Sometimes opposites really do attract. Fall in love with these butch/femme romance novellas. In An Epiphany in Flannel by Meghan O’Brien, small-town waitress Maisie Davis resolves the mystery of her sexuality after an unexpected encounter with a handsome stranger seated in the corner booth of Moe’s Fine Diner. Aiden Crane opens Maisie’s mind and body to exciting new possibilities—but can she find the courage to follow her heart? In Follow Her Lead by Aurora Rey, venture capitalist Jude Benoit is named Majesty of Artemis, New Orleans’s premier lesbian Mardi Gras parade and ball, and enlists the expertise of private dance instructor Gabriella Viard to save her from making a fool of herself. Jude can follow the steps, but what happens when Gabby challenges her to lead with her heart? In Just as You Are by Angie Williams, Dylan Fleming is a confident and capable woman in every way except the stereotypical ways her ex-girlfriend thought she should be. When her insecurities get the better of her and she fumbles on a date with beautiful auto mechanic Carrie Grice, Dylan has to let go of the past. Can she accept that she is loved just as she is?

Sophia McGovern can’t seem to settle down. Memories of all her bad decisions refuse to leave her alone. So, she moves from town to town, from one dead-end job to another, keeping to herself, which serves her well—until she arrives in Ft. Devlin, Colorado. From the first day, Ft. Devlin was different. Maybe that’s why she says yes to teaching a car maintenance class at the local high school. High school literacy teacher Pru Glynn is happy with her life just as it is. She has a great job, close friends, and a loving family. She’d like to find a wonderful woman to share it with, but she isn’t about to settle for just anyone. When beautiful Sophia McGovern swings into town, Pru can’t deny an attraction, but Sophia’s itinerant lifestyle doesn’t fit in with her deep-set roots and strong ties to family and friends. Sophia and Pru have no intention of falling in love, but sometimes love happens when and where you least expect it.

Marion Hargreaves is a Hollywood legend and the finest actress of her generation. She’s navigated her career with aplomb for nearly thirty years by being intensely private about her personal life and her sexuality. But a year on from her third Oscar, nothing seems interesting anymore until she becomes a voice actor for Petunia’s Potion, an animated movie based on her favorite children’s book. That role becomes the challenge of a lifetime when she discovers her costar is the out and proud global pop icon Jessica Carmichael—the woman Marion fell in love with and whose heart she abruptly broke without explanation. The last thing Marion wants is to work in such close proximity to Jessica. She can’t forgive herself for the way she left twenty ago but can’t resist the attraction that has only gotten stronger with time. Being true to herself and her passions isn’t going to be easy and may set the stage for love in the limelight.

Attorney Wren Bishop knew it would be an adjustment to go from her cushy, lucrative career in big law to the public defender’s office, but she’s completely unprepared for the suspicion from her colleagues and the animus from her adversaries at what was billed as a close-knit courthouse. To top it off, her first case pits her against Lennox Roy, a gorgeous yet fierce prosecutor with a reputation for cajoling juries and breaking hearts. Lennox comes from a family full of bleeding hearts who believe in second, third, and fourth chances, but she’s seen firsthand the damage leniency can do. She has no patience for a softy like Wren Bishop, no matter how sexy and brilliant she might be. But when they face off over a mysterious arson case, their attraction ignites a passion that leads them to question their assumptions about the law, the truth, and each other.

What do you do when the whole world breaks? Like when you make it through a plague with the woman you’ve loved for way more than half your septuagenarian life—only to watch her die, leaving you alone. And then, just weeks later, the world around you descends into relentless dark and cold. Besieged, desolate Hester is too numb to know what to do. And even though she’s lucky to have the means to endure for quite a while, she’s tempted—really tempted—to just give it up. What, after all, is she enduring for? But giving up will have to wait when she stumbles upon people who introduce her to the first rule of survival: Don’t try to go it alone if you don’t have to.

Dr. Grace Kendal never stands a chance. The injured woman comes out of nowhere, bleeding heavily and holding a gun. Compelled to help her, Grace is dragged into Elin Breckenridge’s nightmare. Their fight to survive will take them across the country and to the limits of their endurance. But who is Elin running from? As Grace struggles for answers, one thing becomes clear—Elin is somehow connected to a dead man, and Grace could be next. For Detective Sergeant Safia Faris, the case should have been easy: one dead body, one suspect. But the deeper she digs, the more obvious it becomes that murder was only the beginning. The investigation sets her on a collision course with Grace and Elin, and she’s forced to reevaluate everything she knows. Because nothing is quite as it seems, and Grace’s and Elin’s lives aren’t the only ones on the line.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer Suzanne (Mitch) Mitchell has been disappointed in love. She’s done playing around and is ready to get serious. The only thing veterinary surgeon Kay Gallant takes seriously is her professional reputation and the animals she saves. Women are for fun, not forever. Dangerous drugs are stolen from the veterinary clinic, and the further Mitch investigates, the more of a suspect Kay becomes. Add to that their opposing relationship goals and the fact that Kay is only staying in Thresherton a year before she starts a job in America, and falling in love definitely seems impossible. But as pride and profession clash, their hearts just might prove otherwise.

Aspen Wellington is whirling through life with the help of alcohol and one-night stands until she meets Remington Stone, a girl from the other side of the tracks. Somehow, Remington sees behind all Aspen's defenses, leading her on an unexpected journey of self-discovery. Remington is a badass, with a father in prison and a mother working two jobs. Aspen, a spoiled, popular cheerleader, isn’t her type at all. Remington doesn’t want to like her, but she can’t seem to stop. Denna Ashford and Raleigh Hunter are Aspen’s best friends. Denna is quick-witted but has temper issues. Raleigh is a genius with a difficult past who excels in everything. They’re in love, but that doesn’t mean their relationship is always perfect. On the cusp between high school and adulthood, all four face challenges in life and romance that they never expect. Each is dangerous without the love and loyalty that holds them together, but their love for each other just might be the thing to save them all.

Taylor Braxton needs to get married, then divorced, with no strings attached. Taylor, a physical trainer, has just inherited her grandfather’s B&B on Maui, but there’s a catch. She can’t have the deed until the day after her one-year wedding anniversary. She’d rather stick a fork in her eye than get hitched, but the B&B is a dream come true. So all she has to do is find a woman who will agree to fake a marriage. How hard can it be? Jayden Wheaton could use a year in paradise to help her recovery. After a crippling accident, she hires Taylor in the hope of gaining back some mobility. When Taylor casually mentions her dilemma, Jayden jumps at the chance, hoping the warm island temperatures will help with her chronic pain. A marriage masquerade in exchange for a year in Paradise? Yes, please. After all, it’s not like either of them are looking for romance, so there’s zero chance of their feelings complicating the arrangement. Right?

In Our Words: Queer Stories from Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Writers is a thoughtfully curated collection of short stories at the intersection of racial and queer identity. Comprising both the renowned and emerging voices of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color authors, across multiple countries, and diverse in style, perspective, and theme, In Our Words reflects the complexity and diversity of human experience.