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Five Boroughs #6
Citywide
A record-breaking heatwave engulfs the Five Boroughs, and emotions run as hot as the temperatures.
In Rerouted, Chris Mendez is trying to live a drama-free life. That doesn’t include another threesome with Jace and Aiden Fairbairn. But then a citywide blackout leaves them trapped together, and Chris is forced to re-examine everything he thought he knew about relationships and his own heart.
In Gridlocked, former Marine Tonya Maldonado is keeping real estate heiress Meredith Stone on permanent ignore. Mere isn’t Tonya’s type. Not even close. Who cares if she kisses like a dream and has the filthiest mouth this side of the East River? But then a security detail at a summer party ends with her saving Mere’s life and discovering they have more chemistry than she’d ever imagined.
In Derailed, Stephanie Quinones escapes the heat and her complicated love life by going on a company retreat. Trouble is, it’s a couples’ retreat, and she lied about having a boyfriend. Unfortunately, the only person willing to play pretend is her on-again/off-again fling, Angel León. They’re currently “off again,” but after a week in the woods, Stephanie realizes she wouldn’t mind them being permanently on.
In Rerouted, Chris Mendez is trying to live a drama-free life. That doesn’t include another threesome with Jace and Aiden Fairbairn. But then a citywide blackout leaves them trapped together, and Chris is forced to re-examine everything he thought he knew about relationships and his own heart.
In Gridlocked, former Marine Tonya Maldonado is keeping real estate heiress Meredith Stone on permanent ignore. Mere isn’t Tonya’s type. Not even close. Who cares if she kisses like a dream and has the filthiest mouth this side of the East River? But then a security detail at a summer party ends with her saving Mere’s life and discovering they have more chemistry than she’d ever imagined.
In Derailed, Stephanie Quinones escapes the heat and her complicated love life by going on a company retreat. Trouble is, it’s a couples’ retreat, and she lied about having a boyfriend. Unfortunately, the only person willing to play pretend is her on-again/off-again fling, Angel León. They’re currently “off again,” but after a week in the woods, Stephanie realizes she wouldn’t mind them being permanently on.
370 pages, ebook
First published November 11, 2017
About the author
Santino Hassell
36 books2,830 followersSantino 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.
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https://www.patreon.com/santinohassell
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]
www.santinohassell.com
http://santinohassell.com/newsletter/
amazon.com/author/santinohassell
https://www.facebook.com/groups/getha...
https://twitter.com/SantinoHassell
https://www.instagram.com/santinohass...
https://www.patreon.com/santinohassell
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
November 19, 2017
4.5 Stars.
Rerouted. 5/5.
After getting Jace,Aiden,and Chris's story in Third Rail I couldn't wait to get more of these three men's story and this Novella was just perfect.After a few hook ups,Chris has been trying to distance himself from Jace and Aiden-not because he doesn't want to be with them,it's more a case of he's terrified to get too involved and let his feelings for them become more than just sexual.
When a record-breaking heatwave puts New York at a virtual standstill the three men find themselves together again and this time there's no escaping the deep feelings they're beginning to develop for each other.
If ever there was a perfect M/M/M combination...this is it! They're hot,sexy,sweet,and so right together.
Just delicious...
Gridlocked. 3.5/5
Ever since Mere was introduced in previous books I've been a little bit fascinated by her and it was great to get an insight into her character a bit more here.Her and Tonya couldn't be more different.On the surface it might appear Mere has a privileged life but she's not without her emotional baggage.Ex Marine,Tonya is tough,straight talking and she's never been interested in a relationship before-that is,until she can't get a certain Blonde out of her head.
Even though this is a Novella their relationship developed well and their sexual chemistry is HOT-I would never have thought I'd enjoy F/F sex scenes so much!
I definitely wanted more....
Derailed. 4/5
Stephanie and Angel have known each other since they were young....
Stephanie is strong,independent,and definitely doesn't want to depend on a man,
Angel...what can I say?I absolutely adored him.Seriously,who wouldn't want an Angel in their life?.. ..he's one of my new favourite characters by this Author.
There's an obvious connection between them and it's not just sexual.They've been on/off fuck buddies for a while,both of them skirting around what they want and mean to each other.But what happens when they find themselves doing the fake boyfriend/girlfriend thing for a weekend?
Stephanie did infuriate me at times but by the end I definitely got her more and where she was coming from.
Conclusion:
This is a fantastic addition to the Five Boroughs Series.I'm desperately hoping we get more from these characters in the coming books....
-the sex is smoking hot,
-the feelings and connections are there,
-the writing is just as brilliant,as always,
-and the way all the characters lives are interwoven is just perfect.
Highly Recommended........
Rerouted. 5/5.
“And you’ve been what’s missing, baby. You weld all our pieces together. When you’re with us , or just texting us , your presence in our lives makes everything . . . better.”
After getting Jace,Aiden,and Chris's story in Third Rail I couldn't wait to get more of these three men's story and this Novella was just perfect.After a few hook ups,Chris has been trying to distance himself from Jace and Aiden-not because he doesn't want to be with them,it's more a case of he's terrified to get too involved and let his feelings for them become more than just sexual.
When a record-breaking heatwave puts New York at a virtual standstill the three men find themselves together again and this time there's no escaping the deep feelings they're beginning to develop for each other.
If ever there was a perfect M/M/M combination...this is it! They're hot,sexy,sweet,and so right together.
Just delicious...
Gridlocked. 3.5/5
“So I’m special,” she murmured. “Special,” I confirmed. “And mine.”
Ever since Mere was introduced in previous books I've been a little bit fascinated by her and it was great to get an insight into her character a bit more here.Her and Tonya couldn't be more different.On the surface it might appear Mere has a privileged life but she's not without her emotional baggage.Ex Marine,Tonya is tough,straight talking and she's never been interested in a relationship before-that is,until she can't get a certain Blonde out of her head.
