Name: LIGHTS OUT (18+)
Author: Hazel D. Hawthorn

Story Notes

Welcome to Lights Out

If you’re expecting a Formula One romance where racing is simply the backdrop... this story might surprise you.

Lights Out is as much about the sport as it is about the people living inside it.

I’ve spent countless hours researching Formula One, from engineering departments and race strategy to telemetry, simulator work, garage dynamics and everything that happens long before the cars line up on the grid. My goal has never been to write a romance that just happens to feature race cars. I wanted to write a story that feels like you’re actually stepping into the paddock.

That also means the romance is a slow burn.

Alexander and Sophia don’t fall for each other overnight. Their relationship is built through trust, respect, rivalry, misunderstandings, shared victories and devastating setbacks. Every lap, every strategy call and every race weekend shapes who they become.

Whether you’re a lifelong Formula One fan or someone who has never watched a single race, I hope this story makes you feel the excitement, pressure and emotion that make this sport so addictive.

Thank you for giving Lights Out a chance.

Now... buckle up.

The lights are about to go out.

Summary

Four-time Formula One World Champion Alexander Knight has spent his entire life proving that control wins championships. On the track, every decision is calculated. Off it, his reputation as the sport's most infamous playboy keeps everyone at a safe distance. After losing both of her parents, Sophia Lewis has only one goal left: to fulfill the promise she made to her father and become the first woman Formula One World Champion. When the struggling team she works for is unexpectedly acquired by Knights Racing, she finds herself working alongside the one man she never wanted to meet. Alexander is everything Sophia despises. Sophia is everything Alexander can't stop thinking about. As the Formula One season unfolds across the world's most iconic circuits, rivalry turns into admiration, admiration into temptation, and the line between professional and personal becomes impossible to ignore. But in a sport where every mistake is broadcast to millions, falling for the wrong person could cost far more than a championship. Because some races aren't won by crossing the finish line. Sometimes, the hardest battle is surrendering your heart.

Genre: Romance

Author: Hazel D. Hawthorn

Status: Ongoing

Chapters: 18

Rating: 5.0 1 review

Age Rating: 18+

AUTHOR NOTE

Lights Out is a work of fiction intended for mature readers (18+). While inspired by the world of elite motorsport, this novel is not affiliated with Formula One, any racing team, driver, championship, or governing body. All characters, teams, organizations, and events have been created for the purpose of storytelling, and any resemblance to real persons or situations is purely coincidental.

Copyright Notice

No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, stored, or shared in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author, except for brief quotations used for reviews, commentary, or other uses permitted by applicable copyright law.

The characters, fictional racing teams, organizations, settings, storylines, and original elements of the Lights Out universe are the intellectual property of Hazel D. Hawthorn.

Please Read Before Proceeding

This novel contains mature themes, emotionally intense situations, and occasional explicit language. Reader discretion is advised.

Content Warnings & Themes

Mature Romance – Slow-burn romance, emotional intimacy, unresolved attraction, jealousy, longing, and romantic tension.

Workplace Dynamics – Professional rivalries, power structures within elite motorsport, workplace conflict, high-pressure decision-making, and evolving professional relationships.

Grief & Loss – References to the death of parents, childhood trauma, abandonment, and the lasting impact of loss.

Mental & Emotional Struggles – Self-doubt, guilt, trust issues, emotional isolation, anxiety under pressure, and personal growth.

High-Risk Motorsport – Racing incidents, crashes, dangerous situations, injuries, and the inherent risks associated with professional motorsport.

Competitive Pressure – Intense competition, media scrutiny, public criticism, career setbacks, and the psychological demands of performing at the highest level.

Family & Relationship Conflict – Complex family dynamics, betrayal, misunderstandings, strained relationships, and emotional reconciliation.

Occasional Strong Language – Frequent use of profanity in high-stress situations.

Explicit Sexual Content – Graphic consensual sexual scenes between adult characters, explicit language, and intimate moments that form part of the emotional and romantic development of the story.

This novel is a work of fiction. The racing procedures, engineering, team structures, and sporting regulations have been adapted where necessary to serve the story and should not be considered an exact representation of real-world motorsport.

If any of the themes listed above are upsetting or triggering for you, please consider whether this story is the right fit for you. Your well-being will always be more important than finishing a book.

Thank you for picking up Lights Out.

Whether you’re here for the racing, the strategy, the rivalry, the slow-burn romance, or the people who discover that sometimes the greatest battles happen away from the track, I hope this story keeps you turning the pages until the very last lap.

Now... buckle up.

Hazel