Miscalculated Risks

Law School Heretic #1

by Maria Riegger

What would you do if you met someone who defied all of your stereotypes?

Outspoken and abrasive, law student Isabel enjoys arguing with just about everyone, including her friends. It's 2010, and her strained relationship with her mother, less-than-stellar job prospects and frustrations with the conformist political culture of Washington, DC have left her resentful and unfulfilled. Only her sisters and a few good friends are able to keep her semi-grounded.

When she meets a new fellow student who dares to challenge her, she is intrigued but skeptical. While Isabel is risk-averse where her feelings are concerned, she is also becoming increasingly curious. She's afraid to get close, because being vulnerable always lead to being hurt, doesn't it?

Genres: College, Novels

249 pages, Paperback

First published October 20, 2015

About the author

Maria Riegger is based in the Washington, DC area. She is a banking /corporate attorney by day (but please don't hold that against her), and a fiction author by night.

Maria is a Gemini whose head has always been in the clouds. From a young age, her mother scolded her for not paying attention; when she was bored, she would make up stories in her head. Her greatest fear is boredom. She has been writing since she was about thirteen years old. A lover of languages, she speaks French, Spanish, Catalan and some Portuguese; and has lived in the U.K., France and Spain.

She has been caught air-guitaring in public. She loves to laugh, and is the “go-to” person if a friend needs someone to laugh at his lame jokes. In true Gemini fashion, she indulges both her logical personality as an attorney as well as her creative fiction-writing personality. She loved law school and even misses it, which led her friends to conclude that she is certifiable.

A native of the Washington, DC area, she is a political junkie who has respect for all views and who admires the political involvement of Americans. She loves nothing more than a solid political discussion where all views are represented.

When not writing or lawyering, she can be found doing a myriad of activities including reading, traveling, volunteering, and basically anything else that is not housework.

Maria lives right outside of Washington, DC.

Contacting Maria
www.lawschoolheretic.com
www.facebook.com/lawschoolheretic
@RieggerM

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very sweet and I liked it but it had done issues that made me crazy. I thought the author over explained things, I'll give you just one example “I had angst because of a lot of things. I had angst because I was still mad about my father dying. I had angst because I had screwed things up with Santi all those years ago. I had angst about getting a job that I wanted after graduating from law school. I had angst because I was living in a city where 99% of the people thought the same way, and had the same opinions, and I was different from them." I just thought the sentences could have been simplified, and I'm usually complaining about over simplification! Also all of the Spanish characters had specific background info (Mexican mother, Puerto Rican father) but not every character did. I either wanted it for everyone or no one, the half/half was weird to me.

I did think the main story was enjoyable and I would read this author again, with a little polish.

[Una Tiers · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this debut novel, Maria paints the picture of two law students falling in love. It covers a four week period of time. You will smile at the lovely sentences, sentiments and struggles.

[Eileen]

(First, thanks to my GoodReads friend, and author, for giving me a complimentary copy of her debut novel!) This is a cute, chick-lit read about Isabel (an outspoken, intelligent, and ambitious law student) and her developing relationship with her classmate, Tarek. Both the wealth of dialogue and the inside view into Isabel's thoughts, via chapters structured as daily journal entries, reveal Isabel's character well and give the story forward motion which creates interest in knowing what happens next in their relationship, including in Book Two!

[Nishtha · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Tell me, what's your type?" He looked at me and smiled. "I don't discriminate."

" Basically,I like women who are self confident. That's about it. "

Its really disturbing, irritating and confusing as hell when your review gets deleted on its own.
But as I really really loved this story, I will post another one.


This is my first book by the author, the excerpt is quite interesting. As a addicted reader, I do not judge a book by its cover but the content still I'd say I liked the cover. The book is based on the life of Isabel, a self confident, black haired, intelligent Spanish girl who is a linguist and a law student. She is a bad arse and a complete antonym of door mat. Coming out of a bad relationship, she stays away from one. As a person, she is kind hearted and helpful, where people are not aiding the needy, she does. As for the hero, wow, he is not your usual brooding alpha type ( like," Stay away if you value your life" kind) , Isabel would probably ask him to keep his crap together and leave for good. Tarek, our hero, a law student and a very smart guy is a person Isabel finds hard to stay away from. He, with his flirtatious smile and genial nature steals her heart. This is the first part of the series so we come to know the details about Isabel's family background, her job and her friends (who are very funny and will make you laugh throughout the story.)

I will completely understand if at the end of this book you yell,"When's the next part coming?"



The book altogether is a funny, interesting and exciting read. I will give it a five stars as for a debut, it was a very gripping and absorbing read.
Honestly, I am waiting for the second book to come very soon so that I can know what will happen next.

*****

[Yawatta Hosby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I shipped them hard!

I really enjoyed this contemporary romance. I liked that it was written in Isabel’s first person point-of-view. It seemed like she was personally talking to the readers. Being an INTJ, I could relate to some of her mannerisms, especially being misunderstood.

I was really intrigued of how her dad had passed away and why she thought she was responsible. I was hoping to get some answers but didn’t. Hopefully, the mystery is solved in book #2.

I found Tarek quite dreamy. He was patient and understanding, yet he called Isabel out when she was being messy. I shipped them hard. My favorite scenes were when they studied at her apartment for the first time and the dance club scene. When they got tea and talked afterwards was a really cute scene.

By the title of the series, Law School Heretic, I knew I was getting into some law terminology as a reader. Reading books help escape from the negativity of the world sometimes, so I was surprised by all the political conversations. Isabel and Tarek were both conservative, and I didn’t agree with any of their political beliefs. I wish their friends would’ve spoken up more in debates instead of just rolling over. Isabel always called everyone judgmental, but she was the most judgmental out of everyone.

I felt bad for how her mother always pressured her into finding a man. The author did a great job showing the tension when she interacted with her family. I liked seeing Isabel at work too. I wished the boss would have supported her more, but Isabel was a tough cookie who could protect herself. A trait I admired about her.

I loved all the classroom scenes. It was fun seeing her friends pick on Isabel to get her out of her shell. I thought the term ‘smile’ was overused, but it didn’t distract my reading. I appreciated the diversity of characters from the Latin and Middle Eastern community.

I RECOMMEND this book to read.

[Cecilia Duarte · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is sweet and funny (some dialogues will make you laugh!) and romantic too but well adapted to our modern days. Easy to read and always making you want to know what is coming next!

I fell in love with Isabel and Tarek. They are both living in a sort of too shallow and fast world for them but they find their way to adapt because they have brains and use them. The only struggle I see is that they both know what they want and the many possibilities that comes with that realization of knowing plus the logical thinking -being so aware of reality- a mix that makes it all a little more complicated but trust me: super fun for the reader! How everything develops between them is cute and I loved how the author achieved to make it sexy too without recurring to the bad taste of many other love-romance authors out there.

The rest of the characters and their personalities are very interesting as well. There was some sort of mystery left hanging in relation to the personal lives of Isabel and Tarek before they’ve known each other that I hope gets revealed in the next books.

I read the e-version but I couldn’t help getting the real physical one after. I love books and I have lost my faith on modern romance ones, this book returned it to me. You will not only read about a love relationship, you will also read smart conversations that will make you smile, laugh and learn.

If I have to define the story in lesser words I would choose: smart, funny and sexy.

I hope you get to enjoy it as much as I did!

[Katarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A light, fun read. I finished it in a couple days, which is quick for me. I kept wanting to know what happens next. The characters are very well written. What I enjoyed the most was how realistic the romance between Isabel and Tarek was. I can't wait for the next instalment!

[Roxanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Goodreads win review. This is a very cute book about two lawyers falling in love. It's a fast read.

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is a sweet and fun read . The author takes us back to school law school that is .Isabel is going to law school at night and working as a translator during the day . She has her friends but when a younger Arab man catches her attention she tries everything to deny him but they start to hit it off . Studying together and they become friends but they want more from each other will they get what they want
The characters were written well but I really had a hard time connecting with the main character Isabel . Sometimes she came off whiny and arrogant . You kind of wanted to say calm down girl thins would be ok . But as she gets to know Tarek you see her soften a bit and does have a laugh or two. Tarek is a younger guy who really enjoys Isabels company he is soft spoken and really likeable. They do make a cute couple .
The story is enjoyable and I like that it is broken up into a 4 week installment. There is only one thing that kind of annoyed me is that the author over described everything . The poor main character had angst over every little thing . If the author trimmed the angst back I think it would be a more enjoyable book . Over all I did like the book and the concept of the book running only 4 weeks in their lives . I will be checking more out from this author .

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute fun read I got a few chuckles out of it. Law does interest me to some degree but the legal cases and wording had me crossing my eyes a time or two. Both Isabel and Tarek are very intelligent and that shows in the authors writing. At some point the author must have had to deal with law she is very knowledge in this area. For me it has a little too much filler at times the author lost me but she did bring me back. I did like the older women and younger guy relationship, as well as Isabel sassy ways but at times I thought she was a little too pushy. She is sharp and has no trouble showing that. I think she is a loner and is why she is so sharp with people she just wants to be left alone. When she meets Tarek and he matches her word for word she feels like she finally found someone who she can relate to and maybe have more.