Even though this is a Novella their relationship developed well and their sexual chemistry is HOT-I would never have thought I'd enjoy F/F sex scenes so much!
I definitely wanted more....
Derailed. 4/5
“We’ve got this, Angelito,” I said softly. “I promise.(...)
Stephanie and Angel have known each other since they were young....
Stephanie is strong,independent,and definitely doesn't want to depend on a man,
Angel...what can I say?I absolutely adored him.Seriously,who wouldn't want an Angel in their life?.. ..he's one of my new favourite characters by this Author.
There's an obvious connection between them and it's not just sexual.They've been on/off fuck buddies for a while,both of them skirting around what they want and mean to each other.But what happens when they find themselves doing the fake boyfriend/girlfriend thing for a weekend?
Stephanie did infuriate me at times but by the end I definitely got her more and where she was coming from.
Conclusion:
This is a fantastic addition to the Five Boroughs Series.I'm desperately hoping we get more from these characters in the coming books....
-the sex is smoking hot,
-the feelings and connections are there,
-the writing is just as brilliant,as always,
-and the way all the characters lives are interwoven is just perfect.
Highly Recommended........
My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession
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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.
November 14, 2017
Full disclosure, I only read Rerouted. Before all of you jump on me, I am allowed to read what I want to read, and I honestly was only interested in Chris, Jace and Aiden. Not that I have to justify my reading choices to anyone, but I have no desire to read the other two novellas because those characters don't call to me.
That being said, I LOVED Rerouted. I could read about these three men for, well, forever. I wish they had their own full length novel. It's about Chris, a bisexual man who finds himself as the extra to a married gay couple Jace and Aiden. Jace and Aiden have been together 20 years and are polyamorous, but lately they only want one man to make them a trio. When a blackout leaves the three of them stuck together, it's up to the couple to convince Chris he's perfect for them.
As I said before, I loved this story. Chris I wanted to hug the entire time, I understood all of his insecurities and where he is coming from. It's easy to want him to fall into his happily ever after, but some things needed to be worked out and I think Hassell did a great job of covering all those issues.
Citywide can technically be read as a standalone, but I think maybe you should read Third Rail a short story first to get some background.
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That being said, I LOVED Rerouted. I could read about these three men for, well, forever. I wish they had their own full length novel. It's about Chris, a bisexual man who finds himself as the extra to a married gay couple Jace and Aiden. Jace and Aiden have been together 20 years and are polyamorous, but lately they only want one man to make them a trio. When a blackout leaves the three of them stuck together, it's up to the couple to convince Chris he's perfect for them.
As I said before, I loved this story. Chris I wanted to hug the entire time, I understood all of his insecurities and where he is coming from. It's easy to want him to fall into his happily ever after, but some things needed to be worked out and I think Hassell did a great job of covering all those issues.
Citywide can technically be read as a standalone, but I think maybe you should read Third Rail a short story first to get some background.
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November 6, 2017
Overall a solid 4 Stars!
It was fun to get more on some of the side characters of this series. But I remain partial to Santino's MMs.
Rerouted
5 Stars! Obviously this one was my favorite. I mean Aiden, Jace AND Chris.
SO HAWT!
Gridlocked
3.5 Stars! I liked this one more than I thought I would. But Tonya was kind of mean.
Derailed
4 Stars! This one was my second favorite. I felt kind of bad for Angel, Stephanie was kind of mean too.
All three were good. But I'll take more Aiden, Jace and Chris any day!
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
It was fun to get more on some of the side characters of this series. But I remain partial to Santino's MMs.
Rerouted
5 Stars! Obviously this one was my favorite. I mean Aiden, Jace AND Chris.
SO HAWT!
Gridlocked
3.5 Stars! I liked this one more than I thought I would. But Tonya was kind of mean.
Derailed
4 Stars! This one was my second favorite. I felt kind of bad for Angel, Stephanie was kind of mean too.
All three were good. But I'll take more Aiden, Jace and Chris any day!
ARC kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
November 29, 2017
4 stars for these 3 stories
I absolutely adored Chris, Jace and Aiden.
It seems like FF is NOT my cup of tea.
Angel and Steph were just OK. The writing was great, the sex scenes were super hot, as always, but I had a big problem with Steph's insecurities and well she did hurt Angel too much.
Overall it was a great anthology and I was glad to revisit Ray, Oli, Caleb and the whole team.
Looking forward to the next books in this series.
I absolutely adored Chris, Jace and Aiden.
It seems like FF is NOT my cup of tea.
Angel and Steph were just OK. The writing was great, the sex scenes were super hot, as always, but I had a big problem with Steph's insecurities and well she did hurt Angel too much.
Overall it was a great anthology and I was glad to revisit Ray, Oli, Caleb and the whole team.
Looking forward to the next books in this series.
January 8, 2018
Overall, 'Citywide' is an enjoyable and easy-to-read collection that I'm sure all fans of the series will love. My only complaint: it felt as if Santino Hassell was trying to fit as much of the complex emotions and situations into these short stories as he does in his full-length novels. It made the short stories feel cluttered at times.
But even so, I loved catching up with the Queens Crew again!
Rerouted
Rating: 3.5 stars
I was really excited to read the conclusion of Chris, Jace, and Aiden's story. The couple of freebies up on Santino Hassell's website were absolutely titillating. These three are hot, hot, hot in the bedroom. 'Rerouted' adds some emotional context to their relationship, and I thought it was really sweet and cute. Though I'm glad the author made it obvious that it wasn't insta-love, I still thought Aiden and Jace's decision to go from an open relationship to a closed relationship for Chris was a fairly quick one. Even so, I'd love to visit these three again!
Gridlocked
Rating: 3 stars
This short story was quintessential Santino Hassell - a not-so-easy romance in a sinfully sexy package. Tonya and Mere actually reminded me quite a lot of Raymond and David - especially their hot-and-cold routine. Mere is easy to love, while Tonya takes a bit getting used to. Because Mere and Tonya had already fallen halfway for each other before the beginning of the story, it at first felt like I was missing some key info. But things cleared up as the short read progressed, and I thought their relationship was cute, with a strong HFN ending.
