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Aloha #3
Mai Tai Marriage
An alternative cover edition for this ASIN B0776KRFN3 can be found here
When an accidental marriage throws a dashing sailor in dress whites and a feisty shop manager together—sparks fly as they navigate their way through meddling mothers and unexpected twists and turns!. Toss in a little orange liqueur, a splash of coconut rum, a pineapple spear for good measure, and you'll be dreaming of white sandy beaches and steamy nights as you root for our hero and heroine to find their happily ever after.
Note: Not sure which is the Sweet ad Clean version of the Aloha series? Look for the Heart Logo at the bottom right hand corner of the Sweet Edition covers.
When an accidental marriage throws a dashing sailor in dress whites and a feisty shop manager together—sparks fly as they navigate their way through meddling mothers and unexpected twists and turns!. Toss in a little orange liqueur, a splash of coconut rum, a pineapple spear for good measure, and you'll be dreaming of white sandy beaches and steamy nights as you root for our hero and heroine to find their happily ever after.
Note: Not sure which is the Sweet ad Clean version of the Aloha series? Look for the Heart Logo at the bottom right hand corner of the Sweet Edition covers.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 31, 2014
1055 people are currently reading
526 people want to read
About the author
Chris Keniston
119 books371 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 100 reviews
June 18, 2023
Neither bad nor all that great, in both plot and writing quality. It didn’t offend me and kept me fairly well entertained for a few hours. Hey, it was free so I’m not complaining.
November 3, 2025
All Lieutenant Commander Jim Borden is our groom. With his best man, and best friend since Annapolis, Billy Everrett. They allowed a younger team member to pick the Dirty Sock, Jim regretted it now and thought Why? Now all he wanted was to get out of there and find his fiancée, Bridget, to set things right again. The guys thought he needed a lap dance. Offering a mock nod of approval, Jim said what his buddy wanted to hear, “Maybe later.” His mind was on Bridget. All day she’d been ignoring his calls and this afternoon when he’d dropped her parents off at the hotel, she’d been downright chilly.
Since his return from Kona, she’d been quiet. Too quiet. He thought at first she was mad, he had left the Big Island to go to Kona and then returned home again. But he needed this to continue the healing process. He had met up with two friends he hadn’t spoken to since the mission which had gone south sending them both to the hospital, costing Billy a leg, Doug Hamilton his vision in one eye, and leaving Jim with ravaging scars on his back. He’s realized Bridget’s mood was not going to blow over on its own.
He needed to remind her how much he loved her and wanted her for his wife. Wife. The word still scared him. He’d been glad at one time not to be tied down with a wife and children to worry about during a mission. But recently he’d begun to envy the guys with wives waiting at the end of a tour or the men with their kids’ photos in their breast pocket. The last explosion had nearly done him in. Both the burden of the scared kid who’d lost his life and the Humvee door that had almost taken Jim too. Now he’d have Bridget to come home too.
“Remember those days, sir?” “Oh, yeah.” Jim felt the smile pull at the corners of his mouth. It was good to have his friend back. For years, Billy had refused to speak with any of the former team. No hospital visits, no phone calls, emails, nothing. When Billy recently reached out to Jim for help, not even the voice of God could have stopped him from agreeing to help. “But what’s with the sir?” “Well, leave it behind.” Jim tapped his bottle against Billy’s. “To wedded bliss.” “And the women who love us!”
“She’s pulling back. I think… I think she’s having second thoughts.” From his peripheral vision, Jim spotted one of his buddies climbing onto the dance floor. Bad move. At the same moment, Jim grabbed an ankle. Billy reached for the back of Brent’s belt. “Why’d you do that, Commander?” “Commander?” Billy repeated, still holding onto the kid’s belt. Jim stood, arms stretched, steadying his friend. “Promoted in the spring.” Brent swung his arm out to point at the dancing blonde’s attributes and smacked the waitress coming up beside him, knocking the drinks off the tray.
And onto a drunk now bathed in scotch. Let's just say all hell broke loose and being a good Commander and Billy his bestie they got everyone out before the cops came, except themselves. A sharp whistle pierced the air. Jim cast a glance across the room in time to see the side door slamming shut. Doug and Watson were nowhere to be seen. HPD flooded the room. Jim turned to Billy. “We are so screwed.” Hours later...“How’s the other guy look?” Lexie Hale raised a quieting hand at the two men before her. “Don’t tell me, Jar heads?”
“A waitress actually.” Jim filed past her, following her boss’ footsteps. “Waitress?” Lexie lifted her hand to better examine Jim’s cheek. “A little makeup and Bridget won’t shoot you for ruining her wedding photos.” “Yeah, well. Thanks for coming out. Bridget’s not very happy with me lately. I wasn’t relishing the thought of calling her in the middle of the night to bail our sixes, excuse me, our behinds out of jail.” “Facing my CO won’t be any better.” Lips pressed tightly together, Billy turned to his friend.
“I should have shoved your sorry six out the door before the cops got there. Doug and I aren’t active duty, but you… How bad is this going to go down?” “That.” Jim heaved an ominous sigh. “Depends on what I’m charged with.” “Nothing,” Lexie offered quickly. This time it was Nick Harper, or more accurately his wife, who had come to the rescue. “You really should thank Nick for marrying Kara,” Lexie explained. “Then you need to thank her for saving your hide. I phoned her as soon as I hung up with you.
She made a couple of calls. The local DA was in the JAG corps with the judge who’s been sending Kara work. The bar owner is a former Navy sailor. All of that worked in your favor. And.” She glanced from one to the other. “Kara can be very persuasive. No charges are being filed against either of you. Apparently the adage, it’s not what you know but who you know, still holds.” “You have three hours to clean up and get to the church looking like a groom and not a jailbird.” “Right.” Billy summoned Lexie upstairs to Jim’s room.
Billy filled the doorway. “I brought some makeup.” “We have a problem.” Billy’s hard gaze was punctuated by the irritated twitch of his jaw muscles clamped tight. “No.” He waved her into the room. “The bride has gone AWOL.” “You lost the bride?” “How can you lose a bride?” “We didn’t lose her. She left Jim a note.” “Doesn’t seem that way. She left the note last night. We just found it in his room. I’ve called his best man.” “He seems to be holding it together pretty well.” “He saw it coming.” She actually told Jim to go ahead and have the reception anyway. To think of it as a blowout party.”
“Not a bad idea. Sort of goodbye and good riddance. Yeah, good riddance to her.” “She doesn’t deserve you.” “She’s right,” Jim muttered, still staring out the window. “Bridget. Lexie. Whoever. The reception is only a few hours away. Everything is in place. There’s no wedding to attend, but there’s enough food and booze to outfit an aircraft carrier.” “We are going to have one helluva party. And I, for one, am going to get stinking drunk.” There is just one fly in the ointment. They start using Lexie as his pretend bride at the reception for the photographer since he wasn't canceled, the cake cutting since there was a cake, you get the picture.
