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CheckMate
A gruesome murder. Floating body parts found in the Hudson river all before breakfast on a Sunday morning. The Elliot’s got away with it again...
A rich family lineage ruling New York City that deemed themselves untouchable. The golden baton has been passed to the blue-eyed Robert Elliot. He’s the head of the empire now, and he’s been getting away with murder. Or so he thinks... A stone-cold killer with an array of deadly charms. Elliot is used to getting everything he wants and then some.
What he didn’t bank on is the dark horse, Sara Clemens. Clemens is a badass private investigator and she’s set to turn the tables on Elliot in more ways than one. Clemens has her own set of problems to deal with. Like the fact, she has to babysit a bratty supermodel and avoid becoming a pawn in Elliot’s game.
Will she let this dangerously electric attraction between her and Elliot cloud the case? Will she be able to solve the murder in time to avenge the death of her client's son?
Get prepared for a game of cat and mouse, high wit, unlikely players, forbidden attraction, crazy model behavior, and international espionage.
A rich family lineage ruling New York City that deemed themselves untouchable. The golden baton has been passed to the blue-eyed Robert Elliot. He’s the head of the empire now, and he’s been getting away with murder. Or so he thinks... A stone-cold killer with an array of deadly charms. Elliot is used to getting everything he wants and then some.
What he didn’t bank on is the dark horse, Sara Clemens. Clemens is a badass private investigator and she’s set to turn the tables on Elliot in more ways than one. Clemens has her own set of problems to deal with. Like the fact, she has to babysit a bratty supermodel and avoid becoming a pawn in Elliot’s game.
Will she let this dangerously electric attraction between her and Elliot cloud the case? Will she be able to solve the murder in time to avenge the death of her client's son?
Get prepared for a game of cat and mouse, high wit, unlikely players, forbidden attraction, crazy model behavior, and international espionage.
219 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 16, 2020
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 12, 2020
Sara is a private eye hired to investigate Robert Elliot by posing as a personal assistant to his wife, Evana Herod. Evana is a super-hot Vogue model who seems clueless to her husband’s involvement in the drug trafficking and murders going on around her. Or is she?
In this mystery romance, Sara struggles with her intense attraction to a profoundly evil man. It’s fun to watch as one minute she hates the very air Elliot breathes, and then when he’s around her, she feels under a spell and can’t think straight. Will she give in to his charms and become just another of his helpless prey?
If you like a fast-paced mystery with fun characters and exciting adventure, you’ll like Checkmate.
In this mystery romance, Sara struggles with her intense attraction to a profoundly evil man. It’s fun to watch as one minute she hates the very air Elliot breathes, and then when he’s around her, she feels under a spell and can’t think straight. Will she give in to his charms and become just another of his helpless prey?
If you like a fast-paced mystery with fun characters and exciting adventure, you’ll like Checkmate.
November 24, 2020
Let me tell you a little story about when I fell for a bad guy…Yeah, I know right? Pretty cliché, good girl falls for bad guy. Stay with me, because it’s a helluva story and not what you think. Honestly....
Sara started out as a simple photographer, that then turned her into an investigative detective. She’s had her ups and downs of cases, but this one has to be one of her most interesting ones.....
She’s a great character, strong, independent and her witty one liners did have me chuckling. She is also a caring individual, out to right wrongs and help find justice for those who can’t fight for themselves.
Hawk is sick of having to bail out a certain P.I!! His skills as a spy have come in handy he’s for hire but at the right price.
He is very selective in taking on cases and has worked for the Secret Intelligence Unit (SIS) in Britain, on occasions.
And they always seem to end up chasing the same bad guy! I’d say Hawk is more methodical in his research, Sara has that knack of finding her clues.
His background makes him perfect for this job, but it’s his personal life that helps him to stay grounded and focused. He’s a descendant of the native Indian,
I loved Hawk, he’s a great character,
We’ve had how they met in a short prequel (Firebomb) I did think it was going to be maybe a slow burn romance, or a partner mystery.
So if your thinking this is a romance story, then it is of sorts, but the romance comes from the bad guy and Sara. The chemistry is off the charts, she knows she should be on her guard, but he’s slowly pulling her in.....
The interaction between Sara and Hawk is more big brother looking out for his little sister. And when they do interact it’s that vibe. (Still hoping they get together eventually)
I love how the POV’s (Points of View) come from Sara, Robert Elliot and Hawk it’s a little confusing at first, but it’s great to have the bad guys take on a story. We get different perspectives on this case, so it reads a lot like a movie rather than a one dimensional book.
Cleverly written, very detailed and the fast moving.
The suspense was nail biting, especially as secrets and a few new players pop up and Sara realises she’s going to have to protect those people too!
If your a big fan of murder/mystery this will get you thinking.
Sara thinks it’s just gathering intel, in fact it’s more than that, it's fast turning into global espionage and terrorism!
And it’s a ride right up until the end, which is a cliffhanger!!!
The only thing I didn’t like was Sara and her attraction to Robert! The attraction wasn’t a problem (people fall for the wrong person all the time) I didn’t like how she tried to rationalise it, she couldn’t think around him (I would have thought she would be extra vigilant because of who he was!)
And I have to mention Robert Eliot, a mafia bosses son, but now he’s a boss and he’s not a nice guy (think I’ve been reading too many mafia books as I know think they all have redeeming qualities) there is nothing he won’t do! And don’t think of crossing him, as it won’t even well for you!!
He always seemed to be one step ahead of both Hawk and Sara. I got the impression he used Sara a little and any feelings he might have felt for our P.I was fabricated!
As I said the book does end on sort of a cliffhanger. But saying that, a few loose ends are tied up, but will our blue eyed bad guy escape Sara, Hawk and the police?
I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it.
🦋
Sara started out as a simple photographer, that then turned her into an investigative detective. She’s had her ups and downs of cases, but this one has to be one of her most interesting ones.....
She’s a great character, strong, independent and her witty one liners did have me chuckling. She is also a caring individual, out to right wrongs and help find justice for those who can’t fight for themselves.
Hawk is sick of having to bail out a certain P.I!! His skills as a spy have come in handy he’s for hire but at the right price.
He is very selective in taking on cases and has worked for the Secret Intelligence Unit (SIS) in Britain, on occasions.
And they always seem to end up chasing the same bad guy! I’d say Hawk is more methodical in his research, Sara has that knack of finding her clues.
His background makes him perfect for this job, but it’s his personal life that helps him to stay grounded and focused. He’s a descendant of the native Indian,
I loved Hawk, he’s a great character,
We’ve had how they met in a short prequel (Firebomb) I did think it was going to be maybe a slow burn romance, or a partner mystery.
So if your thinking this is a romance story, then it is of sorts, but the romance comes from the bad guy and Sara. The chemistry is off the charts, she knows she should be on her guard, but he’s slowly pulling her in.....
The interaction between Sara and Hawk is more big brother looking out for his little sister. And when they do interact it’s that vibe. (Still hoping they get together eventually)
I love how the POV’s (Points of View) come from Sara, Robert Elliot and Hawk it’s a little confusing at first, but it’s great to have the bad guys take on a story. We get different perspectives on this case, so it reads a lot like a movie rather than a one dimensional book.
Cleverly written, very detailed and the fast moving.
The suspense was nail biting, especially as secrets and a few new players pop up and Sara realises she’s going to have to protect those people too!
If your a big fan of murder/mystery this will get you thinking.
Sara thinks it’s just gathering intel, in fact it’s more than that, it's fast turning into global espionage and terrorism!
And it’s a ride right up until the end, which is a cliffhanger!!!
The only thing I didn’t like was Sara and her attraction to Robert! The attraction wasn’t a problem (people fall for the wrong person all the time) I didn’t like how she tried to rationalise it, she couldn’t think around him (I would have thought she would be extra vigilant because of who he was!)
And I have to mention Robert Eliot, a mafia bosses son, but now he’s a boss and he’s not a nice guy (think I’ve been reading too many mafia books as I know think they all have redeeming qualities) there is nothing he won’t do! And don’t think of crossing him, as it won’t even well for you!!
He always seemed to be one step ahead of both Hawk and Sara. I got the impression he used Sara a little and any feelings he might have felt for our P.I was fabricated!
As I said the book does end on sort of a cliffhanger. But saying that, a few loose ends are tied up, but will our blue eyed bad guy escape Sara, Hawk and the police?
I received a free copy of this book and volunteered to review it.
🦋
March 26, 2020
When body parts of Michael Sawyer surfaces on the Hudson River, a grieved father turns towards Sara Clemens, a Private Investigator known to be one of the best detectives in the field.
The circumstantial evidence points to the Elliots, a rich and influential family overshadowing New York City. A lineage that has managed to dodge conviction for years of crimes. The heir Robert Elliot is not the average criminal, he is masculine in the most primal of ways.
As Sara infiltrate the Elliot household under the cover of an assistant to Robert's supermodel wife Evana, a dark fantasy pushes her towards the clutches of Robert in an unexplained passion. But when his true crimes surface it is quickly suppressed by a silent rage.
Robert is affected by Sara's sharp wit and soon finds "a soft spot building within his cold heart, shrinking his killer instincts."
The beginning was not very promising but it didn't take long for the story to pick up the pace. There is no unnecessary dragging of the plot and as the climax arrives, intense and fast-action follows. The plot ends on a cliffhanger that looks very promising and makes you quite excited for the second book!
The characters are diverse and intriguing with the supporting characters being given equal exposure with their stories and not just used as bystanders. The story is written through narrations of the various characters, even of Robert which offers us the much needed exposure to the male protagonist mind that is lacking in so many romance novels.
Since the narrations aren't named it can get confusing. The evil and yet seductive personality of Robert makes him a very interesting and unique protagonist that you can only hate and love at the same time, and the climax proves how smart, ruthless and cunning he is.
For any Romantic-Thriller lovers out there, I recommend to definitely try this book. !!!
The circumstantial evidence points to the Elliots, a rich and influential family overshadowing New York City. A lineage that has managed to dodge conviction for years of crimes. The heir Robert Elliot is not the average criminal, he is masculine in the most primal of ways.
As Sara infiltrate the Elliot household under the cover of an assistant to Robert's supermodel wife Evana, a dark fantasy pushes her towards the clutches of Robert in an unexplained passion. But when his true crimes surface it is quickly suppressed by a silent rage.
Robert is affected by Sara's sharp wit and soon finds "a soft spot building within his cold heart, shrinking his killer instincts."
The beginning was not very promising but it didn't take long for the story to pick up the pace. There is no unnecessary dragging of the plot and as the climax arrives, intense and fast-action follows. The plot ends on a cliffhanger that looks very promising and makes you quite excited for the second book!
The characters are diverse and intriguing with the supporting characters being given equal exposure with their stories and not just used as bystanders. The story is written through narrations of the various characters, even of Robert which offers us the much needed exposure to the male protagonist mind that is lacking in so many romance novels.
Since the narrations aren't named it can get confusing. The evil and yet seductive personality of Robert makes him a very interesting and unique protagonist that you can only hate and love at the same time, and the climax proves how smart, ruthless and cunning he is.
For any Romantic-Thriller lovers out there, I recommend to definitely try this book. !!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2020
CheckMate us L.R. Starr's debut novel - and as a debut, was very good! Some extra editing is needed; but unlike some other books I have read, it doesn't detract from the story.
The overall story was quite good - it's been a long time since I've read a mystery novel! Sara and Hawk are interesting characters, and there were plenty of twists and turns to keep the story going smoothly. If you like mystery and suspense, I'd recommend this book. ❤
The overall story was quite good - it's been a long time since I've read a mystery novel! Sara and Hawk are interesting characters, and there were plenty of twists and turns to keep the story going smoothly. If you like mystery and suspense, I'd recommend this book. ❤
November 18, 2020
Nice try, Sara. You thought it was going to be that easy? Think again. We have unfinished business. I’ll be in touch soon. Your move next. CheckMate.
This is one of those books that you read and you love without really being able to express why. Checkmate is the first book of ‘A SARA CLEMENS MYSTERY’ and the debut novel of the author.
Sara is a Private Investigator, known to be one of the best detectives in the field. A grieved father, when the body of his son, Michael Sawyer surfaced on the Hudson River, turns to Sara in quest of justice for his son’s death. Sara is now hired to investigate Robert Elliot, the main suspect.
Robert is a tycoon businessman, and his wealth overshadowing New York City. A lineage that has fared to dodge verdict for years of crimes. He’s hot and charming and is known to be PLAYBOY and is masculine in most primeval ways. It’s not tranquil to challenge him.
He’s married to the Vogue supermodel, Evana Herod. Sara manages to enroll in Elliot’s household by assisting Evana. All the characters are given equivalent importance, and are intriguing; they are not portrayed as bystanders. They even recite their own story.
When Sara bumped into Robert she develops a seductive attraction towards him, which affected her dealings with the case. And every time she tries to push his thoughts away, the more she’s engrossed to him. For a moment she develops unutterable hatred for him and at the next moment, she wants to be with him. When the true-crime unveils, her desirability gets suppressed by quite a rage.
Robert is also affected by Sara’s sharp wit and soon finds a soft spot building within his cold heart; shrinking his killer instinct.
The story is written through the narration of various characters, giving exposure to everyone's mind, making the book more stimulating. And there is no unnecessary dragging and makes us turn pages after pages habitually. As the narrations are not named it's pretty much confusing to understand but soon takes the pace.
The story ends on a cliffhanger that seems really very promising and exciting, leaving us more excited for the next book.
This is a must-read book for every Romantic-thriller fans out there.
Looking forward to reading more books from the author. >>>>
This is one of those books that you read and you love without really being able to express why. Checkmate is the first book of ‘A SARA CLEMENS MYSTERY’ and the debut novel of the author.
Sara is a Private Investigator, known to be one of the best detectives in the field. A grieved father, when the body of his son, Michael Sawyer surfaced on the Hudson River, turns to Sara in quest of justice for his son’s death. Sara is now hired to investigate Robert Elliot, the main suspect.
Robert is a tycoon businessman, and his wealth overshadowing New York City. A lineage that has fared to dodge verdict for years of crimes. He’s hot and charming and is known to be PLAYBOY and is masculine in most primeval ways. It’s not tranquil to challenge him.
He’s married to the Vogue supermodel, Evana Herod. Sara manages to enroll in Elliot’s household by assisting Evana. All the characters are given equivalent importance, and are intriguing; they are not portrayed as bystanders. They even recite their own story.
When Sara bumped into Robert she develops a seductive attraction towards him, which affected her dealings with the case. And every time she tries to push his thoughts away, the more she’s engrossed to him. For a moment she develops unutterable hatred for him and at the next moment, she wants to be with him. When the true-crime unveils, her desirability gets suppressed by quite a rage.
Robert is also affected by Sara’s sharp wit and soon finds a soft spot building within his cold heart; shrinking his killer instinct.
The story is written through the narration of various characters, giving exposure to everyone's mind, making the book more stimulating. And there is no unnecessary dragging and makes us turn pages after pages habitually. As the narrations are not named it's pretty much confusing to understand but soon takes the pace.
The story ends on a cliffhanger that seems really very promising and exciting, leaving us more excited for the next book.
This is a must-read book for every Romantic-thriller fans out there.
Looking forward to reading more books from the author. >>>>
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews