Title: Coming to Hale
Series: Hale Series Book 1
Author: Marie James
Genre: Erotic Romance
The only time she trusted someone with her heart, she was just a girl; he betrayed her and left her humiliated. Since then, Lorali Bennett has let that moment in time dictate her life.
Ian Hale, sexy as sin business mogul, has never had more than a passing interest in any particular woman, until a chance encounter with Lorali, leaves a lasting mark on him.
Their fast paced romance is one for the record books, but what will happen when Ian’s secrets come to light? Especially when those secrets will cost her everything she spent years trying to rebuild.
This is a standalone contemporary novel. The next book in the Hale series is Alexa and Garrett’s story: Begging for Hale.
Recommended for readers 18 and up due to strong language and explicit sexual content.
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Coming to Hale is a great and original story about a woman who doesn’t believe in fairytales but gets it anyway!
I really loved this story, because in some ways I am like Lorali. I believe in the too-good-to-be-true fact. Her story gives hope to people like us who don’t believe in the dream so much. And did I mention it’s original? It’s so hard to find a story that isn’t similar to another these days, which makes me cherish these unique, beautiful stories even more!
This is the debut of Marie James and I believe she has tremendous potential to become a constant in our book lives.
I’d also like to know this is an ARC and not a purchased copy, so there could be some differences between what you and I have read. This is just my opinion, so please, don’t come screaming at me later, if I am not 100% accurate or you disagree with me…
Like I said before, I loved the story. I really did. In fact, I’d love to re-read a couple of dozen times!
Mr. Hale is, indeed, irresistible!
But as much as I sympathized with Lorali at some point, she left me perplexed and speechless at others. She’s an intelligent, young woman who sometimes behaved like an immature girl who didn’t know which way was up. Fortunately, she had either her friend or Ian, himself, to bring her intelligent side back. I understand the concept and how the author wanted her character to be like, but the execution was lacking, in my opinion. Some parts should be rewritten, because her reactions didn’t seem believable to me. In other words, I see what the author wanted to write and present, but it wasn’t done the right way. (This could rely more on the editing part than the actual writing.)
Ian, on the other hand, was better developed. He didn’t have any relapses and he was always the incessantly irresistible man I came to love! There were one or two points that left with a ‘Seriously?’ in my head but I could never stay mad or disappointed at this man… Ian Hale is an epic man, for sure. He will haunt my dreams for a while!
The first 40% of the book was not as well written as the following 60%. The subtle change, or improvement, was clearly visible, as I went from going through the notions and striving to see the good parts I knew this story had to give to actually enjoying it and wanting to see more! By any means, I don’t imply that first 40% isn’t good; it’s not good enough and certainly not as good as the rest. I did have my ‘Seriously’ moments later on, but they were few and I was just too drawn to the story at that point to care.
I simply believe this story could be absolutely amazing and it wasn’t. I really loved the story, but that comes with expectations. Perhaps they were too high, but the author has so much potential. A mind that came up with this beautiful story could do so much better!
In fewer words, this is a truly magnificent story that had some accidents along the way. I think those flaws could have been prevented by the editor or a beta reading team.
Nothing changes the fact that I loved this story and I will be rereading it!
So, Coming to Hale receives a 4- because the story is incredible but not incredibly presented!
NOTE
I’m looking forward to what comes next in the series and by Marie James, in general.
I can feel every soft inch of her body, a sharp contrast to my hard muscles. Her eyes are no longer hooded; they stare up at me with…anticipation? No. Fear. She’s afraid of me. Too aggressive Ian, take it down a notch.
“Don’t,” I command.
“Don’t what?” she whispers, her voice trembling
“Be so disrespectful of yourself.” I tell her.
“Just stating the obvious.” Her eyes are turning from fear to more of annoyance. Lorali my feisty girl!
I gaze down at her, fighting a losing battle, knowing I have to taste her or I’d not make it through the night.
“I think the only thing obvious about this situation is how much I want you,” I say, bending my head down to whisper in her ear. “My body is aching for you, Lorali. I want you so bad.”
“I think you’re playing some sort of game, and frankly I don’t appreciate being the object of it,” she huffs, stiffening her spine and glaring back at me.
“I can assure you this is no game for me, Lorali, although you do seem to take pleasure in denying me.” It’s my turn to grow frustrated at her. Who does she think she is putting words in my mouth, questioning my intentions?
“It’s a game to you. Find the most common person here; seduce her, then walk away, all the while laughing about how you were able to get some commoner so hot she’d drop her panties for you. You don’t want me; you want the thrill of the power that it gives you.” The irritated look on her face is increasing my annoyance.
“I don’t want you? Tell that to my cock,” I growl as I grind my erection against her.
She doesn’t even know me, how does she have such a distorted opinion of me? It may take some time, but I’ll show her that I’m not some sort of womanizer. I bend my head down further, breathing in her scent. Mmm. Lavender. Not able to deny myself a second longer, I brush my lips down the column of her neck, pausing briefly over her pulse point. I can hear her sharp intake of breath.
I pull my head back and focus on her beautiful, pouty lips, only briefly denying myself the exquisite way I know she’ll feel and how sweet her lips will taste. Having waited as long I can, I lean in, fully ready to take her mouth, simultaneously trying to talk myself down as to avoid attacking her like a rabid animal. I brush my lips against hers, using every ounce of restraint in my body.
“Stop,” she whispers, her breath ghosting against my lips.
“I can’t,” I growl as I crush my lips against hers.
Marie James, full-time working mother of two boys and wife of 11 years. I've spent almost my entire lifetime living in central Texas, with only short stays in South Carolina, Alabama, and Florida. I've always wanted to write novels and just recently had the gumption to sit down and start one. My passions include reading everything under the sun and sewing. I even listen to audio books while sewing. Coming to Hale is my debut novel and book 1 in the 4 book Hale Series. I have several other story lines worked out for other books once this series is complete. Reading and writing is my happy place. Hope you enjoy my debut novel.
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