(4.25)

THE SLOW BURN TO END ALL SLOW BURNS

I was really excited about this book after reading and loving Cross the Line from the same author, it did not disappoint.

This an accidental marriage/marriage of convenience F1 romance where both MCs come from wealthy privileged backgrounds and both have successful careers. Thomas is a Formula 1 driver and Stella is at the helm of a bakery empire. What was supposed to be a no strings attached one night stand in Vegas turns into, well, lots of strings attached when the MCs get drunk married.

I really enjoyed this story. The slow burn was excruciatingly delicious because it allowed us to know the characters as they go through all the emotions on the spectrum.
The banter between Thomas and Stella was also very well done. Their chemistry was well crafted throughout the book and i liked that it was dual pov so we could see the disconnect between how one character is perceived by the other MC and their inner monologue.

The Formula 1 aspect was really interesting too. As an F1 fan, i liked how this book takes place at the end of the season, and during the winter break. It allows for the more political aspect of the sport to be explored, This book takes place during the same racing season as Cross the Line, and while characters from book 1 do appear, you do not need to have read it to follow along.

One thing i thought was a bit contrived is the third act drama. I understand why it happened and the resolution of that particular plot point was really satisfying (go Stella!), nonetheless there were so many ways to go about it that it felt a bit frustrating.

Overall a very enjoyable read with incredible chemistry between the love interests.

"𝘼𝙝 𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙩. 𝙄 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙠 𝙄'𝙢 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙚."

Readers, start your engines!! Because I have just discovered my favourite romcom of the year 😍

Simone Soltani has absolutely smashed it with this F1, marriage of convenience romantic comedy. From picking it up, I couldn't put it down, and if you follow me over on Threads, you'll have seen me gushing all about it.

"𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣'𝙩 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙢𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩, 𝙤𝙧 𝙄 𝙙𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜."

Holy crap 🥵 Thomas, the man you are. Is there anything hotter!?

Stella is a queen, no question. She is confident and beautiful, and her humour is incredible. Never mind Thomas falling for her, I did too 🤣 she's so used to taking care of herself that when someone else does it, she doesn't know how to react. She's been mistreated by a narcissist, so Thomas is such a breath of fresh air that she knows she won't survive losing him.

Thomas is the ultimate gentleman. With his politicians smile™️, British wit, and his delightfully filthy mouth, he is top-tier book boyfriend material. Where can I buy me one of those? He buys her all of her favourite baking appliances in the exact colour she likes so she can be comfortable working in his home, but he makes sure she has silk pillows because he knows she needs to look after her hair. Stella didn't have to tell him what she needed, he made it his business to know, and for that, he is a king.

The slow-burn build up was intense and delicious, how either of them lasted so long I'll never know because I would have folded like a deckchair the minute Thomas called me "love." I mean, I'm British and he even had me swooning for him 🤣

Stella and Thomas might have found themselves in an accidental marriage, but they turned out to be exactly what the other needed at the time. With bumps along the way; French ex-fiancés, a snake in the pit-box and a social media frenzy; this book will have you up late kicking your feet with a crazy grin on your face.

You'll have to read it and let me know 😉

Thank you to @simonesoltani and @panmacmillan for an ARC of Ride With Me 💜

Basic info:
- Contemporary romance
- Double POV, 1st person, single timeline
- Part of a series of standalone books

Tropes & hooks:
- Sports romance (MMC is an F1 driver)
- MMC is the owner of a very successful bakery business
- Both FMC and MMC are extremely rich
- Interracial couple
- Accidental marriage in Vegas
- Forced proximity

What the book is about:
Stella and Thomas met at a combined bachelorette/wedding of their friends in Vegas, and once they met, the sparks flew—so much so that they woke the next morning married with no recollection of how it happened. After giving it some thought, they decided to stay married for PR purposes. Stella needs to look professional in the eyes of the executive board of her family business. Thomas needs to evade any scandals because he has just been in one (and currently is the most hated F1 driver), and besides, his family is trying to get him married to another woman he has no interest in. So Stella and Thomas decided to stay fake married for about a year.

