Let’s Read Good Books

This is my first Ali Hazelwood book and I loved it! I enjoyed the slow burn romance, the tension of the chess matches, and the quirky side characters. I wasn’t so sure I loved Mal, the angry, self-destructive heroine, but she made a rousing comeback near the book’s conclusion.

Mallory Greenleaf has put her life on hold to atone for what she believes are the sins of her past. Her father is gone, her mother is suffering from a chronic disease, and she has two younger sisters to care for. Mal is focused solely on keeping a roof over their heads, giving up scholarships and the sport she loved – chess.

With her BFF Easton heading off to college in just a few weeks, she agrees, reluctantly, to participate in a charity chess tournament. She wipes the floor with her opponent, Nolan Sawyer, the notorious “Kingkiller,” who is the current number one ranked professional chess player.

When she’s fired from her mechanic job, Mallory is desperate for money. When she’s offered a fellowship at a chess club, she is forced to take it, despite her complicated relationship with the game.

The tension between Mallory and Nolan is sizzling. This is my favorite kind of romance – the soul deep stares, constant thoughts of the other person, the drive to lift each other to perform their best. All Nolan wants is rematch with Mal, but she refuses. Chess isn’t fun for her, and Nolan’s reputation as a sore loser has her wary of him.

I loved Nolan. He’s steady, supportive, even-keeled. He only wants what’s best for Mallory, and he thinks she’s wasting her potential with her refusal to play chess beyond the contract term of her fellowship. He also has a painful past with the game, one that he’s still struggling with. And despite his love for the game, he’s starting to feel bored playing the same unimaginative players. Then along comes Mallory with her hang-ups and fierce determination to never let herself be happy again.

I couldn’t put Check & Mate down and finished it in two reading sessions. While this may have been my first Ali Hazelwood, it most certainly will not be my last.

5 Stars