4 1/2 Stars ... This story touched my heart!

To be honest Ms. Locke hasn't written a book that I haven't loved. Her books are always so down to earth with everyday people doing everyday things. The banter between the characters had me laughing-out-loud one minute and saying wtf the next minute. And the steam between Gabby and Jay was off the charts! I thought Gabby's boy's reactions to Jay were a bit extreme ... her youngest son wanted them to get married while the older one didn't want Jay in their lives AT ALL. All in all, this is a quick read that shouldn't be missed.

When Jay sees his new neighbour fall off her deck into the bushes, he knows he should pretend he didn't see anything, but he couldn't help himself. She's beautiful ... and in nothing but a towel ... now he really has to pretend he didn't see anything! But Gabby and her boys draw him in and his cold heart starts to feel again.

After Gabby's ex-husband dies and she is solely responsible for their two sons, she moves back to her home town to be close to family. She buys a fixer upper house so she can keep busy and not dwell on her life situation. Gabby doesn't want to accept the help her neighbour's offering, but she's kinda a klutz and he seems to be right there when she does stupid stuff. She also can't help that her heart beats extra fast whenever he's around. This is going to be nothing but trouble!

I received an ARC courtesy of Montlake through NetGalley.

My first Adriana Locke book, and it felt like a great place to start. I love it when books don’t paint perfect pictures with perfect characters. Give me flawed people finding love any day.

Jay is grumpy and closed off. He doesn’t open up to people, he doesn’t want to hang around, and he certainly wants nothing to do with love.
Gabby is a single mom with two boys. There’s a strength and sadness to her, as much as there’s a special brand of empathy, and she felt very real to me.

Gabby comes back to her small town to bring up her boys. She’s used to going it alone, and that’s what she plans to do. But then she crosses paths with Jay, which is easy because they’re neighbors. It’s a great meet-cute, especially since she has a knack for getting herself in weird (and funny) situations, but let’s just say that first meeting has them both wondering.

While Jay falls first, it's not easy. Gabby reminds him of things from his past that he needs to overcome, and she has her kids, who don’t necessarily like having Jay around.
It’s impossible for them to stay away, though. He wants to be there, for her to know she’s capable of doing things, but she can rely on him too. She wants to know more about him, especially why he never lets his guard down.

When they finally decide to take what they both want, it’s not super steamy, but it’s right for them as two people with baggage. They seemed to find themselves when they were together. Their honesty and their level of maturity made it more for me, and I loved that.

The way they connect is extraordinary, but their past won’t magically sort itself out. It broke my heart to see her talking to her kids. It also broke my heart to see how afraid both Gabby and Jay were to care, to love, to put themselves in a position of getting hurt.

When you’ve been burned or hurt, trusting becomes an issue. Loving an even bigger one. But then you meet someone who makes you their priority and is willing to fight for you and alongside you. And everything just clicks into place.

I enjoyed this single mom second chance at love. We have Gabrielle, who is mom to two very different boys moving Homemaker a sudden loss only to find herself enamored with her new neighbor Jay. Jay is the quintessential bachelor and not looking to start anything, especially with a single mom. Throw some meddling kids and friends, and we get this insta family story.

Fast-paced and cute characters. I enjoyed the girlfriend group and want more of Della. Overall, it's a fun quick read.

Adriana Locke never fails to deliver exactly what I need in a spicy romance! Gabrielle is a devoted mom struggling to help her boys- and herself- find happiness in their new normal. Her klutziness often leads to hilarious situations but her quick mind affords her a little finesse to take the edge off the embarrassment and makes her even more likable. Jay never stood a chance against the clumsy ray of sunshine but his gruff efforts will make you smile and smirk. The ladies who befriend her are quirky and sweet while the deep moments are deftly countered with levity and the spice…(sigh). Between Now and Forever is a truly beautiful story about opening your heart to love after heartbreaking loss.

Life can be hard but learning to move forward is both scary and rewarding. Gabriella and her sons, Carter (cutie patootie) and Dylan (teen to the nth degree), are back in her hometown after her ex and their father died. They are trying to find their new normal which isn't easy. Gabriella falls head over heels (literally) when she sees her next door neighbor, Jay. Jay makes a conscience effort to keep everyone at bay in order to protect himself from experiencing betrayal and loss once again. Thanks to Carter's persistence that Jay not be lonely (so sweet), Jay can't help but be pulled into his neighbors' orbit. The struggle and strength to trust and love again for Gabriella, Dylan and Jay leads to a beautiful HEA.

This was a great story. Gabrielle and Jay’s story took off right from the beginning and kept me on my toes. It involved slightly older main characters, so it did not have a lot of drama situations at the end - more of a closure to everything and finalizing the storyline, which I love.

I loved reading this book. I found both Jay's and Gabby's backstories heartbreaking, and the book was an emotional read at times. I loved how real Gabby's children came across, and Carter, in particular, made me laugh. Although this book is a stand-alone, I would love for this to be made into a series and read about Scottie and Della.

This book was well written and a truly heartwarming story.

*Sigh* I love when authors do this. Do what you ask? Write a story that consumes you from beginning to end. Where you cheer on the main characters while clutching your book to your chest with a cheesy grin. I loved everything about this. How I felt their grief, their joy and happiness, and of course their banner. 5+ stars

Between Now And Forever is a sweet single mom romance. It started off strong with so many funny moments which truly grabbed me and hooked me to the story. The chemistry between Gabbie & Jay was palpable right from the start. I loved that it was a super fast read, straight to the point and delivered what it had to. As usual Adrianas always knows how to give us beautiful stories.

I really liked both MC's, they both had struggles to face and overcome which they did by the end. I do wish they would've communicated a little better for their age though, I did feel they came off a bit immature in some parts. In a way, I could understand that it was due to all their baggage. I did feel like the last part of the book was a little rushed, I would've liked a bit more relationship building there.

Overall, it was a great read. Super fast and easy to get lost in. Funny, emotional and addictive.

✨️Thank you to @netgalley, @montlake & @adrianalocke for my gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review.

From the moment Jay and Gabrielle meet there is a spark and an attraction between them. However, Jay is closed off when it comes to women and relationships, especially someone who is a single mom. Yet, he can’t seem to stay away. It also doesn’t help him that her youngest son, Carter, is constantly stopping by.

For the most part this story is pretty lighthearted, but with Jay’s past there is some emotions behind it and seeing him work through his own issues and emotions. There is also some emotion when it comes to Gabrielle, specifically with her sons who are struggling through their own emotions.

I enjoyed Gabrielle and Jay’s group of friends and I kind of hope that maybe there will be more of them in the future, too.

If you’re looking for a single mom, neighbors to lovers, small town romance check this one out.

Between Now And Forever is a small town, single mum romance, it a quick easy read.

Gabrielle and Jay were both characters I connected with straight away, both hurt from past relationships. The journey these two go is a little bumpy but we all love a HEA.

Adrianna wrote the part of Gabrielle kids perfectly how kids struggle after losing a Parent and the other parent tries to move on, the small friends network Gabrielle had were enjoyable read with a few laugh out loud moments.

My only pick would be it been a bit longer showing there relationship in the future.

For me it’s a 4🌟 read

A second chance at love story about two people carrying grief but working to move forward. Gabi and Jay meet cute when he helps her after she falls off her deck. She's a recent widow with two boys one of whom will deeply resent her building a relationship with Jay (probably would have happened no matter who it was). Can these two overcome Dylan-and the disapproval of some others in their small town? Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a quick trope-y read that might make you smile on a rainy day.

3.5 stars rounded up. Their initial meeting may be inauspicious (although very funny), but Gabrielle and Jay are destined to become a lot more than neighbours, as long as their histories don't get in the way.
I did enjoy this: it was a very sweet read, but it didn't draw me in in the same way as some of the author's other books have. I'm not quite sure why, but something was off-balance for me - perhaps the pacing of the relationship? the handling of quite serious issues against the sweet and/or amusing moments? the various sub-plots of Gabrielle's friends which felt a little superfluous? However, what did definitely work was the depictions of Gabrielle's children and their interactions with the adults: this author does write families extremely well. It's a fine example of a small-town romance with heat, humour and a healthy dose of healing, but for me, it probably won't stay long in the memory.

The way I was instantly pulled in with this book and I couldn’t stop reading once I started. “Between Now and Forever” is a swoony, sweet and heartfelt single Mom romance that I enjoyed so much.

Toppling over a loose railing in a towel was not how Gabrielle pictured meeting her next door neighbor after buying her new house. And for him to be insanely attractive too. Gabrielle and her two sons, Dylan and Carter have moved back to her small hometown for a fresh start after her son’s father passed away. Determined to make the best of it, she’s bought a fixer upper and wants to do all the work herself. Her grumpy next door neighbor, Jay, is a carpenter and even though he told himself to stay away, however there is something about Gabrielle that Jay can’t stay away from. Neither are looking for anything serious but the connection and pull they have towards each other is too strong to stay away from.

The way these two first meet is so cute and had me cracking up. Not the best way to meet your neighbor but it all works out in the end. Gabrielle and Jay are so sweet and I just loved them together. I could feel the connection they had and it only grew more intense as the story went on. Gabrielle is genuine, kind and is a great mom. She had a sweet connection with her sons and her goal was to make sure that they were happy and loved, especially after their father passed away. She worked hard to balance their new life and I admired her so much for that. Jay is a grumpy guy on the outside but under that is a guy who cares so deeply and wants to be happy. His past relationship made me angry and broke my heart at the same time, the betrayal he went through cut him deeply and made him anti-relationship for a good reason. Gabrielle and Jay had great banter, especially when it came to her working on anything electrical on her own in house. Jay worked hard on his connection with Dylan and Carter, making sure they knew he wasn’t there to replace their Dad. The last few chapters were so heartfelt and I loved this story so much.

