As a 'senior' with no knowledge of the game of chess, Checkmate' really doesn't speak to me. The storyline could be engaging because I would like to know what happened in Mallory's family to cause her to shun chess, but I don't think I'm up for a romance rivalry tale of Nolan and Mallory's ongoing chess battle. I certainly don't understand the strategy of any chess move. The book cover cute is cute but too teen for me. I'll pass on this one.