Derailed
Rating: 3 stars
I've been wanting more of Angel and Stephanie ever since the drama on the QFindr cruise. I knew these two would be a bit messy, but I was sure they had it in them to work things out for the better. And I wasn't disappointed! My heart hurt for Angel, but I also understood where Stephanie was coming from. And the two were so obviously meant to be together. Also, this was definitely the sexiest read in the collection! The ending felt a bit rushed, but I was glad to see the two get their happy ending.
But even so, I loved catching up with the Queens Crew again!
Rerouted
Rating: 3.5 stars
I was really excited to read the conclusion of Chris, Jace, and Aiden's story. The couple of freebies up on Santino Hassell's website were absolutely titillating. These three are hot, hot, hot in the bedroom. 'Rerouted' adds some emotional context to their relationship, and I thought it was really sweet and cute. Though I'm glad the author made it obvious that it wasn't insta-love, I still thought Aiden and Jace's decision to go from an open relationship to a closed relationship for Chris was a fairly quick one. Even so, I'd love to visit these three again!
Gridlocked
Rating: 3 stars
This short story was quintessential Santino Hassell - a not-so-easy romance in a sinfully sexy package. Tonya and Mere actually reminded me quite a lot of Raymond and David - especially their hot-and-cold routine. Mere is easy to love, while Tonya takes a bit getting used to. Because Mere and Tonya had already fallen halfway for each other before the beginning of the story, it at first felt like I was missing some key info. But things cleared up as the short read progressed, and I thought their relationship was cute, with a strong HFN ending.
Derailed
Rating: 3 stars
I've been wanting more of Angel and Stephanie ever since the drama on the QFindr cruise. I knew these two would be a bit messy, but I was sure they had it in them to work things out for the better. And I wasn't disappointed! My heart hurt for Angel, but I also understood where Stephanie was coming from. And the two were so obviously meant to be together. Also, this was definitely the sexiest read in the collection! The ending felt a bit rushed, but I was glad to see the two get their happy ending.
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March 14, 2018
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November 23, 2017I feel like we waited decades for this book...specifically Chris, Jace, and Aiden. Finally getting their story was a relief. And yet...it still isn't enough. *she says in her greediest voice*
This book does not disappoint, which is a relief considering how much I was jonesing for it.
Rerouted was life. These three...they fit. It is weird, ever since I read First and First I knew something was missing with Jace and Aiden. They were committed and long-term and in love, but I knew there was more for them. Chris was the perfect missing piece. Yes, this story was HOT AF, but it was also touching and emotional. Chris standing up for himself and his needs was everything. I loved to see that side of him as he became more confident in who he is and honest for what he knows will make him happy. If Santino ever writes anything else about them I will be alllll over it.
Mere and Tonya's story was too short! I wasn't sure about these two at first. I really wanted Tonya's story, but I wasn't convinced that it would work with Mere. A HFN for these two that solidifies more when we read Derailed. It is also the story that has convinced me that I NEED Kenneth Stone's story and he has to be bisexual and hooking up with some dude. And I want to read all about it.
And then Derailed brings us Steph and Angel. Surprisingly, this was my favorite story of the set. I didn't enter this story particularly invested in the outcome. In the previous books, we don't get to know Angel very much. He was an enigma. Let me tell you, that is a good thing because if I had known this much about him since Sunset Park I would have been an emotional wreck waiting for his story. Angel is beautiful, sexy, kind, patient, loving. If Steph had turned him down I would have jumped into the book and offered myself up as tribute.
All in all, this landed just shy of 5 stars for me. They were all a bit too abrupt in the endings, which was a bit jarring. I can't wait for the next 5B books to catch up with some of my favorite characters.
My Citywide inspired nails:
Citywide inspired nails
Close ups of the same design
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This book is going to have everything. Every. Thing. All the things. And I just can't wait.
This book does not disappoint, which is a relief considering how much I was jonesing for it.
Rerouted was life. These three...they fit. It is weird, ever since I read First and First I knew something was missing with Jace and Aiden. They were committed and long-term and in love, but I knew there was more for them. Chris was the perfect missing piece. Yes, this story was HOT AF, but it was also touching and emotional. Chris standing up for himself and his needs was everything. I loved to see that side of him as he became more confident in who he is and honest for what he knows will make him happy. If Santino ever writes anything else about them I will be alllll over it.
Mere and Tonya's story was too short! I wasn't sure about these two at first. I really wanted Tonya's story, but I wasn't convinced that it would work with Mere. A HFN for these two that solidifies more when we read Derailed. It is also the story that has convinced me that I NEED Kenneth Stone's story and he has to be bisexual and hooking up with some dude. And I want to read all about it.
And then Derailed brings us Steph and Angel. Surprisingly, this was my favorite story of the set. I didn't enter this story particularly invested in the outcome. In the previous books, we don't get to know Angel very much. He was an enigma. Let me tell you, that is a good thing because if I had known this much about him since Sunset Park I would have been an emotional wreck waiting for his story. Angel is beautiful, sexy, kind, patient, loving. If Steph had turned him down I would have jumped into the book and offered myself up as tribute.
All in all, this landed just shy of 5 stars for me. They were all a bit too abrupt in the endings, which was a bit jarring. I can't wait for the next 5B books to catch up with some of my favorite characters.
My Citywide inspired nails:
Citywide inspired nails
Close ups of the same design
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This book is going to have everything. Every. Thing. All the things. And I just can't wait.
November 16, 2017
The rating is for Rerouted! I loved it so much!! Didn't read the other stories.
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March 9, 2018Review removed.
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March 9, 2018Review and rating removed
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March 12, 2018*** Due to recent revelations, I will no longer be reading/reviewing/rating this author.***
I will, however, leave my reviews up because I took a long time writing them!
