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Baker Oaks #5
The Hope Once Lost
Natalie Bradshaw—the name I’ve carried since I married my high school sweetheart over a decade ago. But then, in the blink of an eye, he was gone.
Now I’m a widowed single mom, drowning in responsibility and quiet grief, terrified that moving forward means betraying the only love I ever believed in. I don’t get to fall apart—not when my daughters are watching, not when our bookstore, our dream, still needs me standing.
My girls are my everything. The shop is my anchor. And somewhere along the way, I forgot how to breathe … or who I was before survival became my only skill.
Loving again was never part of the plan.
Until Holden Clay—retired hockey legend, powerful CEO—walks through the front doors, with sadness behind his whiskey eyes, the kind only someone carrying it too could recognize. He’s lost almost everyone he loves. His family history is tangled with secrets, betrayal, and a father who may be running out of time.
He’s learning how to forgive. I’m learning how to feel and how to open my heart for the first time since it shattered, but every step forward reminds me exactly why I shouldn’t.
He says he’s falling for me.
He says he’s patient.
But we both know this kind of love doesn’t come without risk.
And I don’t know if we can survive losing everything again.
Now I’m a widowed single mom, drowning in responsibility and quiet grief, terrified that moving forward means betraying the only love I ever believed in. I don’t get to fall apart—not when my daughters are watching, not when our bookstore, our dream, still needs me standing.
My girls are my everything. The shop is my anchor. And somewhere along the way, I forgot how to breathe … or who I was before survival became my only skill.
Loving again was never part of the plan.
Until Holden Clay—retired hockey legend, powerful CEO—walks through the front doors, with sadness behind his whiskey eyes, the kind only someone carrying it too could recognize. He’s lost almost everyone he loves. His family history is tangled with secrets, betrayal, and a father who may be running out of time.
He’s learning how to forgive. I’m learning how to feel and how to open my heart for the first time since it shattered, but every step forward reminds me exactly why I shouldn’t.
He says he’s falling for me.
He says he’s patient.
But we both know this kind of love doesn’t come without risk.
And I don’t know if we can survive losing everything again.
497 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 25, 2026
96 people are currently reading
726 people want to read
About the author
Ambar Cordova
13 books318 followersAmbar 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
•FACEBOOK: facebook.com/acordovabooks
•FACEBOOK READER GROUP: facebook.com/groups/735186988190607
•INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/acordovabooks
•TIKTOK: tiktok.com/@authorambarcordova
•WEBSITE: www.acordovabooks.com
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
•FACEBOOK: facebook.com/acordovabooks
•FACEBOOK READER GROUP: facebook.com/groups/735186988190607
•INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/acordovabooks
•TIKTOK: tiktok.com/@authorambarcordova
•WEBSITE: www.acordovabooks.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Grief is the process of adapting to a life we didn’t know existed until the day it arrives. Suddenly, we have to learn to live with it for the rest of our lives. Some say that even in the next life, grief remains transforming to show us why it was necessary to experience it the way we did. No one wants grief. But once it’s there, we hold onto it so tightly that we eventually forget how to let go.
The book contains a line that hits incredibly hard: “Holden said I gave him the hope he lost once, but the reality is, he didn’t bring me hope. He was hope. He still is.” Can you imagine loving someone so deeply that you identify them as hope itself? It’s incredible.
A huge thank you to Ambar Cordova for allowing me to read this ARC, it was truly a privilege.
This book shattered me, yet it acted as a bandage for my heart at the same time. It made me feel grateful to be alive and reminded me that every day is a reason to keep hope alive. It made me believe that there is someone out there who will love me with all my scars and nuances someone who doesn't just want to be with me, but wants us to walk through life together. That is why we are here: to live it together.
Natalie and Holden. This story is beautiful, but it is also very heavy and sad. They are the perfect example that we don’t have to be "perfect" or have all the pieces of the puzzle together to be with someone.
Natalie, a single mother of a teenager and a baby. She lost her husband and best friend in the most abrupt way possible. She is dedicated to living one day at a time while running her business a mix of wine, coffee, flowers, and books. Holden, a 36-year-old man facing a new stage in life, struggling with decisions he doesn't know how to handle, filled with a mix of anger, sadness, and resentment.
When these two strangers meet, they build a friendship based on deep conversations and shared vulnerability. After that day, neither of them was ever the same; their presence in each other's lives changed everything.
Every tear, laugh, and sigh I spent on this book was worth it. I’m walking away with this quote engraved in my heart: “But grief isn’t proof of love. Love was already proven.”
The book contains a line that hits incredibly hard: “Holden said I gave him the hope he lost once, but the reality is, he didn’t bring me hope. He was hope. He still is.” Can you imagine loving someone so deeply that you identify them as hope itself? It’s incredible.
A huge thank you to Ambar Cordova for allowing me to read this ARC, it was truly a privilege.
This book shattered me, yet it acted as a bandage for my heart at the same time. It made me feel grateful to be alive and reminded me that every day is a reason to keep hope alive. It made me believe that there is someone out there who will love me with all my scars and nuances someone who doesn't just want to be with me, but wants us to walk through life together. That is why we are here: to live it together.
Natalie and Holden. This story is beautiful, but it is also very heavy and sad. They are the perfect example that we don’t have to be "perfect" or have all the pieces of the puzzle together to be with someone.
Natalie, a single mother of a teenager and a baby. She lost her husband and best friend in the most abrupt way possible. She is dedicated to living one day at a time while running her business a mix of wine, coffee, flowers, and books. Holden, a 36-year-old man facing a new stage in life, struggling with decisions he doesn't know how to handle, filled with a mix of anger, sadness, and resentment.
When these two strangers meet, they build a friendship based on deep conversations and shared vulnerability. After that day, neither of them was ever the same; their presence in each other's lives changed everything.
Every tear, laugh, and sigh I spent on this book was worth it. I’m walking away with this quote engraved in my heart: “But grief isn’t proof of love. Love was already proven.”
March 17, 2026
4.5
Tropes:
🩷Strangers to Friends to Lovers
🩷Disability & Chronic Illness Rep
🩷Retired Hockey Player & Broken Boy
🩷Single Mom
🩷Body Diversity
🩷Small Town
🩷Found Family
🩷Love After Loss
🩷Grief x2 with a dose of heavy topics
Trigger Warning:
💜Death of a spouse (main character)
💜A parent and a sister (off page but mentioned of the main character)
💜Alcoholism and sobriety (mentioned)
💜Chronic kidney disease and dialysis on page
💜ER and hospital setting
💜Grief
💜Loss
💜Discussion of school shooting (off page)
💜Discussion of gun violence
💜Discussion of high risk pregnancy and emergency cesarean
💜Hysterectomy
💜Discussion of loss of fertility
💜Open door sex scenes
💜Discussion of infertility (side character)
💜Parental abandonment off page but mention
💜Depression
🇮🇹
Dopo aver letto il quarto libro, aspettavo (e temevo) di leggere questo qui perché sapevo che mi avrebbe distrutta e infatti è stato così.
The Hope Once Lost è un libro di rinascita, di imparare a vivere di nuovo e permettere di amare/farsi amare di nuovo, dopo la perdita di una persona che ha fatto parte di tutta la vita. Parla di permettere di farsi aiutare e che ammettere che tu stia crollando e abbia bisogno di aiuto non è una debolezza. Anche che bisogna a volte abbracciare il passato ma godersi il presente e immaginare un futuro migliore.
Questo libro è stata una coccola ma anche una coltellata al cuore, le lacrime che ho versato durante la lettura ne sono valse la pena.
La storia nel complesso l'ho trovata molto lineare e travolgente, come sempre la scrittura di Ambar ha questo effetto e non mi ha delusa nemmeno stavolta! Anzi si è superata. Questo libro può essere letto anche senza recuperare gli altri, ma se volete l'effetto devastante che ho provato io DOVETE leggere tutti, soprattutto il quarto che serve a introdurre questo.
Unica pecca è che avrei preferito qualche scena in più dei pg secondari (principali negli altri) ma capisco che si debba dare più spazio ai personaggi protagonisti.
🇬🇧
After reading the fourth book, I was looking forward (and dreading) to reading this one because I knew it would destroy me, and indeed it did.
The Hope Once Lost is a book about rebirth, about learning to live again and allowing yourself to love and be loved again, after the loss of someone who has been a part of your entire life.
It's about allowing yourself to get help, and that admitting you're falling apart and needing help isn't a sign of weakness.
It's also about sometimes embracing the past, but also enjoying the present and imagining a better future.
This book was a treat, but also a stab in the heart; the tears I shed while reading were worth it. I found the story overall very linear and captivating. As always, Ambar's writing has this effect, and she didn't disappoint me this time either! In fact, she surpassed herself.
This book can be read without catching up on the others, but if you want the devastating effect I felt, you MUST read them all, especially the fourth, which serves as an introduction to this one.
The only flaw is that I would have preferred a few more scenes with the secondary characters (main ones in the others) but I understand that more space should be given to the main characters.
Tropes:
🩷Strangers to Friends to Lovers
🩷Disability & Chronic Illness Rep
🩷Retired Hockey Player & Broken Boy
🩷Single Mom
🩷Body Diversity
🩷Small Town
🩷Found Family
🩷Love After Loss
🩷Grief x2 with a dose of heavy topics
Trigger Warning:
💜Death of a spouse (main character)
💜A parent and a sister (off page but mentioned of the main character)
💜Alcoholism and sobriety (mentioned)
💜Chronic kidney disease and dialysis on page
💜ER and hospital setting
💜Grief
💜Loss
💜Discussion of school shooting (off page)
💜Discussion of gun violence
💜Discussion of high risk pregnancy and emergency cesarean
💜Hysterectomy
💜Discussion of loss of fertility
💜Open door sex scenes
💜Discussion of infertility (side character)
💜Parental abandonment off page but mention
💜Depression
🇮🇹
Dopo aver letto il quarto libro, aspettavo (e temevo) di leggere questo qui perché sapevo che mi avrebbe distrutta e infatti è stato così.