Now mind you none of her friends and family are there because they preplanned this move. But you find out this oopsidaisy has a big downfall that catches them both off guard but not without totally thinking about liking it just a little for their future. A fun book for sure.
Since his return from Kona, she’d been quiet. Too quiet. He thought at first she was mad, he had left the Big Island to go to Kona and then returned home again. But he needed this to continue the healing process. He had met up with two friends he hadn’t spoken to since the mission which had gone south sending them both to the hospital, costing Billy a leg, Doug Hamilton his vision in one eye, and leaving Jim with ravaging scars on his back. He’s realized Bridget’s mood was not going to blow over on its own.
He needed to remind her how much he loved her and wanted her for his wife. Wife. The word still scared him. He’d been glad at one time not to be tied down with a wife and children to worry about during a mission. But recently he’d begun to envy the guys with wives waiting at the end of a tour or the men with their kids’ photos in their breast pocket. The last explosion had nearly done him in. Both the burden of the scared kid who’d lost his life and the Humvee door that had almost taken Jim too. Now he’d have Bridget to come home too.
“Remember those days, sir?” “Oh, yeah.” Jim felt the smile pull at the corners of his mouth. It was good to have his friend back. For years, Billy had refused to speak with any of the former team. No hospital visits, no phone calls, emails, nothing. When Billy recently reached out to Jim for help, not even the voice of God could have stopped him from agreeing to help. “But what’s with the sir?” “Well, leave it behind.” Jim tapped his bottle against Billy’s. “To wedded bliss.” “And the women who love us!”
“She’s pulling back. I think… I think she’s having second thoughts.” From his peripheral vision, Jim spotted one of his buddies climbing onto the dance floor. Bad move. At the same moment, Jim grabbed an ankle. Billy reached for the back of Brent’s belt. “Why’d you do that, Commander?” “Commander?” Billy repeated, still holding onto the kid’s belt. Jim stood, arms stretched, steadying his friend. “Promoted in the spring.” Brent swung his arm out to point at the dancing blonde’s attributes and smacked the waitress coming up beside him, knocking the drinks off the tray.
And onto a drunk now bathed in scotch. Let's just say all hell broke loose and being a good Commander and Billy his bestie they got everyone out before the cops came, except themselves. A sharp whistle pierced the air. Jim cast a glance across the room in time to see the side door slamming shut. Doug and Watson were nowhere to be seen. HPD flooded the room. Jim turned to Billy. “We are so screwed.” Hours later...“How’s the other guy look?” Lexie Hale raised a quieting hand at the two men before her. “Don’t tell me, Jar heads?”
“A waitress actually.” Jim filed past her, following her boss’ footsteps. “Waitress?” Lexie lifted her hand to better examine Jim’s cheek. “A little makeup and Bridget won’t shoot you for ruining her wedding photos.” “Yeah, well. Thanks for coming out. Bridget’s not very happy with me lately. I wasn’t relishing the thought of calling her in the middle of the night to bail our sixes, excuse me, our behinds out of jail.” “Facing my CO won’t be any better.” Lips pressed tightly together, Billy turned to his friend.
“I should have shoved your sorry six out the door before the cops got there. Doug and I aren’t active duty, but you… How bad is this going to go down?” “That.” Jim heaved an ominous sigh. “Depends on what I’m charged with.” “Nothing,” Lexie offered quickly. This time it was Nick Harper, or more accurately his wife, who had come to the rescue. “You really should thank Nick for marrying Kara,” Lexie explained. “Then you need to thank her for saving your hide. I phoned her as soon as I hung up with you.
She made a couple of calls. The local DA was in the JAG corps with the judge who’s been sending Kara work. The bar owner is a former Navy sailor. All of that worked in your favor. And.” She glanced from one to the other. “Kara can be very persuasive. No charges are being filed against either of you. Apparently the adage, it’s not what you know but who you know, still holds.” “You have three hours to clean up and get to the church looking like a groom and not a jailbird.” “Right.” Billy summoned Lexie upstairs to Jim’s room.
Billy filled the doorway. “I brought some makeup.” “We have a problem.” Billy’s hard gaze was punctuated by the irritated twitch of his jaw muscles clamped tight. “No.” He waved her into the room. “The bride has gone AWOL.” “You lost the bride?” “How can you lose a bride?” “We didn’t lose her. She left Jim a note.” “Doesn’t seem that way. She left the note last night. We just found it in his room. I’ve called his best man.” “He seems to be holding it together pretty well.” “He saw it coming.” She actually told Jim to go ahead and have the reception anyway. To think of it as a blowout party.”
“Not a bad idea. Sort of goodbye and good riddance. Yeah, good riddance to her.” “She doesn’t deserve you.” “She’s right,” Jim muttered, still staring out the window. “Bridget. Lexie. Whoever. The reception is only a few hours away. Everything is in place. There’s no wedding to attend, but there’s enough food and booze to outfit an aircraft carrier.” “We are going to have one helluva party. And I, for one, am going to get stinking drunk.” There is just one fly in the ointment. They start using Lexie as his pretend bride at the reception for the photographer since he wasn't canceled, the cake cutting since there was a cake, you get the picture.
Now mind you none of her friends and family are there because they preplanned this move. But you find out this oopsidaisy has a big downfall that catches them both off guard but not without totally thinking about liking it just a little for their future. A fun book for sure.
November 27, 2017
I adore all of the books of the Aloha series and I am pleased that Chris Keniston as created a sweet version of these awesome romances. With the beauty of the islands as a back drop to hot military and ex-military heroes and strong independent woman and with unique and wonderful stories created by an author who knows how to hook her readers, this series and this book are not to be missed. The book is sweet and clean but oh my the steam that rises between these two.
From the title, the basis of the plot will be no surprised but the path to that Mai Tai Marriage and the twists and turns that follow it will delight the reader who will not find any same-old-same-old in this tale of love, confusion, and a little bit of suspense. It may be Jim Borden's hero tendencies that got him in trouble or it may be that there is something about Lexi that calls to him but when her mother tries to play matchmaker with the man that Lexi dumped after walking in on him and other woman just days before their wedding, he has to stand up for her. Unfortunately Lexi hadn't gotten the news of the bombshell he drops on her mother.
From the title, the basis of the plot will be no surprised but the path to that Mai Tai Marriage and the twists and turns that follow it will delight the reader who will not find any same-old-same-old in this tale of love, confusion, and a little bit of suspense. It may be Jim Borden's hero tendencies that got him in trouble or it may be that there is something about Lexi that calls to him but when her mother tries to play matchmaker with the man that Lexi dumped after walking in on him and other woman just days before their wedding, he has to stand up for her. Unfortunately Lexi hadn't gotten the news of the bombshell he drops on her mother.
December 3, 2016
***4.5 Adorable Stars***
I adored 'Mai Tai Marriage' as I do all of Chris Keniston's work. This is a sweet, touching read with funny moments as well.
Lt. Commander James Borden thinks he's found the perfect navy wife but he is stood up at his wedding. He decided that he would have the reception without a bride since many attenders came from far and wide. After a few too many Mai Tais he is dancing with a pretend wife in his arms who is helping him get through the evening.
