Illegal Contact (The Barons)

Listen, I don’t even like enemies to lovers that much but this is Santino Hassell so I read it anyway. AND IT WAS SO GREAT OK. I devoured this in a few hours, I didn’t even sleep.

Gavin and Noah make my heart happy. Gavin is a grumpy, distrustful, bisexual football player for the New York Barons who’s under house arrest for beating someone up. He lives and breathes football, and after growing up in the foster care system he has some anger issues. After sleeping with his boss, Noah is fired, living with his dad, and looking for a job. He is so knee deep in student loans debt he’ll even suffer for six months as a personal assistant to Gavin’s grumpy self.

Like I said, this is enemies to lovers’ trope. The reason I’m not a huge fan of this is because I think most of the time it’s done wrong. Like one person in the relationship has all the power and it borders on abuse. BUT THIS WAS SO GOOD. Noah doesn’t like football (he doesn’t even know who Gavin is when he meets him), he doesn’t take Gavin’s bs, and he always calls him out, I love him.

Also, this story is filled with tension. This is the ultimate slow-burn romance. By the time they finally got together I thought I was going to combust. These two characters have so much chemistry and their dialogue was natural and funny.

The secondary characters are very fleshed out, and I am dying to read Simeon’s book. Sadly it doesn’t come out until next January. Anyone who likes romance books needs to try Santiano’s books because they’re all pretty amazing. Okay? Okay.

"Gavin Brawley was one of the most unlikeable people I’d ever met, and yet my brain had no problems conjuring images of us naked, sweating, and doing the unmentionable."

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

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

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

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

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

As for the chemistry between these two? Through. The. Roof. HOT.

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

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

This is one love/hate relationship that is a must read. I can not wait to get more from this series.
I know a sports romance is out of Santino's comfort zone. I'm so happy he took a chance, because it paid off. He did a fabulous job!!

I found Santino Hassell as a writer through the Cyberlove series he co-writes with Megan Erickson, and while I have gone on to buy the Five Boroughs books, I've yet to dive into a book written solely by this author. Like I expected, though, he didn't disappoint. Santino Hassell brings an authentic and realistic voice to the MM romance world, and I devoured Noah and Gavin's story, not just because of the romance but also because of the personal journey of these characters.

These two together are great. The bantering, the sexual tension, and the aggression between them sets up an epic build to an eventual emotional and sexual release. This rising action has more purpose then to build of the physical aspect of their relationship; it is also serves to expose what motivates and drives these characters. Readers get to see what is behind Gavin's surliness, and they get to witness what holds Noah back. Readers also get to see what truly caring for others looks like not only with Gavin and Noah but also their friends. The logic and maturity they show when facing their future is one that is heartbreaking and sad (it will make readers want to scream over how ugly the world is), but once again exemplifies how much these two care for one another. The people these two evolve into as a result of their time together just serves to exemplify how love and companionship makes a person better, more complete and more fulfilled in his/ her life.

One of the reasons I am an avid Santino Hassell fan is the voice her delivers with each story. The dialect he uses for the characters rings with realism, the integration of current trends and allusions to current events connects readers to the characters and worlds he creates, and his books bring to light real issues that plague the LGQBT community. He doesn't shy away from the ugly or the hurtful, but his books also show incredibly strong characters with the fortitude to face the ugly for the person he/she loves. There is no truer example of this than Illegal Contact. The added celebrity of Gavin only serves to magnify the issue since the public feels the need to weigh in on his life and choices. Even with the realistic aspect of his stories, I have always found that his endings not only give the characters an HEA they deserve, but it leaves readers with a hope for the future, for a better day where we can all be supportive and accepting of each other and focus on the aspects of a person that actually matter.

I'm in love with this new series from Santino Hassell. The entire cast of characters are fantastic, and Gavin and Noah (especially Gavin) stole my heart! I cannot wait to come back to this new world he has created.

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.

*Received ARC via Netgalley. The publisher and author had no influence over this review for Alpha Book Club*

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.

ARC from Netgalley

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 gun shy 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!

This review was originally posted on Books & Beauty Are My Bag.

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!!!). ♥

I am still delighted. I just finished Illegal Contact and the magnificence of what I have read and the way I felt reading it is unbelievable.

I know this story won't work the same for everyone. I mean, I'm using the word "delighted" here... and I know reading is a very subjective thing. Each one of us has different tastes and, fortunately, a lot of books to choose. But, for this reader, Illegal Contact was an amazing story so elaborate and so simple at the same time that I was completely in tune with characters, the plot and the writing.
The highest rate for this brilliantly written super slow romance.

This is not the typical geek-meets- jock book. It's not your usual enemies-to-lovers story. It is both but none at the same time and is Santino Hassell who makes the difference.

I am not particularly a sports books fan. I read them as well as I could read rockstars books or serial killer stories... and what I want to say with this is that you will love this book even if you don't know a thing about football. As you will see, Noah has zero knowledge about it and he is so cute, I may die.

And that said, the important thing here is that I LOVED THE BOOK! I'm totally and utterly in love with Gavin and Noah. So different voices, so distinctive POVs. So... So... So... (I have no words and, that, coming from me, is saying a lot)

At first, I didn't know if it was the writing, the characters introduction or just the vibe of the book, but it looked terrific since the very first pages and this awesomeness I'm talking about is present all the way to the HEA.

Gavin. The dark one. The moody. The angry guy. The poor kid and the rich and problematic adult. The cocky football player. The conflictive celebrity. The sarcastic jerk. The closeted bisexual hottie.

He is all this. But also, Gavin the loyal friend. Gavin the helpless kid abandoned at birth. He is a complex and intense character. But all his hostility is melted with a compassion off the charts. He is a contradiction himself and a very beautiful and enjoyable one. The perfect definition probably comes from Noah " Gavin. The meanest player in the league, according to the media, but the one with the most agrgressively overprotective and caring heart "

Noah. The geek. The sweet. The dreamer. The more-poor-than-the-rats social worker. The smart-ass gay from Queens. The nerdy savior.

And beneath all the sweetness and well being there is also a brave guy who faces whatever life throws at him. And he has a temper too. A big one I must say. Gavin refers once to him as " ball of resentment and anger " and also as " sexy-ass geek with an attitude ", and he was very accurate with both expressions if you ask me. He is warmth personified. Hotness and warmth. He is so kind and sexy. So smart and funny, and totally adorable... Sighs, sighs, and more love sighs.

The millionaire jock and the crusader geek seems incredibly different at first sight, but you can see since the beginning they are not. They fight for the same reason in life. Well, that's not true. One of them fights and the other shields all his feelings behind an ugly shield of resentment, anger, imbecility and sarcasm. Yup. Gavin is a jerk, and I felt in love with him right after his first line so, maybe I am a bit messed up but is impossible not to love him.

Both of them grew up poor and unhappy (even though Noah had a family who loved him) and that fact is the nexus between them. Noah's way out of that unhappiness was becoming a social worker to help underprivileged groups (gays mostly) and Gavin's out was football. Noah decided to do it to be capable to save other people, Gavin did it to save himself. But in the end of this journey, both wants the same. Both are unselfish and altruistic. And two incredible, deep and "rich" characters.

The dialogues are fluid, natural. They are funny as hell. The book is riddled with fantastic conversations and smart-ass comebacks (mostly from Noah). The humor in Illegal Contact is superb.

