Unlock My Heart by Jennifer Wilck
Give a Warm Welcome to Jennifer Wilck, author of Unlock My Heart, Book 2 of Scarred Hearts Series recently released. Have a seat and grab an insulated mug. I’ve got hot chocolate, hot cider and coffee. Choose your pot, they’re labeled. Pick your choice of a Snicker-doodle, Chocolate Chip or Peanut butter cookie from the plate. Yep, I baked them myself. Lets find out a little about Jennifer and her Unlock My heart.
Thanks so much, Tena, for letting me be a guest on your blog. I’m so excited about my latest book, Unlock My Heart. Although it’s the second book in my Scarred Hearts series, it can be read as a standalone. If you like STEM heroines and wounded heroes, this book is for you!
The premise for the series is four college buddies who have reached the pinnacles of their careers and pool their extra money—they have billions—to do good. Each hero is wounded in some way, and each is looking for someone who will see past their money into their hearts (even if they don’t know it).
The inspiration for Unlock My Heart came while I was writing the first book, A Reckless Heart. I knew Ted was one of the four men in the series, but until the four men had their first teleconference—and he needed captions on the screen because he’s hard of hearing—I didn’t know anything about him. And then suddenly, I did!
The funny part about writing this book was that I wrote it prior to the pandemic when captioning on video conferencing didn’t yet exist! I decided that since Ted is the CEO and founder of his cybersecurity company, he was fully capable of creating this for himself. And since then, it happened in real life, too!
I hope you enjoy reading this book as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Tell us a little about Unlock My heart:
Abby Marlow, computer security expert, lands a job at the best IT security firm in the country. Her sole focus is financial independence so she never has to rely on others again, especially a man. But why does her boss make her wires short circuit?
Ted Endicott, CEO and founder of the IT security firm, is hard of hearing. Although an expert in his field, he’s still uncomfortable admitting his difficulty hearing to his clients or employees. So why is he willing to accept Abby’s help?
As Ted and Abby work together, barriers fall away, and soon the lines blur between colleagues and lovers. But a security glitch in a client’s system indicates one of his employees is the hacker, and all signs point to Abby. Can they get past the suspicion and find a future together?
How about a sneak peek between the pages of Unlock My Heart?
“You always run alone?”
She pointed to a nearby jogger. “I’m not alone.”
“But you’re not with anyone.”
Standing this close to him, she wished for things she shouldn’t. “No, I’m not.”
“How far are you going?”
“The end of the trail and back.” Or however long it
took to get him out of her mind.
He put his helmet on. “Come on, I’ll keep you company.”
“It’s not necessary.” Clearing her mind would be impossible with him next to her.
“It’s safer this way.” He looked down the trail.
His desire to protect her sent warmth curling up and down her spine. It had been a long time since anyone was concerned about her. All of a sudden, the idea of company appealed to her. Touching his arm— and trying not to squeeze his bicep like you would if you tested the ripeness of a peach—she waited for him to turn. “You’re welcome to join me if you want. If you can keep up.” She winked and raced away, his bark of laughter a brief punch in the silence behind her.
She no longer kept an easy pace, easing into the morning. This time, she sprinted hard. The slight whir of his bike wheels warned her as he reached her a few moments later.
“You’re pretty fast, but I’d suggest you slow down.”
She turned toward him. “Out of pity for you?”
His lips twitched, and his nostrils flared, but he kept his humor reined tight. Instead, he cycled next to her, his head turned slightly toward her. “The only pity I ask for is please don’t make me carry you home when you’re too tired to continue.”
“Wouldn’t dream of it, sir.” She made sure he could read her lips.
He grinned, and the last of her tension disappeared. He accepted her teasing.
“Oh, you’ll pay,” he said.
He rode ahead, and she thought for sure he would leave her in the dust. But he turned around, a gleam in his eye, and returned to her side. When they reached a part of the trail farther on, he pulled ahead a little and skidded in a puddle, splashing her legs.
