There is a lot packed into this book. It will make you laugh, it will make you wanna cry., it will make you want to call the MMC an idiot, but overall I really enjoyed it. I would love to possibly read more from the views of the other characters in the town. 3.5 ⭐️

I always look forward to a new book from Adriana Locke. She is always on my must read list. This one is no exception.

Jay and Gabrielle’s story is a little bit of single mom, grumpy/sunshine, and instant chemistry all rolled into one. I loved how she paints the small town true to life (if you know you know).

This one is a total standalone and a fun and easy read. I promise you are going to love it.

Adriana knows how to write small town romance. Honestly this book had me giggling and kicking my feet many times, Jay and Gabby are amazing, and they both work through their issues and fall in love. I don't read a lot of single mom tropes, but this one was so well written.

“ She says she wants to live again… But I didn’t even realize I wasn’t living until I met her.”

Thank you to @authoradrianalocke and @valentine_pr_ for an ARC. Single mom falls in love with the hot, broody man next door… with a meet-cute that had me laughing out loud… anyone?! Jay and Gabrielle, i loved them so much. They both had some trauma they needed to work through in order to give love another try — but I loved how they worked through those together. I have such a soft spot in my heart for her two boys. I think Adriana did an amazing job at working through grief, especially when children are involved. I loved Gabby’s DIY mindset, even when she constantly got critiqued from everyone. It made for some amazing banter. And can we talk about her side hustle of a job?! Who knew 😆 I always hate a third-act breakup but the way it all came back together was literally perfection. Add this to your TBR immediately if you love small towns, second chances, single moms and grumpy x sunshine. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author.

This story is romantic and very mature. It shows how vulnerable Jay and Gabrielle can be but also how desperately they need a companion. To belong and feel like a unity. I loved all those heart to heart moments especially when they included the kids. And Carter brings a light freshness to the book that creates the perfect balance.

We start with Cricket warning her cousin Gabrielle about something. It had me chuckling. Who are Della, Dylan, Peter, Carter, and Kyle? How does Gabrielle meet Jay? I could not help but to snort and giggle. What do we learn about Gabrielle's family as she is at church? Who are Hayes and Freya? How does Gabrielle meet them? I loved Jay's response when he discovered what Gabrielle does for a living. I couldn't stop laughing when Gabby tripped the breaker. Oh, I felt angry but sad at and for Dylan. I was glad to see his olive branch! I enjoyed the story.

Gah, my soppy heart runneth over. How does Adriana Locke take a grumpy carpenter neighbour who’s stupidly hot, pair him with the sweet single mum next door and create magic? Somehow she always manages to take these normal people doing normal people things and make me fall in love with them. I could sneak peeks into their lives forever and not get bored. Though thank goodness Dylan’s teenage baditude finally turned around.

Gabby was the usual Locke h. Sweet but sassy, feisty and fierce and I could feel her kind nature every time she was on page. Jay on the other hand was a hard nut to crack, but boy did I enjoy Gabby’s attempts to thaw him out. The meet-cute in the bush was hilarious. Also so well written, as that night I had a dream about a snake attacking me. Thanks for that Adriana😂😂

I received an arc from Netgalley and Adriana Locke and it was a pleasure to read.

I really enjoyed this book. I love that we see real problems and how they have to learn to overcome them. Jay and Gabby are both dealing with issues. You also have Gabby‘s two boys that are grieving their father. Dylan is angry and Carter is just so lovable. I love how Carter bonds with Jay even though he’s fighting it. Jay and Gabby are just what each other needed to heal. I absolutely love this book and recommend it. I’m kind of hoping that we get to see a second generation with these boys getting their happily ever after.
I received an advance readers copy, and I’m leaving a voluntary review.

📕 ARC REVIEW 📕

🌟🌟🌟🌟

A great read of a single mom with a next door neighbour in a small town. What more could you ask for. There was instant chemistry, great kids, new friends which are very funny and not too much drama.

I really enjoyed this one and definitely one I be picking up again.

Really enjoyed Jay and Gabrielle’s story!

I loved how even when Jay was acting rude and brushing Gabrielle off, his inner thoughts showed how screwed he was cause he had a deep attraction for her. We know from the beginning Gabrielle is attracted to Jay cause the only reason she was on the porch in just a towel was to get a good look at her shirtless neighbor which led to their comical “meet cute.”

I loved the mix of dynamics between Jay and the two boys, Dylan doesn’t care for Jay and is somewhat hurt by his presence while Carter thinks he hung the moon. The relationship build between not only Jay and Gabrielle but her boys as well was special to read.

Yes, their relationship went from impossible to seeing a future together very suddenly, but I don’t think it hindered the story in anyway. Hope to see more from Alden like a story for Scottie and/or Della.

Gabby and Jay are experiencing two different types of grief. When Gabby moves in next door to Jay, she falls fast… into a bush.

At times I was frustrated by Jay, but I really enjoyed how the relationship and all the friendships developed throughout the story. It was emotional at times, but a great read.


REVIEWS:
https://www.amazon.com/review/R3KGDU2VIV0UZS/ref=pe_123899240_1043597390_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7017590301
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/3603633816?source=link_share

Gabrielle wants to help her and her two sons heal from the passing of their father and her ex and she believes the best way for that to happen is to return to her hometown where they will be surrounded by people who care about them. She has found the perfect home, even if it needs a little work, but the one thing she hadn’t taken into consideration was her new neighbor and the feelings she would have for him.

Jay isn’t looking for love or a relationship especially with a single mother due to events from the past. Despite that rather than distancing himself from them he finds himself wanting to spend time with them but the adjustment is complicated not only when it comes to Gabrielle and Jay but her children as well.

Both Jay and Gabrielle bear the emotional scars of the past which doesn’t always have them making the right choices. I enjoyed seeing them give in to their feeling and find the love, romance and family they have always wanted but didn’t think they could have.

I love reading books by this author and this one is no exception. From the first few lines, I was laughing and it just got better frome there.

This story has all if my favorite tropes: Single mom moves to a small town. Kids that are a great addition to the story. An awesome meet cute. A hot as heck neighbor. And a storyline filled with enough awes and ohs to make your heart squeeze and your soul root for the couple.

If you're looking for a great stand alone book, Between Now and Forever is an awesome choice and won't leave you disappointed.

Gabrielle is just trying to pick up the pieces of her life and be the strong mom he kids need having just moved to start fresh. What she didn’t account for was her hot neighbor who is emotionally unavailable given his past. But that doesn’t stop her kid from breaking down his walls or him from constantly showing up to fix whatever home repair disaster she’s landed herself in this time.

The more time they spend together the more Jay feels he’s doomed to repeat the past. Especially when one of her kids makes it abundantly clear that his presence in their life is unwelcome.

I am a sucker for Adriana’s audiobooks so I had high hopes for this one and I wasn’t let down. I’m generally not the world’s biggest fan of single parent romance but I really enjoyed this different take. Having older kids presented an entirely new perspective we don’t often see which in this case meant kids who have very complex feelings they are still trying to figure out. I really enjoyed how this changed Jay’s dynamic with them and in a way made their eventual bond more meaningful.

There’s a lot of emotion and angst in this one as these two are dealing with a lot of emotional trauma and Gabrielle is trying to do it while trying to convince her sons she’s on their team while one of them fights her tooth and nail at every moment. It’s definitely not a romanticized story of single mom life post loss but it really made it that more poignant and enjoyable. Those highs were so much better after the big lows.

I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a single mom small town romance that packs an angsty punch but will give you the most satisfying hea butterflies.

Adriana Locke can expertly weave tales of humor, heart , and a touch of swoon-worthy romance and she does just that with her new neighbors to lovers romantic comedy, Between Now and Forever. Gabrielle is a single mom who is determined and strong and a bit clumsy which has her falling into the arms of her neighbor. The grumpy yet undeniably handsome neighbor, Jay. He tries to resist the chaotic mom of two but he just can't seem to resist the chemistry between the two. Even though Jay's past seems to haunt him how can he resist Gabrielle and the witty banter they seem to share not to mention the CHEMISTRY (again)! But trust comes hard to both of them but will love eventually win out? Well grab this book and find love and laughter on every page!

Between Now and Forever is a single mom, neighbors to lovers romance. I'm not quite sure why but this book was just OK to me. The way they met was funny and I liked both Gabrielle and Jay, but, I don't know, to me it was just fine. Overall it's a cute easy read, and If you like small town, single mom, grumpy/sunshine tropes you might enjoy this book.

Single mom falls (quite literally) for the man next door. Gabrielle and Jay come loaded with baggage they're working through from past relationships.

I loved the way this book highlighted the struggles of motherhood and dating while also being a parent. The chemistry between the characters was palpable from the start, the "meet-cute" was literally so funny and the side characters were so good.

This book saved me from a book slump, I feel like with most books you get either bombarded with angst or no angst at all and Adriana Locke did a wonderful job balancing a good amount of angst making it a quick, enjoyable read and a good length.

This is a standalone about Gabrielle and Jay. This book was definitely an emotional Rollercoaster that pulled at the heartstrings. Helps you to understand & to move on with grief & hurt. This was a good read even if it's a story I wouldn't normally read. But this author has a way with words & there hasn't been a story of hers I didn't like.

Adriana Locke… writes incredible love stories of real people and Gabrielle and Jay are amazing!! They are neighbors, he wants to do life alone. Both have pasts affecting them. Gabrielle and her boys move next to him… I loved her, her love of her family! Watching fall for each other was a great read!!

5 ⭐️
Why you’ll love this book!!
Single Mom
Blue Collar Hero
Neighbors To Lovers
Grumpy X Sunshine
Small Town Romance
Past Trauma
Love After Death


This book had me laughing and giggling and kicking my feet at the moment and character and at other wanting to hug them through all they had been through both Jay and Gabrielle boys had been through huge losses that broke me heart.
This book had my emotions all over in good way I loved this book.. I loved how at first Jay tried to stay away but the pull to Gabby was to strong they really are prefect for each other Adriana Locke killed it when it come to how well the characters flow together not just the main but the side characters and how they make the the others better in their own way a true found family way and I am a sucker for a good found family!!