Conventional Love

Title:  Conventional Love  (Checkmate: Book 3)

Author:  Lex Chase

Publisher:  Dreamspinner Press

Length:  154 pages

Rating:  A List

Up All Night Satisfaction

Blurb:  Sequel to Cashing the Reality Check

Checkmate: Book Three

Three years ago, superhero Memphis Rook saved Hogarth Dawson’s life, and now the two can’t imagine being apart. Sort of.

By day, they’re a loving couple. By night, they’re the superhero duo Checkmate. Since that’s too much time in each other’s personal space, Rook and Garth decide they need friends outside of each other. Garth finds friendship with a D&D group comprised of the social misfits Chad—who has crammed himself so far in the closet he might never find the door again, Jackson—who’s so mysophobic he’s afraid of his own germs, and El Jefe—who has all the social grace of a brick.

With an epic dose of peer pressure, the group urges Garth to go to Tolkicon, the biggest comic convention in Axis City. When the supervillain league the Coalition of Calamity appears and takes the convention hostage, as the only real superheroes around, it’s up to Garth and Rook to save the day. With Rook as one of the hostages, Garth knows it’s time to nut up or shut up about being a hero.

Review:  I love this series.  The frenetic pace and neurotic narration, the 80’s references and fun superheroes. The beautiful love story between such amazing men who prove that destiny can be changed by the power of true love.  While I feel that Lex Chase gave us resolution and we say goodbye to our super heroes in a good place, I will miss them.

Everything comes together beautifully in this last installment.  Our questions are answered and our men struggle and earn their happy ending.  There is action, smexy loving, evil super villains, true love, epic battles and our men save the day, of course.  It isn’t easily won and that struggle is so much fun to watch.

It was so perfect that these men would find themselves battling at a Con.  I fell in love with their quirky seeming mismatch and their gentle romance.  I loved that we got to see parts of them that they try to hide from the world, that in many ways it was Rook who was the one strong enough to be vulnerable when he needed to be.

These men have grown during this series and that shows throughout.  In many ways they have changed each other.  Garth has so much more confidence both in himself and his powers, but also in Rook and his love.  I loved their interactions and how they balance one another out.  I love these books and highly recommend checking them out for yourself.

Reviewed by Nina