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The Sidelines
She built a family on her own. Falling for the man who could complicate everything was never part of the plan.
At forty-one, Megan Cross knows exactly what matters: her two kids, the life she’s built for them, and protecting both at all costs. She doesn’t need a man to complete her family — and she definitely doesn’t need to fall for the intense, maddeningly perceptive director of her son’s competitive soccer club.
Gavin Russo is good at solving problems. Players. Teams. Systems. Give him something broken and he’ll find a way to fix it.
Megan isn’t a problem to solve.
What begins with conversations on the sidelines becomes texts she looks forward to, dates she probably shouldn’t accept, and chemistry neither of them can ignore. And the more time Gavin spends with Megan, the harder it becomes to keep his heart from getting tangled up with her children, too.
But Gavin’s position at Maple Valley Premier gives him influence even when he never intends to use it. When other parents begin questioning whether Megan’s nine-year-old son is earning his opportunities — or benefiting from the man his mother is dating — their private relationship becomes impossible to separate from the game Leo loves.
Megan has spent years making sure no one gets to define her children, diminish what they’ve earned, or decide what their family should look like. Loving Gavin means trusting him with a place in that family.
It may also mean risking more than either of them expected.
The Sidelines is a steamy, emotionally grounded contemporary romance about a fiercely independent single mother, a youth soccer coach who has to learn that not everything can be fixed, and two people discovering that building a family is about more than falling in love.
The first book in the interconnected Maple Valley Premier series. Each book features a new couple and a complete happily-ever-after.
At forty-one, Megan Cross knows exactly what matters: her two kids, the life she’s built for them, and protecting both at all costs. She doesn’t need a man to complete her family — and she definitely doesn’t need to fall for the intense, maddeningly perceptive director of her son’s competitive soccer club.
Gavin Russo is good at solving problems. Players. Teams. Systems. Give him something broken and he’ll find a way to fix it.
Megan isn’t a problem to solve.
What begins with conversations on the sidelines becomes texts she looks forward to, dates she probably shouldn’t accept, and chemistry neither of them can ignore. And the more time Gavin spends with Megan, the harder it becomes to keep his heart from getting tangled up with her children, too.
But Gavin’s position at Maple Valley Premier gives him influence even when he never intends to use it. When other parents begin questioning whether Megan’s nine-year-old son is earning his opportunities — or benefiting from the man his mother is dating — their private relationship becomes impossible to separate from the game Leo loves.
Megan has spent years making sure no one gets to define her children, diminish what they’ve earned, or decide what their family should look like. Loving Gavin means trusting him with a place in that family.
It may also mean risking more than either of them expected.
The Sidelines is a steamy, emotionally grounded contemporary romance about a fiercely independent single mother, a youth soccer coach who has to learn that not everything can be fixed, and two people discovering that building a family is about more than falling in love.
The first book in the interconnected Maple Valley Premier series. Each book features a new couple and a complete happily-ever-after.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 10, 2026
About the author
Cassidy Lane
3 books4 followersCassidy Lane writes contemporary romance about grown-up love, complicated families, strong friendships, and the unexpected ways people build lives together.
Her Maple Valley Premier series follows the relationships that develop on and beyond the sidelines of competitive youth soccer, where careers, families, friendships, and love have a habit of colliding.
Expect capable adults with messy real-life responsibilities, kids who are fully part of the story, plenty of heart, and happily-ever-afters that feel earned.
The Sidelines is the first book in the Maple Valley Premier series.
Her Maple Valley Premier series follows the relationships that develop on and beyond the sidelines of competitive youth soccer, where careers, families, friendships, and love have a habit of colliding.
Expect capable adults with messy real-life responsibilities, kids who are fully part of the story, plenty of heart, and happily-ever-afters that feel earned.
The Sidelines is the first book in the Maple Valley Premier series.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 9, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ **4.5/5 rounded up to 5**
⚽️ Apparently, 2026 is the year I become a soccer romance girlie.😂
Thanks to the author for the #gifted copy in exchange for my honest review! 💕
First things first: you do NOT need to know anything about soccer to enjoy this book. Consider that my public service announcement. 😂
What I really loved about this romance is that these characters are actual grown adults. We’re talking 30s and 40s, established careers, complicated lives, existing relationships, baggage… basically, all the things that make falling in love a little more complicated than “you’re hot, I’m hot, let’s go.”😏
This book doesn’t sugarcoat the hard parts. Being together requires choices, compromises, difficult conversations, and figuring out what you’re actually willing to risk for love. And honestly? Give me the emotional maturity! 👏
Now, Megan… girl. 😅 There were definitely moments when her rigidity had me wanting to shake her a little. BUT—and this is important—I understood her. I could relate to her. And sometimes the characters who make us cringe are the ones who feel the most real.
And apparently we’re getting MORE from this soccer universe later this month. 👀⚽️
So, am I ready to check back in with the MVP crew?
Absolutely. Pass me the next book.
October 13, 2026
Such a lovely story.
It was so nice to read a story for the POV of a single mum in her 40's taking everyday as it comes shes strong and independent. It felt so real-life.
The text messages made me feel, we've all had that right? A few cheeky messages that lead to texting all night long and smiling like an idiot at your screen!
Megan had such strong family values and the book showed us its not always a picture perfect. Things get messy, some days are hard, communication is difficult.
I will be definitely be picking up the next book in the series!
It was so nice to read a story for the POV of a single mum in her 40's taking everyday as it comes shes strong and independent. It felt so real-life.
The text messages made me feel, we've all had that right? A few cheeky messages that lead to texting all night long and smiling like an idiot at your screen!
Megan had such strong family values and the book showed us its not always a picture perfect. Things get messy, some days are hard, communication is difficult.
I will be definitely be picking up the next book in the series!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews