Slick's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews 
 Sometimes and author sneaks up on me and that has been Santino Hassell, with each book of his I read I appreciate his unique story telling more, I celebrate the way he develops his characters and I applaud him for showing that love and devotion can be celebrated in many different ways as long as the people involved are good with it. First and First is the third book in his Five Boroughs series and with each book my interest in this author and visiting New York grows. 
 It always amazes me when an author can take a character or two who didn't leave me with the best impression or I was ambivalent about in previous books and make them into these people who find their way into my heart. It wasn't without work though Mr. Hassell had to work to make me feel that way and even halfway through I wasn't convinced, but as the layers of these very complicated men were peeled back it became obvious that these were two scarred and pretty closed off individuals and that opening up and letting someone in pushed them way past their comfort zone. 
 Caleb is at a crossroads in his life, approaching 40 he feels he really doesn't have anything to show for his years on this earth and the man he was involved with has found happiness in someone so different from him he doesn't even understand why the man was with him at all. Brought up in a very wealthy household to parents that were too busy to well, parent Caleb and his sister both have many not so nice things to say about the people who gave them life. Caleb is unemployed but he isn't sure what he wants to do and as a new year begins he is feeling like his life is out of control and he is so unhappy. Too much alcohol and seeing his ex so in love with his new man sends Caleb in to a pit of despair, one that doesn't change when he wakes up in a strange bed the next morning and can't remember how he got there or what he did and then when he realizes he's in Oly's bed things get very interesting very quickly. 
 Oly puts on a great front as everyone's favorite party boy and while he'll be the first to admit seeing Caleb and enjoying every carnal delight with him is all he could have asked for an more he knows that their time will be short. Oly doesn't do relationships and he knows Caleb is still reeling from his breakup. Oly was tough to read and he wanted it that way because Oly was all about protecting himself, not letting anyone get to close, not letting anyone ever again hurt him yet somehow one night with Caleb threw him for a loop he never expected. 
 This was such an odd pairing but I've come to expect that from this author. Caleb was so uptight and put on this front of being such an upstanding citizen and while he came out as gay at 30, he really wasn't in to the bars and the parties and the crazy lifestyle his ex-boyfriend and their friends were into. In all honesty Caleb wanted a home and family and stability something he never really had in his life. Oly enjoyed his lifestyle and even enjoyed going to sex parties where he meets and hooks up with other men who enjoyed a wide variety of things. After their one night Caleb was embarrassed by the events, but the alcohol had allowed him to let down his guard and be different with Oly and Oly tried to help Caleb see that just because he has desires and fantasies he isn't a freak and it is okay to explore outside of the realm of normal. I liked the contrast between these two, but I loved that they brought out a different side in each other. Oly brought out Caleb's wild and uninhibited side while Caleb allowed Oly to slow down, enjoy and even be a bit sedate. It was very interesting to watch them grow and change and while I do feel that Oly provided way more emotional support to Caleb, it was justified given how much was changing in his life and also because Oly really did have his life mostly together. 
 While there was no doubt these two were developing real feelings for one another, they both refused to acknowledge or share them with the other and at times this drove me a little crazy, yet given their histories which this author fully laid out for us I could also understand their hesitations. I enjoyed their journey even though it was a long and winding one, but there were other aspects of this book I loved just as much. Watching Caleb connect with his half-brother Aiden and them join forces with Caleb's sister, Meredith was interesting and entertaining. In addition there were several other support characters including those from previous books that added even more depth to this well thought out and well written story. 
 Complex, engaging, emotional and sexy Santino Hassell's First and First was completely riveting and an excellent addition to this fantastic series. 
 Review copy provided for an honest review.