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Aloha #0.5
Shell Game
an alternate cover edition can be found here
Sweet and Clean Edition.
Love Sweet and Clean Romance? Books you can share with friends and family? Then sit back, kick off your shoes and prepare to fall in love with the newly edited, just for you, Aloha Sweet Romance Series Chris Keniston.
He's High Risk… She's High Stakes.
Tricked into taking a Caribbean cruise, Navy SEAL Luke "Brooklyn" Chapman is expecting free-flowing booze, bikini-clad women, and an abundance of recreation.
Hardworking Sharla Kramer has her hands full keeping her sticky-fingered grandmother out of trouble. Looking forward to a nice rest while on vacation, the last thing she needs in her life is a high risk Navy SEAL.
Toss in a couple of swindlers, a retired cop, and a few fun-loving ladies in red hats, and a little high seas R&R quickly becomes a lot of high stakes shenanigans!
Note: This story was originally published as a mainstream contemporary romance under the similar title SHELL GAME and is still available to purchase for those who prefer the original spicier version.
Enjoy and Mahalo!
Sweet and Clean Edition.
Love Sweet and Clean Romance? Books you can share with friends and family? Then sit back, kick off your shoes and prepare to fall in love with the newly edited, just for you, Aloha Sweet Romance Series Chris Keniston.
He's High Risk… She's High Stakes.
Tricked into taking a Caribbean cruise, Navy SEAL Luke "Brooklyn" Chapman is expecting free-flowing booze, bikini-clad women, and an abundance of recreation.
Hardworking Sharla Kramer has her hands full keeping her sticky-fingered grandmother out of trouble. Looking forward to a nice rest while on vacation, the last thing she needs in her life is a high risk Navy SEAL.
Toss in a couple of swindlers, a retired cop, and a few fun-loving ladies in red hats, and a little high seas R&R quickly becomes a lot of high stakes shenanigans!
Note: This story was originally published as a mainstream contemporary romance under the similar title SHELL GAME and is still available to purchase for those who prefer the original spicier version.
Enjoy and Mahalo!
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 28, 2014
690 people are currently reading
1263 people want to read
About the author
Chris Keniston
109 books352 followersA native New Yorker, Chris Keniston was on her way to Australia when she fell in love with North Texas. Little did she know the balmy seventy-degree October days would turn into fry-an-egg-on-the-sidewalk heat in August!
Twenty years later, she started scribbling short stories about her favorite TV shows, giving them lives more to her liking - and the elusive happy ending. Not long after, a dear friend dragged her to a local writers’ meeting. After winning multiple writing contests and making the finals in the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart contest, she now spends her days, and nights, writing contemporary romantic fiction with lots of emotion, plenty of surprises, and, of course, the happily ever after.
Chris lives in suburban Dallas with her husband, two human children, and two canine children. Though she loves her puppies equally, she admits being especially attached to her German Shepherd rescue named Gunny. After all, even dogs deserve a happily ever after.
Die gebürtige New Yorkerin Chris Keniston war auf dem Weg nach Australien, als sie sich in Nord-Texas verliebte. Damals wusste sie noch nicht, dass die milden einundzwanzig Grad des Oktobers sich im August in eine Hitze verwandeln würden, in der man ein Ei auf dem Asphalt braten könnte. Zwanzig Jahre später verbringt sie ihre Tage und Nächte mit dem Schreiben von zeitgenössischen Liebesromanen mit viel Gefühl, einigen Überraschungen und natürlich mit Happy End.
Als stolze Mutter von zwei menschlichen Kindern lebt Chris mit ihrem Mann und ihren beiden Hundekindern in einem Vorort von Dallas. Obwohl sie ihre vierbeinigen Familienmitglieder gleichermaßen liebt, gibt sie zu, dass sie eine ganz besondere Bindung zu ihrem Deutschen Schäferhund Gunny aus dem Tierheim hat. Schließlich verdienen auch Hunde ein Happy End.
https://www.chriskeniston.com/deutsch...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
April 5, 2015
This humorous story takes place on a cruise. Nana planned to go with her sister but at the last minute the sister didn't want to go so Nana got her granddaughter, Sharla, to go with her instead. Sharla didn't want to go with her grandmother because Nana has been in the 'family business' of being a con artist, most of her life and Sharla wanted a break from watching her to make sure she didn't swindle anyone. On the cruise they met former SEAL Luke "Brooklyn" Chapman. His boss made him take the cruise so he would take some time off after a serious injury. Herbie was smitten with Nana so he joined the group. Herbie is a retired policeman so Sharla was nervous when he was around Nana.
They all got along well and had a much better time than they expected. They men were suspicious of two other passengers that were trying to get people to invest in a land deal. The women wanted to know what the guys were up to and Nana turned out to be a huge help. The men were very skilled but she was the only one of all of them that could pull off a con. Especially when they were trying to catch a con.
I loved this funny story about these four people trying to catch (con) a couple who are trying to con them. The characters were wonderful - especially Nana who was a hoot. Luke was a surprise. Being a SEAL I expected him to be serious all the time but we see his fun side when he joins in all the trivia games.
This was a fun read that I highly recommend.
They all got along well and had a much better time than they expected. They men were suspicious of two other passengers that were trying to get people to invest in a land deal. The women wanted to know what the guys were up to and Nana turned out to be a huge help. The men were very skilled but she was the only one of all of them that could pull off a con. Especially when they were trying to catch a con.
I loved this funny story about these four people trying to catch (con) a couple who are trying to con them. The characters were wonderful - especially Nana who was a hoot. Luke was a surprise. Being a SEAL I expected him to be serious all the time but we see his fun side when he joins in all the trivia games.
This was a fun read that I highly recommend.
Read
February 8, 2015This wasn't bad per se just not my thing. The H is the stereotypical ex soldier type who only has quick shallow hook ups with women until he meets the h. Then all of sudden after no time at all he starts to be transformed. He kept thinking about all of these other, let's just call them rendezvous experiences, with other past women as he is falling for the h. Yuck! Not my kind of hero.
I did like the Grannie and her story. I was fine with the suspension of disbelief required in the plot and execution of the story because it was all in fun. I just didn't connect to this authors type of Hero and thus won't be reading on in her series.
I did like the Grannie and her story. I was fine with the suspension of disbelief required in the plot and execution of the story because it was all in fun. I just didn't connect to this authors type of Hero and thus won't be reading on in her series.
February 3, 2015
A nice entertaining read if you need a break from the normal. The story was clean fun with just enough spice to keep your interest. The events and the people on the cruise ship seemed very real. Nana was a hoot. If there's anything I didn't like about the story, it would have to be the heavy handed ending. I know the MC was an ex-Navy Seal, but I can't imagine any country that isn't an official territory of the US just handing a high-powered rifle to a man and letting him take someone out. That was too much of a stretch for this reader to buy into for a story that was otherwise based on reality. Overall, a cute little romance to break up the monotony.
May 4, 2016
HILARIOUS HIJINKS ON THE HIGH SEAS !!!
