A Five-Minute Life by Emma Scott
Title: A Five-Minute Life
Author: Emma Scott
Genres: Standalone, N/A, Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 16, 2019
Remember us...when I can't.
Thea Hughes has five minutes to live.
A car accident stole her parents and left her with the second-worst documented case of amnesia in the world. She now has only minutes of experiences, of consciousness, of life…before her memory is wiped clean. The once effervescent artist with a promising future is reduced to scribbling with pens and paper, living an empty, quiet life, three hundred seconds at a time.
Jim Whelan is on autopilot.
A foster kid shuffled around the system since birth, he’s lived his entire life without knowing love…and it’s taken its toll—until he learned to fight back, carry his armor, and keep his head down.
Working as an orderly in the Blue Ridge Sanitarium, deep in Virginia countryside, Jim looked up…and found Thea.
When Thea has the chance to break free of her five-minute prison with a risky, experimental surgery, it could lead them both to an epic love they never thought possible… or one that could require the ultimate sacrifice.
***
50 First Dates meets Awakenings in this emotional love story by international and best selling author, Emma Scott.WARNING A Five-Minute life contains subject matter that might be sensitive to some readers.
#standalone #newadultromance #notparanormal
by Emma Scott © 2019
“Marc Antony,” I said and nodded at her drawing. “Part of your Egyptian studies?”
Thea leaned her cheek on her folded hands like she was warming herself before a fire. “Marc Antony is part of the romance. A love story with Cleopatra. He went to war for her. Died for her. When they told her he was dead, she put her hand in a basket with an asp. Can you imagine? Loving someone so much that the thought of life without them is too unbearable?”
“No,” I said. “I can’t.”
Her gaze dropped to my hand on the table and her fingers reached to trace the scars on my knuckles.
These tell a story, don’t they?” She traced one of the fine lines. “You put your hand in with the snakes, too.”
I nodded slowly, savoring the feel of her warm skin on mine. “So the bullies would leave me alone.”
“And did they?”
“Eventually.”
“I’m glad.” She put her hand in mine completely, her fingers wrapping around and holding tight. “I’m being too… something. Personal. Delia would throw a fit, but I feel like…”
“Like what, Thea?”
“Like I have to hold on to this moment, you know? Or you… I don’t even know you and yet I don’t want to stop talking to you.” Her hand squeezed mine. “I don’t care if you have a stutter, but please keep talking to me, Jimmy. Okay?”
My mouth went dry at the nameless desperation in her eyes.
Jesus, does she know she’s trapped? She can’t. Impossible…
“I won’t,” I said. “I’ll talk to you every day. I promise.”
Thea breathed a small sigh of relief and released my hand. “Thank you, Jimmy. That makes me feel better.”
With a final smile—a parting smile, I realized—she took up her pen and then froze.
She’s resetting.
Confusion passed over her features. She looked up at me, flinching a little to see a big man in close proximity. I instantly leaned back to give her space.
“How long has it been?” she asked.
“Two years,” I said, my voice hardly more than a whisper. “But the doctors are working on your case.”
“Yes, they are.” She smiled hesitantly and found my nametag. “I’m Thea Hughes.”
Seven. Seven times now.
“Jim Whelan,” I said.
She offered her hand. Again. I took it robotically, enduring her one-pump shake. Again. Her fingers didn’t linger in mine but released immediately, the way you do with a stranger. Again.
“Nice to meet you, Jim Whelan.”
Fuck. I can’t do this.
I rose to my feet. “I have to get to work.”
Her face fell. “Oh. Bummer. Will I see you again?”
I could promise her I would, but she wouldn’t remember. There was no promise. I could tell her the sky was falling or my name was Abraham Lincoln and she wouldn’t know the damn difference. It’d vanish, like every other word we’d ever spoken to each other. I vanished every time her reset hit and was recreated over again in Thea’s eyes. I could be whatever I wanted; whomever I wanted. And yet she was the one woman I might’ve had a chance to be myself with.
The terrible irony of it was like copper in my mouth.
“Sure, Miss Hughes,” I said. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
A Five-Minute Life by Emma Scott
Rosa's rating: 5+ iScream Cones!"He went into my world in order to bring me out."
This is one of those very rare stories that touch your soul and sticks with you. I've recently become a fan of this author so when I heard she was releasing a new book, I was all-in without even knowing what I was in for. I'm struggling to find words to tell you how special this beautiful story is, but I'll try.
The author introduced me to Thea before the car accident that stole her memory. It was only a brief glimpse, but enough for me to know that she was extremely talented, full of light and laughter, and most definitely colorful. She had me smiling from the first page which made knowing the tragedy that was coming my way hard to accept. But, I knew that it would be worth the pain I was sure to suffer as I experienced it with her. That's something that's important to me as a reader, being able to trust an author with my heart. This particular author has earned many of my tears, but she's never made me regret the journey.
Jim (aka Jimmy) has had a very rough life growing up in foster care. Not that what he experienced had anything to do with 'care'. Nope, it was more like the opposite. It's mind-boggling that he made it to adulthood with the desire to help others, but he did. He truly cares about the patients at the Blue Ridge Sanitarium, especially Thea. He tries to distance himself from her, but he's so drawn to her that it's impossible, in spite of being warned repeatedly. He might only be able to reach her five minutes at a time, but those minutes are...everything.
I really don't know what else I can tell you without giving anything away. This book ruined me. I raged. I sobbed. I sighed. I hoped. I yelled. I melted. I cried some more. My heart feels too big for my chest and I'm a hot mess. Thank you, Emma Scott. I'll never forget A Five-Minute Life. It's an ugly-cry movie worthy masterpiece that I hope everyone takes the time to read and hopefully will someday end up on the big screen. Well done.
Emma Scott is a bestselling author of emotional, character-driven romances in which art and love intertwine to heal, and in which love always wins. If you enjoy thoughtful, realistic stories with diverse characters and kind-hearted heroes, you will enjoy my novels.
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