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TAKE THE RISK by Gemma Smith

Release Date: June 17th

Conner “CJ” Montgomery I have one goal in life – finally prove my father wrong by becoming the youngest partner in my law firm. I’ve got time for exactly three things: work, work, and more work. I can’t lose, until my boss gives me one final challenge: make the first mentorship program at our Baltimore office a success and the promotion is mine. Returning home brings up too many memories. Too many distractions. Especially when I run into Colette Dubois, the only woman who ever tempted me to make my life about more than work. On the verge of the biggest success of my life, what will it cost me to take one more risk? Colette Dubois I already gave up my dream of performing on Broadway to take care of my ailing mom. When they threaten to turn the lights off in my dying community theater, too, I won’t let anything stop me from saving it. It’s the only thing to bring a little light into the darkest period of my life. I can’t afford to be vulnerable, but that’s exactly what I am the moment CJ Montgomery walks back into my life after ten years of living on the West Coast. We shared a kiss all those years ago. I thought we would have the summer after high school together, but he fled in the middle of the night. Unfortunately my heart doesn’t know when to quit. Not when we spend time together. Not when we share an unexpected kiss. Not when he repeatedly tells me he won’t be here long. Taking a risk isn’t easy for me, but this one could change everything.

My rating: 3 out of 5 stars

My review:

I received an ARC but purchased my own copy also. I am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Conner “CJ” Montgomery was determined to become the youngest partner in his law firm. He had left Baltimore once he graduated and had not returned for ten years. He was so focused on his work that he had no personal life and he had distanced himself from all his family and friends. He reluctantly returns to Baltimore for the summer when his boss puts him in charge of the new mentorship project. Colette Dubois had moved back to Baltimore after discovering her mother had cancer. After her mother passes away, she loses herself in grief, and working at the community theater held her together. Now the theater is close to being shut down unless they can get enough donations to keep it open. Can they have a future together and reach their individual goals?

This was the author’s debut novel and I found it to be a light romance to read. There were some grammatical errors but not enough to be frustrating. The characters were interesting but hard to connect with. I found Collette to be self-centered and annoying with her “the universe would not let her be happy.” It became a little tedious reading it after every interaction between Collette and CJ. I found CJ to be pleasant until I reached the end of the book where he and his boss interact. It was heart-warming to hear CJ’s father apologize for his failure in the past and see them working to improving their relationship. Seeing CJ’s perspective of Baltimore and his family change was wonderful. He was able to overcome his demons and find happiness.

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