Okay Read

I received a copy from Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This was an alright read. I requested this book a long time ago, but never got around to reading it. The story follows Mike Stewart and Sara Jetty as they become friends again, and then fall in love. I did enjoy the story, but I did find some parts a bit boring. The characters were the best part of the book. Mike Stewart is a hockey player and a bad boy. He and Sara were friends before she went to the Olympics for figure skating. He is more than just a bad boy, he is a sweet guy. I liked the fact that he thinks Sara is his one and only love. Sara Jetty was a figure skater but now is a painter. She has been through a lot since the Olympics and she is feisty. I love her. I want a friend just like her. The ending did seem a bit rushed, but I am glad that I read this book. Overall, an okay read.

I didn't really care for this book. It was drama for the sake of drama and I found all the characters to be really annoying. It was very rushed and yet still too long at the same time. I also reaaallllly hate it when authors take forever to get to the climax and then wrap it all up in a page. Why did you spend all that time setting it up then?? Not the book for me but thank you for the copy.

Elise Faber has a way with words! I have been reading her books for a couple years and I always enjoy her stories. Mike & Sara won me over! I couldn’t put down their story.

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

I love a hockey romance.
I love a second-chance romance.
I like my men all alpha-y and who are willing to put in the effort to get the girl.

That's all here in Backhand.

I like the chemistry between the characters, the push and the pull, and the challenge.

This is a hit.

Sadly This was a dnf for me. I'm sorry but I just could not relate to the characters or find their chemistry realistic.

Genre: Romance - Sports (Hockey, figure skating), Friends-to-lovers, Second-chance, Comedy, Suspense
Stand-Alone: Yes
Part of a Series: Yes - Book 2 of Gold Hockey I haven't read book 1 but I really want to :)
POV: Sara and Mike
Steam Level: Quite Warm
4/5

This is the second book by Elise Faber that I've read and I really enjoyed it. Backhand is a perfect mix of humor, suspense, and heat. I adored Mike with is alpha ways. And the fact that he was a romantic sap and didn't care how much crap the guys of the team would give him about it. I could relate to Sara and her stubborn independence. I found myself smiling throughout the book. What made Backhand unique was the nature of Mike and Sara's relationship. I liked how strong they are as a couple and that the drama around them brings them closer rather than pushing them apart. This made their relationship seem real rather than fiction. I highly recommend this book, especially if you like romance with a hint of comedy and suspense, the friends-to-lovers or second-chance romance, and/or sports romance. Backhand has something for everyone and I cannot wait to read more of Elise Faber's work.

I received an advanced copy of this book for free from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

The concept of a hockey player and a figure skater seem to just go hand in hand!

Backhand by Elise Faber
Book #2: Gold Hockey Series
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 4/5 stars
My Review:

Mike Stewart has been around hockey his whole life. Of late, he’s developed quite a nasty reputation for his on-ice antics, especially during practice, and his excessive drinking. His teammates really can’t stand him, but he’s such a good player, management won’t let him go. If he doesn’t get it together, he won’t have a friend left in the world . . . . or, at least none from his present life.

Sara Jetty has had a super-crappy life over the last decade or so. What started out as such a promising career as a figure skater, quickly turned to shame, ridicule, and banishment from the sport she dearly loved following a scandal Sara had nothing to do with. Unfortunately, perception is everything and with a lot of falsified “proof” Sara was convicted in the court of public opinion which led the figure skating powers that be to banish her from the sport. The conviction and banishment tore Sara’s world apart and she has spent years trying to put the past behind her and move forward. That is, until Mike Stewart quite unexpectedly walked back into her life.

As a teenager and young adult, Sara was everything to Mike and he adored spending every morning in the car with her on the way to practice. Sara was kind and compassionate and understood, better than most, Mike’s determination to make something of himself in the sport he loves. The two bonded over ice time and injuries, and their unwillingness to compromise their dreams. Both were driven and determined, but that all fall apart for Sara just as Mike’s dream was becoming a reality. While he tried to reach out to her, Sara refused to engage and simply disappeared from Mike’s life. With his unexpected discovery of her in San Francisco, Mike is more determined than ever to find out what really happened to Sara all those years ago, right the wrongs of the past, and make Sara a permanent fixture in his life once again.

With Sara back in his life, Mike is more resolved than ever to behave himself and that attitude is coming through loud and clear with his teammates. With his professional life getting back on track, it’s time to focus on Sara and the slaying of her demons. Sara is beyond hesitant to become involved with Mike because she knows he’s going to push her past her comfort zone and force her to face her past, deal with it, and truly move forward with her life. She has talent beyond the ice rink and if Mike can just build her confidence, he firmly believes they can have an amazing life together. The biggest hurdle is going to be getting all the dirty details out in the open and dealing with whatever fallout, both personally and socially there may be.

The Bottom Line: Backhand definitely doesn’t suffer from the old sophomore and it is a much smoother and more enjoyable read than book one, Blocked! Mike is carry over from book one and he is so much more likeable in round two than he was in round one! He was really quite detestable in Blocked 😊 His sensitivity toward Sara and his true and pure desire to not only help her, but be a better man is so endearing. Mike knows Sara hasn’t really been living her life for the past decadeish, and he wants to see her heal and live the life she deserves. For Sara, having Mike back in her life is a double-edged sword; he wants what’s best for her, but he’s also going to make her relive some truly painful things before it will all get better. It’s so going to be worth it! With their shared history, Mike and Sara’s story really is a combination of a past meets present and second chance at love read and I was all up it from start to finish. Bring on round three, Elisa Faber!! I’m ready for some more San Francisco Gold!!!

