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Love on the Line #5
Crushing on the Coach
As a curvy style influencer with half a million followers, I'm used to commanding attention. But Noel Turner—head coach of the Cleveland Crush and the most distractingly hot man I've ever met—won't even look at me.
At forty-seven, twice-divorced, and allergic to complications, he's made it I'm off-limits. When I'm hired as the team's social media coordinator, his icy stare and clipped commands tell me everything I need to know. He thinks I'm a distraction. A liability. Someone who'll disrupt his carefully controlled world.
He's not wrong.
Because every time he brushes past me in the hallway, every time his jaw tightens when I'm laughing with his players, I want him more. I've built a career on confidence and knowing what I want—and I want him to lose that iron control. Just once.
When a travel mishap forces us to share a hotel room, the truth comes Noel has been fighting this pull between us just as hard as I have. One bed. One night. And suddenly every wall he's built comes crashing down.
Falling for him is one thing. Being the woman who costs him everything? That's another. When our secret gets out and he's forced to choose between his team and me, I'll discover if I'm worth the risk—or if I'm just another mistake he'll regret.
_____________
Age Gap
Forced Proximity
Grumpy Sunshine
Forbidden Love
Found Family
Hockey Romance
_____________
Crushing on the Coach is the fifth book in the Love on the Line all books are interconnected standalones about a team of professional hockey players and the women they fall hard for. The books don’t need to be read in order, but future characters appear in each book.
At forty-seven, twice-divorced, and allergic to complications, he's made it I'm off-limits. When I'm hired as the team's social media coordinator, his icy stare and clipped commands tell me everything I need to know. He thinks I'm a distraction. A liability. Someone who'll disrupt his carefully controlled world.
He's not wrong.
Because every time he brushes past me in the hallway, every time his jaw tightens when I'm laughing with his players, I want him more. I've built a career on confidence and knowing what I want—and I want him to lose that iron control. Just once.
When a travel mishap forces us to share a hotel room, the truth comes Noel has been fighting this pull between us just as hard as I have. One bed. One night. And suddenly every wall he's built comes crashing down.
Falling for him is one thing. Being the woman who costs him everything? That's another. When our secret gets out and he's forced to choose between his team and me, I'll discover if I'm worth the risk—or if I'm just another mistake he'll regret.
_____________
Age Gap
Forced Proximity
Grumpy Sunshine
Forbidden Love
Found Family
Hockey Romance
_____________
Crushing on the Coach is the fifth book in the Love on the Line all books are interconnected standalones about a team of professional hockey players and the women they fall hard for. The books don’t need to be read in order, but future characters appear in each book.
187 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 28, 2026
About the author
Brenda Rothert
89 books2,285 followersBrenda Rothert is the author of more than thirty Contemporary Romance novels. You can learn more about her books at her website, www.brendarothert.com, which features teasers, excerpts and trailers for her books. Follow her here:
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
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March 3, 2026This cover is actively infuriating me
March 1, 2026
So we kinda meet Noel through his daughter’s relationship with one of his players which really had me interested in him. He seemed like a mess. A hot mess! Two divorces, 4 kids and a tough relationship with one of his daughters.
Jules is perfect for him! She has her life together and although a man is nice in her life, she doesn’t need a man. He’s fully self-sufficient and knows what she wants out of life.
I think it’s funny he’s mad at her before seeing her then he sees her and his tune changes in reference to social media coverage. And the scenes with the two of them plus Issac?!?! LMBO!!! I love how jealous he was even though if he thought logically about it he would I have known they would never make a good couple.
I thought this age gap love story was fun and a good page turner.
Jules is perfect for him! She has her life together and although a man is nice in her life, she doesn’t need a man. He’s fully self-sufficient and knows what she wants out of life.
I think it’s funny he’s mad at her before seeing her then he sees her and his tune changes in reference to social media coverage. And the scenes with the two of them plus Issac?!?! LMBO!!! I love how jealous he was even though if he thought logically about it he would I have known they would never make a good couple.
I thought this age gap love story was fun and a good page turner.
February 28, 2026
Jules and Noel are absolutely adorable- getting to see this side of Noel after reading so much about him in the other books really helps to add a layer to the Crush world. While I wasn’t a huge fan of Jules in the first few chapters (her first chapter makes her seem a bit shallow or focused on money?), seeing more of her relationship with her family and her true character helped to give her more depth that made me love her by the end.
While the number of spicy scenes is limited, they’re definitely packed full of spice- readers who are sensitive to rougher scenes or certain language may want to skip the scenes.
Spoilers incoming: I did feel that the third-act make-up was a bit rushed, as I would have loved to see more of a transition from “we’re fighting” to “proposal”. If you’re looking for a quicker read with a happily ever after, this book is perfect- if you’re a huge BR fan who has been following the characters through the series, you may find yourself hoping for some bonus scenes or a little bit more depth. I was also expecting a little more drama, possibly involving Jules’ mother, so I was surprised that didn’t come back up somehow.
Having read previous books in the series will help your understanding of the various characters, but you could still read this as a standalone without difficulty.
Overall, a solid 4.5/5 from me. I’ll definitely re-read as part of the series and I enjoyed it! I’m also super excited for Magnus in the next book!
While the number of spicy scenes is limited, they’re definitely packed full of spice- readers who are sensitive to rougher scenes or certain language may want to skip the scenes.
Spoilers incoming: I did feel that the third-act make-up was a bit rushed, as I would have loved to see more of a transition from “we’re fighting” to “proposal”. If you’re looking for a quicker read with a happily ever after, this book is perfect- if you’re a huge BR fan who has been following the characters through the series, you may find yourself hoping for some bonus scenes or a little bit more depth. I was also expecting a little more drama, possibly involving Jules’ mother, so I was surprised that didn’t come back up somehow.
Having read previous books in the series will help your understanding of the various characters, but you could still read this as a standalone without difficulty.
Overall, a solid 4.5/5 from me. I’ll definitely re-read as part of the series and I enjoyed it! I’m also super excited for Magnus in the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2026
Hot, Hot! Crushing on the Coach is the fifth book in the Love on the Line series. This is Jules and Noel's story. Noah is the head coach of the Cleveland Crush. Jules is the new team social media influencer. They are in two different stages of their lives. Noel is not looking for love after being cheated on twice in the past. Jules is over dating apps and has a breakdown in front of Noel. I love how these two came together and supported each other. I love how these two came together and supported each other. It's a MUST READ!!! if you love reading age-gap books, then this is the perfect one for you. can't wait to read more from this series. Keep up the amazing work girl! Definitely recommend this book to everyone!
March 9, 2026
Crushing on the Coach is head coach Noel and social media influencer, Jules’s age gap romance. It’s book five in the Love the Line Series and it’s a slow burn, forbidden, entertaining story that ticked my boxes.
Jules has been employed by the Cleveland Crush to raise the hockey team’s social media presence and that’s means traveling with the team. What she didn’t expect was to fall hard and fast for the head coach who is not looking for love but when she has a breakdown in front of him over her dating life things start to get really interesting……….
This is a story about two people at different stages of their life, it’s about learning to trust your heart when it’s been crushed a few times, it’s about taking a chance and it’s a fun, entertaining and engaging read.
Jules has been employed by the Cleveland Crush to raise the hockey team’s social media presence and that’s means traveling with the team. What she didn’t expect was to fall hard and fast for the head coach who is not looking for love but when she has a breakdown in front of him over her dating life things start to get really interesting……….
This is a story about two people at different stages of their life, it’s about learning to trust your heart when it’s been crushed a few times, it’s about taking a chance and it’s a fun, entertaining and engaging read.
February 28, 2026
This was everything I wanted it to be, fast paced, hot as hell and we got a Darling sighting. 🐖
* 📱Age gap. He is 47, she is 29.
* 🏒Grumpy, sunshine.
* 📱Curvy + Sassy FMC. (Note, I wished the cover reflected this better.
* 🏒Opposite attracts.
