I kind of wish I did gif reviews because THIS BOOK. OMG. When I started reading and writing reviews for this series I used words like gritty and sexy and dirty, but right now I’m sitting here trying to think about what I want to say and I’m at a lost for words. I feel like I should be doing an internet search for pictures of sexy, beautiful men doing sexy, beautiful things to each other and just lining them up end to end on this review so that you guys know how I felt after reading. For real, who even had the first clue that Caleb and Oliver would be so damn smokin’ hot? I certainly didn’t. If you think Michael and Nunzio or even David and Raymond were down right filthy and crazy hot you ain’t seen nothing yet.

So by now you’ve pretty much figured out that the third book in the Five Boroughs series features Caleb, David’s uptight ex-boyfriend, and Oliver, that guy who tried to kiss Raymond and pissed David right off.

Here, I’ll let the GR blurb fill you in on their background.

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.

That chance encounter mentioned above? Well, that would be a debauched night of sin between Caleb and Oli after a night of heavy drinking that Caleb only remembers in bits and pieces for most of the book. But don’t worry, once his inhibitions are lowered he and Oli heat up the pages until you practically need to take your Kindle and sit in front of an open freezer to cool down. I’m not even kidding a little bit. There are so many sex scenes and they are so, so dirty.

I didn’t expect to really like Caleb as much as I did. I mean he did try to come between Raymond and David in Sunset Boulevard, which did not exactly make him appealing to me. But really he’s just misunderstood and painfully confused on what he wants to do with his life and how he should move forward.

New Year’s Eve, and I was alone. This had to be a sign. A countdown to the year I turned thirty-seven. I would offically be in my late thirties, and I was still single. I was unemployed. I had no close friends.

Oli, on the other hand, comes from the same world but does not give a fuck what anyone thinks. He does what feels good, which makes for an adventurous lover, but is not exactly great boyfriend material. Which is why Oliver has no desire to be in a monogamous relationship. Ever.

“I’m not your Prince Charming. I’m a good fuck, but I’m not special. If that’s what you’re thinking, you ned to get it out of your head now.

I have to say, Oli was the absolute perfect man for Caleb. At first, they might seem like exact opposites in pretty much every way, but as their relationship slowly moves from occasional fuck buddies to fuck buddies with feelings to only wanting each other, it becomes obvious that the only person who could have helped Caleb become comfortable with his sexuality and emotional needs is Oli, and the only one who could have convinced Oli to give monogamy and a real relationship a try is Caleb. I loved them as a couple and could have read another two hundred pages of them getting it on and figuring things out.

This series continues to be a winner for me and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Mr. Hassell keeps writing more stories in this world. Final Grade- B

Favorite Quote:

“Heh.” His weight settled atop me. “I don’t know how you were with your other lovers, but… People see what they want to see. Or completely miss things when they’re too busy looking for flaws.”

Rating: B
First and First by Santino Hassell
April 18th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
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Review: First and First by Santino Hassell was first published on Fiction Vixen