The Trail Often Crossed

Baker Oaks #2

by Ambar Cordova

In this spicy sports romance, a woman has to face her attraction to the new man in town, who happens to be her newest rival.

Everything she touches dies.

Roe has always been a trailblazer. From a very young age, she learned that life has its own twists and turns, and the only way of making it out the other side is on your own. When she starts motocross racing, she thinks her biggest challenge will be making it to nationals, until she meets her newest rival.

Everything he wants is out of reach.

Santiago grew up as the caregiver, the glue to his family, especially after the loss that changed his life. He is everyone’s rock but has always felt like something is missing. When Roe unexpectedly barges into his life, she blurs all his carefully constructed lines. But he can’t protect her if she keeps pushing him away.

Roe and Santiago might be rivals, but the undeniable spark between them is hard to ignore. Can they make it to the finish line with their hearts in one piece?

Genres: Romance, Sports Romance, Sports, Contemporary, Cultural, Contemporary Romance, Small Town Romance

390 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 10, 2024

About the author

Ambar Cordova is a romance author of heartwarming and relatable multicultural stories. With a focus on raw, emotional storytelling, she creates relatable worlds with flawed characters that feel real. She grew up in the Dominican Republic and draws on the diversity of her homeland as inspiration for her stories. Ambar writes books that readers not only escape into but also find themselves in. She warns her readers that they will both laugh and cry 90% of the time with her stories, and she's not even a little bit sorry.

When Ambar is not writing she’s chasing chickens or children in a small town in Florida, spending time with her family, and fangirling big time about her favorite authors. Ambar enjoys boat rides, dancing, traveling, and spending time outside.

She is represented by Sadé Rena with Beck Literary Agency. For rights inquiries, please reach out to Sadé

at sade@beckliterary.com

CONNECT WITH AMBAR
•NEWSLETTER: acordovabooks.com/newsletter
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•INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/acordovabooks
•TIKTOK: tiktok.com/@authorambarcordova
•WEBSITE: www.acordovabooks.com

Reviews

[amarachireads · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I want to make it my full-time job-to know her, to worship her, to adore her, the only way she should be treated."

This was such a cute multicultural romance and i ate it up. It’s set in a small town with both characters being bike riders. A man that wants to worship and cherish the mmc while also respecting her boundaries 👏🏾. Also the mmc is tattooed and she is a tattoo artist. The chemistry and banter was instantaneous and I kept grinning at the quips and banter. The fmc doesn’t like the mmc at first as these books go and when they do get together it’s to scratch that itch. I loved the emotional backstories of both characters and how connected they both were. The steamy scenes were hot and he has Spanish nicknames for her 🫠. I liked that this was book was easy to read and fast paced. This is my first time reading this author’s book and it won’t be my last!

Read for:

- Small town romance
- Multi cultural romance
- Tattooed mmc and fmc
- Strong fmc
- Loss and grief
- Great banter

4.25/5 ⭐️

[Sandy (Sandy.Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75/5 ⭐️

Ambar does it again. Baker Oaks and all of the characters that fill it have found a place in my heart.

I must start out by saying that this book was much spicier than book one but the spice really added to the plot and helped you know the characters better. I know that may not make sense right now, but if you read it, you will totally get it.

First let’s talk about the two main character and let me tell you all the reasons why I love them both. I really enjoyed watching Roe come out of her shell and learn to trust other people. Her character arc in this book is mind blowing. On the other end we have Saint who is the most patient and giving guy. I honestly would give the world to him.

The tension.
The banter.
The growth.
This duo is unstoppable.

Once again, the other characters that surround them in the story are all ones that you love and want to read more about.

Any Baker Oaks books that is written will be a book I automatically add to my TBR and Amber has made herself into an autoread author.

[Kylie ve · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25/5 ⭐️
I adored the playlist that was put together before each chapter! I feel like this was a pretty good book because of how mature and well communicative both characters were.
Love a small town and Baker Oats is such a cute name for a cute community! I have no previous knowledge of the dirt bike world so honestly this was really cool to read about and learn something new. If I’m honest I feel like the romance aspect was really rushed and we didn’t really get time to sit with it and process what was happening or feel the connection build between both characters.
I also wish we got more of a backstory for our FMC because to me her personality and character just fell a bit flat. I will definitely read the next book coming out though!

