Link will be added when review posts closer to release date

I’m a pretty big Santino Hassell fan, but my fangirling didn’t start until I had read his first contemporary.  I haven’t (YET) gone back and read his In the Company of Shadows series. *hangs head in shame* I did read Stygian and really enjoyed. So when I read the blurb for Insight I was so incredibly intrigued.

"
Growing up the outcast in an infamous family of psychics, Nate Black never learned how to control his empath abilities. Then after five years without contact, his estranged twin turns up dead in New York City. The claim of suicide doesn’t ring true, especially when a mysterious vision tells Nate it was murder. Now his long-hated gift is his only tool to investigate.
Hitching from his tiny Texas town, Nate is picked up by Trent, a gorgeous engineer who thrives on sarcasm and skepticism. The heat that sparks between them is instant and intense, and Nate ends up trusting Trent with his secrets—something he’s never done before. But once they arrive in the city, the secrets multiply when Nate discovers an underground supernatural community, more missing psychics, and frightening information about his own talent.
Nate is left questioning his connection with Trent. Are their feelings real, or are they being propelled by abilities Nate didn’t realize he had? His fear of his power grows, but Nate must overcome it to find his brother’s killer and trust himself with Trent’s heart. "

I know right? Psychics, secrets, mysterious visions and sparking heat. GIMME. This is like Angela catnip or something.

Insight starts off slow, introducing the main characters and setting up Nate’s backstory. Nate Black is an empath living in a small suburb of Houston. His abilities have never been anything but a painful hindrance to living a semi-normal, somewhat happy life. When one can feel the emotions of the people he comes into contact with on a regular basis there are no secrets, no mysteries and he knows exactly how they feel about him. To make matters worse, his family is well known and not for any good reasons. They are pretty much known as the town drunks and weirdos.

When Nate is suddenly hit with a vision of his estranged brother’s last moments before his death, he doesn’t know what to do. At first he’s sick and upset, then when he realizes the official story is Theo committed suicide, he knows it’s a lie. No matter the amount of time since they’ve been in contact with each other, no matter what problems they might have had in the past, Theo is Nate’s twin and he knows he wouldn’t have ended his own life. Besides, he knows what he saw in that vision and there was definitely something strange going on. Armed with nothing but a backpack of Theo’s belongings and memories of that vision, Nate heads out toward New York. He’s determined to find out what really happened to Theo. And it’s when he’s hitching his way down the highway that he meets Trent.

As they work their way from Houston, through New Orleans and on into New York, Trent and Nate get to know each other. Their attraction builds at a steady pace and for the first time in his life Nate feels a real connection with another person. A connection filled with warmth and kindness and honest affection. Nate confides in Trent his reasons for traveling to New York and in a moment of irritation the truth of his psychic abilities and his family’s history. Instead of turning away fro his travel companion, Trent is intrigued by Nate’s honesty. Their friendship and attraction grow to a point where they become lovers. But neither knows what will happen when they finally reach New York.

What starts off slow, and sexy if I must say, revs up a bit and becomes much more mysterious once this couple hit the Big Apple. The last months of Theo’s life were spent in a bar known as haven for the psychic glbt community, which is where Nate must go if he wants to find out more about his brother’s life and death. As soon as he hits the front door he realizes he might have made a mistake. Everyone he meets at Evolution is more powerful than he is, and they all have these stories about his brother. Some of them make sense, but others don’t. He learns about the Community and how it is a safe place for those with psychic talent. As Nate digs deeper and slowly peals back the layers of Theo’s past and his involvement with Evolution, the Community, and all the players within this story really gets going and I was on the edge of my seat wondering what in the hell was really going on. Who were the bad guys? Who were the good guys? What makes this even more dark and mysterious is the fact that Nate is still seeing visions and experiencing certain moments in Theo’s life in his dreams. I don’t really want to give away too many spoilers, so suffice it to say that while I enjoyed the opening of Nate and Trent and their connecting while on the journey to New York, I really feel like this story really hits its stride once the details and history of the Community and their link to Nate’s family slowly begin to trickle onto the page.

But this is a romance, so I’ll mention that I really enjoyed Nate and Trent and their smoking hot attraction to each other. Smoking. Hot. Lawdy. They have a HFN ending, but for me it was exactly how their book should have ended. Don’t worry though, I have a feeling we will be seeing much, much more of this couple as the series progresses. Which makes me a very happy. Final Grade- B+

Favorite Quote:

“A psychic community,” Nate said slowly. “What is it, like a Facebook group?”

