Checkmate: This Is War

The Checkmate Duet, Book 1

De: Kennedy Fox

Narrado por: Lia Langola

Travis King is the worst kind of a**hole.

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 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 10, 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 manw**re ways, but that doesn't change a thing.

Because the King is about to get played at his own game - and lose.

Checkmate.

©2016 Kennedy Fox (P)2016 Kennedy Fox

Check This Book Out

I'll be honest... it took me a bit to relax into this story. The constant childlike bickering between Travis and Viola got under my skin. My first reaction was to assume they were shallow but as I simply enjoyed Langoria's narration, I slowly I came to understand the characters as the author brought out thier past, and once they allowed themselves to stop denying their connection. Then came the curveball. And a whole lot of story lines left untied when the cliffhanger hit. And now I'm waiting for the next book because I was just starting to get invested in the characters.

Langoria's narration was spot on. Im not sure I would'very stuck it out if not for her. She brought the story to life, helped me enjoy this listen.

Travis & Viola

🎧 AUDIO REVIEW 🎧

AUDIO - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
BOOK - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I re read this book multiple times I love it. The argument between Travis and Viola are so funny and their chemistry is unbelievable.

This time I listened for the first time on audio and wow made it even better. I loved the audio of this book and onto book two now!!


I love how their relationships develops and how their history unfolds and that ending wow!!

This is the stuff love letters are penned from!!

My first Kennedy Fox book and can I just say that I would love for the authors to pen my love letter when I meet my very own Travis....

I read a few reviews about this series that put me off.. mostly because more than one person stated that the story dragged on a bit. This put me off for a bit then finally I decided to take the leap and yes what a freaking leap! 2 days, 2 book each 8+ hrs and I am not ready to move on. I am so love - drenched that I don't have it in me to move on from this story. This series right here defines every bit of what romance is all about. It felt as though I were watching a movie and not listening to a book!

KF took a story line that many authors have written about over and over again and transformed it to something beautiful. Travis and Viola grew up together but being Viola's brother's best friend always but a barrier between the two. The story starts off with Travis being an ass and a manwhore and whenever he is around Viola he becomes more of an ass. The banter between the two is funny and painful to listen at first and for a while I did not think there would be any way to turn Travis from frog to a prince. This is why I appreciate the time the authors took to transform Travis. He didn't go from pig to hot in an instance as most authors do. Instead, he changed over time. On the other hand Viola didn't magically turn her emotions from hate to love in a heartbeat. Again, the authors invested the time to slowly change her mind. The first book slowly focuses on developing a relationship between Travis and Viola that was damaged at a very young age into a game of will. Yes, there are some antics that a few would think are a bit childish but even I can admit that even though some choices made were less adult behavior, but they still added flavor to the story. Of course, once Travis and Viola get their stuff sorted out, the emotional entanglement is just freaking awesome. And of course, right when everything is moving smoothly, it's the end of book one and it is a cliffhanger!

Luckily, the second book is out and Travis and Viola's story continues. The emotional roller coaster in this books is not as heavy as the first book. The story develops beautifully and both characters keep growing but of course this isn't a romance book without some major sideways blows and a few that I didn't see coming. One thing about book 2 is that the authors hint at something and keep us (the readers) in the dark until the very last second. This is something I am not used to and I must say it made me love the authors even more! By the end, I was in love with Travis and Viola and their HEA-ville. I also liked how even though the story ended, it ended at the start of the next duet story....


Lia Langola was a great narrator. She was great at narrating the dual POV and I am glad that the series got someone who could bring the story to life. I would have preferred different narrators but regardless the story was still fun to listen to.

Overall, the series has all the parts that make this a great romance. It's funny, it's hot, it's sad and I got all the feels I enjoy when I get lost in a romance book. Definitely worth both my credits and my time!

Great Narration

Basic storyline. It started out good then got annoying. It starts to drag a bit then ends with a cliffhanger. Viola is immature and her personality gets annoying.

