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Checkmate: This Is War: The Checkmate Duet, Book 1 Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Kennedy Fox (Author, Publisher), Lia Langola (Narrator)
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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.

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  1. Book 1 of 6
    Checkmate Duet Series
  2. Listening Length
    8 hours and 54 minutes
  3. Author
    Kennedy Fox
  4. Narrator
    Lia Langola
  5. Audible release date
    December 23, 2016
  6. Language
    English
  7. Publisher
    Kennedy Fox
  8. ASIN
    B01N6J7F64
  9. Version
    Unabridged
  10. Program Type
    Audiobook
  11. See all details
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Product details

Listening Length 8 hours and 54 minutes
Author Kennedy Fox
Narrator Lia Langola
Whispersync for Voice Ready
Audible.com Release Date December 23, 2016
Publisher Kennedy Fox
Program Type Audiobook
Version Unabridged
Language English
ASIN B01N6J7F64
Best Sellers Rank #78,046 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals)
#6,878 in Contemporary Romance (Audible Books & Originals)
#12,262 in New Adult & College Romance (Books)
#41,438 in Contemporary Romance (Books)

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
8,205 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the plot subtle and a good beginning to a contemporary romance series. They also describe the tone as fabulous, steamy, and cliffhanger-filled. Readers describe the romance as amazing and love the chemistry. However, some find the characters annoying and unlikable, while others find them confident and sassy. Opinions are mixed on the writing style, with some finding it fantastic and easy to distinguish, while other find it mediocre and plodding. Reader opinions are also mixed on content, with others finding it hilarious and fierce, while still others find it disgusting and unrealistic.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
PlotToneRomanceChemistryCharactersWriting styleContentIrritating qualities
127 customers mention "Plot"93 positive34 negative

Customers find the plot funny, swoon-worthy, and interesting. They also say the romance is well-paced and doesn't feel rushed. Customers also mention the book keeps their attention and leaves them with many questions.

"...This Is war is sexy , addicting , funny , swoon worthy, feels causing story , I can honestly say this is one of the best story audio books I..." Read more

"...This secret duo of authors sure know how to write a fun romance with endearing characters who you can't help but love." Read more

"...The ending was the worst as well. The writing wasn’t bad but the dialogue was meh for me. 4.0" Read more

"...I loved how everything plays out in this book, there is never a dull moment with plenty of drama, angst, some twists, some laughs, lots of emotions..." Read more

62 customers mention "Tone"62 positive0 negative

Customers find the tone of the book engaging, interesting, and addictive. They also mention that the story has great banter, steamy romance, and sexual innuendos.

"...Checkmate This Is war is sexy , addicting , funny , swoon worthy, feels causing story , I can honestly say this is one of the best story audio..." Read more

"...This one sounded like so much fun and I couldn't wait to finally read it...." Read more

"...is never a dull moment with plenty of drama, angst, some twists, some laughs, lots of emotions and some hot romance...." Read more

"...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!..." Read more

59 customers mention "Romance"55 positive4 negative

Customers find the romance in the book amazing, steamy, and sweet. They also say the book is well written and edited.

"...Checkmate This Is war is sexy , addicting , funny , swoon worthy, feels causing story , I can honestly say this is one of the best story audio..." Read more

"...He was so funny and he also proved to be really sweet and caring...." Read more

"...The chemistry between them is undeniable, it is smoking hot and it is real...." Read more

"...This is the type of romance novel that is incredibly steamy and has this well built tension that I believe makes or breaks a new adult novel...." Read more

9 customers mention "Chemistry"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the chemistry in the book to be great.

"...The chemistry between them is undeniable, it is smoking hot and it is real...." Read more

"...And those walls needed to come down because the chemistry between them is so real! I felt it down to my toes, guys!..." Read more

"...trying to pick on Viola, this books is everything, the chemistry between them is outstanding!..." Read more

"...and Viola Fisher and it has a cliff hanger, lots of sex, lots of love-hate chemistry, angst and drama...." Read more

75 customers mention "Characters"52 positive23 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the characters in the book. Some find them confident, sassy, and unforgettable, while others find them unlikable.

"...Checkmate This Is war is sexy , addicting , funny , swoon worthy, feels causing story , I can honestly say this is one of the best story audio..." Read more

"...secret duo of authors sure know how to write a fun romance with endearing characters who you can't help but love." Read more

"The 2 main characters were very immature! They fought like middle school girls...." Read more

"...Kennedy Fox’s writing style, the storylines and characters she created were interesting and swept me right in and captivated my attention from..." Read more

41 customers mention "Writing style"25 positive16 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing style. Some find the narration fantastic and easy to read, while others say the writing is mediocre and the dialogue is meh. They also mention the editing is sloppy and the pace is slow.

