Illegal Contact by Santino Hassell was one beautifully frustrating, angsty yet hilarious read! I found my myself cracking up often at the banter and sarcasm between all the characters. This could be classified as a deeper m/m romantic comedy with feels. The plot is well paced with a slow build up. I'm a sucker for a reformed asshole story. Especially when the guy is such a jerk, he has you shaking your head thinking he can't be reformed... then BAM! He starts to show you glimpses of what's inside him... That is Gavin Brawley... a big mean NFL player on the outside but a softy at heart. He doesn't care what anyone thinks of him. He's had a tough life with only himself to rely on leaving him with a giant chip on his shoulder and quite the bad reputation. Some would say he's down right hostile and extremely rough around the edges. He's also hiding his sexuality. Being Bi in the NFL is frowned upon. So, when he gets arrested for assault, the media can't get enough resulting in him being placed on house arrest for 6 months! This makes Gavin even more impossible to deal with.... His manager suggests for him to get a personal assistant to help him out during his incarceration.
 
 In comes adorable, down-on-his-luck Noah. Noah is a kid from Queens, NY who has made plenty of mistakes himself. He hasn't had an easy life... He's a bit uptight and extremely  straight forward. When you put these two personalities together, it's a battle of wills and definitely NOT love at first sight! Noah might be the only person who does not put up with Gavin's shit. I loved how they went at each other, hence my cracking up. But through all the banter and bull, a real friendship and deep caring forms between the two.... Noah is just what Gavin needs. He treats him with respect and sees past his NFL status. Both are so wonderful in their own ways. Broody Gavin and preppy Noah just made me smile! Doing things for each other that had me swooning all over. There was plenty of sexual tension and build up that had my mouth watering. These two are certainly hot, but more importantly they connect on a deeper level that's built from trust. Can this jock love a nerd?
 
This is one love/hate relationship that is a must read.... I can not wait to get more from this series.
 
I know a sports romance is out of Santino's comfort zone. I'm so happy he took a chance because it paid off.  He did a fabulous job!!

Gavin is the New York Barons' tight end. Known by his bad temper that has gained him to be on house arrest after an incident on a night out, and not being able to get out, he needed someone to run his errands. Noah has been struggling to pay student debts and trying to help his unemployed father. A job as a personal assistant to a famous athlete seems to be what he's been looking for. But none of them is prepare for the tension and attraction that start to grow between them.

It took me quite a while to care for Gavin. He was such an unlikable character for most of the book. I have a lot of issues with him because he was awful with Noah when he was a stranger. He only treated him well when he was already someone important in his life and that bothered me a lot. I do think the author did a great job with him at the end because Gavin kind of grows on the reader. For most of the book I couldn't care for him but toward the end, I was so invested in their relationship that I want them to end up together. I really got to like Gavin and it makes a perfect example of how easy it is to judge a person by the first impression we get from them.

Noah was a great character. He would speak his mind and do as he like, whether he was talking to his boss, a friend or anyone else. He knew what he wanted and he wasn't afraid to ask for it. I liked him so much more than Gavin. He wasn't perfect either, but somehow it was easier to forgive him.

One of the things I liked about the book was the importance it gives to the prejudice. It was really sad to see how much a person living in the spotlight is seen as an object and it gets hard to see beyond the personality or the features that have been assigned to them. Although it gives mostly a positive message, there was a thing that bothered me a lot. It was how violence tried to be justified. I don't believe it had any justification, sure it make the character seemed more human, I understood where it came from, but still, I see no good reason for violence.

The relationship between Gavin and Noah is exactly what I look for when reading romance. There was attraction from the start, but it started to develop at a steady pace. It gave enough time to the reader to make it believable. Near the half of the book, I was thinking the sex was going to be a little more toned down than I'm used to from the author. How mistaken I was. It is very explicit and it has a lot of steamy sex scenes.

Overall it was so much more than I expected. I'm not really into sports books, but this was a great one. Recommend it to anyone looking for a steamy M/M romance with bad tempered characters.

"What was it about this guy that had me either hot and bothered or heated and annoyed?"

It’s always a huge thrill for me to read an author for the very first time, especially one who comes so highly praised by so many, but to find myself in awe of their every confidently written word from the start, to see myself connecting and falling in love with their characters in such a way that I am compelled to read a book twice, back to back, just because I can’t let go… Ah, that is a rare joy and one that makes me want to shout their name from the rooftops! Santino Hassell’s radiant prose captivates, entices, inspires, electrifies, and as his characters continue to reveal their complexity page after page, a story with a deceptively simple premise develops into one that packs a hefty punch at every turn. I adored this book, there’s no other way to say it, and already cannot wait for the next one in the series.

"I hated how easy it was for people to set me off. Especially once someone identified my triggers and then spent their time poking and prodding until I flew off the handle."

Barons tight end Gavin Brawley has never been known for shying away from a confrontation or for his jovial personality, but after video footage of him punching a man in public goes viral, he finds himself suspended from the game he loves above all else, under house arrest for six whole months, and with his name smeared by the press. With an ankle monitor limiting his ability to perform even the most trivial of daily chores, Gavin is forced to hire a live-in assistant—a person who’d keep his affairs in order and make sure he didn’t starve. But as opposed as he is to the idea of living under the same roof with a stranger, from the moment he lays eyes on Noah Monroe and is then met with an unimpressed attitude instead of hero worship, he knows he’d be a temptation he would never be able to resist.

