Love You, Always

Love in Beverly Mills #1

by Lauren Lacey

How can you move on from someone when they still hold the key to your heart? How can you love the life you live without the love of your life in it? This is Parker and Jackson’s dilemma in Love in Beverly Mills: Love You, Always.

Parker Waylen is a doctor, daughter, big sister, and best friend, but most importantly, she’s the love of Jackson Sand’s life. They forged a friendship at a young age and promised to always love one another, no matter what. Life's thrown numerous obstacles their way, but through it all, their bond still remains unbreakable. Jackson’s brokenness once broke Parker, but no matter who she meets or how wonderful that man may be, no one can ever compare to Jackson.

Jackson Sands is a man of few words but his thoughts have always consumed him and the only two people who understand him the best are also the two people who no longer exist in his life. From childhood to adulthood, he endures struggles that many people can’t handle in one lifetime, but through the memory of these two important women, he finds a way to tap into his strength and evolve into the man they always believed him to be.

Parker and Jackson may have broken up years ago, but now they’ve both returned back home to Beverly Mills, and it’s their last chance to figure out if their love story is meant to be or if they should finally let go of their fantasy of a happily ever after together.

This is a Southern love story based in Beverly Mills, Georgia – a rustic beach town that centers around family, friends, love, and community. Fall in love with characters who support one another and lift each other up, but also dish out tough love and don't hold back from the truth. And the truth is, love isn’t always easy, but for Parker Waylen and Jackson Sands, easy was never quite their cup of tea.

If you love to read emotionally compelling romance novels with a spicy twist, this beautifully written love story will warm your heart and keep you engaged. If you enjoy reading to escape, this love story isn't for you. There is trauma. There is tragedy. The characters are exceptionally imperfect, but imperfections are what make us beautiful. So, be prepared to laugh, smile, cry, get very angry, and perhaps even fall in love with the devotion and love between Jackson Sands and Parker Waylen as they fight for one another through good, bad, and ugly times.

What you may enjoy:
Second chance romance
Childhood sweethearts
Small town romance
Friends to lovers
Soulmates
Drama
Spice

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers, Second Chance, Fiction, Small Town Romance, Second Chance Romance, Contemporary Romance

414 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 29, 2023

About the author

I'm a romance author originally from Savannah, Georgia, now living in Atlanta with my husband and children. With a B.A. in English from Armstrong Atlanta State University and an M.A. from Southern New Hampshire University, I transitioned from writing poetry to crafting love stories that mirror my Southern heritage as a woman, wife, and mother. My stories delve into themes of love and commitment, often against a backdrop of personal and societal challenges.

Aside from writing, I am deeply committed to my family. I enjoy coaching my kids’ soccer teams, traveling, and watching movies at home on a Friday night. I credit my close-knit family and supportive readers for inspiring me to continue writing stories that resonate on a personal level. As an indie author, my narratives offer a sincere exploration of human emotions, underscoring the importance of love, resilience, and the beauty found in overcoming adversity.

Book series list:

Love in Beverly Mills

Black Summer Island


Feel free to message me or get to know me better through social media. I do respond! :)

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Reviews

[Shawnaci Schroeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5 ⭐️

- Love this book so much!! It gave love and other words vibes because romance is so soft and gentle at times, but you also see Jackson and Parker go through so much too. I love how we really got to see their entire lives - the good, the bad, and the ugly.
- This book felt like a cheesy romance soap opera at times and I ATE IT UP. Literally couldn’t get enough of it. I wanted to save this book to read on vacation because I knew I’d enjoy every minute of it after the first few pages and I’m so glad I brought it with me. If you’re someone that hates miscommunication you’ll love this book because there really isn’t much of any! All of the characters really speak their mind.
- The found family aspect of this town really sucks you in and you want to learn about every single person! I can’t wait to read Avery’s story!

[Lauren Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am biased since I wrote it. However, this story really means a lot to me. I tried to showcase the maturation of Parker and Jackson’s from high school up to adulthood. Much of their relationship is marred by experiences out of their control, and I really love and appreciate the growth that we as readers get to see throughout the book.

I’ve incorporate a bit of myself in this story so it really hits home for me, and I hope readers are able to connect with it as well. These characters are imperfect, and their love story is as well. It gets ugly, but so does life, but what I love the most is that the ugliest situations can still have beautiful outcomes.

I’m so proud of my first novel, but I really look forward to perfecting my craft by writing until I can’t write anymore! I hope you all enjoyed Parker and Jackson’s story because The Waylen sister saga is just getting started!

