Horror stories in Sorchia’s Universe generally involve creatures from the other side–and blood– but the horror stories in my guest’s book are no less terrifying. What is scarier than the prospect of speed dating? A contemporary romance by Jennifer Wilck.
Speed Dating–and how to research it
Jennifer Wilck
When I wrote Five Minutes to Love, I knew I wanted Aviva and Jacob to meet in an interesting way, and I chose speed dating. Problem was, my husband and I have been married for 23 years and I knew nothing about the process. So, my first step was the Internet. I researched as much as I could without actually signing up for an event—my husband is understanding, but even he has his limits.
I learned that the events are grouped into themes—by age, by career and sometimes even by culture.
My next step was to contact a single friend to ask about her experience. Although she hadn’t done it, a friend of hers did, and Lisa put me in touch with her. That woman told me fantastic horror stories that had me laughing. I put them in the book and thanked my husband for saving me from ever having to go through that experience.
The last thing I did happened by chance. My family and I were out to dinner with friends in New York City, and there happened to be a speed dating event going on in the same restaurant. So, my daughter and I spied on it. 🙂 From that adventure, I learned how the process worked. I’ve never had so much fun researching!
Five Minutes to Love by Jennifer Wilck–The Blurb
Aviva Shulman has had enough of the dating scene. Her father
valued his high-powered career over his wife and family. She wants something more, someone who values her. But her roommates are determined to find her the perfect match.
Jacob Black doesn’t have time for relationships. A third-year law student, he’s focused on studying and getting a high-paying job with a top-notch law firm. But his overbearing mother wants him to find someone and settle down.
Their paths cross at a speed dating event and sparks fly. But is five minutes long enough to determine a future together?
Want more? Here’s an excerpt.
“You’re up.”
He jumped off the white plastic chair, unaware how lost he’d been in his thoughts. “Sorry.” He checked the scoreboard. “You’re beating me.”
She smiled.
Was it his imagination, or did she stand a little straighter, preen a tiny bit? Definitely not a girly-girl. In her heels, she’d only come up to his chin; now, in the ugly bowling shoes, she barely reached his shoulder. Her eyes twinkled. With her short hair, she resembled a pixie. He was tempted to search for fairy wings.
“Yes. Yes, I am.”
“I’m not sure my manliness can handle this.”
“Oh, I don’t know.” She lowered her gaze from his face, down his body to his feet, and up again. “I think your ‘manliness’ will survive. Flourish, even.”
Jacob’s neck heated. He shifted from one foot to the other at her unexpected perusal. He reached for the bowling ball.
When he turned to her again, she was smiling.Two could play this game.“Oh, yes, I’ll flourish.” Standing next to the ball return, he raked his gaze from the top of her short- cropped, pixie haircut, down to her chest, where he lingered for a moment. He continued past her waist and hips, down her legs to the tips of her ugly bowling shoes. When he finally returned to meet her face, it was bright red, almost matching the neon sign pointing to the snack bar behind her head. He leaned toward her, his bowling ball between them.
Her breath brushed his chin, warm and unsteady. A lock of hair fell across her forehead. He pushed it in place with one finger, one finger that drew across her smooth skin and traced her fine-boned skull. She bit her lip. He pulled away, millimeter by millimeter, though he wanted to do more.
“But first, I’ll win.” He winked, walked toward the foul line, adjusted his stance, took a few strides, swung his arm, and let the ball go. It spun down the lane. At the last moment, it veered into the gutter. Jacob’s jaw dropped. He shook his head, turned, and stopped short.
Aviva tapped her fingers on the table. “Interesting strategy you’ve got there.” Her eyes sparkled. Her tone told him she wasn’t being mean.
He’d liked her sense of humor before; he couldn’t decide to not like it when she was teasing him.
He nodded in acknowledgment, turned and swung the ball. It knocked down seven pins.
Aviva grabbed her ball, patted his arm, and aimed at the pins. Strike. She didn’t move. Jacob couldn’t figure out why she stood still, until her shoulders began to shake.
She was laughing. At him.
She turned around. Tears ran down her face. She inhaled. “I’m sorry. I swear I have no idea how it happened.”
“Sure you don’t.” As his grin widened, he bit the insides of his cheeks, folded his arms and did his best to look sad. “What a way to get a guy when he’s down.”
“You’re not down. You just challenged the bowling gods. They don’t like human challengers.”
“Bowling gods?”
“Of course. How else do you think we recreational bowlers manage it?” She stepped toward him. Her green eyes were wide with fake innocence.
“Bowling gods.”
“Exactly. You challenged them.” At this point, they were toe-to-toe. Her floral scent wafted around him. He refocused on her words.
“As you like to say, Aviva, technically, I challenged you.”
“Yes, but with bowling skill, so you actually challenged them too.”
She looked supremely satisfied with her circuitous bowling logic. Jacob had an urge to kiss her. Her lips were full and pink and tantalizingly close. He rested one hand on her waist and clasped the other hand behind her neck. She rose on tiptoe. This close, the brown flecks in her eyes shone. Her pupils widened. He tilted his head, leaned down and softly kissed her lips.
Meet Jennifer Wilck
Jennifer started telling herself stories as a little girl when she couldn’t fall asleep at night. Pretty soon, her head was filled with these stories and the characters that populated them. Even as an adult, she thinks about the characters and stories at night before she falls asleep or walking the dog. Eventually, she started writing them down. Her favorite stories to write are those with smart, sassy, independent heroines; handsome, strong and slightly vulnerable heroes; and her stories always end with happily ever after.
In the real world, she’s the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men she knows. When she’s not writing, she loves to laugh with her family and friends, is a pro at finding whatever her kids lost in plain sight, and spends way too much time closing doors that should never have been left open in the first place. She believes humor is the only way to get through the day and does not believe in sharing her chocolate.
She writes contemporary romance, some of which are mainstream and some of which involve Jewish characters. She’s published with The Wild Rose Press and all her books are available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
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2 thoughts on “Novel Magic: Five Minutes to Love by Jennifer Wilck”
Thanks so much for hosting me today!
My pleasure!