She gasped and looked at her mud-spattered shins and ignored the twinkle in his eye. “You play dirty—literally.”
Ted stopped while she paused to clean her legs off. Given the opportunity—two could play this game—she took her mud-streaked hands and wiped them on his chest. She drew in a breath and realized her mistake. Sure, she’d repaid him for splattering her with mud, but a sudden awareness of his body overrode her satisfaction. His muscles were hard, and she wondered what the rest of him felt like. Her pulse pounded in her ears, and her gaze shifted to his lips. What would it be like to kiss them?
She jerked and pulled her hand away. No. She jumped at the strangled sound from the mouth she’d considered kissing and raised her glance to his eyes. His surprise mirrored her own.
Mistake, mistake, mistake! An internal voice blared a warning. She’d intended for it to be like when she and Max, her best friend from childhood, challenged each other as kids. In fact, when he teased her, Ted reminded her of Max—something about the glint in his eye and the “need to win” coupled with concern. But she hadn’t counted on the sexual component.
She closed her eyes. She was not like her mother. She wasn’t.
“Abby?”
She stilled. Maybe he couldn’t see her. Right, and maybe unicorns are real.
“Yes?”
“Open your eyes.” She opened them.
“Let’s get breakfast.”
Buy Links:
Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple, Kobo
About the Author:
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. She believes humor is the only way to get through the day and does not believe in sharing her chocolate.
Jennifer Wilck is an award-winning contemporary romance author for readers who are passionate about love, laughter, and happily ever after. Known for writing both Jewish and non-Jewish romances, her books feature damaged heroes, sassy and independent heroines, witty banter and hot chemistry. Jennifer’s ability to transport the reader into the scene, create characters the reader will fall in love with, and evoke a roller coaster of emotions, will hook you from the first page. You can find her books at all major online retailers in a variety of formats.
Author Links:
Website: http://www.jenniferwilck.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/879114386079365
Newsletter: https://www.jenniferwilck.com/contact.html#newsletter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JWilck
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjenniferwilck/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jennifer-wilck
It’s been great having you with us today. Good luck with Unlock My Heart.
Visits: 24
Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Billionaires, Contemporary Romance, Jennifer Wilck, Scarred Hearts Series, Unlock My Heart, Workplace Romance by Tena Stetler with 20 comments.
Better Together in Boston by Jennifer Wilck
Give a warm welcome to Jennifer Wilck, author of Better Together in Boston, just released. Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Jennifer and Better Together in Boston.
Thanks so much, Tena, for letting me be a guest on your blog today.
My latest book, Better Together in Boston, releases today! It’s a contemporary romance that is part of a multi-author series, Ticket to True Love. This is the second book that I’ve written for the series, and I’m thrilled to be a part of the series.
So, how did this come about? Well, I’m a member of the New Jersey chapter of RWA, and through my local chapter, I’ve met many talented writers, many of whom I’m friends with on Facebook. A few of them were putting together a multi-author series, and they were looking to diversify their books and authors. Because some of my books are written with Jewish characters and include Jewish traditions (I’m Jewish), they asked me if I’d like to join them. After getting over the surprise of being asked and doing some research into what would be involved, I happily said yes.
While each book is different and can be read on its own—there are at least 18 of them at last count—all of the books have a few things in common. One, they follow the “Legend of True Springs.” That legend says that the town of True Springs has a spring, and if you drink the water, you fall in love. My author friends even created a book about the legend, which is really cool. And the characters have to drink the water in some fashion. Two, is that each book has to have a ticket of some sort, and when the hero and heroine touch the ticket, there is a spark of attraction that zings between them. It can be any kind of ticket but it has to be there.
For Better Together in Boston, my characters meet at the wedding of their cousin/best friends (the hero and heroine from my first book, Whispers in Washington). Ben is the groom’s cousin and best man. Anna is the bride’s best friend and maid of honor. I had the wedding take place in True Springs, and bottles of the magic water were everywhere. Ben is a huge believer; Anna is not. She tries to avoid the water, and as a result, gets drunk (if you don’t drink the water, you’re going to have to drink the wine). Ben helps her back to her room, and even though he’s attracted to her, doesn’t want to do anything while she’s not fully in control of herself. Anna thinks he’s hot, and even though she doesn’t believe in relationships or marriage, tries to start something with him in her drunken state. Of course, he refuses, because he’s a good guy, but oh, the struggle! The next morning, Anna leaves without saying goodbye—she’s mortified—and Ben finds her earring. He follows her back to Boston to return it. They spend the day together and go to a baseball game—cue the ticket. And well, you’ll have to read the rest to find out what happens, see Anna struggle against falling in love, and Ben try to convince her he’s worth rearranging her plans. If you like strong, independent heroines, sexy heroes, witty banter, and a hint of magic—plus hot chemistry and a little Jewish flavor for texture—you’ll like the book.
What I like about participating in a multi-author series is that you get the benefit of the other authors. Everyone advertises and markets for each other. All the covers are cohesive. I have a built in group of people I can talk to if I’m stuck on something—whether it’s a plot point or my blurb or whatever—and there is overlap in all of our books because of the common legend. Some of the inhabitants of the small town of True Springs feature in several of the books, so it’s a little like coming home when you read them. There are, of course, challenges to working with a group as well. You have to make sure to get the details right. That’s why we have a bible of True Springs and any time you mention part of the town, you add it to the bible so everyone keeps the names, places, and descriptions consistent. Plus, people’s schedules get busy and sometimes you have to juggle things to accommodate others. Still, I was flattered to be asked, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.
Tell us a little about Better Together in Boston
Do you believe in the legend of True Springs?
Mr. Right doesn’t exist…
Anna Levinson was raised by a single mother, who sacrificed her dreams to give her daughter a warm, loving home. Now a respected professor on the tenure track, Anna is driven to live the life she thinks her mother should have had. She’s long since come to terms with the understanding that “having it all” is impossible if she wants a successful career.
He’s been told he’s Mr. Wrong more times than he can count…
Despite being left at the altar twice, Ben Diamond still believes his soul mate is out there. He’s ready to marry and start a family of his own. He just clearly won’t recognize her when he does find her. And then he meets the maid of honor at his cousin’s wedding, and his world is thrown off kilter.
Settling down might be more than they bargained for.
A long-distance relationship isn’t what either of them has in mind, and Anna isn’t about to ruin another person’s dreams. However, giving each other up is harder than it looks. Can Ben convince Anna that she’s got him all wrong, and that he’s finally gotten it right?
Fall in love with Anna & Ben in this steamy contemporary romance.
Ticket to True Love is a steamy contemporary romance series about new beginnings, second chances, and finding true love in unexpected places. Fall in love all over the world with bestselling and award-winning authors JB Schroeder, Savannah Kade, Moni Boyce, Shirley Hailstock, Holland Rae, Julie Strauss, & Jennifer Wilck. Start your next romance with Better Together in Boston now!
Sneak peek between the pages of Better Together in Boston!
“Would you like a drink of water?” he asked. “Or would you be more comfortable sitting on the chair over there?” He pointed to the window, next to which was a blue upholstered chair.
“You’re my drink of water.” She pulled his head down to her.
She kissed him, her lips soft, tongue plundering inside when he opened his mouth in shock. He needed to stop this, even as his body responded. Desire and honor warred with each other as heat bloomed. Her hands wrapped around the back of his neck, sending shivers down his spine. She was sweet, tasting of champagne and grapes. Her perfume was elusive, but there, and he pulled her closer, breathing her in. A breathy moan made him pause. He couldn’t do this. Since she wasn’t thinking straight, one of them needed to.
“Anna.” He groaned and unwrapped her arms from around his neck. “I think you’d be more comfortable over there.” He pointed to the chair. He’d certainly be less tempted.
“No, I’d be more comfortable with you.” She pulled his shirt until he had no choice but to lean down.
Her hair, thick and soft, had come undone. Despite his better judgment, he wrapped a curl around his finger, squeezed and released it, letting it slide against the back of his hand, feather-soft.
“We can’t do this, Anna,” he whispered, even as he became hypersensitive to her touch.
She pulled him close and once again, pressed her lips to his. He tried to push her away, grasping her by the shoulders, and for a moment, he thought he’d finally gotten through to her. She pulled back, before trailing kisses across his jaw and down his neck. With a half moan, half curse, he gave in.
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Better-Together-Boston-Springs-Contemporary-ebook/dp/B09432941B
About the Author:
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. She believes humor is the only way to get through the day and does not believe in sharing her chocolate.
She writes contemporary romance, many of which feature Jewish characters in non-religious settings (#ownvoices). She’s published with The Wild Rose Press and all her books are available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Author Links:
Website: http://www.jenniferwilck.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jennifer-Wilck-201342863240160/
Newsletter: https://www.jenniferwilck.com/contact.html#newsletter
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JWilck
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjenniferwilck/
It’s been great having you with us today. Good luck with Better Together in Boston!
Visits: 77
Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Better Together in Boston, Contemporary Romance, Jennifer Wilck, Multi-author series, Ticket to True Love by Tena Stetler with 2 comments.
Interviews – Jennifer Wilck Author of Learning To Love
Happy holidays to all! Give a big welcome to Jennifer Wilck, author of Learning to Love. Have a seat and grab an insulated mug. I’ve got hot chocolate, hot cider and coffee. Choose your pot, they’re labeled. Pick your choice of a Snicker-doodle, 
Chocolate Chip or Peanut butter cookie from the plate. Yep, I baked them myself. Jennifer, I see you brought friends.
Yes, Tena, I sure did. Meet Adam and Dina from Learning to Love.
Thanks for joining us! Let just hop right in and put Adam on the hot seat first. <Snicker>
Tell us about the real you—I’m a lawyer with my father’s law firm in NJ. I’m trying to make junior partner, which is a crap shoot right now because my dad is a hard ass and I have a bad reputation (some of which is deserved, but most isn’t). I’ve always thought surface reputation is important, but lately, I’m having a change of heart.
What makes you laugh out loud? My best friend, Jake, has always been able to make me laugh. But recently, since meeting Dina, it’s listening to the random pieces of trivia she says in the oddest of situations. You should have been there when we went to my father’s house for dinner. That man is cold and formal, but when Dina started talking about lining whiskey bottles from here to Edinburgh, I thought he was going to fall over.
What makes you angry? Injustice, whether it’s against me, my clients or the people I love—especially when it’s against the people I love.
What event in your past has left the most indelible impression on you? No one told me these questions were going to get so personal. [stares into space for a few minutes] My mom leaving when I was a kid. I don’t understand why she did that, and my father was never the same.
What do you most value? Trustworthiness. I don’t find it a lot, but when I do, man, there’s nothing like it. It’s actually pretty scary at first, especially when I realized that Dina could see through all my bullshit. But then I realized that it just made us closer and that she wasn’t planning on using anything to hurt me. I’d do anything for her.
What do you sleep in at night? Ha! Well, when Dina spent the night (on the sofa—I tried giving her the bed and she refused), I wore flannel pajama bottoms—at least when I came out and made her coffee. But I’m most comfortable sleeping in the nude.
What is the type of woman you want to spend the rest of your life with? That’s easy. Dina Jacobs. If she’d let me. Right now, I’m not so sure. She’s relegated me to the friend zone because she says she’s not my type. But I can’t imagine living without her. She’s warm and funny and brilliant and her hair, god, I love her hair. She makes me feel good about myself and when I’m with her, all I want to do is make her happy.