I've been highlighting like crazy all the reading. I was mad because I knew I couldn't use all my marked quotes and that's the reason I'm not quoting (even if I'm suffering for it). The thing is the highlights made pretty clear to me that it was being an amazing book. And it was. Till the last word I read.

This is a super slow romance. Very, very slow. In my case, it worked perfectly because most of the times I prefer the banter,, the chasing, the unresolved sexual tensión than the sex itself. And this book has it all, so when you finally get to the sex... well, I'm just saying, it worth every minute of intensity, glances, jelousy and awesome conversations.

Highly recommend!

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
This review has been posted on DirtyBooksObsession

This is something different that I read by Santino Hassell. I didn't realize he can do light hearted and fun romance. Illegal Contact is like any sport romance that I've come to expect with MM theme and a bit of employer/employee vibe. I miss the focus on sport though, but I can why is that because Gavin Brawley is in a half year long house arrest.

Gavin, an athlete infamous with his reputation as a hot head and social recluse. He loves his football but didn't bother with the fame and blitz. Growing up in the foster system, Gavin is a loner with only have his teammates as his family and with his latest debacle, he ended up stranded in his mansion without even his favorite thing in the world.

Noah is a do gooder with a big heart, wanting to save the world kind of person. But when it comes to relationship, Noah is in a serious funk and haven't recover from his last betrayal. The last thing he wants is to work for a self entitled rich jock and cater to his every whim, but being broke make him desperate enough to swallow his pride.

Right from their first meeting, Gavin and Noah didn't went off the right foot. Noah is not a football fan and didn't even know who the heck is Gavin Brawler and Gavin is incredulous with the man who live under a rock and call out on his bullshlt. They just keep throwing insults and bullshlt at each other at every turn, which make into an entertaining read.

Despite the romance didn't really took off until the second half of the book and even then things were pretty light hearted, nothing overly intense or angst ridden, but sprinkle with some good dose of jealousy. I enjoyed their banter, their daily interaction and how close they got as time went on.

Noah gets protective of Gavin after learning his past and the vulnerable side of the big man. But Noah knows better to get involve with another employer again. Gavin is a little dumb towards the end, but I can see why he thinks football is the most important thing in his life. The story ended with a nice HEA, but seeing that the entire story is told with Gavin being under house arrest, I did wonder how their relationship will progress after Gavin is back into the world. May Book 2 of the series will explain it to us.

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.

In preparation of writing this review, I was going through the notes I made within the eARC on my kindle app and my livetweet updates on Twitter. To be honest, most of them are just highlights in at least 75% of the book and a combination of “JLDJWLFJ” and “WHY ARE THEY SO CUTE??????????????”, so please bear with me as I try to write a coherent review. I can’t guarantee I won’t melt into a puddle of fangirling.

Those of you who know me are probably very aware of the fact that I love everything Santino Hassell puts out, no matter the (sub)genre, and this book is no exception. In fact, I can say with confidence that ILLEGAL CONTACT is my favorite Hassell book. The only expectation I brought with when starting this book was that it would be epic, and it was even more than I could have anticipated.

Gavin Brawley at first seems like the jerky football player with anger issues that the media portrays him as, and while he is to an extent, there is a hidden mushy side that only seems to come out with Noah Monroe, the love interest, and his closest friends, Simeon and Marcus. This man is the Ultimate closet romantic. (I’m sorry, I don’t make the rules, this is Facts.) He has such a huge crush on Noah that it’s painfully cute. More than just wanting to have sex with him, Gavin wants to hold hands and cuddle and make out for hours on end. So soft. So pure. So precious. And his smile? Literally do not even get me started. #DatBrawleySmile gives me life, okay? Gavin is quite possibly the cutest character I’ve read about, and I could go on and on about all the ways I love him, but probably no one wants to read a 50 page dissertation.

Noah is my precious lil nerd who’s unafraid to speak his mind, and I got an excited shiver every time he stood up to Gavin. Especially when he couldn’t tell how that just made Gav like him more. He broke my heart and then put it back together with every instance in which he defended and protected Gavin.

Together, the two of them were cute enough to make my brain go haywire until I could barely form complete sentences to talk about how much I adored them.

The supporting cast was also pretty darn incredible. There’s Simeon who doesn’t seem to know how not to flirt, and I am dying to get my hands on book two since it’s about him. Marcus who is loyal as heck to his boys but also doesn’t let them get away with anything. (I also loved his tendency to reference romantic comedies.) Jasmine who is unflinchingly honest and a strong woman who could step on me. And Mel, Gavin and Simeon’s agent, who is seemingly unphased by nearly anything. (There’s Joe too but he can disappear.)

I loved the culture Hassell built up with the Barons–one of unfailing loyalty to one another–and the ways in which Gavin was still clearly connected with them, even while on house arrest. (The scrimmage scene is just. So much.) They’re such a good form of support for Gavin, who’s never had a family but found one in his team.

Also, I really liked that the Separation wasn’t due to any kind of betrayal or misunderstanding between Gavin and Noah. It was a mutual, albeit painful, decision to separate, brought on Joe getting in the way. And thankfully it was resolved quickly because it was physically painful to have them separated from each other.

This book is absolutely gorgeous, and I could not stop smiling and clutching my phone to my chest because it was so cute. 11000/10 would recommend to everyone.

Illegal Contact by Santino Hassell has become one of my favorite romance reads of the year and has shown me how romance is done right. This dislike to love story between Gavin and Noah will surprise you and draw you in like you never saw coming. If you want a sports romance between two men that manages to be both cute, sexy and has that little extra look no further. Illegal Contact is it for you. As my first Santino Hassell book, Illegal Contact has cemented me as a fan and I need to read the rest of Hassell’s work as soon as I can.

My favorite part about Illegal Contact is definitely the characters. We have Gavin Brawley who is an American football player who is under house arrest because of an aggressive encounter. However, despite the first impression the world has of Gavin we soon learn there is so much more to him. First of all, he’s bisexual, something he has kept a secret because of how homophobic the football world is. Moreover, what the world doesn’t see is that Gavin is loyal and would do anything to protect his friends and teammates, his chosen family. Not to mention, despite being a very angry and blunt person Gavin has a soft side that you get to see more and more of as the story progresses. My friends and I have unofficially dubbed Gavin as a bisexual king. He’s just, you know, so majestic. There is also Noah Monroe, the other main character, a gay man, who only wants to do good in this world and help LGBT youth. He’s also not afraid to call it like it is and is a total badass at times. However, after an awful incident, he’s without a job, in need of money, and decides to apply for the job as Gavin’s personal assistant. Noah who knows nothing about football is nerdy and loves to read books. In a lot of ways, Gavin and Noah are such different people but as they grow closer and closer they find that there is a lot of common ground between them.

This leads me to the romance between Gavin and Noah, and let me tell you, it’s simply amazing. I mean they have such amazing banter, which is heightened because of the whole ordeal of them disliking each other in the beginning. Everything just progresses from that. You can slowly see them falling in love with each other and the readers know this is real love even before the characters themselves do. It’s so precious, they’re so precious, this is everything I could ever want from a good romance. I love how these men become all soft for each other, they just want to be there for each other and love one another. It’s so beautiful. At first sight, they look like they could never be a match but towards the end you know there is no better pair than Gavin and Noah.

Moreover, there is also a lot about sports in this book (since you know it’s a sports romance) and I love how Illegal Contact really called out how homophobic and toxic the football community is but also showed us how being a team is about teamwork, commitment, and family. The book also discusses how white sports media is and how in sports calendars the majority of players shown are white and how that does not represent what teams actually look like. Illegal Contact shows you both the good and the bad about the sports world and does so in a way I think many will appreciate.

All in all, if you want a quality romance novel about two men falling in love then look no further. Illegal Contact is funny, sweet and hot and is a perfect blend of everything you could wish for in a sports romance. This m/m story will knock you off your feet and have you singing your praises before you hit the halfway mark. You deserve this content in your life, make sure you put Illegal Contact on your radar.

Another great hit bu Santino Hassell !!!

I I love geeks, jocks and sports themed books, so I just knew this one was gonna be a big hit for me.....and since I am always right...

I loved the story, the MC's and the sidecharacters !!

Gavin Brawley is a famous football player...a tight end to be precise. He is also snarky, growly and has some anger management issues. These issues are actually the reason for him being on house arrest with an ankle bracelet, for the next 6 months.

Since Gavin is not real good at taking care of himself and not able to go anywhere, he is forced to hire a PA.... He ends up hiring Noah...

Noah is a bit of a geek, he has lost his previous job, and he is drowning in debt. He needs a job stat !

These two really don't get off on the right foot. Now Noah might not like the arrogant football player, but money is money and he is seriously lacking... So he can ride this out for the next 6 months.....he hopes.

Being cooped up together in Gavin's big mansion, these two slowly get to know each other and they realize, that first impressions aren't always right. They actually end up being friends...

Now Gavin has known Noah is gay from the beginning and he has even flirted with him, but Noah didn't take any of it seriously... He should have though, because Gavin is not as straight as Noah thought he was, and when the truth comes out...all bets are off !! These two really had it going on ;)

I loved that this book didn't have any insta-love. You could really see the two of them growing closer.... I also loved the last chapters. There isn't a huge HEA, nore like a HFN and a very realistic one. I loved it and I loved how these two suprised me near the ending.....especially Gavin.

I can't wait for the next book to get here. Highly recommended !!!

This review has been posted on Dirty Books Obsession

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.

4.5 stars

Gavin Brawley is a professional football player and is under house arrest for 6 months when a video of him fighting goes viral. With no football, he will be meaner and crankier than everyone already thinks he is. He doesn’t have any family or very many friends, so it will be a long 6 months locked up in his barley furnished mansion all alone.

Noah Monroe is desperate for a job and has an interview to be a Personal Assistant. He bombs the interview because he is the only person on the planet who doesn’t know who Gavin Brawley is. He is completely shocked when he gets the job. He is determined not to make the same mistake he made in his previous job. He is not going to get involved with Gavin.

”Gavin Brawley was one of the most unlikable people I’d ever met, and yet my brain had no problems conjuring images of us naked, sweating, and doing the unmentionable”~Noah

I truly liked both main characters, even though I had a problem with their decisions at times. They both struggled with their emotions, especially Gavin. He was not used to people being kind to him without an ulterior motive. But Noah was different. He was kind and patient with Gavin and actually listened to what he said. Of course when realty sets in, decisions have to be made and hearts will be broken.

Highly recommend!!

Santino Hassell can be hit or miss for me sometimes but this was a major hit! Gavin and Noah were just terrific together. Gavin is on house arrest, made an example of, for a fight made public and for his history of angry confrontations and aggression on the field. With some urging from his friends and teammates, Simeon and Marcus, but reluctance from his manager, Joe, he hires Noah. Noah is a little nerdy, out and proud, with a bad habit of falling for his bosses. He’s happy to have a job where has safe from that, since Gavin is a big jerk and he’s straight anyway. Right?

It’s a long, slow burn for these two, filled with snark and sarcasm and building trust. They resist the pressure of sexual tension between them but when they finally let go, it’s hot-as-fire nerd porn! The alternating, first-person POV gave such depth to their characterization, especially all the unspoken history that made them relatable and empathetic figures. There’s not much football but the influence permeates the narrative. Gavin and Noah drew strongly on my emotions, I despised Joe, adored Jasmine, Noah’s friend, and I’m rooting for Simeon for the next book. It would be a great book to start with if you haven’t read Santino Hassell before and you’ll love it if you’re already an enthusiast.

*An ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for an impartial review*

#DatBrawleySmile

Illegal Contact was everything I wanted and more than I could have ever expected. We follow two main characters: one is Gavin Brawley, a bisexual football star on a still new football team within the league who is currently under house arrest in his huge—relatively empty—mansion in the Hamptons, the other being Noah Monroe, a gay recent college grad who's just been fired from his position at a LGBT+ youth organization. Noah and Gavin meet during an interview to become Gavin’s full-time personal assistant for the duration of Gavin’s house arrest. They start off as enemies, at each other’s throats and on each other’s nerves, until their relationship starts to shift and change with time.

I think what I love the most about this particular romance is the relationship between Gavin and Noah. I have to admit that I’m a sucker for the enemies to lovers trope, and Santino Hassell does that incredibly well. There are so many tense and exciting moments between them that it kept the story fast-paced, a page turner from the first page.

The way Hassell incorporates football facts and that element is completely natural and neither underwhelming or overwhelming. Admittedly, I am a biological football fan; meaning that my parents are football fans and, by proxy, so am I. Sometimes authors can be too heavy handed when it comes to hobbies or jobs when the story doesn’t naturally revolve around those two elements. However, that is not true for Illegal Contact. Everything seemed natural and genuine and ultimately important to the story. Noah mentions the NFL’s poor treatment of controversies such as violence and physical injuries (mainly head injuries), and Gavin mentions the homophobia and racism throughout both the league and its fans.

I also enjoyed the friendship and camaraderie shown between Gavin and his friends/teammates. Gavin had two best friends from his team, Simeon Boudreaux who is a closeted gay quarterback, and Marcus Hendricks, all three men had been friends since they were rookies. They all have each others backs and would be willing to do absolutely anything to keep each other safe. I love the representation of healthy, loving male friendships.

Another thing I really appreciated was the LGBT+ representation. Gavin is a bisexual male and Noah is gay. Bisexuality amongst men isn’t something addressed in many books (or really anywhere else) and I really appreciate how well it was handled. I’m not a bisexual male (though I am bisexual), but seeing this kind of representation is extremely important, especially with the normality of bisexual erasure. It kind of runs rampant within a lot of fiction, so seeing a positive portrayal was truly refreshing.

As is stated in the beginning, this book is “For the scared, the closeted, and the hopeful”. Please read this book! Please. If you’re only going to read one book this year, make it this one.

* I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review *

This is only the third Santino Hassell novel (and second full length one) I’ve read and man I can’t wait to devour more of his books. Getting through a lot of Santino’s back catalogue is high in my reading goals this year!!!

Illegal Contact is a fabulous story about two men - Gavin the high profile NFL player and Noah, his recently hired PA - who end up in the most unlikely of circumstances and come to find that they were exactly what each other needed. What I loved about this story is that I learnt so much about topics I was unfamiliar with - from NFL to the role of a sports star PA to the difference between a manager and an agent as well as the influence that the media can have on ones perception of celebrities. And then there is the romance between two men who spend a good third of the story at each other’s throats but only because the obvious attraction and chemistry is messing with them. I have a massive soft spot for the lovable jerk and Gavin fits this to a tee. His brash demeanour covers a kind, sweet soul who just wants to play NFL and not deal with all the “extras” (like publicity and endorsements) that goes along with it. Watching him fall for the cute, quirky nerd Noah is equal parts fascinating and hilarious as they both navigate their newfound feelings for one another. I’ve said it before and it’s likely I’ll say it in all my reviews of Santino’s books but he writes the ins and outs of relationships in a way I have never experienced with another romance author. The nuances, the subtlety, the feelings and emotions are absolutely perfect and it’s this which will keep me buying and reading Santino’s novels time and time again.

I’m so keen to find out more about Gavin’s friends Simeon and Marcus - so January 16 cannot come soon enough when I can dive into book 2 of the series!!

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

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

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

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

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

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

4.5 stars!

Santino Hassell is surely becoming a must-read for me when looking for a M/M romance. I’ve previously read his Sutphin Boulevard novel, as well as the first couple books in the Cyberlove series co-written with Megan Erickson and I’ve enjoyed each and every one. Illegal Contact grabbed my attention instantly and easily became my favorite from the author so far!

Our two male leads couldn’t have been more different from each other. On one side you have Gavin, the burly football player who comes off as angry and standoffish when you meet him. The public eye sees him as a one dimensional dangerous and violent football player after a fight with a college student was caught on tape and earned him 6 months of house arrest. Turns out he had good reason for the fight, but in an effort to not out his friend and himself as well, the details are kept private. On the other side you have Noah, a Clark Kent looking, broke college grad hoping to break into social work in the LGBT community. Noah is incredibly smart, thoughtful, but also a no-nonsense type that won’t take any sass from Gavin without dishing it right back. I didn’t expect a sort of enemies to lovers trope but it very much felt that way in the beginning and I was all for it! The sexual tension between these two built and built into a slow burn, dying to be let loose and I was not disappointed when it did. Their romance was HOT and sizzled on the pages.

Unfortunately their romance couldn’t be easy. Sure it flourished behind the closed doors of Gavin’s house arrest but as Gavin was still in the closet, they were unsure what their relationship would do to his football career, a career that meant so much to him. I really enjoyed how this part of the story played out. There are all sorts of factors playing into their relationship and I loved how they all fit into the storytelling to make their love worth fighting for. The ending was absolutely perfect and so well done by wrapping up one story and opening the door to another in the form of one of Gavin’s football player friends. I cannot wait to see what his story can bring in the sequel! Illegal Contact is a deliciously sexy romance not to be missed!

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.

Illegal Contact is kind of a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast. “Beauty” is a guy named Noah who is hired to be the temporary PA for the “Beast” who is a famous NFL player who was recently put under house arrest for assault. Gavin is not thrilled to have some stranger in his home snooping through his life, micromanaging everything. He doesn’t need anyone to take care of him and babysit him but yet, there Noah is, cooking his meals and scheduling his day for him. To say Noah’s thrilled with the idea would be a complete lie, but he is in dire need of money and plans to suck it up, do his job, deal with the ornery bastard who is his boss, and get paid. What neither of them planned on was falling in love. However, the clock’s ticking away on their time together until the moment Gavin is cleared to join his team and goes back to not only the insane hours of training and playing ball, but also pretending to be straight.

This is my first time reading the author’s work and after reading the acknowledgements it would seem that this genre or storyline is a new one for the author. I’m glad he took a chance on it because I really enjoyed it. I loved Gavin’s character. He was this broody S.O.B who had disdain written all over his face any time he had to deal with Noah or kind of anyone in general other than his friends. The media has painted him as this brutal, don’t give a crap, football player with anger management issues. However, as Gavin is forced to spend time with Noah, he starts to loosen up and the softer side of him starts to show through. I loved that the author didn’t make this an insta-love story. Instead these two characters start off just dealing with each other whenever they need to, to actually understanding the nuances of the other person. They went from enemies, friends, to lovers, and I loved that they had the slow and gradual change in their relationship. Retellings are a hit or miss for me but I feel like Santino Hassell hit the nail on the head with this one. The synopsis doesn’t say it’s a BatB retelling and maybe the author didn’t even plan for it to be but it was awesome. And if it is just a happy coincidence then all the more power to him

Illegal Contact was a great story that had a Beauty and the Beast vibe, a celebrity romance, football players, and some pretty steamy scenes. It was an all around great read and I look forward to reading more of Santino’s work.

I have read before books from Santino Hassell but this is my first from him alone and I can't help myself from being blown away by his beautiful writing and awesome characters!Illegal Contact is a story of passion, tension,slow burn and temptation. It has everything I wanted in a story, amazing plot,slow burn,super hot and sweet romance.
Another thing that I loved about this story is the fact that the characters felt realistic! Gavin and Noah's relationship is complex, both of them are so different.Gavin in the begining a little bit angry and dificult so I don't blame Noah for not liking him at first.On the other hand we have Noah who is sweet,cute and smart. I freaking loved their romance, it's so intense and the slow burn is perfect.There are some really hot moments between them!

Overall it was a sweet,passionate and romantic!I highly recommend it to everyone!!

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Omar

Illegal Contact starts in the aftermath of Gavin Brawley’s, New York Barons starting tight end, trial and he been placed in house arrest for six months. Giving that his mansion is located in Westhampton, Gavin will need somebody to help him for the next six months with all his personal affairs and keep an eye on him because he doesn’t know how to run his house for himself. His manager decides to get him a personal assistant and during the interviews he meets Noah Monroe. After getting fired from his previous job that damage his reputation, Noah finds himself without any money and savings, so after a friend’s friend gets him an interview for a personal assistant, he decides it to take it. Their first meeting goes as bad as it could go and ends with Noah storming out, but after going over the pros and cons, Gavin decides to hire Noah.

Their first week doesn’t go so well, but as time moves on they get to know each other better, and a friendship starts to form. During all the time they spend together, each one openly checks the other out, and one small surprise leads to a passionate kiss.

I really like Illegal Contact, while it’s fun to read about love at first sight, I find it more romantic and fun when the two main characters can’t stand one another, but one of them hardboards a secret crush, or they get to know each other better, and romance starts. In this case, Gavin and Noah couldn’t stand each other and it was fun to watch them grow accustom to their presences.

I had seen an increase in the trend of sport in M/M romance stories and it was great to read a story that used that idea, but took it in a different approach. In Illegal Contact, the sport, football, plays a great part of the life of Gavin and given that he is out for a whole season, he needs to still keep in shape and to learn to be more productive with aspect of his life that he didn’t have time before the incident. At the same time, it was fun and cute how Noah learns about football because of all the time he spends with Gavin and understood how much it can matter to some people.

While author Santino Hassell hasn’t decided how many books in the series there will be, I liked how the story presented characters that might have their own book later on. I really liked Simeon and Marcus and their friendship they had with Gavin. I hope that mechanic guy Luke will find his way to the stories in the future, I think there is somewhere a story for him with the Barons.

Before reading half of the story, you get an idea of what the main problem will be, but still the author wrote it in a way that it’s still interesting to read, and the reader continues on wanting to know how it’s going to resolve. I liked the writing style of Hassell and I’m going to see what else he has written.

