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Riverbank Ranch #1
Leave Me Again
Going home for the first time in years should be simple: move back in, help around the ranch when possible, and try not to mess everything up. But when I get there—after running out of gas, mind you—I discover the ranch and summer camp my late parents left us are on the road to ruin.
I can focus on the task at hand…or so I think. Really, though, I can’t keep my eyes off the grumpy man in the cabin next to mine.
Dominic Diaz is fifteen years older than me and trying damn hard to look like he’s not interested. He almost pulls it off—except for the way his Adam’s Apple bobs every time I walk around in my tiny shorts.
Or in nothing at all.
But, to my great dismay, he won’t do anything about it.
I try to stay away, but how could I? He’s a little rough around the edges, with salt-and-pepper hair, a full beard, and deliciously calloused hands from working on the ranch day in and day out.
The tension between us rises.
The scorching touches burn brighter.
There’s only so much teasing a man can take before he eventually falls into my bed. We say just once, to get it out of our systems, but that was another lie.
I break the cardinal rule: I fall for him instead.
Because underneath all that tough exterior, there’s a soft man who makes me laugh, who wants the same thing I do—to turn this ranch around without losing ourselves in the process.
But secrets can only stay secret for so long.
I can focus on the task at hand…or so I think. Really, though, I can’t keep my eyes off the grumpy man in the cabin next to mine.
Dominic Diaz is fifteen years older than me and trying damn hard to look like he’s not interested. He almost pulls it off—except for the way his Adam’s Apple bobs every time I walk around in my tiny shorts.
Or in nothing at all.
But, to my great dismay, he won’t do anything about it.
I try to stay away, but how could I? He’s a little rough around the edges, with salt-and-pepper hair, a full beard, and deliciously calloused hands from working on the ranch day in and day out.
The tension between us rises.
The scorching touches burn brighter.
There’s only so much teasing a man can take before he eventually falls into my bed. We say just once, to get it out of our systems, but that was another lie.
I break the cardinal rule: I fall for him instead.
Because underneath all that tough exterior, there’s a soft man who makes me laugh, who wants the same thing I do—to turn this ranch around without losing ourselves in the process.
But secrets can only stay secret for so long.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 26, 2026
About the author
Ambar Cordova
13 books366 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 206 reviews
June 1, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Leave Me Again is exactly how you write an age-gap, grumpy/sunshine romance.
Riley is young, sweet, chaotic, and impossible not to love. Her ADHD affects so many aspects of her daily life, and I found her incredibly relatable. Ambar handled her struggles with so much care, making Riley feel authentic and real.
Then there’s Dom, the older grumpy ranch hand who likes things a certain way after everything he’s been through. On paper, they shouldn’t work, but together they were absolutely perfect.
Riley challenged Dom to loosen his grip on control and embrace the unexpected, while Dom gave Riley the support, stability, and understanding she had been missing for so much of her life. More than anything, I loved how seen and loved he made her feel. He became the safe place she desperately needed, and watching their relationship grow was beautiful.
One thing Ambar does so well is create characters who are raw, messy, and deeply human. Riley and Dom both carried the belief that they weren’t enough, yet throughout the story it was clear they had always been more than enough. Their journey felt honest, emotional, and incredibly relatable.
This was a heartfelt, swoony romance that reminded me why I love Ambar’s books so much.
Leave Me Again is exactly how you write an age-gap, grumpy/sunshine romance.
Riley is young, sweet, chaotic, and impossible not to love. Her ADHD affects so many aspects of her daily life, and I found her incredibly relatable. Ambar handled her struggles with so much care, making Riley feel authentic and real.
Then there’s Dom, the older grumpy ranch hand who likes things a certain way after everything he’s been through. On paper, they shouldn’t work, but together they were absolutely perfect.
Riley challenged Dom to loosen his grip on control and embrace the unexpected, while Dom gave Riley the support, stability, and understanding she had been missing for so much of her life. More than anything, I loved how seen and loved he made her feel. He became the safe place she desperately needed, and watching their relationship grow was beautiful.
One thing Ambar does so well is create characters who are raw, messy, and deeply human. Riley and Dom both carried the belief that they weren’t enough, yet throughout the story it was clear they had always been more than enough. Their journey felt honest, emotional, and incredibly relatable.
This was a heartfelt, swoony romance that reminded me why I love Ambar’s books so much.
Read
June 25, 20263.5 stars.
Ambar Cordova's "Leave Me Again" is a forced-proximity age-gap romance that's great for summer because of its day-camp setting. Riley (FMC) is back home at her family's generationally owned ranch after leaving college early. Riley always thought she wanted to travel and never come back home, but she's changed her mind after travelling was not what it seemed. 36-year-old Dom is struggling to find his "happy" place after his divorce, so he came to Riverbank Ranch, the last place he remembers being truly happy. He was hired on as a ranch hand at Riverbank Ranch to eventually take over the position from the aging Arnie. Dom has been used to the peace and quiet of the ranch. Now that chaos demon Riley is back and is Dom's cabin neighbor, he's getting woken up early by loud music, being kept awake by bright lights, and is super, inconveniently attracted to the spunky, vociferous 22-year-old. He is a huge grump, the total opposite of her chatty, sunshine-y, zany personality. They both harbor feelings for one another, but cannot act on their feelings. Riley is trying to prove to her older sister that she can take on responsibility and be useful on the ranch. She's also trying to chase the demons of her parents' deaths while finding her place in life. Dom is trying to heal from his divorce and the scars of his past. I feel like Riley is written with good ADHD representation, but she is also insanely immature at times. The author repeatedly says, in various ways, that Riley is "mature for a 22-year-old," but it *did not* read that way to me. At times, it felt like she was half a step away from curling her fists, stomping her feet, and throwing a toddler tantrum. Hell, she literally DOES run off multiple times during the story like a kid would do! Despite this, I hate how Riley always had to prove herself to people who clearly didn't know her very well. Her sister p1ssed me off so badly! I just wanted to give Riley a huge hug and tell her that her differences make her beautiful, even if she's throwing a tantrum. I adored Dom. He was brooding, strong grump with big daddy energy. I appreciate how he never tried to make Riley into something she wasn't, never tried to tell her that she was too much. He let her be her in all her "too much"-ness. Still, I never felt like she and Dom were going to be a HEA couple, more like a HFN (happy for now) couple, if that. Because of this, the whole thing felt a little lacking to me. I wanted this big love affair full of pining and longing, and while there is *a little* bit of pining, it's overwhelmingly physical. I did like and appreciate the spice, but I wish there had been a little more emotion between them. I wish I had felt more strongly for them as a couple! That being said, I will still read the next book in this series because this one did manage to make me giggle and smile.
