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Life on the Ledge Duet #2
Now to Forever
Can a past plagued by loss lead to a second chance at happiness?
Scotty Armstrong has spent the last twenty years running the town crematorium and keeping everyone and everything at arm’s length. She lives life just the way she likes it, alone and unattached. All that changes when her late brother’s best friend—and former love of her life— Ford Callahan, comes back into town and starts dredging up unwanted feelings she thought were ancient history.
After being left a house potentially worth a small fortune, Scotty decides it’s the break she’s been waiting for. She’ll renovate it, sell it, and move as far away from Ledger, North Carolina as she can get, leaving her past and the people in it behind her once and for all.
But escaping the town proves to be harder than she’d hoped. When a disgruntled teen shows up on her steps, her best friend asks for a Thanksgiving favor, and Ford seems unable to take a hint, Scotty is forced to face all the feelings she hasn’t for two decades.
After new details of the past and present are brought to light, Scotty must decide if her happiness lies in a faraway town filled with strangers or with the people who know her best in the place she can’t seem to escape.
Scotty Armstrong has spent the last twenty years running the town crematorium and keeping everyone and everything at arm’s length. She lives life just the way she likes it, alone and unattached. All that changes when her late brother’s best friend—and former love of her life— Ford Callahan, comes back into town and starts dredging up unwanted feelings she thought were ancient history.
After being left a house potentially worth a small fortune, Scotty decides it’s the break she’s been waiting for. She’ll renovate it, sell it, and move as far away from Ledger, North Carolina as she can get, leaving her past and the people in it behind her once and for all.
But escaping the town proves to be harder than she’d hoped. When a disgruntled teen shows up on her steps, her best friend asks for a Thanksgiving favor, and Ford seems unable to take a hint, Scotty is forced to face all the feelings she hasn’t for two decades.
After new details of the past and present are brought to light, Scotty must decide if her happiness lies in a faraway town filled with strangers or with the people who know her best in the place she can’t seem to escape.
482 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2025
About the author
Ashley Manley
8 books602 followersGive me all the unexpected characters, snark, and gasms. Please and thank you.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 313 reviews
May 2, 2025
Scotty!! She has every reason to hate the world (and lets everyone around her feel that resentment), but even the prickliest Beth Dutton type of woman softens overtime. It was a journey to love Scotty (she sure loves to use the F word!), but I truly saw her clearly be the end. Ashley Manley writes another winner!
July 5, 2025
Love Scotty even though she should be the most unlikeable character ever. She’s Beth Dutton come to life and man do I have a soft spot for her.
June 9, 2025
NOW TO FOREVER by Ashley Manley ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book was perfection to me. To say that I fell in love with the characters is an understatement. Scotty is prickly, snarky, unfiltered, swears in every sentence… but somehow is so insanely lovable? And Ford is an absolute dream and exactly what Scotty needs. Something I have found in Ashley Manley books, is that I don’t just fall in love with the main characters, but sooo many. Wanda and Dondi… are you kidding me?! I would pay good money to hang out with Dondi. That last 10% of the book though 🥹🥹🥹 I don’t want to give too much away, but just know, I read late into the night, and it was worth the hangover the next day.
Scotty has dealt with more than her fair share of tragedy and grief in her life which has made her a bit (a lot) rough around the edges. After learning to only rely on herself, when her first love shows up in town, everything she has practiced is questioned.
Pub. Date: July 8, 2025.
Perfect if you like:
•Second chance romance.
•Whole cast of lovable characters.
•Will make you laugh and cry.
•Single Dad.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Mood: 🌮🍫
🚪: chapters 25, 33, 40
⚠️: so, so much explicit language… but it’s Scotty. TW: addiction, death.
Scotty has dealt with more than her fair share of tragedy and grief in her life which has made her a bit (a lot) rough around the edges. After learning to only rely on herself, when her first love shows up in town, everything she has practiced is questioned.
Pub. Date: July 8, 2025.
Perfect if you like:
•Second chance romance.
•Whole cast of lovable characters.
•Will make you laugh and cry.
•Single Dad.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Mood: 🌮🍫
🚪: chapters 25, 33, 40
⚠️: so, so much explicit language… but it’s Scotty. TW: addiction, death.
July 24, 2025
July 24, 2025
My favourite novel to ever exist. Hits just the same as it does every time I read it.
July 1, 2025
SCOTTY
Probably will never love a character as much as I love her 🤩. Unfiltered.
Speaks what’s on her mind.
Works hard.
Takes no shit from anyone.
She’s my kind.
I met her last year, and I’m beyond excited for everyone else to see what kind of girl we’ve got here. A journey of a broken girl, realizing along the way, that she is worthy of all the love.
Manley does it again. 🙌🏼.
My favourite novel to ever exist. Hits just the same as it does every time I read it.
July 1, 2025
SCOTTY
Probably will never love a character as much as I love her 🤩. Unfiltered.
Speaks what’s on her mind.
Works hard.
Takes no shit from anyone.
She’s my kind.
I met her last year, and I’m beyond excited for everyone else to see what kind of girl we’ve got here. A journey of a broken girl, realizing along the way, that she is worthy of all the love.
Manley does it again. 🙌🏼.
July 15, 2025
“We all make choices in life we have to live with,” she continues, face filled with distant resignation. “Fight battles we shouldn’t have fought. Skipped battles we shouldn’t have skipped.” She laughs softly; it’s empty. “Regrets are the hardest thing in the world to reconcile when you get to be my age.”
Scotty, Scotty, Scotty .... you foul-mouthed, heart-of-gold spitfire; you made me smile, cry and cheer you on. You are one of my favorite characters created by Ashley Manley, and believe me there are many to love and this book has a wonderful group - Ford, Wren, Wanda, Mel and of course June.
"I’ve forgotten how my best friend always feels like home. How without her friendship, I might not have survived all my hardest days."
The story is heavy and touches on addiction, self harm, death and abuse, but with the tears will come so many laughs. When you are looking for a book to get you out of a slump or restore your love of books, pick up an Ashley Manley book. There are so many to love.
Scotty, Scotty, Scotty .... you foul-mouthed, heart-of-gold spitfire; you made me smile, cry and cheer you on. You are one of my favorite characters created by Ashley Manley, and believe me there are many to love and this book has a wonderful group - Ford, Wren, Wanda, Mel and of course June.
"I’ve forgotten how my best friend always feels like home. How without her friendship, I might not have survived all my hardest days."
The story is heavy and touches on addiction, self harm, death and abuse, but with the tears will come so many laughs. When you are looking for a book to get you out of a slump or restore your love of books, pick up an Ashley Manley book. There are so many to love.
June 30, 2025
5 wonderful stars! Loved it! Ashley Manley has done it again, taking me on an emotional roller-coaster of laughs and tears. Making me love her characters and this heartfelt story.
Book 2, Scotty's turn (she's June's BFF from book 1, Forever and Back). Oh, how I love Scotty, and she's cranked up full throttle here. She's tough, takes no one's crap and (shockingly at times) says exactly what she thinks. She's prickly, snarky, sassy, and deeply haunted by past emotional trauma and regrets. To add to her growing pain, Ford, her only love returns to town. Scotty has a load to work through.
While my heart ached for Scotty as she made her way through the pain, I cheered as she learned to grow and make peace with the past and allowed herself to love and be loved.
There are so many great characters here. My favorites first and foremost, Ford and Wren. Along with Wanda and Dondi (Scotty's cremation employees), Mel, and, of course, June.
Wonderfully written, this story sticks with you long after it's over. I'm very grateful to have received an ARC. This is my fourth Ashley book, and I'm anxiously looking forward to whatever she writes next.
Book 2, Scotty's turn (she's June's BFF from book 1, Forever and Back). Oh, how I love Scotty, and she's cranked up full throttle here. She's tough, takes no one's crap and (shockingly at times) says exactly what she thinks. She's prickly, snarky, sassy, and deeply haunted by past emotional trauma and regrets. To add to her growing pain, Ford, her only love returns to town. Scotty has a load to work through.
While my heart ached for Scotty as she made her way through the pain, I cheered as she learned to grow and make peace with the past and allowed herself to love and be loved.
There are so many great characters here. My favorites first and foremost, Ford and Wren. Along with Wanda and Dondi (Scotty's cremation employees), Mel, and, of course, June.
Wonderfully written, this story sticks with you long after it's over. I'm very grateful to have received an ARC. This is my fourth Ashley book, and I'm anxiously looking forward to whatever she writes next.
February 12, 2026
4.3 ⭐️
Trust Ashley Manley to make me cry from an acrostic poem! Also - I recommend not reading this before bed unless you want to have dreams of dead people.
Scotty was a PAINFUL character to read. I got why she was the way she was and I think Ashley did a great job of humanising her and showing the good with the bad but my God you’re 40 years old, go to therapy and sort yourself out. Her self-destructive, woe is me, ‘my life sucks more than anyone else’ attitude was a struggle to get through at times. Wren, at 15, was way more developed and self-aware than Scotty. It just felt like Scotty really never grew. All that to say I did love her relationship with Wren, it was so beautiful and wholesome in a messed up way.
Ford must’ve been the second coming of Jesus with the patience and understanding he had. I’m sorry but he didn’t deserve to be treated the way Scotty treated him. To say he was written to perfection would be an understatement.
Once again another incredible, deep, trauma filled book from Ashley Manley. One of my fave authors for sure!
Trust Ashley Manley to make me cry from an acrostic poem! Also - I recommend not reading this before bed unless you want to have dreams of dead people.
Scotty was a PAINFUL character to read. I got why she was the way she was and I think Ashley did a great job of humanising her and showing the good with the bad but my God you’re 40 years old, go to therapy and sort yourself out. Her self-destructive, woe is me, ‘my life sucks more than anyone else’ attitude was a struggle to get through at times. Wren, at 15, was way more developed and self-aware than Scotty. It just felt like Scotty really never grew. All that to say I did love her relationship with Wren, it was so beautiful and wholesome in a messed up way.
Ford must’ve been the second coming of Jesus with the patience and understanding he had. I’m sorry but he didn’t deserve to be treated the way Scotty treated him. To say he was written to perfection would be an understatement.
Once again another incredible, deep, trauma filled book from Ashley Manley. One of my fave authors for sure!
April 23, 2026
4.5 🌟
Even though the FMC had a head full of rocks and would have benefited the reader to get her brain working a little faster I LOVED HER SO MUCH! This book is by no means a comedy but Scotty is fuuuunny. Man, I laughed. I cried. I sobbed. I texted about the repeated use of the word growl. And I wish nothing but the best for Scotty Armstrong and those around her.
Even though the FMC had a head full of rocks and would have benefited the reader to get her brain working a little faster I LOVED HER SO MUCH! This book is by no means a comedy but Scotty is fuuuunny. Man, I laughed. I cried. I sobbed. I texted about the repeated use of the word growl. And I wish nothing but the best for Scotty Armstrong and those around her.
July 3, 2025
LOVE Ashley Manleys writing! Her characters are older like me, so what they go through is very relatable. I enjoyed this book even more than Forever and Back, which is paired with this book.
July 7, 2026
4.5!!!
Well the last book I read was so thoroughly wholesome and this book was…not 🤣🙈 but I loved it bc intertwined with all the spice was so much humour, wrestling through deep and dark stuff, learning and growing, and all the hard and beautiful parts of being a human. Scotty is a bit of an anti-hero for much of the book but in the best way - Gosh do I know her instinct to lash out when things feel uncomfortable 😭 but she’s written so well, as are the supporting characters, that you can’t help but root for her to get her life together! Swoony and heart wrenching and hot. Great book
Well the last book I read was so thoroughly wholesome and this book was…not 🤣🙈 but I loved it bc intertwined with all the spice was so much humour, wrestling through deep and dark stuff, learning and growing, and all the hard and beautiful parts of being a human. Scotty is a bit of an anti-hero for much of the book but in the best way - Gosh do I know her instinct to lash out when things feel uncomfortable 😭 but she’s written so well, as are the supporting characters, that you can’t help but root for her to get her life together! Swoony and heart wrenching and hot. Great book
July 31, 2025
4.5🌟 Loved Scotty’s story. I will forever be an Ashley Manley fan!
July 18, 2025
I’ll never stop being amazed at how this woman makes me sob the last 10% of every book she writes
November 16, 2025
Book two trumped book one. I truly enjoyed this book. Book one Forever & Back I enjoyed as well, but this one was better. Scotty got to tell her story. It was probably a little long and a little repetitive, but there were some pretty deep subject matters that these characters have had to work through.
Really loved Scotty & Ford! 4.5⭐️
Really loved Scotty & Ford! 4.5⭐️
June 4, 2025
Let me start this review by saying, I’ve never read a bad book from Ashley Manley.☝🏻 Her debut novel made me love her (Every Beautiful Mile) and her second release (When Wildflowers Bloom) solidified her as my favorite author. With that being said, Now to Forever is another (unsurprisingly) 5 star read to add to the collection. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I didn’t know what to expect from Scotty after being introduced to her in Forever and Back. I quickly realized that Scotty gives all the main character energy- witty, strong, independent, caring, a little arrogant, but also self conscious. It’s hard not to love her, honestly, even though she seems a tab bit scary at first. You get to see her navigate several, difficult life circumstances that will have you rooting for her til the very end.
As always, the male main character, Ford, is just so good at making you blush. I mean the banter is so delightful, sometimes I have to read it twice. The kind that makes you stupid smile in public and then you have to hope no one was watching you.
Ashley’s specialty is her ability to make all her side characters unique, lovable, and purposeful. This crew of misfits will have you laughing out loud one chapter and then tugging at your heartstrings with tears the next.
The thing I love most about all of Manley’s stories, is her intent with every detail throughout the book. Such careful consideration for all points of the storyline, no stone left unturned. She is truly a master at her craft and this was another masterpiece complete. 👏🏻 I was honored to have received a ARC copy of this release and can’t wait to read what she comes up with next. Do yourself a favor and just pick up every one of her books.
I didn’t know what to expect from Scotty after being introduced to her in Forever and Back. I quickly realized that Scotty gives all the main character energy- witty, strong, independent, caring, a little arrogant, but also self conscious. It’s hard not to love her, honestly, even though she seems a tab bit scary at first. You get to see her navigate several, difficult life circumstances that will have you rooting for her til the very end.
As always, the male main character, Ford, is just so good at making you blush. I mean the banter is so delightful, sometimes I have to read it twice. The kind that makes you stupid smile in public and then you have to hope no one was watching you.
Ashley’s specialty is her ability to make all her side characters unique, lovable, and purposeful. This crew of misfits will have you laughing out loud one chapter and then tugging at your heartstrings with tears the next.
The thing I love most about all of Manley’s stories, is her intent with every detail throughout the book. Such careful consideration for all points of the storyline, no stone left unturned. She is truly a master at her craft and this was another masterpiece complete. 👏🏻 I was honored to have received a ARC copy of this release and can’t wait to read what she comes up with next. Do yourself a favor and just pick up every one of her books.
March 11, 2026
It is honestly CRIMINAL that Ashley Manley isn’t more widely known or traditionally published yet, because this was another absolute win from her. She has a way of telling a story that makes me completely lose track of everything else; I will sit and read nonstop even if the house is practically falling down around me.
This is the companion novel to Forever and Back, and this time we follow Scotty, the best friend from that book. Her story dives deep into grief, old wounds, complicated family dynamics, and the general messiness of life. Scotty is definitely rough around the edges with a sharp tongue she hides behind, but underneath all that toughness she has the softest heart, and I absolutely adored her.
Ashley Manley has a real gift for writing emotional, deeply relatable characters while also weaving in genuinely funny moments and banter. Scotty had me laughing so many times, even while her story was breaking my heart. Watching her confront her past, face her demons, and slowly allow herself to believe she deserves love and happiness made this such a powerful and satisfying read.
There is quite a bit of language in this book, but honestly it fits Scotty’s personality perfectly. There’s also more spice than I typically prefer, but those scenes are very easy to skip if that’s not your thing.
Overall, this book completely melted my heart. Scotty’s journey was emotional, messy, funny, and ultimately hopeful...and it’s one I won’t forget anytime soon. We definitely need more Scottys in this world!
This is the companion novel to Forever and Back, and this time we follow Scotty, the best friend from that book. Her story dives deep into grief, old wounds, complicated family dynamics, and the general messiness of life. Scotty is definitely rough around the edges with a sharp tongue she hides behind, but underneath all that toughness she has the softest heart, and I absolutely adored her.
Ashley Manley has a real gift for writing emotional, deeply relatable characters while also weaving in genuinely funny moments and banter. Scotty had me laughing so many times, even while her story was breaking my heart. Watching her confront her past, face her demons, and slowly allow herself to believe she deserves love and happiness made this such a powerful and satisfying read.
There is quite a bit of language in this book, but honestly it fits Scotty’s personality perfectly. There’s also more spice than I typically prefer, but those scenes are very easy to skip if that’s not your thing.
Overall, this book completely melted my heart. Scotty’s journey was emotional, messy, funny, and ultimately hopeful...and it’s one I won’t forget anytime soon. We definitely need more Scottys in this world!
July 7, 2025
4.5 stars! Ashley Manley does it again. The Life on the Ledge Duet is amazing. You can’t help but love June and Scotty.