"Nothing turned me on more than a person who wasn’t afraid to stand up to me."

Noah never expected that a string of bad decisions in his life would lead him to become a glorified babysitter to a cocky football player, but with a mountain of student loans to repay and an unemployed father to help, he is forced to accept the first well-paying job that comes his way. From their first meeting, however, the brawny blond does not hide his animosity towards him, and when he finds out that Noah is not a fan of the sport, their every interaction becomes a battle of wills.

“If you’re poor, sports are the equivalent of religion.”
“You get paid to play a game. You’re not a savior of the people. You’re an overpaid jock.”
“And yet you’re over here trying to get a job running errands for this overpaid jock.”

Over time, however, and as they get to know each other more and more, a close friendship forms between them, albeit hesitantly at first, and Gavin begins to trust Noah with his private life. Because the ‘meanest’ player in the league has kept a huge secret from the public, and it’s a secret that could change everything between the Barons tight end and his assistant.

“I’m pretty sure those shorts are meant to be worn under . . . other shorts.”
“Why would I care about being modest in my own house?”
“Well, because I’ll be here with you.”
Gavin cocked a brow. “If you think I’m going to try to spare your delicate baby eyes, I suggest you readjust your expectations. FYI—after showering, I air dry.”

As we watch the two young men slowly fall in love and empower each other to overcome all of the stereotypes placed against them, it is difficult not to become overcome by the sheer beauty of their connection, and all the ways they better one another. But with Gavin’s career on the line, they must decide whether what they’ve found in each other is worth losing it all.

“Tell me, if that happened, if you lose the only thing you’ve ever loved, the thing that’s held you together for all these years, that you wouldn’t resent me. You wouldn’t resent our relationship.”

While presenting the characters’ gender as one of the main obstacles to their relationship and framing their sexuality in the context of the world we live in, the author does not delve too deeply into that aspect of the storyline. He never loses sight of the beautiful love story developing before our eyes between two people who are opposites in every possible way, yet so perfect for one another. Their very differences add an irresistible spark to their every interaction, and unadulterated fire to their most intimate moments, the many layers to this story making this one of the most fascinating and enjoyable reads of the year for me. I walked away desperate to return to Santino Hassell’s writing as soon as possible.

"I’m sitting here watching them and how obviously smitten they are (don’t make fun of my word choice), and I’m so fucking jealous. Because if I was a different gender, that could be us. We can’t have what they have because the world is awful and people are hateful. It’s really hard to let that slide."

I have to admit that this author is a hit or miss with me. in this cases it was a hit, I did enjoy the characters and felt they were well written. I enjoyed the secondary characters, and would love to see more of the main couples HEA so hopefully we will get a update on them during this new series.

I found this story to be fun, sexy and wee bit romantic all three ticks in my book.

I found it to be a little bit of a slow burn with the two MC's that are very opposite but each have there own issues to deal with. I liked this story but I didn't LOVE it. This is why its a 4 star and not 5 stars, but overall will recommend to friends and definitely continue the series and re read it again someday.

4.5 - 5... totally not what I expected and now I can't wait for the next book!

Another new author to me and another almost missed read. Thank goodness I have fellow bloggers/readers who pass along amazing read recommendations. I'm SO glad I picked this one up. ;)

On the surface, Gavin was the epitome of a true bad boy... but nothing is exactly as it seems. Noah knew nothing about football and had no idea who Gavin even was, which made him perfect. Turns out he was perfect in more ways than one.

I loved the tension between Gavin and Noah. It wasn't all romantic tension either. Gavin was a grumpy, overbearing tyrant that was impossible to work for, but Noah had been walked over and hung out to dry by his last boss and he wasn't about to let that happen again. He was there to do his job and ignore his attraction to Gavin.

There was a lot more to the relationship between Gavin and Noah than the slow burn romance that simmered between the two of them. They were good for each other, but the end was inevitable. There relationship had a very strict timeline and it was destined to end once Gavin was free. Santino Hassell kept readers on the edge wondering how these two could possibly get past what they both knew was coming. The outcome paved the way for the rest of the series and I honestly can't wait to see what's in store for the rest of The Barons.

My track record with sports-themed MM romances is a mixed bag. I can’t resist hockey romances, but football just doesn’t interest me. Luckily, this book was light on the technicalities of football, and heavy on the romance.

From the moment these Gavin and Noah meet, they knock heads. I was hooked. Fans of an enemies-to-lovers theme will be happy with this book.

Gavin and Noah spend the majority of the book trading barbs and insults, and they mean every single one of them. But underneath all of that, there’s also an undeniable heat and attraction that builds slowly as they spend their days together.

The two also develop a grudging respect for each other. Noah, who at first couldn’t give a damn about what Gavin’s job was, realizes the toll that being an athlete, and being in the public eye, takes.

And Gavin, once he realizes that Noah would never sell him out, slowly lowers the walls that he’d spent years building.

Over shared meals and long talks, the two build a tentative friendship, which makes it harder to ignore how much they want each other.

Once the two finally give in, they are on fire. Gavin doesn’t hold back in bed, and preppy Noah lets his dirty side out to play.

Gavin and Noah click - physically and emotionally. The big stumbling block in their relationship is that Gavin is still in the closet. This part of the story resolves itself as you’d expect, but I still felt for the two as they worked out how to get their happy ending.