"...did every voice was amazing .There was never any confusion every voice was distinct , nothing felt out of place with the way she narrated I..." Read more

"...The writing wasn’t bad but the dialogue was meh for me. 4.0" Read more

"...I listened to the Audible edition, Lia Langola is a terrific narrator and voice artist...." Read more

"...You are rooting for these characters to get together. Well written I cannot wait to read the next one ." Read more

19 customers mention "Content"11 positive8 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the content. Some find the charts hilarious and a good mix of sexual tension, while others say the book is disgusting, unrealistic, and nasty. They also say the back and forth banter is childish.

"...This sets the scene for the perfect romance story that has tension, great banter, and a steamy romance that you’ll become attached to after reading..." Read more

"...She was insufferable. In real life, that girl would have no friends. She's nasty, whiny, mean, spitting vile insults over and over, and doesn't even..." Read more

"...This forced proximity is tension was SO GOOD!!! I loved their banter and teasing...." Read more

"...And Travis was gross. I HATE books that describe in detail the leading male with another women...." Read more

27 customers mention "Irritating qualities"6 positive21 negative

Customers find the book annoying for most of the time, full of cliches, and unpleasant. They also don't like the repetitive thoughts and say the book isn't worth the extra money.

"...As for Travis, I actually felt he was quite vile and unpleasant...." Read more

"...In real life, that girl would have no friends. She's nasty, whiny, mean, spitting vile insults over and over, and doesn't even have the maturity to..." Read more

"...heroine protruded so much hate to the point where it dragged on and got annoying...." Read more

"...the storylines and characters she created were interesting and swept me right in and captivated my attention from start to end...." Read more

Give me book two now!
4 out of 5 stars
Give me book two now!
Let me first start by saying, I need book two... right the hell now!Travis is an absolute manwhore tool bag. Like he is such a jerk I can't even take it at moments. He is also absolutely hilarious, and I found myself chuckling at half the things that came out of his mouth. He sleeps with some winners, and just yeah... he's very hard to love for awhile.Viola is like this hot nerd girl, but she is bitchy and snarky mainly towards Travis. Although her snark works it's way into her convos with others as well. She's super close with her brother Drew (though it hasn't always been that way) and her best friend Courtney. She loves Harry Potter which automatically means she's got my vote, and she also is secretly naughty.Basically this story is about Viola and Travis hating each other's guts. They are stuck living with each other for a couple weeks because of spring break at V's school. BTW don't call her V, but I'm going to call her that in this review. As you can guess s*** hits the fan, not only between the two of them but in every aspect of Travis' life. It's wild and to say the least.Not only do Travis and V get hot and heavy, but the side characters are pretty interesting too. Drew has his stuff. Courtney has her stuff. It's just... a lot.At some points in the book I was like, why are these two even bothering. Then I'd get to a point where I liked their dynamic.Anyway there is a cliffhanger and I am a fricken SUCKER for them, so I will be not so patiently waiting for book two. The cliffhanger has me reeling. Like so many questions I have now.Ok this was word barf because it's late as I'm writing this, but hopefully you get this jist.Funny, sexy, witty banter, lovable heroine, semi ok hero... READ THIS NOW!
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Top reviews from the United States

jojodeen
5.0 out of 5 stars I loved this audio book !!!!
Reviewed in the United States on April 7, 2017
Verified Purchase
When I mention the words Checkmate This is War among my friends I had hear nothing but good things , nothing but people gushing about how wonderful this book is . When I got the chance to listen to the audio book I was thrilled and I pressed play as soon as I could and OMG was this story amazing.

In this story we follow Travis and Viola and these two have hated each other ever since they where kids .However Travis is Viola's big brother ( Drew) best friends so they usually always hear about each other so lets flash forward to now Viola is about to graduate college and Travis bought a house with Drew and these two are still at each other throats , however Drew is going off to see his girlfriends Mia and Viola is staying at his house , so now only are these two who seem to not like each other are in the same for a lot a time but they are also dealing with all the sexual tension brewing between them for years, and this is basically where this story took off. I love Travis and Viola ,I loved that we got all this back story on them because it helped explain why they is so much animosity between them , because while constantly go back and forth with there remarks and while they both constantly say they do not care about each other, its becomes quite clear as you read on that they do . Watching they relationship go from enemies to a hybrid of enemies /lovers to just lovers was just wonderful .I felt that there story was sexy ( seriously I had to pause several times just fan myself lol the sex scenes in this book are lava hot) , swoon worthy and addicting .I loved everything about this book and of course the fact that Viola was a harry potter fan only made this book just 100 % more amazing . This story constantly kept me on my toes and I loved that.

