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Checkmate #5
Rise Of The King
Eighteen months ago, my world was tossed upside down amid horrified screams and merciless hellfire. I was thrown into the flames to burn alive, but now I stand on the other side, invincible, untouchable, and un-f*cking-beatable.
Today, the ID in my wallet says John D. Hamilton. It’s the name I go by, the name the beautiful brunette sitting alone in Ginnie’s diner knows me as.
I was an undercover cop, once. A decorated agent who slid from my throne and descended into a world of pain and darkness. Then came Sophia Solomon, the light in my dark, the miracle who walks past my door and lends a little warmth in the dead of winter.
Sophia‘s beauty steals the breath from my lungs. She draws me in just by existing, but she doesn’t know my secrets.
I wasn’t born with the first name John, but then again, I wasn’t born a cocaine addict either, but here we are and both are true.
Now I’m on a mission to find the man that had me killed.
Rise Of The King is a Checkmate Series suspenseful romance. It’s a compete standalone and has no cliffhanger. New readers can start here. But beware, not everything is as it seems.
Today, the ID in my wallet says John D. Hamilton. It’s the name I go by, the name the beautiful brunette sitting alone in Ginnie’s diner knows me as.
I was an undercover cop, once. A decorated agent who slid from my throne and descended into a world of pain and darkness. Then came Sophia Solomon, the light in my dark, the miracle who walks past my door and lends a little warmth in the dead of winter.
Sophia‘s beauty steals the breath from my lungs. She draws me in just by existing, but she doesn’t know my secrets.
I wasn’t born with the first name John, but then again, I wasn’t born a cocaine addict either, but here we are and both are true.
Now I’m on a mission to find the man that had me killed.
Rise Of The King is a Checkmate Series suspenseful romance. It’s a compete standalone and has no cliffhanger. New readers can start here. But beware, not everything is as it seems.
286 pages, Paperback
First published September 4, 2019
About the author
Emilia Finn
114 books1,615 followersEmilia Finn is an Amazon Top 20 bestselling, Australia-based author with more than 55 books written and published to date.
She's a mom, a coffee addict, a collector of quirky coffee mugs, and before she had kids, she was a real-life full-contact fighter.
Her experience on the fight circuits helped her pen her first ever book—Finding Home—featuring a world champion MMA fighter Bobby Kincaid, and his leading lady and equal in every way, Kit Reilly. What was only supposed to be a once off experience instead turned into a career for Emilia, a thriving empire, and a daily grind she never wants to be rescued from.
Join Emilia's mailing list for exclusive material and new release alerts.
Website➜ https://www.emiliafinn.com
She's a mom, a coffee addict, a collector of quirky coffee mugs, and before she had kids, she was a real-life full-contact fighter.
Her experience on the fight circuits helped her pen her first ever book—Finding Home—featuring a world champion MMA fighter Bobby Kincaid, and his leading lady and equal in every way, Kit Reilly. What was only supposed to be a once off experience instead turned into a career for Emilia, a thriving empire, and a daily grind she never wants to be rescued from.
Join Emilia's mailing list for exclusive material and new release alerts.
Website➜ https://www.emiliafinn.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 218 reviews
September 6, 2019
Best. Freakin. Ever
This is by far my favorite of the Checkmate Series!
I totally have a new girl crush, if Soph was real, let me tell ya, I’d leave my husband for that woman in a heartbeat. Emilia can write badass ladies like no other!
The action is non-stop, the feels are intense and the romance is silly and sexy (which is my favorite kind).
Love. Love. Love this book
This is by far my favorite of the Checkmate Series!
I totally have a new girl crush, if Soph was real, let me tell ya, I’d leave my husband for that woman in a heartbeat. Emilia can write badass ladies like no other!
The action is non-stop, the feels are intense and the romance is silly and sexy (which is my favorite kind).
Love. Love. Love this book
August 17, 2020
Sophia Solomon giving a speech about sexism while torturing one of Laine's rapists is what I live for.
Also, JDH BABY I LOVE YOU SO MUCH IT'S UNREAL
Also, JDH BABY I LOVE YOU SO MUCH IT'S UNREAL
February 21, 2026
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
He was supposed to be dead. She lives in the shadows pulling strings, she will make them all pay
Rise of the King is the fifth book of the Checkmate series. While you could start with this one and be mostly fine as much of the story is self contained, it would add to your enjoyment of the story if you had some experience in this world with these characters. Jay lost his life in one of the prior books. He is thought to be dead by everyone he cares about. Living in a different city under a different name, he has recovered from the gunshot wounds that should have killed him and he has one goal, kill the men who put a contract out on his brother. That is he had one goal, now he may have two after meeting his beautiful neighbor with secrets of her own.
