Cross the Line and Ride with Me by Simone Soltani

Hello everyone, and welcome back to the paddock blog! We're so glad you're here for our third installment of our PGP book club, and trust you definitely don't want to miss this one.

Some books don’t just tell a story; they throw you headfirst into it. Cross the Line and Ride with Me are exactly those kinds of reads. Whether you're a lover of heart-pounding romance, adrenaline-fueled plots, or characters who challenge fate with every choice, these novels promise to grip you from the first page and never let go. With electric chemistry, emotional stakes, and just the right amount of edge, they dare readers to keep up and to hold on tight.

In this post, we're diving into what makes these stories irresistible, the characters who burn brightest, and why these books deserve a spot at the top of your TBR.

What is Cross the Line about?

Meet Dev Anderson, an up-and-coming Formula 1 star, who finds himself in hot water after his former PR agent ruins his social media image. Facing backlash from both his team and sponsors, the man is desperate for someone to help him recover.

Enter Willow Williams, the sister of Dev's best friend since childhood and a recent college grad struggling to kick-start her career (we can all relate to that, huh?). When the two cross paths at a glamorous party in Monaco, Dev proposes a temporary professional alliance: Willow becomes his social media manager to help clean up his image. The twist? They share a past, a kiss at a party a year before that neither can forget (scandalous!)

Willow is drawn to the opportunity on the condition that her and Dev's relationship remains strictly professional...I mean, what could possibly go wrong? As they dive more into the chaotic world of F1, the tension builds and boundaries are blurred.

First Impressions and Themes that Hit

• Genre: Sports Romance/Contemporary

• Tone: Sweet & Spicy

• Content Warnings: Chronic Illness representation, sexual content, and racial micro-aggressions.

We at PGP were impressed by the representation of chronic illness within the FMC, Willow, as well as the diverse characters in the story. However, with the diverse cultural backgrounds, we see some racial microaggressions mentioned throughout the story. Despite it all, both Dev & Willow are strong-minded people who make sure to stand on their ground and work for what they want to achieve. The book had a few spicy scenes, but it wasn't anything too "over the top" per se. It felt like the perfect he falls first storyline that had all of us giggling and kicking our feet.

What is Ride with Me about?

Ride with Me is book 2 in the series picks up right at the end of Cross the Line, and PGP were big fans of this. This time around, we meet Thomas, the most hated driver on the grid, and our girl, Stella, a girl boss who owns a macaroon shop, whose life is flipped upside down. We meet Stella as she is in Las Vegas for her cousin's co-ed bachelor's/bachelorette's party. Stella is fresh out of a relationship...or more like a could've been marriage, as she was left at the altar. After a talk with her not-so-favorite cousin, Stella decides to find her "old self." She meets Thomas amongst the groomsmen's group but thinks nothing of him until she decides to let herself go and things get realllllllly steamy at the strip club. They have what they thought was a fun one-night in Vegas, when in reality, it turns out that they legally got married.

The duo decides to stay married as it can help their image as an F1 driver and business owner. Stella takes the risk to move to England and continues to do her thing out there. The only time Thomas and Stella act like a real couple is in front of their family and the cameras.

Between the flirty banter between the two of them and much more to their love story, it had all of PGP with out mouths open.

First Impressions and Themes that Hit

• Genre: Sports Romance/Contemporary

• Tone: Slow-burn

• Content Warnings: Trauma & gaslighting from exes

We loved the flirty banter between Thomas and Stella and how much respect they have for one another. We meet a lot of different characters who each make their own impact on the main characters. Between the family pressures to the demands from their respective careers. This book is spicier (be warned) than book #1, but still such an enjoyable book to read.

Now, do you have to read book 1 before book 2? I would say you wouldn't miss out on much, but the way it flows from one to the other is a nice touch.

Let's talk F1 Parallels

Now the sport is definitely sprinkled into the storylines, but it doesn't take away from our main focus. F1 fans can definitely dive into the world and still feel like it's accurate (or somewhat) to the sport itself. While Dev doesn't feel like a character on the grid, Thomas 100% gives us Thomas vibes.

Final Thoughts & Ratings

So...would we recommend this series?

ABSOLUTELY! The series embarks on a fun, romantic-filled story that involves the world of F1. We were all literally squealing and kicking our feet at moments...especially those spicy ones.

PGP Rating: 5 out of 5 helmets 🏁 

By: Melissa Arevalo