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Sunkissed Summer
Love on the Sidelines
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.
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, there can be love on the sidelines.
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.
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, there can be love on the sidelines.
152 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 20, 2024
57 people are currently reading
196 people want to read
About the author
Britney M. Mills
51 books382 followersBritney Mills was born in Utah but parts of her heart lie in Boston, Washington D.C. and Germany. Her love of writing began with the third grade book her teacher assigned her to write and she spent hours hidden behind her mother’s couch writing pages and pages about knights and castles.
Most of her time consists of taking care of her young son and triplets but writing keeps her sane as she travels along on the adventures of characters to come.
When she’s not mothering, writing or reading, she’s probably out playing a sport, going on a hike, or binge watching some kind of murder mystery show. She is a fan of chick flicks and adventure/action stories in books and movies, and can even get her cowboy husband to watch along with her.
Most of her time consists of taking care of her young son and triplets but writing keeps her sane as she travels along on the adventures of characters to come.
When she’s not mothering, writing or reading, she’s probably out playing a sport, going on a hike, or binge watching some kind of murder mystery show. She is a fan of chick flicks and adventure/action stories in books and movies, and can even get her cowboy husband to watch along with her.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
June 30, 2024
Britney M Mills knocks it out of the park again! Despite their disparate backgrounds and outlooks on life, both Charlie and Ava care deeply about family, sports, and each other. I liked Ava’s competitiveness and dedication to her Gran and how she worked through her fears to be with Charlie. I appreciated Charlie’s willingness to overlook their rocky rendezvous at the pickleball court lol and how he was so sweet to Ava by bringing her food. This was a fast-paced and sweet enemies to lovers, niece’s lacrosse coach romance. Thank you to the author for my ARC; all opinions are mine.
June 20, 2024
I loved this one so much! This was the first book I’ve read in the series☀️(don’t worry, the first two should be delivered today), and I loved the friend’s group text thread. Give me all the crossovers! I loved Charlie & Ava together💕. He was sweet and took such good care of the ones he loved. I appreciated how he was subtle about his wealth and quietly helped out. I loved Ava and her girls lacrosse team-that was super fun! Great, cute, quick read!
September 24, 2025
Love it 😍😍
I loved this story so much. Ava was a character with so much personality and her healing journey was beautiful. I loved how the couple had to work, communicate, apologize, and forgive in order to get their happily ever after. It was a beautiful example of real life relationships and I adored it.
Play sports 😍😍
I loved this story so much. Ava was a character with so much personality and her healing journey was beautiful. I loved how the couple had to work, communicate, apologize, and forgive in order to get their happily ever after. It was a beautiful example of real life relationships and I adored it.
Play sports 😍😍
July 9, 2024
umm.. casually quoting George Strait "So, I'm not sure I heard your answer on the girlfriend situation. Do I need to write it on a piece of paper so you can check yes or no?"
I liked the plot But I just didn't get the character chemistry between Charlie and Ava unfortunately.
I liked the plot But I just didn't get the character chemistry between Charlie and Ava unfortunately.
June 20, 2024
Love On the Sideline by Britney M. Mills is such a perfect summer read. It is part of the Sunkisses Summer Novella series that is a multi author collaboration about 6 former roommates who find love in the same summer but can totally be read as a standalone. I have currently read this one and the first one released from Marie Solei, and I can not wait to read the rest. This book follows Ava and Charlie. Ava was a professional lacrosse player before, and injury took her out. She now coaches a young girls lacrosse team in her hometown while also taking care of her Gran. Charlie is Ava's older brother, Bobby's childhood friend, and has moved his mom and niece, Emil, to town so he can help raise Emily after the unfortunate death of his sister. This book has so much and is definitely not skimping for being a novella. It was a short, quick read but was not lacking at all. I could not put it down. I can not wait to read the other an, of course, more from Britney.
🥍 Sports Romance
💜 Age Gap
🥍 Slow Burn
💜 Brothers Childhood Friend
🥍 Closed Door romcom
💜 Pickleball Meet-Cute
Chances of me coming back to play pickleball soon are slim. Instead of meeting someone dateable at the courts, I found Charlie, of all people. That about sums up my life right now.
Was there a moment of attraction there as I saw her walk onto the court? For sure, until I realized she’s Ava, the girl who terrorized us every time I came over to hang out. She also sent me to the hospital, so that should be a sign of how things would go for us.