Lexie Hale is a Dive instructor and attends the wedding that wasn't. After a few Mai Tais she is dancing with the groom and because of the circumstances she is the fake bride for the evening...or is it just an evening?
A definite must read that I highly recommend.
I adored 'Mai Tai Marriage' as I do all of Chris Keniston's work. This is a sweet, touching read with funny moments as well.
Lt. Commander James Borden thinks he's found the perfect navy wife but he is stood up at his wedding. He decided that he would have the reception without a bride since many attenders came from far and wide. After a few too many Mai Tais he is dancing with a pretend wife in his arms who is helping him get through the evening.
Lexie Hale is a Dive instructor and attends the wedding that wasn't. After a few Mai Tais she is dancing with the groom and because of the circumstances she is the fake bride for the evening...or is it just an evening?
A definite must read that I highly recommend.
April 10, 2023
I love this series! Special Ops guys...some retired, some active and strong, independent women in a storyline that revolves around the Big Island Dive Shop in Hawaii.
Great characters, a good storyline, amazing setting....what's not to love?
One proofreading error was not caught. "Kara and Jim" was used when the author obviously meant "Kara and Nick."
Great characters, a good storyline, amazing setting....what's not to love?
One proofreading error was not caught. "Kara and Jim" was used when the author obviously meant "Kara and Nick."
April 24, 2023
LEXIE GOT ON MY NRVES WITH HER WUSS ATTITUDE. I WANTED TO TELL HER TO PLEASE GROW UP. SHE LETS TO MANY PEOPLE TELL HER WHAT SHE SHOULD BE DOING, GEEZ. STORY WAS A LITTLE DRAWN OUT, SWEET-N-SQUEEKY-CLEAN, CORN AND CUTE. ;D
March 2, 2024
Mai Tais, Marriages, and Musical Husbands
Chris Keniston continues her Aloha Romance series with book 3, Mai Tai Marriage. It follows the disorienting journey of Jim Borden and Lexie Hale, who turn their broken engagements into a faux beachside wedding that turns out to be legal—then not legal, then…really disorienting!
Lt. Commander Jim Borden, U.S. Navy, is left the night before his wedding by his nurse fiancée, who thinks he confused love with gratitude for her treatment and her understanding of what goes into being a Navy wife. Alexandra “Lexie” Hale, of the Boston Hales, broke her engagement when she caught her “eligible” fiancé cheating on her a few days before her own wedding. Lexie moved to Kona, a Hawaiian island, to manage a dive shop and lead night dives with manta rays. Jim was stationed at Pearl Harbor. Their paths crossed, and they became friends.
As the book opens, Jim gets Bridget’s note calling off the wedding and suggesting that he hold the reception as a big party. He does it, intending to drown his sorrows, but when Lexie asks him to dance, he has so much fun he decides to become a pretend “groom” and Lexie happily agrees to be the “bride”. They have a fake “wedding” with one of Jim’s fellow sailors officiating, and all is well until the officiant comes to Jim with papers indicating that the ceremony was a legal wedding in Hawaii, and his billet as chaplain made the marriage real. Now they need to get an annulment. Easy, right?
Wrong. One of Jim’s sailor friends has a lawyer wife, and she researches causes for annulment in Hawaii. Jim and Lexie’s marriage meets none of those criteria, so they’ll have to file for divorce—which could take weeks or even months, bad for Jim because Bridget called him and he agreed to give her a second chance.
Complicating matters, Lexie’s social-climbing mother arrives—with her ex-fiancé, Graham. Lexie didn’t tell her parents why she canceled the wedding, so her mother hopes Lexie will be done with the “common sailor” and reconsider the man “in her league”, cheating Graham. Lexie has to avoid Graham, and her mother’s unsubtle hints, before her “Daddy” arrives and reassesses the bond between his “Kitten” and her new “husband”. Daddy doesn’t have the same objection Mom does; he just wants his Kitten happy.
Graham, thinking he can disgust Jim into leaving Lexie, tries to convince him that she’s a sex addict, first by talk, then by leaving him doctored photos of an orgy with Lexie’s face pasted onto another woman’s body. Jim isn’t fooled at all, and Lexie decides to tell her parents the reason she wouldn’t marry Graham. A detective hired to investigate Graham finds hard evidence tying him to the photos and promises to wipe his devices so he can’t threaten to show them to her beloved Daddy unless she marries him—and gives him access to her family’s weapons technology to give *his* family’s company a government contract and save it from going under due to his embezzlement to fund his kinky obsessions, which caused his wife (the “other woman” Lexie saw him with) to say goodbye.
At the dive shop, Bridget shows up and Lexie decides to give Jim and her privacy, so she pretends that her mystery groom is Jim’s fellow sailor Doug. (She wryly calls this situation Musical Husbands!) Then she addresses her parents and learns some family history that sheds light on her mother’s desperation to wed her to Graham, even with his cheating ways. (Her father was compared to a Kennedy by her own mother, an insult to all nouveau riche families.) Mother and daughter reconcile, and after a conversation in which Bridget tells Jim that she doesn’t want to have another chance after all, Jim confronts Graham in Lexie’s driveway and allows him to leave Kona in one piece, while indicating that he doesn’t need to allow anything. Graham can’t leave fast enough!
Two minutes later, Jim proposes to Lexie, and in the Epilogue they get married—for real this time, with an officiant licensed in Hawaii!
I absolutely loved Mai Tai Marriage! It had an honorable hero, a spunky heroine, a shared bed scene that didn’t give TMI, and a detective who solved the case! Graham was a slimy villain who gave me the heeby-jeebies, and Lexie’s mother actually grew on me! I don’t think she understood Graham’s ulterior motive and his sleazy tactics.
Overall, I would re
Chris Keniston continues her Aloha Romance series with book 3, Mai Tai Marriage. It follows the disorienting journey of Jim Borden and Lexie Hale, who turn their broken engagements into a faux beachside wedding that turns out to be legal—then not legal, then…really disorienting!
Lt. Commander Jim Borden, U.S. Navy, is left the night before his wedding by his nurse fiancée, who thinks he confused love with gratitude for her treatment and her understanding of what goes into being a Navy wife. Alexandra “Lexie” Hale, of the Boston Hales, broke her engagement when she caught her “eligible” fiancé cheating on her a few days before her own wedding. Lexie moved to Kona, a Hawaiian island, to manage a dive shop and lead night dives with manta rays. Jim was stationed at Pearl Harbor. Their paths crossed, and they became friends.
As the book opens, Jim gets Bridget’s note calling off the wedding and suggesting that he hold the reception as a big party. He does it, intending to drown his sorrows, but when Lexie asks him to dance, he has so much fun he decides to become a pretend “groom” and Lexie happily agrees to be the “bride”. They have a fake “wedding” with one of Jim’s fellow sailors officiating, and all is well until the officiant comes to Jim with papers indicating that the ceremony was a legal wedding in Hawaii, and his billet as chaplain made the marriage real. Now they need to get an annulment. Easy, right?
Wrong. One of Jim’s sailor friends has a lawyer wife, and she researches causes for annulment in Hawaii. Jim and Lexie’s marriage meets none of those criteria, so they’ll have to file for divorce—which could take weeks or even months, bad for Jim because Bridget called him and he agreed to give her a second chance.
Complicating matters, Lexie’s social-climbing mother arrives—with her ex-fiancé, Graham. Lexie didn’t tell her parents why she canceled the wedding, so her mother hopes Lexie will be done with the “common sailor” and reconsider the man “in her league”, cheating Graham. Lexie has to avoid Graham, and her mother’s unsubtle hints, before her “Daddy” arrives and reassesses the bond between his “Kitten” and her new “husband”. Daddy doesn’t have the same objection Mom does; he just wants his Kitten happy.
Graham, thinking he can disgust Jim into leaving Lexie, tries to convince him that she’s a sex addict, first by talk, then by leaving him doctored photos of an orgy with Lexie’s face pasted onto another woman’s body. Jim isn’t fooled at all, and Lexie decides to tell her parents the reason she wouldn’t marry Graham. A detective hired to investigate Graham finds hard evidence tying him to the photos and promises to wipe his devices so he can’t threaten to show them to her beloved Daddy unless she marries him—and gives him access to her family’s weapons technology to give *his* family’s company a government contract and save it from going under due to his embezzlement to fund his kinky obsessions, which caused his wife (the “other woman” Lexie saw him with) to say goodbye.
At the dive shop, Bridget shows up and Lexie decides to give Jim and her privacy, so she pretends that her mystery groom is Jim’s fellow sailor Doug. (She wryly calls this situation Musical Husbands!) Then she addresses her parents and learns some family history that sheds light on her mother’s desperation to wed her to Graham, even with his cheating ways. (Her father was compared to a Kennedy by her own mother, an insult to all nouveau riche families.) Mother and daughter reconcile, and after a conversation in which Bridget tells Jim that she doesn’t want to have another chance after all, Jim confronts Graham in Lexie’s driveway and allows him to leave Kona in one piece, while indicating that he doesn’t need to allow anything. Graham can’t leave fast enough!
Two minutes later, Jim proposes to Lexie, and in the Epilogue they get married—for real this time, with an officiant licensed in Hawaii!
I absolutely loved Mai Tai Marriage! It had an honorable hero, a spunky heroine, a shared bed scene that didn’t give TMI, and a detective who solved the case! Graham was a slimy villain who gave me the heeby-jeebies, and Lexie’s mother actually grew on me! I don’t think she understood Graham’s ulterior motive and his sleazy tactics.
Overall, I would re
March 10, 2024
Mai Tai's and Lexie and Jim, oh my!
Chris Keniston continues her Aloha Romance series beautifully in book 3, Mai Tai Marriage, the story of a mai tai-fueled wedding that's fake--no, real--no, fake--no, real--no kidding! Add two broken engagements, a mother desperate to bring her daughter back to her cheating fiance Graham Winchester, and Graham himself (overconfident, sexually perverted, and basically what no woman wants in a life partner), and a wild ride is inevitable.
Lexie Hale, wanting to put as much space between her cheating fiance and pressure from her mother, flees Boston for Kona to manage the local dive shop and "SWIM for a living", as Mrs. Hale says dismissively. Jim Borden, a former SEAL whose fiancee left him the night before their wedding, holds the reception anyway and intends to drown his sorrows, but he's asked to dance by Lexie. They have fun; they fake a reception on the terrace by tossing the bouquet and garter; they good-naturedly go along with a native Hawaiian guest's insistence on blowing a conch shell, exchanging leis, and repeating a chant about their love lasting as long as the ocean's tides; and they laugh about their fake wedding! But the "officiant" shows up later in Jim's office and tells him that the wedding was legal in Hawaii, he's a chaplain, and the hotel's event coordinator changed the fiancee's name from Bridget to Lexie and filed the certificate with the state. Their "fake" marriage is real.
Panicked, Jim consults a lawyer, who determines they don't meet the criteria for annulment and must file for divorce. He goes to his accidental new "wife's" house and finds Mrs. Hale with Lexie, trying to convince her to take Graham back even after Lexie says she doesn't want to marry Graham--ever. He interrupts Mrs. Hale's advice to announce that they are married already. Uh-oh.
Jim counters Lexie's protests by relating his lawyer's findings and his frustration at the delay; he had already agreed to give Bridget a second chance and now his marriage to Lexie will appear on the new license, leaving Lexie to wonder if he's really over Bridget. Meanwhile, as Graham arrives to take them to a dinner Lexie's mother arranged but "forgot" in her shock that Lexie would marry the "first sailor to come along " rather than the scion of an old Boston family, even with a divorce in his past (he married the woman Lexie caught him with, but his depraved tastes turned even her stomach), Lexie's beloved Daddy flies in on the company jet and welcomes his new son-in-law with respect for his achievements as a Naval Academy graduate, former SEAL, and good taste in women like his precious little girl. Lexie and Jim and Daddy 1, Mother and Graham 0.
Graham, anxious to fulfill his own financial agenda, tells Jim that Lexie is a sexual deviant, but Jim knows who the deviant is and doesn't fall for his lies. Jim then receives doctored photos of an orgy with Lexie's face pasted over the actual woman's head. Jim doesn't buy that either, and he hires a private detective to search Graham's computer. For a guy willing to play dirty, Graham is terrible at covering his tracks, and the PI finds enough evidence to lock him up for harassment. Jim instead elects to threaten Graham in person, making him promise to delete the photo files and return to Boston immediately. Then he goes to find Lexie.
Bridget had been in the dive shop and asked for Jim, so Lexie gave them space and wandered around town. But Bridget only wanted to say that her request to try again was ill considered, and she and Jim parted as friends. When he finds Lexie, Jim explains everything and asks for a second chance of his own, which she gladly grants. Their second wedding is just as legal as the "fake" wedding, Jim and Lexie are very happy together, and their guests (and readers) rejoice with them!
I loved Mai Tai Marriage so much, I investigated the entire series! Only Shell Game is available on Kindle Unlimited, so I'll read that one next. I hope its plot and characters are as perfect as the ones in this book, which I highly recommend!
Chris Keniston continues her Aloha Romance series beautifully in book 3, Mai Tai Marriage, the story of a mai tai-fueled wedding that's fake--no, real--no, fake--no, real--no kidding! Add two broken engagements, a mother desperate to bring her daughter back to her cheating fiance Graham Winchester, and Graham himself (overconfident, sexually perverted, and basically what no woman wants in a life partner), and a wild ride is inevitable.
