Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Time River #2

Don't Forget Me Tomorrow

Rate this book
When my best friend’s little sister walks in on me moaning her name, it’s all over. All restraints are shattered, and every boundary demolished. Nothing will be the same…

For years, I’ve tried to keep my distance from Dakota Cooper. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted and the one thing I can’t have.

But when she calls me in the middle of the night after someone tries to break into her house, I can no longer handle that distance, and I convince her to stay with me, along with her young son.


I should have known having her living under my roof would push me to the edge. Ignite the need that has simmered for so long.


The problem is, she’s forbidden. Off-limits. And I know better than crossing that line.
I can’t drag her into the dark secrets of my life.


But I can’t stay away from her either, so I do the one thing I shouldn’t—I take.
And now that I’ve had her, I’m not sure I can save her from who I am...

What to expect in Don’t Forget Me Tomorrow...
*Brother’s best friend
*Single mom
*Small town romance
*Secret past
*Pierced MC
*Touch her and die vibes
*Romantic suspense
*No cheating
*HEA
Check CW’s at author’s website

390 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 10, 2023

2,500 people are currently reading
11.9k people want to read

About the author

A.L. Jackson

82 books13.8k followers
A.L. Jackson is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. She writes emotional, sexy, heart-filled stories about boys who usually like to be a little bit bad.

Her bestselling series include THE REGRET SERIES, CLOSER TO YOU, BLEEDING STARS, FIGHT FOR ME, CONFESSIONS OF THE HEART, FALLING STARS, REDEMPTION HILLS, and TIME RIVER novels.Get her latest single mom, neighbors-to-lovers, small town romance HOLD ME UNTIL MORNING, out now!

If she’s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.

GET TO KNOW ME EVERYWHERE

Website: www.aljacksonauthor.com
Facebook: facebook.com/aljacksonauthor
Twitter: @aljacksonauthor
Instagram: @aljacksonauthor
Snapchat: aljacksonauthor
Newsletter: http://smarturl.it/NewsFromALJackson
Reader Group: http://smarturl.it/AmysAngelsRock

Text "aljackson" to 33222 for special updates!

Want to know what music inspires my books?
I have book specific playlists on Spotify!
https://open.spotify.com/user/1255231879

Represent by Brower Literary & Management
subrights@browerliterary.com

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
3,824 (40%)
4 stars
3,309 (34%)
3 stars
1,803 (19%)
2 stars
412 (4%)
1 star
118 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,034 reviews
Profile Image for Christy.
4,364 reviews35.5k followers
February 28, 2024
4 stars
"Love is on the house"

Brother’s best friends books are always a sure thing. I also love a good single mom romance. Ryder and Dakota were great together. I’m not always a huge fan of the romantic suspense genre, but this one was well done. Dakota had the sweetest little boy and I loved how much Ryder loved him. Both of them. Ryder was going through something hard, but he had a lot to prove and by the end he did prove how much he loved them both.
Audio book source: Audible
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Connor Crais & Samantha Brentmoor
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 11h 14m
Profile Image for Jessica .
2,450 reviews15.6k followers
October 10, 2023
3.5 stars

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, so I was excited for a childhood friends to lovers, single mom romance.

When this book started, I was definitely intrigued by the hero and heroine and the obvious history they had with one another. I loved how Ryder already had a close relationship with Dakota's son and how he was around all the time. Unfortunately, for about 80% of the book, not too much happened in the plot. Dakota and her son were living with Ryder and Dakota would go to work. I wanted a bit more to happen to keep me engaged. I also felt like it was obvious why Dakota and Ryder didn't work in the past, and that aspect was kept as a "reveal" at the end, which isn't always my favorite to happen in a second chance story. Since it was obvious, keeping it as a reveal just didn't hit for me.

