There was none of the “new author to me” jitters when it came to diving into this one. When a book comes highly recommended by the ladies at Berkley, and one of your favourite authors, (Sarina Bowen) the only dutiful fangirl thing to do is to dive on in.

Illegal Contact is the first standalone novel in the sports romance Barons series, and the first step to what I’m sure will be an unhealthy addiction to the author, Santino Hassell. Seriously, where have you been all my life? There was none of the getting to know you process that happens with a “new to me author”, from the first page the writing was familiar, fun and engaging yet still managed to be fresh and exciting.

I had a wonderful time drooling over the blond bombshell that is Gavin Brawley. He’s the incredibly talented but unapproachable tight end of the New York Barons. His give no f*cks attitude on and off the field have made him a target for the press and there’s no shortage of column inches documenting his misdemeanours.

His latest PR disaster earns him a team suspension and a stint under house arrest. If my gorgeous grump wasn’t grumpy enough, having to hire an assistant to take care of things he will be unable to leaves a bitter taste in his mouth.

The man for the job is financially hard up Noah Monroe. His nerdy exterior might be give of major Clark Kent vibes, but Noah gives as good as he gets when on the receiving end of one of Gavin’s tongue lashings. Their working relationship is tension fraught, but Gavin enjoys being challenged by Noah more than he would care to admit.

The sexual tension with these two was out of this world, and I absolutely loved the dynamic and progression of their relationship. Illegal Contact was the total package and with secondary characters that also stole the show, the Baron’s series promises to be a game changer.

Sometimes you need a book as an escape, for me this was so the case when I opened Illegal Contact. I was sitting in an ER with a long wait ahead of me, and I was so very thankful for the kindle app on my phone as I opened this book in an attempt to make the time more manageable.

This book helped save my sanity, while surrounded by the hustle and bustle and often haunting scenes in an ER, I lived with Gavin and Noah.

Illegal Contact has the reader learning that professional football player Gavin Brawley has been suspended for conduct off the field. I will fast forward a bit and WOW, just WOW, what Gavin was protecting, why he attacked someone off the field truly made this story powerful and spoke volumes to the Gavin beneath the media hype.

OK back to the story, as Gavin is under house arrest and through a series of events he ends up with Noah Monroe as his personal assistant.

Yes, this leads to hours spent together. I think what I loved most was the friendship that developed. The reader is allowed to see Noah fiercely protective of Gavin, Gavin getting jealous of Noah’s other interest and in the end these two learning to compliment each other.

Gavin comes out of his shell both personally and in the eyes of the media as Noah opens the tough exterior that a rough life has caused him to form around himself. And I will add when these two do connect it is hot! But it is also heat laced with emotions and it is so clear this is so very different especially for Gavin.

Gavin has two good friends on the Barons and these men made for some great banter.

How Gavin and Noah finally manage to reconcile their feelings with the complications of working together and more importantly with Gavin being a professional athlete, well... read the book, it is a journey worth experiencing.

I am very much looking forward to Down by Contact (The Barons #2) by Santino Hassell coming in January 2018, yes I wish it was sooner because I am so excited to get inside the head of Simeon Boudreaux, the Barons’ golden-quarterback who was so much a part of this story (nope still not getting any more info - read the book!)

I do have to say I wish this book had an epilogue… I guess I need to be thankful it is part of series and hope, HOPE we get a glimpse at Gavin and Noah further down the line.

This was my first book by Mr. Hassell and I was impressed, it certainly won’t be my last!

5 out of 5 stars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

O! M! G! This book was rockstar quality! Maybe it was about a pro athlete and his unwanted PA, but it hit me like a rock concert! Hard and fast and full-on! Gavin Brawley stole my heart from the first time I met him and Noah was undeniably cute. I liked that it wasn't insta-love and that they came together more naturally. There were so many points that I absolutely loved, but the scrimmage and ending were definitely my favs. I can't wait to read more about the Barons because this book really woke up some deep feelings and made me want to crawl through my Kindle and hug all of the guys! <3

This is a fantastic sports romance by Santino Hassell. This somehow also the first football romance book I've read. As much as I've loved the author's other books, I was also a bit hesitant to start this one. I haven't had much luck when it comes to soccer romances because the inaccuracies about the sport in the books completely throw him out of the story, but thankfully, that's not the case here. I think with Illegal Contact, this is much more a character story than one that revolves around football, so that certainly helps.

Illegal Contact is about NFL, New York Barons tight end, Gavin Brawley. He's been put under house arrest and suspended from the team for a video that's been caught of him yanking a guy out of his car and slugging him. Now, Gavin lives in a huge house, alone, and can't go out to do simple stuff, like buying food.

We soon learn that Gavin isn't an awful person, he just doesn't care what anyone thinks of him. He's had a rough childhood and is past caring what the press think of him and his past when he plays awesome out on the field. He doesn't play into the media's games and so he's the one who gets all the bad press. What the press doesn't know is that for his friends, Gavin is 100% loyal and dependable to his friends. And that's really all he cares about, no matter what his image is to the public. However, that really hasn't worked out in his favor. Now, he needs an assistant, and if his manager has anything to say on the matter, a spy to keep Gavin out of trouble.

This is where we meet Noah Monroe. Noah is out of a job at doing something he loves, like working at a LGBT youth center, and now he's scrambling to find any job in order to keep paying rent living in NYC and something temporary while he buys time to look more for something along his career path. Noah doesn't care about football, so he doesn't give the greatest first impression upon meeting Gavin, but that's what sets him apart. When it might be a better idea to hire someone who doesn't care, than to hire someone who's a total fanboy.

