Review: Victor by Brenda Rothert

Victor by Brenda Rothert is the newest book in her series, Chicago Blaze, about the Blaze hockey team. I was intrigued by the premise of this book and how Victor and Lindy meet. It proves to be a pretty great story!

Victor Lane is not exactly excelling at hockey lately. His game is far from great and now he is feeling the pressure from upper management who are talking about demoting him to third string. Victor is not exactly surprised but he is also feeling panicked. He asks his coach to give him two games to show some improvement but even Victor isn’t sure if he can truly improve.

While practicing at night when the rink is closed, Victor meets Lindy, who is pulling the 12AM to 8AM shift. She is a concession stand worker and has to make sure all the equipment is properly cleaned. She was trying to slink away from the ice rink unnoticed but, unfortunately for her, Victor does notice her.

Lindy has a big, big crush on Victor but she is not unrealistic about life either. She knows it is just a crush and would never go anywhere, especially because she has never even met him! When he sits down next to her in the rink stands and they start talking hockey, Lindy is over the moon. Victor is listening to her and responding to her enthusiasm for his hockey game. It seems unreal!

Thus begins a friendship and perhaps… something more!

I enjoy hockey romances immensely and this is another solid addition to the list. I really liked the simplicity of these two meeting and the rapport that builds between them. Victor is dealing with some heavy things in his life, things he is ashamed to even admit to. I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone but I also feel like this is something that should be mentioned as a content warning. I don’t have a special spoiler capability so please highlight the following text if you would like to know about the content warning. Victor was sexually abused growing up and he is being blackmailed by one of his abusers who has pictures.

While this is obviously a love story, I do want to say this has to be dealt with for Victor to move forward and really focus on his new happiness with Lindy.

I really liked Lindy. She is enthusiastic about sports (hockey in particular), she is kind, she has a great friendship with her best friend and co-worker, Ari, and in general she is a woman who I was glad to see have her dream come true. Or at least part of her dream. To get to know Victor is like something out of a different world for Lindy, especially at first. But that changes the more she gets to know him and understand the man behind the “hockey star” image.

Brenda Rothert writes another satisfying and emotional romance. I haven’t read any of the other books in the Chicago Blaze series but it didn’t seem to matter. I got to know a few of the other characters through Victor’s interactions with them and that was a perfect amount to whet my interest. I was glad to be fully immersed in Lindy and Victor’s romance.

Victor is available now!

Today we are celebrating the release of VICTOR by Brenda Rothert. This is a contemporary romance, standalone, and it is the third title in the Chicago Blaze hockey romance series. Purchase your copy now!

Grab your copy now:

Amazon | Nook | Kobo | Apple Books

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Victor by Brenda Rothert

Available Now | Chicago Blaze, #3

Grab your copy now:

Amazon | Nook | Kobo | Apple Books

Book Blurb:

He’s a hockey star with a headboard full of notches. She’s a shy NHL concession worker at who’s never been kissed.

Lindy

They don’t call me Belinda Boring for nothing. It’s my name, after all. And for a 23-year-old with plain brown hair who still lives at home and gets tongue tied over nothing, it’s a fitting one. I’m not even one of those quiet girls with a hidden talent, unless making a mean order of nachos at the NHL arena I work at counts. My life consists of working, reading and harboring a secret crush on a hockey player who doesn’t know I exist. At least, until we accidentally meet and become unlikely friends.

Victor

I’m living the dream. A poor kid who worked his way into the NHL, I’ll never forget where I came from, though I try to. My past follows me, a nagging reminder that I’ll never be what everyone thinks I am. As the threat of my secret being exposed looms closer, my game slips, leaving me in danger of being cut from my team–the only family I have. I’m losing my hold on everything when a new friend helps me find hope. She’s nothing like the women I’m used to, but by the time I figure out that’s exactly why she’s right for me, I’ve lost my chance with her. Somehow, I have to convince a woman who thinks she’s invisible that she’s the only one I see.