Could not do it, I powered through to the end, but overall I just couldn't get into it. Even at the very end, I struggled I'm not sure weather it was the me and couldn't connect with the characters and the story.

But i9f I take all that away, the writing is good and the characters are good also. I think everyone who is a fan of this authors work will most likely love it!

Oh boy. I'm excited to read more about this new series. This is sorta my first Santino if I discount Cyberlove series, which I also love. Insight give me a dark, gritty feeling despite having a New York backdrop and it had been a while since I manage to enjoy a m/m romance with such a thick and compelling plot.

Our hero, Nate is from a family of physic and the black sheep of a redneck town. He didn't have a great life growing up and now that he is an adult, his life still sucks with no one he can turn to. When his estranged twin brother was found dead and Nate receive a vision that drives him to hitchhike to New York in search of some answer, he meet a good Samaritan in college grad, Trent.

This pacing of the first half of the book was a bit mellow when Nate was being introduced to The Community in New York, which is an organization of physic recruiting fellow psychic by providing them a support system. But honestly, they sounds like a bunch of villains with nefarious intention. i'm definitely hooked by this interesting paranormal plot and as eager as Nate in finding his twin's murderer. There are so many players in the picture and no one seems to be trustworthy.

In the midst of all amateur detective work, Nate and Trent grew closer together. Without having any Trent's POV, initially I feel is hard to connect to his character. I don't know what he thought of Nate with all his weirdness and baggage. But Trent's action and his loyalty to Nate really shine through and prove that he is a great sidekick despite being normal.

I love the suspense and drama that was built up towards the end and finally we are getting some answers. I was worried that this being the first of the series, I will be left hanging and grappling at nothing concrete. But Santino manage to wrap up everything nicely and a sweet epilogue for the boys. The main story arc here create a big potential for more to be explore with the secondary characters. I can't wait for more after reading the blurb for the next one.

To be cross post on Amazon and blog at later date

There’s the beginning of good world building going on in Insight – mostly hints that tease us to come back for more, but not so vague/MIA that the reader is left confused or upset. I’m definitely curious to see what’s coming next, there’s so much going on in this secret Community and I want to know ALL THE THINGS.

I did feel like the first bit of the book – maybe 40% or so? – was a bit slow in the pacing; not boring, but not much going on to move the plot forward. It did pick up quite a bit in the last few chapters of the book, and overall I don’t have much to point out as a technical flaw.

The relationship between Nate and Trent is pretty damn quick, and I do wish we could have had some of Trent’s POV as well (mainly I’m picky with 1st POV – I prefer it to be dual 1st POV to get the full connection between the couple). Still, I enjoyed their story as is, but there was that little something that was missing from making it a complete favorite for me. Of course, because this is Hassell, the two are hot together, no question about that, and the empath connection Nate has during intimacy sounded extremely powerful – and sexy as hell. I can only imagine those feelings . . . *shivers*

Overall: great start to a new series, enjoyed the mystery/suspense/PNR aspects of it, and I’m already a huge fan of Hassell’s writing style. I’m very much looking forward to book 2; the minute I saw that Holden's story is next and his partner is a "tattooed lumbersexual with a man-bun and a steely gaze"? UM YES PLEASE RIGHT NOW. Ahem, I mean I anxiously await his book! 😊

I'm a big fan of Santino Hassell's Five Boroughs series, but I'm afraid I won't be following this new trilogy, The Community. Each one of the Five Boroughs books features two interesting, complex characters. I don't always like them, but they feel real to me. And for the first 30% of Insight I was pretty happy - it's road romance between Nate, a psychic loner from Texas seeking answers to the death of his twin brother in New York and Trent, the grad student he hitches a ride with. But once the pair arrive in New York, the plot becomes a glut of secondary characters who provide long and complex info-dumps without registering much as distinct personalities. Nate seemed like a pretty typical Hassell character (albeit a guy with under developed psychic talent) but Trent was...well, perfect. And two-dimensional. We never find out anything about his life as a student, his family, his past, or how he falls so easily for the prickly hot-and-cold Nate. The ending is HFN so maybe Trent's character will be better developed in subsequent books, but it looks like the second installment focuses on another couple so I have my doubts.

I still consider Santino Hassell one of my favorite M/M authors but this series looks like it's not my cup of tea.

I received an ARC of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an objective review.

***4.5 Stars***

Wow.....just freaking WOW!

Insight is part thriller, part paranormal romance....and ENTIRELY ENTHRALLING!

