Between Now and Forever

By: Adriana Locke

Narrated by: Rachel Vivette, Oliver Clarke

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 by USA Today bestselling author Adriana Locke.

When Gabrielle Solomon falls, she falls hard. Even if that means literally toppling over a porch railing in nothing but a flimsy towel—right in front of her sexy new neighbor.

Jay Stetson is 100 percent hero material with those arms, that chest, and his deliciously oh-so-sexy smirk. The chiseled hunk in flannel has an irresistible off-limits attitude while plucking Gabrielle out of the bushes and saving her from a snake. Unfortunately, he’s not indulging in what Gabrielle is offering—not with his emotional train wreck of a past.

Just neighbors. Just friends. Or so he says.

Secretly, he’s smitten with the single, fierce mama bear of two who plays Miss Fix-It at the house next door. He doesn’t even really mind the noise or the chaos her young sons cause. What he does mind is how his lonely heart races when looking into her emerald-colored eyes.

Can Jay let his painful memories go, or will he let the woman of his dreams slip between his fingers?

©2024 by Adriana Locke. (P)2024 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“The perfect combination of sweet and heartfelt with a touch of spicy sass, while packing in the giggles along the way…”—Harlequin Junkie

beautiful

this was such a beautiful story. I have to admit when I started I wasn't sure I should be listening just because I wasn't in the right mood at the time so I stopped and came back and wow it just hit me what a story this was heartbreaking ly beautiful. if you're going for a motion you'll get some here as I said it will break your heart Bring tears to your eyes and a smile to your face and even a chuckle. both narrators too a good job at first I was unsure cuz I hadn't listened to the mail narrator at all this was his first time for me and he he did okay the female narrator I remember her from a different story and I kept thinking of that other story when I was listening to her she's definitely a storyteller

Stellar Audio Performances

Adriana Locke’s Between Now and Forever is a heartwarming small-town romance that brings together love, healing, and second chances. Gabrielle, a resilient single mom, is determined to rebuild her life while raising her two sons. Enter Jay, her gruff yet captivating neighbor with a guarded heart. Their journey from wary neighbors to passionate partners is filled with tender moments, witty banter, and plenty of swoon-worthy tension.

Narrators Rachel Vivette and Oliver Clarke truly enhanced the experience with their dynamic performances. They expertly captured the humor, raw emotion, and blossoming romance of Gabrielle and Jay's story. Even their portrayal of the kids was well done.

While I wished for a bit more buildup between the main characters, the emotional depth and heartfelt resolution make this a satisfying listen. If you love grumpy-sunshine pairings, single-mom romances, and a strong sense of community, give this one a listen!

Overall Rating: 4⭐
Performance: 4⭐
Story: 4⭐
Spice: 1.5🌶️

I enjoyed this audiobook so much!

I thought how Jay and Gabby meet was hilarious! I loved all of their interactions with one another. I loved how Gabby had found friends, old and new, within the women along her new road and the banter between them, but also the support they have for one another. There are so many heartfelt moments between Gabby’s oldest son, who is struggling after the death of his dad. I enjoyed how Gabby and her sons warmed their way into Jay’s heart. I do think that the female voice narrator’s voice wasn’t distinguishing enough, and it was hard to know which female character was who, that being said, I still think she did an amazing job, along with the male narrator. I enjoyed the plot, characters and the bits of spice!

Not the best

I have enjoyed the author's other offerings, but this one is a downer. The narrators could've been better.

All the feels

Everything I love about a small-town, grumpy-sunshine, single mom romance. If you’re looking for a book that will make you feel all the feels, this one delivers.

Gabrielle moves back to her hometown after losing her husband. Her fiercely independent streak leads to some memorable moments—like falling off her porch in nothing but a towel, in front her her new neighbor. Jay has had his heart broken before, and the last thing he wants is to get involved. But he can’t resist stepping in to help Gabrielle and her two sons when they need him. A nosy town and close friends who can’t stop noticing their chemistry doesn't help.

I listened to the audiobook and couldn’t stop! The narrators did a fantastic job bringing the story to life and I felt like I was listening to the characters.

Small Town, Neighbors to Lovers, Grumpy Sunshine Romance!

4.5 ⭐️
2 🔥
Small Town Romance
Neighbors to Lovers
Single Mom
Grumpy/Sunshine
Banter
Great on Audio! 🎧
Adriana always manages to fit some of the best love stories into short novels! They are short, sweet, spicy && this one definitely pulls on the heart strings. Gabrielle is moving back to the small town of her childhood, after the death of her ex husband & her sons’ father. This is when she falls hard, like toppling over a flimsy porch railing hard, for her new sexy neighbor. Jay is a scorned, grump of a man. He is closed off due & doesn’t do relationships, especially with single moms. But Gabrielle & even her sons somehow keep showing up & surprising him. They all have things to work through; they are all scared of loosing another person. Can they all face their fears to love again?

Thank you Adriana Locke for the ARC!

Best Neighbor Ever!

This is author is great at creating characters that have depth and pull on your heartstrings. Gabrielle is a unique single mother who moves back to her hometown for a fresh start. She however didn’t know she was going to have as many house projects or that her neighbor was Mr. Fix It in a hero body! The banter and chemistry between these two neighbors will have you shaking your head and laughing out loud. But getting involved with your neighbor can be a tricky situation and one who is a single mother might prove to be harder on the heart. Jay is the grumpy hot guy that nobody can break down his walls until his neighbor tumbles into town. I don’t want to give away any of the plot/story but Jay with Gabrielle’s youngest son will melt you. I know this author builds the best communities/families in her stories and I never hesitate to see where she’s going to take me next.

Yes please!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook! The story was captivating and kept me entertained from start to finish. It was unique, yet easy to follow, making it a pleasure to listen to. The narrators did an excellent job, bringing the story to life in a way that enhanced the experience. Highly recommend – it’s definitely a must-listen! 💜💙

Beautiful and Emotional Romance

Oh my goodness! I devoured this book! Adriana Locke truly never misses. I have not read a book by her that I didn't get completely lost in. Between Now and Forever was no different. This book follows Jay and Gabrielle, who find love amidst personal loss and past heartbreaks. After her ex-husband passes away, Gabrielle returns to her hometown and becomes neighbors with Jay. Their funny meet-cute (she literally falls into his life) sparks a slow-burning romance. Initially, Jay is super grumpy and tries to stay away from Gabrielle. Gradually, he warms up to her and her sons, especially as he bonds with Carter, the youngest of the two.

I loved Jay and Gabrielle together. Their journey was complicated and had ups and downs; however, they were undeniably attracted to each other. Jay showed Gabrielle that although she could do things on her own, it was ok to lean on him for help. I was invested in the development of Jay's relationship with Gabrielle's sons. Carter was innocent and sweet and added a bit of humor to the story, while Dylan, the teenager, struggled to work out his feelings after losing their dad. Between Now and Forever explores parenting challenges, healing from past wounds, and embracing second chances. This well-written story is beautiful, emotional, and heartwarming.

Narration:
Rachel Vivette and Oliver Clarke, both new to me as narrators, delivered captivating performances in the audiobook. They really brought Gabrielle and Jay to life. Oliver portrayed Jay's pain and desire for solitude, while Rachel expressed Gabrielle's resilience, bright spirit, warmth, and journey to find love again. Their performances pulled me into the story and made me care deeply about the characters. Rachel and Oliver's emotional narration enhanced my listening experience.

Funny, emotional, sweet, and spicy!

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!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️