My opinion:
- Generally speaking, it is a nice, easy read.
- Stella. She is the kind of badass, independent heroine I usually love. She has just been left at the alter by her scumbag of the ex, so now she is very weary of new relationship. If you read book one and remember the macarons scene, those macarons came from Stella's bakery.
- Thomas. We all need Thomas in our lives. The way he just knows and takes care of Stella. For example, when she moved into his house (for pretense obviously), <spoiler>he stocked his kitchen with all the appliances she might need for baking.</spoiler> He also has some history with his family and doubts about his career.
- Romance. Generally speaking, Stella and Thomas are cute, but I was nowhere near as obsessed with them as I was with the couple from the first book. I would say Thomas fell first and felt harder, but Stella was putting her walls up because of her previous experiences. So even though they were all the time in close proximity, they didn't really start dating until the very end. So we could even say it's a slow burn.
- Pacing. I found the pacing of the book a little off. We don't even leave their friend's wedding surroundings until around the 30% mark, and no one knows about Stella and Thomas's drunken wedding until around the 50% mark.

I received an eArc in exchange for my honest opinion. Thank you to everyone involved in eARC distribution.

Objectively, I don't think this was a bad book but it seems unfair to review when I'm probably not the intended audience.

This was well-written and cutesy but I hate the uprising of Formula One romances. Again, I have a masters degree in sociopolitical responses to F1 drivers and campaigns that they work on so this does seem a little bit of a step backwards for me.

I don't hate this, I can see a lot of people who enjoy romance and don't know a lot about the ins and outs really loving this so it is entirely unfair to say that this book was bad. It just wasn't a good fit for me.

Thank you, Pan Macmillan for always having my back and sending me the most amazing ARCs!

After loving Cross the Line. I had high expectations for this book and it didn't disappoint.
Stella was a great FMC. She was sassy, confident, hard-working, a girlboss...😍 But let me tell you about Thomas "my wife" Maxwell-Brown. Honestly, reading about him made me want to go to London to find myself a man like that because WOW🥵 He was so supportive of Stella, so understanding and respectful – their chemistry combined with forced proximity, marriage of convenience and slow burn, was off the charts.
Like in Cross the Line, I loved the diversity. This time, we had an interracial couple and it made me so happy to see Thomas being so considerate and getting her silk pillow cases – it's the little things in life!
As always, the F1 drama and character development were very well-written and I had such a good time reading this book that I was sad when it was over way too quickly.
I can't wait for the next book (I hope it's Reid) and I'd also love listening to Ride with Me as an audiobook with dual narration, so we can hear the different accents (please make that happen😭).

I have been waiting for this one since I read the first book, and may I say that it did not disappoint.

Her books are the first book that I read regarding F1 romance, and as someone who is not a fan of F1, I definitely liked it. Also, as a plus points, her FMC being a black woman, makes me believe that there is woman empowerment that allows any kind of woman, their race or skin color, is and can be the main protagonist in a story and deserve all the love and attention that a man can give.

Can the 3rd book be released as soon as possible? I am so in love with her stories

I did really enjoy this however I found it to be a bit too stop and start with their relationship. It was constantly about to happen and then something would come up and it was frustrating. VERY happy to see all of the details about the world of F1 are factually correct!

One of my most anticipated reads of the year, and let me tell you—I was not disappointed! 🤭 If you love F1 romances, this is the book for you. Simone Soltani absolutely nails the F1 world while giving us a sizzling, slow-burn fake marriage that had me hooked from page one.

Thomas & Stella = pure 🔥 The chemistry? Insane. The tension? Delicious. Thomas? My sweet angel baby—he’s soft, a little insecure, a little sassy, and completely in love with Stella. His devotion?? The jewelry comment?! I was DOWN BAD. And Stella? She’s a boss, independent, and always lifting people up. Loved them together!

Now, about the slow burn... At 90%, they were still questioning if this was real. I usually love a slow burn (Mariana Zapata girlies, I see you 👀), but this one had me on the edge of my seat for so long that when something finally happened, I was kinda over the wait!

And the third-act drama?? Stella, girl… why did you drag this out to the ends of the earth?! The miscommunication was infuriating. Yes, her phone wasn’t working, but WHY didn’t she call sooner? WHY was Thomas just waiting there? I was screaming. 😭

Pacing felt a little off — the first 30-40% spans days, then suddenly we’re skipping months. It got a little insta-lovey, and I wish they had known each other before getting married (at least one past convo??). Also, where was the family drama I was hoping for?!

BUT—despite my complaints, I devoured this book. It was so fun, addictive, and full of swoon-worthy moments. Simone Soltani writes such an engaging romance, and I need a Lorenzo book at one point in the future. 👏

The slow-burn read of your dreams.

I love love LOVED this book. I ate it up, it was SO good. I wasn't sure how Simone was going to top Cross the Line but I think Thomas has surpassed Dev as my favourite🫣

First and foremost, Thomas is a simp (in a hot way) for his woman and we LOVE it, like, this man is a walking heart eyes emoji. Stella is an unstoppable queen, full to the brim with sass and love for those around her. She SHONE throughout this book, and honestly? I wish I had a Stella in my life✨.

The romance was ✨romancing✨ and I felt as though the pacing was done SO well. The tension between these two was sizzling off the page.

I am a huge fan of a slow-burn done right and this one was done to perfection. Our couple have a steamy start and then take a step back to build their connection which felt so real and genuine.

Simone has by far cemented her throne as the queen of f1 romance.

What to expect?

💍 My WIFE moments
🎰 Vegas Wedding
🔥Slow Burn
🧁Bakery Owner x F1 Driver
🏎️Both Millionaires
🏁Brit x American
👩‍❤️‍👨Forced Prox
❤️Fake Dating
🎁 He buys her gifts

I adored Cross the Line and this follow up reminded me of exactly why! I loved both Stella and Thomas and their individual journeys - I liked that both of their careers were focal points in the novel. Her books make me interested in F1 which I've never cared for before. The tension between them both was great and I raced through the novel to see them finally get together. I love Simone's writing and I am eagerly awaiting the rest of her novels.

Thank you NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review!
•••
Ride with Me was a fun read with a light Formula 1 touch, but it didn’t quite meet my expectations going in. I picked it up hoping for a true F1 romance, but the sport only played a small part in the overall story. While the F1 backdrop was a nice detail, it didn’t feel essential to the plot, which left me wanting more from that angle.

The accidental marriage trope isn’t really my favorite, and I have to admit I found the whole marriage of convenience angle a bit confusing. I never fully understood why it was necessary or how it added to the story beyond creating some forced tension. Because of that, the central conflict felt a little weak to me.

I think my disappointment mostly comes from the expectations I had. If I had known this would be more of a general romance with a slight F1 vibe rather than a full-on sports romance, I might’ve enjoyed it more. It’s not a bad book by any means, just not what I was hoping for.

Overall, it’s a decent romance with some fun moments and chemistry, but for me, it didn’t hit the same as Cross the Line. A solid three-star read, but not one I see myself revisiting. 🏎️🏁❤️

MARRIAGE IN VEGAS WITH A BRITISH F1 DRIVER?! I’d be very happy, and I know Baldwin is.

After Stella is left at the altar by her 5 year fiancé, she’s devastated, but being the boss of a worldwide known patisserie company, she cannot rest. So when she’s invited to Vegas two weeks later for her cousin’s joint stag/bachelorette party she can finally escape the watchful eye of the media, but what she didn’t count for was the gorgeous British F1 driver who also wants to escape for one night. What happens when they let loose a little too much and end up getting married? Should they leave it all behind and what happened in Vegas stays in Vegas? Or could they use it to their advantage?



I loved Ride With Me so so much, we get to see a bit less of the actual racing and more the drama side of F1, along with family drama but I loved it nonetheless. I also really liked that we got to see some characters from Cross the Line (Dev I love you).
Stella and Thomas are so freaking cute, the banter is just on point the whole time and I love their family and friends looking out for them too.

Thank you to Pan Macmillan and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

5 ⭐️
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH WHERE DO I EVEN START!!
So we have Stella who has just recently been left at the altar and that’s left quite an impact on her. We also have Thomas a British F1 driver who meets Stella at a bachelorette/ bachelor party in vegas and they get MARRIED!! The tension the banter just everything I loved this book. We also have some other plots going on as-well as Stella and Thomas’s relationship that in my opinion I found just as interesting as the romance. I also love how Simone Soltani wrights accurate F1 which you don’t get in many F1 books. I’m Someone who finds most spice cringey but the way Simone wrote it made me want even more and didn’t find any of it cringey.
Some of the tropes in this book:
-Marriage of convenience
- forced proximity
- they are both millionaires ( which I also loved how the man wasn’t the only one who had achieved a great career in life because Stella is also a millionaire and famous like Thomas is.