Thank you to Ambar Cordova for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
Ambar Cordova's "Leave Me Again" is a forced-proximity age-gap romance that's great for summer because of its day-camp setting. Riley (FMC) is back home at her family's generationally owned ranch after leaving college early. Riley always thought she wanted to travel and never come back home, but she's changed her mind after travelling was not what it seemed. 36-year-old Dom is struggling to find his "happy" place after his divorce, so he came to Riverbank Ranch, the last place he remembers being truly happy. He was hired on as a ranch hand at Riverbank Ranch to eventually take over the position from the aging Arnie. Dom has been used to the peace and quiet of the ranch. Now that chaos demon Riley is back and is Dom's cabin neighbor, he's getting woken up early by loud music, being kept awake by bright lights, and is super, inconveniently attracted to the spunky, vociferous 22-year-old. He is a huge grump, the total opposite of her chatty, sunshine-y, zany personality. They both harbor feelings for one another, but cannot act on their feelings. Riley is trying to prove to her older sister that she can take on responsibility and be useful on the ranch. She's also trying to chase the demons of her parents' deaths while finding her place in life. Dom is trying to heal from his divorce and the scars of his past. I feel like Riley is written with good ADHD representation, but she is also insanely immature at times. The author repeatedly says, in various ways, that Riley is "mature for a 22-year-old," but it *did not* read that way to me. At times, it felt like she was half a step away from curling her fists, stomping her feet, and throwing a toddler tantrum. Hell, she literally DOES run off multiple times during the story like a kid would do! Despite this, I hate how Riley always had to prove herself to people who clearly didn't know her very well. Her sister p1ssed me off so badly! I just wanted to give Riley a huge hug and tell her that her differences make her beautiful, even if she's throwing a tantrum. I adored Dom. He was brooding, strong grump with big daddy energy. I appreciate how he never tried to make Riley into something she wasn't, never tried to tell her that she was too much. He let her be her in all her "too much"-ness. Still, I never felt like she and Dom were going to be a HEA couple, more like a HFN (happy for now) couple, if that. Because of this, the whole thing felt a little lacking to me. I wanted this big love affair full of pining and longing, and while there is *a little* bit of pining, it's overwhelmingly physical. I did like and appreciate the spice, but I wish there had been a little more emotion between them. I wish I had felt more strongly for them as a couple! That being said, I will still read the next book in this series because this one did manage to make me giggle and smile.
Thank you to Ambar Cordova for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.
June 28, 2026
5🌟, 3🌶️
This was such a charming, heartfelt romance with characters I genuinely adored.
The grumpy sunshine dynamic, age gap, and ranch setting completely worked for me, but it was Riley and Dom who made this story so special. Their relationship developed so naturally, and every conversation, playful moment, and quiet bit of vulnerability made me love them even more. They brought out the best in each other without ever losing who they were.
Riley was such a refreshing heroine. Her ADHD was handled with so much care, making her feel authentic, relatable, and impossible not to root for. Dom’s steady, protective nature balanced her beautifully, and I loved that they gave each other exactly what they needed. Their connection felt genuine, emotional, and incredibly swoony.
This story blended romance, healing, family, and self-discovery so effortlessly that I never wanted it to end.
I closed the book feeling happy, hopeful, and thoroughly satisfied.
~~~~
Huge thank you to the lovely Ambar Cordova and her team for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
This was such a charming, heartfelt romance with characters I genuinely adored.
The grumpy sunshine dynamic, age gap, and ranch setting completely worked for me, but it was Riley and Dom who made this story so special. Their relationship developed so naturally, and every conversation, playful moment, and quiet bit of vulnerability made me love them even more. They brought out the best in each other without ever losing who they were.
Riley was such a refreshing heroine. Her ADHD was handled with so much care, making her feel authentic, relatable, and impossible not to root for. Dom’s steady, protective nature balanced her beautifully, and I loved that they gave each other exactly what they needed. Their connection felt genuine, emotional, and incredibly swoony.
This story blended romance, healing, family, and self-discovery so effortlessly that I never wanted it to end.
I closed the book feeling happy, hopeful, and thoroughly satisfied.
~~~~
Huge thank you to the lovely Ambar Cordova and her team for the ARC! 😍 All my bookish thoughts are completely my own. ✨
July 12, 2026
This was so freaking perfect. The age gap, the grumpy sunshine, & the ADHD rep worked so well! I’m so excited to read more!!
July 4, 2026
The way I absolute ATE. THIS. UP. 😮💨🔥
Seriously, if adulting and my day job hadn't gotten in the way, I would have devoured this in a single day! But honestly? I’m almost glad I had to pace myself because I never wanted it to end. Ambar just has a way of completely captivating you from page one.
The chemistry between Riley and Dominic is absolutely everything!
Here is what you’re getting:
🤠 Grumpy x Sunshine
🏠 Next-Door Neighbors
📈 Age Gap (10+ years!)
🧠 Incredible ADHD Representation
🐎 Small Town / Ranch Vibes
🫦sneaking around
Riley is the youngest sister, home from college and determined to prove herself to her oldest sister- who still treats her like she’s 12. She’s a beautiful, free-spirited FMC with amazing ADHD representation that shows how she’s learned to navigate her world.
Dominic is the grumpy ranch handler next door. Florida raised with Puerto Rican and Dominican roots, and let me just say... when the Spanish sayings start coming out? 🫦🤤 Swoon.
While Riley struggles to prove her growth to her family, Dom is the one who sees everything she keeps hidden from the rest of the world. This summer completely changes both of their lives, and watching them fall was pure perfection.
Run, don’t walk, to add this to your TBR! 🪵✨
Favorite quotes:
“I shouldn’t want this. I shouldn’t want you, but I must like forbidden things, because I can’t seem to stay away. I’m going mad, and it’s been less than two days.”
“You know what happens when you’re a brat, Firefly?” “You gonna spank me again, daddy?”
“Life’s hard. We all go through things, but if we don’t stop to smell the flowers, are we wasting it in fear?”
QOTD: what’s your favorite cowboy romance read?
Seriously, if adulting and my day job hadn't gotten in the way, I would have devoured this in a single day! But honestly? I’m almost glad I had to pace myself because I never wanted it to end. Ambar just has a way of completely captivating you from page one.
The chemistry between Riley and Dominic is absolutely everything!
Here is what you’re getting:
🤠 Grumpy x Sunshine
🏠 Next-Door Neighbors
📈 Age Gap (10+ years!)
🧠 Incredible ADHD Representation
🐎 Small Town / Ranch Vibes
🫦sneaking around
Riley is the youngest sister, home from college and determined to prove herself to her oldest sister- who still treats her like she’s 12. She’s a beautiful, free-spirited FMC with amazing ADHD representation that shows how she’s learned to navigate her world.
Dominic is the grumpy ranch handler next door. Florida raised with Puerto Rican and Dominican roots, and let me just say... when the Spanish sayings start coming out? 🫦🤤 Swoon.
While Riley struggles to prove her growth to her family, Dom is the one who sees everything she keeps hidden from the rest of the world. This summer completely changes both of their lives, and watching them fall was pure perfection.
Run, don’t walk, to add this to your TBR! 🪵✨
Favorite quotes:
“I shouldn’t want this. I shouldn’t want you, but I must like forbidden things, because I can’t seem to stay away. I’m going mad, and it’s been less than two days.”
“You know what happens when you’re a brat, Firefly?” “You gonna spank me again, daddy?”
“Life’s hard. We all go through things, but if we don’t stop to smell the flowers, are we wasting it in fear?”
QOTD: what’s your favorite cowboy romance read?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2026
A quick, easy to read, age-gap, cowboy romance. Did this one hook me in and have me devouring it right from the get go? No probably not. It was a good book, but nothing flashy for me. The connection between Dom & Riley was cute, although it did take a bit to develop. I like that they kind of became each other's anchor. For Dom, Riley was the person that brought life and joy back into his life and for Riley, Dom was the first person to see her as who she truely is and to love her for all that she is. I won't lie, I did find Riley's character to be quite immature so it was hard going at times, especially reading her pov's. But I guess that did come down to her age a bit. For me, Dom made this book better. He had that vibe that he has lived life already and although he had his own share of silly choices he had made, I still really enjoyed his character.
Overall this book was just meeting a 4 ⭐️ level for me.
Overall this book was just meeting a 4 ⭐️ level for me.
June 22, 2026
OBSESSED is an understatement! 🧡
Riley and Dom have my heart! Oh how I absolutely loved and related to both of these characters in different ways! Riley was so real and raw and sincere and chaotic- all of which I am. Dom was healing and learning to love his life again as well- which I also relate too.
The way these two met, built a friendship, flirted, and continued to get to know each other was truly adorable! I was swooning, sweating, and seriously having a great time while reading this!
I can’t wait to see how the other sisters’ stories play out- especially Lilly’s! 🫶🏼
Riley and Dom have my heart! Oh how I absolutely loved and related to both of these characters in different ways! Riley was so real and raw and sincere and chaotic- all of which I am. Dom was healing and learning to love his life again as well- which I also relate too.
The way these two met, built a friendship, flirted, and continued to get to know each other was truly adorable! I was swooning, sweating, and seriously having a great time while reading this!
I can’t wait to see how the other sisters’ stories play out- especially Lilly’s! 🫶🏼
June 26, 2026
Age gap , next door neighbor, owner of the ranch and a ranch hand .
While I did enjoy the book and the back story of some of the “why they have issues” of the mmc and fmc, it felt very I have read this before, sit didn’t really stand out for me.
It was cute and spicy !
While I did enjoy the book and the back story of some of the “why they have issues” of the mmc and fmc, it felt very I have read this before, sit didn’t really stand out for me.
It was cute and spicy !
June 17, 2026
4.5 ⭐️
This is a solid “cowboy” romance to add to your TBR!
Also, a new to me author, and one who I now need to keep an eye out on what’s next.
The setting: it’s a ranch with cows and horses but also a kids summer camp situation. Um fun.
The age gap: 36/22 and it is deliciously good
He’s the new ranch hand.
She’s a part owner of said ranch.
She returns home after college.
Neighbors!
It is SO grumpy x sunshine. You have no idea.
He’s a divorcee.
She’s got adhd. (Actually and it plays a large part)
There’s a lot of internal struggles on both sides.
And the way these two compliment each other is chefs kiss.
I kind of wanted to punch one side character too a few times… but I feel a redemption is coming.
Arc review ✨
This is a solid “cowboy” romance to add to your TBR!
Also, a new to me author, and one who I now need to keep an eye out on what’s next.
The setting: it’s a ranch with cows and horses but also a kids summer camp situation. Um fun.
The age gap: 36/22 and it is deliciously good
He’s the new ranch hand.
She’s a part owner of said ranch.
She returns home after college.
Neighbors!
It is SO grumpy x sunshine. You have no idea.
He’s a divorcee.
She’s got adhd. (Actually and it plays a large part)
There’s a lot of internal struggles on both sides.
And the way these two compliment each other is chefs kiss.
I kind of wanted to punch one side character too a few times… but I feel a redemption is coming.
Arc review ✨
July 31, 2026
tranquilizer darts on every page i’m so convinced
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you Ambar and team for this ARC!
4.5 ⭐️
Tropes
💗 Grumpy cowboy x Sunshine girl
❤️🔥 Age Gap (FMC 22 x MMC 36)
🏡 Ranch life
Riley & Dom were so fun! I liked how flirty and cute they were. They build a bond and got to know each other better and grew closer while their feelings also flourished.
Riley is the wild sunshine girl, full of life and spirit. Kind, beautiful, funny. Dom is hardworking, caring, and sexy. Despite being grumpy, he has a very soft side for his sunshine girl. Both of these characters felt real, and genuine.
Even though they’re in different stages in life, Riley and Dom had an undeniable chemistry that grew and grew until they couldn’t pretend anymore. They like each other. They feel the attraction. The pull. Fire.
Riley had Dom wrapped around her little finges. Oh… seeing this man that doesn’t even know what to do with himself when he’s so into her 🤭 and her teasing him?? Yes, thank you! 😉
They found each other at a great time. Dom was the stability that Riley needed. The company and support she craved when she felt lost and not sure where to go next when she came back home. Riley was the one to show Dom how to live freely - and to give into their feelings after having some bad previous experiences with love. She showed him he could have new chance.
I’ll end this now with some of my favorite highlights/quotes 📙
“Can I ask you something?” “You already did.” “Smartass” “Thanks. I like to think I am.” 🤣💓 Rileyyyy
“I was just worried about you,” “Worried about me?” “I haven’t seen you all day.”“Missed me much, Riles?” “Nope, more like I needed to reach something way up high, and my favorite cowboy wasn’t there to rescue me from my own height again.” “I got it, though, so no need to worry.” “And that’s all?” “Yup. You can go now. Go to sleep.” 🤭🤭💘 these two cutiiiies
“Nothing about you is a small thing, Riles.” 🥺🥺
“What, cowboy? You’ve never had a naked woman against your body before?” Brat. Fucking brat. Her sassy little mouth that I’m dying to taste, to kiss, to fuck. 😭❤️🔥
“Dom! “Put me down.” “No. This is what you get for being a brat.” “I was not being a brat! I wanted to play a game. Dominic Caveman Diaz! Stop smacking my ass!” 🤣💗💗
“You know what happens when you’re a brat, Firefly?” “You gonna spank me again, daddy?” OHHH!! 😉❤️🔥
“Aww, you can’t handle me, Dom? I can handle myself and show you, though.” “I can handle wild horses, darlin’. I can certainly handle you.” and did he handle her!! 🤫
“Así es que me gustas, bebé, mojadita, apretaíta, y volviéndote loca por mi.” 😩😩🔥🔥❤️🔥
4.5 ⭐️
Tropes
💗 Grumpy cowboy x Sunshine girl
❤️🔥 Age Gap (FMC 22 x MMC 36)
🏡 Ranch life
Riley & Dom were so fun! I liked how flirty and cute they were. They build a bond and got to know each other better and grew closer while their feelings also flourished.
Riley is the wild sunshine girl, full of life and spirit. Kind, beautiful, funny. Dom is hardworking, caring, and sexy. Despite being grumpy, he has a very soft side for his sunshine girl. Both of these characters felt real, and genuine.
Even though they’re in different stages in life, Riley and Dom had an undeniable chemistry that grew and grew until they couldn’t pretend anymore. They like each other. They feel the attraction. The pull. Fire.
Riley had Dom wrapped around her little finges. Oh… seeing this man that doesn’t even know what to do with himself when he’s so into her 🤭 and her teasing him?? Yes, thank you! 😉
They found each other at a great time. Dom was the stability that Riley needed. The company and support she craved when she felt lost and not sure where to go next when she came back home. Riley was the one to show Dom how to live freely - and to give into their feelings after having some bad previous experiences with love. She showed him he could have new chance.