[Isabella Maraschi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading anything by this author & it definitely won’t be the last! I really enjoyed the plot and characters & also loved that the author put together a playlist & every chapter had its own song to go with it. Really made it such a fun reading experience & sometimes I didn’t know if I wanted to read or dance to the more upbeat songs 🤭

This was my first motocross romance so it was super interesting to be immersed in that world.
Roe was a strong fmc with a “I won’t take your crap” & “I can take care of myself & I don’t need you” attitude which I love. She doesn’t let people in & doesn’t allow herself to get attached to anyone so I loved seeing Santi change that. I also felt the author did a great job representing some of her mental health struggles.

Santiago was just the perfect gentleman 🫶🏻 He was always so respectful & patient with Roe. He’s a caretaker by nature, always taking care of everyone around him. When he started cooking for her & bringing her breakfast every morning because he was worried she wasn’t eating enough ? I melted! Every time he would speak to her in Spanish & call her princesa? I melted 😍 but in the moments when he was with Roe that he would lose control & just be in the moment & take what he wanted? This man had me absolutely BLUSHING 🥵

Overall this was a sweet, fun, spicy & quick read & I really enjoyed it. Can’t wait to see what’s next in the series! Thank you to Ambar & team for the ARC 🩵

Tropes:
- Small town
- Rivals to lovers
- Multicultural
- Black cat x Golden retriever
- Motocross
- Disability rep

Final rating:
4 ⭐️
2.5 🌶️

[Catarina Águas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the author and I wanna thank her for it.

My God, the way I absolutely adored this book, it was so good.
All of it, the emotions, the dialogues, the characters, the love, it was so well written.
Roe is afraid to open her heart again and pushes Santiago at every chance she can. She wants him to stay and fight but it's hard for her. But Santiago will not give up and does everything he can to be with her. He wants all of her or nothing at all. He was the sweetest and the way he was always there for her no matter what, the devotion this man had for her was unreal. It was true love and he wasn't going to stop until she admitted she felt the same way he did.
They both fought like h*ll to be together and it was a beautiful thing to watch

[Julie Booklover · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

What a follow up! I would love to move to Baker Oaks, the town and its cast of characters are growing on me. Her first book, The Truth Never Followed, I loved, it stayed with me for a while. I think Roe and Saint will be doing the same.

Roe is a badass; she is confident but guarded and does not trust. Watching her with Saint and dropping her walls is well written. The banter is on point with a push pull, that I crave. There is a tension that you can feel. Ms. Cordova is a storytelling master.

I am excited to read book three.

Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.

[BookishRaquel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Star Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐
Heat Rating: 3/5 🌶️

What to Expect:
- Sports Romance (motocross)
- Small Town
- Rivals to Lovers
- Suspense
- Golden Retriever x Black Cat vibes
- ADHD/SPD Representation
- Multicultural/Diverse Characters

The Trail Often Crossed is another amazing romance by Ambar Cordova that enthralled me and took me on an emotional journey. I devoured Roe and Santiago's (Saint's) love story. Move over Jake and Allie, there is a new 'it' couple in Baker Oaks. I loved Roe so much. There were moments I wanted to hug her, and moments she had me laughing out loud. Saint...I love this man. Like Roe, he's experienced past trauma, but he is moving forward and doesn't let his past hold him down. Saint was instantly drawn to Roe and didn't give up until he made her his. Roe tried her best to push him away, but their attraction to each other was undeniable.

I loved that Saint was patient with her and showed her she deserved love. He became Roe's rock and gave her a place to land. Character growth is one of my favorite things to see, and I loved how Roe learned to trust herself and others. I loved the development of their relationship and how they moved at a pace that was comfortable for them. The tension, banter, and heat were perfect! It was impossible not to love Roe and Saint, and I couldn't help but root for them.

There is so much to love about this story—the sports romance element (motocross), Roe and Saint being rivals, the golden retriever x black cat energy, the dash of suspense, the song choices for each chapter, the ADHD/SPD representation, and the character diversity. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next one.

Thanks to Ambar Cordova for the gifted eARC. Opinions expressed are my own.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely ADORED this book. I LOVED the first book, The Truth Never Spoken, so much that I didn't know how Ambar was going to be able to top it, but this one was also amazing.

The characters Ambar creates are just so real and relatable, not to mention beautiful and soooooo lovable! Roe and Santiago both experienced deep hurt and grief in their childhood/growing up, and the way they overlapped was just so awesome.

I loved the immediate chemistry that sizzled between them, and the tension that continued to follow them throughout the book. Roe's background is filled with trauma, so the grief and pain he carries around with her every moment was just so raw and real, and the way Santiago is patient with her, waiting for her to be ready to open up to him made me absolutely fall in love with him!!

And let's not forget the nicknames. Princesa?? Muñeca?? (IYKYK) And her nickname of Saint for him is just more perfect than even she realizes when she first calls him that. They are just so incredibly perfect for each other, and I loved them so much!!

It's so hard to say "goodbye" to each set of characters when each book ends, even knowing there is crossover between the books in the series, but I cannot WAIT to see what Ambar writes for us next!!!! She has become an auto-buy author for me, and I will literally read ANYTHING she writes forever and ever.

[Brenley · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5 ⭐️’s

Thank you Ambar for the eARC! The Trail Often Crossed is out on 9/10.

This was my first time reading a book from this author. This book is number two in a series, but you don’t necessarily have to read the first book prior to reading this one!

Things I liked:
- I loved how the author put together a playlist to go with each chapter! That was a fun added bonus to be able to listen to a song that the author felt represented each chapter.
- I appreciated the emotional maturity displayed by the MMC. I tend to enjoy books more where the MMC’s have more depth to them and Santiago didn’t disappoint!
- The small town of Baker Oaks was a sweet community to read about and I would’ve loved to read more about it!
- I know little to none about dirt biking so it was a fascinating topic for me to read about!

Things I didn’t like as much:
- Overall the romance felt rushed and the connection felt lacking to me.
- The outside conflict didn’t feel like it fit well within the overall story. It fell a bit flat for me personally and that ending scene just seemed odd and like it came out of nowhere.
- I wished more of the dialogue had included the character’s backstory as opposed to the author including it in the different POV chapters. I think having the characters talk about their pasts more would’ve further strengthened their emotional connection.
- Overall I didn’t like the FMC that much and I feel like her personality could’ve been developed more. While I think the author did a good job of representing some of the FMC’s mental health diagnoses, I disagree a little with how she depicted the character’s trauma.

Thank you again to Ambar for the arc in exchange for my honest review!

[Nicolette · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Trail Often Crossed by Ambar Cordova has become one of my favorite books. I was immediately drawn to both the FMC and MMC. Roe has been dealt the worst cards when it comes to trauma in her life so she has that idgaf attitude with no strings attached. but when Santiago comes around, her walls end up being hard to stay up. Santiago has also been through something horrible but instead of shutting everyone out, he cherishes every moment with those he cares about.

the relationship between Roe and Santiago (Saint) was top tier for me. I just loved the banter and Roe’s hysterical personality. I was actually laughing out loud at some of the things she would say. but man when she got emotional, so did I😅

I honestly enjoyed this book from start to finish and I loved all the music choices that Ambar incorporated into the book. this book has that perfect mix of rivals to lovers, spicy, tragic past, romance, etc. I cannot wait for more people to read this because it was SO FREAKING GOOD.

[Isis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ambar does it again!!!

Welcome back to Baker Oaks where the men are absolutely delicious!

Roe and Santiago’s chemistry was perfect, you could feel the tension through the screen. Especially their staring contests! Their banter and stubbornness had me dying.

Roe is a woman of many talents but won’t let anyone stay, especially a man. She’s independent, takes charge of what she wants, stubborn, and a dare devil. That is until Santiago “Saint’” Cruz comes along.

Saint is such a golden retriever until he isn’t. That commanding side fo him, ay santo!
I loved how his mom had him in the kitchen learning how to cook, take care of his sisters, and made sure Roe ate. He didn’t play when it came to Roe, a true gentleman until he hit them sheets or the floor of the race track.

The little Spanish nicknames were my favorite!!

[Courtney Laird · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC BOOK REVIEW ✨
Title: The Trail Often Crossed
Author: Ambar Cordova
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I loved every second of this book- I devoured it.

The Trail Often Crossed is happening at the same time as book 1, it was super fun to reminisce about Jake and Allie while reading. I just love this time around with Roe and Santiago and their hot and heavy love story.

Roe is a badass chick who owns a bar and tattoo shop while also beating boys in motorcross. The backstory of why Roe doesn't want Saint to get close was heart breaking but l'm glad that she decided to open her heart to him and they made it work.

Saintiago has the patience of a...saint, hence the nickname, and falls hard and fast for the girl who doesn't want to be loved. Roe and Santiago not only have a physical connection but their emotional connection is also very special. No one's ever had Roe or understood her like Santiago does and that made me so emotional in the best way possible.

I definitely cannot wait for Book 3 because that is going to be Cara book and I need her to have an HEA too.

🏍️ What to expect:
- small town
- rivals to lovers
- motocross
- multicultural
- black cat x golden retriever
- nicknames for each other
- she gives him a tattoo
- tattoo artist x mechanic
- suspense subplot
- they train together
- hate to like, like to love
- disability rep
- crawl to me
- he cooks for her

[LeeAnn Bringas · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all this cover is gorgeous! I know you aren't supposed to judge a book by its cover but they have covers for a reason. Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Gorgeous. 11/10 cover art

This was my first A Cordova read and I really enjoyed it. Her writing style is easy to follow and very detailed. 

I love small-town romances and small-town anything - I can thank Gilmore Girls for this obsession. Baker Oaks is such an amazing setting and small town. Sign me up. Take me there immediately. 

This was my first motocross read but I enjoyed it so much. Sometimes with sports romances, I get a little lost trying to understand the sport but this story was so easy to follow concerning motocross. The details about the races were so incredible. I felt like I was there with the characters.  

Can we talk about how cute and fun the playlist was? A lot of books have a playlist in the beginning, but what set this apart was that this playlist added to the reading experience. It was unique that there was a song for each chapter. 

I can't wait to read book 1 of this series! Thank you LoveNotes PR and Ambar Cordova for this ARC opportunity! 

[Daniella Drakos · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review - 4⭐️
Absolutely loved it this book. it was such a fun and easy romance book.
Ambar did a great job at creating characters with depth and backstories so it really felt like I got to know them and was rooting for them throughout. It was funny, romantic, heartfelt, and spicier than I thought 🌶️🌶️
Roe, the MFC was so layered and had so much depth to her and I loved learning about her back story. Saint is the perfect MFC, and he speaks Spanish to her. I mean what else do you want. He was very emotionally mature which i loved.
I loved that their was a playlist and a song was suggested at the start of each chapter. Great touch!
One thing that fell flat for for me was the secondary story line with Roes house. I’m not sure it flowed very well and the resolution of it was strange.
The timeline was also a little confusing at times.

I will definitely be reading more of Ambars books!

[❅ Karen ❅ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading books from this author. I don't read enough multicultural books, and I'm really glad this book had it. The author did a great job!
This was also a new sports romance for me. I haven't read any bikers romances where both MCs were athletes. I really enjoyed the plot of this book, and it was fun to follow
They characters are complete opposites. He was sunshine, and she was a grump. I loved seeing him break down her walls.

🌶🌶🌶/5

[Mylissa B · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Roe & Santiago's love story. It was relatable & tackled some tough issues such as grief/loss, found family and micro-aggressions. However, it was also a heart melting story about love, laughter and falling in love with your friend who is your biggest cheerleader 😍❤️ I loved going back to Baker Oaks.

This is a spicy (🔥🔥🔥🔥/5), open door romance that I couldn't put down!

[Chloe Reads Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Love Notes PR, and the author, for providing me with this book for review and promotion.

