Want a NOOK? Explore Now
Fame has its perks...
Reluctantly famous, First Officer Cole Langston finds being in the spotlight has its advantages-until he meets Olivia. Having women throw themselves at him everywhere he goes becomes a serious problem when he's trying to convince her she's the one...
And its price...
Olivia has trouble trusting a guy like Cole, and everywhere she turns she sees reasons to run. But he's the only man who's ever seemed to understand her as an artist and as a woman...
Cole is working overtime to prove to Olivia that he's serious, but her deep seated mistrust and his entourage of unwelcomed fans may be more than they can overcome...
Praise for Marie Force:
"If you are looking for a great love story that will make you smile and cry, this is the one."
-Enchanted by Books
"A solid contemporary with a lot to love...sweet, tender, modern romance, with likable, real characters that might have you looking at your next airline ticket with a new sparkle in your eye."
-Alpha Heroes
From Chapter One
Cole opened the eye that still worked and struggled to figure out how he had ended up on the floor. Pain radiated from his face and shoulder. All he'd wanted was a roll of Mentos to get him through his next flight. What he'd gotten, though, was a fist to the face. His shoulder throbbed from smashing into a display of Washington Redskins souvenirs, and his face pulsated with pain. That big dude had one hell of a left hook!
He tried to open his other eye-which was swelling shut after being on the receiving end of Big Dude's meaty fist-and blinked into focus a striking young woman hovering over him. She had long dark hair, porcelain skin, and big brown eyes. Over her shoulder, he took in the crowd of whispering, pointing people that had formed around him. No doubt they recognized him, which meant the press would show up any minute. He also saw two airport police officers arguing with a large man in handcuffs, presumably Big Dude.
Cole hadn't seen it coming. One minute he'd been standing in line minding his own business behind a guy having a heated discussion on a cell phone. Then he'd watched Big Dude throw a wad of money at the clerk. Cole had tapped him on the shoulder to tell him he was being rude to the girl behind the counter.
"She's only doing her job," Cole had said.
The next thing he knew, he was looking up at an angel.
"Are you all right?" she asked, hands coasting lightly over his face.
Cole was appalled by his predictably male response to her touch. Before his little problem became noticeable and before the media could show up and turn his life into a circus-again-he quickly tried to sit up. Too quickly, he discovered when he was hit by a wave of nausea that caught him off guard and snuffed out the situation in his lap.
He lay back on the sweatshirt someone had rolled into a pillow for him, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath to ward off the nausea. "How long was I out?" he asked the woman.
"About two minutes or so. It felt like longer, though."
"Shit," he groaned, imagining how the press would blow the incident out of proportion. "I need to get word to my airline that I can't fly today, and I gotta get out of here."
"The airport police called someone from your company. They're on their way, along with the paramedics."
"I don't need paramedics," he protested, making a second attempt to sit up.
Her hands on his shoulders stopped him. "Stay still. You might have a concussion."
A veteran of high school hockey, Cole had no doubt about the concussion. Great. That's just great. After months on the ground doing "the hero circuit" on behalf of the airline, he didn't need a concussion to knock him out of the air for two weeks just when the whole uproar had finally started to die down.
"What's your name?" he asked, his eyes still closed as he did battle with pain and nausea.
"My name?"
"It's not a trick question."
She laughed softly. "Olivia." Sticking up for a woman named Olivia had gotten him knocked out and knocked down to earth for at least two weeks. Damn it!
"Thank you for what you did," she said.
"No problem."
"Yes, I think it was."
Cole raised his good shoulder in a half shrug. "He was being a jerk."
"Here," a male voice said from above him. "Put this on your eye."
Cole cracked open his working eye to find the store manager holding out an icepack. He reached for it. "Thanks."
The paramedics arrived a minute later, along with a representative from the airline, an older woman Cole had never seen before. She announced she would be accompanying him to the hospital.
"That's not necessary," he said.
"Boss's orders," she replied, full of her own importance.
"I'm to stay with you until you're released and handle any media requests."
"Great."
As the paramedics prepared to roll him away, Cole looked around for Olivia and found her in a group of airport employees and customers who were watching the proceedings. Their eyes met, and she stepped forward. He found it refreshing, to say the least, that she didn't seem to recognize him.
"I hope you'll be okay," she said.
"I'll be fine. I've got a hard head."
"I'm sorry this happened."
"It's certainly not your fault."
She tucked a roll of Mentos into his hand. "Take care of yourself."
Amused by the gesture, he said, "Don't put up with any crap from your customers."
Her dazzling smile once again caught the attention of his lower anatomy. "I'll try not to."
"See ya."
LASR_Reviews
Posted January 17, 2011
He's done what seems to be the impossible-land a plane in a blizzard. But can he convince the woman he's interested in that he's more than a one-trick-pilot?
Ms. Force has penned a story that gripped me from the beginning. I wanted to know what would happen to these characters and how the storyline would play out. The writing is tight and the descriptions rich. She captures the essence of pilots and the hustle and bustle of the airport well.
Cole is a typical pilot (even before the save). He's cocky and walks with a swagger expected in flyboys. It works for him because it gets him women. Now add in the hero-status and the guy has it all. I liked seeing his softer side and being able to get into his head quickly to see how he felt about Olivia. Smitten men are sexy. And the little issue he has with Nutty Natasha truly added to the story. I wanted to see how the crazy ex-girlfriend sub-story worked itself out. I must say, I loved it.
My one issue with the book was Olivia. She's actually a great heroine. She knows what she wants out of life, albeit with a few hiccups. I liked that she didn't move through life in a perfect manner because it gave her character. What got under my skin was her tendency to see the glass half empty. I didn't mind her being a little worried about being with Cole-it showed she was human and gave me, the reader, something to relate to. Handsome guys with oodles of girls hanging around them can be hard to handle. Still, there were times when the jealousy and the insecurity inhibited her growth as a person. Blind trust is hard to manage and I liked seeing her struggle and overcome.
I liked this story because the characters are realistic. I felt what they were feeling and saw things through their eyes. The love scenes sizzle and left me breathless for more.
If you want a book that's guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face, then you need to read Everyone Loves a Hero. I give it 4 books.
Originally posted at The Long and Short of It Romance Reviews
6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 2, 2011
I loved this book. This is the second book by Marie Force that I have read. After reading Love at First Flight I knew that I had to read more. I love the characters and the emotions they go through. I read the whole book in one sitting because I just could not put it down.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 7, 2011
one of the best books i have read in a long time. I completely fell in love with the characters! I have become a huge Marie Force fan!!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 9, 2013
I absolutely love Marie Force and all of her books ! Characters and story is definitely for the hopeless romantics! Cole and Liv are both sexy and innocent! This is a great read just as all Marie's books -- this will not disappoint!!!!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 20, 2013
.... but Cole has suddenly only got eyes for one girl! His playboy lifestyle haunts him just a little in this book.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 4, 2013
I have read some of her books before and I really enjoyed this one .
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 25, 2013
Gotta love a good love story! Wish it had gone further with the ending but still great book!!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 23, 2013
He was a player and she was a 27 year old innocent... Together they are one of the most beautiful love stories I have ever read... Both have their own "baggage" and yet somehow they found what we all look for... Another Marie Force masterpiece that is a stand alone book that you should not miss... This author writes the most beautiful books...
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 6, 2013
quick read. really enjoyed the story line and loved the characters.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 29, 2012
Can't get enoug of her books!!!
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 27, 2012
Loved it
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Ev716
Posted October 5, 2012
Great love story and page turner! I enjoy all her books and hope she keeps them coming.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 4, 2012
This is the second of many to coome by Marie that I've readand absolutely adored!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 3, 2012
Loved this story! A must read. I love Marie Force!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Bluebike
Posted June 8, 2012
I have enjoyed all of the books that I have read of hers . I will read more of her book.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.jenredd04
Posted March 14, 2012
Another fabulous read from Marie Force.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 19, 2012
I love Marie Force ANYTHING by her is GREAT! But of all of the books I have EVER read this is my most Favorite of all. I have read and reread it agin and agin.
The story is original and very moveing.
This is a must read!
Anonymous
Posted December 24, 2011
Good book but hard to keep reading it.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted November 14, 2011
When I first started reading, I thought this book was your typical love story. I should know by now that Ms. Force would never disappoint her readers with a ho-hum book. Once I started reading, I could't put it down! I read the book in one day. This is a very beautiful romance and love story that you see developing. Olivia is like a developing butterfly led into the real world by the fully developed butterfly, Cole. They both have their issues and they show us how they resolve those problems for each other. Loved all the airport settings!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.No text was provided for this review.
Overview
Fame has its perks...
Reluctantly famous, First Officer Cole Langston finds being in the spotlight has its advantages-until he meets Olivia. Having women throw themselves at him everywhere he goes becomes a serious problem when he's trying to convince her she's the one...
And its price...
Olivia has trouble trusting a guy like Cole, and everywhere she turns she sees reasons ...