Release Blitz including Excerpt – Down By Contact by Santino Hassell

DOWN BY CONTACT (The Barons #2)

by Santino Hassell

Release Date:  January 16, 2018 

 

Blurb

Simeon Boudreaux, the New York Barons’ golden-armed quarterback, is blessed with irresistible New Orleans charm and a face to melt your mama’s heart. He’s universally adored by fans and the media. Coming out as gay in solidarity with his teammate hasn’t harmed his reputation in the least—except for some social media taunting from rival linebacker Adrián Bravo.

Though they were once teammates, Adrián views Simeon as a traitor and the number-one name on the New Jersey Predators’ shit list. When animosity between the two NFL players reaches a boiling point on the field, culminating in a dirty fist fight, they’re both benched for six games and sentenced to joint community service teaching sullen, Brooklyn teens how to play ball.

At first, they can barely stand to be in the same room, but running the camp forces them to shape up. With no choice but to work together, Simeon realizes Adrián is more than his alpha-jerk persona, and Adrián begins to question why he’s always had such strong feelings for the gorgeous QB…

 

Amazon | Publisher | Barnes & Noble

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

I extended one arm so I could lightly touch the corner of his mouth. “You’ve got something right there.”

The dark wings of his brows crashed down in consternation, and a flood of conflicting emotions danced across his striking face, but none of them was indignant or annoyed or disgusted—the reactions I was used to getting from straight men when I touched them and they weren’t interested. Or sometimes even when I touched them because of interest that was obvious to me and not to their own selves. Denial was powerful in most men, but Adrián Bravo settled on intrigued.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

I brushed the pad of my finger against his lips, wiping the syrup away even though it left the remnants of sticky residue. Touching his mouth sent my thirst into hyperactive overdrive, and my mind betrayed me. Filled with images of dragging him closer for a messy kiss where I used my tongue to get him clean right before dragging him to the bathroom to get really nasty.

Where was my common sense? My inner angel to tell me to stop craving this bastard just because he had a pretty face and, according to him, a talented dick? Hadn’t I learned my lesson? My dick going from half-mast to fully risen proved otherwise. I would absolutely go down on him in the bathroom if the opportunity arose. I could hate him even while he was in my mouth.

He wasn’t reacting as much as I wanted him to, so I dropped my hand next to his and upped the ante.

“You got some on your fingers too.”

“Yeah? You gonna get all mother hen on me about that too?”

He thought he was so cool and collected. It was kind of cute how much he underestimated my competitive spirit.

“Not quite mother hen, but . . .”

I grabbed his hand after a quick scan of the diner, and brought it to my lips. His arm locked up briefly, a spasm going through his fingers, but he didn’t fight. Not when I parted my lips, and not when I enveloped the syrup-covered digits with my mouth. I sucked the syrup off, suctioning harder than I needed to for the current situation, and flicked my tongue.

“Oh fuck.”

We locked eyes. There was no hiding how dilated his had become. The way his breathing had picked up, or the bouncing of his knee.

I slid my mouth off, leaving his fingers coated in saliva, and grinned.

“I won this round, Bravo.”

Adrián grabbed a napkin with trembling hands and roughly wiped his fingers.

“Yeah. I guess you did.”

 

 

 

 

 

3 of 5 Stars

The problem with thinking an author’s writing is damn near perfect is when they write something that isn’t perfect for you, it’s all the more disappointing. I loved Mr. Hassell’s Community series so much my friends were going to call an intervention if I didn’t stop gushing about it. I loved Illegal Contact and had really high expectations for this book. But…I was disappointed. Overall, except for my issues I liked this story and the idea of enemies being forced to spend time together because off their stupid behavior. I gave it 3 stars because unfortunately, when something bugs me in a book I become a nit-picky ole biddy and it’s hard to come back from that.

I’ll just start with Simeon. In my review of book 1, I was unsure about him…

”The jury is still out on Simeon for me…he’s a little over the top but I’m guessing that’s for show and we’ll find out why in his book.”

There’s no reason…he’s just over the top. OK, fine. And of the two of them, I liked him more than Adrian but that’s not saying much. He seems to have a good heart. But his hate for Adrian is profound and his goal once they are forced to work together is to get him to admit he’s homophobic because he’s hiding his attraction (and eventually his bisexuality). He wants them to get busy for vindication. He wants Adrian to ‘know how it felt to be queer in a homophobic industry and then regret everything he’d said while in his feelings about something that had happened years ago.’ NOT.A.FAN. I can’t fathom hate sex…seriously. And his reaction to the media over the picture of the two of them…he just went off. I suppose it was a good thing he got it off his chest because he clearly hadn’t forgiven Adrian for what he’s said over the years and there is no way they could have a relationship with that bitterness inside.

So, Adrian. He’s actually a rich kid with a professional athlete for a father. And his mother has pretty much kept him in line over the years. NONE of that came across in his character except maybe him acting like a spoiled child. I would have NEVER guessed he was a rich kid…and maybe that was on purpose? I did not like him. AT. ALL. He gets better-ish toward the end of the book once he admits his feelings and let’s go of the animosity. His original reasons for hating Simeon are iffy at best. He eventually owns his bisexuality and goes all in. As with everything else, his ‘coming out’ is over the top (although kind of sweet, finally).

This couple works…but mainly because I’m not a huge fan of either one of them. I’m not invested in them but I can admit fit and am glad they have each other.

In addition to not loving the characters, the dialog was my Achilles heel. I understand it was part of the characterization but it was SO OVER THE TOP I couldn’t stand it and honestly didn’t get most of it. It took me 4 days to read this book…and it never takes that long but I just couldn’t stick with it because I felt like I was constantly rolling my eyes. I must be pretty sheltered in my corner of the world because I’ve never met someone who talks like either of them. Simeon used the endearment ‘boo’ 14 times. G’ah!

I still don’t understand the use of ‘sub’ in this book. Can someone explain it? (See examples below)

‘I knew he was a homophobe after he steady subbed me after I came out’
‘You and your boys started throwing subs about me selling out your playbook’
‘…but it sounded too much like a sub about gay dudes not practicing safe sex’
‘…because he was throwing all those gay subs and now you’re sucking his d*ck’

OK…moving on. Gavin is his usual grumbly self and we only get about 5 seconds of Noah. We’re introduced to a potential future MC…and I’m not thrilled with that. Mr. Hassell would have to be ON POINT and wow me to get me to read it and I’m not sure how that can happen.

I’m sad to say this was a miss for me but take my opinion for what it’s worth (which isn’t much).

 

 

Also in the Series

Illegal Contact (The Barons #2)

 

 

 

About Santino Hassell

Santino Hassell was raised by a conservative family but grew up to be a smart-mouthed, school cutting grunge kid, a transient twenty-something, and eventually transformed into a grumpy introvert and unlikely romance author with an affinity for baseball caps. His novels are heavily influenced by the gritty, urban landscape of New York City, and his desire to write relationships fueled by intensity and passion.

He’s been a finalist in both the Bisexual Book Awards and the EPIC Awards, and was nominated for a prestigious RITA award in 2017. His work has been featured in BuzzFeed, Huffington Post, Washington Post, RT Magazine, and Cosmopolitan Magazine.

 

Connect with Santino: Website | Twitter | Instagram | FB Group | FB | GR | Tumblr

 

 

Tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Comments are closed.