« She puts a hand on my shoulder, her eyes finding mine. “Don’t regret this. Please.” “I won’t.” I kiss her gently. “I’ll relive it a thousand times in my fantasies.” »
This series continues to be a ton of fun, this one may take the top spot for me. I maybe wanted a little more grovelling in the end before they jumped into an HEA but I loved it. Thank you to the author Brenda Rothert for the advanced copy, all my opinions are my own.
* 📱Age gap. He is 47, she is 29.
* 🏒Grumpy, sunshine.
* 📱Curvy + Sassy FMC. (Note, I wished the cover reflected this better.
* 🏒Opposite attracts.
« She puts a hand on my shoulder, her eyes finding mine. “Don’t regret this. Please.” “I won’t.” I kiss her gently. “I’ll relive it a thousand times in my fantasies.” »
This series continues to be a ton of fun, this one may take the top spot for me. I maybe wanted a little more grovelling in the end before they jumped into an HEA but I loved it. Thank you to the author Brenda Rothert for the advanced copy, all my opinions are my own.
March 4, 2026
I think anyone would have a crush on this Coach!
Coach Turner and Jules, the new team social media influencer. There's a pretty big age gap - we're not talking Bill Belichick size age gap, but Jules is around the same age of his oldest daughter (who also works for the team).
Everyone likes Jules. She's sweet, bubbly, and a very successful beauty and fashion online influencer. The more she works with Coach Turner, the more their attraction grows. It grows hot and steamy and then even deeper. But that's all in secret. How will this work once people start finding out about their connection?
Wow, what a fun read!!
Coach Turner and Jules, the new team social media influencer. There's a pretty big age gap - we're not talking Bill Belichick size age gap, but Jules is around the same age of his oldest daughter (who also works for the team).
Everyone likes Jules. She's sweet, bubbly, and a very successful beauty and fashion online influencer. The more she works with Coach Turner, the more their attraction grows. It grows hot and steamy and then even deeper. But that's all in secret. How will this work once people start finding out about their connection?
Wow, what a fun read!!
March 13, 2026
3.5 stars - entertaining, but slightly missed the mark for me.
So I was surprised that I didn't enjoy this one as much as I thought I would as I was looking forward to it after Book 4.
But it didn't quite get there for me although it is an entertaining read, so I still bumped up the stars as I usually enjoy this author's works.
I think for me - the romance was a bit rushed although it took a while to start and there was a lot of time lapses, so we didn't get to see them grow together. And the ending was definitely rushed and not realistic in my opinion.
Still an enjoyable read, but I expected and wanted more.
I voluntarily requested and read an uncorrected advance reader copy.
So I was surprised that I didn't enjoy this one as much as I thought I would as I was looking forward to it after Book 4.
But it didn't quite get there for me although it is an entertaining read, so I still bumped up the stars as I usually enjoy this author's works.
I think for me - the romance was a bit rushed although it took a while to start and there was a lot of time lapses, so we didn't get to see them grow together. And the ending was definitely rushed and not realistic in my opinion.
Still an enjoyable read, but I expected and wanted more.
I voluntarily requested and read an uncorrected advance reader copy.
March 17, 2026
A secret romance between Coach Turner and the Social Media Director, an age gap and workplace romance.
I adored Coach Turner in the previous book and was so excited for him to find love. Jules is a new character full of sass and wisdom. She portrays a self confident attitude but underneath she has some insecurities.
I appreciated that she knew what she deserved and that she wasn’t willing to be kept a secret. The workplace romance was a delicate balancing act, but when Noel won’t agree to make their relationship public Jules is understandably hurt. Noel’s grand gesture was jaw dropping and epic.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I adored Coach Turner in the previous book and was so excited for him to find love. Jules is a new character full of sass and wisdom. She portrays a self confident attitude but underneath she has some insecurities.
I appreciated that she knew what she deserved and that she wasn’t willing to be kept a secret. The workplace romance was a delicate balancing act, but when Noel won’t agree to make their relationship public Jules is understandably hurt. Noel’s grand gesture was jaw dropping and epic.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 7, 2026
Another great read from Brenda
Coach Turner has shown up in the other books in the series so it was nice to have a book about him.
