I was so excited for my first Berkley pick that I read this in one night. Ride With Me was steamy, funny and heartfelt at times and as marriage of convenience is my favorite trop, I ate it up. Seeing a dark skin FMC get loved on and protected meant so much to me and Stella and Thomas felt like real people. What a great read!

Although we’ve seen the spontaneous Vegas marriage, marriage of convenience trope in romance many times before, Simone’s writing just elevated it. I loved both main characters, their personalities and careers. Thomas, an F1 driver, was devoted and endearing and Stella, a nationwide bakery owner, was strong and vulnerable (also the baddie vibes were so good!!). I loved Thomas and Stella’s dynamic: their banter was witty and their chemistry was scorching. I liked how they both took care of and support each other. Everything flowed and none of their choices seemed silly or immature. Also Thomas was so down bad but in a subtle way. The Formula 1 setting was appealing and added an exciting backdrop to their romance. This novel was so satisfying. When I finished it, I was like give me 10 more just like this. I immediately borrowed the first book in the series from the library.

Huge thank you to @berkleypub and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
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If you into racing this is the perfect book going into Indy 500 weekend! Granted it’s a F1 romance but regardless it’s a fun racing romance. These books are just pure fun!

Ride With Me was a cute story with likable characters and a sweet HEA.

Thomas and Stella may have drunkenly gotten married but their union just might be a good move for both of them. Each is embroiled in controversy of their own making unfortunately and need to rehab their images. Once they decide to stay married, for awhile at least, they soon find they're very compatible. Thomas is so thoughtful when Stellas needs to move her work to his home and sets her up the kitchen of her dreams. What man does that? Stella is so accomplished with her own business. They both come from money but have become hugely successful in their own right.

Of course, their relationship is not all easy. There are plenty of bumps along the way which make the story more interesting, of course. The trope may be a well worn one but this story is interesting and enjoyable.

I enjoyed the hours I spent with Stella and Thomas and was glad to see them realize they make sense and to find their HEA.

Stella Baldwin just got left at the altar. Now she is stuck going to a hen do. Formula 1 driver Thomas Maxwell-Brown has been living in a PR nightmare after a video of him saying something bad leaked. He’s stuck going to a stag party to represent his family. Only, this hen do and stag party are a joint party. Stella and Thomas wind up hanging out. The next morning they wake up… married. Ready to get it annulled, they then decide to use this marriage to help them in their business lives. Soon though, it’s more than just a fake marriage and what happens in Vegas doesn’t necessarily stay there!

This was a really sweet and enjoyable read! I was so excited to read this book for many reasons. First, I met my husband in Vegas. Second, we are a racing family (though it’s NASCAR). Third, I just really love the fake marriage trope. Put these all together with this authors amazing writing style, and it makes for a great book.

Thomas had me smiling from ear to ear. He really is the dream man. He’s sweet and sexy, caring and loving, thoughtful and loyal. I mean, really, he’s perfect!! It was all he little, quiet gestures that really made me fall in love with him. I really enjoyed Stella as well. While she’s working through what happened to her, we learn that she’s brave, strong, talented, smart, vulnerable, learning to trust herself again, and learning to be herself again. It’s true to how one would feel if that happened to them, but also really nice to see her rising from the situation.

The spice in the book was on point as well. It was timely, and it was written well. It wasn’t in there just for the sake of it being in there. I respected the author’s decision to have the two characters make the choices that they did. This has quickly become one of my favorite sports romance books. Now I need to read more racing romance books!

Thomas Maxwell-Brown is a well known Formula 1 driver, unfortunately recently he’s known for cursing a fellow driver, who then had a near fatal accident.

Stella Baldwin has a successful business but was left at the altar by her last boyfriend. She goes to a Las Vegas bachelorette party anyway, where she meets Thomas. When they wake up after a drunken night, they discover that they got married for real.

They decide to stay married for 6 months, but as they spend their time together they start falling for each other. Can their relationship survive Formula 1 groupies and two busy schedules?

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley, I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book was so good. I couldn't put it down at all. I loved the story and the spice. 10/10 recommend if you love sport romances. You really can't go wrong with this read

3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.

I liked this one more than the first, although, I’m not sure if it’s because I listened to the audio of the first one and didn’t care for the narrators’ voices.

Thomas and Stella were a great match for each other. From the beginning, their banter was bantering and the chemistry was off the charts. Overall, I really liked this book. My only complaint was Stella’s bot being communicative with Thomas 1) about her feelings and 2) about Etienne wanting to talk. For the majority of the story, she talked about appreciating how Thomas allowed open communication and even the number one rule that she set called for “no secrets,” but her choosing to clam up seemed out of place. I’m glad that she finally got it together in the end.

If you’re a fan of the marriage of convenience trope paired with the ever-satisfying he falls harder dynamic, this book is a home run. Blending heartfelt character growth with a backdrop of competitive sports, it’s the kind of romance that builds its fire slowly—and earns every emotional payoff.

