Exploring Check & Mate
by Ali Hazelwood
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Mallory Greenleaf is done with chess. Every move counts nowadays. After the sport led to the destruction of her family four years earlier, Mallory's focus is on her mom, her sisters, and the dead-end job that keeps the lights on. That is, until she begrudgingly agrees to play in one last charity tournament and inadvertently wipes the board with notorious "Kingkiller" Nolan Sawyer: current world champion and reigning bad boy of chess. Nolan's loss to an unknown rook-ie shocks everyone—especially Mallory. What's even more confusing? His desire to cross pawns again. What kind of gambit is Nolan playing? The smart move would be to walk away. Resign. Game over. But Mallory's victory opens the... The book encourages readers to appreciate the journey rather than focus solely on the destination. By allowing events to unfold gradually, the narrative creates space for emotional engagement and thoughtful reflection. This approach helps readers connect more deeply with the characters and the situations they encounter, resulting in a more immersive experience. The story’s development reflects careful planning, with each event building upon what came before. This sense of progression gives the narrative direction and purpose, ensuring that readers remain invested throughout the book.