Truth or Darren

Games We Play #2

by D.J. Jamison, John Solo (Narrator)

Truth or . . . whoa, that's not how this dare works!

What happens when my big mouth writes a check it can't cash while taunting my ex's brother in a game of Truth or Dare? I end up with his tongue in my mouth. In my very straight, totally uninterested mouth.

While I don't feel anything.

Nothing at all.

In fact, I barely noticed.

So, why can't I stop thinking about it?

Contains mature themes.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, LGBT, Contemporary, Audiobook, New Adult

10 pages, Audible Audio

First published August 11, 2022

About the author

DJ Jamison writes a variety of queer men finding extraordinary love through M/M Romance! She is a lifelong reader and has always loved writing and editing, with a ten-year journalism career before she began publishing romance. She has books in ebook, print, and audio, as well as German, French, and Italian translations.

DJ lives in Kansas with her husband, two sons, and a sadistic cat named Birdie.

Join DJ's mailing list at http://tinyurl.com/DJandCompany

Join her FB group at www.facebook.com/groups/DJandCompany

Follow her on Ko-Fi for bonus content: www.ko-fi.com/ReadingDJ

Reviews

[moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus] · Rating 3 out of 5]

it wasn't necessarily bad, i was just bored. 😭

p.s. if anyone has any good bet/dare story line recs, pls lmk!! i'm desperate for a good one bc i'm intrigued with the concept, i've just never found a good execution of its story.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fine enough. Not bad really. I really have just been looking forward to book 3 so I read this one because I'm bad at skipping around a series. So, while this book wasn't bad- the "conflict" in this book is in my top ten most stupid book conflicts. From the blurb you can kind of guess the conflict will have to do with the fact that he is dating his sister's ex

but as it turns out- it is someone his sister "dated" for several weeks in high school five years ago. It wasn't a close or a serious relationship, it was two teenagers dating for a couple (i think it was five?) weeks, I seriously would not even consider that dating or consider him an ex, especially when five years have passed. But, what bumped it from a stupid conflict to top ten stupid conflict is that apparently the parents are so invested in this daughters relationship, that they actively dislike her high school "boyfriend" and hold this grudge against him for five years. When they meet him again as their son's boyfriend, they are openly hostile and rude to him. Honestly, what parent is so invested in a teenagers "love life" She barely even dated the guy, yet the parents were so upset at the break up that they began to hate this seventeen year old and then held on to this grudge for five years, and still disliked him so much after five years that they acted so openly hostile to him?? I think it can be common for teenagers to go through a series of short month or so long "relationships" but I have never heard of the parents getting so invested in it. And to still be mad five years later, and not just that but then to treat him horribly when you meet him again. I'm sorry this is so bizarre.

[Megan [At The Cottage]]

MM Romance
GFY/Bi-Awakening/Sister’s ex


DNF @ 37%

I am SO BORED! I think this is supposed to be enemies to lovers because they both mention hating each other but after kissing in the first chapter while playing Truth Or Dare, they can’t stay away from each other’s dicks. It’s just kind of superficial because now they want to help each other out in life but nothing has changed except copious amounts of lust.

So far, Linc is this spoiled princess (the book’s words) whose family lost all their money and he can’t go to private college and I swear he mentions losing his college tuition every other paragraph it seems. I get it, your family is broke, your car got repo’ed, you need to work, you can’t afford take out so you eat cheese and crackers for dinner, oh poor you. I’m weeping inside. 🙄🙄 Then there’s Darren who everyone thinks is a player but according to him he’s misunderstood because he’s restless and he has ADHD. He never talks about his ADHD so I think at this point it was mentioned just for the hell of it. He hasn’t questioned himself being attracted to a guy and it’s a guy he thought he hated at that but he’s stressed over this car show he’s putting on for his boss.

I’m bored just writing this review! No rating because I didn’t make it to 50%.

[True Loveislovereview · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, you can say Darren is testing everyone who’s close, family, and friends. They know how he is, a big man child. Mocking Linc about their truth or dare kiss wasn’t fair. Darren is straight, very straight, no hot kiss with a guy could change that, nu huh,

Oh boy, when Darren admits he’s into Linc there’s a whole new Darren to admire.

There are a lot of misunderstandings, but one thing is clear Darren wants more with Linc. How on earth can he convince Linc he’s serious. Linc doesn’t trust Darren, he played his sister just like a lot of others.
Linc and Darren are both active with an important event for this small town.

