Check & Mate

I just finished Check and Mate by Ali Hazelwood and here are my thoughts.

Mallory Greenlead doesn't play chess anymore. Not in years but her friend begs her to play a charity tournament. She isn't expecting much but when she unexpectedly wipes the floor with the current world champion, she flees and doesn't look back.

That is until the organizer shows up on her doorstep. Offering her a fellowship, paid for, for one year. The money would be a huge bonus in taking care of her family bills. Not expecting it to go anyway, she still has a gift for the game and the cash prizes are going a long way but can she keep her curiosity for Nolan out of her head and in the game she needs to win? The game that ripped her family apart in the first place?

I will start by saying, I was quite thrilled to see that the author included an autoimmune disease, Rheumatoid arthritis, as the reason Mallory was taking care of her family. I've never seen something I live with daily, in a book before. It's a severe and debilitating autoimmune disease that really is quite horrific. Cancer drugs and steroids are what is given to try and stop your body attacking itself and often, it barely does much so I am really pleased this was highlighted.

I am not a fan of chess, I know very little about the game, but it really didn't matter. The book was very well written and so cute! I felt like I learned something from reading it.

I thought Mallory was a great MC. She understood she had ti step up for her family and when she was given a chance to bring in more money, she did it, even when she didn't want to. I love Nolan. He was dead inside until she beat him in that game and she awoke something in him.

It was great book and I am so glad I got a copy from my library.

4.5 stars, I am totally biased though because I do love Ali hazelwoods books.