Stella and Thomas thankyou. you have lightened up my day with your words and story. and Simone thankyou even more so because you wrote it to absolute perfection. i couldnt love this book more. i was in love with all the points of this book. i think i smiled all the way through. it felt vibrant and fun and the romance was just right. nothing cringe and better yet it completely melted the cynic in me's heart. to love books like this i think gives a reader such joy to their lives. because when a book of this kind is done well it truly can hit all the right notes.
i do of course get momentary fear of how it might go wrong or that last minute "no!! if they break up or fall out. but hopefully the authors know they have us readers hearts in their hands so mend it well. and this is exactly what Simone does.
this book gives me so much lightness to some very dark days at the moment and i appreciate them so much for being able to lift a world that can feel real heavy right now.
i wont go into my best bits otherwise i will quote the moments here there and everywhere, ha!
just read this one. and then just smile.

Fun and fast paced, this was a great romance. I enjoyed the F1 elements, but felt the relationship aspect was a little overwritten at some points. Stella also felt a little confusing as a character in parts, I thought some of her actions were rude and insensitive, whereas at other times I really enjoyed her as the MC. Still, an enjoyable romance!

I absolutely ADORED this book.

Everything about this book was on point for me, marriage of convenience, hot chemistry, likeable characters and loads of cute moments. Although I liked the first book in the series, I loved this so much more.

Stella is fiesty and confident without being an annoying or cliche FMC, while Thomas is honestly just the sweetest, MMC with a full on obsession with his wife. At times I did want to shake Stella, but aside from that, they had an amazing dynamic, with witty banter, mutual respect and serious attraction between them.

I really liked the writing in this and the pacing of the story. There was family meddling, ex drama and although I'm not a F1 fan, but I got really into the F1 drama in this.

Tropes:
Marriage of Convenience
Interracial couple
Obsessed MMC x Feisty FMC
Slow Burn
"My Wife"
English guy x American girl

Thanks to Pan Macmillan and netgalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

Wow! She's done it again.

I loved Stella and Thomas' story, I went into this completely blind, and I didn't realise it was a slow burn and was pleasantly surprised. Things didn't even start heating up till the 80% mark! I thought the banter and chemistry was so good and I particularly loved Thomas as a main love interest.
However, Stella did start to annoy me a little she was self-sabotaging a lot but also it was the whole point she had been through a lot. I just felt that the 3rd act breakup could've been a different plot device rather than the one the author chose.
Overall, if you love slow burn, F1, golden retriever MMC and baked goods, you'll love this one and I'll definitely be recommending it. I will always read whatever Simone writes.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me the arc to review!

4,5⭐

I had already adored Cross the Line, but this one took everything I hoped and turned it into something wonderfully unexpected 🥹

I absolutely LOVED Thomas and Stella and their story - it was the perfect mix of fake dating, marriage of convenience and 'what stays in Vegas DOESN'T always stay in Vegas' 🙈
Thomas is A MAN - book husband top tier - the most considerate, kind, funny guy, the one we all need in our lives. Stella is not only a boss woman, but also thoughtful and someone that fights for the people she loves. I really loved them as a couple, but I think I loved them equally was individuals who were discovering themselves together and getting over their fears and traumas.

The slow burn was definitely burning slow but it made it all the sweeter when they finally came together. Every hurdle they had to overcome, everything that just made their relationship stronger also made the whole journey worth the pain and the moments where I just wanted them to be ok and live happily ever after.

I also really liked a lot of the other characters, especially the more complex ones, that show us that not everything is black and white and that some actions, intentions and people can be more than just good or bad.

I absolutely adore Stella & Thomas. Who would have thought an accidental vegas wedding could lead to one of the healthiest relationships I’ve ever read about.

These two were fiery from the start and I ate it up. The banter was next level and who doesn’t love a man obsessed?

Thomas was everything you could possibly want in a love interest. Patient, kind, respectful and ALWAYS acting with Stella in mind. I think everyone needs their own Thomas.

Stella’s story hit very close to home for me and I loved seeing her confidence be reborn as this story progressed. Seeing her get her spark back with Thomas as her cheerleader was everything.

1000% recommend.

I absolutely adored with book!
Can we just talk about Thomas for a moment because he is a new favourite book boyfriend! "She's a dream come to life"
Weak at the knees!
The way he was Stella's biggest supporter in everything she done, was a green flag.
Fake dating then marriage of convenience - you had me sold straight away! Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE a fake dating/marriage of convenience trope.
I will admit, I was unsure on Stella at the start but then I loved her. Their chemistry didn't feel forced; to me it felt very natural. The pacing of this book was done very well and nothing felt skipped over or rushed.
The F1 aspect was perfect, it wasn't too heavily focused where it took over the book but the right balance for the plot/focus of the characters! This one will definitely be an addition to the shelves.
I highly recommend :)