She hates him.He loves getting under her skin.Travis King is the worst kind of ahole.He taunts me for being a good girl and mocks my high standards.He’s cruel, crass, and has enough confidence to last two lifetimes.And I hate him.It wouldn’t matter so much if he were avoidable.But considering he’s my older brother’s best friend and roommate, I see him more than I’d ever want to. His sculpted abs … roommate, I see him more than I’d ever want to. His sculpted abs and gorgeous eyes are wasted on such an arrogant man, which makes me hate him even more.
Even though I’ve had a crush on him since I was ten, the feelings weren’t mutual and he’s made that very clear. He’s always loved getting under my skin and one night against my better judgment, I let him in my bed. I’ve succumbed to his manwre ways, but that doesn’t change a thing.
Because the King is about to get played at his own game—and lose.
Checkmate, King.
This is book 1 in the Travis & Viola duet and must be read first. Suggested for mature readers only.
more
Book one that leaves you with a cliff hanger!
Great banter. I really liked this book and the writing style! I found Travis very annoying in the first few chapters; they really built up the fact that he was a jerk and manwhore. So I was impressed that I was rooting for him a few chapters later! I started to really like seeing him and Viola interact with each other! They’re both such passionate and incredibly stubborn people. I adore a their continuous banter. They’re perfect for each other and I can’t wait to continue their story in book 2!
These duets by the writing duo of Kennedy Fox are killing me! Every time I listen to the first book, I forget it’s a duo and think it’s about to wrap up at the end and then POW!!! There is always a big cliffhanger at the end that makes it impossible to not listen to the next one.
This is a enemies to lovers trope featuring a guy who really gets around with the ladies. He is one very busy guy. If you don’t like the hero who is sleeping with every chick out there, this one might not be for you. The tension between Travis and Viola is incredible. The heat factor is also way up there, should that be a problem. If not, please read or listen to this very compelling hot romance. I think it is my favorite so far.
The narration by Lia Langola was superb and it didn’t bother me at all that she was also reading the male part.
I was given a complimentary copy of this audiobook via Kennedy Fox.
Travis and Viola #1
Lia Langola ,as audiobook narrator, does a great job as always.
This story was not only a brother’s best friend, childhood friend turned enemy, but also cocky playboy who is a temporary roommate as well.
All the favorite genres added into one story.
I really loved their war, it was hilarious and heated. Their hate for each other was intense.
As long as you don’t have an issue for language and definite attraction hidden under hatred, you will love this.
I don’t know how to rate this book 🙁
Some parts I just felt like Viola was being a bit childish with all the pranks. And Travis OMG manwhore galore. I don’t even know what to say to that.
I liked some parts of it and other parts I just felt like No No No!!!
And then on top of it, it ends on a cliffhanger
This is War is the first book of the Travis and Viola Duet in the Checkmate Series. It hits a few of my favorites tropes: brother’s best friend and enemies to lovers and it is jam packed full of witty banter and all the angst.
Viola has had the biggest crush on her brother’s best friend, Travis, since her pre-teens. A little bit of a misunderstanding and miscommunication led to the falling out of Viola and Travis’s friendship and the beginning of their love/hate relationship which has extended into their early twenties. Their relationship reminds me of elementary school dynamics where a boy likes a girl and he pulls her pigtails because he doesn’t know how to communicate his feelings—just a new adult version where pulling pigtails is replaced with snark, witty banter, and pranks.
With her college dorm apartments closing for spring break Viola is forced to stay with her brother and Travis. Their antics escalate the more they’re around each other and so does the sexual tension. There’s a lot of push and pull between the pair. They both try to push the other away for different reasons but the chemistry between the two won’t allow it.
I’m just going to go ahead and say it because there’s no way around it, Travis is a love em and leave em guy. Those player-ish ways of his get him into a few predicaments throughout book 1. Travis has his reasons for being the way he is but he’s got a long way to go to redeem himself in my eyes…especially after that cliffhanger. But I have complete faith that Kennedy Fox will not let me down in the second book of this duet, This is Love.
Although this book is told in dual POV, Lia Langola narrates both the heroine and the hero’s perspective. While I would personally prefer to have had both a female and male narrator, Lia did an amazing job narrating both. It was very easy to distinguish when she switched between Viola and Travis.
Viola and Travis are definitely an interesting couple to read. They hate each other, yet are attracted to one another. During Viola’s spring break, she is forced to spend it alone with Travis while her brother is out of town. I could not put this book down and am ready for the next one.
4.5 Stars!
Lia Langola is an amazing performer, however my only complaint is that I wish the hero scenes had been performed by a male narrator. Other than that, I absolutely enjoyed this story since I first read the book. (Maybe that’s the reason I couldn’t connect 100% when I was listening, since while reading I always imagined our hero so vividly)
Regardless, the story is masterfully crafted and well developed that I can’t wait to start listening to the conclusion of this duet!
Wow, Kennedy Fox knows how to write! I was sucked into Travis and Viola’s story immediately and the tension and build up throughout This Is War made it impossible to put the book down! I really love the enemies to lovers trope and adding in that Travis is Viola’s brother’s best friend made the story that much better!
Throughout the first portion of the book I thought the banter/bickering/fighting between Travis and Viola was witty and creative, most of the time making me laugh while leaving me slightly surprised (in a good way, of course). But when Travis and Viola finally get together it is all hot and steamy and so many feels because this relationship has been over a decade in the making!
Kennedy Fox did an amazing job making me feel all sorts of emotions throughout this book, especially with the cliffhanger! The way This Is War ends will make you want to jump into to This Is Love IMMEDIATELY! I 100% recommend this book!
The chemistry between Travis and Viola is hot. Lots of animosity and banter. Then things get hot. Brothers best friend trope. Very well written. Keeps you interested till the end. OMG!!Cliff hanger makes you need to read the next book.
I’ve read several Kennedy Fox books and this series has been on my TBR for a long time. I got the opportunity to listen to the audible for free I took the chance and even though it’s only voiced by a woman, it’s still worth it. I took the liberty of reading while listening and it only enhanced my experience.
Lia Langola does a wonderful job of voice both parts. Her rendition of Travis voice is quite hilarious in some points. She does really well in the steamy parts as well. You can feel the emotion on the pages being expressed through her voice.
Now for the actual book. Viola is a nerd as best. But she does it without any shame or regret for who she is. But also means that our hero, doesn’t mind shoving that in her face. In a sense they reminded me of a old married couple. But that’s only on the surface, the “hate” goes much deeper and stems from pain. In the past they were friends but Viola now calls Travis a womanizing jackass. Those are some of her literal words.
She says “Travis King must remember the golden rule. Never admit defeat. It was game on.”
Travis admits to what he is. He doesn’t mind being known as a ladies man because he has no desire to be any different. He loves driving Viola to hate him, he says he’s never had any inclination to bed his best friends sister despite telling her he wants in her pants. He knows nether will feel anything but hate, even though she’s the only woman he knows who’s as smart as she is gorgeous. She’s a princess who can’t be violates by his tainted hands.
This book has so many fun elements. Their chemistry is clear to see and hear. This books does have a cliffhanger, so beware.
This is absolutely a must listen to as well as a good read.
This is a duet that I read years ago. I have to say there is something wonderful with revisiting that book in audiobook. The authors have a way of writing so that I have a mental picture in my head. With the voice it gives me a full feel of Travis and Viola the emotions, scenes and memorable lines.
These two authors weave a entertaining and heartfelt story.
Although I own the ebook this review is written after listening to the audio version of this book.
This is the first part of Viola and Travis’ story, the book ends on a cliffhanger so be prepared to listen to the second book to find out how their story ends. It’s a brother’s best friend/enemies to lovers story which started when they were children, she was ten years old when she first fell in love with the then twelve-year-old Travis but three years later she heard him saying something to her brother which she found hurtful after which she became his enemy.
Years later her brother Drew and Travis are roommates and it’s impossible to avoid seeing Travis some times but when they do meet Viola and Travis tease and snipe at each other. Then during spring break whilst Drew is staying with his girlfriend Viola goes to stay at the house Drew and Travis share, alone their teasing and bickering take on a whole new level as they fight the attraction they can no longer deny.
I admit that I didn’t much like either of the characters although as the story progressed they did become a little more likeable, the storyline is at times quite hot at times and funny.
The narration of this book by Lia Langola is excellent.
This was my first Kennedy Fox “read,” and I loved it. It checks the boxes: hot alpha male with commitment issues, gorgeous independent woman who is quirky, mutual misconceived unrequited love, enemies to lovers, best friends little sister with a cliffhanger to boot! The authors may be going for a record for how many tropes they could put In one romance book! Instead of feeling overdone, it is one more aspect that adds humor to the story. I did feel like the hero and heroine had some emotional maturity issues given that they both did the equivalent of pulling a girls’ hair on the playground for close to a decade, but they do eventually dig in and do the real work of communicating and resolving all the distorted perceptions of their past. That, of course, is why they needed a cliffhanger that seems bound to drive that wedge back between them. It definitely motivates me to move on to the second half of the duet. Sometimes books in two parts feel more like one book broken into parts to sell more books, but that is not the case for this writing duo. This book had substance and was a sufficient length. It would have been a pretty long story if they had to resolve all the outstanding issues between this couple and their Happily Ever After. I also enjoyed the narration. The narrator did a good job of communicating the characters feelings. She kept me engaged in the story the whole way through. If you haven’t listened to this audio or read this book, I recommend you give it a try. I received a free copy of this audiobook and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
Book 1 in the Travis and Viola duet. Loved this friends to enemies to lovers romance. They were friends when they were growing up but thanks to a misunderstanding, her feelings toward him changed. Travis and Drew, Viola’s brother, live together so no matter how much she tries, she can’t get away from him. She decides to spend her spring break at Drew’s house and she is in for the surprise of her life when he tells her that he is going to spend time with his girlfriend. Now she is stuck spending that time with Travis. Loved watching them pick at each other. Their banter was so much fun. When they finally give into temptation and get together, it is explosive. This will end on a cliffhanger and what a cliffhanger it is. Time to move onto book 2 in their story. If this book is any indication, book 2 is going to be off the charts.
As a newbie to the audiobook world this is the book that got my addiction started of listening to stories that I have not read an actual copy of yet. It had everything that I was looking for as if I was reading a regular book. The feels from this listen were all over the place that it even had me needing to take a breather here and there. So much hatred, tension (emotionally and physically), and being torn between their true feelings especially having such a long history with each other. Freaking Love love love! <3 <3 <3
Who would have thought that this listen even broke me out of my book funk I was in. Thank you Kennedy Fox for bringing Traviola into our lives! Thank you Lia Langola for that awesome audio giveaway I had surprisingly won!
My review responses posted on Audible:
"I freaking love Travis & Viola's story!"
Would you listen to Checkmate: This Is War again? Why?
Yes! Most definitely yes! I was hooked from the start of the listen.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Checkmate: This Is War?
I enjoyed the angst and intense connection between Travis and Viola. Throughout the listen there was not a dull moment and the story always had me on the edge of my seat. I had a such a hard time putting it down!
Have you listened to any of Lia Langola’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
This is the first time listening to Lia Langola's performance and it definitely will not be the last.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Yes, my emotions were all over the place. There were many moments that I had to take a breather because of the intense reactions of the story when it came to Travis and Viola. The supporting characters, Drew and Courtney were added bonuses that assisted in getting some more feelings out of me.
This story is quite fun and lovely, as always I enjoyed Kennedy Fox’s writing.
She has a certain style that draws you in, always fluid with compelling characters, this one is no exception. I wouldn’t go that far as to say it’s a enemies to lovers story, they weren’t enemies, Travis didn’t even know why Viola didn’t like him. It’s a love to hate kind of story, one that I deeply enjoyed. The banter is nice, the characters likeable and the “games” are hilarious! Kinda juvenile, but like I said, the author has a way with words so everything sounds believable.
Lia Langola does a good job, I like her voice and her narration and overall I think it was a good choice for this book, her mature voice gave life to Viola.
