Checkmate

At twenty-seven years old, Katerina “Kaye” isn’t ready to die. As Checkmate, New Malcolm’s sweetheart superhero, her powers of energy manifestation and manipulation earned her fame, accolades, and powerful enemies—including Charade, whose touch contains both intoxicating pleasure and lethal control. When Checkmate is defeated Charade is the last person she expects to save her. What’s more, he offers her a chance at redemption. Now, a guest in Charade’s world, everything she fought and bled for is called into question and she’ll need to decide if the chance at the love she has always craved is worth the risk of being betrayed again.

Zane Maxwell is dead—at least he’s supposed to be. He lost everything the night his former partner murdered the woman he loved before his eyes. From those ashes Charade was born, and with him a darkness Zane struggles daily to control. A darkness that demands not only justice, but vengeance. Hunting a criminal in a city built on corruption was impossible with Checkmate in the way. His fierce adversary, whose fiery opposition makes his blood sing. New Malcolm made her their hero, someone even Zane admired, then broke her. Cut her pretty strings and fed her to the wolves. That alone would make him want to claim her, but when his former partner takes an interest in her she also becomes the key to his revenge.

With the city’s villains, including an assassin that never misses her mark, hot on their heels and a drug that gives users superpowers—and deadly side effects—spreading, time is running out. Together with a dysfunctional team of superheroes whose powers pack a heavenly punch, they’ll need to overcome the challenges of their storied history and their growing desire for one another if they want to stop an elusive kingpin before he puts an end to their interference forever.

Checkmate is an adult enemies-to-lovers superhero/villain dark fantasy romance with spice. It is the first book in the Villainous Games series.

Tropes:
Superhero/Supervillain
Enemies to Lovers
Touch Her & Die
Forced Proximity
Found Family
More Than One Bed, But I Want You In Mine
Who Hurt You? Oh yeah, I did. Sorry.

TW: Sexual content, angst, addiction, drugs, fire, poisoning, attempted murder, death, mind control, memory loss, and profanity.

Available now!

The Crafty Bookstore Signed copies available online!
Barnes & Noble
Books-A-Million
Amazon & KU


Signed copies in store at:

Spellbound Sisters Bookstore & Cafe
7095 Lockwood Blvd
Boardman, Ohio 44512-4070
(330) 443-7700

POP! Art Books Culture
6949 Market St.
Boardman, OH 44512
(330) 360-9696

The Paperback Shack
6058 Youngstown Warren Rd.
Niles, OH 44446
(234) 430-2164

The Book Nook
222 E Market St.
Warren, OH 44481
(330) 442-0012

 

Mental Health & Magic


A Fable House Press Anthology

Read Anne’s short story, Everything But the Bagel Seasoning, in Fable House Press’s Mental Health & Magic Anthology, releasing August 2026!

 

Untitled Villainous games #2

The second book in the Villainous Games series picks up at the conclusion of Checkmate and follows Kaye and Zane as they continue fighting to dismantle the CCP and bring redemption to the city of New Malcolm. This is currently a work in progress, but keep your eye out for more news about this latest installment soon!

 

House of Memories

This is Anne’s latest work in progress. More to come, but if you like family curses, paranormal communities, feuds that have spanned generations, and a desire so forbidden it will shake the foundations of the very town they battle over, this one’s for you.

 
 

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