I would have liked to have seen a little more romance and a little less of the law story. I did have trouble relating to the characters to a point but they do grow on you. All in all it was a fun read that I did enjoy. I am looking forward to seeing where the author takes the story in the next book. It is a story that didn’t grab me but it didn’t let me down either.
****************

[Cyrene Olson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Isabel is a 34year old law student at evening college. She works hard and plays hard. Taking no responsibility for her sharp tongue most people - don’t like her. When a new guy joins her course she feels like she has met her match.

This was a okay read. I liked Isabel even if I didn’t find her views on politics or law the same as hers. Some more romance in the story would have been nice. I know this is only book one in the law series. Not sure what I feel about reading book 2 yet. Still to be won over by this series. Reviewed by Jennifer

[Luisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

i won a copy of this book in the good reads giveaway,

i really enjoyed this book, it has a great mix of characters, a very strong and independent female lead,
i look forward to future book, seeing how her relationship and friendships develop, and finding out what makes her the way she is, on the surface she is quite arrogant and argumentative, but this is clearly a front,

[Anne Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this story about an unhappy woman falling for a guy who is younger. Two things bothered me though.
One comes from the character created by the author as the main one, Isabel. She is supposed to be a gifted translator, and would be fluent in English, Spanish, Catalan and Portuguese and French. I know, fluent does not mean bilingual, or multilingual, but you get the idea. She works as a translator and goes to law school after work. Then, how can the book have mistakes in Spanish ("Que tal estas?" no, "que tal?", or "como estas?") and in French ("tu ne parlais pas Francais?" which would only be possible with a date "quand tu etais petit".
Let's say that the persons depicted here are meant to be very smart and should not make such mistakes. I don't know how to understand the comment about Turkish, assimilated to Arabic, I think. I refuse to believe the author mixes up two totally different populations, cultures and languages.
The other point that bothered me was the strong tea party movement the two of them adopted. If you help people, they will expect help their whole life. Global warming does not exist. People must learn to manage, no matter what happens. A bit harsh, no? Sometimes, you need help.
The guesses she makes about his mother being Lebanese and his father French are not realistic. Many mixed marriages existed between Tunisians and French, or Moroccans and French. Complicated. But if Tarek's parents were both catholic, and he looks Arabic, I don't know how to explain it. All the Lebanese I've met who were catholic were whiter than Europeans. And no one would have given a kid a name like Tarek... because it would set him as Muslim.
Yet, a lot of small observations were neat.

The second book will see then getting closer. And I supposed married with a baby.
If the book had been better edited, it will be much more attractive.

[Jo-Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story is about Isabel who is in her third year of her law degree. She knows many languages and has a full-time job as a translator so is doing her courses part-time in evening classes. Isabel is very intelligent and has a knack for remembering law cases. At school, she meets Tarek who is also very intelligent and knows the law well. He's also handsome so that and his law knowledge makes Isabel attracted to him.

The first half of this story consisted of legal cases and precedents which I didn't find to be an interesting story. Clearly the author knew a lot about the law which we saw from all the arguments and case facts presented.

Isabel was not likable in the least. She thought she was better and smarter than everybody else and didn't socialize much. She actually went out of her way to make sure nobody liked her so they wouldn't talk to her. Tarek was interesting and very smart but I didn't see how he was attracted to her since she was so mean to everybody.

While this story wasn't for me, if you are interested in U.S. law cases and politics, you will like this book.

Please note, I won this book in a giveaway.

[Colin Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intelligently and sensitively written I thoroughly enjoyed this book from start to finish. Isabel is a fascinating and well drawn character as indeed are Tarek and the others. Excellent read and I thoroughly recommend it.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story of Isabel and Tarek very much. It's unpredictable storyline keeps you guessing what will happen next. I found this to be a quick and very interesting read. Will read more of Maria Riegger books. I won my book from Goodreads Goodreads.

[Noelle Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. Occasionally things were slightly overdone, but that didn't take away too much from the story for me.


*won as a GoodReads Giveaway*

[Hyacinth]

I won this book in a goodreads giveaway; thank you.

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just could not get into this book.

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book held my interest. Admittedly I have not read many books in the genre of "chick lit." The author gives an accurate description of law school stress, workload, the general social atmosphere. So, the female protagonist is a GenXer, law student who's going back to school and juggling that with a full time job as a translator. This is the first in a series of books about the same character, Isabel. The main character is pretty complex, opinionated, fleshed-out, however; a lot of the supporting characters seemed somewhat flat. The romance story has a lot of sexual tension as the main character struggles with her own ambivalence toward whether to be in a relationship or not to be in a relationship. She's very judgmental and pessimistic toward the main love interest until she gets to know him better.
For the first 40-50 pages of the book I didn't really know what I was getting myself into. Once I understood that ("okay, this is girl meets boy and they fall in love,") I was on board and it was a page-turner. The ending left me more . . . .frustrated than the middle and beginning though.