I did love the suspense and the twist at the end, which is why the story itself is getting 3.5 stars, but I just wasn't super engaged with the rest of the story.
Profile Image for Rachael*Caribbean*girl*bibliophile.
2,204 reviews485 followers
February 21, 2024
Spoilers ahead, 2 stars for sheet sweet Kayden


Best friend's little sister "romance". They've been friends for years, he's loved her forever she's loved him forever but he can't be with her because he made a terrible choice at a hard time in his life and now he's caught up in some bad shit
The night he rejected her she had a ONS and got pregnant
He's known KNOWN as a huge manwhore
But of course something happens that requires them to live together and she goes on a date and then of course he can't stay away after that🙄
Drama and disaster.... I'm sorry.....hea

*******
Ryder got involved in doing and selling drugs after the death of his mother...he got clean but he was already deeply involved in that world and couldn't get out.... he's wanted the h for years but now of course he can't be with her....did our dear Ryder decide if he can't have the woman he loves he'll just stay celibate and work on a way to getting his shit together.....well no . That type of thinking is above the capabilities of a mere MAN. Instead lovely Ryder precedes to fuck everything that breathes in his direction.... while living in a small town!!!! So of course the h saw and knew what was happening!!!!!!!!!!! Grrrrrrr whew deep breath. I read the previous book so I knew his reputation but I figured he loved her so maybe his rep was a cover so nobody knew that she was his weakness....I should've fucking KNOWN!!!!!! I'm disgusted atp
And the h I forgot her name OMFG bitch wtf is wrong with you!!! She was just there pining away behind him!!!!!!!! Then when they finally have sex which she instigated btw she was the one who encouraged no condom!!!! She deserved all the STDs Alllllllllll


Deep breath
Kayden is the best part of this book, my second read by this author but I love the kids in her books and the relationships they have with the adults around them.
**** second book in this series when the bad stuff goes down the kids are actually there. This really bothered me tbh

H was A GIGANTIC WALKING STD
h had a one time hookup and got pregnant, no mention of others after for her though she went on one stupid date
Drug use and drug trafficking by the H. Drug use was in the past
Did I mention he was a HUGE MANWHORE
No cheating* this is a fucking joke 😭 but no actual cheating

****************
But staying with Ryder? There had to be a better solution.
I wasn’t sure I could handle that. Being in his space.
Close quarters.
Watching him do his thing.
It was bad enough to have to witness it when we were out, but it would be so much harder with it paraded right in front of me.


Eyes ablaze, his head cocked to the side, and he continued to hold onto my elbow like I might suddenly disappear. “You think any of those women could ever be more important than you?”
My chest nearly caved with all the times he’d hurt me doing just that.
A sharp blade dragged across my flesh every time we’d been at a bar, and he’d walked out with someone else.
“More than that, you think I’ve ever brought one of them here?”
A scoff quivered free. “I might not know where you spend your time, Ryder, but I know how you spend it.”

He’d rejected me.
I’d never forget his words.
Sweet and tender and so horrifyingly painful that I still carried them like a scar.
I love you, Dakota. So fucking much. But not like that.

Pain leached into her voice, and she looked away when she asked, “Do you think I didn’t notice the type of women you went after?”
I reached out, taking her by the chin, prying those eyes back to mine. “I went after them because I couldn’t have the one woman that I wanted. Because I knew I would never be worthy of you, Dakota. Because I knew I’d never be good enough. And I’m still not, and here I stand, a fucking bastard for even thinking about touching you.”


He barely nodded, but there was something disbelieving behind it. “She looks at you like you’re a fucking saint walking on water.”
I tried to ignore the insinuation. Refusing to take it in as truth. But I’d be a liar if I denied it. The way she did look at me. The way she felt. The way she’d let me crawl all over her if I asked. The way she’d let me take.
But I wasn’t worthy of that, and Cody never hesitated to point that out.

He edged back and looked down at me. “I nearly lost my mind when I found out you were pregnant. Destroyed me to think of you with somebody else.” (gave me the ick so bad)

“Watching you with other women destroyed me, too.”
Remorse dimmed his eyes, and he brushed his thumb under the hollow of my eye. “I did my best to put as much space and history between us. Thinking one day, it would finally kill what I really felt for you. That one day I’d look at you and we’d really just be friends. But I don’t think that’s even possible, Dakota. There’s no chance of not feeling this.”
Profile Image for jessicakaitlin.
725 reviews352 followers
October 1, 2023
This book was sooo good! A.L. Jackson delivers in this small town, brothers best friend, single mom, romantic suspense!

I loved the characters, the small town, and the suspense that kept me on the edge of my seat and that plot twist/revelation at the end OMG!! And let’s not forget the absurd amount of sexual tension and chemistry that both Ryder & Dakota had. 10% into the book and I was already blushing because of the amount of tension they had.

Ryder was a morally grey biker with a million tattoos and if that’s not enough to convince you to read this book, idk what is.

Also- I love a single mom romance and this was perfect. Dakotas son Kayden stole the entire show.

“I see you Mommy!” 🥹🥹

“Love is on the house.”

There’s a ton of things to like about this book. The writing was great, and most importantly, all the characters were amazing. The author kept describing Ryder as having “gunmetal eyes”, and that was repeated no less than 20x lol. And a few of the choices the characters make were definitely morally grey but all in all, I throughly enjoyed this.

I highly recommend this book!

Thanks to the author for the ARC🫶🏼 all opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Literary Child.
211 reviews6 followers
March 5, 2024
Я наплакалася, намилувалася цими пиріжками, розчулилася по саме не хочу. Афігєнні
Profile Image for Christi (christireadsalot).
2,545 reviews1,138 followers
October 6, 2023
Don’t Forget Me Tomorrow is the newest book in AL Jackson’s Time River series and I could not wait for this book after loving Love Me Today, book 1 in the series, so much earlier this year. And the wait was definitely worth it, I loved this book too!

“I promise I will take care of you. Protect you.”
“Why?”
“Because protecting you is what I was created to do.”

This read is small town, friends to lovers, best friend’s little sister, single mom heroine, mutual pining, light romantic suspense! Dakota and Ryder are everything and I am just obsessed with them! The way they take care of one another and he’s so protective over her and her son Kayden. When Dakota hears something in the night, Ryder immediately shows up and moves her and her son in with him. Then when Dakota overhears Ryder in his room moaning her name 👀, well let’s just say they both realize the other could actually be an option. 🔥

I just loved these two so much, their closeness and bond was so apparent. The mutual pining was done so well and I love when a hero thinks he’s too damaged/too broken/too dangerous to be involved with the heroine, which is exactly how Ryder is in this book. He has some dark secrets in his past/his life and he doesn’t want Dakota to get involved or get hurt from that. His nickname for her is “Cookie”, her fav saying is “love is on the house”, he’s also a tattooed, pierced hero and omg if this couple cover isn’t the most stunning thing ever! We do see Paisley, the heroine of Love Me Today, as she is best friends with Dakota.
Profile Image for Kelly.
614 reviews511 followers
October 4, 2023
Single parent romances will always do it for me and this single mom romance was HOT 🫠 we had a man OBSESSED here and this series from AL Jackson is so addicting! It’s a great mix of small town vibes with suspense. Totally recommend for my small town lovers.





*****thank you AL Jackson for the ARC copy
Profile Image for glavreads.
462 reviews7,534 followers
October 17, 2023
this was a great, angsty, hot, brother's best friend, single mom romance.

the way these two pined over each other for years and have held just the deepest love for each other!!!!!

the ending felt a little rushed, like it got resolved a little too quickly but i just loved how dakota worried he didn't love her like she loved him but secretly, ryder was undoing every wrong decision he made in life to be worthy of her and her son.
Profile Image for Jenn (The Book Refuge).
2,456 reviews4,236 followers
October 5, 2023
This was a beautiful and angsty friends to lovers. It had me swooning, gasping, and falling in love from the very beginning.

A.L. Jackson has such a lyrical way of writing that I have really come to love, especially when listening to it through narration. It makes me feel such big feels and keeps me so engaged with the couple. I listened to this basically all in one go and it was hard to drag myself away.

Dakota is a strong single mom with a little boy who is running her own business. She is such a lovely person and while it can be tough to see a heroine like her carrying a torch and pining for someone... it worked for me here because this is a mutual pining situation.

Ryder does want her with his whole chest, but he has a bad boy past that he needs to clean up. Or he'll never be able to be who she deserves. He is so protective over her and her little boy and it will make your heart melt. I love kids in romance and this little one is the absolute sweetest.

I just loved watching them reach the breaking point and get drawn even closer together. My heart was in my throat in certain moments and I was ready for them to get their HEA.

I think if you are a fan of Romantic Suspense, Small Town Romance, single parents, and a wonderful community with medium spice but with a dirty edge... This will be a winner for you!