In Now to Forever, Scotty is finally dealing with 20 year old trauma. This is a second chance romance and Ford is a great male character. I also loved the relationship Scotty formed with Wren and how it helped her heal. While I related to June’s book more, this one was also written so well. I found myself highlighting a lot of impactful lines. Heavy themes of addiction, abuse, and loss of a loved one.
If you haven’t read anything by this author, start with these two books.
Thank you to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
In Now to Forever, Scotty is finally dealing with 20 year old trauma. This is a second chance romance and Ford is a great male character. I also loved the relationship Scotty formed with Wren and how it helped her heal. While I related to June’s book more, this one was also written so well. I found myself highlighting a lot of impactful lines. Heavy themes of addiction, abuse, and loss of a loved one.
If you haven’t read anything by this author, start with these two books.
Thank you to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 30, 2025
Scotty Armstrong is a prickly, potty-mouth and I loved her. This is not your typical romance and Scotty is not your typical heroine, but I was rooting for her on every page despite her rough edges. I’m new to reading Ashley Manley and loved her characters as well as her writing style. I found myself laughing and then crying. I love a book that could pull out every emotion in me. This book isn’t so much about romance (for me) as it was about Scotty’s journey recovering from childhood trauma and grieving the death of her brother—which changed the trajectory of the next twenty years of her life. Loved the last ten percent of the book!
March 13, 2026
Ashley Manley always seems to write stories that hit straight at the heart, and this one was no exception. I loved getting to follow June’s best friend Scotty. She is such a spunky, witty, big hearted character that was impossible not to love.
Ford completely stole my heart as well. The way he refused to give up on Scotty had me cackling more than once. And then there’s Wren, Ford’s daughter, who absolutely melted my heart.
This story had so much warmth, emotion, and humor wrapped into it. I truly loved this one and can’t wait to keep reading more from Ashley Manley.
Ford completely stole my heart as well. The way he refused to give up on Scotty had me cackling more than once. And then there’s Wren, Ford’s daughter, who absolutely melted my heart.
This story had so much warmth, emotion, and humor wrapped into it. I truly loved this one and can’t wait to keep reading more from Ashley Manley.
June 21, 2026
I wanted to love this but I just didn’t. Scotty annoys me (I’m sorry!) and I just couldn’t get connected to the story. Her family history and the cards she was dealt were awful, but I did get tired of the same sob story dialogue in her head and how she treated the people who clearly loved her. The romance was good enough but got to be too over-the-top for me. Wren was my favorite character by far. Nearly 500 pages was a lot for me to get through on this one…
February 24, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Brilliant! Delicious! Hands down a re-read. I will buy this as a gift!
"Sometimes the hardest battles are the ones we fight within ourselves, but the victories are always worth it." — Ashley Manley, Now and Forever
Ashley Manley has done it again, taking me on an emotional roller-coaster of laughs and tears. She makes you love her characters and this heartfelt story.
Book 2, Scotty’s turn (June’s BFF from Forever and Back). Oh, how I adore Scotty, and here she is cranked up full throttle. Tough, prickly, snarky, sassy, and haunted by past emotional trauma and regrets, Scotty navigates life with bold honesty—sometimes shocking, always real. Then Ford, her one true love, returns to town, and she has a lot to work through.
While my heart ached for her pain, I cheered as she grew, made peace with the past, and allowed herself to love and be loved.
Ever since reading Every Beautiful Mile, another five-star gem by Ashley Manley, I’ve been hooked on this series. Both books stand alone beautifully. While the first book explores love, marriage, and motherhood, Now and Forever dives into Scotty’s journey—how life shaped her, how resilience and love helped her heal.
This book will melt your heart. Manley’s gift for crafting characters, developing towns with a palpable sense of place, layering in hilarious banter, and adding just the right touch of spicy romance is unmatched.
"Sometimes the hardest battles are the ones we fight within ourselves, but the victories are always worth it." — Ashley Manley, Now and Forever
Ashley Manley has done it again, taking me on an emotional roller-coaster of laughs and tears. She makes you love her characters and this heartfelt story.
Book 2, Scotty’s turn (June’s BFF from Forever and Back). Oh, how I adore Scotty, and here she is cranked up full throttle. Tough, prickly, snarky, sassy, and haunted by past emotional trauma and regrets, Scotty navigates life with bold honesty—sometimes shocking, always real. Then Ford, her one true love, returns to town, and she has a lot to work through.
