I absolutely love romance, there wonderful, entertaining, and there great quick reads, this was no acception, I really enjoyed this, the sports element really was wonderful, I never read one where hockey was involved so that was very creative.. Also I love that the female lead was apart of the figure skating world, honestly it's my favorite sport so I'm so happy that it was also included.
The relationship between the main characters was so wonderful, Mike is such an amazing person, I loved how he remembers so many things about Sara, and how he kept doing such sweet things for his. This was so great I cant wait to read more books in the Gold Hockey series.

A lovely read

DNF at 21%. The premise of Backhand by Elise Faber seemed a really great combination of the hockey player super star and the ex Olympic medalist darling figure skater with a tarnished reputation findinglove and acceptance through turmoil and hard times to obtain their HEA. And honestly some of the story was really good and interesting, but it started to fall flat pretty quickly after that and I found myself skipping chapters and generally lost interest in Sara and (I forget his name) as a couple. I guess I wanted more depth to his character then I got at that point. It was well written at least and I've not lost hope in this author yet. I appreciated the opportunity to read the book and Thank Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Elise Faber tells an enchanting tale that will have readers drawn in from the very first page. What happens when you find your past and your present colliding? Mike Stewart and Sara Jetty have worked to rise above the ashes of the past and build new lives for themselves. Mike is a top defenseman for the NHL's San Francisco Gold and is picking up the pieces after almost derailing his career. Sara is fighting her own demons from the past after her Olympic dreams of figure skating glory went up in flames of scandal. Each one of them are fighting to rise above but will their shared history and former love bring them down or make them whole again? Readers will fall in love with the characters and the well written story. Definitely recommend.

Sara Jetty and Mike Stewart were buds in high school. Two years older, he would drive her to the ice rink where she practice figure skating and he hockey. They haven't seen each other since she left for her first Olympics and scored a gold medal in women’s figure skating, while he went on to the NHL. They lost touch, not knowing the tzorus that the other was going through, until they meet again, ten years later. Mike never forgot her and wants to reconnect, but she has become a shell of her former self. She was falsely accused of cheating and was not only banned by the Olympics but shunned by her family and friends and even assaulted and left for dead by a former boy friend and his cousin. Meanwhile, he was dealing with a mother who had become addicted to her husband's medication. Sara has quietly reinvented herself as an artist and Mike is not willing to let her go again. I loved the story, but do not understand why her loving family (it was her mother's car that he used to drive them to the rink and he spend a lot of time at her house because his family was dysfunctional) would abandon her. This should have been explored more.

Sara Jetty was once a champion figure skater, until the scandal that ripped apart her entire career and in the process everyone she had thought loved and supported her. After successfully rebuilding her life and finding contentment in her art, she is not prepared for a blast from the past to show up...

Mike Stewart is at the top of his game in his professional hockey career. When her runs into his old childhood friend, Sara. He realizes how much he really missed her... then he learns what she had to go through alone, and he decides he isn't ever letting her go again...

When the media descends and Sara is thrust back into the spotlight, will it all be too much for them to handle, or does their relationship have what it takes to survive?

This was a fun read! I loved Sara and Mike's adorable shared past. What was innocent young love, that neither of them had fully realized, turns into an instant connection now that they're adults.

I feel so bad for Sara, and all that she has gone through. She is an admirable character, simply from how she continues to be strong and whole after so many people in her life have just plain wronged her. Mike is adorable and sexy, and once he finds Sara again does everything he can to repair the relationship they once had and prove to her that he will never let her down again.

The storyline is set around a professional hockey team, with some well written supporting characters who are old and new friends alike... most of which like to impart Mike with much needed relationship advice.

With a fast paced plot, and a scandal that you have to just hope will be cleared, this book keeps you engrossed and entertained throughout.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest and unbiased review!

A sweet sports romance with a touching HEA. The author was done a great job of creating a story packed with second chances, intrigue, hockey action, and a whole lot of romance.

In Mike and Sara's story there were so many moments between them that created a special kind of heartbreak. With both their history, together and apart, you'll want to keep reading in order to get answers. The culprit who does answer those questions will totally surprise you. A very creative story.

This ARC book was a complimentary copy provided by the Publisher and Netgally, I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

Mike and Sara knew each other when they were growing up. While he was a hockey player, she was a figure skater. They lost contact with each other when she went to the Olympics and he went off to Junior Hockey. Ten years later Mike is playing in the NHL finally living his dream. But Sara was falsely accused of cheating at the Olympics and her life spiralled down from there ... it was only the last couple of years that her life is starting to take a turn to the good. When Mike and Sara accidentally meet after ten years apart, that spark between them is back. There are many twists and turns while they try to rekindle their relationship. Will their love succeed? Or will their pasts succeed in breaking them apart? This is a great romance with lots of heat.

I received an ARC copy form Blue Tulip Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

As a huge fan of figure skating, ice hockey romances and the SF Bay Area, I was excited about a Gold Hockey series. The true test was whether Elise Farber can give me great characters, a believable story and keep me engaged. Sadly, that's a no on the author's talent.

I get that she's likely a fan of all things listed in my 1st sentence above. The craftsmanship, however, didn't live up to expectations. The characters and storyline were flimsy. Some elements that were supposed to read as climatic (e.g., "ash sometimes made the strongest type of armor") were some of the most puzzling and wimpiest phrases.

Sports romance are hot. Love me a hockey player. Two people who found a way to reconnect. Good story

I love hockey books :) and this one was good. The story had decent pacing and was well written. I would def read more of this series.

