Between Now and Forever was a sexy, sweet, lighthearted small-town/single parent romance that I thoroughly enjoyed. It's about navigating divorce, loss, problems that come with dating a single parent, prior heartbreak, and taking chances. I laughed. I teared up. I felt every heartfelt emotion. The sexy scenes were steamy. The chemistry sizzled. I was rooting for their HEA. This was a well-developed story with amazing characters. If you love single parent, small-town romances, this is a must-read! This is a standalone with a HEA.

A small town, second chance romance from the queen of feel good romance? Yes please (and thank you). From the start of Between Now and Forever I knew Adriana Locke was taking my heart for a ride and I was right.

I liked Gabby. Doing her best to make things as normal for her boys as she could after tragedy hit them hard. It wasn't easy but she knew the place to make it happen was the place that always felt like home. Which is exactly how she came to meet her her broody, grunting neighbor, Jay.

Behind all that gruff exterior was a heart that had loved and lost (big time). Hearing his story had me rubbing my chest. I get why he was determined to keep his distance but something wouldn't let him stay away. Maybe it was Carter's enthusiasm for life or Dylan's attitude but Gabby and her boys brought out a lightness in him that had been missing for a long time.

Somewhere between nights on the porch swing and home improvement projects what started as fun turned into real feelings. Throw in a few complications courtesy of a hormonal teen and it was a recipe for an emotional finish. Equal parts, sweet, sexy and sentimental I couldn't get enough as Gabby and Jay put their hearts and happiness on the line for a future they didn't think they would get.

4.5⭐️
1.5🌶️

🧡Single Mom
🧡Neighbors to Lovers
🧡Grumpy/Sunshine
🧡Small Town Romance

This book is a really enjoyable, quick, insta-love read for all of us single-mom trope lovers out there. 🥰

This is a complete standalone, but I will admit that there is quite a bit going on peripherally with side characters that maybe could've been sacrificed for a bit more character and relationship development between the MCs and the kids. Especially knowing we're likely not getting any more stories from those side characters.
That being said, I think a lot of that relationship development that some might say was lacking was inferred for the sake of a shorter romance novel that, while dealing with some heavier topics like grief and parental loss, was mostly meant to make readers feel good and put smiles on our faces.

After all, who doesn't love reading about a grump like Jay who wants nothing to do with the new hot single mom next door, but ultimately can't resist her and falls hard for Gabrielle and her sons Dylan and Carter? 💕 It's exactly what keeps me coming back to the single mom trope every time. 😊

There was a bit of back and forth for a good chunk of the beginning of the book, which got frustrating, but was understandable once we found out the full reason for Jay's hesitancy to get close to anyone. The relationship between Gabby and Jay progressed quickly from there, but there were of course issues once the kids-namely teenager Dylan-realized they were dating. I really appreciated that Adriana took the time to show the interactions between Gabby and her sons, as well as Jay and the boys, when there was tension and big feelings. It felt very real and showed how hard both Gabby and Jay were working to support the boys through everything they were feeling and dealing with.

As always, I know I'm going to laugh reading an Adriana Locke book, and this one was no exception. The girl group was great and had some fantastic moments, but the scene stealer in this one was 100% Carter. That 7-year-old was hilarious, and I cracked up pretty much every time that kid opened his mouth. His one-liners, his surprisingly accidentally deep conversations, and his unending energy and innocence were just the best. Adriana has a talent for comedic dialogue in both adult's and children's voices, and it's another reason I will always read anything she writes.

Overall, this is a short, funny, slightly steamy, sometimes poignant story about living life for yourself again. I recommend it to anyone who's looking for something that will make you laugh, swoon, and maybe even tear up a little bit, but will of course get you that wonderful HEA we always love to read about. 🧡

Ever since Gabrielle Solomon moved back to Alden with her two sons, she's been ready to take on the task of fixing up her home. What she didn't expect was her hot neighbor, Jay Stetson to swoop in and help her after falling over a porch railing and saving her from a snake in the bushes. All they can be is neighbors and friends and nothing more.

This was so cute! I loved that Gabrielle was so full of energy and took everything in stride. With how her ex had past away Gabrielle and her sons needed a change of scenery. I loved how Gabrielle was very expressive and confident in herself. I loved her DIY enthusiasm too. When Gabrielle firsts meet her neighbor, Jay there's immediate sparks. Their first encounter was funny and unforgettable. I loved Jay. He was such a grump. I loved the effort he made with Gabrielle's sons. He gave so much support to them. If you're looking for a neighbors to lovers story with grumpy/sunshine check this one out!