This is an enemies-to-lovers story, and gives some Beauty and the Beast vibes? I think it's the house arrest part and Gavin's grumpy attitude, to be honest. I love that Noah doesn't take Gavin's shit and talks back every opportunity he gets. I also love that Gavin is actually a big softie who would do everything for his friends. Gavin is bi, and while his manager would love for him to only like women, it doesn't work that ways, and Gavin is super attractive to Clark Kent-lookalike Noah. I was hesitant about this turning into a relationship while Gavin was, technically, Noah's employer, but I'm glad how this relationship developed and worked out in the end.

This is a slow burn romance. And the sexual tension is hot. This book has relatively low angst compared to other books I've read, but there's still some in this book between Gavin and Noah.

Gavin's friend's Simeon and Marcus are awesome and sweet. And I can't wait to read Simeon's story in Down by Contact!!

***Thanks to Berkley Publishing for providing me an ARC on NetGalley***

When a fight caught-on-tape lands Gavin Brawley--the notoriously hotheaded tight end for The New York Barons--on house arrest the last thing he wants to deal with is a new personal assistant. Noah Monroe is a freshly unemployed social worker who could care less about Gavin and just wants to do the job and start paying his student loans. But will Noah worm his way into Gavin's heart and bring out #DatBrawleySmile ?

This book was great, I’m just really into the way Santino Hassell writes romance. He slowly builds sexual tension and pairs it with cutting banter. Noah, being a self proclaimed "poor kid from Queens" goes toe to toe with Gavin's surliness. I was just waiting for a Slap Slap Kiss--although it ends up being more of a You Are Better Than You Think You Are.

Hassell is also writing some of the most authentic portrayals of millennials I've read in romance. The pop culture references, language and world views feel modern and authentic. Like the way Noah and Gavin talk about the toxic and often problematic culture of professional football. While Gavin loves football and knows it saved his life he’s also realizes if word got out he was bisexual and had a boyfriend his career could be over.

Authentic, heartwarming and fun Hassell’s debut football series is a touch down !

It is no secret that I’m a big fan of Santino Hassell’s writing, so to say I was exciteed for this book to come out is an understatement. I mean, Santino and sports, just orgasmic. When I first cracked this book open, it did everything I was expecting it to do. Draw me in with the banter and animosity of two characters that are complete opposites and don’t have much qualms with showing their dislike about certain things to each other. I was immediately hooked by Gavin and Noah. Hooked!

ILLEGAL CONTACT is a whole lot of fun and you can’t help but read it from cover to cover in one go. I didn’t want to put this down because I loved the characters so much and I loved all their interactions whether they were of the sexy variety or when they were going at each other’s throats instead. There’s a lot of sass and attitude and I absolutely love that.

I also liked that with such a simple setup as two characters basically stuck living together for a period of time, Mr. Hassell gave us two very complex characters that had a lot of personal isssues to work through individually and it wasn’t all about simply the romance. Gavin and his background as a foster kid and how he deals with it was probably one of the things that made me connect with this grumpy hero the most. And let me just state that I love grumpy heroes so Gavin was the star of this show for me, as much as I loved Noah as well. There was something beautiful about seeing someone who has lived guarding himself so much finally opening up and being vulnerable that I couldn’t look away from.

Will I go as far as saying this is my favorite book I’ve read by him? Yes and no. Yes because it is my fave solo work by Santino Hassell as all around book. But no because I think it was missing some of the trademark grittiness I’ve come to expect from him. That’s always what keeps me coming back. I was still happy to see that he could write something that felt completely different and that fit in well with the theme of a fun sports romance, but I definitely wanted to see some of that grittiness his other books have. Maybe in the next one? Because I’m anxious to get that one in my greedy paws as soon as possible.

I am not sure how he does it, but I think Santino Hassell can write just about anything. Illegal Contact is a sports romance, but it is so much more than that. It is a story about learning yourself and letting go and trust.
It is also a forced proximity and a romancing the boss (although in a non-traditional boss/assistant setting) book. Yes!

Gavin Brawley is the starting tight end for the Barons...well, he was until he was put under house arrest. Now he is stuck in his empty mansion in the middle of nowhere with nothing but himself for company. And he is pretty useless at that.
Noah Monroe needs a job. He is recently unemployed and so his father. If he doesn't figure something out soon, his already pathetic living situation is going to crumble into nothing.
When they meet there is so much animosity and it is awesome. Gavin is a closeted bisexual, while Noah is out and thinks Gavin is straight. Gavin's world revolves around football while Noah has no interest in sports.

"But this guy?" I held up Noah's picture. "He hates football."
"Whaaat?" Marcus waved his hand. "Pssh, fuck all that."

Despite that, there is the best sexual tension in this book. And it is sloooooow burn. The two of them work out their working relationship with Gavin as boss and Noah as the personal assistant throughout most of the book. They get to know each other, learn each other's quirks and become friendly. During this process, we get to go on the journey with them, experiencing things along the way. We are also introduced to a couple of great supporting characters.
Gavin and Noah do not hook up until the last third of the book or so. But, that is okay because when they hook up it is hot AF. Who the heck writes sex scenes like that? They burn up the pages.

I really liked Gavin as the story progressed. He starts to let his guard down with Noah and in the process shows a vulnerable and sweet side to himself. And he isn't afraid to let that side show.
He is also just cute as heck.

"Also known as me showing off for my crush like a varsity player on the high school's field."

Noah becomes more self-assured. And he doesn't let Gavin get away with any shit. I loved that he wants to take care of his dad. It is such an endearing trait in a person. He is snarky and forth coming.
He sure knew how to sock a guy right in the nuts with a bag of feels.

Another thing I enjoyed is the lack of drama between the MCs. Of course, there is conflict and there is drama, but they communicate really well with each other as the story progresses.

"Fuck," I whispered. "This hurts."
He nodded, burying his face in the crook of my neck, and held me...