I received this book free through Netgalley. I read it within 24 hours. It was enjoyable--but you really couldn't question the backstory very much, as if you really thought about it, it didn't make a lot of sense. The book blurb mentions that Mike is a "bad boy," but there really isn't anything in the book that indicates this. Perhaps in the first book in the series it was mentioned? I didn't read the first book. The scandal involving the main female character didn't make much sense-- if accused of cheating/bribing and you were innocent, wouldn't you DO something about it? I did like the characters and their relationship was sweet. It seemed to come to a "happy ending" rather quickly though with all of the loose ends wrapped up. I would be interested in reading more by this author though.

Backhand is a story that will lay some surprises on you. It’s an intense story that quickly moves in an unexpected direction. I’m not a big Sports Romance reader, in truth the only ones I read are usually NASCAR related – hey, I love fast cars. I tend to want to watch the sport rather than read about it, if that makes sense. Yet this one got me at the blurb and I’m very glad that I went with my instincts on this one.

Mike has lived the high life as a top hockey player. He’s done the major bad boy routine but that soon grew old. Now he’s more into cleaning up his past life in his sport, and being someone the up and coming rookies can cone to for help and friendship. He’s no saint, but he’s not as bad as the news stories would have you believe. When he runs into his childhood friend and crush, Sara, he’s more than a bit surprised at the woman she is now. Gone is the spitfire, confident young woman he loved as a teen but could never express that emotion to her. In her place is a broken, wounded woman who barely acknowledges what they once had, at least the friendship part. Mike is determined to not lose her again and he’ll push his way into her life once again.

Sara has known the deepest pain, betrayal and humiliation possible. Once her dreams of bringing home Olympic Gold were all that kept her going. With that dream shattered, and her reputation in tatters she’s lucky that she had another talent to fall back on when her world imploded. Her art may not bring in the cheering crowds, but it is her passion and her talent today. The very last person she expected to run into was Mike. He’s grown into quite a famous man with his hockey career… and he’s just as stubborn as she remembers. But Sara trusts no one now, and she’d much rather Mike let her slip into the shadows once again. But it doesn’t look like that is going to happen any time soon. Can she be brave enough to grab hold of what this man she’s always been attracted to is offering… can she dare to believe and trust once more? Tough questions with difficult answers.

While Backhand is a second chance romance, it also has strong touches of suspense. The kind that takes a story you think you understand and adds those twists and unexpected turns that change absolutely everything. Mike and Sara’s story was so much more than I expected it to be – and I was delighted with the results. Mentioning any of those twists and turns would involve major spoilers, so I’ll simply say that if you’re a reader who enjoys the unexpected in a story – then Backhand would be perfect for you.

I would definitely recommend this story along with the others in the Gold Hockey series. There is always more than we know to every person’s life story and Backhand brings that fact alive loud and clearly. A solid romance, an even more in depth suspenseful story, this one I would recommend to any Sports Romance or Romantic Suspense readers You don’t have to have read the earlier story to enjoy this one, but it also should be on your radar.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

I really enjoyed this book. It was fun and flirty. I would recommend this book to friends and book clubs.

I do love a second-chance romance and of course sports books are right up my alley. And although I didn't read book one (or even know that this was a part of a series) I didn't feel lost or confused. So it can definitely be read as a standalone.

This was my first book by this author, but I will likely read more

4 " solidly enjoyable" stars.
I am a little bit of a sucker for second chance story's and sports romances so it was very easy for me to enjoy this book which combined both.
I have to also admit that it was mostly the "HOT" book cover that initially led me to request a copy of this ARC from netgalley but I am so glad that I did as I really loved the plot of this story and the way it was executed by this author.
It starts off with a chance encounter between Mike and Sara which rekindles a previously lost friendship and much more. It was a well balanced read with plenty of plot twists and mysteries that kept me entertained and held my interest right up until the very end.
I was also emotionally moved by Sara and Mike's characters, their back stories and their present day circumstances. It was a well told story and an overall very goodread.
Backhand is the 2nd book in the Gold Hockey series by this author and my first by Elise Faber but not last.

3.5 Stars

Nice second chance romance between two childhood friends. Add in the world of hockey and figure skating and it was a really good story. It went a half star because I just don't understand how if everybody knows who she is and what happened, how did he not know? It was still an enjoyable book though.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

This was a very good although quick read. I would've liked the book to have started with a little back story between Sara and Mike but you get the gist of it later in the book. There was no mention of why Sara's family were no longer involved in her life other than they didn't believe her which maybe would've been good to add.

liked this book

The second book in the hockey series and I must say I think I liked this one better than the first one. Mike Stewart the resident bad boy has been slowly turning over a new leaf at least with his own team and actually being a teammate. Now as things are going good with the team he finds someone from his past, Sara Jetty. She is a former figure skater and was on her way to the Olympics until a scandal derailed her. Now ten years later Mike just happens to see her one day and follows her to an art studio where she works. Working his way back into her life like a body check into the boards he wants to know what happen for back then growing up together they spent a lot of time together until she left for Nationals and then his life went crazy with his mom being arrested then he left for hockey camp. The more she becomes back into his life she is finding that she is being healed from the past as well. They each have a story that intertwines their childhoods and Sara finds out things about Mike that she did not know because after everything in her life she walled herself off or tried to from the world. Mike wants her back in his life and the way he explains his feelings to her takes you back to him being a teenage boy driving them both to the ice arena for her ice skating, and his hockey practice, but still a young boy trying tell a girl that he loves her. Of course he is still nervous but does it. Even after when something happens she still must tell him not to feel guilty and work past his fear of running from her for what happened to her. This is a wonderful story not just about hockey but about life and how it gets so out of control sometimes. The characters in this book are all very good. A good read.