Viola Fisher is the epitome of perfection.She despises my one-night stands and mocks my less-than-classy habits.She’s smart, beautiful, and too good to be true.And I want her. If she were anyone else, I’d have made my move years ago, but considering she’s my best friend’s little sister, she’s always been off-limits. Not to mention how much she loathes my very existence. Hating me is her religion, … sister, she’s always been off-limits. Not to mention how much she loathes my very existence.
Hating me is her religion, but needing her is mine. Her sexy curves and filthy smart mouth make me want her even more, and I’m more determined than ever to change her mind.
I’ll prove I’m done playing games.
But until then, we’ll continue to play by her rules.
Viola Fisher may have won the battle, but the war isn’t over yet.
Checkmate, princess.
*Recommend for ages 18+ due to sexual content and adult language.*
**This is Love is book 2 in the Checkmate Duet. You must read This is War first.**
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This book picks up right where we left off in the previous book. You’ll need to read the first book otherwise you’ll be lost.
The first book was a whirlwind of activity and the second is the same way.
Viola and Travis it seems they have waved a white flag however that won’t last and we all know it the war is far from over.
Like the synopsis says– She might have won the battle but the war isn’t over. Meaning we know much more is to come between these two!! Overall it’s irresistible and I couldn’t get enough of Travis and Viola.
Audiobook Review:
Now that I finished this story I feel bad for even doubting Kennedy Fox. Travis didn’t make a full 180 or anything, it’s more that he grew on me. And he more than showed his dedication and devotion to Viola and that’s all I really wanted. There were so many surprises and unexpected moments. But they were laid out perfectly to keep the story flowing and keep me invested.
I also really loved Courtney and Drew. They were too funny, especially Courtney and her responses to him. I kind of wanted to shake him sometimes because of Mia, but it also has me super excited for future books.
Lia Langola was perfection once again. She’s one of my favorite narrators for a reason. She has great female and male tones. And overall she just has a great voice for romance novels.
I can’t wait to devour more books by this author duo as well as this narrator.
So playing Travis King’s game did not really work out for Viola Fisher. Little does she know he wants her as much as she wants him but she is off limits, and he thinks she hates him. Travis is out to prove to Viola that he is done playing games. What happens when they can not fight the attraction any longer. The banter continues and sparks fly. Again this is a awesome enemies to lovers. Great ending to this duet.
***** AUDIOBOOK REVIEW *****
Kennedy Fox seriously turned the saunas heat up. This is Love, the conclusion to Travis and Viola’s story. I was obsessed with it! I lived the push/pull of the love/hate they had going on in the first book. However, this second installment was different, or it felt different. After the first book, they had reached a truce and were starting to see each other as something more. Travis was a fabulous character when he was a jerk, he was that guy we all loved to hate. But sweet Travis? Falling in love Travis is irresistible!
Lia Langola continued to excel in the narration. I do wish we would have had a male co-narrator but I think that’s just my preference. Langola didn’t do a thing wrong and she did good trying to cover both characters. I just prefer duet or dual narration when the book has a male and female side.
I want to ready this series over and over again! I love it so much. I felt like I was living in the moment with them. I enjoyed every single second of this book! It makes my emotional heart so happy!
Audiobook listen
The book picks up where book one left us with Travis in hospital and then dealing with his recovery, which allows him time with Viola, who is helping him and brings them closer together as a couple but sees them still hiding it from her brother who is also Travis’ best friend.
Who is this new Travis? This is the Travis is wanted to see in book one and I have ultimately forgiven him for his bad-boy ways due to his unconditional love for Viola.
I loved their coming together and their commitment to each other and liked how they could trust each other even after everything that had happened previously. Until that moment that threw doubt into Viola’s mind and I want to shake her so bad with some of the choices she made.
This book is filled with so many swoon moments and talk about HOT, pass me the fan! Their chemistry for each other never lessened and when they did finally get together they made my heart warm with their love and dedication for each other.
We get more of Courtney and Drew in this book, setting them up for what I sure will be another great read for this series.
This was a well-read audiobook and I loved both the male and female voices from the narrator.
ARC received for an honest review.
