Hassell, Santino

Hassell is proving to be a go-to name for realistic M/M romances with an honesty that matches the determination of his leads to go the distance. The "Barons" series is one to watch.

Readers of LGBT romance will fall in love with this unlikely pair and their journey to find trust and respect for each other and themselves.

Hassell (After Midnight) doesn't sugarcoat his vibrant characters, making them as gritty as the Queens neighborhood in which they grew up. While the story begins with fun and parties, it quickly moves into depressing realities that tend to permeate the remainder of the novel. Although grim, Sutphin Boulevard is also refreshing in its honest portrayal of urban life. There are plenty of steamy sex scenes; overall, a welcome addition to romance collections in urban libraries.