If you’re fan of Santino Hassell, his work, and football, then I recommend you Illegal Contact. In this story, two men who are part of different jobs and social life, but with similar backgrounds come together to help each other for six months. Financial and legal needs put them together, but a growing friendship and love unites them again.

I admit I was a bit disappointed with Santino Hassell's latest books but was eagerly awaiting this one because I generally enjoy sports romance and was curious what he will do in this subgenre.

Overall, I liked this book. It's a nice, somewhat slower and sweeter romance than his previous books.
While there were a lot of things in it that worked well for, I also had some issues - mainly with some aspects of the writing and some plot points.

Starting with what I think are the best elements of the book. It's an enemies-to-lovers story with a grumpy, seemingly alpha football player and the assistant he is forced to hire for the 6 months of his house arrest. I found the characters rather interesting, flawed, not what they appear on the surface. They started off with some rather snappy, smartass interactions only to move on the somewhat unexpected tenderness once they got together.

At the beginning Gavin fully lived up to his image in the media of a broody, closed off and angry brute. Noah was snappy and feisty in their initial exchanges full of animosity but they gradually brought the best of each other and as they came together we see hidden sides of their characters - they are caring and loving, capable of showing deep affection. I loved seeing Gavn in a new light - he acts like a smitten high schooler and it was very endearing. Noah is a complex character on his own - difficult financial/family situation and some bad experience of mixing business with pleasure made him wary and cautious.

The first part of the story is rather slow moving but I found it useful for introducing the characters, both main and supporting ones and the slow build up reflected realistically to me, the complexity of their situation and all the obstacles before them being together.

And here comes one of my issues with the romance. I'm not generally a fan of office romance, especially between a boss and an employee. It had already happened to Noah and was a painful experience which added to making this a crucial obstacle before them. The forced proximity was ok but Gavin was paying Noah a significant sum to be his assistant and that put them in unequal footing from the start. They do discuss it in detail, but still, I didn't feel quite comfortable with it.

The other thing that I didn't particularly enjoy was the repetitive use of the same jargon Santino Hassell employs in all his books. Despite Noah and Gavin standing on their own as characters, seeing the same phrases used in their speech as his characters from other books made them lose some of their individuality in my mind.

I have to say that for a sports romance we don't see much sport elements and I missed it - the team vibe, the adrenaline of the game (we get that but it's second-hand through watching games, talking about football and the like), the actual interaction with the fans.

Still, I did enjoy the story, the snark and the smartass banter, together with great side characters is more than enough to keep me interested in reading the next in the series.

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.

Illegal Contact is kind of a modern retelling of Beauty and the Beast. “Beauty” is a guy named Noah who is hired to be the temporary PA for the “Beast” who is a famous NFL player who was recently put under house arrest for assault. Gavin is not thrilled to have some stranger in his home snooping through his life, micromanaging everything. He doesn’t need anyone to take care of him and babysit him but yet, there Noah is, cooking his meals and scheduling his day for him. To say Noah’s thrilled with the idea would be a complete lie, but he is in dire need of money and plans to suck it up, do his job, deal with the ornery bastard who is his boss, and get paid. What neither of them planned on was falling in love. However, the clock’s ticking away on their time together until the moment Gavin is cleared to join his team and goes back to not only the insane hours of training and playing ball, but also pretending to be straight.

This is my first time reading the author’s work and after reading the acknowledgements it would seem that this genre or storyline is a new one for the author. I’m glad he took a chance on it because I really enjoyed it. I loved Gavin’s character. He was this broody S.O.B who had disdain written all over his face any time he had to deal with Noah or kind of anyone in general other than his friends. The media has painted him as this brutal, don’t give a crap, football player with anger management issues. However, as Gavin is forced to spend time with Noah, he starts to loosen up and the softer side of him starts to show through. I loved that the author didn’t make this an insta-love story. Instead these two characters start off just dealing with each other whenever they need to, to actually understanding the nuances of the other person. They went from enemies, friends, to lovers, and I loved that they had the slow and gradual change in their relationship. Retellings are a hit or miss for me but I feel like Santino Hassell hit the nail on the head with this one. The synopsis doesn’t say it’s a BatB retelling and maybe the author didn’t even plan for it to be but it was awesome. And if it is just a happy coincidence then all the more power to him

Illegal Contact was a great story that had a Beauty and the Beast vibe, a celebrity romance, football players, and some pretty steamy scenes. It was an all around great read and I look forward to reading more of Santino’s work.

I have read before books from Santino Hassell but this is my first from him alone and I can't help myself from being blown away by his beautiful writing and awesome characters!Illegal Contact is a story of passion, tension,slow burn and temptation. It has everything I wanted in a story, amazing plot,slow burn,super hot and sweet romance.
Another thing that I loved about this story is the fact that the characters felt realistic! Gavin and Noah's relationship is complex, both of them are so different.Gavin in the begining a little bit angry and dificult so I don't blame Noah for not liking him at first.On the other hand we have Noah who is sweet,cute and smart. I freaking loved their romance, it's so intense and the slow burn is perfect.There are some really hot moments between them!

Overall it was a sweet,passionate and romantic!I highly recommend it to everyone!!

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Omar

Illegal Contact starts in the aftermath of Gavin Brawley’s, New York Barons starting tight end, trial and he been placed in house arrest for six months. Giving that his mansion is located in Westhampton, Gavin will need somebody to help him for the next six months with all his personal affairs and keep an eye on him because he doesn’t know how to run his house for himself. His manager decides to get him a personal assistant and during the interviews he meets Noah Monroe. After getting fired from his previous job that damage his reputation, Noah finds himself without any money and savings, so after a friend’s friend gets him an interview for a personal assistant, he decides it to take it. Their first meeting goes as bad as it could go and ends with Noah storming out, but after going over the pros and cons, Gavin decides to hire Noah.

Their first week doesn’t go so well, but as time moves on they get to know each other better, and a friendship starts to form. During all the time they spend together, each one openly checks the other out, and one small surprise leads to a passionate kiss.

I really like Illegal Contact, while it’s fun to read about love at first sight, I find it more romantic and fun when the two main characters can’t stand one another, but one of them hardboards a secret crush, or they get to know each other better, and romance starts. In this case, Gavin and Noah couldn’t stand each other and it was fun to watch them grow accustom to their presences.

I had seen an increase in the trend of sport in M/M romance stories and it was great to read a story that used that idea, but took it in a different approach. In Illegal Contact, the sport, football, plays a great part of the life of Gavin and given that he is out for a whole season, he needs to still keep in shape and to learn to be more productive with aspect of his life that he didn’t have time before the incident. At the same time, it was fun and cute how Noah learns about football because of all the time he spends with Gavin and understood how much it can matter to some people.

While author Santino Hassell hasn’t decided how many books in the series there will be, I liked how the story presented characters that might have their own book later on. I really liked Simeon and Marcus and their friendship they had with Gavin. I hope that mechanic guy Luke will find his way to the stories in the future, I think there is somewhere a story for him with the Barons.

Before reading half of the story, you get an idea of what the main problem will be, but still the author wrote it in a way that it’s still interesting to read, and the reader continues on wanting to know how it’s going to resolve. I liked the writing style of Hassell and I’m going to see what else he has written.

