I've never read an Adriana Locke book that I didn't love, so I knew Between Now and Forever was going to be a fantastic read that I would love as well.

This was so much more than a fantastic book. It was a beautiful story about healing and starting over after loss, and finding love again. We still get the laughs and banter, and tension for days but underneath it all, Jay and Gabby were meant to find each other. They needed one another to heal from past hurt and move on with the right one.

Gabby's story hit me on a personal level that I was not expecting. The way she kept pushing and doing the best she could in a tough situation, as a single mom, was written so real and vulnerably. When she decides to move back home to her small town to raise her boys, the last thing she was expecting was a hot and cold neighbor that she can't seem to stay away from or stop thinking about.

Jay's fighting anger and heartbreak from a past situation, and despite their instant connection and the pull he feels towards Gabby, he takes one step forward and ten steps back with her. Doesn't help that one of her sons loves him and the other wishes he would just go away.

I adored Gabby for going after what she wanted and not accepting Jay's hot and cold attitude because when she finally got what she wanted they were insanely hot. The humor, family drama, quirky friends, and small town living made this a book I couldn't put down.

I'm hoping we get more from this small town - maybe Della and Lark (hint, hint) and I definitely need to see Scottie get an HEA.

𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 is a grumpy/sunshine, neighbor to lovers small town romance that pulled me in immediately with a hilarious meet-cute for Jay and Gabrielle! My sense of humor might of gotten me hooked, but it was my heart that kept me on the line. There were so many raw emotions flowing from 4 different characters reeling from different types of loss— the two main characters, and also Gabrielles’s two sons. I loved how authentic they all felt, but the kids were so well represented. Carter was just adorable, yet amazingly perceptive, as kids often are, and Dylan, while difficult, was clearly struggling with how to navigate his new family role. Gabrielle was a boss in my eyes… I don’t know how she kept going, mess or not, but I respect her for it. I enjoyed watching her connection with Jay evolve organically, with the obvious chemistry and sassy banter. I do wish it didn’t take so long to reveal Jay’s past issue that’s holding him back, but I was probably just being impatient.😉 Once his past is explained, it felt a tiny bit unsettled to me. I get why he left it alone, but I wish he would make an effort in a certain regard. You’ll know what I mean, when you read!!😅 Come back and let me know if you agree or disagree!! Overall, it was a wonderful story that brought out every emotion in me.

I also listened to the audio narrated by Rachel Vivette & Oliver Clarke, and their performance was excellent! Both of them nailed the comedic aspects, the emotional themes, and the romance with ease! I even enjoyed their portrayal of the kids, which I know can be hit or miss sometimes. I highly recommend the audio!!

I received an ALC/ARC for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️

I loved this story about a second chance at love. Jay & Gabby are incredible characters that have faced very heart breaking situations. The way they come together was beautiful and their love story is awe-inspiring.

All of Adriana Locke’s characters are very relatable and I can envision people in my life that they could be. Her writing style is refreshing and engaging

Narrated by Rachel Vivette and Oliver Clark.
Devoured this audio and loved it so much!
The narration was amazing, new to me narrators and they nailed Gabby and Jay, and all the side characters and children. Perfectly done.👏 I felt all the fears, worries, lust and the love.

*Neighbors to lovers ( the trope I didn't know I needed this year)
*Single mom of 2
*Starting over
*Small town
*Grumpy MMC
*Funny Meet Cute

Gabby moves back to her small hometown with 2 boys, Dylan and Carter, after their father passes away. She buys a fixer upper, living down the street from her cousin, and next door to the grumpy single carpenter.

I just love all these characters. I felt Dylans anger towards leaving his friends, his fathers death, and starting in a new town-and then seeing his mom trying to move on too. It's so hard on him.😔
Her youngest son takes to Jay, much to his dismay at first, but Jay is really so great with the boys and wants to help when he can- with the kids and their mom.

His past relationship/situation story broke my heart. What a terrible experience, no wonder he didn't date. I loved seeing the jealous side come out when another man shows interest in Gabby. So long those no dating rules.

Gabrielle is a single mother who just moved back to her hometown with her two sons after they went through a very tough year.

Gabrielle meets her grumpy next-door neighbor, Jay, in the best and funniest way, and I loved every minute of it!

Jay has gone through his own hardships in the past and tends to keep to himself. However, the new neighbor, Gabrielle, breaks down walls, one brick at a time, with the help of one of her sons.

I really enjoyed the DIY aspects of the story, which had me totally laughing at Gabrielle and the girls! I hope we get the other two women's stories!

There were a few moments that I thought were definitely unnecessary and too dramatic, but overall I enjoyed the book!

Gabrielle and her two sons move back to her hometown after the tragic death of her ex-husband. She buys a fixer-upper home that she plans on fixing with her questionable skills.

Jay, her grumpy new neighbor, immediately attracts her attention. And Gabs accidentally finds an unintended, embarrassing way to get Jay’s attention.

Her 7-year-old inquisitive son, Carter, has never met a stranger and begins asking Jay for help. 14-year-old Dylan is sullen and angry in his grief.

Jay is suffering from missing a little girl that his ex-girlfriend refuses to let him see.

Try as might to fight the attraction between them, Gabs needs Jay’s help, and Jay needs Gabs and her sons. Will Jay open his heart? Will Gabs?

Gabrielle and her two boys have moved back to her home town. Her boys have just lost their father, her ex-husband. Her oldest son is a little snarky and mouthy ( as most teenagers are) her younger son is warm, open and energetic. Gabrielle is eager to have a life with friends and a man, a man who can make her feel appreciated and supported. Jay her next door neighbor is definitely an eligible man but he is not interested. Jay has some personal issues that he is still working through so he is not open to being with Gabrielle. Gabrielle’s openness to being involved with Jay and her need to have so many repairs done on her house and Jay having a week free keep these two in constant contact. I enjoy a story of an older woman with children who is looking for love. These two were a great fit. Jay wasn’t a grump, he wasn’t a cinnamon roll, he was just this guy trying to figure out life. This romance was so sweet, I loved Jay’s interactions with her sons, he never talked down to them. Great story with some nice spice and I loved the side characters who I assume will have their own books.

Adriana is an author that never misses for me. I always binge the crap out of her books and they always hit. ⁣
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This was no exception. From the very first meeting between Jay and Gabrielle I was grinning ( literally the best meet cute). They had such good chemistry even when Jay was trying to keep her at arms length. I loved the relationship that grew between Jay and Gabrielle but also between Jay and Gabriella's sons. ⁣
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All of the side characters were great and I hope we get more from them because I'm definitely invested in their stories as well! The girl friend group was so fun and supportive with each other and it was so sweet to see. ⁣
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Basically, I enjoyed every second of this

I am a big fan of Adriana Locke's works and this is no exception. Excellent writing style, good romance and humor and a fun plot with a little angst thrown in. This is a standalone single mom romance with a broody neighbor.

Gabrielle decided to take her two boys and move back to the town where she grew up after her ex-husband passes away. She is a little bit of a hot mess but is a great mom and is just trying to get her mojo back with everything that has happened. When she meets her aloof (and a bit grumpy) neighbor, she is instantly attracted even though she isn't looking for anything serious. Jay wants nothing to do with the hot mom or her sons but he can't seem to stay uninvolved. Gabrielle continues to put herself in situations where he feels like he needs to step in and help and her youngest child doesn't know the meaning of "take a hint". But Jay has been hurt before and is scared to open himself up to Gabrielle and her kids. But slowly he finds he can't stay away.

The initial meeting between Gabrielle and Jay is priceless! The book starts off pretty quick with some humor which I love. Gabrielle is just amazing and hilarious.

These two were so sweet! I loved how they began as friends and then developed their relationship into more later. I could totally feel the on page chemistry between the two when they were together!

I really enjoyed the banter between all the characters! Her group of girlfriends seemed like so much fun!

Gabby and Jay's backstories were definitely on the emotional side and I loved when the finally opened up to each other!

ARC REVIEW

I was very much looking forward to this ARC but it unfortunately felt a bit short for me.

I just could not relate to either MC and felt they both made silly choices.

There were cute moments of this book though:)

Listen, I wanted to like this book a lot. The synopsis hooked me. Did you read the part where Gabby topples over her porch railing while her neighbor, Jay, watches?

I just couldn’t get into the characters and the story. I found the push and pull between Jay and Gabby annoying. Jay constantly shutting Gabby out (or the door in her face) when he leads her on did not sit well with me.

I did finish the book but and am very grateful to be considered for the ARC.

Between Now and Forever by Adriana Locke is a heartwarming and engaging romance that beautifully captures the complexities of love, loss, and second chances. The story introduces us to Gabrielle Solomon, a resilient single mother of two, who returns to her small hometown after the unexpected death of her ex-husband. There, she finds herself living next door to Jay Stetson, a grumpy yet irresistible carpenter with his own emotional scars. Their journey from neighbors to lovers is filled with humor, warmth, and genuine moments of connection.

Locke's writing shines as she balances emotional depth with lightheartedness. The alternating perspectives between Gabrielle and Jay provide insight into their struggles and vulnerabilities, making their romance feel authentic and relatable. Gabrielle's character is particularly well-crafted; her determination to create a stable life for her children while navigating her own grief is both inspiring and touching. Jay, initially guarded and reluctant to let anyone in, slowly reveals his softer side as he bonds with Gabrielle and her sons, especially the youngest, Carter.

The chemistry between Gabrielle and Jay is palpable, marked by witty banter and tender moments that keep readers invested in their relationship. The slow-burn romance is expertly paced, allowing for genuine emotional growth as they confront their pasts together. The supporting characters, including Gabrielle's children and her friend group, add richness to the narrative and highlight themes of family and community.

However, while I thoroughly enjoyed the book, there were moments where the conflict felt a bit contrived or predictable. Some plot points could have benefited from deeper exploration to enhance the emotional stakes further. Additionally, the resolution felt slightly rushed toward the end, leaving me wanting a bit more closure on certain character arcs.

Overall, Between Now and Forever is an enjoyable read that combines humor, heart, and healing in a beautifully crafted story. With its relatable characters and charming small-town setting, I would rate it 4 out of 5 stars. This book is perfect for fans of contemporary romance who appreciate stories centered around family dynamics and personal growth. Adriana Locke has once again delivered a heartfelt tale that resonates long after the last page is turned!

This is my first Locke book and there were things that I enjoyed and things that I was only OK with. I was interested in Jay’s path as he worked his way through his problems. I felt for him, for the heartache he’d gone through, and his hesitation to get involved again. But the pull to Gabrielle and her sons was just too strong.

I did feel like there could have been some more time spent addressing the issues with Gabrielle’s oldest, regarding his dad as well as a new relationship for his mom. There’s a lot of mental health that could have been explored that I felt was only partially done.

Speaking of the kids, Dylan is pretty much the teen you would expect in his situation, a little sullen and walking that line between kid & adult. Carter is just downright adorable – cute, spunky, and fun. His interactions with Jay were some of my favorites. Gabrielle is a great mom, caring and thoughtful. She does a lot to help them as well as her friends & Jay.

As a first read for this author, I’m satisfied. The characters are interesting, their issues feel realistic, and the pacing is even. It’s a slow burn, angsty, and humorous with a satisfying HEA.

Gabrielle knows how to make an entrance.

Somehow, she finds herself almost immediately in an entanglement after moving back to her small hometown. Meanwhile, her mysterious neighbor, Jay, has such complicated baggage involving a daughter he lost that becomes even more difficult when he spends time with Gabrielle’s sons.

Between Now and Forever by Adriana Locke is story about learning how to keep going after grief.

I really loved how different Gabrielle’s friends were and how they constantly uplifted each other, no matter the situation. I also really appreciated that we got to see a realistic depiction of what it would be like to navigate different types of losses—especially when it involves children.

However, I found the love story kind of challenging to cheer for as it didn’t feel like there was as much build up of tension as I would’ve liked. Yes, it can be comforting to fall into familiar tropes and plotlines but, for me, there has to be more conflict for me to really get invested. I feel like there was so much potential for Jay to be fleshed out a little bit more—it was like we got snippets into some depth during his POV, but it never went beyond a few lines.

At the end of it all, I did think it was endearing. Plus, between the single mom aspect of it and the possibility of stories to come out of this universe—centered around with the more varied characters—I could see myself still following this series.

I got tears…..How can I not love this book. From the first sentence I was choking on my water , that line was funny. The characters in this small town book were just perfect. Some of the scenes were so hilarious like when Gabrielle fell from the railing into a bush because she was ogling her neighbor . This love story was written to perfection I loved Gabrielle and jay. They bother had tragedy strike for them and it shaped them into who they were in the book. Dylan bless his heart in the book is like all teens who have suffered tragedy. These guys were all made for each other . This was a book I couldn’t put down until I read the last page.

