First let’s meet “The Hero” from Marie Force’s Everyone Loves a Hero:
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.
An Interview With “The Hero,” Cole Langston
Cole: You really gotta say that hero thing, right there in the headline?
Marie: Yeah, I really do. After all, you are an American hero, aren’t you?
Cole: If you say so.
Marie: Let’s back up a little… Last winter, you landed a plane in a blizzard after your captain suffered a heart attack. Then you taxied the plane off the runway, called for help, pulled your colleague out of his seat, administered CPR and saved his life. Is that how it happened?
Cole (squirming): I guess so. I still don’t get why everyone made such it into such a big deal. Clearly, it was a slow news week.
Marie: The president thought it was a big enough deal that he invited you to attend the State of Union address.
Cole: That was pretty cool.
Marie: So it’s been a year since your “Mr. Incredible” moment. And P.S. I love that name the grateful passengers gave you.
Cole rolls his eyes.
Marie: Any sign of the hero worship dying down?
Cole: Well, it was getting better until I got punched in Olivia’s store. This guy was harassing her, and I tapped him on the shoulder to tell him to knock it off. Next thing I know, I’m coming to and she’s looking down at me. Let me tell you, it was like being struck by lightning. I took one look at her, and I just knew. She was it for me.
Marie: Did she feel the same way?
Cole: Yeah, she did. (He smiles.) I’ll never forget the first time I saw her.
Marie: It must’ve been smooth sailing for the two of you after such a fortuitous meeting.
Cole: (snorting) Right… First, I had to convince her that all the women who come on to me right in front of her don’t even register with me. Then there was the matter of the stalker ex-girlfriend who wouldn’t take no for an answer. Long-distance relationships are tough enough without all that to contend with.
Marie: But you and Olivia made it work, right?
Cole: I’m not telling. You’ll have to read the book. Oh wait, you wrote the book. You know what happens.
Marie: That’s right, I do, and I made sure you and Olivia got your HEA.
Cole: HEA?
Marie: Oh, sorry—happily ever after.
Cole: Thanks for that. We appreciate it.
Marie: My pleasure.
Tell me—have you or anyone you know fallen in love at first sight? Was it smooth sailing to happily ever after or did you encounter some bumps along the way?
Thanks again for having me! Look forward to chatting today.
[Ed. Two lucky commenters will win copies of Marie’s Everybody Loves a Hero, so be sure to share your story today! US and Canada only, please.]
It wasn’t love at first sight (maybe teenage lust) . . . but I’ve been with my sweetie since I was 15 yrs old. The first couple of years was quite iffy – those teenage years sucked! He was captain of football (with swarms of cheerleaders) and I was a grade below him (aka invisible). I’m surprised we lasted!
I’m happy to say 24 years later we are still madly in love and I laugh at the cheerleaders now!
I have never fallen in love at first sight and don’t know anyone who has but it is a great thought! I think it would be very romantic and I love hearing Love at first sight stories! I can’t wait to read this book looks so GOOD. Thanks for a great interview with Cole today! 😀
Very fun chat with Cole! 🙂
I’d say that my hubby and I had a whirlwind romance. Some have described it as love at first sight, but I was in denial and running from the whole serious relationship thing. LOL
Love your interview with Cole!! No love at first sight for me, a few episodes of lust as first sight maybe back in my youth, but that’s it. It’s a long story, but I didn’t like my husband much when I first met him, but it had to do with exterior circumstances!!! (20 years of marriage later, I think it’s all good)
Hi gals,
Thanks for coming by to say hello! Kris, I am LOLing because I definitely DID NOT love my husband at first sight, either. Probably because he was drinking beer out a pitcher, as if it was a mug. Talk about a fixer-upper. LOL! 20 years later, he only has a few of his rough edges left and is clinging to them with all his might! 🙂
Not love at first sight, but I think my husband and I certainly knew we wanted to get to know one another at first sight! We met at a “set up” by friends in spite of the fact I had given up on the whole meeting Mr Right thing and was sick of the dating scene. And then we had a “real” first date a few days later. After that we never really stopped seeing each other. There were certainly challenges and even a crisis or two, but we became best friends as well as lovers. We celebrated our 15th Anniversary last fall.
I wouldn’t say it was love but the first time I saw my boyfriend I knew he would be a good boyfriend for me and that I would probably date him. Now here we are 12 years later.
I believe in love – but since I’ve always been such a guarded, mistrusting kind of person – I’ve never believed in love at first sight, maybe lust but not love – at least not for me. To love someone you have to know and accept them for all that they are and usually that can not be told from a glimpse. My best relationships, whether with my DH of 20 years or old friends, have always started with a smile or wave then moved into chit chat territory and over a long period of time evolved into something solid and wonderful. Yet I still love “love at first sight” and the “fated mate” tropes – speaks to my inner romantic fantasy 🙂