What do you think?
Rate this book
World Cup #4
Back Pass
Sure he was my coach, but why would I let a little thing like that stop me from getting what I want?
Jacob returns from winning a gold medal for soccer in the Tokyo Olympics feeling like he’s finally getting the recognition he deserves in his sport. And boy, is it paying off. He can have anyone he wants, any time he wants.
When his carefree, playboy lifestyle results in a preventable injury, Jacob flees home to Texas to nurse his wounds. He gets an unexpected visit from his former Olympic coach, Hector Hernandez. And damn, is Hector ever looking good. Salt-and-pepper hair, a rocking body and eyes that soften with understanding when Jacob vents about his frustrations.
Jacob desperately wants to turn this into more than friendly advice from a former coach. Hector could be more. He should be more. So why in the world is he holding back?
Jacob is used to getting what he wants. And he wants Hector. Bad. Something like age or shyness isn’t going to keep Jacob from his goal.
"Back Pass" is a high-heat age gap mm sports romance featuring a retired coach and his former player. It is low angst and high heat with a guaranteed HEA.
Jacob returns from winning a gold medal for soccer in the Tokyo Olympics feeling like he’s finally getting the recognition he deserves in his sport. And boy, is it paying off. He can have anyone he wants, any time he wants.
When his carefree, playboy lifestyle results in a preventable injury, Jacob flees home to Texas to nurse his wounds. He gets an unexpected visit from his former Olympic coach, Hector Hernandez. And damn, is Hector ever looking good. Salt-and-pepper hair, a rocking body and eyes that soften with understanding when Jacob vents about his frustrations.
Jacob desperately wants to turn this into more than friendly advice from a former coach. Hector could be more. He should be more. So why in the world is he holding back?
Jacob is used to getting what he wants. And he wants Hector. Bad. Something like age or shyness isn’t going to keep Jacob from his goal.
"Back Pass" is a high-heat age gap mm sports romance featuring a retired coach and his former player. It is low angst and high heat with a guaranteed HEA.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 18, 2022
2 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
F.A. Ray
29 books68 followersF.A. Ray writes contemporary queer romance fiction, including gay romance and lesbian romance (writing as Lainee Ash). They especially enjoy sports romance with rivals who become lovers, second chances, unusual sports and grumpy sunshine opposites attracting.
You can connect with them at linktr.ee/faraywrites to keep up to date on new releases, social media and more.
You can connect with them at linktr.ee/faraywrites to keep up to date on new releases, social media and more.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 20, 2024
Sweet and spicy age-gap hurt-comfort MM sports romance
With its wistful tone and less-usual third-person present-tense point of view, Back Pass is a different and rather lovely sports romance featuring two unique men who come together through one’s misfortune and the other’s grief and find love and hope in each other. Please read the book’s sales copy for a plot summary.
It isn’t perfect, but there’s something endearing about the story, which features hyper-focused and determined soccer player Jacob and grieving, drifting former medal-winning coach Hector. The two met a year or so before, when Hector coached Jacob and the U.S. Olympic soccer team to a shocking gold medal, and they haven’t seen each other since the team’s return to their home clubs and Hector’s mysterious disappearance from the soccer scene. When Jacob’s ankle is injured badly and he’s in need of someone to manage both his physical therapy and his impatience to recover, which would certainly lead to longer-term injuries, Hector reluctantly agrees to step in. Their awareness of each other grows from mutual respect into physical attraction that explodes one night into intimacy, and the aftermath leaves each man reeling in his own way. Jacob’s confusion over Hector’s withdrawal is heartfelt, and Hector’s need to come to terms with his own grief and loss is filled with poignant, touching moments.