[Shan Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ This was so toxic. I feel mentally drained! It gave “why you so obsessed with me” ima read the rest of the series though lol

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this one! Hit me right in the feels so much that I had to take a break in between chapters. I was emotional from like 15% on. Please note: there is semi-graphic detail regarding the loss of a parent. It broke my heart but I’m glad I stuck it out. I was rooting for all of them the whole time!


This is Lauren Lacey’s DEBUT and she has completely knocked it out of the park. She is going to be the author to look out for! Not to mention, she is genuinely a kind soul. So proud of you, Lauren! You got this, girl! 😉

[Stacie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book! Whew! It is heavy. There is grief- multiple types, mental health representation, addiction, a love triangel! Lots of things I kind of don't like. But really this was an imitation of life. There is healing and hope, and joy! And ultimately a very satisfying hea. I was frustrated with both Parker and Jackson at times, but I truly loved them both and was rooting hard for them. Happy reading!

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Parker's character was kind of annoying cause like GIRL GET UP, but the whirlwind romance between her and Jackson was insane and I enjoyed the high stakes ride. I was hooked the entire story. Man, did they share the best of times and the worst of times.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 good read for me! I took frequent breaks with this one because Jackson and Parker relationship almost took me out! Seriously, If this was my friend I would need to mind my business all together, haha. Ugh, so much happens in this book, haha. I had moments where I cried, got mad and yelled. Bare with me as I gather my thoughts while I write.

Parker loved Jackson way more than he deserved in the beginning. I rooted for them with each hip-cup he overcame, but Jackson always found a way to out-due his nonsense further. Yet, even I found a soft spot for him. I knew he wanted and loved Parker but he needed to learn to heal and overcome all his toxic habits. Jackson faced issues within himself that only grew once his mother's cancer progressed. He knew what he wanted but instead turned to everything that wasn't good for him. While Parker played the hero girlfriend always doing everything in her power to save him and ultimately cause a lot of heartbreaks, losses and tears for her. On top of it all, both Parker and Jackson shared mutual friends making staying away from each other a hard task. At one point I wanted to enter the story myself and throw something at Jackson, haha.

Then there was David. A man who was ready to give all his love to Parker. He took my heart and scooped it up in a bow. When David entered Parker's life, there was no other convincing I needed that he was the right person for her. He really was!!! Sometimes the person meant for you is the same person struggling to keep life all together. Although I did not agree with Parker decision, I respected and understood without anymore judgement where her heart belongs. All I wanted for her was peace, family and love.

Another person who took me on a loop of anger was Allie. That Bitch!!! She was so desperate to be with Jackson that she took advantage of him while he was beyond intoxicated. I was ready to thought my kindle some where at this point, haha. Baby! Allie was a piece of work. I am not going to say I wasn't happy with how she finally got what she deserved. She wanted him and that is exactly what she got and more! She saw a side of Jackson she wished she never saw. Sometimes you have to stop admiring what you really don't know on the other side.

What I appreciated out of this book was Lauren Lacey writing style and her amazing character development. I really ended up having a soft side for Jackson and Allie. I like the time lapse over the years what each character went through to get where they needed to be. Most importantly the friend bond of the friends. They really looked out for each other. They may not have agreed with all of their friends decisions, but who are we too take that judgement on them? Sometimes you have to make the mistakes and go through the hard times to realize what you have or develop yourself. This is what I truly loved about this book.

Lord, why did I read the epilogue? haha, book two is going to have my pulling out my hair but I am ready to read about Parker's sister and her man? (question mark is on purpose). Lauren, why are you doing this to me? haha.

[Ebony Essence · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a ride

3.5 - First read by this author and while i loved the overall synopsis of the story and glad i finished the book; there was a time i thought of dnf’ing. I don’t mind long books but the flow/setup for has to be right while also holding the attention all the way through. The book could have been a little shorter. With the time jumping, which I’m fine with it, in this book I got a little confused though. Maybe that’s just me. We start in the present but spend more time in the past. Personally i would have rather the book started with Jackson and Parker first meeting as kids and we get to read about them growing with all things in between. Or stay more in the present to see how they are navigating now with glimpses of the past.

While Jackson and Parker were draining it was good to see some growth. This story touched on a lot. Lost of different kinds, cancer, grape, addiction of different kinds and more that the author writes about really well. The friends/found family were awesome. They might have went through a lot with these two but their unconditional love was stronger because honey i might have walked away from these two. I will say about the addiction aspect of this book the author writes perfectly how some people are addicted to being hurt and trying to fix people they love than their well being. Parker truly loved Jackson more than she loved herself and that to me is an issue. Trust I’ve been there before. If I’m being honest even though i was hurting for Parker, a person is only going to do what you allow. So at a certain point i stopped being mad at Jackson for how he was handling things with Parker. She also needed to take more accountability. Luckily they both had people in their corners to be honest with them.

Well this review is long enough and there is more i can say. I’ll stop here though. I’m pleased with the HEA. Lauren is a really good writer and i hope to finish the other two books in this series for the months to come.

[Mel Haskins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Ok, debut novel! I really enjoyed this story. The plot is actually a lot different than many of the contemporary romance novels that I read, but at the same time, there were some very cute and even fun spicy scenes. Parker and Jackson were seriously a match made in heaven. They were childhood sweethearts, but my goodness Jackson was a tormented soul, and Parker was his angel. I absolutely loved it. There were times when I found myself both rooting against and for them. I loved their bond and history together. I cried every two chapters.

I'm also a sucker for past and present and playing around with time. I thought this was very creative and risky for a new author. It paid off for me because I really enjoyed seeing how the character matured from childhood to present day. This was a beautiful love story and I look forward to reading Book 2.

[Jenifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

2nd, 3rd, 4th+? chance romance
This was rough. Initially, I was so annoyed with Parker's whiny, stubborn, wishy-washy ways and Jackson, I thought he was a sappy puppy dog trying to get his old love back and was just as annoying. That was just the tip of the iceberg. The story is told in past and present time jumps starting way back in 2nd grade when the first met. With each flashback I just kept getting more and more disgusted with these two.
Someone said they were two selfish people who belong together. Also obsessive, addictive, destructive and toxic. They are all of those for sure but they should definitely NOT be together. Just because you have history together doesn't mean you should have a future together. Maybe it would be easier if they stopped hopping into bed whenever they see each other? Ugh. They are like two rusty magnets that keep finding their way back to each other because they fit nowhere else.
It's so hard to like a story when you don't like the main characters. I wanted to quit but had to keep watching this unbelievably horrid train wreck that is this couple's relationship unfold.

(Petty observation: needs more spellchecking but mostly editing that spellcheck alone can't do.)

[Doris Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book — the story felt so relatable.

[Tamekia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whew!!! The emotions this book took me through today 😩 This was an easy read but honey they had me stressed!! Parker x Jackson.. Jackson x Allie.. Parker x Jackson.. Parker x David.. Jackson really took my girl through the mud. I was so ready to jump through the book on him but he eventually got himself together. This book was very much giving black excellence and The Best Man vibes. If you loved The Best Man movie and series you will love this book! I loved the family vibes, closeness of friends, and the support!!

[bathabilereads · Rating 2 out of 5]

I Totally HATED This Book. Again This Solidifies My Dislike For Second Chance Romances.

First Of All, Jackson Is Toxic And Horrible, I Sympathize With His Mental Health Struggles And The Loss Of His Mother But None The Less Terrible. Parker On The Other Hand? Has Low Self Esteem And Is Lowkey Annoying, Desperate Too? Her Pick-me(ism) Knows No Bounds, Sad Truly..I Actually Do Not Have Any Kind Words For Her.

Imagine Your Forever Partner Being The Man Who Abandoned You, Went On A Downward Spiral, Fell Into Alcoholism And Went On To Engage And Have A Child With Your Arch Nemesis? Jackson Was The Reason Parker Lost Her Baby And Her Future Ones Too. Absolutely Not! Whilst You Sacrificed All You Could To Help Them, It's Like A Slap In The Face. I Cannot Get Behind This.

The Back And Forth Between Parker And Jackson Was So Toxic And They Could Barely Escape It Because They Kept On Having Sex With Each Other. Their Behavior Was Irresponsible And Totally Unfair To Their Familes And Friends. Years And Years Of Toxicity. Not Only That, Parker Went On To Treat David As A Door Mat Due To Her Lack Of Boundaries. Jackson Was Always Going To Waltz Back In Her Life Because That's The System She Set Up.

Again, The Love Of Your Life Is Not The Man Who Kept On Breaking Your Heart. There's More Out There. Meaning Parker And Jackson Are Not Endgame.

" Love You, Always" Is The Love In The Room? But I Digress.

Also I Was Under The Assumption That The Couple In This Book Is Black, Imagine My Shock When I Found Out That The Adopted Sister Was The One Who Is POC. Bro, WHAT THE HELLY????

Apologies To Anyone Reading This Review But I Could Not Stop Ranting. Also Because I Kept On Editing The Review Whilst Reading So I Was HEATED. 😭👍🏽

Lastly, I'm So Glad I Read This Authors Latest Book Before This One, Bc This Genuinely Put Me Off, She Might Not See Me Again And This Is Me Being So Serious.