I can't wait for whatever Time River brings us next.

4.5 stars
3.5 on the spice scale

CW: Danger to children, drug use, kidnapping, death by OD
Profile Image for crystal.
690 reviews716 followers
October 5, 2023
THIS BOOK WAS EVERYTHING 😭🤍🤍 dakota and ryder having feelings for each other for years and the other not thinking they felt the same way DID ME INNNNNN. this book was absolute perfection & I love them so much 😭🤍

tropes:
small town
single mom
brother’s best friend
Profile Image for Sarah/DragonflyReads.
796 reviews182 followers
October 6, 2023
Have you ever read a book that felt so special to you that it was like one of your babies?

Ryder and Dakota grew up together, he’s best friends with her brother after all. But she never felt like he would look at her as an anything other than his best friends little sister. Practically family. Time moves on and people change and grow. Ryder is trying to prove to Dakota that he’s worthy of her and man, does he love her something fierce! Phew!

With beautiful and relatable plus-size representation for our single mama Dakota, Amy truly hit it out of the park. You can borrow this beauty right now on KU!
321 reviews
October 5, 2023
DNF. I don't think this author is for me, I think this is the 2nd book of hers I've dfned. Her writing style just annoyed me, why have you described his eyes as gunmetal like 100 times???
Profile Image for WhittyReads.
471 reviews7 followers
October 6, 2023
Don't Forget Me Tomorrow is the second book in her Time River series. (this can be read as a standalone). A.L. Jackson is such a beautiful writer and storytelling. She truly knows how to write a beautiful story that is beautiful, sexy, and suspenseful. I truly cannot recommend this book enough!

This story follows Ryder and Dakota, these two have loved each other since they were young. Ryder is best friend’s with Dakota’s brother so he has been in her life since she was a child. Ryder has been fighting his feelings for Dakota, but there is a reason for this. He has a secret past and is desperately trying to get out of his current situation. Even though he cannot be with her he always is there for Dakota in every way.

Dakota is a single mom to her son and I absolutely adored her character. Ryder has a past that has ultimately caused him to keep Dakota at arms length. He is so protective over her and Kamden and it was truly so heartwarming.

This story has so many things I love that A.L. Jackson did so well. The mutual pining, forced proximity and the romantic suspense elements were so well done. This book definitely has its intense moments and it added such a great layer of suspense to the story.

Ryder and Dakota have a beautiful love story filled with angst and longing. Their love is one they had to fight for, but as always love prevails in the end. This small town, brother's best friend, romantic suspense was perfection in every away. I am looking forward to the next book in the series!

Thank you to Valentine PR for my ARC copy.
Profile Image for Melanie Cummins.
275 reviews7 followers
October 6, 2023
Okay no because I have so many things to say and so many questions to ask.
For starters, what’s with all the plot holes?
Like why did everyone just forget about all the break ins? We’re they all actually connected? What was the reason behind them???????? Was it him??? Why did he wanna break into a hardware store?????????????

Second of all,
We obviously saw how mad Cody was after everyone but did him and Ryder make up??? I means obvs he was in the epilogue but like he was just there yknow? How did they make up?? I NEED ANSWERS

Does Kayden still think he’s Uncle Rye Rye? He’s w his mom now surely he’s not uncle? Small details but IMPORTANT details gosh.

We spent so much time in the dark about what Ryder was hiding but then all of the above was just left to the imagination? Absolutely ridiculous. Readers deserve better. Ryder deserved better tbh. I DESERVED BETTER. 😡😡😡😡😡

2 stars tho because I had a soft spot for Ryder and I’m proud of him for staying sober. Sue me for loving a broken man idc
Profile Image for Intel Chicky Reads Romance (Kara Merideth).
2,105 reviews1,425 followers
October 7, 2023
Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Trope: siblings best friend, friend to lovers
Angst: 😱😱😱😱
Smexy: 🔥🔥🔥

No one writes the high angst books I want to read like AL Jackson - no one! Such an emotional rollercoaster packed with tons of yum like mutual pining, a guy who claims her kid as his own, and combustive smexy times. Combine that with superb writing, dark secrets looming, and a twist that will leave gasping, and you have the perfect read that's Don't Forget Me Tomorrow. Definitely recommend!