I have one warning - there is somewhat on page sexy times between Gavin and another person. I am not a fan of this in my romances. I don't mind it before the MCs have met, but I hate it after that. I wasn't sure I could get past that, but I did and my overall enjoyment of the story was only slightly affected by it. By the time October rolled around I was over it and when Thanksgiving arrives, my feel-o-meter was through the roof.
The other thing is I wish there were an epilogue. You know me, I love my epilogues. There is no doubt in my mind that these two will make it and we do get a planned out and discussed HEA. The ending is sweet and loving, so I am not complaining. I am just greedy and always want more.
That being said, bring on some Simeon!! OMG, and Case, please. I could just lick a boy who reads on his break.
Also, if you are interested, go check out my Illegal Contact themed nails on instagram.
A Polished Reader - book related nails

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars

This light and fluffy sports romance reveals a whole new side of Santino Hassell. There isn’t a hint of hipster, a touch of horror, or a whiff of urban fantasy in this relatively simple story about a football player and his blue collar personal assistant.

This is the first traditional, formulaic romance I’ve read by this author. The story itself isn’t terribly fresh or original. A sports hero meets an impoverished nobody and falls in love. As in almost every m/m sports romance, Gavin is closeted and risks losing his career if his secret is revealed.

However, while this is predictable and the tropes are a little tired, the story is saved by Hassell’s wonderfully drawn characters. The clash between Gavin’s privileged celebrity life and Noah’s basic struggles to pay the rent after college makes for great drama and fabulous banter.

Both of these two are more complicated than they first seem. Gavin is a closeted diva with a bad attitude and a huge chip on his shoulder. Noah has just as much of a chip on his shoulder but he needs the job as Gavin’s assistant desperately enough to put up with Gavin’s ridiculous demands. I loved watching Noah slowly worm his way into Gavin’s life as he earns his trust and ultimately, his affection. As Noah’s confidence grows, so does his personality and his attitude. Noah and Gavin are entertaining together and their chemistry is very hot.

This is the first book in a new series and we are introduced to a quirky and engaging cast of characters that I can’t wait to see in future books.


Rachael – ☆☆☆☆☆
I have to say that I absolutely loved these two men. They were very different, yet alike in the most interesting ways.

Gavin is a 'jerk' or that's what everyone thinks of him as, but he really is this tender hearted, amazing friend who does things for people without wanting or needing anything in return, just because it is the right thing.

Noah is hilarious to follow as he goes from this stumbling and lost man to his fully sassy and funny normal self. The two of them are just... hilarious. It was a wildly amusing story.

Hassell has this crazy ability to make his characters so realistic with flaws that normal people have and struggle to deal with. The tension between the men was intense while their banter helped keep it from becoming too much.

I loved the secondary characters as well. It was great to see these other players help get Noah into the sport that is so important to Gavin while Noah shows Gavin there is so much more to life. I can't wait to see where this series goes.


Angie – ☆☆☆☆☆
I am not a big fan of books with sports in them but this one hit the mark for me. I loved Gavin and Noah. When football was being talked about I would skim the book, the story to me was more about Gavin, Noah, and Gavin's teammates. I enjoyed the secondary characters and can't wait to read their books in the series. I read this book in one sitting and I hated to see it come to an end. I will have to admit the line that sticks out the most to me was when Gavin asked Noah if he could just stick in the tip... I don't know why that line stuck with me but it did. LOL.


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆
The main character in this book, Gavin, identifies as bisexual but he never interacts with any females other than his agent. When he has a booty call, it's with a guy.

Gavin is the reigning bad boy of the NFL, having been suspended for a year by the league because of a road rage incident which also left him on house arrest for six months. Needing a personal assistant, he reluctantly hires someone. Noah is that someone.

Noah didn’t want this job, didn’t want to be a “nanny” to a celebrity but with his student loans coming due any day now, he doesn't have much of a choice.

The issues that have faced Gavin from childhood are many, but we never see any of them resolved or him interacting with many people outside his core group of friends.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the first book in a new series, and I will definitely be looking out for the next one. I love the way that the Baron world is introduced and how we get to know the setting for the story and the team very naturally all through the book. Much better than a surfeit of information in a block.

A sports romance, but with a good twist and two intriguing lead characters. Gavin's past makes an interesting focus when he and Noah first get to know each other, but best of all is Noah's lack of fandom – it is a fun way of getting the information to be revealed. Backed up with some solid support in Simeon, Marcus, Joe, Mel, and Jessica – who will, I'm sure, feature in future books – we get a really well-rounded story.

Thank you, Mr. Hassell, and please release book two soon!

*Thank you to the NetGalley and InterMix publishing for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I tend to find sports romance novels to be one and the same. Hot sports athlete who is jaded. But in comes this girl/guy who changes everything. Boom it's love.

There are quite a few variations of this trope and I'm not saying I don't enjoy it. I do. It clearly works and sells because people keep coming back for more. I haven't read a ton of sports romance novels, so all these thoughts come from my limited knowledge of what I have read.

But Illegal Contact absolutely BLEW ME AWAY. It was everything I needed in the sports romance genre. It was a fresh spin and it seriously so so good.

Our main character, Gavin Brawley is a seriously angry football player who is on house arrest for six months when a video of him in a brawl goes viral. He is forced to hire a personal assistant to run his errands, get his groceries, ect. He had a tough upbringing and football was the only thing that kept him grounded.

Enter Noah Monroe and his Clark Kent glasses. He's a recent college grad with crazy amounts of debt and in desperate need for a job. He was recently fired from his job for having an affair with his boss. He is an openly gay man and dreams of working in an organization that helps LGBTQIA+ teens. Instead, due to his crippling debt, he is forced to take the job of Gavin's personal assistant for the next 6 months.

The two of these guys get off to a rough start. For starters Gavin is always moody and angry and Noah is stubborn and is not afraid to stand up to Gavin. Slowly the two of them form a middle ground but the attraction is hard to ignore and things spiral out of control.