The Hope Once Lost è un libro di rinascita, di imparare a vivere di nuovo e permettere di amare/farsi amare di nuovo, dopo la perdita di una persona che ha fatto parte di tutta la vita. Parla di permettere di farsi aiutare e che ammettere che tu stia crollando e abbia bisogno di aiuto non è una debolezza. Anche che bisogna a volte abbracciare il passato ma godersi il presente e immaginare un futuro migliore.
Questo libro è stata una coccola ma anche una coltellata al cuore, le lacrime che ho versato durante la lettura ne sono valse la pena.
La storia nel complesso l'ho trovata molto lineare e travolgente, come sempre la scrittura di Ambar ha questo effetto e non mi ha delusa nemmeno stavolta! Anzi si è superata. Questo libro può essere letto anche senza recuperare gli altri, ma se volete l'effetto devastante che ho provato io DOVETE leggere tutti, soprattutto il quarto che serve a introdurre questo.
Unica pecca è che avrei preferito qualche scena in più dei pg secondari (principali negli altri) ma capisco che si debba dare più spazio ai personaggi protagonisti.
🇬🇧
After reading the fourth book, I was looking forward (and dreading) to reading this one because I knew it would destroy me, and indeed it did.
The Hope Once Lost is a book about rebirth, about learning to live again and allowing yourself to love and be loved again, after the loss of someone who has been a part of your entire life.
It's about allowing yourself to get help, and that admitting you're falling apart and needing help isn't a sign of weakness.
It's also about sometimes embracing the past, but also enjoying the present and imagining a better future.
This book was a treat, but also a stab in the heart; the tears I shed while reading were worth it. I found the story overall very linear and captivating. As always, Ambar's writing has this effect, and she didn't disappoint me this time either! In fact, she surpassed herself.
This book can be read without catching up on the others, but if you want the devastating effect I felt, you MUST read them all, especially the fourth, which serves as an introduction to this one.
The only flaw is that I would have preferred a few more scenes with the secondary characters (main ones in the others) but I understand that more space should be given to the main characters.
March 17, 2026
bring tissues with you when you read this one because Ambar brings up all of the emotions.
The Hope Once Lost is about Natalie Bradshaw and Holden Clay. Natalie is a single mom of two that still managing her grief journey after losing her husband. She runs a bookstore where Holden finds himself after coming back to town. He's going through his own journey of hurt and grief. When she sees his pain, she offers him a cup of coffee and a listening ear.
Something that I really admired about this book and Ambar's writing is that it's authentic to the grief process. It's often that rather than letting the grief go, we grow around it. Healing isn't linear and Holden and Natalie are proof of that. I also will ALWAYS love a therapy rep as someone who has been to therapists throughout my life.
Life isn't perfect. It's messy and raw and emotional. And these two are the definition of that. They're both going through their own journey while quietly supporting each other. They're the hope they once lost.
I'm so thankful for the early copy of these two. Because it reminded me of how lucky I am to be on this earth with the people I love. And that I've felt grief so deeply because I've loved so deeply.
ps I hope you enjoy some sprinkles to brighten up your day today💌
The Hope Once Lost is about Natalie Bradshaw and Holden Clay. Natalie is a single mom of two that still managing her grief journey after losing her husband. She runs a bookstore where Holden finds himself after coming back to town. He's going through his own journey of hurt and grief. When she sees his pain, she offers him a cup of coffee and a listening ear.
Something that I really admired about this book and Ambar's writing is that it's authentic to the grief process. It's often that rather than letting the grief go, we grow around it. Healing isn't linear and Holden and Natalie are proof of that. I also will ALWAYS love a therapy rep as someone who has been to therapists throughout my life.
Life isn't perfect. It's messy and raw and emotional. And these two are the definition of that. They're both going through their own journey while quietly supporting each other. They're the hope they once lost.
I'm so thankful for the early copy of these two. Because it reminded me of how lucky I am to be on this earth with the people I love. And that I've felt grief so deeply because I've loved so deeply.
ps I hope you enjoy some sprinkles to brighten up your day today💌
March 15, 2026
“Beauty, I’ll have you know, I contain multitudes, including flair for the theatrical when I say something stupid to a pretty woman.”
Did I finish this… or did this finish me??
For a book with such a cute cover… this one does DAMAGEEEEE. Please read the trigger warnings there are plot aspects regarding *gun violence in school settings* that should be handled with care!
I think that part that always hits the deepest for me when reading the Baker Oaks series is that each and every character feels SO REAL. Yes, things take place in a small town, but the moments, feelings, reactions, and depth in story telling practically burst out of the pages.
Both characters carry so much hurt and devastation on their shoulders while still searching for an ounce of hope to spark (whether they want to admit it or not) and it resonates during these dark times.
Thank god we’ll be seeing more of this world soon, I NEED ASPEN!!!!!!!!!!!
Did I finish this… or did this finish me??
For a book with such a cute cover… this one does DAMAGEEEEE. Please read the trigger warnings there are plot aspects regarding *gun violence in school settings* that should be handled with care!
I think that part that always hits the deepest for me when reading the Baker Oaks series is that each and every character feels SO REAL. Yes, things take place in a small town, but the moments, feelings, reactions, and depth in story telling practically burst out of the pages.
Both characters carry so much hurt and devastation on their shoulders while still searching for an ounce of hope to spark (whether they want to admit it or not) and it resonates during these dark times.
Thank god we’ll be seeing more of this world soon, I NEED ASPEN!!!!!!!!!!!
Read
March 8, 2026Dear Reader,
The Hope once Lost is the book of my heart. Natalie and Holden story is so special to me and I hope you find both comfort and love in these pages. I do want to mention that this story deals with many heavy topics so please read the content warnings before starting it (It shows in the free preview). If you're in the mood for a beautifully tender, emotional rollercoaster, of love after loss with a heavy dose of grief, this book is for you.
You can also listen to the playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2kK...
The Hope once Lost is the book of my heart. Natalie and Holden story is so special to me and I hope you find both comfort and love in these pages. I do want to mention that this story deals with many heavy topics so please read the content warnings before starting it (It shows in the free preview). If you're in the mood for a beautifully tender, emotional rollercoaster, of love after loss with a heavy dose of grief, this book is for you.
You can also listen to the playlist here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2kK...
March 17, 2026
Heartfelt, hopeful, and so endearingly touching. What begins as a serendipitous encounter slowly blossoms into something beautiful, rooted in shared pain, small-town connections, quiet fears, and the fragile hope of love after loss.
I was completely enthralled by the emotional depth of both main characters. Their heartbreak and overwhelming grief felt raw, and at times almost suffocating in the most honest way. But what truly stood out was the tenderness woven through it all! I loved the steady support system, the open and vulnerable conversations, and the slow, intentional healing that unfolds between them.
This story doesn’t shy away from the weight of loss, but it also reminds you that love can grow when least expected, even in the cracks grief leaves behind. 💛
I was completely enthralled by the emotional depth of both main characters. Their heartbreak and overwhelming grief felt raw, and at times almost suffocating in the most honest way. But what truly stood out was the tenderness woven through it all! I loved the steady support system, the open and vulnerable conversations, and the slow, intentional healing that unfolds between them.
This story doesn’t shy away from the weight of loss, but it also reminds you that love can grow when least expected, even in the cracks grief leaves behind. 💛
February 26, 2026
♾️⭐️
BUT I DONT WANNA LEAVE BAKER OAKS😭😭😭
Watching Natalie’s healing journey after losing Nick broke me.
Then you bring Holden into the mix and it’s like he was the perfect person to help Nat on her journey.
I honestly fell in love with these two.
BUT I DONT WANNA LEAVE BAKER OAKS😭😭😭
Watching Natalie’s healing journey after losing Nick broke me.
Then you bring Holden into the mix and it’s like he was the perfect person to help Nat on her journey.
I honestly fell in love with these two.
February 28, 2026
If I could rate this book ♾️ stars I would. I came into the Baker Oaks framily near the beginning and have seen glimpses of Natalie and Nick as I learned and loved the other characters, but it wasn’t until the last book that we found out what happened. The Hope Once Lost is Natalie’s new beginning, but to leave it at that would be such an injustice.
Before you get started with this book you need to know that Ambar refers to her books as “traum-coms” and it could not be a more accurate description. Her books are full of angst and yes, you (and the MCs) will get their happily ever afters, but the road there is not easy and as a reader you will experience the turmoil and struggles right along with them.
This book takes place a few years down the road from Nick’s death, when Natalie is carrying on life with her girls, Bella and Vero. She has the support of the rest of the Baker Oaks gang, but there is a Nick sized hole in her heart and she doesn’t know how to begin the repairs.
Over in Magnolia Springs we have our MC Holden, struggling with whether or not to reconnect with his own absent father after having experienced his own great loss. His Mag Springs framily is nothing but supportive, but he still has a hole in his own heart he doesn’t know how to deal with.
Among the setting of books, coffee, and flowers, Holden and Natalie meet and start to find understanding in one another.
I put this ARC off for a while, knowing it would break my heart over and over again before mending me back together. I was crying in the author’s note and it didn’t stop there. Natalie is such a beautiful example of a wonderful mother trying to hold the world together for her girls while drowning in her own grief, and Holden is the greenest of green flags who sees past her walls (and his own obstacles) to demonstrate patience, perseverance, and the promise of joy that will still come.
Ambar is a member of the DDC and I share with her all the time that I’m not sure I’m far enough removed from my own entry date into the DCC to handle the grief in her books, but truthfully I find myself healing a lot along side these characters. The way she writes about grief and portrays it in her books has a way of making me feel recognized and validated in my own struggle with loss and I know one day I’ll reach the point where it won’t be such searing pain that pops up out of nowhere, but until that day I’ll have these characters to help me through.
