Catching Up

So I had this big idea about blogging every day, and then I wake up to realize a month has gone by with no posts. I continue to be committed to blogging more often, but the best laid plans...

It's been a busy month around here! In April, I ventured with the family to Spain, where our daughter was born nearly 17 years ago when my husband was stationed there in the Navy. We had a great time showing off our old stomping grounds to the kids. At 16 and 13, they were at the perfect ages to appreciate the adventure of visiting a foreign country. One side benefit I hadn't expect is that Jake, who will be in 8th grade next year, will be more interested in starting Spanish classes than he might've been before the trip. We'll do whatever we can to interest him in school, so that was a plus. Emily loved seeing where she was born as well as the first home and the beach boardwalk that was the site of her very first outing.

For our part, we were surprised by how environmentally conscious Spain has become since we were there. Hundreds and hundreds of wind turbines and solar farms dot the landscape. The car we rented, a jazzy Mercedes (mama loved that car!), had a fuel-efficient feature that shut it down when idling. Hotel room keys are required to get lights in the rooms. We were surprised to realize Europe is so far ahead of the U.S. on these things. Because the European Union came into existence after we lived there, we had to figure out the ins and outs of the Euro, which was an adventure. Dan and I were both surprised that our rusty Spanish came back as if it had been yesterday when we last used it. The funniest episode I had occurred when ordering room service in Spanish and getting all the way to the end and not comprehending a question. So I said, En ingles? And he says, "Anything else?" LOL! Then he said, Room number? I said, "839." He growls, En español! He wouldn't let me cop out at the end, which I thought was hilarious! Then there was the trip to the farmacia to get cold medicine for Jake. Since I didn't know how to say sneeze or cough in Spanish, I worked around that with fake sneezes and coughs. The pharmacist says, "AH!" Jake and I got a good laugh out of that. When in doubt, improvise!

The other lasting impression is how very, very nice the Spanish people are. There's an old-world courtliness that you don't see very often anymore, and even the kids commented on how nice everyone was. We felt very welcome and totally safe everywhere we went. Well, I didn't feel very safe sitting in the midst of a rowdy group of bachelor party revelers on the flight from London to Madrid, but I was thoroughly entertained!

In other news, I've had an exciting month on the book front! We sold the French rights to the McCarthy Series at auction, Fatal Consequences won a Bean Pot Award (left), Fatal Destiny won a Holt Medallion while Fatal Justice and Everyone Loves a Hero received Awards of Merit from the Virginia Romance Writers, and I had the honor of delivering one of the keynotes at the Romance Writers of America New England Chapter conference in late April, which was a real thrill.

I'm hard at work on Season for Love, book 6 in the McCarthys of Gansett Island Series, and I'm still hoping to get that out in June. After that, I'll be finishing Fatal Attack and then turning to McCarthy book 7, Longing for Love, featuring Tiffany and Blaine. I also plan to write the much-requested fourth book in the Treading Water Trilogy (which will ruin the whole "trilogy" concept--haha), called Coming Home. It will feature Kate Harrington and Reid Matthews, closing the circle left open in Marking Time. I know a lot of you have wanted to see closure for Kate and Reid, and I'm all about giving my readers what they want. :-)

Back to work I go! Tell me what you've been up to lately!
xoxo
Marie

Everyone Loves a Hero Giveaway Winners & Other Giveaways

Congratulations to Brenda and Amy, who are the winners of the signed copies of Everyone Loves a Hero! I was really moved and appreciative of the lovely stories readers shared about their leap of faith moments. Thank you to everyone who entered the contest!

Cole and Oliva's leap of faith is one of my favorites in all my books, and I also appreciated the kind words about how much you guys enjoyed the book. It's been out a year now and I'm still hearing from readers who enjoyed it.

If you haven't yet joined the Everyone Loves a Hero Reader Group, come on over!

I'm giving away copies of Falling for Love and Fatal Flaw on Elise Rome's blog during her March Madness promotion this week. Come on by to comment to be entered to win one of the books.

