In this clever and swoonworthy new novel from the New York Times and Sunday
Times bestselling author of The Love Hypothesis, life's moving pieces bring
rival chess players together in a match for the heart. 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 rookie shocks everyone. 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 door to sorely needed cash-prizes and despite everything, she
can't help feeling drawn to the enigmatic strategist... As she rockets up the
ranks, Mallory struggles to keep her family safely separated from the game that
wrecked it in the first place. And as her love for the sport she so desperately
wanted to hate begins to rekindle, Mallory quickly realizes that the games
aren't only on the board, the spotlight is brighter than she imagined, and the
competition can be fierce (-ly attractive. And intelligent... and
infuriating...)