Before you get started with this book you need to know that Ambar refers to her books as “traum-coms” and it could not be a more accurate description. Her books are full of angst and yes, you (and the MCs) will get their happily ever afters, but the road there is not easy and as a reader you will experience the turmoil and struggles right along with them.
This book takes place a few years down the road from Nick’s death, when Natalie is carrying on life with her girls, Bella and Vero. She has the support of the rest of the Baker Oaks gang, but there is a Nick sized hole in her heart and she doesn’t know how to begin the repairs.
Over in Magnolia Springs we have our MC Holden, struggling with whether or not to reconnect with his own absent father after having experienced his own great loss. His Mag Springs framily is nothing but supportive, but he still has a hole in his own heart he doesn’t know how to deal with.
Among the setting of books, coffee, and flowers, Holden and Natalie meet and start to find understanding in one another.
I put this ARC off for a while, knowing it would break my heart over and over again before mending me back together. I was crying in the author’s note and it didn’t stop there. Natalie is such a beautiful example of a wonderful mother trying to hold the world together for her girls while drowning in her own grief, and Holden is the greenest of green flags who sees past her walls (and his own obstacles) to demonstrate patience, perseverance, and the promise of joy that will still come.
Ambar is a member of the DDC and I share with her all the time that I’m not sure I’m far enough removed from my own entry date into the DCC to handle the grief in her books, but truthfully I find myself healing a lot along side these characters. The way she writes about grief and portrays it in her books has a way of making me feel recognized and validated in my own struggle with loss and I know one day I’ll reach the point where it won’t be such searing pain that pops up out of nowhere, but until that day I’ll have these characters to help me through.
March 18, 2026
*ARC Review*
This freaking book - oh my god. I was on an emotional roller coaster from chapter one of this book all the way through the end and I honestly loved every minute of it.
This book was heavy, but it was also so heart warming and gives so much hope for those dealing with grief in many different forms.
Natalie is such a great mom and such a strong person and there were SO many times I wanted to reach into the pages and just give her a massive hug. She lost the love of her life and she’s just surviving while raising her two daughters. She is so independent and hates asking for help and I am so happy that she had such amazing friends to help her through her grief and to be there for her kids as well. I loved getting to see her journey and watching her walls fall for Holden.
Holden is just the sweetest and I honestly just loved him from the beginning. He is so self aware and that is so admirable. Just like with Natalie, there were so many times I wanted to just hug Holden. He too was on a journey with grief and also dealing with the fact that the father he believed to be dead was alive and wanting to rekindle their relationship. He was so warm and steadfast, being the support Natalie, Bella and Vero needed. He was so patient and kind and just such a green flag through and through.
I loved seeing how from their first meeting, Holden was calmed by Natalie and she was able to pull him from his spiral. Their friendship was so organic and I enjoyed watching them build their relationship from the ground up, allowing for a strong foundation. I think my favorite part of the entire book was Holden’s relationship with Nick and how he was so open with the girls about leaving space for Nick and that he wasn’t trying to replace him in any of their lives.
Their friendship led to such a genuine and sweet love story. It was rocky and emotional, but I was invested in them and was rooting for them the entire time. Because of their strong friendship, it made the romance and spice that much better. And woof - the spice was 🥵 the chemistry between them was sooo good and I couldn’t get enough of them.
I adored this book and cannot wait to read more of Ambar’s stories in the future.
Thank you Ambar for the ARC! 💛
This freaking book - oh my god. I was on an emotional roller coaster from chapter one of this book all the way through the end and I honestly loved every minute of it.
This book was heavy, but it was also so heart warming and gives so much hope for those dealing with grief in many different forms.
Natalie is such a great mom and such a strong person and there were SO many times I wanted to reach into the pages and just give her a massive hug. She lost the love of her life and she’s just surviving while raising her two daughters. She is so independent and hates asking for help and I am so happy that she had such amazing friends to help her through her grief and to be there for her kids as well. I loved getting to see her journey and watching her walls fall for Holden.
Holden is just the sweetest and I honestly just loved him from the beginning. He is so self aware and that is so admirable. Just like with Natalie, there were so many times I wanted to just hug Holden. He too was on a journey with grief and also dealing with the fact that the father he believed to be dead was alive and wanting to rekindle their relationship. He was so warm and steadfast, being the support Natalie, Bella and Vero needed. He was so patient and kind and just such a green flag through and through.
I loved seeing how from their first meeting, Holden was calmed by Natalie and she was able to pull him from his spiral. Their friendship was so organic and I enjoyed watching them build their relationship from the ground up, allowing for a strong foundation. I think my favorite part of the entire book was Holden’s relationship with Nick and how he was so open with the girls about leaving space for Nick and that he wasn’t trying to replace him in any of their lives.
Their friendship led to such a genuine and sweet love story. It was rocky and emotional, but I was invested in them and was rooting for them the entire time. Because of their strong friendship, it made the romance and spice that much better. And woof - the spice was 🥵 the chemistry between them was sooo good and I couldn’t get enough of them.
I adored this book and cannot wait to read more of Ambar’s stories in the future.
Thank you Ambar for the ARC! 💛
February 19, 2026
Would I recommend this book ABSO-FREAKING-LUTELY!!!
After losing her husband 4 years ago, Natalie fell into survival mode. You watch a mother raising her two daughters, working endless hours as a business owner and all while grieving.
Holden lost his mother and sister & is navigating how to live life without them. His father is sick and wants to try to have a relationship with his son again. Holden feels like he can’t trust his intentions and finds himself at a bookstore/florist/winery, where he is served a coffee with sprinkles from a woman who looks like light itself.
He’s learning how to forgive. She’s learning how to feel and how to open her heart for the first time since it shattered, but every step forward reminds her exactly why she shouldn’t. (THOL by Ambar Cordova reworded).
Will her grief keep them apart or will Natalie fall for the retired hockey player-turned coach? Will she finally allow herself to love again?
In this beautiful contemporary romance you will find yourself crying, laughing, crying again and kicking your feet (and probably crying again) make sure you have tissues!!
Tropes
Strangers to Friends to Lovers
Disability & Chronic Illness Rep
Retired Hockey Player & Broken Boy
Single Mom
Body Diversity
Small Town
Found Family
Love After Loss
Grief x2 with a dose of heavy topics
After losing her husband 4 years ago, Natalie fell into survival mode. You watch a mother raising her two daughters, working endless hours as a business owner and all while grieving.
Holden lost his mother and sister & is navigating how to live life without them. His father is sick and wants to try to have a relationship with his son again. Holden feels like he can’t trust his intentions and finds himself at a bookstore/florist/winery, where he is served a coffee with sprinkles from a woman who looks like light itself.
He’s learning how to forgive. She’s learning how to feel and how to open her heart for the first time since it shattered, but every step forward reminds her exactly why she shouldn’t. (THOL by Ambar Cordova reworded).
Will her grief keep them apart or will Natalie fall for the retired hockey player-turned coach? Will she finally allow herself to love again?
In this beautiful contemporary romance you will find yourself crying, laughing, crying again and kicking your feet (and probably crying again) make sure you have tissues!!
Tropes
Strangers to Friends to Lovers
Disability & Chronic Illness Rep
Retired Hockey Player & Broken Boy
Single Mom
Body Diversity
Small Town
Found Family
Love After Loss
Grief x2 with a dose of heavy topics
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Did not finish
March 9, 2026DNF @20%
Tbh there were clues that this book was not for me, but I am always trying to read more indie authors/latine authors so I gave Ambar Cordova a shot. But she does a lot of stuff modern romance authors do that I do not like! Song titles at the start of each chapter! Having a second discreet cover? like why when your cover is already G rated? In the author's note she talks about what she did in prior books and what she put of herself in them, I get that it was to set this one up but it was not needed at all!!
To start with the good - I did really fall into this story right away and I do think the idea of the story is solid. This is obviously an important book for the author as it is inspired by her mom’s experience and I did like the author’s note at the start that explained how.
But unfortunately I fell out of it just as quickly and frankly I do not think it is a good book.
The author over explains everything. Tell me why I was told the age of the second kid twice and yet both times it was said in a weird time and should've been earlier? And I was told relationships between characters twice. It's like she thinks her audience is stupid (or it wasn't edited well) and to be fair - a lot of readers are kinda dumb so I don't entirely blame her but it was making me lose my mind. There also were so many details that maybe would come back later, but seemed unnecessary. It’s frustrating to me because this book is almost 500 pages and so much could’ve been cut to tighten things up.
And yet with all this over explaining I was still confused (maybe I am the dumb one lol) Confused with her kids ages (bc it was said twice in weird ways). What the hell her shop was? This stuff was explained, but not in a way that worked for my brain or in a way that worked for the narrative.
I know this is book five, but there are way too many side characters and I do not need a summary of what happened in the prior books when they are introduced. I care about this book!! Not prior ones. And when the MMC started introducing EVEN MORE people? That's when I peaced out. I am fine not knowing who these people are. I do not need a backstory with every character introduction.
Overall this book was very much not for me and I while I don’t love leaving such a critical review for an indie author this book had me questioning things about the state of the romance genre.
*thanks to the author for the eARC; all thoughts are my own*
Tbh there were clues that this book was not for me, but I am always trying to read more indie authors/latine authors so I gave Ambar Cordova a shot. But she does a lot of stuff modern romance authors do that I do not like! Song titles at the start of each chapter! Having a second discreet cover? like why when your cover is already G rated? In the author's note she talks about what she did in prior books and what she put of herself in them, I get that it was to set this one up but it was not needed at all!!
To start with the good - I did really fall into this story right away and I do think the idea of the story is solid. This is obviously an important book for the author as it is inspired by her mom’s experience and I did like the author’s note at the start that explained how.
But unfortunately I fell out of it just as quickly and frankly I do not think it is a good book.
