Santino Hassell

Hey, all, have I mentioned before that you better clear your schedule when you start on a Santino Hassel romance? Perhaps? What the hell is so addictive about his writing for me? Don't know, but I did really enjoy this.
Characters He does not fuck around in giving us the types of heroes we just know, adore, and root for. I knew immediately that I'd flove the grumpy tight end...but he gives us one with...RAGE ISSUES? Like a legitimately terrible temper. And sells the f*ck out of it.
So show more knowing that, no problem, not worried one little bit. Then I read and I meet Noah. Noah is the assertive, take-no-shit idealist and I feel him. He is amazing. And holy crap, he's working to pay off school loan debts and living with his dad (!) And his characters are never neat. In fact, I think Noah may be one of the more perfect ones I've run across.
Plot Hassel carefully wedges social commentary on sexuality and masculinity through his characters without feeling overly preachy or having said characters come off as one-dimensional.

A major hurdle for this couple is that Noah is Gavin's PA. There were pages of discussion and internal musings of the characters on sexual harassment and power dynamic. It was important and considered by both of them. And they were both sensitive to it. and it works. (I struggle with certain power dynamics but openly admit that boss/subordinate don't hit my alarm bells for some odd reason.) I know people sensitive to it might steer clear, but I want to emphasize that this piece of the plot actually had some pretty good meat to it-I can't say that I've ever seen it handled quite this way, even though in the end it still may have felt too rationalized.

This book has some great moments, particularly as Gavin starts to melt and soften. Who doesn't want to see a 6'5'' 260 guy turn into goo?

The separation was damn near heartbreaking, but understandable and mature.

Anyway, I can't say enough good things about this author. I am still not sure this is my absolute favorite, but this really appealed to me. Maybe it's because I'm an absolute sucker for the sports romances. Maybe it's because [b:Sutphin Boulevard|25404499|Sutphin Boulevard (Five Boroughs, #1)|Santino Hassell|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1435776893s/25404499.jpg|45158379] knocked me off my ass so much, I have never quite been the same. Whatever it is, this read is lighter and still thoroughly enjoyable.

And make sure you set aside the time to binge on yet another incredibly readable book. show less

‘Sunset Park’ is the second novel in Santino Hassell’s ‘Five Boroughs’ series and it is just as fantastic as the first. One main character, Raymond, is a longshoreman of Puerto Rican descent, grew up in a dysfunctional family in Queens, and is the younger brother of Michael from book one. The other main character couldn’t be more different; David is from Connecticut, all prim and proper, and a teacher who works with Michael in a gay-friendly school in Brooklyn. Raymond and David show more have become unlikely friends when bonding over Michael’s rehab, but when Raymond decides to finally try to be an adult and looks for his own apartment and David suggests they become roommates, more than friendship develops as soon as Raymond moves in. Of course with as different as they are, issues are bound to develop. Between the sparks of sexual tension flaring up into an inferno, the drama David sees around every corner, and Raymond’s lack of maturity their story is explosive as well as frustrating enough it had me tearing out my hair several times. Quite an emotional adventure!

Raymond – where do I even begin? Yes, he is immature and has lots of issues. He also doesn’t have any plan for his life. But at least he knows and admits it and – eventually – begins to do something about it. Independence and being responsible are new for him, but he grows into the situation fairly quickly. Not that it changes who he is on a fundamental level, and some of that leads to problems with David that neither of them could have foreseen. Raymond is bi-curious, and his chemistry with David is off the charts once David “offers to help him figure things out”, but commitment? Not something that comes easy to him, no matter how happy Michael may be with Nunzio and how much Raymond (secretly) wants to have that as well. Raymond’s growth as he figures things out with David and begins to deal with his professional life is phenomenal, yet totally natural.

David – is not a man I was able to like easily or quickly. He was horrible to Michael in book one on a professional level, he is arrogant and conceited, he may be out and proud and attracted to Raymond, but I don’t think he even wants to understand some of the demons Raymond has to deal with as they get closer. When David’s ex turns up, and David begins to wonder whether he is the “safer option” I was ready to slap him upside the head. I mean, just because Raymond needs some time to figure things out David is ready to run into another man’s arms? One he knows is not right for him? David, David, David. Having said all that, finding out more about David, his (to me) surprising fear of failure and basic vulnerability explain a lot. Fundamentally David is only human and would probably be boring if he didn’t have a few flaws.

I think I said the same thing about the first book – fluffy romance this is not. But if you’re looking for gritty, and real, and fascinating, if you want a character-driven story set in today’s world with all its problems, and if you’re looking for complicated, flawed men who are determined to succeed, then you will probably love this novel as much as I do. Both men annoyed me to distraction yet impressed me with their resilience. And even though they are sometimes their own worst enemies, they get there in the end and, fundamentally, the problems made the whole story all the more meaningful for me.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. show less

This is a fantastic novel on so many levels, I hardly know where to start. The setting is a gay-friendly school in Brooklyn, and both main characters have escaped from dysfunctional families in Queens. Well, escaped is a relative term, as you will see when you read the book, but in theory they have their own lives. Both of them are young teachers, and the issues they encounter are brutal and real both inside the classroom and in their personal lives. They are best friends, have been for show more twenty years, but when the sexual tension that is clearly between them explodes, they quickly become more. Yet this is no fluffy romance. Their demons are very real, the angst is considerable, and the internal and external obstacles they have to overcome almost tear them apart.

Michael is Puerto Rican and has just been dumped by his boyfriend of two years, he is constantly drinking, not easy to get along with at work, and his family is so messed up it beggars description. Michael has no idea how to deal with it all, but he also doesn’t really have a role model or something to live for. His road to a more livable life is long and hard, and the author doesn’t sugarcoat anything.

Nunzio is Italian and has his own problems, but he is much clearer on what he wants. Not that he articulates what that might be, but he seems a little less adrift in life’s storms. He is a great supporter for Michael, without being obsessive or restrictive, and I didn’t envy him his task of trying to build something with Michael that, for most of the books, seems totally out of reach for both of them.

If you are looking for a sweet romance, this is not the book for you. If you’re ready for a gritty story about two real men with real problems, one that will grab your attention, then give this a try. I felt as if I had stepped into a different world and followed the events while trying to catch my proverbial breath. Recommended for anyone who is interested is a multi-layered character study set in a tough part of the world, and with players who continued to amaze me with their resilience and determination despite everything they had been through. Nothing is easy for these guys – and that makes the ending more worthwhile and very satisfying.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. show less

Santino Hassell writes excellent, character-driven romance. I've mentioned this before. I've also mentioned a certain addictive quality to his books, and this wasn't an exception...but I did have to put it down several times.

I feel like I'm recycling an old review here, but his characters are messy. As in not-at-all-perfect. Simeon is this sweet, open, affectionate charismatic lover boy having trust issues from a former encounter and its subsequent fallout. But he's not careful. I loved him show more as much as I did in book #1, as much as the fictional fans do. Lots of good love and support surrounding his character, including my faves-Marcus and Gavin. He had me laughing from early on. And bless any man who loves his mama and aunties like this one.

“I’ve never seen you this bummed out,” Gavin said. “I’m starting to think you’re legit in love with this guy despite him being an actual worse asshole than me.” (God I love Gavin)
Why did I have to put it down several times? Because Adrian's journey was painful. I HATED him for a good portion of the book, but I could keep reading it because he was also intensely self-aware. Well...mostly. You think, how on earth? oh, but Hassell pulls it off, naturally. His redemption isn't really swift, it's peeled back bit by bit, thankfully, and that's what made this story so intensely satisfying. Seeing Adrian's tender side is rewarding. And it's so effective because we feel incredibly protective of the open and lovable Simeon. Loved the full circle. Loved the grand gesture.

I loved it. And whoever doesn't like it can go straight to hell.
MORE PLEASE 4.5 show less