Really enjoyed this! Mike and Sara sizzle the pages in this contemporary romance. Since they already knew each other previously, they were comfortable with each other right away. Loved that Sara wasn't easily won over. Mike is one sexy hero who seems too good to be true, and readers will love him. The plot flows smoothly and we are given a taste of the hockey scene. I didn't know this is the second book in the series, but it can certainly be read on its own. Romance fans will need to add this to their TBR pile.

Great read. I'm a sucker for second chance romances & the love story between Mike & Sara was just perfect. I also love sport romances & this book delivered.

I look forward to reading more by Elise Faber.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

Absolute sucker for the cover. Seriously nothing wrong with that. Two super sweet MCs that were sexy and likable. Probably my only complaint that went from 4 to 3.5 stars is how quickly they got back together after 10 years apart with no communication and how did he not know about what happened to her?

While I liked this book I was also slightly confused. There were some things that made me go "huh?" and caused me to go back and re-read to make sure I understood what was happening.

1. They grew up together and as young adults he was going to ask her to be "his"
2. They lose touch, she gets accused of bribing Olympic officials, loses everything including her family who disowns her
3. They re-meet after years have passed and he knows nothing about her fall from grace.

That's when I lost it a little because it just didn't make sense to me.

Backhand is the first book that i have read from author Elise Faber. I was thoroughly entertained with the characters and story-line. A bad boy hockey player named Mike and a Olympic Figure Skater Sara hadn't seen each other in 10 years. They bump into each other one night and Mike tries to reconnect while Sara runs away. I love the way i was on the edge of seat wanting to know what happened in there past or what would happen in there future. I received a copy of this book via net gallery and voluntarily am leaving a review.

I love it when a bad boy turns into a good guy - and Mike Stewart fits this bill to a tee!

Mike is a hockey player with a bad reputation. Let's just say his reputation proceeds him. After running into an old childhood friend, Sara, Mike tries his best to shed his reputation and get the girl in the end.

I really liked these characters and loved seeing Mike turn into a genuine "nice" guy with a warm heart. Sara was very likeable and her story definitely had me turning the pages to learn more.

I look forward to more books in this series.

I really liked the characters in the story and I really liked the idea of a ruined figure skater trying to create another life for herself. The final twist where it was his mom that ruined her career all along was super strange and didn't make any sense. In general, the characters made up for the strange twist. I've read other books by this author and really liked them too.

This is a story about friends long lost friends who reunite and become something more. Sara is a disgraced Olympian skater, she lost all her friends and even her family, when allegations had come out that she paid the judges in the Olympics. She starts over, or is at least attempting to, when she runs into Mike, her long ago crush, and she does not to have anything to do with him, because is too painful, but Mike wont give up, he also harbored feelings for Sara and never admitted. They cannot fight the attraction they have always had, and admit to it, and decide that they have waited long enough to give themselves a chance, unfortunately do to Sara's infamous reputation, treacherous people come out of the woodwork to cause trouble, and make their lives a living hell. It gets a little heartbreaking, reading what Sara had went thru, and what she was accused of, and who did it. Sara gets attacked, and the truth comes out, and it blows everyone's mind, and she becomes, famous instead of infamous, and we get our HEA..Enjoy!!!

I completely loved Backhand. I didn't read the first book and went straight to the second. Sara and Mike have know each other since they were teens. She was a champion figure skater and he a hockey player. They bonded over their mutual love for the ice. When Mike leaves for the pros, Sara also leaves for the Olympics. Sara loses everything she has ever worked for when her world come tumbling down. Years have past, Mike and Sara haven’t heard from one another. One chance meeting one night at the park brings back everything for both Sara and Mike. They have to work at being together when both their pasts are trying to keep them apart.

Really great storyline, awesome characters. Can't wait to see what comes next.

Thoroughly enjoyed this first read by author Elise Faber. Like usual I've started a new series a few books in. This story was wonderful, the heat between Sara & Mike was unstoppable even with a 10yr absence between their friendship. This book even though it's 40 chapters long it moved quickly & cleanly. The challenge to overcome your past seems to be the basis for this story. Mike & Sara where good friends yrs ago & a chance run in with each other makes them remember their secret crushes on each other.. definitely recommend.

I loved this book so much! I will be recommending it to my reader friends. Hockey romance is one of my favorite tropes and this author knows how to write it. The scenes between Mike and Sara were so well done. I was completely drawn into Sara's past and how what happened could have. That these two were still so drawn to each other after all these years was a joy to read.
I voluntarily reviewed a reader copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

Fantastic story you can not put down! This author knows how to craft characters that leave you wanting more and more

I was thankfully selected to review Backhand. Oh MY GOD! I loved this book. From the very beginning I was sucked in and I really didnt want to stop reading but unfortunately life got in the way or I would have finished in one day. Thank you Elise for this honor to read and review this book! I just brought Blocked so I'm about to get on that.

Sara I loved that girl. I thought she was going to do the whole push and pull thing with Mike but she didnt. Even if Mike didnt really give her a choice. I was really disappointed that Sara didnt fight the allegations but when I found out how young she was and that she didnt have anyone in her corner that believed her. That absolutely frustrated me that people that just met her knew that she was innocent but her own family abandoned her.

Okay.... Mike I really feel in love with you! He didnt take "no" for an answer. When he wanted something nothing stood in his was. He was a little alpha but a whole lot of charming. It was like no time had past with him and Sara. This just picked up where they left all but with little bit of scars. His teammates stuck together even when things got tough they had Sara back.

Now what I didnt like (sad face). I felt like it was missing something. I wish we had got more of both of there parents. I just needed to understand why Sara parents did what they did. I wanted more about Mikes father. I just wanted more. Maybe I'm being a little greedy but I cant help it.