I’ll end this now with some of my favorite highlights/quotes 📙
“Can I ask you something?” “You already did.” “Smartass” “Thanks. I like to think I am.” 🤣💓 Rileyyyy
“I was just worried about you,” “Worried about me?” “I haven’t seen you all day.”“Missed me much, Riles?” “Nope, more like I needed to reach something way up high, and my favorite cowboy wasn’t there to rescue me from my own height again.” “I got it, though, so no need to worry.” “And that’s all?” “Yup. You can go now. Go to sleep.” 🤭🤭💘 these two cutiiiies
“Nothing about you is a small thing, Riles.” 🥺🥺
“What, cowboy? You’ve never had a naked woman against your body before?” Brat. Fucking brat. Her sassy little mouth that I’m dying to taste, to kiss, to fuck. 😭❤️🔥
“Dom! “Put me down.” “No. This is what you get for being a brat.” “I was not being a brat! I wanted to play a game. Dominic Caveman Diaz! Stop smacking my ass!” 🤣💗💗
“You know what happens when you’re a brat, Firefly?” “You gonna spank me again, daddy?” OHHH!! 😉❤️🔥
“Aww, you can’t handle me, Dom? I can handle myself and show you, though.” “I can handle wild horses, darlin’. I can certainly handle you.” and did he handle her!! 🤫
“Así es que me gustas, bebé, mojadita, apretaíta, y volviéndote loca por mi.” 😩😩🔥🔥❤️🔥
July 8, 2026
Riley and Dom's story is a heartfelt romance about finding where you belong, learning to believe in yourself, and realizing that being loved for who you are is enough.
Riley is at a crossroads in her life, searching for purpose and trying to figure out who she wants to be. As a self-described chaos goblin with a neurodivergent brain that never slows down, she's spent her life feeling like she doesn't measure up. Everyone expects her to fail, sees her as irresponsible, and constantly underestimates her. Beneath her vibrant personality is someone who desperately wants to prove she can handle the responsibilities of running the farm and, more than anything, make her older sister proud. Losing her parents at a young age left Riley believing she was "too much" for everyone, and those insecurities have shaped how she sees herself ever since.
Dom is rebuilding his own life after a divorce and walking away from a career that made him miserable. Like Riley, he's searching for a place where he truly belongs. While everyone else seems focused on Riley's shortcomings, Dom sees her brilliance. He never makes her feel like she's too much or not enough. Instead, his calm presence quiets the constant noise in her mind, while Riley brings light and hope into his life. Their connection feels natural because they each give the other exactly what they've been missing.
I especially loved how Dom struggles with his own insecurities, believing Riley deserves someone better because of their age difference and the baggage he carries. Yet Riley never sees him that way, just as Dom never sees Riley through the lens of everyone else's expectations.
The most meaningful part of this story was watching Riley slowly realize that she doesn't have to fit the molds others have created for her. Her journey toward accepting that she is enough exactly as she is was incredibly rewarding.
Riley is at a crossroads in her life, searching for purpose and trying to figure out who she wants to be. As a self-described chaos goblin with a neurodivergent brain that never slows down, she's spent her life feeling like she doesn't measure up. Everyone expects her to fail, sees her as irresponsible, and constantly underestimates her. Beneath her vibrant personality is someone who desperately wants to prove she can handle the responsibilities of running the farm and, more than anything, make her older sister proud. Losing her parents at a young age left Riley believing she was "too much" for everyone, and those insecurities have shaped how she sees herself ever since.
Dom is rebuilding his own life after a divorce and walking away from a career that made him miserable. Like Riley, he's searching for a place where he truly belongs. While everyone else seems focused on Riley's shortcomings, Dom sees her brilliance. He never makes her feel like she's too much or not enough. Instead, his calm presence quiets the constant noise in her mind, while Riley brings light and hope into his life. Their connection feels natural because they each give the other exactly what they've been missing.
I especially loved how Dom struggles with his own insecurities, believing Riley deserves someone better because of their age difference and the baggage he carries. Yet Riley never sees him that way, just as Dom never sees Riley through the lens of everyone else's expectations.
The most meaningful part of this story was watching Riley slowly realize that she doesn't have to fit the molds others have created for her. Her journey toward accepting that she is enough exactly as she is was incredibly rewarding.
July 1, 2026
3 stars TL;DR - Leave Me Again is a small-town romance featuring grumpy x sunshine, neighbors-to-lovers, an age-gap romance, and plenty of ranch life.
My Thoughts:
Riley returns home after years of searching for where she belongs, only to find herself navigating grief, family expectations, and the challenge of rebuilding both the family ranch and her confidence. As someone with ADD, Riley often feels like she's "too much," making her journey of self-acceptance a central part of the story. Dominic, the gruff ranch hand next door, gradually becomes someone who sees her strengths long before she does, and their friendship slowly develops into something more.
Readers who enjoy character-driven romances, emotional healing, and heroines who are learning to embrace themselves will likely connect with Riley's story. If you've ever felt misunderstood or struggled to find where you fit, there's a good chance her journey will resonate with you.
Thank you so much to the author for an ARC of this book
My Thoughts:
Riley returns home after years of searching for where she belongs, only to find herself navigating grief, family expectations, and the challenge of rebuilding both the family ranch and her confidence. As someone with ADD, Riley often feels like she's "too much," making her journey of self-acceptance a central part of the story. Dominic, the gruff ranch hand next door, gradually becomes someone who sees her strengths long before she does, and their friendship slowly develops into something more.
Readers who enjoy character-driven romances, emotional healing, and heroines who are learning to embrace themselves will likely connect with Riley's story. If you've ever felt misunderstood or struggled to find where you fit, there's a good chance her journey will resonate with you.
Thank you so much to the author for an ARC of this book
October 18, 2026
This fmc is single-handedly one of the most selfish, pity party-throwing individuals I’ve ever read about. The adhd rep was abysmal because it was her excuse to be a constant screw up and be like “but like it’s not really my fault”.
I’m convinced this author has either 1. No siblings or 2. The most awful sibling relationship known to mankind with how she portrayed this dynamic. She tried to make the responsible older sibling the problem. Except all her issues had reason, cause and seemed to be her managing her expectations of the dumpster fire of an entitled sibling. Not to mention that this dumpster fire fmc supposedly was raised on a ranch her whole life and didn’t know a “baby cow” was called a calf. Or a what a heifer was…. If this work is an indication of how this author writes…. Count me out of all of it forever.
I’m convinced this author has either 1. No siblings or 2. The most awful sibling relationship known to mankind with how she portrayed this dynamic. She tried to make the responsible older sibling the problem. Except all her issues had reason, cause and seemed to be her managing her expectations of the dumpster fire of an entitled sibling. Not to mention that this dumpster fire fmc supposedly was raised on a ranch her whole life and didn’t know a “baby cow” was called a calf. Or a what a heifer was…. If this work is an indication of how this author writes…. Count me out of all of it forever.
June 30, 2026
This is such a beautiful cowboy romance with ADHD (Riley) and Latine (Dom) rep to perfection. Dom & Riley's baggage and fears are holding them back in life. Their perfect fit and how they lift each other and overcome their struggles.
Dom is older, divorced, and jaded. He only takes calculated risks. Enter Riley who is young, free-spirited, and goes where the wind takes her. He is constantly saving her from her chaotic ways and thoughts. She is infusing joy and life to this grumpy cowboy, making him skinny dip, waking him up at 3am with her loud music, and calling him "daddy" when he tries to reign her in.
Dom is constantly providing affirmations, coping mechanisms, and unwavering support to Riley. She is not a mess, she may spiral but he is quick to unravel her. She feels seen and cared for but their love should be forbidden...They just need to get it out of their system.
