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Five Boroughs #3
First and First
Caleb Stone was raised on the Upper East Side, where wealth and lineage reigns, and “alternative lifestyles� are hidden. It took him years to come out to his family, but he’s still stuck in the stranglehold of their expectations. Caleb knows he has to build his confidence and shake things up, but he doesn’t know how� until Oliver Buckley enters the picture.
Oli is everything Caleb isn’t—risk-taking, provocative, and fiercely independent. Disowned by his family, Oli has made his own way in the world and is beholden to no one. After a chance encounter on New Year’s Eve, Caleb is smitten.
As Caleb sheds the insecurities that have held him back for years, he makes bold steps toward changing his career and escaping years of sexual repression. But for Caleb to take full control of his life, he has to be brave enough to confront his feelings and trust Oli with his heart.
Oli is everything Caleb isn’t—risk-taking, provocative, and fiercely independent. Disowned by his family, Oli has made his own way in the world and is beholden to no one. After a chance encounter on New Year’s Eve, Caleb is smitten.
As Caleb sheds the insecurities that have held him back for years, he makes bold steps toward changing his career and escaping years of sexual repression. But for Caleb to take full control of his life, he has to be brave enough to confront his feelings and trust Oli with his heart.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 18, 2016
51 people are currently reading
1,605 people want to read
About the author
Santino Hassell
36books2,830followersSantino Hassell was raised by a conservative family but grew up to be a smart-mouthed, school cutting grunge kid, a transient twenty-something, and eventually transformed into a grumpy introvert and unlikely romance author with an affinity for baseball caps. His novels are heavily influenced by the gritty, urban landscape of New York City, and his desire to write relationships fueled by intensity and passion.
He’s been a finalist in both the Bisexual Book Awards and the EPIC Awards, and was nominated for a prestigious RITA award in 2017. His work has been featured in BuzzFeed, Huffington Post, Washington Post, RT Magazine, and Cosmopolitan Magazine.
[email protected]
He’s been a finalist in both the Bisexual Book Awards and the EPIC Awards, and was nominated for a prestigious RITA award in 2017. His work has been featured in BuzzFeed, Huffington Post, Washington Post, RT Magazine, and Cosmopolitan Magazine.
[email protected]
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April 2, 2016
FIRST AND FIRST comes out in a couple of weeks, and I guess you can say I'm nervous. Why? Because it's different from the first two 5B books. It moves away from blue collar characters of Queens and Brooklyn, and to wealthy guys living pretty privileged lives in Manhattan.
It's about two men who were raised in, and damaged by, the world of NYC's wealthy 1%. Two guys who should have everything at their fingertips because of their status, but who each have baggage preventing them from finding love. And it is erotic AF. Some of the dirtiest sex scenes I've ever written are in this book. I'm talking... I was redfaced when sending it off to betas.
FIRST AND FIRST can be read as a standalone so don't hesitate if you haven't read the first two!
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March 11, 2018Review and rating removed
July 2, 2017
HOLY HOTTNESS!
This book took the sexy times to the next level from the previous books.
Oliver....
I mean damn! That boy was all kinds of dirty. The good kind.
All that dirty talk....
LOL
OK, seriously. THIS BOOK! I was so set on not loving it. Caleb came off as such a big douche in the last book that I just couldn't fathom liking him let alone end up loving the guy. But I did. Then there was Oliver who came off as a bad friend and a bit of a slut. But he was my favorite of the two! I know! Santo's is good at making you love characters you thought for sure you would hate. Genius bastard. LOL
Caleb.. I felt for this guy. As we get to know him we come to understand why he is such a stoic person. But we also come to see how caring he is for those he lets in his circle of people. He doesn't have many friends. He actually only has a close friendship with Charles. I liked their friendship and I am curious about that guy so I hope to see him get his own book. Back to Caleb. Caleb has a lot of issues when it comes to sex. He doesn't know how to let himself go and enjoy the experience. He is constantly worried about what others think of him. He has fantasies and desires he is terrified to explore.. That is until Oliver enters his life.
Oliver.. Lord this man is sex on page. LOL Him, Raymond, and Nunzio would make a hot ass threesome.
OK, that might be too much hotness for me. LOL
Oliver is just what Caleb needs to let his freak flag fly. Oliver brings out all of Caleb's hidden desires and encourages them. He is the perfect partner for Caleb in every way.
Once again I wish we would have had a double POV. I REALLY wanted inside Oliver's head. I wanted to know more about how he was feeling with everything. But I will say we get a better sense of his feelings and what he is all about more than we did with Nunzio. So that was a plus.