Title: Shell Game
Series: Aloha Series
Author: Chris Keniston
Designation: Series Prequel, Standalone Novel, NO Cliffhanger
My Rating: Five Deliciously Cute and Delightfully Entertaining Stars*****
I loved this story! This is my first time reading Chris Keniston but it certainly won't be my last! My passion is reading and there is absolutely nothing I love more than a great romance. I'm always on the lookout for a talented new author and Chris Keniston just became my new best friend! Although Shell Game is the eighth release, it's dubbed by the author as Aloha 0.5 and actually serves as a prequel which takes place before the other books and sets the stage for the dynamic between the characters of the entire series. Shell Game takes readers into the past, before the Big Island Dive Shop and gives us the story of former Navy Seal Special Forces Lieutenant Luke 'Brooklyn' Chapman, the go-to man who started the ball rolling and how he found his happily-ever-after with beautiful widowed Floridian Emergency Room Nurse Sharla Kramer. I found Shell Game to be well crafted and beautifully written in the third person with perspectives primarily from Luke and Sharla but with occasional insights from Sharla's hilarious former con artist grandmother, Sophia Garibaldi. The dialogue was smart, snappy, well executed and flowed effortlessly. Yes, it's a wonderful adventure filled with danger, drama, suspense, humor, angst and romance, all the elements I love in a great read, but it's the extraordinary cast of characters that completely stole my heart. I have to admit, I'm a always a sucker for a great cast of engaging, charismatic characters and the players in this story grabbed me right out of the gate, stole the show and completely captured my heart. I fell head over heels for the two protagonists of this story but I could have also enjoyed an entire book written about Sophia 'Nana' Garibaldi, well, about Sophia, her infamous family of confidence men and all their adventures or probably a better descriptive would be their cons. Totally hilarious! The elderly Sophia and her love interest, retired cop Herbie Klein were both absolutely adorable and made the perfect compliment for the primary characters in this captivating contemporary cruise ship romance. So, as former Navy Seal and now current State Department employee (which is code for CIA Spook) Luke Brooklyn Chapman would say, "wheels up and prepare for a seductive, fun-filled, laugh-out-loud funny adventure on the high seas!" Fabulous entertainment and awesome vacation beach read!
Beautiful widow Sharla Kramer has her hands full trying to hold down her job as a trauma nurse at a Miami hospital, and keep tabs on her mischievous housemate, Sophia Garibaldi, who also happens to be her seventy-five year old former conwoman grandmother. Hopefully it's still former and not current but with her very spry, miscreant Nana with the sticky fingers, who the heck knows! She has no time for relationships or men. Sharla lost her husband Danny three years ago when his luck ran out in a filthy alley while on duty as a Miami Police Officer and she has no intention of going through the heartache of another such devastating loss again. If she ever, and that's a big if, decides to take a walk down the aisle again, it would never, ever be with a policeman, fireman, or military man, and certainly no one in a dangerous, high risk profession. Nope, never! Unfortunately, her body doesn't get the memo because no matter how hard she tries, Sharla can't seem to resist the charms of the sexy, handsome former Navy Seal who has befriended her Nana on their cruise. Oh dear! Unfortunately, her Nana has other ideas. Oh no! What's a girl to do?
Former Navy Seal Luke 'Brooklyn' Chapman is not happy about being sidelined from his job as a CIA rescue operative for a month of forced rest and recreation after his latest on the job injury. In service to your country and working for the State Department can be very hazardous to your health and even more so when you're a spook. Oops! That's supposed to be a secret! Brooklyn's boss convinces him to accept his reservations for a Caribbean cruise but soon realizes he's been tricked into a vacation with a ship full of newlyweds, young couples with children and retirees. What the heck, man? That's playing dirty pool! All expectations of booze-fueled nights wrapped in the arms of beautiful bikini clad women having lots and lots of 'recreational' sex are quickly extinguished. But never fear, there may still be a ray of hope, a lovely gem hidden among the throng of passengers by the name of Sharla Kramer. Unfortunately, it quickly becomes obvious that the lovely emergency room nurse is as wholesome as they come and definitely not 'hit it and quit it' one night stand material. But no matter how hard he tries, Brooklyn can't seem to resist the undeniable attraction between him and Sharla. He's totally entranced by the beautiful, beguiling young widow and can't seem to stay away from her, no matter how hard he tries. Brooklyn has always been convinced the remainder of his life would be spent in service to his country but he'd never anticipated meeting and falling love with Sharla Kramer. For some inexplicable reason, he's drawn to this woman like nothing he's ever experienced in his entire life. The possibility of a future with Sharla makes him reconsider his life and chosen career choice. For this woman, he just may be willing to hang up his spook spurs...I mean diving fins for good. Unfortunately, he'll have to rescue her and her nana first! Oh my!
When rating and reviewing a book, I always ask myself five primary questions. First, what did I like about this story? In this case, I loved everything about Shell Game. I was drawn into this story before I even finished the prologue and it held me completely captivated until the very last line. This story had everything I look for in a great read. Like what, you ask? A little mystery and spine-tingling suspense, an entire cast of engaging characters, a dash of heart-pounding danger and heart-wrenching angst, a generous measure of hysterical humor and a liberal serving of sultry, seductive romance with just a splash of dreamy 'scarf-on-the-doorknob' sex. Ever watched the movie Dirty Dancing? Well, instead of a sock, substitute a scarf and you know exactly what I'm referring to. So darn cute!
My second question is: What didn't I like about this story? Honestly, I can't think of a single thing. I loved it all!
The third question I always ask myself is: Would I recommend this book? And my answer is an emphatic YES! I would highly recommend this book but only for adult readers. Although it does NOT contain any hardcore profanity other than the d#mn word being thrown about occasionally, it does contain one steamy but tastefully written sex scene between Luke and Sharla and only implied sex for Sophia and Herbie. Hey, Sophia and Herbie are both seniors in their seventies so how much mischief could they actually get into? Forget I even asked, because the answer is a lot! lol....
The fourth question I ask is: Will I read this author again? Absolutely! I will definitely be adding Chris Keniston to my list of favorite go-to authors!
And finally, my fifth question is: How should I rate this book? If the book is well crafted, skillfully presented and well edited, and I'm truly entertained, then it earns five enthusiastic stars and this one fills the bill on all counts. Once I started reading, I immediately became completely immersed in this realistic story and lost all track of time. Yes, I was definitely entertained! I loved it, so it earns five deliciously cute and delightfully entertaining stars!
Title: Shell Game
Series: Aloha Series
Author: Chris Keniston
Designation: Series Prequel, Standalone Novel, NO Cliffhanger
My Rating: Five Deliciously Cute and Delightfully Entertaining Stars*****
I loved this story! This is my first time reading Chris Keniston but it certainly won't be my last! My passion is reading and there is absolutely nothing I love more than a great romance. I'm always on the lookout for a talented new author and Chris Keniston just became my new best friend! Although Shell Game is the eighth release, it's dubbed by the author as Aloha 0.5 and actually serves as a prequel which takes place before the other books and sets the stage for the dynamic between the characters of the entire series. Shell Game takes readers into the past, before the Big Island Dive Shop and gives us the story of former Navy Seal Special Forces Lieutenant Luke 'Brooklyn' Chapman, the go-to man who started the ball rolling and how he found his happily-ever-after with beautiful widowed Floridian Emergency Room Nurse Sharla Kramer. I found Shell Game to be well crafted and beautifully written in the third person with perspectives primarily from Luke and Sharla but with occasional insights from Sharla's hilarious former con artist grandmother, Sophia Garibaldi. The dialogue was smart, snappy, well executed and flowed effortlessly. Yes, it's a wonderful adventure filled with danger, drama, suspense, humor, angst and romance, all the elements I love in a great read, but it's the extraordinary cast of characters that completely stole my heart. I have to admit, I'm a always a sucker for a great cast of engaging, charismatic characters and the players in this story grabbed me right out of the gate, stole the show and completely captured my heart. I fell head over heels for the two protagonists of this story but I could have also enjoyed an entire book written about Sophia 'Nana' Garibaldi, well, about Sophia, her infamous family of confidence men and all their adventures or probably a better descriptive would be their cons. Totally hilarious! The elderly Sophia and her love interest, retired cop Herbie Klein were both absolutely adorable and made the perfect compliment for the primary characters in this captivating contemporary cruise ship romance. So, as former Navy Seal and now current State Department employee (which is code for CIA Spook) Luke Brooklyn Chapman would say, "wheels up and prepare for a seductive, fun-filled, laugh-out-loud funny adventure on the high seas!" Fabulous entertainment and awesome vacation beach read!