The narrator Lia Longola was amazing !!! .In audio books I have heard many times that if the narrator is not right its sometimes hard to get through the story . This is not the case for Lia Longola she was perfect for this book , I love way she narrated this story. The way she did every voice was amazing .There was never any confusion every voice was distinct , nothing felt out of place with the way she narrated I understood every word, she was able to make me feel the emotions that went along with ever scene with her voice and I loved that. I honestly feel like if I could get Lia Longola to narrate every Kennedy fox book ever I would happy

Checkmate This Is war is sexy , addicting , funny , swoon worthy, feels causing story , I can honestly say this is one of the best story audio books I have listened to this year and after the ending of this story I cannot wait to jump into book 2 . If you love all these things in your stories you should definitely go pick up this audio book as soon as you can .
6 people found this helpful
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peacelovebooksxo
4.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Enemies to Lovers Romance!
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2017
Verified Purchase
After seeing this book on Sarah's Instagram, I knew that I had to read it. I love books where the main characters bicker and hate each other but also have undeniable chemistry. This one sounded like so much fun and I couldn't wait to finally read it.

Viola and Travis used to be best friend, even though Travis was also best friends with Viola's older brother. As they grew older, though, Travis betrayed Viola's trust and they grew to hate each other. With no place to stay over Spring Break, Viola decides to stay with her brother, who happens to be roommates with Travis. When her brother leaves to spend a few weeks with his long distance girlfriend, Viola finds herself in her worst nightmare: Rooming with Travis. While there may be an inexplicable pull between the two, Travis and Viola are determined push each other's buttons and drive the other crazy before their two weeks are up.

Normally I really hate it when the guy is a player and constantly hooks up with other girls, but there was something so endearing and hilarious about Travis. He was so funny and he also proved to be really sweet and caring. I loved slowly learning about his past with Viola and uncovering what really went wrong with them when they were younger. I also loved how he was actually really a hardworking guy who cared about his career.

As for Viola, I also really enjoyed her character and the games she played with Travis. There were laugh-out-loud moments with the tricks they played on each other and how much they would push each other over the edge. They also had their sweet and more passionate moments, which I also loved. And that ending! I definitely have to get my hands on book two ASAP!

If you haven't check out Kennedy Fox yet, you must. This secret duo of authors sure know how to write a fun romance with endearing characters who you can't help but love.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Malena
2.0 out of 5 stars Entretenido
Reviewed in Mexico on January 23, 2024
Verified Purchase
Entretenido
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Patricia Núñez Cano
4.0 out of 5 stars Te engancha
Reviewed in Spain on February 17, 2024
Verified Purchase
Tiene escenas eróticas bien descritas que te harán apretar los muslos con gusto.
Travis es un prota genial, algo temperamental, pero genuino.
Viola somos todas, queriendo algo que nos parece prohibido.
Juntos son la caña.

No le doy cinco estrellas porque me ha dejado con la historia sin terminar. Pero me encanta por eso.

It hooks you.
It has well-described erotic scenes that will make you clench your thighs with pleasure.
Travis is a great protagonist, somewhat temperamental, but genuine.
Viola we are all, wanting something that seems forbidden to us.
Together they are the cane.

I don't give it five stars because it left me with the story unfinished. But I love it for that.
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Luisa Andrade
3.0 out of 5 stars Review
Reviewed in Brazil on June 6, 2021
Verified Purchase
They travel this thin line between love and hate. He’s a womanizer and she’s the good girl.
They have to live together for two weeks while her brother is away to visit his girlfriend, and they started this war of pranks that were to childish for me. Steeling clothes, loud music to stop his dates etc.
It has Donny h potential because Kennedy For has an amazing writing and her characters are so funny.
But it wasn’t for me this one unfortunately.
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Marjorie Noiseau
5.0 out of 5 stars YES
Reviewed in France on January 17, 2021
Verified Purchase
YES BUY IT, IF YOU LIKE WATTPAD STORIES THEN THIS WILL ABSOLUTELY DO THE JOB
2 people found this helpful
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Voracious Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars This was so great
Reviewed in Canada on July 13, 2017
Verified Purchase
The back and forth between Viola and Travis was so much fun to read. I really enjoyed the banter between characters and the steamy scenes were just right. Okay so the number of o's in a single sexcapade might be a little outlandish but this is fantasy after all. Can't wait to see what happens next with these two enemies/lovers
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