Overall, I really enjoyed the first book of this new series. It has well-rounded characters, a believable romance, and some hot sex. Recommended!

What to do when you are recommended a book, have great expectations for it and have the luck of getting approved for a NetGalley ARC? Well, let me tell you what not to do. You. Must. Not. Procrastinate it.

Ahem. That being said. I had a LOT of expectations for this book. And was also scared to read it. Why? Two main reasons:
1)The person who recommended gave it 5 stars, and was pretty excited about it, specially because it was written by a gay male.
2)A romance book written by a MALE author? - Yes, I admit, I have some pre-made ideas about this. Here's the drill. I absolute adore MM romance. And, true to the Romance Guidelines, it usually follows the formula: meeting-fighting attraction-banter & teasing-go down and dirty-fight/break up - HEA.

So yeah. I procrastinated. A LOT. And then picked it up. And skies opened up and angels sung because IT FOLLOWED THE FORMULA AND IT WAS GLORIOUS!!!!!!

Gavin and Noah were perfect examples of stereotypes... on the outside and inside. You know, the hot, big ill tempered bad boy with a golden heart and the nerdy Clark Kent with a filthy mouth and inner fire. I loved them. to pieces. I loved their interaction even more. I loved how they changed each other.

The support characters were well written. And also fit flawlessly into the expected roles.

And the "crisis/breaking" part? It was so good that I actually burned dinner because I was crying so hard I didn't realized the food was getting a shade a bit too dark.

Overall, it is your Tried & True romance book. That keeps up to any expectation you have, and is exactly what you are bargaining for when searching for it.

*eARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley*

This was my first Santino Hassell-only book (I've previously read two of his and Megan's), and I think I've found a new favorite author. I love his gritty, sensitive, and real stories. They are particularly needed in the romance genre, and I love that in Illegal Contact he tackled toxic masculinity and the things queer guys (especially athletes in very aggressive sports, like football) have to deal with. Gavin was a rough-edged guy with anger problems, but with a super soft heart, and a loyalty toward his fam that endeared me to him. His friendships with Simeon (heyheyhey I better get a Simeon book!) and Marcus had me all heart-eyes throughout the story. And Noah was a post-college guy trying to move on from a disastrous ex-job and ex-lover situation and figure out what he wanted in life. There was so much animosity between the two of them at first, but they formed a bond, and this relationship gave them both so much more than they'd ever expected. A love worth sharing with the world. And that ending has me hopeful for Gavin being able to be openly bisexual without losing football. He deserves both love and his career, and gah, I just love him and Noah. There was so much good here in this book, guys! And I can't wait for more Barons stories! :D

Rating: 4 Paw Prints!

My second Santino Hassell read was a raging success! I seriously couldn’t put it down, and isn’t that some of the highest praise you can give a book? It was so incredibly awesome!

One of my favorite romance tropes is the ‘asshole who goes on an emotional journey toward redemption’, and that was Gavin in every way. Me personally, even at his worse I wanted to like him. I immediately saw the good underneath all those sharp edges, and I was almost impatient waiting for Noah to obliterate Gavin’s defenses. I was only impatient in the moment though. Mostly I appreciated how slowly Noah and Gavin fell in love. Illegal Contact wasn’t just about Gavin falling for Noah, it was also about Noah’s ability to overcome their beginning, and his own history. Noah needed to know he could trust himself before he could fully commit to love. Together, they were like matching puzzle pieces. They both needed someone who would challenge them.

There were a few threads left hanging at the end of Illegal Contact that I was hoping to see cleared up, however sometimes it’s nice when not everything is all perfect in the end.

I do hope that Mr. Hassell gives us glimpses of Noah and Gavin in the next book. I know I’ll be waiting on pins and needles.

"Two adult LGBT romances in one week? Andrew, are you feeling well?" I hear you ask. Well, yes. I have been hammering out reading in the past few weeks (I found my groove again - only for it to be ruined in the next few months by Fate of the Tearling, Origin and La Belle Sauvage!) so I wanna share the reading goodness while I can!

Anyway, I have been trying to get my NetGalley eProofs under some control (got over 60 still to read) and this called to me. And after reading Foxglove Copse (review for that is here, in case you're curious), I fancied some more man on man kissing (don't give me that look!) and this called to me. I remembered requesting on NetGalley because I liked the sound of the story.

Nothing to do with the hot cover. Nope. Not at all. *shifts uncomfortably in my chair* MOVING ON!

Gavin Brawley is star tight end (Who sniggered in the back row?) of the New York Barons's American football team. And he's got himself a six month house arrest because he couldn't control his temper. This temper is well know both on and off the field and now, because of his house arrest, he needs a personal assistant who can stand up to his temper.

Enter Noah Monroe, a guy who needs a job - any job. With student debt, his father being sacked and leaving his last job under a cloud (thanks to his boss/ex), he thinks taking this job will be easy. It's only for six months. What's the worse that could happen?

So, out of the Foxglove Copse and Illegal Contact, I prefer this one a little more. I still whizzed through them both within four/five days (which, as you know, is fast for me!) and they both were fun, addictive reads. But Illegal Contact had a little more meat to sink my teeth into, and for that, I liked even though it did take me a few chapters to switch my brain to.