Beautiful widow Sharla Kramer has her hands full trying to hold down her job as a trauma nurse at a Miami hospital, and keep tabs on her mischievous housemate, Sophia Garibaldi, who also happens to be her seventy-five year old former conwoman grandmother. Hopefully it's still former and not current but with her very spry, miscreant Nana with the sticky fingers, who the heck knows! She has no time for relationships or men. Sharla lost her husband Danny three years ago when his luck ran out in a filthy alley while on duty as a Miami Police Officer and she has no intention of going through the heartache of another such devastating loss again. If she ever, and that's a big if, decides to take a walk down the aisle again, it would never, ever be with a policeman, fireman, or military man, and certainly no one in a dangerous, high risk profession. Nope, never! Unfortunately, her body doesn't get the memo because no matter how hard she tries, Sharla can't seem to resist the charms of the sexy, handsome former Navy Seal who has befriended her Nana on their cruise. Oh dear! Unfortunately, her Nana has other ideas. Oh no! What's a girl to do?
Former Navy Seal Luke 'Brooklyn' Chapman is not happy about being sidelined from his job as a CIA rescue operative for a month of forced rest and recreation after his latest on the job injury. In service to your country and working for the State Department can be very hazardous to your health and even more so when you're a spook. Oops! That's supposed to be a secret! Brooklyn's boss convinces him to accept his reservations for a Caribbean cruise but soon realizes he's been tricked into a vacation with a ship full of newlyweds, young couples with children and retirees. What the heck, man? That's playing dirty pool! All expectations of booze-fueled nights wrapped in the arms of beautiful bikini clad women having lots and lots of 'recreational' sex are quickly extinguished. But never fear, there may still be a ray of hope, a lovely gem hidden among the throng of passengers by the name of Sharla Kramer. Unfortunately, it quickly becomes obvious that the lovely emergency room nurse is as wholesome as they come and definitely not 'hit it and quit it' one night stand material. But no matter how hard he tries, Brooklyn can't seem to resist the undeniable attraction between him and Sharla. He's totally entranced by the beautiful, beguiling young widow and can't seem to stay away from her, no matter how hard he tries. Brooklyn has always been convinced the remainder of his life would be spent in service to his country but he'd never anticipated meeting and falling love with Sharla Kramer. For some inexplicable reason, he's drawn to this woman like nothing he's ever experienced in his entire life. The possibility of a future with Sharla makes him reconsider his life and chosen career choice. For this woman, he just may be willing to hang up his spook spurs...I mean diving fins for good. Unfortunately, he'll have to rescue her and her nana first! Oh my!
When rating and reviewing a book, I always ask myself five primary questions. First, what did I like about this story? In this case, I loved everything about Shell Game. I was drawn into this story before I even finished the prologue and it held me completely captivated until the very last line. This story had everything I look for in a great read. Like what, you ask? A little mystery and spine-tingling suspense, an entire cast of engaging characters, a dash of heart-pounding danger and heart-wrenching angst, a generous measure of hysterical humor and a liberal serving of sultry, seductive romance with just a splash of dreamy 'scarf-on-the-doorknob' sex. Ever watched the movie Dirty Dancing? Well, instead of a sock, substitute a scarf and you know exactly what I'm referring to. So darn cute!
My second question is: What didn't I like about this story? Honestly, I can't think of a single thing. I loved it all!
The third question I always ask myself is: Would I recommend this book? And my answer is an emphatic YES! I would highly recommend this book but only for adult readers. Although it does NOT contain any hardcore profanity other than the d#mn word being thrown about occasionally, it does contain one steamy but tastefully written sex scene between Luke and Sharla and only implied sex for Sophia and Herbie. Hey, Sophia and Herbie are both seniors in their seventies so how much mischief could they actually get into? Forget I even asked, because the answer is a lot! lol....
The fourth question I ask is: Will I read this author again? Absolutely! I will definitely be adding Chris Keniston to my list of favorite go-to authors!
And finally, my fifth question is: How should I rate this book? If the book is well crafted, skillfully presented and well edited, and I'm truly entertained, then it earns five enthusiastic stars and this one fills the bill on all counts. Once I started reading, I immediately became completely immersed in this realistic story and lost all track of time. Yes, I was definitely entertained! I loved it, so it earns five deliciously cute and delightfully entertaining stars!
June 2, 2018
Fun in the sun becomes mayhem on the water. Chris Keniston is always on point. Sharla and Luke not only bring temptation to the high seas, but along the way get caught up in some serious intrigue. Shell Game reads like a crap shoot. Every turn holds a risk, but if you try your hand, the rewards could be endless. Loved it.
May 27, 2022
Romance? What romance? There was no chemistry between the MCs and only Luke knew the reason he was attracted to Sharla. She was one-dimensional and terribly boring. Sophia and Herbie were more interesting. The little bit of action at the end promised some excitement, but fizzled out quickly. This story had the ingredients, but the author just didn't cook up a good dish.
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January 17, 2022🎁 FREE on Amazon today (1/17/2022)! 🎁
January 22, 2022
This book started with an interesting premise. A family of con artists (good hearted, of course) have been conning folk for generations. Sharla, the last of the family line is not a con artist – she doesn’t have the gift of reading people and situations quickly and effectively. As a matter of fact, she is a worrywart full of contradictory fears and uncertainties. Sophia Garibaldi, her grandmother (“Nana”), is a feisty septuagenarian who is the live wire in this book. Sophia’s sisters are mentioned, but we never meet them; they sound as interesting as is Sophia. Luke is the former SEAL who completes the main protagonists in this book. They end up together on a 10-day cruise in the Caribbean.
Sounds good, doesn’t it? And the title, “Shell Game,” sounds captivating, too. A shell game is a short con (quick & easy to pull off), and when money is bet you can count on the game being a con. It involves a person hiding a small object under one of three items (e.g., a pea placed under one of three walnut half shells). So, I was expecting a story that would unravel like a shell game – a con man, or woman, hiding something and conning one or more people in an attempt to get money from the marks. Yep – very interesting premise.
BUT…the book didn’t deliver. As a matter of fact, it was deadly dull. Here’s why:
We have Luke (aka “Brooklyn” because every military guy has to have a nickname) a former SEAL now working for the CIA who falls head over heels for one of the most boring and least lively heroines I have ever encountered. Low praise, indeed! So smitten is he, that he’s prepared to leave his life behind in order to get the girl. Gracious!
