the ghosts of lesbian writers directs her to rescue even more at-risk books, Hannah begins a journey into the love affair between banned writers and newly-out readers.

Will hearing others’ fond memories of lesbian books from the 1920s and 1970s help Hannah save their legacy for future generations? Or will Isabel, Hannah’s partner and the mystical proprietor of Sappho’s Bar and Grill, have to summon her magic to save the entire bar membership?

Available at:

Bywater Books

Amazon

Apple Books

 

The Border Crosser by Cindy Rizzo

The story of three teens, members of the first generation to come of age after the United States splits into two countries, continues. The Border Crosser is the second book in the highly praised Split Series.

When tragedy strikes Judith Braverman in the God Fearing States, Dani Fine is determined to leave the safety of home in the United Progressive Regions and once again sneak across the border to join Judith and the new Minyan of Resistance. She’s also eager to find out if the attraction she and Judith shared during their first meeting is still between them.

Impatient for some visible act of defiance, Jeffrey Schwartz is worried that the Minyan is more focused on prayer than on actual resistance. But when the GFS president, running in a close re-election campaign against a self-proclaimed “Christian white supremacist,” vows to step up the government’s actions against the country’s Jews, the Minyan makes its move.

Nothing that’s come before can prepare Judith, Dani and Jeffrey for the challenges they now face as their futures appear more and more uncertain.

Available at:

Bella Books

Amazon

 

Sirens and Syphons by Nita Round       

Evie is free, no longer a slave. Living in a world that fears the gifted and supernatural she worries her freedom will be not last. Her saviour Hesta wishes to redeem herself of her past sins. Can Evie trust her motives?

During a demonstration of mesmerism, they witness a demon possession. The trouble is the demon notices them too.

When Evie and Hesta seek advice from a wise witch, a death is foretold. Together they must face the demon. Failure will mean loss of freewill that Evie holds so dear. Can they both survive the demon encounter, or will the foretold death prevail.

Available at:

Amazon

 

Red Wine and Mint Cake by Alysia D Evans      

It had only taken Lucy two weeks to fall in love with Jaz. She had shown Lucy what love truly was and saved her from an abusive husband. But living away from her home town is making Lucy feel insecure. She needs more of Jaz’s time and attention to help her find a way through her new life.

But Jaz is merrily enjoying her days, busy working, helping out her family and coming home to the love of her life. Jaz doesn’t realise that she and Lucy have problems, and through her actions is repeatedly letting Lucy down. Causing their relationship to fall from wonder to despair.

Will the two of them be able to reconcile and re-align their lives to take on the challenges the future may bring.

Available at:

Amazon

 

Pride and the Stranger  by TJ Dallas      

The Sins are back in this highly anticipated second installment of the Pride trilogy. Sexy meets romantic as Lara and Zoe take their relationship to the next level. Unfortunately, our sinful women aren’t so lucky. A weekend in Brighton turns dark after a horrific truth is uncovered that will change Harry’s life forever, forcing her to make a heartbreaking decision that could tear her and Althea apart. Faced with an impossible choice, nothing will ever be the same again.

Available at:

Amazon

Audible

 

Golden Sea by Emma Sterner-Radley   

Our four mapmaking magicians are back at the Hall of Explorers. As they continue their studies, their journey to find new lands is brought forward following a calamitous event. However, seafaring and exploring turns out to be even more dangerous and complicated than they expected.

Soon they have to battle not only the perilous waves, the king’s cruel plans, and sea monsters, but also their emotions. Eleksander pines for Hale, who in turn joins Sabina in having feelings for Avelynne. Meanwhile, Avelynne is realising her lack of romantic interest may run deeper than she thought. Meeting new people on their journey makes things even more complex.

Feelings will however have to take the backseat as they realise that the magical conspiracy they are part of is even bigger than they thought and that the ocean is full of surprises; some wonderful, but far too many of them dangerous beyond measure. And like the king of Cavarra, the sea doesn’t show mercy.

Available at:

Amazon

Audible

 

Moon Over Old Hollywood by Renn Loraine     

Nicole is shaken. Her ex-girlfriend has been found dead under mysterious circumstances. Now someone is trying to kill her – and she doesn’t know why.

The clues lead Nicole to the set of a television series about the glamorous, women-loving starlets of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Working under the hot lights, Nicole learns of their hidden lives – and finds herself falling for a captivating, auburn-haired actress.

As Nicole gets closer to unearthing the murderer’s motive, however – she will discover that some in Hollywood are still willing to kill to keep its secrets.

Available at:

Amazon

 

Figure Study by Suzanne Clay   

Ainsley and her former student Noma face the aftermath of their unexpected one-night stand in this second story of Chiaroscuro.

The night Ainsley spent gently dominating Noma was far more intimate than any scene she’d ever been in before. The intensity of playing with someone she’d taught and cared about was a completely different experience–and twice as intimidating. She’d had two options: turn Noma away and never see her again, or let her stay for a few hours more.

The years away from scenes have left Ainsley eager for play but unsteady in her role. And memories of a younger Noma, when their relationship was student and mentor, only add to the confusion. A return to familiar ropes and knots, an erotic bondage play, helps Ainsley regain a sense of control and face her vulnerabilities. She must learn to see Noma as an adult woman in every way, risking a dangerous power imbalance, even as her heart begins to yearn for intimacy she’s long hidden from.

As they delve into new scenes, Ainsley and Noma confront past pain and baggage. Only by facing their fear of opening up can they learn to trust each other and share something deeper.

Available at:

NineStar Press

Amazon

Apple Books

 

A Curious Visit by Jess Lea        

Partners in love, life, and earnest museum appreciation, Margaret Gale and Bess Campbell desperately need a break. Strict, meticulous ice queen Margaret has been fired for frightening her auction house customers, while free-spirited Bess hates her office job.

While holidaying in Tasmania, they receive a call for help that leads them to a creepy, old house in the wilderness. There, they meet a mysterious woman from Margaret’s past, who warns she’s being stalked and something terrible is coming.

What’s going on? What secrets lie within Crossroads House? And why on earth are there hidden cameras around the grounds, recording everything that happens?

Unexplained incidents turn sinister, endangering Bess and Margaret—and their trust in one another. But they don’t give up easily…

Available at:

Ylva Publishing

Amazon

Apple Books

 

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