Review: 23. Everyone Loves a Hero by Marie Force...

I've read Marie Force's Love at First Flight and Fatal Affair, so when this one came up, how could I not give it a whirl?

Title: Everyone Loves a Hero ...and that's the problem
Author: Marie Force
ISBN-13: 9781402245749
ARC: 379 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc., 2011
Purchase at IndieBound, Amazon, The Book Depository
Source: Sourcebooks

drey's thoughts:
Cole is your typical flyboy--that is, he's cocky and full of himself. Doesn't hurt that he's also gorgeous. And then he goes and lands a plane in a blizzard, and saves his co-pilot's life. Talk about a hero complex, huh?

Olivia works at one of the concession stands at the airport, to make money so she can go to school. Then she meets Cole, and her heart and head go to war over whether she should go out with him or not...

Character: I like Cole, but how could I not? He's a flyboy! Ok, ok, so he's totally cool and up front and honest and good and all things nice (to Olivia, at least!). What's not to like? Olivia is hardworking and introverted, a Cinderella type who can't believe that Prince Charming's asking her to dance... She takes the chance, hoping that he doesn't break her heart, but runs when one of his nutty exes shows up claiming that Olivia's a "last fling" before she and Cole get married... Will they get their happily-ever-after?

Pace & Plot: Everyone Loves a Hero is a typical girl-meets-boy-etc. story that flows so beautifully that you won't be able to put it down until you get to the end. And that's only because you run out of words to read.

drey's rating: 4/5 Excellent: Heartwarming contemporary romance for a cold winter night.

Have you read Everyone Loves a Hero? What did you think?

July's FEATURED AUTHOR: How Does She Do That?

Marie Force, July's Featured Author, stops over to share some thoughts on how she writes... Read on!

How Does She Do That?

One of the questions I’m often asked is, “How do you write a book?” Stephen King says, “One page at a time.” The writers out there will attest that it’s as simple as he suggests—and much more complicated. I’m convinced I could never teach my process because it’s so bizarre. However, as I’ve connected with more and more writers, I’ve decided we’re all a little bizarre, but that quality makes us better writers.

So how do I do it? I’ll try to explain my process using my most recent release, Fatal Affair, as an example. The seeds for that story began in a news article about a congressman who was found dead in his Washington-area home. At first, the police investigated the death as a possible crime because he was found at the bottom of the stairs. Later, it was determined that he’d died from a heart attack and fell down the stairs.

But what, I wondered, if he had been murdered? That was all it took to start my wheels turning. What if his chief of staff finds him? What if the murder occurred on the morning of an important vote? What if the chief of staff’s one-night stand from years earlier was the detective assigned to the case?

That’s exactly how it unfolds in my mind. Then come the decisions about where they’re from, what brought them together, and why they never saw each other again. Often I don’t have those answers before I start a book. I tend to discover these things as my story unfolds, which I’m told makes me a “linear pantser” in writing vernacular. I write the story in chronological order, I edit as I go, and nothing gets in unless it propels Character X or Character Y’s story forward. Because I go back, re-read, and edit often during the writing process, I end up with a pretty clean first draft. In fact, I recently stumbled upon the hand-written opening scene of my first book, “Line of Scrimmage,” and discovered that other than a renamed character, not much had changed.

Since I don’t plot, I spend a lot of time staring off into space when a book has me by the throat. During these phases, my kids often ask, “ARE YOU LISTENING TO US?” at the top of their considerable lungs. I have to confess that Mom just took a brief trip to Pluto, but I’m back now and you have my full attention. I do my best zoning/plotting when I’m driving (watch out for a maroon Honda Odyssey), doing dishes, showering, drying my hair, and vacuuming. I’ve solved a lot of plot issues while sucking up a few days’ worth of dog hair. I’ve run dripping from the shower to the computer to get something down before I forget it. Bizarre? You bet. My friend Chris likes to say that my mind is a strange, scary place. Of course I take that as a compliment!

To the writers out there, are you a plotter, a seat-of-the-pantser, a linear plotter, a linear pantser, an organic or what? To the readers, are you more convinced than ever after reading this that all writers are a little bit nuts? I’ll give away a digital copy of “Fatal Affair” to one commenter, so let’s hear from you!

Thanks, Marie! Well, all y'all out there... What're you waiting for? I never turn down the opportunity to win a free book! So go comment! *grin* And do it before 6:00pm CST August 3rd!

July's FEATURED AUTHOR: Marie's favorite reads...

July's Featured Author, Marie Force, stops by today to share some of her favorite reads! Check out what they are:

FTC Disclosure: I am an affiliate at IndieBound, The Book Depository, and Amazon, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things!
by Marie Force

I should have titled that my favorite reads rather than my favorite things, but I couldn’t mess with that classic song. Drey asked me to tell you about my favorite books and why they’re so memorable to me. I told her I have a hard time with this assignment because I often remember authors I really like but when it comes to specifics and book titles, I go stupid in the head. I blame that on the day job, the writing career, the two busy kids, the house, the dog, etc. There’s only so much room on the data chip, and I’m always approaching max capacity. So let me tell you about a few books and series that have stayed with me long after I read them (and why).

The Thorn Birds by Colleen Mccullough
I read this book one summer after 8th or 9th grade when I was probably far too young for such a story. As a young, impressionable Catholic girl growing up in the most Catholic of states (Rhode Island) reading about a young girl who falls in love with a priest and then later has a scorching affair with him when he was a Cardinal no less. . . Well, suffice to say that book left a lasting impression. I absolutely adored Meggie and wanted all good things for her, even if she was destined for heartbreak by loving a man she could never really have.

North and South by John Jakes
Over a high school summer, I devoured this amazing three-part series about two friends divided by the Civil War. I’ve never forgotten Orry Main or George Hazard and the epic struggle they endured to maintain their friendship while fighting against each other in the War Between the States. An amazing story!

Some of Danielle Steel’s earlier books have stayed on my keeper shelf for years after I first read them, including: Season of Passion, A Perfect Stranger, and Now and Forever.

I love Nora Roberts’ work. Her recent Bride Quartet has been thoroughly entertaining, and I look forward to the fourth book later this year. I also love the In Death books written under Nora’s J.D. Robb pseudonym, but I read the early ones years ago and don’t remember much of what happened way back when. I have the series on my keeper shelf to be re-read someday.

Robyn Carr’s Virgin River series was a major find last year. I think I read the first seven books in about 10 days time. I adored Jack, Mel, Preacher and the Virgin River gang from the very beginning, but I enjoyed the earlier books most of all.

I’ve saved my no. 1 top favorite author for last. Lisa Kleypas could write the phone book, and I’d run right out to buy it. Her earlier historicals were fantastic, but her recent Hathaway series was sublime. I’m so sorry it’s done! I also enjoyed her recent contemporary series that began with Sugar Daddy, and included Blue-Eyed Devil and Smooth Talking Stranger. I believe there are a few more stories left to be told in that series, and I’m hoping for more! My other favorite historical author is Mary Balogh, who writes the memorable Huxtable series. I’m looking forward to the next installment!

Well, those are a few of my favorite reads. What are some of yours?

Thank you for sharing your favorite reads, Marie! It's nice to see some of the older books on a list--I'd forgotten all about The Thorn Birds, which I should probably pick up again now that some decades have passed since my last reading... And I just started the In Death series, and I'm hooked! Alas, I have other books that need to be reviewed before I keep going with those. And nothing keeps me going back for more like Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, if only to see whether she (finally!) ends up with Ranger. Yup, I'm a Ranger kinda girl. *grin*

July's FEATURED AUTHOR: Marie's Books!

My guest for July is author Marie Force. And since she's my Featured Author, then you already know she has (wait for it...) books!! *grin*

FTC Disclosure: I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.

In the Hail Mary play of a lifetime, a sexy NFL quarterback has just ten days to convince his wife to give him a second chance before their divorce is final—and he has to act fast because she’s already engaged to her high school boyfriend. Line of Scrimmage is a story of reunion, redemption, rejuvenation, and renewal. Readers will laugh and cry and hope—that at the end of the day, these two lovers, who clearly belong together, will somehow find their way back to one another.