I'm really excited about the upcoming visit from my friend Bella Andre, who is coming over to the Marie Force Book Talk group on Monday, March 5, to talk about her Sullivan series as well as her other books. She's bringing a bunch of giveaway copies of the Sullivans, so if you haven't yet joined the fun at MFBT, get on over there so you can chat with Bella on Monday!

Finally, I'm excited to report that I hit my 25,000-word-by-the-end-of-the-week goal in Fatal Attack today. I'm really enjoying where this book is going. The mystery is very different than anything I've ever done before, and I'm digging it! Sam is at her all-time crankiest, which gives me the giggles when I'm writing. She's so bad and sooo fun to write!

Dear Diary: Leap Day Giveaways and Other Musings

Happy Leap Day everyone! Since this day only comes around every four years, we have to take the time to celebrate in high style. My most faithful readers know there's a connection to Leap Day in Everyone Loves a Hero. In honor of Cole and Olivia and the leap they take together, I'll be giving away TWO copies of Everyone Loves a Hero here on the blog. To be entered to win, tell me about a time you took a leap of faith and how it changed your life. YOU MUST include your email address to be entered into the drawing and ONLY entries posted to the comments section of this post will be considered. The contest ends at 5 p.m. tomorrow, March 1, and winners will be posted tomorrow night. Leap away!

I'm also offering a giveaway copy of Maid for Love today on my friend Pamela Clare's blog where we are celebrating Pamela's "12th" birthday. She is a very accomplished 12-year-old, and if you haven't read her I-Team books, you are sooooo missing out. I'm very much looking forward to diving into her historicals once I finish the final book that I'm judging for the RITAs (the romance writing equivalent of the Oscar). I got a great batch of books this year that really held my attention, but I'm looking forward to digging back into my TBR pile! At Pamela's blog, some of my other writing friends are offering giveaways as well: Julie James, Bella Andre, Joyce Lamb and Joan Swan. Come comment about your favorite birthday memory to be entered into the drawings for seven different books!

In other news, this week I set a goal of getting the new Fatal Book, Fatal Attack, to 25,000 words by Friday. This morning, I hit 20,000, so it's looking good for making the goal for the week. Perhaps I will even exceed it. I made it back to the gym this morning after being off with the kids last week. I always love being there, but I hate getting myself there. It's a mental hurdle I'm working to get past as I keep the gym front and center on the schedule. Another interesting thing I noticed yesterday is that when I was working two full-time jobs, I took a heartburn pill almost every day. I can't remember the last time I took one. Interesting what stress does to a body!

My other big news is that my daughter is now a licensed driver. I've had many people tell me you haven't really experienced parenthood at its finest until you kids start driving. I'm happy for her that she passed the first time around and that she will have some increased independence, but I am also worried, too. People drive like maniacs around here. I'm not worried about her. I'm worried about them. So, to all the crazy drivers who live near me, keep away from my kid please. She's a very good kid, and I want her to be safe always. Sigh...

Today I'll be Skyping into my reader friend Karen Lawson's book club to talk about Marking Time. We did Treading Water last month and had a great time, so today we're doing book 2. I'm always happy to join the book club chats and with Skype I can be there "in person." If you'd like me to join your book club meeting, send me an email to get on the schedule.

Lastly, who did you like among the guys last night on American Idol? I liked Phillip Phillips the best. How about you? And what did you think of the Parenthood finale? I love that show SO much it's not even funny! One thing I have to say is WHOA, DREW! Who knew you had that in you, my shy friend? Did you watch? What did you think? Can't believe we have to wait six months for more of the Bravermans.

Dear Diary: Observations from the Book Store and on the Loss of Whitney

For the first time in a very long time, I stepped foot into my local Barnes & Noble and found it to be a very different place than it was the last time I was there. In November of 2010 I made the leap to e-reading and have never looked back. This has fundamentally changed my relationship with my local bookstore. To be honest, e-reading has ended that relationship. I no longer have a reason to be somewhere I used to spend a tremendous amount of time. The loss of that relationship saddens me. However, as one who has tried to embrace new technology, I have to admit that I adore e-reading. I adore the easy access to books, the ability to have what I want when I want it (that applies to all things--not just books, LOL) and I love being able to read in the dark of night without bothering my husband--too much anyway.

