⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫ALC Review

I loved this book, it was a fantastic romcom adventure! The story was so good and entertaining. I was so engrossed in it from the first few pages. I loved the banter between the main characters. Our FMC is an antique dealer/authenticator and our MMC is a con artist. What more could you ask for! I do love a morally grey MMC mixed with some enemies to lovers 😍. I enjoyed the twist at the end and this one has some serious The Italian Job vibes.

This audiobook is a dual narration by Kim Churchill and Wayne Mitchell. They worked so well together and their voices were perfect for the main characters and I could just feel the chemistry.

Quote: "I did not kidnap you. I simply carried you to the car so that I could explain on the way." -Bodie

Thank you to the author Carina Taylor and Net Galley for the advanced copy of the audio book!

This audiobook was so cute, I didn’t want to stop listening! I loved the narrators! The story was full of fun little twists that made you guess what was going to happen next! If you love adventure, enemies to lovers, he falls first, then you will love this romcom!

I adored everything about this book. The characters, Bodie and Gracen, are so cute together and their banter witty and fun. They're both intelligent and while they would like to trust each other, in the world of heists and con artists this proves difficult for both of them leading to lots of adventure and the occasional hijinks while they try to outwit their pursuer and each other. They fall in love along the way, but with one big surprise will they be able to admit their feelings and find true happiness? I need to read this author's backlist ASAP! The audiobook was such a fantastic way to enjoy this story and the narrators, Wayne Mitchell and Kim Churchill, did a fantastic job.

This was my second book in this series and second romcom adventure book. This twist on romcoms is so fun and makes for such unique story lines. I loved Bodie’s character and the inner tension he battled between being a con man or a caring man… I almost felt guilty at times for liking him as much as I did 😂 The storyline was full of mystery, twists, hilarious banter, quirky family, white collar crime schemes, and chemistry. The narrators did a fantastic job! I could rave about so many elements in this story, but I don’t want to give away any details!

This book was such a fantastic read. It gave me strong White Collar vibes and I loved it. This book has action, mystery, and romance all in one story. The narrating was well done and I highly recommend you give this book a read or a listen.

5 stars

This was such a cozy little romance adventure. The humor and banter was incredible. Bodie and Gracen are seriously probably my favorite book couple ever. If I were to give you some of my favorite quotes from this book, I'd be quoting the entire book. That's how much fun I had listening to this.

I'm a smutty and often dark romance gal and I was having so much fun with this story that I didn't even realize it was a closed door (really all they do is kiss 'cause they just met each other kinda).

"I thought Tuesdays were for flowers."
-enter me melting into a puddle of goo on my couch while squeeeeing too loud-

This reminded me of the TV show White Collar meets Psych meets Oceans 11.

Honestly, Kim Churchill and Wayne Mitchell are perfection in this audiobook. I've already started looking up other work by them because I need more of those voices in my life.

I don't want to give away too much, but here are some buzzwords of my favorite things/scenes from this book: broadswords, cute fuzzy slippers, lazy Sunday kidnappings, cat-and-mouse chase, cooky families, secret treasure, unlikely friends, the chess set to end all chess sets, possible dog napping (not really), being called cute in the face of righteous anger, and a the perfect excuse as to why you never skip dessert.

I had no idea this was a series and now I cannot wait to go back and get book 1. I really hope it's as amazing as this book really, really was. I went in blind and had zero expectations and was blown away by how much fun I had with this.

Thank you, NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this ALC.

Such a fun listen and read!! I kinda expected something different, but I loved what I got. It was a funny, fast paced, adventure in a book. The love story was effortless and the cutest!! The dual narration will always be my favorite. Wayne and Kim’s voices suited the story and characters very well. They had such a fun way to tell the story.

I didn’t realize this was part of a series so it can definitely be read as a stand alone. No need to read the others, but you’ll love it so much you’ll want to read more! Carina Taylor might be one of my new authors to binge read.

The play on names really made me chuckle but Gracen character and character conflict was so well done and such an interesting change of pace for an adventure romance. I loved it.

Thanks so much NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op.

this is such a unique, fun, exciting story! I loved the unique plot: a fun romcom mixed with exciting intrigue and suspense! the characters are adorable and so much fun, and the story has several twists and turns that made the story so fun to read, especially as an audiobook. It was so easy to escape into this story. It was pretty fast-paced, quick read for me which I also enjoyed.