Dom is older, divorced, and jaded. He only takes calculated risks. Enter Riley who is young, free-spirited, and goes where the wind takes her. He is constantly saving her from her chaotic ways and thoughts. She is infusing joy and life to this grumpy cowboy, making him skinny dip, waking him up at 3am with her loud music, and calling him "daddy" when he tries to reign her in.
Dom is constantly providing affirmations, coping mechanisms, and unwavering support to Riley. She is not a mess, she may spiral but he is quick to unravel her. She feels seen and cared for but their love should be forbidden...They just need to get it out of their system.
June 30, 2026
Thank you to author Ambar Cordova for the arc of Leave Me Again! Dom and Riley are meant to be! Yes, there is an age gap of 14 years and their relationship is forbidden due to Dom working on Riley’s family’s ranch but Riley is a creative ray of sunshine and I love that Dom loves her completely including the more complicated and messy parts of her life. It was fun that this started with just one night to get it out of our system but it was apparent to both of them very quickly that their relationship was much more than that. I didn’t mind the little bit of drama and tension in their relationship caused by Riley’s sister especially because their HEA was so sweet! I look forward to reading more books by Ambar Cordova and the rest of this series!
September 24, 2026
Age gap
*Cowboy* 🤠
Grumpy/ sunshine
Neighbors
*Wild* sister
Well if this isn't one of the cutest grumpy sunshines!! Riley + Dom were the definition! When that spice hit BOY did it hit.... And hit again, and maybe again 🤣.
A lot of the story is focused on the sister dynamic as well and GOD do I hope to never have a sister (or friend?) in my life treat me the way Riley's old sister treated her. I wanted to ring her neck on multiple occasions. I get it older sister who's got all the responsibilities with dead parents.... But Riley deserves better 👏🏼.
Ready to read more by Ambar 😍
*Cowboy* 🤠
Grumpy/ sunshine
Neighbors
*Wild* sister
Well if this isn't one of the cutest grumpy sunshines!! Riley + Dom were the definition! When that spice hit BOY did it hit.... And hit again, and maybe again 🤣.
A lot of the story is focused on the sister dynamic as well and GOD do I hope to never have a sister (or friend?) in my life treat me the way Riley's old sister treated her. I wanted to ring her neck on multiple occasions. I get it older sister who's got all the responsibilities with dead parents.... But Riley deserves better 👏🏼.
Ready to read more by Ambar 😍
June 26, 2026
Leave Me Again by Ambar Cordova is a beautiful reminder of what it feels like to have someone who truly sees you and lifts you up when you feel like no one does.
Riley’s return home isn’t what she hoped for. She carries so much self-doubt, and her ADHD only adds to the challenges she faces. Yet she’s full of energy, creativity, and heart—qualities that are often overlooked.
Dom arrives at the ranch with his own struggles, hoping to become a better version of himself. What unfolds is a love story where two opposites become each other’s voice and greatest support.
Their relationship feels real, messy, and far from perfect, which makes it all the more beautiful. I found myself rooting for Riley and Dom every step of the way.
Thank you, Ambar, for the ARC!
Riley’s return home isn’t what she hoped for. She carries so much self-doubt, and her ADHD only adds to the challenges she faces. Yet she’s full of energy, creativity, and heart—qualities that are often overlooked.
Dom arrives at the ranch with his own struggles, hoping to become a better version of himself. What unfolds is a love story where two opposites become each other’s voice and greatest support.
Their relationship feels real, messy, and far from perfect, which makes it all the more beautiful. I found myself rooting for Riley and Dom every step of the way.
Thank you, Ambar, for the ARC!
Read
May 14, 2026Alpha Reader - RTC
October 18, 2026
Cute and easy read! I really liked the adhd rep.
Riley’s sister pisssssssed me off. I’m an older sister and I get having to “parent” a younger sibling, but she was cruel. Riley should’ve done what my sister would and snapped back 🤣
Cowboy
Age gap
Grumpy x Sunshine
Neighbors
ADHD rep
Riley’s sister pisssssssed me off. I’m an older sister and I get having to “parent” a younger sibling, but she was cruel. Riley should’ve done what my sister would and snapped back 🤣
Cowboy
Age gap
Grumpy x Sunshine
Neighbors
ADHD rep
June 26, 2026
4.5 ⭐️:
Dom and Riley are so precious!! I love that he’s just always there when she needs help! I love that Riley is really trying to prove to herself and sister that she can take on more responsibility and that her sister can trust her more with it! Dom really is just a giant teddy bear with a heart of gold! I loved them so much!!
Thank you so much Ambar for writing another beautiful love story!! The cry level was lower than her other books but I did still tear up a bit!!! I am so honored to be on Ambar’s ARC Team for the opportunity to read and review this book before it released!!
Dom and Riley are so precious!! I love that he’s just always there when she needs help! I love that Riley is really trying to prove to herself and sister that she can take on more responsibility and that her sister can trust her more with it! Dom really is just a giant teddy bear with a heart of gold! I loved them so much!!
Thank you so much Ambar for writing another beautiful love story!! The cry level was lower than her other books but I did still tear up a bit!!! I am so honored to be on Ambar’s ARC Team for the opportunity to read and review this book before it released!!
May 15, 2026
Riley and Dom stole my heart from the second he pulled over to help her with her car troubles. I was pulled in and never looked back. As unlikely as they seem in the beginning, these two are pure grumpy sunshine, opposites attract, and I loved that about them. Especially the nicknames, because who doesn’t love a good nickname? Watching them go from annoying neighbor and annoyed neighbor to more was a sight to behold. Riley came home to a lot ghosts of her past to face, and it is evident from her first run to town for her sister (another ghost to face), and Dom helping her through it and being there to catch her each time, seeing the brilliance and beauty through the chaos, was beautiful. But these two put me through the wringer crying into my coffee as I read certain scenes and then they pulled me right back out into laughter or swooning. Their chemistry is through the roof, and they want to sneak around to get this out of their systems (definitely due to past trauma on both sides) while trying to keep their feelings out of it, but we all know that’s never how this goes. As the fire between them grows hotter and emotions run high and those around them start to suspect, it was an absolute joy to read their story!
June 29, 2026
"Why did I fight this when she fits perfectly in my arms? When she tasted like rain and recklessness and the sweetest sin?"
Riley & Dom. First of all, this man cooks for her and states that his mama taught him better than to not offer her a plate - like no matter what's going on. Are you serious? Dom is a walking green flag pretty much no matter what. Yeah, there's a brief third act break up but don't let that fool you.
Riley is this amazing whirlwind of a woman who is so hard on herself. The amount of times I want to hug her and rock her and tell her that all those crazy things she thinks about herself aren't true! She and Dom are like two interlocking puzzle pieces who found each other. I love the setting of Riverbank Ranch and can't wait for the next sister's story. They're going to save the ranch right?
what to expect:
*Grumpy x Sunshine
*Small Town
*Ranch Hand
*Age Gap
*Neighbors to Lovers
*He feeds her
*I received a complimentary eARC and my review is voluntary. Thank you to the author!
Riley & Dom. First of all, this man cooks for her and states that his mama taught him better than to not offer her a plate - like no matter what's going on. Are you serious? Dom is a walking green flag pretty much no matter what. Yeah, there's a brief third act break up but don't let that fool you.
