There's something about 30+ year-old characters who act their age, that's so satisfying.
Jay and Gabby were a swoon worthy couple. Their chemistry were electrifying and their connection wholesome.
I liked how Jay was basically withholding from living, keeping his walls up, until he met Gabrielle. He didn't have a complete 180 change, but rather, he allowed himself to actually go out there and care, which was beautiful to read.
Gabrielle was also a solid character. I really loved how she handled the first interactions with Jay, apart from the very first one pf course. She didn't just let him confuse her and ignore her whenever he liked. The way she put herself out there and set her boundaries was totally charming and empowering.
I have to say though, the repeated thoughts Jay had about how he was sure he can help Dylan and be a good father figure to him, they were kind of hard to understand. The momentary overconfidence didn't match the insecurity he had about not being a legal guardian. Two different things but their impact on Jay shouldn't have been that distinct.
The side characters were so-so. The boys were absolutely nice, in terms of characters development. Carter was simply adorable, I really wanted to play baseball with him. Dylan, though... Although he was a total jerk face, according to Carter, his reaction and mannerisms were understandable. Being 14 is hard as it is, add a dead parent and you've got a ticking bomb.
I really loved the book, though. Superb writing, good plot, nice character, what else can I ask for?
Definitely recommend.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

Adriana Locke NEVER disappoints. I couldn't put this neighbors to lovers romance down, it was just that good.
Gabby is a single mom to two boys. Her youngest, Carter, is so damn funny. The scenes between him and the sexy but grumpy neighbor, Jay, are absolutely hilarious.
Jay went through something in his past that has him attempting to fight his feelings for Gabby and her sons because the last thing he wants to do is get involved with a single mother again. Don't want to spoil anything so I'll leave it at that but I will say that he fails miserably lol and we get such a heartwarming ending. This story will stay with me BETWEEN NOW AND FOREVER...absolutely LOVED it.

Thank you to Adriana Locke, Montlake, and Netgalley for this ARC!

2.5 stars

This was… fine. When I glanced back at previous books I’d read by this author, they were all rated quite high, but something just didn’t jive with me with this one. It felt like there was a lot of internal dialogue in the characters heads, half-fleshed out side plots, some quirky jobs thrown in, and not a fully fleshed out relationship. But it still was quick to get through.

Between Now and Forever is a grumpy guy next door meets a single mom. I loved it! This was a romcom that warmed my heart and made me laugh out loud!

I love a good single parent romance and 𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗡 𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 was that and so much more.

First off, the hero’s name is Jay Stetson and quite frankly the name itself turned me on. I am also a sucker for a man who is good with his hands (he’s a carpenter) and for some strange reason, I love it when they are grumps - Mr. Jay Stetson is all of that and a snack, too. Suffice it to say, I loved him.

Then there was Gabrielle and her not so handy self. She was a keeper as well. I liked that she was a bit of a hot mess and that she had a sense of humour about it all. I saw a bit of myself in her and that doesn’t happen often.

These two fine characters deserved each other and watching them fall in lust and love made my romance loving heart happy. And I can’t forget to mention Dylan and Carter, those two kids won me over as well.

I'm giving 𝗕𝗘𝗧𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗡 𝗡𝗢𝗪 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 the judy.ann.loves.books stamp of approval, TBR and Enjoy!

Gabrielle and Jay in a small town, neighbors to lovers romance, written by A.Locke, published by Montlake.
The single mom of two sons - yay - sign me up, that's my kind of trope. And grumpy mcgrumperson neighbor who deals with his own issues. Both are already through a lot and have the scars to prove it.
A swoony romance that soon turns into more, my only question is what is tobacco-colored hair????? Come on.

Between Now and Forever is about a divorced window with two sons that are still griving the death of their father. Thefemale protagonist Gabrielle has just moved back to her hometown where she meets her neighbor jay. Jay is a carpenter with not much of a social life. A long the way, Jay starts to bond with Gabrielle's youngest son and starts to be friendly with Gabrielle. Between Now and Forever is quick read. I hope there is more of this series in the future.

A sweet romance between neighbors who become more.. Not sure I would go outside in nothing but a towel but it certainly got Jay’s attention. This would be a great book to read during your holidays.

The writing is deeply emotive, capturing the rawness of emotions and the intricacies of relationships with tender grace. Each page resonates with heartfelt moments that tug at your heartstrings. A compelling read that reminds us of the power of love to heal and transform.

Single mom, neighbors to lovers romance.

Gabrielle has just moved home with her two sons after her ex-husband passes away. She plans to fix up her home and her life.

The last thing Jay needs is to get involved with another single mother. The last time he was burned, but he just cannot seem to help himself.

This was such a great book. The dynamic between Gabrielle and her children felt so real. There was so much emotion between them. This book was very relatable, with real life issues and reactions by the characters.

Gabrielle was a great mom and even though Jay had his issues from a past relationship, he was such a great guy.

What starts off as a hilarious first encounter turns in to so much more when Jay and Gabby break down the walls surrounding their hearts and embark on a romance that is filled with swoon worthy moments. But like most things, not everything is smooth sailing and sparkles, especially when Gabby's oldest son is not embracing this new romance. Adriana Locke proves once again that she understands family dynamics and intertwines the best of storytelling with honest interactions and a boat load of emotions. This might be a HEA but it is also a brilliantly portrayed family drama. Bravo - this deserves more than 5 stars.

This is a small town, neighbors to lovers romance with a grumpy hero and a feisty, single mom heroine written in Adriana Locke’s signature style with “heart, heat and humor.” If you are an Adriana Locke fan like me, this one is a bit weightier than a lot of her books. It deals with some tough topics including divorce, loss, and grief so make sure to read with care. Not to worry though, this has plenty of humor from the hilarious meet cute involving a towel, a faulty porch railing and a snake to Gabrielle’s DIY adventures. I was invested in the plot from the beginning wondering why Gabrielle ended up back in her small hometown to what happened to make Jay such a closed off grump. In addition to an interesting and engaging plot, this had such complex characters. They were real and relatable and struggling to live life instead of just survive it. I also appreciated the main characters were a bit older in this one. Gabrielle was 38 with a mom bod and Jay was at least 40 so they had a bit of life experience under their belts. Gabrielle was such a great mom despite her own pain and suffering and Jay couldn’t help but play hero despite trying to keep everyone at arms length. The side characters were also great additions to the story. Little Carter stole the show in that regard. I also enjoyed the camaraderie of the girl squad including Cricket, Della and Scottie. I’d love to be friends with them and attend their monthly cocktail date. The small town setting of Bittersweet Court in Alden, Ohio was a great backdrop for the story. I could just picture the street with the quaint houses and the neighbors going about their days. This is a well written story and the pacing was good despite the fact that the relationship between Gabs and Jay progresses a bit faster than it should in real life. This is a quick read (but with a complete story) so the author has to move the relationship along quickly but that wasn’t a problem for me. There was a lot to work through in this story but it was done with love, care and grace. In the end, I enjoyed this emotional and heartfelt story and was pleased with the very satisfying HEA.