Noel Turner is focused on his job and his children, he does not liked complicated. Married and divorced twice he has made sure he if off limits to any woman that comes into his life, that is until Jules turns up as the new influencer for the team. Everything he has built around him comes crashing down. Is Jules worth the risk or could this be another mistake. 😍
Ready for the next book, so just keep them coming Brenda 😀
Coach Turner has shown up in the other books in the series so it was nice to have a book about him.
Noel Turner is focused on his job and his children, he does not liked complicated. Married and divorced twice he has made sure he if off limits to any woman that comes into his life, that is until Jules turns up as the new influencer for the team. Everything he has built around him comes crashing down. Is Jules worth the risk or could this be another mistake. 😍
Ready for the next book, so just keep them coming Brenda 😀
March 14, 2026
Awesome age gap romance! Jules and Noel are in two different eras in their lives. Even though their relationship is complicated they are exactly the right fit for each other but alas no one can know. They definitely have a few very hard decisions to make as this may end careers and sever some family ties. I fell in love with these two as they have a most riveting relationship. I was definitely team sexy silver.
March 14, 2026
Awesome age gap romance! Jules and Noel are in two different eras in their lives. Even though their relationship is complicated they are exactly the right fit for each other but alas no one can know. They definitely have a few very hard decisions to make as this may end careers and sever some family ties. I fell in love with these two as they have a most riveting relationship. I was definitely team sexy silver.
review by C. Seymour - blogger
review by C. Seymour - blogger
March 19, 2026
5 stars for Crushing on the Coach by Brenda Rothert
Talk about a swoon worthy book. Love Noel and Jules together. Beautiful love story. Love the blended families. Love Jules and how beautiful she is on the inside as well as the outside. We should all take a page out of her book about loving oneself and not listening to anyone who says negative things about you. Can't wait for the next installment of Love on the Line. Hopefully we get a book about the owner, Hudson.
Talk about a swoon worthy book. Love Noel and Jules together. Beautiful love story. Love the blended families. Love Jules and how beautiful she is on the inside as well as the outside. We should all take a page out of her book about loving oneself and not listening to anyone who says negative things about you. Can't wait for the next installment of Love on the Line. Hopefully we get a book about the owner, Hudson.
February 27, 2026
First off, I love a good age gap romance & grumpy sunshine. Crushing on the coach had both.. it was enjoyable from the very beginning.
I absolutely loved the spunk from the FMC towards the MMC. She knew what she wanted and she got it.
This is a quick little spicy read but it has everything to keep you wanting more.
I absolutely loved the spunk from the FMC towards the MMC. She knew what she wanted and she got it.
This is a quick little spicy read but it has everything to keep you wanting more.
March 1, 2026
Book 5 in the Love on the Line series, and it’s all about Coach. Grumbly, serious, keeps to himself unless it involves his kids. Then he meets Jules, the new social media coordinator. She’s bright, lively, very chipper and very beautiful. And younger. And she knocks his socks off. I loved these people & their story. I can’t wait for the next one in the series.
March 1, 2026
Crushing on the Coach, book five in the Love on the Line series is the perfect age gap romance! It was easy to fall for both Noel and Jules as they fell into their easy relationship. They definitely had a few hurdles to overcome to make things work but in the end they both made the right choice to take a chance on love.
March 6, 2026
I received this ARC for my honest review. Thank you to the author!
A cute hockey novella but this time it’s the coach’s turn to be the MMC. He’s respectful, mature and has a crush. She’s sassy, professional, ambitious and blindsided by interest in the coach. Funny, spicy and the perfect length for a one sitting read.
A cute hockey novella but this time it’s the coach’s turn to be the MMC. He’s respectful, mature and has a crush. She’s sassy, professional, ambitious and blindsided by interest in the coach. Funny, spicy and the perfect length for a one sitting read.
February 28, 2026
Jules and Noel are in two different stages of their lives. The situation they were in was complicated but; their situationship was exactly what they both needed. I have been reading Brenda Rotherts books for a very long and it just keeps getting better.
March 2, 2026
I loved everything about this age gap romance!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews