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Checkmate
For years he’s hidden in the shadows...watching...hunting. His attempts have never been successful, until now. And his game is just beginning.Kendall Walker and her brother, Trace, share a passion for adventure racing. But when Trace is kidnapped by a psychotic figure from their past, Kendall finds herself immersed in an adventure race beyond anything she’s ever known. And if she doesn’t reach each checkpoint in time, Trace will die. She’ll do anything to get her brother back, even surrendering to a man intent on becoming her lover. Luckily for her, Dawson has other plans.Special Agent Dawson Cade doesn’t know how his life went from complacent to complicated in what feels like a heartbeat. He has absolutely no leads on the bastard terrorizing Kendall, and he can’t stop himself from wanting to take her into his bed. He knows he needs to keep distant, but when circumstances force him to succumb to the desires of a man intent on possessing Kendall, Dawson must face the truth. He’s going to be Kendall’s next lover, even if she doesn’t know it yet.And as the race begins, he can only hope he’s able to save Trace, and keep Kendall from sacrificing herself, in a game where even victory has a price.
409 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 19, 2009
2 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
About the author
Kris Norris
120 books93 followersI’m just a small town girl, living in a lonely world. I took the midnight train…oops, sorry. Got off-track.
Author, hobbit, and crazy lady running in the woods, I’m either madly creating masterpieces in my dungeon, or out chasing Bigfoot with my dogs.
I see myself as unapologetically Canadian, and I love all things maple syrup.
Author, hobbit, and crazy lady running in the woods, I’m either madly creating masterpieces in my dungeon, or out chasing Bigfoot with my dogs.
I see myself as unapologetically Canadian, and I love all things maple syrup.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 21, 2013
Yeah....this was not good. I've been trying to find some redeeming qualities for this book, but between the massive info dump at the beginning, the winding plot that needed some serious condensing, the plot twists that were telegraphed chapters in advance, and the one-dimensional characters, I stopped reading with 10 pages to go becasue I just couldn't care anymore. A shorter novel with more focus on the adventure racing would have been better. Instead, the racing was a device used for the first third of the book before it settled down into a suspense-less thriller with a madman who just didn't seem all that menacing at all. There is a rape scene in the middle of the book, and I generally find rape hard to read, but this just came across as awkward sex.
Heavier editing required in the future.
Heavier editing required in the future.
December 28, 2012
OMG I loved this book! Despite the laughable cover and the title that didn't fit the story, I couldn't put this book down. I don't expect great suspense from books I buy on AllRomance ebooks, but this one had everything I love in a story. Crime (kidnapping in this case), suspense, law enforcement, and hot sex. The only thing that stopped me from giving it 5 stars is that I wasn't real crazy about the way Garrick's story line was wrapped up.
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February 26, 2017Even the blurb sounds boring.
May 18, 2013
This was a pretty compelling stalker storyline. 3-1/2 stars. Kendall's father used to work for Garrick, a sadistic man on the wrong side of the law. When her father saw how heartless Garrick could be, he decided to turn state's evidence and run with his family. They've been running ever since. And Garrick has a particular reason he wants Kendall.
After Garrick kidnaps Kendall's brother to hold as a pawn over her head, FBI agent Dawson Cade gets involved and is immediately drawn to Kendall. He's never crossed the line between protection and lust, but Kendall is pushing all of his buttons and raising every protective instinct he has, even beyond that of an FBI agent.
I enjoyed the suspense part of the story, but there were so many near misses between Kendall and Dawson that once they finally got together, it was at the climax of the story (no pun intended) and I just kinda wanted to move on with the story by then, lol. Not that the scenes weren't steamy, I just wanted to see where the story was going to go.
I also marked this as minor editing issues. There were a LOT of "you"s that should have been "your". And there were a few misused words. Things like "deep seeded" instead of "deep seated"... things like that. Subtle, but it drew me out to think how it should have been. Definitely not enough to ruin the story, though.
After Garrick kidnaps Kendall's brother to hold as a pawn over her head, FBI agent Dawson Cade gets involved and is immediately drawn to Kendall. He's never crossed the line between protection and lust, but Kendall is pushing all of his buttons and raising every protective instinct he has, even beyond that of an FBI agent.
I enjoyed the suspense part of the story, but there were so many near misses between Kendall and Dawson that once they finally got together, it was at the climax of the story (no pun intended) and I just kinda wanted to move on with the story by then, lol. Not that the scenes weren't steamy, I just wanted to see where the story was going to go.
I also marked this as minor editing issues. There were a LOT of "you"s that should have been "your". And there were a few misused words. Things like "deep seeded" instead of "deep seated"... things like that. Subtle, but it drew me out to think how it should have been. Definitely not enough to ruin the story, though.
January 28, 2013
Romantic suspense is one of my favorite genres. I love feeling the on the edge of your seat anxiety and trying to figure out who’s the bad guy. I especially love when the author engages you into the characters and story so much that you keep changing your mind as to who the bad guy(s) are. Kris Norris is a new to me author. I never go in expecting much on these. I was very pleasantly surprised with this book. It drew me in from the beginning. I stayed up until after 2:30 in the morning (until I just couldn’t keep my eyes open any longer). This book has more twists and turns than any I have read in a while. It will definitely keep you on your toes.
Ms. Norris has a way of weaving her characters and story to flow seamlessly and feel like someone you know. I really would like to hang out with Kendall and would love to meet Dawson, Trace and Mitchell. I loved them all. I really was hoping this was part of a series and Trace and Jody got a chance, but it doesn’t appear so.
If you love sitting on the edge of your seat, biting your nails, this is definitely a book for you. I can’t wait to check out more by this author. I am definitely sorry I waited so long to read this book.
Ms. Norris has a way of weaving her characters and story to flow seamlessly and feel like someone you know. I really would like to hang out with Kendall and would love to meet Dawson, Trace and Mitchell. I loved them all. I really was hoping this was part of a series and Trace and Jody got a chance, but it doesn’t appear so.
If you love sitting on the edge of your seat, biting your nails, this is definitely a book for you. I can’t wait to check out more by this author. I am definitely sorry I waited so long to read this book.
February 25, 2019
Ii picked this up free at ARe
I liked the story line, quite interesting and intriguing and kept my interest through the book. Enjoyed the adventure racing bits.
Wasnt so convinced by the two MC's, just didnt get the vibe from them and that left their intimate dialogue a bit flat for me.
So, a good who dunnit with a bit of a hanging thread at the end for continuance.
I liked the story line, quite interesting and intriguing and kept my interest through the book. Enjoyed the adventure racing bits.
Wasnt so convinced by the two MC's, just didnt get the vibe from them and that left their intimate dialogue a bit flat for me.
So, a good who dunnit with a bit of a hanging thread at the end for continuance.
March 26, 2013
Great suspense..kept you guessing until the very end on the who and they why. Would have liked to seen Garrick's situation completely resolved, not really sure if he is going to come back or not. Great storyline
February 1, 2013
Liked the book but it just ended. There were so many things left unresolved. Was a little disappointed
January 21, 2013
awesome book
May 16, 2013
Great story. Lots of drama that just pulls you in.
July 18, 2013
I tried liking this book, I really did. But the obvious 'suspense' & plot 'twists' and the characters with no depth made it really hard to even get through the book much less like it.
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November 22, 2018Siblings Kendall and Trace Walker love the thrill of adventure racing. But when a twisted figure from their past kidnaps Trace, it’s going to take every ounce of Kendall’s training to rescue her brother. For the kidnapper has a game in mind. A race unlike any other, created for Kendall alone. And if she doesn’t make each checkpoint in time, Trace will die. The only person Kendall can count on is Special Agent Dawson Cade. Together the pair tackle Kendall’s tormenter’s mad scheme. Yet even as they race to outwit Trace’s kidnapper, neither Kendall nor Dawson can deny the growing attraction between them. But they may never have a chance to act on it, if the enemy gets to Kendall first.
High adventure and danger around every corner spells thrills for this adrenaline-packed story by Kris Norris. Checkmate is an intriguing read with interesting characters that engages from beginning to end. I liked both Kendall and Dawson, which made it easy to root not only for their survival, but for them to get their happily ever after with one another. Dawson was strong and protective, as a hero of his position should be. Kendall was incredibly self-sacrificing and had guts, which I admired. I quickly became invested in their race to keep Trace alive and that carried me through Checkmate more than anything else. There were a few parts to Checkmate I could have done without. The villain hit my “ick” button a few times, but I chalk that up to personal reading preference. All in all, I greatly enjoyed Checkmate and Ms. Norris definitely left me wanting stories for some of the supporting characters.
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
High adventure and danger around every corner spells thrills for this adrenaline-packed story by Kris Norris. Checkmate is an intriguing read with interesting characters that engages from beginning to end. I liked both Kendall and Dawson, which made it easy to root not only for their survival, but for them to get their happily ever after with one another. Dawson was strong and protective, as a hero of his position should be. Kendall was incredibly self-sacrificing and had guts, which I admired. I quickly became invested in their race to keep Trace alive and that carried me through Checkmate more than anything else. There were a few parts to Checkmate I could have done without. The villain hit my “ick” button a few times, but I chalk that up to personal reading preference. All in all, I greatly enjoyed Checkmate and Ms. Norris definitely left me wanting stories for some of the supporting characters.
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews