Shell Game

Shell Game (Aloha Romance Series #8) by Chris Keniston

A good romance story requires manly men, beautiful settings, and a woman who tries to tell herself she isn’t ready for marriage. Keniston delivers all in Shell Game.

Luke “Brooklyn” Chapman is a Navy seal sniper and his buddies are introduced in the beginning since they make up the heroes in the other books in the series. Sharla Kramer is the widow of a police officer who swears she will never marry a man in a dangerous occupation. She lives with her grandmother, Sophie, in Florida. Sophie and her grandfather and many others in the family were grifters or con artists. Sharla does not share her grandmother’s skills and has to bail her out when she practices lifting wallets.

Luke has joined the CIA and is recovering from a knife wound when his boss makes him take a cruise. On the same boat is Sophie and Sharla. Sparks fly for the younger couple, but Luke is a confirmed bachelor and Sharla doesn’t want a husband whose work could kill him. A con game plays a major part in the plot and adds just enough danger to let the characters rise above their past fears.

A writer needs a reason for two people to stay apart even though they have a strong physical or emotional attraction. Keniston accomplishes this with the danger factor and keeps the reader turning the pages to find out if and how the couple will resolve their problems.

Another great part of this story is the setting. A cruise ship provides a limited space, so people are thrown together over and over again. It also introduces new characters to enhance the story. And the best part is the cruise ship stops at exotic locations for descriptive passages that can set the mood for the story. When choosing a setting, think how it can enhance your story.

#mystery #romance #ChrisKeniston

More book reviews can be found at http://www.authorfreeman.wordpress.com