Read an excerpt of Line of Scrimmage

A Baltimore prosecutor set to begin the murder trial of his career and a hair stylist with a dysfunctional family meet in the airport on their way to visit their significant others in Florida. After they each endure a disastrous weekend, they meet up again on the flight home, striking up an unlikely friendship that leads to love.

Read an excerpt of Love at First Flight

On the morning of the most important vote of Senator John O’Connor’s career he is late—again. His best friend and chief of staff, Nick Cappuano sets off to O'Connor’s apartment expecting to roust him from bed and hoping he is alone. But what Nick finds is that O’Connor, the handsome, amiable Senator from Virginia, has been brutally murdered, and Nick’s world comes crashing down around him. Complicating the disaster, the detective assigned to the case is none other than Sam Holland, Nick’s one-night stand from six years earlier, the woman who broke his heart and haunts his dreams. With six years worth of unfinished business hanging between them and more than a few scores to settle personally and professionally, Nick and Sam set out to find the senator's killer while trying—and failing—to resist the overwhelming attraction between them that seems to have only grown over the years.

It soon becomes clear that the senator’s past holds secrets that not only led to his death but now endanger Nick and Sam as well. Working together to find a killer and to rediscover the love they thought they lost long ago, they must put the past behind them and build a future that offers a world of new opportunities for both of them—including an offer from the Virginia Democrats for Nick to finish the last year of John’s term.

Read an excerpt from Fatal Affair

Next up, coming in January 2011, Fatal Justice:

Supreme Court nominee Julian Sinclair has come to Washington for confirmation hearings. When he is found shot to death in a city park, Lt. Sam Holland hunts down the killer while also contending with a hot lead in her father's unsolved shooting. At the same time, Senator Nick Cappuano, rocked by the death his longtime friend Sinclair, is getting used to his new job and contending with the realities of maintaining a relationship with Sam—and her job.

Last, but not least, coming in February 2011, Everybody Loves a Hero:

Everybody loves a hero. That's the problem.

Hero pilot Cole Langston is learning to live with—and enjoy—his newfound fame and the rabid female attention that comes with it until a lucky punch knocks some sense into him and opens his eyes to true love.

When his copilot suffers a heart attack in flight, Cole lands the jetliner in a blizzard and revives the stricken captain. Catapulted to national hero status, Cole has more women vying for his attention than he knows what to do with. They all have one thing in common: they try without success to bring this happy-go-lucky pilot down to earth. Then comes an airport altercation, a punch to the face, and the lovely Olivia—a shy, timid artist who does what no other woman has ever managed to do: steal Cole's well-protected heart. With women coming on to him everywhere they go, Olivia struggles to believe that Cole is ready for a committed relationship. His biggest problem is getting rid of all his extra ladies before the only one he wants figures out that she's one of many.

Check out Marie's website, www.mariesullivanforce.com for excerpts and more!

July's FEATURED AUTHOR: Marie Force!!

Can y'all believe it's July already? I mean, where'd the time go? This year is so half over, and I haven't gotten as much done as I would've liked. *sigh* Anyway. No time for the doldrums. July's here, and so is my Featured Author for the month: Marie Force!!

About Marie:
Marie Force is the author of Line of Scrimmage and Love at First Flight. Of LINE OF SCRIMMAGE, Booklist said, “With its humor and endearing characters, Force’s charming novel will appeal to a broad spectrum of readers, reaching far beyond sports fans.” Wild on Books said, “LOVE AT FIRST FLIGHT by Marie Force is most definitely a keeper. It is an astounding book. I loved every single word!” Her first romantic suspense, Fatal Affair, is available June 21, 2010 from Carina Press. A third contemporary, Everybody Loves a Hero, is due out in the Spring of 2011. Since 1996, Marie has been the communications director for a national organization similar to the Romance Writers of America. She is a member of RWA’s New England, From the Heart and Published Author Special Interest Chapters. While her husband was in the Navy, Marie lived in Spain, Maryland and Florida, and is now settled in her home state of Rhode Island. She is the mother of two children and a feisty dog named Brandy. Find her at www.mariesullivanforce.com, on her blog at http://mariesullivanforce.blogspot.com, on Facebook and on Twitter. Marie loves to hear from readers. Contact her at marie@marieforce.com.

Now, without further ado, let's see what Marie has to say...

Q&A with Marie Force, drey’s Featured Author for July

drey: Hello Marie! I’m pleased to have you visit during the month of July as my Featured Author. Thank you for taking the time to do this! Let’s get started, shall we?

When did you know you wanted to be an author? What were you doing? Was it a gradual realization, or a “big bang” event?

Marie: Hi Drey. Thanks so much for having me. I’m so glad to be your featured author in July! LOL on the “big bang” event. Nothing quite so dramatic. I’ve always been a writer. I knew in high school that I wanted to go to journalism school, which I did. I spent a few years as a newspaper reporter after college and have been a professional writer and editor ever since.

drey: Can you share your first sale experience with us?

Marie: I sold Line of Scrimmage to Sourcebooks in September of 2007. I was with my cousin trying to watch the season premier of Grey’s Anatomy, except our phones kept ringing.

We were getting annoyed by the ringing phones, and then mine rang again. We almost ignored it, but then I thought it could be one of my kids, so I took the call. It was my agent calling to say that Sourcebooks was going to offer on Line of Scrimmage. My cousin and I never did get around to watching Grey’s that night. We were too busy celebrating!

drey: I don't wonder why! Even Grey's doesn't compare to making your first sale!! *grin*

Who and/or what inspires your writing? How do you get from idea to pages?

Marie: I get a lot of ideas from reading and watching the news (somewhat obsessively). Other ideas just appear to me fully formed when I’m doing something menial like dishes or folding laundry or driving. I did a talk at my local library the other day and one of the questions was about where I get ideas. I said that I used to worry about running out of them, but now I worry about living long enough to write all the stories in my head.

drey: What do you indulge in when not writing?

Marie: I read. A lot. I spend time with my family. I love the beach and my dad’s boat. I watch the Red Sox just about every day this time of year.

drey: That's great! I can't wait to find out what your favorite reads are (in a few weeks)!

What is your favorite accompaniment to chocolate?

Marie: More chocolate!

drey: *laughs* Totally true.

Screen versions of your books: Which book(s) would you like to see on screen? TV series vs. Movie? Who would be on your dream team?

Marie: My readers want to see Line of Scrimmage made into a movie with Matthew McConaughey and Reese Witherspoon. I can definitely see that!

drey: Oooh, two of my favorite actors! It'd be fun to see them on screen together!

Electronic readers are becoming more affordable and available. There's been quite a bit of discussion about their impact on paper books, the environment, people's reading & buying habits... What's your take?

Marie: I think e-books are here to stay. I believe they are going to gain a bigger share of the market with every passing year. They give readers what they want when they want it, and in this digital age, that’s critical. A friend of mine is upgrading to the new Kindle and wants to give me her old one—I think because I said I wasn’t going to get one! LOL. I’m looking forward to playing around with it. After seeing an e-book through the publication process, from submission to the digital bookshelf, in seven months has made a believer out of me!

drey: On the publishing side--what do you think publishers and authors ought to do about the digital revolution? Jump in wholeheartedly, and blaze the path for others to follow? Watch from the sidelines till there's some consensus on what the new business model is going to be for the digital age? Cross their fingers that this is all just a fad & will blow over soon?

Marie: I don’t think people in publishing see e-books as a passing fad. The advent of the iPad—on top of the Kindle, Nook, and other devices—definitely signals a sea change in how readers access the written word. If you look at how the iPod changed the music business, you have a sense of what could be ahead for the book business. I’m thrilled to be participating in the digital revolution. It’s an exciting and interesting time to be an author.

drey: What are you looking forward to next?

Marie: I can’t wait to dive into the third Fatal book, Fatal Consequences. I’m also working on a fun contemporary called Posh & Naughty. And, in my spare time, I’ve got a historical going on the side that I’m calling Duchess by Deception.

To bring this to a close, the Proust-lite:

1. What is your idea of earthly happiness?
   An afternoon with my kids and cousins at the beach.
2. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
   The illness of a family member.
3. Who is/are your favorite hero/heroine(s) in fiction?
   Vivienne and Edward in Pretty Woman.
4. Who is/are your favorite hero/heroine(s) in real life?
   My parents.
5. What sound do you love?
   My kids belly laughing.
6. What sound do you hate?
   Repetitive noises. Tap, tap, tap, tap.
7. The quality you admire most in a man?
   Loyalty and reliability.
8. The quality you admire most in a woman?
   Loyalty and reliability.
9. If not a writer, you would be a ... BORING person. LOL
10. What is your favorite swear word?
    Duh: Fuck!

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you enjoy your visit here this month. Readers, stop by and say “hi” to Marie, and check her out (links above)!!!

Giveaway:
Marie is such a dear, she's giving away an e-copy of Fatal Affair to one of you lucky ducks! To enter, comment and share a thought or two with Marie. Do it by 6:00 pm CST July 28th! 

72. Fatal Affair by Marie Force...

Title: Fatal Affair
Author: Marie Force
eBook
Publisher: Carina Press, 2010

FTC Disclosure: My e-copy of Fatal Affair was provided by the author for this review. I am an IndieBound and Amazon affiliate, and any purchases made by clicking on the cover or the links provided may result in monetary compensation.


drey's thoughts:
Having read and liked Marie's Love at First Flight, I was happy to peruse a copy of her newest offering, Fatal Affair. The story is pretty simple: a Senator is murdered, and his Chief of Staff (Nick) has to work with the  detective (Sam) responsible for finding the perpetrator. Never mind that Nick and Sam had a one-night stand six years ago. Never mind that Sam has other things on her mind from her last case. Never mind that the Senator has a secret life that his family would prefer to keep under wraps.

The character interaction is deftly written, and I liked both Nick and Sam. The suspense angle keeps the story moving, and the other stuff that pops in keeps the story believable. Because even though this is a romance novel, doesn't mean everything has to be about the boy and the girl. The only thing I didn't care for is the cover. I'm not sure why exactly, but it didn't scream "pick me up!". It didn't even seem to mutter it under its breath. But don't let that stop you from picking this one up if you're looking for a summer romance/thriller. 

drey's rating: 3/5 Good

Challenges: 100+, Pub

105. Love at First Flight by Marie Force...

About the book:

JULIANA ISN'T LOOKING FOR LOVE...

When she meets Michael, sitting next to her on the plane, Juliana's been dating Jeremy for ten years. But he's hedging about marriage, and Michael promises to give her everything she's ever wanted in a relationship...

MICHAEL'S SUPPOSED TO BE GETTING MARRIED...

But he's drawn to Juliana in a way he never was to his beautiful but manipulative fiancee...

When they get off the plane, Michael and Juliana can't tear themselves apart. But with desperate exes who won't let go, love at first sight is tested beyond endurance...

drey's thoughts:
Loved it. Marie writes such real characters in this contemporary romance--complete with work stress, family relationships, and heartbreak. You not only feel for the main characters, you somehow (almost) wish it would've worked out with the exes. Well, maybe except for Michael's fiancee--she's just not so nice, loss notwithstanding (and she comes with an overbearing dad). And because just a romance wouldn't have done it (for me, anyway), I have to say I liked the plot with Michael's job, quite a bit--a little bit of danger thrown into the lovebirds' path...

I am glad Juliana was torn between Jeremy and Michael, it wouldn't have felt right for her to just dump the one, especially if she'd really loved him all this time. But I couldn't believe the decision she makes--she does it because she thinks it's the right thing to do. However, all's well that ends well, and they live happily ever after (hey, isn't that how things are supposed to end?). Great read for fans of contemporary romances.

Thank you to Danielle for my ARC!

Check it out:
Love at First Flight excerpt.

Title: Love at First Flight
Author: Marie Force
ISBN-10: 1402220065
ISBN-13: 9781402220067
Paperback: 383 pages (ARC)
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca, 2009