What do you consider most important in life? Before I met Dina, I would have said a successful career. And I still think that’s important. I mean, if I can’t contribute financially to a relationship, then what am I doing there? But now that I’ve met Dina, I’d have to add someone to share my life with. I’m hoping she’ll agree to share mine.
What is your biggest secret? My dad fired me from the family law firm. A case I was working on got messed up, actually, a few of them, but it wasn’t my fault. Unfortunately, I have a reputation that says otherwise and now I’m paying for it. I haven’t told anyone, including Dina. Right now, I’m trying to find another job. Once I do, then I can tell her everything because she’ll see I’ve overcome adversity and didn’t let it stop me. And then we can be together.
On that note, it’s Dina’s turn.
Who are you really? I’m a librarian and a genius. I’ve never fit in with people my own age. I love to spend the weekend reading and spending time with my few close friends from work or temple.
What makes you laugh out loud? Well, as I said, I’m a librarian, and we’re known for enforcing the quiet, but when I’m not in the library, a really funny book with snappy dialogue and smart wit will make me laugh out loud. By the way, did you know we laugh up to 30 times more when we are in the company of others than when we are by ourselves?
What makes you angry? Mean people. Most recently, Adam’s dad. He has these unreasonable expectations and he insults his son in front of others, including me.
What do you sleep in at night? Well that’s a really personal question! Can we just leave it at pajamas, which, by the way, is a word derived from two Hindi words.
Who were the biggest role models in your life? My parents play a huge role in my life. They’ve always supported me in whatever I’ve wanted to do, even if I haven’t been driven toward high-pressure jobs like my siblings.
What kind of man do you want to spend the rest of your life with? [blushes] Well, I used to think someone exactly like me. And I was recently set up on a date with this guy named Zach who on paper should have been perfect for me—intelligent, kind, considerate. But as nice as he was, he was boring. I’m starting to think Adam is someone I’d want to be with, even though we’re totally wrong for each other.
What kind of man would you never choose? I shouldn’t choose someone like Adam. He’s concerned with surface appearances and goes for those gorgeous, slinky models. [points to her curves and frizzy hair] As you can see, that’s totally not me. But perhaps I’ve been too hasty, because beneath the outer layer that he shows to the world is a deeper man with soul. So I really don’t know how to answer that question.
What is most important to you in life? The most important thing would be books. The most important people are my family, my friends Tracy and Rebecca, and, I’m starting to think, Adam.
What is your biggest fear? Currently, it’s going to my high school reunion. I really don’t want to see the people who looked at me only as someone who could help them cheat on tests. But Adam is telling me I have to go and he’s volunteered to take me. Tracy thinks it’s a great idea, so I guess I’m going to have to face my fear and go.
Thank you for your time Dina. Now let’s see what Jennifer has to say.
Tell us a little about writing this story. Was it fun or difficult? Do your characters always act as you expect? Are you a plotter, or fly (write) by the seat of your pants?
This story was so much fun to write! I knew I needed to write a story for Adam, who has appeared in the previous two books and I wanted a chance for him to redeem himself. And then Dina popped into my head as the perfect love interest for him—quirky and totally different from what Adam thinks he wants. Researching trivia for Dina to spout was a blast. My characters tend to take on a life of their own and these two really did that. I was just along to record their journey.
Oh, I know how that goes! My characters do that all the time. LOL Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to talk with me. Tell us a little more about Learning To Love.
Dina Jacobs is a single librarian who has never fit in due to her off-the-charts intelligence, frizzy hair and rounder-than-socially-acceptable figure. She left her past behind until she receives an invitation to her ten-year high school reunion, and all her insecurities return.
Adam Mandel is a single corporate attorney who just missed his third deadline at his father’s law firm, the law firm where he is up for junior partner. With his reputation on the line, Adam needs all the help he can get to convince his father that he deserves the promotion.