Overall, just a good time of a book with adorable love story, fun secrets, and exciting mysteries! thank you for the alc :)

I loved this one! I got to read it as an audio book and it was really well done. They had a male and female narrator which I love. The characters were relatable and fun. The plot cleverly written and unique- it kept me guessing right till the end. It gave me White Collar or Oceans Eleven vibes. I loved how the author wrapped everything up at the end- it was really such a great audiobook- and best of all, it was romantic and clean!

The perfect surprise. And the audiobook was fantastic. It definitely added to the great story and kept me listening from start to finish.

Sometimes my methods are a complete failure but I really enjoy going into a book blind. And that is what I did with Rook to King. Boy am I glad I did. I absolutely love when a book takes me by complete surprise. This was not what I was expecting at all but in the best ways. This was a unique and fast paced story full of action and chemistry.

Bodie King has a bit of notoriety when it comes to the antiques world so when he walks through the doors of Gracen's antique shop she is less than thrilled at the encounter. Unfortunately, she is in less control of her life than she thinks and before she knows it, she and Bodie are forced together to find the one of a kind chess pieces in order to complete the set.

The more these two interact the more obvious it is that they have an undeniable chemistry. If only Bodie's past didn't keep reminding him that they come from completely different worlds.

This book is a fun adventure with a tiny bit of character growth but mostly just a lot of fun banter and adventure.

Thank you so much to netgalley for this audiobook ARC. It was absolutely delightful.

This is a sweet, closed door romcom that gives off a bit of Ocean's 11 vibes. Definitely a romantic adventure you won't want to miss.

This was a super fun adventure romance read! If you like rivals to lovers romance and heist movies like Ocean’s 11 or The Italian Job, then you’ll love Rook to King by Carina Taylor. This story is full of witty banter, international intrigue, and twists and turns. As the two main characters are a little on the morally gray side of things, there was a lot of deceit and miscommunication going on between them for most of the story, which makes sense but I’m also not a big fan of the miscommunication trope. Also, I did read this via audiobook, and while I didn’t love the male narrator, I think the female narrator did a great job. Overall, a very fun and clean read with no spice and only some mild language!

A big thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for sending me an audiobook arc of this book! All thoughts and opinions above are my own.

I was thrilled when I got this book! I have been hearing about it for months! And oh my Chess Heart! I loved it! I was enthralled from the beginning and laughed out loud so many times! I was surprised at the suspense and at the twists and turns! No spoilers here! But you will love it!

The narration: The narrators were delightful! I loved them both! I truly enjoyed the inflections and the way I really felt like they were talking to each other! It was awesome!

Thank you to Net Galley! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

Gracen is just a humble antiques authenticator living above the antique shop she works in. But she has come across a major score, a chess set rumored to hold the clues to a priceless fortune.

When Bodie King walks in her store, her hackles are raised. She has heard the rumors of the kind of man she is, a con man.

Bodie is used to being able to get what he wants, and through some persuasion, he gets Gracen on his side in search of the treasure.

As they search for the treasure, they uncover more secrets about each other, and are more drawn together. Is resistance to this attraction futile?
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What a run ride! The banter, the way they continue to try and best each other, the secrets, it all comes together to make the most absorbing story. One you will want to race through to find out the conclusion.

Before this book I would have dubbed myself a fan of morally gray characters, but I'm on board if it makes for a book this fun and immersive. I was traveling with them participating in the banter and feeling their chemistry.

If you like a rom com plus a little mystery and action, check this one out!
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This is a closed door, kisses only rom com. It is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone.

Thanks to Carina Taylor for the gifted audiobook. All opinions are my own.

Overall: 5
Narration: 4
Spice: 2
A fun romp with terrific banter and chemistry!

Gracen Winthrop is managing a small-town antiques store when a well know con man in the art and antiques world, Bodie King, comes in looking for a specific chess piece. Gracen is familiar with the piece, but doesn’t trust Bodie intentions, so kicks him out of the store. Bodie is persistent with Gracen and requests her help and expertise with identifying the remaining important chess pieces. This begins an action and banter filled quest with lots of twists and turns.

