We're very pleased to have Jennifer Wilck as our guest today. I know you'll enjoy her post. And oh my gosh...she's giving away a book. Read on for your chance to win.
Writing Learning to Love was fun for me, because I had the
chance to play around with my characters a bit, especially my heroine, Dina.
The hero, Adam, appears as a walk-on, in the previous two books (although
that’s the only connection to the rest of the series, so the book is easily
read as a standalone) and he’s perfect. Gorgeous, rich and successful. Of
course, he isn’t really perfect, but the way he presents himself to the world
makes people think he is.
Therefore, my heroine had to be significantly less than
perfect in order for her to be at all interesting. I gave her frizzy hair—I’m
pretty sure I was having another terrible hair day at the time, so it was easy
to take out all my frustrations on her. I made her brilliant, in the
not-fitting-in-with-your-peers way. And I made her awkward.
She shows her awkwardness by spouting random facts any time
she’s in a situation where she’s unsure of herself, like when Adam is about to
kiss her, or she meets his dad, or...well, you get the idea and I don’t want to
give away too many spoilers. In fact, I based her a little bit on the character
of Dr. Spencer Reid from the TV show Criminal Minds. In his case, his random
knowledge about obscure topics often help to solve their murder cases, or at
least point them in the right direction.
One of the most fun things I did during the drafting of this
book was researching obscure facts for Dina to spout. I looked up whiskey,
baseball and even old-fashioned words for “idiot.” The first few times she
rattles something off, Adam is taken aback. Soon, he learns to recognize them
as a clue to her discomfort. And eventually, they become endearing.
So tell me, are you a trivia fan? Do you know obscure
details or fascinating facts about something no one else does? Or have you researched
something and learned more than you ever thought possible about it? Do you
always win Trivial Pursuit (do people even play that anymore or am I dating
myself)? Tell me something in the comments below and one random winner will
receive an e-copy of the first book in this series, Addicted to Love. Can’t
wait to hear from you!
Blurb:
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?
Excerpt:
Dina swallowed and peered out the window, half expecting a line of
servants to stand outside in greeting. This is where his father lived, and all
she worried about was her hair?
Parking in front of the broad stone steps leading to an
elaborately carved double door, Adam hopped out of the car and came around to
Dina’s side.
“Ready?” he asked as he led her up the stairs.
“Sure.” Fake it ’til you make it, baby.
He rang the bell and as the musical chimes echoed inside, Dina
turned to him in puzzlement.
“Wouldn’t it be easier to walk in?”
Before Adam
could answer, an older woman in black dress slacks and a white cotton blouse
answered the door.
“Mr. Mandel. Your father is in the living room.”
Dina walked with Adam behind the woman, her feet sinking into the
Aubusson carpet, and resisted the urge to reach for his hand. She could do
this.
Outside the doorway of the living room, he reached for hers. His
warm skin against hers and the press of his fingers reassured her. Whether he
needed the support, or whether he did it for show, didn’t matter. They were
together for the moment.
His father rose as they entered, Adam gave her hand a last
squeeze, and walked to his father. They nodded to each other, and his father
turned his attention to her.
She held out her hand and he grasped it. While Adam might be Mr.
Flashypants, his father was The General, complete with military posture.
“It’s a pleasure to see you again, Mr. Mandel. You have an
impressive home.”
He released her grasp and nodded. “You’re quite different from
Adam’s usual dates.”
Oof. Adam inhaled, and from the glint in his father’s eye, Dina
wondered if he looked for a reaction. Her first impression of him hadn’t been
great, and he sure wasn’t helping his cause now. But she was here for Adam, and
she’d live up to her side of the bargain.
“I’m sure I am,” she said, a wide grin on her face. Looping her
arm through Adam’s, she looked at him, hoping his father could read her
expression of adoration.
“May I offer you a drink?” The General asked.
When she nodded and Adam’s father reached for the whiskey
decanter, Dina blurted, “Did you know if you laid the 99 million cases of
Scotch exported each year end-to-end, they would run the distance between
Edinburgh and New York six times?”
Dina froze as the words left her mouth, for the expressions on the
men’s faces were...odd. The General’s hand froze in midair above her tumbler,
his mouth slightly open, his white brows furrowed. Adam looked between her and
his father, nostrils trembling.
“No, I did not know. How...interesting,” The General said. “Adam,
would you like one?”
He nodded, eyes sparkling.
They sat in front of the white marble fireplace, glasses in hand
and Dina listened to The General and Adam make small talk. Or attempt to. They
were really bad at it. The General mentioned the weather and Adam answered with
a word or two. Dina launched into a description of cloud formations. Adam
mentioned baseball and The General nodded. As the awkward exchange became
unbearable and Dina was about to break in with baseball stats, the woman who’d
opened the front door for them entered the room after a soft knock.
“Dinner is served.”
The General nodded, reminding Dina of an emperor surveying his
subjects. He led them out of the living room, across the expansive foyer and
into the dining room. If Adam didn’t hold her hand, she would stop dead in the
entryway.
Buy Links:
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/learning-to-love-jennifer-wilck/1129734280?ean=2940161918258
