Release & Review for Sideline Crush: A Brother’s Best Friend European Soccer Romance (League Valencia Book 2) by Gina Azzi

Sideline Crush: A Brother’s Best Friend European Soccer Romance (League Valencia Book 2)

by Gina Azzi

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FLQKNM5R
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Three Cities Publishing LLC
• 
  
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 23, 2026
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 298 pages 
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1968159160

Blurb-

He’s an Italian heartthrob, a soccer phenom, and my brother’s best friend.

Luca DiBlanco has known me since I was a kid—and that’s all he’s ever seen me as. Until he shows up in Chicago when my world is crumbling and helps me piece it back together.

Moving home to Valencia, Spain should’ve been a fresh start. Instead, it throws me right back into Luca’s orbit. Only now, the reliable, steady guy who’s always looked out for me… is looking at me. Differently. Closer. Like he’s tempted.

What starts as extra soccer training turns into stolen touches. Planning a youth summer camp together sparks even more heat. Before I know it, the man I once crushed on is the one I can’t stop kissing.

He’s known as the dependable good guy. I’m the fun-loving, wild child, and the risk he probably shouldn’t take. But for the first time, Luca’s not playing it safe—and I’m not sitting on the sidelines.

I’m ready to take my shot.

But what if I’m the chaos that topples his carefully constructed future?

This is a brother's best friend, slow-burning, friends-to-lovers story. After being let go from her professional soccer team, Carla returns to Valencia feeling lost and disconnected and lost. 

This story explores friendship and self-discovery, and Luca is helping her find her way once again. Carla and Luca's dynamic is relatable, with Carla facing challenges beyond her control and Luca struggling to accept help. 

The chemistry between the two develops gradually, adding depth to their relationship. The romance is passionate, but it's the foundation of friendship and heart that truly shines in this story. 

We found the characters to be engaging, with some being more challenging than others. Luca stood out as our favorite, with his big heart and capacity for love. 

This couple shares a common passion for soccer, and through their personal journeys, they discovered a new passion for using their talents to inspire and support others in the sports world.

 League Valencia's world adds an intriguing backdrop to the romance, offering insights into soccer culture. Sideline Crush is the second book in the League Valencia series of standalone novels. Another enjoyable read in this ongoing series.

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Gina Azzi

About the author

Gina Azzi writes Contemporary Romance with relatable,

genuine characters experiencing real life, love,

friendships, and challenges. She is the author of The

Kane Brothers Series, The College Pact Series,

Finding Love in Scotland Series, and Corner of Ocean

and Bay. All of her books can be read as stand-alones

.

A Jersey girl at heart, Gina has spent her twenties

traveling the world, living and working abroad, before

settling down in Ontario, Canada with her husband and

three children. She's a voracious reader, daydreamer,

and coffee enthusiast who loves meeting new people.

Connect with her on social media or through www.ginaazzi.com.

Also, follow us on Storygraph -https://app.thestorygraph.com/profile/angelswithattitude