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Only read Chris's story, but I enjoyed. the dirty talk didn't work for me so much, but I love these three together. I'm not sure if the resolution of the poly situation was believable. I kind of feel like this needed a longer story, but I do absolutely feel that these three men love and care for each other, and that they fit in an adorable and very real way.
3.5
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So I'll pretty much only be reading the first story, but I have been wanting Chris's story since Book 1 so yay, Chris!
11/13/17 - Update! Having just finished Third Rail, I'm interested in Angel and Stephanie's story as well. It's m/f but I do read that from time to time lol. Second story is still a no go.
I will, however, leave my reviews up because I took a long time writing them!
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Only read Chris's story, but I enjoyed. the dirty talk didn't work for me so much, but I love these three together. I'm not sure if the resolution of the poly situation was believable. I kind of feel like this needed a longer story, but I do absolutely feel that these three men love and care for each other, and that they fit in an adorable and very real way.
3.5
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So I'll pretty much only be reading the first story, but I have been wanting Chris's story since Book 1 so yay, Chris!
11/13/17 - Update! Having just finished Third Rail, I'm interested in Angel and Stephanie's story as well. It's m/f but I do read that from time to time lol. Second story is still a no go.
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March 12, 2018
(Leaving my review on this one as I did receive an ARC for this and I want to hold up my end of the bargain. This is no way a denial of those hurt by the author and and I actually do want to give a shout out to all the brave souls who bared themselves and told their stories. May they find the healing they deserve.)
(ARC received via A Novel Take PR)
If you must...
(ARC received via A Novel Take PR)
If you must...
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March 10, 2018Rating removed. Review removed.
November 11, 2017
4.5 Stars Overall
(Rerouted 4.5 Stars / Gridlocked 4 Stars / Derailed 5 Stars).
Reviewed for Just Love
ARC received via Netgalley for fair and honest review.
I absolutely love when a book I’ve been dying to read turns out to be as a good as I’d hoped. Such was the case with Citywide, which delivered on so many levels and exceeded most of my expectations. This trio of novellas was the perfect way to finally turn the spotlight on the rest of the Queens crew in the Five Boroughs universe and give them the happy endings they so deserve.
First off, the gender and sexual diversity in this book was off the hook, although I did have some issues in Gridlocked. Besides the variety of identities and pairings (groupings?), I absolutely adored that the collection kicked off with Chris and David’s very candid chat on sexuality, and oh yeah, just how casually queer everyone was throughout (except Angel of course, god bless his hetero heart). Also, while I usually try not to focus on the sex in my reviews, I would be seriously remiss if I didn’t mention that the sex in all three novellas was off the charts hot. Like, five-alarm fire hot. Or in Santino-speak, like 10 dicks hot (although if we’re being technical, it never got hotter than three dicks at any given time… but I digress).
Not gonna lie, I had initially been worried that the shorter format might make the stories feel rushed or unresolved, but my fears were completely unfounded. Citywide left me wanting more in only the best ways. I thought the ongoing heatwave set a great tone and the underlying thread connecting each novella was a nice touch. All three ended on very promising HFNs and I enjoyed the clues leading to the remaining two 5B books (cue waterworks). I was surprised at how verklempt I got during the Sunday dinner scene (seriously that scene was everything) and while I thought the various cameos sprinkled throughout the novellas felt natural and were straight-up awesome, the mention of Charles came pretty out of left field. I included some warning tags in the previous section but I should clarify that none of it was graphic.
All in all, Citywide was a wonderful detour through the 5B universe and I think it’s safe to say the author did his babies proud. Read on for my take on each novella…
Rerouted
4.5 out of 5 Stars
It’d been exactly two and a half months since I’d last had both their hands on me, and right now I was more than willing to trade a moment of that heaven for a future broken heart. Sometimes you just needed to feel alive even if it killed you later.
First off, if you haven’t read Third Rail prior to this, you’re doing it wrong. There’s a lot going on in Rerouted, and Third Rail lays out a lot of emotional groundwork to help the reader see beyond the smoking hot sex (not that I’m complaining or anything!). The author does a commendable job trying to get Chris, Jace and Aiden to a happy compromise in order to attempt a serious relationship but I have to admit I wouldn’t have minded multiple POVs in order to get inside each of their heads. The guys had a lot to work through and it got to be pretty tough going with a lot of back and forth (no pun intended ha!), but for the most part, I felt everyone ended up on the same page. I melted at the combination of Aiden’s quiet desperation and Jace’s unexpected vulnerability at opening themselves up to a permanent third. But most of all, I loved Chris’ tap-dancing ass – his insecurities, his determination, his charm, the whole package (pun totally intended).
Gridlocked
4 out of 5 Stars
That voice. That throaty voice all wrecked with lust and saying my name. . . It took a lot not to just shove my face between her thighs and stay awhile.
Gridlocked took me completely by surprise. The writing was quintessential Santino… but to the nth power, if all the highlights on my Kindle is any indication. The author seemed very much in his element portraying a no-nonsense enby marine from Queens taking a chance on a Manhattan socialite, and I thought the character and story development reflected that. As expected, Tonya was a complete badass – the author’s style was pitch perfect in delivering her caustic narrative. And Mere… Mere was an unexpected delight. She was no shrinking violet and had no problems being direct, but the way she confessed her feelings to Tonya on more than one occasion had me rooting for them so hard. However, the way Mere dove right in without checking if Tonya was experiencing any body or gender dysphoria gave me pause. I thought this was especially troubling because Mere knew to ask which pronouns Tonya preferred (they/her) but didn’t stop to check if any body parts were off limits. That aside, bonus points for Victor, who I found equal parts intriguing and infuriating, which of course means I cannot wait for him to meet Clive down the road.
Derailed
5 out of 5 Stars
There was a push and pull of what I wanted versus what I thought I should want, and in the middle of it all was the part of my heart that had always been reserved just for him.
Derailed kinda snuck up on me. The fact that Steph and Angel’s story ended up being my favorite says a lot considering I wasn’t very familiar with either of them, especially Angel. I think what got me hooked was the fact that, in their own twisted way, they were kinda high school sweethearts. Their story reminded me very much of Mikey and Nunzio’s what with life and well, themselves, getting in the way of their happiness. The fake relationship device was a nice way to add a layer of playfulness (and even more heat!) to the story before shit got real and a decade’s worth of longing and blurred lines threatened to end their friendship forever. Despite the dual POV, I can’t say I got to know Angel very well (apart from his yearning for Stephanie) but I liked his character from the very start. It took a while for me to warm up to Steph but her story, once it came out, really spoke to me and I was a fan, commitment issues and all. Out of all three novellas, their happy ending felt the most permanent based on their history together, which is partly why I gave it all the stars.
(Rerouted 4.5 Stars / Gridlocked 4 Stars / Derailed 5 Stars).
Reviewed for Just Love
ARC received via Netgalley for fair and honest review.
I absolutely love when a book I’ve been dying to read turns out to be as a good as I’d hoped. Such was the case with Citywide, which delivered on so many levels and exceeded most of my expectations. This trio of novellas was the perfect way to finally turn the spotlight on the rest of the Queens crew in the Five Boroughs universe and give them the happy endings they so deserve.
First off, the gender and sexual diversity in this book was off the hook, although I did have some issues in Gridlocked. Besides the variety of identities and pairings (groupings?), I absolutely adored that the collection kicked off with Chris and David’s very candid chat on sexuality, and oh yeah, just how casually queer everyone was throughout (except Angel of course, god bless his hetero heart). Also, while I usually try not to focus on the sex in my reviews, I would be seriously remiss if I didn’t mention that the sex in all three novellas was off the charts hot. Like, five-alarm fire hot. Or in Santino-speak, like 10 dicks hot (although if we’re being technical, it never got hotter than three dicks at any given time… but I digress).
Not gonna lie, I had initially been worried that the shorter format might make the stories feel rushed or unresolved, but my fears were completely unfounded. Citywide left me wanting more in only the best ways. I thought the ongoing heatwave set a great tone and the underlying thread connecting each novella was a nice touch. All three ended on very promising HFNs and I enjoyed the clues leading to the remaining two 5B books (cue waterworks). I was surprised at how verklempt I got during the Sunday dinner scene (seriously that scene was everything) and while I thought the various cameos sprinkled throughout the novellas felt natural and were straight-up awesome, the mention of Charles came pretty out of left field. I included some warning tags in the previous section but I should clarify that none of it was graphic.
All in all, Citywide was a wonderful detour through the 5B universe and I think it’s safe to say the author did his babies proud. Read on for my take on each novella…
Rerouted
4.5 out of 5 Stars
It’d been exactly two and a half months since I’d last had both their hands on me, and right now I was more than willing to trade a moment of that heaven for a future broken heart. Sometimes you just needed to feel alive even if it killed you later.
First off, if you haven’t read Third Rail prior to this, you’re doing it wrong. There’s a lot going on in Rerouted, and Third Rail lays out a lot of emotional groundwork to help the reader see beyond the smoking hot sex (not that I’m complaining or anything!). The author does a commendable job trying to get Chris, Jace and Aiden to a happy compromise in order to attempt a serious relationship but I have to admit I wouldn’t have minded multiple POVs in order to get inside each of their heads. The guys had a lot to work through and it got to be pretty tough going with a lot of back and forth (no pun intended ha!), but for the most part, I felt everyone ended up on the same page. I melted at the combination of Aiden’s quiet desperation and Jace’s unexpected vulnerability at opening themselves up to a permanent third. But most of all, I loved Chris’ tap-dancing ass – his insecurities, his determination, his charm, the whole package (pun totally intended).
Gridlocked
4 out of 5 Stars
That voice. That throaty voice all wrecked with lust and saying my name. . . It took a lot not to just shove my face between her thighs and stay awhile.
Gridlocked took me completely by surprise. The writing was quintessential Santino… but to the nth power, if all the highlights on my Kindle is any indication. The author seemed very much in his element portraying a no-nonsense enby marine from Queens taking a chance on a Manhattan socialite, and I thought the character and story development reflected that. As expected, Tonya was a complete badass – the author’s style was pitch perfect in delivering her caustic narrative. And Mere… Mere was an unexpected delight. She was no shrinking violet and had no problems being direct, but the way she confessed her feelings to Tonya on more than one occasion had me rooting for them so hard. However, the way Mere dove right in without checking if Tonya was experiencing any body or gender dysphoria gave me pause. I thought this was especially troubling because Mere knew to ask which pronouns Tonya preferred (they/her) but didn’t stop to check if any body parts were off limits. That aside, bonus points for Victor, who I found equal parts intriguing and infuriating, which of course means I cannot wait for him to meet Clive down the road.
Derailed
5 out of 5 Stars
There was a push and pull of what I wanted versus what I thought I should want, and in the middle of it all was the part of my heart that had always been reserved just for him.
Derailed kinda snuck up on me. The fact that Steph and Angel’s story ended up being my favorite says a lot considering I wasn’t very familiar with either of them, especially Angel. I think what got me hooked was the fact that, in their own twisted way, they were kinda high school sweethearts. Their story reminded me very much of Mikey and Nunzio’s what with life and well, themselves, getting in the way of their happiness. The fake relationship device was a nice way to add a layer of playfulness (and even more heat!) to the story before shit got real and a decade’s worth of longing and blurred lines threatened to end their friendship forever. Despite the dual POV, I can’t say I got to know Angel very well (apart from his yearning for Stephanie) but I liked his character from the very start. It took a while for me to warm up to Steph but her story, once it came out, really spoke to me and I was a fan, commitment issues and all. Out of all three novellas, their happy ending felt the most permanent based on their history together, which is partly why I gave it all the stars.
November 17, 2017
Rerouted: 5 stars
I couldn't wait to see how the sexy threesome that is Chris,Jace and Aiden got their HEA and I was not dissapointed. Still wish they had got their own full length book tho.
Gridlocked: 4 stars
I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. I really like Tonya and Mere as a couple.
Derailed:4.5 stars
I literally have no idea how Steph could have resisted Angel for so long. Everything he said had me swooning.
Really looking forward to the last two books in this series and catching up with the squad!
I couldn't wait to see how the sexy threesome that is Chris,Jace and Aiden got their HEA and I was not dissapointed. Still wish they had got their own full length book tho.
Gridlocked: 4 stars
I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. I really like Tonya and Mere as a couple.
Derailed:4.5 stars
I literally have no idea how Steph could have resisted Angel for so long. Everything he said had me swooning.
Really looking forward to the last two books in this series and catching up with the squad!
November 14, 2017
I don't remember the individual titles and am too lazy to look them up, so I shall review them as 1, 2 and 3.
1. Jace, Aiden and Chris:
So, I love m/m/m. LOVE it. And I was completely hooked by the Third Rail collection. But my reaction to the novella in Citywide is about what I expected - I'm glad they got their HEA but they were absolutely cheated by this format. They deserved a whole book. Maybe they'll get one in the future. Or follow up shorts or something. But this was just...not satisfying.
2. Tonya and Meredith:
Maybe f/f isn't for me? I guess technically this isn't f/f because Tonya is non-binary, but she doesn't seem to care too much about pronouns so if she's not offended by it, I'm mentally calling it f/f because two vaginas. I haven't read a lot of f/f but I never seem to really feel a connection between the characters. Don't know if that's because the stories I've read aren't so great, or if I just don't connect with it. I identify as bisexual, I definitely like lesbian romance on TV and in movies, but maybe it's just not my thing in books.
Anyhoo - I liked Tonya. Meredith is not well-developed. I have no idea who she is or why I should like her.
3. Stephanie and Angel:
Ugh, so frustrating. Stephanie is annoying AF. Angel, you deserve better. Call me.
1. Jace, Aiden and Chris:
So, I love m/m/m. LOVE it. And I was completely hooked by the Third Rail collection. But my reaction to the novella in Citywide is about what I expected - I'm glad they got their HEA but they were absolutely cheated by this format. They deserved a whole book. Maybe they'll get one in the future. Or follow up shorts or something. But this was just...not satisfying.
2. Tonya and Meredith:
Maybe f/f isn't for me? I guess technically this isn't f/f because Tonya is non-binary, but she doesn't seem to care too much about pronouns so if she's not offended by it, I'm mentally calling it f/f because two vaginas. I haven't read a lot of f/f but I never seem to really feel a connection between the characters. Don't know if that's because the stories I've read aren't so great, or if I just don't connect with it. I identify as bisexual, I definitely like lesbian romance on TV and in movies, but maybe it's just not my thing in books.
Anyhoo - I liked Tonya. Meredith is not well-developed. I have no idea who she is or why I should like her.
3. Stephanie and Angel:
Ugh, so frustrating. Stephanie is annoying AF. Angel, you deserve better. Call me.
February 7, 2018
Well that was a great collection of stories and fans of the Five Boroughs series definitely must read Citywide. The three relationships are so very different and the feeling behind each story is really different too. Each one brought out something unique and wasn't what I expected.
Rerouted - 3.5 stars
I expected to be way more enraptured by this one. I love menage stories but stuff about this one didn't work for me. I don't know if it's because I've never been a huge fan of Jaiden - somethings about their relationship just don't ring true for me, or if it's because I can't help wishing for more for Chris I'm not truly sure.
The premise behind the story was interesting, I liked the reason Caleb called Chris in to QFindr HQ - that worked really well. I had a few issues about the blackout though - I lived in NYC in 2003 and people weren't quite that nonchalant walking around mid-town, but who knows, maybe in 2017 in a non-Bloomberg city things would be different?
Gridlocked - 4 stars
Totally enjoyed this one. I loved the passion between Tonya and Meredith. Mere really brings something great in Tonay, and vice-versa. Nuff said.
Derailed - 5 stars
Definitely the gem of the book, Derailed hand an absolutely perfect story-line. The chemistry between Angel and Stephanie is powerful and I wanted so much to see them both happy. Hassell really gets into the heads of both these guys and does a fantastic job growing the story. Between the HS memories of both characters, and what's going on in the present, the whole thing works so well.
Gotta say, I haven't enjoyed an MF story this much since I can't remember when - I might have to give the genre another look, well if Santino Hassell is going to write it. These two are so hot together and I could really see their love and passion. Just a fantastic story all around.
So overall I'd absolutely rec this one, just be prepared for the MMM, FF, and MF that comes with it.
a copy of this book was provided by NetGalley for the purpose of this review
Rerouted - 3.5 stars
I expected to be way more enraptured by this one. I love menage stories but stuff about this one didn't work for me. I don't know if it's because I've never been a huge fan of Jaiden - somethings about their relationship just don't ring true for me, or if it's because I can't help wishing for more for Chris I'm not truly sure.
The premise behind the story was interesting, I liked the reason Caleb called Chris in to QFindr HQ - that worked really well. I had a few issues about the blackout though - I lived in NYC in 2003 and people weren't quite that nonchalant walking around mid-town, but who knows, maybe in 2017 in a non-Bloomberg city things would be different?
Gridlocked - 4 stars
Totally enjoyed this one. I loved the passion between Tonya and Meredith. Mere really brings something great in Tonay, and vice-versa. Nuff said.
Derailed - 5 stars
Definitely the gem of the book, Derailed hand an absolutely perfect story-line. The chemistry between Angel and Stephanie is powerful and I wanted so much to see them both happy. Hassell really gets into the heads of both these guys and does a fantastic job growing the story. Between the HS memories of both characters, and what's going on in the present, the whole thing works so well.