Also, I liked that, even though the timeline was six months and the story jumped forward a few weeks every now and then (and sometimes, that did annoy me), I liked that it was a slow burn romance. It wasn't insta-love (a troupe I am slowly growing to dislike) and it did have a level of snark that I warm to. Plus, I liked reading from both Noah's and Gavin's points of view (though I do wish that, when this happens in books, each character has a different font so readers can go "Oh, am reading Character X or Character Y).

Before I go into my nitpicking, just wanna say that, unlike Foxglove Copse where the sex scenes were more "Fade to Black", we saw the sex scenes in Illegal Contact. So, if you are not a fan of sex scenes, you might want to fast forward these chapters.

There are one or two things I want to nitpick over. The first is that, at times, there was a few troupes and cliches that I saw and went "... really?" over. I know that this is going to happen with romance novels - I know this, I accept this - but am always a fan of a surprise twist or someone taking a troupe and turning it on its head. Plus, there was one or two moments I thought "I wonder if this is going to go Scandal and we have Noah doing the "If you want me, EARN ME!" scene [probably the best in Scandal from the little I have seen - plus, if anyone fancies writing a romance with a gay/bi/pan president or Prime Minster, please do and shout at me! I will read the heck out of it!)

The second nitpick is the pacing. Most of the time, I was on board with it. The romance is a slow burn and I like a nice slow burn. But then, with the last 20% of the book, things happened which felt a little fast. I get why, but there was a moment I went "If this had a extra few percent, this could be dragged out a little more". Maybe I like the angst and the heartbreak and I wanted to see the fallout.

I liked this (though adult romance is outside my comfort zone) and am tempted to see what happens in the next book in the series, Down by Contact, which follows another character who I really loved reading. As long as it's just as fun, sexy and addictive, this series and me should get on...

Is it any wonder that I’m obsessed with everything Santino Hassell writes? The man weaves literary magic with his newest series. A grumpy football star with a chip on his shoulder and an anger management problem meets his match with a preppy Clark Kent looking nerd and his newest PA and sparks fly! A witty, swoony and ridiculously sexy romance, Illegal Contact was pure perfection!

New York Barons tight end Gavin Brawley has a chip on his shoulder a mile wide. Growing up dirt poor orphan in the system ensured his anger management problems and football provided him his sanity. He’s focused all of his anger, all of his desire and drive into being the very best, and he certainly is. Football loves him, but the public hates him. It the court of public opinion, he’s violent, dangerous, and a menace to society. After a recent fight lands him on house arrest and out of the sport he loves so much, his agent insists that he gets a PA to get his life in order. The last thing Gavin wants is somebody in his business 24/7. Only his closest two friends know of his bisexuality and he doesn’t need a meddling assistant interfering with his life. He likes it as it is.

Noah Monroe is up to his nose in school loans and when a scandal costs him a job he loved and his father gets laid off, he’s desperate. So desperate that he allows his friend into interviewing for a position he has no interest in. Noah has no interest in football nor does he like the grumpy giant glaring at him from the couch during his interview. Letting his smart mouth and frustration get the best of him, he thinks he’s blown his chance at the only decent job on his horizon, he gets the surprise of a lifetime when Gavin himself calls to offer him the job.

Noah and Gavin are polar opposites. Noah is openly gay and Gavin hides his bisexuality from the public in fear of losing his football contract. But beyond that, Noah is sunny to Gavin’s dark clouds. Noah dislikes football and football has been Gavin’s life and sanity. They shouldn’t get along. But beyond the snarky barbs and insults, they begin to form an unwilling friendship that sizzles with an electric sexual chemistry.

Illegal Contact is very much a slow burn romance, and it was utterly delicious. I loved seeing Noah slowly but surely unwittingly work his way under Gavin’s skin. I loved the way he wove his way into Gavin’s soft side and got to see a side of him that only his two closest friends have ever seen. But what I loved most of all was slowly getting to that warm and fuzzy center hidden beneath a concrete wall of anger and muscle of Gavin’s.
As for the chemistry between these two? Through. The. Roof. HOT.

Nobody,” he whispered. “You ruined me for anyone else.” I wanted to cry, but I power-fucked him instead. I was relentless. I was goddamn ruthless. And he loved every second. With his elbows pressed into the bed for leverage, Noah rocked up to meet me every time I pulled out and rammed back into him.

This is easily the most romantic book that Hassell has written to date and I loved every page of it. It was angsty, emotional, with a splash of his signature grit, and absolute perfection. I simply cannot wait for more in this series!

“Don’t do that to me.”
“What?”
“Don’t be like everyone else…”

We fell in love with this Author recently and couldn’t wait to start Illegal Contact after all the amazing accolades. Whilst we loved the slow burn romance, the sports element and let us not fail to mention- the flawless writing of Santino Hassell, this is not one of our favourites by this Author. Don’t get us wrong –we did enjoy it- however, it’s a story we’ve read many times before which just didn’t wow us or offer us anything new or unique. We would definitely recommend it to lovers of mm romance & sports romance though. It had humour, passion and angst as well as a fabulous character in, Noah, whom we fell in love with. ♥

‘You had to love a sexy-ass geek with an attitude.’

Illegal Contact is the 1st book in a new series from Santino Hassell. Illegal Contact is the first book I've read from Santino Hassell, but won't be my last.

