This novel was everything I could ever ask for in a M/M romance.

SCRATH THAT.

This novel was everything I could ever ask for in a novel! PERIOD.

I devoured this book like nobody's business and I couldn't peel my eyes away from these beautiful words and amazing characters that had me in so deep!
Noah and Gavin were EVERYTHING and I sat on the edge of my seat the entire novel, wondering when it was all going to go down!
I laughed, I swooned, I clutched at my heart, I swooned some more and MY GOODNESS, is it too soon to ask for more of these characters?
Aside from the main characters, I fell so hard for the family and friends introduced and you have no idea how happy I am to know that we'll be seeing more of them as the series continues!

I also loved that this novel took a more realistic side to romance as not everything is always so perfect. I loved going on this ride with these characters and this book just cemented my love for Santino Hassell.
Illegal Contact is EASILY an all-time fav and it just surpasses any LGBTQ romance that I've read! Forever reading anything this man writes!

If you're looking for a hot and nerdy enemies-to-lovers M/M romance, with a deep love of football, a few stolen glances and a whole lot of swoon, then this is your book!

4.5 Stars!!!


Gavin Brawley is on house arrest for the next six months after hitting a guy, which doesn't help his reputation for having a bad temper both on and off the field. Since he can only leave his house to go to his manager's office, his manager suggests hiring a PA to help him run all the errands that he isn't able to right now.

Enter Noah Monroe, who recently lost his job after having an affair with one of the directors of the LGBT center he worked at. He's behind on his student loan's payments and now he has to help his dad, too, since he has also lost his job. While he's not much of a football fan, a job is a job, so he applies to be Gavin's PA, however, they clash from the get-go. Proximity changes both of their perceptions of the other, but Gavin can't come out of the closet and even if he did, no one can tell if everything will change once Gavin can leave the house again.

Okay, so while Gavin was difficult, to say the least, I had a soft spot for him. The guy had a hard life and his anger issues really don't help his image at all. However, I did feel he had a tender heart hiding behind it all and I wanted to make it better for him. *cuddles Gavin* Yes, he didn't go about some things in the best way, but he kept trying and I liked that. Now, I wanted to slap Noah sometimes. He was all hot and cold and I was very annoyed with how he let his relationship with Gavin be colored by his issues after having an affair with his previous employer. Don't get me wrong, I liked him, but he grated on my nerves. He was nice to Gavin, though, I liked that he put so much thought into making Gavin's life inside his house more bearable.

This is a slow burn romance, emphasis on the slow, as it takes forever for Gavin and Noah to finally get together. They did have great chemistry, though and I thought they were hot together.

I really liked Simeon, Jasmine, Max and Case, they were great secondary characters, that I hope we'll read more of in the next book in the series.

Overall, it was an entertaining read, I won't say it was my favorite book by Mr. Hassell, but it was pretty good. Well written, sexy, angsty and intense, and while I had my doubts at one point, the author gave us a very satisfying conclusion to Gavin and Noah's story. Very recommendable!

***Copy provided to the reviewer via NetGalley for my reading pleasure, a review wasn't a requirement. ***

4.5 Stars

When Noah applies for a PA position he has to travel to the Hamptons for the interview. He shows up at the home of tight end, Gavin Brawley, who is temporarily suspended from the league and on house arrest for getting into, well, a brawl. It's hate at first sight. Noah thinks Gavin is just a rich privileged athlete with no worries, while Gavin assumes that Noah is a privileged college student. They both couldn't be more wrong and neither realizes just how much they have in common.

This was an excellent enemies to lovers story. I absolutely loved both Noah and Gavin, not from the start, of course. Gavin was an asshat in the beginning and it took time for me to warm up to him. He's rather rough around the edges and frankly, a little, well, okay, a lot mean. I loved that Noah wouldn't take his crap and wasn't scared to call him out and stand up to him. These two disliked each other so much, but they were also attracted to one another and I sat on the edge of my seat waiting for hate sex at any moment!

But alas this is a slow burn. The progression from enemies to friends and eventually to lovers takes time. Noah and Gavin really get to know one another, you know, once they get over wanting to scratch each other's eyes out. They had amazing chemistry both in and out of the bed.

The story is well-written and paced well. While the story contains some anger, heartbreaking and angst, it also has lots of love, friendship and laughter and some amazing secondary characters. This was an absolutely enjoyable read and I can't wait to see what Santino has in store for us next! Highly recommendable!!


**copy provided by author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

Ladies and gentlemen, we are so happy that Illegal Contact is finally here!





St. Martin's Press sent us an excerpt for you below. Unfortunately, my overtired mind couldn't get the graphic they sent to work, but we've still have the excerpt!

If you haven't read a Santino Hassell book yet, you are seriously missing out. He does great angst and jerkface characters we hate to love. And let's not forget the steamy, messy sex that will have you all:



I mean, just check out this cover:



...

Sorry, lost my train of thought there for a minute. Phew. Ok, back to it. Santino Hassell's Illegal Contact. It's here. You should read it. Preferrably on a beautiful day by the lake, like I did.




Illegal Contact definitely falls into a top 10 sport's romance spot for me. Gavin is a total dick, but you love him anyway. Noah is great. The two together just work. But for the totally unfiltered review, I thought it would be fun to show you messages sent to fellow BiblioJunkie Nat after she finished reading Illegal Contact.



Ok, so maybe I'm a little hung up on what a jackass Gavin is, but honestly, I like my men a little surly. Nat and I then discussed how Illegal Contact wasn't quite as filthy as Santino's books usually are and how his editor at Intermix (ignore that I had the wrong publisher in the messagemust have made him tone down some of his trademark dirty sex...









I'm giving Illegal Contact 4 stars, because, as I said above, I just love these characters and want to hang out with them. Illegal Contact gave me the warm fuzzies, made me laugh, made me drool, and gave me great fantasies about being a fourth with Gavin, Simeon, and Marcus. 😉 I hope you all grab Illegal Contact today, because we need more Baron's books! If you've read it, tell us your thoughts! If you haven't, check out the excerpt below - it will hook you!

~Shel
***

Gavin

Somewhere in the past couple of weeks, right around the time I’d watched Noah’s face light up as he threw himself into philanthropic planning schemes and he’d warned me about Joe being a nosy scumbag, I’d lost my mind. Evidence? Me wanting to smack my closest friend for putting the moves on him.

At first I’d thought I was being overprotective. Not even a week ago, I’d had this whole talk with Noah about him feeling safe, and I’d taken it seriously. As a foster kid, I’d never felt safe. Especially in the homes of people who’d temporarily taken me in. I’d been constantly reminded of my precarious position in their houses, and how they could put in a thirty-day notice with my social worker at any point. And they’d used that leverage against me.

I wasn’t about to step into the shoes of bastards who’d worked hard to ensure I would end up distrusting and despising people for the rest of my life.

He was my employee. I was his boss. He obviously didn’t trust me but had agreed to shack up in my house for two reasons only—money to help his father and to catch up on his debt. He didn’t really want to be here, but he had to be. The least I could do was respect his wishes. The same for my friends, but Simeon was laying it on thick.

As he’d run his hands all over Noah, I’d justified each jolt of discomfort by saying Simeon was shitting all over my promise. But Noah agreeing to fan day and whatever else? That had turned discomfort into outright jealousy. Especially since he hadn’t even known my damn name after meeting me at the interview, but he knew all sorts of random facts about Simeon. Simeon, who was in full-throttle, charming superstar QB mode. I was over it.

Regardless, my jealousy was a complete anomaly. Had never happened before. But it was happening right the fuck now, and I was furious with myself. Who cared if Noah was cute and a smartass who wasn’t afraid to tell me to go fuck myself? And so what if that turned me on? Who cared if he was proving to be helpful and loyal enough to warn me about Joe? He was still my employee. I wasn’t supposed to care that he was more interested in my best friend.

Fuck. Whose idea had it been for me to be someone’s boss? I had zero clue what I was doing. Why had I ever listened to Joe?


I returned to the game room and paced the mostly empty space. I’d just seen that anger-management person a few days ago, and every tip and suggestion had flown out of my mind. All I could think about was how pissed I was at myself, and how I needed to go down to the gym and beat the shit out of a punching bag to work it out of my system. The last time I’d been this mad at myself had been when I’d trusted a journalist who’d invented a fake backstory for himself to get me to respond to his prying questions. Then he’d blasted my childhood across the front page of the newspaper.

Gavin Brawley Blames His Out of Control Temper on Hardscrabble Past.

Every word out of context. Bits and pieces of my identity twisted to fit the story he’d wanted. After that, I’d vowed to never talk to a reporter again. I hadn’t expected my emotional thermometer to blast through to enraged over Simeon coming on to Noah. And now I had nothing to use as an outlet. I could work out from morning to night, but after a while it was monotonous. Energy being expended but not going anywhere, and I felt like it circled the air and absorbed right back into my shoulders every goddamn night.

“You’re being real extra right now.”

Marcus’ calm voice did nothing to settle me down. “Shut up.”

“Nah.” Marcus yawned and plopped onto one of the sofas. “Fuck, dude, I’m ready for nap time. Your cagey, jealous shit is ruining the vibe.”

“Who says I’m jealous?”

“Your white ass gets so flushed when you’re mad that it would be impossible to miss. I thought you
were going to jump Simeon when he made that comment about giving ole boy a ride.”

“Yeah, well, what can I say?” I stopped pacing. “I didn’t invite you assholes over here to give my employee a hard time.”

“Your employee.” Marcus threw his muscular legs up onto the couch and stretched out. “Don’t even front like you don’t want to smash him.”


“I don’t.”

“Bullshit. You were staring them down the whole time we were downstairs. I mean, hey, no judgment. He just looks like a typical white-boy hipster to me, but whatever floats your boat, man. You may want to lay it down for Simeon if you’re serious, though. He most definitely wants to tap that ass.”

I ground my teeth together and tried to remember the last time I’d felt possessive over anyone, but I came up short. Then again, I didn’t normally hang out with the people I had sex with for more than ten minutes after we both came.


“I don’t want Simeon fucking him, and it has nothing to do with me being jealous.”

“Oh yeah? What’s it got to do with?”

“Him not pissing off the only person I can stand to have in my house for six months,” I snarled. “Simeon can stick his dick in someone else until Noah is finished here.”


“And then you’d be cool with it?”

“Yeah, then I’d be cool with it.”

Marcus snickered. He knew I was full of shit.

“Let me ask you a question, Gav.”

“Is that a question or a warning about the fact that I can’t stop you from asking even if I wanted to?”

“Probably the last one.” Marcus propped his feet up on the arm of the couch, making himself nice and comfy. “If you’re having jealous temper tantrums over this kid after a month, how the fuck are you gonna act in another two or three? He’s gonna be here all the time, dude. Showering in your bathroom, sleeping in your guest room, jacking it in bed a few thousand square feet away . . .”

“For fuck’s sake, Marcus.”

“Am I right or am I right, though?”


He was right. But I refused to admit it.

“I already told you I’m not jealous. Do we get along? Yeah. We do. And you know that’s a miracle when it comes to me. Half the Barons can’t stand my ass because I won’t laugh at their stupid jokes, but at least they respect me. Most people think I’m a piece of shit.”


“And your boy?” Marcus pressed, looking truly intrigued. “What’s he like?”

“He’s . . .” How was he? What was it about him that had even clicked with me enough to make me want to guarantee he not walk out of the oversized front door and not come back? To become desperate and throw in that huge bonus so he wouldn’t have to keep commuting? “He’s a smartass, but he’s a good person. And he gets me.”


Marcus raised an eyebrow. “How’s he get you? He doesn’t even like football.”

The disgusted tone drew a smile out of me. I plopped down in one of the armchairs and tilted my head back. “He didn’t grow up like me, but . . . he gets it. And he’s not phony. He’s straight up with his opinions and isn’t afraid to tell me them.”


“So he’s not scared to say . . . ‘Gavin, you’re being a dickhead.’”

“Basically. He talks almost as much trash as I do, which is probably why we managed to get along. Also, he keeps trying to make me look good to Mel. Gave me credit for all this shit that he came up with. I don’t get it, since I was a total douchebag to him, but I appreciate it. He’s a good dude.”

“Huh.” Marcus slowly nodded, analyzing me with his big dark eyes. “Aiight, I’ll talk to Simeon.”

“About what?”

“Him keeping his greedy hands off your boy.” Marcus winked. “But if you’re keeping on with this whole I’m-trying-to-hold-on-to-my-employee bullshit, I’d recommend getting laid. From where I’m sitting, you just look like a jealous, horny bastard.”

“Done.”

Marcus rolled off the sofa and sprang to his feet. He arched his back with a jaw-cracking yawn. “You mind if I catch some sleep, dude? I’ve been having nightmares every night for the past few days.”


“What kind of nightmares?”

“Eh. Stress shit. Getting injured before the season even starts. Moe getting hurt messed me up, man.”

“You spoke to him?”

“Yeah.” Marcus sobered. “His agent isn’t feeling too good about his contract since this is his last year, and he’s had four fucking surgeries during the life of it. Remember what I said earlier? About them saying he was injury-prone? I wasn’t making it up. His career may be over, man. Or maybe they’ll trade him to some douchebag team like the Predators.”

The Predators were infamous dickholes. It seemed to be a requirement for signing with them. Even their cheerleaders were mean as fuck. The Slytherin of the NFL. The only time I could play a game without everyone mentioning my shitty reputation was if we were playing the Predators. They, as a whole, had a shittier reputation than me.


“You won’t get hurt.”

Marcus arched a brow. “You a prophet now?”

“Yeah. And I prophesize your ass winning the Super Bowl this year.”

“Without you and Moe? Nope.”

I scoffed. “Yeah, right.”

“For real, man. I love Phil, but he’s no Brawley. He’s small and lean enough to run circles around Dmen after a reception, but he has none of your force or bulk. They’re changing everything to account for you and Moe not being there. Fucking sucks.”

It did suck. Even more so because I was now facing the reality that my team was short not one but two starters. If I’d controlled myself better, I’d be there to support them. All of this stress and anxiety about how the season would roll out wouldn’t be on their shoulders, although in my opinion Moe was more of an asset to the team. He was one of the best wide receivers in the league. Even so, I wanted to be there to step up. But I was stuck. Because of my need to escalate shit five times past where it could have ended.


“All right, bud. I’m gonna go talk to Simeon, and you figure out how to get laid.”

I nodded, watching him go, and actually listened to the tip. Between Simeon and Noah, the shit about Moe, and now the news that my replacement wasn’t rising to the occasion of starting for the Barons? I needed an outlet. It was either time to get in a monstrous fistfight or take out the brimming frustration on someone’s ass.
I went for the latter.

This is one of those book I wish we had more stars for because 5 doesn’t seem enough, it is one of those books that I know I will read again and again, and it is one of those books that two days later I’m still hoping I can write a review that will do it justice. Who knew Santino Hassel could write a sweet and sentimental romance that was still sexy as f*uck? I’ve read many books by Santino Hassel; some I liked more than others, but without a doubt Illegal Contact is my favorite book of his to date and one of my favorite books of 2017. I loved the animosity between this couple at the start, the signs of attraction, the way they begin to understand one another, the respect that builds between them, the slow burn, the scorching sexy times, and the love that grows with each passing day; basically I LOVED every little thing about this book.

An angry, brash, intimidating football player for the New York Barons under six months of house arrest for beating a frat boy on the side of the road after an argument, hires a quirky, smart, broke recently unemployed “college boy” as his personal assistant. Their attraction burns brightly and the more they try to deny it, it becomes evident their need for one another is greater than the backlash that can come of it.

Gavin Brawly was the epitome of an anti-hero; he came across as rude, always ready for a fight, refused to pander to the media, and anti social, but in reality he valued his privacy and only wanted to play football, the game that saved his life. Noah Monroe’s life is in a bit of turmoil and though being a P.A. for an athlete isn’t high on his list, a paycheck is. Noah has little respect for professional athletes, but the more time he spends with Gavin and his friends, the more he realizes he’s misjudged them and stereotyping them is just as bad as people stereotyping him. A born caretaker, Noah soon finds that Gavin is much different than the world sees him. I loved Noah’s loyalty and take charge attitude and the way he called Gavin out when he was being mean or a bully, but Gavin made Noah think, he made him see things in a different light and both these men changed throughout the course of this story. Gavin began to see that his brusqueness could make people feel unsafe something he never wanted to do to another human being, he learned to control his temper and realized that it was okay to let people in his life. Noah became more confident, more assertive, and began to realize he had value. While he still struggled with self doubt about his judgment, he began to understand that his trusting and giving nature sometimes allowed others to take advantage of him. I loved these characters and watching them grow was intriguing, but even more so was watching them let the other one in, watching their friendship grow, and the s-l-o-w burn of attraction whipping around them. Yes, it takes a good, long time for them to finally give in to their attraction but I’m telling you, the wait was so totally worth it.

There are many elements to this story, but the growing relationship between Gavin and Noah is never lost; everything that happens in this book leads to the decisions that are made and the very satisfying end result. I honestly can’t say enough great things about this story, so instead I will say in honor of all my Facebook followers, “Just buy the damn book, trust me you will not be disappointed.”

Oh, man. Santino Hassell reviews are always harder to write, because when I read one of his books, it’s full steam ahead. I read this one in one sitting, and I did not stop to take notes! So from my memory…I really enjoyed Noah and Gavin’s story, particularly how the author took the insubordinate employee trope (one of my least favorites,) and turned it on its head so the employer was the more unruly of the two. Though it’s clear from the very start that Gavin has a soft side. Illegal Contact kicks off with Noah interviewing for a position he doesn’t feel qualified for, and he’s not even sure he wants it. Things don’t go well, and saying he’s surprised to get a job offer is an understatement. As he’s in debt and helping to take care of his father, he accepts the job. It quickly becomes clear that Noah and Gavin have chemistry, but if there’s one thing Noah’s gunshy about, it’s getting involved with his boss. I really liked Noah’s character. I thought he was very endearing, and his being in limbo after college was a realistic portrayal of what it’s like for a lot of people. But I also like that he was determined, knew where he wanted to end up, and was going to do what he had to to make it happen. His job for Gavin was just a necessary stepping stone for him right this second. Gavin was so gruff from the very beginning, and while I’d like to say it took a while for him to win me over, I liked his character immediately. I wanted to know what was beneath all those muscles and edges. Noah was able to peel back those layers, but this was a slow burn, and it was something that took him some time. I’ve come to expect stellar characterization from this author, and he definitely delivered. His trademark steam can also be found in these pages - Noah and Gavin were so hot together! This book got off to a bit of a slow start, but when it took off, it really took off and like I said earlier, I read it in one sitting, so… I loved the secondary characters in this book, and I was left wanting more of them. Luckily that’s on its way!
Overall I thought Illegal Contact was a great read, and if you’re a fan of Santino Hassell or male/male romance, it’s not to be missed!

A warning to anyone about to start Illegal Contact: make sure you leave yourself time to read the entire book in one sitting. Santino Hassell has a compelling writing style that makes Gavin and Noah’s love story impossible to put down. Even if you’re not a football fan, this is one sports romance you don’t want to miss.

Gavin Brawley isn’t your typical hero. He may be gorgeous and talented both in the bedroom and on the field, but he’s also got a short temper that he lets fly. Add in an attitude and an unwillingness to be anything but straightforward and it’s easy to see why he’s a public relations nightmare. Gavin isn’t wholly the jerk the media makes him out to be, but he’s got a chip on shoulder and the forced confinement of house arrest (even if that house is a mansion) makes him even more irritable. So why did I find him so compelling? What sold me on Gavin from the start – even when he was at his most disagreeable – was that he’s utterly and completely loyal, protective, and caring when it comes to his friends. I loved peeling back the layers of his character and watching Gavin grow and change over the course of the story. He’s never going to be the smiling sports star pictured on your boxed cereal, but he does become an ever better, more well-rounded version of himself.

Noah Monroe is the catalyst for Gavin’s change, and I flat-out loved him. Noah is one of the most relatable protagonists I’ve come across in quite some time. When he applies for the job of Gavin’s personal assistant, it’s not because he’s a football fan or a celebrity-chaser. He’s simply a recent college grad drowning in student loan debt and desperately needs a job. Noah may be smart, no-nonsense, a bit of a geek, and look like a sexy Clark Kent, but he’s also an over-thinker with flaws of his own. Noah isn’t cowed by Gavin’s temper and his straightforwardness with the other man about how he comes across is part of the reason why Gavin starts to examine his own attitude.

Noah and Gavin don’t hit it off from the start; in fact, they piss each other off more often than not. The sparks fly fast and furious and I loved watching Gavin and Noah go from antagonizing one another to respecting each other to becoming more than cranky football star and overwhelmed employee. While there’s definite attraction in the beginning, the romance is a slow burn. I loved that Gavin and Noah actually got to know each other before the love story kicked things into high gear. And when the sexual tension between the two men boils over…watch out, because you’re in for some dirty, sexy fun. I loved these two together, but even after they start to fall in love, you know things aren’t going to be easy. Coming out as bisexual could destroy a career that has saved Gavin, and homophobia isn’t something you can wave a magic wand at and make disappear. I won’t say how things work out, but I will say that the ending of Illegal Contact left me with a huge smile on my face.

Illegal Contact is the first book in Mr. Hassell’s Barons series and I can’t wait for more. Noah and Gavin are complex, interesting characters and their love story is layered, engaging, sexy, and surprisingly sweet at times. I also fell in love with Gavin’s teammates and best friends Simeon and Marcus, and I cannot wait to see what Ms. Hassell has in store for Simeon in Down by Contact. Until I find out, I’m content to keep re-reading Gavin and Noah’s story – their romance is just that addictive.

I am absolutely in love with every single thing Santino Hassell produces. EVERY.SINGLE.THING. When the book gods smiled down on me and I had a chance to read Illegal Contact I had this urge to rush into reading it because I knew I was in for a great night of reading; I also wanted to put it off for as long as possible because I knew I'd finish it and be incredibly sad that it was over. As expected, the second I dove into Illegal Contact I was hooked. I loved the wonderfully grumpy Gavin and the confident and nerdy Noah and every single tense interaction they had. Their chemistry practically sparked off the page and their snarling, sarcastic, banter made me smirk while the tender, sweeter parts had me swooning and hoping against hope that somehow, someway they could make their relationship work.

In Illegal Contact, Santino Hassell not only wrote an opposites attract romance that is so easy to sink into and so hard to put down, he continues to give us diverse characters and explores what it must be like to be bisexual in a career where homophobia still feels so rampant. Hassell also gives us a character like Noah--a character who has been scapegoated in the past because of his sexuality, in my opinion, and has to come to grips with what happened with his past employer and whether it's a pattern of behavior, or something different when it comes to Gavin. Basically, what I'm discovering as I'm thinking about these characters is that they're more complicated than I initially made them out to be. There are layers to their both of their situations and personalities that makes forging a relationship a little complex, which in turn makes it that much sweeter when they work it all out.
And that, my dears, is one of many reasons why I like reading Santino Hassell novels so much; they can be as light and entertaining or as deep and revealing as you want them to be. His characters come off as authentic and raw and his plots are fresh and entertaining. And every single time I pick up a new novel of his, I can't help feeling compelled to speed to the finish as I'm simultaneously putting the brakes on to slow down and savor every chapter. Everything I read of his solidifies that something I've known since the first novel I read of his and that's this: I will buy, read, and rave about anything he writes, no matter the genre or the topic.

Illegal Contact marks the first book in Mr. Hassell’s new football romance series, The Barons, and it was even better than I could have hoped. I’m a fan of sports romances in general, with hockey and football being my favorite to read about; so when the author announced his plans to write a football book, I was excited and admittedly a little nervous. I love when my favorite authors branch out, but there’s always a little trepidation as to whether it will measure up to past works. In my opinion, this title is right up there with my favorite Hassell books and I’m crazy excited to see what book two will hold.

Illegal Contact pairs up an intelligent college graduate who refuses to take anyone’s nonsense with a grumpy football player who doesn’t hold back from saying whatever is on his mind. As you can imagine, there’s a lot of back and forth banter, snide remarks, and of course- SPARKS! Though Gavin and Noah are very different from one another, I don’t know that that I’d consider this a case of opposites attracting. Rather, these men fit one another and I absolutely loved them together. Mr. Hassell writes the best grumpy characters who hide hearts of gold underneath their gruff exteriors, and Gavin certainly is no exception. I loved that the reader got glimpses of that goodness right from the start, and I immediately formed a soft spot for Gavin and was excited to see those moments extend as his character develops. I also like Noah quite a lot and found his backstory interesting. I appreciated how he challenges Gavin, and in turn Gavin and his teammates challenge Noah’s assumptions about professional athletes. There is a considerable amount of growth on both sides, and it the relationship naturally matures as the characters acknowledge their developing feelings.

