The Season Long Awaited

Once Upon A December #2

by Ambar Cordova

New Year’s Eve: out with the old, in with the new… but this year, everything changed.

I’ve lived by checklists my whole life—set goals, crush them, repeat. Except for one list I’ve never managed to complete: fall in love, get married, have children. Now, I’m thirty, chronically single, and the one person who ever made me believe in fate disappears at midnight—right after the champagne toasts, the fireworks, and the Happy New Year kisses that felt like destiny in disguise.

Asher Hunter vanished without a trace, and it’s not until the following year that he magically appears again. Our connection is instant, cosmic, like the universe pressing rewind. Even with a year between us, it’s as if time never dared to move forward. One look, one laugh, one touch—and suddenly, we’re tangled in bedsheets and stars. When the clock strikes midnight again, he’s gone. But this time, he leaves me with a promise: same day, next year, if the stars align.

The rules are simple. We keep living our lives, chasing our dreams, pretending we’re not haunted by the idea of an impossible love. A friendship. A few stolen messages. A few stolen nights. Until one year, fate gives us more than either of us bargained for: a baby.

What began as a once-a-year affair becomes a forever question. What do you do when the wish you whispered into a glass of champagne actually comes true?

Now, with a life growing between us, we’re forced to face the one thing we’ve both avoided—what it means to choose love not just once a year, but every day after.

The Season Long Awaited is a spellbinding, sizzling, and heart-melting contemporary romance for fans of The Guardian, You’ve Got Mail, and One Day.

Genres: Romance, Holiday, Christmas, Friends To Lovers, Novella, Found Family, Surprise Pregnancy

182 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 3, 2025

About the author

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

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

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

at sade@beckliterary.com

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Reviews

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

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5

Okay, I have never read a book with this concept before, and I really enjoyed it! The idea that they only saw each other once a year had me hooked from the start. I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next or how they would reconnect each time.

I really connected with the FMC because I saw so much of myself in her. She’s selfless and always puts others first, even if it means pushing her own needs aside. Watching her finally get her moment and receive all the love and happiness she deserved was so satisfying.

The MMC had such an interesting background, and while it took a little time to truly understand him, once he opened up, I was completely rooting for him.

This is a short and sweet story that everyone needs in their life. It’s the perfect cozy read to close out the year and welcome a new one. A beautiful reminder that timing isn’t everything, sometimes it’s about the connection that never fades.

[Ambar Cordova]

SURPRISE!!

I guess I wasn't done with stories this year and you get another emotional Ambar style novella before 2025 is over!

The Season Long Awaited is a swoony and emotional romance with all the banter and the feels. It's written through the span of a decade where they only see each other once a year. In between, they become pen pals.

Have you ever watched The Guardian and One Day? Well, if they got married, they would have this story as a child!!

It's available now and I hope you love it!

[Manda Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Lose Him, Hailey”

There is just something so healing when I read an Ambar Cordova novel. Especially when reading Hailey and Asher’s story, the way their love story went over years and letters only seeing each other once a year was a refreshing twist.

This book has it all romance, spice, heartbreak, healing and showing how not all love is simple or perfect. From the moment these two met you are on a roller coaster and so many moments that are just perfection! I don’t want to give anything away because this story needs to be enjoyed in the moment as you wait to see what happens next.

I will say as an oldest child and someone who is in a constant need to help everyone and not ask for help I connected so much with Hailey.

🎼Song Vibe- Old Money- Lana Del Rey

~~What to Expect~~
🌊New Years Eve
🌊Reverse Age Gap 10 Years
🌊Rescue Swimmer for Coast Guard X Peds Trauma Nurse
🌊Written Letters /Pen Pals
🌊Surprise Pregnancy
🌊Under 200 pages
🌊Love Story Over Years

~~Quotes~~
❤️This man is an enigma and I’m dying to figure him out, even if I just met him.
❤️Have you been thinking about me too Mystery Girl?
❤️If the stars align and the seasons change I will wait for our next moment right here. I promise to give you more than a few hours next time.
❤️Don’t apologize for taking up space. Stars are supposed to take the spotlight.

[Esther | esthersreadingnook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay I think this is my new Ambar Cordova book 😭

I love Asher and Hailey so much. Their story was so sweet. Combining some of my favorite elements and piling it all into one of the sweetest stories ever. I wish there was more. I genuinely could have stayed with even for hundreds more pages.