⛔️ My bookshelves can sometimes be spoilers
Profile Image for BOOKLOVER_81.
2,116 reviews73 followers
October 20, 2024
Ryder Nash, the MMC, loves in a way most hopeless romantic dream for. Through the author’s beautiful writing, the reader is able to feel his soul scorching love for Dakota, the FMC, from the endearing way he calls her Cookie to the fierce protective love he has for her son, Kayden.

“Because protecting you is what I was created to do.”
(RYDER)

“I love you, Dakota. I’m gone for you. Since I was twenty-two fucking years old, I’ve been gone for you. Since you became the one thing in this world that could soothe the ache inside me. Since you became the reason to look beyond my circumstances. Since you reminded me of the good things this world might have to offer.” (Ryder)

“You saved me, Dakota. Saved me when I was lost. When I’d given up. And I keep trying to push you away because I know I don’t deserve you. But I can’t do that any longer. I can’t fucking deny that you are the one thing in this life that I’ve been living for. You are the light breaking the darkness inside me. And I’m begging you, please don’t walk away.” (Ryder) 🥰🥰

“You’re everything, Dakota Cooper. The most important thing in this world. Whatever happens, promise me that you won’t forget that.”😍😍😍

**Brother's best friend
**Childhood friends to lovers 💕
**Small town
**Dirty Talk
**Past demons
**Bad boy/Good girl

Online audiobook 🎶 4.4 rating
Profile Image for Katie Beasley.
542 reviews60 followers
August 10, 2024
Dakota and Ryder. Enough said. I had put off reading this story because I knew I would want to savor the build up between these two. We know from book 1 where they stand. Dakota loved him from afar, and Ryder hooks up with a TON of women. But none of them are ever Dakota. He treats her special but never takes it too far. The hype for this one did NOT disappoint. Ryder sounds ridiculously hot. The epitome of darkness to Dakota's light. I was fearful going in to this one and honestly got a little frustrated with how long the back and forth went on until they acted on their feelings. Their chemistry was legit off the charts. Throw in Dakota's son and I was a goner. I was completely blown away by all of the plot twists AL threw our way- I mean DAMN. The bad guy in this one was determined to keep Ryder under his thumb for as long as possible. I absolutely loved reading the past POVs- it helped bring a clearer picture to their relationship and why Dakota's head was where it was.

Dakota doesn't know what to do anymore. Her feelings for Ryder have gotten a little out of control. She wants more with him and doesn't know how to tell him without risking their friendship. He treats her like a queen but never seems to want to cross that line with her. Well things have changed. Someone is trying to scare Dakota. They have broken into her house. Ryder insists her and her son move in with him. But Dakota is scared. She won't be able to pretend anymore. She is convinced he doesn't feel anything for her until she catches him in an awkward situation and OMG does it change the course of everything. At least she thinks it does. But nothing changes. Dakota finally has to go out with someone else for Ryder to realize it's now or never. He keeps telling her that he is too dark. That his soul is too far gone for her to save. But she is determined to help him see that he is a good man. But then she learns the truth. A truth that crushes everything she thought she knew. Now she is on a roller coaster of emotions. Ryder always told her to stay away and maybe he was right.

Ryder is living as a shell of a person. He goes out. He sleeps around. But he has no real connections with women besides the one he can never have- his best friend's little sister, Dakota. The Dakota who has been in his life for forever. The Dakota who makes him feel like he is sitting by the sun because of how much she radiates. The one woman he can't get out of his head. He keeps telling her that nothing good can come of them. But she is persistent. And now that her and her son are in his house all bets are off. But what will she think of him when she learns the truth of what he did all those years ago? Of how weak he was and what he sacrificed? Will she prove him wrong? There is only way one to find out. Because now that he has her in his life- there is no way he is going to let her go.

I think that this is my favorite one in this series thus far. I just started Cody's though so that may change. It's always fun to see the playboy get put in his place. Dakota and Ryder were just it for me. They had been circling around each other forever and their f*ck it moment was HOT. ALL of the spice scenes were HOT. This man oozed sexiness in my opinion. And he worshiped Dakota the way she deserved. If you are looking for small town romance with some serious suspense, I HIGHLY recommend this series!!
Profile Image for Alba and Her Secrets..♥.
911 reviews1,151 followers
October 5, 2023
4.5 'Love is on the house' Stars!
ARC provided via Valentine PR in exchange for an honest review.


