REVIEW: Down by Contact by Santino Hassell

Two rival football players begin a game with higher stakes than the Super Bowl in this steamy romance from the author of Illegal Contact.  Simeon Boudreaux, the New York Barons’ golden-armed quarterback, is blessed with irresistible New Orleans charm and a face to melt your mama’s heart. He’s universally adored by fans and the media. Coming out as gay in solidarity with his teammate hasn’t harmed his reputation in the least—except for some social media taunting from rival linebacker Adrián Bravo.

Though they were once teammates, Adrián views Simeon as a traitor and the number-one name on the New Jersey Predators’ shit list. When animosity between the two NFL players reaches a boiling point on the field, culminating in a dirty fist fight, they’re both benched for six games and sentenced to joint community service teaching sullen, Brooklyn teens how to play ball.

At first, they can barely stand to be in the same room, but running the camp forces them to shape up. With no choice but to work together, Simeon realizes Adrián is more than his alpha-jerk persona, and Adrián begins to question why he’s always had such strong feelings for the gorgeous QB…

ONE CLICK ON AMAZON

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Christy's Review:

I love a good enemies to lovers story, especially one with good back and forth banter. Down to You is one of those books that gripped me from the start and didn’t let go. This is the first book of Santino Hassell’s I’ve read, and I can’t wait to read more!

Adrián and Simeon don't get along. They are on rival football teams and there is bad blood between them. When they get aggressive with each other and both end up suspended, they end up being forced to spend much more time together then they would like.

Simeon and Adrián aren’t friends, but the more time they spend together, the more they can both see redeemable qualities in each other. More than that, they are both attracted to one another, even if Adrián doesn’t want to admit his attraction. The build up to them being together… gah! I loved the slow burn! Once it finally happened, though… holy hell. HOT!

 

   

“You’re killing me, Adrián,” he whispered. “You’re dangerous.”
“I’m not apologizing for it. I like making your heart beat faster.”
“It does. Trust me.”

 

I loved both Simeon and Adrián. Both were real and raw characters. I enjoyed the banter between the two, and loved even more seeing them together for real. The last bit was a real treat. There were great supporting characters as well. Overall, I really enjoyed this story! I can’t wait to read more from this author. I think I need to go back and read Illegal Contact ASAP!

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Third Rail by Santino Hassell - Release day!

Third Rail (Five Boroughs)

Christopher Mendez has always known his sexual identity had a swerve. No straight guy would have low-key lusted after his childhood best friend, right? Unfortunately, a combination of insecurity and overall lack of game has prevented him from further exploring his sexuality. That changes once he agrees to participate in a photoshoot for a queer dating app and meets Jace Fairbairn.

Jace is beautiful, fey-like, and in an open polyamorous relationship with his gorgeous linebacker-looking husband Aiden. Once they set eyes on Chris, they’re instantly in lust and determined to broaden his sexual horizons. But what’s supposed to be a straight-forward sexual encounter gets complicated once a one-night-stand has repeat performances, and Jace and Aiden begin to fall in love.

This collection of shorts explores the start of a relationship that eventually blossoms into something the three men realize they cannot do without.

One click for FREE!!

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Excerpt

Maybe after enjoying our weekend together, Chris had realized he liked sex with men a little too much. Maybe he wasn’t as comfortable with his sexual fluidity as I’d assumed.

Or maybe it hadn’t been as good for him as I’d thought . . . Nah.

Before my eyes, Chris draped an arm around Jace’s shoulders, which was like the fucking bat signal. I usually kept my distance until I knew it was safe to move in. Even when I wasn’t trying to be, I could come off pushy and domineering as all hell, and the last thing I wanted was to scare Chris off.

Since the night we’d spent together, I hadn’t been able to get him out of my head. Jace either. We’d talked about it after weeks and weeks of us courting Chris via text, because neither of us could deny that this wasn’t typical. Not by a longshot.

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About Santino Hassell:

Santino Hassell was raised by a conservative family but grew up to be a smart-mouthed, school cutting grunge kid, a transient twenty-something, and eventually transformed into a grumpy introvert and unlikely romance author with an affinity for baseball caps. His novels are heavily influenced by the gritty, urban landscape of New York City, and his desire to write relationships fueled by intensity and passion.

He’s been a finalist in both the Bisexual Book Awards and the EPIC Awards, and was nominated for a prestigious RITA award in 2017. His work has been featured in BuzzFeed, Huffington Post, Washington Post, RT Magazine, and Cosmopolitan Magazine. 

Connect with Santino: Website | Twitter | Instagram | FB Group | FB | GR | Tumblr

Follow Me Into Darkness - REBOOT!!

Buy Links

Publisher Page ♦ Amazon ♦ BN, Apple, Kobo, Scribd ♦ Goodreads

Five of the top voices in queer romance teamed up last year to give you Follow Me Into Darkness: Five Tales of Carnivale Romance. Their stories were bold, they were decadent, they were achingly sinful. They begged you to remove your masks just once and many of you listened. Their stories looked into the heart of modern day New Orleans and its steamy past, followed an errant queen in disguise, walked through the lush streets of Rio, and then continued straight on into the lofty pages of a Shakespearean soliloquy.

Mardi Gras is coming fast and Follow Me Into Darkness is back to seduce you. It’s on sale for only 99 cents from 2/26 - 3/5 plus the authors are giving you gifts and treats along the way!

For one week only, romance writers Santino Hassell, J.R. Gray, J.C. Lillis, Roan Parrish, and Kris Ripper dare you to take off your masks again...but are you ready for what might happen if you do?

About the Book:

Carnivale is a time for decadence, for revelry, and for mischief. A time when we shed the figurative masks we wear in everyday life in favor of new ones… ones that allow us to be a little bolder, a little more adventurous, and perhaps a little truer to ourselves. Follow Me Into Darkness is a compilation of original tales of queer romance by five of the premier authors of contemporary romance.

Hurricane by Santino Hassell

Interesting things never happened to Zay. He was the wallflower everyone forgot about as soon as the booze began to flow, and Mardi Gras had never been an exception. But after a chance encounter with a devil-may-care grifter, this year's celebration brings adventure and whirlwind romance.

If We Be Friends by J.C. Lillis

Seventeen-year-old Ven should be flying high—he's playing the title role in a new TV drama about Hamlet's teen years, and tonight they're having a Mardi Gras cast party in a possibly-haunted castle. But Ven's lost all his mirth since his boyfriend suggested they "take a break," so he plans to skip the bash and brood in his trailer all night. Then the exasperating guy who plays Horatio challenges him to a Shakespearean soliloquy-off, and Ven knows his actorly honor is at stake. He says yes to the duel, trudges off to the the party to meet his fate--and finds that more awaits him onstage than a battle of wits and words.

Masked by J.R. Gray

Blistering heat and half-naked masked men as far as the eye can see, but Heath runs into the one face it’s taken him fifteen years to forget. Javier is plagued with a life of regret, but when a second chance confronts him, can he let go of his hang-ups and seize the moment? 

The Queen’s Reflection by Kris Ripper

Isah plays the role everyone expects: malleable and cautious, a true queen. But what others see as a queen’s appropriate modesty is really just a disguise for what Isah has never told anyone, the thing no one can ever know.

This body, dressed in the queen’s gowns, is a lie.

Once a year, at carnival, Isah dons someone else’s clothes and becomes them for a night. A young cook in stained whites, or a stableboy in worn breeches. As long as no one gets too close the pretense holds.

Until two strangers look past all the characters and Isah finally exposes the person behind the mask.

Touched by Roan Parrish

Sometimes when he touches people Philippe Rondeau sees their future. It’s erratic and inconvenient, but mostly he’s learned to deal with it. Sure he hasn’t found true love yet, but he has friends and lovers, and is kept busy running his family’s jazz club in Prohibition-era New Orleans. But now it’s Mardi Gras and all bets are off. In the space of one night, Philippe falls under the spell of jazz musician Claude and learns a terrible secret about his powers. If Philippe is certain of anything it’s that the future can be tricky, but the chance at love makes it all seem worthwhile.

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Hard Wired by @MeganErickson_ and @SantinoHassell - 5 STARS!!

Hard Wired

Megan Erickson & Santino Hassell

Blog Tour

Fast Connection by Megan Erickson and Santino Hassell - RELEASE DAY & Review by Bella

Title: FAST CONNECTION

Series: Cyberlove, book 2

Authors: Megan Erickson, Santino Hassell

Release day: July 11, 2016

Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Fast-Connection-Cyberlove-Book-2-ebook/dp/B01GQRSKVQ

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/fast-connection-megan-erickson/1123895069

Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/fast-connection

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/fast-connection/id1122186047?mt=11

All Romance Ebooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-fastconnection-2057212-149.html

Goodreads -  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30415154-fast-connection

Blurb:

After a decade of serving in the Army, everyone still expects me to be Dominic 'Nicky' Costigan—the skirt-chasing player. They don't know I've been spending my days trying to figure out my post-military life. Including how to pick up guys.

When I meet Luke on a hookup app, he makes it clear it's for one-night only. That's fine with me, because I'm down to see what this silver fox can do. But after I arrive at his doorstep, it doesn't take long to realize we have serious chemistry, and we end up meeting again.

He's got more walls around his heart than a military base, but I think he's as addicted to me as I am to him. He can't resist me for long. I mean, who can? Except Luke's rules exist for a reason, and when I test his limits, things get complicated. Maybe too complicated.

Bella's Review: 4.5 Stars!!!

4.5 Stars!!!!

Amazing story about Dominic and Luke! 

Strong Signal was absolutely amazing. AMAZING. Seriously, if you haven't read book one, please stop right now and one click. Garrett and Kai were amazing. 

Fast Connection is about Dominic and Luke. Dominic is home from the military. He's not feeling so sure about his place in life. He's living at home, working in his parent's deli and realizing that he has outgrown living with his parents. But he needs to get a plan in place before he moves out. 

In the meantime.... he really wants to explore his bisexuality. Being with men is relatively new and he wants to experience more. So....how does one find a hookup? Grindr of course. 

Luke is 39. He's divorced with two teenage kids. But he's also bisexual. And he likes hooking up with young men. And he likes to keep his hookups very separate from his family life. And he never does repeats. And he doesn't talk much. LOL. Took me a while to warm up to Luke. 

These two meet for a fast hookup. 

But neither one can stop thinking about the other. 

What I loved about this book:
~The writing. So easy to read. It's always so impressive when 2 authors collaborate and these two have a magic recipe. The writing is seamless. 
~ Alternating POV. I'm so glad we get into both character's head. 
~ Chemistry. Man. Luke and Dominic have chemistry. 
~ Banter/texting. Love the back and forth!
~ Flaws. We are all flawed. Luke and Dominic are not perfect. Their journey to HEA is not easy. It's messy. Families aren't always cookie cutter families. But I love how each one becomes a better person throughout the story. 

Bottom line: Fast Connection is a great story about coming to terms with who you are, embracing yourself and letting your family in. It's sweet, angsty, sexy and addictive!!

One click now!!!

Author bio:

Megan Erickson is a USA Today bestselling author of romance that sizzles. Her books have a touch of nerd, a dash of humor, and always have a happily ever after. A former journalist, she switched to fiction when she decided she likes writing her own endings better.

She lives in Pennsylvania with her very own nerdy husband and two kids. Although rather fun-sized, she’s been told she has a full-sized personality. When Megan isn’t writing, she’s either lounging with her two cats named after John Hughes characters or… thinking about writing.

Website: http://meganerickson.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormeganerickson

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeganErickson_

Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6879435.Megan_Erickson

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Megan-Erickson/e/B00AWD8MHS/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1454466025&sr=8-2-ent

In Focus series

Trust the Focus

Focus on Me

Out of Frame

Overexposed (coming soon)

Bowler University series

Make it Count

Make it Right

Make it Last

Mechanics of Love series

Dirty Thoughts

Dirty Talk

Dirty Deeds

Gamers series

Changing His Game

Playing for Her Heart

Tied to Trouble

Leveling the Field

Cyberlove series (co-written with Santino Hassell)

Strong Signal

Fast Connection

Santino Hassell

Santino Hassell was raised by a conservative family, but he was anything but traditional. He grew up to be a smart-mouthed, school cutting grunge kid, then a transient twenty-something, and eventually transformed into an unlikely romance author.

Santino writes queer romance that is heavily influenced by the gritty, urban landscape of New York City, his belief that human relationships are complex and flawed, and his own life experiences.

Social Media:

Website (www.santinohassell.com)

Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/santinohassellbooks)

Twitter (https://twitter.com/SantinoHassell)

Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/santino_hassell)

Amazon (amazon.com/author/santinohassell)

Five Boroughs series:

Book 1: SUTPHIN BOULEVARD

Book 2: SUNSET PARK

Book 3: FIRST AND FIRST

Book 4: INTERBOROUGH (Coming October 2016)

Cyberlove series (with Megan Erickson)

Book 1: STRONG SIGNAL

Book 2: FAST CONNECTION

Standalone books by Santino Hassell:

STYGIAN

AFTER MIDNIGHT

Strong Signal by Megan Erickson and Santino Hassell

Strong Signal 

by Megan Erickson and Santino Hassell

Bella's 5 Star Review

This book. was. SO. Good.

I mean, I just get a silly grin on my face thinking about how good it was.

Garrett is a solder serving his last tour in Afghanistan. He passes the time by playing his favorite video game. Kai is a video "gaymer" who has his own live stream channel with a following of subscribers that watch him play and sample upcoming video games.

I love that these two meet online while playing a video game. Kai kills Garrett and Garrett looks him up.... and can't believe his eyes when he sees Kai's face. He is instantly attracted to him.

They develop this .... friendship online which quickly blossoms into flirtation.

The banter...

I LOVE this online exchange. Starts with e-mails, progresses to instant messaging, then to skype.

And their chemistry just can't be contained by the internet. Yowza!!! These two are so hot together.

By the time they meet in person, they are completely smitten with each other. So they can gallop off into the sunset with their HEA, right?

But it's not all rainbows and roses. Kai hasn't left his apartment in 3 years.

3 years.

He's plagued with social anxiety and since he works online, he doesn't really need to confront this problem. Until Garrett shows up on his doorstep.

Garrett is a bit...over protective. And he's worried about not getting a good job. His lack of options is what lead him to join the military to begin with and he doesn't want to find himself barely scraping by after all of his time served in the military.

I love these two men. They are so different and so perfect for each other.

I love their honesty. Their ability to see each other's flaws and accept them. I love that they want to become better people for each other.

And I love their scorching hot chemistry. Because holy. crapola. I hope you're good at reading one handed ;-)

Bottom line: this book is why I love to read. I was sucked in from the beginning. I love that we get alternating POV. And I couldn't stop reading, nor can I stop thinking about these characters since I finished.

The book hangover has commenced.

Read this book!!!!!

 Get it on Amazon!!!!