If you haven’t yet picked up a book by her yet this is the most perfect place to start! Especially this time of year as it centers around multiple New Years!

[Isis · Rating 4 out of 5]

In true Ambar fashion, I might’ve cried for Ash😂

This is a novella so keep in mind that it’s kind of a slow burn in a sense even though he saw her 🍒 the first night they met. I loved the letters they wrote to each other & only met on nye, I was screaming internally for them to just be together already!

Asher never grew up loved, he didn’t know how to cope with his emotions🥲
Hailey had her moments but completely understandable when you’re the glue to your family, the one everyone counts on but can’t lean on anyone. Oldest child syndrome!!

And although I’m not an accidental pregnant fan I thoroughly enjoyed how it all played out. When she said “8 times” I immediately laughed like damn 😂

[J.L. Beers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ambar has done it again! Each book I’ve read from her has been a master piece!! I laughed, I cried, I swooned and I cried again.

Asher (Hunter) has never been loved by anyone. His own parents have resented him his whole life. He chose his career by needing to feel wanted and needed! As a rescue swimmer he got what he was looking for …. Or did he?

Hailey is an overworked stressed out, trauma ped nurse. She never quite checked off her list of priorities. She was okay with it until that New Year’s Eve!

Two people who didn’t know what they truly wanted and needed from life until they met one another.

It’s such a beautiful story and I promise it’s worth the read ❤️

[tiff rasberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

was i prepared for how emotional this novella was going to make me? nope! i should’ve expected some tears from this author though…

"If you were to tell me right now you'd like to meet in Hell every year, I would give you a list of sins I would commit just to make sure I was able to get in."

^ like can someone please get me a bucket to mop up my tears??? brb while i go recover…

ANYWAYS

the season long awaited is told through dual POV chapters and many love letters spanning across several years that truly HITS in the yearning department especially when the pair only see each other once a year on new years eve

[Samanthasue218 · Rating 5 out of 5]

No spoilers. Read via kindle unlimited.

Wow, I haven’t read something like this before (aside from November 9 —kind of). This one has so much packed into it, it really grasps you and you feel the feels! This is a rollercoaster of emotions, and you will be intrigued from the first pages. The characters were fun and enjoyable, and the spice was spicing. I really enjoyed this one, and would be interested in reading more like this!

Would I recommend? Yes, if you’re looking for a not your normal romcom/contemporary romance/spicy romance/depth romance, I would recommend reading this!

[Kimberlyyyreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

*4.5

Ambar!!!

Lives were CHANGED. Easily one of the top tier holiday romance novellas I’ve read. This was angsty, romantic, and very sweet.

Asher is truly one of the FINEST!!! 🤪

My girl Hailey has nothing but my endless love and adoration. Seeing her be love and doted upon brought me sm joy 🥹❤️

humbly asking Ambar where I can find an Asher? 😩

That wedding bonus scene brought me back to life 🥹

[Nancy R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this! It is the best feeling when you are reading a novella and wish it was a full length novel. I absolutely adored the plot and how we got to see so many years of their lives. I am a sucker for the accidental pregnancy trope and this was the cutest 🥹

[Mary Aka Duckess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so invested in this story. The FMC is super relatable. She is the caregiver type, which is also reflected in her job. The MMC's background absolutely tugged at my heart! The way this book was executed was so good! All because of chance! Also 🦐!

[lucialeelibros · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was a f PERFECTION.

I LOVED.

[booksvanereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

holy hot 🥵 asher is everything

[Sharecias SmutLust · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really love Ambar’s writing. However , with this one although the love was a slow burn the story itself felt a little rushed. I couldn’t fall in love with these characters like i usually do, I loved the concept but the execution was missing that Ámbar oomf.

[Ivet · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.75⭐️
Honestly, I'm not the biggest Hailey fan. Everything felt kind of forced, and I got the feeling they hated each other for like half the book, and were talking to eachother out of boredom.
I love Ambar's books, but this one was not for me.

[Wanika · Rating 5 out of 5]

A different but absolutely beautiful love story

I can't tell if I love Ambar's novellas more or her normal novels. Either way they absolutely fill me with so much hope and happiness,it doesn't really matter. The Season Long Awaited is not your usual rom com, but it still works so well.