Sophia isn't looking for a man or any other complications in her life. She is just looking to make them pay and she will use any tool necessary to make that happen. Sophia is brilliant, capable and can be very hard core when needed. Jay now John D Hamilton is just the man she needs to get the job done. They have similar goals and the same enemy. They will need to work together to find the man at the top and make sure he can't kill Jay's brother or traffic young girls again.
Jay was a handful. He is crass, arrogant and kinda a jerk sometimes. He pushes all of Sophia's buttons and then some but I loved how she handled him. A few of the twists I guessed, but the big surprises were very surprising and through me for a bit of a loop. I liked Jay and Sophia as a couple, they both call each other on their bullshit and really see the other person. There was just something about this book that dragged me in and I couldn't wait to see how it would all play out with both the romance and the suspense.
I will say it got a little cheesy towards the end in a few places. Jay's semi obsession with his brother was a bit over the top and a little funny. That said it was nice to see family sticking tightly together. Emilia Finn's characters are a little gritty and the men are definitely rough around the edges. They are also completely engaging and entertaining even if/when you want to hit them with a shoe.
This has been a good romantic suspense series with a good blend of character centered stories and sexy times that don't start to overpower the book. Rise of the King ended in a good spot that doesn't require you to continue on with the series or this book if it is the only one you have read.
Narration:
Performance: ★★★★
Character Separation: ★★★★
Diction: ★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★
Sound Effects: None
Dane Anderson and Audrey Obeyn continue to dual narrate the series. I liked Dane's timber and his deep extremely masculine voice he chose for Jay. Dane did well with the male voices and I was able to tell all the characters apart. Audrey Obeyn also did a good job with her narration. She doesn't have a lot of titles under her belt yet, but I think that will change. I liked how the narrators captured both the strength and vulnerabilities of the characters. I listened to the audio at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
He was supposed to be dead. She lives in the shadows pulling strings, she will make them all pay
Rise of the King is the fifth book of the Checkmate series. While you could start with this one and be mostly fine as much of the story is self contained, it would add to your enjoyment of the story if you had some experience in this world with these characters. Jay lost his life in one of the prior books. He is thought to be dead by everyone he cares about. Living in a different city under a different name, he has recovered from the gunshot wounds that should have killed him and he has one goal, kill the men who put a contract out on his brother. That is he had one goal, now he may have two after meeting his beautiful neighbor with secrets of her own.
Sophia isn't looking for a man or any other complications in her life. She is just looking to make them pay and she will use any tool necessary to make that happen. Sophia is brilliant, capable and can be very hard core when needed. Jay now John D Hamilton is just the man she needs to get the job done. They have similar goals and the same enemy. They will need to work together to find the man at the top and make sure he can't kill Jay's brother or traffic young girls again.
Jay was a handful. He is crass, arrogant and kinda a jerk sometimes. He pushes all of Sophia's buttons and then some but I loved how she handled him. A few of the twists I guessed, but the big surprises were very surprising and through me for a bit of a loop. I liked Jay and Sophia as a couple, they both call each other on their bullshit and really see the other person. There was just something about this book that dragged me in and I couldn't wait to see how it would all play out with both the romance and the suspense.
I will say it got a little cheesy towards the end in a few places. Jay's semi obsession with his brother was a bit over the top and a little funny. That said it was nice to see family sticking tightly together. Emilia Finn's characters are a little gritty and the men are definitely rough around the edges. They are also completely engaging and entertaining even if/when you want to hit them with a shoe.
This has been a good romantic suspense series with a good blend of character centered stories and sexy times that don't start to overpower the book. Rise of the King ended in a good spot that doesn't require you to continue on with the series or this book if it is the only one you have read.
Narration:
Performance: ★★★★
Character Separation: ★★★★
Diction: ★★★★
Pacing/Flow: ★★★★
Sound Effects: None
Dane Anderson and Audrey Obeyn continue to dual narrate the series. I liked Dane's timber and his deep extremely masculine voice he chose for Jay. Dane did well with the male voices and I was able to tell all the characters apart. Audrey Obeyn also did a good job with her narration. She doesn't have a lot of titles under her belt yet, but I think that will change. I liked how the narrators captured both the strength and vulnerabilities of the characters. I listened to the audio at my usual 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
June 30, 2020
Wasn't sure!
For the first 75% of the book I just wasn't sure if it was reading. I figured out who Ace was early on but other than that nothing really happened besides a couple of killings.
Now as far as the last 25% that was a whole different story. The top bad guy I didn't figure out. It was nice to see the brothers together again. Sophia is so strong for crying out loud I kind of want to marry her. In my eyes she's too dog and pulling all the strings it's good to see her get a happy ending and justice.
For the first 75% of the book I just wasn't sure if it was reading. I figured out who Ace was early on but other than that nothing really happened besides a couple of killings.
Now as far as the last 25% that was a whole different story. The top bad guy I didn't figure out. It was nice to see the brothers together again. Sophia is so strong for crying out loud I kind of want to marry her. In my eyes she's too dog and pulling all the strings it's good to see her get a happy ending and justice.
April 29, 2026
Jay Bishop is and has always been my favorite. I love the optimism and child-like glee that he has about everything, and him being jealous about his brother having a new "bro" was the absolute cutest thing. I loved this story when I read it years ago and I love it just the same now. So great!!
March 4, 2026
Dual narration again and it was done really well! I was so excited for his story and I loved how we saw his struggles with his situation and trying to protect his brother.
June 1, 2024
Predictable and boring
February 17, 2026
Dual Narration Audio - another great book in the Checkmate series! Emilia has a great way of getting me intrigued in the first few chapters to the point where I devour the entire book in one sitting - it's happened with every single book in this series so far!
As soon as I read the blurb for this one I legit screamed out loud like YESSSSS! I was so happy to see who the book was about and couldn't wait to see how he got his HEA. Immediately my first thought, "Who the HECK is Ace?!" and when it was revealed I was OBSESSED!
I loved that the romance between J and Sophia wasn't incredibly serious and that J wasn't taking no for an answer (but in the good way). And when we find out that Soph was kinda stalking him too, making her attendance at the diner a regular occurrence just on the off chance she runs into him? And then finding out he started going there for the EXACT same reason? Full on giggle moment
Sophia's backstory was heartbreaking and I can completely understand why she was doing what she was and how she was going about it, I can't say I wouldn't do the same thing if I were in her shoes. And having J not back down and offer to help? They made such a great team!
When CAB was revealed too I stopped everything I was doing and rewound like "NO. I did not just hear what I heard" and having the reveal happen while Sophie is torturing someone was the cherry on top of the sundae for sure.
I am super curious where the rest of the series is going with the way this one ended; I thought that CAB would stay a mystery for a bit longer and their plan to take him down would last over maybe at least the next book.
Like the other books, I also loved that Emilia showed realistic responses with the characters - Sophie getting TICKED about J breaking into her apartment and watching her dance, J's reaction to finding out who Ace is, Kane seeing J for the first time, etc they were all incredibly realistic for a book versus the normal "big reveal character accepts it and moves on without a fuss"
As soon as I read the blurb for this one I legit screamed out loud like YESSSSS! I was so happy to see who the book was about and couldn't wait to see how he got his HEA. Immediately my first thought, "Who the HECK is Ace?!" and when it was revealed I was OBSESSED!
I loved that the romance between J and Sophia wasn't incredibly serious and that J wasn't taking no for an answer (but in the good way). And when we find out that Soph was kinda stalking him too, making her attendance at the diner a regular occurrence just on the off chance she runs into him? And then finding out he started going there for the EXACT same reason? Full on giggle moment
Sophia's backstory was heartbreaking and I can completely understand why she was doing what she was and how she was going about it, I can't say I wouldn't do the same thing if I were in her shoes. And having J not back down and offer to help? They made such a great team!
When CAB was revealed too I stopped everything I was doing and rewound like "NO. I did not just hear what I heard" and having the reveal happen while Sophie is torturing someone was the cherry on top of the sundae for sure.
I am super curious where the rest of the series is going with the way this one ended; I thought that CAB would stay a mystery for a bit longer and their plan to take him down would last over maybe at least the next book.
Like the other books, I also loved that Emilia showed realistic responses with the characters - Sophie getting TICKED about J breaking into her apartment and watching her dance, J's reaction to finding out who Ace is, Kane seeing J for the first time, etc they were all incredibly realistic for a book versus the normal "big reveal character accepts it and moves on without a fuss"
November 29, 2025
4 stars, 2 on the spice scale.
I’m determined to make my way through Emilia Finn’s backlist because I adore her writing style and the way she builds her worlds. Her characters always feel so real — like people you could bump into in everyday life and instantly befriend. That said, this installment didn’t land as well for me compared to others in the series.
I was really excited for Jay’s story, especially since he’s Kane’s brother (who I love, love, love) and his fate has been hanging over the series since book one. But while the setup promised intensity and intrigue, the execution left me a little disappointed. Jay has that wild, over-the-top energy that makes him memorable, but he just didn't measure up to Kane, and at times it felt like a weaker echo of what I loved in earlier books.
The plot itself is packed with action, secrets, and big reveals, and there’s no denying Emilia Finn knows how to keep the tension high. But despite the twists, I found myself reading in smaller bursts rather than being completely hooked. By the end, while the story ties threads together and delivers closure, I was left wishing for a bit more depth and impact.
Overall, this is a solid read, but not my favorite in the series.
I’m determined to make my way through Emilia Finn’s backlist because I adore her writing style and the way she builds her worlds. Her characters always feel so real — like people you could bump into in everyday life and instantly befriend. That said, this installment didn’t land as well for me compared to others in the series.
I was really excited for Jay’s story, especially since he’s Kane’s brother (who I love, love, love) and his fate has been hanging over the series since book one. But while the setup promised intensity and intrigue, the execution left me a little disappointed. Jay has that wild, over-the-top energy that makes him memorable, but he just didn't measure up to Kane, and at times it felt like a weaker echo of what I loved in earlier books.
The plot itself is packed with action, secrets, and big reveals, and there’s no denying Emilia Finn knows how to keep the tension high. But despite the twists, I found myself reading in smaller bursts rather than being completely hooked. By the end, while the story ties threads together and delivers closure, I was left wishing for a bit more depth and impact.
Overall, this is a solid read, but not my favorite in the series.
March 1, 2026
He used to be an undercover cop... until he died, or so they thought. Brought back from the brink, he has a new identity and a new mission. John D Hamilton works for the mysterious Ace, taking out the organization that tried to destroy him and his brother one piece at a time.
Omg, I can't believe he's back! I about squealed in happiness when I realized right away who John really was! He's funny, he's cocky, and he's deadly protective of anyone he cares for. It took me a bit longer to figure out Ace, but it all fits so perfectly! This series can be read as standalones, but the background story of revenge against this trafficking ring ties them all together and every single character so far has become part of one big family. Checkmate security started out as just an idea of what to do next when Kane quit the force, but every single side character has become vital to the team. I listened to the audiobook and the narrators voices were perfect to fit the roles of these characters. "J" has such a deep growly voice perfect for a huge scarred hit man, and "Sophie" was tough but also ballerina beautiful. The story came alive through their voices.
I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
Omg, I can't believe he's back! I about squealed in happiness when I realized right away who John really was! He's funny, he's cocky, and he's deadly protective of anyone he cares for. It took me a bit longer to figure out Ace, but it all fits so perfectly! This series can be read as standalones, but the background story of revenge against this trafficking ring ties them all together and every single character so far has become part of one big family. Checkmate security started out as just an idea of what to do next when Kane quit the force, but every single side character has become vital to the team. I listened to the audiobook and the narrators voices were perfect to fit the roles of these characters. "J" has such a deep growly voice perfect for a huge scarred hit man, and "Sophie" was tough but also ballerina beautiful. The story came alive through their voices.
I received a complimentary copy of this audiobook. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
June 13, 2025
Another 5⭐️ read in the Checkmate series. I love the cross over's in each of Emilia's books. She is a truly brilliant author
November 9, 2019
I love all Emilia's books! I love her writing style; I love the way she writes all the characters with so much depth and personality that they feel real and you want them in your life; I love the humor that laces through all the books. The stories are varied and have more kick to them than your standard recycled recipe styles of some other authors.
Although the books are all linked (in that they are set in the same place and the players all interact to some degree throughout the multiple books), they can all be read as a standalone. That said, you'll miss out if you don't meet some of the awesome characters in their supporting roles along the way. Not to mention the little Easter eggs littered throughout.
'Rise of the King' is my absolute favourite so far. I absolutely adore the main couple and desperately want our heroine to be my BFF.
If you're yet read any of Emilia's books, search 'Finding Home' (Book 1 of the Rollin On series) to kick off. That leads into the Survivor series and then onto the Checkmate series. You won't be sorry!
Although the books are all linked (in that they are set in the same place and the players all interact to some degree throughout the multiple books), they can all be read as a standalone. That said, you'll miss out if you don't meet some of the awesome characters in their supporting roles along the way. Not to mention the little Easter eggs littered throughout.
'Rise of the King' is my absolute favourite so far. I absolutely adore the main couple and desperately want our heroine to be my BFF.
If you're yet read any of Emilia's books, search 'Finding Home' (Book 1 of the Rollin On series) to kick off. That leads into the Survivor series and then onto the Checkmate series. You won't be sorry!
February 11, 2020
"Sophia Solomon was sunlight in a dark world and brought my aching brain comfort when little else could. Where everyone else was dark and painful, she was light and easy."
[lady gaga's voice]: talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, etc.
seriously i can't explain how much i loved this book and these characters. #5 and Sophia are my babies, i loved each of their interactions, their relationship, they as an individual, the breadcrumbs in the other books, gah! I LOVE THEM, period.
April 13, 2020
Oh boy! Amazing as always. I have to say, this is probably my most favourite book out of the Checkmate Series. I always enjoy Emilia’s style of writing, the characters always have so much personality and depth, it just feels like they’re real life. Reading this, I cried because obviously. (Mind you it was 3am and I’m running on no sleep) And I don’t wanna ruin but I GUESSED IT a few chapters before it happened and I was still shell shocked, and I literally threw my kindle to the other side on my couch. You’ll know what I mean when you get there ;) Carrying on with the next one in line.
August 30, 2025
There are reviews that say this is the best of this series. Ummm… the lonely star I gave it and the fact that this is the 1st and last book of this author that I will ever read should tell you everything there is to say about this travesty of a book. Lemme add just this: Nothing makes any sense!!!
November 15, 2019
I enjoyed most of the story. I did think the hero was maybe in a little danger of an STD and maybe a little crude but overall it was ok.
February 2, 2020
Way too predictable...I knew who CAB was...I knew who Ace was...ok story overall...just disappointing that it was way too easy to figure out
October 17, 2025
This was an intriguing concept but had a very rough start for me. I was pretty put-off by the MMC's interactions with the FMC. It was crude and not endearing at all. He didn't know her so it was just really gross behavior for a while.
So that, and the issues with transitional sentences in the writing (and continuity errors) had me wanting to DNF, but the idea of this 'good guy turned bad but really he's good even though he's an addict and murderer' was compelling enough for me to put in the work and stick through it.
The FMC was pretty great. She was smart and strong and a total force. When the MMC breaks into her apartment and she screams at him about her safety and how he stole something from her (her security), I loved it. It is a real thing for women to be concerned about and this scene laid out those very real feelings that women have over their safe space no longer being safe.
Even though our FMC is a total badass and she rages against the misogyny machine, the sexism in the book is WILD. Whenever the MMC or, later on, the rest of the crew, talk about women, they are 'othered'. It's really bad the first half of the book when we are constantly in the MMC's POV and he's talking about how he gets around. Any hole's a goal. It's not that he "hates women", he just doesn't really see them as equals, more like props in his life.
At about 45% things get better because the plot starts plotting. The first half is setup with the backstory, introducing the players, and getting our MCs together. Then, action starts. Things get more interesting and the MMC becomes much more enjoyable to be in his POV. There are a couple of twists but I felt they were pretty easy to figure out and wasn't surprised by the reveals. Still, it was pretty fun.
I was torn in wanting to read the rest of the series (I read this one first) because the parallel timeline of events across all the different people sounded fun to explore and the individual stories sound interesting... but this book wasn't good enough to have me wanting to invest in the whole series. I just went and read reviews with spoilers so I could get the gist and now I am moving on with my life. :)
So that, and the issues with transitional sentences in the writing (and continuity errors) had me wanting to DNF, but the idea of this 'good guy turned bad but really he's good even though he's an addict and murderer' was compelling enough for me to put in the work and stick through it.
The FMC was pretty great. She was smart and strong and a total force. When the MMC breaks into her apartment and she screams at him about her safety and how he stole something from her (her security), I loved it. It is a real thing for women to be concerned about and this scene laid out those very real feelings that women have over their safe space no longer being safe.
Even though our FMC is a total badass and she rages against the misogyny machine, the sexism in the book is WILD. Whenever the MMC or, later on, the rest of the crew, talk about women, they are 'othered'. It's really bad the first half of the book when we are constantly in the MMC's POV and he's talking about how he gets around. Any hole's a goal. It's not that he "hates women", he just doesn't really see them as equals, more like props in his life.
At about 45% things get better because the plot starts plotting. The first half is setup with the backstory, introducing the players, and getting our MCs together. Then, action starts. Things get more interesting and the MMC becomes much more enjoyable to be in his POV. There are a couple of twists but I felt they were pretty easy to figure out and wasn't surprised by the reveals. Still, it was pretty fun.
I was torn in wanting to read the rest of the series (I read this one first) because the parallel timeline of events across all the different people sounded fun to explore and the individual stories sound interesting... but this book wasn't good enough to have me wanting to invest in the whole series. I just went and read reviews with spoilers so I could get the gist and now I am moving on with my life. :)
March 5, 2026
Thanks NetGalley & Emilia Finn for the ALC of Rise of the King, narrated by Dane Anderson and Audrey Obeyn. The author and narrators are all new to me. I enjoyed this suspenseful romance. I didn’t realize it’s book 5 in the series called Checkmate. I found it easy to listen to as a standalone, I didn’t feel lost with characters and who they were.
He used to be an undercover cop, who got lost in that world, addicted to drugs and it was hard to pull himself out of his addiction. However, when he was shot several times and everyone thought he was dead, it was his chance to clean up his life. That’s with the help of ACE. This person gave him a new identity of John D. Hamilton.
ACE is on the hunt using the dark web to find a trafficking ring and to take them all down. ACE is using John’s skills to help get the job done, he’s the hired muscle. John’s older brother (who had also been undercover) has a bounty on his head. The same people are after him and now it’s John’s mission to get to the person calling the shots before his brother is taken out. He lives in the shadows for now, until they can reunite.
John keeps to himself in this new city where he lives. He only goes to a dinner for food and pretty much just waits until he hears from ACE for more intel. He’s noticed Sophia, a beautiful woman who also comes in all the time and one day he finally makes his move. It turns out they live in the same building and once he knows that, his interest is peaked!
I LOVE how the narrator Dane Anderson says “Sophiaaaaa”…. It cracked me up anytime he’s trying to get her attention. I really enjoyed both narrators and thought they did a great job bringing the characters/story to life.
He used to be an undercover cop, who got lost in that world, addicted to drugs and it was hard to pull himself out of his addiction. However, when he was shot several times and everyone thought he was dead, it was his chance to clean up his life. That’s with the help of ACE. This person gave him a new identity of John D. Hamilton.
ACE is on the hunt using the dark web to find a trafficking ring and to take them all down. ACE is using John’s skills to help get the job done, he’s the hired muscle. John’s older brother (who had also been undercover) has a bounty on his head. The same people are after him and now it’s John’s mission to get to the person calling the shots before his brother is taken out. He lives in the shadows for now, until they can reunite.
John keeps to himself in this new city where he lives. He only goes to a dinner for food and pretty much just waits until he hears from ACE for more intel. He’s noticed Sophia, a beautiful woman who also comes in all the time and one day he finally makes his move. It turns out they live in the same building and once he knows that, his interest is peaked!
I LOVE how the narrator Dane Anderson says “Sophiaaaaa”…. It cracked me up anytime he’s trying to get her attention. I really enjoyed both narrators and thought they did a great job bringing the characters/story to life.
February 21, 2026
Rise of the King is an action-packed adventure that sucked me in right from the start. This book had so many twists and turns along the way that I wasn't sure what was going to happen next.
I loved Sophia's strength and how she really made sure to let the men in her life know that while she's a woman, she's more than capable and she proved it over and over again. I loved how she even kept Jay guessing through the story and he was shocked to learn her secrets.
While this story is exceptional and it keeps you on the edge of your seat, it also has some very deeply traumatic events, but I could not get enough of how Sophia used her pain to save so many others and she never stopped finding everyone responsible. Her spirit, strength and tenacity were clear thoughout this story.
The audiobook narration by Audrey Obeyn and Dane Anderson was phenomenal. Both of them voiced these characters perfectly and kept me hooked as every bit of danger was unleashed. I loved the way they both brought deep emotions, worked through the trauma of the characters, and really kept the drama of the story front and center.
TROPES:
Dark Romance
Protective MMC
Forced Proximity
Sassy FMC
Suspense
Thank you to Emilia Finn & Brilliance Publishing for the ALC.
I loved Sophia's strength and how she really made sure to let the men in her life know that while she's a woman, she's more than capable and she proved it over and over again. I loved how she even kept Jay guessing through the story and he was shocked to learn her secrets.
While this story is exceptional and it keeps you on the edge of your seat, it also has some very deeply traumatic events, but I could not get enough of how Sophia used her pain to save so many others and she never stopped finding everyone responsible. Her spirit, strength and tenacity were clear thoughout this story.
The audiobook narration by Audrey Obeyn and Dane Anderson was phenomenal. Both of them voiced these characters perfectly and kept me hooked as every bit of danger was unleashed. I loved the way they both brought deep emotions, worked through the trauma of the characters, and really kept the drama of the story front and center.
TROPES:
Dark Romance
Protective MMC
Forced Proximity
Sassy FMC
Suspense
Thank you to Emilia Finn & Brilliance Publishing for the ALC.
March 28, 2026
I really enjoyed this one overall. The characters were strong, and I loved the banter it felt natural, sharp, and kept the story moving in a way that made it easy to stay invested.
I’ll admit, I was genuinely happy that Ace was a girl. And honestly? It actually added another layer to her character.
One of my favorite things about this book (and this series as a whole) is how the timelines and storylines overlap. You’re seeing events unfold across multiple perspectives, sometimes revisiting the same moments but it never feels repetitive. The author does a great job of giving you new angles and context, so instead of rehashing, it deepens the story. It almost feels like you’re watching everything happen in real time across different threads, which I loved.
There were also quite a few twists that caught me off guard—in a good way. Just when I thought I had a handle on where things were going… nope.
If I had one critique, it’s that the romance felt a little anticlimactic compared to some of the other relationships in the series. It wasn’t bad…it just didn’t hit with the same intensity I was expecting.
That said, it was still a solid read. Strong characters, engaging structure, and a story that keeps expanding in a way that makes you want to stay in it.
I’ll admit, I was genuinely happy that Ace was a girl. And honestly? It actually added another layer to her character.
One of my favorite things about this book (and this series as a whole) is how the timelines and storylines overlap. You’re seeing events unfold across multiple perspectives, sometimes revisiting the same moments but it never feels repetitive. The author does a great job of giving you new angles and context, so instead of rehashing, it deepens the story. It almost feels like you’re watching everything happen in real time across different threads, which I loved.
There were also quite a few twists that caught me off guard—in a good way. Just when I thought I had a handle on where things were going… nope.
If I had one critique, it’s that the romance felt a little anticlimactic compared to some of the other relationships in the series. It wasn’t bad…it just didn’t hit with the same intensity I was expecting.
That said, it was still a solid read. Strong characters, engaging structure, and a story that keeps expanding in a way that makes you want to stay in it.
June 8, 2023
All I can say is thank goodness Emilia did not leave Jay Bishop dead. His loss really hurt in Book 1 and then again in Book 3. Jay is freaking hilarious and always has a witty comeback. His devotion to Kane is both heartbreaking and touching. Heartbreaking because he feels such an intense responsibility and misplaced guilt for how things went down. Touching because he is just as fiercely protective and loyal as Kane and will stop at nothing to ensure Kane’s safety.
Sophia is a badass and I’m kinda in love with her too. This is the start of Sophia in the Emilia Finn universe but she will continue to pop up everywhere. She’s always in the know and sometimes stirring up trouble. Personally impacted by the likes of Abel Hayes, Sophia will stop at nothing to bring justice to her sister and tear down the empire that caused her death. Sophia and Jay are kindred spirits and truly a perfect match for each other. They both balance and spur on each others crazy.
This book is a wild ride full of mystery, suspense, and an overdue reunion.
- He falls first
- Romantic Suspense
- Cinnamon Roll hero
- mafia ties
Sophia is a badass and I’m kinda in love with her too. This is the start of Sophia in the Emilia Finn universe but she will continue to pop up everywhere. She’s always in the know and sometimes stirring up trouble. Personally impacted by the likes of Abel Hayes, Sophia will stop at nothing to bring justice to her sister and tear down the empire that caused her death. Sophia and Jay are kindred spirits and truly a perfect match for each other. They both balance and spur on each others crazy.
This book is a wild ride full of mystery, suspense, and an overdue reunion.
- He falls first
- Romantic Suspense
- Cinnamon Roll hero
- mafia ties
July 20, 2024
Kindle
4.5
I rally liked this one. Turns out Jay isn ot dead after all. The Bishop brtoher from the first in the series. I like this series and I like his devotion and the witty banter in this book. He is in hiding looking to revenge his own unsuccesful killer. He meets a girl at the dinner and finds out she lives in the same builidng as him. It takes him a while but he finally realizes that the girl he has been chasing is rich and actually his secret boss that he thought was a male. She is a genius and badass and he falls in love with her. He helps her find her sisiters killer and who is responisble for raping, beating and killing her sister. Lots of angst and the story is sad. She and her sister were dancers and she quits dancing after her sister is killed. She becomes the best computer hacker and impresses Jay. Jay has his brother in his reach and he wants to go to him but he may blow everything she was working on. He helps her find herself again. Its a great story.
4.5
I rally liked this one. Turns out Jay isn ot dead after all. The Bishop brtoher from the first in the series. I like this series and I like his devotion and the witty banter in this book. He is in hiding looking to revenge his own unsuccesful killer. He meets a girl at the dinner and finds out she lives in the same builidng as him. It takes him a while but he finally realizes that the girl he has been chasing is rich and actually his secret boss that he thought was a male. She is a genius and badass and he falls in love with her. He helps her find her sisiters killer and who is responisble for raping, beating and killing her sister. Lots of angst and the story is sad. She and her sister were dancers and she quits dancing after her sister is killed. She becomes the best computer hacker and impresses Jay. Jay has his brother in his reach and he wants to go to him but he may blow everything she was working on. He helps her find herself again. Its a great story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2022
Feeling the Love
This was an amazing story of the power of love. Jay and Sophia, both motivated by the love for their siblings, worked together to bring down the bad guys. They used their love for one another to find their way out of the darkness and heal. I've been reading all of Emilia Finn's stories in order and they just keep getting better and better. I even think the Bishop brothers have trumped the Kincaids as my favorite. I just can't get enough of these books!
Note: Technically this book can be read as a standalone BUT Emilia Finn does an amazing job of developing her characters throughout her stories and then they continue to be included in each book. I highly suggest getting to know them by starting with the Rollin On series and reading the books in order or at the very least start with book 1 of this series.