What are the chances that his niece plays lacrosse? So much for thinking I’ll be able to avoid him for the next few months. Seeing his stitches was bad enough, but now I’m going to have to see his face throughout the summer.
I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
🥍 Sports Romance
💜 Age Gap
🥍 Slow Burn
💜 Brothers Childhood Friend
🥍 Closed Door romcom
💜 Pickleball Meet-Cute
Chances of me coming back to play pickleball soon are slim. Instead of meeting someone dateable at the courts, I found Charlie, of all people. That about sums up my life right now.
Was there a moment of attraction there as I saw her walk onto the court? For sure, until I realized she’s Ava, the girl who terrorized us every time I came over to hang out. She also sent me to the hospital, so that should be a sign of how things would go for us.
What are the chances that his niece plays lacrosse? So much for thinking I’ll be able to avoid him for the next few months. Seeing his stitches was bad enough, but now I’m going to have to see his face throughout the summer.
I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving my honest review voluntarily.
June 5, 2024
Perfect for a quick summer read! I love a good sports romcom!
I received an ARC from the author and all opinions are my own.
I received an ARC from the author and all opinions are my own.
August 30, 2024
Not worth reading
My least favorite of the novellas in this series. I didn't really feel anything building between the characters, the drama that formed between them seemed unnecessary and contrived, and there were way too many subplots going on. None of which were really developed and most of which seemed unnecessary also.
I also thought the writing was very disjointed. There were many times where I had to reread ( and reread and reread...) a sentence or paragraph in order to understand what was being said or conveyed. A paragraph might start with a character in a bedroom and end with them in a car, without mentioning how or when they got there. Or things wouldn't match up, like when Ava missed her flight, and she said she hadn't flown in about 8 months, when, as far as I could tell, she had flown just the week before. The continuity was often missing, and I found myself thinking the author could use a different editor, or even just some beta traders who could tell her to rewrite things so they made sense. I almost didn't finish it, but I'm no quitter. But I wouldn't recommend it.
My least favorite of the novellas in this series. I didn't really feel anything building between the characters, the drama that formed between them seemed unnecessary and contrived, and there were way too many subplots going on. None of which were really developed and most of which seemed unnecessary also.
I also thought the writing was very disjointed. There were many times where I had to reread ( and reread and reread...) a sentence or paragraph in order to understand what was being said or conveyed. A paragraph might start with a character in a bedroom and end with them in a car, without mentioning how or when they got there. Or things wouldn't match up, like when Ava missed her flight, and she said she hadn't flown in about 8 months, when, as far as I could tell, she had flown just the week before. The continuity was often missing, and I found myself thinking the author could use a different editor, or even just some beta traders who could tell her to rewrite things so they made sense. I almost didn't finish it, but I'm no quitter. But I wouldn't recommend it.
August 3, 2024
1/5 🌟
i dnfed this book bc i couldn’t get into it but i genuinely think i will be re reading this. i just thought the girl was being rude to charlie when he’s doing nothing wrong
🦋
i dnfed this book bc i couldn’t get into it but i genuinely think i will be re reading this. i just thought the girl was being rude to charlie when he’s doing nothing wrong
🦋
June 19, 2024
Sometimes life throws curve balls that change your life forever. No one knows this better than Ava. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, Ava has chosen to make the best of her life and be a better person than her parents. Ava was a collegiate and professional lacrosse player until an injury sidelined her. She now coaches young girls in her hometown, and takes care of her Gran as well.
Charlie has moved his mother and his niece to town to live with him. He knows his mother needs help with his niece, Emily, since she has been taking care of her since his sister's death. One thing that Emily loves more than anything is playing lacrosse. Charlie is determined to find a team for her to play with. He is shocked to learn that Ava is the coach. Let's just suffice it to say that Ava and Charlie's first meeting did not go well. Miss Competitive Ava does not like to lose, even on a pickleball court.
When Charlie offers to finance everything for the lacrosse team, Ava's hackles go up. As you read the book, you will find out why she is skeptical of someone with money.