When Dina and Adam run into each other on a deserted road, Dina thinks Mr. Flashypants can’t possibly be interested in someone like her. Adam thinks Dina is just the person to help him improve his reputation. Lies and insecurities force them to take a look at themselves. Can they trust each other to look beyond the surface?
How about a sneak peek between the pages of Learning To Love!
What the hell just happened?She wanted to be friends.The only kind of “friend” he wanted to be with her
had “boy” attached to it. No, that wasn’t true. He enjoyed her friendship because he loved talking to her, hearing her opinions, sharing himself with her.
But he was becoming more attracted to her. So far, they’d only kissed, but that one kiss, that unbelievable kiss, haunted him. His lips still burned where they’d touched hers, his insides still turned to jelly when he thought about it. In fact, he’d been hoping there would have been more kissing in her apartment once he’d apologized for his gaffe.
But she’d focused on their arrangement and her overreaction, and here he was pulling away from the curb into rush hour traffic.
She thought he was dating her only to impress his father. If he were one hundred percent honest with himself, he’d acknowledge the partial truth in that statement. But the more time he spent time with her, when he wasn’t royally screwing things up with her, the more he wanted to move beyond their arrangement.
His head was another matter. It was still focused on not making a fool of himself, on maintaining the right reputation, on spinning the right message.
But listening to his head was probably what had gotten him into this mess in the first place. As unbelievable as it might sound, it was time to follow his heart.
Available from : Amazon, Apple, and Barnes & Noble
More about the Author:
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.
Author Links:
Website: http://www.jenniferwilck.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jennifer-Wilck-201342863240160/
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Learning To Love!
Visits: 333
Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Contemporary Romance, Jennifer Wilck, Lawyer, Librarian by Tena Stetler with 10 comments.
Interview Jennifer Wilck, Author of Five Minutes to Love
Give a warm welcome to Jennifer Wilck, author of FIve Minutes to Love, released on March 21, 2017.
Pull up a chair, grab a drink of your choice from the cooler, a Chocolate Chip or Peanut Butter cookie from the plate, and let’s find out a little about Jennifer, and Five Minutes to Love. I Jennifer see you’ve brought guests.
I have indeed. Jacob Black and Aviva Shulman from Five Minutes to Love.
Jennifer tell us a little about writing this story.
Tell us a little about writing this story. Was it fun or difficult? Do your characters always act as you expect? Are you a plotter, or fly (write) by the seat of your pants? This story was a lot of fun to write, especially the research I did into speed dating. Since I met my husband in college, I never went through anything like this. I talked to people who told me funny/horrible stories that happened to them at these types of events and was able to use some of them in the book. I also happened to be eating in a restaurant where an event was taking place and I spied on it with my daughter. I’m a pantser, so once I had the info about speed dating, the rest fell into place and the characters spoke to me.
A little more about Five Minutes to Love:
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?
Well then, Jacob, tell us about the real you—
I’m a twenty-five year old law student from New Jersey, studying environmental law. I have a roommate, Adam, who takes me with him on a speed dating event. I have a meddling mom who wants me to be a successful lawyer, but also wants me to meet a nice Jewish girl. I handle life pretty well as long as I can prioritize my to-do list.
What event in your past has left the most indelible impression on you? My dad died when I was a kid and my mom raised me, sacrificing a lot to put me through college and law school. My goal is to pass the Bar exam, work for the large New York City firm where I’ve interned, pay back my law school loans as soon as possible so I can support my mom as she’s supported me.
What do you most value? Honesty—yeah, that one is a little ironic, but really, it’s important to me—integrity and keeping our planet clean.