This is a one night stand meets friends to lovers meets long distance relationship/friendship. I loved that the characters weren't sunshiny people, well in life. With each other they probably burned people's retinas out with how much they shined together, but as people with tough lives, they both were open and honest with themselves and each other about how....hard life is. Their dispositions were opposite but also matched so perfectly well together, they really balanced each other out. The way their relationship evolved was predictable in the way that you NEED it happen and are still so ridiculously giddy when it does.

The way Ambar wrote this long distance relationship, messy friends to lovers stories was truly unique. It didn't seem like it should work but it absolutely did and was such an enjoyable ride. This story left me smiling and my heart so happy.
I can't wait to see what the next one will be!

[Elvira · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have never identified so much with a character as I did with Hailey the FMC. She was someone who lived her life by lists. She had what she wanted her life to look and goals she wanted to reach. And while she attained many of her goals, her goal to find love and settle down had yet to be met and the future looked bleak. That is until she had a meet cute with a gorgeous man on New Year's Eve. They share a magical kiss at midnight for him to only disappear which causes her to think, "Did I dream him up?" But alas they do meet again the following year same time, same place. And there begins their annual meet up on New Year's Eve. I loved how they wrote each other letters throughout the year to keep in touch until they could see one another. Asher the FMC, is such cinnamon hero and quite literally a hero who saves lives for a living as a rescue swimmer. I loved the cute flirty banter between the two. And oh did I forget to mention there's an age gap? She is older by 10 years. I ate up this sweet novella and couldn't get enough of these two characters.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hailey & Asher
Oh my gosh I don't think I have the right words for this one. Yes she is short but man she still packs the same heart and emotions that only Ambar can write. I absolutely adore seeing the way Hailey & Asher grow and change as people and what it looks like when you only get to meet once a year. I love how vulnerable and honest Hailey is, and the way she pours her heart out in her letters to Asher. I love how Asher is honest to a fault and tends to be a little closed off. Watching them come together and connect once a year and deep their connection through letters was so new and refreshing.

5/5 Recommend this book. Y'all I don't know how Ambar does it but I'm so glad she does because she writes raw and complex characters who make mistakes and have flaws but don't shy away from them and they own it and it's honestly beautiful.

[Stephs.bookshelf09 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella was the perfect length! It was just enough and had everything in it I needed and didn’t know. And I’ll even be honest it made me teary eyed! 🥹 these two were sooo cute and fun.

Asher Hunter and Hailey Fox are so fun to watch their love story unfold. Two people meeting by chance and having the unlikeliest of stories unfold. And getting a little old school love story (letters) was such a fun take on a classic that will never die. I could have just swooned alone over all the letters.

This is a great holiday novella to fall into and you’ll want to dive into the rest of the baker oaks after reading because even though you don’t have the know the rest of the gang this book will give you just enough taste to want more.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh I REALLY loved this. It was so different from anything I’ve read before. It’s a novella but Ambar did such a wonderful job to build depth to these characters and their connection, I absolutely adored them and even shed a few tears. Perfect little read with plenty of swoon and spice… with a difference!

These two meet one new years and enter a “once a year” arrangement, while also building a beautiful friendship. Neither are in a place for a relationship, but can’t deny what’s between them and when Hailey ends up pregnant everything changes. They’re forced to face their feelings and I just loved the way they came together and had so much respect and support for one another.

[Michelle R · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t usually give novellas 5⭐️ because it usually it’s too short to have any kind of depth or plot but this one GAVE IT ALL! The plot was so interesting, it didn’t have a lot of details but the thing is IT DIDNT NEED IT! Honestly, the letter won me over, I’m a sucker for that kind of stuff. The spice was spicing too but it wasn’t overwhelming. I liked how the romance was real, they live in different places, they have a big age gap, and they’re struggling with their job for totally different reasons. The thing I really liked about this story was how real it was. The ending was sweet!!

2.5/5🌶️

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hailey and Asher have my heart!
The premise behind Ambar's new book is so delightfully different and written with such a beautiful voice it was so hard to put down. It was the perfect story to read leading up to the New Year as each chapter begins with a new years eve and how these two spend it.
From bathroom rendezvous, ocean swimming at night, bird rescues and delightfully witty banter, you could never guess what would happen next in their story.
Ambar writes small town so well and with the romcom feel, expanded timeline and some of her trademark emotional angst thrown in, it is definitely another that I am proud to have read and can't wait to have it on my shelf!