If you’re fan of Santino Hassell, his work, and football, then I recommend you Illegal Contact. In this story, two men who are part of different jobs and social life, but with similar backgrounds come together to help each other for six months. Financial and legal needs put them together, but a growing friendship and love unites them again.

I admit I was a bit disappointed with Santino Hassell's latest books but was eagerly awaiting this one because I generally enjoy sports romance and was curious what he will do in this subgenre.

Overall, I liked this book. It's a nice, somewhat slower and sweeter romance than his previous books.
While there were a lot of things in it that worked well for, I also had some issues - mainly with some aspects of the writing and some plot points.

Starting with what I think are the best elements of the book. It's an enemies-to-lovers story with a grumpy, seemingly alpha football player and the assistant he is forced to hire for the 6 months of his house arrest. I found the characters rather interesting, flawed, not what they appear on the surface. They started off with some rather snappy, smartass interactions only to move on the somewhat unexpected tenderness once they got together.

At the beginning Gavin fully lived up to his image in the media of a broody, closed off and angry brute. Noah was snappy and feisty in their initial exchanges full of animosity but they gradually brought the best of each other and as they came together we see hidden sides of their characters - they are caring and loving, capable of showing deep affection. I loved seeing Gavn in a new light - he acts like a smitten high schooler and it was very endearing. Noah is a complex character on his own - difficult financial/family situation and some bad experience of mixing business with pleasure made him wary and cautious.

The first part of the story is rather slow moving but I found it useful for introducing the characters, both main and supporting ones and the slow build up reflected realistically to me, the complexity of their situation and all the obstacles before them being together.

And here comes one of my issues with the romance. I'm not generally a fan of office romance, especially between a boss and an employee. It had already happened to Noah and was a painful experience which added to making this a crucial obstacle before them. The forced proximity was ok but Gavin was paying Noah a significant sum to be his assistant and that put them in unequal footing from the start. They do discuss it in detail, but still, I didn't feel quite comfortable with it.

The other thing that I didn't particularly enjoy was the repetitive use of the same jargon Santino Hassell employs in all his books. Despite Noah and Gavin standing on their own as characters, seeing the same phrases used in their speech as his characters from other books made them lose some of their individuality in my mind.

I have to say that for a sports romance we don't see much sport elements and I missed it - the team vibe, the adrenaline of the game (we get that but it's second-hand through watching games, talking about football and the like), the actual interaction with the fans.

Still, I did enjoy the story, the snark and the smartass banter, together with great side characters is more than enough to keep me interested in reading the next in the series.

I picked this story up because (a) Santino Hassell is an excellent author, whose work I’ve adored in the past, and (b) the blurb rang some major bells for me. In fact, I recently read a novel that had a similar blurb, so yes, this is my trope. I will mention a quick aside here that the one I read previously was good, but this one is outstanding so there’s really no comparison other than the blurbs themselves.

Once I started reading this book, I quickly became caught up in the world of professional football where tight end Gavin Brawley is on suspension from his Super Bowl-winning team and is under house arrest for assault. Doesn’t matter that the assault was on a scumbag, who was trying to blackmail Gavin’s closeted gay BFF, who happens to be the team’s quarterback. He’s paying the consequences for his out-of-control anger, and that includes being stuck in his barely furnished mansion with no one to talk to for the next six months other than his manager and his agent, and there’s only so many workouts a person can do in one day to keep busy.

When his manager compels him to hire a personal assistant to deal with his fan (hate) mail and to set up a (positive) social media presence, he picks the guy who seems the least suited to the role. There’s something about Noah—a mouthy guy from Queens—that sets him off, and not necessarily in a good way. The guy doesn’t mind telling Gavin what he thinks of him, and wonder of wonder, the guy knows nothing about football!

The slow burn/UST in this story is intense as Noah is highly attracted to the stunning, musclebound man with the hard, always angry-looking outer shell with a bit of a softie inside. And Gavin finds the feisty, cute guy with the tall, willowy frame, the nerd glasses, and the gorgeous smile pushes all the buttons he didn’t even know he had. One of my favorite passages comes early in the story when Noah is assigned the task of taking video clips of Gavin as he works out:
<i>“I’d walked in on him this morning and the sight of his ass and thighs clenching and flexing had nearly caused me to degrade myself.”</i>
And, <i>“Just take videos of him working out…The fans would go wild… I’d also go wild with lust and have to banish myself…”</i>

When they finally do get together, the sex is smoking hot, the scenes detailed, and if one happens to be in public, one’s red face and flushed skin might indicate just how smokin’ hot it is!” Warning: Use of a personal fan is not mandatory, but highly recommended!

This book has everything I love in a romance story—amazing, interesting characters; outstanding secondary characters; an exciting plot; a relationship that starts out on the surface as a sexual attraction and develops into so much more; a bad boy with a soft heart; a nerdy-looking guy, who can organize chaos with one hand behind his back; a big, brawny, muscular alpha-type man, who will sacrifice his career for his best friend; men who are deep in the closet with no plans to emerge; and a sweet romantic ending. Along the way, I found even more to love than what I’ve listed, and I feel compelled to go back and reread the darn thing—right now. I can’t wait for book two in this series, and I can’t begin to rate this one highly enough. Definitely 5+ hearts.

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.

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 Mr. 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 received this book in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**

Welp…reading this book slowly went right out the window!

There’s something about a Santino Hassell book that has me gorging the pages up way too quickly. Illegal Contact was no different.

There was something reassuring about the realness of outright hostility.

Gavin Brawley is a pro tight-end for the NY Barons, and football is everything to him. Life gets a little messy, however, when he gets suspended from the game that keeps him sane. And oh yeah, he’s under house arrest for the next six months. Solution? Hire a P.A. who can run Gavin’s errands and make sure thing get done. Gavin’s not game for this solution, and he especially doesn’t expect to meet mouthy Noah. A man who (*gasp!*) doesn’t like football.

Noah needs the money that this personal assistant job offers, even though he doesn’t particularly want the job. And he really makes zero effort. I loved him! But during the interview he meets his employer, Gavin, and even though they butt heads something fierce, there’s something about the big guy that gets underneath Noah’s skin. When he does get a call back from Gavin with a job offer? Noah’s bitten off way more than he can chew.

I loved these two, and the plot just thrusts these two together! Not only is Noah running around and doing a job he really has no idea of, he’s at Gavin’s beck-and-call and the dude likes to ruffle Noah’s feathers. Then there’s the little caveat that Noah may have to live with Gavin as Gavin roams around shirtless and like chocolate on a muscled stick. Their communication technique is really nothing more than grumbles and growls, but there’s also these sidelong glances and subtle eye-f&cks that are just…gah!

Gavin's this big, gruff guy who plays tough, but he’s secretly a big ole softie. My favorite kind! His rep, however, has kind of sunk him, and this house arrest business isn’t helping matters. Noah's super intelligent, and though he meets Gavin’s sarcasm with sarcasm, you can just feel the explosive chemistry between them.

But both don’t know how to deal with this intense attraction either. What it would mean in the outside world. Gavin may be bisexual but he has to hide his sexuality with his pro career and the limelight constantly in his direction (mostly bad with his rep, at that). Then there’s Noah who has been burned one too many times and his attraction to Gavin has him wondering if this relationship will end like Noah’s last one.