This author regularly writes romances bounding with chemistry, and while I didn’t find the pull between Gavin and Noah quite as magnetic as some of Mr. Hassell’s past pairings, these were some of my very favorite of his characters. Their personalities were dynamic and the dialogue made their vibrancy really pop. As always, this author writes with an unbelievably smooth style that has a polished feel without feeling stilted or lacking in authenticity. The pacing was perfect; and between the writing, characters, and dialogue, I found it extremely difficult to put this book down. I would have liked to see more of the football angle explored as I think that’s what sets apart sport romances, but given the circumstances surrounding the characters meeting, those details weren’t necessary to make the story work. For those readers hoping for a book showcasing Mr. Hassell’s talented writing style and complex characters but a little less angst than his Five Boroughs series, Illegal Contact won’t leave you wanting.

Link will be added once review posts.

Gavin Brawley, starting tight end for the New York Barons, could give two shits about anyone’s opinion of him. Unfortunately, even though he is a fast, furious powerhouse on the field, it’s his anger issues and one particular violent episode caught on tape that have garnered all the media attention lately. On house arrest and monitored by an ankle bracelet for the next six months, he’s not sure how he’ll live without football. Growing up in the foster care system, the only thing Gavin had was the game, it saved his life and is the most important thing to him. That and the teammates and friends he considers as close as family.

Noah Monroe needs a job as soon as possible. Any job. Not only is he struggling financially after being let go from his previous post, but his father is now out of work as well. He doesn’t really have any desire to take a position as a personal assistant, especially once he finds out that the position would mean six months of up close and personal time with the cranky, growly, argumentative Gavin Brawley. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and despite his reservations, he takes the job.

As you can imagine Noah and Gavin do not get along well at first. It starts when Noah admits he doesn’t care one way or the other about football, which is basically Gavin’s whole life. They make assumptions about each other, they poke and prod and trade insults, but slowly and surely a friendship is born and trust is built. Gavin has never really been able to be himself around anyone other than his closest friends, as a bisexual man he knows coming out would almost certainly end his career. So he’s kept quiet, and tried to protect his best friend Simeon’s reputation as well.

I loved these two. Yes, there is instant lust between them, Gavin is a football stud with a cut body and penetrating stare, which totally does it for Noah, and Noah has this college boy, Clarke Kent thing going on that totally does it for Gavin, but don’t worry Mr. Hassell builds their relationship beautifully. From antagonism, to tentative getting to know you, to crazy, swoon worthy, gorgeous first kisses, to crazy, filthy, sexy love scenes, to an HEA that made my romantic heart soar. This was the first book in a long while that I could not put down. I found myself laying my Kindle on the bathroom counter so I could read while I dried my hair in the morning and sneak reading throughout the day. While the first half is all Noah and Gavin building trust and getting to know each other, the second half is all about angst, and need and hard choices. Very real and true to life hard choices. Honestly, I knew what was coming once Gavin and Noah fell for each other and I knew that it would break my heart and leave an ache in my chest, and it did, but oh wow the lovely ending and HEA made it all worth it.

The second book in the series is all about Simeon and all I can say is YESSSSS. Gimme. Want, want, want.

If sports themed romances are your jam and you enjoy watching total opposites fall in love and find a wonderful happily ever after then you’ll definitely want to add Illegal Contact to your TBR list. Final Grade- B+/A-

Favorite Quote:

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

Despite having read and enjoyed Santino Hassell's Cyberlove series, co-written with Megan Erickson, I've never made time to read any of the books he was the sole author of. Clearly this has been a huge oversight on my part. Don't get me wrong, I've wanted to read some of his other books and I've even purchased them. It's the actual reading of them that has tripped me up. As I was reading Illegal Contact, I realized what a mistake this was. I feel a binge coming on. I want to eat all his words. 

Illegal Contact isn't my first M/M sports romance and it isn't even the first I loved. I won't waste time comparing it to the others because they're all so very different. It was real and gritty and I was totally addicted. Because these are adult characters and not the college-aged crowd I'm used to reading about in the M/M books I tend to gravitate towards, it was far less about figuring out and accepting who you are and more about just being that person. 

This book just really worked for me. I loved the characters — when it was all said and done, anyhow. It did take some time for Gavin to grow on me. He was a bit too arrogant and self-centered for me in the beginning, but I came around. And, I mean, he also grew a bit over the course of the book. I was Team Noah from the start, however, and couldn't wait for Gavin to realize he was, too. This book had a delicious slow burn that I loved and, if I'm being totally honest, some "other guy" scenes I didn't appreciate quite as much. While those scenes definitely pulled me out of the story at the time, they didn't do any real lasting damage to my opinion of the characters or the book. 

As much as I enjoyed this book, as addicted as I was to the chemistry and banter — and eventually more — between Gavin and Noah, it shouldn't be at all surprising I'm anxiously awaiting the second book, Down by Contact. I'm definitely looking forward to getting Simeon's story. Assuming it's as hot, sexy and real as Gavin and Noah's book, I'm pretty likely to love it, too. 

FAVORITE QUOTES

"Do I like football? No. I buried myself in books and make-believe worlds to escape my childhood. But do I understand why other people care so much about it? I guess you can say I do now. If I learned anything from meeting you, it's that."

"Fuck good ideas. I'm tired of imagining how your tongue would feel in my mouth."

"How do you expect me to keep my mitts off you when your kisses always feel like invitations to tongue baths and blow jobs?"

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

"Football isn't the only thing that's held me together. And it's not the only thing I love."

4.5 stars!

“I’m your boss. You’re my assistant. We’re not anything else.”

Gavin Brawley is one of the NFL’s biggest players, and after an assault charge he’s been confined to his home for six months, monitored by an ankle bracelet. Being benched means Gavin needs to hire an assistant to manage his entire life, something he’s not exactly happy about.

Noah Monroe is in desperate need of a job, after him and his father lost theirs they need to make ends meet. The last thing Noah wants is to be a PA to a cranky NFL player, but despite his reservations, he takes the job.

Tension is high between the two of them, and things don’t start off smooth. But the more time they spend with each other, the better it gets until a tentative friendship and mutual respect is formed.

“Better to have an insolent nerd with no interest in football than a kiss-ass fan who will tell all to all their friends.”

Illegal Contact is the sports romance you’ve been waiting for! Football is never my first choice (like ever), so I was surprised when I ended up loving this football romance. Well, I shouldn’t have been because Santino Hassell is everything that’s good in the MM romance genre. The voice he gives to his characters is so strong, Noah and Gavin felt like real people to me, one’s I could turn my head and talk to.

This is an I hate you/I love you kind of romance. The beginning starts out with much badgering and barb trading, but I loved the journey from dislike to mutual admiration. They always say there’s a thin line between love and hate and this book encapsulates that phrase excellently. I loved Noah and Gavin equally, neither one of them got on my nerves at any point and I was rooting for them both to get what they want.

This is the next big series in MM romance, so you’d be an idiot not to pick up this book!

“You are trustworthy. And I’m tired of always hiding.”

ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I love a good “Wait, you don’t know who I am? But I’m Famous and EVERYONE wants to use me…. except you.” story. Pretty much all the ones I’ve read are M/F, so I was delighted to get this trope (theme? IDK) in a M/M. ESPECIALLY a M/M by one of my favorite authors. Double win!



Add to that we get a grumpy-asshole hero who is fully aware that he’s a grumpy-asshole hero but ugh, people, and I am a very happy reader. He may not be perfectly polished and nice, but he’s good and loyal to his friends and the people he cares about, so I say it evens out just fine.




Somehow, I knew that was why he was hiding his expression. Gavin wanted me to fight for his smiles, even if I was the one causing them to grace his perfect face.



Gavin is a pro football player. He’s also currently under house arrest because he punched a man. Which, yes, Gavin has some anger issues (thanks largely to growing up in the foster care system, with no one ever caring about him or keeping him beyond a few months), but there’s a story behind why he attacked the man, though of course it’s not a story he’s telling the media or the judge. Instead, he takes his punishment, even though he’s not at all happy about facing 6 months of house arrest and an entire season away from football, the one constant in his life, the one thing that keeps him sane, gives him purpose.



He’s told to hire a personal assistant, to keep track of all his schedules and run all his errands. He doesn’t want to, he hates having anyone do things for him. But then in walks Noah. And oh, the sparks start from the very beginning. Noah doesn’t know who Gavin is, doesn’t care about football (or sports) at all, and just needs a job so he can pay off his student loans and help his father out. Being a PA to a famous football player isn’t his first choice, but the pay is good and he can’t turn down such an offer. How bad could it be, working for Gavin for a few months?



I loved that Noah didn’t take any shit from Gavin, and always pushed back. That’s the way I like my romances when there’s an asshole-type hero involved: when they butt heads with their equally strong partner. Gavin may try at first to run Noah off, but Noah’s not going anywhere without a fight, and it made for some great tension.



There’s also a bit of forced proximity vibe going on, as Noah must spend so much time alone with Gavin, and later even moving in with him to make it easier to do his job and not be driving back and forth from the city. Yet another thing I love, and it adds to their budding relationship.




The warmth in my chest and butterflies in my gut made it plain as day that my miserable ass really fucking liked him. In the hand-holding kind of way, not just the ass-pounding way. Although I wanted to do that too. [Gavin]



For a while, Noah doesn’t know that Gavin is attracted to him though; no one knows that Gavin is bisexual. Added to that, Noah has had some previous bad experiences with falling into bed with a boss, and having it end horribly for him professionally, so even when he finds out that Gavin’s interested, he’s still hesitant to jump into anything – even though his body is definitely telling him to jump onto Gavin’s dick, if we’re being perfectly honest!



Kissing Noah might have been the most masochistic thing I'd ever done, but I didn't regret it. Not by a long shot.



Illegal Contact is a really, really slow burn – at least compared to most of Hassell’s previous books. I’m not complaining, mind you! But I was surprised to see that there’s no sex until about 60% in (and their first kiss wasn’t too long before that). However, the slow build up works for these two, as they did have things between them – the fact that Gavin is Noah’s employer, for one – and I can see how they couldn’t just jump into bed right away. It was worth the wait though, and when Hassell finally turns up the heat for these two, he brings his usual A+ dirty writing.



"You turn me on so badly," he panted, mouthing down my throat. "It's not fair."
I rooted for a coherent response in the depths of my lust-addled brain, but he sank his teeth into the tendons on the side of my neck, and I lost my mind.
"Oh fuck."
Noah sucked on the spot while I ground against his thigh, and he reached between us to fully shove down my shorts and underwear. He moaned and licked his way up again, sucking my tongue into his mouth while we ground against each other. By the time I had our positions reversed and him sitting on the edge of my desk with his thighs spread open, our restless frotting was driving me wild.



Of course, admitting their attraction to one another and jumping each other doesn’t magically make any of the other issues go away, so even after that, they still have to work through things before their HEA is attained.



"The same guy who strolled up to Joe's office and gave me the side eye the whole time? Who told me football was stupid and that I wasn't a god?"
Noah bit the inside of his cheek but didn't succeed in hiding a smirk. "That was different."
I yanked him against me. "Yeah. It was different because back then I thought I could do without you. Now I know I can't."



I loved watching these two move from mild animosity to (slowly) friends, to finally lovers, and I think Hassell handled it very well, keeping the tension there and showing them bend a bit and learn about each other along the way.



The romance was good. The sex was great. The story was solid. On top of that, we also get introduced to some great characters – Simeon and Marcus, Gavin’s friends and teammates, as well as Jasmine, Noah’s friend. But the character that stole my attention from the moment he walked onto the page? Case.



Bookworm. Mechanic. NEED I SAY MORE?!



He originally asks Noah out, but of course things don’t work out and they end up as just friends. But now I need Case to get his own book ASAP! I don’t even know who he’d be paired up with and frankly I don’t care. My need for a bookworm mechanic is real and that’s all that matters.



I cannot wait for book 2 (out in January), which will tell Simeon’s story. I love the cover for it – can I get a “fuck yes!” for having a hero of color on the cover?! FOR A SPORTS ROMANCE?! You’re doing it right, Hassell, keep it up.



If you love a good Beauty and the Beast type story, with the world of pro football as the backdrop, Illegal Contact is just what you need!



