Publication Date: July 28, 2015
For Cohen Rodriguez, getting dumped by his girlfriend was bad enough. Being told he's “not impulsive enough” was just the cheap parting gift. Still, he takes a break from his über responsible ways and dates his way through Silver Strand. Except it's not exactly turning out the way he thought... On top of that, there's Maren Walshe, whose combination of sexy and down-to-earth is everything Cohen wants in a girl. But while they've recently been talking on the phone and texting every day, they've never actually met. Now Maren wants to meet. In person. Faced with turning his oh-so-safe fantasy girl into an uncertain reality, Cohen and Maren are both about to dive head first, ready or not.
Risk Me by Lexi Scott is story about finding love in the least likely of places while also finding yourself. The story of Cohen and Maren is one that will intrigue you and keep you turning the page to find out what happens between these two, are they meant to be together or are they destined to remain friends? This story was a 3.5 star read for me and I would recommend it to others.
Maren has known Cohen for years, working in the warehouse of his families furniture store. Talking to Cohen everyday about various deliveries became something that Maren looked forward to, wondering if she will ever have time for a relationship with a guy like him. Maren's life is anything but simple and doesn't leave much room for her to have relationships of any kind, especially if it means showing other people her alcoholic father and the horrendous conditions that she lives in. She takes a chance inviting Cohen to a baseball game where she tries to set him up with a friend, a plan that backfires but opens up a door of possibilities she never imagined she would have.
Cohen has spent his life being predictable and doing what was expected of him by his family without considering what would actually make him happy. When his long time girlfriend breaks up with him because she wants a life of excitement, Cohen begins his journey to find the one which results in one completely horrible blind date after another, with his text messages with Maren the only good part of every evening. When he has the chance to meet her in person he jumps on it and is far from being disappointed, he only wants to spend more and more time with her.
Maren tells Cohen that no matter what her feelings are toward him, she just doesn't have room in her life for a boyfriend, especially one that she has such intense feelings for after such a short time. Cohen wants to help Maren to be happy and break away from the cycle she has been stuck in for way too long but she is reluctant to accept his help knowing that her father only has her left and leaving him isn't something she can emotionally do.
Will Cohen break down the last of Maren's walls and convince her to be with him the way he wants? Can Maren let go of her need to save her father and let herself go after something she actually wants for a change? You will have to read to find out!
Lexi Scott is the combined forces of authors and best friends, Liz Reinhardt and Steph Campbell. Together, they write new adult and contemporary romance featuring strong, smart, feisty women and the swoony worthy, good guys who love them. The grew up on opposite coasts- one on the east, one of them on the west, but somehow, both ended up married and raising their families in the Southern U.S. They love traveling, good food, wine and hoarding books.