I noticed that the romance section, still stashed way in the back of the store, has shrunk dramatically to two sides of a small aisle. It seems only the biggest names in the genre are featured there, with few exceptions. The new release paperback display that used to be in the front of the store is now stashed way  in the back. My kids asked why we had to walk past toys and other gadgets to get to the books. I told them because so many people aren't reading print books anymore. They were insulted on my behalf that my print books weren't featured in my home book store. I told them not to be because my readers are finding me in the e-bookstore where my books will never go out of print. Despite the move to e-reading and the fact that they have e-readers, both my kids bought print books yesterday. My older one, who is 16, told me she's not ready to completely abandon print books. I think I might be, however. I'm reading print books for a published author contest right now, and I find them to be hard on my eyes now that I've become accustomed to e-reading.

Where do you stand on the print vs. ebook debate? Have you made the leap? If so, do you have trouble going back to paperbacks when need be?

In other news, thank you to Carrie at Seductive Musings for listing Everyone Loves a Hero as one of her favorite books of 2011. In her note to me, she said, "I thought it was such a wonderful story and it was one of my absolute favorite reads from 2011."

Today, I'm watching Whitney's funeral on TV. As one who came of age in the late 80s/early 90s, hers was the voice of my generation. I remember singing her songs into my hairbrush with my dorm-mates in college. We loved her so much, and we were quite convinced our singing was every bit as good as hers. Of course no one's singing was ever quite like Whitney's. My daughter made a comment questioning just how big a star Whitney really was. We told her she couldn't begin to conceive of what a huge star Whitney was in her day. While the last years of her life were filled with struggles, I hope she'll be remembered for her amazing, singular talent and her generosity to a generation of female singers who owe so much of their success to the path she paved. UPDATE: Kevin Costner's eulogy wrecked me, but watching Whitney's casket carried out of the church of her childhood with her soaring voice providing the final word made me sob. It's all too sad.

Book Club: Everyone Loves a Hero by Marie Force

From Anne, who is delighted to be included among the “Whip Cracking Book Club Wenches”:

“EVERYONE LOVES A HERO” -- AND SO DO I!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In fact, there wasn’t one tennsy-tiny thing I didn’t love about Marie’s latest book! “ELaH” was a first class flight from that first “jolt” to the final “pinky swear” deal.

Cole and Olivia are “steal-your-heart” characters and their “almost-fairy-tale-esque” love story runs the full gamut of emotions. A wonderful secondary cast of characters fuels the strong quality to this storyline as well. The skillful writing flows naturally and the dialogue is delightfully realistic. High Fives for the choice of marvelous localities ranging from our nation’s capital to Chicago to San Francisco—and even a quick glimpse of Houston! Also, there was a welcomed surprise peek at a kinship between Olivia and Juliana, who found her HEA in “Love at First Flight.”

From way-too-many exes to dysfunctional family issues, “ELaH” will capture your attention and you’ll soon be cheering Cole and Olivia as they strive to overcome the stumbling blocks in their developing relationship. Their story is captivating, engaging, charming and, of course, generously threaded with sizzling hot romance (my favorite kind!). This book will flat-out appeal and satisfy romance readers. Once again, Marie has gifted us with a “keeper-shelf” addition.

Because I don’t want to spoil the book for any readers who haven’t read “ELaH”, here’s just a few highlights that made this latest gem special for me!

1. The to-die-for-work-of-art-hero, Cole (WOW, YUMMY, I WANT ONE FOR MYSELF!)
2. The alluring, talented Olivia, who is beautiful , quiet, shy, and reserved—who simply awakens, spreads her wings and takes flight
3. The powerful romance and the range of emotions shown and felt by both Cole and Olivia. Cole’s determination to support and aid Olivia in her artistic career was outstandingly portrayed.
4. Olivia’s “insistence” to drive that black Mustang GT (loved watching Cole squirm!)
5. The “pinky-swear” proposal
6. Did I mention the sizzle and heat?????

Share some of your favorites!

