Checkmate

Nikki is nearly killed not once but twice and she has the scars to prove and the man of her dreams is home and she can’t face him ever again…

I am of a mind that Nikki may be one the strongest women characters I have come a crossed, after everything she has been through of course she took a knee but when she stood back up she was ready to reclaim her life. Thankfully she had her Eli there to help her regain her self. The evil villain was so well written that you could feel the evil coming of the pages when the story focused on him and you will be looking forward to seeing him get his when he finally gets caught.

If you are in the mood for the terror ride from hell, then the beginning of Checkmate will deliver and keep you hooked. show more Don’t get me wrong the book does come with a few rather dull, long winded moments but they are short lived and move onto the next action packed moment that leaves you gripping your e-reader and yelling “get that dirty son of bitch” or ‘that’s it punch the fucker again” your choice one or the other will fit. The bedroom scenes though not overly detailed or heated were well written and enjoyable.

This review posting contains the body of the review, which is only a portion of the original review which is posted here http://lauralusbookreviews.blogspot.com/2017/01/checkmate-graham-pack-mates-2-by... show less

This almost got shelved under angst but it was resolved pretty quickly. Nikki is traumatized and scarred from an attack and is afraid to see her brother's best friend again because she thinks he will be disgusted with her appearance and pity her for her trauma. She's been in love with him for years and assumes she has no shot at all with him. Little does she know, he's a werewolf and her mate. A fair bit of action and suspense. This would have been 3.5 stars but I felt like the angst was resolved pretty quickly and I like it a bit more drawn out. Instead, most of the focus was on the suspense part of the plot. Hot sex though.

This almost got shelved under angst but it was resolved pretty quickly. Nikki is traumatized and scarred from an attack and is afraid to see her brother's best friend again because she thinks he will be disgusted with her appearance and pity her for her trauma. She's been in love with him for years and assumes she has no shot at all with him. Little does she know, he's a werewolf and her mate. A fair bit of action and suspense. This would have been 3.5 stars but I felt like the angst was resolved pretty quickly and I like it a bit more drawn out. Instead, most of the focus was on the suspense part of the plot. Hot sex though.

**Courtesy of CK2S Kwips & Kritiques**

Now that he’s returned home from an eight month security detail out of town, Eli is determined to finally claim his mate. It’s been a long time coming, and in the time he’s been gone, she’s been attacked not once, but twice. Twice, her life has been threatened, and he couldn’t be there to protect her. He’ll do whatever it takes to claim Nikki for his mate and protect her against all threats. But first, he has to tell her he is a shape shifter…

Nikki has loved Eli for years, but never thought her brother’s friend returned those feelings. She especially never thought he’d want her now, with her face still scarred from the first attack. But since his return, Eli looks at her like show more he’s a wolf intent on eating her up, and for the first time she starts to wonder if those far-fetched rumors about the Graham twins are true…

If you have already read Annmarie McKenna’s first shape shifter story, Seeing Eye Mate, then you must be panting like wolf for the sequel to that story, Checkmate! McKenna did a fine job of teasing us thoroughly with just enough about Caelan’s identical twin brother, Eli, to leave us salivating for more! And she does not let the readers down with Checkmate. Both Eli and the plot far surpassed my greatest expectations, and left me hungry for yet another sequel!

Nikki is strong, yet almost broken after two brutal attacks. You can feel her fear and pain as she struggles for a life resembling some kind of normalcy while her attackers are still unidentified and remain at large. Her despair over whether Eli could ever look at her the same way again, much less feel romantic love for her after the attacks is enough to break your heart.

Of course, when Eli arrives on the scene, he picks up the pieces of both Nikki’s and the readers’ hearts right quick, as he sweeps Nikki off of her feet and into his world. Watching an Alpha Male like Eli in full-out protective mode take care of the woman he loves is enough to put butterflies in any woman’s tummy, but the sensitivity with which he treats Nikki is enough to make your knees wobble!

With Checkmate, Annmarie McKenna proves once again that she has a decided flair with romantic suspense as she weaves an intricate plot sure to keep you on the edge of your seat! show less

Red alert! Hot Alpha werewolf tale!! If you enjoy werewolf erotica, then don't miss Annmarie McKenna's 'Mate' series. "Checkmate" is the second book and "Seeing Eye Mate" was the first. Her weres are uber-hot, uber-sexy, and uber-Alpha!

Eli is ready to declare himself to his mate. He's known she was his for many years, but waited for her to mature. AFter sex months away on a pack security assignment, he's ready to get home and claim his mate! But it turns out someone's been keeping things from him, and his mate is traumatized and in danger. His instincts kick in...

Nikki has loved Eli for what seems like her whole life. But how could anyone love her now? After being attacked and then run off the road, she has scars...both external and show more internal. She'll have to overcome her fears and a deranged killer before she can commit herslef to Eli.

Loved this book, and the first one. The suspense is good, the plot is handled well, and the sex is fabulous! What more do you need from paranormal erotica? show less

What’s an alpha shape-shifting wolf to do when the woman pre-destined to be his mate no longer trusts men?

After returning home from an eight-month security job, Eli Graham is ready to claim his best friend’s little sister as his mate. He’d put it off for years, thinking he was doing the right thing by waiting. Instead of the stubborn, independent, carefree girl he left behind, Eli finds a shell of the woman he once knew.

Having lived through a near fatal attack, Nikki Taylor has hidden herself away from the world. Now the time has come to face head-on the one man who could devastate her completely, Eli Graham. She’s loved him forever, craves him, body, heart and soul, but he’s never treated her as anything but a little show more sister.

When Nikki witnesses a murder, she has no choice but to rely on Eli’s expertise. While guarding her from the man bent on wiping out a witness, Eli shows Nikki that he’ll not only protect her body, but he’ll show her just what it means to be a wolf’s mate. show less

It was a great read. There was suspense that was a little cliche, but still good. I really liked that the "mated pair" got together without the drama that comes with other stories. You know she won't admit to loving him, one or both fight the attraction.