Adriana Locke writes stories that feel real-about real problems, real people. I absolutely love the single parent trope! I love how parenting as a "step" parent is also seen in this story. I don't really like to call them step parents because even if they didn't make you physically, they are shaping you as a person and that is a parent!!

One of my favorite lines from this story that I will take forward with me- "Grab whatever it is that makes you happy and run while you can." What a profound statement! I definitely needed to hear that.

Gabby and Jay's story had me laughing right off the start and it then had me shedding some tears on their behalf. I like that the characters are older (late 30s/early 40s). Gabby is a single mom with two boys and Jay has sworn off single moms.

I appreciate that Gabby puts her boys first, but I will admit that counseling for all three of them would have done wonders for them (Jay too, because he has some stuff to unpack). Overall, I loved the outcome, but would have liked a little more development for all the characters. Having said that, Adriana's books are always such a comfort read for me. I fall in love with every story she writes and this was no different.

Dual POV, mild spice, great story!

My gosh my heart! Jay & Gabrielle are amazing.
Jay is the grumpy hot neighbor who likes to stick to himself! Gabrielle is moving home to her small town with her 2 boys following the passing of their father. She moves in next door to Jay and meet in one of the best ways possible! Hahah! The chemistry these 2 have right from the start is amazing! They have to work through so much together and my gosh their story made me smile and tear up! Such a great book!

4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Tropes:
🧡small town
🩶grumpy x Sunshine
🧡single mom
🩶love after healing
🧡neighbors to lovers
🩶second chance at love
🧡 dual pov

Between Now & Forever by Adriana Locke is a heartwarming and story that delivers the story of second chances at love, with characters that are age appropriate for this story and one that not only has in depth characters, but ones that will pull at your heart. This is the story of Jay and Gabrielle.

Our FMC, Gabrielle, has just moved back to town from Boston, after her ex husband's sudden death. She is a single mom to fourteen year old Dylan and Seven year old, Carter. The reason behind her divorce is one for the books, and makes me smile because you can divorce and still love and be friends.
Upon moving in, she has a sorta meet-cute with her new neighbor. She falls off her deck in nothing but a towel... that is definitely one for the books and made me laugh.

Jay, is far from the welcoming neighbor type. He is a bit of a grump, and honestly not really living at all. Ever since his heartbreak he hasn't really done relationships and has become more of a recluse concentrating on his work as a carpenter and less with people. He slowly starts to open up to Gabby and her kids and it was wonderful to see the shift in him as his perspective changed on love and you couldn't help but root for them.

One of the best parts of this story of the story were Gabby's two sons, Carter and Dylan. Carter, really made me smirk at times because of his young mind and such a character at his age Dylan, is the older son, and struggling with life challenges not only his teenage self, but a new town, school, loss of his dad and thoughts about Jay. Jay sees a lot of himself in Dylan. And I love how both Dylan and Jay both learn to heal.

Jay and Gabrielle’s story was just wow! These two both have past baggage that keeps lurking around the corner at every step. Jay thinks he should stay away, keep his distance, but it keeps getting harder to stand on the sidelines and watch. He feels he doesn’t deserve love and happiness. Gabrielle and her boys have been through a lot. Divorce and then the loss of her ex has changed her family in ways you can’t imagine. Enter the handsome grumpy neighbor who she can’t seem to stop thinking about and all she wants is to feel alive again. This is such a great story full of emotions, hurt and torment. A family dealing with the loss of a loved one and trying to move on. Will Gabrielle and her boys be just what Jay needs or will he cut and run like he always does?

I have read so many Adriana Locke books over the years and she never disappoints when it comes to emotional angsty contemporary romance. Having said that, this one has a bit of angst but there’s a ton of romantic comedy as well and I thought it was nicely balanced. I really liked Gabby’s character–I felt for her and connected with her right away. My first impression of Jay was that he was a bit of a grump, which I’m sure Ms. Locke wanted us to think! These two are what would appear as opposites attract but they have more in common than one might think and their journey through this read was quite enjoyable. More than once I wondered if Gabby’s young sons were modeled after Ms. Locke’s own children, most especially her youngest Carter and all his questions. He was an adorable kid and certainly added to the storyline. I would definitely recommend this read if you’re looking for a single mother/grumpy neighbor contemporary rom-com with some emotional moments thrown in for good measure. I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book through NetGalley.