Luca

Oh man. I absolutely loved this story. It was full of heart and emotion. I cried multiple times, but you can’t help but love every single character in this story.

Luca has had a few difficult years but the bright side of his life besides hockey is his nieces and nephew. Abby doesn’t know what to do with all the heartache that she has been dealt with over the years. Abby and Luca meet one day at a bar and you could immediately see and feel the chemistry between them. Luca is all in with Abby but she is holding back. Will Abby be able to let Luca in or will she shut down?

I was totally pulled into this story from the very beginning. I loved how they both were very headstrong but you can tell they both had there vulnerable side. They both needed to have someone there to talk to and just listen. I loved reading about the kids also how much Luca loved them. I think this book will stay with me for a very long time. For me it touched on many different emotions.

When Chicago Blaze player Luca Campbell crosses paths with businesswoman Abby Daniels, the attraction is immediate and mutual. Abby is strong, successful in her own right, and knows what she wants. But the Abby that Luca meets and falls for is not exactly who she seems to be. Because Abby has dealt with unimaginable loss and heartache, and she will keep that part of her life hidden, no matter how close she and Luca grow.

As book boyfriends go, it would be hard to find a better one than Luca Campbell. Sexy, nice, and a famous athlete, yes, but first and foremost, he's a family man, dedicated to making sure that his nieces and nephew can experience normalcy, security, and, above all, unconditional love. Having dealt with heartbreak of his own, Luca knows that Abby is keeping a part of herself closed off, and he is determined to break down her barriers and know the "real' her.

Proving that she knows her stuff, Brenda Rothert has scored big with LUCA, the second book in her Chicago Blaze series. These characters and their stories are more than just another sports romance. There are back stories here that add depth and interest, and make for an emotional and satisfying reading experience.

LUCA is definitely a romance book, but it is the emotion and heart that makes it more for me. Already a big fan of the first two books, I can't wait to meet the rest of the Blaze players because Brenda has done such a masterful job with these characters and their stories. Victor is next up, and I'll be anxiously waiting to see what Brenda has in store for him. If hot hockey players with heart that get their HEAs are your thing, these books are for you, so add them to the TBR and enjoy.