I read this book in about a day! A very quick romance read which is just what I needed! I loved Gabrielle and Jay’s chemistry and funny moments. I also liked the banter between the other characters/friends. I wish there could have been more put into their relationship and also between Jay and her sons. Overall though it was very enjoyable and I really liked the writing! I’d recommend to any romance readers!

-Single mom
-Grumpy x sunshine
-Spice
-Funny town/neighbors
-Small town
-(Off page parental death)

Adriana Locke delivers a heartwarming and steamy neighbors-to-lovers romance in Between Now and Forever. This story masterfully blends themes of love, healing, and family, all set against the charming backdrop of small-town life.

Gabrielle, a single mom of two boys, returns to her hometown after a difficult divorce and the sudden passing of her ex-husband. Determined to give her sons a wholesome upbringing and help her eldest steer clear of the troubles he faced in the city, Gabrielle’s move is as much about seeking stability as it is about starting over.

Enter Jay, the grumpy yet irresistibly handsome carpenter next door. A confirmed bachelor, Jay has built walls around his heart, but Gabrielle and her boys introduce a dynamic he can’t resist. Their connection ignites instantly, even as Jay tries to fight it. What follows is a journey filled with sizzling chemistry, heartfelt moments, and an undeniable pull between two people ready to rebuild their lives.

Locke’s talent for creating relatable and endearing characters shines throughout the book. Gabrielle is a strong, loving mother fiercely protective of her children, while Jay’s guarded demeanor hides a soft heart that’s just waiting to be unlocked. Together, they navigate the complexities of blending their worlds, overcoming past hurts, and opening up to the possibility of a future filled with love.

More than just a romance, Between Now and Forever is a story of second chances, family, and the courage it takes to rebuild after life’s challenges. Locke skillfully balances tender, emotional moments with just the right amount of heat, making this a thoroughly satisfying read for fans of both sweet and steamy love stories.

If you enjoy small-town settings, heartfelt family dynamics, and the neighbors-to-lovers trope, Between Now and Forever is an absolute must-read.

First I want to thank the author for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Neighbors to lovers can be a risky proposition in this funny, sexy, and swoony romantic comedy between a single mother and the grumpy man next door.

What I loved:
- Back porch shenanigans
- Baseball
- Girlfriends in the neighborhood
- Boys
- Neighbor to lover
- Ms. Thinks She Can Fix it

There are so many great nuggets throughout this book and as a person who normally is not drawn to single parent romances, I am so happy I read this book. If you are looking for a neighbors to lovers romance with a single mom, her two sons and the man who can't stay away then I would absolutely recommend picking up this book!

Gabrielle’s decided to come home with her two young boys, trying to recovery after the death of her ex-husband. Too bad her DIY house needs a bit more skills than she has in her repertoire. Good thing her new next door neighbor has major carpentry skills. Jay is a loner and proud of it, never letting anyone, even his “friends” get too close. But this single mom and her boys seem to break down the ice encasing Jay’s heart. I received an advanced reader copy of this book from Valentin pr, NetGalley and the author for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.
So this “meet cute” moment that starts off the story will have you alternating between insane laughter and cringing in embarrassment as it’s a definite worst nightmare of a first introduction. That alternating pattern of sweetness vs serious seems to follow through the whole way through this story.
I loved the fact that both lead characters are older, having lived a bit, experiencing different struggles along the way, and ultimately becoming better people for them. The fact that Gabrielle and her boys had varying degrees of coping from the death of her ex (their dad) was a nice touch as most single mom stories show the previous male in the kids lives as someone horrible, and Jay’s past was also special, showing that not all wrong males have to be Rambo at all times. I only wished that there were more group interactions between Gabrielle, Jay and the kids (although the scenes that are there are good, in their realistic style) as their relationship overall did seem a bit rushed at times. I also love that the grumpy vs sunshine angle provides lots of moments of humor that intermingle with steam (3.5/5 in heat). However, I think that little Carter steals the show in this book, definitely making for some interesting moments for all (the baseball scene left me in hysterics).
This is a nice quick read, 4 stars, with a contemporary, small town vibe mixed with realistic scenarios for this day and age.