Lexie Hale, wanting to put as much space between her cheating fiance and pressure from her mother, flees Boston for Kona to manage the local dive shop and "SWIM for a living", as Mrs. Hale says dismissively. Jim Borden, a former SEAL whose fiancee left him the night before their wedding, holds the reception anyway and intends to drown his sorrows, but he's asked to dance by Lexie. They have fun; they fake a reception on the terrace by tossing the bouquet and garter; they good-naturedly go along with a native Hawaiian guest's insistence on blowing a conch shell, exchanging leis, and repeating a chant about their love lasting as long as the ocean's tides; and they laugh about their fake wedding! But the "officiant" shows up later in Jim's office and tells him that the wedding was legal in Hawaii, he's a chaplain, and the hotel's event coordinator changed the fiancee's name from Bridget to Lexie and filed the certificate with the state. Their "fake" marriage is real.
Panicked, Jim consults a lawyer, who determines they don't meet the criteria for annulment and must file for divorce. He goes to his accidental new "wife's" house and finds Mrs. Hale with Lexie, trying to convince her to take Graham back even after Lexie says she doesn't want to marry Graham--ever. He interrupts Mrs. Hale's advice to announce that they are married already. Uh-oh.
Jim counters Lexie's protests by relating his lawyer's findings and his frustration at the delay; he had already agreed to give Bridget a second chance and now his marriage to Lexie will appear on the new license, leaving Lexie to wonder if he's really over Bridget. Meanwhile, as Graham arrives to take them to a dinner Lexie's mother arranged but "forgot" in her shock that Lexie would marry the "first sailor to come along " rather than the scion of an old Boston family, even with a divorce in his past (he married the woman Lexie caught him with, but his depraved tastes turned even her stomach), Lexie's beloved Daddy flies in on the company jet and welcomes his new son-in-law with respect for his achievements as a Naval Academy graduate, former SEAL, and good taste in women like his precious little girl. Lexie and Jim and Daddy 1, Mother and Graham 0.
Graham, anxious to fulfill his own financial agenda, tells Jim that Lexie is a sexual deviant, but Jim knows who the deviant is and doesn't fall for his lies. Jim then receives doctored photos of an orgy with Lexie's face pasted over the actual woman's head. Jim doesn't buy that either, and he hires a private detective to search Graham's computer. For a guy willing to play dirty, Graham is terrible at covering his tracks, and the PI finds enough evidence to lock him up for harassment. Jim instead elects to threaten Graham in person, making him promise to delete the photo files and return to Boston immediately. Then he goes to find Lexie.
Bridget had been in the dive shop and asked for Jim, so Lexie gave them space and wandered around town. But Bridget only wanted to say that her request to try again was ill considered, and she and Jim parted as friends. When he finds Lexie, Jim explains everything and asks for a second chance of his own, which she gladly grants. Their second wedding is just as legal as the "fake" wedding, Jim and Lexie are very happy together, and their guests (and readers) rejoice with them!
I loved Mai Tai Marriage so much, I investigated the entire series! Only Shell Game is available on Kindle Unlimited, so I'll read that one next. I hope its plot and characters are as perfect as the ones in this book, which I highly recommend!
December 12, 2024
Mai Tai Marriage, the third book in Chris Keniston's Aloha series, is a delightful blend of heartwarming romance, familial bonds, and the breathtaking allure of Hawaii. From the moment you open its pages, you are transported to a world where the ocean whispers secrets, and every sunset feels like a prelude to destiny. With her signature charm, Keniston crafts a story that is as refreshing as the drink it’s named after, leaving you with a smile and a longing for the magic of the islands.
At its core, this novel is a celebration of love in its many forms—not just romantic love, but also the ties of friendship, loyalty, and family that hold us together even through life’s most unexpected turns. The story introduces us to characters who feel real and relatable, with flaws and strengths that make them easy to root for. Their journey is not without its challenges, yet it’s precisely these obstacles that add depth to the narrative and make the moments of connection all the more poignant.
Keniston’s Hawaii is more than just a setting; it’s a living, breathing character in the story. Her vivid descriptions of the islands' lush landscapes, vibrant culture, and tranquil beaches create an immersive experience that allows the reader to escape into this paradise. It’s the kind of place where love seems inevitable, where the rhythm of the waves mirrors the beats of the heart.
The romance itself is a slow dance of discovery, filled with moments of humor, tenderness, and sparks that light up the page. It’s a tale of opposites attracting, but also of learning to trust, to heal, and to embrace the possibility of something extraordinary. Keniston strikes a balance between lighthearted fun and genuine emotion, ensuring the story resonates on a deeper level.
If there’s a critique to be made, it’s that the plot might feel predictable at times, as the tropes of the genre are familiar. Yet, Keniston’s skill lies in her ability to breathe new life into these familiar elements, crafting a story that feels both comforting and fresh. The characters’ chemistry and the island’s enchanting backdrop more than make up for any moments of predictability.
In Mai Tai Marriage, Keniston captures the essence of Hawaii’s beauty and the power of love to transform lives. It’s a story that reminds us of the importance of taking chances, of letting go of fear, and of finding joy in the unexpected. This novel is a perfect escape for those who dream of sandy shores, tropical breezes, and the timeless allure of a love story worth savoring.
At its core, this novel is a celebration of love in its many forms—not just romantic love, but also the ties of friendship, loyalty, and family that hold us together even through life’s most unexpected turns. The story introduces us to characters who feel real and relatable, with flaws and strengths that make them easy to root for. Their journey is not without its challenges, yet it’s precisely these obstacles that add depth to the narrative and make the moments of connection all the more poignant.
Keniston’s Hawaii is more than just a setting; it’s a living, breathing character in the story. Her vivid descriptions of the islands' lush landscapes, vibrant culture, and tranquil beaches create an immersive experience that allows the reader to escape into this paradise. It’s the kind of place where love seems inevitable, where the rhythm of the waves mirrors the beats of the heart.
The romance itself is a slow dance of discovery, filled with moments of humor, tenderness, and sparks that light up the page. It’s a tale of opposites attracting, but also of learning to trust, to heal, and to embrace the possibility of something extraordinary. Keniston strikes a balance between lighthearted fun and genuine emotion, ensuring the story resonates on a deeper level.
If there’s a critique to be made, it’s that the plot might feel predictable at times, as the tropes of the genre are familiar. Yet, Keniston’s skill lies in her ability to breathe new life into these familiar elements, crafting a story that feels both comforting and fresh. The characters’ chemistry and the island’s enchanting backdrop more than make up for any moments of predictability.
In Mai Tai Marriage, Keniston captures the essence of Hawaii’s beauty and the power of love to transform lives. It’s a story that reminds us of the importance of taking chances, of letting go of fear, and of finding joy in the unexpected. This novel is a perfect escape for those who dream of sandy shores, tropical breezes, and the timeless allure of a love story worth savoring.
April 23, 2019
This is book three in the Aloha series by Chris Keniston. When I picked it 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’s just lots of fun, feel-good vibes, and a teeny bit of drama at the end.
Mai-Tai Marriage has a little more comedy than the previous two books have had. It’s actually one blunder after another. The more the blunders happen, the faster the next one hits. It’s an avalanche. Jim Borden was just stood up the night before his wedding. His bride took off leaving him with a note and instructions to go ahead with the reception. It’s all been paid for so why not enjoy it? That’s exactly what he does. Well, after a little persuasion from Lexie….