This was a wonderful slow burn romance as both characters have some major baggage that needs to be dropped off. I loved that Ava was so dedicated and passionate about everything she did. Everything she participated in was handled with finesse, and she was 100% invested in it. She was blunt and had no problem telling you how she felt. She had definitely been dealt a raw hand. Her somewhat jaded view of life had made her want to stay safe with a predictable life and not take any chances. I also admired Charlie as he starts learning the value of family and time spent away from work. He had a true giving spirit without expecting anything in return. He just needed someone to fully appreciate him for who he was, not what he could give them.
There was a wonderful balance of comedy, a little drama and a budding romance. I was sorry to see it end so soon.
Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Charlie has moved his mother and his niece to town to live with him. He knows his mother needs help with his niece, Emily, since she has been taking care of her since his sister's death. One thing that Emily loves more than anything is playing lacrosse. Charlie is determined to find a team for her to play with. He is shocked to learn that Ava is the coach. Let's just suffice it to say that Ava and Charlie's first meeting did not go well. Miss Competitive Ava does not like to lose, even on a pickleball court.
When Charlie offers to finance everything for the lacrosse team, Ava's hackles go up. As you read the book, you will find out why she is skeptical of someone with money.
This was a wonderful slow burn romance as both characters have some major baggage that needs to be dropped off. I loved that Ava was so dedicated and passionate about everything she did. Everything she participated in was handled with finesse, and she was 100% invested in it. She was blunt and had no problem telling you how she felt. She had definitely been dealt a raw hand. Her somewhat jaded view of life had made her want to stay safe with a predictable life and not take any chances. I also admired Charlie as he starts learning the value of family and time spent away from work. He had a true giving spirit without expecting anything in return. He just needed someone to fully appreciate him for who he was, not what he could give them.
There was a wonderful balance of comedy, a little drama and a budding romance. I was sorry to see it end so soon.
Thank you to the author for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 19, 2024
Reader’s Notes:
– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
– this is told from Ava & Charlie’s points of view
– there is an age gap of about 6 years between them
– there are mentions of various close familial deaths over the past years (drunk driver, heart attack, cancer); cancer is mentioned more than the others as it was most recent & affected how the family is now doing things (they suddenly became guardian(s) to a teenager)
– it is mentioned that a character’s parents came into money & abandoned them with a grandparent growing up; the character also had an ex who was controlled by money
Review:
I love Britney’s stories so much and I loved this new addition to her selection of titles! I love books where the main characters have some sort of history together (even if it’s just that they knew of each other). I loved that circumstances brought Ava & Charlie together and that they bonded over time due to Charlie’s niece being on Ava’s lacrosse team. I loved getting the story from both of their sides, but still getting to be a little surprised about some of their quirks/hidden qualities. And I loved that Ava got a chance to reconcile her preconceptions of people with a money through Charlie!
Summary:
Ava loves seeing her team of girls grow in their skills through lacrosse games and practices. When a new girl joins, Ava is hesitant to lose the comradery the team currently has with a new person in the mix, but finds that she only strengthens them as a whole. If only her uncle wasn’t Charlie. Charlie loves giving the team donations, but Ava doesn’t like receiving so much when in her past there’s always been a price to the money given. But Ava & her team of parent helpers aren’t in a place where they can refuse the generous help Charlie is offering…
Charlie didn’t expect to be the point person for his niece’s games and practices when they took her on after his sister’s passing, but when his mother ends up injuring herself that’s exactly what he has to do. With all the travelling and time he’s spending with his niece and with the team’s coach, Ava, Charlie finds that he isn’t able to be as present at work as he used to be. And as he gets to know Ava better, Charlie doesn’t find himself regretting the diversion from work…
– this is part of a series, but can be read as a stand-alone
– this is told from Ava & Charlie’s points of view
– there is an age gap of about 6 years between them
– there are mentions of various close familial deaths over the past years (drunk driver, heart attack, cancer); cancer is mentioned more than the others as it was most recent & affected how the family is now doing things (they suddenly became guardian(s) to a teenager)
– it is mentioned that a character’s parents came into money & abandoned them with a grandparent growing up; the character also had an ex who was controlled by money
Review:
I love Britney’s stories so much and I loved this new addition to her selection of titles! I love books where the main characters have some sort of history together (even if it’s just that they knew of each other). I loved that circumstances brought Ava & Charlie together and that they bonded over time due to Charlie’s niece being on Ava’s lacrosse team. I loved getting the story from both of their sides, but still getting to be a little surprised about some of their quirks/hidden qualities. And I loved that Ava got a chance to reconcile her preconceptions of people with a money through Charlie!
