Interborough (Ele’s review)

Title: Interborough
Author: Santino Hassell
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date: October 24th 2016
Genre(s): Contemporary
Page Count: 249
Reviewed by: Ele
Heat Level: 4 flames out of 5
Rating: 5+ stars out of 5
Blurb:

The Raymond Rodriguez from a few years ago wouldn’t recognize the guy he is today. He’s left his slacker ways far behind him and is now juggling two jobs and school. But the balancing act doesn’t allow much time for the man he loves.

David is doing his best to be supportive, but problems at work and his own insecurity leave him frustrated—in more ways than the obvious—whenever he goes to bed before Raymond gets home. The heat and affection between them is still there, but they barely have the time or energy to enjoy it. And it doesn’t help that Raymond is still hiding David from his colleagues.

The stress mounts so high that a vacation in paradise is filled with turmoil instead of harmony, and culminates on their return to the five boroughs with broken promises and heartache. They have to figure out how to stop allowing their differences to overshadow their love. It’s the only way they’ll make it to forever.

Santino Hassell’s stories are as realistic as romance can get, but man…this was a slice of real life. It also came to solidify the fact that Raymond Rodriguez is my favorite character in the Five Boroughs series, and one of my favorite book characters ever!

Can I start from the writing? God…this man’s writing makes me feel like coming home, or like my best friend is talking to me. It soothes my insides, I tell you. Hassell NAILED the first person alternating POV, which fitted the story perfectly.

Interborough picks up Raymond and David’s relationship eighteen months after the end of Sunset Park. Back then, they tackled so many obstacles to get to their HFN. Now, they fight for their HEA, and it is glorious!

There are no external causes that test Raymond and David’s relationship. No big drama or plot twists. No, their struggles are real and common in long term relationships. They ‘re struggles you can assosiate with; financial problems, insecurity, jealousy, trying to find time for each other while being tired and overworked. Trying to be the best you can be for your partner, despite being afraid that you ‘ll never measure up.

Character growth and relationship development. NOBODY does it better than Hassell. Interborough almost felt like a character study. Raymond and David’s differences brought them together in Sunset Park, but they can easily tear them apart if they don’t work on them.

There are fights, there is push and pull, and things that were left unsaid for far too long. But there are also the “I love you’s”, the “what will I do without you’s”, and the intense, hot and tender lovemaking.

I know that a lot of people are wary of sequels that could potentially mess with the MC’s HEA. I usually avoid them myself because I get bored. This is not what happens here. I feel that Interborough is not an unesecessary addition, but a much needed sequel to Sunset Park, which ended rather abruptly. The characters are still polar opposites; David is still the white, privileged kid from CT, and Raymond is still the PR blue collar guy from Queens. This story shows that Ray and David can work on these differences, and can have a solid future together.