Five Minutes to Love

Serendipity #2

by Jennifer Wilck

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?

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 21, 2018

About the author

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.

Jennifer started telling herself stories as a little girl when she couldn’t fall asleep at night. 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.

Reviews

[Romancing the Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed by JoAnne
Book provided by the author
Originally posted at Romancing the Book

This really should have been the first book in the series since the story seems to take place before Addicted to Love. Aviva and Jacob meet at a speed dating event that they both went to because friends dragged them there. When they meet there is chemistry but upon meeting they both decide to ditch the event and go home – separately, after their five minutes are up. They don’t exchange numbers or last names but a happenstance meeting at a pirate exhibit that Aviva is at with her nephew has sparks flying once again. He’s everything she doesn’t want or is she fooling herself? He’s in law school and after passing the bar will be working at his dream job at a high powered firm that he already has an offer from but is it really his dream? Watching them resolve their conflicts and break down their walls was heartwarming until they didn’t any longer.

The story flows nicely and I loved the give and take between them. Hannah, who we met in Addicted to Love, is sprinkled throughout but doesn’t have a major role in this book. There are a few twists and turns along with one step forward and two or three back. Jacob’s mother plays her part well giving him guilt often with just a look. There are Jewish characters along with rituals and I loved the way Aviva and her mother light the Shabbat candles together via phone when they aren’t together. There are family and friends, lots of studying, jobs, decisions to be made, injuries, sadness, tears, comparisons, hurt, anger, fun, happiness, laughter, good food, romance, loving and love. The things Aviva and Jacob did for each other were great and showed that they cared and I loved how they treated one another as they eased into their relationship. There is a happily ever after in the offing and some closure but an epilogue would have been the icing on the cake. I hope there are more stories in the series but better closure.

Wilck is a new to me author, only having read Addicted to Love, but I look forward to reading more of her books.

[Natalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great realistic love story of two busy professionals, but it was a little slow at some points.

[KC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five Minutes To Love was an inspiring, humourous, warm story. I received a copy of it in exchange for an honest review. Aviva is a strong, smart, pretty character who knows what she wants but doesn't seem to get it often. She has two roommates who seem to constantly stay on her about not dating enough. Speed dating just isn't her idea of fun. Yet, she allows herself to be drug to the urban spot for the event.

Jacob can't believe he let his roommate talk him into going speed dating. However, it's about the only dating he might have time for with his hectic schedule. He soon finds out it is a waste of time. He is glad he has a like minded new acquaintance who feels the same.

A whirlwind of events happen to bring Jacob and Aviva in each other's path again and a little honesty from Aviva's nephew, Benjamin. Sometimes seeing where a person's fears come from helps to understand and want to assist with overcoming them. When a sequence of events led to an accident, Jacob finds out why Aviva is hesitant to trust that he will always find time for her.

This novel was so believable. The story is rich and addicting with an ever changing plot that has such great ability to entertain yet makes you feel you can read something wholesome, fun, and unpredictable. The mothers were my favorite characters and I'd love to read many sequels to this book. It gets five stars and a huge thanks to Wilck for such a well written, heart felt book!

[Ann Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!! 5 stars from me.

Totally loved this read Five Minutes to Love by Jennifer Wilck. When two people are focused on their careers, sometimes it is hard to find the time to meet that someone special. Despite the best intentions of friends, they don’t always know what is best.

Aviva is always hard at work and her friends want her to have that someone special in her life to share with. She just hasn’t meet that one person yet. Not wanting to compromise what she is looking for in a relationship, (good for her) she sticks with what it is she wants.

Jacob wasn’t even looking for a relationship, career driven he knew exactly where he wanted to be and nothing could side track him. His desire to be a high power attorney keeps his drive for success going. But then he meets Aviva. His world is forever changed.

The way these two work out their relationship, sometimes dreams change. It is in the moments of realizing what you truly want vs what you thought you wanted, those moments can be pretty big ones. Life changing. I hope you enjoy this read as much as I did. The roller coaster of this relationship is well worth the ride.

[Deborah Garland · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Five Minutes to Love is the second book in Wilck’s Serendipity Series, it can be read as a stand-alone. The setting is Northern New Jersey, particularly Hoboken and Jersey City. This appealed to me, since I used to live in Hoboken and worked in Jersey City. Wilck nicely captured the feel of two twenty-somethings who are trying to find their place in the workforce and balance a social life. For some young people that may be easy. But when you throw in a couple of ‘endearing’ Jewish mothers, the stakes rise considerably. The story flowed nicely starting with Aviva (love that name) and Jacob’s chance meeting at a speed-dating event they were both forced to attend. After escaping together, a small spark ignites. They both initially ignore it, but as much as they don’t want to be in a relationship because of work commitments, they can’t stay away from each other. It’s what I liked the most about this story. The way they struggled with the balance and sacrifices they made for each other. And Wilck argues both character’s cases for and against falling in love, beautifully. Five Minutes To Love, took a few turns I didn’t expect, so it kept me guessing. The final twist, I never saw coming, sending Aviva and Jacob right into a satisfying happy for now, but I have a feeling it will be forever.

[Jenny Houle · Rating 2 out of 5]

It felt like the author had a great editor...for the first 10% of the book. After that, it felt like she needed one.

One of the biggest (in my opinion) story lines had zero follow through at the end.

If you’re going to use fifty cent words, do yourself a favor and use them correctly, because chances are good your reader will have to pause to look them up, and they’ll be really confused when the word still doesn’t fit the context around it.

Also, there was a lot of awkwardness in regards to how to include back story details. Jared’s mother’s name was a great example of this. Suddenly it’s there, but with no good reason for why it’s thrown in as it’s just Jared and her in the moment and he’s been calling her “Mom” and the author has been referring to her as “Jared’s mother”. To suddenly reference “Karen” seemed like she was introducing a third character.

[Joy Crain · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this book on NetGalley for an honest review.

Well, this was a disappointment to pick up.

Aviva is never going on a dating scene again. Her last few relationships have been a disaster and she's not about to marry a neglectant husband like her father was. Then, after being forced into a speed dating thing with her friends, she meets Jacob, a future lawyer in the making.

I'm sorry but I don't enjoy books with graphic sexual content. Why do we need to know all that? Seriously. And it was clear to me from the beginning that this relationship was all about sexual desire and not about the heart. These two people could not keep their hands off each other.

I don't recommend this book for anyone. I rate it for ages 18+ for graphic sexual content and mild language.

[Katie O'Connor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Take two exteremely busy, highly successful people, throw in attraction and love and you get Five Minutes to Love. Jennifer Wilck's hero and heroine battle demanding careers, a need to follow their dreams and to find love.

With it's brisk pace and tense emotions, this novel reflected the frantic feel of life in a high demand job. The few moments Aviva and Jacob steal together are precious and meaningful.

Well drawn characters, a compelling plot and satisfying make this a book well worth reading.

[Rebecca Lyman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good read. I thought Aviva was a little melodramatic but overall the book was very romantic. There was a great build up on tension between the hero and heroine, and good chemistry between them. I did like the story on this one but there were parts of it that I found annoying / frustrating.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5.0

“Five Minutes to Love” is a story two people obsessed with their careers.

Read full review in the 2018 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[JoAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my review on Romancing-the-Book.com by clicking on the link below:

http://romancing-the-book.com/2018/03...