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.

I enjoyed the realism Jay and Gabrielle brought to this HEA. It felt incredibly authentic and even having less smexy scenes the story was quite enjoyable. It's fast paced, almost feels like a novella read. Other supporting stories added to the storyline without taking away. Quite a bit of internal repetitive dialogue but it was how we recall dialogue in real life. Replaying conversations to make sense of it all. It was a good book!

Jay Stetson is the bachelor everyone wants. When his new neighbor, Gabrielle and her boys Dylan and Carter move next door, everything changes. Between now and forever is how long I will love this book!!
Fantastic book!!

I just loved this one ! Heartbroken Gabrielle has to do what’s best for her boys, after the loss of their father she moves back to her home town. She meets her new neighbor, who is quite the grump . But what starts as co existing turns in to something more .

Can Jay drop his walls and welcome Gabrielle and her boys in to her life ?


Love love loved this book. Then again I’m not surprised it is in fact an Adriana Locke book.

Stop right now and get this book !

This is my first Adriana Locke novel which had me hooked when Gabrielle landed naked in the flower bed. Love is messy, complicated, and sometimes downright scary, but when you find that person who makes you feel seen and cherished, it’s all worth it in the end.

Meet Gabrielle and Jay. Let me tell you, they’ll totally steal your heart. Their chemistry? Sizzling hot! But it’s not just a fast-paced romance. The slow burn between them is where all the magic happens. The tension simmers beautifully until it’s finally ready to explode, and when it does, oh boy, it’s pure heaven!

Gabrielle truly amazed me throughout the story. Her sweetness, sass, and courage make her a character you can’t help but root for. And let’s not forget about Jay, the swoon-worthy book boyfriend! He’s everything you want in an alpha male, but with that perfect side of vulnerability that makes him all the more irresistible. Yummy!

What’s beautiful about Gabrielle and Jay is that they didn’t rush to passion; they built an unlikely friendship first. They both needed healing. Gabrielle found strength in helping Jay confront his struggles, while Jay’s journey back to her helped break down the barriers that Gabrielle had built around her heart.

In addition, Gabrielle’s boys are such a big part of the story; from their happy and angsty interactions with their mom to their sweet and unpredictable introduction to Jay.

If you’re on the hunt for a book filled with spice, humor, and everything in between, look no further. Trust me, my heart was not prepared for the rollercoaster of emotions this story brought!

Thank you to Ms. Locke for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

I don’t usually go for single mom romances, but Adriana hasn’t let me down yet, so I had to go for it. She definitely didn’t disappoint. I loved Gabrielle and Jay.

Jay is determined to not have any kind of relationship with his new neighbors. He’s been burned by a single mom before, and he’s terrified of putting himself in that situation before. But Gabrielle’s youngest doesn’t give a darn about boundaries and burrows into Jay’s heart real quick. Gabrielle’s oldest, on the other hand, is just as big of an obstacle as his own mind.

Gabrielle’s cousin easily enfolded her into their girl group. Having instant friends really helped Gabrielle adjust to living in a new place. I love when groups of friends make such a big impact on a story.

I can’t wait to see who the next story will be about.

Thank you Valentine PR and NetGalley for my ARC of this book.

I absolutely loved and enjoyed this book. The whole story was not only heartwarming but rocked my emotional rollercoaster. Jay and Gabrielle’s story was relatable and believable and made me think of friends who have gone through this. I loved the characters and the humor. Overall, I’d highly recommend this fun and entertaining read especially to those who have never read Adriana’s books.

This story had all of the things! Hot neighbor, struggling single mom, teenager angst, funny moments and banter. I loved Jay from the very beginning, grumpiness and all. There was just something about him. And Gabby was so fierce. I love how she was doing everything for her boys even if they didn’t recognize it at first. Their relationship and the push and pull was realistic and I loved watching them become lovers. Highly recommend!

This is such a great story that revolves around second chances. Jay is determined to live his life lonely and quiet. When his new neighbor moves next door and destroys his predictable quiet life he doesn’t know what to do or how to feel. Gabby is ready to settle back in her small home town and try to get her life back on track. Loosing her ex husband left her and her two boys broken and mad. She has been trying to get everything back the way it was but with two sons, one who is a teenager, that is near impossible. When she meets her sexy neighbor she knows that her life is about to change. Will things work out between them and her boys or will it all go up in flames when he feels like his past is repeating itself? I was given an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A single mom, small town romance that has easily become one of my favorites 🧡😍

⭐ Rating Criteria ⭐

🧡 Plot:

I really liked the plot of this book. I think the author did a good job coming up with that one embarrassing scene, and hooking the readers with it by including it in the blurb. I would say that was a successful attempt because I signed up for this ARC when I read that part.

I've come to enjoy single parent romances, and I've read my fair share of the trope, so I can confidently say that it was executed really well in this book.