I had a really good time with this romance. As someone who's been brought up in a motocross world and is still heavily involved in the crowd, seeing this transferred into a romance was fantastic and I hope more authors consider this sport for their romances.
I enjoyed the relationship between the two characters, and that it was insta-lust but not necessarily insta-love. It seemed much more realistic of catching someone's eye in a bar.
I think the suspense element of this book could have been a little stronger. It either needed to not be in the book, or a much more intense mystery plotline (in my opinion) as I found it easy to figure out what was going on, and it didn't have the scare factor when it probably should have done.
Overall I had fun with this book and would recommend it.

[Samara Travella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to say firstly I would have finished this book in 24 hours if I had no other obligations. Secondly, I ugly cried through the whole book. More than I did her first one.

Roe is a full bubble of emotions that needs to gently burst. Reading the prologue, I already felt the need to love her. She needed love and I wish she knew I existed because I would be her Cara. Then later her Allie. She’s a good person but people call her “wild” because she doesn’t take shit from anyone. She is 100% a bad ass and trauma has molded her into what she is in the beginning of the book.

I really appreciate Ambar putting the trigger warnings at the beginning of the novel because it prepared me for those situations that came about in the book.

Going into the first chapter, you can already feel the tension between her and Saint. But holy guacamole the spice, y’all? Ambar goes into such explicit detail, I felt my cheeks getting warm everytime. When Saint calls her Princesa, I definitely blushed, and he does it quite often! I also love the different layers of Roe that Ambar goes into details about. When you are reading the facts, it’s a very unexpected but very expected Roe thing to do.

Her portrayal of Santiago is simple but delicate and detailed at the same time. He knows what he likes and goes for it. No bullshitter but compassionate as hell. He’s also very gentle for someone who’s into motocross. He’s not ashamed being a mamas boy which as mama, I loved haha.

Also screw Cole, Tasha, and Marco is all I’m going to say lol.

There is a scene that I teared up the most. Putting up walls takes so much out of you and I know from personal experience. Amber’s writing about Roe’s vulnerability had me shaking as Roe was shaking, explaining into straightforward detail why she is the way she is. The unexpected abandonment is just felt and the heart strings are pulled. Running away always feels like the better option but it’s so nice to turn around and see the one person you want there, there.

When she finally lets him in, finally tells him she loves him. I felt like I could breathe again. I love the rain taking part in it. It makes it more heartfelt scene to me. Plus kissing in the rain is my favorite.

This is my first black cat x golden retriever trope. I loveeee it. I never knew what was going to happen and the words kept me on my toes!

Thank you so much for writing this book! Can’t wait for book 3! Eeek!

[Maggie | MagReadsBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I tell you I put the book down and IMMEDIATELY picked up The Truth Never Spoken.. I was floored! How is this only Ambar's second book?! And how does she write pure magic? I was hooked from the beginning and this story was perfection!!

I absolutely fell in love with Santiago from page 1. He was such a freaking teddy bear and I loved how protective he was of Roe. I loved how they met, how drawn he was to her, and how he was just a *bit* unhinged but still respected her boundaries and consent. I love all sports romance, and motocross is is becoming a top favorite for me for sure. There was just enough of the sport in the plot that it felt relevant and fun, but not so much that I was overwhelmed with sports lingo/jargon.

Now Roe.. I want her to be my best friend. This girl stole my heart! She was the perfect balance of girly girl and bad ass with her big attitude, tattoos and sparkly jersey. She was one of the most unique characters I have read and her backstory fit her to a tee. I don't think another MMC could have broken down her walls quite like Santiago, who appreciated each part of her just as she was. I loved their shared admiration of tattoos, liquor and of course- motocross!!

This book also packed a wee bit of suspense- just the perfect amount. It didn't take over the story at all, but gave all the motivations for Roe to need Santiago around. I loved how kismet kept bringing them together and now she couldn't help but fall for him. The flow was so smooth, the words were well written, and the plot was captivating. I loved every. freaking. second of this book!!!

Thank you SO MUCH to Ambar and Love Notes PR for the ARC of The Trail Often Crossed in exchange for my honest review!