Summary:
Ava loves seeing her team of girls grow in their skills through lacrosse games and practices. When a new girl joins, Ava is hesitant to lose the comradery the team currently has with a new person in the mix, but finds that she only strengthens them as a whole. If only her uncle wasn’t Charlie. Charlie loves giving the team donations, but Ava doesn’t like receiving so much when in her past there’s always been a price to the money given. But Ava & her team of parent helpers aren’t in a place where they can refuse the generous help Charlie is offering…
Charlie didn’t expect to be the point person for his niece’s games and practices when they took her on after his sister’s passing, but when his mother ends up injuring herself that’s exactly what he has to do. With all the travelling and time he’s spending with his niece and with the team’s coach, Ava, Charlie finds that he isn’t able to be as present at work as he used to be. And as he gets to know Ava better, Charlie doesn’t find himself regretting the diversion from work…
June 18, 2024
The age-old question “for love or money,” somewhat comes into play in this novella, but first there was pickleball! This is the third installment of six for the ‘Sunkissed Summer Novellas,’ all based around former college roommates!
Ava is a physically and emotionally tough young woman! A former collegiate lacrosse athlete, who is back in her hometown of Oakhaven, that divides her time between her Gran, working for the local park and rec department and coaching the travel teen girl lacrosse team! Busy girl! Trying to keep herself, Gran and the team financially afloat isn’t so easy, so when a financially stable guardian of the newest team member offers to help, she is a bit leery of him! Him being Charlie!
Charlie is an early 30 something, who has recently moved his mom and niece to the area after life has kicked them around in the last few years! He is also childhood besties with Ava’s older brother Bobby! When he encounters Ava on the pickleball court, he doesn’t know what to think as he hasn’t seen her in quite some time! He’s determined to give his niece as much ‘normalcy’ as he can considering how much upheaval she has recently undergone! By using some of his well-earned financial resources, he helps to lessen the hardship of running a team!
This story has a lot of depth for how short it is! There is more than meets the eye for both Ava and Charlie…I’m here for it! I hope you’re able to enjoy this novella that incorporates subtle references to other books in the series and that you can fall in love this summer!
Ava is a physically and emotionally tough young woman! A former collegiate lacrosse athlete, who is back in her hometown of Oakhaven, that divides her time between her Gran, working for the local park and rec department and coaching the travel teen girl lacrosse team! Busy girl! Trying to keep herself, Gran and the team financially afloat isn’t so easy, so when a financially stable guardian of the newest team member offers to help, she is a bit leery of him! Him being Charlie!
Charlie is an early 30 something, who has recently moved his mom and niece to the area after life has kicked them around in the last few years! He is also childhood besties with Ava’s older brother Bobby! When he encounters Ava on the pickleball court, he doesn’t know what to think as he hasn’t seen her in quite some time! He’s determined to give his niece as much ‘normalcy’ as he can considering how much upheaval she has recently undergone! By using some of his well-earned financial resources, he helps to lessen the hardship of running a team!
This story has a lot of depth for how short it is! There is more than meets the eye for both Ava and Charlie…I’m here for it! I hope you’re able to enjoy this novella that incorporates subtle references to other books in the series and that you can fall in love this summer!
July 20, 2024
“‘Love isn’t all roses and bacon.’” You had me at bacon. This is such a cute and fun novella! I loved it. Ava, having returned to the small town where her grandmother raised her, ended up the lacrosse coach of the niece of her older brother’s best friend, Charlie. As they spent time together, feelings emerged but wealthy workaholic Charlie needed to find balance in his life. “‘But what if change is beautiful and good? What if it can make you the happiest you’ve ever been.’” He also needed to find ways to break down Ava’s walls, constructed by hurt, distrust, and past abandonment. “It’s like I’m dragging down the wall between us, one brick at a time.” The characters were great and I really enjoyed the development of the romance. I liked how Ava didn’t have an adolescent crush on Charlie. “If he hadn’t been such a jerk all those years ago, I might’ve looked at him differently.” Not that there’s anything wrong with romance stories where there was an adolescent crush, but it feels like that’s almost always the case in brother’s best friend romance. Nice to have it a little different. While this book is part of a series of stories about a friend group of former roommates, each story reads as a standalone. This story includes elements that involve death, grief, cancer, injury, parental abandonment, and life upheaval as an adolescent. This is a sweet closed door romance with no significant innuendo and no harsh language.