Overall, a few things could have been stronger. Hector has been grieving for a long time with no clarification on what happened to his spouse (accident? Illness?) or why he was coaching all the way to the Olympics (that timing was years after said spouse’s death) but then lost it and withdrew from the soccer community after that major event. It’s unclear what made him quit when he did—apart from him feeling too tired to care anymore, but, why THEN?—given it was not timed near his spouse’s death. Jacob’s character is a bit uneven—when the story opens, he’s out clubbing and getting wasted the night before practice, which seems irresponsible, but then he’s shown to be one of the most determined and dedicated players, which didn’t feel consistent. And the person behind the worst of his injury is never called on it, which felt unresolved. Jacob’s stubbornness about and attitude toward his injury became frustrating, as did Hector’s extreme level of grief and guilt after so many years. I wanted more insight to both of them. But I enjoyed seeing them connect and find their way forward.
Overall I enjoyed the read and recommend it to sports romance fans. The soccer elements seemed authentic to this, admittedly, VERY MUCH lay-person who knows nothing about the sport, and the characters themselves were layered and interesting. The secondary characters could have been more fleshed out, but their on-page time supported the story.
HEA, age-gap, hurt-comfort romance, no cheating or emotional cheating. A rather gentle and lovely story. Recommended.
My thanks to Booksprout for the review copy; this is my free and impartial opinion.
With its wistful tone and less-usual third-person present-tense point of view, Back Pass is a different and rather lovely sports romance featuring two unique men who come together through one’s misfortune and the other’s grief and find love and hope in each other. Please read the book’s sales copy for a plot summary.
It isn’t perfect, but there’s something endearing about the story, which features hyper-focused and determined soccer player Jacob and grieving, drifting former medal-winning coach Hector. The two met a year or so before, when Hector coached Jacob and the U.S. Olympic soccer team to a shocking gold medal, and they haven’t seen each other since the team’s return to their home clubs and Hector’s mysterious disappearance from the soccer scene. When Jacob’s ankle is injured badly and he’s in need of someone to manage both his physical therapy and his impatience to recover, which would certainly lead to longer-term injuries, Hector reluctantly agrees to step in. Their awareness of each other grows from mutual respect into physical attraction that explodes one night into intimacy, and the aftermath leaves each man reeling in his own way. Jacob’s confusion over Hector’s withdrawal is heartfelt, and Hector’s need to come to terms with his own grief and loss is filled with poignant, touching moments.
Overall, a few things could have been stronger. Hector has been grieving for a long time with no clarification on what happened to his spouse (accident? Illness?) or why he was coaching all the way to the Olympics (that timing was years after said spouse’s death) but then lost it and withdrew from the soccer community after that major event. It’s unclear what made him quit when he did—apart from him feeling too tired to care anymore, but, why THEN?—given it was not timed near his spouse’s death. Jacob’s character is a bit uneven—when the story opens, he’s out clubbing and getting wasted the night before practice, which seems irresponsible, but then he’s shown to be one of the most determined and dedicated players, which didn’t feel consistent. And the person behind the worst of his injury is never called on it, which felt unresolved. Jacob’s stubbornness about and attitude toward his injury became frustrating, as did Hector’s extreme level of grief and guilt after so many years. I wanted more insight to both of them. But I enjoyed seeing them connect and find their way forward.
Overall I enjoyed the read and recommend it to sports romance fans. The soccer elements seemed authentic to this, admittedly, VERY MUCH lay-person who knows nothing about the sport, and the characters themselves were layered and interesting. The secondary characters could have been more fleshed out, but their on-page time supported the story.
HEA, age-gap, hurt-comfort romance, no cheating or emotional cheating. A rather gentle and lovely story. Recommended.
My thanks to Booksprout for the review copy; this is my free and impartial opinion.
October 19, 2022
This was the 4th book in the World Cup series. I wasn’t sure about reading a book with soccer as the sport because I wasn’t a fan of soccer in general. However, FA Ray did a real good job making the story interesting enough for me to read as an ARC. I’m glad I had the opportunity to read it. It was a very good read. It was a very slow burn with some turmoil by one MC. It would make for a good movie/TV movie.
The story focuses on Jacob, an Olympian who is also an essential member of his MLS team who happened to get badly injured during a practice that he was on the injured list for the time being. He escaped to his home town to nurse his injury. One of his teammate was concerned about him so he reached out to their former coach who coached them during their Olympic winning sport and had since retired afterwards. Against Hector’s misgivings, he decided to visit Jacob since they lived in the same town. Jacob wanted him to be his physical therapist to help him get his injury better so he can play again. Keep in mind, Hector was still mourning his wife’s death and Jacob wanted him for a long time. That’s where I’m going to stop and have you pick up the book to read to find out what happens!
The story focuses on Jacob, an Olympian who is also an essential member of his MLS team who happened to get badly injured during a practice that he was on the injured list for the time being. He escaped to his home town to nurse his injury. One of his teammate was concerned about him so he reached out to their former coach who coached them during their Olympic winning sport and had since retired afterwards. Against Hector’s misgivings, he decided to visit Jacob since they lived in the same town. Jacob wanted him to be his physical therapist to help him get his injury better so he can play again. Keep in mind, Hector was still mourning his wife’s death and Jacob wanted him for a long time. That’s where I’m going to stop and have you pick up the book to read to find out what happens!
October 19, 2022
I really loved Jacob and Hector and the relationship they built together. It seemed like winning that gold medal had given Hector the focus he needed to keep going after the death of his spouse. It allowed him not to have to think about it and deal with his grief if he could focus on the game and his players. Jacob initially was that star player whose gift of playing ability allowed him to indulge in all the pleasures being a famous athlete provided while still succeeding on the field. It also gave him a huge sense of entitlement and the feeling he could always get what he wanted without paying any price. His injury changes everything for him and when Hector shows up to help with his rehabilitation, Jacob can't figure out why if he wants Hector that doesn't immediately happen. As Jacob matures and Hector learns to open up, face his grief and start to live again, these two can finally get the HEA they so richly deserve.
October 18, 2022
Jacob and Hector . . .
Jacob returns from winning a gold medal for soccer in the Tokyo Olympics feeling like he’s finally getting recognition. But when he injures himself, he goes back to Texas and is visited by his former coach, Hector Hernandez. Jacob wants more from Hector, but he seems to hold back. Will the two of them start something that can last?
I didn’t like Jacob at the start. The arrogant attitude doesn’t sit well with me. And he did foolish things that put him in jeopardy as an athlete. Hector’s grief was a little confusing because it didn’t seem like the timing meshed correctly between his wife’s death and his coaching. I’m glad that an age gap didn’t hold them back, because it truly doesn’t matter when two people are drawn to each other. Compatibility and good communication are far more important for a successful relationship.
Jacob returns from winning a gold medal for soccer in the Tokyo Olympics feeling like he’s finally getting recognition. But when he injures himself, he goes back to Texas and is visited by his former coach, Hector Hernandez. Jacob wants more from Hector, but he seems to hold back. Will the two of them start something that can last?
I didn’t like Jacob at the start. The arrogant attitude doesn’t sit well with me. And he did foolish things that put him in jeopardy as an athlete. Hector’s grief was a little confusing because it didn’t seem like the timing meshed correctly between his wife’s death and his coaching. I’m glad that an age gap didn’t hold them back, because it truly doesn’t matter when two people are drawn to each other. Compatibility and good communication are far more important for a successful relationship.
October 20, 2022
This story is about two lost individuals finding their way back from grief and an injury. Hector lost his wife, and grief seems to swallow him completely. He was the coach of the U. S. Olympic Soccer team that won the gold medal. With that win he retired and keep to himself. Joseph was one of his team, he is young and thinks nothing can stop him. Unfortunately he sustained an ankle injury during practice and had to have surgery, he was out for the season. He went home to Austin to recovery. Joseph was frustrated with his physical therapist for going so easy on him. When Coach Hernandez come to see him he begs the coach to be his physical therapist. Hector agrees but is still depressed about losing his wife. Joseph is getting depressed because of his situation and not knowing what his future holds. This shows how they help each other come to terms with their circumstances.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews