Love on the Sidelines by Britney M. Mills: Book Review

 **Book received for consideration. All opinions are my own.

The Book

Sometime love hits you at the strangest times, like on the lacrosse field.

I spend my days coaching a spirited bunch of teenage girls in lacrosse. It's challenging, but seeing their passion for the game makes it all worth it. Recently, a new girl joined our team, and to my surprise, she turned out to be Charlie's niece. Charlie, my brother's childhood best friend, loves to donate to our team, which drives me crazy, but it helps our girls have a better chance at a future in this sport.

Money has always been a tricky subject for me. My parents left me at my grandma’s house when they came into money, choosing to travel the world without me. My ex-boyfriend, controlled by his family’s wealth, walked out on our relationship when I wouldn’t abide by the rules.

So, when I see Charlie, I can’t help but draw parallels. His generosity feels like a shadow of my past, and it’s hard to separate the two.

But as we travel to lacrosse games and tournaments, I see a different side of Charlie. He’s not just his money.

He’s there for his niece, cheering louder than anyone, always ready with a supportive word. Slowly, my initial reservations fade. The more time we spend together, the more I realize how much I genuinely like him.

Maybe, just maybe, love can begin on the sidelines.

Love on the Sidelines is part of the Sunkissed Summer Novellas, a multi-author series about six former college roommates. They've gone their separate ways but love is going to find them all in the exact same summer!

• Love is a Roller Coaster by Marie Soleil
• A Coastal Crush by Katie Nelson
• Love on the Sidelines by Britney Mills
• Her Runaway Vacay by Jen Atkinson
• Camp Help Falling by Ashley Funk
• Off Trail Love by Taylor Epperson
  

The Author

By day, Britney M. Mills is the wife to a builder and mom to five, but by night, she turns into an author, writing YA & contemporary romance stories.

A book lover, former college athlete, and Jane Austen fan, she crafts stories with the idea that anyone can find love. When she's not writing, she spends time playing games with her kids, or shuttling them to and from their activities, watching Sanditon and Murdock Mysteries, or dreaming of future characters while she folds a mountain of laundry.

You can find excerpts of her next project at http://www.britneymmills.com.

Book Review

Love on the Sidelines is the third book of the Sunkissed Summer Novella series. This is a multi-author series with interconnected characters but can absolutely be enjoyed as a standalone as well. 

This was such a cute read! Right from the start, I found myself smiling at Ava and Charlie's rather unfortunate reintroduction. Who knew pickleball could be so dangerous? Those smiles did not stop throughout the story. The chemistry is definitely there from the start, but Ava has been hurt by people with money before, so she's apprehensive about Charlie and the newfound wealth that he seems to be showering on his niece's lacrosse team--the team she coaches. I loved seeing them spend time together and for her to see that perhaps she has misjudged him before. It was a bit of a slow burn... but also a super quick story (easily read in a sitting or two) so it didn't feel TOO slow. Despite it's shorter length, it didn't feel like anything was rushed or missing--- just the perfect quick summer read. 

While this is overall a very lighthearted read, it does take on a few tougher topics like grief and abandonment too. 

Love on the Sidelines is a closed-door romance with kisses only and no language. 

You can purchase your copy here: https://amzn.to/4bQ9uqj