111 reviews for:

Check Mate

Leah Brunner

3.69 AVERAGE

kcwreads's review

3.0

lighthearted medium-paced

the_reading_pantry's review

5.0

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One thing I can say about Leah’s books are that they are all so CUTE!!! Her books are must reads for me because of how adorable the characters are and Leah’s natural wit.

David was one I knew I’d like because of his grumpy/predictable personality. From the first chapter, you knew his character and how annoyed he was by his neighbor/surprises.

kylaslittlelibrary's review

4.0

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Check Mate by Leah Brunner

This was such a cute enemies to lovers meets forced proximity. Two feuding neighbors with an epic prank war end up on the same 5 days hike to Inca Ruins. What happens in Machu Picchu stays in Machu Picchu.

There will be
-llamas
-A magical first kiss
-A traitorous cat
-Meddling Parents
-Tent Sharing

I thought David and Isa were so cute together and their path to getting there was full of humor and ear to ear grins.

Content Warning: Mild language, kisses

abigailm159's review

2.0

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

sofia_readz's review

5.0

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This one might be the favorite out of the whole series 🥰 

I was left wanting more of David and Isa, the banter, chemistry, and everything in between was just ‘chef’s kiss’ 😭😍

lauriereadsrom1's review

5.0

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

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Financial advisor David Windell has always felt like the boring, predictable member of his family, so when his 30th birthday rolls around and one of his brothers dares him to do something unexpected before the year is out, he decides to shake things up. He's always dreamed of traveling but has never actually left the country, so when a travel brochure for Peru mysteriously shows up on his front doorstep, he takes it as a sign and books a hiking trip to Machu Picchu. Unbeknownst to him, his annoying next-door neighbor, Isabella Romero, is booked on the same trip. Her free spirit and disorganized nature have rubbed David the wrong way since the day she moved in, so sharing a tent with her is not exactly his ideal, but he can't stand the thought of her sharing with one of the obnoxious bachelor party bros accompanying them, either. The more time they spend together, the more David realizes that his first impressions of Isabella may have been incorrect, and surprisingly, they become friends by the end of the trip. Can their newfound friendship survive - and maybe even turn into something more - after they return home?

Without a doubt, this book is one of my favorites of the year so far! David and Isabella's story was just so much fun, and I empathized with both of them on so many levels. Like David, Isabella felt as if she didn't fit in with her family; they never really understood her love of travel or ambition to do more with her life than get married and work in the family restaurant. I loved the way that David supported her dreams and encouraged her to pursue them. In return, she brought out David's fun side and helped him find a better work-life balance. He needed someone to push him out of his comfort zone, and Isabella was certainly good at that! Their prank war was absolutely hysterical, though I have to admit I wouldn't want to be the victim of most of those pranks in real life.

I highly recommend this funny, sweet, and heartwarming story and can't wait for the next book in the series. 

 

*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own. 

penn_and_paper's review against another edition

4.0

lighthearted fast-paced

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

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Check Mate is the third book in the Under Kansas Skies series about the Windell siblings. This is David's story. 

This enemies to lovers, opposites attract story is my favorite in the series. David and Isabella are neighbors who can’t stand each other. He is wound tight and she can’t be tied down. Their prank war is a highlight of this story. Despite all this David is protective of Isa when they find themselves on a trip together. Maybe they have more in common than they think. 
 
This is a great series if you closed doors romance. 

These stories can be read as standalones. 

Thank you Leah Brunner for the ARC! 

leighannasw's review

4.0

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If you are looking for a clean, cute romance… this is the book for you!

Check Mate has everything from neighbors who can’t stand each other to impromptu traveling trips.

Also contains: grumpy sunshine, family relationships, hilarious texts.

Every David needs an Isabella to spice their lives up!

charitys_book_escapes's review against another edition

5.0

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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Don't you just love a good enemies to lovers story? David and Isabella are neighbors who...prank...each other, and not in a loving way. A humorous way, for sure, but they don't exactly like each other. Then a bet is made between brothers, and David and Isabella end up in Peru together. Well, not together together, but at the same time, with the same touring company, on the same 15 mile trek up a mountain, and sparks fly. The good kind. 

I really like that the book isn't just about the vacation. In fact, the vacation is a very small, though important, part of it. I like seeing how everything works afterward. How things are worked out with their families, their jobs, their lives.

I enjoyed this book.

*I was given this book for review. All opinions are my own.*

goodeyreads's review

4.0

fast-paced

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Full review to come!