[Sarah Guzak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Congrats, Ambar, on writing your second novel!

After reading Jake & Allie's story in book one and being introduced to Roe and Santiago (our FMC and MMC in this novel), I was excited to see where this journey in the small town of Baker Oaks would take us.

Ambar put a nice little spin on Roe and "Saint" 's story giving us a bit of romantic suspense, and whole lot of spice!

Roe and Saint are definitely quite the pair. While Roe is loud, speaks her mind, and takes no sh*t, Saint lives up to his nickname by being loved by so many people. He's a caretaker through and through, and I enjoyed seeing him take care of Roe throughout the story. Bonus points that our man Santiago speaks Spanish (I love multicultural romances!). I also loved how he never gave up on Roe, and that she was finally able to be vulnerable with Santiago about her traumatic past (no spoilers on that!).

I was super impressed that this was a motocross romance with details about how races occur! Like how freaking cool! Super unique and definitely not something I've come across before in the romance genre.

The reason this wasn't a 5 star read for me was because the beginning of Roe and Saint's relationship felt rushed - like they fell into "lust" with one another too quickly. I wanted more banter and tension before they just gave into their physical instincts.
One other small critique I have is that I could predict the plot twist/suspense element. I almost wish we had more "suspects," if you will.

All in all, I'm grateful to have ARC read this book! Thank you, Ambar, for sharing your stories with the world!

[Rachna Jain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by Amber, and it definitely won’t be my last. It’s also my introduction to motocross romance, and what a ride! This spicy, small-town, rivals-to-lovers story hooked me from the start.

Roe is a total badass FMC who excels in motocross. She’s artistic, owns her own tattoo shop and bar, and channels her passions into her business. Life hasn’t been easy for her, and the walls she’s built make it hard for her to open up to anyone.

Santiago/Saint, is the perfect balance of sweet and spicy as the MMC. He’s also a motocross competitor, going head-to-head with Roe. Protective, respectful, and a complete gentleman, he makes sure Roe’s taken care of—even cooking for her every day! 😮‍💨

Saint’s persistence in breaking through Roe’s walls is so heartwarming. When Roe finally opens up about her past, it’s devastating, but it also explains her fear of letting people in. Watching her slowly let those walls down for Saint was beautiful.

Saint fought for Roe, showed her she’s deserving of love, helped her heal, and celebrated her victories—even when they were against him. Their deep conversations and acts of love had me smiling and tearing up. They were truly perfect for each other.

The chemistry between them was electric, the banter was sharp, and the tension kept me on edge. I also loved the playlist, with a song for each chapter. The slight suspense in the third act and the ADHD/SPD representation made this story even more special for me.

This is the second book of the Baker Oaks series, but can be read as a standalone. Thank you so much Ambar and Love Notes PR for this arc🫶

[Frances | StardustPages · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I even begin? I’m writing this with a smile on my face and a tear in my eye because The Trail Often Crossed is pure PERFECTION!

What first drew me to this book was its incredible representation. This isn’t just a multicultural romance—it’s a beautifully woven story that includes disability rep, and the way the tropes unfold will have your heart bursting from the perfect balance of suspense and romance.

Let’s talk about our FMC, Roe. She’s an absolute badass, taking charge of her life without waiting for anyone to save her. Her resilience is inspiring—after facing pain and trauma, Roe emerges stronger, determined to conquer whatever she sets her mind to. You can’t help but cheer for her every step of the way!

And then there’s Santiago (Saint). Swoon alert! He’s the kind of hero who not only challenges Roe but walks alongside her as they both discover that love, even when tested by life’s hardest trials, can persevere. His strength and vulnerability make him the perfect partner for Roe, and watching their love grow is nothing short of magical.

What makes Roe and Santiago’s relationship truly special is the healing journey they embark on together. Both carry scars from past losses, and their story is a powerful testament to the beauty of finding love, even when we feel undeserving. It’s heart-wrenching, uplifting, and oh-so-satisfying.

