A “second chance” love story, “Something New” brings Anna Maria Costado and Wyatt Turner, who used to be old flames, together again. From the outside, it looks like both had moved on but seeing each other brought back old feelings.

As a young couple, both Anna Maria and Wyatt had big dreams. And those dreams came true. But, as the old saying “what goes up must come down” hit the former lovers around the same time, they found themselves licking their wounds and trying to reinvent themselves. And as they try to do that, perhaps, their old love which had been rekindled can have a chance.

Something New is Rated T for Teens

In the earlier books in this series Anna was always the secondary character that I had the hardest time finding something to like about her. To be blunt… she’s not a nice person, at all. As an actress she’s fought hard to get to this point in her career. Yet when she blew up at a waitress, admittedly for a good reason, the negative publicity that resulted from the incident going viral has put her career in serious danger. While the chance to escape the spotlight for a week or so may seem ideal… it also will bring unpleasant memories as friends are gathering for a wedding and the bride is doing her best to reunite old couples once again. The last thing Ana needed was to run into Wyatt. But they’re both stuck here for a week and tempers are going to flare.

Wyatt and Anna are a volatile couple. They each had dreams back in college, and each achieved success in varying degrees. They left each other behind on their path to success, between misunderstandings, regrets, and anger they have a lot to work through to have any hope of a happy ending.

I enjoyed Something New, it’s not my favorite of the series, but it does shed light on why Anna acted as she did in the earlier stories. They have a chance at happiness together, but they also need to get past, forgive and deal with a lot as well. Frankly, at times they were a frustrating couple yet many people are like that in real life as well. I would recommend this story and this series to any Romance reader who enjoys digging a bit deeper into the psyche of why people act as they do, enjoys a lot of crossover second chance couples as secondary characters. and believes that happiness is a choice… one that we have to decide to grab or not.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

Something New, book three in Megan Ryder’s Lone Star Match series, takes us to Whitby Island just off the Texas Coast in the Gulf of Mexico. This is a second chance at love story which brings Hollywood actress Anna Costado and her former boyfriend Wyatt Turner back together for the week leading to the marriage of their best friends Caroline and Matthew.
Anna is a brittle character. She’s built a protective shell around herself and I admit that it took a little while to love her, though she intrigued me from the start. Wyatt is easy to like, though he too is hurting. The sparks between these two are ongoing with constant push and pull throughout the story, making for entertaining reading.
This story can be read and enjoyed as a stand-alone though I think it’s better as part of the series because of the interactions between the eight friends. It’s angsty, filled with plot twists and well paced. I really enjoyed it.

I've really enjoyed the previous 2 books in this series but this one just didn't work for me. While I enjoyed the overall concept of the story, the lead female character, Anna Maria. drove me crazy.and the lead male, Wyatt, wasn't much better. They did and said things both past and present that just didn't make a lot of sense to me. I just didn't feel the chemistry between the two.

A story that begins with a friend trying to persuade her friend from college to come back to Texas for her wedding. It would also mean that Anna Maria Costado who is now a television star and is in a free fall career wise. She could get out of town and out of sight of photographers which is only one of her problems. Going back to Texas means she also has to see Wyatt Turner who she thought she would have a future with but instead after his second knee injury became a jerk and told everyone to leave and now blames everyone because they did. Wyatt is now a coach at the University where they went but still has feelings for Anna. He believes that by going to this wedding he can finally move past the hurt. Once all of the people are on the island and he begins to see Anna as much as he wants to continue to be mad he also wants to move on because he knows that there is something else going on with her that is making her on edge. Wyatt though must also come to terms with the idea that he is done with football, with playing football and once he gives that a full thought he is able to help Anna to see what has gone on with her career. Once the wedding is over Anna is in New York for an audition when she realizes what she really wants. Want she wants is a life and a guy and she goes after both. Read this book and see if she can have both. A good story with good characters.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

I was not sure how I would like to read this third book as the three books all are set during the week before Matthew and Caroline's wedding, but even though some content is similar, it is a completely different story focusing on the last couple. It really is fun to read about the group events from each person's point of view! What sounded bitchy from one book, you understand the emotions behind the remark when you read the book from another's perspective.

Anna and Wyatt really had unresolved issues, and each blamed the other. As usually, they both needed to share the blame! It was kind of funny that Wyatt had such bitterness towards Anna when he told her to leave then was upset that she did!

Anna really left everyone behind - similar to Delaney but for different reasons, yet she really did not see it that way and how it hurt her friends and her family. She had huge trust issues after witnessing a betrayal, and sometimes I wanted to smack her and shout that if she really doesn't like all the constant press, then find a different job that she likes!