I loved Darren and Linc, both changing during this story, what started as an enemies to lovers relationship ended as something completely different. They are super hot and intense!

The small town here is really a small town with noses in other businesses. Fun, and annoying. Family, and friends, we can already smell the next story.
Overall a wonderfully developed storyline, well developed and engaging characters, sexy times, hugely entertaining, and clearly outlined written just what you can expect from this author.

[yaishin · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was...mind-blowingly normal.

[Gustaf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even better than the first book

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

- enemies to lovers, but not really
- ex-girlfriend’s brother
- opposites attract
- bi awakening

Up to his usual party shenanigans, Darren suggests a game of Truth or Dare to liven things up. The game ends up going sideways though when he gives Linc, his ex-girlfriend’s brother, a dare to kiss any guy at the party thinking Linc would chicken out. He doesn’t.

Now all Darren can think about is Linc and the hottest kiss of his life, and how much he didn’t hate it… Or Linc. In fact, every single time he’s around Linc, he can’t stop touching him or putting his mouth on him, and it’s becoming a problem.

Darren & Linc’s story wasn’t my favorite, but the tension and chemistry between these two was 🤌🏻

[Aribel Mejia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like I waited a thousand years to read this book and the wait was killing me, Darren is my favorite character in the entire series and I really enjoy his way of being and he is such a misunderstood character for me, he is my baby and I love him with all my heart, I loved seeing him fall in love with Linc and his love story I loved it, now I feel like I have to wait years lol for the third one and I'm dying to read Kevin's book.
----------------------------------------
siento que espere mil años para leer este libro y es que la espera me estaba matando , Darren es mi personaje favorito de toda la serie y disfruto mucho su forma de ser y es que es un personaje tan incomprendido para mi , es mi bebe y lo amo con todo mi corazon , ame verlo enamorarse de Linc y su historia de amor me encanto , ahora siento que tengo que esperar años lol para el tercero y es que me muero por leer el libro de Kevin.

[Steph (Teacups & Tropes) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was adorable and I loved it.

I wasn’t sold on Darren and I actually almost DNFed 50 pages in but omg I’m so glad I stuck with it. Darren is the sweetest man 🥹 And he was so perfect with Linc. I definitely liked this one more than the first book. And also 🥵 This had some really spicy af scenes. The tire change scene? The mechanic’s office? Whew. Good thing I have A/C!

But it’s Kevin’s book I’m DYING for. GIVE IT TO ME NOW

[raccoon reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mid. 2.5 ⭐

Probably would have been better if the narrator's voices for both MCs weren't impossible to tell apart. I never knew who was speaking and it took me out of the story every time I had to pay attention to try and figure out who he was giving voice to. Which was a LOT. Le Sigh.

[Janet Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truth or Darren was a fantastic second book in the Games We Play series. Sometimes a second book just isn’t up to snuff but this one was even better than the first. I was curious about Darren and Linc from Evan and Dawson’s story. Darren is a known ladies’ man but that’s not all he is, he’s so much more! Linc is a Tate, the wealthy family that doesn’t have anything to do with the town. When he loses his college fund he is forced to get a job and mingle with the town. Neither of these two are how they seem. This story was sooo freakin good, I literally couldn’t put it down. The characters are multi-dimensional with complex layers that I didn’t see coming. I seriously loved this story! Overall, a fantastic story. Well written with pacing that just flows and keeps you engaged within the story!

[haletostilinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐︎ 4.5 Stars Rounded up! ⭐︎

While I didn't quite love this one as much as the first, I sill loved it overall and enjoyed it immensely.

While slow at times, especially near the end, and perhaps it went on longer than it should have, hence my .5 stars off, I still enjoyed the majority of this.

Darren and Linc had great chemistry. Starting where book one left off in the epilogue, Darren and Linc kiss during a dare, and Darren, who thought he was straight, has his world shook by kissing Linc, his ex-girlfriend's brother.

Linc tries to stay away for that very reason, and he believes that Darren had broken his sister's heart in high school, because she cried for weeks after they broke up. But, not is all as it seems, and Darren was actually broken up by his sister not the other way around, and doesn't know, to this day, why she broke up with him.

As Linc gets to know Darren more and more, he starts to see Darren for who he really is, not who he thought he was, or believed him to be, and of course, he starts falling for the guy. Darren, who had previously never been into a guy before, finds himself very into Linc.

I did love their chemistry. Their first time on the side of the road in Linc's car...damn *fansself* is it hot in here or just me? ;)

I loved so much of them falling in love together and them getting together. The sister's ex thing wasn't too big of a deal, although it did come into play eventually. I do wish it had been a bigger deal, but Abby, Linc's sister, barely cared, although she was a little weirded out. But there was more drama around the reason Abby broke up with Darren all those years ago than these two being together.

Which, it would have really brought the drama if Abby had truly cared about them being together. *sigh* another reason for the .5 off, although in the grand scheme of things, ti wasn't too big of a deal.

So yeah, overall this was great and I enjoyed these two together so much. I just think that some of about the last 20-ish percent could have been cut out. It started to drag just the littlest bit by then.

I still highly recommend this overall. Definitely worth a read. Can't wait to dive into the next book about Kevin and Garret, Darren's father. Hopefully it fully goes into the "father's best friend" trope. Onto the next!

My ratings for the Games We Play Series:

🔆 Never Have I Evan: 5 stars (my review)
🔆 Truth or Darren: 4.5 Stars
🔆 7 Minutes in Kevin: Currently Reading

[⋆｡°✮ Lucy InTheSky ✮°｡⋆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Awww man, Darren was so promising! So, so promising!

In this installment we get to know Darren, the man-slut, the straight playboy , who's energetic, daring, always up for something fun, he's playful and 23 years old, works as a mechanic in an auto-repair shop and has ADHD.

Darren really surprised me.
I thought he was just some frat-boy-lookalike trying to get laid all the time, but there was so much depth to Darren and for him alone I'm rating this book with 3⭐, because the rest of it didn't do Darren justice, at least in my opinion.

🟡 Demi/pansexual awakening
🔵 Both MCs are vers
🟢 You're my princess

Everything started out promising , great, in fact, Linc is Darren's ex-girlfriend's twin brother and for some reason Linc's family hates Darren, because he supposedly broke her heart, so of course Linc hates him too and when they're in a game of truth-and-dare, they kiss and realise they have crazy chemistry.

🌶️ They hook up a couple of times and it's really hot, Darren is a dirty talker and their sex is great, but what started as You're my dirty, slutty princess, fell flat in the second half of the book.

There are quite many things that bothered me here and didn't make the story interesting and exciting - and it should've been, because this is Linc, the preppy boy, getting plowed by the local big, ripped mechanic , so;

🟣 Darren's ex-girlfriend.

All the time I was just thinking : Are you kidding me? They were together for 5 weeks in high school and didn't even have sex!, she was married to a woman at this point and it was made into a big deal where Linc and Darren's relationship was under question because of those 5 weeks.

Like, what??

🔵 Linc's parents.

They have grown up kids and they put Linc in a terrible financial position, and yet when he finds someone, they have a really strong opinion about someone their daughter dated as a teenager, again, for 5 weeks.

It was ridiculous, and the author didn't adress the fact that Linc has been pining for Darren even before his sister started dating him , I think that was important, not the stupid 5 weeks quasi relationship.

The whole thing was blown way out of proportion, by everyone.

🟢 Darren and Linc's budding relationship.

They were hooking up and they went pretty fast from Darren being straight to Darren wanting forever .

I mean, forever, really? It wasn't believable at all. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, there's a relationship in existence, with them only just getting to know each other and it wasn't even insta-love.

I don't think it works that way in real life, I mean I can't imagine guys having sexually explosive hook-ups and starting to talk about a forever relationship on their 3rd peen-meet-and-greet.

Am I wrong? Maybe I'm wrong.

Even for fiction, it wasn't working, I wasn't sold. Darren should've been more playfully combative.


🟠 Darren's character change.

He went from being playful and assertive, very opinionated, to a very domesticated husband type.

He skipped a few years! 😄

I wanted to read about that Darren that we had in previous installments and in the beginning of the book.
No such luck.

🟣 Where's the banter? Where is that initial animosity, tension and push/pull? That quickly faded and it was badly needed in this story.

They became friendly way too soon, so this didn't feel like enemies-to-lovers at all.


All this time I'm looking for that humor and originality from Lyle's book and it's missing.

The stories are very tame , despite the original crazy fun ideas, but we do get the hot sex.

It's almost like the side characters are literally saving the story.


I have a strong feeling that Kevin's story is going to be the best in the series. It's got to do with Darren's hot, big truck driver daddy, so I hope I'm going to be pleasantly surprised.

[Lillian Francis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant job of making both Darren and Linc sympathetic characters after both had been questionable in their actions in previous books.
Love that the previous couples make an appearance without feeling forced into the storyline.
Kudos for getting them together earlyish in the book and not resorting to a manufactured break up to carry the book along.
* opposites attract
* rich/poor
* enemies to lovers
* blue collar - mechanic
* journalist
* kink - dirty talk
* small town romance

I can't wait for Kev and Garrett's book.

[Jeanette Buck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking forward to Darren's story and it didn't disappoint but it still surprised me. In the other stories we have come across Darren he have been cheeky and easy going. But he is so much more. Despite having his struggles he is such a kind and gentle person who is always happy to help everyone. He always thought he was straight but when his ex girlfriends brother Linc returns. There are some negative feelings but also a strong chemistry between them. As they start spending more time together they slowly explore the chemistry and start falling for each other. They are are good for each other but not everyone are happy but they are strong together. I loved reading this story and it definitely had me swooning at times.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is so great. And it was easy to love Darren and Linc. Linc has to basically start from scratch and find his own way, and by the way his family sucks. But he's about to be Darren's princess, and the sparks are flyin! Darren doesn't believe in himself and it breaks your heart. He's such a caring guy, but he puts his foot in his mouth sometimes for sure. I was definitely here for all the wooing, though. Swoon.

[Ed Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love D. J. Jamison’s books. I also love Granville and the stories she writes about it. This was one of my favorites. I haven’t read this series straight through because I like to savor these stories and come back and visit when I’ve read some mediocre books. They always pick up my mood. Darren and Link go from enemies to lovers in a most beautiful way. I only have one more book to go so that makes me sad. I listened to the audiobook and John Solo was great as always.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely my favorite of the series!

[Sara | sara.reads.too.much · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I devoured this book!

I liked Lincoln right from the first book and I was so excited to see how his relationship with Darren would grow throughout! This book is definitely my favourite of the two, but I enjoyed both!

Linc and Darren and absolutely perfect together, and when they love, they love with their whole heart ❤️🥹

I also love a good forbidden romance and I also love a character that discovers something about themself and takes it in stride!

I’m excited for Kevin and Garrett’s story next! Who doesn’t love a good age gap??

[Sharing The Book Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darren and Linc story, unexpectedly sweet. From book 1 I was expecting more drama maybe based solely on the parts of the characters we'd seen previously but I loved the sweetness and the wooing in the book!

[Cynthia Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful characters trying hard to find their way. Linc and Darren had different up bringing but coming together made their lives so much more worthwhile.

I did receive an Arc for a review.

[Beagle Lover (Avid Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 solid stars

A well written book of the enemies to friends to lovers genre.

During a game of "Truth or Dare" at a boring party, enemies Darren (The working stiff) and Linc (The spoiled rich openly gay college kid) meet when Darren challenges Linc that could not complete the dare he has for him. Linc accepts the dare: to kiss any guy at the party. Wanting to humiliate Darren(or possibly entice him) he accepts the dare. After completing the challenge, everyone is shocked that Linc chose Darren to kiss, and with heat. And that Darren responded in kind. And being supposedly straight, Darren begins to question his sexuality.

As a result to Darren having dated and dumped Linc's sister, Abby, Linc harbors a deep hatred for the other man. The plotline that explains this is well developed and gives fantastic insight into the duo's mutual feelings. The banter between the protagonists is a perfect blend of humor, sarcasm and true emotion, leading credibility to their interactions.

Multiple subplots add, not detract, from the story. A few are downright outlandish and made me genuinely laugh out loud. Others only complimented the main plot as supporting storylines.

Mrs. Jamison manages to gradually bring about subtle changes in nearly every character throughout the book, including the townfolk' s opinion of Linc when he is hire to write about the "goings on" in small-town Granville, Nebraska for a local blog.

Linc realizes, after several unintended and planned meetings with Darren that his enemy is actually an extremely caring individual. (Oddly enough, a tire iron figures into this change.) Darren realizes the same is true about Linc. And as a result, the heat between them becomes tangible and meaningful. But Darren still cannot convince himself that he is bi, not 100% straight.

As the two become increasingly aware of their true feelings for each other and more backstory is brought forth, the pair realize the interceding 5 years, while Linc was attending a prestigious out of town college while Darren worked as a auto mechanic in Granville, had changed both of them in unimaginable and unintended ways. Ways that seemingly colluded in bringing them closer to admitting their true feelings for one another.