I love being surprised by and ARC that I know nothing about! As I build up my review reputation, I request almost all the audiobooks on NetGalley in the romance genre. This one was requested and approved so I went it with only the info from the blurb NG provides. I was smiling and laughing throughout this story and enjoyed every minute. The narrators were great (Wayne’s female voice is a bit off-putting, but otherwise he was perfect as Bodie). The characters were great and easy to root for even if their actions weren’t necessarily above board. As mentioned, the enemies to lovers banter between Gracen and Bodie was fabulous and you could feel the chemistry and connection between them. If you like your romance with a bit of mystery and action, I highly recommend this book. I will be seeking out more books by Carina Taylor!

Really enjoyed this book. Thank you for giving me the chance to listen to the audio version.

I've left a review on Goodreads

When I came across this audiobook on NetGalley, I immediately applied even though I didn’t know much about it. I’d just seen it all over bookstagram for the last several months, and knew it was an adventure romance written by Carina Taylor (I’ve read two of her books before and enjoyed them). But it wasn’t until I started listening to it that I realized it’s the second book of a series and I had read the first one and liked it! A wonderful surprise. The first book, World’s Worst Boyfriend, is a fun read and I feel like reading it first would give a fuller picture of who Bodie is and his backstory, but Rook To King can also be read as a standalone too.

From the very beginning of this book, I told my daughter it was giving me serious White Collar/Neal Caffrey vibes (a recent favorite we watched together). So if you loved Neal Caffrey & White Collar, Rook To King is probably going to hit the mark for you. This book had a bit of everything: white collar crime, adventure, overseas travel, a modern day treasure hunt, the wittiest of banter, and of course, swoony romance. It kept me guessing until the very end, and when the book ended, I just wanted to start it over again. Bodie and Gracen’s verbal sparring was so entertaining! Fingers crossed Carina will write a third in the series! Also, I enjoyed the narrators - they really brought the book to life. And I loved that there were dual narrators ❤️

Intimacy: Sizzling kisses only
Language: A handful of milder swear words (no f-words) and mild innuendo
Content Considerations: Morally grayish characters

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the audio copy of this book. These are my honest opinions.

Thank you Victory Editing Netgalley co-op for my #gifted audio

This story was a pleasant surprise!

Gracen, an Antique Art Authenticator and Brodie, a Con-man/Art Broker end up working together to hunt for pieces to a lost Chess game that holds the secrets to a map of a hidden treasure.

It’s a game of cat and mouse with funny family dynamics, attempted murder, a trip abroad, and great banter!

What you’ll find:
Dual POV
Rivals to lovers
Treasure hunting
Lots of surprises!
Strategy!
A sword
“Tuesday kisses”
Morally gray MMC
Forced proximity
Chess games!
A meddling grandmother who wants grand-babies!

If you’re looking for a light-hearted Rom-Com with treasure hunting and mystery - this one is perfect!

Romance content: Just kisses!

I really liked the audio readers, especially the male reader.

This book has been on my tbr for quite some time so it was a pleasant surprise when I received this advanced listener copy.
A genius back and forth between an elusive con man and the woman who holds the key to his next score.
It’s clever and unexpecting as the story weaves from a small antiques shop to world travel and adventure.
The story and writing itself is no doubt a 5-star:
Chose to give 4 stars based on the audio. Personal preference, I don’t like when narrators throw their voice to represent multiple characters. It is difficult to do while maintaining the integrity of the story and characters. That being said, I still enjoyed the dual POV of this story and look forward to reading more from Carina in the future.

I LOVED this book - it was pure fun! Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the chance to review Rook to King: A romantic adventure by Carina Taylor. I didn't know that this was the second book in the series, and I immediately found the first!!

Bodie is an art thief and con man - a total charmer. He is looking for a priceless chess set of the Bennetto family. Gracen Winthrop is a super talented art assessor who also has a desire to acquire that chess set. The closed-door romance between the two was so swoony - and I love that he falls first: "I don't know why you're trying to hide that you're capable or hide who you really are, but I see you." I absolutely adored this cat and mouse tail.

This book was expertly narrated by Kim Churchill and Wayne Mitchell - they brough so much energy and passion to their read. So good!

Thank you Victory Editing and Netgalley for the Advance Reader Copy. I listened to the audiobook of this novel and found the main male character to be super awkward for this chapters. This novel felt like it was trying to incorporate too many story lines into a short story. I never really connected with the characters in the one.