June 17, 2024
I love the sports genre. Any type of athlete, I am here for it. I am currently in my "coaching younger players era" and so this book is SPOT ON for me.
Ava - I love her so much. She is competitive (um, hello pickleball ) yet tender hearted as she tries to give younger girls a better opportunity to learn lacrosse than she was able too. Charlie is a dreamboat "parent" helper. He cares deeply and is generous behind the scenes not only for the team, but for their coach Ava. As he sees her in a new light (other than his friend's kid sister) he breaks down her defenses and together they achieve their goals.
"Why would Charlie do that? And how did he know what I'd like? My stomach should not be flip-flopping right now. Sure, this is the first time a guy has ever brought me food before, but there's no way he could know what I like, right? Then again, my palate hasn't changed much over the years. It's possible he remembers from way back then, but that's hard to believe.
'Oh, there's this note too.'
Thought you could use a pick me up. Hopefully this gets you through the day.
And I think I've just melted a little inside..."
From the very fist paragraph (eight days 😂 ) until the end, I loved every part of this book.
Sweet and swoony kisses only. I highly recommend this book!
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
Ava - I love her so much. She is competitive (um, hello pickleball ) yet tender hearted as she tries to give younger girls a better opportunity to learn lacrosse than she was able too. Charlie is a dreamboat "parent" helper. He cares deeply and is generous behind the scenes not only for the team, but for their coach Ava. As he sees her in a new light (other than his friend's kid sister) he breaks down her defenses and together they achieve their goals.
"Why would Charlie do that? And how did he know what I'd like? My stomach should not be flip-flopping right now. Sure, this is the first time a guy has ever brought me food before, but there's no way he could know what I like, right? Then again, my palate hasn't changed much over the years. It's possible he remembers from way back then, but that's hard to believe.
'Oh, there's this note too.'
Thought you could use a pick me up. Hopefully this gets you through the day.
And I think I've just melted a little inside..."
From the very fist paragraph (eight days 😂 ) until the end, I loved every part of this book.
Sweet and swoony kisses only. I highly recommend this book!
Thank you to the author for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.
June 4, 2024
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.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
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.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
June 25, 2024
I haven't read a book that had lacrosse as the featured sport before. I loved that about this one!
I really loved the "meet ugly" that happened between Ava and Charlie during their pickleball game. It made me laugh really hard. But these two had actually known each other as teenagers, so that wasn't their first meeting.
Ava is a girls lacrosse coach. I loved how good she was with the girls and all of the work she did for them to be able to attend tournaments all over. I think she was really proud of what she had accomplished. And that made it extra hard to accept help from anyone. But especially from Charlie.
Charlie's niece had just lost her mom. And then she had to move to live with Charlie and his mom. The only way they could get her to move happily was to find a top notch lacrosse team for her. And that's where Ava comes in.
I loved watching Charlie and Ava. Ava really wanted nothing to do with Charlie or his help. But she also really needed it. It was fun to watch her change her mind about him little by little. But...he had some secrets that were going to mess things up.
I love the group of Ava's friends that you get to see little glimpses of in this book. I can't wait to learn more about them!
I really loved the "meet ugly" that happened between Ava and Charlie during their pickleball game. It made me laugh really hard. But these two had actually known each other as teenagers, so that wasn't their first meeting.
Ava is a girls lacrosse coach. I loved how good she was with the girls and all of the work she did for them to be able to attend tournaments all over. I think she was really proud of what she had accomplished. And that made it extra hard to accept help from anyone. But especially from Charlie.
Charlie's niece had just lost her mom. And then she had to move to live with Charlie and his mom. The only way they could get her to move happily was to find a top notch lacrosse team for her. And that's where Ava comes in.
I loved watching Charlie and Ava. Ava really wanted nothing to do with Charlie or his help. But she also really needed it. It was fun to watch her change her mind about him little by little. But...he had some secrets that were going to mess things up.
I love the group of Ava's friends that you get to see little glimpses of in this book. I can't wait to learn more about them!
June 21, 2024
This was a sweet and cute read! Love on the Sidelines is written by Britney M Mills and it is the third book in the Sunkissed Summer Novellas. I always enjoy Mills books and I was excited to read this one.
Charlie and Ava were fun to read about. They had known each other before so they had a connection but it had been a while since they really spent time together. I liked how they both grew throughout the book. Charlie had to learn to let go of work and Ava had to see that people aren’t always what she expects.
The romance felt a bit fast but it fit because it was a novella. I liked reading about Ava’s experience with lacrosse and her interactions with Charlie’s niece. Charlie’s niece was a sweet girl and really added to the book.
Love on the Sidelines is a clean romantic comedy. I would recommend it to those who enjoy Mill’s other books or just want a clean low stress read.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
Charlie and Ava were fun to read about. They had known each other before so they had a connection but it had been a while since they really spent time together. I liked how they both grew throughout the book. Charlie had to learn to let go of work and Ava had to see that people aren’t always what she expects.
The romance felt a bit fast but it fit because it was a novella. I liked reading about Ava’s experience with lacrosse and her interactions with Charlie’s niece. Charlie’s niece was a sweet girl and really added to the book.
Love on the Sidelines is a clean romantic comedy. I would recommend it to those who enjoy Mill’s other books or just want a clean low stress read.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, I was not required to write a positive review.
June 20, 2024
Summary:
Ava was good at lacrosse and even played professionally. The third time she tore her ACL she decided it wasn’t worth it. Now she coaches a youth lacrosse team. She decides to give pickleball a try in order to meet guys. The first time she tries pickleball she ends up hitting none other than Charlie in the head. He recently moved back with his mom and niece after his sister’s death. His niece plays lacrosse and he gets her on a team. Ava is the coach of the team and they start spending a lot of time together.
My thoughts:
This is my third book by @britneymmillsauthor and I enjoyed reading it.
I really like the way Ava’s character was written. Her abandonment issues were handled so well. I also liked how Gran and Marsha helped her overcome being scared.
Charlie is a typical workaholic in the beginning. He just needed something to come along that was more important. He found that in Ava and his niece.
Love on the Sideline is part of a multi author series.
Thank you @britneymmillsauthor for the ARC
Ava was good at lacrosse and even played professionally. The third time she tore her ACL she decided it wasn’t worth it. Now she coaches a youth lacrosse team. She decides to give pickleball a try in order to meet guys. The first time she tries pickleball she ends up hitting none other than Charlie in the head. He recently moved back with his mom and niece after his sister’s death. His niece plays lacrosse and he gets her on a team. Ava is the coach of the team and they start spending a lot of time together.
My thoughts:
This is my third book by @britneymmillsauthor and I enjoyed reading it.
I really like the way Ava’s character was written. Her abandonment issues were handled so well. I also liked how Gran and Marsha helped her overcome being scared.
Charlie is a typical workaholic in the beginning. He just needed something to come along that was more important. He found that in Ava and his niece.
Love on the Sideline is part of a multi author series.
Thank you @britneymmillsauthor for the ARC
September 5, 2024
Sweet, contemporary romance.
Romance, sweet, contemporary; series but stand alone read
Ava and Charlie’s story started out as an old enemies (big brother’s friend/annoying little sister) romance. Wary, but they’ve both changed. Ava plans on keeping her distance as his niece’s coach, but somehow with Charlie at all the games and tournaments, seeing each other at the hospital where his mom and her grandma is, traveling, shopping for the team, the small moments add up.
His life and a few secrets he has, her past and the hurts all add up to some distance but with the help of his niece, her friends and assistant coach they figure out that they really do care for each other more than a simple attraction.
Cute, sweet romance with lots of concerns, working through the past and present, small moments of hat add up to a lovely start to a HEA. Loved the setting with the tournaments and games, Charlie’s work, and the people who cared about them both.
Romance, sweet, contemporary; series but stand alone read
Ava and Charlie’s story started out as an old enemies (big brother’s friend/annoying little sister) romance. Wary, but they’ve both changed. Ava plans on keeping her distance as his niece’s coach, but somehow with Charlie at all the games and tournaments, seeing each other at the hospital where his mom and her grandma is, traveling, shopping for the team, the small moments add up.
His life and a few secrets he has, her past and the hurts all add up to some distance but with the help of his niece, her friends and assistant coach they figure out that they really do care for each other more than a simple attraction.
Cute, sweet romance with lots of concerns, working through the past and present, small moments of hat add up to a lovely start to a HEA. Loved the setting with the tournaments and games, Charlie’s work, and the people who cared about them both.
June 26, 2024
Wow, this was so cute! "Love on the Sidelines" is the third book in the Sunkissed Summer novellas series, and it hit all the right notes for me. This brother's former best friend story gave off major golden retriever vibes, which I absolutely loved! Ava, a former lacrosse player sidelined by an injury, now coaches a local girls' lacrosse team. Charlie, an investor, re-enters her life in a rather dramatic way—needing stitches after their first meeting at a pickleball court! Ava is hesitant to warm up to Charlie after being burned by a past relationship and dealing with her parents' issues, especially since money is a tricky subject for her. Brittney did a fantastic job with this book. The grand gesture, the loyalty, and the dedication displayed by the characters all made for a thoroughly enjoyable read!
Thank you so much Britney for the ARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you so much Britney for the ARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 17, 2024
This was such a fun Novella! It is part of a 6 multi Author Novella summer series, but can be read as a standalone.
The meet cute on the pickleball court had me laughing out loud!
I loved reading about the traveling sports team, struggles with money on both sides, and the couple starting to work through their differences and triggers. Also the college roommate chat and Marsha were great additions to the book!
With all novellas, there's so much more to the story that we don't see due to length, but Britney did a great job and I felt that I could connect with the characters!
I can't wait to read the rest of the series! I have the first 2 downloaded and have an arc of another authors book coming up!
The meet cute on the pickleball court had me laughing out loud!
I loved reading about the traveling sports team, struggles with money on both sides, and the couple starting to work through their differences and triggers. Also the college roommate chat and Marsha were great additions to the book!
With all novellas, there's so much more to the story that we don't see due to length, but Britney did a great job and I felt that I could connect with the characters!
I can't wait to read the rest of the series! I have the first 2 downloaded and have an arc of another authors book coming up!
June 18, 2024
This is a really sweet clean romcom. The characters of Ava and Charlie had great chemistry and I love their family connection. Charlie had been Ava‘s brothers best friend when they were younger, but she had lost track of him because there was a six-year age difference. Until the day she hit him in the face with a pickle ball. I thought the storyline was entertaining. There were some twists and turns, a little bit of drama but mostly just fun romance. I thought one of the most interesting aspects was that now Utah has NHL team and is considering the Utah Yeti as its name. Did the Author have an inside scoop? Ha ha. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
June 20, 2024
Ava coaches a teen girls' lacrosse team to give the girls a better chance at success. As a youth, money was in short supply. When her parents hit the jackpot, they dumped her at her grandma's. Her ex was wealthy and, ultimately, called her a gold-digger. Now, Charlie comes back into her life as the billionaire uncle of a team member. Causing her to rehash all those bad feelings.
This Clean & Wholesome Romance is astonishing. This story showcases people are people, and money is a tool. How the tool is used determines whether the results are good or evil. The main characters rely on others to know the difference. The end is charming.
Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Happily Ever After. Romantic. Tear-jerker. Unpredictable. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.
This Clean & Wholesome Romance is astonishing. This story showcases people are people, and money is a tool. How the tool is used determines whether the results are good or evil. The main characters rely on others to know the difference. The end is charming.
Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Happily Ever After. Romantic. Tear-jerker. Unpredictable. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.
July 4, 2024
I love all Britney books and this one didn’t disappoint. I love that this was part of a multi author series. Made it even more fun. I love when there’s a group of best friends all part of a series.
Ava is a former lacrosse player who moves back home and becomes a lacrosse coach. While trying out pickleball she hurts Charlie, her brothers best friend.
Charlie moved his mom and niece out to live with him after his sister died. His niece needs a new lacrosse team. She ends up on Ava’s team. Ava isn’t happy about Charlie’s generous acts of kindness. Read to find out if this changes.
Tropes:
Sports romance
Brother’s friend
Reverse grumpy/sunshine
I loved this book and devoured it in a day!
Ava is a former lacrosse player who moves back home and becomes a lacrosse coach. While trying out pickleball she hurts Charlie, her brothers best friend.
Charlie moved his mom and niece out to live with him after his sister died. His niece needs a new lacrosse team. She ends up on Ava’s team. Ava isn’t happy about Charlie’s generous acts of kindness. Read to find out if this changes.