[KarenLou NorthandSouthBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ “If the stars align and the seasons change, I will wait for our next moment right here. I promise to give you more than a few hours next time.” ⭐️


Everything Ambar writes just consumes me to the bones.

I didn’t know how this story would work from the blurb, but I should know by now that Ambar will ALWAYS make a story great no matter the length of the book.

Archer and Hailey meet once, a fleeting meeting over a spilled drink, a quick but all consuming kiss before they are separated.

Their yearly meetings become more of an obsession for them both even exchanging letters. Of course it’s not enough. I loved how Ambar was able to pour so much emotion into those letters, to the meetings , even to their most private moments.

You will truly fall in love with both of them together but also separately.

Of course they get their HEA but god my heart was put through it first!

143.

[Charie Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5 - Short read but big feelings

This was a quick read. I flew through it in one sitting and honestly couldn’t put it down. The concept alone hooked me. It was a love story told over the years, where Hailey and Asher only see each other once every New Year’s Eve. Letters, longing, and missed timing.

The banter was charming, the moments they do get together felt meaningful, and I loved how much heart was packed into such a short book.

The only reason this isn’t a full 5 stars for me is honestly because I wanted more. More time, more depth, more of them together which says a lot, because the story itself was beautiful.

[Chelsey Konkel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amber you done it again!! I loved The Season Long Awaited with Asher and Hailey a New Year’s Eve feel good novella. This book will put you in a good mood! I loved it from start to finish and i didn’t want it to end. I loved that they only saw each other once a year and they wrote letters to each others. It has just enough spice! I definitely recommend!! I love all of ambers books and I can’t wait to read what she comes out with next.

What you will fine in this book!
SURPRISE PREGNANCY
AGE GAP
WRITTEN LETTERS
OVER THE COURSE OF YEARS
EMOTIONAL TOPICS
RESCUE SWIMMER
X TRAUMA NURSE
NEW YEAR'S EVE
BANTER

[Dawn Cornelius · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Ambar says a surprise is coming, you better get ready!

This novella was so much more than I expected when I saw the blurb!

Asher & Hailey are a true romance to stand the test of time!

The letters - my heart SWOONED so hard! They were the perfect way to keep their relationship growing even with a distance across the country.

I was definitely shocked by the age gap being her older than him, but I absolutely loved that I forgot about it and fell in love with these two no matter the age - just as Asher said!

This is a book you won't regret picking up and I cannot wait for more from Ambar!

[Ashontee Billingsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is so sweet, romantic, and a fun/spicy time! They become pen pals and met once a year…until they need more from each other.

Asher hadn’t felt the love and seen it until he meets Hailey and gets to know her. They try to say once a year but eventually the years show that Hailey is his person.

Hailey is older than Asher, family needs her, and her job is pretty rough on her mentally and physically. She feels the connection to Asher pretty fast and wants to be around him more than she thought!

[K · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was honestly because a tiktok and I loved the snippet I saw so I read it and honestly it was a heartwarming story. I think I would have rated it higher but the ending I just didn’t vibe with and the bonus pov. Hailey and asher at the end proved just how much they love each other.

- him being a rescue swimmer 😝
- meeting on new years and sending letters ❤️
- her flying to see him in Alaska pregnant
- him telling her to lose the guy she was with because he came back after ignoring her but he did it because he didn’t want to bring her down

[Michelle (michellereadsandspins) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

The Season Long Awaited was the perfect New Year’s Eve read—I finished this novella in just two hours on New Year’s Eve itself, which made the experience feel extra special. While it’s a quick read, it packs in so much heart and emotional depth. I completely fell in love with the characters despite the shorter length, which really speaks to Amber Cordova’s writing. This was my first book by Amber, and it definitely won’t be my last. A sweet, cozy romance with more substance than I expected.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/🌶️🌶️

Whole this was a perfect novella it could’ve easily been a full length book and I would’ve ate it tf up!!!

These 2 were so hard headed, but so perfect !!!
Ambar made me laugh, smile, and almost cry! It does not matter the length of book she will get you every single time!!!

There’s a reason why I never watched Dear John, but this book made me a bit more curious!!! As long as I get my HEA!!!

What to expect
New Year Novella
Once a year meet up
Epistolary
Reverse age gap
Rom traum
Surprised baby