The author over explains everything. Tell me why I was told the age of the second kid twice and yet both times it was said in a weird time and should've been earlier? And I was told relationships between characters twice. It's like she thinks her audience is stupid (or it wasn't edited well) and to be fair - a lot of readers are kinda dumb so I don't entirely blame her but it was making me lose my mind. There also were so many details that maybe would come back later, but seemed unnecessary. It’s frustrating to me because this book is almost 500 pages and so much could’ve been cut to tighten things up.
And yet with all this over explaining I was still confused (maybe I am the dumb one lol) Confused with her kids ages (bc it was said twice in weird ways). What the hell her shop was? This stuff was explained, but not in a way that worked for my brain or in a way that worked for the narrative.
I know this is book five, but there are way too many side characters and I do not need a summary of what happened in the prior books when they are introduced. I care about this book!! Not prior ones. And when the MMC started introducing EVEN MORE people? That's when I peaced out. I am fine not knowing who these people are. I do not need a backstory with every character introduction.
Overall this book was very much not for me and I while I don’t love leaving such a critical review for an indie author this book had me questioning things about the state of the romance genre.
*thanks to the author for the eARC; all thoughts are my own*
March 7, 2026
Thank you to Ambar Cordova and Her team for the E-ARC!
A beautiful story with some amazing characters and an emotionally moving story 💛
I truly believe that my words are not enough to bring this book justice. These characters are complex and carry stories that are truly heart moving. Tears were shed, Natalie and Holden are two characters with profound depth. You can feel the love and dedication that it took to write them out and that's just amazing.
We are so lucky to be living in a time in which Ambar is actively writing books, she is so incredibly talented.
This isn't just a romance novel, it's a moving story about finding love and grieving in love. Grab your tissues for this book because you'll need them.
Natalie and her two daughters don't just capture Holdens heart but will capture yours too.
I cannot recommend this book enough!
A beautiful story with some amazing characters and an emotionally moving story 💛
I truly believe that my words are not enough to bring this book justice. These characters are complex and carry stories that are truly heart moving. Tears were shed, Natalie and Holden are two characters with profound depth. You can feel the love and dedication that it took to write them out and that's just amazing.
We are so lucky to be living in a time in which Ambar is actively writing books, she is so incredibly talented.
This isn't just a romance novel, it's a moving story about finding love and grieving in love. Grab your tissues for this book because you'll need them.
Natalie and her two daughters don't just capture Holdens heart but will capture yours too.
I cannot recommend this book enough!
March 13, 2026
I always hate saying goodbye to series, even though I discovered Ambar last year… I don’t ever want to leave this amazing world she has created. I am bittersweet with the series.
The hope one lost is not only a growing journey for Natalie and Holden, but also for the her whole family which they have both experienced losses together and they all get to be cared about for each other in ways that some of them didn’t expect to be possible or expected ever.
Natalie really deserved to be happy and loved, I think she is one the strongest character i have ever read. I can’t imagine what she was feeling but I can say that I can understand it to certain degree.
Holden oh baby, you deserve the world and I you understand you deserve to be happy too.
Ambar always breaking our hearts and putting them back together in the most beautiful way possible.
The hope one lost is not only a growing journey for Natalie and Holden, but also for the her whole family which they have both experienced losses together and they all get to be cared about for each other in ways that some of them didn’t expect to be possible or expected ever.
Natalie really deserved to be happy and loved, I think she is one the strongest character i have ever read. I can’t imagine what she was feeling but I can say that I can understand it to certain degree.
Holden oh baby, you deserve the world and I you understand you deserve to be happy too.
Ambar always breaking our hearts and putting them back together in the most beautiful way possible.
February 19, 2026
Ambar never disappoints! This book broke me in many ways but I loved meeting Natalie & Holden and getting to know about them as the story went on. This was a deep and beautiful story of grief and loss and love. I think y’all are gonna love this one just as much as I did.
March 8, 2026
⭐️ There’s something so strange about grief. I mean, all of it is, starting and ending with the fact that no two people grieve the same. There are five stages, we all know that, but what people don’t realize is that each stage doesn’t come once. They ebb and flow like the tides—sometimes, they’re gentle waves kissing the shore, and other times, they’re forceful, devastating tsunamis. ⭐️
This was by FAR my favourite book from this entire series. Ambar Cordova you are a beautiful writer thank you for giving the world your books.
This was one of those books that I wasn’t necessarily excited for as I knew it would be a painful one to read. Having ‘seen’ Nick as a side character in the Baker oaks series and then losing him I wasn’t sure I would cope with reading Natalie ‘moving on’ but when I tell you Ambar did it so well.
Holden was a perfect person for Natalie to learn to love again with, to learn to live again, to learn that there can be happiness after such a great loss. I struggled to read some chapters through the tears streaming down my face. It was so raw and heartfelt.
It was a perfect ending to the Baker Oaks series, having found Ambar before she released the first of this series I’m sad it’s over.
But loved every moment of each book.
This was by FAR my favourite book from this entire series. Ambar Cordova you are a beautiful writer thank you for giving the world your books.
This was one of those books that I wasn’t necessarily excited for as I knew it would be a painful one to read. Having ‘seen’ Nick as a side character in the Baker oaks series and then losing him I wasn’t sure I would cope with reading Natalie ‘moving on’ but when I tell you Ambar did it so well.
Holden was a perfect person for Natalie to learn to love again with, to learn to live again, to learn that there can be happiness after such a great loss. I struggled to read some chapters through the tears streaming down my face. It was so raw and heartfelt.
It was a perfect ending to the Baker Oaks series, having found Ambar before she released the first of this series I’m sad it’s over.
But loved every moment of each book.
March 3, 2026
**Thank you for the ARC of this book**
1.5 🌶
Natalie and Holden's story was a perfect ending to the Baker Oaks series. This group of friends in this small town have been so fun to read about. I highly recommend reading the other books, but it can be read as a standalone. You'll get another perspective to the grief Natalie is suffering in this book. This book is heavy on the grief, but it's about how to keep living alongside that pain. You don't forget the people you love and lost. But you do have every right to keep living and have joy again. Both Natalie and Holden have complex grief. They find friendship in each other. Watching their love unfold is slow and beautiful. It felt so real. The raw truth of having to keep showing up for your kids despite whatever turmoil you might be going through on the inside was described so well. I may have not been through the grief that these characters went through but Ambar helps you see and feel what it's like for people who have. 10/10 recommend this book and this series. If you want romance that has real life experiences, pick up this series. You're welcome!
1.5 🌶
Natalie and Holden's story was a perfect ending to the Baker Oaks series. This group of friends in this small town have been so fun to read about. I highly recommend reading the other books, but it can be read as a standalone. You'll get another perspective to the grief Natalie is suffering in this book. This book is heavy on the grief, but it's about how to keep living alongside that pain. You don't forget the people you love and lost. But you do have every right to keep living and have joy again. Both Natalie and Holden have complex grief. They find friendship in each other. Watching their love unfold is slow and beautiful. It felt so real. The raw truth of having to keep showing up for your kids despite whatever turmoil you might be going through on the inside was described so well. I may have not been through the grief that these characters went through but Ambar helps you see and feel what it's like for people who have. 10/10 recommend this book and this series. If you want romance that has real life experiences, pick up this series. You're welcome!
January 31, 2026
I don't even know how to properly formulate a good review. Like my words won't do it justice. I don't even want to acknowledge that Baker Oaks is ending. Just know this story is pure raw healing and gives you hope. If you have ever lost someone, read it. If you've ever felt broken, read it. If you just want a good book, read it. Natalie and Holden go through so much together and individually and watching them heal and grow felt like a part of me was healing with them. I also won't ever eat white pizza without crying anymore so thanks for that, ambar. NOW I WILL BE PATIENTLY WAITING FOR ASPENS BOOK BYE.
March 4, 2026
ARC Review: The Hope Once Lost by Ambar Cordova
ARC provided by the author
I knew better than to think I could read an Ambar Cordova finale with dry eyes. I knew. And yet here I am, emotionally dehydrated and fully wrecked in the best possible way.
This series has had my heart in a firm grip from the beginning, and Natalie’s story? It did not loosen its hold for even a second. Ambar really said traum-com supremacy and delivered exactly that. I snot sobbed. I smiled. I kicked my feet. Sometimes all on the same page.
Natalie Bradshaw is carrying the kind of quiet, bone deep grief that seeps into every corner of her life. Widowed, raising two girls, and keeping their beloved bookstore afloat, she is surviving with everything she has. What makes her journey hit so hard is how real it feels. The guilt. The fear of moving forward. The way love after loss feels both impossible and inevitable. It is all written with such tenderness that you cannot help but feel it in your chest.
And then Holden Clay walks in with those whiskey sad eyes and the patience of a saint. This man is the greenest of green flags. Retired hockey legend turned CEO who is also carrying his own heavy history. But what really sold me was the way he sees Natalie. Not as someone broken. Not as someone to fix. Just as someone worth waiting for. Sir was down bad with respect and emotional intelligence, and I ate it up.
Their connection builds in this quiet, understanding way that feels earned every step of the way. Two people who recognize grief in each other and choose, slowly and carefully, to reach anyway. The push and pull of Natalie protecting her heart while Holden steadily shows up had me fully invested.
But what makes this book truly special is the emotional layering. The Baker Oak regulars show up in full force, wrapping Natalie and her girls in so much love you can practically feel the group hug through the pages. The themes of forgiveness, healing, and learning that moving forward is not betrayal are handled with so much care. Ambar has this way of writing grief that feels honest without ever stealing the hope from the story.
There are heavy moments and tender ones and scenes that will absolutely sneak up and punch you in the feelings. But the hope woven through every chapter makes the journey worth every single tear. A five star, heart squeezing, beautifully healing finale that proves Ambar Cordova knows exactly how to break you just enough to put you back together softer than before.