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Overall Ratings;u2063
POV – Dual
Hero –
Heroine –
Story –
Steam –
Chemistry –
Travis and Viola’s story continues in “This Is Love.” This book is just as intense as the first one in this duet, although their feelings for each other have changed. But because of twists and turns and misunderstandings, because of their own insecurities and overwhelming emotions, and because they feel they have to hide their love from Viola’s brother, their young love is in danger of falling apart ….
This book is exciting to the end and again I could not put it down.
***Audio Book Review***
Oh my goodness I am team #traviola all the way! This was a beautiful, intense, mind blowing finish to a nonstop action love story! The cliffhanger, the stress, the secrets & mischief…. it was all an absolute joy to read/ listen to!
I seriously LOVED this duet!! Travis and Viola are everything! I was completely immersed in their story and found myself listening to the audiobook any chance I could! I am completely hooked on Kennedy Fox’s words and am sooooo excited to binge all of their books!!
So I got the chance to listen to the first part of this duet: Checkmate – This is War, earlier this year, and when it ended on a cliffhanger I was about to die because I didn’t think I’d get the second one. But then I did and I was glad because I needed answers! I did realize though that I’d heard the name of who was in the backseat of Travis’s car in the wreck wrong at the end of the first one. It wasn’t the woman from his work, it was Drew’s ex-girlfriend.
When I realized who it really was, I was a little irritated with how Viola reacted to it and how she didn’t trust Travis. Because while he may have been a womanizer, I couldn’t see him doing anything like that to his best friend Drew, and I can’t believe Viola thought he’d do something like that.
The second half of this duet was good, but not as good as the first half. As I mentioned above, a couple of the things I hate took place to add the drama to this. First, the not believing someone who really had not given any reason for that distrust in this situation. Secondly, the not telling someone something because you were afraid of how they’d react, when waiting any longer really was only going to make it worse in case they found out the wrong way, or even just the fact that they’d lied for so long.
Also about the last quarter of the book was all kind of epilogue style stuff, nothing really major. Of course until the very end when we do get a bit of a cliffhanger or surprise moment that leads us to needing to read the duet that comes after this one about Viola’s brother Drew. Which yes, I’m totally on board for and will need to get ahold of when I get the chance!
The story carries on right where we left Travis and Viola in that massive cliff hanger of book 1. I was on the end of my seat waiting to hear the explanation of how Travis ended up in the situation he was in that night. I didn’t doubt that Viola would stay by his side in some capacity as they have too much history between them. Mia ugh Mia I can’t stand her, she is such a conniving character, always out to cause harm and stir the pot; but granted it does add to the drama of the story throughout this book, she is like a bad smell that won’t go away.
This novel has all the back and forth banter and chemistry I loved about Travis and Viola, although their relationship felt more on a level playing field. Feelings are out in the open (between them at least) and everything seems like it will work out until it doesn’t. A lack of communication is what causes things to hit the rocks yet again; but I love seeing how to characters that are so irrevocably drawn to each other navigate their way back to the other half of themselves.
Overall I was happy with how Travis and Viola’s book turned out, it held the humour, the chemistry, the drama and emotion that I loved about the first book. The pacing lulled a little for me at times but other than that I enjoyed the audiobook a lot. I wasn’t a huge fan of Lia Langola’s narration in the first book This is War as I found her voice to similar between characters and I lost track of which characters POV it was. I am glad to say her performance for me was much improved her and the characterisation was much easier to follow, I enjoyed her performance this time.
The audio for this book was amazing!! Travis King=Orgasm King!!! The things that man does to make sure Viola is satisfied is everything!! Kennedy Fox knocked it out of the park with this one!
Ok. So I loved book one. The back and forth, the angst, the drama. I felt like I was right there, fighting the battle to win the war.
But book two didn’t evoke the same emotions for me. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed it, but there was something about the peace after the war that rubbed me wrong.
I really liked Viola in book one, but she became this insecure, insincere person in this one and it made it really hard for me to relate to her overall. Some of her decisions were questionable at best, and others were just car crashes waiting to happen. Her lack of trust in her partner and relationship was a shiny point of contention for me because of the ‘say one thing and do another’ aspect to it.
Now, Travis on the other hand was basically the high point for me. For the most part. When he really turned on the sweet, I was a little concerned I was going to get diabetes, but it all worked out for the most part.
