Down by Contact

December 4, 2017
Hassell’s raunchy, hypermasculine second Barons erotic romance (after Illegal Contact) is hotter than tempers on Super Bowl Sunday. Simeon Boudreaux is the star quarterback for the Barons, New York’s NFL franchise. Not only is he a talented athlete, a charming Louisiana Cajun, and seemingly an all-around great guy, he’s also one of the few openly gay football superstars. Adrián Bravo is the snarky linebacker for the rival New Jersey Predators, the team Simeon left after hearing one too many bigoted comments in the locker room. After Adrián makes thinly veiled anti-gay jokes at Simeon’s expense—on live television—and the two men get into an on-field fistfight, they’re are suspended for six games and assigned a coaching project at a youth center. In order to succeed with the kids, the men first have to deal with the root of their enmity: Adrián’s bisexuality, suppressed because he fears the reactions of his teammates and Puerto Rican parents. The testosterone is balanced by thoughtful examinations of cultural differences and the effects of fame on relationships. Frequent, explicit sex scenes almost overwhelm the raw, beautifully told love story, which could leave some readers wishing for just a little more of the protagonists’ interplay outside the bedroom. Agent: Courtney Miller-Callihan, Handspun Literary.

December 15, 2017
Two hotheaded football players have to learn to get along after a preseason fight leaves them suspended from the NFL.Simeon Boudreaux of the New York Barons is one of the NFL's star quarterbacks. He's young, beautiful, and has a wicked throwing arm. He's also out as gay thanks to a situation involving a secret video and his best friend making the step to come out as bisexual. When the burning tension between Simeon and rival player Adrian Bravo of the New Jersey Predators--who'd taunted him with homophobic comments during a TV interview--leads to unsportsmanlike conduct on the field and an injury to boot, the two are forced into close contact as part of a summer football program at a community center in Brooklyn. Now Simeon and Adrian have to figure out how to work together--how to be in the same room together--without fists flying. When they settle for barbs instead, it evolves into an intense challenge that surprisingly helps the pair build an unexpected rapport. It also leads them to discover things about themselves and each other that neither is keen to admit. The second book in Hassell's (Citywide, 2017, etc.) Barons series, this novel continues to explore the dangers of toxic masculinity and what might happen if it were cast aside and also features people of color as its two heroes, a choice that stands out in the world of mainstream football romance. The alternating first-person narration can lead to some confusion, but the voices are distinct enough that it's easy to fall into the groove. On the whole, this is a deliciously dirty yet surprisingly sweet tale of two people who, in the end, want to love and be loved, whatever the obstacles might be.A sexy and satisfying look into the hearts and minds of unlikely lovers.

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