Book Blurb:
I had one never get involved with a driver. My career as a sports journalist depended on it. But I never planned on Caleb Collings.
The Formula 1 star is notoriously private and despises the media. He’s also the only person who stood up for me when a misogynistic exec tried to tear me down.
To my shock, he offered me an exclusive tour. Then another. Now he’s offering me a side of himself no one else gets to see. He’s everything I should avoid, but I find myself drawn to his piercing blue eyes and the unexpected kindness behind his guarded walls. Falling for him could get me blacklisted, but walking away feels impossible.
Lights Out is the exhilarating first book in the Love in the Paddock contemporary romance series. If you like high-stakes passion and a forbidden workplace romance, you’ll love Aven Ellis’s new read. Open the cover and see what destiny has in store.
Tropes:
*Netgalley ALC *Single narrator *Sports romance (Formula One) *Forbidden romance
*Secret romance *Grumpy/Sunshine *Reporter FMC *he hates reporters/media *He falls first
*Workplace romance *Spice *State challenge Florida (repeat) *Green flag MMC
*Hot rich MMC *Single POV from FMC side *instalove
Thoughts:
Isla (FMC) is a reporter who has been building her social media following by putting out fun content on the F1 world when offered the chance to do an interview for a racing news site she takes up the offer only when she gets there she pretty much right away has a confrontation with someone in the sports world not willing to acknowledge she knows what she's doing and thinks she's just a pretty face.
During this interaction Caleb Collings comes to her assistance and then decides he will give her a personal tour of their space... he didn't need to do this and it's even more surprising since he doesn't like the media due to his past issues with his family being put through the media circus (his family is wealthy and owns the racing company that he currently drives for) during a very hard time he doesn't trust easily and he would rather his life not be splashed all over the news... but Isla is different and he even gives her the rare opportunity for an interview.
Caleb continues to reach out to Isla and even offers additional rare interviews as they get to know each other better at first Isla wants to hold firm to her boundaries to not cross the line and date a F1 driver... she knows what the world will say about her she's worked so hard to get where she is with her job and doesn't want everyone saying she just took this job to date a driver, or she is only where she is now because she's dating a driver.
The more time Isla spends with Caleb the harder it is for her to resist his offer to go on a real date, he's thoughtful and kind, he takes her needs into consideration and just maybe if she gave this a real chance it could turn into the love of a life time... but can their relationship survive the media storm that will come from being open to the public about being together? Or will it be over before it really begins?
Things I liked about this story:
FMC doing well in a male dominated field! Yes girl!
MMC: Green flags all the way, super sweet perfect book boyfriend
I liked the side characters Isla has a bestie and Caleb's sister are really supportive.
This was a cute cozy read and if you're a fan of the F1 circuit you'll enjoy the mentions of the races and tours of their base.
I might check out the next in the series it does set up for a second book for the series for the MMC's sister or Isla's best friend who would like to be introduced to her F1 driver crush (Caleb's Best friend)
Things that didn't work for me:
FMC's internal monologue were really repetitive having the story only from her side made these sections harder to get through.
Repetitive "she's not like the other girls" and asks such quirky questions sections
Caleb told her that he would give her an interview... and Isla flat out asked him if he was doing it to get into her panties because she wasn't offering that as part of the interview... I was cringing for her he was trying to help her with the channel she was working with by offering this interview and I kind of felt like that was insulting to him when he had done nothing to that point to make anyone believe that this would be an exchange like that.
Isla made a really big deal about not dating an F1 driver ever... she wasn't crossing those boundaries but Caleb just asked her to coffee and she's all about it without much push back.
I felt the book spent more time discussing what would happen if their "relationship" got out to the media then the couple actually spent together... she had done like 2 interviews with him and they met for coffee, she covered some races and talked about her move to a different country and this was like 60% of the book this led to not much time for our couple to actually be together... and I felt that she was jumping a lot of steps thinking so much about their "relationship" coming out after one coffee date.
This one just felt too insta love for me after they hadn't spent much actual time together, maybe most of their relationship was "off page"
Have you read this one? what did you think?
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