Wyatt, I felt, was kind of back and forth for a bit and I loved that when he saw how Anna was adversely portrayed in the press, he realized that if he had become an NFL star, that would have been his life, also.

It was fun to watch Anna and Wyatt as they both worked through their emotions, what they wanted in a relationship, and future careers. I loved that Anna didn't stay behind because she had no other option, she had great opportunities and yet she chose a path that was the best for her, her career, and her love for Wyatt.

The epilogue for this last book was great as you get to see all four couples finally together and wrap up Caroline's matchmaking!

"Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review"
This story is well written and I liked the outlook on the life of an actress/celebrity, the constant pressure and high levels of stress, the lack of privacy – very well done and convincing. I also liked that the characters grew and changed throughout the story.
I usually enjoy second-chance romance stories, but this one didn’t move me; in the beginning the main characters are very rude to each other and I hated that. The heroine is especially nasty, “tense and angry all the time”; she’s also very selfish and fickle and even the final public redemption scene – beautiful, powerful – was not enough to clean her record. I also felt that the hero was somehow lacking. Sometimes I don’t like the characters but I appreciate and respect them in their fictional setting, but not with these two.
I didn’t care about their friends’ lives and the matchmaking thing. Perhaps I should have read the previous stories in the series. Anyway, this story may work for other readers but the main characters just rubbed me the wrong way.

I enjoyed Something New by Megan Ryder, book three in The Lone Star Match series. Anna Maria Castado is not as happy with her acting career despite her role on a nightime soap opera. Her PR plan is working too well since the press focuses on her negative behavior, fitting for her tv character. After a knee injury ends his NFL football career, Wyatt Turner becomes a coach at his alma mater and rebuild his life. Anna and Wyatt were once in love but graduation separated these two by distance and dreams. Five years later Anna and Wyatt spend time with their college friends on an island off Galveston, the week before two of them marry, but will these two learn to compromise on their expectations of themselves and each other. Will these two get a second chance at love?

I enjoyed reading this second chance story and had trouble putting it book down, reading it in one day. Ms. Ryder drew me in and did not let go until I read the last page. I highly recommend this book to other readers and I look forward to the next book Ms. Ryder authors.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Something New is book three of Megan Ryder’s The Lone Star Match Series. The premise of these books is a bride who wants her friends to be just as happy as she is. Hence, she gently plays matchmaker. This time it is Anna Maria Costado and Wyatt Turner’s turn at a second chance romance. They have had professionals that were in the limelight but then life threw them a curve.

While the story gives insight into personal relationships, it is also a book on making oneself over after dreams have been shattered. Wyatt seems the most secure and stable of the two especially since he has had more time to come to terms with the changes that happened in his career. Anna is likable but at times frustrating. Perhaps for her it is a story of becoming a better person.

While this may be able to be read as a stand-alone, the wedding is an important part of the setting so the other characters from the first two books have supporting roles. From that aspect, it would probably enhance the enjoyment of Something New to have read the books in order which is - Something Old (Book 1) and Something Borrowed (Book 2).

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley.

Anna Costado is going through a horrible time when it comes to her career as an actress after going off at a waitress and some footage of the incident ends up on TV. So, spending a week in Texas in the lead up to a friends wedding is just what she needs to get away from all the negativity. However, spending time with her ex and the love of her life, Wyatt Turner, isn't easy. Will they be able to overcome the past, so they can have a second shot at love; or will they lose their chance at happy ever after?

The first two books of this series were wonderful reads, but -- I believe -- this story is the best of this series, and it's a book that was spellbinding, fast-paced and one I could not put down due to the fantastic main characters that have tough obstacles to overcome, if they're to achieve their happy ever after; and compelling dialogue that had me wondering if Wyatt would ever get through to Anna. The way this story started had me sympathizing with the heroine, as she's going through a tough time. Is her career over or will she be able to salvage it? However, it was from the moment the hero and heroine came face-to-face for the first time in this story that had me reading quickly, determined to discover whether Wyatt would be able to win Anna back.

Both the main characters were beguiling and I loved their history, their back stories and their growing relationship. Anna comes off as such a cold-hearted -- word that rhymes with -- witch, but that's only because she needs to in an effort to protect herself. Trusting people doesn't come easy to Anna, especially because of her career, and I could understand why she's hesitant to let Wyatt in, as they've already hurt each other so much in the past. However, Anna is resilient, courageous and I liked how determined she was to pick up the pieces of her life, even if it means walking away from everything she's worked so hard for. I also liked how kind and caring Anna can be, which is proven by all she does for fans and those she owes to helping her become the success that she is.