What is the type of woman you want to spend the rest of your life with? That’s easy—Aviva! She’s smart and has a wicked sense of humor. You should see the texts she sent me about bowling. She can handle herself in almost any situation, even when meeting my mother for the first time, and believe me, that takes talent. She’s beautiful, but not just on the outside. She has this inner glow that radiates from her, which is just incredible to see. And she’s one of the kindest people I know. She’s perfect.
What do you consider most important in life? Taking care of the people I love. Success will come if you work hard, but if you don’t take care of the people you love, all the success in the world won’t make you happy. I learned that the hard way.
What is your biggest secret? Well, at this point, I’d have to say lying to my mom about Aviva. You see, my mom wanted to set me up with some random woman she knew, and I wanted nothing to do with it. I was busy with my law studies and the last thing I wanted was a setup by my mom. I’d just met Aviva at that ridiculous speed dating event, but didn’t have much time to get to know her. When my mom started talking about setting me up, I told her I’d already met someone. Except, since I didn’t know much about Aviva, I made a bunch of stuff up. I didn’t think it was a big deal because I didn’t expect to meet her again. Certainly not have her meet my mom. But of course, whenever you lie, it comes back to haunt you. And boy did it ever! Luckily I was eventually able to smooth things over with both my mom and Aviva, but it wasn’t easy.
Okay, now its Aviva’s turn in the hot seat. Who are you really?
I’m a twenty-four year old public relations professional. I work in Jersey City and live in Hoboken with my two roommates, who are constantly trying to set me up with high-powered executives, all of whom I can’t stand. I’d much rather date a starving artist who has time to spend with me than someone who has money to shower me with gifts but no time to spend with me.
Who were the biggest role models in your life? I don’t know about role models, but my mom is my biggest cheerleader and I tell her everything. My dad is very successful at what he does and from a professional standpoint, I admire him.
What kind of man do you want to spend the rest of your life with? I want someone who wants to make time for me. Who prioritizes me. Someone like Jacob, although I don’t see how it can work with his law career. But he keeps telling me I’m a priority, so I have to trust in what he says and believe that he’s nothing like my dad.
(or if you don’t want romance – Why not?)
What kind of man would you never choose? I’d never choose someone whose goal is to climb the corporate ladder. The men my roommates set me up with are all like that and I can’t stand it.
What is most important to you in life? Balance, between life and work, and work and love.
What is your biggest fear? Keeping Jacob from pursuing his dreams.
A sneak peek between the pages of Five Minutes to Love!
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.
Buy link to Five Minutes to Love:
Amazon, Barnes & Barnes and Noble, and The Wild Rose Press
Speed Round (one word only answer): Yep, I know torture for a writer!<evil laugh>
Favorite movie: Dirty Dancing
Favorite book: Jane Eyre
Last book read: Axel
Favorite color: Blue
Stilettos or flipflops: Stilettos
Coffee or tea: Coffee
Ebook or audiobook or paperback: ebook
Pencil or pen: pen
Favorite song: Honesty
Streak or not: Not
Favorite dessert: chocolate
Favorite junk food: chocolate
Favorite thing to do to relax: TV
Champagne or gin: gin
Paranormal or Historical: historical
Wonder Woman or Top Model: Wonder Woman
Favorite TV show: Alienist
Hot or cold: cold
POV: 3rd
I’d die if I don’t have: family
Review or Not: review
About the Author:
Despite being an only child, Jennifer is happy to share anything other than chocolate. She learned her sarcasm from her dad and practices it daily on her children. And she believes laughter can get you through anything.
You can find Jennifer at the following:
Website: http://www.jenniferwilck.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jennifer-Wilck-201342863240160/
Facebook Readers Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2055470311366345/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JWilck
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorjenniferwilck/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jennifer-wilck
It was wonderful having you with us today. Please feel free to stop by anytime. Good Luck with Five Minutes to Love!
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Posted in Authors' Secrets Blog and tagged Contemporary Romance, Five Minutes to Love, Jennifer Wilck, Speed Dating by Tena Stetler with 18 comments.