The story follows a strong but emotionally bruised heroine, Stella, recovering from a messy breakup that’s left her wary of love. When circumstances push her into a marriage of convenience with the male lead (Thomas)—a disciplined, quietly charming athlete—the setup seems purely transactional. But what starts as a practical arrangement gradually blooms into an authentic friendship, one that becomes the foundation for something deeper.

What sets this romance apart is its pacing. There’s no instant passion or rush to the bedroom. Instead, the story gives space for both characters to heal, connect, and truly get to know each other. Their banter feels natural, their emotional moments are deeply earned, and watching the male lead fall—hard—is incredibly satisfying. His subtle gestures, growing protectiveness, and quiet vulnerability will win over readers just as steadily as they win over the heroine.

For those who prefer romance without an overload of steamy scenes, this book strikes a perfect balance. The chemistry is there, but it’s the emotional intimacy and trust that take center stage.

Whether you’re new to sports romance or already a fan, this book offers the perfect blend of tension, tenderness, and slow-burn satisfaction. It’s a love story that unfolds like a season-long game—strategic, surprising, and ultimately victorious.

Well it’s official!! I think I need to read more F1 romances!

This was such a cute story and the “accidentally woke up in Vegas married” trope was executed so well. Stella and Thomas had great chemistry and the banter between these two was hilarious at times. This was such a fun read and I will definitely be reading more by this author.

Huge thank you for allowing me to receive an ARC of this book. I'm not a huge fan of F1 and know very little about it, but this book was so interesting, and I fell in love with the sport and the F1 environment. This was the first book I read by this author and I enjoyed their writing style and I look forward to their future work! Quiet love is my favorite thing in the whole world and I fell in love with these characters and their story!!

I definitely need to read the first book in this series! Once again, thank you so much to NetGalley for allowing me to receive this ARC!

ACCIDENTALLY MARRIED IN VEGAS AFTER BEING LEFT AT THE ALTER??? GAG ME

First off, thank you Berkley, NetGalley and Simone for the arc of Ride With Me, out now! <3

I just adore Simone's writing, and this one had so much yearningggggggg from Thomas that I just want him. I am by no means an expert on F1 (I don't watch it at all) but F1 books??? F1 books written by Simone??? Catch me being the biggest F1 supporter! Simone has the ability to write stories about things I understand nothing about and give a new meaning to the world.

Both Stella and Thomas have to redeem themselves in the eyes of the public. Stella our lovely fmc was just left at the alter and crashed out on social media. Thomas did a little hate spew in private but was outed by someone close to him. When their worlds collide at a bachelor/bachelorette party, they start to talk and flirt a little, but never did they expect to wake up married.

I just love a man who simps, a man who yearns, a man who knows what he wants and goes after it. And that my friends, is Thomas. Simone gave us the number one simp in the world and that was Dev (my man my man my man) but now we have Thomas and I'll be giggling with the next books in the series, because I will be sat waiting for more yearners.

Stella is a strong fmc (strong being the key word, cause girlie I would have folded for Thomas a lot sooner than she did) but also, I 100% understand her reservations because hello after being left at the alter I would have crashed out too and probably do worse. But my girl has her successful bakeries, they continue to go viral, and she is now loved by a man who wants to see her succeed (he bought her all the equipment needed when she moved in with him and idk y'all I might have shed a few tears, because the thoughtfulness is insaneeeeee). I love seeing her relationships grow stronger as she becomes the person she once was but better. She grows beautifully even after being pegged down because of life.

Thomas "my wife" Maxwell-Brown, sir you were so down bad it was everything. The amount of "my wife" scenes had me gasping. Him communicating with people after wronging them and even talking to people who has wronged him made him so much better in my eyes, I fear I do not forget, nor do I forgive. When he loves, he loves hard, and I am so glad we got to see his story. His character development is one I truly enjoyed as well.

So grateful to read Simone's work and can NOT waittttt for the rest of the Lights Out series <33333

- Accidentally Married in Vegas (what happens in Vegas may not always stay in Vegas)
- Slowwwwwwwwwww Burn
- F1 Driver x Bakery Owner
- Marriage of Conveience
- Interracial Romance
- Obsessed MMC x Independent FMC
- "My Wife"

We love an interracial romance! Obsessed with this one and how much he loves her like wow the standards are HIGH!

I am trying to put my thoughts on this book into a coherent review, but finding it very hard to do so! This book is everything I need in a romance and more!

Stella is a famous baker with hundreds of stores, who was recently left at the alter. She meets Thomas Maxwell-Brown at a joint bachelor/bachelorette party, who is an English Formula 1 race car driver. They have an instant connection and spend a wild evening together in Vegas, only to find out they got hitched overnight! Together they decide to stay married out of convenience and slowly start to fall for one another.

