So, I thought the only Alison G. Bailey man I needed in my life was Hart (The Dance). But, man was I wrong—I think I'll be snatching up Luken as well. And sorry, this girl does not believe in sharing. For once in my book boyfriend life I wouldn't mind being considered a cougar. Luken has to be one of the most well written 25-year-olds I have read in a long time. His huge heart, flirtatiousness, sweetness, ambition, determination, and intensity had me falling to my knees in adoration. Luken's character is the epitome of what I would look for in a book boyfriend. This delicious man definitely gave Hart a run for his money.

Cadence was one of those woman I would have no trouble seeing as my best friend. I absolutely loved her to pieces, maybe even more so than her counterpart. There was just so much realness about Caddie; so much to relate to on a personal level. Her character was raw and gritty in the sense that she faced real life struggles. Nothing about her was glamorized to give us a cloud of fairy tale. No, Cadence faced self-doubt, insecurity, extreme stubbornness, and a battle most of us couldn't even begin to imagine. Her life was anything but a fairy tale. What I loved the most about her was the journey of recovery and self-discovery/worth that Alison took us on. I learned so much from Cadence’s character. She will forever be one of my favorite heroines. 

I’m not one for big age gaps—not even close to being a fan of them; in fact, it’s one of those tropes that pushes me right outside my comfort zone. However, I didn’t ever once feel uncomfortable while reading, In this Moment by Alison G. Bailey. Cadence and Luken were so well developed and their romance so full of vibrancy that the thought of their ages never really crossed my mind, unless Caddie mentioned it. I was completely and utterly enchanted by this couple. There were even parts where I was yelling at Caddie to get the FOVER the whole age thing and just grasp onto Luken and never let go. 

My only complaint—the story was way too short. I NEEDED more Luken and Cadence. Hell, I even needed more Grace and Clayton, who by the way were some wicked fun secondary characters. If you can't tell, I HIGHLY recommend experiencing Caddie and Luken.

Life is made up of moments. If you’re not in one, then you’re not living.

Cadence Fletcher's life has not been easy the past couple of years. She has lost her self confidence and is in a rut. She is now embarking on some changes and starting a new life. Her best friend is bound and determined to push her out of her comfort zone and get her back to living.

She meets Luken Schaffer in a club. He is charming, witty, sexy, and significantly younger than her. He  immediately begins a pursuit and sparks interest in her so strongly that it scares her. She never thought she would see him again. But their lives cross again in a situation that could be seen as inappropriate for fraternization. But Luken is persistent and  determined to find a way to get her to give him  a real chance.

Cadence is smart, funny, sweet, and a bit awkward in the dating scene. He is a positive influence on her confidence and makes her feel more beautiful, wanted, and more like her old self. They have such a natural, easy going rapport and wonderful chemistry.

But there are some definite challenges and complications regarding situations in their lives that affect their present and their future. I liked that Luken was mature and knew his own mind. He was loving and caring, and he had a bit of pushy alpha in him too. But he brought along his own complications. Cadence was especially analytical and more unsure of their ability to handle the issues they could face. And she wanted the best for Luken even if she had to sacrifice something, and could be stubborn. Some things can be changed, some can't. But it comes down to what you can live with and without. 

This is about listening to your heart and enjoying each moment as it comes.  Sometimes the past can drag you down and the future can be overwhelming, but the joy and contentment in the small present moments with someone you care about are what make life worthwhile. But it takes hope, faith, and bravery to reach for it and try to sustain it. 

This is a novella so it is fast-paced, but she still really dug into the character's personalities and backstories to add depth. The issues are current and do not have easy fixes. It is a believable storyline with likable characters that you just really want to see get the best out of life. I really liked both Luken and Cadence, and truly felt their connection, passion, and pain. It is a short, sweet, funny, emotional, and romantic read. 

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.

One moment can change so much. Cadence is trying to move on with her life, to find herself again and find joy again. An unplanned evening catches her off guard and has her thinking about living again for the first time.

Luken wanted Cadence from the moment he saw her, but lost her nearly as quickly. When he finds her again, he has to work hard to convince her that she is what he wants, despite a family secret.

Luken was such a sweet hero. He knows what he wants and isn’t willing to wait too long to have it, and is willing to push Cadence a little bit past her comfort zone to get it. He has an innate patience that comes in handy dealing with Cadence, but he is also strong and stubborn.

Cadence seemed to be looking for reasons why a relationship wouldn’t work, so of course she found them. For being the “mature” one in the relationship, she pulled more immature moves than Luken, who waited patiently for her each time she had a panic attack about whatever was bothering her about the relationship.

Luken’s family added a nice depth to the story, as did Cadence’s friends. The family aspect added another drama I wasn’t expecting. 

I loved the idea of living in the moment that pops up in various ways throughout the plot line. This was a quick read and had a depth that is often easy to miss in a novella. There is quite a bit going on in the story, with good backstories and multiple sources of tension.