When Linc learns a shocking secret from his parent's that effects his future, Darren is the one to console and get him through the news. This seals the caring image Linc has regarding Darren and their relationship deepens.

As the story builds toward its conclusion, both men must make serious decisions about how they want their relationship to proceed. Darren is offered part ownership of the garage, as Ray, the owner, wishes to retire. Linc's uncle in Chicago offers to pay his final year's tuition at his college, provided he takes an internship in the city.

What evolves out of the lovelorn couple's decisions? Will they still be together at summer's end? Or will another revelation drive them apart? All I can advise is this: read and discover to outcome for yourselves.

Thanks to the author for a free signed copy of this entertaining book via a Goodreads giveaway. I am truly privileged to have been able to read this very satisfying story that is so well told with true emotions, perfect editing and a unique plot. Who knew to men could fall in love on a dare??

[monika · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was such a fun read from the start to finish I absolutely loved it not a single bad thing to say about this book.
Enemies to lovers is one of my favourite tropes so i have to read it and it did not disappoint.
It starts with Darren and linc in a party and Darren dare linc to kiss any guy in that room and guess who linc kisses...... Yes DARREN...!!!!! (This was my favourite scene 😊😍) and let me tell you Darren is straight and linc sisters ex😅.
That one kiss shook Darren completely and made him realise he may not be as straight as he thought he was.
Definitely recommend it☺️❤️✨

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Darren was a very brash, kind of irritating character on previous books, so I was worried I wouldn't like it but he's surprisingly loveable. And with Linc they make a cute couple. I really like their story, it's pretty deep yet sweet.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely obsessed!!! I loved this book!! I can’t wait until October for the next book!!

[Jacquie Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was cute. Gave Darren new depth that he didn't seem to have in the other books. Lincoln I really liked.

[Amanda F · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. Not necessarily anything wrong with this one. I didn’t love the audio narration, but as far as the book goes, it was good. More insta love than I like, but still a solid story. I liked the town secondary storyline and I’d like following along with the other books in this series.

[☠︎︎༒︎✞︎ ѕℓιм ☠︎︎༒︎✞︎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

good

https://ladiikeiii.wordpress.com/2024...

***Spoilers here and there***

I think deep down it had to take Darren to meet someone for him to change and show people the real him. In reality; It was the person who hated him for all the wrong reasons. Because of said person twin sister … but I’m glad that Abby finally told her parents including Linc the truth about who really broke her heart.

Especially for them to hate someone for that long for no particular reason! When reality he did nothing wrong!

I’m glad everything worked out in the end. Especially learning more about Lincoln especially with him popping up in the other series I had read that connected to this series.

[Ren || Reading What I Want · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre/Tropes: MM, Bi-Awakening, Small Town
POV: 1st, Dual
Series: Games We Play, #2
STEAM LEVEL: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
——————

Oh my goodness, I absolutely ended up LOVING Darren and Linc’s story. I was kinda ehhh about both of these characters from the first book but gah! They are seriously perfect after reading their cute, sexy, swoon-worthy little story. This is an amazing example of how an author can make two mediocre side characters into phenomenal main characters. The pacing, the conversations, the actions, the LOVE was all just…flawless!

|| “𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜𝚗’𝚝 𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚔𝚞𝚙𝚜. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚎. 𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚒𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚘𝚏 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐.” ||

Darren really surprised me. He’s what you call a man misunderstood. On the outside he’s arrogant, a player, deviant, and a bit wild. But his true self helped his sister, went above and beyond for his boss, and cared deeply for those he loved. The way he wooed Linc? 😍

And Linc! The rich boy who tried to get Evan (from book 1) became the not-so-rich boy thrust into a life of working and less than stellar forms of transportation. But that young man took it in stride and did what he had to do, all while putting his trust in his twin sister’s ex and falling for him hard.

Seriously, y’all, this is a MUST READ. Of course read the first book, but you gotta follow it up with this one. And after all the tidbits of Kevin and Darren’s sad Garrett, I’m SO FREAKING EXCITED for their story in the next book. I’m so happy and content right now.

[Moumita Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good read!!!!

Swoony! Flirty!! Hot!!!

Starts with a Dare!!!

Really enjoyed the book.

Deducted a star for ADHD was not accurately represented.