Next, there’s Sharla with the personality of a wet dishrag and the object of Luke’s interest. She has zilch personality, no charisma, and so filled with fears and inconsistencies that she sometimes has trouble breathing. She is (of course) in total insta-lust for Luke’s rock-hard body and the rest is Ho-Hum. While Sharla lusts after Luke, she isn’t interested in anyone who has a dangerous job because three years ago her policeman-husband was killed apprehending a criminal. Heaven protect anyone who brings up the obvious fact that ordinary people with ordinary jobs are hurt or killed every day and she has seen this in her job as a trauma nurse. She is not logical, just terribly fearful. We get to see her in action as a nurse, and that’s the best part of her but as soon as she steps away from her job, we’re back in dishrag mode.
And finally, there’s Sophia who is the best character in the book. She is the consummate con artist, full of life and wisdom and great, good humor. She and the Red Hat Ladies are a constant hoot. Even Luke thinks that if she were 15 years younger and he were 15 years older, he’d go after her. Yeah, she is that cool.
There are several supporting characters most of whom are relegated to the land of cardboard. They are definitely there to point out things to the main protagonists or to just share scenery. None of these characters is allowed to be vibrant or interesting or life-like. Even the criminals are stiff and one-dimensional.
There is no shell game. There is a con – actually, two of them – but nothing that could even remotely be stretched into a shell game. That was a sincere disappointment.
At one point in the book, Sharla is musing about how sore she is after her workouts; “her triceps or biceps or whatever” are hurting. As a trauma nurse, Sharla would have taken Human Anatomy and would be very much aware of the placement of triceps and biceps on the human body. It’s the writer who doesn’t seem to know.
Sharla’s incessant worrying in her inner monologues gets old fast, as does her constant upbraiding of her family. She is ashamed of them and worries that they will land themselves and her in trouble. As her grandmother put it, she really is a glass half empty kind of woman.
Sharla and Luke are not a convincing couple. She craves – needs – a nice safe life with a nice, safe husband who won’t be so inconsiderate as to get himself killed. Luke is never going to be a 9-to-5, behind the desk, kind of guy, not if he wants to stay happy. But the unpardonable sin is that there is no chemistry between them. Luke has more chemistry with Sophia. Sharla remains stuck in her opinionated, rigid, and miserable mindset.
To the writer’s credit, she had Luke beginning to think about his life in a broader sense. He came onto the cruise a happy-go-lucky bachelor in love with booze, broads and finding them in many different ports. Thinking about change is a good beginning. However, five days later, he’s ready to call it quits and commit to Sharla. Nope. Not buying it. This novel is definitely in the realm of fantasy, but that’s taking a leap too far. Sharla never changes her stance: she will not accept a man with a dangerous occupation. Change doesn’t occur in a few days. The desire to change can begin (and be buoyed up) by a situation that becomes pivotal in someone’s life, but that doesn’t happen here. Sharla doesn’t allow it.
I ended up wondering if the writer could create a captivating character like Sophia, what on earth happened with Sharla? Why did she create a character that is so fixed in her ways and beliefs that she has no room for a good man with a job she despises? There’s no wiggle room for Luke and Sharla to grow into a true couple.
Another enjoyment blocker is the plethora of borderline nasty observations about normal people with normal bodies. Beer bellies are sneered at. Men wearing unfortunate speedos without the slim, athletic bodies to go in them are viewed askance. Fake boobs and restoration surgery are denigrated. Even Sharla starts out pretty ordinary and after about 50% completion, the writer seemed to repent and suddenly Sharla is a beauty with a knockout figure. Please…readers can take intelligent heroines with a sense of humor, finely tuned logic skills, and extra padding on their hips. Heroes can take them, too. All the characters in a book do not have to be beautiful people.
There are some errors in the book, for instance –
=> “…enough to make these sailor’s night.” The word, “these,” indicates more than one sailor so it should read “…these sailors’ night” or “…these sailors’ nights.”
=> “Everyone anxious to finish the game.” We need a verb. Perhaps “Everyone WAS anxious to finish the game.” Maybe….
=> “Maybe that would keep out of his thoughts.” Since Luke is trying not to think about Sharla, I expect that should read, “…would keep HER out of his thoughts.”
I rated this book 2.5 stars and rounded down to 2 stars because the story held so much promise but didn’t live up to its potential. Even the name of the book was a letdown. This is the only book I’ve read in the Aloha Romance series. It’s book #8. I’m thinking that with nine books having been written about whatever this series entails, this awkward book might be a fluke. At some point I may go back and check out one of the others in the series to test this speculation. I remain undecided about that.
Sounds good, doesn’t it? And the title, “Shell Game,” sounds captivating, too. A shell game is a short con (quick & easy to pull off), and when money is bet you can count on the game being a con. It involves a person hiding a small object under one of three items (e.g., a pea placed under one of three walnut half shells). So, I was expecting a story that would unravel like a shell game – a con man, or woman, hiding something and conning one or more people in an attempt to get money from the marks. Yep – very interesting premise.
BUT…the book didn’t deliver. As a matter of fact, it was deadly dull. Here’s why:
We have Luke (aka “Brooklyn” because every military guy has to have a nickname) a former SEAL now working for the CIA who falls head over heels for one of the most boring and least lively heroines I have ever encountered. Low praise, indeed! So smitten is he, that he’s prepared to leave his life behind in order to get the girl. Gracious!
Next, there’s Sharla with the personality of a wet dishrag and the object of Luke’s interest. She has zilch personality, no charisma, and so filled with fears and inconsistencies that she sometimes has trouble breathing. She is (of course) in total insta-lust for Luke’s rock-hard body and the rest is Ho-Hum. While Sharla lusts after Luke, she isn’t interested in anyone who has a dangerous job because three years ago her policeman-husband was killed apprehending a criminal. Heaven protect anyone who brings up the obvious fact that ordinary people with ordinary jobs are hurt or killed every day and she has seen this in her job as a trauma nurse. She is not logical, just terribly fearful. We get to see her in action as a nurse, and that’s the best part of her but as soon as she steps away from her job, we’re back in dishrag mode.
And finally, there’s Sophia who is the best character in the book. She is the consummate con artist, full of life and wisdom and great, good humor. She and the Red Hat Ladies are a constant hoot. Even Luke thinks that if she were 15 years younger and he were 15 years older, he’d go after her. Yeah, she is that cool.
There are several supporting characters most of whom are relegated to the land of cardboard. They are definitely there to point out things to the main protagonists or to just share scenery. None of these characters is allowed to be vibrant or interesting or life-like. Even the criminals are stiff and one-dimensional.
There is no shell game. There is a con – actually, two of them – but nothing that could even remotely be stretched into a shell game. That was a sincere disappointment.
At one point in the book, Sharla is musing about how sore she is after her workouts; “her triceps or biceps or whatever” are hurting. As a trauma nurse, Sharla would have taken Human Anatomy and would be very much aware of the placement of triceps and biceps on the human body. It’s the writer who doesn’t seem to know.
Sharla’s incessant worrying in her inner monologues gets old fast, as does her constant upbraiding of her family. She is ashamed of them and worries that they will land themselves and her in trouble. As her grandmother put it, she really is a glass half empty kind of woman.
Sharla and Luke are not a convincing couple. She craves – needs – a nice safe life with a nice, safe husband who won’t be so inconsiderate as to get himself killed. Luke is never going to be a 9-to-5, behind the desk, kind of guy, not if he wants to stay happy. But the unpardonable sin is that there is no chemistry between them. Luke has more chemistry with Sophia. Sharla remains stuck in her opinionated, rigid, and miserable mindset.