[Bethany Noel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!! I really was debating hard between a 3.5 and 4 star but ultimately decided 3.5 stars was my official rating. Here’s why:

I absolutely loved the writing in this book! The character and plot development was so great to see and witness in both of the main characters tbh. Because if I’m being honest with you, Parker and Jackson drained me soooo bad, chile! 😂 by over 50% of the book, I was proud to see their growth. I also loved the writing of the then and now to see how intense their relationship was since kids.

This is a small town, second chance, friends to lovers tropes all in one and I loved it! The author did an exceptional job on touching on sensitive topics such as mental illness, addiction, grief, depression, etc. in such a beautiful and real way and I feel like she could not have done any better than she has. I love the found friend group that turned family and the community that was established in this book, this really shown what true friendship and community is all about.

I would not recommend this to middle aged or young kids due to the explicit scenes for one, and a lot of the things spoke about in this book that could introduce things to them I wouldn’t want necessarily want their world to discover yet (if that makes sense). I do feel like at times the addictions on both ends was a bit too much sometimes and a bit excessive and it was so draining to read, which overall impacted my rating. I felt drained by the end of the story but relived by the ending. Whew, praying for myself as I read the other books in the series. Lol!

[De'Andra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this debut novel and I'm looking forward to diving into the next two books of the Beverly Mills series! I'm normally not into romance novels but this tugged at my heartstrings. This story of the relationship between Jackson and Parker was indeed a rollercoaster ride and very relatable. It shows the ups and downs that come with relationships and goes to show that you can always give true love a second chance. The story includes several likable characters including Parker's siblings, mutual close friends and family. I was rooting for Jackson and Parker all the way and couldn't wait to see if their love would survive all their trials. This book was the perfect balance of drama, romance, humor, and spiciness! I was privileged to receive the first two books in an awesome box with some extra goodies to enhance the reading experience. I loved the book from start to finish and couldn't put it down. I found myself very invested in the main characters. Looking forward to more from Lauren Lacey!

[Sheila Presscott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of receiving a beautiful book box with Book 1 and Book 2 of the series. This story follows childhood sweethearts who grow up to have a toxic, unhealthy co-dependent relationship. As much as they shouldn't be together, I REALLY love enjoy them together. As years pass, Lacey gives us an up close and personal look into the maturity. Jackson overcame so many demons and Parker always believed in him even when he was a mess. This is definitely a new take on 2nd chance romance and I LOVE it. The writing is emotional, beautiful, and there were great spicy scenes included. From beginning to end, I was hooked!

[Lacey Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite books I’ve read this year. The author takes you on a journey! I loved the story and it was written beautifully. Usually I get annoyed with the on again off again but it was all necessary and pivotal to the story. I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH! I laughed, cried, worried, and stressed with the characters. I usually don’t get attached to characters in a book but I felt like I was apart of the friend group and was invested in their success, whether apart or together. The time Lauren took to create the characters was brilliant! I want everyone to read this! I can’t wait to read more from this series. 6 stars!!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Amber V. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story had the potential to be so much better. It felt similar to A Love Letter to Whiskey and that’s not a compliment. The plot structure felt disjointed. The flashback chapters were so long, unnecessarily long and sometimes retelling the same stories from both point of views. So much time was spent telling us how their love crashed and burned but not enough time showing us how Jackson won Parker back. We needed to see that because their relationship was so toxic and traumatic. Instead, we got a hookup, a date where Parker’s resolve faltered as soon as she sat down, Jackson retelling how he hit rock bottom, then 2 time jumps from one month to six months to engagement. This was a prime example of the author telling and not showing. I would’ve loved full detail of Jackson’s road to recovery, not just a summary. How did Parker work through her codependency and hero complex? How did Jackson finally reciprocate love in the way Parker always wanted? We saw more of how Parker fell in love with David and not enough of how she rekindled her love with Jackson. We needed to see him work for it. And how did we just skip over David marrying Parker’s doppelgänger!? Also, the dialogue in the first half was cheesy, like it was written for a high school Disney show. Then the second half gave Wattpad. Overall story was good but plotting and writing could’ve been better.

[JazzReads · Rating 2 out of 5]

Parker &Jackson

I couldn't stand the couple and they deserved to be with each other I felt bad for the friend group. They had to put up with Parker and Jackson BS throughout the book.

[Manisha Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is an small town sweet child hood friends to lovers bond as soulmates. The story have drama with steamy second chance romance. This book is definitely a must read.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle Booker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check you triggers before reading. Deals with list of a parent, miscarriages, depression, suicide, lost of a child. I went into this book blindly. It was a slow burn for me and I almost stopped reading it I’m sooo happy I didn’t. Jackson was one of those love to hate people. I felt so bad for him, but then I didn’t. Parker was naive but I loved how she never really gave up and when she semi did she realized that she was giving up something that was truly meant. I had that both of them had to go thru so many issues to be happy, but it shows that everything worth having is worth fighting for. The only thing I disliked about the both is how sometimes it hard to tell whose perspective you were reading.

[andreasbooktea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Second Chance Romance, but I’ve never seen a second chance written like this and I really enjoyed it. Almost like they did all the work and helping that needed to be done in order to have a healthy second chance. There was a lot of healing that needed to be done in this book with both of the characters and honestly the characters to come in the next 2 books that I can’t wait to read.

It was like all of the healing that they needed to do, so the story was the beginning of their love and all they went through to get to their second chance/happy ending. I really really enjoyed it. The chapter are a bit long but honestly if anyone is looking for a beautifully tragic, healing, and healing small town second chance romance this is the one y’all should read!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friends to Lovers, second chance romance and it shows that people can truly change. I loved the way it portrays alcoholism and his mental health issues. Great book!

[Danielle Trimble · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will have you rooting for love, faith, family and friendship. The way the story illustrates how one can overcome everyday life obstacles in a way that has you envisioning the characters like they are a part of your every day life. I can’t wait for the next books to come out and continue following the characters that turned into family that you can escape to, learn, grow and prosper with.

Buy it now!

[Reading Zepster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I clicked on an ad and decided to add to my cart and I’m so glad I did! I love a good second chance romance and this book was excellent. Parker drove me crazy at first bc I saw so much of my younger self in her but to see how much the characters grow was beautiful. Their connection was also hottt! This story is beautiful and the author said she’s going to release the other two standalone books in the series this year so I can’t wait!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love You, Always by Lauren Lacey is a good, and enjoyable spicy second chance friends to lovers romance read. The story has a good story line, and the story is beautifully well written read. The characters are good, and they have good chemistry.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Blair Glass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Words can't express how much I enjoyed reading this book. I'm a small town southern girl and I really connected with the characters and Beverly Mills. I also can relate to the loss of a parent. Jackson's mom was so much like mine and I'm getting emotional just thinking about it.

The book is loaded with trigger warnings, but the writing style is so beautiful and the way loss, grief, addiction, and trauma are handled is delicate, respectful, realistic, and comforting. The friend group is just amazing. I think everyone needs friends like this who tell it like it is but love you like no other. I'm so invested in the characters and I hope to read about them more throughout the series.

Now on to the romance...Parker and Jackson are childhood sweethearts who endure numerous obstacles but not without their relationship being tarnished. Jackson's depression, anxiety and pain contribute to his downward spiral, but Parker is there to support him at the most important times in his life. And Parker's journey is also equally beautiful. I love her strength and tenacity and boldness to love her man even when others have left him. The character growth from high school to adulthood is tremendous. Their chemistry is undeniable and the spicy scenes were so interesting to read. They were very different because there are a few scenes that are kinda vanilla or the sex is basic but it's expected because they aren't very experienced initially and FMC even tells the guy what she likes instead. It was refreshing and real and OMG there was some scenes that have changed the way I look at food lol I REALLY enjoyed these two. My room heated up every time they spoke to one another.

I enjoyed past and present play and the DUAL pov. If you don't, then this book isn't for you.

I received this book as an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving this review.

[C.H. Schoen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this contemporary romance about Parker and Jackson's love story. The small town Beverly Mills feel was right on, and the friend group of the couple was written well.

I really enjoyed the progression of their relationship from kids to adults. I think Lauren did a great job describing all the complexities surrounding relationships, those in our control and those out of our control. There were many times I was hoping it wouldn't work out because the relationship was high drama.

However, if you want a book that will give you all the ups and downs of a relationship, this is it. Many times, this book just wrecked me with emotions, and I just kept on going.

[Halie Reyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was super cute! I went through a roller coaster of emotions and even though the main characters relationship was toxic af, I found myself rooting for them once they went through their healing periods! I love, love and really love a good HEA!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has the potential to be a 4-star read for me, but there were just some areas where it fell a little short and the writing was not my favorite style.

While I think that the relationship and dynamics between Jackson and Parker were quite toxic, it was very realistic for their ages and the goals/lifestyle that Jackson in particular had for himself. While I got frustrated with Parker time and time again, the storyline that was developed allowed me to feel the pain and pull that she was constantly going through when it came to her love for Jackson.

I would have liked a bit more time to focus on Parker and Jackson in the present because that is really where I started rooting for then, but it was hard to get there with the constant drama and ups and downs of their past and the events that ultimately led them back to one another.