We are back in Time River after meeting this new crew of characters just a few months ago and my body was so ready for some Ryder and Dakota after getting to know them in Love Me Today. This book has so many of my favorite troupes and, of course, A.L. Jackson did not disappoint. She has given us a perfect continuation for the series with this friends to lovers romance.

Don’t Forget Me Tomorrow is the second installment in the Time River series and, as I mentioned, it tells the story of Ryder Nash and Dakota Cooper. Ryder is a business owner with too many secrets and Dakota’s brother happens to be his best friend. Dakota also owns a business that is rapidly flourishing and has been in love with Ryder since she was very young. She has realized that Ryder will never feel the same and she wants to focus on her adorable son Kayden and find love. But Ryder is not having it, he has secretly loved Dakota for the same amount of time and now he wants to fight for her and Kayden. But it’s not as easy as it seems when there are many obstacles on the way.

I'd wanted to give her everything I had, but the only thing I had been able to do was give her the one gift that I could.
She viewed it as a debt. Like something she needed to repay.
She could never understand that what I'd given her was my heart.


I am not surprised that I read this book so fast since I’ve been loving Amy’s work since I started reading her creations. In Don’t Forget Me Tomorrow the list of themes is long and just amazing: brother’s best friend, single parent, small town, secret past, suspense and so many pining. That and the intense chemistry between this couple got to me FAST. I loved seeing Ryder finally fighting for his happiness, Dakota loving herself and all those beautiful moments as a family together with Kayden. Yes, not everything is hearts and flowers, we also have some suspense and it keeps things interesting, for sure. But you all know we got that HEA in the end, right?

I felt ripped apart.
Sewn together.
Pierced.
Healed.
Whole.
So much. Everything. Never enough.


Therefore, I am rating Don’t Forget Me Tomorrow with 4.5 STARS because I enjoyed as much as I loved the first book in the series and it made me fall even more in love with all these characters, especially Ryder, Dakota and Kayden. I loved this couple, I loved this family and how their relationship evolves as things start happening for these two amazing people. Now I am even more curious to see what is coming next in the series, so excited to read Ezra’s story next!

Profile Image for Dani (Daniiireads).
1,638 reviews276 followers
November 18, 2023
2.5 ⭐️

I figured out what was going to happen pretty early on, but was hoping the story would pick up. Unfortunately it didn’t & the pacing was glacial up until like 85ish percent & then everything happened all at once.
Profile Image for Beth.
12 reviews1 follower
October 7, 2024
“Listen now and don’t ever forget it, you are everything.” ... “I can’t go one more second without touching you.”

An easy reading romance with unrequited love, longing and spice. Don’t go into this expecting a strong or realistic plot, just enjoy it for what it is!

I’m not sure how to review this except to say that it’s not exactly good, I cringed quite a bit, but I’ll still be reading it again… I am trash for the second chance & forbidden love tropes.

“I guess I like you on your knees for me.”
… I had been for years, and she didn’t have a clue.


🎧 Connor Crais was perfect as Ryder, and may have influenced how much I enjoyed this audiobook because his voice was just so sexy.

🌶️ 🌶️🌶️ (3/5)
Nice and spicy… loved the praise kink! And I never knew that a pierced d*ck would be so hot. 🤭 Also, there's a 'mirror scene'...

“I keep trying to stay away from you, don’t think I know how to do it anymore. Don’t think I can.”

“I’ve wanted you to touch me since I understood what desire meant.”

When Dakota’s house is broken into, the one person she knows she can call in the middle of the night is her brother’s best friend Ryder (who she’s been in love with since forever). For reasons I can’t remember, she must then stay at Ryder’s house even though her mum, brother and best friend all live in the same town. So yeah, that’s a bit forced but okay.

The “off limits” atmosphere is there and I was so ready for the brother’s best friend angle, but that mostly felt like an explanation for how they met and why Ryder was always at Dakota’s house when they were kids. In the current time, they’re actually the ones that are best friends and they both want and love each other so much but are convinced they can’t be together, for reasons that come out through the story.

