She’s about to play him at his own game…Joey is at the top of the chain, riding high, the King of the underworld. Paige is a woman scorned, ready to redraw the battle lines and take the throne as the Queen. She wants to reign supreme, show Joey who the boss is, and make him suffer for pushing her aside years before. The trouble with battle lines is that there is always someone who wants to take … someone who wants to take over the playing field.
There are always those who are waiting to take you down, make you beg, and have you at their mercy.
Will Paige be at Joey’s mercy?
Will Joey give up his throne?
Or will an underlying force come in like a whirlwind and rip the ground out from beneath both of them?
A dangerous game.
A love that refuses to die.
And two powerful people about to collide.
Will they have what it takes to get through the dangers that lurk around every corner?
And who will be the one to finish the game and say, “Checkmate?”
A stand-alone romantic suspense with some darker elements, from romantic suspense author, Lindsey Powell.
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what a delightful mafia romance with a bada** heroine.
Joey and Paige had all the tension, chemistry, and steaminess. Paige build herself up form nothing and now is about to make her debut to the underworld. All are stock to see that a woman is the new boss in town taking everyone by storm. She hits her mark and ex lover Joey. He’s stunned and ready for a fight, he’s not backing down. Joey will have Paige again and she will be his queen. Winner is going to take all, let the games begin.
Joey and Paige are on another new level of the hottest and steaming, passionate raw couple ever! They try so hard to keep business and their past apart, fight eachother to be on top. Though when the sizzling passion ignites them, its hard to keep their hands off eachother, their love was hard to keep away yet what’s stopping them? Their pride or their past? Or both?
I love how strong willed Paige has become of, so independent and gaining respect of by others, pegging others to see her as a strong queen. Determined to bring her once love to his knees but Joey is not one to give up either or his title but then he’s realizing things and wondering what’s he really wants, his title and lifestyle or the love of his life, Paige.
The action that went down in this book was so gripping I loved how it interfered with relationships with other characters Also I’d like to give a shout out to Donovan because I really liked him Overall this was so good, Joey and Paige fighting for to be on top in the Underworld…who called the shots?
Thank you Lindsey for this digital arc copy for honest review!!
5.5 stars and worth every one!! I can’t love this any more.
Checkmate is AMAZING! Oh boy, this fast paced, angst filed, extremely hot read will suck you in and you won’t leave! At all.. until your finished. I think I read this in record time, once I started I was a goner.
Lindsey Powell has produced one powerful story.
Paige is ready to claim her crown. Being scorned in the past made her tougher, made her smarter. Will she be able to play the king for a shot at supremacy or will Joey stand his ground and show her how the kingdom is really run.
Let their game begin.
I seriously seriously LOVE this book!! The power plays and the dominance throughout it commanded your attention from the get go. There is so much pull in here you can’t not read on. Paige is one saucy heroine with a taste for power.
I can’t recommend this enough!
Joey is an Alpha in all the best ways and King of the underground.
Paige was the love of his life and his weakness. If anyone found out, they would have targeted and hurt her just to get to him. So to protect her, he ended their relationship in the harshest way because he knew she wouldn’t leave easily.
Now Paige is back. Having picked herself up from being devastatingly heartbroken, she has built her own empire in the underground world and is now seen as a ruthless leader who everyone knows not to cross or mess with.
She uses her hurt and rejection to fuel her need to take Joey down and make him suffer.
Lindsey knows exactly how to write a story that will pull you in from the get go!
I loved the chemistry and the way Paige brought out reactions in Joey that no one else could. His instinct to protect her and need to make her his again was intensely romantic.
And the sex!!!! Sooo steamy, erotic and HOT!!!
I loved seeing how their relationship evolved as they challenged each other, Paige working through her past hurt, Joey dealing with the fear of losing Paige and the way they expressed their true feelings for each other.
It made for an emotionally exciting, hot and thrilling read. And the underlying dangers and threats of underground world added more suspense and edge to the overall story.
YES YES YES
What’s better than a bad a$$ heroine, in the mafia world?
Nothing and Paige is AWESOME (I may have a slight girl crush on her) and Joey, Joey, Joey, that man
Gorgeous 2nd chance romance, in one of my favourite genre’s and its was outstanding.
OMG, I loved this dark and steamy romance! I was sucked in from the start! Paige is such a badass! No way was she taking being tossed aside by Joey laying down. No, she builds her revenge over 3 years and becomes an underworld queen that will take him down. Joey will play her game but only to get her back. He caused himself just as much heartbreak when pushed Paige away. Their chemistry is even more scorching after all these years. You don’t want to miss seeing the king get his queen!
If I had to sum up this book in two words….. YASSSS QUEEN!!
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Seriously, this was my thought at Chapter One! And Paige is the ultimate boss bitch queen! She has pulled herself out of the gutter and made something of herself in a predominantly male centred world, transforming into a badass, independent, confident woman and I am here for it
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‘ɪ’ᴍ ᴀ ᴜᴄᴋɪɴɢ Qᴜᴇᴇɴ ɪɴ ᴍʏ ᴏᴡɴ ʀɪɢʜᴛ, ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ’ʀᴇ ɴᴏᴛ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ʀᴏᴍ ᴍᴇ’
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I loved that this wasn’t a typical read, things I expected were flipped and I love the powerful message this book sends for women in particular. Joey and Paige’s chemistry jumps off the page, is there anything better for a romance reader than to feel a palpable tension between characters when reading?! Lindsey throws in the right mix of steam to the story in a way that doesn’t feel forced for the sake of it, it’s only added where it naturally fits in the story and that is something I want in romance novels.
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There’s so much I want to say, but I really don’t want to spoil too much which makes this incredibly hard! This was my first read of Lindsey’s work, and I have no doubt I will read more of her words in future .
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I loved this story. Paige was a complete badass! I love how she was so fiesty and independent. And Joey….. Well….. He was just a walking, talking, hot alpha a-hole who is sexy as hell . I loved their relationship together and really hope these characters start talking again so we can get another book! Loved it
OH MY GOSH! There is just something about a woman scorned by the one man she loves and watching her become all bada$$.
“They roam up and down my body, and they ignite, showing me the fire he holds inside for me.” *swoon*
Paige had loved Joey and Joey walked away. He wanted to protect her from his world but never told her why he left. She is determined to become the Queen and play him at the game.
When they collide, it is combustible. There are no holds and it is all out against the other. You have to love seeing Paige become the Queen she wants to be and seeing Joey witness all that she has become.
Well that was hot as hell! Joey breaking Paige’s heart hardened her into a woman that eventually comes gunning for the life he left her for. What ensues is nothing short of explosive on every front. Their chemistry is palpable from the start, the complicated lives they lead starting a dance that crosses boundaries on every level. The banter, the heat, the danger, it’s all fantastic. And then ending is nothing short of perfection.
Lindsey has knocked it out of the park again!
I love all her books, but I have a special place in my heart for Joey & Paige. Dark romance with tons of angst & suspense is my favourite genre. This book has it in spades.
Paige is a woman scorned & she has revenge in her sights. Joey is a bad a$$, at the top of his game. Watching these two dance around each other & the push and pull between them had me turning the pages into the small hours.
Lindsey’s words are magical. I was hooked from the get go. Can I put in a request for Miles’s book? I’d also love more Paige & Joey. Let me tell you, you are not ready for Joey Valentine. 5 very well deserved stars!
This book had everything I like, strong woman, alpha male, good story, lovers to enemies to lovers and so much more.
Paige is hurt and thrown aside, that’s ok she picks her self up and becomes the most powerful women in the underworld. Joey the man who threw her aside is completely shocked that the woman that has moved up in the ranks and become only second in power to him, is Paige.
Paige wants revenge against Joey, or does she. This is the struggle Paige goes through. There are some great quotes from Paige that are said to Joey: “I don’t need a man to make it in this world, and I sure as hell don’t open my legs to turn a profit.” “I’m the motherfucking viper, baby.” This is Queen Paige!
King Joey is intent on breaking down her walls and making her is Queen. He thought this would be easy, but Paige is not the same.
I forgot to mention all the HOT STEAMY SEXY TIME. It was perfectly place within the story, not just out of the blue for the sake of a sex scene. (chef’s kiss for this)
This is the story of how two powerful people navigate the underworld and find their way back to each other. It is well written and the characters, not only our dual POV’s but secondary characters are fleshed out themselves. I highly recommend this book. Also, check out other books by this author she brings something new every time.
Checkmate drew me in from the start, it was a bit dark, suspenseful, and steamy.
Paige and Joey fell in love, and then Joey broke her heart. But she wasn’t going down without a fight, she was going to make him pay. Checkmate is the first book I have read from this author, and I’m glad I took the chance to read her work.
For the first time in my whole time I’ve reading my lady crush is bigger than my man crush.
Paige Daniels is total bada**
She walks into a room, head held high with her high heeled shoes and bam she has your attention.
I loved everything about Paige, I’m always raving everything about the man but Paige really stole the show for me.
Dont get me wrong Joey is bloody amazing too. These two together are off the charts. The sizzling chemistry, the heat, everything about these two screams pure sex.
When i first started seeing teasers about this book i knew i had to read it, no doubt in my mind.
Honestly Lindsey Powell knocked it straight out the park with this one.
Bloody amazing.
I’m just gonna claim Paige AND Joey right here.
*Mine*
Checkmate is an anti-hero romance that features a strong woman out for revenge.
Paige was crushed by Joey ending their relationship but rebuilt herself and created an empire in the male-dominated underworld. She is on a mission to prove that she on top and seek revenge against Joey. She is a smart woman who knows her business and is not afraid to fight dirty.
Joey is one of the top bosses who commands the room with his handsome looks and powerful presence.
I wish we got more of Joey and his reign at the beginning of the story to better build his character.
I loved how Paige revealed herself to Joey and the top leaders of the underworld.
Their connection was intense and blushed over their flirty and challenging banter. We need more stories like this that have strong characters who realize they are as better together as King and Queen.
This was my first Lindsey Powell book and look forward to reading more of her work.
Checkmate is my first book by Lindsey, but it won’t be my last! I’m such a sucker for a dark romance, and this fits the bill perfectly.
Paige is a woman on a mission, and as the saying goes, “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.” That’s for damn sure! She’s a total badass and I love her character so much. I also loved that Joey is this ridiculously powerful kingpin, but a complete soft little teddy bear when it comes to Paige. It was the best.
Can’t wait to read more by Lindsey!
This is the first book I’ve read by this author and ill definitely be reading more!
Joey is the king of the underworld. He knows the downfalls of his job and if he has to hurt the ones he loves to keep them safe, he’s no problem doing that. Paige is the woman whose heart Joey broke and we all know the saying about a woman scorned. Paige is out for revenge and she’s determined to knock Joey off his throne once and for all. It’s obvious fairly quickly that the sparks between these two still burn as hot as before, their chemistry is still as intense and as hard to ignore, as Paige is about to find out. She thinks she’s ready to deal with Joey but are there’s till feelings lingering between them?
This is a really good read. I loved both the characters and I definitely recommend this book.