Gotta say, I haven't enjoyed an MF story this much since I can't remember when - I might have to give the genre another look, well if Santino Hassell is going to write it. These two are so hot together and I could really see their love and passion. Just a fantastic story all around.
So overall I'd absolutely rec this one, just be prepared for the MMM, FF, and MF that comes with it.
a copy of this book was provided by NetGalley for the purpose of this review
Shelved as 'negative-stars-required'
March 10, 2018Though I wish it had never come to this: I've removed my review.
November 13, 2017
Citywide is a collection of novellas set in Santino Hassell’s Five Boroughs world and as always this author gave us some gritty, sexy stories laced with emotion and love.
Rerouted 5 stars
I’ve always kind of adored Chris so I was happy to see him featured along with Aiden and Jace who he has been a third with a few times. I appreciated that Chris knew what he wanted and was willing to walk away from being just someone good enough for fun and hot sex because he wanted permanence with them, but refused to be in an open relationship like they have now. There was a lot of emotion to this story mainly because Aiden and Jace have been together for 20 years and have always had an open relationship, something Jace is proud of because he feels sex doesn’t matter because their love is what is important and Chris refused to compromise on this point. I loved watching them work through their insecurities and feelings all while holed up in the offices of QFindr during a citywide blackout. This book was H-O-T and I’m not talking about the weather!
Gridlocked 4 stars
Talk about two women who seem so mismatched, but somehow worked. One hot encounter on a cruise led to hurt feelings and some major side-eye, bitch face from Mere towards Tonya, but at a QFindr event, Tonya is working as security and must make amends as her co-worker worries about a disgruntled review. I kind of loved that Mere asked Tonya for a chance to prove she could be what she needed and that she respected Tonya enough to ask how she preferred to be addressed. Tonya was a bit closed off and it was easy to see why it was hard for her to get involved with people, but I like that she did put herself out there for Mere. And whew, holy hot strap-on scene batman! I felt like this was really just the beginning of Mere and Tonya’s story and hope we’ll see them again in the future. Plus really Santino, teasing me about Stavros, I need more of him!
Derailed 3 stars
I’ll just be really honest here, I have never liked Stephanie and her selfish ways continued in this novella. I keep waiting for Angel to realize he could do so much better and leave her a$$, but alas he loves her so I don’t think that is ever going to happen. I get that she believes in being her own person and not letting society’s standards telling her what is acceptable and I’m like “go sister,” but she is such a b*tch especially to Angel. There is no doubt they have sexual chemistry, but I feel like Angel is the one always giving and Steph does all the taking and she expects it. I honestly don’t see these two making it in the long run, but this is Santino’s world not mine so for now I’ll just go with it.
November 15, 2017
4.5 stars
I only read this for Chris, Jace and Aiden. Now I feel slighted because I need like 600 more pages with them. This anthology made up of the Queens crew was very fulfilling. I enjoyed every single moment between these 3. It was hot and definitely one of my favorite menage stories ever. I really liked Chris in his own story, in previous books he seemed almost childish but reading him here and in the short before this I definitely grew to love him. Of course I enjoyed Aiden & Jace. Those two didn't expect to fall in love but they did. I loved how they could see the future and it wasn't one without Chris. I would love a followup between these 3 down the line.
Tonya & Mere story was equally good. Not my usual cup of tea but I enjoyed their coupling. Tonya being the badass that she was showed a sensitive side that I really enjoyed. Glad to know Mere wasn't shallow & vicious with everyone. I can understand all her doubts though when it comes to relationships seeing as her first one with her parents didn't go well at all.
This was the story that I felt wasn't completed. Stephanie & Sharky's stories felt empty. Yeah up until the end it was good, but it dived off and I kinda wanted to see a future for these two. I mean they do have a future, but I wanted to see them potentially building on it and seeing them grow.
I only read this for Chris, Jace and Aiden. Now I feel slighted because I need like 600 more pages with them. This anthology made up of the Queens crew was very fulfilling. I enjoyed every single moment between these 3. It was hot and definitely one of my favorite menage stories ever. I really liked Chris in his own story, in previous books he seemed almost childish but reading him here and in the short before this I definitely grew to love him. Of course I enjoyed Aiden & Jace. Those two didn't expect to fall in love but they did. I loved how they could see the future and it wasn't one without Chris. I would love a followup between these 3 down the line.
Tonya & Mere story was equally good. Not my usual cup of tea but I enjoyed their coupling. Tonya being the badass that she was showed a sensitive side that I really enjoyed. Glad to know Mere wasn't shallow & vicious with everyone. I can understand all her doubts though when it comes to relationships seeing as her first one with her parents didn't go well at all.
This was the story that I felt wasn't completed. Stephanie & Sharky's stories felt empty. Yeah up until the end it was good, but it dived off and I kinda wanted to see a future for these two. I mean they do have a future, but I wanted to see them potentially building on it and seeing them grow.
Read
March 12, 2018Rating removed
November 12, 2017
2.5
I'm gonna be the oddball here and say that this wasn't what I was expecting. I've only read Rerouted and, at least for now, I've had enough. So yeah, I'm gonna put this on hold. I was looking forward to reading Mere and Tonya's story too, buuuuut if this is only an excuse for sex, sex and more sex without much emotional and romantic development (on page, I mean) then I'm out of here xDu Sorry not sorry.
That being said, I'm gonna list down what I liked about Rerouted:
-I liked Chris' POV;
-We get to see Raymond and David being cute and lovey-dovey <3;
-David has a meaningful conversation with Chris;
-And even Raymond helps Chris out when Chris most needs it;
-It was well written.
