Better Be True by Andy Gallo and Anyta Sunday
Series: Harrison Campus #3
Publisher: Andy Gallo & Anyta Sunday (Self Published)
Release Date: August 3, 2020
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Subgenre: M/M Romance
Order here:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B088C438QY
Synopsis
Two friends. One bed. A big Italian Wedding.
Nico Amato is in trouble. He’s in love with his roommate. Who’s hung up on his ex. This so isn’t part of his summer plans. Luke’s an all-American jock, a jeans and t-shirt kind of guy. The kind of guy who thinks Nico is too much.
That doesn’t stop Nico from pretending to be Luke’s boyfriend, once, twice, thrice . . . A friend does what a friend does to make an ex jealous.
Just . . . How many favors before Luke gives up on his ex?
Lucas DeRosa has a problem.
His roommate pushes every one of his buttons. Every. Damn. One. This so isn’t part of the script. Nico is flamboyant, a tight jeans/purple blazer kind of guy. The kind of guy who thinks Lucas is boring.
That doesn’t stop Luke from pretending to be Nico’s boyfriend again, and again, and again . . . A friend does what a friend does to repay a favor.
Just . . . How many favors before he wins Nico’s heart?
“Better Be True” is a roommates to lovers, fake-boyfriend, slow burn M/M romance with a HEA. This New Adult, college, opposite attract novel can be read as a standalone. The Harrison Campus series can be read in any order.
EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT
Luke had held Nico last night. Maybe most of the night.
He didn’t remember how it happened, hadn’t meant for it to happen. But. There had been that dream. That very sexy dream. Where Nico had rolled atop him, had kissed him hard, had whispered in Luke’s ear as he’d groped Luke’s dick and—
Luke scrubbed his flushed face.
Nico was kind to call him a gentleman, because the things they did in that dream were far from gentlemanly.
Luke picked up his phone for the . . . he lost track of how many times it had been—checking for a message. Still nothing.
Nico said he was only working four hours. His shift should have ended three hours ago, so where was he? Damn, Luke hated not being able to read Nico better.
“Stop.” He exhaled slowly.
They were roommates and friends, not boyfriends. Nico didn’t need to check in with him. Moreover, Nico wouldn’t think Luke expected that. Because he shouldn’t. They. Were. Friends.
Luke glanced at the table, set for two. So much for surprising Nico with lunch. Probably too much anyway.
Whatever he didn’t eat, he could take for lunch tomorrow.
Mrs. R had recommended the deli two blocks over. They had the best Italian hoagie with the works in walking distance. Evidently if one wanted to drive, better could be had, but these were plenty good enough. She didn’t seem the type to do much walking, so he bought an extra one and dropped it off on his way upstairs.
Just like Nico would have done.
The door opened behind him, and he swiveled around.
Nico entered the room, gaze sweeping from him to the table. He halted abruptly.
Luke’s palms sweated.
“Oh. Are you expecting company?” Nico shifted the bag in his left hand, his shoulders seemingly deflating. “Give me a few minutes to change and I’ll, ah, get out of your way.”
“What? No, wait!” Luke quick-stepped across the room.
Nico froze as his eyes darted from the table to Luke, and he shrank back from him. “Yes?”
“I thought I’d surprise you with lunch after your first day at the bakery. Kinda like you made me dinner after my first day of work.”
A cautious frown broke over Nico’s expression, growing deeper as he looked from Luke to the table and back again.
Luke shifted, jamming his hands into his pockets. “You already ate, right?”
“Actually, no,” Nico said slowly. “I ended up staying later because the person who was supposed to replace me didn’t show.” He held up the bag. “A thank-you gift from Rocco.”
“I hope he also paid you money for the extra hours.”
That comment kicked Nico out of whatever wary thoughts he’d been having. “Of course. I don’t work for cannolis. Even as kids, Nonno paid us when we helped at the shop.”
“That’s good. That you got paid.”
Luke stumbled for what to say. Clearly Nico seemed apprehensive about the lunch.
Was Nico worrying Luke was coming on to him?
Of course he was.
How could he not after the way they’d woken this morning?
“It’s just lunch,” Luke said, when Nico stared at the table again.
Nico snapped toward him. “Right. Sure. Just lunch. That you waited until”—he tapped the screen of his watch—“three thirty-five for me to eat?”
Luke cursed himself for foisting an uncomfortable situation on Nico. He tried shrugging it off. “Like you say, it’s no fun to eat alone.”
It’s no fun to eat alone?
That’s what Luke went with?
He was an idiot.
He bowed his head as Nico put the bag in the kitchen. Then Nico brushed past, hesitated, and whispered a kiss over Luke’s cheek. “Let me clean up, and I’ll be right back.”
Nico beelined to their bedroom, and Luke’s hand drifted to his cheek.
What did that mean?
Review
I really enjoyed this book! Fake boyfriends and only one bed!! Need I say more?!
I adored Nico and Luke. They are total opposites with amazing chemistry. They hit it off right from the start. It’s a great slow burn and I loved Nico’s family, especially his sister. The only thing that irked me a bit was the misunderstanding near the end but overall it was a cute and fun read.
This is written in dual POV and can be read as a standalone. I love Anyta Sunday’s works but Andy Gallo was a pleasant surprise. I definitely plan to check out the previous books in the series. Definitely recommend this one!
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.
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Email: andy@andygallo.com
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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.
Contact: http://www.anytasunday.com/about-anyta/
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GIVEAWAY
BETTER BE TRUE by Andy Gallo & Anyta Sunday. Enter for the chance to win one of following prizes: One $10 Amazon gift card or one of three ecopy packages of BETTER BE SURE & BETTER HAVE HEART.
Rainbows and Sunshine 