To the writer’s credit, she had Luke beginning to think about his life in a broader sense. He came onto the cruise a happy-go-lucky bachelor in love with booze, broads and finding them in many different ports. Thinking about change is a good beginning. However, five days later, he’s ready to call it quits and commit to Sharla. Nope. Not buying it. This novel is definitely in the realm of fantasy, but that’s taking a leap too far. Sharla never changes her stance: she will not accept a man with a dangerous occupation. Change doesn’t occur in a few days. The desire to change can begin (and be buoyed up) by a situation that becomes pivotal in someone’s life, but that doesn’t happen here. Sharla doesn’t allow it.
I ended up wondering if the writer could create a captivating character like Sophia, what on earth happened with Sharla? Why did she create a character that is so fixed in her ways and beliefs that she has no room for a good man with a job she despises? There’s no wiggle room for Luke and Sharla to grow into a true couple.
Another enjoyment blocker is the plethora of borderline nasty observations about normal people with normal bodies. Beer bellies are sneered at. Men wearing unfortunate speedos without the slim, athletic bodies to go in them are viewed askance. Fake boobs and restoration surgery are denigrated. Even Sharla starts out pretty ordinary and after about 50% completion, the writer seemed to repent and suddenly Sharla is a beauty with a knockout figure. Please…readers can take intelligent heroines with a sense of humor, finely tuned logic skills, and extra padding on their hips. Heroes can take them, too. All the characters in a book do not have to be beautiful people.
There are some errors in the book, for instance –
=> “…enough to make these sailor’s night.” The word, “these,” indicates more than one sailor so it should read “…these sailors’ night” or “…these sailors’ nights.”
=> “Everyone anxious to finish the game.” We need a verb. Perhaps “Everyone WAS anxious to finish the game.” Maybe….
=> “Maybe that would keep out of his thoughts.” Since Luke is trying not to think about Sharla, I expect that should read, “…would keep HER out of his thoughts.”
I rated this book 2.5 stars and rounded down to 2 stars because the story held so much promise but didn’t live up to its potential. Even the name of the book was a letdown. This is the only book I’ve read in the Aloha Romance series. It’s book #8. I’m thinking that with nine books having been written about whatever this series entails, this awkward book might be a fluke. At some point I may go back and check out one of the others in the series to test this speculation. I remain undecided about that.
April 15, 2015
First I will admit I haven't read any of the other books in Keniston's Aloha series. My opinion after finishing is that its not necessary to read the series to enjoy this prequel. This is a stand alone book, although I guess if you already know and love these characters, it might be really fun to finally get this backstory. Because these are fun characters. The author does a great job introducing both main and secondary players and investing the reader in their stories. The majority of the book takes place on a cruise ship, and having been on a few cruises it all rang so true I had to laugh at points.
Sharla Kramer is a hospital nurse who lost her policeman husband a few years back in an on the job shooting. Now her grandmother has moved in with her, an aging former con artist with a definite twinkle in her eye. Sharla ends up accompanying Nana on a vacation cruise, where her only plans are to keep Nana out of trouble and read through the many books back logged on her Kindle (sounds like a plan to me!) Nana has other ideas, especially after she bumps into one particular hunk who seems to be the only single guy in her granddaughter's age group.
Luke "Brooklyn" Chapman is a former Navy Seal who now works for the CIA taking down the bad guys in a more surreptitious but no less dangerous way. After a close encounter with a knife, his superior sends him on a mandatory vacation cruise to rest and relax. When he and Sharla meet, it feels less like sparks flying and more like he's finally found a home and someone to care about. Which is crazy, since they're in the middle of the ocean and Sharla has sworn off dating men with dangerous jobs. Nana has other plans, and she's a woman who gets what she wants.
They say it takes a crook to know a crook, and Nana spots a con man working the cruise line clientele with a real estate shell game. (Thus the title.) The adventure starts when they all team up to bring the guy down.
This book is a lot of fun, and a fast romp of a read. I recommend it for entertaining easy summer reading, especially if you're headed out on a cruise.
Sharla Kramer is a hospital nurse who lost her policeman husband a few years back in an on the job shooting. Now her grandmother has moved in with her, an aging former con artist with a definite twinkle in her eye. Sharla ends up accompanying Nana on a vacation cruise, where her only plans are to keep Nana out of trouble and read through the many books back logged on her Kindle (sounds like a plan to me!) Nana has other ideas, especially after she bumps into one particular hunk who seems to be the only single guy in her granddaughter's age group.
Luke "Brooklyn" Chapman is a former Navy Seal who now works for the CIA taking down the bad guys in a more surreptitious but no less dangerous way. After a close encounter with a knife, his superior sends him on a mandatory vacation cruise to rest and relax. When he and Sharla meet, it feels less like sparks flying and more like he's finally found a home and someone to care about. Which is crazy, since they're in the middle of the ocean and Sharla has sworn off dating men with dangerous jobs. Nana has other plans, and she's a woman who gets what she wants.
They say it takes a crook to know a crook, and Nana spots a con man working the cruise line clientele with a real estate shell game. (Thus the title.) The adventure starts when they all team up to bring the guy down.
This book is a lot of fun, and a fast romp of a read. I recommend it for entertaining easy summer reading, especially if you're headed out on a cruise.
February 19, 2015
I received this as a free book from Amazon after a recommendation from Book Bub.
This relatively short book is a prequel to a series of books which I haven't read. It is a romance, but also a humerous tale that includes sleuthing, spying and catching a con artist.
Set on board a cruise ship, Sharla and her Nana are travelling together because her Aunt had to bow out at the last moment. Nan comes from a long line of con artists and has fun picking peoples pockets only to return their items to them later. Sharla is worried that she will end up in jail.
Former Navy SEAL Luke "Brooklyn" Chapman is also unexpectedly on the cruise courtesy of his boss who feels he needs time tor est and recover after a life threatening injury. Herbie is a retired policeman/PI who is attracted to Nana.
Together this foursome have way more fun than they ever expected on this cruise (yes they even have towel monkeys on their beds) but they also have suspicions about fellow travellers George and Gloria and some land deals they are trying to get people involved in.
How this plays out makes for a fun read with a little bit of thrill. Nana Sophia is a delight and is really the hit of the book. Her love story with Herbie is just as good as Sharla's with Luke. Success in sleuthing leads to anew new joint venture for Herbie and Luke that no doubt will lead into the other books in the series. This was fun fluff!
This relatively short book is a prequel to a series of books which I haven't read. It is a romance, but also a humerous tale that includes sleuthing, spying and catching a con artist.
Set on board a cruise ship, Sharla and her Nana are travelling together because her Aunt had to bow out at the last moment. Nan comes from a long line of con artists and has fun picking peoples pockets only to return their items to them later. Sharla is worried that she will end up in jail.
Former Navy SEAL Luke "Brooklyn" Chapman is also unexpectedly on the cruise courtesy of his boss who feels he needs time tor est and recover after a life threatening injury. Herbie is a retired policeman/PI who is attracted to Nana.
Together this foursome have way more fun than they ever expected on this cruise (yes they even have towel monkeys on their beds) but they also have suspicions about fellow travellers George and Gloria and some land deals they are trying to get people involved in.
