While I absolutely LOVE everything else Santino has written, this book fell way short for me. The language between the two main characters was just so juvenile that I could not believe it was a SH book. I will say that was my main issue, besides that, I did like the other aspects of the book. Using the suspensions to make Simeon and Adrian work together while both exploring their feelings for each other was a turning point in the book. I was just hoping for so much more from this book but I am definitely not giving up on this author because he is a fantastic writer.

Gah! I have so much to say about this fantastic book! I loved it! It also broke my heart, but it was still totally uplifting, and I love a good story about people realizing who they are and fighting for the life they want. Definitely a 5 star read!

Simeon Boudreaux is the golden boy. Starting QB for the Barons professional football team, with a gorgeous smile, and winning personality to match. Everyone loves him, even after he came out as gay in book 1, in support of that book's hero, Gavin Brawley. He's from New Orleans, and his family still lives there. They've all been very accepting of him as well, for the most part, but he hasn't actually been home since he came out. He has an ongoing feud with a former teammate from his rival team, the Predators, Adrian Bravo. That feud extends beyond the realm of acceptable in their first pre-season game, and they both get suspended for 6 games. Additionally, they are required to run a football camp together, for kids at a local rec center.

Adrian Bravo is the son of a famous major league baseball player, so he grew up privileged. He's always been a great athlete in his own right, but he chose football instead. He isn't sure what came over him to cause him to make such a stupid decision in that game, but boy is he regretting it now. A 6 game suspension, AND he has to spend time with the golden boy? He is less than thrilled. But, the more time he spends with Simeon, the more he realizes it is really hard to hate him. And that there might be something more behind his feelings that he never realized was there. Is he willing to explore that further?

I love a great football romance. And the forced proximity trope. And enemies to lovers. So this book hits all my good buttons! Simeon and Adrian have chemistry like whoa, even before they realize what's actually between them. They are both very unsure of each other, for very different reasons, and they need to figure out how to come to terms with their issues before they have any chance together. Simeon has trust issues after the things that happened in book 1, and Adrian has never been attracted to another man before, so he's at a total loss as to how to deal with this before unknown part of himself. I really enjoyed the love/hate, push-pull dynamic between them, and I loved seeing them figure out ways to overcome their issues. Their banter was top notch, as I love a smart ass hero, and here we get 2 of them!

This story was so fantastic, and I loved every minute of it, even when it was painful. The characters fought hard to be together, and I love that moment in every great romance when each of them realize they are all ALL IN. It's the greatest payoff for the reader, and it's my favorite. Santino has done that so well in this book. He truly lets you feel what the characters are feeling, and it's so satisfying. The side characters were fun, as always, and I loved revisiting the ones from book 1, as well as meeting some new ones.

This book was amazing, and I recommend it highly to anyone who loves a great sports romance! I enjoyed it so much, and I can't wait for more in this series!

Simeon and Adrián are not friends. They used to be. But Simeon left the Predators for the Barons, and Adrián, not willing to acknowledge his attraction or feelings of betrayal, talked smack about Simeon nonstop—first accusing Simeon of stealing the Predators' play book, later bullying Simeon on social media with microaggressive comments about Simeon’s sexuality.

The two get in each other's face at a preseason game, and the result is a six-week suspension and forced togetherness as volunteers for the Grant Street Center for kids.

Following a sexy slow burn, the steam goes on for miles! Both guys like it rough, and Adrián certainly doesn't have to worry about breaking Simeon.

Three words: Gay. Sex. Virgin. Trust, once Adrián goes for a ride, he never, ever wants to get off.

This story focuses on Adrián coming to terms with his bisexuality. Even though Simeon is the only guy he's been attracted to, he doesn't play it off as GFY. He's bi, and he's (eventually) more than willing to own it.

Adrián is not a typical golden MC. He's sulky and covers his jealousy with aggressive jokes and banter (although a jealous Adrián is an adorable Adrián).

Simeon, however, is pure sweetness. He stands up to Adrián and doesn't let him off easy. But he also knows how to forgive.

While one of Adrián's teammates is homophobic, Down by Contact isn’t an angsty book; it's not gritty and tragic like many of Santino's books. I think that's why I loved it so much—even more than book 1.

Bonus: no random hookups with other people and no constant titty/vajay talk, which some authors overindulge in as an effort to prove that their bi character is really, truly bi.

Simeon has a supportive mom, and even Adrián's parents come around. There is a conflict regarding the way Adrián is (almost) outed by one of the kids at center and how Simeon handles the whole thing.

In the end, Adrián stole my heart. He was more willing than Simeon to jump in with both feet, even though Brawley wasn’t exactly a welcoming presence. Forget the Brawley Smile; this was all Brawley Scowl.

If you haven’t read Illegal Contact, you really should, but, yes, you can also read this book as a standalone. Simeon was far more present in the first book than Brawley is in this one. We see more of Why-Does-He-Have-to-Be-Straight? Marcus than the fiercely overprotective Brawley.

All the stars for this funny, ROMANTIC story—but *shhh* don’t tell Adrián.

“I like how this is turning out to be the most unromantic chains of events ever.”

“Simeon, we started fucking as a dare. We’re not romantic.”

And I still hold that the cover model is fucking gorgeous. Dammmnnn. Those lips should be illegal.

This book is just too good and the more I  think about it, the deeper I fall in love with it. Both thought provoking and blissfully romantic, Santino Hassell's Down By Contact had me thoroughly captivated from beginning to end. With their sharp banter and sizzling sexual tension, Simeon Boudreaux and Adrián Bravo's MM sports romance is such a delicious little treat, such a meaty story that gripped me as much with its romanticism as it did with its relevance. I admittedly don't read a lot of MM romances but of the ones I've read, this story is unequivocally a new favorite. Down By Contact is so well done, so addictive, so unputdownable. I loved every single sexy moment. 

Hassell's writing in this book was on point. I LOVED the voice he gave these characters, I loved the tone of the entire story. I was so into this book, consumed by the gritty dynamic Hassell illustrates between an openly gay football player and his smart mouthed rival. The events that transpire between them are so unpredictable, so emotionally taxing on the reader. The dynamic between Adrián and Simeon is sensual and addictive, angsty and beautifully romantic. I loved it. I loved. It. I loved it. I couldn't get enough. 

Down By Contact is a richly complex romance dripping with sensuality and uncertainty. It's heavy with emotion but peppered perfectly with just the right amount of sarcasm, wit and flirty snark. The reluctant attraction between Simeon and Adrián, their insecurities and self doubts, their legitimate fears and their misguided ones, heightened by the added pressures of professional football all culminate to make for one seriously stellar package. There really aren't words to express how well done I found this book to be, how superbly Hassell weaves this plot. It moves fluidly, evolves exquisitely and it couldn't be more perfectly satisfying.

Every moment between Adrián and Simeon continues to play on a loop in my memory bank. I can't stop thinking about them and the way they fall together after everything around them falls apart. They push buttons and they trash talk, and the attraction that sneaks up on them is both shocking and addictive. Their hostility and their relentless games, their disagreements, their heated exchanges and their steamy attraction are still consuming my thoughts a day later. I was as moved by what these characters learn from each other and about themselves as I was by their love story. I'm in love with this book, with these characters, with this author's storytelling and with the important message this book sends on every single page. I can't say it loud enough... I absolutely loved it.