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Oliver by Brenda Rothert
Release Date: April 27th 2021
Series: Chicago Blaze #9
Pages: 175
Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Sports
Daphne
I knew who I was before Olivier Durand came along. Despite growing up among the privileged elite, I never cared about corporate ladders or dream weddings. I proudly wear the label of social justice warrior. Until a car accident changes everything overnight. A video goes viral: Chicago’s Hottest Bachelor, billionaire Olivier Durand pulling me from my burning car. When he sets his sights on me, the whole world is watching. He can chase after me all he wants, but my answer will be the same: I loathe the ultra-wealthy. Even when they’re handsome, persuasive and...I have to admit, charming. It’s a hell no from me, though. Until suddenly, I’m not sure I’m the woman I thought I was.
Olivier
Now I know how the players on the NHL team I own must feel. Relentlessly hounded. Once the video of me pulling a woman from her burning car goes viral, privacy becomes a thing of the past. For whatever reason, Twitter has collectively decided this woman and I should become a romantic thing. A hashtag combining my name with hers is trending daily. Absolute nonsense. But then I meet her, and realize Twitter got it right. Daphne Barrington is beautiful, funny, brilliant and sweet. Now I just have to convince her to date me. Easier said than done. She’s maddeningly stubborn, and my deep desire to be with her soon has me writing massive checks. Not for jewelry or cars, but to charities. Winning Daphne’s heart is going to cost me, and I’m not sure even I have enough money to do it.
My Review:
Oliver Durand has it all, the looks and wealth to attract any woman he could possibly want. As a billionaire tech company owner, Oliver loves the challenge of turning around struggling companies and he has been very successful at it. It is with that success that he is able to acquire the Chicago Blaze, the NHL hockey team. He is proud of what he has been able to accomplish with the team and in his other businesses that he has mantra that’s never failed him - always be willing to walk away. A mantra that’s about to be tested and change his life forever.
On his way to a meeting, he witnesses a car flipped over and in flames. From the chaos surrounding the accident, there is someone inside the car and on instinct he rushes over to see if he can help. There is an unconscious woman inside and he risks his life to pull her out, before falling unconscious himself. It would take a few weeks later for Oliver to find out how a video of him rescuing the woman has gone viral. There is even a hashtag with their names and fans all over the world wanting them to be together and he has to put an end to it. Nothing could have prepared him for the pull that he feels for Daphne Barrintong. She is like no one else he’s ever met before, she is outspoken, stubborn and wants absolutely nothing to do with him. He has always been willing to walk away, but he can’t seem to do that with Daphne. He wants to make her his no matter how long it takes to get her to accept that they might just be perfect for each other.
As the daughter of a US Senator, Daphne Barrington grew up in privilege environment, always surrounded by the nicest things money could buy. But despite her upbringing, she wants nothing to do with the wealth that her family has. Having majored in social work, she works at a nonprofit clinic that serves the homeless. She is a proud social justice warrior and after witnessing how privileged her parents are and out of touch with the wold around them, Daphne doesn’t want to follow their steps. But Oliver saved her life and she is willing to thank him in person and walk away. Yet, things change when he asks her out and she declines his offer. She is still finding her way after her breakup with her ex-finance and the accident that she is just not ready to jump into another relationship. Daphne quickly learns that Oliver doesn’t give up easily and soon he is donating money to charities and volunteer at soup kitchens just to be with her. It’s the more time they spend together and a turn of events to make her see that there is a lot more to Oliver than his wealth.
I truly enjoyed reading Oliver, it was entertaining and fun to read. On the outside both Oliver and Daphne might look like they have it all, but their backgrounds are different. Oliver has worked really hard to get to where he is and he has reached the success that his parents never had. On the other hand, Daphne might have grown up in wealthy environment, yet working at a nonprofit allows her to see things in a different perspective. They have so much chemistry and they balance each other out. It is an age-gap story, Oliver is older than Daphne and it’t not an issue in the book. Although we get a good ending, I wish the author could have given us a more detail look into their future, it would have the ending a little bit better. Other than that, the story was steamy and romantic. I would highly recommend it if you love sports romances, it will not disappoint! :)
**I received an advanced copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.**
My Rating:
Brenda Rothert is an Illinois native who was a print journalist for nine years. She made the jump from fact to fiction in 2013 and never looked back. From new adult to steamy contemporary romance, Brenda creates fresh characters in every story she tells. She’s a lover of Diet Coke, chocolate, lazy weekends and happily ever afters.
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