What makes Illegal Contact truly shine is that this story doesn’t just bring the heat. It brings the romance, full-throttle and out-of-this-world.

Also, I have to say that I have a new appreciation for the career of personal assistant to the stars. Noah is a freaking champ! I also loved the secondary characters, and I’m crossing my fingers that Simeon’s story is up next. A charming hellion, is what he is!

This is Santino Hassell at his finest. Conflict and desire tangled with judgements and mixed feelings. It’s all bundled into this package that has you holding your breath at times, and at others giggling your head off. Illegal Contact is a touchdown.

5 Stars!

New Favorite Alert!!! Illegal Contact was everything I needed and more! When I heard some of my book friends talking about it I knew I had to read it too. Who's to resist when you know Gavin is an moody NFL player forced to stay at home for the next six months making him hiring a PA that he loves to hate!?

I loved every part of this book. The characters, the love/hate banter, the slow burn and of course the level of steam. Two hot guys together is sure a fine visual to have.

Illegal Contact being my first Santino Hassel's book I had no idea what to expect. He has a way with words that captures your attention right away. He pulls you right in the story with all the detailed descriptions, feelings and lots of emotions.

Gavin might be an ass but he has a heart when you can see past the walls he has built along the years. I loved his character so much because the way he talks is the way I want to every day when people try to know better than I or when they try to make me do something I don't want to.
Noah was such a sweet and loveable guy. He is both confident and doubtful of his capacity at the same time. His character was the perfect balance to Gavin's moody attitude, always there to put him at his place or calm his anger.
They couldn't be more opposite to each other when you first meet them. Noah isn't in football at all while it's Noah's all life. Gavin is bisexual but hiding it while Noah is openly gay. Noah needs a job to make ends meet while Gavin lives in a big mansion with half of it empty.

Sparks quickly escalate between these two to the point they both need to give in.
And believe me the sex was o.f.f. t.h.e. c.h.a.r.t.s

From people who barely could tolerate each other to friends, Illegal Contact was Gavin & Noah journey to happiness.
To sum it up, if you are looking for a guy with an bad boy attitude and another with a sassy mouth all this mixed in a slow burn romance, Illegal Contact is definitely the book you should read right away.

Now if you'll excuse me I'm going to spend my afternoon trying to choose which book by Santino I'm going ro read next!

ILLEGAL CONTACT is the first installment in Santino Hassell’s contemporary, adult THE BARONS erotic, M/M romance series focusing on the professional football players of the New York Barons. This is Barons’ tight end Gavin Brawley, and his personal assistant Noah Monroe’s story line.

NOTE: ILLEGAL CONTACT is a M/M romance story line with sexually graphic language, text and situations that may not be suitable for all readers.

Told from dual first person points of view (Gavin and Noah) ILLEGAL CONTACT follows the building but forbidden relationship between the New York Barons’ tight end Gavin Brawley, and his new PA Noah Monroe. With a six month suspension and house arrest on the horizon bad boy Gavin Brawley finds himself struggling to keep up in both his personal and private life. A reputation as a jerk with a temper Gavin’s circle of friends is small, and the only people he considers family are the team members he has left behind. Enter recent college grad Noah Monroe, Gavin’s new PA, and a man who struggles to keep secret his attraction to his boss. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Gavin and Noah, and Noah’s battle to make life easier for the man that calls to his heart.

Gavin Brawley is a bisexual male who has yet to come out to the public or his team. When a recent video of our hero brawling went viral Gavin found himself facing jail time or house arrest but Gavin keeps more than his own sexuality a secret and refuses to reveal his reasons for losing his temper. Temper aside, Gavin’s reputation as a hot head both on and off the field is well known to the public but if his sexuality is revealed Gavin knows his professional career could come to a screeching halt. Gavin’s entire life revolves around the sport of professional football, and in this, Gavin’s sexuality could be a detriment to both his future and his career. Noah Monroe is in debt, and with his father’s recent lay off Noah is desperate to find any job that will put food on the table, and pay down his student debt. Working for Gavin Brawley finds Noah on the outside looking in with no concept of who or what is Gavin Brawley, and to add to the already tempestuous relationship, Noah’s history with powerful men is darkened by betrayal in the past.

The relationship between Noah and Gavin is one of immediate attraction but Noah struggles with Gavin’s attitude and emotional outbursts, as well as Gavin’s inability to see beyond his current problems. Gavin tries desperately to hide his attraction to Noah but fails miserably in spite of the possibility of future betrayal and blackmail. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense. The sexual chemistry was palpable but saying that I did have an issue with the lack of condom usage in this M/M romance story line. Fiction and the possibility of no unwanted pregnancies aside, I do believe that romance authors, including those who write M/M story lines, have an obligation to present safe (safer) $ex scenarios. There was no mention of STD or AIDs testing, or clean blood work-this was very disheartening under the circumstances especially when one of the leading characters was sexually active with another partner on more than one occasion.

We are introduced to several of Gavin’s teammates including quarterback Simeon Boudreaux and running back Marcus Hendricks, Gavin’s agent Mel Hawkins, publicist Joe Carmichael, and Noah’s best friend Jasmine. Simeon’s story line is next in Down by Contact-January 2018.

ILLEGAL CONTACT is a heartwarming, optimistic and encouraging story line. The premise is engaging and inspiring; the characters are charismatic and energetic: the romance is passionate and provocative. ILLEGAL CONTACT is a fantastic start to a new series.

This was definitely the most romantic book I've read by this author, and I loved it! Sports romance is a favorite of mine anyway, especially football stories, so this one was made for me. I enjoyed both main characters and their story so much!

Gavin Brawley is the bad boy of the NFL. He's brash, rude, arrogant, and he couldn't care less about the media, or the public's perception of him. He's just here to play football. Football was all he had growing up in foster care, and it's what got him out of his terrible living situation and into his multi-million dollar Hamptons mansion. But, after assaulting a guy after a fight in a club, and having that assault caught on video, he's been sentenced to 6 months house arrest, and he's been suspended from playing football for the entire season. Since he can no longer leave his house, he needs an assistant. Someone to do his shopping and errands, and help keep things up at the house. He's not a huge fan of the idea of someone living in the house with him, and being all in his business, but his manager and agent finally convince him it's a necessary evil. Now the hard part, is finding someone he can stand to live with, and possibly begin to trust.

Noah Monroe is a recent college grad, with a degree in social work. He had a disastrous experience at his first job out of college, so he quit, and now he's moved home to Queens with his dad, who just got laid off of his job after 20 years. He's got student loan debt like whoa, but he's there to help his dad with bills until they both get back on their feet. He sends in his resume for the personal assistant job on a whim, and a recommendation from his best friend Jasmine, even though he has no interest working for a celebrity. But, it's a 6 month job, with good pay, and it'll be perfect while he's searching for a new opportunity in his field of choice. But, he is taken aback by Gavin and his bad attitude, and he's not sure even the money is worth the trouble.

