Better Be Sure by Andy Gallo and Anyta Sunday
Series: Harrison Campus #1
Publisher: Andy Gallo & Anyta Sunday (Self Published)
Release Date (Print & Ebook): June 1, 2020
Length (Print & Ebook): Print – 242 pages, eBook – 60,000 words
Subgenre:
“Better Be Sure” is a sweet, slow burn M/M romance with a heart-pounding HEA. This New Adult, college, opposite sides of the tracks novel can be read as a standalone and in any order.
Start reading now: https://amzn.to/36BXiZi
Book synopsis:
Orphan Jackson Murphy just staked his legacy on a bet.
Holy shit, his impulsive ass is in trouble.
Bring a guy to the fraternity formal? Pfft. Easy. Won’t be him getting kicked out of the house.
So what if his luck with guys on campus has been shitty? Ed Knowles is Jack’s winning ticket.
Tall, handsome, hardworking—and he doesn’t go to Harrison. One serendipitous meeting, and sparks—and coffee cups—are flying.
But with every stolen look, every secret kiss, every clandestine touch Ed becomes more than just an answer to a bet.
And these cloak-and-dagger meetings that set Jack on fire? They mask one tiny, enormous obstacle: Ed’s not out.
What does Jack do now?
Hold on to his legacy… or his heart?
—
“Better Be Sure” is a sweet, slow burn M/M romance with a heart-pounding HEA. This New Adult, college, opposite sides of the tracks novel can be read as a standalone and in any order.
What authors Andy Gallo & Anyta Sunday say about this release:
We want readers to enjoy a good, new adult romance with two MCs who help each other overcome what’s holding them back from finding love.
Release Blitz Teaser:
Before the kid could pass, someone bumped him hard enough to knock him off balance. Unprepared for the contact, he watched his much needed caffeine and sugar splatter over the floor.
“Oh fuck, sorry.”
Jack twisted around, a fire in his eye that cooled off instantly. Tall Hot Guy quickly shoved his phone in his pocket, looking totally cute as he gawked wide-eyed at the mess he’d caused. The flush of red to his cheeks had Jack staring. “It’s all right.”
“Oh man, I’m so sorry.” Casting about for a place to put his bag, Tall Hot Guy settled on the counter and started snapping up napkins by the handful. He bent over to spread them on the tiles, and the waistband of his dark blue boxers peeked above his jeans. Jack’s gaze lingered a moment.
4.5 Stars
Isn’t it funny how one simple act can set up a new direction for your future? Jack is shopping for a birthday gift for his best friend when he is accidentally bumped while holding a cup of coffee. Ed, labeled in Jack’s mind as the tall hot guy, replaces the ruined drink and the two men start to chat. Jack can’t tell if he is gay and the signals are pretty mixed. Feeling slightly down, he grabs his phone and leaves the store. This sets up a new series of events that throw the men together again.
Jack’s backstory is sad but he has the support of Marcus, who is like a brother to him. Jack lives at his frat house, the Pi Kappa Phi, which is steeped in familial memories for him. A mean-spirited fraternity member named Harper goads Jack into an argument and a ridiculous bet. He dares Jack to attend their annual formal dance with a date, making them the first gay couple to participate. A bad break-up has made Jack leery of dating again and some nasty rumors were spread by his ex, so he is not so comfortable with the challenge. Unfortunately, the bully pushes him to accept the dare and the loser will have to leave the frat dorms. This place is special to Jack, so losing is not an option.
Ed and Jack find that their mutual attraction cannot be ignored. Of course, it can’t be simple. Ed is firmly and as far as he is concerned, permanently in the closet. Jack normally would never consider a relationship with these stipulations but he really starts to care for the man. Jack is in a difficult spot. He feels he can’t ask Ed to the dance as it would unfair to pressure him and on the same token he feels guilty asking anyone else to go. There are other factors at stake but I don’t want to give away spoilers so you will have to find out why this predicament is so hard for him. All Jack wants is a solid partner, not someone to pretend. Poor Ed has intense feelings for Jack but is so scared to act on them.
This remarkably tender story featured two sweet and thoughtful young men caught up in the perceived demands of societal expectations. There were no bad guys as both of the men had the right to their feelings. I found myself rooting for their different outlooks to blend into a future together.
I highly recommend this delightful story and hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Happy Reading!
***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn’t a requirement.***
~ * ~ Amy‘s Review ~ * ~
4 Stars
I will admit, not long after starting chapter one, I wondered if I finally reached the age of being too old to read about college kids, fraternities, and college drama. Not long after that, though, the fraternity became more of just a background to the real story, and it became a non-issue. Dating, getting to know another person on a deeper level, and romance is not limited by age. The characters were likable, minus a couple of knuckleheads, and there was an easy flow to the story.
I once read that grief is not linear. Even when you leave the initial state of mourning, the loss doesn’t just disappear in thin air. It lingers, and it can be a companion for life. The authors did a great job with how they wrote Jack’s battles with the loss of his parents. I liked how they didn’t sugarcoat things and had everyone magically fix things for Jack. Ed’s character even states how he doesn’t know how Jack feels, but he offered his support. It gave a realness to the story that I really appreciated.
This is book one of the series, and I really enjoyed it. I am looking forward to reading the next book. They are connected by characters we met in this story, so it will be good to catch up with them again. If you’re looking for a fun story, some steamy bits, and low angst, this is your book. I think you’d enjoy it as much, if not more, than I did.
***Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn’t a requirement. ***
3.5 Stars!
It basically started as a bet. Well sort of, kind of, it’s not what you’re thinking.
Jackson Murphy is part of the same fraternity his dad was in, even living in his old room. He feels like he has a connection to him living here, especially since he’s there with his adopted brother and best friend Marcus. Life is pretty good on campus but of course, if he had a guy it would be better. Now with the fraternity’s big formal coming up Jackson is forced to agree to a bet with his arch-rival, he needs to bring a date or he’ll be forced to leave his room and the fraternity for good, something he simply can’t think about doing.
Meeting Ed was like fate, well that is if he’s gay. Ed isn’t just hot, he’s funny and smart. Jack can’t help but fall for Ed. Now how is Jack going to get him to agree to attend his formal? Will he lose the bet and be forced to leave the fraternity?
I’m kind of torn with this one because I really wanted to love it but while I liked some parts, others I just didn’t care for. I wanted to love the characters but I never truly got there. Jack was likable but I often found him to be a bit too immature. I felt awful about him losing his parents but there were times I felt like it was a tiny bit overdone (don’t hate me
). Ed was very likable, too, but I didn’t feel like he was easy to connect to. Something was just missing for me.
Overall, it was all just okay to me but I feel that it definitely could potentially be better. I figure this is the first book in the series so it will probably get better as it goes on. I think the authors are talented and I will probably be grabbing the next book when it comes out.
*** Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn’t a requirement. ***
About the Authors:
Andy Gallo:
Andy Gallo prefers mountains over the beach, coffee over tea, and regardless if you shake it or stir it, he isn’t drinking a martini. He remembers his “good old days” as filled with mullets, disco music, too-short shorts, and too-high socks. Thanks to good shredders and a lack of social media, there is no proof he ever descended into any of those evils.
Andy does not write about personal experiences and no living or deceased ex-boyfriends appear on the pages of his stories. He might subconsciously infuse his characters with some of their less noble qualities, but that is entirely coincidental even if their names are the same. And while Andy leaves the hard sci-fi/fantasy for his alter ego, Andrew, in his mind a touch of the supernatural never derailed a good relationship.
Married and living his own happy every after, Andy helps others find their happy endings in the pages of his stories. He and his husband of more than twenty years spend their days raising their daughter and rubbing elbows with other parents. Embracing his status as the gay dad, Andy sometimes has to remind others that one does want a hint of color even when chasing after their child.
Connect with Andy:
Website: www.andygallo.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/andygalloauthor
Anyta Sunday:
A bit about me: I’m a big, BIG fan of slow-burn romances. I love to read and write stories with characters who slowly fall in love. Some of my favorite tropes to read and write are: Enemies to Lovers, Friends to Lovers, Clueless Guys, Bisexual, Pansexual, Demisexual, Oblivious MCs, Everyone (Else) Can See It, Slow Burn, Love Has No Boundaries. I write a variety of stories, Contemporary MM Romances with a good dollop of angst, Contemporary lighthearted MM Romances, and even a splash of fantasy. My books have been translated into German, Italian, French, and Thai.
Connect with Anyta:
Contact: http://www.anytasunday.com/about-anyta/
Sign up for Anyta’s newsletter and receive a free e-book: http://www.anytasunday.com/newsletter-free-e-book/
Join Anyta’s Facebook group to chat all things Slow Burn Romance:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SlowBurnSundays/
You can also find Anyta here:
www.anytasunday.com
For information about new releases and freebies, follow her on BookBub:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/anyta-sunday
Giveaway:
To celebrate the release of Better Be Sure (Harrison Campus #1), the authors are giving away 3 e-copies of Better Be Sure and 3 e-copies of a winner’s choice of any Anyta Sunday book. Must be 18 to enter and win, open internationally.
Enter now:
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