Why do I write fast burn instalove romances?

I believe in that moment when two people lock eyes across a room and just *know*? That crazy, inexplicable certainty that you've found your other person, although everyone else would think that's way too soon. 

I believe, because it happened to me.

Ten years ago, six months after ending it with my ex husband, I was nervously on my way to a date. I'd connected with a man on Plenty of Fish, and after exchanging a few back and forth messages, I'd agreed I'd drop by his house for a cuppa and a chat. The few online dates I'd had before that were at a pub or in a coffee shop and they didnt go well. I had no connection with these guys in real life. 

So, I did not know this man and turning up at his house made me feel awkward and vulnerable. I was not in my comfort zone at all. I was at the point of turning the car round and going home a few times. 

I'm so glad I didn't.

The second he opened the door, something shifted. I felt this buzz of excitement rush through me before he even said hello. When he greeted me with a kiss on my cheek, that first touch sent this crazy wave of anticipation through my whole body. It was surreal, like time slowed down for a second.

I can't explain it scientifically. I can't point to a specific thing he said or did. But as we talked and checked each other out over that first cup of tea I knew with startling clarity that he was exactly what I was looking for.

He wasn't an Adonis, or built like a tank, just an average guy. But I'm nowhere near the perfect woman either. Far from it. We just connected to each other in ways that we couldn't explain. He was kind and caring in a way that couldn't be faked, that showed up in small gestures. He had good dress sense. His eyes were damn gorgeous. I definitely liked his voice. And yes, in case you're wondering—the chemistry between us was nuclear HOT and undeniable.

Full transparency -  I stayed a bit longer than just one cuppa tea!

From that moment on we were inseparable.

Five days later, I moved in with him.

I know how that sounds. I know some of you will be thinking - what the hell? And jeez, are you effing crazy? But a few of you might be nodding knowingly. In a world of careful dating timelines and relationship milestones, five days sounds recklessly, stupidly fast.

I agree, it was fast. But it was also right.

Ten years later, we're still going strong. That crazy, inexplicable certainty I felt in that Costa coffee shop has been validated a thousand times over in the decade we've spent building a life together.

This is one reason why I write the stories I do. When people dismiss fast love as "unrealistic" "totally ridiculous" or "just a trope," I smile to myself. I might only have a few stories published so far, but each one features characters who know they've found their perfect match instantly, or at least super fast. They might have denied it, or be forced to hide it, but it was there all along.

These aren't just mad fantasies I made up for your entertainment. Okay, maybe they are. I'm an author after all.  ;-) But they all contain injections of the truth I've lived. Sometimes, your heart recognizes what your brain hasn't figured out yet.

Is there some scientific explanation for that instant recognition? Maybe. People talk about pheromones or chemistry or whatever. Some say it's just a cocktail of chemicals our brains release when we meet someone who lights up all the right switches in our heads.

But honestly? The experience itself is bigger than any explanation. It feels like magic because, in many ways, it is.

Look, I'm not saying everyone should move in with someone five days after meeting them. What worked for me might be a total disaster for someone else. The timeline isn't what matters—it's that gut feeling, that bone-deep certainty that makes you want to ignore all the "you're moving too fast" warnings.

Logic and caution are great and all, but so is listening to that little voice inside that sometimes knows things we can't explain.

I hope as I write more stories, some of you might share your own fast love experiences with me too. Just email me. And if you're still waiting, maybe wondering if that kind of connection is possible for you... it is.

I write instalove romances because I believe in fast love with my whole heart. I believe in that instant connection you can't explain to your family or friends. I believe because I've lived it.

And ten years later, as I look at my hb I'm reminded every day that the most unbelievable stories turn out to be the realest ones of all.

I hope this warms your heart.