The Trail Often Crossed is an emotional masterpiece. If you haven’t already, do yourself a favor—read this book, and then dive into everything Ambar Cordova writes. She has a magical touch that turns every word into gold! 🖤🖤

[Katie | Untitledbookreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶

This was my first time reading anything by this author and I absolutely adored it. I devoured this entire book in one sitting and immediately download The Truth Never Spoken afterward. The ADHD representation in a romance novel was a refreshing and much-needed in the space. I’ll definitely be back for more of Ambar's writing.

"It's not possession, It's a claim. Let me worship you, Roe. Let me make you mine, but even more, let me be yours"

In this The Train Often Crossed, Roe and Santiago (Saint) are both motocross riders competing for the top spot. If you love a good rivals-to-lovers romance, this book has everything you could ask for. From the moment I met Saint, I was hooked. He’s the kind of MMC who adores Roe and refuses to give up on her, no matter how high she builds her walls. And Roe? She’s a total badass. Not only is she a motocross rider, but she also owns a bar and is a talented tattoo artist. Her sass and independence make her a character you can't help but admire. Honestly, I wish I could be one of her friends!

"I love what we have, Roe. No need to do something just because others do it. As long as you're happy, I'm happy too. All I need is you. Everything else is negotiable"

A huge thank you to Ambar and Luna Literary for the opportunity to read this ARC of The Trail Often Crossed

[rissys.bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

~ Black Cat/Golden Retriever
~ Small Town
~ Motocross

✨ My Thoughts ✨
This was such a fun book. I couldn't stop once I started. Roe is a badass. She is funny and determined. She has gone through a lot. She really built a lot of walls but to see her walls come down was absolutely beautiful. Santiago is a dream golden retriever book boyfriend. He is truly understanding. He is loyal and so protective. I also really liked reading his story. His family was some of my favorite characters. The banter between them is so so good. The spice in this was hot and so good. I feel like this story flowed well. I haven't read a motocross romance before. So this book was so fun and new. Small Town and found family in this book was some of my favorite. I also loved the mental health rep in this book as well. I really can't recommend it enough.

The Trial Often Crossed is book two in the Baker Oaks series. It is a standalone. But I recommend book one because it was also really good. This book is recommended for 18+. As always please check TW before reading. Definitely one to add to your TBR.

✨ I want to thank Ambar or an e-arc of this book. These are my own true thoughts. ✨

[Alyssa Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I promise, princesa. If I could show you my heart I would, so you can see that it only beats for you,”

“She walks out into the rain and starts running. And like the man in love I am, I run after her, again.”

Tropes:
•Black cat FMC x Golden Retriever MMC
•Bratty tatted FMC (and an MMC who loves it 😮‍💨)
•Motocross
•Rivals to lovers
•Multicultural (he speaks to her in Spanish 🥵)
•Small town
•Disability rep (anxiety, panic attacks, sensory processing disorder)
•Spicyyyyy (good girl, crawl to me)
•He chases her (literally… multiple times 😂)

Y’all omg Santiago is taking a spot in my top 5 book boyfriends!! Santiago is new to town and quickly runs into Roe who is an absolute firecracker!! They have a hot and heavy make out sesh in the back of her bar then are shocked to find each other at the race track the next morning! Surprise, surprise… they’re team mates and rivals 😂 Roe is having none of it and quickly resorts to chewing Saint out every time they cross paths, which is often! But Saint is intrigued by her and can’t stay away. Roe has past trauma that has made it hard for her to open up, but Saint is determined to break down those walls! He does a lot of chasing her, and eventually he’s able to get her to open up to him. This love story was so sweet, but absolutely scorching as well! The banter and tension between the 2 was amazing! I cannot wait for more books from the Baker Oaks series!

[Kathleen Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

DEVOURED. ATE IT UP. I realized AFTER I signed up for the ARC it was the second in the series and I am so happy I read the first book first. You absolutely DO NOT need to but I love being part of the found family of small towns 🤣🤣

Santiago and Roe were SASSY, Fierce, living, empathetic, caring, hot as hell, and the angst 🫶🫶🫶

Obsessed with Santiago. He is the perfect man. He cooks, makes sure her world keeps spinning upright, protector, thoughtful man. I also loved learning more about Roe. We saw Jake and Allie 🫶🫶🫶 AND MY GIRL CARA.