Once the party gets underway, Jim and Lexie decide it’s a good idea to be Bride & Groom for a Day. They play their parts so well that apparently someone thinks a traditional Hawaiian marriage is just what the party needs. Little do they realize the harm playing along with that will do. An unexpected visit from Lexie’s mother and her ex was never supposed to happen…
This is a feel-good story with plenty of laughs that’s a good addition to the Aloha series.
Mai-Tai Marriage has a little more comedy than the previous two books have had. It’s actually one blunder after another. The more the blunders happen, the faster the next one hits. It’s an avalanche. Jim Borden was just stood up the night before his wedding. His bride took off leaving him with a note and instructions to go ahead with the reception. It’s all been paid for so why not enjoy it? That’s exactly what he does. Well, after a little persuasion from Lexie….
Once the party gets underway, Jim and Lexie decide it’s a good idea to be Bride & Groom for a Day. They play their parts so well that apparently someone thinks a traditional Hawaiian marriage is just what the party needs. Little do they realize the harm playing along with that will do. An unexpected visit from Lexie’s mother and her ex was never supposed to happen…
This is a feel-good story with plenty of laughs that’s a good addition to the Aloha series.
August 19, 2023
'Oh, mother of holy matrimony!'
I wanted to walk right into this story because I wanted to find out if Lexie's ex ended up being shark bait. The end of this book didn't say want happened to him when Jim told him what would happen if he didn't get lost.
"There may not be a wedding to attend, but there's enough food and booze to outfit an aircraft carrier."
Lexie saved the day by going through a "mock wedding" with Jim to hopefully save his broken heart. Little did they know that Hawaiian custom weddings are the real deal. It wasn't part of the plan for either one of them expected. Holy queen of complications, now what!
When her parents showed up, Lexie and Jim had no choice but to play house. Jim moves in with Lexie, bedroom and all and they have to try to show they are in love. They need to resolve this marriage as soon as possible. But in Hawaii, that's not so easy.
They find out the Chaplin who married them is not licensed in Hawaii and their marriage isn't real, but that isn't going to stop them from making it legal. There is always a happy ending.
You have to keep reading the next book in this series: Dive into You: Beach Read Edition (Aloha Romance Series Book 4) Find out if Doug (retired Navy) and Emily (school teacher) find a way to make some waves of their own without rocking the family boat. Enjoy and happy reading
I wanted to walk right into this story because I wanted to find out if Lexie's ex ended up being shark bait. The end of this book didn't say want happened to him when Jim told him what would happen if he didn't get lost.
"There may not be a wedding to attend, but there's enough food and booze to outfit an aircraft carrier."
Lexie saved the day by going through a "mock wedding" with Jim to hopefully save his broken heart. Little did they know that Hawaiian custom weddings are the real deal. It wasn't part of the plan for either one of them expected. Holy queen of complications, now what!
When her parents showed up, Lexie and Jim had no choice but to play house. Jim moves in with Lexie, bedroom and all and they have to try to show they are in love. They need to resolve this marriage as soon as possible. But in Hawaii, that's not so easy.
They find out the Chaplin who married them is not licensed in Hawaii and their marriage isn't real, but that isn't going to stop them from making it legal. There is always a happy ending.
You have to keep reading the next book in this series: Dive into You: Beach Read Edition (Aloha Romance Series Book 4) Find out if Doug (retired Navy) and Emily (school teacher) find a way to make some waves of their own without rocking the family boat. Enjoy and happy reading
November 26, 2017
What do you do when you are basically left at the alter? Get drunk & go through a mock wedding ceremony. But what happens when you find out that ceremony may end up being legal? Jim was left behind when his fiancée decided that his feelings weren't real enough for marriage. His Navy buddies helped him drown his sorrows & his friends office manager became his pretend bride. Until a few days later when they found out the name had been changed on the license & it was filed.
Lexie had fled her proper Bostonian family after she cancelled her wedding. She's been in Hawaii for several years now managing a dive shop & loving her life. Figures that when she steps up to help someone in the same predicament that she was in, it would come back to bite her. Now, her mother has shown up unexpectedly, her ex-fiancée is conveniently there to & she has a surprise groom that she is attracted to.
Chris Keniston's characters are wonderfully realistic & complex. The interactions between the men highlight the sense of family that is prevelant among men who serve together. They truly become a band of brothers & have each other's back. The women have formed their own support system. The plot has some surprises & unexpected twists that keep you really interested in reading on.
Lexie had fled her proper Bostonian family after she cancelled her wedding. She's been in Hawaii for several years now managing a dive shop & loving her life. Figures that when she steps up to help someone in the same predicament that she was in, it would come back to bite her. Now, her mother has shown up unexpectedly, her ex-fiancée is conveniently there to & she has a surprise groom that she is attracted to.
Chris Keniston's characters are wonderfully realistic & complex. The interactions between the men highlight the sense of family that is prevelant among men who serve together. They truly become a band of brothers & have each other's back. The women have formed their own support system. The plot has some surprises & unexpected twists that keep you really interested in reading on.
November 26, 2017
What do you do when you are basically left at the alter? Get drunk & go through a mock wedding ceremony. But what happens when you find out that ceremony may end up being legal? Jim was left behind when his fiancée decided that his feelings weren't real enough for marriage. His Navy buddies helped him drown his sorrows & his friends office manager became his pretend bride. Until a few days later when they found out the name had been changed on the license & it was filed.
Lexie had fled her proper Bostonian family after she cancelled her wedding. She's been in Hawaii for several years now managing a dive shop & loving her life. Figures that when she steps up to help someone in the same predicament that she was in, it would come back to bite her. Now, her mother has shown up unexpectedly, her ex-fiancée is conveniently there to & she has a surprise groom that she is attracted to.
Chris Keniston's characters are wonderfully realistic & complex. The interactions between the men highlight the sense of family that is prevelant among men who serve together. They truly become a band of brothers & have each other's back. The women have formed their own support system. The plot has some surprises & unexpected twists that keep you really interested in reading on.
Lexie had fled her proper Bostonian family after she cancelled her wedding. She's been in Hawaii for several years now managing a dive shop & loving her life. Figures that when she steps up to help someone in the same predicament that she was in, it would come back to bite her. Now, her mother has shown up unexpectedly, her ex-fiancée is conveniently there to & she has a surprise groom that she is attracted to.
Chris Keniston's characters are wonderfully realistic & complex. The interactions between the men highlight the sense of family that is prevelant among men who serve together. They truly become a band of brothers & have each other's back. The women have formed their own support system. The plot has some surprises & unexpected twists that keep you really interested in reading on.
February 6, 2020
Mai Tai Marriage: Aloha Series Book 3 is by Chris Keniston. This book is about Jim and Lexi and their unusual marriage.
Lexi was a bit peeved at her friend, Billy, and his buddy, Jim. She had to bail them out of jail and get them to Jim’s wedding on time as well as fix Jim’s black eye. Jim was finally marrying Bridget. However, when she got to the room to help Jim, she found out that Bridget had gotten cold feet and had left. Billy expected her to cancel everything since Bridget and her family had left. However, Jim decided to have the reception any way. After all, it was paid for. He was going to get royally drunk.
As the party went on, Lexi and Jim decided to pretend to be the happy couple and parody the wedding. However, they were actually married Hawaiian style and the next day, the coordinator sent the paperwork in for the license. Jim’s buddy, a chaplain, told him he was actually married. Jim headed for Kona to warn Lexi.
Before they could even start annulment proceedings, Lexi’s mother and ex-fiance showed up and later her Dad. She and Jim decided to continue the charade so that her ex-fiance would leave her alone. Things were complicated.
Lexi was a bit peeved at her friend, Billy, and his buddy, Jim. She had to bail them out of jail and get them to Jim’s wedding on time as well as fix Jim’s black eye. Jim was finally marrying Bridget. However, when she got to the room to help Jim, she found out that Bridget had gotten cold feet and had left. Billy expected her to cancel everything since Bridget and her family had left. However, Jim decided to have the reception any way. After all, it was paid for. He was going to get royally drunk.
As the party went on, Lexi and Jim decided to pretend to be the happy couple and parody the wedding. However, they were actually married Hawaiian style and the next day, the coordinator sent the paperwork in for the license. Jim’s buddy, a chaplain, told him he was actually married. Jim headed for Kona to warn Lexi.
Before they could even start annulment proceedings, Lexi’s mother and ex-fiance showed up and later her Dad. She and Jim decided to continue the charade so that her ex-fiance would leave her alone. Things were complicated.
April 25, 2023
an accidental marriage, a smarmy ex fiance and a helicopter mother with plans for her daughter
With an accidental marriage, an ex fiance trying to slide back into her life and a mother who planned her wedding and the man she would marry the day she was born Lexi has a lot on her plate. Add in Jim, the man she accidently married and the crazy attraction she feels for him and I wondered how she ever managed. Jim might have married Lexi accidentally but he feelings he is developing for her make him start feeling like maybe she is the woman for him but he has a fiance he is trying to reconnect with which leaves mixed feelings. The author did a fantastic job of putting this all together. It certainly kept my attention. All Jim's navy buddies were pretty entertaining. I know this is a series but this is the first book I have read. I am going to research Chis Keniston books to see what other jewel is out there. I invite you to do the same. I don't think you will be disappointed.
With an accidental marriage, an ex fiance trying to slide back into her life and a mother who planned her wedding and the man she would marry the day she was born Lexi has a lot on her plate. Add in Jim, the man she accidently married and the crazy attraction she feels for him and I wondered how she ever managed. Jim might have married Lexi accidentally but he feelings he is developing for her make him start feeling like maybe she is the woman for him but he has a fiance he is trying to reconnect with which leaves mixed feelings. The author did a fantastic job of putting this all together. It certainly kept my attention. All Jim's navy buddies were pretty entertaining. I know this is a series but this is the first book I have read. I am going to research Chis Keniston books to see what other jewel is out there. I invite you to do the same. I don't think you will be disappointed.
April 5, 2023
Another Superb Book
This wonderful book has so many plot twists I could not put it down. In the book I started before this, whose author will remain unnamed, the main character was small-minded, judgmental, and selfish; I read about 15% before ditching it. In this book the characters were interesting and upright, the kinds of folks I would enjoy meeting. Through some odd circumstances they found themselves in a real mess that took a lot of effort to resolve. This made for a much more interesting read than the juvenile behavior of the twit in the book I put aside. The one aspect of Keniston's books that is IMO less than stellar is that she includes references to things in previous books and lead-ins to the next in a series in a way that detracts from each book as a stand-alone, but undoubtedly leads to more sales. I just wish I could afford a shelf full of these great books.
This wonderful book has so many plot twists I could not put it down. In the book I started before this, whose author will remain unnamed, the main character was small-minded, judgmental, and selfish; I read about 15% before ditching it. In this book the characters were interesting and upright, the kinds of folks I would enjoy meeting. Through some odd circumstances they found themselves in a real mess that took a lot of effort to resolve. This made for a much more interesting read than the juvenile behavior of the twit in the book I put aside. The one aspect of Keniston's books that is IMO less than stellar is that she includes references to things in previous books and lead-ins to the next in a series in a way that detracts from each book as a stand-alone, but undoubtedly leads to more sales. I just wish I could afford a shelf full of these great books.
November 26, 2017
***4.5 Adorable Stars***
I adored 'Mai Tai Marriage' the sweet and clean version as I do all of Chris Keniston's work. This is a sweet, touching read with funny moments as well.
Lt. Commander James Borden thinks he's found the perfect navy wife but he is stood up at his wedding. He decided that he would have the reception without a bride since many attenders came from far and wide. After a few too many Mai Tais he is dancing with a pretend wife in his arms who is helping him get through the evening.
Lexie Hale is a Dive instructor and attends the wedding that wasn't. After a few Mai Tais she is dancing with the groom and because of the circumstances she is the fake bride for the evening...or is it just an evening?
A definite must read that I highly recommend. This is my favorite book of the series!
I adored 'Mai Tai Marriage' the sweet and clean version as I do all of Chris Keniston's work. This is a sweet, touching read with funny moments as well.
Lt. Commander James Borden thinks he's found the perfect navy wife but he is stood up at his wedding. He decided that he would have the reception without a bride since many attenders came from far and wide. After a few too many Mai Tais he is dancing with a pretend wife in his arms who is helping him get through the evening.
Lexie Hale is a Dive instructor and attends the wedding that wasn't. After a few Mai Tais she is dancing with the groom and because of the circumstances she is the fake bride for the evening...or is it just an evening?
A definite must read that I highly recommend. This is my favorite book of the series!
February 21, 2018
After being jilted by his fiance and with Lexie's encouragement, Jim goes ahead and has the reception. After realizing that Lexie didn't have the wedding that she planned years ago, Jim and Lexie go ahead and pretend to be a real newlywed couple at the reception. A week later, Lexie finds out that they were accidentally married just as her mother has arrived with Lexie's former fiancé. There are so many funny scenes in this book. I don't want to spoil the book by telling too much about it.. The book is a real treat. I received a copy of this book from the author. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. This is my favorite of the series so far. It's is a sweet funny romance. I recommend this book and series. This book can be enjoyed as a standalone but it is richer if it is read in order.
April 25, 2023
i found this for Free on Bookbub. book 3. always check Bookbub for that purpose, not always do they have the first book in the series out for free but it is still fun to check out. just a tip!! sometimes if you are looking for a cheaper read, it will give you a cheaper costing book, just depends on what you are looking for, heads up!! enjoy!! "Aloha romance series". contemporary romance fiction. romantic comedy. contemporary romance. came out on November 24, 2017. i've read several from Chris' collection. standalone. i guess if you are looking for a no bad language read this would be cool for you. i don't enjoy colorful language but it is okay either way for me. cute read. i laughed a few times. will you??!
