Reviewed by Taylin

TITLE: Better Be Sure

SERIES: Harrison Campus #1

AUTHOR: Andy Gallo

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

LENGTH: 211 pages

RELEASE DATE:  March 26, 2019

BLURB:

A Harrison Campus Story

When the stakes are this high, you better be sure you can win.

Jackson Murphy lost his parents to a boating accident, but they’re never far from his thoughts. He attends the same university as his parents, joined the same fraternity as his dad, and even lives in his father’s old room, along with his adopted brother, Marcus. Life brightens when he meets the man of his dreams.

Edward Knowles trades full-time college for working during the day and community college at night when his father’s factory closes. He intends to stay deep in the closet to keep his job in heating and cooling. But Jack pushes all his buttons.

Jack’s college rival challenges him to bring a date to the upcoming dance. He goads Jack into accepting even though failure means he and Marcus will lose their room and Jack must leave the fraternity.

Jack is falling hard for Ed, but Ed will never agree to go the dance. Ed—not knowing the stakes of the wager—has also made it clear that Jack taking another man will end their romance.

With pressure from friends and enemies alike, will Jack hold on to his legacy… or his heart?

REVIEW:

After losing his parents, their lifetime friends took in Jack as their own. Their son, Marcus was already Jack’s friend who then became his brother. Marcus and Jack attend Harrison, the same college where their parents met. It was essential to both men that they were at the same frat house, too.

Frat brothers bet on everything. Harper, the frat dick bet Jack that he couldn’t get a date for the formal, they were arranging. The winner stays in the house, the loser leaves.

An accident at a coffee shop introduces Jack and Ed. Ed has a day job and attends community college in the evening. Family circumstances means it’s the only way he can further his education and keep money coming in.

Ed is buried in the closet; Jack is out and proud. Ed was up-front with Jack telling him that he wouldn’t come out of the closet. So, Jack decided that they’d get each other out of their systems and eventually move on. Marcus knows Jack is dating Ed, so believes the bet is in the bag. Jack knows, it sure as hell ain’t.

The story is told in the third person solely from Jack’s pov and is technically in good order. Frat house life takes almost equal page time to the romance between Jack and Ed, creating a lovely balance in this slow burn tale. Brittany, Jacks friend, Brittany, and Marcus provide an element of levity.

Life in the frat house isn’t all fun and kegs, there’s a pecking order and Harper, who is openly hostile towards Jack, is one of the top dogs. Harper also knows that where Jack goes, Marcus will follow, so it’s a double win for him.

Similarly, life isn’t all roses for Jack and Ed. Jack misses his parents.  Some of the kind things Ed does for him trigger memories, which can make Jack out of breath and lose control. Jack finds Ed frustrating, too, because he can’t introduce him to anyone as even suggesting it brings Ed’s fears to the fore. Those fears include losing his job and family rejection.

Better Be Sure isn’t big on drama; it is more subtle than that. What it showcases is kindness, encouragement, patience, love and a gorgeous page-turning ending.

RATING:

BUY LINKS: 

Dreamspinner Press

Amazon