4 1/2 STARS!

Santino Hassell never ceases to amaze me when he writes. It doesn’t matter if his characters are assassins, vampires, gaymers, paranormally gifted… one thing rings true about all of them: they are relatable and or believable. Authentic. This is why I love his books so much and perk up whenever I hear a book is on the horizon because I have no doubt it’ll be good.
Illegal Contact is no exception. I’m not a football fan. I don’t watch sports; however, I do actively participate in sports and am quite good at a few. I have a competitive streak a mile wide and a desire to win whenever I play. When I realized Illegal Contact is a football themed story I immediately engaged that mindset and dove head-on eager to get lost in Hassell’s latest.


He needs a brand that'll stick besides asshole...
Gavin Brawley is a tight end for the New York Barons. He’s perceived as arrogant, brash and temperamental. You know, your run of the mill asshole. The public ( whose opinions are mainly influenced by the media,) have no love for him except for when he’s on the field. Gavin’s temper finally gets the best of him and his hair trigger temper earned him a suspension from his team, house arrest and the need to have a Personal Assistant to help him get things done since he can’t leave his property.


The solution? Noah.

Noah is a hardworking college grad who just wants to help his recently unemployed father, pay off his student loans and eventually have a fulfilling career helping at risk LGBT youth. Being the glorified babysitter of an overpaid, ill tempered sexy as sin football player who likes to walk around practically naked which causes Noah to drool is the last thing he wants but Noah has no choice since he’s having a hard time landing a decent job.

This tale is pretty straight forward and steaming hot without being predictable. It’s a fun read that’ll keep you at the edge of your seat in anticipation of what these two are willing to do to fight (and ignite) the growing attraction between them. There are quite a few WTF moments that had me swearing a time or two ( because Noah and Gavin both had to make some tough choices along the way,) as well as sweet poignant moments that made me admire the strength and courage Gavin displayed when faced with the choice of continuing to live half a life pandering to societal norms and risk losing his safety net, football or seizing the moment and live a rich fulfilling life with Noah by his side.

That’s as much as I’m willing to reveal. This book is awesome. I enjoyed it thoroughly. The only complaint I have is in regards to Noah’s father. Noah’s father didn’t want Noah involved with a temperamental grump. I wanted Noah’s father to realize that Gavin is a genuinely good guy. That’s my one and only gripe considering the things Gavin does in this book. Anyways, if you're at a loss on what to read, snag this and get lost in Gavin and Noah's world.

Gavin Brawley plays professional football and ends up suspended from his team and on house arrest after a video of him fighting is taken and shared to the media. Gavin is well known for being a jerk and a hot head. He hires Noah as his personal assistant / babysitter. It sounds like a dream come true for Noah; an easy way to pay off his student loan debt. But Noah didn't realize all the tension that there would be between Noah and Gavin.

The tension is sexual and it smoking hot! There is so much at risk for both of them if they give into the tension. Will they or won't they? What happens when he isn't homebound anymore? Was this a fling to pass the time or something more?

l loved this book. It was so sexually erotic and these two are meant to be together. They are complete opposites but I love how they rub off on each other. It is a positive thing for Gavin and Noah. I just love them as a couple. But there is so much at stake because Gavin being a football player can't be openly gay and football is his life. How could he choose between the two things he cares about the most in his life?
It was a great book and I recommend to anyone who loves a hot romance between two men.

4.5*

Wow. I didn't want to put this book down once I started. I'm not even totally sure I can pinpoint why. Maybe it was the lion of a man with an attitude to match, or a Clark Kent style book nerd with a lot of fire and spunk.

Their chemistry flew off the pages from the very beginning. But it wasn't a lusty thing at first, at leas not on the surface. It was more loathing and judging a book by its cover- from both ends.

I adored Noah. He took ZERO shit from this guy who was twice his size and held his own. I thought it was admirable and kind of adorable and also a little surprising. Apparently Gavin thought so too. Their banter was great, especially once Gavin loosened up a bit.

Yes, this series is about football and a football team, but it's not fully what the story is about, because Gavin can't even play this year. This was a lot about Gavin growing into his own and being the guy he wants to be, not the anger fueled monster everyone tries to make him out to be. He's fiercely loyal to his team, and eventually to Noah.
In turn, his teammates, and Noah, are fiercely loyal to him That's how you know things are going to be all right.

Let's talk about Gavin's PR guy, Joe Carmichael. Good guy or bad guy? I can't really tell if I like him. He has Gavin's best interests at heart, but he seems like such a sleaze, I can't help but be angry at him throughout the whole book. I still feel a little unclear about him even at the end.

Either way, I thought it was a great story of healing and growing and also pushing passed stereotypes.

✮✮✮ 4.5 STARS ✮✮✮

Six months suspension from the game that means everything to him. Six months incarcerated in his huge but only half furnished mansion. That's the dull and upsetting prospect Gavin is facing because he punched a guy who was blackmailing his best friend. And he didn't have the best reputation to start with. Being known as sullen, grumpy and for having a volatile temper his manager is supposed to fix his image. To make his incarceration easier on him he hired a PA without Gavin's consent. He doesn't did people taking control of his life so that doesn't go over well. How is he supposed to keep the fact that he is bisexual under wraps when he has a live-in PA?


Having an affair with the boss wasn't Noah's smartest move. Especially because he blew the whistle on him for taking advantage of at-risk teens at a LGBT youth center. Noah's claims were ignored and he was fired. A PA position for a celebrity isn't exactly what he is looking for but he barely makes ends meet and beggars can't be choosers, right? After the disastrous interview during which he dropped the nugget that football players are dumb jocks he is surprised when he is hired.

Noah thinks Gavin is a rich guy who has it all. But that goes both ways because Gavin thinks that Noah is a privileged young college boy. What's more, Noah hates football, the one thing that means everything to Gavin. When he finds out that Noah is as poor as he was as a kid he hires the nerdy, handsome guy. He has always been a champion of the underdog. Doesn't hurt that Noah's also very easy on the eye.

“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.” - Gavin






Let me tell you a bit about Gavin and Noah. They are polar opposites, They both grew up poor as dirt but that's where the similarities end. Except, they both don't shy from a challenge and when they meet they clash violently.
Where Gavin is surly and grumpy, the alpha asshole of the team, Noah is geeky and has some cute quirks and a bucket load of sass. He stands up to the grumpy football player and gives as good as he gets. And let me tell you, these two give and get at every corner - at least in the beginning. Slowly they start to have a grudging respect for one another.