I loved the both of these characters! I just want to hug Gavin and tell him that everything was going to be okay. He had a tough upbringing and being bisexual football player isn't accepted which is why he hides that part of himself until he meets that person that makes me questions everything.

Noah was such a badass (and an asshole at times too but a lovable one). He was not afraid of who he was and was definitely not afraid to call Gavin out on his crap. He kept Gavin in check and the two of them form and honest and real friendship.

This story was seriously funny and filled with so many adorable moments between these two goofs. The side characters were amazing as well! All of these characters had chemistry and you could definitely tell that they cared about one another. I never wanted the story to end. It was a slow burn but it was worth the wait. I cannot recommend this book enough.

This was my first introduction to Santino Hassell and I will definitely be reading more of his work. Down by Contact is the second book in the Baron series which follows Gavin's best friend and NFL star Simeon Boudreaux and I can't wait to read it!

Do yourself a favor and pick this book up!

Places to buy:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble

"He was so addictive. Like candy. Or drugs. One taste of him had me fiending and my heart beating out of my chest."

OH YES!!! I loved this fun and spicy slow-burn sports romance!! 'Illegal Contact' has the perfect mix of romance and heat. Any sports-romance lover will adore this story!!

Football superstar Gavin Brawley of the New York Barons has major anger issues. A tough guy who grew up in the foster system, he is caught on video assaulting a man and as a result, is put on six months of house arrest. What is was really doing was protecting his friend but Gavin will take his punishment even though it means he is suspending from playing football, the only thing that saved him from a life of total despair.

Most fans think Gavin is a total asshole. And he does little to nothing to dispel the public's opinion of him. In reality, he is a deeply closeted bisexual who has just a few close friends in his inner circle. He trusts no one outside his tight-knit circle. But because Gavin is a prisoner in his own home (a stunning mansion in the Hamptons), he is forced by his long-time manager to hire a PA to shop for him, cook his meals and run his errands. But Gavin is dead-set against this idea because he really doesn't like most people and he just wants to be left alone.

"I was a multimillionaire and a famous athlete, and yet people still treated me like a dirt-poor street kid from Newark. Some things never changed."

Noah Monroe is in desperate need of a job. His last one ended badly and his father was just laid off. His student loans are looming over his head. He knows absolutely zero about football but that adds to his charm. And so he has no idea who Gavin Brawley is either. He is completely clueless but must find a job as soon as possible. He is out of options and will take any job, even if it is way outside his chosen field of social work.

"Was that the celebrity I’d be servicing? Bad choice of words. Was that the celebrity I’d be . . . personally assisting? I wasn’t too clear on what this job would even entail. I’d just been told to send my résumé and cover letter to Joe’s receptionist."

Of course Noah and Gavin cannot stand each other at first! Gavin is a total jerk to Noah.

“The man I hired has worked for movie stars, Gavin. He understands discretion.”

“I don’t give a shit if he understands quantum physics. He’s more likely to land on the moon than set foot in this ridiculous mansion.”

I adore an enemies-to-lovers story. Gavin and Noah could not be more different. Gavin tries to shut Noah out of his life but he has to admit, Noah begins to do an amazing job as his PA. Noah begins to answer the huge amount of fan mail that has been accumulating and starts a social media presence for Gavin. So the fans actually begin to like Gavin Brawley. Gavin is wildly attracted to Noah but as a closeted bisexual, he feels that coming out would ruin his football career. Santino Hassell does a fantastic job of building their relationship from intense dislike, to friendship, to sweet, sweet romance. I could not put this story down! The sex scenes are CRAZY hot. Even when Noah and Gavin were breaking my heart, I just knew these two had to have a HEA. And boy, did they ever.

I finished with my hands in his hair and our lips crushed together. It was an orgasm worthy of Olympic medals, but what really stopped my heart was the sound of my name in his lust-soaked voice. We were both in trouble.

When Gavin finally begins to trust Noah, it is a beautiful thing. The banter, the sexy flirting, the touches of humor - it all worked for me. There is a second book planned in this series for Gavin's friend and teammate Simeon and let me just say that it sounds all kinds of awesome. I already miss these guys!!

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.”

Double review - 4 and 4.5 stars:

Ami’s Review: Confession: I know that Santino Hassell is popular among the population of MM readers. But, aside from a couple of titles, I haven’t read most of his work. I keep wanting to, but never felt the push — and I DNF’ed that first book of his Cyberlove series with Megan Erickson because it wasn’t my cup of tea. Having said that, I was really curious with this one because it seems to have a “lighter” side of romance compared to his Five Burroughs or paranormal series.

Well, I’m glad that I made that decision. I practically devoured Illegal Contact in (almost) one-sitting — I have to sleep, okay! — it was definitely a book that kept me engaged throughout. Enemies-to-lovers is a tricky trope for me because I need to be convinced that two people that started with animosities can fall in love.

And I thought Hassell delivered! There were enough gritty, butt-heading moments, with both Gavin and Noah delivered their piece of minds to the other, but still showed the process of evolving respect and mutual romantic feelings. It wasn’t instant love for these two and I loved that it took time before Gavin and Noah tackled the sex part of their relationship.

I admit that the personal development seemed to be more apparent for Gavin though. Gavin started this book a bit rougher, with anger issues, and definitely didn’t want to make things easy for Noah. As the story goes, I could see how Noah seemed to soften him. I saw Gavin’s kindness and caring for others … even if I never doubted his loyalty, considering the reason why Gavin was under how house arrest in the first place.

I had more trouble to see Noah’s though … because I couldn’t really see him differently from the Noah being introduced in the beginning of the book … except that maybe he started to pay attention to football *laugh*.

Nonetheless, I though both characters were written well. I also loved the secondary characters, most notably Gavin’s friends Simeon and Marcus. I would love to have more pages just to ensure the happily-ever-after part but maybe I can get more update about them in Simeon’s book. So yes, sign me up for this series, please.