While my heart ached for her pain, I cheered as she grew, made peace with the past, and allowed herself to love and be loved.
Ever since reading Every Beautiful Mile, another five-star gem by Ashley Manley, I’ve been hooked on this series. Both books stand alone beautifully. While the first book explores love, marriage, and motherhood, Now and Forever dives into Scotty’s journey—how life shaped her, how resilience and love helped her heal.
This book will melt your heart. Manley’s gift for crafting characters, developing towns with a palpable sense of place, layering in hilarious banter, and adding just the right touch of spicy romance is unmatched.
July 16, 2025
I laughed, I cried, it was sexy, it was heart wrenching! All the feels and I absolutely LOVED it! Ashley Manley strikes again! This book definitely landed in my top 5 all time favs!!! Do yourself a favor and read it, and book 1!
June 25, 2026
Another five star read from Ashley. She seriously writes and it just hits.l every time
July 3, 2026
I’ve enjoyed every book this author has written. This was no exception. Sometimes I found this book frustrating, and sometimes I didn’t like Scotty, but the ending had me tearing up so much and genuinely rooting for her.
July 4, 2026
Really loved these characters and how the story unfolded. A Rom Com with a bit deeper than normal characters. Highly recommend
May 31, 2025
Ashley has done it again. Thank you so much for sharing Scotty’s story with us. Be ready for an emotional ride with Scotty as she navigates life. Even though her story is different than mine, I still related so much to her thoughts.
*TW: heavy subjects and language. As someone who doesn’t like either, I was not bothered with it and appreciated the way in which it was handled and presented to us, the reader. It was real. Human. I felt compassion and learned about it.
Thank you again, Ashley, for an ARC copy of Now to Forever. You’ve made a lifetime follower of me!!! I’ve now read all of your books and will continue to do so.
*TW: heavy subjects and language. As someone who doesn’t like either, I was not bothered with it and appreciated the way in which it was handled and presented to us, the reader. It was real. Human. I felt compassion and learned about it.
Thank you again, Ashley, for an ARC copy of Now to Forever. You’ve made a lifetime follower of me!!! I’ve now read all of your books and will continue to do so.
May 27, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
This was my first official ARC so I feel very honored to get to read this prior to the official publication release date. Every book from this author has impressed me, most especially as an independent author who is not being heavily edited by a publishing house. This allows for her authentic voice and story telling to really shine through. Comparatively, to many main stream authors that are pumping out books yearly, they seem to be losing their authentic voice. Anyhow, her voice is refreshing.
Now to the story. SCOTTY!! You are a wild woman, who has been hurt and damaged by so much trauma throughout her life. She built up walls that were seemingly so impenetrable so she could hide her crumbling self inside. Much like the house she inherited that needed to be stripped down to the studs and rebuilt to become inhabitable so was she. It was a beautiful and painful story to unfold. She deserved every bit of her happy ending because she had to fight so hard (mostly against herself) to get it.
If this author keeps writing, I will keep reading!
This was my first official ARC so I feel very honored to get to read this prior to the official publication release date. Every book from this author has impressed me, most especially as an independent author who is not being heavily edited by a publishing house. This allows for her authentic voice and story telling to really shine through. Comparatively, to many main stream authors that are pumping out books yearly, they seem to be losing their authentic voice. Anyhow, her voice is refreshing.
Now to the story. SCOTTY!! You are a wild woman, who has been hurt and damaged by so much trauma throughout her life. She built up walls that were seemingly so impenetrable so she could hide her crumbling self inside. Much like the house she inherited that needed to be stripped down to the studs and rebuilt to become inhabitable so was she. It was a beautiful and painful story to unfold. She deserved every bit of her happy ending because she had to fight so hard (mostly against herself) to get it.
If this author keeps writing, I will keep reading!
February 21, 2026
♾️ Stars - No notes
I loved this book from the first page. It made me laugh, cry, and laugh some more. Scotty is easily one of my favorite FMC in a romance book.
Scotty ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ford ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wren ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
And even Molly ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I guess now I should read book one of the series.
I loved this book from the first page. It made me laugh, cry, and laugh some more. Scotty is easily one of my favorite FMC in a romance book.
Scotty ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ford ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wren ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
And even Molly ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I guess now I should read book one of the series.