Tropes:
Sports romance
Brother’s friend
Reverse grumpy/sunshine
I loved this book and devoured it in a day!
July 14, 2025
Haven’t finished but so far they are both disgruntled and everything is sad and everyone’s dying etc everyone has issues. She’s hard hearted and stand off ish. Might have skimmed over it but other than the pic on the front I don’t know what they look like so I can’t picture it in my mind.
For example a lot of this
“I groan inwardly. I shouldn't be having this conversation right now. "How about we table this for later? I need to get ready for the game." Charlie nods, standing. "Of course. Good luck." Why am I oddly irritated at his tone? It’s been less than a week since the stitches incident, but he's getting under my skin, and not in a good way. It’s like he’s gone from this guy I can argue with to a golden retriever.”
He’s done nothing but be nice not sure why he’s under her skin
For example a lot of this
“I groan inwardly. I shouldn't be having this conversation right now. "How about we table this for later? I need to get ready for the game." Charlie nods, standing. "Of course. Good luck." Why am I oddly irritated at his tone? It’s been less than a week since the stitches incident, but he's getting under my skin, and not in a good way. It’s like he’s gone from this guy I can argue with to a golden retriever.”
He’s done nothing but be nice not sure why he’s under her skin
June 24, 2024
Summer, sports and romance? Yes please! And Britney M. Mills delivers in this fantastic novella.
As always, Mills gives you the swoon, the excitement and a great story. This was my first of the Sunkissed Summer Novella series, but it won’t be my last. I loved Ava and Charlie in this novella and I can’t wait to meet Ava’s friends in the other novella.
I loved all the different sides to this novella, the growth of Ava and Charlie, and I adored the team and team mom interactions. The perfect summer read when you just want to put your feet up, get some sun and enjoy a little romance.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher/author and all opinions are my own.
As always, Mills gives you the swoon, the excitement and a great story. This was my first of the Sunkissed Summer Novella series, but it won’t be my last. I loved Ava and Charlie in this novella and I can’t wait to meet Ava’s friends in the other novella.
I loved all the different sides to this novella, the growth of Ava and Charlie, and I adored the team and team mom interactions. The perfect summer read when you just want to put your feet up, get some sun and enjoy a little romance.
*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher/author and all opinions are my own.
June 30, 2024
Once again, a novella that surprised me with how much depth an author can pack into such a short, sweet read, without making it feel rushed. The pickle-ball meet cute was hilarious. In the beginning, I questioned if Ava would really be likable, and if Charlie’s wealth and generosity would feel over the top. However, as the story unfolded, I began to understand Ava so much more and respect her for the struggles she overcame. Charlie also grew on me and became such a sweet golden retriever hero. They definitely had a slow burn, but it made perfect sense as they both overcame obstacles and grew to understand each other, so I actually appreciated it in this read.
June 15, 2024
I've not read a lacrosse coach book before and I found that refreshing in this sports romcom. A part of a multi author summer novella series, this dual pov book can be read as a stand alone or as a part of the fun series connecting a bunch of college friends finding their heas. I could have used more in this book, not because it was particularly missing anything but because I loved the characters and didn't want to say goodbye to them quite so quickly, but that's probably the sign of a good book more than anything! I read an advanced reader copy, check this one out when it becomes available!
June 4, 2024
A fun story to read. Ava was a professional lacrosse player for several years. When her grandmother was injured she knew it was time to go home and take care of her. She's barely making ends meet with her job at the rec department and coaching the girls lacrosse team. Surprisingly she runs into her older brothers best friend who had also returned to their home town. Sparks fly as the get reacquainted.
June 7, 2024
This is such a fantastic book, I loved it. There were things that made me laugh, others kept a smile on my face. Ava was a professional Lacross player until she got injured and her grandma needed her help as well. She meets her brother’s best friend playing pickleball where she injures him. Then she tries to avoid him, but he is always there being sweet and swoony. This is such a fun cute read, perfect for summer!
June 8, 2024
I really enjoyed this romance. I haven't had much experience with Lacrosse- the sport in the book but it was presented in such a way that a newbie to it like me could enjoy the romance and action and learn a little about the game on the way. I really enjoyed how both of the characters struggled with overcoming their background to grow into who they could be. I loved the way Emily was willing to tell her uncle the reality of what she felt and saw.
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