**Additional comments on “All Things Marie Force”:

In 2008, I discovered Marie’s marvelous writing! While searching Amazon.com for something new to read, I came upon a book entitled “LINE OF SCRIMMAGE” and was hooked. (The cover was an added incentive!) I devoured LOS (many times in the years since) and couldn’t wait for the next book by this new-to-me-author. I went to Marie’s website and read each and every word. I was caught up in the information there and captivated by Marie’s “The House that Jack Built” – a collection of 3 books, which are yet to be published. The first, “ Treading Water” is Jack’s story. Jack stole my heart from only the tidbits posted by Marie. I will never be satisfied until Jack gets his book, along with the other two, published. They are a must for my keeper-shelf. I’m keeping my fingers and toes crossed and am praying that a smart publisher will wake up and get it done in the near future.

“Love At First Flight” came next and my addiction grew stronger. Marie’s “Fatal” romantic suspense e-book series intensified my love for this genre. Nick and Sam are among my very favorite characters and their books are just plain fun to read! I can’t wait for their September wedding. I’m eagerly awaiting the entire series in hard copy to be added to the dearly beloved keeper-shelf treasures. The “fixes” to my addiction continued in the form of more e-books entitled “True North” and “The Fall” – both of which are fantastic reads that I wouldn’t mind adding to that “shelf” as well!! I’m all about the “Real Thing” when it comes to my favorite books and colas!

Some time down the line, I’m fervently hoping for another peek and update on Ryan and Susannah, along with their little daughter, Hope – and maybe even some additional little Sandersons. Can you tell I’m a major fan of “LINE OF SCRIMMAGE?”

Last, but certainly, not least – For your wonderfully addictive stories, your unending generosities, your kindness and friendship, THANK YOU MARIE!!!

Keep’em coming – please!!!

APPLE SAUSAGE QUICHE
(An easy and delicious recipe that has become a standard for our family’s Christmas morning brunch, along with at least once a month, as well – fantastic reheated in the microwave, too!)

½ lb. sausage , cooked and drained well
15 oz. can sliced apples (frozen apples can be used)
1 tsp. cinnamon
4 eggs
1-1/4 cups milk
1 cup shredded sharp cheese
1 tsp. salt
1 unbaked pie shell

Mix first three ingredients together. Pour into unbaked pie shell. Mix eggs, milk and salt together and pour over the apple-sausage mixture.
Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees. Top with cheese and bake an additional 5-7 minutes until cheese is melted well.



CHOCOLATE RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE
(Just because I love the combination of chocolate and raspberries, here’s a quick and easy but nonetheless tasty treat!)

1-Chocolate Pie Crust (6 oz.)
6 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 can (14 oz.) Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk (not evaporate milk)
1 egg
3 Tbsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1-1/4 cups fresh or frozen raspberries (reserve a few for garnishment)
Chocolate Glaze

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. With mixer, beat cream cheese until fluffy; gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Add egg, lemon juice and vanilla; mix well.

Arrange raspberries on bottom of crust. Slowly pour cheese mixture over fruit. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool.

Top and spread evenly over cheesecake with Chocolate Glaze; chill. Garnish with raspberries. Refrigerate leftovers (if you have any!)

Chocolate Glaze: In small saucepan, over low heat, melt two (1 oz. each) squares semi-chocolate baking chocolate with ¼ cup whipping cream. Cook and stir until thickened and smooth. Remove from heat.

Review: Everyone Loves a Hero, Fresh Fiction

Olivia Robison works at an airport kiosk and lives at home with her loving father and agoraphobic mother in order to put herself through college. Though she is working on a business degree, she is happiest when drawing portraits of strangers during her breaks. Pilot Cole Langston enters her life in dramatic fashion when he intervenes on her behalf with an unruly customer and ends up on the floor knocked-out and concussed from a fist to the face. The attraction is instantaneous and soon they are struggling with the complexities of a long distance relationship. Complicating matters is the fact that Cole, aka "Captain Incredible", is a national hero after landing a plane in a blizzard and saving the life of the pilot who had a heart attack. Can Olivia trust a man who has beautiful women slipping him their numbers at every turn? Is Cole ready to be a one-woman man?