Overall Impression: I really liked it

Jen’s Review: What happens when the star football player is forced into seclusion and taking on a PA with no interest in football to handle his life and everything that he can no longer do outside of his home? A combustible enemies to lovers story!

Gavin is the star who is known as the bad boy on the team. He is gruff and uncaring on the outside, but he is extremely loyal to his best friends and teammates, Simeon and Marcus. He has had a rough life, but football saved him in more ways than one. It is everything to him. But then, it is taken away when a fight lands him on house arrest for six months. There is a lot more to that part of the story as to the why, but that isn’t really the focus here. When he is forced by his manager to hire a PA, he is extremely reluctant, but in walks Noah.

Noah has had a string of bad luck in regards to his employment. While this isn’t his chosen field, he needs the money to pay student loans and help his now unemployed father. He has little to no interest in football and has no clue who Gavin is. This, of course, rubs Gavin the wrong way, but Noah’s ability to stand up for himself sparks something in Gavin, and he gives in and hires Noah. Much of this story is them trading barbs while trying to get the job done. They have great chemistry, long before their relationship becomes more than professional. There is plenty of great banter and slow build up as Noah and Gavin grow closer. When they finally get to the sexy stuff, it is well worth the wait.

I loved watching Gavin’s hard shell gradually melt as the months went on. Gavin has some major trust issues (rightfully so due to previous circumstances), but Noah gains it little by little. Their attraction also grows, but there are a few things standing in the way on both sides, though they are hard-pressed to prevent it from happening.

These guys were fabulous together and made a perfect match. Noah is perfect for Gavin, is everything Gavin needs and knows just how to handle him, without even realizing it. Thankfully, they see it before it’s too late. My only tiny gripe is that the ending which had so much buildup, seemed over in a flash with little to no fanfare. I would have liked to have seen that played out a bit more.

There are some fabulous side characters in this as well who help push them in the right direction. Noah’s bff, who ends up dating Marcus, and Simeon, who is hiding in a similar closet to Gavin. I’m so excited for the next book focusing on the sexy Cajun, Simeon, and look forward to seeing these guys again.

Overall Impression: I loved it!

Noah Monroe needs a job in a bad way. He lost his last one when an indiscretion with his boss ended badly – very badly. Becoming the Personal Assistant to a spoiled celebrity wasn’t exactly what he worked so hard in college to achieve, but beggars can’t be choosers.

Now he’s stranded in the Hamptons with Barons tight end Gavin Brawley and if he thinks that it is going to be business as usual, he is sadly mistaken.

Gavin appeared in the massive doorway sweaty and wearing nothing but Under Armour compression shorts. I was treated to every line of his body, every muscle, every mark and scar, and a bulge that magnetized my eyeballs. It wasn’t fair for him to look this good and to have a dick that big. Life was ridiculous.

Gavin wasn’t always football’s bad boy. He was the orphan from the wrong side of the tracks who used football as his ticket out of the system. A combination of aggression, loyal friends and pure talent have made him what he is and now all of that is at stake because of one wild night.

His bisexuality is not a secret to those close to him but it isn’t exactly public knowledge. And suffering through six months of house arrest for six whole months with PA that drives him insane may not be survivable – for his career and for his heart.

“What the hell was that?”
“Me being grateful.”
Noah touched his mouth. “You can’t just say ‘thank you’?”
“Like you said—actions speak louder than words.”
I licked my lips, attention still focused on his, and goddamn but I wanted to kiss him again. Longer this time. More tongue. My hand cupping his clean-shaven cheek and my thumb stroking his soft skin. Fingers sliding into his thick, dark hair. But I didn’t.
He was startled, frozen in front of me, and I was struck with the realization that I not only wanted to fuck my hot assistant. I liked him. Sex was the farthest thing from my mind. Right now I just wanted to kiss the hell out of him, and try to get him to like me back.

Illegal Contact is so much more that it seems.  It’s a heartbreakingly emotional romance with so much sizzling hot chemistry between the characters that it’s nearly impossible to put down.
 
I loved that both Gavin and Noah were both so brave and honest about who they were as people and who they were becoming as a couple. They recognized exactly how rare it is to find someone who accepts you as you are and puts your happiness first – even if it means sacrificing their own in the process.
​
Because that’s the way that love should really be and it made this book one that we won’t soon forget…

This book is classic Santino Hassell and I say that after reading everything he has published. His strength is his characterizations and here he creates two main characters that stand out from the pages along with a small group of secondary characters that come across as real as well.

Gavin and Noah are opposites and if that appeals to you, it’s built in throughout the story. Gavin is a NFL football player under house arrest for six months. Sure, he lives in a mansion in the Hamptons, but it’s largely unfurnished and he admits that when he had money for the first time in his life, he just thought he was supposed to buy a big house. The house arrest is the result of him punching someone in a fit of rage and the media likes to run with the story of his rough past and his anger management issues. Gavin will be the first to tell you that he has anger issues, but there is also a side to the story, and a side to Gavin, that the media doesn’t know.

Noah is college educated and lost his social work job after an affair with his boss went bad. He dresses in button down shirts and Gavin likes to call him Clark after Clark Kent. The only thing they seem to have in common is that they both grew up poor. But while Gavin in now raking in a massive salary, Noah is drowning in college loans.

Noah has no interest in football and barely knows who Gavin is. He almost reluctantly takes the job as Gavin’s assistant, but the money is good and Noah needs the job. Noah can certainly see that Gavin is good looking, but his demeanor is prickly and grumpy and he can fly into fits of rage. And, Noah has no intention of getting involved with yet another boss.

The book is more about the effects that being famous has on Gavin’s life and how the media wants the rest of the world to see him whether it’s true or not. Hassell writes great dialogue between the men and the banter flows effortlessly. When Gavin is admitting to himself that he’s attracted to Noah, especially when Noah gets interested in football, Gavin admits that Noah using football terminology has him aroused and it makes for an entertaining read.

