The Challenge Factory discussion

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. 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...)

Through Ch. 8

(view spoiler)[What would be the chances of her beating the world's greatest player in real life? lol She must be far better than she gives herself credit for. I mean she's going on for the quarter finals, so yeah, the wins weren't flukes!

It's a pretty funny/cute story so far, but it is a bit overloaded with references; however, I tend to like allusions IF I recognize them.

Her being in the pool naked...why on earth would she be anyway? lol (hide spoiler)]

Through Ch. 16

(view spoiler)[I just think Darcy is so adorable but the other sister, Sabrina is kind of a brat. lol But the questions Darcy asked Nolan would definitely have been embarrassing AND a bit too much for a girl of her age to be asking anyway!

Honestly, it seems to be me like she's better than all of the other players. I think she'll win the Challenges!

A virgin? I'm shocked that he's a virgin at 20 years old but pretty cool. (hide spoiler)]

Through Ch. 24

(view spoiler)[Jeez, I really felt for her story about her dad. All so sad. She's done so much for her family but you can't always expect appreciation or "payback" unfortunately. I think even though things got messed up between her and Nolan that they'll end up with their HEA. And I am sure she'll most likely go to the World Championship and win! (hide spoiler)]

Finished

(view spoiler)[I had a hard time with Mallory. I thought she was just too much. Bitchy, self-absorbed, hecka rude to her mother and sisters when she called them all a bitch. I just got tired of listening to her. lol

I was also not happy with the ending. Why wouldn't they have let the reader know how the tournament played out? I am glad that they made up after their big argument/her getting SO upset with Nolan. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 8

I agree (view spoiler)[ this one is just silly
her swimming naked - not gonna happen.

and yeah, beating Sawyer at some random tournament. I just can't even imagine it.

I like Defne and Oz. I'm sad she has to pay for so much stuff. hopefully these tournaments will help her pay for stuff (hide spoiler)]

I am curious to see how you like it when you finish it.

*sigh*

lol not loving it so far
(view spoiler)[ I think it's just silly that Nolan is a virgin and not really necessary for the storyline.

I found Defne's statistics interesting but man, I just am not loving Mal or Nolan

Mal's family was pretty awful. I'm glad she went anyway. Glad that maybe her mom is stepping up

again, just ignoring reality and rolling with the fact they chose her for the tournament!

hopefully there won't be any questions about propriety if she beats Nolan again (hide spoiler)]

Vicki wrote: "I am curious to see how you like it when you finish it."

yikes, the fact you gave it 3 stars doesn't give me much hope lol

Lol I wasn’t feeling very generous. It was cute, but I didn’t think it was one of those those books that I really really liked a lot.

and I'm done

so sad because I thought this book had an interesting idea
just not an execution that worked for me

(view spoiler)[ I found it felt very cliche YA
the absent parents, the oldest working, the siblings just being awful

I even found the bad guy (suddenly his name jumped from my head. Koch? Keach? Koech? anyway) over the top. Like, he threw it all away and cheated?! crazy

meh. I didn't love the main character, I didn't love Nolan - I did really like Defne and Oz. (hide spoiler)]

I 100% agree with your final comments, Trisha. Sometimes I wonder how these books get GR Choice Awards/Nominations! Oh well,