With EVERYONE LOVES A HERO, Marie Force captures the challenges and complexities that follow when a couple falls in love at first sight. Believing that this person you barely know is someone you can trust with your love and devotion is not easy. Cole and Olivia deal with these challenges head on as they get to know each other, their family and friends, and their personal issues. Ms. Force's deft writing made the chemistry between Olivia and Cole instant and palpable.

My Core Story

Since last year's RWA Conference, I've been thinking a lot about something Jayne Ann Krentz said in her luncheon speech. It was about knowing your core story as a writer, and remaining true to it in all your books because it's what readers come to expect from you. So I started to think: What is my core story? I'm not sure I have just one. I've given this a lot of thought, mind you, and these are the core stories I've come up with that resonate through most of my contemporaries (I am excluding the Fatal books because they are an entirely different animal altogether!):

1. I'm told I do love triangles pretty well. I enjoy writing them and examining all the various implications for all three parties.
2. For some strange reason, I like to write about fame in all its many iterations and what it does to regular people.
3. I often work in the "gray area" between the black and white of right and wrong. I like what goes on there, the murkiness and the uncertainty.
4. I like to write about families and family dynamics.

You will find some or all of these themes in all of my books. Line of Scrimmage and Love at First Flight featured love triangles. Everyone Loves a Hero looks at what fame can do to a regular guy and his relationships with regular people. Recently I decided to post two of my unsold books because readers were asking for more, and I have plenty more to give! True North touches on issues related to fame and how it can impact one's desire to lead a "normal" life. In a way, it contains a love triangle because Liana has to choose between the man she has come to love and the high-profile career she thought she wanted. The Fall is all about that grey area, what goes on in the murky place between right and wrong. It was fun to take a doctor who thought he knew himself so well and show him he knew nothing at all. It also contains one hell of a love triangle and is fat with family dynamics! Here's some more about True North and The Fall:

True North
The first time Travis North lays eyes on Liana McDermott, she’s wearing the most hideous bridesmaid dress he’s ever seen. He doesn't immediately recognize the world-famous model who is attending her cousin Enid's wedding at the country club he owns. Thanks to Enid's shameless matchmaking, Travis and Liana become acquainted and later embark on a two-week fling intended to be free of emotion and entanglement. As Liana's return to work gets closer, however, Travis wonders how he'll ever let her go when the time comes while Liana considers whether he might be her true north. Two high-powered careers, two amazing weeks and a love that comes along just once in a lifetime. Is she ready to give up her career for a different kind of life? Does he want the same things she does? After insisting on an emotionless affair, she can't very well ask him. Or can she?

Find True North here. Thank you to everyone who has bought True North this month. I'm truly blown away by the reception it has received.

The Fall
Dr. Ted Duffy has finally met a woman who makes him ache with desire. Too bad she’s dating his best friend of twenty years. This simple premise has momentous consequences for Ted in “The Fall,” a story that explores the bonds of friendship, the expectations of family, and the power of love to unite and divide. Ted is a third-generation pediatric oncologist in Boston. He is thirty-seven years old, married to his work, and his patients are his kids. He and his college friends spend summer weekends in Newport, Rhode Island, which is the only break Ted gets from the grind of his job. After a devastating loss at work, he leaves for Newport where he meets his friend’s new girlfriend, Caroline. During that first weekend together, Ted and Caroline fall in love. When they later act on their feelings, shock and disbelief ricochet through his tight-knit group of friends and family. A highly respected doctor, a beloved son and grandson, a loyal friend, Ted is stunned by his sudden free fall from grace. Sometimes love is not enough...or is it?

Find The Fall here.

Hope you enjoy these new offerings and I'm curious to know what you all think about core story. Do your favorite writers tend to stick to certain themes? Are you always looking for those themes in their books? Are you disappointed when you don't find them?

Two New ARCs to Give Away

I've posted a new giveaway copy of Everyone Loves a Hero on Goodreads and on Facebook. To enter to win, either go to my Marie Force Facebook account and enter a comment under the GIVEAWAY entry. On Goodreads, do a search for my name and scroll down to the bottom of my author page to find the giveaway.

Here's some info about the book, which is out on February 1:

Everyone 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.

Read an excerpt and then go sign up for one of the giveaways. The Facebook giveaway ends tomorrow night at midnight. The Goodreads giveaway is open until December 18.