Gavin is used to saying and doing what he wants, but as the men become friends, Noah calls him out and they balance each other out well. Although, some of that banter was familiar and had the same style as other characters from Hassell’s other books, I could overlook it for the well-polished story and engaging characters.

The book is a slow burn for these guys, but the chemistry is dialed up right from the start. They both have reasons for not wanting to pursue each other, but ultimately, they can’t stay away from each other and the intimate scenes are raw and real and heated with, again, Hassell’s signature style.
Hassell also is known for ending his books in the moment and this ending follows that style as well. While it has worked for me in some of his other books, here I could have used a scene or two more at the end. Since this is the start of a series, we may see Gavin and Noah in future books and the secondary characters all have interesting stories to tell. I will definitely be looking forward to Simeon’s book next as a new Santino Hassell book is always something to look forward to. The book is ultimately about hope as Hassell dedicates the book, “For the scared, the closeted, and the hopeful.”

Question: Can Santino Hassell write sports romance? Answer: Yes, and he writes it pretty damn well as evidenced by The Barons series starter, Illegal Contact. I mean, I already know how gifted of an author the man is, having read a lot of his books already, and I also know that he isn't a one-fiction wonder, having written paranormal romance and contemporary romance already. I think Hassell has created his own kind of genre--snarky romance--because there's always a fair amount of snark in all his novels, or at least the ones I've read so far (i.e. the Cyberlove series, the Five Boroughs series, The Community series, Stygian, and his stories in two anthologies, Lead Me Into Darkness and Follow Me Into Darkness). But snark coming from a professional football player under house arrest and the same amount of snark emanating from a not so prim and proper personal assistant? It's double the Hassell magic.

On the field, New York Barons tight end Gavin Brawley is a force to be reckoned with. Off the field, however, Gavin doesn't exactly have the kind of reputation that would endear him to majority of the football-loving public. The only people who know him are those he's chosen to allow close enough, and he would do almost anything for them, including giving someone a beat down and then getting arrested for it. Now, Gavin hasn't just been put under house arrest; he's also been suspended by the Barons. This makes it nearly impossible for him to get around and run errands, which is why it's now necessary for him to get a personal assistant. The one he chooses, however, could prove to be more trouble than he's worth. He has no experience, has a low opinion of pro athletes, and answers back. Oh, and he's hotter than he's supposed to be and could well be the distraction that Gavin so needs.

Noah Monroe needs a job and he's desperate enough to apply for one that he's pretty sure he isn't totally qualified for. He didn't think he'd have a shot, especially not after the less than stellar interview he had with his potential new boss. So, color him surprised when he received a phone call from none other than the man he sorta-maybe-kinda insulted telling him that he's his new personal assistant. But making sure a grumpy pro football player stuck in his mansion has everything and anything he needs is easier said than done, especially when it seems as if Gavin is purposely making life far more difficult than it has to be. This isn't helping to change Noah's original assessment of Gavin being an overly spoiled, privileged, and entitled jock who's all brawn and very little brain. But then Noah gets glimpses of the real Gavin--the one with a heart--and it's this version that could lead to more trouble for him.

Moaning and groaning (both the whiny and dirty kinds) abound in Illegal Contact, and if you're as much of a slow burner as I am, this novel delivers. There isn't a lot of love lost between Gavin and Noah, who start things off on the wrong foot with assumptions made and not-so-nice things being said. But part of what makes this such an entertaining read is seeing how they both learn things about one another that make it impossible for them to not change their original opinions. Sure, the attraction exists from the beginning, but attraction alone doesn't suffice. It's when Gavin and Noah get to know each other that the contemplating takes place. Is this person worth investing in emotionally? And as a reader, that's a question I ask myself each and every time I read a new book. Were Gavin and Noah worth my time and emotional investment? Absolutely, and boy, did they repay me tenfold.

Neither Gavin nor Noah are ideal men of virtue; they've made their share of mistakes. Add to that Gavin being a bisexual football player in the closet and Noah having a history of sleeping with people in authority. Then you've got people on both sides who did their bit of interference, though it's the kind that's well-meant, and a jealous not-quite-an-ex who wants to cause trouble. I do love my books with a fair amount of complication thrown into the mix, but this story never felt overly complicated nor did it feel as if there was just way more going on then there should have been. The author gives his readers the romance and sex they've come to expect and demand in his books, but he's also offered up something novel to him and that this new romance sub-genre he's taken on. There are also two peripheral characters--Gavin's best friends--who I can't wait to discover more about in the new year.

Now, I'm not going to claim that this novel is perfect. Sorry, but perfect novels do NOT exist. If I had to nitpick, it would probably be that there wasn't that much in terms of the sports part of the sports romance equation. However, having said that, Gavin was on suspension AND under house arrest, so... If you've been Hassell-free all this time, snag yourselves a copy of Illegal Contact and fall in love with one of the best M/M sports romances to be released this year and discover a new author that could well become your latest go-to one. If you're like me and know what it's like to get Hasselled, make sure to read this series starter that I feel scores a touchdown. Okay, that's enough of me being all clever (I wish!) and cheesy (I know!). The five-plus-starred Illegal Contact is a must-read and I'm already counting down to the second Barons novel, Down by Contact, due out January 2018 (GAH!!!). ♥

In Illegal Contact, Santino Hassell sheds his "gritty" writing for a very thoughtful "falling in love" story between two unlikely but likeable men.

Gavin is a pro football player sentenced to house arrest for punching out some guy. (What he did is integral to the story, so I'm not going to spoil.) He's got some definite anger issues.

Noah is a social advocate and couldn't be more different than Gavin. He's short on cash and without a job. Applying for a job as Gavin's personal assistant is a long shot, but he manages to get the job.

