Checkmate This Is War

Travis King is the worst kind of asshole.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 ten, the feelings weren't mutual and he's always 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 manwhore ways, but that doesn't change a thing.Because the King is about to get played at his own game-and lose.Checkmate.

She hates him. He loves getting under her skin. 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 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 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, King. This is book 1 in the Travis & Viola duet and must be read first. Suggested for mature readers only.

A PopSugar Best Book of the Year! Readers of Heather Morris’s The Tattooist of Auschwitz and watchers of The Queen’s Gambit won’t want to miss this amazing debut set during World War II. A young Polish resistance worker, imprisoned in Auschwitz as a political prisoner, plays chess in exchange for her life, and in doing so fights to bring the man who destroyed her family to justice. Maria Florkowska is many things: daughter, avid chess player, and, as a member of the Polish underground resistance in Nazi-occupied Warsaw, a young woman brave beyond her years. Captured by the Gestapo, she is imprisoned in Auschwitz, but while her family is sent to their deaths, she is spared. Realizing her ability to play chess, the sadistic camp deputy, Karl Fritzsch, decides to use her as a chess opponent to entertain the camp guards. However, once he tires of exploiting her skills, he has every intention of killing her. Befriended by a Catholic priest, Maria attempts to overcome her grief, vows to avenge the murder of her family, and plays for her life. For four grueling years, her strategy is simple: Live. Fight. Survive. By cleverly provoking Fritzsch’s volatile nature in front of his superiors, Maria intends to orchestrate his downfall. Only then will she have a chance to evade the fate awaiting her and see him punished for his wickedness. As she carries out her plan and the war nears its end, she challenges her former nemesis to one final game, certain to end in life or death, in failure or justice. If Maria can bear to face Fritzsch—and her past—one last time.

From a master of popular history, the lively, immersive story of the race to seize Berlin in the aftermath of World War II as it’s never been told before BERLIN’S FATE WAS SEALED AT THE 1945 YALTA CONFERENCE: the city, along with the rest of Germany, was to be carved up among the victorious powers— the United States, Britain, France, and the Soviet Union. On paper, it seemed a pragmatic solution. In reality, once the four powers were no longer united by the common purpose of defeating Germany, they wasted little time reverting to their prewar hostility toward—and suspicion of—one another. The veneer of civility between the Western allies and the Soviets was to break down in spectacular fashion in Berlin. Rival systems, rival ideologies, and rival personalities ensured that the German capital became an explosive battleground. The warring leaders who ran Berlin’s four sectors were charismatic, mercurial men, and Giles Milton brings them all to rich and thrilling life here. We meet unforgettable individuals like America’s explosive Frank “Howlin’ Mad” Howley, a brusque sharp-tongued colonel with a relish for mischief and a loathing for all Russians. Appointed commandant of the city’s American sector, Howley fought an intensely personal battle against his wily nemesis, General Alexander Kotikov, commandant of the Soviet sector. Kotikov oozed charm as he proposed vodka toasts at his alcohol-fueled parties, but Howley correctly suspected his Soviet rival was Stalin’s agent, appointed to evict the Western allies from Berlin and ultimately from Germany as well. Throughout, Checkmate in Berlin recounts the first battle of the Cold War as we’ve never before seen it. An exhilarating tale of intense rivalry and raw power, it is above all a story of flawed individuals who were determined to win, and Milton does a masterful job of weaving between all the key players’ motivations and thinking at every turn. A story of unprecedented human drama, it’s one that had a profound, and often underestimated, shaping force on the modern world – one that’s still felt today.

Logan Knight is a real-life knight in shining armor. A detective godsend in a sleek black suit has me thinking less than secretive thoughts. Brooding and mysterious, he's the kind of guy every girl instantly notices. Between his seductive smirk and charming good looks, it's no wonder I can't help the way he makes me feel whenever I'm near him. Too bad he's unavailable-or so he says. He thinks I'm a do-gooder who shouldn't get involved with a guy like him. His past is messy and relationships just add to that. He insists the timing is all wrong and he's devoted to his career, but I don't buy that excuse for a second. I see the way his body tenses and his jaw ticks every time another guy is around me. He just won't admit it, but I'm more determined than ever to show him what he's missing. I'm a devoted animal rescuer and I'll risk everything to save them, but when a dramatic turn of events puts both our lives at risk, I'm positive Logan will write me off for good. But when he asks for my help with a personal crisis, I know it's my last chance to finally show him I can handle anything he throws my way-messy past and all. He might think he has me all figured out, but I'll prove him wrong no matter what he thinks. This game of push and pull has me running in circles. One wrong move and we could both lose. Checkmate, Knight. This is book 1 in the Logan & Kayla duet and must be read first. Suggested for mature readers only.

The anticipated conclusion ofThe Checkmate Duetfrom a secret duo of bestselling authors! Checkmate: This is War is an enemies to lovers romance that will have you crying with laughter one moment and screaming in frustration the next... but you'll be begging to play the game with The King. Game on. *** Viola Fisher is the epitome of perfection. She despises my one-night stands and mocks my less-than-classy habits. She's smart, beautiful, and too good to be true. And I want her. If she were anyone else, I'd have made my move years ago, but considering she's my best friend's little sister, she's always been off-limits. Not to mention how much she loathes my very existence. Hating me is her religion, but needing her is mine. Her sexy curves and filthy smart mouth make me want her even more, and I'm more determined than ever to change her mind. I'll prove I'm done playing games. But until then, we'll continue to play by her rules. Viola Fisher may have won the battle, but the war isn't over yet. Checkmate, princess. *Recommend for ages 18+ due to sexual content and adult language.* **This is Love is bookin the Checkmate Duet. You must read This is War first.**"

Drew Fisher is the type of guy every girl wants. Noble police officer by day, charming prince by night. He has no idea the effect he has on women, especially meÑhis little sisterÕs best friend. IÕm the blonde Southern belle who lives up to the clichŽ, except I have my own quirks. IÕm smart as a whip, can change my own oil, and recite The Pledge of Allegiance backward, but he doesnÕt see that girl. ItÕd be easier to forget him if he wasnÕt my roommate and if the first thing I saw in the morning wasn't his shirtless body covered in tattoos. IÕve crushed on him since the day we met, but heÕs made it perfectly clear where we standÑjust friends. I know I need to move on and accept that his feelings will never be mutual, but every day he smiles at me, IÕm left dreaming of what if. He has girl issues, and IÕve got a crush I canÕt deny. WeÕre friends, but I want more. One drunken hookup leaves us with much more than a platonic friendship. Pretending it never happened proves to be more difficult than anticipated. A crazy ex-girlfriend, a dangerous war of stolen glances, and passionate kisses leads to the most reckless battle yet. I wonÕt be a pawn in his game, but IÕll play by his rules if it will show him IÕm the one worth breaking them for. Checkmate, Prince Charming.Ê This is book 1 in the Drew & Courtney duet and must be read first. Suggested for mature readers only.