What I didn't like (and be warned that maybe it'll be a bit spoilery. Keep reading if you don't mind it):
Anyway, I still think these three should have had their own book with the POV of them all, not just some vignettes and a novella. It's like I have to do all the effort the author wasn't willing to do to put together all the pieces and fill in the blanks. Like, why do I have to do that? It's not fair. That's the author's job, isn't it? No tengo por qué hacer el trabajo sucio por ti, señor Hassell.
This is just my opinion, so don't take it as gospel and, please, please, don't get offended if my opinion differs from your's.
I'll try to give it another chance at some point in the future =.= But, like I said, maybe it's my fault for getting my hopes high and expecting too much. Fingers crossed that Charles' and Clive's are better done.
I'm gonna be the oddball here and say that this wasn't what I was expecting. I've only read Rerouted and, at least for now, I've had enough. So yeah, I'm gonna put this on hold. I was looking forward to reading Mere and Tonya's story too, buuuuut if this is only an excuse for sex, sex and more sex without much emotional and romantic development (on page, I mean) then I'm out of here xDu Sorry not sorry.
That being said, I'm gonna list down what I liked about Rerouted:
-I liked Chris' POV;
-We get to see Raymond and David being cute and lovey-dovey <3;
-David has a meaningful conversation with Chris;
-And even Raymond helps Chris out when Chris most needs it;
-It was well written.
What I didn't like (and be warned that maybe it'll be a bit spoilery. Keep reading if you don't mind it):
Anyway, I still think these three should have had their own book with the POV of them all, not just some vignettes and a novella. It's like I have to do all the effort the author wasn't willing to do to put together all the pieces and fill in the blanks. Like, why do I have to do that? It's not fair. That's the author's job, isn't it? No tengo por qué hacer el trabajo sucio por ti, señor Hassell.
This is just my opinion, so don't take it as gospel and, please, please, don't get offended if my opinion differs from your's.
I'll try to give it another chance at some point in the future =.= But, like I said, maybe it's my fault for getting my hopes high and expecting too much. Fingers crossed that Charles' and Clive's are better done.
Read
March 11, 2018**In light of the recent events (Feb/March 2018), including the admissions from the author and publisher, I've decided to remove my ratings but leave my reviews as they stand.
Update: As more information comes to light about the attacks against other authors whose voices I value, I can't in good conscious leave my reviews for the books up. The words and characters, much of which I truly loved are now tainted.**
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Review removed 3/11/18
*Received eARC via Netgalley. The publisher and author had no influence over this review*
Reviewed by Annie from Alpha Book Club
Update: As more information comes to light about the attacks against other authors whose voices I value, I can't in good conscious leave my reviews for the books up. The words and characters, much of which I truly loved are now tainted.**
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Review removed 3/11/18
*Received eARC via Netgalley. The publisher and author had no influence over this review*
Reviewed by Annie from Alpha Book Club
November 17, 2017
More of Auden and Jace. What could be better than that??? Seeing how Chris fit into their long standing relationship made reconnecting with the couple even better. I really wish they had merited a fully fleshed out novel of their own instead of a short but Santino worked his magic anyway and I was wooed.
The other two stories were definitely not as strong, or perhaps I am simply not that interested in those members of the Queens crew. Meredith and Tonya's story certainly merited a 4 * but the manipulativeness that is Stephanie simply pissed me off. 3* for the writing but whatevs. They just harshed the buzz. Angel deserved soooo much more.
Overall 4* from me.
The other two stories were definitely not as strong, or perhaps I am simply not that interested in those members of the Queens crew. Meredith and Tonya's story certainly merited a 4 * but the manipulativeness that is Stephanie simply pissed me off. 3* for the writing but whatevs. They just harshed the buzz. Angel deserved soooo much more.
Overall 4* from me.
December 2, 2017
4.5 Stars.
Read
March 10, 2018review and rating removed
Read
March 12, 2018Review and rating removed.
February 23, 2018
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Citywide is a collection of three novellas in the Five Boroughs world. We've come to know a big set of characters in this series and it was fun to visit several of them in one book because they didn't need longer stories. I also really enjoyed the fact that these three stories follow one timeline, so they were perfect to read in order as the events from one bled into the other in terms of an overall plot for the world and set of characters. So I thought that was a really great way of tying the stories into the one anthology and I don't see that done often enough so I really appreciated the extra thought.
I'll be honest and say I wasn't necessarily dying to read stories about any of these characters and maybe I would've been ok knowing that these things happened in the background of someone else's story, if that makes sense? But nevertheless, they were enjoyable and I think a good addition to the series.
REROUTED
We open up with with Chris who is struggling with wanting zero drama in his life and obviously being the third in Jace and Aiden's relationship once in a while would just bring too much emotional turmoil for him. But then he's called in to QFinder's headquarters to fix a computer problem and gets stuck there during a blackout with them until power is restored. I feel like the issues in this relationship revolved a little too much around miscommunication and people being a little sensitive instead of just coming out and speaking frankly about their feelings. So that wasn't my favorite part of the story. However, I did like the characters and yes this was the hottest of the three stories. So extra points for that!
GRIDLOCKED
This one I had the most difficulty with. And it's weird because I actually liked the sexual parts of their relationship a lot, but I wasn't too keen on the actual relationship and characters. Tonya came across as someone who didn't really like Meredith much and there was a quick turnaround to that without really digging into Meredith much and seeing what makes her tick. So I couldn't get past the reservations as fast as Tonya seems to have done. I felt like there was a lot of Meredith chasing after Tonya like a puppy and taking some cold and dry treatment if that's all she could get. Overall, I'm not sure how I can see them working out long term.
DERAILED
This may have been my favorite and the one I breezed through easier and faster. It's a best friends to lovers and kind of a finally they admitted they want a relationship story. Angel has been in love with Stephanie since high school, they had some flings and they are on again off again sexual partners. Stephanie is dead set on not wanting a relationship and Angel may just be tired of waiting. This was a sweet one and I think the one that conveyed the most emotion and drew me out of all of these.
*ARC provided by publisher
Reviewed by Francesca❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤
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