I’m not sure how they think they were keeping their feelings a secret when they’re flirting all the time and so obviously into each other.
It’s predictable that of course they’ll get together, but once they start confessing feelings and fooling around I was still so excited and screaming for them to kiss already.

The “I want you but I’m not good enough for you” angst was a vibe and Ryder kind of needed to chill, but I was also eating that right up. I did like Ryder, he was protective, loyal (low key obsessed with Dakota) and had the while bad boy thing going for him.

Dakota was okay, but overly sweet (he even calls her “cookie” 🙄) and a bit two dimensional. She’s also a single mother and the way Ryder loves her son is adorable.

I think this was accidental, but there was a magical realism element that I liked where both main characters experience a physical shift in gravity in reaction to the other’s presence and will know that they’ve entered the room without turning.

You can expect over the top cringy sweetness, especially at the end. The storyline is a bit weak, but overall okay, and there were plenty of moments where I just wanted to shake the characters for their ridiculous timing or not seeing what’s in front of them.

Nothing much happens outside of conversations for a lot of the book, they’re going to work and hanging out at Ryders house but somehow it still feels rushed? I would have liked to see them interact with friends together more and maybe some “secret relationship” outings or something?

The descriptions do get a bit repetitive too (“gun metal eyes”, “he’s midnight”) and some phrases made me want to shrivel up inside (“dip it in every girl he meets”, “dick hunting” 🤢).

Multiple POV
Flashbacks
Second chance
Childhood Friends to Lovers
Off-Limits / Forbidden Romance
Forced Proximity
Single Mother
Protective MMC
Praise Kink
Pierced MMC
Profile Image for Haley.
55 reviews6 followers
August 28, 2024
“Love is on the house”

I went into this story with so much excitement from what we knew about Dakota and Ryder from the previous book. Ryder is the mysterious motorcycle riding bad boy that i’m always a sucker for, who has a secret that you will be pining to know more about the entire story. Dakota is a baker who has followed her dreams and was able to have her own shop with the help of Ryder.

The twists and turns in this story had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I never expected the plot twists and I never put two and two together for the reveals. Ryder and Dakota had so much chemistry to the point that you couldn’t not root for them, even though the rest of the world was against them. Dakota’s sweet son Kayden was absolutely adorable, and brought so much light and love into a story that really needed a light in the darkness.

If you’re looking for a story that has two badass main characters, an amazing found family aspect, suspense and twists every which way, and a happy ever after… this is the book for you! I can’t wait to read the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Anna.
769 reviews606 followers
September 30, 2023
4.5 stars

💓Love is on the house 💓

This book was so dang good AND I JUST KNEW it would hit the spot when I found out it was a brothers best friend, childhood friends novel!!!

The audiobook was soooooo goood highly recommend listening to it!! I love this series so much and I can’t wait for more!

Ryder was perfection & the self-care 🍆 scene where we find out he is pierced was everything I never knew I needed!!! Dakota was such a strong individual & an amazing mommy! So many good side characters, and I absolutely loved getting to see paisley and Caleb again! Kayden was so precious ugh “I see you mommy” “my ry ry” like stop my heart is melting!!!

CAN I SAY I GUESSED THE BIG REVEAL!!!!! I was always thinking about “what if” and I WAS RIGHT! Muahaha I’m a genius.

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes:
It’s always been you
Single mom
Pierced, tatted MMC
Curvey FMC bakery owner
Forced proximity
Small town
Brothers best friend
Childhood friends to lovers
Found family
Profile Image for Gayane♡.
309 reviews
June 18, 2024
Very cute story but I’m starting to see a pattern in the sequel. I really liked Dakota she reminded me of myself. The plot was interesting and almost to the end plot twist was a bit shocking. Overall it was still a great book. 🩵
Profile Image for Sarah.
1,854 reviews1,354 followers
October 24, 2023
Really enjoyed this audio, and the plot twist…so good!

If you love tortured heroes, some suspense, curvy heroines, single moms, small town, you’ll love this one.

