Charisma Check

Roll for Love, Book 2

By: Charlie Novak

Narrated by: Joel Leslie

Hatred is complicated, clothing is simple — Edward doesn’t need a man, and he certainly doesn’t need cosplayer and tattoo artist, Izzy Montes, a.k.a. The Masked Gentleman, Edward’s ultimate nemesis.

Edward and Izzy have been antagonising each other for over three years. Their rivalry is fierce, and Edward is determined to keep Izzy at arm’s length. Which would be all well and good... if they weren’t engaging in a secret, heated hook-ups.

Forced to appear together at a film premier in LA, Edward is determined to get in and out with minimal damage to his reputation... and his heart. But Izzy Montes proves to be a complication Edward couldn’t have predicted. Biting, funny, and charming in equal measure, he’s the one man Edward needs to loathe.

He’s also the one man Edward can’t get out of his mind.

Not that Izzy plans on letting him.

Charisma Check is a 80,000-word contemporary MM romance featuring comic conventions, snark, many costume changes, and only one bed. It is book two in the Roll for Love series and should be listened to as part of the series.

©2021 Charlie Novak (P)2021 Charlie Novak

Geeky and Sweet

Awww.. this one was one sweet enemies to lovers story. I was curious to hear about Edward from when I heard about him in the first book. This book made me laugh because of their snark and banter, it also made me swoon. Admittedly, I don't do cosplay nor do I do D&D but listening to this book made me curious about them.

If you're a big fan of cosplay and some drama behind the scenes, or fond of D&D, or you love a good enemies to lovers story, then this one is for you!

Fabulous story!

I adore anything by Charlie Novak! But I have to be perfectly honest...Joel Leslie isn't my favorite narrator. I know Edward and Izzy are very proper and very British. But I felt a distinct disconnect with the story due to his manner of narrating. I'm sure this is a personal issue, so PLEASE give this a listen! The story is totally worth it.

Good standalone

I actually read this before I read the first book. It was good. I will say that I felt that the characterization of Edward, the narrator leaned into it a bit much. Overall, a good read

Great second book in this series!

This book was truly the definition of an enemies to lovers story and I loved it. That isn't usually my favorite trope to read, but the way it was done here was great.
Edward and Izzy have an ongoing feud they learn later on is just two people having horrible things happen in their personal lives and that coloring the way they view each other when they first meet.
The way these two sort of lean on each other when they have these huge opportunities together as a result of cosplaying a popular couple in a hit fantasy film really helped build their romance from being purely sexual into something more. Also it has the there's only one bed trope. What's not to love.
Forcing the two of them to go to these movie premieres helped them both see the softer and human parts of each other. When Izzy opened up about his brother it felt like a turning point for the two of them coming to realize that maybe they weren't the type of people each assumed. And this eventually lead to Edward opening up about his family life as well. These true truly were made for each other and help balance each other out in a lot of ways particularly how they help cut through these facades the two keep up.
The narrator was amazing at depicting these two. I loved the vocal tones he choice for Edward and Izzy and it really helped the story come alive.
Overall it was a great continuation to this very nerdy romance series and I can't wait to finish book three! 

Geeky and steamy

I'm a geek and I love when authors write about geeks. This is a great story where both MC's are cosplayers and they hate each other.

This book was just amazing with both the cosplaying and all the emotions both have and the sorrow they went thru before they meet.