While the hero, he's been through a lot with what happened to him, which caused him to lose his chance at having a successful gridiron career. However, in saying that, he's come a long way with what he's achieved with being able to remain a part of the game he loves. Furthermore, the hero is fierce and I liked how determined he was to make Anna see that they're meant to reclaim the future they were destined to have. I also liked how determined Wyatt was to discover what's going on with Anna when it comes to her aloofness. Will he be able to help Anna?

Overall, Ms. Ryder has delivered a very captivating read in this book where the chemistry between this couple is intense and burns bright; the romance was hot and showed how special Anna is to Wyatt; and the ending had me absolutely delighted by what Anna does to win Wyatt back after everything went awry between this couple. Certainly, Anna is determined to go big, because Wyatt means more to her than anything else in her life. Then again, Wyatt is determined to go just as big with his words and his way of making certain Anna knows how important she is to him. No way is he letting her go this time. I would recommend Something New by Megan Ryder, if you enjoy second chance romances or books by authors Eve Gaddy, Barbara Ankrum, Katherine Garbera and Sinclair Jayne. I would also recommend reading the other books of this series to see how good the bonds of friendship can be and how a matchmaking bride-to-be gets her wish in reuniting her bridesmaids with the men they were always meant for.

When friends reconnect after a five year gap to participate in the wedding of one couple, the bride-to-be is also acting as matchmaker for her friends, providing them with opportunities for a second-chance at romance with their ex-partners. The focus of this story is on Anna and Wyatt. They were together until their dreams drove them apart - she to become an actress and he hoping to become an NFL quarterback. Anna achieved her dream but now things are going sour for her, with negative publicity and total lack of privacy. He had to change his dream after a serious knee injury foiled his chance to make it to the NFL. With support from other friends he has changed his dreams and is now coaching others chasing his old dream.

This is a story of looking behind the surface glitz and glamour to discover reality, accepting sometimes really do work out for the best but only if you make the most of your opportunities and keep your feet on solid ground. Both main characters had some learning to do, including learning to accept the past, to trust each other again and to work together for their future happiness. There is plenty of push/pull to/fro action in this romance as the couple journey on their bumpy road to their potential HEA - an enjoyable read with plenty of regrets for past mistakes and misunderstandings en route.

I requested and was given a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion after choosing to read it.

DNF at 33%

Anna Maria Costado is an actress, she is filmed screaming at a waitress and her career is about to implode. She returns to her home town in Texas, five years after she left, for a friend’s wedding and runs slap-bang into Wyatt Turner, the man she loved, a former footballer until an injury destroyed his career just as it started.

I lurve second-chance romances, sports-romances and wedding-based romances but this book left me cold. I think Megan Ryder was too busy trying to find a good reason why Anna and Wyatt did and said the things they did (eg Anna was screaming at the waitress because she has a deadly nut allergy and the food contained nuts) to actually make Anna and Wyatt likeable. Basically, in all their interactions with each other, and Anna's interactions with others, they were narcissistic, jumped to conclusions, didn't trust and made everything all about them.

I promised that I would read another two chapters before I bailed but in the end I could only manage one, it just carried on, Anna being bitchy to someone (for her own special reasons) and then Wyatt deciding he was the arbiter of what is and isn't acceptable for Anna to do and say. Then they bring it all back to their break-up and a big case of "No, I didn't - but you did!" backwards and forwards between them.

I disliked both characters and just didn't want to read anymore!

Megan Ryder keeps get better. The Lone Star Match series is a nostalgic stroll down memory lane. What begins with promise leads to disappointment. In life there are two major roads. The one we seek to carve out for ourselves and the path that leads to easy street. Smooth sailing is what we all crave but hard work turns out to be the most rewarding. That is the message that Something New sets out to deliver. Wyatt and Anna are rebuilding their lives and all roads point to home. Can they forgive the past and look toward a brighter future together? With common sense and an open heart, the possibilities are endless.

Great addition to the Lone Star Match series

Megan Ryder did a good job with this second chance at love story. Anna and Wyatt are brought together after 5 years for their friends wedding. Both characters are flawed which I believe made them realistic and their obstacles to get back together believable.

In this the 3rd book in the series, all of which take place during the same time period we see how the friends and couples interact and how old wounds are healed. A very satisfying read.

I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

This was a nice conclusion to the series. Anna and Wyatt agreed to compromise so they could be together.

I did not enjoy this book. I HATED the heroine Anna. She is a BITCH and she is supposed to be one but even her friends say bad things about her and she treats them badly too. I really really did not like her at all and so I quit this story midway.

Wyatt I did not love either. Anna was terrible to him but he was also crappy to her. While he came across as a nice guy, he did not hold my interest enough to put up with Anna.

I will say the author did a great in writing. The story was well written and well edited. My issue was that I hated the heroine and even her friends