Can be read as a standalone!
Profile Image for ohmynameiskaylee.
167 reviews200 followers
October 11, 2023
playlist 🎧: https://spotify.link/s7wF5XPUrDb
pinterest board📌: https://pin.it/2lqZmgJ

”Love is on the house.”

One of my most anticipated reads of the year and let me tell you, as an angst lover, it did not disappoint.

Amy can do no wrong. I am in awe of quite literally anything and everything she does. You may be asking why, but even if you aren't, I'll tell you anyway. Vibes. The vibes are always there. How she can write a dark romance and still create the essence of home is beyond me. Her ability to write cozy, small-town romances is otherworldly.

As a strong protector of my peace, I thrive for the type of fictional drama I can shamelessly put my nose in, and this...this was it. I'm not saying I would be the town gossip, but I'm not not saying that either.

I would protect Dakota with my life though. My lips are zipped when it comes to her. She's been through it! Poor girl cannot catch a break. But she is the strongest woman with the wildest heart, so shoutout to her!

Good Lord, don't even get me started on our male protagonist, Ryder. No, because I really do need this man like I need air to breathe. The piercing? I mean, HELLO. I will say though, Cookie would not be my nickname of choice. Personal preference though!

Can we just talk about the quaint dynamics that accompany single-parent romances? We truly don't talk about them enough. Seeing the way Ryder cared for Kayden as though he was his own made my heart swoon.

Amy has mastered the art of "everything is going a little too well". I'm telling you, it's all dandy until you get to that last twenty pages. Even when you think you've predicted the plot twist, it somehow gets even crazier! The DRAMA. I mean, I'm a girl who loves a good groveling moment and for the conflict that took place in this particular novel, I definitely think Dakota should've groveled a lot more.

I did notice that there are a lot of parallels between the stories in the Time River series and that of the Redemption Hills series. We've been introduced to broody male protagonists with secret pasts as well as the kidnapping in both stories in this saga back-to-back, so I would've preferred to see more variety when it comes to the plot. That being said, Amy writes with such a fierce tension that keeps you roped in the entire time.

The pacing did begin to drag a little the further we got into the book, purely because the catalyst of their past was teased so much without any additional knowledge being provided along the way. It was almost as if the story were stagnant because of this.

I would've loved to have also seen the author explore the break-ins more. We never did learn if they were all connected, unless I skimmed over this part. There were so many opportunities to build on that uneasiness that Dakota was feeling throughout the entire story. Overall, it was still an enjoyable narrative to partake in!

All in all, I am SO excited to see who the love interest in Ezra's novel is! He's also got three kids, so once again, another win for the single-parent girlies. Take me back to Time River already! Better yet, let me live there. Please and thank you, with a cherry on top.

Thank you to A.L. Jackson for so kindly sending me an ARC. As always, all opinions are my own and are not influenced by early access to this title.
Profile Image for Romancing the Reader.
1,138 reviews494 followers
December 14, 2023
Excellent and angsty….

Another small town romance series I can’t help but be invested in…

📔 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼: Don’t Forget Me Tomorrow by AL Jackson, book two in the Time River series.

📚𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲: Brothers best friend, romantic suspense, opposites attract, forced proximity, small town romance.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Dakota has been in love with Ryder since they were kids, but he’s always kept her at arms length. But when Dakota starts to date, it’s clear he can’t help his feelings anymore. And when a break in at their home forces Dakota and her son to move into his place temporarily, he’s no longer able to hide at all.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: I picked up this book and the first of the series as my first two AL Jackson books, and they definitely hit the spot. But what I’ve realized about her writing is that even though it hits some tropes, it’s not stereotypical at all.

So this was SO much more than just a small town romance and so much more than a brother’s best friend trope. Dakota and Ryder have a past and a present. They’re both intricately detailed and layered characters. And there’s a bit of darkness to Ryder that’s just… 👌.

Two main reasons I loved this book? First - my god, the PINING. It’s clear from the start both characters are hopelessly in love with one another. Second, the tension and spice were out of this world.

I loved both books in this series and can not wait for the small-town sheriff, Ezra, to get his book next!

📝 𝗔 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲… You know how I am with reading series in order. But the first book in this series was definitely worth a read as well if you haven’t already.

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3.5/5 🌶🌶🌶

🆓️ on KU

𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒆𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,034 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.