Tropes:
💔 Widowed single mom
🏒 Retired hockey hero
🏡 Small town romance
🫶 Found family
🌱 Grief and healing
💞 Slow burn
👨👧 Protective mama bear
✨ Second chance at love
ARC provided by the author
I knew better than to think I could read an Ambar Cordova finale with dry eyes. I knew. And yet here I am, emotionally dehydrated and fully wrecked in the best possible way.
This series has had my heart in a firm grip from the beginning, and Natalie’s story? It did not loosen its hold for even a second. Ambar really said traum-com supremacy and delivered exactly that. I snot sobbed. I smiled. I kicked my feet. Sometimes all on the same page.
Natalie Bradshaw is carrying the kind of quiet, bone deep grief that seeps into every corner of her life. Widowed, raising two girls, and keeping their beloved bookstore afloat, she is surviving with everything she has. What makes her journey hit so hard is how real it feels. The guilt. The fear of moving forward. The way love after loss feels both impossible and inevitable. It is all written with such tenderness that you cannot help but feel it in your chest.
And then Holden Clay walks in with those whiskey sad eyes and the patience of a saint. This man is the greenest of green flags. Retired hockey legend turned CEO who is also carrying his own heavy history. But what really sold me was the way he sees Natalie. Not as someone broken. Not as someone to fix. Just as someone worth waiting for. Sir was down bad with respect and emotional intelligence, and I ate it up.
Their connection builds in this quiet, understanding way that feels earned every step of the way. Two people who recognize grief in each other and choose, slowly and carefully, to reach anyway. The push and pull of Natalie protecting her heart while Holden steadily shows up had me fully invested.
But what makes this book truly special is the emotional layering. The Baker Oak regulars show up in full force, wrapping Natalie and her girls in so much love you can practically feel the group hug through the pages. The themes of forgiveness, healing, and learning that moving forward is not betrayal are handled with so much care. Ambar has this way of writing grief that feels honest without ever stealing the hope from the story.
There are heavy moments and tender ones and scenes that will absolutely sneak up and punch you in the feelings. But the hope woven through every chapter makes the journey worth every single tear. A five star, heart squeezing, beautifully healing finale that proves Ambar Cordova knows exactly how to break you just enough to put you back together softer than before.
Tropes:
💔 Widowed single mom
🏒 Retired hockey hero
🏡 Small town romance
🫶 Found family
🌱 Grief and healing
💞 Slow burn
👨👧 Protective mama bear
✨ Second chance at love
March 17, 2026
There are some stories that feel like more than just words on a page, and this one felt like coming home one last time. Returning to this world brought a mix of comfort and quiet ache, like revisiting a place filled with memories you are not quite ready to leave behind. From the very first chapter, there is an awareness that this is a closing chapter not just for the characters, but for the entire journey, and that weight makes every moment feel more intentional and deeply felt.
What makes this story shine is the emotional depth woven into every interaction. The characters carry so much history with them, and you can feel it in the way they speak, the way they hesitate, and the way they slowly allow themselves to believe in something better. Their growth is not loud or dramatic, but steady and meaningful. It is about choosing healing over hurt, choosing connection over isolation, and learning that hope can exist even after it feels completely out of reach. Watching them take those steps, no matter how small, felt incredibly powerful.
The relationships are where this story truly settles into your heart. There is a tenderness here that feels genuine and earned, not rushed or idealized. Love is shown as something patient and grounding, something that holds space for imperfections and past wounds. The bonds extend beyond romance too, creating a sense of community and belonging that has always been at the core of this world. It is that feeling of found family, of people showing up for each other in quiet but meaningful ways, that makes everything resonate so deeply.
There is also something incredibly special about how this story honors everything that came before it. Familiar faces, shared histories, and the echoes of past moments all come together in a way that feels like a tribute to the entire journey. It never feels overwhelming, but instead like a gentle reminder of how far everyone has come. As someone who has loved this series, it felt like getting to sit with these characters one last time and truly appreciate their growth.
Finishing this book left me with that bittersweet feeling that only the most meaningful stories can create. I am so grateful for every moment spent in this world, but it is hard knowing there are no more visits waiting. It feels like saying goodbye to a place that shaped you as a reader, and to characters who felt real in all the ways that matter. This story does not just end a series. It gives it the heartfelt, thoughtful sendoff it truly deserves.
Tropes
💞 Emotional healing
🤍 Found family
🌅 Small town setting
💫 Second chance at hope
❤️ Character driven romance
What makes this story shine is the emotional depth woven into every interaction. The characters carry so much history with them, and you can feel it in the way they speak, the way they hesitate, and the way they slowly allow themselves to believe in something better. Their growth is not loud or dramatic, but steady and meaningful. It is about choosing healing over hurt, choosing connection over isolation, and learning that hope can exist even after it feels completely out of reach. Watching them take those steps, no matter how small, felt incredibly powerful.
The relationships are where this story truly settles into your heart. There is a tenderness here that feels genuine and earned, not rushed or idealized. Love is shown as something patient and grounding, something that holds space for imperfections and past wounds. The bonds extend beyond romance too, creating a sense of community and belonging that has always been at the core of this world. It is that feeling of found family, of people showing up for each other in quiet but meaningful ways, that makes everything resonate so deeply.
There is also something incredibly special about how this story honors everything that came before it. Familiar faces, shared histories, and the echoes of past moments all come together in a way that feels like a tribute to the entire journey. It never feels overwhelming, but instead like a gentle reminder of how far everyone has come. As someone who has loved this series, it felt like getting to sit with these characters one last time and truly appreciate their growth.
Finishing this book left me with that bittersweet feeling that only the most meaningful stories can create. I am so grateful for every moment spent in this world, but it is hard knowing there are no more visits waiting. It feels like saying goodbye to a place that shaped you as a reader, and to characters who felt real in all the ways that matter. This story does not just end a series. It gives it the heartfelt, thoughtful sendoff it truly deserves.
Tropes
💞 Emotional healing
🤍 Found family
🌅 Small town setting
💫 Second chance at hope
❤️ Character driven romance
March 18, 2026
You know how it goes around here, so buckle up cause this 4.5 star read will knock you on your butt, probably make you cry, and leave you hopeful for life after loss. To me, that's the heart of this book.
"You don't need anyone to save you; you did that yourself. I just want to share this life with you."
Natalie, our FMC, is a mom of two of the coolest kids ever--Izzy/Bella, a awesome teenager who balances all of her emotions after the loss of her father, taking care of her little sister, and is an up and coming young hockey player (!!) and Vero, a super sweet three year old who you can't not love and cheer on in her disability journey--owns her own book/wine/flower shop, has an amazing support system of BA women, and is trying to move on while greiving her husband. She doesn't know if she can move on, if she should move on, and if she did how could she love someone new? Holden, our MMC, literally comes crashing into her store on the verge of a panic attack, and the impact he leaves on Natalie helps kickstart the next phase of her healing journey.
Holden is probably what everyone considers to be their dream man: He's a former hockey player, coaches kids hockey (*nudge nudge, wink wink), started an animal therapy practice, has a pet goat, slutty little glasses, has the best chosen family, is still grieving the loss of his mother and sister, and just learns that the father he thought was dead--isn't and is in kidney failure due to alcoholism.
If at this point you're thinking, wow this seems heavy. You're right, it is. But it's also real life, and with books centered around living through/with grief, they don't always feel real, but THOL is. I highlighted as many moments of humour as I did thoughtful, heartbreaking passages. It took me twice as long to read this story because I just had to sit with it, and I'm so glad I did.
Hudson and Natalie's world felt like walking into an open hug just to cry your eyes out. Every moment of healing, growth, setbacks, love felt so special to witness, earned, and fought for. The commuity of friends who are family to Hudson and Natalie are so special and it felt like I was talking to my own family. While I was so frustrated when Natalie hit pause, I deeply understood beause healing isn't linear and the guilt that goes hand in hand with grief is overwhelming, but there is profound strength in choosing to continue living and choosing love.
If you need me, I'll be day dreaming about sitting on a swing, red cardinal above, and goat in the background causing chaos.
"You don't need anyone to save you; you did that yourself. I just want to share this life with you."
Natalie, our FMC, is a mom of two of the coolest kids ever--Izzy/Bella, a awesome teenager who balances all of her emotions after the loss of her father, taking care of her little sister, and is an up and coming young hockey player (!!) and Vero, a super sweet three year old who you can't not love and cheer on in her disability journey--owns her own book/wine/flower shop, has an amazing support system of BA women, and is trying to move on while greiving her husband. She doesn't know if she can move on, if she should move on, and if she did how could she love someone new? Holden, our MMC, literally comes crashing into her store on the verge of a panic attack, and the impact he leaves on Natalie helps kickstart the next phase of her healing journey.
Holden is probably what everyone considers to be their dream man: He's a former hockey player, coaches kids hockey (*nudge nudge, wink wink), started an animal therapy practice, has a pet goat, slutty little glasses, has the best chosen family, is still grieving the loss of his mother and sister, and just learns that the father he thought was dead--isn't and is in kidney failure due to alcoholism.
If at this point you're thinking, wow this seems heavy. You're right, it is. But it's also real life, and with books centered around living through/with grief, they don't always feel real, but THOL is. I highlighted as many moments of humour as I did thoughtful, heartbreaking passages. It took me twice as long to read this story because I just had to sit with it, and I'm so glad I did.
Hudson and Natalie's world felt like walking into an open hug just to cry your eyes out. Every moment of healing, growth, setbacks, love felt so special to witness, earned, and fought for. The commuity of friends who are family to Hudson and Natalie are so special and it felt like I was talking to my own family. While I was so frustrated when Natalie hit pause, I deeply understood beause healing isn't linear and the guilt that goes hand in hand with grief is overwhelming, but there is profound strength in choosing to continue living and choosing love.
If you need me, I'll be day dreaming about sitting on a swing, red cardinal above, and goat in the background causing chaos.