How this plays out makes for a fun read with a little bit of thrill. Nana Sophia is a delight and is really the hit of the book. Her love story with Herbie is just as good as Sharla's with Luke. Success in sleuthing leads to anew new joint venture for Herbie and Luke that no doubt will lead into the other books in the series. This was fun fluff!
January 28, 2016
Another really good book by Chris Keniston
I like her writing style and this series is a great set. Charters are well developed they are terrific at what they do and feel real.
The mild mystery in the book is a good one makes the book read easy and flows nicely. Great for a lite afternoon read.
The charters are funny, witty, wonderful and Nana is a force to be reckoned with.
The sex in the book is mild and so it the small spot of violence. Nothing Explicit at all.
Thanks for the awesome reads!!!!!
I did NOT spot any errors of spelling or misplaced words grammar. (pet peeve)
I like her writing style and this series is a great set. Charters are well developed they are terrific at what they do and feel real.
The mild mystery in the book is a good one makes the book read easy and flows nicely. Great for a lite afternoon read.
The charters are funny, witty, wonderful and Nana is a force to be reckoned with.
The sex in the book is mild and so it the small spot of violence. Nothing Explicit at all.
Thanks for the awesome reads!!!!!
I did NOT spot any errors of spelling or misplaced words grammar. (pet peeve)
January 30, 2015
What a waste of a download
I decided to try this book, given its many 5 star ratings. The premise seemed like easy, light, reading.
It was easy and light, but also awful.
Luke and his friends are macho obnoxious. Shayla from what I read, I couldn't get past page 50, is needy.
There was way too much commentary on people's physical appearance, chubby, beer bellies.....
The writing ok, but the characters, although Granny had some promise, are shallow and vain.
I decided to try this book, given its many 5 star ratings. The premise seemed like easy, light, reading.
It was easy and light, but also awful.
Luke and his friends are macho obnoxious. Shayla from what I read, I couldn't get past page 50, is needy.
There was way too much commentary on people's physical appearance, chubby, beer bellies.....
The writing ok, but the characters, although Granny had some promise, are shallow and vain.
February 7, 2015
I am going on a cruise!
This is a wonderful story. I wish I had a grandmother like Sharla's, that old girl could really hold her own. This book is funny and suspenseful with the perfect amount of hot romance. I loved reading it!
This is a wonderful story. I wish I had a grandmother like Sharla's, that old girl could really hold her own. This book is funny and suspenseful with the perfect amount of hot romance. I loved reading it!
April 20, 2015
A Navy Seal now working for the CIA is ordered to take some time off by his supervisor and is forced to take the supervisor's cruise tickets that he is not going to be able to use. A widowed nurse finds her self taking a cruise unexpectedly. The two meet up and the cruise starts to heat up!
March 5, 2024
Con Men and Lovers and SEALs,Oh My!
Chris Keniston closes out her Aloha Romance series away from its usual Hawaii setting--on a cruise ship Sharla boards to keep her incorrigible kleptomaniac of a grandmother, Sophia, in line. She loves her Nana, despite being ashamed of her chosen profession, so she takes badly needed vacation days from her job as an ER nurse to go on the cruise. Meanwhile, Navy SEAL-turned CIA agent Luke, aka Brooklyn to his crew, is pushed out of his office by his boss to take unused vacation time of his own on the same cruise, the destination of which appears to be in the Caribbean.
The ship's passengers are mostly elderly, and Sharla longs for another person close to her age (early 30s). Luke has the same issue, and an untreated fire in the dining room draws them together, Luke disgusted with the kitchen employees' lack of interest or knowledge and Sharla concerned with the condition of a woman who fell down the steps into the room and hit her head.
Nana's obsession with trivia has the two of them, plus her newfound beau, retired Philadelphia policeman Herbie, and a couple of new friends, slick George Bailey and his spa-loving wife Gloria. Together, their team wins games focusing on the 1980s, Michael Jackson, gender wars, and pop music. The prizes: tacky pens, six-month calendars, and other throw-away cruise line souvenirs. Gloria pouts, Nana preens. George tries to get Herbie to invest in a shady real estate deal, and Sharla and Luke, left alone, walk the ship's track while she tells him that her husband, a cop on the vice squad, was killed in the line of duty and for that reason, she'll only consider a future with a man whose job won't put him in danger. A Navy SEAL is out of the question, as is a secret agent. Luke, who qualifies on both counts, thinks only about convincing her that he isn't threatened any more than other ER patients she's seen, from accountants to plumbers. He's not discouraged at all by her declaration!
Letting his SEAL instincts guide him, Luke spies on Herbie in the casino and sees him trying to get George's fingerprints. Turns out Herbie also suspects George of being a con artist--the same one who cheated his brother out of $50,000. Luke says he'll give the prints to his colleague, an IT whiz, and within minutes Kate has an ID on "George Bailey", really an Italian New Yorker who married Gloria after his first wife divorced him. They conclude that Gloria is the brains behind the grift and arrange a meeting between the "Baileys", Herbie and Sophia, and Luke and Sharla to exchange the money, by which point the authorities would put George and Gloria under arrest. But Herbie says there isn't enough evidence to put them in jail without proof the land they're selling isn't owned by them. That's when Nana's pickpocketing skills come in handy...
George's "associate" meets the five of them, Nana having pled an illness and gone back to the ship. The "associate", who's armed, grabs Sharla and threatens to shoot if anyone moves. Sharla uses the self-defense skills her husband taught her before his death, and Luke uses the rifle his FBI contact gave him to take the armed man down. The FBI takes the "Baileys" into custody, and the evidence Nana gained from their cabin (with the key card she stole from Gloria's bag) is enough to send them to jail, while the bearer bonds Nana lifted and presented to Herbie exactly match the amount taken from Herbie's brother! Happy ending number one...
After a quick talk with Herbie, Luke figures out a new profession he can pursue with Sophia's beau and presents it to Sharla, who waits for the familiar fear to overtake her and finds the only fear she has is of pushing Luke away. He opens a private detective agency with Herbie, now Sophia's fiance, and Sharla finally accepts his proposal. Happy ending number two... and Happily Ever After!
I was grabbed right away by the dynamic between a criminal grandma and her straight-arrow granddaughter, as well as between a fatherly CIA department chief and his workaholic employee. The plot twists just kept coming as every passenger was not who he or she seemed! Trust kept cropping up as a barrier and an entrance to relationships on the cruise ship, and the romance between Luke and Sharla was gratifying, if a long time coming. I highly recommend Shell Game!
Chris Keniston closes out her Aloha Romance series away from its usual Hawaii setting--on a cruise ship Sharla boards to keep her incorrigible kleptomaniac of a grandmother, Sophia, in line. She loves her Nana, despite being ashamed of her chosen profession, so she takes badly needed vacation days from her job as an ER nurse to go on the cruise. Meanwhile, Navy SEAL-turned CIA agent Luke, aka Brooklyn to his crew, is pushed out of his office by his boss to take unused vacation time of his own on the same cruise, the destination of which appears to be in the Caribbean.
The ship's passengers are mostly elderly, and Sharla longs for another person close to her age (early 30s). Luke has the same issue, and an untreated fire in the dining room draws them together, Luke disgusted with the kitchen employees' lack of interest or knowledge and Sharla concerned with the condition of a woman who fell down the steps into the room and hit her head.