This was an amazing story of the power of love. Jay and Sophia, both motivated by the love for their siblings, worked together to bring down the bad guys. They used their love for one another to find their way out of the darkness and heal. I've been reading all of Emilia Finn's stories in order and they just keep getting better and better. I even think the Bishop brothers have trumped the Kincaids as my favorite. I just can't get enough of these books!
Note: Technically this book can be read as a standalone BUT Emilia Finn does an amazing job of developing her characters throughout her stories and then they continue to be included in each book. I highly suggest getting to know them by starting with the Rollin On series and reading the books in order or at the very least start with book 1 of this series.
September 24, 2025
Rounding up to 5 stars because this book was a pleasant surprise. I went into it with middling expectations and was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. The MCs are delightful; funny and smutty and so connected. They fall for each other so easily and naturally. I hate to call their conversations “banter” because I hate 99% of books that use “banter” as a descriptor. But this author pulls it off without being annoying and quirky.
I know it’s weird to jump into a series on the fifth book…it’s just a thing I do. While technically a standalone, there were a ton of references to other plots and characters. Based on how much I enjoyed this book, I’ll probably go read some of the others in the series.
I know it’s weird to jump into a series on the fifth book…it’s just a thing I do. While technically a standalone, there were a ton of references to other plots and characters. Based on how much I enjoyed this book, I’ll probably go read some of the others in the series.
December 2, 2025
This is a Dark Romantic Suspense, and this is the 5th book in the Checkmate series. I have read the first four books in this series before picking up this book. I do think you would get more for this book if you read at least the first book in this series before picking up this book, but I really think this series is best to read in order. This series is a Dark Romance series, so it covers hard hitting stuff/hard to read, so you should look into triggers before picking it up. I loved this book, and this one is my favorite one so far. The MMC is now my favorite character in this book, and the FMC is so bad a**. That is all I can say because this book is one big spoiler if I say anything more.
February 15, 2026
There is a sense of mystery, though many parts feel predictable. Some moments are straightforward and easy to follow, while others make you wonder what will happen next.
The characters’ actions can be a bit confusing at times, which makes certain parts harder to understand, but it also keeps attention on what is happening.
It feels like the story might connect to earlier parts of the series, though it can still be experienced without knowing them. The mix of predictable and unclear moments makes listening interesting enough to stay engaged.
The combination of tension, simple developments, and character interactions creates a quiet intrigue. Even without prior knowledge, it holds attention and keeps you thinking about the events as they unfold.
The characters’ actions can be a bit confusing at times, which makes certain parts harder to understand, but it also keeps attention on what is happening.
It feels like the story might connect to earlier parts of the series, though it can still be experienced without knowing them. The mix of predictable and unclear moments makes listening interesting enough to stay engaged.
The combination of tension, simple developments, and character interactions creates a quiet intrigue. Even without prior knowledge, it holds attention and keeps you thinking about the events as they unfold.
February 16, 2026
This is the first book that I have read by Ms Finn and I have some mixed feelings regarding it. I'll start with that I did not realize that this book is part of a series so I started behind the curve when it came to this book since I had no clue as to what the back story was regarding the characters of this book.
With that being the case, I found it a little hard to follow along with some of the story making it a not so enjoyable read for me. The story moved along slowly at first making it hard for me to want to follow along with it before it started to get interesting. The characters were okay for me. They had chemistry between them but they did not really hold my interest either.
Overall, this was just an okay read for me.
With that being the case, I found it a little hard to follow along with some of the story making it a not so enjoyable read for me. The story moved along slowly at first making it hard for me to want to follow along with it before it started to get interesting. The characters were okay for me. They had chemistry between them but they did not really hold my interest either.
Overall, this was just an okay read for me.
February 13, 2026
🤯 I absolutely loved this book. I went in blind because I received an arc of the audiobook through NetGalley. I had no idea this was a series. Now I need to read the other books in the Checkmate series and other books by Emilia Finn. Human trafficking and sexual abuse is a very difficult topic for authors to navigate. I feel like the author portrayed these difficult topics in a respectful and informative way. Finally the narrators on this book did an amazing job. Narrators can make or break an audiobook and these two had an outstanding performance. I look forward to reading more by Emilia Finn.
April 7, 2020
I skipped books 2-4 in the series because I cared more about the male protagonist in the book based on what I knew about him from Book 1 of the series. It has hard to read some of this, but it has some hard stuff as the basis of the plot. I figured out the mystery about 2/3 of the way in and I got really frustrated at the protagonists (like they were real people who could hear me, right?) when they couldn't figure it out.
I will probably read books 2-4, 6 but it is hard subject matter that drive the plots in the pandemic world I need something lighter.
I will probably read books 2-4, 6 but it is hard subject matter that drive the plots in the pandemic world I need something lighter.
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