I loved this book and I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. I was hooked from the very first page and fell in love with these two right away. The chemistry and attraction between these is amazing. This book keeps you on your toes as you are reading because you don't know what is going to happen next.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for an ARC of this book.

This was a quick and easy read. We follow Gabrielle, a single mom to two boys who has just moved back to the town where she grew up to try to move past the death of her ex-husband and father to her sons. Her grumpy carpenter neighbour, Jay, witnesses and helps her after she falls off her porch in just a towel. They find that they can’t stay away from each other and their story goes from there.

Personally, I thought the kids played a bigger role in this book than I would have liked. Her oldest son is a “jerk-face” for most of the book, and she kind of seems like a pushover. Her younger son is cute, but pushy. I think both boys were written sort of unrealistically.

Overall, this was a cute read with good chemistry between our hero and heroine.

Gabby's going through a tough time in her life: her ex just died unexpectedly, her two boys are suffering through their grief, and she just wants to start over. She moves back to her small hometown, planning to work on her fixer-upper new home. While gawking at her new neighbor, she falls through the railing and into the lilac bush in only her towel, forcing said neighbor to help her out. What should have been a great meet cute however turns sour with his grumpy vibes that don't invite friendship and especially not flirting. She gets the hint to stay away, but the same can't be said for her 7 year old son Carter.
Jay knows better than to get involved with the single mom next door after being broken by his past. Although he can't forget the way she looked in that towel, it's best to stay away. But her son Carter keeps coming over asking questions, Gabby keeps putting herself in danger with her home renovations, and her older son Dylan keeps giving him suspicious looks as if he can read Jay's dirty thoughts. He's already in way over his head.
This was a sweet small town romance with a grumpy mmc and a slightly overwhelmed but still sunny single mom fmc. The friend group in this book is amazing and hilarious. There were so many laugh out loud moments in this book, but also some almost sickeningly sweet moments with the kids and Jay. I like how being together helped them work out some of their issues with the past. Overall I really liked this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Single mom Gabrielle just moved into a new house that needs a lot of work done. When she spots her hot next door neighbor, she wanted to see him better. So she went to her balcony but leaned over too far and flipped over. Meeting her neighbor was not in the way she thought would happen, stuck in a rose bush with a towel.

Jay is a grumpy guy who has burned in his last relationship. He has no desire to date, especially another single mom. Pushing Gabrielle and her youngest son away as best as he could, didn’t work. They kept showing up and then he kept showing up.

Tropes:
Single Mom
Next door neighbors
Grumpy/Sunshine

So sweet and swoony! Gabrielle was a single mom to two boys. It wasn't easy, especially with her oldest, Dylan. Dylan was having a hard time coping with the loss of his father and would sometimes lash out in anger. Jay was Gabrielle's hot, grumpy neighbor. Jay tried not to notice Gabrielle but it was difficult since she practically fell at his feet the first time they met. Jay had told himself not to get involved with single mothers. He had dated a single mom in the past and it didn't end well. With Gabrielle living next door, and her youngest son Carter being very social, he was involved whether he wanted to be or not. I loved how devoted Gabrielle was to Dylan and Carter. She told herself she didn't need a man, even to fix things in the house. The more time Gabrielle and Jay spent together, the more their chemistry ignites. Will Gabrielle be able to convince Jay to give them a chance, or is Jay too burned from his past relationship to fight for Gabrielle and her boys? Another heartwarming story from Adriana Locke, and I can't wait for her next book!

Gabrielle's starting over in a sense. She and her preteen and teen boys are without their father now and trying to make do. Then she falls into the bushes next to her house and is rescued by her gorgeous but broody neighbor, and nothing is the same again. She shouldn't give into their chemistry because she just knows in her gut that Jay's the epitome of emotionally unavailable, but her heart doesn't seem to care. Her eldest son cares, though, and is an obstacle Gabrielle isn't sure they can overcome, especially if Jay's already putting on the brakes.

Ever since his ex tore his heart into a million pieces when she took away the little girl he had raised as his own, Jay's heart has been closed for business. Then a beautiful ray of sunshine and her sons barrel into his life and start to make him think he could be there for them. But their father hasn't been gone long, and he knows he's not replacement material, so he should pump the brakes now before he gets too deep with all of them. But, if he can have a little faith, and a little heart to heart with Gabrielle's eldest, Jay just may see the light at the end of what has been a very dark tunnel.

This is a sweet, mostly low angst small town romance. There's a lot to unpack in a fairly short timeline, and the ending is a bit rushed, but I still enjoyed Gabrielle and Jay and her kids, especially Carter. Grief takes its toll on everyone involved, and it had done a number on everyone in this story, thankfully Jay and Gabrielle got through it to the other side in sweet fashion.

Between Now and Forever is a treasure trove of emotion. With sassy characters, spicy dialogue and depth of feeling, Locke takes the heart outside of it's comfort zone. A soulful dance with heartache that leaves a lasting impression.

Oh my Hilarious God... Adriana Locke i think Gabrielle might be my favorite character of yours. She was feisty, funny, thoughtful and full of sass. It's no wonder that Jay couldn't stay away even when he knew he should.

I loved the dynamic she had with her boys. She was doing it all for them, but when she and Jay started seeing each other, she was convinced that she could finally breath. But when his past shows his ugly head and clouds his judgment, i loved that she didn't back down and knew her worth.

Despite my tough exterior, I'm a romantic at heart when it comes to reading and I absolutely loved the way this story concluded with all the participants. Between now and forever is going to my TOP3 by Adriana Locke for sure!

*Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads*

A second chance romance for the win!

This one is just like all other Adriana Locke books. PERFECT!!

I absolutely loved this one and loved watching both of these characters get their second chance at love.

Between Now and Forever is a beautiful, bittersweet novel about finding love as a single parent. FMC Gabby is struggling to raise her two boys, Dylan and Carter, as they deal with the grief of their father’s death. The last thing in her plans is to fall for the guy next door and yet she literally falls off the porch in their hilarious meet cute! Locke vividly brought to life the reality of a single parent dating, the guilt, joy, confusion and fear all wrapped up in it. The relationship between Gabby and her girlfriends was also really powerful in the way they supported, challenged, nagged and ultimately cheered for each other. This is no ordinary small town romance and it will stay in my heart for a long time even though the last page has been turned.

It's so nice to read about characters with real personalities, real grown up problems, real needs and wants.
To read about people who feel forgotten but want to be remembered and seen in the most normal of ways.
Gabby and Jay are those people. Gabby wants to feel again but she's not positive she's ready. Jay feels more than he wants and he's trying desperately to lock his feelings down.
These two might seem like opposites but they are pretty perfectly matched.
Throw in Gabby's boys and now you've got a good dash of comedy, some teenage angst, spread around a friend group that likes to stir things up, a small town and some great family members and this book couldn't have made me happier. I really enjoyed every bit especially how relatable so much of it felt.
I have voluntarily left this review.

This was a sweet, spicy and comedic story! It was a quick read full of laughter and emotion. I enjoyed Gabrielle and Jay, hot mess and grump.

Phenomenal! Absolutely amazing Adriana Locke book. Her books always feel like a warm hug. I loved it!

The Queen of small town romance does not disappoint! Between Now and Forever is heartfelt, with just the right amount of angst and humour. Loved this story!

This was a really sweet and quick read for me. While it wasn't short, it kept me interested start to finish & I flew through it. I love finding titles with MCs that aren't super young or just starting their adult lives and this one was a hit! Thank you for the ARC!

Adriana always does an amazing job depicting real life issues that tug at your heart strings. Gabrielle is a single mom of 2 boys. She was divorced from her husband, but it ended amicably. Then he dies in a car crash and she moves the boys back to her home town. Jay lives across the street and wants nothing to do with a relationship because of him losing the little girl he helped raise with his ex.

The chemistry between these two were undeniable. The interactions between him and the kids seemed very fitting. The younger one who likes hanging around him and the older one (teenager) hates him because he thinks he's going to replace his dad.

This story came full circle when Gabrielles son come to Jay to ask him to talk to her because he didn't want his mom to cry any more. That nearly broke my heart. This story definitely made me feel everything

This is my first time reading a book by Adriana and I absolutely loved it so much. I really liked her writing and the way that she wrote this beautiful book. I felt truly immersed within the story. Jay & Gabrielle were so perfect for each other. I really enjoyed their banter
and him having a soft spot for her and her kids. I laughed and I cried, but in the end it was such a beautiful experience reading their story.

There is something to stories where the MCs are in a different stage of life.

Gabrielle's just moved back home. After living years in Boston, she's back with her two sons, Dylan and Carter. Carter is a happy go lucky kid who's found the bright spot of moving. Dylan... not so much. Both boys (and Gabrielle) are grieving the death of her ex.

The place Gabrielle has moved into is... a fixer upper. And no one can fix better than Gabrielle. Pretty much wrong. A mishap brings her new neighbor into her orbit. Jay. Jay, who's definitely not looking for love. He's been burned really badly before by another single mom, and his heart is closed .

Attraction is there, though, on both sides. Gabrielle is pretty heartbroken about what happened and is really dedicated to putting her kids first. Even if that means saying no to a new relationship. And Jay... He goes back and forth a little, but he's suffered some loss too. It's hard to put yourself out there when you've lost pretty badly.

I enjoyed Gabrielles' handiwork. She wanted to be Ms FixerUpper, but.... at first you don't succeed, keep trying!

This was a great representation of the step parent dynamic. The tragedy and the blessing that can happen when you love a child that's not biologically yours.

I enjoyed the side characters in this one. Gabrielle is pretty close to her cousin and also gains some new confidantes. I love some beginning friendships. I hope we get to read more about this group.

Adriana Locke is the queen of emotional and steamy reads and I am rarely disappointed by her books.
Gabrielle moves to a new home after the traumatic death of her ex-husband and best friend. Her two young boys are reeling from the loss of their dad and moving to a new town. Gabrielle is fierce, protective and loyal putting her kids needs before anything else.
Jay lies next door, the brooding and mysterious neighbour obviously has his own stuff going on but it’s impossible to ignore the beauty falling over the rail in only a towel next door or her adorable kid who won’t stop talking to him.
It is obvious this pair have some tough history of their own but together their banter and chemistry is amazing. It wasn’t my favourite from Locke but I definitely wasn’t disappointed. She is definitely a comfort author at this point. If you’re looking for a grumpy neighbour, single mother romance this is perfect.
Thanks so much for the eARC!

I loved the audio of this one. Great narration. They were new to me narrators. The emotions were pretty high in this one for all the parties involved. Gabrielle and Jay have a wonderful meet cute. This author is very good at the meet cutes. The hero and heroine have some tough choices to make. They have to think about the kids and protect their hearts. Seeing Gabby and Jay getting their happy ending was quite a roller coaster, but definitely worth it. Everyone needs family in whatever form that is. This is a standalone with a lot of interesting side stories too.