Riley is this amazing whirlwind of a woman who is so hard on herself. The amount of times I want to hug her and rock her and tell her that all those crazy things she thinks about herself aren't true! She and Dom are like two interlocking puzzle pieces who found each other. I love the setting of Riverbank Ranch and can't wait for the next sister's story. They're going to save the ranch right?
what to expect:
*Grumpy x Sunshine
*Small Town
*Ranch Hand
*Age Gap
*Neighbors to Lovers
*He feeds her
*I received a complimentary eARC and my review is voluntary. Thank you to the author!
August 25, 2026
DNFd about 40% of the way in. Just wasn’t the book for me I thought FMC was portrayed a little too childish all the while wanting to be taken seriously
Review of advance copy received from Author
Another banger from Ambar Cordova! Riley Banks is coming home from college to Riverbank Ranch, where her sister is trying to keep the ranch and its summer camp open under massive financial pressure. Riley's always considered herself the flighty, youngest sister who causes problems - when in reality, she's a creative, empathetic, sunshine BABE with ADHD and is still working on her executive functioning (aren't we all, even if we aren't 22!). She moves into her old cabin on the property...which turns out to be right next to the new ranch hand's cabin. The new ranch hand? 36-year old divorced and rediscovering himself hottie Dom Diaz - looking to change his life around and recapture joy after devoting himself to working in finance and "The Plan" (marriage, job, etc etc)...which didn't make him happy. So he returns to Riverbank Ranch, site of his childhood happiest memories attending the camp run by Riley's parents.
Riley is the most relatable fmc for me - the ADHD rep is spot-on, and trying to figure out where you belong in your 20s (and rectifying some of those late teenage mistakes in friendships and relationships) makes for such a strong character arc for our girl. I love the age-gap situation here as well, because Dom is also super relatable as a character in his 30s, who has tried out the-stuff-you-do-in-adulthood ... and it doesn't always make you as happy as it would seem it would. But it's the people you meet - with their own experiences and approaches to life, that really make it.
And I would also say, that a 22-year old who lost their parents young (and subsequently had to raise themself, even though her big sister stepped in in a big way) has a completely different experience and perspective on life than a 22-year old who has not had those life experiences - so Riley and Dom are able to identify with one another in a deeper way due. to the things that Riley has been through (even when she behaves as a typical 22-year old in other ways) - age gap romances are complicated and depend so much on the characters involved, and I love how Ambar wrote these two falling for each other.
I also just love a sunshine woman, who has all of the other complex emotions, but who just radiates it inside and out, and that's Riley. The painting scenes (and how Riley shares that with her community) also got me, as did the way her sisterly relationships unfold - and I am so excited to read the other two books in the series by Hollie and Lo! The sisters are at the core of this story, and I loved seeing how Riley's reevaluation of the ways that she saw herself were mirrored in how she was able to revise the way she saw Lilly (her oldest sister) as well - as a sibling, I know how hard it is to let go of our expectations rooted in a lifetime of knowing someone in order to see who they have become and are in the present.
The spice is also perfectly paced and warm and loving and usual (I love seeing how obsessed the characters are with each other!!!)
*Opinions are my own, and I am grateful to the author for an eARC of this book.
Riley is the most relatable fmc for me - the ADHD rep is spot-on, and trying to figure out where you belong in your 20s (and rectifying some of those late teenage mistakes in friendships and relationships) makes for such a strong character arc for our girl. I love the age-gap situation here as well, because Dom is also super relatable as a character in his 30s, who has tried out the-stuff-you-do-in-adulthood ... and it doesn't always make you as happy as it would seem it would. But it's the people you meet - with their own experiences and approaches to life, that really make it.
And I would also say, that a 22-year old who lost their parents young (and subsequently had to raise themself, even though her big sister stepped in in a big way) has a completely different experience and perspective on life than a 22-year old who has not had those life experiences - so Riley and Dom are able to identify with one another in a deeper way due. to the things that Riley has been through (even when she behaves as a typical 22-year old in other ways) - age gap romances are complicated and depend so much on the characters involved, and I love how Ambar wrote these two falling for each other.
I also just love a sunshine woman, who has all of the other complex emotions, but who just radiates it inside and out, and that's Riley. The painting scenes (and how Riley shares that with her community) also got me, as did the way her sisterly relationships unfold - and I am so excited to read the other two books in the series by Hollie and Lo! The sisters are at the core of this story, and I loved seeing how Riley's reevaluation of the ways that she saw herself were mirrored in how she was able to revise the way she saw Lilly (her oldest sister) as well - as a sibling, I know how hard it is to let go of our expectations rooted in a lifetime of knowing someone in order to see who they have become and are in the present.
The spice is also perfectly paced and warm and loving and usual (I love seeing how obsessed the characters are with each other!!!)
*Opinions are my own, and I am grateful to the author for an eARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
“His eyes hold all the memories of a summer I’ll never forget. The summer I got lost in him but found myself.”
✔️small town romance
✔️grumpy x sunshine
✔️neighbors
✔️age gap (she’s 22, he’s 36)
✔️ADHD rep
✔️"just once to get it out of our systems”
4.5⭐️
I enjoyed this book so much! Riley (FMC) has been floundering a bit, trying to figure out what she wants to do next, and decides that going home to her family’s ranch for the summer is the best place to start. Dom (FMC) is training as a ranch hand at her family’s ranch, and will likely be inheriting more responsibility in the next couple of years when his boss retires. After a meet cute on the side of the road (Riley ran out of gas) they think they will never see each other again, but fate has other plans and these two are living in neighboring cabins for as long as Riley is home. They’re definitely attracted to each other, but given the age gap and fact they are opposites, there is no chance anything good can come from them getting close (or so he thinks).
The ADHD rep in this book is spot on, and I love how this book not only focuses on the romantic relationship but also Riley’s relationship with her sisters without ever pushing the romance into the background or sacrificing relationship development between the main characters. Riley and Dom are quite similar though it doesn’t seem like it on the surface. They have both dealt with grief and heartbreak, just in different ways, and they see each other in a way that no one else does. There is an age gap here, but it isn’t really a huge deal (except in Dom’s mind). She seems immature on the surface but there is depth there that no one (other than him) has bothered to see, and I enjoyed watching them break down each other’s walls.
This book isn’t as big of an emotional gut punch as some of this author’s other books, but I wouldn’t call it low angst either. It falls right in the middle of the scale for me. The main characters have a forbidden secret casual situationship that is bound to blow up eventually, but I love how events throughout the story, not just the third act breakup, are a catalyst for character growth and Dom and Riley finally go after what they want and need. They are cute together and I’m glad they got there happily ever after! I am very much looking forward to learning about Riley’s sisters more in the next two books and watching them fall as well.
*Thank you so much to the author (Ambar Cordova) and her team for the opportunity to ARC read this book! All opinions are my own*
✔️small town romance
✔️grumpy x sunshine
✔️neighbors
✔️age gap (she’s 22, he’s 36)
✔️ADHD rep
✔️"just once to get it out of our systems”
4.5⭐️
I enjoyed this book so much! Riley (FMC) has been floundering a bit, trying to figure out what she wants to do next, and decides that going home to her family’s ranch for the summer is the best place to start. Dom (FMC) is training as a ranch hand at her family’s ranch, and will likely be inheriting more responsibility in the next couple of years when his boss retires. After a meet cute on the side of the road (Riley ran out of gas) they think they will never see each other again, but fate has other plans and these two are living in neighboring cabins for as long as Riley is home. They’re definitely attracted to each other, but given the age gap and fact they are opposites, there is no chance anything good can come from them getting close (or so he thinks).
