Pole Position, Lights Out by Charlie Novak

A secret relationship in the high stakes world of Formula 1 racing. Once they are on the same racing team, nothing should change for Dean and Mateo, they are always careful in public. The competition of being on the same team without letting jealousy get in the way causes struggles, but for Dean and Mateo nothing can get in the way of their love. Pole Position is part of the multi-author series, Lights Out.

From the blurb:

Pole position gives a driver the best chance at winning, but can there be a winner when a long-term relationship is on the line?

Mateo Llorente was born to be Formula 1 World Champion. Charming, handsome, and incredibly

talented, Mateo is everything a champion should be. Dean Williams has fought for his position in Formula 1 with everything he has, and dreams of podium finishes and championship trophies.

For the past three years, Mateo and Dean have kept their long-term relationship under wraps, but when they both find themselves driving for Cadigan Racing, they know things won’t stay simple for long.

Keeping their relationship a secret is one thing, but dealing with the demands of the season is another. As both drivers rack up points and the media scrutiny puts them under pressure, cracks start to appear in Mateo and Dean’s relationship.

Can their love survive the intensity of Formula 1? Or will winning cost Dean and Mateo everything?

This M/M romance from Charlie Novak features a steamy long-term secret relationship between teammates, and is set in the high octane world of Formula 1 featuring fast cars, driving at the limit, spectacular crashes, heated rivalries, and of course, a HEA.

Each book in the Lights Out collection is a standalone story, and the books can be read in any order

SNik's Review:

Part of a multi-author series (Lights Out) but all are standalone stories. POC representation. Established couple. Dual POV. 

Formula 1 racing is dangerous and being in a relationship with another driver is super risky, but Mateo and Dean have decided it’s worth every kind of risk to be together. 

Having managed a secret relationship for three years, Dean and Mateo believe they can weather anything, but the strain of hiding while competing on the same racing team is creating hurdles they haven’t faced before. 

Both Dean and Mateo are willing to put the other first, and are so sweet together, the kind of devoted and loving long term relationship that is dreamy and full of swoon. 

Novak is able to write a very romantic story for a couple that has already been together a few years, they continue to have super steamy interactions and are beyond committed and in love. 

Just thoroughly enjoyed this story from start to end.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Sheena's Review:

Pole Position is part of the multi-author Lights Out series, but can easily be read as a standalone.  I loved that the two MCs in this book were already in a long-term, established and healthy relationship even though they weren't out.  I also loved that Dean was immediately honest with his new team and didn't keep his relationship with Mateo a secret.  There was a refreshing lack of angst and secrets and I really liked that.  I loved Mateo and Dean together too, theirs is a real relationship built on a solid foundation, and as a result it makes for a better story, I thought.

It's less a love story than a story of a single season of Formula 1 and the pressures of the team, the media, and the drive to win they both have as both want to be champion.  I liked all the secondary characters too, although this is more focused on a single team and their season.  Mateo and Dean together are great, it's super hot, yet sweet and both want to make it work and I loved that they communicated so well with each other to make it work.  

I really enjoyed this, it was a real page turner as I just didn't know how it was all going to come good in the end, but I loved that they did it as they did everything - together.  It's a low angst, sweet story and I loved it all.  

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Heather's Review:

I am loving how well the Lights Out series blends together and the various characters and events happen in multiple books, but I got a small niggle of incongruity when I read Pole Position after reading a couple of the other books, since one of the previous books mentioned that Dean and Mateo missed a race to elope, but otherwise I enjoyed getting a glimpse into how the stressful F1 racing world is, especially when you've been hiding a relationship for years.

I enjoyed seeing how the tension and external pressures affected the relationship and how the couple chose to conduct themselves.  It was also interesting watching how the media handled seeing the men through a different lens and what conclusions they chose to draw.

The romance itself is low angst, steamy and sweet, with almost all of the tension coming from outside sources. It was a fun read and a lovely addition to the series.

Rating: 4 Stars

Pole Position is available to buy as an ebook or to read with Kindle Unlimited subscription.