Title: Backhand
Author: Elise Faber
Series: Gold Hockey novels (book 2)
Genre: Contemporary Romance/Sports Romance
Publisher: Blue Tulip Publishing
Puck Harder.
Who says dating a bad boy is a terrible idea? Or a reformed one at least…
**Standalone Novel**
Mike Stewart is a bad boy.
Sleeping around. Boozing. Fighting with teammates.
Name a bad behavior and he’s done it—done it so well, in fact, that he almost tanked his career as a starting defensemen for the NHL’s San Francisco Gold.
But Mike is done with all that. He’s starting with a fresh foot forward and putting his past behind him.
That is, until his past quite literally reappears before his eyes.
Sara Jetty is just as beautiful as she was a decade before, but Mike hasn’t seen her since she left for her first Olympics and scored a gold medal in women’s figure skating. Now something has put shadows in her eyes, a familiar type of hurt he is all too well versed in.
This Sara wants nothing to do with him. Their easy friendship is gone and in its place is a hardened woman who’s nothing like the girl from his past.
Still, Mike hasn’t become a top defensemen in the NHL by being afraid of hard work, and he isn’t about to let Sara push him away. Come hell or high water, he’s going to crack her tough outer shell and find the sweet, innocent woman he’s lusted after and loved, in equal measure, for more than ten years.
“I’ve had enough serious for a while. Let’s stick with fun.”
“Fun as in you teasing me?”
She shrugged and got out. “Yes, that works.”
“Or fun as in sexy naked time?” he asked, getting out of his own side and looking over the top of the car at her. The garage was dark, except for the faint light coming from the opener above their heads.
He was gorgeous, as in he literally took her breath away, all planes of hard lines softened by his five o’clock shadow and plump lips.
She wanted to sketch him.
Jewelz Review~
Elise Faber can certainly tell a story. I neglected my home and work responsibilities and read Backhand over two days. I would have likely read it in one, but there were some outside issues preventing that. Needless to say, I really enjoyed this book. It's the second in her series following the San Francisco Gold hockey team and chronicles the story of bad boy Mike Stewart.
Mike has known Sara Jetty since they were teenagers, but it's been ten years since they've had any contact. Now that their paths have crossed once again, Mike can't ignore the fact that he feels just as strongly for her now as he did back then. But a lot has happened in both Mike and Sara's lives over the past ten years. Things that are better left in the past. But with Mike being in the spotlight with the Gold, their pasts won't stay hidden once they start dating - especially with Sara Jetty being, well, Sara Jetty.
Despite the obstacles, Mike and Sara's relationship progresses. The two have chemistry - both in and out of the bedroom. I loved the way they interacted, their verbal sparing - such a fun dynamic to their relationship. I enjoyed Brit and Stefan's roles as not only Mike's teammates, but also as relationship mentors (whether solicited or not). Monique and Mira were a delightful addition to the story and I loved how they embraced Sara immediately as one of their own. And I would be remiss if I failed to mention Pascal and Mitch - those two are simply awesome.
Backhand is an intense, hold-onto-your-seat romance. Even when Mike tries to "take it slow," there's really nothing slow about this story or their relationship. It's sweet and spicy with some sauciness thrown in for good measure - and perhaps a little suspense as well ;)
FYI ~ open door intimacy, language
While I personally would prefer less language & less detail in the intimate scenes, all content is appropriate for the story - intimate scenes are plot driven and language isn't used in excess (they're hockey players, right?)
Honest disclosure ~ I received a review copy
Check out the rest of the Gold Hockey Standalones!
Gold Hockey, Book 1
Offsides-Gold Hockey, Book 1.5
Aside from writing romance, Elise’s passions are chocolate, Star Wars, and hockey (the order depending on the day and how well her team — the Sharks! — are playing). She and her husband also play as much hockey as they can squeeze into their schedules, so much so that their typical date night is spent on the ice. Elise is the mom to two exuberant boys and is thoroughly addicted to Dancing With the Stars. Connect with her on facebook (facebook.com/elisefaberauthor), twitter (@faberelise), instagram (@elisefaber) or http://www.elisefaber.com.
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