“Let’s just skip over the probationary crap and say you’re hired. Your corny do-gooder shit charmed me.-Gavin”



When Noah realizes that Gavin is a lot of bark but no bite he becomes super protective of his boss but soon feelings start sneaking up on both and their work relationship turns into more. Noah has to deal with a dilemma though - does he really want to have an affair with his boss AGAIN? Noah really struggled for a while with his feelings and I loved that he actually gave it some thought before he gave into his feelings. Noah generally was a sweet character and I loved his integrity, thoughtfulness and loyalty but what I adored most about him was his sass and cheekiness.

Even with his scent and warmth and the power in his body turned gentle and possessive as he held me, I couldn’t shake a reoccurring thought: I’d done it again. I’d gotten swept up in emotion, because I was vulnerable to any sort of affection, and had thrown myself at a man. -
Noah


Gavin grew up in the system and he really is an ass and pretty unapologetic about it. He's always on the edge but Noah calms something in him with his positive outlook and his protectiveness. And sloooowly he starts taking up more room in his mind and settles himself in Gavin's heart. And it's then that we start seeing the super-jerk's tender side. He starts to love on Noah so hard it is adorable.

“I think they both know I want you here with me, and that I never want you to leave.”
Noah slowly nodded, but otherwise his expression was still.
“When you say never, you mean . . .”
“I mean I want to be with you. Be the Lois to your Clark, as Simeon said.”
“I love the fact that you’re Lois.”
“I knew you would.”






This is a sweet slow burn romance with a highly explosive chemistry between the main characters. I loved the banter and the bro-talk. I loved the side characters almost as much as the main cast so I'm very much looking forward to the next book which will be Simeon's, Gavin's best friend.

Santino Hassell has been on my radar for a while and I'm happy I finally got around reading one of his stories. This one was perfection. I love a good sizzling MM romance, add to that my love for sports romance and I knew I had to read this one. This author's voice feels natural, I can easily picture guys talking like that. Santino Hassell, I dig you. I'm so gonna read everything on your backlist now.

Illegal Contact is a first book in another series written by Santino Hassel. It is actually quite hard to describe the book while remaining proper, but I have loved every minute of it. It is another light, only slightly angsty book with the main character being a footballer who was banned from playing for a whole season, and six months of house arrest. So he needs to hire someone to do things for him.

The book, as mentioned before, is light and easy to read, perfect for summer days. It is a very real representation of being bisexual (as are all his books). I expected the book to contain more angst, as his books are normally quite a lot. But it was an easy read with more hot scenes than angsty scenes, even though there is a healthy amount of angst in there.

All in all, another great book by Hassel, and I cannot wait to read more of his work.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for providing me with this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, Santino Hassell, I hadn't read you before, but I'll be reading your books in the future. I'm in lust/love with Gavin Brawley, and Noah was adorable as well. The characters were realistic, the development was great, and the sexy times were hot!!!

As much as I love some of my other favorite MM books/series (like Ty & Zane or Travis & Charlie), it was refreshing to read a book written by an actual gay male who, unlike the female authors who still do a great job, actually knows what it's like to be a gay male in 2017.

If you're into MM novels at all, pick this one up. You won't be disappointed. #yowza

Another beautifully written book by Santino Hassell.

I always feel in safe hands with Santino’s writing, which is so grammatically accurate it makes me feel like my review will be lacking before it’s even written but I digress, this book had everything that I look for in MM stories. It was sexy, challenging, passionate, rewarding, exciting, happy, sad and above all romantic. The characters were practically polar opposites and despite their obvious attraction to each other’s looks, their relationship was borne from distaste rather than instalove.

With a sports theme this time, readers are treated to a story about a bad-boy of NFL, Gavin Brawley, *apt name*, who is currently under house arrest for 6 months following a violent altercation which despite defending himself physically at the time, he refuses to provide the reasons behind what appeared to be an unprovoked attack. With his team, manager and agent his only source of companionship, and finding himself struggling to organise his life, this manager encourages him to appoint a PA. Enter the delightful Noah. Noah is opening gay and is currently an unemployed social worker following a less than ideal relationship with his last boss. Now in desperate need of money, especially with his redundant father currently living with him, he sees the 6 month PA job opportunity as something that could fill the gap in his career. Noah is not a football fan and has no idea who Gavin is but what he does see upon first meeting him is an arrogant and frustrated jock/superstar.

After reacting badly when introduced to Gavin and his manager during his interview, Noah ticks off another failed job opportunity but is stunned when Gavin subsequently contacts him and offers him the job on a probationary trial. Completely out of his depth and working closely with the self-proclaimed “pissy and grumpy” football star, Noah finds his job with Gavin more than challenging. Weeks pass and soon Noah starts to find his feet both with his job and also with handling Gavin and the man he once despised, soon starts to show the real man behind his brusque exterior. Small smiles start to escape and soon the teasing stops and the friendship begins. Noah is openly attracted to Gavin but presuming him to be straight, and not prepared to go there with another boss, doesn’t act on his feelings. Gavin is as equally frustrated, literally, and when Noah finds him with another man and realises he is bi-sexual, both men start to struggle with their feelings for one another and the lines they were determined not to cross suddenly start to blur.

Time moves on and so does their relationship and feelings for one another but as expected, whilst they can enjoy each other’s company behind closed doors, they both know that their relationship can’t be made public and that leaves them both in a quandary. When their relationship is exposed and hard truths are heard, both Noah and Gavin know that their romantic idyll is coming to an end. Will they find their HEA and will Gavin be able to demonstrate his love for Noah openly? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

I really didn’t want to put this book down and it did leave me with a little book hangover. All of the characters in the story complemented each other perfectly and I can’t wait to get my hands on Simeon Boudreaux’s story.

Even if MM romance isn’t necessarily for you, you will still be able to experience all of the feels that this book has to offer. Whilst the sexual scenes are graphic and the language explicit, the romance is sweet and tender. I’m left torn over which character charmed me the most; sweet Noah or the brazen Gavin, but that’s a decision that I’ll be happy to ponder over for a little while yet.