Lia Langola did a wonderful job narrating dual POVs. Her male voice is convincing!

Amazing book brought to audible

This book was one of my favorite reads to begin with an then throw it in audio with a great narrator my heart is swooning all over again. Lia Langola did these characters in the most perfect of ways and brought to much to these characters. I loved her voice and she did a phenomenal distinction between the characters and her voice is just perfect for them.

This story line was one of my favorite enemies to lovers, big brother best friends story. I was completely captured with the story and I was addicted. The characters and their hatred/games at the beginning of the story had me laughing out loud with the pranks and trying to outdo each other, then tension between the two, the steam (wowza!) and the feels. The feels were so over the top and I felt everything straight into my bones.

My Thoughts on Checkmate: This is War

3 of 5 stars

As I write this review I feel torn and conflicted on what to say. The writing talent and ability of this author duo is very clear to me. They managed to write a story that kept me interested and turning the pages or continue listening as I was doing both while enjoying the story. There weren't really any moments where I just wanted to put it down or found it boring. The reason for my conflict is the leading man.

I am a fan of the bad boy type. I like those guys that start off as jerks and then slowly develop or show their more caring and sensitive sides. I like it when the leading lady of the story can help them become the better person they always had the ability to be. Unfortunately for me I don't ever really feel like I saw what I needed to see in Travis. I never connected with him as a character, and honestly didn't really like him. Which is crazy because I really liked Viola.

She was very relatable. I understood the young girl crush on the big brother's friend. I understood and could relate to the heartbroken feeling seeing them with other girls. I related to the book nerd in her, and the person who wasn't always quite understood by those around her. What I really found hard to understand was her interest in Travis. At least the adult Travis I couldn't understand the attraction. There are things that you get to see in this story about the past and those glimpses really gave me hope and had me looking as I read for that side of him that I just wanted to be there for me to be able to click with him. But that moment never came.

That being said this really was a well-told story with lots of interesting twists and turns. I'm torn as to whether I will continue with part 2 though. The way this book ended definitely has me curious as to what is going to come next, but I am still not sure at this point that I even want Travis and Viola together which makes it hard.

The narrator for the story did an incredible job and I definitely look forward to more of her work in future.

I love Traviola so much!

loved the book, the audiobook was equally as awesome! the narration was brilliantly done, great pace and interpreted the emotions I felt while reading exactly as I'd hoped.
love this duo and this series! and now this narrator :)

What the What! I Need MORE!!

So many yeses!! This is the beginning of Travis and Viola's story. Travis is Viola's brother's best friend who she has loved since they met at a very young age. Viola loves Travis but hates him at the same time. All I can say is that this story was super-hot, fun, and oh so sexy!! Then that ending left me with my jaw on the floor!! This is a duet so you will get the answer you seek in the next book.

This book was read for #Smutathon Challenge - One Night Stand.

This specific video review will be included in the December 2018 wrap-up.

For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.

Book 1 with Travis and Viola

Travis and Viola have a volatile relationship. So much love/hate going on while hiding their relationship from her brother, Travis' best friend and roommate. There were times that I wanted to shake them both and tell them to quit their childish behavior. Sometimes their behavior made being in a roomful of three-year-olds more palatable. However, if there's something that Kennedy Fox is good at, it's getting all the angst out to set the tone for the road to HEA. Lia Langola as the narrator brought the story to life. While I would have like to "hear" Travis with a male narrator, Lia's narration of Travis's point of view was spot on.

I received an advance copy of this audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this review.

The narration was excellent

I went back and forth on how to rate this one. I absolutely loved some parts and some things drove me nuts. I love a good enemies to lovers, but the enemies part of this kind of went on for a little longer than I felt was necessary. It did seem to drag in some parts. I did love Travis and Viola so I will be reading the second book, I care about their HEA!

This does end with a cliffy. The narration is perfect, she does such a good job bringing all of the characters to life.

I know 3 stars may seem like I didn’t like this, but that’s not true. I recommend reading this, you will love Travis and Viola and the side characters!