This standalone by Adriana Locke was we’ll worth the read. This single mom, grumpy/sunshine, neighbors to lovers had me suckered from the first fall into the bushes.
Gabrielle gets one glimpse of her sexy neighbor & she just knows that this move home is the right move. Too bad that he’s vowed a life alone. Not to mention, her older son doesn’t exactly make her life easy after being pulled from the only home he’s ever known.
Jay has a past that makes the single mom next door completely off limits. But she sure knows how to raise his blood pressure with her diy tendencies, and we won’t talk about her ability to make his heart race just by being herself.
I loved how Jay accepted Carter, her younger son, for the happy go lucky soul he was. I loved the bond he formed with Carter early on. As for Dylan, her older so…Jay had his work cut out for him. He was harder to win over. But I also loved the approach he took with him as the man of the house.
This book had me laughing at Carter’s goofy nature which he definitely inherited from his mom, had me rolling my eyes at Gabby’s antics, had me furious with Dylan’s attitude, & had me swooning with Jay’s desire to make their lives a little better. And I loved the support system gabby quickly fell into with her friend group.

Gabby has moved back to her hometown with her children after her ex-husband dies. She needs to give her kids stability and a chance to heal as they deal with their father’s death. Jay has chosen to live a quiet life. He moved to town after a devasting personal loss. Now he just wants to run his renovations company and be left alone. Neither of them are looking for a relationship but the relationship is looking for them!

Gabby is self-aware and well balanced at the beginning of the story so her growth curve isn’t very large. I like that the author gave Gabby the room to settle back into her hometown and make new friends. She even has a funny job that was a nice addition to her character. Jay has a very big growth curve. The author did a good job giving him a reason for his standoffishness. He gets a chance to know Gabby and her sons. He fights hard to keep Gabby at arm’s length even as he forms a relationship with her. When he finally realizes that he wants all of them in his life, if felt very natural and real. There are some excellent side characters that I hope get stories of their own.

This is a contemporary small-town romance. Both characters are full grown adults. Only Jay has a full-time career at the moment because Gabby is busy getting settled into town. This is a very enjoyable read. I will definitely read more from this author in the future.

Gabrielle and Jay was a story I loved from beginning to end. I loved the other characters in the book especially Gabrielle's son Carter, he had me laughing out loud.
It is a small town, hot neighbor next door, single (widowed in a way) mom story. The first meeting is in a towel in a bush....

This was such a good read. Another favorite book for me by Adriana Locke!

Another wonderfully well written story by Adriana Locke! Possibly the best "meet cute" in history, combined with AL's cast of dependably well developed characters and plot line full of real human emotions that cause us all to be stupid at times makes this a MUST READ!

Gabrielle Solomon moves back to her small hometown with her two boys, Dylan and Carter, not long after the boy’s father, Christopher, passes away in an accident. Gabrielle and Christopher had been divorced for a couple of years and had remained in each other’s lives. Moving back to Ohio will make a fresh start with the boys. They all need to grieve, but at the same time they need to start living again.

Jay Steton moved to town about four years ago. He mostly keeps to himself, except when his friend Lark makes him be “social”. Jay dates a little, but not enough to become attached. He likes it that way… until his new neighbor tumbles into the bushes off her porch and is in need of a rescue. Not that Jay is doing anything more than being neighborly. He refuses to pick up the signals Gabrielle is giving him. His heart is too walled off from his past.

As hard as Jay tries to stay out of her orbit, he finds himself helping Gabrielle get her house all fixed up. Gabrielle’s younger son, Carter, likes to wander over to Jay’s for things like air for his basketball and a zillion questions about a whole host of subjects. And then there’s Gabrielle teenage son, Dylan, who’s angry at the world for being moved from Boston to Ohio, and who is making his mother’s life a little difficult at the moment.

Gabrielle and Jay are pulled together by the spark between them. They try to keep it from the boys, as Gabrielle knows it’s not an easy time for either of them right now with just losing their dad. But then one argument between Gabrielle and Dylan makes Gabrielle realize that she needs to take care of her son and doesn’t need Jay’s help, sends Jay spiraling back into the ptsd from his former relationship.