The ADHD rep in this book is spot on, and I love how this book not only focuses on the romantic relationship but also Riley’s relationship with her sisters without ever pushing the romance into the background or sacrificing relationship development between the main characters. Riley and Dom are quite similar though it doesn’t seem like it on the surface. They have both dealt with grief and heartbreak, just in different ways, and they see each other in a way that no one else does. There is an age gap here, but it isn’t really a huge deal (except in Dom’s mind). She seems immature on the surface but there is depth there that no one (other than him) has bothered to see, and I enjoyed watching them break down each other’s walls.
This book isn’t as big of an emotional gut punch as some of this author’s other books, but I wouldn’t call it low angst either. It falls right in the middle of the scale for me. The main characters have a forbidden secret casual situationship that is bound to blow up eventually, but I love how events throughout the story, not just the third act breakup, are a catalyst for character growth and Dom and Riley finally go after what they want and need. They are cute together and I’m glad they got there happily ever after! I am very much looking forward to learning about Riley’s sisters more in the next two books and watching them fall as well.
*Thank you so much to the author (Ambar Cordova) and her team for the opportunity to ARC read this book! All opinions are my own*
June 28, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️️⭐️/ ️🌶️🌶️🌶️
I love it when authors that I already love push themselves into a subgenre and challenge themselves. I have yet to read a cowboy romance by Ambar Cordova, but she nailed it with Leave Me Again. This book also starts off the collaborative series Riverbank Ranch, with 2 more books coming from other authors. This book had me smiling, laughing, swooning, and blushing. The MCs were wonderful to get to know, the storyline is fun and flirty, yet has depth and complexities, and Ambar’s writing style kept me engaged from beginning to end. She definitely brings raw emotion to this book, like she does in every book, that makes her characters so easy to love.
Riley is easy to love from the very beginning. She is chaotic in the best way, sweet as sugar, and is unapologetically herself. Her ADHD adds a bit of messiness to her life, but she owns this part of her. She is returning home, something she swore she would never do. Running out of gas on the way home is not what she needs at all, but the handsome stranger who helps her out is a welcomed surprise. She soon discovers that her knight in shining cowboy boots in the new ranch hand on her ranch and her neighbor. Riley is definitely accident prone, yet having her sexy neighbor always coming to her rescue is ok with her.
Dominic is the newest ranch hand at this working ranch that also provides a summer camp. He is older and definitely tries to ignore the immense attraction he feels towards Riley. Yet, Riley is constantly pushing past his grumpiness with her zest for life and she seems to want him around. He slowly realizes he is providing Riley with a safe place to be herself. He allows her to be open and honest with her struggles, while never making her feel less than. I adored how when he finally lets her in, he is the safe place she has always looked for.
Ambar writes lighthearted and emotional beautifully. The balance in everyone of her stories is perfectly done and shows how much thought and time she puts into developing her stories. I wanted to hug Riley multiple times throughout this story as it is evident she is really trying to prove herself. Her ADHD does bring difficulty, but she doesn’t want to be defined by that. Dominic never defines her by her ADHD, helping her to see what an amazing person she is. These two may be my favorite couple that Ambar has written about!!!
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect:
🌻Grumpy x Sunshine
🧡Cowboy Romance
🌻Age Gap Romance
🧡Sneaking Around
🌻Ranch Owner FMC
🧡Ranch Hand MMC
🌻Neighbors to Lovers
I love it when authors that I already love push themselves into a subgenre and challenge themselves. I have yet to read a cowboy romance by Ambar Cordova, but she nailed it with Leave Me Again. This book also starts off the collaborative series Riverbank Ranch, with 2 more books coming from other authors. This book had me smiling, laughing, swooning, and blushing. The MCs were wonderful to get to know, the storyline is fun and flirty, yet has depth and complexities, and Ambar’s writing style kept me engaged from beginning to end. She definitely brings raw emotion to this book, like she does in every book, that makes her characters so easy to love.
Riley is easy to love from the very beginning. She is chaotic in the best way, sweet as sugar, and is unapologetically herself. Her ADHD adds a bit of messiness to her life, but she owns this part of her. She is returning home, something she swore she would never do. Running out of gas on the way home is not what she needs at all, but the handsome stranger who helps her out is a welcomed surprise. She soon discovers that her knight in shining cowboy boots in the new ranch hand on her ranch and her neighbor. Riley is definitely accident prone, yet having her sexy neighbor always coming to her rescue is ok with her.
Dominic is the newest ranch hand at this working ranch that also provides a summer camp. He is older and definitely tries to ignore the immense attraction he feels towards Riley. Yet, Riley is constantly pushing past his grumpiness with her zest for life and she seems to want him around. He slowly realizes he is providing Riley with a safe place to be herself. He allows her to be open and honest with her struggles, while never making her feel less than. I adored how when he finally lets her in, he is the safe place she has always looked for.
Ambar writes lighthearted and emotional beautifully. The balance in everyone of her stories is perfectly done and shows how much thought and time she puts into developing her stories. I wanted to hug Riley multiple times throughout this story as it is evident she is really trying to prove herself. Her ADHD does bring difficulty, but she doesn’t want to be defined by that. Dominic never defines her by her ADHD, helping her to see what an amazing person she is. These two may be my favorite couple that Ambar has written about!!!
As always, review any author notes before reading.
What to Expect:
🌻Grumpy x Sunshine
🧡Cowboy Romance
🌻Age Gap Romance
🧡Sneaking Around
🌻Ranch Owner FMC
🧡Ranch Hand MMC
🌻Neighbors to Lovers
Review of advance copy received from Author
Babes...Before I even started chapter one, this book had already wrecked me. Because the dedication says:
✨ "For those who have lost a piece of themselves pretending to be someone else in order to fit in... Let me remind you, you're the perfect fit. I hope you don't ever leave you again." ✨
And as someone with ADHD? I felt that in my soul. Like many neurodivergent people, I've spent years trying to be quieter, calmer, more organized, less emotional, less forgetful, less... me. So when I tell you Riley's story hit home? I mean it HIT.💛
Riley returns home after college feeling a little lost, a little stuck, and unsure where she belongs. Her family's ranch needs help, her sisters are struggling, and she's trying to figure out what comes next.
Then there's Dominic Diaz. And BABES...I am weak for a grumpy cowboy. Especially when he's older, bearded, and trying his absolute hardest not to fall for the sunshine tornado living next door.
What I loved most about this romance wasn't the age gap. It wasn't the chemistry. It wasn't even the tension. It was the way Dom saw Riley.
Not the version everyone expected her to be.
Not the version she tried to become to make other people comfortable.
The real Riley.
The messy Riley.
The forgetful Riley.
The chaotic Riley.
The ADHD Riley.
The beautiful Riley.
And instead of trying to change her...
He loved her exactly as she was.🥹
As someone with ADHD myself, there were moments in this book where I had to stop reading because I felt so understood.
The self doubt.
The overthinking.
The feeling of being "too much."
The exhaustion that comes from constantly trying to fit into spaces that weren't built for you.
Ambar handled it with so much care and authenticity.
Riley never felt like a diagnosis.
She felt like a person.
And that's what made this story so special.
Now let's talk about Dom.
Because this man is EVERYTHING.
Grumpy? ✔️
Protective? ✔️
Patient? ✔️
I absolutely melted watching him become Riley's safe place. Not because he fixed her. Because she never needed fixing. He simply reminded her that she was enough. Exactly as she was.😭💛
"His eyes hold all the memories of a summer I'll never forget. The summer I got lost in him but found myself."
Thank you so much to Ambar Cordova and her team for the ARC.
This wasn't just a romance for me. It was a reminder that maybe the goal was never to fit in.
Maybe the goal was simply to stop leaving pieces of ourselves behind to make everyone else comfortable.🫶🏾💛
✨ "For those who have lost a piece of themselves pretending to be someone else in order to fit in... Let me remind you, you're the perfect fit. I hope you don't ever leave you again." ✨
And as someone with ADHD? I felt that in my soul. Like many neurodivergent people, I've spent years trying to be quieter, calmer, more organized, less emotional, less forgetful, less... me. So when I tell you Riley's story hit home? I mean it HIT.💛
Riley returns home after college feeling a little lost, a little stuck, and unsure where she belongs. Her family's ranch needs help, her sisters are struggling, and she's trying to figure out what comes next.
Then there's Dominic Diaz. And BABES...I am weak for a grumpy cowboy. Especially when he's older, bearded, and trying his absolute hardest not to fall for the sunshine tornado living next door.
What I loved most about this romance wasn't the age gap. It wasn't the chemistry. It wasn't even the tension. It was the way Dom saw Riley.
Not the version everyone expected her to be.
Not the version she tried to become to make other people comfortable.
The real Riley.
The messy Riley.
The forgetful Riley.
The chaotic Riley.
The ADHD Riley.
The beautiful Riley.
And instead of trying to change her...
He loved her exactly as she was.🥹
As someone with ADHD myself, there were moments in this book where I had to stop reading because I felt so understood.
The self doubt.
The overthinking.
The feeling of being "too much."
The exhaustion that comes from constantly trying to fit into spaces that weren't built for you.
Ambar handled it with so much care and authenticity.
Riley never felt like a diagnosis.
She felt like a person.
And that's what made this story so special.
Now let's talk about Dom.
Because this man is EVERYTHING.
Grumpy? ✔️
Protective? ✔️
Patient? ✔️
I absolutely melted watching him become Riley's safe place. Not because he fixed her. Because she never needed fixing. He simply reminded her that she was enough. Exactly as she was.😭💛
"His eyes hold all the memories of a summer I'll never forget. The summer I got lost in him but found myself."
Thank you so much to Ambar Cordova and her team for the ARC.
This wasn't just a romance for me. It was a reminder that maybe the goal was never to fit in.
Maybe the goal was simply to stop leaving pieces of ourselves behind to make everyone else comfortable.🫶🏾💛
June 24, 2026
Rating: Slightly Obsessed (rounded up)
🖌Grumpy x Sunshine
🤠Small Town Romance
🖌Divorced Ranch Hand MMC x Part Owner FMC
🤠Age Gap (22 & 36)
🖌Neighbors to Lovers
🤠ADHD Rep
🖌F*ck It Moment
🤠Coming Home
🖌Opposites Attract
If you've been here for a while, you already know my reading method is basically vibes only. I read the tropes, judge the cover, and dive in completely blind.
So when I saw this adorable cover and these tropes, I thought I was getting a cute, fluffy, age-gap summer romance. And I did...but I also got so much more than I ever expected. I'm honestly so glad I ignored the little voice reminding me I'd sworn off more ARCs for the month because this one was 100% worth breaking my own rule.
Dom is an absolute swoon fest. After his failed marriage, he's done the work. He knows where he fell short, owns his mistakes, and genuinely wants to be better. The amount of pining and internal battles this man goes through over Riley deserves an Olympic gold medal. He tells himself he's too old for her. That he's bad at relationships. That he absolutely cannot fall for one of the owners of the ranch where he works.
Spoiler alert: he never stood a chance.
Riley's sunshine slowly chips away at every wall he's built, and for the first time in a long time, he actually feels alive. All he wants is for her to see herself the way he sees her...completely, wonderfully perfect.
And Riley...oh, Riley.
Her ADHD representation hit me right in the heart. As someone whose brain works in a very similar way, so many of her struggles and fears felt painfully familiar. It's wild how seeing pieces of yourself reflected in a fictional 22-year-old can crack something open inside you at 41. Watching her work through those moments honestly healed parts of me I didn't even realize still needed healing.
The way Dom constantly reminded her of her worth? It felt like those words were meant for me, too. And I won't lie, I actually picked up a few of Riley's coping strategies, and they've already been helping.
These two shouldn't work on paper.
They're not two halves of a whole. They're definitely not macaroni and cheese.
They're complete opposites: different ages, different families, different upbringings, different life experiences. But the one thing they always agree on is making sure the other knows they're worthy, lovable, and perfect exactly as they are.
I highlighted so many passages in this book and I already know I'll be thinking about these two for a long time.
Thank you, Ambar, for trusting me with the ARC. 💛
🖌Grumpy x Sunshine
🤠Small Town Romance
🖌Divorced Ranch Hand MMC x Part Owner FMC
🤠Age Gap (22 & 36)
🖌Neighbors to Lovers
🤠ADHD Rep
🖌F*ck It Moment
🤠Coming Home
🖌Opposites Attract
If you've been here for a while, you already know my reading method is basically vibes only. I read the tropes, judge the cover, and dive in completely blind.
So when I saw this adorable cover and these tropes, I thought I was getting a cute, fluffy, age-gap summer romance. And I did...but I also got so much more than I ever expected. I'm honestly so glad I ignored the little voice reminding me I'd sworn off more ARCs for the month because this one was 100% worth breaking my own rule.
Dom is an absolute swoon fest. After his failed marriage, he's done the work. He knows where he fell short, owns his mistakes, and genuinely wants to be better. The amount of pining and internal battles this man goes through over Riley deserves an Olympic gold medal. He tells himself he's too old for her. That he's bad at relationships. That he absolutely cannot fall for one of the owners of the ranch where he works.
Spoiler alert: he never stood a chance.
Riley's sunshine slowly chips away at every wall he's built, and for the first time in a long time, he actually feels alive. All he wants is for her to see herself the way he sees her...completely, wonderfully perfect.
And Riley...oh, Riley.
Her ADHD representation hit me right in the heart. As someone whose brain works in a very similar way, so many of her struggles and fears felt painfully familiar. It's wild how seeing pieces of yourself reflected in a fictional 22-year-old can crack something open inside you at 41. Watching her work through those moments honestly healed parts of me I didn't even realize still needed healing.
The way Dom constantly reminded her of her worth? It felt like those words were meant for me, too. And I won't lie, I actually picked up a few of Riley's coping strategies, and they've already been helping.
These two shouldn't work on paper.
They're not two halves of a whole. They're definitely not macaroni and cheese.
They're complete opposites: different ages, different families, different upbringings, different life experiences. But the one thing they always agree on is making sure the other knows they're worthy, lovable, and perfect exactly as they are.
I highlighted so many passages in this book and I already know I'll be thinking about these two for a long time.
Thank you, Ambar, for trusting me with the ARC. 💛
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