The way the author writes these characters is exceptional. You want to be best friends with Stella and swoon over Thomas. Stella has built this powerful empire and she is someone to look up to. Thomas builds Stella back up where her prior fiancé had torn her down. He is patient, thoughtful, and pays attention to the little things. I also love the way Thomas and Stella joke and laugh together.

Thank you NetGalley, Berkley Publishing, and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute romance that had its spicy moments. I liked both of the leads and was impressed by their chemistry and back stories. I did think the book was a bit too long it dragged a bit in the middle, but overall it was an enjoyable read.

Ride with me by Simone Soltani is number 2 in the lights out series. Although it is the second book I feel you don't have to read the first book in order to read this one, but after reading this one you might want to go back and read it! I don't know much about Formula 1 but the book appeared to depict it very accurately.

Tropes for this book include: marriage of convenience, forced proximity, F1 romance, both millionaires, he falls first, strangers to lovers.

I enjoyed that the book didn't start out with the marriage but instead built it up so that you actually wanted it to happen. I'm a fan of Vegas so love all the Vegas shout outs in the book as well. I also liked that both main characters were successful in their own right.

Thank you Simone for partnering with NetGalley. I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

3.75 stars - I enjoyed this so much more than I expected. I did not connect with the couple from the first book but wanted to give this series another try and am so glad I did. I felt like the characters were so much more mature in this book and even though everything moved quite quickly, their relationship somehow still felt realistic. I LOVE a marriage of convenience and this one was a lot of fun. Watching Stella slowly find herself after previously being in such an awful relationship was a treat and I was so happy she found someone that was able to support her ambition and celebrate all that she is. Thomas falling first and the quiet and sweet ways he shows his affection without expecting anything in return absolutely melted my heart. Overall, I'm SO happy I continued on with this series and am excited for whatever comes next from Simone Soltani!

Thank you so much to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for the eARC - all opinions are my own!

4.5 ⭐

This was my first F1 romance book and it did not disappoint! I went into this one reading it as a standalone (will have to read the debut book now). Stella is a worldwide bakery owner who just got left at the alter mere weeks ago, now she’s at her cousins wedding in Las Vegas. Thomas is a race car driver attending a close family friend’s wedding. They meet at the party and have some drinks, maybe one too many because get married! The next day Stella and Thomas realize what they did and decide to stay married out of convenience for the both of them. They set a list of rules they’re going to follow so they don’t cross any boundaries in their marriage. The chemistry between them was instant and only builds over time. Stella starts to let her guard down a bit letting him see more personal pieces of her. Thomas also shares his insecurities (he’s also the biggest sweetheart). By the end their not so fake marriage turns into the realest one with all the walls broken down and all the love for each other to give. I really enjoyed this book! The banter and the sizzling heat between Stella and Thomas.

The banter. My god, the banter in Ride With Me is unmatched. The second installment in Simone Soltani's Lights Out series is lighter on the actual F1 racing (it starts near the end of the season in Vegas, after all), but makes it up as a solid, "Oops, we accidentally got married in Vegas" story. By page 54 I was swooning. Who *is* this MMC?!

Ride With Me pairs baker/entrepreneur extraordinaire Stella Margaux with midfield driver Thomas Maxwell-Brown. I loved that that put them on more even footing that most Formula 1 romance love interests, despite Thomas' family being titled. The two meet up at a joint bachelor/bachelorette party ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, not long after Stella is left at the altar. And the chemistry between them is combustible from the jump.

The accidental marriage morphs into a marriage of convenience when the two decide to stay married for a year -- but with rules. Stella is resisting, but Thomas catches feelings and eventually it's all too real.

Like Cross the Line, Ride With Me has F1 chops, but it'll be good entry point for those new to the sport and/or F1 romance. Personally, I'm looking forward to Soltani's characters spending more time on the track / in the paddock.

Ride with Me by Simone Solatani, book two in the Lights Out series, is a sizzling romance where two strangers decide to use their marriage to their advantage and ride out the drama together. This story follows Stella, a recently jilted bride and businesswoman, and Thomas, an F1 racer weathering a scandal. The two meet in Vegas at a combined bachelor/bachelorette party, spending a wild night together; where instead of drunkenly hooking up, they drunkenly got married. They decided to stay married for a year for PR reasons, and to appear together in public.

This is an opposites attract story: he’s white, she’s black; he’s a racecar driver, she’s a baker who owns a growing company; she was dumped at the altar, the last thing he was thinking of was getting married. Their banter, chemistry, and tension were off the charts; Stella and Thomas were perfect for each other. I enjoyed how they communicated and followed their rules, all while struggling to not fall for each other. The hint of drama surrounding their relationship was the perfect balance to their sweet romance and the slow burn steam.

This is the story of two wounded hearts healing together, as they learn to trust again, take risks, and dares to pierce the heart faster than any racing car. Taking a chance, while making a leap of faith, and running the risk, that what they have, no matter how shaky it may have started, can take root and grow in the most powerful of ways.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#NetGalley #Berkely #RideWithMe