Are the feelings that both Gabrielle and Jay have for each other strong enough for them to weather Dylan’s surly teenager years? Will Dylan realize that his mom will never not put him and Carter first, but also needs an adult companion to love and be loved by? Will Jay see that Gabrielle is nothing like his ex and is worth a little pain for a lifetime of happiness?

This book has a grumpy hero, a mostly sunshine heroine, a mouthy teenager and an inquisitive child, what more could anyone ask for? It’s sweet, sexy and has a lot of heart. What we’ve all come to count on from Adriana Locke. You won’t ever be disappointed picking up one of her books.

Between Now and Forever Author- Adriana Locke Series- Standalone Rating-3.75 Stars out of 5 Genres- Contemporary Romance Tropes- Single Mom, Grumpy Neighbor, Grumpy x Sunshine, Neighbors to Lovers, Small Town Main Characters- Gabrielle and Jay Spice Level- 1.5/5 HEA Between now and forever felt different from Adriana's other books, and to be honest I can't but my finger on what exactly it is that is that is so different. It wasn’t a bad different just as I said different. If I'm going to be honest I don't know if this book is strictly a contemporary romance, I think it is more of just a book about now families move on after loss as Gabrielles ex-husband and the father of her two boys had died in an accident. All three of them were in their own stages of grief throughout the story. Even Jay was going through his own grief that he hadn't moved on from. I felt that the book was a little slow to start and it took a bit for me to get pulled into the story like I usually am. But once I was pulled in I thought it was an enjoyable story. Gabrielle and Jay had a dynamic that just worked. Gabrielle being a single mom means that her boys come first and Jay being the great guy he is understands that. He's also such a great guy that he is understanding when one of Gabrielle's son is struggling with her dating because he doesn't want his dad to be replaced in his life and he rolls with it not wanting to replace his father. Personally I just felt that the end of the book just came bit suddenly. In the second to last chapter they’re happily dating and the sons ok at least mostly ok with them dating then in the epilogue (which doesn’t give an indication of how much time has passed but it seems like time hasn’t actually passed) all of a sudden everything is perfect and there are no problems? I just felt there were a few elements that were left unfinished. Overall I thought this was a enjoyable story.

Gabrielle moves to a small town after her husband passes away for a new start for her and her sons. When her next door neighbor, Jay, realizes she is a single mother he does not want to get involved with her after a prior bad breakup with another single mother. I loved how Adriana Locke brought this whole story together. The sweet chemistry between these characters struck the right nerve and the opening scene was hilarious. Quick read that I could not put down!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Jay is just the guy next door, sure he’s handy and doesn’t mind helping out a neighbor, but when Gabrielle Solomon moves in next door, they both find themselves in over their heads.

The author added so many crazy situations that Gabrielle kept getting herself into, that I found myself loving this story and preordering a copy to keep once it was released. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

Oh my goodness!! So many emotions. My heart was breaking for all of them but I also couldn’t contain my laughter! It was the best of both worlds!! Between Now and Forever was full of love, laughs, and swoon!!

Gabrielle made an interesting first impression with her sexy new neighbor. Tumbling off her deck in just a towel may not have been on her bingo card, but she did it with grace. Luckily for her, Jay was a perfect gentleman.

What started as just neighbors soon became just friends. Would just friends become more or would there be too much to overcome?

I loved how much depth this story had! Loved how different her sons were and all the entertainment they brought. And the swoon!! So much swoon! I really hope we see these guys again!!

Jay and Gabriel are the it couple. Loved how they fight what they are both feeling..the way that they want each other is steamy and had me swooning and giggling.

Oh my heart. I loved this book and the characters! The love Gabrielle has for her boys and her dedication to them was so sweet. Jay and his character growth throughout the book was beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time when he finally reveals his past. The two of them together was full of tension and chemistry while showing realistic growing pains of having children while dating. I loved the world building, relationships with side characters and couldn’t put the book down! I definitely recommend reading this book if you enjoy small town romance, funny banter and heartwarming moments!

How to make a great impression on your next door neighbor. Spy on him dressed only in a towel on your back porch and falling in the bushes after the railing gives way. Lay it all out from the get go. Gabrielle Solomon really knew how to make a great first impression. Jay Stetson wasn't a monk, and even though Gabrielle sparked attraction in him, he wasn't in the market for anything. Not even rapport with his next door neighbor. But there was something about her and her younger son Carter that kept him responding to them. Jay had his reasons. Getting close to anyone results in emotions he'd rather not revisit. Of course we're going to get the happily ever after. The author wouldn't do us dirty like that. But first we get to feel frustrated, at times angry, elation about Jay opening up, giddiness when Carter penetrates Jay's hard exterior, humor when Gabrielle tries and fails at many home improvement projects, sadness when Dylan lashes out at Gabrielle and Jay. All the emotions. Here is a family not only broken by divorce, but also the sudden death of the ex-husband/father and moving to a new place. In making this big change, Gabrielle and her boys found peace and love and a solid family support.

Adriana Locke has a talent for writing wonderful small town, blue collar heroes and she has hit the nail on the head with Jay Stetson.

I loved Jay and Gabrielle's story, it's a heartwarming and heartbreaking story of finding love after loss. Their journey is complicated by wounds from past heartbreaks, dreams for the future and keeping Dylan and Carter as a priority. They don't always get it right but they both strive to do the best that they can for those they love.

The relationships that Jay and Gabrielle each have with the boys are so well written, Adriana Locke hasn't glossed over the hard parts of parenting. I loved the realism that she gave us with Dylan and Carter.

Jay and Gabrielle's story is a beautiful mix of healing hearts, steamy chemistry and challenging relationships.

✨🔮🌞🌕🍄🌕🌞🔮✨
ARC REVIEW

Between now and forever - Adriana Locke

5/5⭐️

📚📚📚
The TEARS I shed for this book! OMG. Every book I’ve ever picked up by Adriana Love usually leaves me just feeling all the feels and speechless in all the best ways. This one did just that and more!! I did read this one in one sitting. I felt the pace of this one just made it go by so fast. Even with the fast pace it had great details and such amazing characters. Jay and Gabrielle I really enjoyed reading their story. They both have so much past trauma and fear with relationships that it definitely makes it a struggle for them. For single moms I feel like this book is so relatable. I feel like it shows the sweet moments and the struggles. I don’t want to give to much away with this one because you just have to read it and feel all the feels with this book.

📚📚📚
If you like to read:
- Grumpy x sunshine
- Single mom
- Small town romance
- Neighbors to lovers
… You should definitely check this out

📚📚📚

Thank you so much for sending me a copy for an honest review in my own words. #giftedcopy

✨What’s a book release your excited for next year?

#books #booklover #smut #booknerd #bookfriend #bookish #booklovers #bookishcommunity #bookloversunite #instabook #bookporn #bookphotography #reviews #igbooks #ilovereading #smutty #bookaddiction #bookhoader #hotnsexy #fortheloveofbooks #bookrecs #yummy #givemeallthebooks #readingthepainaway #booktok #arc

WOW!! Adriana Locke never disappoints! This was definitely the type of book that takes you through all of your emotions.

Jay is the town grump and he now has new neighbor that he just wants to avoid. But when Gabrielle ends up falling off her deck into the bushes he can't help but come to her rescue. He tries to stay away but there is a connection between him and Gabrielle. He also tries to distance himself from her sweet boy Carter that is always stopping by and even though her other son can be a "Jerk Face" as Carter says, he starts caring about him as well.

Jay has a past he hasn't been able to let go and he needs to find a way to put it in the past. Will this single mom and her kids be able to help him get over his broken heart?

Gabrielle is a single mom who got divorced from her best friend and he ended up dying in a car crash. She's heartbroken and trying to move on but it's hard. Carter is doing the best out of her two boys. Dylan is really struggling and that's making things harder for her as well. Will Jay be able to help her heal and find new love?

This book had me laughing and smiling like crazy! Cricket and her friends will have you laughing so hard! The characters and the story are well written. I had a great time getting to know everyone and definitely didn't want the book to end. I would HIGHLY recommend this book.

Thank you Montlake and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

Love it Amazing Read. Jay And Gabrielle have the most hilariously amazing Meet Cute ever. I love it. Gabrielle has been through some loss. She was divorced then lost her ex-husband who was her best friend. Dylan is struggling the hardest with the loss of his Dad. Carter seems to go with the flow. The banter and the kids make this story. I couldn't put it down. This author has away of pulling me in that keeps me there long after The End.