The early tension between Gavin and Noah made me wonder how these two were ever going to get together. But over the course of a few weeks, Gavin and Noah quietly build a friendship while their attraction for each other grows. There are some circumstances in Noah's past that keeps him from acting upon his more-than-friends feelings toward Gavin, but eventually they just can't stay away from each other. I loved the slow build to their relationship -- the making out scenes are steamy and made everything about Gavin and Noah's relationship different and interesting.

The ending chapters brought tears to my eyes and the resolution was just perfect. I loved everything about this book. It left me feeling good and wanting more, and as a reader that's what I want from the first book in a series.

An ARC was provided for review.

Illegal Contact is Santino Hassell's first sports romance, the start of The Barons series. I've read several of his other contemporaries and enjoyed them all so I was really looking forward to this new direction. It absolutely lived up to my hopes and delivered a super sexy romance about two people who find love where they least expect it.

Gavin Brawley may be known for his quick temper and his aggressive play on the football field, but he's not above the law and a public assault results in six months of house arrest and a missed season of the game that saved his life. To say he's grumpy and going a bit stir-crazy would be an understatement. He's not in a position to be choosy though, so when his manager tells him he needs a live-in personal assistant, he reluctantly agrees.

Noah Monroe graduated from college with his social work degree and thought he had things under control until an ill-advised affair with his boss at an LGBT center and the discovery of said boss's interactions with underage clients left him summarily without a job. Living with his currently unemployed father, Noah will try his hand at anything to help with the bills, including learning to be a PA for an anger prone sidelined football player. He's organized, conscientious and not a gushing football fan (truth be told, he didn't even know who Gavin was when they met), making him exactly the kind of person who'll do his job and not tell tales.

Noah can give as good as he gets, and while he and Gavin clash initially, it soon leads to a grudging respect on both sides, and a not so hidden sexual attraction as it becomes clear that Gavin is bisexual. A steamy affair ensues, and cocooned in Gavin's mansion it's easy to shut out the real world. But Gavin is still in the closet and how his NFL team would react to his coming out is unknown. Is he willing to put his football career on the line for a chance at love?

I loved this story! Gavin's got a well earned reputation as a hard hitting, temperamental man on and off the field, and in part this is due to his past as a foster child who had to fight for everything he needed. He trusts very few people – his manager, his agent, and his two friends and Baron teammates Simeon and Marcus. He's got no interest in improving his public persona but Noah's presence in his life changes things. Noah is a calming influence, someone who isn't afraid of his temper and whose help Gavin comes to appreciate. I really enjoyed the development of their friendship and how Noah shows Gavin that his worth is not tied up in just being a star football player. He calms Gavin's rough edges, makes him smile and laugh, and appreciates all parts of him (hot body included). This is a slow burn romance, so the sexual tension builds through the first half of the story until neither Gavin nor Noah can resist putting their hands on each other. The result is some seriously steamy scenes that benefit from the fact that Gavin and Noah have already come to care about each other before they take that next step.

Despite Gavin being under house arrest, football is still a big part of the story whether it's discussed with his teammates, played on his gigantic yard, watched on TV or talked about with his manager. Gavin has lived and breathed football for so long that the forced absence makes him contemplate what he'll do after he retires. It also makes him realize how important Noah has become to him. Both Noah and Gavin have to make some serious decisions about whether the relationship they are building can really have a future. There are some emotionally heartrending parts to this story that make the happy ending all that much sweeter. I definitely plan to read more stories about the Barons, and it looks like Simeon will be on the field next! Illegal Contact is a sexy, entertaining football romance that scores a touchdown with me!

This review has been posted at Straight Shootin' Book Reviews and feedback updated with the link. It will be posted at sale sites during release week.

4.5 stars!

Soooo goooood!! <3

If you're looking for a slow-burn romance featuring two equally gorgeous and equally stubborn characters, Illegal Contact is the book for you. Santino Hassell hit it right out of the park with Gavin and Noah.

I was feeling plenty of this...

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And this...

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With this...

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And a whole lot of this...

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...throughout the book!

I finished the book with a huge smile on my face and a promise to hunt down and read every single Santino Hassell book I've missed.

The romance between Gavin and Noah was perfect. It wasn't an easy one but the emotional payoff was fantastic! I loved the interaction and how the romance developed between them.

I also loved the secondary characters in this book. They were fleshed out and interesting and it made me want to read more about them.

What a great way to start a series! I highly recommend this book to everyone! EVERYONE!

ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

My 4 star review is up on Goodreads and linked below. It will be posted on blog and social media upon release and links will be updated below at that time, UPDATED 8/15/17

4 stars

New York Barons tight end, Gavin Brawley already had an unpopular rep as a hothead who did not care about what anyone thinks. Now his temper and protectiveness resulted in a fight that got him suspended from the team and on house arrest for six months. His manager thinks he needs a babysitter/assistant to help him out during this time. Gavin is not so sure. He is untrusting, broody, cranky, resentful, and generally angry at his situation. But if you get in his inner circle, he is a loyal friend.

Noah Monroe is a college grad and wanna be social worker who has had his own recent struggles resulting in the loss of a job and money issues. He is desperate and follows a lead about the assistant position and Noah is shocked when he gets a chance to prove himself. He is a geek, but with attitude. And he could care less about football or Gavin's celebrity status.

Gavin and Noah fight, push each other, and butt heads. Noah may be organized, anal retentive, and a perfectionist, but he is no pushover. He is sarcastic, real, and does not let Gavin get away with things. They are opposites in some ways, but do have some things in common. The more Gavin gets used to Noah being in his big, lonely space with him, the more he starts to get attached. He might even like him more than just lusting after him. And Noah is in the same predicament. But for quite a while neither is aware of the other's sexuality so it is confusing for them as well as a bad idea due to their circumstances. Noah's recent past also leaves him gun shy of relationships and getting too close to those he works for.