I absolutely loved growly Gavin Brawley from the moment he appeared on the page. What is not to love about a guy who beats up a jerk for threatening to expose his best friend with a video to out him? Even with Gavin's rough background and lack of apology for his actions, that spoke more to his character than anything else could honestly. It showed he was protective of his friends and teammates and made me want to see him find happiness.

Noah Monroe knows pretty much nothing about football, so he has no idea who Gavin Brawley is when he applies to be his personal assistant. Gavin needs live in help while he spends the next 6 months under house arrest and Noah not knowing who he is seems to be a mark in his favor. The mark against Noah, at least where Gavin's people are concerned is the fact that Noah is gay.

I adored that both Noah and Gavin fought their attraction to each other for so long. The fact that initially Noah didn't realize Gavin was bisexual probably helped in the beginning. However, once they kissed the first time, all bets were off. OMG one of the sexiest kisses ever! I absolutely loved Noah and Gavin together. Yes they still continued to butt heads some, but there was a happiness about Gavin that wasn't there before. Gavin and Noah were smoking hot together! I loved how they couldn't keep their hands off each other and grew closer the more time they spent together.

Illegal Contact was an amazing start to The Barons series. I loved getting to meet some of the other players besides Gavin, and can't wait to see each player get his own book. I absolutely fell in love with his voice and want to go back and read his entire backlist.

Rating: 5 Stars (A)

I’m always impressed by Hassell’s work. There aren’t many authors in our genre who pull off gritty, sexy romance with as much authenticity as he does. His unique voice, and take on characters, works seamlessly with the kinds of men he writes. Particularly here, for Gavin, a character who I can’t imagine working if written in anyone else’s hands.

I read this book in less than a day while on a beach vacation; I could not put it down, even after the power went out and I knew my Kindle was going to die (and we had no idea how long we’d be out of power!) (Sixteen hours for those wondering). Thank god I had this book to read, because it definitely helped me escape the reality of a tiny cottage and eight people (four under the age of nine) with nothing to do.

This book works in particular because I didn’t see how Noah and Gavin could fit together at all initially. I knew going in that Hassell was an author I could trust to make a difficult character someone you could root for. But the two of them, despite their chemistry, didn’t seem like they could come together on a level beyond that chemistry. I must say, as well, that I appreciate that I saw Hassell’s trademark grit shine even through banter and eventually, real sweetness between the characters.

It’s a credit to the author that when it begins to happen, it doesn’t feel forced or contrived. It, despite seeming impossible, worked. The slow burn works deliciously here, so that when they eventually act on their attraction it was so welcome and delicious!

I loved the secondary characters in this book — I am so excited to see more stories in this series.

I’m not afraid to say that this is my favorite sports romance book of the year.

I became a fan of Santino’s last year and I haven’t stopped reading his books since, in Illegal Contact he takes us into the sports world, something that I hadn’t read from him before and was looking forward to it since he announced it and then when several authors started posting pictures of their ARCs the struggle was so real!

Let me tell you a little bit about the story, Gavin is a NY Barons tight end that is suspended from the team after getting in some trouble with the law, he is now on house arrest and since he can’t go out and isn’t really up to date with his life (bills, food, house) so his agents suggest that he should get an assistant, and here comes Noah, he doesn’t know about football life, he doesn’t care that Gavin is famous for all the wrong things, he only cares about doing his job and not falling for his boss.

He manages to do a brilliant job but he does end up falling for his boss!

Their relationship was pretty slow burning and sweet so very sweet, I mean Gavin was just the sweetest and the way he treated Noah was so wonderful, I loved that this book is about two grown men acting like grown men, you know what I mean? Like there were no confusions about their desires because they voiced them, they talked about their problems and struggles as individuals and as a couple and they made what they thought were the correct choices. I liked that there was always communication and that they were respectful.

There are many funny lighthearted sweet moments that will make you melt and many very sexy moments that will make you fan yourself, definitely a NSFW book, better to read it in the comfort of your own place.

Interesting characters were introduced to us in this book and I hope we get to see them in future books and get to know them better.

Santino Hassell has quickly become one of my favourite authors, and when I discovered he was releasing a novel – featuring my beloved hate-to-lovers trope – I could not hit that request button fast enough. Illegal Contact is an engaging slow-burn romance with gritty, stubborn characters that the reader immediately falls for, and a compelling storyline that I never wanted to end.

If you know me at all, then you know I am not a sports fan – soccer, AFL … NFL … basketball … what’s another sport, hockey? I don’t understand these things, so no one was more than I was that I loved, adored, devoured a novel where sports is at the heart of the story – football literally saved one of the main character’s lives. And you know what? I could connect with him on that, even though I don’t understand football, or the meaning behind it, at all. This must be a testament to Hassell’s impeccable storytelling skills if someone like me is able to appreciate a sport. (But don’t expect me to be watching AFL anytime soon.)

Hassell tore out my heart with this novel and then, tenderly, repaired it. From the MCs, to the supporting characters, to the plot, I loved everything about this book and had a huge smile on my face while I read it.

But the main characters … the main characters are by far the strongest element of the novel, not only because of the tender romance developing between them, but because of the character development too. Gavin starts the novel as a rough-and-tough footballer who uses his weight, height and power to intimidate people, Noah included. He’s grumpy and unapologetically himself. But the closer he gets to Noah, the more he realises he doesn’t like the image the world has of him and actively tries to do better. It’s through Noah’s positive influence that this happens: a happy mix of burgeoning respect and intense romantic feelings.

The bi rep in this novel was written to perfection – Hassell has truly captured the hardship of coming out, made even more difficult by the inclusion of the NFL and their reputation of homomisia. I was also ridiculously pleased that Gavin was not ashamed of his bisexuality, and he had incredibly supportive friends. Also #ThatBrawleySmile killed me.

But Noah was a true sweetheart and I want him to be my friend in real life. He’s nerdy, mouthy, and unafraid to stand up for what’s right. Even though he’s wary and a little frightened of Gavin, he doesn’t let Gavin boss him around (although he is Noah’s boss). They frequently butt heads, but somewhere in the midst of all the sexual tension, Noah learns the true side of Gavin, the one he tries to keep hidden from all but those he loves. It takes time – a real slow-burn – but it’s so worth it. The banter is unfiltered and the sex scenes are unabashed (and hot) – a perfect combination.

The supporting characters were all fully fleshed out and complex people. I detested Gavin’s manager Joe, but at the same time he cared a lot about Gavin, although he shows it in an unusual way. But the other characters were a real treat: I can’t wait to find out more Marcus and Jasmine because they seem like the world’s cutest couple, and I especially can’t wait for the sequel about Simeon! He’s already a favourite character, and I already know I’m going to love him even more in his own novel.

The plot was soft and laid-back: it’s simply just two guys forced to spend hours every day together and getting to know one another, but that doesn’t detract from my enjoyment of the novel – if anything, it enhances it. With a slow-moving plot, the book is able to focus on the development of Gavin and Nick’s relationship from antagonists, to friends, to lovers. (And you all know I love slow stories, so that’s another plus in the book’s favour.)

Illegal Contact was a gem of a series starter – I never wanted the novel to finish and I can only hope we get to learn loads more about Gavin and Noah’s relationship in Down by Contact, the sequel. While we’re waiting, I’ll be rereading this book over and over again.

5++++ snarky, sexy stars!

“…I’m not a pleasant person, and no amount of anger management or therapy will turn me into one.”

And that should be the by-line for any story about the “football is everything” successful tight-end. Gavin could be a jerk. He is loyal. Talented. Rich. But still a jerk. Noah on the other hand was a self-proclaimed nerd whose very career was looking out for others. He didn’t know football and didn’t know, or care, who Gavin was. Well, except he was his new boss and he would be signing his paycheck. The sparks flew from their first deliciously uncomfortable meeting as they began a wary circling. Were they jockeying for position or starting a mating dance? Or maybe both?

They sniped at each other. Constantly. Incessantly. And it was… wonderful. They both had chips on their shoulders and each conversation seemed to whittle away at those defensive blocks.

“Even if eighty percent of the guys in the locker room were irritating d-bags in one way or another, they were still like family to me. And I’d never had a family before.”

You would think Noah was in a subservient role but nothing could be further from the truth. He stood up for himself yet his loyalty and caring caught Gavin off guard. Their dynamic – snarky, combative yet respectful and thoughtful – pulled me and my heart right into their characters and their story. When these two finally got on the same page, the emotions burned the pages and stung my heart. Oh – and the sexy was pretty outstanding as well. Did I mention it was hot, hot, hot….?

Made me snort-giggle:
“It was good to see that even amid the land of rich and famous, people were not too hoity-toity to flip me off.”

This was my first read by this author and, honestly, I was blown away by this emotional, sexy story. This is only the first in the Barons series and I'm on book-stalker standby for more! ~Diane, 5+++++ sexy, snarky stars

〰️ 〰️ 〰️ 〰️ 〰️

5 Clark Kent Stars

I loved this!!!!

Gavin is on a downward spiral. He is a famous footballer who plays tight end (pun intended) in a NFL team, the problem is he has major anger management issues that see him get arrested for sticking up for his best friend and team mate Simeon.

Gavin is suspended from playing football for the season and put on house arrest for six months. All his 'issues' seem to stem from his shitty upbringing, and I admit Gavin comes across as a complete nob at first.
"So don't come at me preaching about the fake-ass persona you want me to have, It's never going to happen. All I care about is playing ball."

Noah is unashamed of his nerd Clark Kent status and makes no qualms about the fact he knows nor likes anything about football. So why does he want to be the PA to a huge arrogant NFL star? Money that's why. After quitting the job he always wanted as a social worker for teens, he is left with all his student loans and an out of work dad he is trying to help out.

So anyway he lands this interview to be Gavin's PA and from the moment these two meet the insults and banter start flying.
"Don't underestimate me. Or what it will be like to be locked in this mansion with me. I'm not a pleasant person, and no amount of anger management or therapy will turn me into one.

Amongst the sarcastic banter you can sense the feelings of these two beautiful men growing. I am a little shocked that it takes so long for Noah to find out Gavin is Bi, with the way he was so obviously flirting and watching him.

Noah has to put up with a lot working for Gavin but he brings out the best in him. They both get so much out of this 'job', after both having hard upbringings in different ways they find a bond. It was so nice reading these two adorable men fall in love.
When they finally get together, these boys are HOT!!

If you are looking for a great m/m romance I highly recommend this one.
-Alicia, 5 Star

Illegal Contact marks Mr. Hassell’s first foray into sports romance and aside from a few issues I have with secondary characters and the pacing of the story, it’s practically perfect. Though the principal character is suspended from his team, football is never sidelined in favor of the romance, which picks up speed late in the second half. In Illegal Contact, an intimidating, world famous athlete, benched for bad behavior off the field, more than meets his match when he hires a personal assistant who doesn’t care who he is or what he does when he goes to work. In this sexy, smart and engaging sports romance, opposites attract (oh boy do they!) and a terrific new series gets underway.

Gavin Brawley has a problem with his temper. On the field he channels the anger to his advantage; his ferocity and focus helped him break the NFL record for receiving yards and touchdowns scored by a tight end in the previous year. But it’s his inability to control his temper off the field - a legacy of a tough childhood in the foster system - that’s landed him on the front pages of the newspapers. Facing a six-month league suspension and house arrest confined at his large and mostly unfurnished Westhampton estate after he was caught on video brawling (for reasons he’s never revealed), his agent Joe convinces him to hire a live in personal assistant while he serves out his sentence. They’ve yet to find anyone Gavin’s willing to hire, but after reviewing the available candidates a second time, they invite Noah Monroe to come in for an interview.

Noah heard about the position through a close friend who works with Gavin’s PR agent, though he knew little about the person he'd be working for before he applied for it. When he arrives, anxious and slightly disheveled, his nerdy attractiveness catches Gavin’s attention. But it’s immediately clear Noah has no idea who Gavin is, what he does, or really anything about football. His dismissive attitude towards professional athletes and football annoy Gavin (who simply sprawls on the couch watching the interview), but a brief show of temper - after Joe implies Noah’s sexuality is somehow a problem - intrigues Gavin. When his agent steps out to take a call, Gavin challenges Noah on his privileged college boy attitude and ignorance about what it takes to be a professional athlete and the conversation quickly turns heated. Noah leaves after his temper gets the better of him, and assumes it’s the last time he'll see Gavin Brawley.

Gavin was wrong about Noah; he needed the PA job. After losing his former position at an LGBT youth center, he’s living at home with his out-of-work father and barely able to afford their rent, household expenses and his student loan payments. He didn’t mean to lose his temper in the interview, but when Gavin suggested he was some sort of privileged pretty boy who couldn’t understand what it takes to be a professional athlete, and his agent insinuated his sexuality was a problem, he got mad and couldn’t help lashing out. He’s lamenting his behavior and the end of the interview to his good friend Jasmine (the one who recommended him) when he gets a surprise call from Gavin asking him if he still wants the job.

Noah’s morning gets off to a terrible start when he realizes the train he needs to take doesn’t run until 8:00 am. He’s going to be nearly an hour and a half late on his first day; Gavin isn’t responding to any of his text messages. When he finally arrives, a sweaty Gavin answers the door in compression shorts that leave little to the imagination. Momentarily distracted by his body, it takes Noah a beat before he follows Gavin into the house. Gavin is annoyed (he told Noah commuting wouldn’t work) but Noah promises it won’t happen again. As they walk through the enormous mostly unfurnished house, Gavin explains what he expects from his PA. Much to his amusement, Noah smugly insists he can handle it all - shopping, running errands, managing his fan mail and social media presence, cooking, servicing his car's, any other jobs that come up - and that he’ll commute to and from the city everyday. Despite his doubts, Gavin agrees to a trial period. This first day together is a precursor of what’s to come - Gavin doesn’t make things easy for Noah, but Noah finds a way to get the work done.

Eventually, even though Gavin and Noah secretly lust after each other, they also discover they genuinely like one another, and that most of their initial assumptions were wrong. Their conversations are fraught with unresolved sexual tension, but also an appealing mix of affection, insults and humor. I won’t spoil this ‘getting to know you’ phase of the relationship except to say it allows Mr. Hassell to really develop these characters together and apart, and to recognize why and how they fall so deeply in love. It also demonstrates - again - that Mr. Hassell is a master of the slow burn and even though this is a sports romance, the relationship between Gavin and Noah never feels rushed, forced or artificial in any way. The tension builds and builds - Gavin growing more and more frustrated by his feelings for his employee, Noah trying hard not to fall for his boss - until eventually all the heat between them combusts in a series of frustrating encounters wherein Noah pulls away, Gavin tries to give him space, and they eventually realize they both want the same thing. Each other.

I loved the build-up and evolution of Gavin and Noah’s relationship, and Mr. Hassell limits them to lustful fantasies for nearly three quarters of the novel. When they finally give into their feelings for each other and have sex... OMG. It’s scorching hot. After a few false starts, they form a new relationship, but the delay feels very authentic and organic. Gavin, despite his rough and gruff exterior, has a heart of gold and a soft spot for the ones he loves. He’s protective - sometimes to his own detriment - and kind, and when he falls for Noah, he doesn’t hold back. Noah is smart, clever and similarly dedicated to the people he loves - especially Gavin. It's obvious to him how woefully misunderstood Gavin is to anyone who doesn’t know him well, and that beneath that tough persona is a gentle giant who’s never been loved for anything but his performance on the football field. He didn’t want to fall in love with Gavin, but once he does, he becomes his strongest confidant, fiercest defender and most devoted partner. They’re so wonderful together.

Illegal Contact delves into some heavy issues as the relationship between Gavin and Noah unfolds - the short duration of a professional athlete's career, the public and private repercussions of an athlete ‘coming out,’ workplace romances and more - but Mr. Hassell skillfully balances these weighty topics with his obvious affection for the sport of football - and this couple. He doesn’t give us any easy answers, but he doesn’t shy away from them either. I didn’t love any of the fairly stereotypical secondary characters - super helpful friends and ruthless agents. I’m adopting a wait-and-see policy on Marcus (featured in the next book), a close friend of Gavin’s, who played a pivotal role in the setup and conclusion of Illegal Contact. I hope I like him more in his own story that I did here.

The happy for now ending leaves this story just shy of the endzone - but this one goes into the win column anyway.

Santino Hassell might have 31 distinct works, according to Goodreads, but do not be misguided—he’s just getting started. Every work keeps getting better and better. His tagline is Get Hasselled, and, trust me, once you read one of his books you get sucked into his books and you get an inkling of what Hasslled means.

Illegal Contact was that for me. A wild ride from beginning to end. With characters like Gavin, a football player who has been sentenced to house arrest after an altercation, and Noah, a guy who has just been fired from his previous job who now finds himself considering any job, even as a person assistant to a guy know for his anger-management issues.

There’s three things you should know about Gavin and Noah, respectively.

Gavin:

—Doesn’t give a fuck.

—Unless he cares for you.

—HE’S HAWT.

Noah:

—Noah doesn’t really like football

—or football players.

—He is so NOT SLEEPING WITH HIS BOSS. again.


Santino Hassell has written some of my favorite scenes (yes scenes), scenes that have stuck with me like David and Ray, and David hugging Ray every time he’d come into the room. Or a particular scene that dealt with a trench coat. Really—a lot of scenes that just tug at my heart for some reason. With this book, it’s a lot of scenes, and a lot of it has to do with the chemistry between Gavin and Noah.

The banter is so juicy! I love that Gavin is a grumpy old man (a hot one, mind you), but Noah just calls him out, each and every time. He gives as good as he gets, sometimes being the one giving, and Gavin having to give just as good.

Let’s talk about the cons, for a second. First, this is a sports romance. Usually, I’m all like ‘eh.’ You know. You know why. Most of LGBTQ+ sport romances have the usual plot, or rather the conflict, being about the sport players eventual outing. Either forced or as an eventual compromise. It gets tired, and rather predictable. Very predictable. First, because it’s done in like 99% of sports romances, I think I’ve read the 1% but I could be wrong. Second, because there’s so much narrative and potential.

Yet, I feel like what redeems Illegal Contact is that there so many other conflicts going around. Yes, it is the main conflict, but Noah and Gavin each have more going on, and maybe that’s what needs to be dealt with before anything else.

As for the second, it’s a bit of a SPOILER (I hate with a passion of ten thousand fiery suns when the MC and Love Interest are with anyone but with each other, and there’s this sex scene that although not explicit, Noah hears them going at it!) Again, YET. Yet, it didn’t bother me that much because although both were wildly attracted to each other, they weren’t going there. FOR REASONS.

Now. To my favorite part—gushing about this two! I just love their sex scenes, and the moments after that. How lovey-dovey they get. There’s something about fluff and steamy paired up that is just the best romance I could read. I know Santino Hassell likes to break readers hearts with his grittiness, but he writes the most lovey-dovey interactions between the love interests.

Just thinking about this book gives me all kinds of warm and fuzzy feelings… honestly, I don’t even know what I could say that would do justice to how fantastic Illegal Contact is. I’ve actually read this book in its entirety twice, with lots of chapter rereads in between as well. It’s simply not a book that you can just move on from. I fell in love and fell hard for Gavin and Noah.
“He was so addictive. Like candy. Or drugs. One taste of him had me fiending and my heart beating out of my chest.”
Uh… yeah ME TOO! ^^^ So two things right off that bat that made me want to read this book… first, sports romance and second, the allure of  an MM relationship between a hot professional football player and his personal assistant. Seriously I couldn’t say ‘Sign me up!’ fast enough. I was not only excited for the story but also giving a new author (to me) a try. I could not have asked for anything more from this book… Gavin and Noah were brought to life by a clearly very talented author in Santino Hassell. I fell in love with Gavin and his rough around the edges, grumpy, moody attitude, yet it was his heart of gold underneath the scruff that really did me in. I fell in love with Noah’s own big heart, but also because as hard as Gavin was on him in the beginning, he gave as good as he got. I didn’t hurt that I kept picturing Tom Wellling in his Smallville days either… so HOT!  The dynamic between these two is simply great and their chemistry is off the charts.
“Gavin Brawley was one of the most unlikeable people I’d ever met, and yet my brain had no problems conjuring images of us naked, sweating, and doing the unmentionable.”
From the synopsis you know that Gavin is under house arrest and Noah is his PA… it was inevitable that these two men would fall for each other. We know that going in… what I wasn’t prepared for was the sexual tension, the banter, the amazing personalities of not only the main characters but the supporting ones as well. Illegal Contact is the whole package and truly sports romance at its best making it one of my favorites reads of the summer! Sexy, swoony, gritty, and oh so HOT! A must read!
“Who’s gonna put that smile on your face when you’re not with me anymore?” . . . .
“Nobody,” he whispered. “You ruined me for anyone else.”
#DatBrawleySmile