Nana's obsession with trivia has the two of them, plus her newfound beau, retired Philadelphia policeman Herbie, and a couple of new friends, slick George Bailey and his spa-loving wife Gloria. Together, their team wins games focusing on the 1980s, Michael Jackson, gender wars, and pop music. The prizes: tacky pens, six-month calendars, and other throw-away cruise line souvenirs. Gloria pouts, Nana preens. George tries to get Herbie to invest in a shady real estate deal, and Sharla and Luke, left alone, walk the ship's track while she tells him that her husband, a cop on the vice squad, was killed in the line of duty and for that reason, she'll only consider a future with a man whose job won't put him in danger. A Navy SEAL is out of the question, as is a secret agent. Luke, who qualifies on both counts, thinks only about convincing her that he isn't threatened any more than other ER patients she's seen, from accountants to plumbers. He's not discouraged at all by her declaration!
Letting his SEAL instincts guide him, Luke spies on Herbie in the casino and sees him trying to get George's fingerprints. Turns out Herbie also suspects George of being a con artist--the same one who cheated his brother out of $50,000. Luke says he'll give the prints to his colleague, an IT whiz, and within minutes Kate has an ID on "George Bailey", really an Italian New Yorker who married Gloria after his first wife divorced him. They conclude that Gloria is the brains behind the grift and arrange a meeting between the "Baileys", Herbie and Sophia, and Luke and Sharla to exchange the money, by which point the authorities would put George and Gloria under arrest. But Herbie says there isn't enough evidence to put them in jail without proof the land they're selling isn't owned by them. That's when Nana's pickpocketing skills come in handy...
George's "associate" meets the five of them, Nana having pled an illness and gone back to the ship. The "associate", who's armed, grabs Sharla and threatens to shoot if anyone moves. Sharla uses the self-defense skills her husband taught her before his death, and Luke uses the rifle his FBI contact gave him to take the armed man down. The FBI takes the "Baileys" into custody, and the evidence Nana gained from their cabin (with the key card she stole from Gloria's bag) is enough to send them to jail, while the bearer bonds Nana lifted and presented to Herbie exactly match the amount taken from Herbie's brother! Happy ending number one...
After a quick talk with Herbie, Luke figures out a new profession he can pursue with Sophia's beau and presents it to Sharla, who waits for the familiar fear to overtake her and finds the only fear she has is of pushing Luke away. He opens a private detective agency with Herbie, now Sophia's fiance, and Sharla finally accepts his proposal. Happy ending number two... and Happily Ever After!
I was grabbed right away by the dynamic between a criminal grandma and her straight-arrow granddaughter, as well as between a fatherly CIA department chief and his workaholic employee. The plot twists just kept coming as every passenger was not who he or she seemed! Trust kept cropping up as a barrier and an entrance to relationships on the cruise ship, and the romance between Luke and Sharla was gratifying, if a long time coming. I highly recommend Shell Game!
February 6, 2020
Shell Game: Aloha Series Book 8 is by Chris Keniston. This book is unusual in that it is not set in Hawaii; but on a cruise ship. It also takes place prior to many of the other books and Brooklyn shows up in the other books as a PI which is where he ends up in this book.
Luke “Brooklyn” Chapman is an employee of the CIA. He had resigned from the SEALS to work on gathering information for the men in the fields. He did not want any more of his friends hurt or killed due to bad intel. He had already destroyed the group of men who had killed a unit of the SEALs. At least he was making a difference. However, he had been injured and the doctor who was treating him insisted that he take some time off to get better. In fact, he insisted on thirty days. To get him in a position where he had to relax, the doctor gave him his tickets on a cruise since he and his wife were unable to go. Thus, Luke finds himself on a cruise ship.
Sharla Kramer lived in Miami where she was an ER nurse. Her Nana lived with her and her great-aunts lived nearby. Sharla has had a time keeping up with the three of them. In their youth, they had been trained to be con artists and still practiced it sometimes. Sharla was looking forward to the next month as her Nana and one aunt were going on a cruise and the other aunt was spending time with her daughter. Finally, Sharla would get some rest. However, Nana found that her sister was going to stay behind and take care of her granddaughter so Nana would be on a cruise by herself. After consideration, Sharla knew she was going on a cruise too.
On the cruise, Nana met Herbie, a nice retired cop who caught her fancy. She also met Luke and the Baileys. Sharla went along with the crowd because of Nana. What she didn’t know was the Baileys were con artists out to steal from unsuspecting elderly people. Herbie was tracking them down to get proof they were crooked. Sharla and Luke got caught up in the mess.
Luke “Brooklyn” Chapman is an employee of the CIA. He had resigned from the SEALS to work on gathering information for the men in the fields. He did not want any more of his friends hurt or killed due to bad intel. He had already destroyed the group of men who had killed a unit of the SEALs. At least he was making a difference. However, he had been injured and the doctor who was treating him insisted that he take some time off to get better. In fact, he insisted on thirty days. To get him in a position where he had to relax, the doctor gave him his tickets on a cruise since he and his wife were unable to go. Thus, Luke finds himself on a cruise ship.
Sharla Kramer lived in Miami where she was an ER nurse. Her Nana lived with her and her great-aunts lived nearby. Sharla has had a time keeping up with the three of them. In their youth, they had been trained to be con artists and still practiced it sometimes. Sharla was looking forward to the next month as her Nana and one aunt were going on a cruise and the other aunt was spending time with her daughter. Finally, Sharla would get some rest. However, Nana found that her sister was going to stay behind and take care of her granddaughter so Nana would be on a cruise by herself. After consideration, Sharla knew she was going on a cruise too.
On the cruise, Nana met Herbie, a nice retired cop who caught her fancy. She also met Luke and the Baileys. Sharla went along with the crowd because of Nana. What she didn’t know was the Baileys were con artists out to steal from unsuspecting elderly people. Herbie was tracking them down to get proof they were crooked. Sharla and Luke got caught up in the mess.
February 4, 2025
Shell Game ~ Aloha ~ Book 0.5, by Chris Keniston, author tell the crazy story of a Caribbean cruise with a widowed nurse, her ex-con artist grandmother, a retired cop and Lt. Luke "Brooklyn"
Chapman and a con artist couple working a Shell Game on seniors on the cruise.
Sophia, the grandmother was a kick with her approach to trivia and fun doing all kinds of crazy fun activities of she lead her granddaughter, Sharla and their friends. Herbie the ex-cop fell hard for Sophia and the plan to get married after the ten days on the ship. Luke being one of the only younger single men on the cruise falls hard and fast for Sharla when neither of them want a relationship.
The couple pulling the Shell Game, George, the slick ex-con and Gloria, flashing her giant diamond ring, spending a day at the spa are a mismatched couple with her the brains and the smart one planning the con and controlling George.
All of the fun characters made Shell Game one humorous and delightful reads!
Chapman and a con artist couple working a Shell Game on seniors on the cruise.
Sophia, the grandmother was a kick with her approach to trivia and fun doing all kinds of crazy fun activities of she lead her granddaughter, Sharla and their friends. Herbie the ex-cop fell hard for Sophia and the plan to get married after the ten days on the ship. Luke being one of the only younger single men on the cruise falls hard and fast for Sharla when neither of them want a relationship.
The couple pulling the Shell Game, George, the slick ex-con and Gloria, flashing her giant diamond ring, spending a day at the spa are a mismatched couple with her the brains and the smart one planning the con and controlling George.
All of the fun characters made Shell Game one humorous and delightful reads!