Antagonism, sarcasm, sexual tension, mixed signals, and boundaries easily broken lead to a hot secret affair. It's great while they can live in oblivion, but eventually they have to take a hard look at the reality of the situation with a closeted football player who will eventually be back on the field and back to his real life, and his employee who has his to figure out his own future.

What will happen if it comes a choice between love of the game and love of a man?

This book was a bit rough around the edges just like Gavin. It took me awhile to warm up to Gavin and these two guys together. It was a slow build with them from enemies, to friends, to crushes, to lovers. It was raw but oddly romantic in places with colorful language, intense reactions, and clumsy handling of situations. But Noah pushed Gavin to think, take charge of his life and reputation, and figure out what he needed. And it was a catalyst for him wanting to be a better person than he had been showing to others. Noah had his own issues to deal with as well, and had a helpful and caring heart. I enjoyed getting under their layers and seeing their vulnerability, especially Gavin who became so much more endearing.

They complemented each other and were real. They were not afraid to call each other out. But both had fears and rightly so. It was a near impossible situation with potential consequences and it set them up to get hurt.

This was a feisty, flirty, snarky, sexy, slow burn, hot jock--charming nerd--opposites attract love story told in both points of view. The main couple definitely grew on me and I ended up really liking them together. I would have liked to get a bit more at the end, but I am sure we will get more with these two in the next book. I enjoyed the set up and side characters of the QB, Simeon and running back, Marcus and also Noah's bestie, Jasmine. I am looking forward to more with Simeon in Down by Contact.

Santino Hassell has been a favorite author of mine for some time now, and, while I fully expected to like Illegal Contact, I wasn’t prepared for how much I completely loved it. Having been raised on college football in the South, I wondered if my own limitations might affect my reading of a story about a pro team in NYC. Turns out, I needn’t have worried. Mr. Hassell made the whole affair feel both technically sound, as well as inviting, allowing the personalities of the characters to take center stage.

Punnily-monikered tight end Gavin Brawley could very easily have been a stereotype of every “misunderstood-angry-athlete” ever written, but that wasn’t the case. Despite the technical applicability of all three of those things, Gavin deserves a full retraction of the hyphens and quote marks, his cynicism about the press and the public proving just as well earned in the present as it was in his past. Disinterested in either fame or retribution, however, his true love is simply playing football. He knows how slim the odds are that he was able to find salvation in the sport, and, as long as he has it—and the loyalty of his two best (and only) friends—that’s all he really needs. At least until Noah arrives.

After having been recently fired from his job at an LGBT Youth Center in NYC due to his own choices and the bias of those in charge, Noah Monroe is more than a little bitter. Yet, from his first inner snipe about Gavin appearing to be the “ideal candidate for society’s irritating version of masculinity,” it’s clear that Noah has some prejudices of his own. Still, he is fiercely protective of those he cares about—one of several traits he and Gavin share—and, even though he might be preemptively defensive, he’s willing to really listen and open his carefully guarded margins to include others.

Though it certainly doesn’t ignore familiar headlines often associated with professional sports—players’ reputations, public opinion, privacy (or the lack thereof), money, etc.—Illegal Contact gets its heart from its attention to the things you don’t normally see. Gavin’s anger over the exploitation he’s not supposed to notice, Noah’s determination to avoid repeating the past, and their mutual aversion to and unwillingness to play “the game” all coalesced into what amounted to a wonderful reading experience.

Another element I appreciated about Illegal Contact is that, not only did it give me some things to think about, it’s also unexpectedly sweet and fun. Beginning with a mutually-launched series of incitements and reactions, the initial animosity between Gavin and Noah quickly leads to a contemplative avoidance, and they eventually arrive at a transparent kind of understanding that would have been impossible without the enforced isolation of Gavin’s house arrest. Never trite, Noah and Gavin are snarky and quick, playing off each other with a temptation-drenched antagonism that ensnared me from the very first chapter.

Having yet to read something I didn’t like by Mr. Hassell, I’m unapologetically pleased to add Illegal Contact to that growing list. Gavin and Noah were more complicated and winsome than I imagined they’d be, finding similarities in the oddest of places and a haven where they least expect it. Throughout the narrative, I was charmed by both characters, and never did manage to choose a favorite. The house itself was an interesting sort of prison, and made me think that, sometimes, sanctuary might just depend on what you’re running from. Even the secondary characters held their own, for good or ill, and the teases woven by their interactions for the next story worked on me far too well. If The Barons was a gamble as a series, then I want in for the duration.

Illegal Contact was my first Santino Hassell book, and this delicious m/m sports romance will not be my last from him. This book hit so many high notes for me; I just couldn’t get enough.

This story was a slow burn, a simmering romance, and in my opinion, it was done so, so well. The characters were perfect; the conflict was believable, nothing was over the top, no drama just for the sake of drama.

Gavin and Noah are wonderfully drawn characters. I adored the push and pull between the two men, their banter is fantastic, and when they finally give into their attraction, they are combustible! Their passion jumps right off the page.

I love the secondary characters as well. Gavin’s friends are hilarious and entertaining, and I found myself wanting to join their circle. Their bromance has me counting the days until the release of Down By Contact so that I can hang out with the boys of The Barons again.

For me, the real strength of this novel was how REAL it all felt. These are real men, everyday men (even if one happens to be famous) and the reader can truly relate to them. These guys are smart, realistic, and honestly trying to make the best choices they can given their unusual situation.

Hassell’s writing is magnetic, and I found myself trying to sneak in a few pages, even just a few paragraphs, wherever I could because I was THAT invested in this story. I couldn’t stay away from these boys, even if I tried.

Santino Hassell has won me over with is intense, passionate, and sexy m/m romance, and I can’t wait to fill my Kindle with more of his work. I love Illegal Contact. Every word, every paragraph, every page; I love it all.