I also liked the ending in general; I think it wrapped everything up perfectly. However, I was taken aback with the author choosing to move their relationship into that direction given the fact that they'd only been together for a while. But, I guess it was okay.

🧡 Characters:

I loved the personal development of both Gabrielle and Jay - they finally chose to move past the things that were holding them back from living their life more freely and falling in love. I also loved their romantic development, and how it wasn't rushed just because of physical attraction. I understood the apprehensions and doubts that they had which kept them from being involved with each other, and seeing them get through those was so relieving because, with the things they've been through, they deserve to be happy and in love. Seeing Jay with Gab's sons was so heartwarming - how he kept entertaining Carter and how he talked to Dylan was just everything.

I also loved how the characters were written realistically, and I mean all of them - Gab and Jay, Gab's kids, and her friend group. I enjoyed the found family in this very much because of that.

Speaking of realism, I think Dylan, especially, was a hard character, but the author was able to capture his entirety so well. She was able to create a realistic teenage boy, and we saw him grieving his dad and "acting out" because he didn't know how to process emotions. I think his parts in this book were the hardest to read because I understood why he was how he was, but also, I wanted to help him and his family understand him too. I'm just glad that Jay was able to get through to Dylan, and share his insights with him. That definitely became the turning point in the story, and the author did a great job writing that.

🧡 Writing Style:

I've praised the author's writing so many times now, but I really did love how she wrote this story. The storyline was structured and paced nicely, so it was a very easy read. I also appreciate the realism woven into this book with the characters and the situations they were in, and those were executed excellently.

🧡 Overall:

There were so many things I loved about this book, and I don't think I've captured everything with my review above. I won't say anything more because I definitely think you should read this story instead of reading my lengthy review.

I can't wait to check out more of this author's books in the future. But for now, thank you so much to Valentine PR and the author for allowing me to share my honest reviews on this wonderfully written ARC read ❤️

4.5 Stars
This was such a good read. I love that it's a single mom romance. Her son Carter is quite the character. I love the odd friendship he creates with Jay. Jay may want to stay away from his new neighbor and her sons, but fate keeps throwing these two in each other's paths. Jay's life needs a little shake up that Gabby and her sons provide. Gabby and her sons are making a fresh start after a terrible loss. You can see and feel the impact of that loss has on them. My heart breaks for them, but their move to Gabby's hometown is going to prove to be the best move for those three. There is a ton of emotion and feels in this one. I just loved the sense of humor as well. This book had me chuckling through out the whole book. Little Carter leads to some of the funny moments. Got to love that kid. I loved watching all the characters grow and heal from past hurts to something so beautiful. A read I recommend!

Gabby is a single mom to two boys who moves back to her hometown to start over after the death of her ex, the father of her boys. Jay is the grumpy guy next door that decides the new neighbors are going to be a bother. Gabby makes quite the first impression on Jay; he can't get her out of his head. There' quite a bit of home improvement to be done at her new home and she's sure she's a Jill of all trades, which she isn't. Good thing Jay is a carpenter and has time to help. Gabby is ready to start living again and Jay keeps everyone at arm's length. There's something about Gabby and he just can't stop thinking about her. He finally gives in, and they get together but there's so much in his past that he needs to work through which is hard when Gabby is a reminder of the past. When the new start gets bumpy does he care enough to stick around and work through it? Love everything I've ever read by Ms. Locke and devour each new release and have to wait anxiously for the next one! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving my review.

This was a super sweet read that was simply delightful.
Gabrielle is a single mum to two boys and moves back to her hometown where Jay happens to be her new neighbour.
Both have their own dramas they're facing and Jay tries everything in his power to stay away no matter how much he's drawn to Gabby.
The storyline didn't have any major drama or angst which was a welcome change.
There was plenty of banter, chemistry, laughs and emotion in this wonderful feel good romance.
I can't wait to see what's next.

It was a laugh-out-loud start to this book...Don't miss out on a great book!
This book is laugh-out-loud funny from the first chapter. Gabrielle Solomon is a single mother and lives next door to handsome Jay Stetson. They meet when Adrian falls in the bushes only wearing a towel AND Jay happens to be watching. The story is a mix of playful teasing and romance. It's a perfect romantic comedy. I loved the characters in the story, it's a feel-good book with plenty of laughs and love. It's absolutely worth sitting down with a cup of tea and reading. I can't wait to read more by Adriana Locke

This is a heartwarming read. Gabrielle has moved back to town with her two sons after her husband passed away. Jay is her single next door neighbor that keeps to himself. He isn’t looking for a relationship and he doesn’t want one. But there is something about his new neighbor and her kids that he is drawn to. I loved both Gabrielle and Jay. And everything that came out of Carters mouth was so funny. This was an enjoyable read. I hope that there will be another book with one of the side characters!