February 26, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Every story that Ambar Cordova writes is full of heart, passion, and depth. The whole series of Baker Oaks has been an amazing read. The Hope Once Lost is book 5 in the series and this story focuses on finding love after loss. It brings a wonderful light to the grieving process and how it can be different for everyone. Our two MCs are both hurting in different ways, but through their pain, they find a connection with each other that is deeper than they can explain.
Grief isn’t linear and it doesn’t go away in a set period of time. It is also something that everyone experiences differently. Natalie is learning to live life without the person she has been tied to since high school. The person she built a life and family with is gone and she is doing everything to hold it together. She has to be strong for her daughters and show them life goes on. Yet, she isn’t sure how to do it all. I loved seeing her be strong for her daughters. My mom's heart went out to her.
Holden is dealing with life decisions that will change the course of his life. He isn’t really sure how to handle all of the change, but is doing the best he can. He is a character that you can tell wants to do the right thing, but isn’t sure what the right thing is anymore. When he meets Natalie, he knows she is someone he needs in his life. He sees her, loves her for her, and allows her to be whatever she needs to be in the moment. While at the same time, it helps him open up in a way he’s never done before.
Have the tissues ready with this book. Ambar will definitely make you feel deeply throughout this book. She brings these characters to life in a way that can only happen if you have gone through grief and loss yourself. While grief is a theme throughout, the tender threads of love, forgiveness, and acceptance are woven beautifully throughout. A reminder to readers that in the darkest of times there is hope. A wonderful book that I absolutely loved reading!
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect:
💔Strangers to Friends to Lovers
🏒Found Family
💔Body Diversity Rep
🏒Love After Loss
💔Small Town Romance
🏒Single Mom FMC
💔Retired Hockey Player MMC
🏒Chronic Illness Rep
Every story that Ambar Cordova writes is full of heart, passion, and depth. The whole series of Baker Oaks has been an amazing read. The Hope Once Lost is book 5 in the series and this story focuses on finding love after loss. It brings a wonderful light to the grieving process and how it can be different for everyone. Our two MCs are both hurting in different ways, but through their pain, they find a connection with each other that is deeper than they can explain.
Grief isn’t linear and it doesn’t go away in a set period of time. It is also something that everyone experiences differently. Natalie is learning to live life without the person she has been tied to since high school. The person she built a life and family with is gone and she is doing everything to hold it together. She has to be strong for her daughters and show them life goes on. Yet, she isn’t sure how to do it all. I loved seeing her be strong for her daughters. My mom's heart went out to her.
Holden is dealing with life decisions that will change the course of his life. He isn’t really sure how to handle all of the change, but is doing the best he can. He is a character that you can tell wants to do the right thing, but isn’t sure what the right thing is anymore. When he meets Natalie, he knows she is someone he needs in his life. He sees her, loves her for her, and allows her to be whatever she needs to be in the moment. While at the same time, it helps him open up in a way he’s never done before.
Have the tissues ready with this book. Ambar will definitely make you feel deeply throughout this book. She brings these characters to life in a way that can only happen if you have gone through grief and loss yourself. While grief is a theme throughout, the tender threads of love, forgiveness, and acceptance are woven beautifully throughout. A reminder to readers that in the darkest of times there is hope. A wonderful book that I absolutely loved reading!
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect:
💔Strangers to Friends to Lovers
🏒Found Family
💔Body Diversity Rep
🏒Love After Loss
💔Small Town Romance
🏒Single Mom FMC
💔Retired Hockey Player MMC
🏒Chronic Illness Rep
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review
♾️⭐
🌶️ 2/5
📌 Check TW
Oh, my poor heart. I’m pretty sure I cried my way through this beautiful, emotional story, and every tear was worth it.
There is something uniquely powerful about the love-after-loss trope. Maybe it is the vulnerability. Maybe it is the quiet bravery it takes to let your heart feel again after unimaginable pain. This story captures that tenderness in the most heartfelt way.
Natalie absolutely wrecked me. Four years after losing the love of her life, her Nick, her high school sweetheart, she is not really living. She is surviving. Holding it together for her daughters. Smiling for her friends. Going through the motions. She convinces herself that happiness is something she no longer deserves. How could she move forward when Nick never got the chance to?
So she builds walls. And every time Holden gets close, she pushes him away. It does not matter that their chemistry is undeniable, that their friendship feels safe and steady, that trust grows so naturally between them. Loving another man feels like a betrayal, and Natalie struggles deeply with that guilt.
And then there is Holden. Sweet, patient, steady Holden. What a man. He does not try to replace Nick. He does not rush Natalie. He simply shows up. As a friend. As a safe place. As someone who carries his own wounds but still chooses to love gently and wholeheartedly. The way he loves not only Natalie but also her daughters, and the way he honors Nick’s memory with such respect and grace, was one of the most beautiful parts of this story.
This is a story about second chances, about healing at your own pace, about learning that moving forward does not mean leaving someone behind. It is about honoring the love that was while bravely opening your heart to what could be.
As a series finale, it was absolutely perfect. Emotional, meaningful, and deeply satisfying. I am going to miss these characters so much, but this felt like the most beautiful way to say goodbye.
If you have not visited Baker Oaks yet, you are seriously missing out. Do not think twice. Read it.
Thank you so much Ambar for this ARC, for this series and for these beautiful stories!
♾️⭐
🌶️ 2/5
📌 Check TW
Oh, my poor heart. I’m pretty sure I cried my way through this beautiful, emotional story, and every tear was worth it.
There is something uniquely powerful about the love-after-loss trope. Maybe it is the vulnerability. Maybe it is the quiet bravery it takes to let your heart feel again after unimaginable pain. This story captures that tenderness in the most heartfelt way.
Natalie absolutely wrecked me. Four years after losing the love of her life, her Nick, her high school sweetheart, she is not really living. She is surviving. Holding it together for her daughters. Smiling for her friends. Going through the motions. She convinces herself that happiness is something she no longer deserves. How could she move forward when Nick never got the chance to?
So she builds walls. And every time Holden gets close, she pushes him away. It does not matter that their chemistry is undeniable, that their friendship feels safe and steady, that trust grows so naturally between them. Loving another man feels like a betrayal, and Natalie struggles deeply with that guilt.
And then there is Holden. Sweet, patient, steady Holden. What a man. He does not try to replace Nick. He does not rush Natalie. He simply shows up. As a friend. As a safe place. As someone who carries his own wounds but still chooses to love gently and wholeheartedly. The way he loves not only Natalie but also her daughters, and the way he honors Nick’s memory with such respect and grace, was one of the most beautiful parts of this story.
This is a story about second chances, about healing at your own pace, about learning that moving forward does not mean leaving someone behind. It is about honoring the love that was while bravely opening your heart to what could be.
As a series finale, it was absolutely perfect. Emotional, meaningful, and deeply satisfying. I am going to miss these characters so much, but this felt like the most beautiful way to say goodbye.
If you have not visited Baker Oaks yet, you are seriously missing out. Do not think twice. Read it.
Thank you so much Ambar for this ARC, for this series and for these beautiful stories!
February 26, 2026
Well, hello tears. This beautiful story had me weeping at the most unexpected moments. It was sweet, sad, joyful, hopeful, heartbreaking, thoughtful, interesting, and comforting. It was such a good read.
Natalie is a widow, single mom and small business owner.
Holden is a son & brother and former hockey player turned therapy business ceo.
They meet by chance when he drives by her store. He is distraught. She is light. They speak. She makes coffee. He comes back for more. She listens. And eventually shares. They start spending spend time together. He helps her. They grow close. He fixes things. They get scared. There are tears. They fluff. More scared. More tears. And healthy doses of joy & growing.
Natalie is such a good mom and is doing her best, but fake it until you make it isn't the life plan she thought it was. The love of her life, her forever, is no longer with her & her girls and she is going through the motions of living without the life. And she doesn't know what to do when a sweet, hurting man shows up & starts becoming important to her. Our girl really has gone and is going through it. Watching her struggle & try & wonder & risk & pull back is emotional and beautiful. She is a wonder. I loved watching her learn she can love & be loved again.
Holden is so patient, sweet and hurting. He lost his mom & sister and is dealing with serious guilt while also facing his father he thought was dead. He is working through a lot. But watching him decide to fight for his woman and their love and the promise of the life they could share? Oh. My. Heart. And his relationship with her girls is so precious.
This was my first Ambar Cordova book and I had the best time reading it. The found family goodness is so strong and the emotions are so genuine. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
I received this as an ARC and am so, so grateful. This had no impact on my review.
Natalie is a widow, single mom and small business owner.
Holden is a son & brother and former hockey player turned therapy business ceo.
They meet by chance when he drives by her store. He is distraught. She is light. They speak. She makes coffee. He comes back for more. She listens. And eventually shares. They start spending spend time together. He helps her. They grow close. He fixes things. They get scared. There are tears. They fluff. More scared. More tears. And healthy doses of joy & growing.
Natalie is such a good mom and is doing her best, but fake it until you make it isn't the life plan she thought it was. The love of her life, her forever, is no longer with her & her girls and she is going through the motions of living without the life. And she doesn't know what to do when a sweet, hurting man shows up & starts becoming important to her. Our girl really has gone and is going through it. Watching her struggle & try & wonder & risk & pull back is emotional and beautiful. She is a wonder. I loved watching her learn she can love & be loved again.
Holden is so patient, sweet and hurting. He lost his mom & sister and is dealing with serious guilt while also facing his father he thought was dead. He is working through a lot. But watching him decide to fight for his woman and their love and the promise of the life they could share? Oh. My. Heart. And his relationship with her girls is so precious.
This was my first Ambar Cordova book and I had the best time reading it. The found family goodness is so strong and the emotions are so genuine. I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
I received this as an ARC and am so, so grateful. This had no impact on my review.
March 5, 2026
“I just want you to let me in, even if it’s beside him.”
Tears, emotional tears, sad tears laughing tears just all the tears you cry, each scenario is in this story I cried in the prologue do not read this at work… speaking from experience. Ambar takes such good care of her stories and characters I have been a fan since book one The Truth Never Spoken has been an auto read author ever since and if you have been along for the ride of Baker Oaks you know Natalie and her story very well.
Natalie is a widowed single mom who lost her high school sweetheart and has not thought twice about falling in love again because she had her great love and her two daughters Bella and Vero to take care of. Holden sweet broken Holden has also been through so mmc pain after a loss that changed his whole life and now he dedicates his life to therapy center he opened and coaching. As Natalie Holden feels that he is good on his own and doesn’t need to complicate things with love but after a bad day and a cup of coffee with sprinkles everything starts to change for all of them. Natalie and Holden amazing Bella was handled so perfectly as well as Vero and her speech as a mom to a son with the same issue I understood exactly how Natalie felt.
Holden’s friends are perfect for the Baker Oaks crew and I cannot wait for Magnolia Springs especially Aspen love his energy. I am sad to say goodbye to Baker Oaks but I am excited to welcome the next series.
🎼 Song Vibe Carry You by The Teskey Brothers
~~What to Expect~~
💛Small Town
💛Single Mom
💛Retired Hockey Player
💛Widow X Broken Boy
💛Grief X 2
💛Love after Loss
💛Invisible String
💛Strangers to Friends to Lovers
💛Emotional
💛Healing
💛Found Family
~~Quotes~~
💐How does one go through what feels like withdrawal after meeting someone twice?
💐I would also give everything I have, everything I am, to heal their hearts; but I can’t
💐You can’t help who your heart decides is worthy of falling for, and Natalies I’m so glad mine chose you.
Tears, emotional tears, sad tears laughing tears just all the tears you cry, each scenario is in this story I cried in the prologue do not read this at work… speaking from experience. Ambar takes such good care of her stories and characters I have been a fan since book one The Truth Never Spoken has been an auto read author ever since and if you have been along for the ride of Baker Oaks you know Natalie and her story very well.
Natalie is a widowed single mom who lost her high school sweetheart and has not thought twice about falling in love again because she had her great love and her two daughters Bella and Vero to take care of. Holden sweet broken Holden has also been through so mmc pain after a loss that changed his whole life and now he dedicates his life to therapy center he opened and coaching. As Natalie Holden feels that he is good on his own and doesn’t need to complicate things with love but after a bad day and a cup of coffee with sprinkles everything starts to change for all of them. Natalie and Holden amazing Bella was handled so perfectly as well as Vero and her speech as a mom to a son with the same issue I understood exactly how Natalie felt.
Holden’s friends are perfect for the Baker Oaks crew and I cannot wait for Magnolia Springs especially Aspen love his energy. I am sad to say goodbye to Baker Oaks but I am excited to welcome the next series.
🎼 Song Vibe Carry You by The Teskey Brothers
~~What to Expect~~
💛Small Town
💛Single Mom
💛Retired Hockey Player
💛Widow X Broken Boy
💛Grief X 2
💛Love after Loss
💛Invisible String
💛Strangers to Friends to Lovers
💛Emotional
💛Healing
💛Found Family
~~Quotes~~
💐How does one go through what feels like withdrawal after meeting someone twice?
💐I would also give everything I have, everything I am, to heal their hearts; but I can’t
💐You can’t help who your heart decides is worthy of falling for, and Natalies I’m so glad mine chose you.
March 4, 2026
Ambar Cordova’s The Hope Once Lost is an angsty, grief fueled romance, and yet I found myself smiling many times. I really do love romances that dive into grief. Some of the best romances start with the way grief changes us. The Hope Once Lost is part of Cordova’s Baker Oaks series. Technically, it can be read as a stand alone, but I spent too much time trying to keep characters straight to recommend it.
After an aborted attempt to visit the father who abandoned him, Holden visits a coffee shop that also sells books, flowers, and wine. Natalie is a single mother who lost her husband in an act of violence, and she owns Blooming Wine. She spots Holden’s grief and offers him a fancy coffee with sprinkles and a little connection as a respite. He keeps coming back to the store and they start to build a friendship. The small acts of kindness that Natalie offers give Holden the courage to visit with his father, and in turn he offers his skills to help Natalie with the crumbling infrastructure at her house and business. They woo each other with acts of service, even when they aren’t actively wooing.
The Hope Once Lost is angsty, but also hopeful and rich in community. Neither Natalie or Holden are surviving alone, though both are reluctant at times to ask for help. Holden is a walking green flag. Natalie is still struggling to see who she is without her late husband, but Holden, learning from his father’s cautionary tale, doesn’t give up on them. I really appreciate that he remained patient, but refusing to give up on them did not look like stalking. Holden respected Natalie’s wishes and her relationship with her late husband.
As a side note, Holden is a retired hockey player and current coach for a teen girl’s team. He wouldn’t have laughed.
I’m looking forward to reading the whole series and seeing how that changes my experience with The Hope Once Lost.
After an aborted attempt to visit the father who abandoned him, Holden visits a coffee shop that also sells books, flowers, and wine. Natalie is a single mother who lost her husband in an act of violence, and she owns Blooming Wine. She spots Holden’s grief and offers him a fancy coffee with sprinkles and a little connection as a respite. He keeps coming back to the store and they start to build a friendship. The small acts of kindness that Natalie offers give Holden the courage to visit with his father, and in turn he offers his skills to help Natalie with the crumbling infrastructure at her house and business. They woo each other with acts of service, even when they aren’t actively wooing.
The Hope Once Lost is angsty, but also hopeful and rich in community. Neither Natalie or Holden are surviving alone, though both are reluctant at times to ask for help. Holden is a walking green flag. Natalie is still struggling to see who she is without her late husband, but Holden, learning from his father’s cautionary tale, doesn’t give up on them. I really appreciate that he remained patient, but refusing to give up on them did not look like stalking. Holden respected Natalie’s wishes and her relationship with her late husband.
As a side note, Holden is a retired hockey player and current coach for a teen girl’s team. He wouldn’t have laughed.
I’m looking forward to reading the whole series and seeing how that changes my experience with The Hope Once Lost.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Going into this book, I knew it was going to break me. I expected the tears but somehow, I still wasn’t fully prepared for Natalie and Holden’s story.
As the final installment in the Baker Oaks series, this book delivered all the emotions. From the very first page of the prologue, I could already feel the tears building. Fate brought these two together in such a beautiful, meaningful way. It truly felt like the universe knew Natalie and Holden needed someone who could help them hope again. Someone who could remind them that they are worthy of love.
Holden was the ultimate walking green flag, exactly what Natalie needed. He understood when to give her space and when to gently push, always prioritizing her comfort and healing. Their relationship unfolded with such care and tenderness that it was impossible not to root for them.
Because this is the conclusion to the Baker Oaks series, we also get to reconnect with beloved characters from the earlier books, which added so much heart to the story. Seeing them show up as Natalie’s support system was incredibly satisfying. At the same time, we’re introduced to a new group of characters, Holden’s friends. I have to say, I’m officially campaigning for a book about Aspen. He completely stole every scene he was in with his humor and charm.
One of my favorite aspects of this story, though, was the relationship between Natalie and her daughter, Bella. Their bond added another layer of depth and emotion, and Bella easily became one of my favorite side characters.
Ambar Cordova truly outdid herself with this one. This story was emotional, heartfelt, and unforgettable. Just make sure you have tissues nearby. You’re going to need them.
As the final installment in the Baker Oaks series, this book delivered all the emotions. From the very first page of the prologue, I could already feel the tears building. Fate brought these two together in such a beautiful, meaningful way. It truly felt like the universe knew Natalie and Holden needed someone who could help them hope again. Someone who could remind them that they are worthy of love.
Holden was the ultimate walking green flag, exactly what Natalie needed. He understood when to give her space and when to gently push, always prioritizing her comfort and healing. Their relationship unfolded with such care and tenderness that it was impossible not to root for them.
Because this is the conclusion to the Baker Oaks series, we also get to reconnect with beloved characters from the earlier books, which added so much heart to the story. Seeing them show up as Natalie’s support system was incredibly satisfying. At the same time, we’re introduced to a new group of characters, Holden’s friends. I have to say, I’m officially campaigning for a book about Aspen. He completely stole every scene he was in with his humor and charm.
One of my favorite aspects of this story, though, was the relationship between Natalie and her daughter, Bella. Their bond added another layer of depth and emotion, and Bella easily became one of my favorite side characters.
Ambar Cordova truly outdid herself with this one. This story was emotional, heartfelt, and unforgettable. Just make sure you have tissues nearby. You’re going to need them.
March 17, 2026
As usual Ambar's writing is unique, fluid and has a way to draw us into the story in the most amazing way. Here, we start with grief. And there truly is so much grief in this story. We can almost feel it alongside the characters.
“Maybe tears are your heart’s way of releasing everything that’s been building up. Kind of like when we exhale after holding our breath for too long. Our hearts can race or slow down, and we can’t help but feel those emotions, even when we try to suppress them. When it can’t hold them anymore, it releases them as tears.”
We can also feel how two people, even grieving about different things and people found one another and learn to lean on each other. And see them learn that grief lessens with help and understanding, friendship and then love.
Natalie is a single mom, who is doing an amazing job as a mom after her husbands death. She had to pick up all the pieced for her girls, but she is still pulling herself together secretly.
Holden is a sweet man, with a heart of gold, with a heavy sense of guilt about his family's tragedy. When his father contacts him and he learns new things about his past all the grief comes rushing back.
And, in a bookstore Caffè, they meet and realise they have something in common. And with each time they spend together they learn that maybe, some new feelings are worth pursuing. But can love overcome grief?
I loved to see their relationship grow. All the friendship and respect at first, and then all those feelings and love. I was glued to the pages and couldn't put the book down.
As always all the side characters had a steady and marked presence. And this time of all those new side characters.. I really, really liked Aspen and his lightness and his sense of humor.
“Maybe tears are your heart’s way of releasing everything that’s been building up. Kind of like when we exhale after holding our breath for too long. Our hearts can race or slow down, and we can’t help but feel those emotions, even when we try to suppress them. When it can’t hold them anymore, it releases them as tears.”
We can also feel how two people, even grieving about different things and people found one another and learn to lean on each other. And see them learn that grief lessens with help and understanding, friendship and then love.
Natalie is a single mom, who is doing an amazing job as a mom after her husbands death. She had to pick up all the pieced for her girls, but she is still pulling herself together secretly.
Holden is a sweet man, with a heart of gold, with a heavy sense of guilt about his family's tragedy. When his father contacts him and he learns new things about his past all the grief comes rushing back.
And, in a bookstore Caffè, they meet and realise they have something in common. And with each time they spend together they learn that maybe, some new feelings are worth pursuing. But can love overcome grief?
I loved to see their relationship grow. All the friendship and respect at first, and then all those feelings and love. I was glued to the pages and couldn't put the book down.
As always all the side characters had a steady and marked presence. And this time of all those new side characters.. I really, really liked Aspen and his lightness and his sense of humor.
March 20, 2026
This book absolutely wrecked me—in the best possible way. From the very first chapter, The Hope Once Lost by Ambar Cordova takes you on an emotional roller coaster filled with grief, healing, love, and hope. It’s a heavier story, but it’s also incredibly heartwarming, showing that even after devastating loss, there’s still space for new beginnings.
Natalie is such a strong, beautifully written character. As a widowed single mom, she’s doing everything she can to hold her world together for her daughters while quietly carrying overwhelming grief. Her journey felt so real—the guilt, the fear of moving forward, and the struggle to let others in. Watching her slowly open her heart again, supported by an amazing found family, was both painful and uplifting. And then there’s Holden—an absolute green flag hero. Patient, kind, and emotionally aware, he meets Natalie exactly where she is. He’s dealing with his own complicated grief and family struggles, yet shows up with so much steadiness and care for Natalie and her girls. Their connection builds naturally from friendship into something deeper, making every moment between them feel genuine and earned.
What truly makes this story shine is the emotional depth and balance. The themes of grief, forgiveness, and second chances are handled with so much care, never losing the thread of hope. There are twists that will hit you hard, tender moments that will melt your heart, and a romance that feels both vulnerable and powerful. Add in strong friendships, wonderful family dynamics, and meaningful representation of love after loss, and this becomes a truly unforgettable finale. A tearjerker in every sense, but one that leaves you feeling full, hopeful, and completely satisfied.
Natalie is such a strong, beautifully written character. As a widowed single mom, she’s doing everything she can to hold her world together for her daughters while quietly carrying overwhelming grief. Her journey felt so real—the guilt, the fear of moving forward, and the struggle to let others in. Watching her slowly open her heart again, supported by an amazing found family, was both painful and uplifting. And then there’s Holden—an absolute green flag hero. Patient, kind, and emotionally aware, he meets Natalie exactly where she is. He’s dealing with his own complicated grief and family struggles, yet shows up with so much steadiness and care for Natalie and her girls. Their connection builds naturally from friendship into something deeper, making every moment between them feel genuine and earned.
What truly makes this story shine is the emotional depth and balance. The themes of grief, forgiveness, and second chances are handled with so much care, never losing the thread of hope. There are twists that will hit you hard, tender moments that will melt your heart, and a romance that feels both vulnerable and powerful. Add in strong friendships, wonderful family dynamics, and meaningful representation of love after loss, and this becomes a truly unforgettable finale. A tearjerker in every sense, but one that leaves you feeling full, hopeful, and completely satisfied.
February 25, 2026
“𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘧 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮.”
♾️/⭐️
2/🌶️
Infinity stars. Ambar’s writing is so beautiful, and this story just left me speechless. I wish I could sit here and write out all my favorite parts, but I’d basically just be telling you the entire story. Natalie and Holden will forever live inside me. Add in Bella too because she really added so much depth to this story too. Holden is what every man should be. He is tender, understanding, selfless, I mean he everything about him was just as close to perfect as one can be. He’s a little broken from his past, and if you know me you know I love the broken boys.. but the way he listens and works through it, I couldn’t get enough of this man. I forever will be comparing men to him.
Sweet Natalie. My heart. I was in tears on page one. I knew her story was going to make me sob because if you read the previous book, we already know what happened to Nick. I don’t think I can put into words what Natalie’s story meant to me. I can’t even say that it’s relatable cause I have never been put in those shoes before, but the way that strength and perseverance just emanated from her, it really just dug deep inside of me. The emotional depth of this story and these characters amazed me with each page. A beautiful love after loss that really is woven into my soul now. Thank you Ambar for pouring your soul into these stories, it’s felt and absolutely cherished.
I want to go on and on, but please just pick this one up. Check your triggers, as there are some heavy topics discussed. This will absolutely be a top read of the year for me, I don’t see myself moving on from their story anytime soon.
🤍 what to expect -
Strangers to Friends to Lovers
Disability & Chronic Illness Rep
Retired Hockey Player & Broken Boy
Single Mom
Body Diversity
Small Town
Found Family
Love After Loss
Grief x2 with a dose of heavy topics
*Please check your triggers
♾️/⭐️
2/🌶️
Infinity stars. Ambar’s writing is so beautiful, and this story just left me speechless. I wish I could sit here and write out all my favorite parts, but I’d basically just be telling you the entire story. Natalie and Holden will forever live inside me. Add in Bella too because she really added so much depth to this story too. Holden is what every man should be. He is tender, understanding, selfless, I mean he everything about him was just as close to perfect as one can be. He’s a little broken from his past, and if you know me you know I love the broken boys.. but the way he listens and works through it, I couldn’t get enough of this man. I forever will be comparing men to him.
Sweet Natalie. My heart. I was in tears on page one. I knew her story was going to make me sob because if you read the previous book, we already know what happened to Nick. I don’t think I can put into words what Natalie’s story meant to me. I can’t even say that it’s relatable cause I have never been put in those shoes before, but the way that strength and perseverance just emanated from her, it really just dug deep inside of me. The emotional depth of this story and these characters amazed me with each page. A beautiful love after loss that really is woven into my soul now. Thank you Ambar for pouring your soul into these stories, it’s felt and absolutely cherished.
I want to go on and on, but please just pick this one up. Check your triggers, as there are some heavy topics discussed. This will absolutely be a top read of the year for me, I don’t see myself moving on from their story anytime soon.
🤍 what to expect -
Strangers to Friends to Lovers
Disability & Chronic Illness Rep
Retired Hockey Player & Broken Boy
Single Mom
Body Diversity
Small Town
Found Family
Love After Loss
Grief x2 with a dose of heavy topics
*Please check your triggers
Review of advance copy received from Author
2 word review: Achingly beautiful. ♥️
Wow. What a story. A story filled with love, loss, grief and resilience even when it seemed impossible.
This is an emotional story that completely wrecked me and then put me back together. I encourage you to check out the trigger warnings as there is some heavy subject matter in this book. And my personal warning to you is: bring a whole box of tissues. The whole dang box, you’re gonna need it! 😪
This is book 5 of Ambar’s Baker Oaks series and she closes the chapter on Baker Oaks with Natalie and Holdens story. Natalie is a young widow trying to survive the best she can for her two daughters, her found family and her bookstore/cafe/flower shoppe. And although she’s lived through the unimaginable she still emanates sunshine and overloads on sprinkles.
Holden is a retired NHL player who is also living with inconceivable grief. His grief and rage only grow after hearing from his estranged father and on a day where his grief was overwhelming he unknowingly steps into Natalie’s shoppe… and he’s instantly captivated by the curvy red head who radiates joy.
This book captures 1,001 ways to love. In the small ways, like wearing someone’s favorite colors, to the big ways like accepting their family as your own. I absolutely loved how even through all the grief, Natalie and Holden were able to persevere… together. It’s not an easy journey,l and there are so many things working against them, but ultimately fate brings these two together in an achingly beautiful story that I simply cannot recommend enough! ♥️
This was an easy 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me. From beginning to end I was captivated and this story evoked so much emotion out of me.
The Hope Once Lost is out TODAY!! And is available on KU.
Thank you to Ambar and her team for the eARC and opportunity to read The Hope Once Lost prior to its release.
Wow. What a story. A story filled with love, loss, grief and resilience even when it seemed impossible.
This is an emotional story that completely wrecked me and then put me back together. I encourage you to check out the trigger warnings as there is some heavy subject matter in this book. And my personal warning to you is: bring a whole box of tissues. The whole dang box, you’re gonna need it! 😪
This is book 5 of Ambar’s Baker Oaks series and she closes the chapter on Baker Oaks with Natalie and Holdens story. Natalie is a young widow trying to survive the best she can for her two daughters, her found family and her bookstore/cafe/flower shoppe. And although she’s lived through the unimaginable she still emanates sunshine and overloads on sprinkles.
Holden is a retired NHL player who is also living with inconceivable grief. His grief and rage only grow after hearing from his estranged father and on a day where his grief was overwhelming he unknowingly steps into Natalie’s shoppe… and he’s instantly captivated by the curvy red head who radiates joy.
This book captures 1,001 ways to love. In the small ways, like wearing someone’s favorite colors, to the big ways like accepting their family as your own. I absolutely loved how even through all the grief, Natalie and Holden were able to persevere… together. It’s not an easy journey,l and there are so many things working against them, but ultimately fate brings these two together in an achingly beautiful story that I simply cannot recommend enough! ♥️
This was an easy 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me. From beginning to end I was captivated and this story evoked so much emotion out of me.
The Hope Once Lost is out TODAY!! And is available on KU.
Thank you to Ambar and her team for the eARC and opportunity to read The Hope Once Lost prior to its release.
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