I loved the motocross in this as my husband and friends are all into riding. This was so fun to read about. I loved the camping and the race atmosphere, felt very real to me. BUT KTM all the way 🤣🤣🤣

The banter and sweet nothings were captivating. I couldn't put this book down. I am so happy to have got Ambar as she will be an instant buy/read for me.

♾️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Rivals to Lovers
Tortured Heroine
Black Cat FMC x Golden Retriever MMC
Romantic Suspense
Motocross Sports
Forced Proximity

[Becca B · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars (Rounded up) - I knocked it down because I couldn't get behind the FMC and I felt there was a lot of extra things happening that could have been taken out and not changed or impacted the story.

Thank you Ambar Cordova for letting me be on the ARC team! I enjoyed reading this standalone in the Baker Oaks series.

Tropes:
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Black cat GF / Golden Retriever BF
- Motorcross romance
- Small town
- Rivals to Lovers

I liked the spice and the golden retriever/sunshine MMC (Santiago). He was sweet and patient with FMC (Roe). I also really like the playlist Ambar put together and coordinated with each chapter, as well as the vibe/tone of the chapter and characters. The emotional maturity of the MMC was conveyed well and really contrasted with the FMC.

I couldn't get behind the FMC. I felt she was too much of an "I'm not like other girls" and "I'm a cool girl". I found her to be annoying and she had too much going on. Like she owned the bar, and she was a tattoo artist, and had a tattoo shop, every guy was in love with her, she knew exactly what to do to be sexy. She also is into motocross and can handle herself on a bike. and She was talented/good at it. She also had trauma and mental health issues that were represented. I felt that the author did a good job describing the mental health experience, but I felt the trauma missed the mark.

I wanted more conversation between the FMC/MMC to enable a deeper emotional connection and would have also shown more character and personality development potential. I felt the spice was good. I liked the chemistry between the MMC/FMC.

[Chelsea (thatbookishteach) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another romance from Ambar I ate up 🩷 I love that both Roe and Santiago were motocross racers and we got to see multiple races throughout the story. Roe is so closed off emotionally to everyone and Saint works so hard to break down her walls and show her that she is worthy of love. I’d loveeeee to hear this as an audio and hear some of the spicy scenes with Saint’s accent 🥵🥵🥵
Ambar does such a fantastic job of making you care so deeply for her characters.

“𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯, 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯. 𝘏𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴. 𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘺. 𝘎𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦. 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘦, 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘢. 𝘐𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘪𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳. 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶’𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩. 𝘐𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴”

[Art Rat · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

This was my first time reading an Ambar Cordova book and I enjoyed reading this book. I think she has a great writing style that is simple and easy to read but also extremely detailed without dragging on. I do think that at some parts this book gets a little repetitive in an attempt to add to the slow burn trope and to give the a better understanding of where the main character Roe was coming from. I wish the ending had a little more to it because it felt a little cut short. Saint and Roe have good banter and are super cute. If you enjoy small town, motocross, black cat/golden retriever I highly recommend this book. It also includes disability rep and past Trauma which is something to be mindful of.

Thank you Ambar Corodova and Love notes PR for this ARC Read I will definitely be checking out more books by this author!

[Jade Coulcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

“If you say you’re not a screamer, then nobody has given you anything to scream about.”

I DEVOURED this book. I have fallen in love with Baker Oaks and its inhabitants and I cannot wait for more. The Trail Often Crossed had me laughing at everyone’s antics, and bawling my eyes out in parts. Gosh Ambar what are you doing to me! While I haven’t been through what Roe has, I know that broken and hollow feeling, when you feel like you’re too far gone that nothing and no one can make you whole, that everything you touch turns to shit. Reading her story had me feeling it all and I loved it. And the representation of the internal craziness of being overstimulated and overwhelmed - I felt like I was reading myself in a book. The story was so beautiful - and I need a Saint to come into my life. The way he never gives up on Roe and understands her 100% - beautiful.