This was by far my favorite of the three. Which still surprises me considering meeting Caleb in the previous book really had me doubting this book at all. But it was amazing. You MM lovers should gobble this one up. It was delish. Happy reading dolls! xx
This book took the sexy times to the next level from the previous books.
Oliver....
I mean damn! That boy was all kinds of dirty. The good kind.
All that dirty talk....
LOL
OK, seriously. THIS BOOK! I was so set on not loving it. Caleb came off as such a big douche in the last book that I just couldn't fathom liking him let alone end up loving the guy. But I did. Then there was Oliver who came off as a bad friend and a bit of a slut. But he was my favorite of the two! I know! Santo's is good at making you love characters you thought for sure you would hate. Genius bastard. LOL
Caleb.. I felt for this guy. As we get to know him we come to understand why he is such a stoic person. But we also come to see how caring he is for those he lets in his circle of people. He doesn't have many friends. He actually only has a close friendship with Charles. I liked their friendship and I am curious about that guy so I hope to see him get his own book. Back to Caleb. Caleb has a lot of issues when it comes to sex. He doesn't know how to let himself go and enjoy the experience. He is constantly worried about what others think of him. He has fantasies and desires he is terrified to explore.. That is until Oliver enters his life.
Oliver.. Lord this man is sex on page. LOL Him, Raymond, and Nunzio would make a hot ass threesome.
OK, that might be too much hotness for me. LOL
Oliver is just what Caleb needs to let his freak flag fly. Oliver brings out all of Caleb's hidden desires and encourages them. He is the perfect partner for Caleb in every way.
Once again I wish we would have had a double POV. I REALLY wanted inside Oliver's head. I wanted to know more about how he was feeling with everything. But I will say we get a better sense of his feelings and what he is all about more than we did with Nunzio. So that was a plus.
This was by far my favorite of the three. Which still surprises me considering meeting Caleb in the previous book really had me doubting this book at all. But it was amazing. You MM lovers should gobble this one up. It was delish. Happy reading dolls! xx
January 9, 2016
Is there where I evil laugh and tell everyone I read this book already? Because I did. And it's fucking awesome.
Caleb is that character who doesn't have fucks to give anymore, really. He doesn't put on airs. He's tired of it all and he's not afraid to admit it. And Oli. Oh, mysterious, sexy Oli. He's really the only one who can make Caleb happy. Make him stand up for himself. And together, the sex is fucking fireworks. I loved this story so much, everything about it. This whole series is so goddamn good.
Caleb is that character who doesn't have fucks to give anymore, really. He doesn't put on airs. He's tired of it all and he's not afraid to admit it. And Oli. Oh, mysterious, sexy Oli. He's really the only one who can make Caleb happy. Make him stand up for himself. And together, the sex is fucking fireworks. I loved this story so much, everything about it. This whole series is so goddamn good.
September 27, 2024
Not even 3 months and I had to reread this book. Such a wonderful book, I'll never be over this couple 12/1/17
5 stars!
“There's not one way to to live or to love, and whoever tries to tell you any different will probably be dead in a decade or two anyway, so screw them!�
Santino Hassell has easily become one of my favorite authors in the last year, and it's because he delivers amazing books like this one! First and First is everything I never knew I wanted.
First and First is about Caleb, a thirty six year old former CFO having trouble finding himself after losing his ex to another man. Oli is a programer whose sex life is open and adventurous. On New Year's Eve at a party, the two ending up spending a night of mind blowing sex with each other, spinning Caleb's world and causing him to rethink who he'd always assumed he was.
It's clear that Oli is not up for a relationship, but Caleb finds more and more often they are spending time together. Oli encourages Caleb to be more free with how he is, yet Caleb still struggles with anxiety at points. A companionship forms, but Caleb knows not to expect anything from Oli..... but should he?
“I said I wasn’t your Prince Charming. You don’t enjoy being banged like a ragdoll because I pranced into your life. You didn’t discover hot sex just because I happen to exist. I don’t want you thinking of me as your savior. As someone you’re beholden to because now you know what you like. You told me what to do that night. You were just drunk enough to stop caring about what I would think of you.�
I loved this book, if the 5 star rating isn't clear enough. I love the way Hassell writes, how his characters are flawed and yet so lovable. Caleb at many points in this book spoke to my heart, his struggles with anxiety, his self doubt. After spending so many years hiding what he was it made him insecure, which affected his relationships and his sex life because he never learned how to be himself until now.
Oli is a bit of a mystery, I really liked him for David, but without dual POV it was difficult to gage what he was feeling and thinking. Our perspective was only what Caleb saw, and at times what Caleb thought about Oli instead of Oli himself.
Lately I tend to not enjoy books with erotic tones because I feel there is more sex than plot: Santino's books are the exception to this because he gives readers an amazing combo of hot and plot every single damn time. It's like the perfect recipe for my reading tastes, the best of both worlds.
This book can be read as a standalone, it features characters from the two previous novels. So while you can read it as a standalone, I do recommend that you maybe consider reading book 2, as those characters are in this a bit more and it could help with context.
An amazing read, I stayed up until 2 am to finish it. I cannot wait to devour more of Santino Hassell's books.
“But regardless of what you think of yourself, when I look at you, I see someone beautiful. Someone who makes me insane, because all I can fucking think about is touching you. Being close to you. Being inside you. And there's a reason for that, baby."
Follow me on � � � � �
5 stars!
“There's not one way to to live or to love, and whoever tries to tell you any different will probably be dead in a decade or two anyway, so screw them!�
Santino Hassell has easily become one of my favorite authors in the last year, and it's because he delivers amazing books like this one! First and First is everything I never knew I wanted.
First and First is about Caleb, a thirty six year old former CFO having trouble finding himself after losing his ex to another man. Oli is a programer whose sex life is open and adventurous. On New Year's Eve at a party, the two ending up spending a night of mind blowing sex with each other, spinning Caleb's world and causing him to rethink who he'd always assumed he was.
It's clear that Oli is not up for a relationship, but Caleb finds more and more often they are spending time together. Oli encourages Caleb to be more free with how he is, yet Caleb still struggles with anxiety at points. A companionship forms, but Caleb knows not to expect anything from Oli..... but should he?
“I said I wasn’t your Prince Charming. You don’t enjoy being banged like a ragdoll because I pranced into your life. You didn’t discover hot sex just because I happen to exist. I don’t want you thinking of me as your savior. As someone you’re beholden to because now you know what you like. You told me what to do that night. You were just drunk enough to stop caring about what I would think of you.�
I loved this book, if the 5 star rating isn't clear enough. I love the way Hassell writes, how his characters are flawed and yet so lovable. Caleb at many points in this book spoke to my heart, his struggles with anxiety, his self doubt. After spending so many years hiding what he was it made him insecure, which affected his relationships and his sex life because he never learned how to be himself until now.
Oli is a bit of a mystery, I really liked him for David, but without dual POV it was difficult to gage what he was feeling and thinking. Our perspective was only what Caleb saw, and at times what Caleb thought about Oli instead of Oli himself.
Lately I tend to not enjoy books with erotic tones because I feel there is more sex than plot: Santino's books are the exception to this because he gives readers an amazing combo of hot and plot every single damn time. It's like the perfect recipe for my reading tastes, the best of both worlds.
This book can be read as a standalone, it features characters from the two previous novels. So while you can read it as a standalone, I do recommend that you maybe consider reading book 2, as those characters are in this a bit more and it could help with context.
An amazing read, I stayed up until 2 am to finish it. I cannot wait to devour more of Santino Hassell's books.
“But regardless of what you think of yourself, when I look at you, I see someone beautiful. Someone who makes me insane, because all I can fucking think about is touching you. Being close to you. Being inside you. And there's a reason for that, baby."
Follow me on � � � � �
January 30, 2018
4 Stars
Caleb is in his late thirties, unemployed, single and without close friends. On New Year’s Eve, he was so devastated and depressed, especially after seeing his ex with his new boyfriend. When the countdown started, completely out of the blue, his prince kissed him but too bad Caleb was drunk to properly remember the next morning!
It was a good read and I liked it! I liked both Caleb and Oli! Both characters were insecure; one afraid of opening up to someone and the other one scared of taking a chance to be in a serious relationship! But their insecurities didn't bother me! I liked how Oli helped Caleb to conquer his fear. Told in Caleb’s POV, 1st person. It’s the third installment in the "Five Boroughs" series with character crossover. Overall, I enjoyed it and hope you like it as well!
Caleb is in his late thirties, unemployed, single and without close friends. On New Year’s Eve, he was so devastated and depressed, especially after seeing his ex with his new boyfriend. When the countdown started, completely out of the blue, his prince kissed him but too bad Caleb was drunk to properly remember the next morning!
It was a good read and I liked it! I liked both Caleb and Oli! Both characters were insecure; one afraid of opening up to someone and the other one scared of taking a chance to be in a serious relationship! But their insecurities didn't bother me! I liked how Oli helped Caleb to conquer his fear. Told in Caleb’s POV, 1st person. It’s the third installment in the "Five Boroughs" series with character crossover. Overall, I enjoyed it and hope you like it as well!
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March 11, 2018Review and rating removed.
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March 10, 2018Rating removed.
Original review under spoiler.
Original review under spoiler.
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March 14, 2018Review Removed.
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March 9, 2018
Review deleted because the author may have have misrepresented themselves as ownvoices and accepted cash gifts from fans under potentially false pretenses.
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March 9, 2018review removed
June 25, 2016
5 BIG stars
I loved it!
The sex scenes were absolutely awesome! What can I say, Santino Hassell is sooo good at describing!!! I think I could read hundreds and hundreds of pages full of hotness and never get bored!
The beginning of the book made me smile. Caleb being so cold and uptight, but he did such an unexpected thing: get really drunk and had a crazy one night stand with a stranger - well not exactly a stranger, but he completely lost it and everything he did was so NOT him!
Oliver - Oli was so sexy and free!! I really enjoyed his character. Being rejected by his rich family made him so strong. He spoke his mind and he was not afraid to live his life, experiencing everything.
Well I must admit I loved the slow burning. Both Oli and Caleb were not ready to take things serious and admit there was something more than the HUGE sexual attraction. Caleb wanted to experience too but he wasn't Oli and I am glad they sort it out in the end.
I am so sorry we didn't get Oli's POV. I really love when we get both MC's POV, but it was nice being in Caleb's mind. I got to love him and it was really unexpected the way he made it happen: the QFindr project. He was smart, determined to do something great with his half brother and Oli.
I am wondering if I would have loved this book MORE if I didn't have an issue with Caleb from . And Oli in the second book of this series got in the middle of David and Ray, but only because he really was a free spirit and David was too afraid to admit he had it bad for Ray.
Well, in the end I must say I loved Oli more. His love declaration made me melt!!!
I loved it!
The sex scenes were absolutely awesome! What can I say, Santino Hassell is sooo good at describing!!! I think I could read hundreds and hundreds of pages full of hotness and never get bored!
The beginning of the book made me smile. Caleb being so cold and uptight, but he did such an unexpected thing: get really drunk and had a crazy one night stand with a stranger - well not exactly a stranger, but he completely lost it and everything he did was so NOT him!
Oliver - Oli was so sexy and free!! I really enjoyed his character. Being rejected by his rich family made him so strong. He spoke his mind and he was not afraid to live his life, experiencing everything.
Well I must admit I loved the slow burning. Both Oli and Caleb were not ready to take things serious and admit there was something more than the HUGE sexual attraction. Caleb wanted to experience too but he wasn't Oli and I am glad they sort it out in the end.
I am so sorry we didn't get Oli's POV. I really love when we get both MC's POV, but it was nice being in Caleb's mind. I got to love him and it was really unexpected the way he made it happen: the QFindr project. He was smart, determined to do something great with his half brother and Oli.
I am wondering if I would have loved this book MORE if I didn't have an issue with Caleb from . And Oli in the second book of this series got in the middle of David and Ray, but only because he really was a free spirit and David was too afraid to admit he had it bad for Ray.
Well, in the end I must say I loved Oli more. His love declaration made me melt!!!
Shelved as 'no-no-cuz-reasons'
March 10, 2018 Review and Rating Removed
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March 10, 2018Rating removed
Bumped to 5 stars.
I enjoyed this. My first read did not go so well I guess it was coz I was coming from Rayvid high. This time round I actually connected with Caleb and Oli.
Caleb Stone and Oliver Buckley these two have some serious daddy issues. Caleb’s insecurities were real and I felt sorry for him, he is a loner and doesn’t have many friends except for Charles. He is just a simple guy who wants to love and be loved.
Oli on the other hand is sex on legs, he comes off as this confident guy but he is just like Caleb battling his own insecurities.
“I do want you,� Oli rasped. “I don’t know how this happened, but I do.�
I gripped the front of his jacket and jerked him against me. For just a heartbeat, our parted lips grazed. I felt his warm breath and smelled the Scotch that had just scorched down his throat, and I wanted nothing more than to kiss him. To reclaim the mouth I’d had only hours before. But I didn’t.
“Then why do you keep running away from me?�
“Because it’s not normal for me to be this way.� Oli wrapped his arm around me and gripped the back of my neck. “I don’t do the relationship thing, but I hate the idea of you doing it with anyone else.�
These two complemented each other and were perfect together. The sex was hot as usual
“Fuck me.� It wasn’t an order, but Oli was demanding enough for it to have automatic authority. “I want you in me tonight.�
My breath left me in a violent whoosh. As usual, he shoved aside the swell of my angst with a few words from that delicious mouth.
“NǷ?�
“Yes. Here. Now.�
“Bܳ—�
“Now,� Oli growled.
That was all it took. I was gone.
“Turn around.�
“No,� he said, already ripping my belt open with impatient fingers. “Like this. So I can see you.�
Yaap these two screwed like bunnies.
Overall I loved Caleb and Oli
The writing as usual was immaculate.
Bumped to 5 stars.
I enjoyed this. My first read did not go so well I guess it was coz I was coming from Rayvid high. This time round I actually connected with Caleb and Oli.
Caleb Stone and Oliver Buckley these two have some serious daddy issues. Caleb’s insecurities were real and I felt sorry for him, he is a loner and doesn’t have many friends except for Charles. He is just a simple guy who wants to love and be loved.
Oli on the other hand is sex on legs, he comes off as this confident guy but he is just like Caleb battling his own insecurities.
“I do want you,� Oli rasped. “I don’t know how this happened, but I do.�
I gripped the front of his jacket and jerked him against me. For just a heartbeat, our parted lips grazed. I felt his warm breath and smelled the Scotch that had just scorched down his throat, and I wanted nothing more than to kiss him. To reclaim the mouth I’d had only hours before. But I didn’t.
“Then why do you keep running away from me?�
“Because it’s not normal for me to be this way.� Oli wrapped his arm around me and gripped the back of my neck. “I don’t do the relationship thing, but I hate the idea of you doing it with anyone else.�
These two complemented each other and were perfect together. The sex was hot as usual
“Fuck me.� It wasn’t an order, but Oli was demanding enough for it to have automatic authority. “I want you in me tonight.�
My breath left me in a violent whoosh. As usual, he shoved aside the swell of my angst with a few words from that delicious mouth.
“NǷ?�
“Yes. Here. Now.�
“Bܳ—�
“Now,� Oli growled.
That was all it took. I was gone.
“Turn around.�
“No,� he said, already ripping my belt open with impatient fingers. “Like this. So I can see you.�
Yaap these two screwed like bunnies.
Overall I loved Caleb and Oli
The writing as usual was immaculate.
May 21, 2016
First and First (Five Boroughs series, #3)
By Santino Hassell
Five stars
I’m giving Santino Hassell five stars for being a unique voice in gay romance. As a bi man, he clearly understands some gay reality first hand. He’s also a fantastic writer, and creates intense, vivid characters. Moreover, in a world where I grow ever wearier of rote, perfunctory sex scenes, Santino makes it all about the emotional underpinnings. This book pushes into some sexual territory that might make people uncomfortable, but it was all quite necessary for the characters� story arcs.
Caleb Stone and Oliver Buckley. Two young men with serious daddy issues. Both were raised by rich families on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, and both challenged the status quo by coming out and thus causing their families public embarrassment. Each of them bears the emotional scars of their decisions, and while we don’t know Oli Buckley well at all when the book stars, we know Caleb too well, by reputation.
Caleb was David’s boyfriend—David who we know very well from the first two books—the boyish blond school teacher from Connecticut, but not from the rich part of Connecticut. Caleb has been painted as a cold, manipulating character, whom David broke up with because he just couldn’t find love with him. Now we find out why.
This book is Caleb’s redemption. The action takes place through Caleb’s eyes in a first-person narrative. I not only forgave Caleb all his sins almost instantly, I fell in love with him quickly. He became the uptight, inexperienced boy I was in my early 20s. Behind his handsome, forbidding exterior, seemingly confident and even arrogant, Caleb is a lonely boy, desperate to feel loved.
I admit I rolled my eyes at the stereotyping of rich UES people (after all Caleb’s parents are MY age, and I have a lot of friends on the UES). I also admit that I’m not entirely sure I buy into the general notion that rich WASPS of my generation are all homophobic social climbers. But Caleb’s parents are two individuals, as is his sister Meredith. They are not meant to represent everyone in their milieu, and so I ended up taking them at face value. I thought the presentation of the elder Stone was actually pretty brilliant. We begin to understand how broken Caleb is because of the way his father treats him. (My own father was warm and embracing of his gay son, but I had friends who weren’t so lucky.)
What I loved most about this book—aside from the intense romance and emotional exposure Santino brings to his characters—is the forthright way it deals with issues of monogamy in the gay world. Even though this is a contemporary setting, little has changed from my own coming out years in the 1970s. Sex and love are not the same thing. Commitment and pleasure seem to be at odds with each other, especially when magnified through the lens of urban hedonism. This was as true in the clubs and baths of the 70s as it is today, apparently. AIDS shattered my world in the 1980s, but it has become part of the complex background to gay life in 21st century America. The legality of gay marriage hasn’t really changed the truth that it’s still harder to be gay in this world than it is to be straight. The world still isn’t all “Modern Family,� in spite of what it seems to be. Caleb’s pain is real. Oli’s confusion is real.
And that’s why this book shines.
By Santino Hassell
Five stars
I’m giving Santino Hassell five stars for being a unique voice in gay romance. As a bi man, he clearly understands some gay reality first hand. He’s also a fantastic writer, and creates intense, vivid characters. Moreover, in a world where I grow ever wearier of rote, perfunctory sex scenes, Santino makes it all about the emotional underpinnings. This book pushes into some sexual territory that might make people uncomfortable, but it was all quite necessary for the characters� story arcs.
Caleb Stone and Oliver Buckley. Two young men with serious daddy issues. Both were raised by rich families on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, and both challenged the status quo by coming out and thus causing their families public embarrassment. Each of them bears the emotional scars of their decisions, and while we don’t know Oli Buckley well at all when the book stars, we know Caleb too well, by reputation.
Caleb was David’s boyfriend—David who we know very well from the first two books—the boyish blond school teacher from Connecticut, but not from the rich part of Connecticut. Caleb has been painted as a cold, manipulating character, whom David broke up with because he just couldn’t find love with him. Now we find out why.
This book is Caleb’s redemption. The action takes place through Caleb’s eyes in a first-person narrative. I not only forgave Caleb all his sins almost instantly, I fell in love with him quickly. He became the uptight, inexperienced boy I was in my early 20s. Behind his handsome, forbidding exterior, seemingly confident and even arrogant, Caleb is a lonely boy, desperate to feel loved.
I admit I rolled my eyes at the stereotyping of rich UES people (after all Caleb’s parents are MY age, and I have a lot of friends on the UES). I also admit that I’m not entirely sure I buy into the general notion that rich WASPS of my generation are all homophobic social climbers. But Caleb’s parents are two individuals, as is his sister Meredith. They are not meant to represent everyone in their milieu, and so I ended up taking them at face value. I thought the presentation of the elder Stone was actually pretty brilliant. We begin to understand how broken Caleb is because of the way his father treats him. (My own father was warm and embracing of his gay son, but I had friends who weren’t so lucky.)
What I loved most about this book—aside from the intense romance and emotional exposure Santino brings to his characters—is the forthright way it deals with issues of monogamy in the gay world. Even though this is a contemporary setting, little has changed from my own coming out years in the 1970s. Sex and love are not the same thing. Commitment and pleasure seem to be at odds with each other, especially when magnified through the lens of urban hedonism. This was as true in the clubs and baths of the 70s as it is today, apparently. AIDS shattered my world in the 1980s, but it has become part of the complex background to gay life in 21st century America. The legality of gay marriage hasn’t really changed the truth that it’s still harder to be gay in this world than it is to be straight. The world still isn’t all “Modern Family,� in spite of what it seems to be. Caleb’s pain is real. Oli’s confusion is real.
And that’s why this book shines.
April 21, 2016
5+ Stars
This series just gets better and better.This Author is becoming my favourite M/M Author.
I really didn't know what to expect from Caleb and Oli's story and while I've really enjoyed each book so far,this is definitely my favourite.Nunzio from is still one of my all time favourite Male characters but Oli is a close second.
Caleb
Ex of David's from the previous two books.I didn't like him much before but by the end of this I loved him.He's very uptight and has sexual issues.I loved getting inside his head and actually began to understand David more because of it.
The book opens on New Year's Eve and Caleb is at a low point.Everyone around him sees to be happy and in love.That's all he wants..for someone to truly love him....
Who would have known a hot,sexy encounter that night would change his life....he finally lets go of his inhibitions.
Oli
Introduced in book two....
He's a bit of a free spirit.He loves sex but definitely isn't into monogamy....
As always with this Author the sex scenes are just delicious and definitely some of the best I've read.They are plentiful but their placement in the story totally relevant.
The secondary characters were great here.I loved Aiden,Caleb's half brother.I would love to get more of his and Jace's story.And Clive,Michaels ex seems like an interesting character.
This could be read on it's own but to really appreciate these great characters I would recommend reading in order.
This Author ticks all the boxes for me in this Genre.I haven't read a book by him I didn't enjoy.
Highly Recommended for M/M fans.........
"You're so sexy," Oli panted."And you don't even know it,and that just makes me want to destroy you.Take you apart and fuck you until you're trembling and begging and saying my name"
This series just gets better and better.This Author is becoming my favourite M/M Author.
I really didn't know what to expect from Caleb and Oli's story and while I've really enjoyed each book so far,this is definitely my favourite.Nunzio from is still one of my all time favourite Male characters but Oli is a close second.
Caleb
Ex of David's from the previous two books.I didn't like him much before but by the end of this I loved him.He's very uptight and has sexual issues.I loved getting inside his head and actually began to understand David more because of it.
The book opens on New Year's Eve and Caleb is at a low point.Everyone around him sees to be happy and in love.That's all he wants..for someone to truly love him....
Who would have known a hot,sexy encounter that night would change his life....he finally lets go of his inhibitions.
Oli
Introduced in book two....
He's a bit of a free spirit.He loves sex but definitely isn't into monogamy....
"I'm not your Prince Charming.I'm a good fuck but I'm not special.If that's what you're thinking,you need to get it out of your head now."
As always with this Author the sex scenes are just delicious and definitely some of the best I've read.They are plentiful but their placement in the story totally relevant.
The secondary characters were great here.I loved Aiden,Caleb's half brother.I would love to get more of his and Jace's story.And Clive,Michaels ex seems like an interesting character.
This could be read on it's own but to really appreciate these great characters I would recommend reading in order.
This Author ticks all the boxes for me in this Genre.I haven't read a book by him I didn't enjoy.
Highly Recommended for M/M fans.........
May 5, 2016
4.5 stars!
"You're the guy I feel all of the feelings for."
This is a great series! I love when an author can take a flawed character I wasn't so sure about and change my mind. Oli and Caleb were perfect together. I'm glad I read the series in order, but I don't think you have to...this book could stand alone because the other characters weren't in it very much. It's one of the best MM series I've read, loved it!
"You're the guy I feel all of the feelings for."
This is a great series! I love when an author can take a flawed character I wasn't so sure about and change my mind. Oli and Caleb were perfect together. I'm glad I read the series in order, but I don't think you have to...this book could stand alone because the other characters weren't in it very much. It's one of the best MM series I've read, loved it!
September 24, 2017
I read this book a while ago but I had completely forgotten to review and to rate it.
Another amazing romance story from Santino. I didn’t know I was going to love it so much but Caleb hooked me from the very beginning and believe me when I say I didn’t see that coming because I hated him from . I thought he was a pretentious prick but Oh.My.God.
I just clicked with him so fast� I guess it was a combination of Santino’s amazing writing style and Caleb’s thoughts. His pain and the way he felt so lost sucked me completely into the story, it gave me so many explanations of why he behaved that way in Sunset Park that made it impossible for me to keep hating him.
I was already curious about Oli since I met him in the previous book and If I’m honest, I started reading this because of him but I won’t keep saying how much I loved this book and how I don’t regret a single second of this book, I promise.
Santino certainly knows how to write hot sex because Oli and Caleb together were on fire! These two had so much chemistry and the best thing of all is their relationship doesn’t spin around hot sex only; we get some serious relationship and personal development, which I absolutely adore!
Besides, those who are not a fan of Santino’s work, you should know that he usually gives us characters that aren’t perfect, that have flaws and that sometimes are pretty messed up. This wasn't heavy in the angst department, but yeah, Caleb had some issues to resolve to be completely happy, so you won't get back-to-back sex.
To end my praises to Santino I’ll just say that I enjoyed side characters of this story, they were pretty awesome too. Aidan is by far my favorite; he was funny and pretty laid-back. I liked to read more about him because he obviously had a rough past.
I’m looking forward to rereading it pretty soon. It’s one of my favorite books from this series, Oli and Caleb go directly to my ‘best-couple� shelf.
Another amazing romance story from Santino. I didn’t know I was going to love it so much but Caleb hooked me from the very beginning and believe me when I say I didn’t see that coming because I hated him from . I thought he was a pretentious prick but Oh.My.God.
I just clicked with him so fast� I guess it was a combination of Santino’s amazing writing style and Caleb’s thoughts. His pain and the way he felt so lost sucked me completely into the story, it gave me so many explanations of why he behaved that way in Sunset Park that made it impossible for me to keep hating him.
I was already curious about Oli since I met him in the previous book and If I’m honest, I started reading this because of him but I won’t keep saying how much I loved this book and how I don’t regret a single second of this book, I promise.
Santino certainly knows how to write hot sex because Oli and Caleb together were on fire! These two had so much chemistry and the best thing of all is their relationship doesn’t spin around hot sex only; we get some serious relationship and personal development, which I absolutely adore!
Besides, those who are not a fan of Santino’s work, you should know that he usually gives us characters that aren’t perfect, that have flaws and that sometimes are pretty messed up. This wasn't heavy in the angst department, but yeah, Caleb had some issues to resolve to be completely happy, so you won't get back-to-back sex.
To end my praises to Santino I’ll just say that I enjoyed side characters of this story, they were pretty awesome too. Aidan is by far my favorite; he was funny and pretty laid-back. I liked to read more about him because he obviously had a rough past.
I’m looking forward to rereading it pretty soon. It’s one of my favorite books from this series, Oli and Caleb go directly to my ‘best-couple� shelf.
Read
March 11, 2018Because of GR rules:
See comments for the rest.
See comments for the rest.
Read
March 5, 2016Did a beta back in November--looking forward to reading the final version and writing a proper review then.
Until then--I'm just going to say YES, you want to read it. :)
Until then--I'm just going to say YES, you want to read it. :)
Shelved as 'just-no'
March 9, 2018 [review and rating removed]
November 20, 2016
5 stars.
I loved this one by Santino. In a genre so full of mediocre and plainly bad books, his writing sparkles like a diamond in the bright sunshine.
In this one, the third of his Five Boroughs series, we see Caleb’s redemption. And what a redemption it is. From the previous books, Caleb comes through as an assholish character, someone to dislike. In this book, we see through Caleb’s armor and his true inner self. We see Caleb the good friend, Caleb the honorable person and Caleb, the man who’s trying, for the first time in his almost 4 decades, to find himself and make something of himself.
In the search or his true self, he finds Oli. Oli, like Caleb, comes from a rich family, but that’s where all similarities end. Oliver’s always lived his life to the fullest and without repressing any of his desires. He knows what he wants and is not afraid of taking it. He also knows that a relationship is not what he wants.
But after a crazy night with a drunk Caleb, Oli makes his mission in life to make Caleb find out his true self in a path of sexual discovery. As Caleb’s armor falls piece by piece, Olive falls for Caleb.
Superb book. Highly recommend.
I loved this one by Santino. In a genre so full of mediocre and plainly bad books, his writing sparkles like a diamond in the bright sunshine.
In this one, the third of his Five Boroughs series, we see Caleb’s redemption. And what a redemption it is. From the previous books, Caleb comes through as an assholish character, someone to dislike. In this book, we see through Caleb’s armor and his true inner self. We see Caleb the good friend, Caleb the honorable person and Caleb, the man who’s trying, for the first time in his almost 4 decades, to find himself and make something of himself.
In the search or his true self, he finds Oli. Oli, like Caleb, comes from a rich family, but that’s where all similarities end. Oliver’s always lived his life to the fullest and without repressing any of his desires. He knows what he wants and is not afraid of taking it. He also knows that a relationship is not what he wants.
But after a crazy night with a drunk Caleb, Oli makes his mission in life to make Caleb find out his true self in a path of sexual discovery. As Caleb’s armor falls piece by piece, Olive falls for Caleb.
Superb book. Highly recommend.
March 8, 2018
This sucks.
Read
March 9, 2018*REVIEW AND RATING REMOVED*
Because of THIS I don't feel comfortable anymore for keeping my reviews up.
April 22, 2016
4.5 Stars!
Favorite of the series!
Santino Hassell may just be my favorite MM author. There's just something about his writing. His words. His story-telling. And boy can he write some hot sex! Hands down some of the best!
These aren't even "hearts and flower" romances. They're raw and emotional. They're messy.
But...
Santino's characters aren't perfect. They're flawed. They're bruised....rich or poor. Yeah we went to a different borough for this book but the road for Caleb and Oliver wasn't any easier.
They still struggled. They still had to find their path. They still had to work for their HEA.
Sure these have somewhat abrupt endings. We don't get an epilogue months or years in to their future. We're left wondering if they will make it.
But...
I can't recommend this series enough.
Favorite of the series!
Santino Hassell may just be my favorite MM author. There's just something about his writing. His words. His story-telling. And boy can he write some hot sex! Hands down some of the best!
These aren't even "hearts and flower" romances. They're raw and emotional. They're messy.
But...
Santino's characters aren't perfect. They're flawed. They're bruised....rich or poor. Yeah we went to a different borough for this book but the road for Caleb and Oliver wasn't any easier.
They still struggled. They still had to find their path. They still had to work for their HEA.
Sure these have somewhat abrupt endings. We don't get an epilogue months or years in to their future. We're left wondering if they will make it.
But...
I can't recommend this series enough.
Read
March 9, 2018Review and rating removed.
Read
October 31, 2019Rating removed. Review under spoiler tag.
March 29, 2017
Holy crap .... I loved this book. My favorite (so far) of the Five Boroughs series. I loved how Santino Hassell reinvented ... rehabilitated ... wrote his ass off to flesh out Caleb, a pretty universally despised guy in the series, and showed us his insecurities, his desire to love and be loved, his tone-deafness in relationships AND gave him a well-deserved HEA. And Oli .... omifuckingawd. Mere words don't do justice ...
Shelved as 'audible-completed'
March 8, 2018Rating & review removed
Read
March 9, 2018Rating & review removed
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