Gavin and Noah disagree constantly. Gavin is often rude, and Noah has no problem clapping back on him. They are continually sniping and arguing, and Noah isn't sure how long he's willing to put up with it. But, the money is too good, and when he starts really getting to know Gavin, behind the front he puts on for the world, he finds he likes him more than he should. This is a bit of a slow burn romance. They are both attracted to each other, but they don't act on it for quite a while, for many reasons. Noah's biggest issue is that Gavin is his boss. Gavin's biggest issue, is that he's a completely closeted bisexual man in the NFL, and NO ONE can find out about his preferences, if he wants back in the league when his suspension is over. They both have their own personal issues to overcome as well, before they can have any kind of meaningful relationship. It was entertaining, and often bittersweet to see them navigating their issues together.

I really loved the banter between the main characters, and their conversations were always full of sarcasm and humor. The side characters were very entertaining too, especially Gavin's teammates and best friends, Simeon and Marcus, and Noah's best friend, Jasmine. They provided much needed comic relief sometimes, as well as acting as sounding boards and advice givers to the main characters. This story was so sexy, and sweet, but heartbreaking, and healing too. I loved the characters' journey, and I am so glad I read this book. It's the first time I've cried reading a book by Santino, and I loved how this story made me feel. I can't wait for more, and I'm so looking forward to Simeon's story next. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!

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!

I was already a fan of Santino Hassell before reading Illegal Contact, but this first book in The Barons series has only made me love him that much more. Gavin and Noah’s story is one of my favorite reads of the month – maybe even the year. I stayed up until 1 AM finishing this wonderful book because I literally couldn’t put it down. It’s a crazy sexy, endearing, and overall fantastic read! I highly recommend this for M/M or sports romance fans!

Gavin Brawley, New York Barons tight end, has a temper, and due to recent events, is on house arrest. Which means even though he doesn’t want one, he needs a personal assistant to help him survive being stuck in his million-dollar home. He’s grumpy, a little rude, a lot surly – who could ever put up with him (and his gorgeous looks)?

Enter Noah Monroe. Noah is in need of some money fast to support his laid-off father and pay off his student debt. So despite how he and Gavin didn’t get off to a good start, he accepts the job offer. It shouldn’t be too hard running around and getting things done for a famous athlete whose sport is his life, right?

Gavin doesn’t make his life easy for Noah, but good thing this Clark Kent lookalike gives as good as he gets. After their bad first impression, once they start getting to know one another, things start looking up. But there’s an underlying tension between them that is so hard to ignore. Their chemistry is ON FIRE – I could feel the lust and want coming off the pages. These are two men that revel in challenging the other, so of course the sex would be out of this world!

I loved Gavin and Noah so much. There’s more than meets the eye with both men, and I adored getting to know them better alongside with them. I loved the dynamics of their relationship and the slow but sweet development of their romance. I couldn’t get enough! This book was an incredible start to a series I know I’ll only come to love even more. I can’t wait for the next book!

I really loved this book. There really hasn't been anything by Santino Hassell that I've ever not liked. It is very hard to pull off a story when the setting stays basically in one place. In this story it takes place mostly in Gavin's place because he hires Noah to be his personal assistant after an assault charge has him on house arrest. Gavin is our big, cynical ice-prince of a superstar football player. Noah is our righteous and goodhearted second protagonist.

Physically the characters don't go anywhere in this story. Usually with sports romances like this you'll have the author have at least a decent amount of the story take place in the sports center (i.e. stadium, field, etc...) this was not the case with this one. Noah and Gavin stay mostly in Gavin's house and usually that is the kind of story I don't like because I like my characters interacting and reacting to all aspects of what a real person would, but in this one Santino did such a wonderful job of creating such extremely dynamic characters (or at least one to offset) that it worked. Gavin and Noah are almost complete opposites, but their dynamic works and the interactions are witty, charming, and flirty and I loved it. Gavin is the one to see the most change in my opinion. The unlikeliness of Noah's character and how he seamlessly becomes the somewhat moral compass and conscience for Gavin is what changes Gavin over the course of the story.

Gavin and Noah are really fun together their interactions are sweet, and funny and I really enjoyed reading through their banter-foreplay. I wish we got more of the "sports" aspect for Gavin, but the fact that it was such a unique use of the sports-romance with strong characters really made this a fun read for me. Santino Hassell definitely did not disappoint with this new title.

I probably should not have waited this long to read a Santino Hassell book, but maybe I was meant to read his football book first. Either way, I absolutely loved this book. I loved these characters and I LOVED this story.

From page one I was completely sucked in. Well written, in depth, complete, believable characters are few and far between, so I was absolutely THRILLED to find two of them in the same book. Noah had me hooked from page one, he was truly just a really great guy stuck in a bad situation and in need of a good break. Gavin was my favorite kind of Alpha jerk...brooding, angry, isolated but secretly hiding a good guy mushy center. Both characters are amazing, engaging and watching them grow, bond and eventually fall is just breathtaking.

This book had me laughing out loud, shedding tears, cheering, swooning and smiling big. The story was a great ride, but what made this book for me was the two guys at the center that had me absolutely falling in love.

I absolutely loved ILLEGAL CONTACT! The characters are real, the story is heart-wrenching and brilliant and I just loved the hell out of it! Gavin and Noah had great chemistry right from the start. Complete opposites in character and demeanor and yet, they fit together beautifully.

I totally dig Mr. Hassell’s storytelling. It’s raw, unapologetic and all-consuming. ILLEGAL CONTACT is a perfect example of love in its purest form. It’s not always sunshines and rainbows. It’s hard work, and oftentimes a battle. Fighting to love each other and to love yourself. And to be able to claim your happiness, despite society deeming it inappropriate or wrong.

I highly recommend ILLEGAL CONTACT to all readers in search of that elusive happily ever after. The journey is not always pretty, but the payoff is priceless.

I voluntarily read a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

RATING: 4.5 'Lois and Clark Kent' Hearts! <3

This read just made me happy. Like really truly, rainbows and unicorns, type of happy. The romance between Gavin and Noah is sweet and deliciously scorching, which paired with their loveable personalities made this such a fun and easy read. Additionally, what makes Illegal Contact so effortlessly enjoyable is the addition of humour through witty banter and a brilliant cast of secondary characters in Simon, Marcus and Jasmine.

The ending felt a bit abrupt, but my state of extreme happiness over the fact that Gavin and Noah are insanely adorable together, made me overlook that.

I can't wait for Simeon Boudreaux's story next!

Fave Quote:
"Why do you need me?"
"You make me feel alive." I kissed down to kiss collarbone. "Make me feel real."

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

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 !

Illegal Contact by Santino Hassell shows opposites attract in the best of ways in the first book of Hassell’s sexy MM sports romance series. Hot and humorous, this romance follows a grumpy pro football player who finds himself sidelined with a babysitter after one too many public tantrums. Readers will cheer as our heroes run some demanding and erotic plays that require them both to be fully honest with one another and themselves if they want a chance at winning this game.

Guilty as charged staying up until 2 am reading 80% of this book. Finished the rest at the gym this morning. Why starting a new book at bedtime is ever the thing to do- I should know better by now. Gavin was quite the jerk at first but good thing Noah hung in there with him because the chemistry of the two of them together was hot, hot, hot! The next in this series is Simeon (the quarterback) and a rival linebacker, sign me up and schedule an all nighter.

A compelling & tender must read football M/M sports romance packed with witty one-liners, lovable characters, & flawless writing. One-click now to meet Gavin and Noah. The perfect blend of sweet and spicy, with the emphasis that this story might ignite your e-reader. I can't wait to read the next installment!