Two rival football players begin a game with higher stakes than the Super Bowl in this steamy romance from the author of Illegal Contact. Simeon Boudreaux, the New York Barons’ golden-armed quarterback, is blessed with irresistible New Orleans charm and a face to melt your mama’s heart. He’s universally adored by fans and the media. Coming out as gay in solidarity with his teammate hasn’t … his teammate hasn’t harmed his reputation in the least—except for some social media taunting from rival linebacker Adrián Bravo.
Though they were once teammates, Adrián views Simeon as a traitor and the number-one name on the New Jersey Predators’ shit list. When animosity between the two NFL players reaches a boiling point on the field, culminating in a dirty fist fight, they’re both benched for six games and sentenced to joint community service teaching sullen, Brooklyn teens how to play ball.
At first, they can barely stand to be in the same room, but running the camp forces them to shape up. With no choice but to work together, Simeon realizes Adrián is more than his alpha-jerk persona, and Adrián begins to question why he’s always had such strong feelings for the gorgeous QB…
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Illegal Contact was so far my favorite #Barons book and I liked Simeon and couldn’t wait to read Down by Contact. Not as gritty and in your face like IC, but still raw.
Simeon and Adrian have known each other when Simeon played for the Predators for a minute, but Adrian felt Simeon was a sellout, which was further from the truth. After these two got into a pre-season scuffle (which was Adrian’s fault), they were suspended for six weeks and had to work together at a community center, teaching the kids about sportsmanship, etc. Yeah, how was that going to work with two dudes who despise each other? Simeon, although he really wanted to hate Adrian, he couldn’t help his attraction. Adrian in turn was finding out how he was finally coming to terms with his bisexuality. The chemistry was hot between these two hot-heads lol.
As I mentioned above, not as angsty as IC, but Santino has a way to tell a story, his prose is just so fitting. What I loved the most is reading about my old stomping grounds, Williamsburg, in Brooklyn.
Santino Hassell is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and just with two books. I cannot wait to read more of his other books.
fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuck this series is hot
Whatever Santino Hassell writes, I read. Simple as that. I’ve been dying to get my hands on this since I read Illegal Contact, and it did not disappoint.
This book follows Simeon, a black and openly-gay football player, and Adrián, a bisexual Puerto Rican. They were former teammates and now bitter rivals. There is a lot of resentment and bitterness between the two after Simeon leaves the team for a rival team. Before that they actually got along pretty great. In fact, Adrián was the only person Simeon felt safe with as their team was filled with homophobes.
When Simeon and Adrián play a pre-game match they end up in a brawl, and are suspended from their respective teams for two months. For some good publicity, their agents make them do community service in the form of coaching some kids in football.
Simeon is literal sunshine. But I already knew this from book 1. He has a heart of gold, and I want him as a friend right now, please. He’s a driven athlete, a loyal friend, a wonderful son (of course he has his flaws but whatever.)
He never considers himself homophobic because everything he says is in a “joking” way and that no one should take what he says seriously. To be honest, I was prepared to hate him, but the more you get to know him, you know it’s a losing battle. I loved how Simeon called him out every time he said something homophobic. And you could tell from his internal thoughts that he really was learning why what he said was rude and could be considered homophobic. He just experienced so much growth throughout the novel I could cry.
Simeon and Adrián make the perfect couple. Their banter is so smile-inducing, and their chemistry basically leaps off the pages.
I think I liked Illegal Contact a little bit more, but this was an amazing and worthy sequel.
Falling for a man, a person – not a gender
After absolutely loving the first book in Santino Hassell’s series the Barons (Illegal Contact), I was definitely keen to read this next book, Down by Contact. Focusing on Gavin’s best mate Simeon Boudreaux, I was intrigued at how this book would deal with a recently outed homosexual NFL player and his rivalry with a former team mate Adrián Bravo.
For me, this book was a brilliant insight into the culture of male sport and its respect (or often lack of respect) for gay or non-heterosexual (bi-sexual, sexually fluid) players. What comes across as “joking”, non-P.C. banter can be construed as bigoted and homophobic, making those who may be gay etc extremely uncomfortable and unlikely to own their true identity. And that’s without the media attention that these high profile sports players receive regardless of their sexual orientation. But Down by Contact doesn’t lecture or soap-box these issues, just presents them in the context of the story and leaves the reader to take away what they will.
The romance in this book was one of the sweetest, steamiest and most intriguing when it comes to the (few) mm romance novels I have read. Initially I was uncertain if it was going to be a book about out and proud Simeon “turning” the openly heterosexual Adrián – but I quickly realised it was so much more than that. Santino gives us a story that illustrates that it’s the person – not their gender or sexual orientation – that we fall in love with, and that even a big, brawling, apparently homophobic NFL player like Adrián can develop feelings for ONE man. This was the perfect slow burn book, and I could hardly put it down – the anticipation and “will they, won’t they” had me eager for more at every turn.
Throw in some updates about fellow Barons players Gavin and Marcus, a bunch of summer camp kids learning to play NFL from two guys who are so far removed from teaching their first day with the kids is hilarious (and frightening lol), a bunch of overbearing parents, a freak storm and some of the steamiest mm sex scenes I’ve read – and Down by Contact is going to be at the top of my recommended read lists for January and for 2018!
An enemies to lovers story between rival football players? SIGN ME UP!
After some persistent persuasion, I picked up the first story in the Barons series (Illegal Contact) so I didn’t go into Down by Contact completely blind. In my opinion, you can read Down by Contact as a standalone, but you will also want to read everything that Santino Hassell ever writes if you haven’t already.
Down by Contact is the story of Simeon, who we met in Illegal Contact, and Adrian, who plays for the Baron’s nasty rival. Forced to spend time together, these two must put negative feelings aside for a good cause.
I won’t go much into the storyline, but I will tell you why you should pick up this book. Santino Hassell writes for the character, not the story. He puts you deep into the heads of Simeon and Adrian and makes you feel their feelings, struggle with their struggles, and become overwhelmed with their passion and pain. You will get a raw and honest perspective into situations you may have never encountered, and you will come out loving Simeon and Adrian for who they are and what they overcome.
I could not put this book down. This is one of those situations where I have no shame in begging for more. Santino Hassell is quickly becoming a one-click author for me.
Wow. What an amazing enemies-to-lovers book! I loved the connection between Simeon and Adrian. They truly had to work at it to even be in the same room together, never mind working toward getting between the sheets!
There were many “come to Jesus” moments in Down by Contact. Adrian dealing with his attraction to Simeon and the ramifications thereof. And Simeon in working through his recent “outing” and what his new normal looks like.
I loved how their relationship unfolded, so many layers to expose. I loved their interactions with each other and especially the kids at the community center. And that ending. Swoon.
DOWN BY CONTACT is the second instalment in Santino Hassell’s contemporary, adult THE BARONS erotic, M/M, football romance series focusing on the professional football players of the New York Barons. This is Barons’ quarterback Simeon Boudreaux, and New Jersey Predators’ linebacker Adrian Bravo’s story line. DOWN BY CONTACT can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.
NOTE: DOWN BY CONTACT is an M/M romance story line with sexually graphic language, text and situations that may not be suitable for all readers.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Simeon and Adrian) DOWN BY CONTACT follows the enemies to lovers relationship between one-time teammates New York Baron’s quarterback Simeon Boudreaux, and New Jersey Predators’ linebacker Adrian Bravo. Following a less than stellar start with the Predators, Simeon Boudreaux was traded to the New York Baron’s where his star power is on the rise, but in the ensuing time rumors and innuendo about betrayal and playbook theft dogged our hero from the opposing team, but none more so than from one-time teammate and friend Adrian Bravo. Simeon’s recent forced ‘coming out’ prompted a firestorm of media sensation including the homophobic diatribes from a man he once call a friend. Enter Adrian Bravo, New Jersey Predator’s linebacker, and the man with whom Simeon would fall in love. A preseason, on-field brawl between our leading couple finds Simeon and Adrian facing suspension with team ordered volunteer work at a local children’s shelter. What ensues is the building relationship between Simeon and Adrian as they are forced to work together for the benefit of a children’s summer camp, and the potential threat to Adrian’s career when their relationship is revealed.
Adrian Bravo always thought he was a heterosexual male until the day he met teammate Simeon Boudreaux but Adrian had to keep up appearances in front of his team fearing rejection and ridicule at the hands of the media and his so-called friends. Social media attacks against Simeon Boudreaux quickly made Adrian an enemy in more ways than one. Simeon Boudreaux was previously ‘outed’ by several jealous fans who posted sensitive images for all to see but discovering that Adrian Bravo, quite possibly, wanted something more than a rekindling friendship brought hope to a man who was potentially looking for a happily ever after.
The relationship between Simeon and Adrian is an enemies to friends to lovers romance; a second chance friendship that continues to build as they must work together towards a common goal. The $ex scenes are intimate, erotic and intense without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text. My only complaint is the lack of condom usage. Although this is a story of fiction, in an era of STDs and AIDS, I believe the author ( or for that matter, everyone) has a responsibility to promote safer $ex.
We are reintroduced to Barons’ tight end Gavin Brawley, and his personal assistant Noah Monroe; running back Marcus Hendricks and his fiance Jasmine; and second-string quarterback Noah Monroe; Simeon’s agent Mel Hawkins’, and Adrian’s agent Casey Rose; several young teens and counselors at the Grant Street Center, Simeon’s mother Joanne Boudreaux, Adrian’s parents, as well as Adrian’s embattled teammate Rocky Swoops.
DOWN BY CONTACT is a sexy, sassy and spirited story line; an inspiring and heart warming romance about passion, perception, discrimination and love. The premise is encouraging and energetic; the romance is sensual and provocative; the characters are dynamic and realistic.