September 16, 2023
I really liked Jim (Lt. James Borden, USN) and Lexie Hale (Alexandra Hale). Mai Tai Marriage was a fast, easy read; perfect for a beach read or just a lazy afternoon read. Lexie was hiding from not just her overbearing mother, but her cheating ex. Jim was trying to figure out why his bride-to-be suddenly up and left Hawaii the night before their wedding. What's a guy to do? Have the big party anyway, get blitzed and then get married to a total stranger. What happens next? Do Jim and Lexie stay married? Does her cheating ex, Graham, try to make trouble? Does Bridget, Jim's bride, return? And what about the overbearing mother. Guess you'll just have to read Mai Tai Marrige by Chris Keniston to find out.
May 29, 2020
Chris Keniston has chosen to write about the members of a Navy dive team that now run their own business in Hawaii. In book 3, Mai Tai Marriage features steady as she goes, Lexi who runs the shop for Billy and Kevin. When the dashing Jim comes into the shop to help protect one of the shop's ladies in waiting, Angela, Lexi doesn't give him a second thought. So how do the two of them end up married after a night of dancing and celebrating Jim's aborted nuptials. As promoted, these books move along at a steady pace and are full of surprises I think it took me a whole seven days to read the three book lumped into the Swet Aloha Series box set.
May 6, 2021
Accidentally married
Entertaining story of Jim Borden and Lexie. Great writing, very entertaining. Keeps you hopping to keep up with the action. Jim was supposed to marry Bridget but she left the night before the wedding. Rather than waste all of the food for the reception Jim
decided to have reception even though he didn’t get married. The wedding planner knew all about Hawaiian wedding rituals and they performed a marriage between Lexie and Jim. They didn’t think it was real. They were in-for a shock.
Entertaining story of Jim Borden and Lexie. Great writing, very entertaining. Keeps you hopping to keep up with the action. Jim was supposed to marry Bridget but she left the night before the wedding. Rather than waste all of the food for the reception Jim
decided to have reception even though he didn’t get married. The wedding planner knew all about Hawaiian wedding rituals and they performed a marriage between Lexie and Jim. They didn’t think it was real. They were in-for a shock.
April 4, 2023
Lexie is helping Jim cancel his wedding after his bride Bridget walked out the night before the wedding. But the reception was harder to cancel so they decided to just go ahead and have the reception. During it a pretend Hawaiian ceremony was held as a joke. Problem was the word that it was fake didn’t make it to the we’d planner and she changed the name of the bride on the license and mailed it in. Now Lexie and Jim are legally married. Then the fun begins when both their ex’s show interest in renewing former relationships. A well written story.
April 16, 2023
A really sweet story with a fun premise. The characters were compelling. I wish the epilogue, though, had been a true epilogue and not a trailer for the next book in the series. Because the last chapter felt a bit abrupt in how it ended. Like I really wish that her dad had overheard the conversation in the driveway. But even without that, it just all came together in the end a little too neatly and I would have liked to see it finish out a little bit more in the epilogue. Not to say that I didn't completely believe the ending, as I did. It was just a bit quick.
May 7, 2023
I’ve read other stories in this series, which might be why the characters were familiar (or I’d already read it and had not reviewed it yet). In any event, really really enjoyable story. I originally trained to scuba in Kona, so I loved the setting. I really really like these retiring Navy males. I really like this dive shop. I have done the Kona Manta dive, so that was happy memories. I loved the accidental marriage idea. It all worked out wonderfully. Kudos to the lighthearted and yet angsty story!
May 30, 2023
This writer's style of plotting and storytelling are not for me. Unless I am reading a YA book I am looking for competent adults solving their issues (in love, personal life, career, etc...). For me the primary characters of this story came across as incapable of setting boundaries with family like an adult, wishy-washy in knowing who/want they wanted and incompetent at communication. Because the hero had told his fiancé that he was willing to try again, IMO the whole scenario also included cheating, which is a no-go for me.
March 25, 2024
Not clean
The story itself is very good. The swearing and blasphemy means it is not a clean read. A clean read is not just the absence of pornography. I thought this author wrote clean reads but of the 4 books of hers I've read so far, only one was clean. The other 3 have swearing or blasphemy or both. The rest of the books I have of hers I am loathe to read as I don't know if they going to be clean or more of the same. I find it rather unfortunate, as this author does have talent to write.
The story itself is very good. The swearing and blasphemy means it is not a clean read. A clean read is not just the absence of pornography. I thought this author wrote clean reads but of the 4 books of hers I've read so far, only one was clean. The other 3 have swearing or blasphemy or both. The rest of the books I have of hers I am loathe to read as I don't know if they going to be clean or more of the same. I find it rather unfortunate, as this author does have talent to write.
March 28, 2024
WOW!!!! What a read!!!
This book kept me so intrigued!! What was going to happen to Jim & Lexie next? What was Graham up to? Why was Lexie’s mom so insistent that Graham always be around & travel with her to Hawai’i when he & Lexie were no longer engaged? Clearly both Jim and Lexie have chemistry. All of these questions are answered during the reading as well as meeting some great new friends who help Jim and Lexie navigate through the struggles.. Can’t wait to go read the other books in the series.
This book kept me so intrigued!! What was going to happen to Jim & Lexie next? What was Graham up to? Why was Lexie’s mom so insistent that Graham always be around & travel with her to Hawai’i when he & Lexie were no longer engaged? Clearly both Jim and Lexie have chemistry. All of these questions are answered during the reading as well as meeting some great new friends who help Jim and Lexie navigate through the struggles.. Can’t wait to go read the other books in the series.
May 9, 2024
Marriage Misunderstandings & Mixups.
This was a fun, clean romance, but it does contain strong language. Due to a misunderstanding, the hotel’s Event Coordinator makes a mistake and submits the marriage license to the State’s vital records with Lexie and Jim’s names. But this mistake proves beneficial to Lexie when her horrible ex-fiance shows up. There could have been more development to the story, but it was full of fun mixups. There is a satisfying conclusion to this comedy of errors. I liked the characters of Lexie and Jim.
This was a fun, clean romance, but it does contain strong language. Due to a misunderstanding, the hotel’s Event Coordinator makes a mistake and submits the marriage license to the State’s vital records with Lexie and Jim’s names. But this mistake proves beneficial to Lexie when her horrible ex-fiance shows up. There could have been more development to the story, but it was full of fun mixups. There is a satisfying conclusion to this comedy of errors. I liked the characters of Lexie and Jim.
January 27, 2018
An amazing book from Chris!! I love visiting Hawaii in this series, learning about diving, and spending my day with the friends and family from Kona. This book had lots of humour and I loved reading Lexie and Jim's story. I know you'll enjoy it as much as I did. I received an advanced reading copy. I definitely recommend this book and can't wait to read more about the people I've come to love in the Aloha series.
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