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!

Absolutely loved!! The grumpy hot neighbor (Jay) & the overwhelmed quirky mom (Gabrielle) completely won my heart over from the very beginning. Lots of laughs, not only with them, but definitely with her youngest son Carter (that kid cracks me up!). Quite a few tears, and lots & lots of heart ❤️ A story about second chances in life, and family. Just loved it!!

I absolutely adored this story. The main characters are older and a bit more settled. Gabrielle and her 2 boys have just moved home and Jay is her sexy neighbor. Their first encounter is hilarious and leaves a lasting impression. Jay is hesitant at first because of a past relationship with a single mom that ended badly. Slow burn with great banter a wonderful small town feel. The interactions and acting out of the boys was very realistic and handled excellent. Fast paced and quick read.

I'm a big fan of Adriana Locke's writing. Not once have I been disappointed, and Between Now and Forever is no different.

It's the story of Gabrielle, a single mom to two sons dealing with the death of their father - her ex-husband/best friend. She has moved them back to her hometown. She wants to live again and show her boys it's ok to move on.

Enter the grumpy neighbor next door, Jay. The eye candy she didn't know she needed, and oh boy, does she make an impression!! Hilarious!! Jay's been hurt in the past and has spent the last three years keeping people at arms length.

It's a quick read, but it is packed with what Adriana writes so well - laughter, steam, and emotion.

Another beautiful and heart tugging story from Adriana Locke.

Between Now and Forever puts together a grumpy-sunshine small town neighbors situation where single mom Gabrielle returns to her hometown after the death of her ex-husband to raise her two boys. She's ready to move on from her grief but what she found was Jay Stetson- her neighbor that got quite the eyeful in their first meeting and somehow find himself pulled into her chaotic orbit.

This story is filled with Adriana's signature charm and humor while also hitting on some tough emotions of raising children, feeling like your failing at every turn and navigating how to trust again after having your world shattered around you. I absolutely fell for Gabby and Jay's annoyance to love story. The tug between these two sparked and the singe lingered to where I was completely enamored with their back and forth jabs and then the ease of how well these two could meld their lives together. Then there was the way that Gabby's boys Dylan and Carter both kind of fell into such opposing reactions to their grief and new life. Dylan being the older teenager acted out and I could totally sympathize with Gabby on just not knowing what to do, how to reach him while wondering where her sweet boy went while Carter was the polar opposite in the way that he was bubbly, outgoing and just wanted that male attention from Jay despite Jay's best attempts to keep his distance.

I think that there is a perfect balance between the heavier topics and the lighthearted moments. Add in the intense attraction and spicy moments and it's just this *chefs kiss* beautiful and enthralling story that I almost didn't want to end. I'm not ashamed to admit that there may have been a tear or two at the touching and sweet moments toward the end that just bring everything all together.

Adriana Locke never fails! I love her writing so much, and this story was the epitome of all things I love from her! The chemistry, the love, the laugh out loud moments, the heartache, the sarcastic banter, accidental chivalry lol, it's all there. Watching Gabrielle and Jay dance around each other until finally giving in is the story I didn't know I needed this holiday season. Five stars! See y'all on another page!

This book will pull at your heart strings. Gabrielle and her two sons, Dylan and Carter move back to her hometown to start over after the boys father, Christopher dies in a car crash. Even though they were divorced, Gabrielle and Christopher were still best friends. Navigating grief of 14 and 7 year old isn’t easy for Gabrielle especially when she knows they need to move forward but has no idea how. Jay is her next door grumpy neighbor who has his own grief he’s dealing with. A series of funny, embarrassing events bring Jay and Gabrielle together but finding their way through all of their past traumas, getting acceptance from the boys, and forgiving each other for reactions and actions filed by past hurt and fear isn’t easy. You will laugh a lot but you will also probable shed a tear or 100 lol for not just Gabrielle and Jay but for the boys too.

Loved this book! It was a refreshing small town romance with adult main characters.

Carter was an added bonus!

Eeeeeekkk. So i loved this standalone! The characters were so loveable. I loved Jay and his times with Carter and his child like curiosity but also how he was with Dylan and all his teenager emotions. I also loved Gabrielle and her love for her boys and Jay and his past. This book was really good! Not gonna lie. I could go for a Lark and Della book. Totally enjoyed this book!

This is a great read and I was hooked from the start. Gabrielle is a single mom back in her small hometown with her boys, starting over. Jay is that hot neighbor just wanting to keep to himself. I really enjoyed their connection, the interactions between Jay and the boys, and the pull he has to her. The story gives us lightness along with some deeper topics, dealing with grief, and more. There's sweet, spice, laughs, and heart squeezing moments. I felt connected to the characters, the flow worked, and add in some fun friends for a must read book!

This book was sooo swoon worthy and i love a good neighbors trope and add in single parent?! Yes pls. Like the meet cute alone was hilarious.. accidentally flashing the hot neighbor while trying to catch a peek lol I really enjoyed this book?

I adored this book and couldn't put it down. This is the first book I've read by this author, and I can't wait to read more by her.

I loved the writing and storytelling. I found the characters relatable, especially Gabrielle. I don't know if it's because I'm close to her age, have kids around the same age, or share her clumsy tendencies, but I felt a strong connection to her. I admired the resilience and strength she exhibited throughout the story.

Jay has his walls up around everyone he meets, but he feels something different with Gabrielle. Despite both of them being hesitant about starting a relationship for various reasons, their instant connection was captivating. I loved watching their story unfold.

The character development was amazing, and I appreciated how they supported each other and grew as a family unit. I'm very excited to read more books by this author!

4.5 stars with such a sweet 5 ⭐️ ending!

These two have scars from past relationships that need to heal before they can truly be together. Jay is the grumpy, hot neighbor next door who "saves" Gabrielle from a delicate situation involving a towel, a broken railing and a bush. He is intrigued by her, but is not willing to get involved.

...except that he can't help himself. Nor does her youngest son let him stay alone. Jay's and Carter's interactions were my favorite parts of this book. "You were my first other pick." LOL

Dylan...not so much. That is one angsty teenage boy!

But Jay has been burned by a single mom before and Gabrielle is still reeling from the death of her ex - you know - the one who gave up on "us".

This one is bound to bring some tears and your heart will hurt for these two as they just can't quite make things work...or will they?

"We need to stop this. Because I won't fight for a man that won't bother to fight for me." Go girl!!

This was a heartfelt and heartwarming story.

I voluntarily requested and read an uncorrected advance reader copy via the publisher through Net Galley..

Between Now and Forever features relatable characters that draw the reader in with the deep feelings and angst that Adriana Locke is known for. Honestly, her signature style resonates with me and I always become invested in the outcome for her characters. Gabrielle is a single Mom to 2 boys who are still grieving the loss of their Dad in a car accident. She moves in next door to Jay who is afraid to get involved with her due to his history. This is a stand alone novel set in a small town where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Gabrielle’s cousin Cricket introduces her to her group of friends and those ladies should be role models for the advice they give. I shed tears of grief and joy as Dylan and Carter interacted with their Mom and Jay as their relationships evolved.

Gabrielle and Jays story is relatable and wonderful a great quick read that I couldn’t put down. Gabby is a mom and Jay is a surly hero. Adrianna Locke does not disappoint and I cannot wait for the any of her coming books as they always give you a good HEA.

This was such a great emotional, single mom romance. I loved these characters so much. They both must navigate a relationship while dealing with the aftermath of past despair. This story is so well written that I felt like part of the story. I felt the pain these characters went through. I wanted them to all be one big happy family. This was a very realistic view of a single mother and her struggle to find happiness. I highly recommend this book!! I loved it.

Between Now and Forever is a very humorous story written by Adriana Locke.

Gabbie and Jay have their own issues which they have to work through before they can fully be together. Jay has some trust issues with something that happened in his past and is afraid of history repeating itself if he gets involved with Gabbie. I really felt for him with what he goes through. He is just trying to protect himself and his heart from anymore pain.

Gabbie is a single parent and goes through a lot with her children. Her oldest son definitely needed to be taken down a peg or two. He bothered me at times but he is a teenager so I guess it makes sense.

This was a great read and I really enjoyed watching all of the relationships develop throughout the book.

I had the joy of discovering Adriana this year — and have read several of her books at this point and always come away feeling like I’ve read a well-crafted story, no matter the subject or tropes — and Between Now and Forever, the really sweet and emotional story of Gabrielle and Jay, was no exception.

🫶🏼small town romance
🫶🏼 neighbors to lovers
🫶🏼 a bit of grumpy/sunshine
🫶🏼 single mom of two boys (7 and 14)
🫶🏼 well-developed secondary characters
🫶🏼 complete stand-alone

This one was a bit of a slow-burn — and honestly, really realistic in that regard. She’s a single mom whose priority is protecting her boys and making a new life for them in her hometown after their dad (her ex and best friend) passes in an accident. He’s a man with emotional scars from a past relationship who’s trying to protect himself in the only way he knows how — but cutting himself off from the possibility of love.

But then, they meet. 🥹 The story is filled angst but lots of witty banter and playfulness, as we learn about these two and their growing attraction. There’s vulnerability and self-preservation. There’s also palpable attraction from moment one. There’s joy in their burgeoning friendship. And when they finally give in to their desires — well, there’s some heat, good Lord.

I really loved how the boys were written — with Carter (7) being the one open to Jay and excited to get to know him while Dylan (14) was moody, mean and difficult — all stemming from fear and sadness after losing his dad. Felt so based in truth and was at times hilarious (Carter) and heartbreaking (Dylan).

In all, this is another wildly consumable story from Adriana and I look forward to more in this world from her! 🫶🏼

Thanks to she, NetGalley and her publisher Montlake for the chance to read this in advance!

Gabrielle and Jay, this beautiful couple stole my heart and quite a few of my tears.
Moving back to the town she grew up in, Gabby and her two boys are starting over and next door is her sexy grumpy/Sunshine neighbor, Jay.
After a mishap brings the two together to meet the match is lit and the fire is fixing to burn.

My heart fell for Jay and Gabby and the trials they've had to overcome and watching them fall in love is amazing and beautiful!!!!

You have to read!!!

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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 heatt 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!