I got real mad at Drew for being kind of stupid as well, but I might come around to forgiving it.
Maybe. We’ll see how it goes.
This was a rollercoaster of emotions for me. I didn’t think my heart was going to take it. I wanted to cry and scream. I was fighting so hard for Travis and Viola. Kennedy Fox did not hold back, shredding my heart and then putting me back together again.
Travis has truly grown throughout this duet. His trust, support, and love never waivering. Viola’s choices may have hurt them both but its what they needed to find their way back. Their passion for each other is electric and all consuming. Their story sits a the top of my favorites, Kennedy Fox never disappoints and it only gets better and better.
The narrator did a phenomenal job taking on both these characters. Completely fantastic! I can’t wait to start the next duet with Drew, Viola’s hot cop brother!
This is the second book in the Checkmate Duet, a brother’s best friend, and enemies to lovers romance. The story continue where the first book left off. Travis and Viola’s story is funny and sexy. The storyline has drama, and twists and turns. I love the friendship in this story. Lia Langola did an amazing job with the narration. I enjoyed it! Looking forward to listen to the next duet in the Series, This Is Reckless, Drew and Courtney’s story.
Audio Review
I wondered just how Kennedy Fox was going to solve the problem that arose at the end of the first novel of this duet but I needn’t have worried.
Once again this writing duo (ably supported by narrator Lia Longoria) bring a story of which you can’t wait to get to the end, whilst conversely, not wanting it to end at all!
I love that we get not only a HEA but beyond that and ‘evidence’ which reaches far into the future.
#ilovetraviola
SWOONING!!! Man! The conclusion was everything I wanted from Viola and Travis! I was SO ready to jump in this story to beat the shit out of Mia fucking Montgomery! Damn that chick…. and Alyssa was really no better! But the love between Travis and Viola was just beautiful! The sibling’s best friend is always a favorite of mine, so this was fantastic. (and I really look forward to Drew and Courtney’s story!). I am not going to lie…. Travis being a man whore at the beginning of “Checkmate: This is War” kind of bothered me…. especially since he seemed to enjoy rubbing Viola’s face in it….. but the way that he became totally devoted to her once he FINALLY had her was what had me swooning so hard! And the Harry Potter references were hilarious! I am Team Traviola ALL THE WAY!
I am really enjoying the stories from Kennedy Fox… they are funny to the point where I actually laugh out loud in awkward settings and the romance is so freaking swoony that I usually feel my eyes tear up some! I look forward to getting into more of their books!
Travis and Viola’s story picks up from where we left off at the end of book one. I admit I struggled with the first book in this duet. I found it hard to connect with characters that no matter how badly I wanted to, I could not grow to like. While I had an easier go of it in book two and I did actually warm up to the characters; There was a lot of water under that bridge that I simply could not let go of or just conveniently forget. I chalk this up to my own personal pet peeves and expectations though. Single narration on this book and I felt that they did a good job in bringing the book to life.
Audio review:
This book was amazing.
While Travis makes me laugh, the love he has for Viola is undeniable.
I love Viola’s sass, her fire and the way she riles Travis up. I live for their banter.
Lia does an absolutely amazing job narrating this book.
It’s even better listening to the story after reading it.
Checkmate: This Is Love
Checkmate Duet, Book 2
By: Kennedy Fox
Narrated by: Lia Langola
Checkmate! I love this duet! Book 2 picks up right where we left off, and Travis has some explaining to do. Injured in the accident, Mia in the back seat and secretly dating Viola, the story is off to an exciting start! But what is the truth? Was Travis with Mia? Will Viola believe his story? What will happen when Drew finds out about Mia and Viola? So much is going on and the excitement is high! I loved this couple. Travis is true and loving. Viola is trusting, but needs to grow. Their history, their chemistry, their maturity and just the whole way their story flows is perfection. Add in a few extra twist and turns, plus an adorable puppy and we have check and mate!
Lia Langola finishes out the series with her fabulous voice. I love her. She knows exactly how to bring out the characters, their personalities and their emotions. Each scene is executed with care and you know she understands each character so well by her performance. I enjoyed her portrayal of this duet!
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