First time listening to a Kennedy Fox book! I gotta say I both hated and enjoyed it. I absolutely loved the narration! It is single narrator, dual POV. At first I wasn’t sure if the female narrator was going to do Travis justice but I ended up loving her take on him. She definitely sounded like the arrogant a**hole Travis is described as.
The chemistry between Viola and Travis was off the charts and intense. You could tell they are meant to be. I enjoyed the story, I mean who doesn’t loved a good hate/love relationship, right? But, Viola’s and Travis’ constant childlike bickering and immature reactions towards each other got a bit old, after a while. It dragged on for most of the story. I also didn’t like the how Viola let Travis define her self worth for so long. They were both still too wrapped up in their own problems to really communicate their feelings until the end and then there’s a cliffhanger! However, I am excited to hear how these characters storyline ends. Overall, the story was entertaining and I am definitely invested in the characters.
They Ain’t Kiddin’
I almost felt like I needed my own armor for this one as main characters Travis and Viola began their reactionary one-ups-manship. Holy cow. I wasn’t sure if I had ventured into “War of the Roses” or Monty Python’s silly French Taunting knights who hurl useless insults. Sweet Mother of Elderberry, what’s wrong with these two?
By now, you may be wondering if I liked this book or loathed it. Make no mistake, while there were a couple of times I wanted to tell both of these characters to grow up, and neither one of them presented a truly endearing personality, I loved this book. This is escapism, just like previously mentioned silly movies/TV, this novel is all about getting away from the current crazy and into someone else’s for a little while. In the process, have some laughs and enjoy yourself.
Travis and Viola are a lot deeper than their insanity leads you to believe. Stick through that playground bully, big talking, line toeing thing they’ve both got going on. There’s real depth in their crazy (and possibly narcissistic) little heads. I’ve found that those are usually the characters that hit you the hardest– the ones that don’t seem to have anything to offer at all until BAM! You’re blindsided by two people that were insignificant dots on a page just moments before.
Among the laughs, craziness, moral (ahem) flexing, and practical jokes on an epic level, you’ll find some slow burn romance and a lot that you didn’t see coming. Be prepared: there is a cliffhanger at the end of this book, so you’ll be left clamoring for the second part of the duet. But I think it’s going to be worth it. I’m grabbing it now!
h: Viola
H: Travis
(Dual POVs)
Viola and Travis have a longgg, hate-filled past together. Once upon a time, they not only got along, but secretly crushed on each other when they were kids. Some hurtful words and lack of communication send this couple on a hate spree that grows and festers the older they get. Now, Viola is forced to stay with her brother, who just so happens to room with Travis, over spring break. But what happens when Viola’s brother makes plans to travel to see his long distance girlfriend?
First things first, if you’re easily upset by scenes with the hero and OW, this book is not for you. I’m not a huge fan of them, but I feel like I’m normally pretty tolerant of scenes with OW. The thing is, most manwhores tend to slow things down with OW once they show interest in or fool around with the heroine, but not Travis. There were several detailed scenes with multiple OW, and for this reason, I wasn’t too fond of him. My girl Viola though wasn’t going to sit there and watch all his sexual escapades while she was rooming with him and she had me laughing my ass off with some of the clever ways she tried to interrupt his time with other women!
I’m not sure if it’s because this book was literally the most hate filled enemies-to-lovers book I’ve read so far, but the sex. Holy Hottness. This book provided all the hair-pulling, throat-squeezing, angry sex that you could want! I feel the need to shove my head in a freezer just thinking about it!
Overall, it was just the hero I really didn’t like. I thought the writing was engaging and interesting and I can definitely see myself reading more books of theirs in the future! And that ending! You could be a world renowned psychic, and I still don’t think you could’ve seen that ending coming! It was completely out of left field, but in a way that leaves you with so many questions, you’re eager to read book two in their duet to get some answers!
And one last thing; thank you for dedicating this book to me!
Favorite Quotes:
Being the mature twenty-two year old that I am, I hook my iPhone up to Drew’s stereo system and blast the soundtrack to Mary Poppins through it. If that doesn’t make a hard on disappear, I’m not sure what will. -Viola
”I’m tempted to sit on your face just to shut you up.” -Viola
When she’s not angry with me, then I’ll be worried. -Travis