Ride With Me (Lights Out, Bk. 2)
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Overview
From the USA Today bestselling author of Cross the Line comes a sizzling Formula 1 romance about two strangers, one wild night in Vegas, and a marriage neither of them planned — but neither can walk away from.
Stella Baldwin's life has officially hit rock bottom. She was left at the altar, and then — in a moment she deeply regrets — she vented about it in a drunken rant posted to all of her social media followers. Now, barely two weeks later, she has to paste on a smile and show up to her cousin's bachelorette party in Las Vegas.
Thomas Maxwell-Brown races Formula 1 cars for a living, but right now everything feels like it's spinning out. His family won't let up. A wave of fresh talent is threatening his place on the grid. And somehow, he's become the most hated man in the sport. A stag party in Vegas feels like exactly the kind of escape he needs.
The two of them were never supposed to meet. But that's the thing about Vegas — it has a way of rewriting your plans entirely. One night together changes everything, and Stella wakes up the next morning with a ring on her finger and Thomas Maxwell-Brown beside her.
Now they have a decision to make. Walking away might be the sensible choice. But staying married? That could actually solve a few problems for both of them. It's unconventional. It's a little chaotic. And it might just be exactly what they both need.
Sometimes, what happens in Vegas really doesn't have to stay there.
Series Information
Series Name: Lights Out
Series Reading Order
This series is best read in publication order.
Book 1 - Cross the Line
Book 2 - Ride with Me
Book 3 - Crash into You
Book 4 - Untitled Simone Soltani 2027
Reviews and Author Praise
"Simone Soltani's Ride with Me is a slow burn that will get your heart racing for sure! Whoops-we-got-drunk-and-got-married-in-Vegas is already a number one trope in my heart, but it gets souped-up here with Thomas and Stella who are both sexy, confident, and highly competent in a way that they admire in each other. It takes about point two seconds for Thomas to become a my wife guy, and Stella learns that she can put her whole heart on the line. I'm waving the checkered flag for this one!"
— Alicia Thompson, USA Today bestselling author of The Art of Catching Feelings
"Exhilarating, fun and impossible to put down! A new sports romance fave! I’m obsessed with Stella and Thomas. Slow burn perfection! Ride With Me sets a new standard for the marriage of convenience trope, and Thomas Maxwell-Brown is my new book boyfriend."
— Stephanie Archer, author of The Vancouver Storm series
"Simone Soltani's Ride With Me is giving "What happens in Vegas can change your life," vibes in this thrilling accidental marriage of convenience romance! Their fast-burn connection switches gears as Thomas and Stella take their sweet time with a tender yet passionate love story that will leave readers swooning."
— Myah Ariel, author of When I Think of You and No Ordinary Love
"While F1 fans will especially love this novel, readers unfamiliar with the sport will also appreciate Soltani’s delicious romance, full of sexy and swoony scenes."
— Library Journal
"Formula 1 fans, this one’s for you."
— US Weekly
Topics and Key Themes
Narrative Tropes
Forced Proximity
Grumpy/Sunshine
Opposites Attract
Marriage of Convenience
Accidental Marriage
Key Themes
Vegas vows, real consequences — a drunken mistake forces two strangers to decide what comes next.
Public humiliation as a turning point — going viral for heartbreak leads to an unexpected lifeline.
Chaos as connection — two people unraveling separately find steadiness in each other's disorder.
Identity under pressure — a driver losing his edge and a woman rebuilt by scandal fight to reclaim themselves.
Convenience masking genuine feeling — a practical arrangement quietly becomes something neither planned for.
Who is this book for?
Primary Genre: Contemporary Sports Romance
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5: Very Spicy
Turning up the heat! Multiple steamy scenes with clear, descriptive detail and strong chemistry. Romance and spice share the spotlight here.
Fans of Helena Hunting and accidental-marriage romances will enjoy the high-octane Formula 1 backdrop, sharp banter, and steamy slow-burn chemistry between two chaotic strangers who wake up in Vegas with rings on their fingers.
About the Author
Simone Soltani is a romance author and former ghost writer for a serialized fiction platform. Born and raised in Washington, DC, she holds a BA in Geography from The George Washington University, which she likes to think comes in handy for world-building in her novels. When she’s not writing, she spends most of her time planning vacations she’ll probably never get to go on, reorganizing her many bookshelves, and watching sports while cuddling with her dogs.
Similar Authors
Helena Hunting, Lyla Sage, Sadie Kincaid
Reader FAQs
The book carries a high spice level, comparable to other steamy contemporary romance releases. It includes explicit sexual content between the main characters. Readers comfortable with graphic intimacy scenes will find it fits that expectation; those preferring closed-door romance should be aware before purchasing.
Ride With Me shares Helena Hunting's signature mix of sharp banter, emotional depth, and steamy slow-burn tension. Where Hunting often leans on workplace dynamics, this book centers on a Vegas accidental marriage within a Formula 1 setting, giving it a more high-octane backdrop.
The romantic tension is slow-burn. The two leads are thrown together immediately by circumstance, but genuine emotional connection develops gradually as the arrangement forces sustained proximity. The chemistry builds across the story rather than resolving early.
No prior knowledge of Formula 1 is required. The sport provides setting and atmosphere, but the story focuses on character dynamics and relationship development. Readers unfamiliar with motorsport will follow the narrative without difficulty.
The Formula 1 backdrop is distinctive within the subgenre, and both leads arrive in Vegas already publicly unraveling — a disgraced driver and a woman who went viral after being left at the altar. The arrangement serves genuine, pressing needs for both characters, grounding the trope in higher personal stakes.
Info
ISBN: 9780593818169
Published Date: May 20, 2025
Publisher: Berkley Publishing Group
Language: English
Page Count: 438
Size: 8.00" l x 5.22" w x 0.98" h
Category
Fiction