RELEASE DAY REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: On His Knees (Blasphemy #4)

ON HIS KNEES is now available!

On His Knees (Blasphemy #4), by Laura Kaye
Publish Date: February 13, 2018
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult erotic m/m romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) Getting on his knees makes him question everything…and want even more…

Another failed relationship has lawyer Jamie Fielding confronting the truth—he’ll never be satisfied with any woman until he admits what he needs…to submit and to be used—hard. When a friend invites him to the exclusive Blasphemy club, Jamie is stunned to find everything he ever wanted—in the fierce, ruthless hands of a man.

Psychiatrist Alex McGarry will play with anyone who craves his rough brand of domination, but what he really wants is to settle down. Which makes the submissive male he meets at his club a bad idea—the man might be hot as hell but he’s also new to everything Alex has to offer. Except that doesn’t keep them from coming together again and again, sating every one of their darkest desires.

Master Alex sets Jamie’s whole world on fire and makes him question everything—and that’s good. Because Alex won’t tolerate hiding what they have for long and he wants much more than just having Jamie on his knees...

There is a lid for every pot. On His Knees opens with both Alex and Jamie struggling with this, but Jamie especially. He's endured yet another failed relationship, and he just can't figure out what's missing. Until an offhanded comment (by a Hard Ink favorite) sparks something inside him, and he starts out on a journey to find out who he is so that he can find his perfect match. 

What I loved most about this book is Jamie's exuberant enthusiasm about his journey. When he realizes that he's been seeking out all the wrong sort of relationships his entire life, he's almost unfazed. He just knows he needs to make a course correction, and he embraces that wholeheartedly. He does research, talks to experts, and when the opportunity comes up to take it to the next level at Blasphemy, he doesn't hesitate. 

Alex, however, is all about caution. Some bad experiences on his part as well have made him skeptical and a little gun shy, especially when it comes to a lifestyle newbie. But, Jamie's obvious need for his guidance coupled with the perfect alignment of their personalities, needs and wants convinces Alex to throw caution to the wind and start a relationship with this fascinating man. 

On His Knees plays host to some more extreme forms of BDSM, so if things like breath play and force scenes aren't your bag, you might want to give this book a pass. But, Alex and Jamie are so super hot together - their scenes are sexy and incredible. But, even outside of their scenes, they are so obviously perfect for each other, I loved everything about them. 

On His Knees, like the other books in the Blasphemy series, is on the short side. I would've loved more meat on their backstories and more follow-up on Jamie's relationship with his parents. I want to know how their relationship and lifestyle affects their jobs, if at all, and what the other submissives think of Jamie. But, the length didn't affect my enjoyment of this story. I did love it. 

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty books in contemporary and erotic romance and romantic suspense, including the Blasphemy, Hard Ink, and Raven Riders series. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. Laura also writes historical fiction as the NYT bestselling author, Laura Kamoie. She lives in Maryland with her husband and two daughters, and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW & EXCERPT: Illegal Contact (The Barons #1)

Illegal Contact (The Barons #1), by Santino Hassell
Publish Date: August 15, 2017
Publisher: InterMix
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult m/m contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) New York Barons tight end Gavin Brawley is suspended from the team and on house arrest after a video of him brawling goes viral. Gavin already has a reputation as a jerk with a temper on and off the field—which doesn’t help him once he finds himself on the wrong side of the law. And while he’s been successful professionally, he’s never been lucky when it comes to love.

Noah Monroe is a recent college grad looking for a job—any job—to pay off his mounting student debt. Working as Gavin’s personal assistant/babysitter seems like easy money. But Noah isn’t prepared for the electrifying tension between him and the football player. He’s not sure if he’d rather argue with Gavin or tackle him to the floor. But both men know the score, and neither is sure what will happen once Gavin's timeout is over…

I have never loved Santino Hassell more than I did after reading Illegal Contact. Before this book, I was in a m/m contemporary romance slump. I love them, but most of the ones I had read recently were either not well plotted or not well written or so super cheesy, I found myself rolling my eyes more than swooning - not a good sign. But then this book came along about a grumpy football star who falls for his adorkable new personal assistant, and I swear to you, it felt like coming home again. 

Santino Hassell gives good romance. All the hallmarks of a good one are present in Illegal Contact. Because Noah works for Gavin, you have the whole forbidden aspect, and that creates some delicious sexual tension. The two guys do eventually become friends, after a bit of a rocky start (thanks to Gavin not really wanting Noah there to begin with, but resigning himself to the fact that he needs his help), so that adds another wonderful layer to their relationship. They share stories and secrets and each starts to feel protective of the other. And I so love when friendship morphs into something else. 

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

And that "something else" is just... wow. You wouldn't think that this big, mean football player would be anything close to compatible with a recent college grad looking to make some money to pay off his loans. But, when Noah and Gavin finally cut the crap and finally get together, it's freaking magical. They are sexy and hot and passionate and exactly what each other needs. 

Before Illegal Contact, I was already resigned to reading anything Santino Hassell writes. He's so brilliant with his words and how he uses them to convey real situations and feelings. But, after Illegal Contact, not only am I convinced he's a new addition to my "one-click list," but I'm determined to get him on everyone else's list too. Illegal Contact isn't just your typical jock romance book. It's got depth and substance and a lot of memorable moments. This is one of those books that I will choose to read a second and a third time just because it makes me happy. 

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

Gavin

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“You’re being real extra right now.”

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

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

“Who says I’m jealous?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Oh yeah? What’s it got to do with?”

“Him not pissing off the only person I can stand to have in my house for six months,” I snarled.

“Simeon can stick his dick in someone else until Noah is finished here.” “And then you’d be cool with it?”

“Yeah, then I’d be cool with it.”

Marcus snickered. He knew I was full of shit.

“Let me ask you a question, Gav.”

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

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

“For fuck’s sake, Marcus.”

“Am I right or am I right, though?”

He was right. But I refused to admit it.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“About what?”

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

“Done.”

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

“What kind of nightmares?”

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

“You spoke to him?”

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

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

“You won’t get hurt.”

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

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

“Without you and Moe? Nope.”

I scoffed. “Yeah, right.”

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

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

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

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

I went for the latter.

Santino Hassell was raised by a conservative family, but he was anything but traditional. He grew up to be a smart-mouthed, school cutting grunge kid, then a transient twenty-something, and eventually transformed into an unlikely romance author.

Santino writes queer romance that is heavily influenced by the gritty, urban landscape of New York City, his belief that human relationships are complex and flawed, and his own life experiences.

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

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Oversight (The Community #2)

Oversight (The Community #2), by Santino Hassell
Publish Date: June 26, 2017
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author and A Novel Take PR
Genre: adult m/m paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) Holden Payne has it all . . . or so he thinks. As heir to the founder of the Community—an organization that finds, protects, and manages psychics—he’s rich, powerful, and treated like royalty. But after a series of disappearances and murders rock the Community, he’s branded the fall guy for the scandal and saddled with a babysitter.

Sixtus Rossi is a broad-shouldered, tattooed lumbersexual with a man-bun and a steely gaze. He’s also an Invulnerable—supposedly impervious to both psychic abilities and Holden’s charms. It’s a claim Holden takes as a challenge. Especially if sleeping with Six may help him learn whether the Community had more to do with the disappearances than they claimed.

As Holden uncovers the truth, he also finds himself getting in deep with the man sent to watch him. His plan to seduce Six for information leads to a connection so intense that some of Six’s shields come crashing down. And with that comes a frightening realization: Holden has to either stand by the Community that has given him everything, or abandon his old life to protect the people he loves.

I really loved book two in Santino Hassell's The Community series, not only because of Holden and Six (I'll get to them in a minute), but because Santino chose this book to crack this paranormal world he's created wide open. Now, we all know that Santino Hassell can write contemporary romance like a boss. But, let me tell how how brilliant he also is at writing paranormal. 

In Oversight, we meet a lot more people with psychic abilities than we did in Insight. Better yet - we get to see them use their powers in pretty awesome ways. We also get a greater scope and understanding of The Community. We take a trip to the infamous Farm. And we learn of the widespread revolutionaries that are just waiting for the catalyst to start fighting back against those who have been using, mistreating and killing them. 

Who knew that in the middle of all this, the son of the big bad guy could find truth and love?

 Six is a man that Holden saw only briefly as a boy, but that one instance made a big impression. Years later, Six is sent to be the new bouncer/babysitter at Holden's nightclub. He's socially inept, scary, broody, and frustrating. And he has this really cool ability - he is immune to all other psychics. Their powers don't work on him because his shield is that impenetrable - a fact that Holden finds incredibly annoying at first, but soon realizes what a wonderful blessing it is. 

Holden's empathic abilities have always made relationships hard. He doesn't have to worry about that with Six. He feels calm and peaceful around Six. That is, until Six shatters everything Holden has ever known about his life, his parents and The Community as a whole. 

In Oversight, I felt this overwhelming sense of camaraderie and togetherness, as we see old friends (yes - Nate and Trent are back) join with new ones to finally start to take back their lives and claim them for their own. It's an upward battle though - a handful of determined and talented men and women are fighting against an establishment with hundreds of brainwashed minions. Not every move they make carries a positive result. Good thing there's another book coming. 

The buildup to the last book in this series is crazy. It started in Insight, and built in Oversight. I'm about jumping out of my skin to get my grabby hands on Sightlines to see what happens to the final couple in the series and how all of them will manage to accomplish what seems to be the impossible.

The man who walked into the office did not remotely resemble the teen boy who'd just strolled through his memories. Adult Sixtus was Holden’s height but corded with about thirty more pounds of muscle. His biceps were nearly bursting from the sleeves and his pecs were clearly visible beneath the tight black polo he wore, making the typically conservative style— look like the prequel to a stripping routine in Magic Mike. He also wore khaki pants so tight his thighs looked like they were being strangled. He'd paired the two articles of clothing with scuffed motorcycle boots with steel toes.

Holden didn't make an attempt to hide his slow ogle, and dragged his eyes from boot to crotch to clavicle before taking in Six's face. His fathomless black eyes were the only familiar feature in that olive complexed face. He had a full beard and mustache, thick black hair tied up in a bun, and wide lips that Holden wanted to suck on. Why did his sociopathic handler have to be a disgustingly sexy lumberjack hipster?

"Huh," Holden said. "He's filled out."

Richard went back to pursing his lips but Sixtus didn't even blink. He didn't scan Holden or react to the intense eyefuck he'd just received. There seemed to be nothing behind those dark eyes. The effect was more disturbing when Holden, by default, reached out with his gift to get an impression. He'd expected a hint of impatience or irritation even if it was muted by the mental shield that was apparently always in place.

Santino Hassell was raised by a conservative family, but he was anything but traditional. He grew up to be a smart-mouthed, school cutting grunge kid, then a transient twenty-something, and eventually transformed into an unlikely romance author.

Santino writes queer romance that is heavily influenced by the gritty, urban landscape of New York City, his belief that human relationships are complex and flawed, and his own life experiences.

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

RELEASE DAY REVIEW: Mature Content (Cyberlove #4)

Mature Content (Cyberlove #4), by Megan Erickson and Santino Hassell
Publish Date: June 2, 2017
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author
Genre: adult contemporary m/m romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) My life plan is to be brutally honest all the way to the bank. Don't believe me? I run a popular YouTube channel called TrashyZane, and my claim to fame is oversharing about every aspect of my personal life. Sometimes while tipsy. Not everyone loves my style, but I have a long history of icing out people who can't handle me. I have no time for judgmental foolishness.

Except, apparently, when it comes to Beau Starr. His channel is the polar opposite of mine, and so is he. Wholesome, inspirational, and clean-cut. Everything about him should turn me off, but when we hook up following a confrontation at a convention, my world flips upside down. Not only does Beau Starr turn me on, he uses the exact combination of dirty talk and roughness needed to turn me out.

But we still hate each other. I think.

I loved Beau when I met him in Hard Wired. He was so positive and likable. He was helpful and protective of his cousin Jesse. He was everything Zane was not. 

Zane is brash and in your face and doesn't apologize for any of it. He talks openly about his sex life and about his relationship with his parents. He's not always positive, but he is always real. 

Zane and Beau each have wildly popular YouTube channels, so they know of each other, and they have formed opinions of one another based on the personas they see on their computer screens. They have decided they don't like each other. At all. 

But, both of them are screaming inside because who they're showing to the world isn't who they really are. Not many people in each of their circles really knows Zane or Beau. And one night, Beau decides to show Zane exactly who he is, and it changes everything for both of them. It's easy to hate someone you don't really know. But, once you catch a glimpse of someone's real, it's much harder.

What I loved most about Mature Content was that, even though that first night together changed a lot of things for both Beau and Zane, it still took them a long time to warm up to one another. Make no mistake - that didn't mean that they didn't recognize the crazy good sexual tension between one another. And act on it. Hate sex FTW. But, Beau and Zane had spent so long hating on each other, old habits died hard. 

In addition to their unfortunate attraction to one another, each man is dealing with his own personal baggage. Zane's family is pretty awful. They are rich and entitled and refuse to acknowledge Zane's sexuality or his job. They make him feel not good enough for them, and that has stayed with him and became the catalyst for his channel and online persona. 

And Beau is feeling an immense amount of pressure from his own family and from himself, honestly, about his career, He's been offered a big opportunity, and although it's not something he really wants, he feels like he has to take it. Even though it means further compromising who he really is. 

There are so many layers to this story. It's way more than an enemies to lovers story. It is that, but it's also about figuring out who you really are and being true to that. Megan and Santino are so good at writing these complex characters and situations. I sincerely hope that this is not the last book we see from the great Megtino. 

BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Hard Wired (Cyberlove #3)

To say I've been anticipating HARD WIRED's release is like saying Henry Cavill is just okay looking. Check out my review, then enter the giveaway!

Hard Wired (Cyberlove #3), by Megan Erickson and Santino Hassell
Publish Date: February 13, 2017
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the authors
Genre: adult contemporary m/m romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) My FallenCon agenda is simple: sit on a couple of panels and let people meet the real me. Jesse Garvy—mod of a famous Twitch channel and, if I ever come out of my shell, future vlogger. I definitely didn’t plan to sleep with a moody tattooed fan-artist, but he’s gorgeous and can’t keep his hands off me. There's a first time for everything, and my first time with a guy turns out to be the hottest experience of my life.

But the next day, I find out my moody fan-artist is Ian Larsen AKA Cherry—someone I've known online for years. And he'd known exactly who I was while shoving me up against that wall. Before I figure out whether to be pissed or flattered, the con ends.

Now we're back online, and he's acting like nothing happened. But despite the distance between us, and the way he clings to the safety of his online persona, we made a real connection that night. I don't plan to let him forget.

It was so easy to fall completely in love with these two boys, and subsequently, this book. There was so much to read about  - so many different layers to get through. Their relationship certainly wasn't easy, but honestly, that was the best part. The best things come to those who work hard. 

We've met both Ian and Jesse in both Strong Signal and Fast Connection, although prior to this book, we knew them both by their gamer names - Cherrycakes and Garvy. It seemed in previous books that they played off each other with Cherry playing good copy and Garvy playing bad cop. Hard Wired is absolutely a study in how people are rarely what they seem to be on the surface or online, and that has never been more apparent than when Ian and Jesse meet in person at a con.

Jesse is just coming into his sexuality and realizing who he really is, while Ian has known all of that about himself for quite some time. It's Ian's sexual orientation, along with his art and his dislike of strangers and large crowds that has caused him to adopt different personas in order to deal with the people he meets - Cherry is his online mod persona who is happy and bubbly and Cerise is his artist persona who is broody and confident and wildly talented. He's been someone else for so long, he has forgotten who just Ian is. It takes Jesse to remind him.

I did owe him. A lot more than an admission that he'd already pieced together. I owed him pure, unadulterated Ian - all the weird parts of myself and not the fragments that I tended to show to specific audiences.

But, that's part of the problem. Ian initially buries himself in his art and in his games to escape from his life and the people in it. He doesn't think very highly of himself and doesn't think of himself as lovable. Jesse Garvy gets uncomfortably close to the heart of who Ian really is, and that scares the crap out of him. Even more unnerving is that Jesse really, REALLY likes who he sees. 

"You're talented and smart and so beautiful. Sometimes I wonder if I could ever be enough for you, or us together, if you don't even see your own value... when your value is infinity plus infinity greater than mine."

Jesse is determined to bring Ian out of his shell, though he doesn't know how to go about doing that. There's a lot of false starts and stops between the two of them as they learn about each other and each other's limitations. It's definitely not easy, and it's not always pleasant either. Jesse, in particular, feels a lot like a fish out of water when it comes to Ian. He thinks it should be easy to just be who you are, but Ian has learned the hard way that who you are sometimes gets you in serious trouble. It's hard for Jesse to know what to do with Ian and vice versa. 

Every conversation with Ian was another puzzle piece. I'd see enough to know Ian was someone I wanted in my life. I just hoped he felt the same.

The one place where they seem to know exactly what to do with each other is in the bedroom. Holy moly. As only Megan Erickson and Santino Hassell can, the sexual connection between Jesse and Ian was incredible. They never had problems connecting in that way, and as the book went on, it only got better. Even when they were separated by many miles and states - seriously, after reading this series, I know that Skype sex is a seriously hot thing. 

Buckle your seat belt for a ride of feels. Hard Wired is told in dual POV, so we get all the angst, all the emotion and all the frustration times two. Santino Hassell and Megan Erickson are an incredible writing pair, though. Their transitions are flawless and their voices are so strong. It's one of my favorite parts of this series. And, luckily, it seems like the series will continue, as we met a few new characters that definitely seem to have a story to tell. 

Megan Erickson is a USA Today bestselling author of romance that sizzles. Her books have a touch of nerd, a dash of humor, and always have a happily ever after. A former journalist, she switched to fiction when she decided she liked writing her own endings better. 

She lives in Pennsylvania with her very own nerdy husband and two kids. Although rather fun-sized, she’s been told she has a full-sized personality. When Megan isn’t writing, she’s either lounging with her two cats named after John Hughes characters or… thinking about writing.

Website: http://meganerickson.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormeganerickson
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Santino Hassell was raised by a conservative family, but he was anything but traditional. He grew up to be a smart-mouthed, school cutting grunge kid, then a transient twenty-something, and eventually transformed into an unlikely romance author.

Santino writes queer romance that is heavily influenced by the gritty, urban landscape of New York City, his belief that human relationships are complex and flawed, and his own life experiences.

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Wound Tight (Made in Jersey #4)

This book - GAH, this whole SERIES - if you haven't read them yet, please do it now. Check out my review to learn why I love these couples so much - especially Renner and Milo.

Wound Tight (Made in Jersey #4), by Tessa Bailey
Publish Date: December 5, 2016
Publisher: Entangled Brazen
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult contemporary m/m romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) When CEO Renner Bastion walks into a room, everyone keeps their distance. Well, everyone but the sarcastic, tattooed, Boston-bred security guard whose presence has kept Renner in New Jersey longer than intended. As if the unwanted attraction isn’t unsettling enough, Renner finds out his protector isn’t as unavailable as originally thought.

Milo Bautista just came out to his wealthy, ultra-confident boss, a man he secretly respects and admires…in more ways than he’ll admit. Worldly, experienced Renner would never look in his direction, let alone share some of that confidence he wears like a cloak, so Milo has set his sights on someone else to be his first.

Until Renner offers him private lessons in seduction...

When I heard that Tessa Bailey was going to FINALLY do a m/m novel, and one set in the Made in Jersey world, I was beyond excited. Tessa brings the most perfect balance of sweetness and steaminess to her books. And she uses real people in her stories too. They work real jobs, have real problems and look like real people. So I was positive that the story she had hinted at in earlier books between Renner and Milo was going to be awesome.

We already know that Renner is a troubled soul. He's broody and cranky and antisocial. He prefers the company of his sister, tolerates her husband, and avoids everyone else. Except, he does admire Milo from afar. To his face, though, Renner is just as crotchety as he is with everyone else. Milo, though, doesn't let him get away with that. Milo gets in his face and makes him talk and feel and hope for more. But, Renner comes with relationship baggage, and he's not interested in any of that. And Milo has made it clear he wants someone else. So, Renner takes what he can get and decides that's enough for him. 

Except, it's not. Renner has spent so long being closed off from other people, and I think he was so tired of being alone. It took one man with enough guts to keep standing up to him every time he was a jerk to make Renner realize how empty his life was. But, even knowing this, he was still too afraid of being hurt to take any sort of a chance. 

This boo was so full of EVERYTHING I love about romance books. Milo and Renner had amazing chemistry that built and built until it seemed to spill off the pages. They had this push and pull, stop and start thing going on that was wonderfully frustrating. They both had other things going on that were competing for their attention, but when their attention was focused on each other, it was explosive. 

We got to see several couples from previous Made in Jersey books, and it was great catching up with them. I'm sad to see all of them go, but it's great knowing that all of them are living their happily ever after - Renner and Milo included.

Tessa Bailey is originally from Carlsbad, California. The day after high school graduation, she packed her yearbook, ripped jeans and laptop, driving cross-country to New York City in under four days.

Her most valuable life experiences were learned thereafter while waitressing at K-Dees, a Manhattan pub owned by her uncle. Inside those four walls, she met her husband, best friend and discovered the magic of classic rock, managing to put herself through Kingsborough Community College and the English program at Pace University at the same time. Several stunted attempts to enter the work force as a journalist followed, but romance writing continued to demand her attention.

She now lives in Long Island, New York with her husband of nine years and four-year-old daughter. Although she is severely sleep-deprived, she is incredibly happy to be living her dream of writing about people falling in love.

Connect with Tessa:
Author Twitter: @mstessabailey
Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TessaBaileyAuthor/
Author Street Team/Facebook Group: Bailey’s Babes https://www.facebook.com/groups/191945697620644/
Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessabaileyisanauthor/
Newsletter: http://www.tessabailey.com/contact

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RELEASE DAY LAUNCH EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY: Wound Tight (Made in Jersey #4)

It's finally here! WOUND TIGHT by Tessa Bailey is available today, and you do not want to miss this awesome book. Check out all the release day info today, including an exclusive look at Chapter 1 of Wound Tight. Then, come back to my blog on Friday for my review!

Wound Tight (Made in Jersey #4), by Tessa Bailey
Publish Date: December 5, 2016
Publisher: Entangled Brazen
Genre: adult m/m contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

(Synopsis) When CEO Renner Bastion walks into a room, everyone keeps their distance. Well, everyone but the sarcastic, tattooed, Boston-bred security guard whose presence has kept Renner in New Jersey longer than intended. As if the unwanted attraction isn’t unsettling enough, Renner finds out his protector isn’t as unavailable as originally thought.

Milo Bautista just came out to his wealthy, ultra-confident boss, a man he secretly respects and admires…in more ways than he’ll admit. Worldly, experienced Renner would never look in his direction, let alone share some of that confidence he wears like a cloak, so Milo has set his sights on someone else to be his first.

Until Renner offers him private lessons in seduction...

Chapter One

Would you rather was Renner Bastion’s least favorite game.

Scratch that. All games were his least favorite.

He couldn’t help playing one, however, as he stared down at his factory floor. Security guard Milo Bautista flirted with one of the older female assembly line workers, twirling her by the hand as if they were on a cruise ship dancing to bongo music. Renner stood in an air-conditioned office, surrounded by silence. So. Would he rather be upstairs in his impeccably clean suit, or downstairs, covered by factory grease that seemed to ooze from every corner of his New Jersey manufacturing plant? Considering that Milo and the woman looked joyful while Renner was in a shitty mood, he didn’t have an answer.

How you like them apples?

Jesus. Thanks to Milo, he was even starting to think in a Boston accent. The man who’d ordained himself Renner’s personal one-man security detail without permission was more Boston than Mark Wahlberg at a fucking Red Sox game. Wearing Paul Revere’s hat.
And yet here Renner was, kind of wishing the jerk would come upstairs where he belonged, instead of making the female population of Hook swoon.

“There’s a good sign it’s time to go home,” Renner muttered, his breath creating condensation on the glass. He’d been saying the same thing for weeks now. It’s time to go home. Not to his two-bedroom in Hook, though. His apartment in Manhattan. Or his flat in China. Or any one of the homes he’d rented to keep an eye on his other ventures.

The damage sustained by the factory explosion in Hook had been repaired weeks ago, the construction no longer requiring his daily supervision. God knew his employees were sick to death of his presence, turning their backs whenever he passed through their midst. Yet here he remained, in this town full of nosy people constantly wanting to grill meat and drink beer from cans, watching everyone else live from the other side of the glass.

“What a cliché you’ve become.” Renner reached to his left, pouring whiskey from a glass decanter into a tumbler and lifting it to his lips for a long sip. “Resented boss. Spoiler of fun.” The liquor lit a path of fire on its way down. “The one who gets shit done and signs everyone’s paychecks. Don’t forget that part.”

As if Renner had spoken into the intercom instead of to himself, Milo’s smooth movements snagged while dipping the enamored worker. His dark-haired head came up, his gaze finding Renner upstairs, that eyebrow tilting as if to say, want to take a picture, boss man?

That was their relationship, if you could refer to it as such. Renner gave Milo orders, as he did to all of his employees, and Milo told him to shove it, going about following instructions in his own way. His signature loose-limbed, ready to rumble, swaggering way. Sometimes he even winked at Renner while following through, which in itself should have been grounds for firing. Even if winking didn’t break any codes of conduct per se, it certainly violated Renner’s own unwritten rule book. As did Milo’s walking into his office without knocking and throwing sarcasm Renner’s way at every available opportunity.

Apparently Milo fell into some kind of gray area that allowed him to disrespect Renner’s authority and retain his job. The rugged Bostonian may have been hired several months ago by Vaughn, the head of factory security and an old army buddy of Milo’s, but Renner had the ultimate power to hire and fire. Putting up with the subtle jabs and sarcasm had nothing to do with Renner’s reluctant fascination with the security guard. Or the way a flame lit under his blood every time the man was close by. Nothing whatsoever. He had a strict set of rules when it came to other men, and Milo violated them all by being his employee. Not to mention being too young…and too straight. Like, chest bumps and beer koozies straight. In other words, Renner was doing his best to ignore how Milo’s security shirt had come unbuttoned halfway to his belt and sweat was beginning to catch the bright factory lights—

“Right.”

Renner swallowed the remaining inch of whiskey and turned away from the window. He needed to get some sleep. He’d been working on a new contract pitch for three days, and his common sense was beginning to blur. The account he was trying to land didn’t want to use their facilities, anyway. Despite Bastion Enterprises’ pristine track record, the rejections continued. Why was he trying so hard?

Because that’s what Renner did. He worked until he collapsed. Late hours, red-eye flights, exhaustion, coffee, whiskey. Repeat. After being doubted by countless associates on his rise to the top, a fire burned in his gut, daring him to prove himself. It never, ever went away.

Yes, work was his cruelest vice, and it kept him moving. Never settling. He certainly didn’t make habits of outstaying his welcome in one town. A place where he didn’t warrant so much as a wave when walking down the street. It was absurd that Milo, an employee who had about as much respect for Renner as a delinquent child for a school principal, should make him feel…welcome. For the love of God, he’d greeted Renner with a middle finger this morning and yet somehow, Renner had been looking forward to it. At least it was an acknowledgment.

Time to go home. Seriously.

Back to the city. Back to sanity. Back to dating men who were available to him.

Why was there so little appeal to the latter?

With an irritated curse, Renner went to his desk and began shoving files into his leather briefcase. If he went out the back door, he wouldn’t have to ruin everyone’s fun downstairs. His Mercedes was parked a few blocks over, despite Milo’s insistence that he “pahk in the freakin’ laht,” so he would avoid that argument as well.

That was not a disappointed tug in his stomach; he’d just skipped dinner.

…

Milo watched the light go out in Renner’s office and knew the stubborn prick was going to try to sneak out without him. The guy really thought he was untouchable, didn’t he? But in a town full of people who disliked him—especially after firing their beloved mechanic, Duke, and the explosion that followed—Renner didn’t get to waltz around in the dark in his five-thousand-dollar suit. Maybe Hook was slightly safer than Milo’s old Boston neighborhood, but at age twenty-six, caution still ran in his blood.

He’d been hired to keep the factory safe, and that duty extended to Renner, the factory’s owner, whether the dude liked it or not. The army had taught Milo to take his responsibilities seriously, and after a disorganized, all-around backward youth, he’d learned there was satisfaction in being thorough. To be proud of a job.

Responsibility. Yeah. That was so why he was so protective over Renner.

Milo snorted to himself and gave a sweeping bow to the woman in front of him. She was sweet, this lady. Kind of reminded him of the librarian who’d kept a forty-ounce in her desk back in middle school. Quick with a joke and loved anyone who noticed she still had a little fire in her. “All right, pretty lady. I have to take off.” Milo took her hand, giving her one final spin. “You go easy on the boys at the Third Shift tonight. Just remember who got you warmed up.”

She doubled over and laughed along with her friends, who’d stayed behind to watch. “Why don’t you come out and give me a spin yourself?”

“Ah, you know how it is.” He winked at them as he re-buttoned his shirt. “Hot date.”

Milo left them laughing on the factory floor as he jogged toward the back exit. Wondering how far Renner had gotten without him, his smile dimmed. Bet he hadn’t even parked that Mercedes in the gated lot, like he was supposed to. Maybe the guy liked being reminded. Good. That’s exactly what was going to happen.

Crisp, fall coolness slithered inside Milo’s shirt when he slammed out of the factory, the metal door booming shut behind him. He took a right and hit the sidewalk, knowing Renner liked to park near the coffee shop so he could feed his caffeine addiction immediately after stepping out of his shiny black ride in the mornings.

Yeah, he’d been observing his boss somewhat…closely. But not only for the reason Renner assumed. Also known as the same justification Milo gave himself—that he wanted to excel at his job. It was more than that, though. Maybe his careful following of Renner’s movements had begun as a way to keep the factory owner safe, but it had developed into something else entirely. Curiosity. Even…awe on occasion. What would it be like to be so comfortable, so sure of himself, the way Renner was? Being that the guy was private as hell, Milo had a feeling his boss wouldn’t like it one bit if he knew Milo was following him…hoping to learn.

The possibility of Renner’s being pissed wasn’t stopping Milo from going after him, though. Honestly, he wasn’t sure if there was anything that could. Which was pretty fucking confusing. Considering Milo was carrying a torch for someone else.

That troubling thought was still weighing Milo down when he turned the corner and finally heard footsteps. Heavy, purposeful ones that belonged to Renner. Up ahead, the lights of his boss’s Mercedes flashed, signaling that he’d unlocked the car with the key chain remote. Any second, he would be safe inside the vehicle and Milo could go back to his apartment. For now, he would just hang back in the shadows and watch—

Three men converged on Renner from all sides.

Milo was already running, cursing under his breath about stubborn city people and gated parking lots. He was still a full block behind Renner, so he was forced to watch some punches being exchanged…and not surprisingly, some of them were being thrown by Renner. Built like a hockey goaltender, the man was intimidating. He just was. That was half the problem with him walking the dark streets of Hook. There were a lot of good people in this town, but there were also men who wanted very badly to put rich, arrogant Renner in his place, and maybe get a packed wallet in the process.

Yeah, Renner was holding his own, but the odds were against him. He delivered a right cross to one of the hooded attackers’ faces, but two of the men grabbed him from behind, allowing the punch recipient to get his revenge. Renner’s head snapped back, and that’s when Milo reached the group, drawing his Colt in one smooth motion.

“Told you to park in the lot, boss man.”

“Now really isn’t the time, Bautista.”

Milo’s smile was tight as he leveled the gun beyond Renner’s shoulder. “You’re going to want to step away from him. I’ve got aim for days.”

“Aw, look at that,” said the man who wasn’t holding back Renner. “His boyfriend came to rescue him.”

“Oh, come on,” Renner said, looking almost relaxed. “He’s really not my type.”

Milo ignored the weird discomfort in his chest. “Yeah. I won’t lose any sleep over that black eye he’s going to have, but I would over losing my job.” He strode forward and grabbed a hold of Renner’s thick biceps, pulling him out of the men’s hold. Backing both of them up so he could have a clear angle on all three perpetrators, Milo jerked his head in the direction of the nearby alleyway. “Are you sticking around so I can call the cops, or what? Get the hell out of here.”

Milo and Renner were silent as the men took off into the darkness, kicking trash can lids as they went. Only then did Milo let out the breath he’d been holding, his arms lowering in degrees. If even two of the attackers had been carrying weapons, things could have turned out way worse. Thank God they appeared to be nothing more than some misguided kids. In a close-knit place like Hook, sometimes judgment calls had to made about what represented actual danger and what actions could go a long way toward keeping the respect and admiration of people in town. Still, looking the other way bothered Milo. Especially when someone could have been hurt. Renner, specifically.

“Next time you might not be so lucky, you know,” Milo said, turning toward Renner. His usual lecture was poised right on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t bring himself to utter a single word of it when faced with the swelling of Renner’s right eye. “Shit.” A lump grew in his throat. “Sorry I didn’t come sooner.”

Renner scoffed and ducked past a cringing Milo. Why had he apologized like that? The guy was open to sympathy like the military was open to accepting poodles as recruits. As in, not open to it. That wasn’t how he and Renner worked. Milo had learned to navigate his boss by giving as good as he got.

Letting on that he secretly respected and admired the man was out of the question.

Milo swallowed and tried again, catching Renner just before he could climb into the Mercedes. “You going to say thank you or anything, you ungrateful dick?”

Renner had already opened the driver’s side door, but he slammed it closed now, striding back toward Milo with a curious look on his face. “Actually, I have a question.” He seesawed his hand between their chests. “What are you doing? Why do you insist on following me? I’m a grown man, Milo. I have the right to get mugged in peace.”

“Wow. You just said that out loud.” The back of Milo’s neck pulled taut at the line of questioning, but he forced a belligerent expression. “I’ve told you before, this is my job—”

“No.” Renner shook his head. “No. You’re not assigned to me. I didn’t ask you to be my watchdog. This is all of your own free will.”

Damn. Milo hadn’t expected this. At least, he hadn’t expected Renner to get in his face like this. So…close. Like the way he got close with other men? What did he think about Milo’s face from such a scant distance? “I…uh.” Milo stepped back, replacing the gun in its holster on his belt. “Like I said, you’re welcome. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I’m going back to the city in the morning.” That statement hung in the air between them like low fog. Or was Milo only imagining it? Just like he was imagining the hard drumming inside his rib cage? “Before I go, Bautista, I want you to tell me what all this is about. We don’t even like each other, right? And yet here you are. You’re constantly around, worrying about my safety. I…” He loosened his tie with rash movements. “Perhaps the differences in my…biology make me seem different from someone like you, but I’m the furthest thing from weak—”

“That’s what it is,” Milo blurted, shocking himself. What was the point in keeping the truth to himself anymore, though, if Renner was leaving in the morning? “Not the part about you being weak. I don’t think that. The opposite, actually. You’ve got a pretty nice right hook there, boss man.”

Renner raised an eyebrow.

“Okay.” Christ. His blood was flowing in seventeen directions, his tongue weighing as much as a horse in his mouth. This was real. This was happening. “Okay, I’ve been watching you. All right?”

A heavy beat passed. “Why?”

See, that’s where things got murky. It had started as a way to study Renner’s confidence, hoping to build his own. Along the way, though, Milo had gotten…off track. By more than a few degrees. Instead of learning how to be comfortable in his own skin by following the lead of a man who epitomized confidence, Milo had developed something of a crush. Who wouldn’t? Renner was concise, demanding and intelligent, and he didn’t give a fuck who disapproved of him. A badass who could raise an eyebrow and have employees running for cover.

Not to worry, though. Milo had righted the wayward course. He was charted in the right direction once again. In no world did Milo and Renner make sense. Nor did his boss ever look at him with anything other than vexation. It was a dumb infatuation on Milo’s end and nothing would ever come out of it. He actually had a chance with someone else. Someone he genuinely liked. The man who’d stirred his first attraction to the same sex. Maybe his ill-advised interest in Renner had been taking a front seat lately, but that was a proximity issue. Things would change.

A lot of things. Starting now.

“I just…I have a thing for someone. And I don’t know how to approach him about it.” The drumming in his ears beat louder. “You’re the only guy I know who—”

“I’m sorry.” Renner held up a finger. “Did you just say you have a thing for a him?”

Tessa Bailey is originally from Carlsbad, California. The day after high school graduation, she packed her yearbook, ripped jeans and laptop, driving cross-country to New York City in under four days.

Her most valuable life experiences were learned thereafter while waitressing at K-Dees, a Manhattan pub owned by her uncle. Inside those four walls, she met her husband, best friend and discovered the magic of classic rock, managing to put herself through Kingsborough Community College and the English program at Pace University at the same time. Several stunted attempts to enter the work force as a journalist followed, but romance writing continued to demand her attention.

She now lives in Long Island, New York with her husband of nine years and four-year-old daughter. Although she is severely sleep-deprived, she is incredibly happy to be living her dream of writing about people falling in love.

Connect with Tessa:
Twitter: @mstessabailey
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TessaBaileyAuthor/
Street Team/Facebook Group: Bailey’s Babes https://www.facebook.com/groups/191945697620644/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tessabaileyisanauthor/
Newsletter: http://www.tessabailey.com/contact

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RELEASE DAY REVIEW: Interborough (Five Boroughs #4)

Interborough (Five Boroughs #4), by Santino Hassell
Publish Date: October 24, 2016
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Format: ARC, provided by the author
Genre: adult m/m contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) The Raymond Rodriguez from a few years ago wouldn’t recognize the guy he is today. He’s left his slacker ways far behind him and is now juggling two jobs and school. But the balancing act doesn’t allow much time for the man he loves.

David is doing his best to be supportive, but problems at work and his own insecurity leave him frustrated—in more ways than the obvious—whenever he goes to bed before Raymond gets home. The heat and affection between them is still there, but they barely have the time or energy to enjoy it. And it doesn’t help that Raymond is still hiding David from his colleagues.

The stress mounts so high that a vacation in paradise is filled with turmoil instead of harmony, and culminates on their return to the five boroughs with broken promises and heartache. They have to figure out how to stop allowing their differences to overshadow their love. It’s the only way they’ll make it to forever.

Thus far, each of Santino Hassell's Five Boroughs books have introduced a new couple - Michael and Nunzio, David and Raymond, Oliver and Caleb. In a departure from this pattern, Santino uses the fourth book in this series to revisit David and Raymond more than a year after they got together. If you're not familiar with the series, you might think this weird, but if you actually read Sunset Park, you'd know that their story never felt quite as finished as the others did. And, it wasn't. There were still some things these two had to work out. And that time has come. 

So many times in romance books, we read about these larger than life problems that couples have to endure - a billionaire with experience gets together with a regular person, an abusive stalker ex is out for revenge, a boss/employee forbidden situation. In Interborough, the problems that plague David and Raymond, however, are much more serious than any of those. 

Lack of time and insecurity.

These problems plaguing David and Raymond seemed so much more jarring to me because they're REAL. In most people's lives, we don't have to worry about stalkers or forbidden romances. But, busyness is something we all can relate to. In Interborough, Raymond's motivations are pure - he's going to school to get a degree, plus working two jobs in order to pay bills. But, the long hours are preventing him from spending quality time with David. This then causes David to feel less important to Ray. David's insecurities mount when faced with Ray's hot co-worker and the fact that Ray doesn't want to tell anyone he works with that he's bi. 

On top of all that, David's dealing with stuff at his own job and Ray has problems with his parents' old house that he and Michael are renting out. It's a perfect storm of land mines ripe for relationship destruction. And as each of those explosions detonated, I felt them. 

In the past, when stressed, I'd think of Raymond. His smile. How warm his body was when he spooned against me at night. Our lips together. The first time he told me he loved me. Now, some of those things were gone or happened infrequently, and all I had were memories. Memories were dangerous. They tricked you into thinking happy times were an achievable goal instead of long-gone ghosts of the past. 

Santino Hassell is an incredible writer. His words are evocative and raw and they take you right to the heart of the matter. I knew from reading Sunset Park that David and Ray love each other. That seems even more true now with more than a year of living together under their belts. It made their troubles that much harder to read about. You want nothing more than for these two guys to have their happy. They DESERVE their happy. So, when it eludes them again and again, I found myself shedding tears right along with them. 

"As much as I love being in love, I know that the existence of it isn't a magic ticket to a happy ending. And I know that as much as two people love each other, relationships don't always work, and then people split up and find other people to give it a go again. It's a horrible cycle, and I'm afraid that we're becoming part of it."

Interborough includes dual POVs, but my favorite place to be is inside Raymond's head. David wears his heart on his sleeve. It's never hard to tell how he's feeling or what he's thinking. Raymond is shrouded in a lot more mystery. He broods and internalizes things and bears his problems silently. He's not demonstrative and doesn't delight in extreme PDA like David does. So, the benefit of being privy to Raymond's thoughts about David and the pressure he was constantly under to do everything himself was my favorite part of the book. And, it confirmed what I already knew - Raymond is an amazing, wonderful man who loves David fiercely. 

I wanted to touch him. Pull him close and hold him tight the way he'd done for me back when I'd needed it so bad. Before I'd even known what the hell I'd needed. 

Despite the tears and gnashing of teeth, I made it through to the other side relatively unscathed. Honestly, the epilogue took a lot of the sting out of the earlier pain in the book. It's fantastic, and will leave you with such an incredible sense of satisfaction and contentment. I didn't want it to end. Instead, I went back and re-read my favorite parts. Certainly the sexy times - because why wouldn't you want to relive those?? They might be many months into their relationship, but the sizzle hasn't stopped even a little. 

If you haven't experienced Santino Hassell for yourself yet, I implore you - PLEASE. Check out one of his books. I promise you won't regret it. 

REVIEW: Sutphin Boulevard (Five Boroughs #1)

Sutphin Boulevard (Five Boroughs #1), by Santino Hassell
Publish Date: July 31, 2005
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Format: e-book, purchased
Genre: adult contemporary m/m romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) Michael Rodriguez and Nunzio Medici have been friends for two decades. From escaping their dysfunctional families in the working-class neighborhood of South Jamaica, Queens to teaching in one of the city’s most queer friendly schools in Brooklyn, the two men have shared everything. Or so they thought until a sweltering night of dancing leads to an unexpected encounter that forever changes their friendship.

Now, casual touches and lingering looks are packed with sexual tension, and Michael can’t forget the feel of his best friend’s hands on him. Once problems rear up at work and home, Michael finds himself seeking constant escape in the effortless intimacy and mind-blowing sex he has with Nunzio. But things don’t stay easy for long.

When Michael’s world begins to crumble in a sea of tragedy and complications, he knows he has to make a choice: find solace in a path of self-destruction or accept the love of the man who has been by his side for twenty years.

Are you kidding me with this awesome book? I didn't know what to expect when I purchased Sutphin Boulevard. All I knew was that Santino Hassell has paired with one of my favorite authors, Megan Erickson, on the Cyberlove series. Which I love. So, I wanted to know more about Santino as a solitary writer. And, I am telling you, this book blew me away. 

Sutphin Boulevard is an incredibly powerful friends to lovers story. But, it's also a lot more than that. It's about friendship and family and grief and how we all deal with the bad things that happen in our lives. Some deal with it well - others, not so well. But, what spoke to me was the importance of unconditional love. And that, even when we don't want it or feel like we deserve it, just the knowledge that there is someone or several someones out there who will love us anyway can make all the difference in the world. 

Michael and Nunzio have been BFFs forever, but one drunken night at a club changes the way Michael looks at Nunzio. Michael is having a hard time dealing with his shifting feelings for his friend, and an even harder time dealing with his alcoholic father and deadbeat, but lovable, brother at home. All those things, together with changes at his job, have Michael constantly on edge and stressed out. No one seems to be able to reach him, and a chain reaction of bad choices finally forces Michael to take stock of his life and figure out how to deal with his problems - and whether he wants to do it by himself or with Nunzio by his side as more than a friend. 

I am about as far removed from this world as you can get. I'm a woman. I'm white. I'm heterosexual. I live in the 'burbs with a cornfield in my backyard. And yet, Santino Hassell's brilliant writing forced me to be a part of the story. His writing is beautiful and evocative and it makes his characters, surroundings and situations become so real. In Michael's case, that meant a lot of tears and throat lumps on my part.

Make no mistake - this is a crazy sexy book. Michael and Nunzio have off-the-charts chemistry, and when they put that to good use... oh my. So, while I promise you will swoon and you will blush, you will also FEEL. Your feels will have feels. Michael's journey to his happy place with Nunzio is hard. It's frustrating and sad and scary. The emotional response that Michael's life ripped from me was unparalleled. 

I ended up binge reading this entire series. After I was introduced to the characters that I knew would take starring roles in the future books in the series, I had to know their stories too. And, Santino Hassell didn't disappoint. Not even a little.