A moving story built on the love of hockey and a deep-seated connection between friends and lovers, a true page turning romance. ~ Autry – Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
Synopsis:
He’s a hockey star with a headboard full of notches. She’s a shy NHL concession worker 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.
Victor is a slump, one that could put him back on the second or third line. Trying to refocus his head and his game Victor starts putting all of himself into extra practices, but a painful childhood secret keeps throwing up roadblocks. Unable to help stop this, Victor has no choice but it reach out and hope the justice system can do its job. Victors game starts to turn thanks to some advice given to him by an arena employee. Becoming fast friends with Lindy, Victor quickly realizes his feelings are on the fast track to love. 
Lindy has a very loving yet unconventional life right now, its just her, her dad and hers dads best friends. She has grown up knowing sports and taking active role in cheering on her favorite teams. Lindy works in the arena where the Chicago Blaze player Victor is struggling to get his game back on track. Unable to resist she gives him some advice and watches him bounce back to his former self. Lindy never imagines that someday her crush would be falling in love with her.
I love this novel for so many reasons!!! Victor is so down to earth, kind, caring, and yet haunted by his childhood. He continually reaches out to Lindy while trying to be a friend and finally caves to the pull of love. He enjoys spending time with her and her father, quickly making himself part of the fold. Lindy is your average, everyday best friend; pulling double shifts without complaint because it means extra cash, dealing with the jerk boss because she can’t imagine working somewhere else without her best friend. Victor and Lindy have a spark right from the start, the tension can easily be felt and you know the romance and sweet. I couldn’t help but have a satisfied smile when Victor finally realizes he’s in love, and the sweet feeling of relief when they are able to move past his childhood and focus on the future. Ms. Rothert pulled all the right strings, she has me laughing, smiling, crying and angered, she kept me up late turning pages, I could not fall asleep without knowing how Victor and Lindy found their happily-ever-after. I will be certain to grab a copy of the next Chicago Blaze novel, she’s reignited my love for a hockey romance!
4.5 stars
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Meet author Brenda Rothert:
Brenda is giving one lucky commenter a signed paperback of reader’s choice from the Chicago Blaze series!! (Winner will be chosen on 8/28)
GP: Hi Brenda! We are so excited to have you with us here today at Guilty Pleasures.
Brenda: Hey, I’m thrilled to be here!
GP: When did you decide that writing was something you wanted to do?
Brenda: I started working as a daily newspaper reporter when I was 23. I did that for nine years, then stayed in writing as a Communications Manager for five years, and for the past six years I’ve been writing books. I did the communications job during the day for the first year and wrote my books for a few hours every night after my kids were in bed. So for nineteen years, I’ve been writing for a living. I loved my work as a reporter, but writing books is a dream come true.
GP: Tell us about a typical day in your life and how you fit writing into it.
Brenda: Once I get my youngest two boys (12 and 7) off to school for the day, I like to write for a couple of hours. Sometimes I do non-writing work first, though. I like to take a break after that and go for a walk. If I need to in order to reach my word count, I’ll write again in the afternoon before the kids get out of school. It’s hard for me to write for many hours straight; taking a break after every couple of hours really helps. If I’m really into a story, I’ll sometimes write some more after my kids are in bed.
GP: What was your favorite book as a child or young adult?
Brenda: Oh wow. There were SO MANY. I loved reading as a kid. Some of the ones I fell in love with from teachers reading aloud to the class were The Boxcar Children and Stone Soup (I’m currently reading that one to my seven-year-old before bed EVERY NIGHT because he loves it so much). I can remember Bridge to Terabithia being the first book that broke me. I also loved The Babysitter’s Club and Sweet Valley High books.
GP: How long on average does it take you to write the first draft of a book?
Brenda: It depends on the book, but I tend to get into a mental groove and want to focus on a book pretty hard until it’s done. First drafts probably run around 6 weeks for me.
GP: Do you have a favorite book that you’ve written? If yes, why is it your favorite?
Brenda: My favorite is Come Closer. I had a vision in my head for the story, and I was able to execute it just the way I wanted. It’s my second romantic suspense, and I think it’s better than my first. So I feel proud of the book, and proud of the progress I made with it.
GP: How do you select the names of your characters?
Brenda: It’s usually pretty random. I’ll hear a name and file it away. I mentally develop my stories and characters for a while before I start writing them. The book I’m writing now has been in my head for more than a year now. So by the time I start writing, I feel like I know them and their names are a big part of that.
GP: What is the hardest part of your writing process?
Brenda: The hardest part used to be when I wrote without a plan and got stuck on where my story needed to go. I’ve learned that I have to have a plan, even if it’s not a detailed written outline, to avoid massive rewrites done while crying and cursing myself. Now I’d say the hardest part is creating fresh characters in every story. It’s important to me that I do that, but tough because readers don’t always love every character.
GP: Will you share where readers can find you on social media?
Brenda: Absolutely, I love connecting with readers!
Reader group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/RothertsReaders/?ref=bookmarks
FB: https://www.facebook.com/authorbrendarothert/
IG:https://www.instagram.com/brendarothert/
Twitter: @BrendaRothert
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7010859.Brenda_Rothert
Bookbub:https://www.bookbub.com/profile/brenda-rothert
GP: Thank you so much for being here today!