First, I have to say that I don't read many books outside of contemporary. Not because I don't like to, but because I just don't naturally gravitate to other genres. But when I saw Santino Hassell was writing a book about gay psychics....one thought went through my head....

GIMME! GIMME! GIMME!

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of his writing, and every one of his writing strengths is on full display here. Endearingly flawed characters you fall in love with and root for, gritty writing that entrances you and a full bodied story that's multidimensional, evocative and sexy.

It's really hard to review this book without spoiling anything, but I'll try to give you a little taste of what to expect.

Nate is an empath and can feel people's emotions. He comes from a family labeled as "freaks" and has spent most of his life being bullied. One day he randomly receives a vision of his brother's final moments before his death. Ruled a suicide by the police, Nate's gut and sudden unexpected visions lead him to believe otherwise.

His brother's death has opened up the portal to some family secrets and Nate's mind and heart can't rest with the unease he's feeling. With no car and no money, his only option is to hitchhike to New York to find answers about his brother's life & death and his family's connection to the city.

Nate is picked up by Trent, a college student going back to New York for the summer. Due to his psychic abilities, Nate is awkward and hesitant with strangers, but with Trent all he feels is warmth and safety. These foreign emotions both scare and intrigue him.

As the two men drive along on their roadtrip, a tentative friendship begins to blossom and the more they get to know each other, the higher the sexual tension climbs. Trent and Nate are defenseless in fighting the chemistry they have and succumb to their desires. And what you get is just...wow! Imagine how amazing sex would be if you could also feel the other person's lust and desire? Whatever you just imagined...elevate that with Santino's brand of sexy....and yeah, it's THAT DAMN GOOD!

A deeper connection begins to grow during the course of the roadtrip, but once in New York, Nate must balance his growing feelings for Trent with the need to get answers about his brother.

He wanted answers, but what he didn't expect was to learn about a Community of psychics. A community that's filled with dangerous members, cult-like rules and mysterious practices all shrouded in philanthropic good intentions.

Santino Hassell introduced a cast of characters that will have you doubting everyone and trying to piece together a puzzle that's clearly bigger than the mystery Nate is trying to solve. This book has so many interwoven layers that your mind never stops working. The twists and turns are coming at you up until the very end...even on the last page you're left gripping your kindle.

I have to be honest and say that it did take me a little bit to get into the book (like I said, non-contemporary is not my usual genre), but once the book had its grips in me...it didn't let go. I couldn't put the book down! As I kept reading, more questions kept forming and the intrigue kept building....even my questions had questions!

While the romance is not necessarily the star of the show here, it's definitely part of the ensemble. Trent and Nate are a team throughout the book, and their relationship is just one of the layers in this story.

"Sliding down in the chair, Nate let the negative energy flow out of his body as he thought of Trent. His smile and voice. His hands and lips. He'd never meditated before, but thinking of the one lucky star in a sky full of darkness was a good way to find peace."

What I loved most about Trent and Nate is though Nate's concerns and hesitations when it came to his psychic abilities in tandem with his growing feelings and evolving relationship with Trent were understandable, their trust in each other was never in question. At the end of the day, no matter what secrets were revealed or astonishing truths were discovered, they could truly rely on each other.

Plain and simple....THIS BOOK WAS DAMN GOOD!!

READ IT! READ IT! READ IT!

The relationship aspect of the story is fully resolved here, but Insight is the beginning of what looks to be a sensational trilogy...so there's plenty of questions still lingering and secrets left to uncover.

as super excited about this book as I love this author's Five Borough series and I thought the paranormal twist would super cool. It started off pretty good as we meet Nate and his nutty family and then he meets Trent. Once they got to New York it went all down hill for me.

This story felt excessively long and I was bored by the 50% mark. I read a lot of UF so I get that world building can take some time in first books of new series but it still felt painfully slow. I think the biggest issue was I felt no connection to Nate and felt nothing between him and Trent. If there is heavy world building I need something to hook me in and keep me interested. That's hard to do when I don't care about the MC's. I seriously struggled to even finish this book and may have dnf'd if it hadn't been a review book.

I think this author's best talent is the way he writes relationships but unfortunately I didn't see any of that here. This was unrealistic insta-love and I didn't feel any emotional connection between these two. Also, they were both super immature and it felt like high school drama in places. (They were both college age and Nate had never had a relationship before so I guess some of the immaturity could be realistic but nevertheless it got on my nerves.)