Some Great News!

Wow, what a week this has been! On top of some major production on the WIP, Fatal Consequences, I finished up the proposal for Fatal Flaw (which, pending acquisition committee approval would be Fatal Book #4) and I got the first look at the cover for Fatal Justice. I absolutely LOVE the way the Harlequin design team is building the brand for the Fatal Series. The covers are gorgeous! I also love the glimpse at Sam and Nick as the designers see them, which is so exciting.

Here's the blurb on Fatal Justice:
Standing over the dead body of the man she’d dined with the night before, Sam was suddenly hip deep in another high-profile case.

The fact Washington, D.C. Metro Police Lieutenant Sam Holland was one of the last people to see Supreme Court nominee Julian Sinclair alive just complicates matters even more. On the plus side, her relationship with Senator Nick Cappuano is heating up—but it’s also attracting a lot of unwanted media attention and generating front-page newspaper articles.

The pressure is on for Sam to find Sinclair’s killer, but a new lead in her father’s unsolved shooting puts her in unexpected danger and her habit of keeping secrets threatens to derail her relationship with Nick. Once again, Sam and Nick discover that mixing romance with politics can be fatal…

Can't wait to get this one out there in January!

Next on the excitement-o-meter was the release today of the Fatal Affair Audio Book from Audible.com. You can check it out here. I wondered how long it would take to tell the full story and the verdict was 11 hours!

While we're on the subject of Fatal Affair, I was so pleased to hear this week that Harlequin will be releasing it in print in July 2011 as part of it's Direct to Consumers program. People who subscribe to Harlequin's Reader Service program for romantic suspense will receive a copy. I'm sure there will be other ways to buy the book, and I'll let you know about that once I know more. I can't wait to see the print copy of Fatal Affair!

Next on the news feed is the first look at Everyone Loves a Hero! I posted a two-chapter excerpt here. Everyone Loves a Hero is now available for pre-order here, and I'm running a contest for those who pre-order. Send me proof of purchase by midnight Oct. 22 (marie@marieforce.com) and I'll enter you into a drawing to win one of four Advance Reader Copies. You can also win by following me on Twitter @marieforce and telling me in 140 characters what makes a good hero.

Here's the back cover copy on Everyone Loves a Hero:

Being a hero isn’t all it’s cracked up to be…
After a heroic blizzard landing makes him famous, First Officer Cole Langston thoroughly enjoys the playboy lifestyle that comes with his fame and good looks. Until he meets the one woman he wants more than anything and finds it impossible to convince her of his love.

especially when everything you’ve ever wanted is at stake…
Olivia is a talented artist, working at an airport kiosk to get through school. When drop-dead gorgeous Cole rescues her from an obnoxious customer, their instant attraction turns into something much deeper…

With jealousy and insecurity rearing their ugly heads as Cole and Olivia fall hard for each other, they’ll either figure out how to trust, or they’ll both miss the connection of a lifetime…

Looking forward to giving away the ARCs for ELaH, so make sure to enter one or both of the contests before next Friday at midnight!

Popping In to Say Hello

Ohhhh, I've been the most awful blogger lately! My apologies for that! I've been writing away on the third Fatal book, Fatal Consequences, and the proposal for book 4, Fatal Flaw. I'm having the best time with Sam, Nick and their cast of supporting characters. There's a LOT going on in Fatal Consequences, and I'm looking forward to writing THE END--and finding out who done it! I've also got an idea for a fifth book that I'd call Fatal Proposition. I love spending time in the "Fatal" world and am hoping to write a novella covering Sam and Nick's wedding and honeymoon, which will be REALLY fun. :-) I've got such a fun plan for their wedding, and I hope readers will enjoy it.

Yesterday, I received the cover for Fatal Justice, and I LOVE IT! I'm just waiting to hear that it's final before I share it with you. The folks at Harlequin are doing a beautiful job of building the Fatal brand, and i couldn't be more delighted with the new cover.

In other book news, Everyone Loves a Hero is now available for Pre-Order. Just click on the cover to the right to check it out on Amazon. About the book:
Everyone 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.

I promise I'll be back to more regular blogging once I finish Fatal Consequences!