April 26, 2019
This is actually book 0.5 in the Aloha series by Chris Keniston. It was written after Aloha, Texas, book one. When I picked this series up, I was looking for brain candy. It’s the end of the school year and I need pure entertainment. That’s it, no stress, no drama, no deep thinking. I got what I was looking for and a bit more. There’s no heavy drama, no intense intrigue. There are lots of fun, feel-good vibes, and a teeny bit of drama toward the end.
Luke “Brooklyn” Chapman intrigued me in the first two books and so I really wanted to see what his story was. It’s strange to go back in time when Nick had yet to meet Kara and Billy didn’t know who Angela was. But it’s easy to get into the right frame of mind once you start reading. This story didn’t disappoint. What’s not to like with a book featuring a sassy, former con artist granny?
This is a feel-good story with plenty of laughs that’s a good addition to the Aloha series.
Luke “Brooklyn” Chapman intrigued me in the first two books and so I really wanted to see what his story was. It’s strange to go back in time when Nick had yet to meet Kara and Billy didn’t know who Angela was. But it’s easy to get into the right frame of mind once you start reading. This story didn’t disappoint. What’s not to like with a book featuring a sassy, former con artist granny?
This is a feel-good story with plenty of laughs that’s a good addition to the Aloha series.
April 11, 2022
A low stress read with plenty of humor and some likeable characters. I like how accepting Luke is of Sofia clearly enjoying her company and appreciating her unique qualities. He seems too good to be true in some instances. The story shows respect for older generations in the positive portrayal of Sofia (Nana) and Herbie. There are some rough spots in the execution of the story. The narrator switches from calling Nana to Sofia and Brooklyn to Luke inconsistently. The romantic relationship between Luke and Sharla seems underdeveloped along with Sharla's character. With Sofia for a grandmother, Sharla should exhibit a stronger personality. However, this is a fun read with Sofia's antics and the attempted con with a little romance on the side. I will read other titles by this author.
May 8, 2018
Sharla and Luke both unexpectedly end up on the same cruise and sparks fly when they meet. Neither were suppose to be on this cruise. Nana is a hoot and love how she can still run a con. Herbie is her love interest and a retired cop. Funny how opposites attract. Sharla is a widow and looking for a "safe" guy to love again. Luke is a Seal and in the CIA (not so safe). The author has a couple of plots running in this book and I thought she did a great job. Although there is instant love (sometimes I don't like that) she pulls off the believable regarding both couples. There is also a mystery which intrigued me and kept me wanting to read to find out how it would play out.
May 28, 2018
Light and sweet romance at sea…Since Brooklyn is on medical leave from his last mission, he agrees to be a replacement on a cruise. Sharla, is accompanying her grandmother on the cruise as well. When Brooklyn and Sharla meet sparks fly. Brooklyn, a retired SEAL and a CIA agent, isn't the safe man that Sharla needs. I received a free copy of this book from the author. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. This is a sweet and amusing romance. There are actually two romances in this book: Sharla's and her grandmothers. When they try to thwart a con couple, it leads to a suspenseful ending. I really enjoyed this light romance and recommend this series.
July 28, 2023
Sharla's grandma, Sophia was a hoot! She grew up conning people, but gave it up a long time ago. Sharla gets stuck going on a cruise with Sophia. Sharla meets Luke who also got stuck going on a cruise and realize they are probably the only single people on the cruise. Sophia gets Luke and Sharla on her trivia team. They meet Herbie and get him on the team too. These four stick together. Herbie is on the cruise for a reason and they all decide to help Herbie. Sharla and Luke start to like each other and Luke knows he has to tell Sharla what he does for a living. Things really get good and lots of decisions need to be made.
June 11, 2022
Sweet,funny and entertaining
A delightful story of Sophia and her granddaughter going on a cruise together. Her grandmother is a reformed con artist. Sharla tries to keep her straight.On the ship Sophia meets Herbie a retired police officer and Luke Brooklyn Chapman a former Navy SEAL.They all work together to be down some bad guys. I highly recommend reading this book and I received an ARC of this story.
A delightful story of Sophia and her granddaughter going on a cruise together. Her grandmother is a reformed con artist. Sharla tries to keep her straight.On the ship Sophia meets Herbie a retired police officer and Luke Brooklyn Chapman a former Navy SEAL.They all work together to be down some bad guys. I highly recommend reading this book and I received an ARC of this story.
June 10, 2018
I'm pretty sure this is my favourite of the Aloha series! The number of times Luke 'Brooklyn' Chapman has turned up in the other books made me very curious about him. His story did not disappoint! I loved it, I loved Sharla and Luke, her grandmother Sophia and Herbie. They all worked so well together, you really have to read this book. Well done, Chris!!
January 17, 2019
A cute contemporary romance
This book had the right amount of humor mixed in with a bunch of romance. While this is Luke and Sharla's story, her Nana, Sophia stole the story for me. The author created a group of characters that were fun and a story that flowed. The high seas, great characters, romance, humor, and a con make this a fun read.
This book had the right amount of humor mixed in with a bunch of romance. While this is Luke and Sharla's story, her Nana, Sophia stole the story for me. The author created a group of characters that were fun and a story that flowed. The high seas, great characters, romance, humor, and a con make this a fun read.
May 23, 2020
A Hoot and a Half
The funniest adult character in this whole series kept me chuckling in every chapter. All the characters were at the very least interesting and at highest, really likable. The hero played a big background role in the other stories, so learning his own story was welcome.
The funniest adult character in this whole series kept me chuckling in every chapter. All the characters were at the very least interesting and at highest, really likable. The hero played a big background role in the other stories, so learning his own story was welcome.
August 12, 2020
She'll Game: Navy SEAL "Brooklyn" (Aloha Series Book 9)
The love story of Luke (Brooklyn) and Sharla. Luke take a vacation on a cruise. On the Cruise he mets Sharla, her grandmother and ex-cop. The cop is trying to catch the man who cheated his brother out of $50,000. Can they get him? Great story.
The love story of Luke (Brooklyn) and Sharla. Luke take a vacation on a cruise. On the Cruise he mets Sharla, her grandmother and ex-cop. The cop is trying to catch the man who cheated his brother out of $50,000. Can they get him? Great story.
January 21, 2022
Loved Nana. Some great characters here. Luke is a player. Not one who I could see changing his ways almost overnight for a widow who is needy. Romance did not work. The ending requires you to suspend reality for it to be believable. Military guys who enjoy hook ups over relationships are not my favorite. Book was overall enjoyable with good pacing.
January 25, 2022
Loved it.
I adore the characters, they were complete and blended perfectly. Nana was the most entertaining character with her personality and whit. I must admit I felt a tad hemmed in reading how many folk were on the ship. A cruise wouldn't do for me. This a feel good read and worth the 4 stars I have given it.
I adore the characters, they were complete and blended perfectly. Nana was the most entertaining character with her personality and whit. I must admit I felt a tad hemmed in reading how many folk were on the ship. A cruise wouldn't do for me. This a feel good read and worth the 4 stars I have given it.
January 27, 2022
‘Shell Game’ is a romance novel and it was a light enjoyable read. Is it set on a Caribbean cruise ship which I found a fun location but the relationship between the main characters wasn’t even the greatest one in the story. The complication wasn’t that exciting, I saw it coming. I wouldn’t have read this if it hadn’t have been free and I was longing for it to end by the last 30% but if you’re looking for a easy vacation read give it a go.
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