There were a bunch of side characters but I really didn't feel connected to any of them. The epilogue gives us a glimpse of who the next book will be about but I don't think I care. I may change my mind before the book comes out but as for now I don't see myself reading it.

There was also a bunch of teen slang in the character's dialogue and that got on my nerves. It worked for me in Stygian but here it just felt like "ugg we've seen that and done that all before". Every time one of the characters used the words "salty" and "thirsty" I groaned and felt like throwing my kindle. (You know who else besides Nate and Trent was salty? Me that's who.)

So........this didn't work for me on any level. I feel all the Sadz over that cuz I was expecting this book to be a hit out of the ballpark for me.

**ARC provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

Santino Hassell kicks off a new series with Insight and I have to say holy crap is this book awesome.

Is that enough to have you running to buy the book? No, well how about this. Santino Hassell effortlessly blends multiple genres into an unputdownable read that will leave you weirdly both satisfied and craving more of the world he has sucked you into.

While this is the first in the series, the world building in Insight is done so perfectly that you only realise that so much has been laid before you when you finish and think back to what you just read.

The author blends romance, suspense, intrigue and paranormal into a richly woven tale of Nate and Trent who meet by accident or possibly fate at the right time and travel cross country to find the answer of what really happened to Nate’s twin Theo.

When they hit New York is when the story really hits its rhythm and starts to suck you in deeper and makes you doubt just about everyone but Nate and Trent. I loved this, strange as it seems because when the truth finally came out I was stunned that I did not see it coming and even went back and re-read parts to see the things I missed. Well played Santino Hassell, well played indeed.

This book has an unexpected depth to it. I didn’t expect so many twists and turns and certainly not a few gasp inducing moments that had me staring at the page while my brain caught up to the new twist. Plus the love story was so beautiful and real that I may have shed a tear or two over how perfect Trent and Nate were for each other.

I can’t wait for the next book after finishing Insight. I know this series will only get richer, more engrossing and way more addictive as it goes along and all I can say is bring it on.



I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley for review.

4.5 Psychic Stars

Insight is, for me, proof for all the world that Santino Hassell can write any genre he wants and do it well. No blowing smoke. This is just fact. His characters are real, their issues and the way they deal with them is riveting. The paranormal aspects of this book are fantastic and intriguing.

I obviously enjoyed reading Insight, but it isn't just this book. It's the overarching story line that we're introduced to. One that will carry throughout the entire Community series. I'm not so patiently waiting for books 2 and 3 because even though I know they'll each have their own characters they focus on, they'll also undoubtedly come to some conclusions about everything else that's going on. It's story line upon story line. Like a freaking onion. Layers up on layers of plot that I'm dying to dig into.

I really can't recommend Insight enough. I really only have a small few little things that I could complain about, and even now I'm having trouble remembering why I had any issues at all. I know I didn't feel it was perfect, but so damn close. It was pure joy to read, and I'm really in love with it.


*********************************************
So, I finished this in one sitting. I'll need to write a real review later, but for now I'm just going to say... thank you and may I please have some more?

Insight blew my mind. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down, and when I was forced to due sleep and lectures, it was constantly on my mind; I still revisit it regularly even if I finished it a few weeks ago. I simply can't get enough.

Insight was such a perfect read for me because it had all the things a great romance and mystery needs. The characters were intriguing, complex and kept me guessing their motives and intentions, which is perfect when it comes to mysteries. Nate was so adorable and a very good main character because he was easy to approach as a reader. Trent was adorable too, in a different way than Nate, because while Nate second guessed himself, his influence and what he felt, Trent was adorably confident of a lot of things without being cocky at all. I just really liked them, and rooted for them from the very beginning. There were also plenty of secondary characters who were very interesting; Chase and Holden particularly. While some clarity was provided, there's still so many questions I have about Chase and Holden, who are half-brothers.

The mystery - whether Nate's brother killed himself and who possibly could have murdered him if it wasn't a suicide - was absolutely brilliant, edge of your seat material. There were so many suspicious elements and so many suspects in so many different things that just tangled together, that the story was irresistible and hard to put down. And true Santino Hassell style, there was stunning and steamy romance, which I couldn't possibly get enough.

I need more of this world, and I'm so incredibly happy that there's two books in The Community series scheduled for this year! I'll definitely check them out, and hope that Nate and Trent makes an appearance.

I highly recommend this to anyone who's up for unforgettable paranormal mystery and romance.

Wow. Just ... wow. Insight is one of those books where, after you finish it, there's a certain sense of sorrow because you'll never recapture that amazing sensation of reading it for the first time. I don't want to give away too many plot points in this review, but suffice it to say TRUST NO ONE and NOTHING is as it seems.

We all think our own families are crazy, but in Nate's case, yeah, they're seriously fucked up. He's from a tiny town in Texas and all his family are psychics - his overbearing paranoid aunt, his uncle who drinks to stop the visions, his now dead mother who returned from NYC a shell of her former self. When his twin Theo (a powerful multi-talented psychic) supposedly suicides in NYC, Nate gets a vision of Theo's final horrific moments and knows he has to go to NYC himself.

Nate meets sexy grad student Trent (by accident?) and catches a ride along with him to NYC. Trent, unlike anyone Nate has met before, "was exuding vibes that felt like sunshine on a beach. Nate had never felt anything like it. Usually he had to touch someone to get an impression, but this guy was like a beacon of warmth." And that reaction makes sex between the two unbelievably hot:

“I just feel your hand, and your mouth, and your dick, but also everything you’re feeling. Like flares of pleasure every time I squeeze you tight, and how close you are to coming. How bad you want to fuck.” Nate arched into Trent’s hand. “And everything else is gone. It’s just you.” [...] The sensation of his orgasm rocketed through Nate’s body, and he cried out as well, riding Trent’s pleasure before releasing his own.

When Nate arrives and meets Theo's friends, acquaintances and band mates, he is introduced to The Community, an organization supposedly created to help discover, support and enable supernaturals. I don't want to reveal more of the plot, but just know Insight grabs you and keeps your interest every page of the way and beautifully sets up the next book in the series. I highly recommend it!

DNF at 52%

You can't even imagine how much I wanted to BE ABLE to finish this book and give it a proper one star review. But don't want to spend even one more second of my life on this book and on its shallow characters. They all sound like they went to the same school, where they learned to speak this this way. Terrible dialogues, not even a tiny trace of eloquent writing.

I asked myself, what DID I MISS? Where come these 5 -4 stars reviews from? How can I be so blind and don't share all this excitement from what has been said in them?

At least I know now, that the author and I are not compatible and I'll try to avoid his book in the future.

A mind-bending romantic thriller, Insight offers a unique concept that tugs at your heart and keeps you guessing the whole way through!

Nathaniel comes from a line of psychics, but for some reason, he only has minor empath abilities. He’s never quite “fit” in anywhere, and his school life is twice as hard when it comes out that he’s gay. With the disappearances of his mother followed by the death of his twin, Nate travels to New York to understand what happened. And when he starts having visions that his brother’s suicide wasn’t one, he’s clotheslined by it.

Trent is heading back to school when he sees Nate hitchhiking along the road. It’s not the first time he’s run into Nate in that small town of Texas, so he thinks it’s fate and allows Nate to ride with him. Trent’s intrigued by the shadows that lurk inside Nate, and their cross-country journey challenges Nate’s barriers at the same time Trent realizes what they have is much more than friendship.

The plot captured my attention right off the bat, and the story starts with a BANG. While this is the first novel I’ve read with Hassell as a solo author - I’m a BIG fan of his and Megan Erickson’s Cyberlove series - his characters always have a vulnerability that pulls the emotion right out of you. I expect to be invested, and Insight is no different. And it’s a road trip romance for the first half. These were my favorite parts! There’s nothing like learning about someone while trapped in a car and deciding what music to listen to. It was sweet and steamy, and I just loved these two so much!

Then the plot kicks into overdrive with Nate discovering The Community. The group proclaims to want to help psychics acclimate but with the disappearances piling up, Nate doesn’t know who to trust.

One thing that was off for me was the pacing throughout the middle. Information comes so quickly and from so many different sources that I had to stop a few times when a character’s name was mentioned and think about who they were and what their relationship was to Nate.

This was a great first installment to The Community series, and I can’t wait to see where Hassell takes his readers next.

After reading the incredible and unforgettable ICoS Santino Hassell has quickly become one of my favourite authors and my expectations going into this book were huge. I did worry that this book would struggle to deliver everything I expected from it but by the end of the first chapter any worries I'd had were long forgotten, I was hooked.
Nate Black is a fascinating character who's yet to find his place in life, he's a empath who's never learnt to control his gift/curse and it's hard to imagine how impossible life must be for him, he feels completely isolated and sees his monotonous life stretching out before him until one day seemingly out of nowhere he gets a vision, a vision of his twins death.
Nate's twin Theo was the more gifted and powerful twin and as a result Aunt Eveline the family matriarch became obsessed with him teaching him how to control and expand his abilities and this is when Theo started to change. Aunt Eveline wasn't remotely interested in Nate's little empath abilities and Nate's always considered it a curse anyway and taken his own path steering clear of his family whenever possible.
The Blacks are a family of psychics, a once powerful family but having these abilities takes its toll, well that and the secrets they keep.
Everyone believes Theo committed suicide except Nate, the vision told him a different story and Nate needs to get away from his family and he needs answers to his brothers death so he decides to head for New York.
He hitches a ride with Trent and for the first time ever Nate feels he's met someone he can trust and so he does, he trusts Trent with the one thing he was told to always keep secret.
On reaching New York Nate discovers the Black's are not the only psychics and New York has a huge underground supernatural community. Psychics are going missing, he gets more visions and comes across people with amazing abilities but who can he trust can he even trust that Trent's feeling are real or they a result of something Nate is doing?
The strength of this book like the others by this author lies firstly with the characters, they're complex, flawed and so easy to love, it also helps that the story is intriguing and has so much potential beyond this book.
I read a lot of books and I enjoy a lot of books but Santino somehow manages to find something more, his books are different in the way they make me care and feel so invested in the characters.
I don't give 5* often or easily in fact this is my first (fiction book) 5* read so far this year and I can't wait for 'Oversight'

4.5 Stars

Insight is the first in a new series about people with different psychic abilities, and it is fast-paced, intense, a bit creepy, and basically sucks you in from start to end.

Nate Black is an empath who's never really been taught how to use his gift. When his twin brother, Theo, dies Nate doesn't believe it's suicide and decides to go to New York to investigate. He's picked up by Trenton Castille who turns out to also be headed to New York. Somewhere during the 40+ hour road trip the two bond and agree to meet up after Trent drops Nate off.
~~
“The problem is that I’m afraid this whole thing is an extended fever dream and none of it is real,” Nate blurted. “I’m afraid I’m going to wake up one day and realize this was all in my head, and lose the one good thing that has come out of this entire fucked-up situation.”
They looked at each other for a long moment before Trent moved closer, putting his hands on Nate’s shoulders. “It’s not in your head. I like you. I want you. If you think I’m trying to experiment or something just because I don’t have a lot of experience, I’m not.”
~~
Told entirely from Nate's POV the reader gets immersed in the pain, confusion, and determination Nate feels to follow through finding out what's ultimately going on within The Community, a psychic nationwide organization that helps unconnected psychics reach their full potential, and seems to be at the center of what really happened to Theo.

In between the sleuthing, Nate begins to really fall for Trent. And so did I. I love this character! Trent is...absolutely swoon worthy and his moments with Nate are so well written, I think I've found a new book boyfriend.
~~
Everything about the moment, from the tight grip of Trent’s hands on his upper arms to the thick rod of his dick pressing up against Nate’s thigh, was perfection. No one had ever worshiped his mouth this way. Had ever drawn him close and drank him in with such hunger. And he’d never experienced the wondrous sense of such a massive onslaught of impressions—affection, lust, love.
~~
Ahem. Anyway...Santino never disappoints when the passion get hot.

Insight is an intense, paranormal, romance, mystery and thriller where Hassell has created an entire community (ha! See what I did there!) of complex and interesting main and secondary characters.

Every time I read something new by Santino Hassell it strikes me again how much he continues to grow as a writer. He is a keen weaver of tales, and this is the beginning of what is already a truly fascinating series. I'm really looking forward to seeing where this goes!
~~
“I’m afraid. And you’re the only person I can trust. And even though it’s selfish of me to drag you into this, even though we could both end up in more trouble than we can probably handle, I know I can count on you to have my back.”
~~
Recommended!

This book is grade A CREEPY: weird, intense, and fast-paced.

If you go in expecting a traditional romance, you might be disappointed. Because this story is anything but traditional.

First, Insight is a paranormal thriller. Second, it's a mystery. Third, it's a romance.

Nate is the narrator of the story. Depressed and bitterly lonely, Nate works at a liquor store, which he figures is a step above working at a fetish shop. Except it isn't. Old high school bullies come in and try to hit on him. And he has a powerful vision right there in the store. Bottles of booze go flying.

You see, Nate is an empath. He can feel other people's emotions. He comes from a family of psychics. His twin Theo was the more powerful brother, but now Theo is gone, and Nate needs to figure out what happened to him. And to do that he needs to go to New York.

The book takes us on a wild ride, from Texas to New Orleans to New York, and introduces us to a cast of complex characters, most of whom are members of the Community (I'm not going to tell you what that is; Nate can do that).

There's the charismatic Holden, who owns and runs a nightclub for psychic queers; there's Chase, stone cold and resentful; Beck, who tries to befriend Nate and sell him on the Community; and Elijah, sweet, fun, and flirty. But the only one Nate trusts is Trent.

Trent isn't a psychic. He's a grad student, a regular guy with serious smarts but no special powers. But he becomes Nate's everything. He's the only person Nate can touch without feeling like he's going to break apart.

Nate is determined to figure out what happened, not only to Theo but to other powerful psychics who've gone MIA.

The connection between Nate and Trent is instantaneous. That's how it works when you're an empath and find your soulmate while hitchhiking. Also, sex is that much hotter when you can get in your partner's head and FEEL his lust and pleasure.

Hassell is an incredible writer. The dialogue here is sharp; the imagery, focused. Every single character is nuanced and complicated.

While I would have preferred more romance, I can appreciate Hassell's talent. This book made me frustrated. And ANGRY. But at the end I just went with it.

If you follow the clues with Nate and Trent, you'll probably figure out the mystery, but not until the very end. The story sort of sneaks up on you. Before I knew it, I couldn't put it down.

I loved Trent and Nate together, and I was thrilled that we got an epilogue, which was all warm and cozy.

Until that fucking phone call.

Where the hell is book 2 when you need it?

5 Stars - All the way!
Pure Perfection!!

This story grabbed my attention and didn't let go!! Santino has shown he is a superb writer of multiple sub-genres/tropes!! My all time favorite author is Dean Koontz, and I used to think nobody could write a mystery/thriller/paranormal story like him. Well, Santino has done it and he did it well!!

Full Review:



Insight is book one in Santino Hassell's new series, The Community. This is a paranormal romance/psychic thriller that is full of suspense, twists, turns, and of course hot as hell chemistry. To say I was blown away by this story is putting it too light, this story left me breathless and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire book. I really shouldn't have been surprised by Santino's ability to write in the paranormal realm, after all reading his earlier work,In the Company of Shadows, one can see his ability to jump into the paranormal world with ease. That is exactly what he has done here as he takes us into the world of pyschics and cult-like living with the landscape of NYC as a backdrop.

The MC in this story are Nate Black & Trent Castille. Nate is an empath with no training, from a family that is well-known in the psychic world and also full of secrets. These twisted secrets are eventually revealed throughout the story and there is lots of creative foreshadowing to clue the reader in. Nate really doesn't like his family, in-fact he detests them and everything they are about. Nate just tries to stay in his lane while his messed up family does their thing.

When Nate suddenly starts getting visions of his estranged twin, Theo, drowning, he knows he won't be able to rest until he figures out what happened and how he is getting these visions. So, after the funeral for Theo he plans to get to New York, the only way a person can with no money or car. He plans to hitchhike.



Nate lucks out when a black Chevy Nova pulls over for him and he finally gets to meet, Trent. These two spend the next 3 or 4 days traveling and getting to know each other as they make their way from Texas to NY. The thing you quickly realize about empaths is that they are largely influenced by their environment and people around them. Nate was around negativity in Texas and he felt dark all the time. Now Nate is around Trent in the confines of a car and he can't help but absorb the emotion that Trent exudes, happiness, peacefulness, calmness; not to mention eventually lust. During an impromtu stop in New Orleans, Nate learns how combining his feelings with Trents makes for an explosively hot time!



Once these two arrive in NYC neither of them want to part. They have bonded and developed this attraction to each other that makes them yearn for each other after they part. Nate starts trying to retrace his brothers footsteps, find who he was associated with, who he lived with, where he worked and what he uncovers is a multifaceted cult like organization known as, The Community.

The layers of The Community are slowly uncovered as Nate digs deeper and deeper, all while continuing to get random visions. The Community, quickly tries to bring him into their fold, at which point I was screaming for him to run away! The more people he meets at a club called Evolution, the thicker the web of craziness gets. Nate quickly finds out that there are so many more layers of psychics out there, empaths, precog, postcog, mediums, telepathics, and more, and The Community is gathering them all together. It isn't until he meets the members of Theo's band,The Dreadnoughts, that pieces are connected for him.

Once Trent and Nate reconnect, Nate is able to start seeing things more clearly. Trent is his center. His calm. He quickly becomes his heart, but he fears that Trent may not really feel the same and is instead acting out Nates emotions as he projects them. Eventually, after some pulse-pounding occurences these two get on the same wave length and Nate realizes that Trent wants him, all on his own...no influence needed from Nate.

This story ends with a strong HFN and we get a glimpse into book 2 at the end. I have always loved paranormal psy/thrillers, my favorites being from author Dean Koontz. I will now add Santino Hassell to that list of authors who know how to write a gripping thriller. I can't wait for book 2!!





Review Copy of Insight provided by Riptide Publishing for an honest Review.

For anyone who liked reading Stygian, Santino is back with a paranormal book that is addicting to read from start to finish! Nate Black is a distinct relative to Jeremy from Stygian and the paranormal situations spiral from there. Nate is born into a family of psychics in a small Texas town. After his twin brother, Theo, is pronounced dead after being estranged from the family for almost five years, Nate doesn't believe the cause of death is suicide. Nate has a vision of Theo's last moments that point makes his death seem more like a murder. In an attempt to escape his aunt and uncle and to solve his brother's mysterious death, Nate hitches a ride to New York City with a gorgeous engineer, Trent, he's bumped into several times around town.

Nate doesn't have much going for him at Brookside, Texas. He's a cashier at a liquor store, his car was recently stolen, and he's living in a town filled with kids who bullied him when he was in school for being in a wacky family of psychics and for being gay. After a falling out of sorts with his aunt and uncle, not that they were ever really close, and without any sort of plan, he decides to hitchhike to NYC. Nate is an empath, but he's always been seen as the weak one in the family. Nate's abilities only seem good to detect the feelings of others, which makes it difficult for him to be in relationships, or even being able to hook-up with other guys. It's made him a bit of a loner who has difficulty speaking with others, but all of that changes when he meets Trent. Trent exudes nothing but confidence and a calm, positive energy whenever Nate is around. The feeling between them is intensified by Nate's own empath abilities and the strangers soon become much more to each other than they thought possible.

We see the story solely from Nate's POV, which makes the story even more intriguing because we never really know what Trent's story is. Or maybe this book just made me super paranoid, even with the love interest. Nate's family is filled with secrets, from his mother's alleged suicide to his aunt's protective hold over the family. When Nate makes it to NYC and meets the people in Theo's life, he gets introduced to the Community. The "Community" is a community of psychics. It seems like they mean well by bringing other new psychics into the fold, but there's an underlying feeling of unrest when you read about them. Everyone feels like a suspect and it's difficult knowing who Nate can trust and who is telling him the truth. He gets visions when he's drifting off or when he sleeps, but he has no idea who or what's causing them. They're all visions related to Theo, but the visions only come to him in pieces.

I absolutely love Nate to pieces. He would rather keep to himself, read, and not have to make small talk with others, but he has a smart mouth that just kills me. Sometimes he just can't keep his mouth shut when he feels riled up, and it's a nice moment of levity, and horror I think, to see him go off on characters who may or may not be Theo's killer.

Trent is more of a mystery to me because we only ever see him from Nate's POV. He just seems so perfect. I mean, Nate and Trent are hot together, and the story does end in a happy way for the two of them, but I can't help but want to think there's something more to Trent than what we're seeing. Nate and Trent have some steamy scenes togther, but the crime-solver in me actually just wanted to go back to the story of finding out who Theo's killer was. The romance is great since this is a romance novel, I guess, but I loved the mystery in this story more. I don't think it's too difficult to deduce some parts of the story, while still being shocked by other revelations.

This story is a little different for anyone who's used to reading Santino's Five Boroughs series and his co-written Cyberlove series, but I found that I really enjoyed reading this paranormal subgenre. Insight feels like a HFN ending for the romance part of it, but the story itself feels much more like a cliffhanger. I'm dying to know what happens next, and wouldn't have entirely minded a sequel with Nate and Trent as the main characters again, but it looks like we're getting a different couple for book two! I loved this book and the stroud of mystery will keep you awake at night until you finish the story. I can't wait to read the next book in this series!

***Thanks to Riptide Publishing for providing me an ARC through NetGalley***

I love me some Santino Hassell.
His voice, his choice of wording as well as his insecure characters.

This was a great start to a new series and I gotta say I loved the mysterious element of it. Even tho I knew that Nate and Chase were brothers from the time "unknown mother" was mentioned.

Overall I really liked the intro to this series but to be honest I didn't feel the greatest connection btwn the 2 MCs and thats ok because as characters I liked them both a lot.... as individuals.

Im really looking forward to book 2 in this series