May 24, 2025
So honored to have been given another ARC by Ashley!! In Junes book (Forever and Back) I wanted a BFF like Scotty .. now In Scotty book (Now to Forever) I want to be HER!!! What an amazing story. I can relate to Scotty on the family member with addiction issues, many times I've felt just like she did. This story is so good + raw and just overall beautiful! It had me laughing hysterically at times and crying the next! Don't tell my husband, but I used the line "Now to Forever" recently in an anniversary card 😊 Never stop writing Ashley, you have a GIFT! 💝 Read this book ASAP when it comes out!
January 29, 2026
As I was reading Scotty’s story, I was reminded many times of this quote I love from Shrimpy in Downton Abbey right before Rose goes to live with the Crawley family: “Love is like riding a horse or speaking french : if you don't learn it young, it's hard to get the trick of it later.” Scotty struggles with love - or she thinks she does. She’s actually really great at loving others in a deep way, but she has no idea how to let others love her. Or even to use those words because “love isn’t for her” or “something she’s allowed to have” because of all of the crappy things that happened to her growing up.
Her parents had no idea how to truly love her. Then addiction took away the two men she ever loved (in two different ways) - her brother and her true love. Now, twenty years later, she’s being forced to confront the truth. She just doesn’t quite know what that is because she can’t see herself very clearly at all.
It’s hard to even talk about the plot of this story without revealing so many of the masterful plot twists. Houses, teenagers, best friends, true loves, the past, the present, dead bodies, bar fights, therapists, trauma, and more are all part of her story. The author masterfully weaves each of these together giving us enough information to know who this person is or what this situation has taught Scotty without revealing it fully right away. It’s not that these plot twists are surprises, but the way that Scotty’s story unfolds, it’s better if you don’t quite know what’s coming when and you let Scotty reveal it to you as she’s ready.
I spent the last ten percent of the book wiping tears from my eyes because I was there with her. I wanted to show up for her and tell her that’s she’s enough just as she is - heck, I want to have the same thing happen to me. People coming together to share how our lives have impacted each other, finding the thread that connected us all together to help us grow and be loved and love and just “be” with one another.
This is a story about what love really is even when you can’t say the word and refuse to call it that because you’re not sure you even know what it is. But love is easier to learn as an adult than French - especially when you have people who refuse to be pushed away because they love you and can’t imagine their lives without you in them.
You don’t have to read June’s story first, but Scotty is better if you’ve seen how she loves June through her own moments of discovery - the backstory matters here, so I wouldn’t read this one without first falling in love with June and Camp. Scotty’s love for June shines bright in their finding their way to forever and back.
// I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review //
Her parents had no idea how to truly love her. Then addiction took away the two men she ever loved (in two different ways) - her brother and her true love. Now, twenty years later, she’s being forced to confront the truth. She just doesn’t quite know what that is because she can’t see herself very clearly at all.
It’s hard to even talk about the plot of this story without revealing so many of the masterful plot twists. Houses, teenagers, best friends, true loves, the past, the present, dead bodies, bar fights, therapists, trauma, and more are all part of her story. The author masterfully weaves each of these together giving us enough information to know who this person is or what this situation has taught Scotty without revealing it fully right away. It’s not that these plot twists are surprises, but the way that Scotty’s story unfolds, it’s better if you don’t quite know what’s coming when and you let Scotty reveal it to you as she’s ready.
I spent the last ten percent of the book wiping tears from my eyes because I was there with her. I wanted to show up for her and tell her that’s she’s enough just as she is - heck, I want to have the same thing happen to me. People coming together to share how our lives have impacted each other, finding the thread that connected us all together to help us grow and be loved and love and just “be” with one another.
This is a story about what love really is even when you can’t say the word and refuse to call it that because you’re not sure you even know what it is. But love is easier to learn as an adult than French - especially when you have people who refuse to be pushed away because they love you and can’t imagine their lives without you in them.
You don’t have to read June’s story first, but Scotty is better if you’ve seen how she loves June through her own moments of discovery - the backstory matters here, so I wouldn’t read this one without first falling in love with June and Camp. Scotty’s love for June shines bright in their finding their way to forever and back.
// I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review //
June 5, 2025
If I could rate this book more than 5 stars, I would! I was chosen to be an ARC reader for the first time ever, but I have read all of Ashley's book prior to this one. This is definitely the most emotional book to me and really gives insight into issues in the world that I feel many have no idea about. Including me, especially with the amount of detail we received. I also think Scotty's personality is by far my favorite!
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